1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Anxiety Disorders

Woken by racing heart.

Posted , 5 users are following.

BellaLuna
BellaLuna

I'm really concerned by something that is happening daily, i have diazepam in the morning then a second dose at noon,last dose at 10pm.

I used to take 7mg in the morning, 4mg at noon then 7mg at night, recently the morning dose was increased to 9mg, the rest are the same.

So by about 11am I already feel sleepy from the stress of struggling to go out and probably the morning dose of diazepam too.

I take the dose at noon and it makes me drift off to sleep even if i don't want to but within 10-20 minutes i am woken by awful racing heart, it slows down when i sit up but then comes and goes a bit.

I have been on diazepam for 17 years but the 2mg dose increase only happened about 9 days ago.

I don't know if it''s the diazepam making my heart race like that or the panic,i try to fight the sleepiness but it just overwhelms me and i drift off.

I am constantly on edge and worrying, feeling sad and scared so maybe it's a stress side effect but i am scared by this, does anyone else have worse racing heart if they nap in the day?

I need to try to stop napping but the diazepam affects me and i barely sleep at night so it's hard not to be tired.

 

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • rich98378
    rich98378 BellaLuna

    Posted

    Hi Thx to your reply to my message earlier and it's the least I can do to reply to yours.

    My heart rate used to be around 75 bpm . For the last three months it's averages around 90 bpm.

    Thanks to a clever little app on my phone it's easy to keep check.

    This morning at 9 am my heart rates was 82. At 11 am I was feeling quiet anxious about nothing as usual . I did a quick check and my bpm was up to 105. It's now back down to 88.

    I haven't taken any valium today or yesterday.

    In general my heart rate is up and down all day regardless of what I'm doing. I think it's just anxiety for me.

    I had 15mg valium on Thursday my heart rate was still up in the 90s.

    I hope this is of some consolation to know. Sometimes I wake up with a a racing heart beat sometimes I don't. Dam anxiety.

    Best wishes xRichx

    • BellaLuna
      BellaLuna rich98378

      Posted

      Thankyou, i think perhaps i had drifted off but wasn't actually tired, just a little sedated and my body wasn't relaxed so came round with a vengence and made my heart race as it did.

      Thankfully it slowed as soon as I sat up which was a relief and helped me to believe that it wasn't serious, it started up and stopped a few times but was quite settled overall and if it was serious i know it wouldn't have done that.

      Anxiety truly is awful.

    • dawnA
      dawnA BellaLuna

      Posted

      Hi, this happens to me often, if I nod off to sleep in the day when I wake up a wave of panic just takes over for a few minuets, racing heart the feeling of passing out its just awful, I know what your going through hope you feel better soon x
    • BellaLuna
      BellaLuna dawnA

      Posted

      Thankyou, I am so sorry that you go through this too but it's reassuring to know i'm not alone in this,I'm hoping my body adjusts to the diazepam increase soon and I will feel less sleepy in the day, I used to avoid day napping but the diazepam obviously causes drowsiness, I need the good affects for now but the bad ones are a pain x
    • dawnA
      dawnA BellaLuna

      Posted

      I've been prescribed cipralex at 5mg but cut them in half as I am very sensitive and get side effects, I have diazepam as a back up if the anxiety side effects get to bad, can honestly say that after 3 weeks im feeling better so glad I picked up the courage to take them, i havnt left the house for 2 months, it's my safe place but have felt confident enough to go out the past few days, not alone though at the min, but I'm sure it will Come in time, anxiety is a horrible thing isn't it x
    • BellaLuna
      BellaLuna dawnA

      Posted

      It really is awful yes, i'm glad you are getting out, it doesn't matter if you can't go alone yet, you will build on that as your confidence grows, i am struggling to feel safe anywhere at the moment, i keep ringing the mental health crisis team but there is little they can say to calm the panic and despair i feel.

      My husband is really supportive and tries to keep me going but it's a lonely place to be when things get really bad x

  • gill16647
    gill16647 BellaLuna

    Posted

    Hi.I always wake up with the racing heart and chest pain.Every day and it always happens if I nap in the day.I try not to nap cos if I do I got to go through the anxiety of waking up. Also keeping awake you have more chance of actually sleeping at the time you should be. I do think the increased dose will be contributing to this thou. It's scary changing or increasing tablets so things will intensify but it will settle soon. X
    • BellaLuna
      BellaLuna gill16647

      Posted

      Thank you, i always tried not to nap because it messes up my whole sleep pattern, not that it's great anyway but i know napping will worsen things, it's just been difficult with the increased dose making me drowsy.

      I have worked myself up again badly, i called the crisis team because i was desperate and the lady there was talking about the consultant and how he might decide to reduce my diazepam when i see him, i have been through that attempt before and it was more hell than i can explain so now i am terrified, i just need to cope somehow and stay away from them x

  • kerry84695
    kerry84695 BellaLuna

    Posted

    Hi. How has your appointment gone? X
    • BellaLuna
      BellaLuna kerry84695

      Posted

      I couldn't make it to see the consultant, i really did try but i just couldn't do it,my husband tried phoning to let them know but there has been no answer all day, i did a phone consultation with a psychotherapist today and it will take about 6 weeks to come through but they are going to try some CBT styled therapy on a weekly basis via the phone x
  • kerry84695
    kerry84695 BellaLuna

    Posted

    That sounds positive. I was referred for councelling before Christmas, I finally have an initial appointment via the telephone next week. I'm not really bad and still able to get out and do some things however I think the waiting list is really long and it's a slow process. it must be a horrible time for those who are really struggling x
    • BellaLuna
      BellaLuna kerry84695

      Posted

      Yes the waiting lists are extremely long, i felt lucky when she said 6 weeks because i was expecting it to be months, i'm glad you have your initial appointment and really hope it all goes well for you, i was terrified but the lady who called was really nice and patient which helped a lot x
    • rich98378
      rich98378 BellaLuna

      Posted

      That's really good news to get an appointment in 6 weeks. I think it depends on where you live. I'm in Essex and I've been on the waiting list for 6 months now and still haven't got a date 😕. On the positive side I woke up this morning and I felt better than I have in the last month not brilliant but better.

      Only time will tell .

      Hope it goes well for both of you

    • BellaLuna
      BellaLuna rich98378

      Posted

      Thank you, i was really pleased with how fast it was, my gp gave me the details to self refer because she said it's quicker that way.

      I'm so glad you felt a bit better this morning, hold onto that because it shows you that improvement is possible, i hope you hear something soon too, 6 months is such a long time when life is this hard x

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.