Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

ANXIETY, PANIC DISORDER on XYREM with rapid heart rate.

Resolved Question:

Hello,

I have a question regarding resting heart rate. I have anxiety and panic disorder and have a history of a rapid heart beat and panic attacks, etc. I have always been told this is anxiety. I take 40mg of citalopram daily. I also have narcolepsy and take 3.75g 2x per night of Xyrem (sodium oxybate). I have not only been extremely anxious for the past several days, but I have found that my resting heart rate has been above 80 (around 83) at times just after waking. Even after calming myself down, it has been around 75-77. I am reading mixed things online but some have said this is a poor resting heart rate and puts me at risk. I am wondering if this is something to really be concerned about, or if it could be caused by my medications or anxiety. I am getting more anxious worrying about it.

Thank you.

Category: Cardiologist

Ask Your Own Question

Dr. Vivek Mahajan
Category: Cardiologist
View Profile
 31 Doctors Online

Expert:  Dr. Vivek Mahajan
View Profile

Hello,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com

Resting heart rate between 60 to 100 per min is taken as normal. Well trained atheletes usually have a heart rate on the lower side of normal and occasionally 50 per min. Your heart rate of 80 oer min doesn't signify any abnormality. It may be due to the fact that you are not exercise trained or you may be having anxiety all the time.

Lower heart rate indicates you are following a good exercise regime and have a good vagal tone. Exercises lower the risk of geart diseases. So low heart rate can be a marker of good exercise training and vagal tone and consequently may be a marker of health. But heart rate of 80 doesn't mean you have a bad outcome. You can start aerobic exercise training to achieve the lower heart rate. Of course anxiety maybe a cause of this finding.
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards
Dr Vivek Mahajan
DM Cardiology

Dr. Vivek Mahajan
Category: Cardiologist
Experience: 
Fellowship: DM, Cardiology, PGIMER, 2013
Residency: MD, Internal Medicine, AIIMS, 2007
Internship: King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, 2003 
Medical School: MBBS, Seth G.S. Medical College, 2002
Dr. Vivek Mahajan and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Get me answers from Doctors now
31 Online Doctor

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news