Shakiness And Anxiety In The Morning

[lgtaylor100]

Hi everyone -

For a while I was somewhat stable and then about a month ago I started experiencing shaking and internal tremors in the morning. It is very frightening. Sometimes this shakiness lasts most of the day and sometimes it goes away followed by exhaustion. I don't know what to do about this. If you read my other post, my integrative doctor suggested 5-HTP for low serotonin levels, which seemed to make me very sedated. I decided not to take it for a few days and see what happens but the shakiness is worse. My heart rate is high in the morning, about 120 just getting out of bed,

I have POTS, do not faint, and do not suffer from low blood pressure. My blood pressure remains stable most of the time and I do not have high norepreniphren levels although I have been tested as having 4x normal sympathetic excess.

I have been sick for over two years and appear to be getting worse. I feel weaker and am even less functional than before because of the tremors and exhaustion.I was getting out of the house for a few hours every day and now I can't. My doctors are good and are understanding but seem to be at a loss as to what more they can do to help me.

I take 10 mgs.Midodrine 3x a day., 3.125 corgeg, 20 mgs amitryptine, and 5 mgs. ambien, .25 ativan. Also, many supplements.

I am not looking for medical advice, just for some strategies that may help or your thoughts. It is very scary to see your symptoms getting worse.

The worsening started with some additional stressors and the onset of the hot weather. I do stay indoors on the hot days and try to exercise, walk or do pool exercises in the evening. For a while that helped but not anymore.

Lynne

[LindaJoy]

I also have this, Lynne. I have no idea what causes it. I will go through periods when this doesn't happen, then periods, like now, when it's a lot worse. I'm sorry, I wish I had some advice, and I'm sorry you are experiencing this, too, because, yes, it is frightening and horrible to go through, but I'm glad you posted. I'll be interested in what others have to say and what helps them.

Lindajoy

[lgtaylor100]

Thank you so much for your response LindaJoy. It helps to know that others have experienced this and that it does go away.

I didn't post much on this forum during my short period of stability, but I always read the forum.

I need this support group desperately now because no one who isn't going through this understands.

I am interested in what others have to say also.

My integrative doctor asked me to come in Wednesday morning so I think he is sensing my urgency.

Lynne

[Dizzysillyak]

I have shakiness and petite mal feeling but not sure about anxiety. I have both hypoglycemia / hyperinsulinemia and adrenal fatigue so I'm trying

to work on both. Both can account for this. I seem to do better if I have a small amount of sugar

plus real meat and leafy greens for breakfast.

But I still can't get out of my house to run errands

until after lunch. I'm usually fine after lunch.

It's a good idea to look at our meds and supplements. Hopefully your doc will know more too. Actually,

the last time my oi got too bad for me to stand up for more than a minute or two without feeling horrible

I had h pylori and parasites.

I also notice that mine is worse if I've had too much magnesium the day before. Or when

I take too much theanine (300 mg) for myoclonus. I assume it's because both slow down our hearts.

I'm weaning myself off melatonin and 5htp to see if that helps too. I've been off theanine for 2 weeks.

I've taken melatonin, 5htp and theanine for sleep for about 4 years without any problem other than feeling too groggy the next day if I took

too much.

Tc .. D

[blueskies]

Hi Igail, I can have periods wake up with shakiness, tremulousness but like LindaJoy, it comes and goes. Am not gettin it at the moment.

blue

[HyperPOTS8]

Lynne, how long have you been taking the amitryptiline? It can increase catecholamine levels which could be the cause of your shakiness, exhaustion and ?increased tachycardia.

[lgtaylor100]

Hyperpots -

I have been on the amitryptiline for a year and two months. The shakiness has not been there the whole time just recently within the past month or so. What has been your experience with amitryptiline?

Lynne

[LindaJoy]

I'm going through a bout right now of this, and it started when I was put on a clonidine patch. While the patch is helping me so my body doesn't go crazy when I eat, like it has for years (and I'm still very limited it what I can eat), it has caused me major, major anxiety, of which I wake up to each and every morning now. Oh, joy.

I hope yours resolves soon, Lynne, that you and your doctor can figure out what's causing yours and stop it. I know, it is absolutely miserable. But, like D, I am usually good to go after lunch. I think, too, I have Addison's and am on steroids, and after my second dose at noon, I'm much better than the mornings.

Lindajoy

[lexcyn]

Lynne,

I have the same problems and it is horrible. My nuero at University of Michigan, and neither can anyone else. My PCP tried baclofin to help but that made me end up in the hospital. So now he put me on valium 5 mg but it wasnt stopping them. I tried to take 10 mg and that helped but knocked me out. They were gone when I woke up but getting them everyday tires me out so much. I am trying to get into Clevland clinic but my insurance is making me see a doctor in Detroit. Does anyone know of any good cardiologist that work for Detroit Medical Center? I have see one there before my insurance will pay for Cleveland. Thanks and feel better everyone lets prau for more good days than bad.

[HyperPOTS8]

Lynne, I do not take amitriptyline. It is a tricyclic antidepressant which is on the list of drugs to avoid in POTS (the list is on this website). Even though you have been taking it awhile, you might discuss with your doctor a trial of tapering off it given your current symptoms. If your POTS has worsened over that time period, you may be more sensitive to the catecholamine-increasing effect of the amitriptyline

[Lemons2lemonade]

For me, the shakiness was caused (as far as I can tell) with the adrenaline. It also coinsided with urinating frequently. Every time my pots changes, I go and get a basic metabollic panel, cbc, and am cortisol done, just to make sure things are working right.

[lgtaylor100]

Hyperpots8 -

I take 20 mgs only of amitryptiine. I have asked both my primary and my integrative doctor if this medication could be causing these symptoms and they both say no, not at that low dosage. Suprisingly, it was an autonomic specialist who prescribed it in the first place. I tend to agree with those of you who say that it could be causing the problem and I am going to ask for a tapering schedule. Thanks everyone for your help.

Lynne

[HyperPOTS8]

Lynne, good luck. I hope tapering off will help you. Please let me know!

[ramakentesh]

I notice this symptom mentioned commonly in POTS. Perhaps it relates to cyclic changes in a variety of vasoactive substances like NE, or ang II? various vasodilators? Parasympathetic withdrawal, highest daily point of sympathetic activity? Others say its blood flow related.

Florinef, some vasoconstrictors have all helped.

As for Hyper POTS remember in theory this is an overactive compensatory mechanism to normal blood pooling, thus reducing normal pooling may beneficially help this.

I often find that measures to reduce sympathetic drive make my dizziness and thus cerebral autoregulation worse. Whereas the opposite is also true.