Did I just experience a panic attack?

[CanuckSweedy]

Hello again, fellas.

So yesterday was a particularly odd day for me... I may have hit the vape a little hard and a series of things happened that I wanted to check with some of you.

When going to bed (maybe an hour or two after my last hits), I got some muscle shakes that were nearly uncontrollable. After lying down for a few minutes, that went away for the most part... but then I got a 2 second period of arrhythmia (doesn't happen often) followed by cold hands/feet and a slightly higher heart rate. And of course, I felt a bit uneasy at the whole thing, but I told myself it was just cannabis and tried to relax.

I'm guessing that was a panic attack, and I wanted to see if anyone else had experienced something similar. So what do you say, FC, wanna make me feel a bit better?


PS. No known health problems, and good overall cardio.

 

[Soulhunter]

Yes, it could be a mild panic attack.

EDIT: And it is something u shoyuld take seriously! If it continue to happen, i would strongly recomend to quit using cannabis!
But dont freak out yet Cannabis can induse panick attacks ( I have not had one after switching too vaping)
So as long as it dont happen too often i would not be conserned. It could be strain related.

 

[pakalolo]

Agreed, that could have been a panic attack, but if it happened an hour or so after vaping then I wouldn't necessarily conclude that cannabis was the cause. Why did you associate the two?

 

[Soulhunter]

Yes, what he said!!!
A cannabis indused panick attack will most often hit u whithin the first 15-20 minutes afte intake, and will leave after one hour.
If your panick attack comes several hours after using cannabis it could be something else.
But with that said, i have been strugling with anxiety and panick attacks for years, and for many years when i still combusted i would wake up in the middle of the night with panic attack somtimes, the kind when u wake up because u stopped breathing and your heart stopps (that was what it fealed like atleast ) jumping out of my bead hitting myself in the chest as hard as i can to "start my heart" again.
This stopped after i started vaping, so if i would get a panick attack now i would blame the cannabis and stop imediatly!!!

 

[momofthegoons]

Not trying to alarm you as this may have been as simple as a panic attack. But, if this happens again, I would seriously consider seeing your doctor. The symptoms you described could all be symptomatic of several different problems; some more serious than others.

 

[darkrom]

I've experienced this as well. Particularly the uncontrollable shakes and the cold sensation. Mine too was almost a full hour after vaping heavily. I am guessing panic attack since I have some pretty damn bad anxiety I deal with regularly. Cannabis both helps AND aggravates anxiety. I just wish I had the luxury of choosing my strain to cope with it much better.

 

[Abysmal Vapor]

Just don't panic that you will panic..

 

[Soulhunter]

LOL, you experienced panic attacks much? I think not
The best medication for my anxiety was Arjan ultra haze nr.3. (Sativa dominant)
0.1 gram of that plant would keep me going for a full day
But as this is not a "mmj state" I had to realize that my tasteless odour less medication had to go to make room for strains with lots off smell and taste (as this is what the recreational user likes)

 

[CanuckSweedy]

Agreed, that could have been a panic attack, but if it happened an hour or so after vaping then I wouldn't necessarily conclude that cannabis was the cause. Why did you associate the two?

I didn't think to associate these symptoms with anything else because this never happens to me...

Everyone gets the odd arrhythmia, so I'm not really worried about that. It's mostly the temporary tremors/shakes while standing and the cold feet/hands that made me think "ah crap, panic attack?"

I've had what I consider panic attacks in the past, and I've done plenty of cardio activity before AND since then. Also got checked a few times by docs over here and everyone says my heart's fine... hence the strong belief that it was nothing serious.

But you gentlemen are considerably more experienced with cannabis as a whole, so I figured it would make sense to ask FC.

 

[CanuckSweedy]

I've experienced this as well. Particularly the uncontrollable shakes and the cold sensation. Mine too was almost a full hour after vaping heavily. I am guessing panic attack since I have some pretty damn bad anxiety I deal with regularly. Cannabis both helps AND aggravates anxiety. I just wish I had the luxury of choosing my strain to cope with it much better.

My thoughts as well.

Addendum: I quit taking Celexa (10mg dose, the minimum... basically) a few days ago, so perhaps these are some discontinuation symptoms. Dunno...

 

[Nycdeisel]

A withdrawal from a prescription drug would do it. That seems more likely.

I have experienced what you are talking about though, most likely a panic attack. Try to ride out the high until you feel relaxed enough to lay down, the strain also makes a big difference, there are a few strains that provide such a body stone sort of that it relieves all anxiety. those have been hard for me to find but when i have some its fantastic. Right now i have this Purple diesel, its quite stoney, but a sour diesel or a more sativa dominant diesel cross can easily give me anxiety and a racing feeling. if possible, balance it out by equally dividing with another strain that is good for you but it effects everyone differently because everybody is looking for something different. Just my

 

[2clicker]

i also have anxiety issues and have had my fair share of panic/anxiety attacks.

usually started off as a weird pain in my chest. sometimes for a day or two leading up to the attack. then when it happens it hits me like a heart attack. severe chest pain, muscles lock/spasm, gets hard to breath. can last anywhere from 20 mins to an hour with chest pains lasting for hours.

the first time it happened i had no idea what was going on and was at work. had to have a co-worker drive me to the ER. when i got inside the muscles in my hands clenched up so i couldnt write anything, and the muscles in my jaw/mouth did as well. i couldnt even speak my name because i couldnt move my mouth. it scared the shit out of me. a few more of these happened the next couple of years so i really wanted to know what was up. my doc did all kinds of tests to try to figure out what was causing these attacks and they could not. after they run these tests and cant properly diagnose you they just chalk it up as anxiety. however, since taking the meds they gave me for anxiety i have been doing 100% better. no attacks in almost 2 years now.

anxiety can do all kinds of crazy shit to your body. even if you dont know your anxious or have anxiety. it can also make you feel sick as a dog when there is actually nothing wrong with you. ive experienced this numerous times. it really sucks.

hope you figure it out

 

[CanuckSweedy]

Thanks

 

[Carbon]

I think you would know if you'd had a panic attack because you would have been panicked. Saying you had muscle spasms, cold limbs, and a rapid heartbeat and then asking if it was a panic attack would indicate to me that it was not. I too have experienced similar things as you describe but only from severely overmedicating. The symptoms you describe sound "normal" to me; I'd say you just had too much.

 

[CanuckSweedy]

I think you would know if you'd had a panic attack because you would have been panicked. Saying you had muscle spasms, cold limbs, and a rapid heartbeat and then asking if it was a panic attack would indicate to me that it was not. I too have experienced similar things as you describe but only from severely overmedicating. The symptoms you describe sound "normal" to me; I'd say you just had too much.

I did hit the vape consistently this week-end, and I'm fairly new to cannabis. Recipe for success...

 

[Nycdeisel]

Yes! just stay hydrated and get some nutricious food in you and take it easy. Hope it doesnt happen again and that you feel all better!

 

[darkrom]

I think you would know if you'd had a panic attack because you would have been panicked. Saying you had muscle spasms, cold limbs, and a rapid heartbeat and then asking if it was a panic attack would indicate to me that it was not. I too have experienced similar things as you describe but only from severely overmedicating. The symptoms you describe sound "normal" to me; I'd say you just had too much.

I disagree with this. I know I have anxiety and I had basically the same symptoms while no MENTAL panic. What the OP described sounds like the physical effects of panic attacks, which can happen even when you mentally are relaxed and not stressing.

 

[towelieeeee]

I think you would know if you'd had a panic attack because you would have been panicked. Saying you had muscle spasms, cold limbs, and a rapid heartbeat and then asking if it was a panic attack would indicate to me that it was not. I too have experienced similar things as you describe but only from severely overmedicating. The symptoms you describe sound "normal" to me; I'd say you just had too much.

I did hit the vape consistently this week-end, and I'm fairly new to cannabis. Recipe for success...

Chiming to +1 Carbon's comment. There is definitely such thing as "too much", which in all likelihood is what you had. Personally I've had the cold limbs / rapid heartbeat / cold sweat sensations after too much coffee and nicotine...

If you're a really paranoid parrot (I often am myself), go for a quick checkup with your family doctor.