CAN PHYSICAL ILLNESS OR MEDICATION PRODUCE ANXIETY LIKE SYMPTOMS?

Anxiety-like symptoms can be associated with a variety of illnesses, as well as various medications. It is essential to rule out possible physical causes before concluding that you have an anxiety disorder. As you will note several times throughout this book, we recommend a comprehensive medical evaluation if you are struggling with ongoing problems with anxiety. The description below provides some information about how physical and medical influences are related to anxiety symptoms.

The conditions of hyperthyroidism and hypoglycemia can produce anxiety-like symptoms. People with hyperthyroidism have persistent increases in heart rate, whereas psychiatric anxiety produces transient and periodic rises in heart rate. It is common to have a fine tremor with hyperthyroidism. Other classic symptoms include bulging eyes and a neck goiter, though neither is always present. Thyroid dysfunction is also found in people with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder—keep in mind that thyroid screening is very important! Hypoglycemia stems from plummeting blood sugar levels and is frequently associated with a strong sense of anxiety. This distress may be quickly relieved by drinking a sweetened beverage.

Of course, someone experiencing an acute heart attack will report terrible anxiety and often will be sweating profusely. He may also complain of a crushing pain in his chest as if an elephant is standing on him. Other medical problems that look like anxiety disorders include: mitral valve prolapse (heart murmur), hyperparathyroidism (a condition that results in elevated calcium levels in the blood), cardiac arrhythmias, coronary insufficiency, pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland), true vertigo, drug withdrawal, and alcohol withdrawal. Women also frequently report anxiety-like symptoms when they are beginning and going through menopause.

Many medicines produce anxiety-like symptoms, as a result of either use or discontinuation of the medicine. Nervousness can be a side effect of medications that facilitate breathing for people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Some decongestants produce restlessness, as do some over the counter “antiappetite” pills for weight loss. Caffeine is a stimulant, and it can make people nervous and jittery. Other very powerful stimulants include cocaine and amphetamines. Any stimulant can result in your feeling shaky or “revved up,” including nicotine. If someone is physiologically dependent on alcohol, benzodiazepines, or barbiturates and suddenly stops using them, he may go into a serious withdrawal syndrome that includes anxiety symptoms. A person going through withdrawal is medically at risk, and if that individual has other physical illnesses, serious medical attention is crucial.

Source: The Anxiety Answer Book by: Laurie A. Helgoe, PhD, Laura R. Wilhelm, PhD, Martin J. Kommor, MD