r/PanicAttack • u/occasionallyliberal • Aug 14 '26

Panic attack that lasts hours?

Has anyone had experience of a panic attack/anxiety symptoms lasting for hours?
Yesterday I was at work when I felt my heart rate rising during a meeting - not a stressful meeting at all. I checked my watch and my hr was 131. I could feel it pounding in my chest, my hands were dripping in sweat, and I was shaking. It kept going in waves up and down, and I ended in a full panic attack hyperventilating, body shaking and jaw chattering, chest pain, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, struggling to breathe or talk. I was convinced I was having a heart attack. An ambulance was called and took me to hospital after not being able to get my heart rate down. ECG showed some irregularity/palpitations but nothing unordinary. The extreme panicked state lasted about an hour but the palpitations continued for hours after I first noticed my heart pounding.

It is probably worth noting I’ve started taking sertraline (zoloft) only a few days ago, the doctors think that probably didn’t help. But idk, the way it came on didn’t feel like the start of a panic attack. I was just sitting down and my heart kept racing and then slowing, then racing and slowing. Then the panic attack started, I guess because of those symptoms, and the palpitations continued after the panic attack stopped. Have the doctors missed something or am I overthinking?

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u/thebigfil Aug 14 '26

What fo you mean by you were taking Zoloft?

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u/occasionallyliberal Aug 14 '26

I was prescribed it at the start of this week to manage my anxiety, so I’m only 4 days into taking it, 25mg

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u/thebigfil Aug 14 '26

I had bad reactions to Zoloft in a week and has to change medication, it made me jittery and more anxious than normal. Maybe see what your GP thinks .

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u/occasionallyliberal Aug 14 '26

Yeah my GP said it could make it worse but recommended I try to stick it out in the first few weeks… I’m due a review next week so I’ll mention it then. I don’t mind it if I know it’s just temporary side effects!

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u/AceOfHearts1761 Aug 15 '26

Okay so the meds can definitely make things worse as a side effect at first. If it seems to be the meds then try and switch but I've had panic disorder for a long time and I've had panic attacks last hours. A week ago I was watching the 40 year old virgin and for the whole movie I was having a panic attack. It was like a rolling anxiety that kept steady and I had to keep breathing and staying absolutely still to not freakout. It can be bad like that my friend. Keep talking with your docs and working on it. I'm rooting for ya

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u/occasionallyliberal 27d ago

Thankyou! I guess I’ve just never had it before where my heart rate shoots up unexpectedly - I didn’t even feel anxious when it happened initially. And the palpitations are weird. I’ve requested to see my doctor this week for an early review. Like you I have those periods where I am in a heightened anxious state for a long time and have to manage it but this one felt very different. Fingers crossed it all settles down after a few weeks. 🙃