Posted by Brody on October 27, 2007, at 23:46:34
I need your help.
I have been having trouble breathing for months. Chalked it up to working outside in record breaking hot/humid summer. Heat is over.... still can't breathe.... it actually seems to be getting worse. I am having trouble getting enough oxygen just sitting here.
I am a fit 52 year old female.
I have pulmonary test scheduled. I would be very surprised to see anything like COPD. I have no cough or wheeze. Did some research in the meantime and discovered this nasty little syndrome: Med Induced Respiratory Depression.
It presents a decrease in the number of breaths and the depth of breathing.
Can be deadly, and commonly linked to opiad overdose, benzo overdose, and GABA. It can be a side effect of strong analgesics such as morphine.
Found this at HedWeb:
"While there are a number of neurotransmitters mediating the control of respiration, glutamate and GABA are the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, respectively."
Okay, so I am on EMSAM which I believe releases GABA. I started the patch around June 1, 2007.
Benzodiazepines are described as "weak" respiratory depressants, but considering the differences in our genetics and rates of metabolizing, I am looking at this one closely too. I take 1 to 1.5 mg Xamax at night..... I know, that is a very low dose, but I just it started it this summer, too......?
Lastly, after a serious horse accident last week, and after getting clearance from the pharmacist, I took 500 mg hydrocodone twice a day for three days. This is another drug implicated in respiratory depression, but in high doses.
Altogether... if I have some kind of intolerance....? What do you all think?
I should add that I oftentimes have an associated increase in heart rate.... seems natural that that would be the case if you aren't getting oxygen. I do not have any emotional symptoms of anxiety or panic.
TRD has been significantly ameliorated with EMSAM.
Does anyone have any familiarity with respiratory depression?
Thank you very kindly for any and all replies.
Janet
poster:Brody
thread:791889
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071027/msgs/791889.html