Posted by Ritch on January 1, 2003, at 16:59:36
In reply to Re: Panic Caused By Celexa...Study!, posted by linkadge on January 1, 2003, at 14:41:57
> The only anxiety I get on Celexa is getting
> over excited. I feel I can do really well on
> a test or something, and then it's like my
> brain is pushing me harder than I can go.
>
> Sometimes, on celexa, I forget to breathe.
> I am just about asleep when I realize I havn't
> breathed in like 20 seconds, I gasp for air,
> then eventualy fall asleep.
>
> Interestingly, If I take a bit of remeron,
> it's like my mind takes over the breathing
> for me - big deep breaths in systematic mannor.
>
>
>
> Linkadge
Hi, that is an interesting post, and this is a little off the subject somewhat... but you brought up an interesting idea about "forgetting to breathe". I am not sure if this is a symptom of panic or not. I *think* it is related somehow. I know that when you panic the autonomic (automatic) functions of your body go haywire and it seems to me (from my panic experiences anyhow), that the Autonomic Nervous System just goes "asleep at the wheel" and you are temporarily given voluntary control of something you shouldn't have to think about and control consciously. That sounds strange, but that is what it *feels* like to me. Anyhow, there was something that I definitely noticed (related to breathing) with two different psychostimulants (along with the same other meds) with very different responses to breathing. Dexedrine seemed to make breathing MORE automatic and natural. It seemed free and easy and effortless. OTOH, with Ritalin I had the same exact response you describe above. My breathing would frequently pause for what seemed like a long time and then I would have to consciously make myself breathe (which was very annoying). Ritalin at a higher dose would make me tic as well. The tic involved involuntarily swallowing air and burping. I know it sounds weird, but when I took a single 5mg dose of Focalin once I couldn't stop doing it for nearly an hour-what a hassle! I don't understand the neurology behind that experience, but it certainly was strange. Sorry for the tangent....
poster:Ritch
thread:133896
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021230/msgs/134035.html