Hyperventilating

[Mrsmole85]

I'm successfully tapering off antidepressants, but am plagued with episodes of hyperventilating. My anxiety and depression is almost gone & this is the only symptom I have. It only lasts 5 mins or so, but I wondered if anyone has any good tips for prevention. Am down to 25mg of sertraline (from 200mg) slow taper. It's stopping me from leading my life, which is almost back to normal. I can go for many hours without an episode, then bam! I had loads of the usual anxiety symptoms, now all gone bar this!

Would be really grateful for tips!

[designguy]

Why are you tapering off of the sertraline if it has been helping you? There is nothing wrong with using medication unless there are really bad side affects. sometimes our body just doesn't make enough of the feel good chemicals and needs help. You might continue on the sertraline and even up your dosage until you are stable for a good long period of time.

[Mrsmole85 in reply to designguy]

Have been on it over 10 years. It was great while it worked. But for some reason it stopped working & I felt really ill. I needed to get off, my psychiatrist put me on Mirtazipine low dose & I'm tapering off sertraline, now I am on the lowest dose I feel the Mirt working well, the two drugs were not good for me together, so the only side effect now is hyperventilating at odd times, no anxiety & no depression just that(& a few early morning brain zaps)!Nobody knows how they will react to a drug, at last I can lead my life without fear, so if I need medication I will take it if it's OK for me.

[designguy in reply to Mrsmole85]

That makes sense, glad the Mirt is working for you, it will probably just take some time for things to adjust and settle out. It could be that you are still having some anxious thoughts about the transition which can trigger some anxiety/hyperventilating so just be aware of your thinking and reassure yourself that it's just part of the transition.

[Mrsmole85 in reply to designguy]

Thanks, am doing just that, thanks for replying it's appreciated.