Rescue inhaler and Anxiety?

[DustinS85]

I have issues with panic attacks, and I have a Ventolin (albuterol) inhaler. I have very mild asthma. It says that being "jittery" is a side effect of using the inhaler. Does this mean it could trigger a panic attack if I use it?

[CDPO16]

Hi,

I don't think Ventolin will trigger a panic attack, however I have problems with anxiety and panic which make my level of breathlessness much worse. During those times Ventolin doesn't help as it does not treat the anxiety. I find, as hard as it is to do, the only way to slow down my breathing and ease the breathlessness is to try and calm myself down and relax.

It may help you to learn more about relaxation techniques and practice them, rather than focus too much on your lung condition. Learning about pursed lip breathing can help too. More information about these is available on u-tube for example.

[Certificate in reply to CDPO16]

I know exactly what you mean as going through this myself, daytime tablets is making me feel shakey and no energy I sleep through the day as night time takes so long to get to sleep, I'm depressed and have anxiety and depression and I really don't know what to do about seeing consultant as its working at night and I am very confused with what to do

[CDPO16 in reply to Certificate]

Probably the best thing to do is see your consultant or GP to discuss your problems.

[hypercat54]

If it meant this then it wouldn't be prescribed because it wouldn't have passed the safety tests. If you use it as prescribed it shouldn't be a problem but if you used it too much ie 10 times or so in a very short time then it would likely make you feel jittery.

Ventolin is prescribed to virtually everyone who has lung problems and is perfectly safe. x

[jelbem in reply to hypercat54]

I agree with overuse causing jitters. Having had my first attack since diagnosis 20 years ago, I had to use more than usual and felt like that. Your GP should prescribe helpful medication for anxiety or self refer online to Insight for free counselling, CBT or whatever else they can offer. I have done this and you can have face to face or phone support.x

[DustinS85 in reply to jelbem]

Asthma is new to me, but panic is not new to me. I see a therapist. I was just wondering the difference.

[jelbem in reply to DustinS85]

I think over use because we panic. I did last week as I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t stop coughing and had no sleep. It was sudden and frightening. I do Tai Chi as it helps concentrate on breathing properly apart from its other health value. I was grateful to the 111 operator, as I live alone. It might be worth mentioning this to your GP and definitely to your therapist, as he:she might have constructive advice. The very best of luck!x

[DustinS85 in reply to jelbem]

Yeah my FEV1 and FVC are normal. My FEF 25-75% and RV were the abnormal part. FEF was very minor low, and the RV was moderately high. Neither doctors seem concerned and the pulmonologist said it MAY be minor asthma.

[jelbem in reply to DustinS85]

I have experience of this except the person concerned had severe asthma diagnosed and 30 years later the GP stopped inhalers and said there was no asthma. Got a second opinion by default and the “non asthma” is now COPD. Don’t be afraid to question or seek other advice. I had another issue which was undiagnosed for 20 years and has resulted in other chronic problems. Now I just bang on the table- sometimes actually! Experts should be challenged.

[Itsmeithink]

Ventolin makes me feel shaky even after one puff. But it doesn’t make me feel anxious which I also suffer from. The shaky feeling does wear off, and is worth it to be able to breathe. I now have a combined inhaler which has ventolin as a slow release. I hated it at first as it make feeling shaky every day. But after a couple of weeks by body has got used to it and I don’t feel shaky anymore.

[ChrissieMons]

Perhaps you have to learn to distinguish between an asthma attack and a panic attack as they are really not the same. Ventolin is no use to you at all in a panic attack and because of the side effects of puffing away at it, will probably make matters worse. You need to get some help with the anxiety that is causing you to panic, and find out how to deal with the panic and reduce it to nothing.

[DustinS85 in reply to ChrissieMons]

Asthma is new to me, but panic is not new to me. I see a therapist. I was just wondering the difference.

[Joan_Public]

Hi, I found that Bricanyl Turbohaler gave me much less jitters than Ventolin. I only feel jittery / heart palpitations with 2+ Bricanyl nebs and virtually zero with 1-2 puffs of the inhaler. So maybe worth speaking to your doc about trying this one to see if it gives you less shakes / edginess than Ventolin? Downside is that it can't be used with a spacer and you do need to be able to inhale deeply / strongly (v. different technique than standard inhaler) which isn't always possible with severe exacerbation / attack.

I also suffer from anxiety and other MH probs and, in my experience, bronchodilators don't cause panic attacks, but asthma exacerbations can cause panic / anxiety, so its important to concentrate on breathing techniques that deepen and slow your breathing and staying calm as possible when you are experiencing an exacerbation. Easier said than done, I know!

[vissidarte]

Salbutamol/ventolin can make one's hands or other parts of the body feel mildly shaky. However, this is very different from a panic attack and is not related physically.

Panic attacks are caused by an overactive hypothalamus (a small part of the brain very close to where the spine connects to the skull). Its overactivity fools your brain into thinking there is something threatening going on even when there isn't.

The shakiness from ventolin has to do with muscle control. Ventolin activates beta cell receptors found in smooth muscles. That calms down the muscle spasms that cause an asthma attack, but it also can make the nerves that control muscles in your hands, face, and other parts of your body overactive and make those parts of the body tremble when you try to tense a muscle.

The trembling is normally due to the position of the muscles. You can make the trembling stop by positioning your arm and hand on a pillow or other support so that that all the muscles are relaxed.