Antidepressants and Anxiety meds cause shortness of breath.

[frozinorth07]

Have Copd dx for years. Recently figured out that some antidepressant meds, and also anti-anxiety meds cause Shortness of Breath!! Noticed a big difference in ability to breath, walk, etc after stopping an antidepressant due to other side effects. Started researching and learned that many of these meds list shortness or breath as side effect. Would love to hear from anyone taking these meds, or anyone who has noticed improvement in symptoms for any other reasons. Seems many docs don't really know the side effects of antidepressants and anxiety meds? I am doing my own research, and would appreciate any info anyone can provide about this. Thanks. Breath easy.

[manda006]

I am interested in that too. I've been on celexa for 10+ years. I know the fda lowered the max to 40mg due to heart complications . But since i get very depressed i take 60mg in the winter. I see my psyc doctor tomorrow and I'll ask him. A little worried about changing but i know my weight problem is caused by my meds too. I also take neurotin. I'll wb on what i learn!! Take care!!

[frozinorth07 in reply to manda006]

Look up your meds on Drugs.com they have a very good list of side effects, many not listed on package inserts. Sadly, I don't think psychiatrists are aware either of the possibly large difference these med in our shortness of breath. Good Luck. In my looking up meds on drugs.com, all the ones I have looked up so far list shortness of breath. I don't know exactly, medically, how they cause this. just trying to help people breath easier. would love to hear back. and never stop any antidepressants or anxiety meds without doctor help. side effects are quitting are bad too. good luck.

[Theresa-57 in reply to manda006]

I have gain 40 lbs since I stopped smoking 10 months ago and do not eat more than I ever did. Just not active enough. It sucks

[frozinorth07 in reply to manda006]

Hi, did you discuss this with your doctor? curious to know what he said. breath easy.

[frozinorth07]

Glad to hear that. Good for you. For some reason, many docs do not know this. My doc refuses to accept that I went from severe Empysema to moderate, by going off an antidepressant. She said "it never gets better!!" I need stories of people who DID . thank you!! and good luck.

[manda006 in reply to frozinorth07]

Can u tell me which one? I totally believe you!!

[frozinorth07 in reply to manda006]

Hi, manda006. I am not sure what your question means, tell you which one. The worst for me was Cymbalta. Went off that and could breath much easier. Lexapro, Wellbutrin, also make me SOB. started researching on my own, and these meds also list sob(dyspnea) as a possible side effect. Prozac, Zoloft, Fanapt, Xanax, valium. I am not a medical person, learned by my own experience with Cymbalta that it made my SOB worse. much worse. All meds affect people differently. I am trying to research, medically, how they cause SOB. All input is welcome.

[manda006 in reply to frozinorth07]

Yes i got terribly sick on cymbalta. I got on wellbutrin today. It helps smoking. Helps my mom. Wish me luck! Easy breathing!!

[frozinorth07 in reply to manda006]

Good luck. I was allergic to zyban, similar to wellbutrin. The zyban did help at first, but i went back to smoking when i had to go off the zyban. and yes, i was sick on cymbalta also, took me too long to realize it was the med.

[REWW in reply to frozinorth07]

I am much better now. Off of Effexor! And I don't trust most doctors. I know my body better than they do

[vmrdoug in reply to frozinorth07]

I have COPD I had been on Lexapro for 8 years and never had any severe shortness of breath but the Lexapro stopped working Dr. started me on Trintellix and my walking SAT level has dropped from 95-96% to 87-88% and need portable oxygen. Have tapered and go see my Doctor tomorrow to change.

[frozinorth07 in reply to vmrdoug]

Ah, i bet that decline was largely due to the medication. thats what they do to me!!! Docs should warn us to be aware of any change in breathing when we start the meds. Curious what your doc said about the Trintellix and your breathing??? Hope you gain lung function back, and please please, let me know. I would appreciate it, cause my doc didnt believe me that my meds caused fluctutions in breathing over the years, and i am being called a liar. I actually have legal problems now due to this, so please please update me. thanks. They should label the meds "not for people with breathing problems".

[vmrdoug in reply to frozinorth07]

Stopped the Trintellex and my SAT levels returned to 95-96% while walking 2 days after stopping. I have another drug that causes problems I have a difficult time sleeping Dr. gave me Restoril same thing reading the product warnings it says not for people with COPD show this to your Dr.

[frozinorth07]

You didn't say what meds you were on, then went off? if u don't mind sharing. can email me if u prefer to not post here. [e-mail]. Emails are welcome from anyone, especially regarding meds making you more short of breath. Thanks.

[manda006 in reply to frozinorth07]

I was on celexa, neurotin, busbar, and visteral for mental health. xeralto for blood clotting. He said change celexa asap.

[frozinorth07 in reply to manda006]

OH? Why did he say to change Celexa asap? did it affect your breathing? What did he change you to? and how is that med???

[Bugabuga]

I am on Prozac and didn't see it in the list of side effects

[frozinorth07 in reply to Bugabuga]

Go to drugs.com, enter Prozac. it is listed as possible side effect, the again under incidence unknown(they don't count), and scroll down to respiratory , and dyspnea is listed, (means SOB) and also other more severe things it can possibly cause with lungs. I just looked this up last week for someone. Not saying it affects everyone that way, but it can. I just think people who are struggling to breath, might wish to know, and ask their docs. Breath easy. thanks.

[frozinorth07]

Valium can also cause SOB. And Xanax. Breath easy. thanks.

[Jchimie4 in reply to frozinorth07]

You wouldn't happen to know if Trazodone can cause shortness of breath, do you? I saw it listed in the less common side effects column, but I've tapered down to taking a quarter of one 50mg pill, and still have the sob even had a ct scan done and they didn't find anything. I asked my doc, but he doesn't seem to think trazodone is to blame.. any info would be extremely appreciated to say the least. Thank you

[Bugabuga]

Is there an antidepressant that doesn't cause sob?

[frozinorth07 in reply to Bugabuga]

I don't know. I am just a copd person, not a medical person. I am trying to research, and share what I learn. On Cymbalta, I could barely get thru a shower, or walk to my car. Weaned off it, and felt like a new person. That started my quest for answers. All meds affect different people differently, and some may not make you SOB at all. Discuss with your doc, never stop these meds suddenly. and I guess we are on our own for now to learn what works for each of us. I just know having COPD is depressing, and docs write the scripts for antidepressants and anxiety meds. I thank God I got off Cymbalta, but it took a long time, and I needed an antidepressant, so ask doc smallest dose of Lexapro, I used to take, which also causes SOB, but less than Cymbalta. Good Luck. Talk to your docs. Maybe someone will have more answers. I am just trying to help people who might breath easier off a psych drug they might be taking. Love to hear from any one about their experience with psych meds. Breath...... just breath.

[wilmahice]

I have suffered being bipolar with severe panic attacks.. for years we thought it was from smoking and the heavy duty drugs i was on..For several months i was off any meds for this.. due to having to find another Dr.Now i'm back on Lithium,, and i won't know for a little while longer how this will affect my emphysema and breathing.. but i will take note of any changes and will let you know..

[frozinorth07 in reply to wilmahice]

Good luck, and yes, please keep us posted. Thank you

[manda006]

Yes he immediately took me off celexa. He said zoloft was the only safe serotonin. I got wellbutrin. I think celexa is the worst especially for the heart.

[frozinorth07 in reply to manda006]

What did he mean about Zoloft being the only safe SSRI? for breathing? or for other reasons? I know a non smoker, no copd, who got sob from Zoloft. Wellbutrin made me very short of breath years ago. Good luck.

[manda006 in reply to frozinorth07]

Sorry i cant remember maybe he meant heart problems or less side effects. Im thinking he meant side effects. Sorry so many things on my mind.

[frozinorth07 in reply to manda006]

that's fine. thanks.

[pixarfan03 in reply to manda006]

Celexa didn't give me shortness of breath for three years. I restarted 2 days ago and I noticed that it affects me breathing shortly after. Prozac did the same thing, but not when I took it years ago. I think I'm getting old.

[Theresa-57]

I'm on zoloft for the past 20 years.

[frozinorth07 in reply to Theresa-57]

Do you ever increase or decrease dose? Or go away for a few days and forget to take em?? If so, pay attention to your breathing.

[Jeannemf]

Cashews , 2 small handfuls is the same effect as 1 prozac! Too many side effects for using those meds!

[frozinorth07 in reply to Jeannemf]

Exactly. i have read that about cashews. And there are supplements that help. I agree, too many side effects from the meds. i didnt realize how many side effects i had from them until i tried to wean off and finally got off cymbalta. and i could breath better! Quite a bit better actually. Wish docs would warn people with copd to be aware of that possible side effect. Good for you for realizing how terrible they are.

[KD12]

I strongly believe they do cause shortness of breath ! right after I was diagnosised I was stressed and anxious so took a few xanax for a few days and while they calmed me down for a few hours the breathing was worse. If I feel anxious I try to take only half a pill per day instead of the 2 pills I was taking daily. Hope it helps

[pixarfan03 in reply to KD12]

Yeah i know what u mean. When I was younger, i would take ativan .5mg almost daily. One day, I had a bad reaction as in I couldnt breathe at all because I took it for too many consecutive days. I told my doctor about this and she thinks it's all in my head. It wont cause CNS depression, she says, since it's a low dose. Instead of taking .5mg, I take 1/4 or 1/2 when I really need it, so I don't build up tolerance. I don't have COPD (I sure hope not) but I do have anemia.

[frozinorth07]

So glad you figured it out so quickly. Xanax sedates the breathing center at the base of the brain, therefore it messes with the bodies natural reflex to breath. So many deaths from mixing xanax and other meds also. They call it accidental or suicide. I think it is just the breathing was sedated by too many meds, (like xanax and pain meds) and they stopped breathing. that doesnt seem accidental to me. negligent maybe. Wish i realized it before i got addicted to xanax. i take only as needed but carefully. Thanks for your reply!!

[LisaBek in reply to frozinorth07]

I just figured out it must be the Xanax making my shortness of breath worse! So glad I found this post!

[phyllis_liberty]

Oh my...I have been on celexa for a long time. I have a lot of anxiety caused from losing my son. I guess I should speak to my Dr. about changing my medications. I also take Klonopin for sleep.

[LisaBek]

I have noticed Xanax seems to make my shortness of breath worse! Anyone else had that problem with Xanax?

[Marc787 in reply to LisaBek]

Hi lisabek, Yes. I have been on xanax since my 20's .50mg. I take it as needed. I'm 48 years old now. I just started seeing a therapist to help me with my anxiety/depression because it's getting worst than ever since 2015. He asked me any traumatic events in my past. My last job from 2008 to15. I was exposed to alot of bs + violence in the workplace. He said thats it. That's my trigger for my really bad depression/anxiety now. In 2014 till now xanax wasn't working like before. Feeling the withdrawals and breathing issues was coming into play. Through the months and years went by my breathing was getting worst. I couldnt snap out of my depression. Since this past dec., Till now I exprience shortness of breath everyday at work when doing light physical work indoors. It doesn't take me much to get sob now. Which is scarring the shit out me. I asked my gp doctor about checking me, doing tests on my lungs and heart. He thinks it's my anxiety. I want stop taking this drug but I'm hooked on it. I just did full panel blood work all good. No high blood pressure. I'm going crazy dealing with sob. Its always in the back of my head if its my lungs or heart. I thinks it's the xanax causing this sob. I hate this drug. I can't live like a want too.

[LisaBek in reply to Marc787]

I went through lung tests, heart tests, you name it and they cannot figure out what it is. So I truly think the Xanax and anxiety was doing it. I tapered off of the Xanax and my breathing seems to be better, but I definitely noticed my breathing gets bad fast when I am in a panic or majorly stressed. It is definitely anxiety related.

[Marc787 in reply to LisaBek]

Yes, I agree too. We all have to stay strong and be positive. Take care and God bless.

[pstrait]

Hi There,

I had breathing problems for 5 years and was treated for asthma and was taking all kinds of inhalers and antibiotics and nothing helped .... finally went to the Jewish hospital in Co. and after a week of test said I barely even had asthma! they took me off all medication which inspired me to go ahead and reduce my antidepressant medication - it was at this point my breathing was normal again. I cannot find a doctor that knows antidepressants cause some people breathing problems. I had been taking antidepressants for over 10 years with no problems... go figure. recently I have had severe anxiety attacks and have gone back on medication and the breathing problems are back. I feel like I cant live with them or without them....

Let me know if you find an anti depressant that does not cause shortness of breath. I have been looking but no one believes that antidepressants cause breathing problems.

Best Patti

[pstrait]

my direct email is [e-mail]

[Kadiee]

I have copd

The doctor precribe me lexapro after 3 days noticed a change in my breathing

So stopped taking it after 6 days also had other side affects

[Srchn4Nsrs2018]

Cricopharyngeal Spasm: A Troubling Feeling of a Lump in the Throat on YouTube - I just watched this short informational video - does this describe your experiences or is it different than SOB?