Question:
For years, I have suffered asthma. At first, I didn't take the disease
seriously and had many trips to the emergency room. About half were
life threatening. Soon after, I developed a panic response when my
breathing changed. To be honest, I believe I've always had panic
disorder. It could have intensified the asthma attacks. Does anyone
have asthma and panic disorder? I can control the asthma now, but I am
having panic episodes almost daily. Klonopin seems to control most of
these, but I hate relying on a drug just to make it through the day. I
find it very difficult to talk about the trips to the emergency room.
If you have asthma and panic disorder, I would appreciate some advice.
Answer:
I have panic anxiety and GAD, but not asthma. I did have an attack of
allergic asthma once and I thought the treatment (broncho-dilator) was going
to kill me. I don't know about the direct relationship between asthma and
panic anxiety, but many of the medications (esp. dilators) will instigate
symptoms like panic anxiety. In emergency treatment of asthma they use
epinephrine, which is the adrenalin that causes anxiety symptoms. I have both asthma and panic disorder. I developed both of them around
the same time.
There has been some recent research about a link.
If I am not sure, I use my brochodilator and take a Xanax.
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/106/108304.htm
