Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?
Interesting!. I hadn't thought about that. I don't have bad breathing problems, but it did start after I was diagnosed with BEB & started taking klonopin.
Joann in Western Ark.
Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?
All of my breathing difficulties preceded medication. Klonopin is the only med I take for BEB/meige, and it helps the breathing problems sometimes and not others. Who knows why that is....
Tim in PA
Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?
I don't take Klonopin, it didn't do anything for me, don't take Benadryl either, it puts me to sleep. I take Ativan and don't recall that breathing problems are a side effect.Christel in Ca.
Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?
ChristelDo you take anything else other that Ativan and how long have you been on it. I have a little trouble breathing but I think it is an anxiety problem amd I sometimes take Gravol which is a motion sickness tablet. childrens dose. Catherine
Re: Ativan/Catherine
It's all I take, Catherine, and have for about 7 years. I started with 1 mg a day and it was increased to 1 1/2 mg, but I still only take 1mg with rare exceptions. I take vitamins, of course.
Have fun in Mexico, at least it won't be snowing there.Christel in Ca.
Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?/Christe
Christel, I take Ativan also. Isn't it similar to klonopin?
Re: Ativan/Kathy
I don't think so, Kathy, ask Shirley, she'll know.Christel in Ca. trying to wake up
Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?
I've wondered about this myself. My breathing problems began after I started Klonopin. I could try stopping, but I was such a mess when I stopped before, I'm not eager to do it again. It would take me several months to get off it and I would not know how long to stay off to know if the meds were the cause. I guess if I had something else to take instead, it might be worth a try. Virginia in AL
Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?
Interesting question. My breathing started before the benedryl and
just about the time I started using the serax (same family as klonopin).
I believe the breathing is just part of the dystonia. It's hard to determine just what effects the meds actually have on the dystonia.
I figure if they help and I can function better WITHOUT having to increase dosages (that's the key for me) then I go for it. If symptoms worsen while taking the same dosages of meds, it is either we are progressing in our disorder or our body is getting used to the meds and needs more to control the symptoms. It's difficult to determine so everyone has to figure out for themselves just how far they are willing
to go to manage their symptoms. Hope this makes sense. Also, to answer the question about Ativan and Klonopin from Kathy, they are in the same family of benzodiazepines although they act a bit differently. The med I am using, Serax, is also in that family. They are addicting, which is why it is important NOT to increase dosages without doctor advice. And as Virginia mentioned earlier, one must taper off slowly from this class of meds because the system gets used to them. It is also one of the reasons some neurologists do not like to prescribe them and prefer to try meds like Artane, Neurontin and baclofen. It's never simple, huh? Joanne M. San Diego, CA
Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?
Thanks, Joanne. I am well aware that it can be addictive and have pretty much stuck to my 1.5 ml a day for the years I have been taking it, pretty much the same dose Christel is taking. It does act as a muscle relaxant, doesn't the klonopin as well? I took klonopin for awhile and it just stopped working on my spasms as effectively as the ativan.
Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?
I agree that there is nothing easy or predictable about BEB/Meige/Dystonia or whatever I call it for the day.
The breathing difficulties for me started prior to diaganosis - in fact, I could not convince my doctor that what I was experiencing was different from the breathing troubles that come with Panic attacks.
I have not noticed any changes since being on Klonopin. The breathing difficulties are often worse in the evenings - I seem to feel a progression recently and it is linked with another feeling of tightness and spasming throughtout my body. I am not sure if this is just the release of end of day tension from trying to hold it together and control symptoms while at work or if there is a progression taking place. Anybody else experiencing this??
Re: Breathing problem-dystonia?or drug side effects?
Linda, I can't say that I have the same experience, but for you to still be working with this disorder and trying to hold it together and control symptoms all day is certainly a streeful situation and might account for the additional symptoms. I hope it is not a progression.Christel in Ca.
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