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panic attacks and waking up gasping for air

has anyone else woke up gasping for air when you are trying to go to sleep im taking  lorazepam and hydroxyzine i have not been able to sleep since yesterday im fearful
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Avatar universal
I've been waking up gasping for air it's been happening for about 6 weeks, I had a bad one ladt night ,it takes up to five minutes to get back to breathing normal.I've  have a sleep study done still waiting for results, I've been on asthma medication and suffer from sereve anxiety,it scares me ..I have one to two episodes a week but are getting worst..help me
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1516364 tn?1291050924
It might be the lorazepam at night.  When I took it back when I was taking meds at night I had that reaction, so I stoped taking it at night and it went away.  Always tell your dr how you are doing.  Try listening to the same soft song at night when you go to bed and see if that helps you go to sleep.  It helps me.  God bless!
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Avatar universal
The problem is that you have to much air in your system. I know it feels like you are short of breath but it is the opposite. Try deep breathing and slowly.

IT WILL BE OK YOU WILL NOT DIE
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Avatar universal
I woke up gasping for air for years, and I was given Xanax for it over a decade ago, which I did not take at the time.

Turns out the waking up gasping for air was caused by obstructive sleep apnea.  I was waking up gasping for air because *I physically needed air*.  Xanax, and similar meds, only make it worse.

I was skinny and had zero other sleep apnea symptoms, and would only snore if flat out exhausted.  Don't let ignorant doctors who believe you need to be an overweight male with morning headaches and falling asleep while driving or at your desk at work deter you from getting a sleep study done.  I had untreated apnea for YEARS as a result of not meeting these outdated, inaccurate "required OSA symptoms" and now have serious memory loss as a result of my body being systematically deprived of oxygen several times per hour, every night for nearly two decades.  Others have much worse issues result.  I basically did not have REM sleep, ever, which is when your body restores itself.

Talk about a contributing factor to depression, anxiety, and a plethora of other medical issues like obesity, diabetes, etc.

Just be aware of Sleep Apnea and that most doctors are still in the dark ages regarding it.  Some people are just not built right structurally, and that is the cause for them.  Others have central sleep apneas, which are caused by their brains and not by physical causes.
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1518437 tn?1291002635
* I meant for my post to be for everyone
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1518437 tn?1291002635
I also have that problem of feeling like I cannot get enough air, especially around night time. What you can do to try and relieve that feeling is do some deep breathing exercises. The belly to chest breathing is really effective for me and it slows down my heart rate making me relax ALOT MORE.
(Try to breathe in & out through your nose)
1) Lay down in a comfortable place and place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach
2) Inhale while expanding the stomach, then the ribs, and finally the chest - pause for a couple of seconds
3)Exhale while releasing chest and shoulder muscles, gently and continuously drawing the stomach in - pause for a moment
4) and repeat the steps!

Feel the air fill your lungs, feel your muscles at work, your body will appreciate the nice long breath's it is getting!

I know the feeling you are having! You aren't alone! Just remember that your body is a naturally functioning mechanism, If you divert your attention away from your breathing then you will realize that your body will breathe on it's own.
Unless you are really feeling that you cannot breathe and that their may be an underlying problem, I suggest you seek medical attention immediately .

Always here to talk if you are in need of an ear!
Helpful - 0
956150 tn?1248275215
My panic attacks are awful during the day.  I feel like I can't take a full deep breath and I feel like I am not getting enough air.  I think my meds need to be changed
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Avatar universal
Yes it has happened to me in the past.  Thankfully not in awhile, but unfortunately my anxiety has shifted to worse.

What I experienced was right as I was drifting off, pretty much asleep, I would wake with a gasp for air.  Happened to me in college, my roommate witnessed it.  And it has happened a few times since I have been married.  My wife witnessed it and was upset by them.

I have just had anxiety and stress throughout my life, I was always able to just cover it all up and keep going.  Not anymore, at 31 I am now suffering from anxiety daily, and have to go see a psychologist.  I could only repress it so long, now it is out in front and out in the open.  My family is trying to help me.

I hope you can find some peace and comfort knowing that people do have that same gasping sensations.  I felt it was related to stress, but I am not a Dr.  
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