From Paxil to Buspar to Zoloft to Klonopin and BACK to Paxil again

[michelleanne]

Hi all, I just joined.  I'm 29 and have had panic attacks since I was 24.  I was on Paxil 20mg/day for 5 years, and life was wonderful.  However, this past January, I found out I was pregnant (I am 4 months) and talked to my dr about switching meds.  She recommended Buspar.  Well, that sure as heck didn't work (I tried it for a month)...

So last Tuesday I saw my OB and he suggested Zoloft.  Pills came in 50mg, and we had talked about just taking half to start.  Well, I kinda spaced and took the whole darn pill that night, and OMG I felt like I was on some kind of LSD/Crack whatever trip, and my heart was pounding for the next 4 days.

So Saturday, I went to the ER (drove myself, too scared to call 911) (plus, we just moved here, and I am all alone - my husband is in Ft Benning till this 4-4), and told them what had happended.  ER doc said try 12.5 mg Zoloft with .5 Klonopin.  That afternoon, I took my 12.5 Zoloft, but was waaaay too scared to take to Klonopin, too!!!!  Again, about an hour after taking Zoloft, heart was pounding, felt anxious, but thank goodness nothing like Tuesday night happened.  Well, to take the "edge off" I took a Buspar.  Oh boy that did not help one bit!!!  So a few hours later I took just .25 Klonopin.  Couldn't really sleep that well Saturday night, and woke up Sunday morning feeling like I was gasping for breath.

Called the ER doc again, and he said no more Zoloft.  (no s****, right), just take my .5 Klonopin like I should.  Well, again, too scared to take the whole thing, so I just took .25mg.  Then one at night.  Again, hard time falling asleep peacefully - kept waking up feeling like I needed a breath!!!

So yesterday, went to the OB doc, and said I wanted to go back on Paxil.  So I am starting on just 10mg Paxil, and continuing just .25 Klonopin 2x day.  Slept a little better last night, just woke a few times catching my breath.

I don't have much Klonopin left....hopefully the Paxil kicks in soon!!!!!  I desperately want my life back the way it has been for the past 5 years.  I am miserable right now.  I do, however, have a counseling appt tomorrow night, and I can't wait!

But I guess my question is, what is going on with this breathing thing when I am trying to sleep?????  It's scary as heck.  Please help me.

[greenlydia]

Congrats on the pregnancy! What a great New Years gift!
Sounds like you've been on quite the medical-merry-go-round!
To jump right down to your question about what the "breathing thing" is, I am going to GUESS, since I'm not a doctor, that it's an anxiety thing. But when you throw into this mix the bun in the oven, I'm going to urge you to see your OB/GYN for a REAL answer to that question. It's too important to leave to a guess!
I'm also very glad to hear you have an appt. with a therapist and hope that you, your docs and your therapist can come up with something that will help with your anxiety problems and not harm the baby. ALL of you must be in this loop together.
Peace
Greenlydia

[RCA7591]

Any doctor who gives a PREGNANT lady Klonopin should have his license revoked.
Klonopin is *absolutely* contraindicated in the case of pregnancy, and in particular, during the first trimester. The drug is associated with a high risk of birth defects. DO NOT TAKE KLONOPIN while you are pregnant.

I'm not crazy about the Paxil during pregnancy either, as it has been shown to induce pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) of the fetus. Ideally, you shouldn't take any psychotropic drugs during pregnancy. Prozac may be used if absolutely warranted, and no more than 20 milligrams.

I know that you're going through hell right now, but you have to place the life that grows inside of you first, above anything else.

It isn't clear from your post if the breathing issue is hyperventilation-induced (from panic), or if it is genuine paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea/ orthopnea (which can occur during pregnancy). Do you find it harder to breathe while laying flat? Do you feel the need to prop your head up with two or more pillows to relieve the shortness of breath? If yes, you should be evaluated by a pulmonary doctor or a cardiologist to rule out a cardiopulmonary process.
At the bare minimum, an echocardiogram should be performed.

Ryan

[michelleanne]

Hi Ryan, thank you for your response!!!

I appreciate your advice on the dyspnea/orthopnea idea.....hmmmm.  And I also wonder about the anxiety portion, but gosh, that stinks because I am so sleepy and once I fall asleep you would think you would be anxiety free during those few hours *sigh*.

I have been propping my head up on 2 pillows, and it is harder (I think) to breathe lying flat.  Now that I am 16 weeks I hear you are not supposed to sleep on your back, anyway...but I've also heard moms can have breathing issues (not too serious) later on in pregnancy when they are bigger due to everything being "pushed up."

I will call the Dr again tomorrow.  I am sure they know me by voice.  *sigh*.

As a side note, my resting heart rate is about 68bpm.  Although sometimes even in the day I feel shortness of breath, or rather, that I need to breath harder.  The breathing thing wasn't an issue like this prior to last weeks Zoloft episode, however, so I am wondering if I seriously messed myself up.  

Thanks again for your help.

[michelleanne]

Thank you for your warm thoughts and advice :)  

[michelleanne]

........Now I am wondering, the breathing issues during sleep started after the Klonopin....

Could that be the culprit?

I am praying that it is just anxiety and once Paxil kicks back in I will be just fine.
*sigh*

[michelleanne]

Just chronicling my experience here...I slept ok last night.  Not great, though.  I tried for about 3 hours, finally fell asleep, and woke up a few times, and was wide awake at 4:45am.  I kept repeating to myself last night as I tried to sleep "Stop worrying, let it go, you are ok!"  and at some point it worked.  But I woke up at 4:45 like I was a little short of breath, but not gasping or anything.  I am sure it is just anxiety.

On another note!  As I was given Klonopin in conjunction with Zoloft this past Saturday.  Well, since switching to Paxil on Monday, I have been taking it like this:

3-31 Monday
Clonazapem 7:00am .25mg
Paxil 1:20pm 10mg
Clonazapem 3:30pm .25mg

4-1 Tuesday
Clonazepam 9:00am .25mg
Paxil 12:00pm 10mg

And today, nothing yet!  I am going to TRY to wait it out till 12pm-ish and just take the Paxil and get myself off Klonopin!!!!!!!!!!!

Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!