Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 691968

Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patterns?

Posted by qbsbrown on October 4, 2006, at 22:46:11

I haven't felt this on any other benzo. but it just feels like it's inconsistant, and that im not doing it enough. I know that benzos slow breathing, but this seems to make it more irregular.

Brian

 

Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte

Posted by notfred on October 4, 2006, at 23:11:00

In reply to Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patterns?, posted by qbsbrown on October 4, 2006, at 22:46:11

I know that benzos slow breathing, but this seems to make it more irregular.
>
> Brian


Nope, alone they do not slow breathing to a degree that is clinically significant. That is one of the major advantages to benzos, no respiratory
depression vs. barbiturates.


By injection there can be partial airway obstruction (ie airway blockage) but it
is a corner case or happens in concert with
the meds for general anesthesia.


PARTIAL AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION MAY OCCUR IN HEAVILY SEDATED PATIENTS. INTRAVENOUS LORAZEPAM, WHEN GIVEN ALONE IN FAR GREATER THAN THE RECOMMENDED DOSE, OR AT THE RECOMMENDED DOSE AND ACCOMPANIED BY OTHER DRUGS USED DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF ANESTHESIA, MAY PRODUCE HEAVY SEDATION; THEREFORE, EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN A PATENT AIRWAY AND TO SUPPORT RESPIRATION/VENTILATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE.


Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines are weak respiratory depressants, much safer for monotherapy than barbiturates, and are indicated for anxiolysis and sedation. 12 For example, when diazepam is administered as monotherapy, respiratory depression is not detectable until a 0.2 mg/kg (14 mg dose for a 70 kg person) dose is administered. 28 Additionally, the resulting increase in CO2 is slight, not clinically significant, and attributable to a decreased tidal volume. 28 However, benzodiazepine-induced respiratory depression can be clinically significant when used in combination with other respiratory depressants, when consumed in overdose, or if allowed to accumulate to toxic levels. 2,5,12 Elderly patients are at particular risk from longer acting agents such as flurazepam (50–100 hours), diazepam (20–50 hours) and prazepam (36–70 hours). 12,28 Patients taking cimetidine are more likely to exhibit accumulation of benzodiazepines as a result of impaired metabolism via the cytochrome P-450 system. 28) However, lorazepam, oxazepam and temazepam are the only benzodiazepines eliminated primarily by glucuronidation, which is less dependent on microsomal enzymes, and are unlikely to be influenced by hepatic dysfunction, increasing age or cimetidine administration. These drugs do not have active metabolites and have elimination half-lives from 5 hours (oxazepam) to 15 hours (lorazepam, temazepam). 28

 

Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte

Posted by qbsbrown on October 4, 2006, at 23:17:15

In reply to Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte, posted by notfred on October 4, 2006, at 23:11:00

Interesting, i thought that CNS depressants, lowered heart rate, and breathing, same as alcohol. I was thought this was common knowledge, but apparently it isn't.

But im complainaing more about irregular breathing and inconsistant breathing on klonopin.


Brian

 

Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte » notfred

Posted by yxibow on October 5, 2006, at 3:19:17

In reply to Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte, posted by notfred on October 4, 2006, at 23:11:00

> I know that benzos slow breathing, but this seems to make it more irregular.
> >
> > Brian
>
>
> Nope, alone they do not slow breathing to a degree that is clinically significant. That is one of the major advantages to benzos, no respiratory
> depression vs. barbiturates.


Not true at all. Enough of a benzodiazepine dose will definately produce respiratory depression. Especially with alcohol consumption. They're not candy. But you're right, the difference between the window of therapy and the LD50 is far greater with benzodiazepines than barbitruates.

 

Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte

Posted by notfred on October 5, 2006, at 8:11:47

In reply to Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte » notfred, posted by yxibow on October 5, 2006, at 3:19:17


> Not true at all. Enough of a benzodiazepine dose will definately produce respiratory depression. Especially with alcohol consumption. They're not candy. But you're right, the difference between the window of therapy and the LD50 is far greater with benzodiazepines than barbitruates.


Did you read the supporting quotes, the last 2 paragraphs of my post ? We are saying the same thing.

 

Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte

Posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2006, at 10:44:34

In reply to Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte, posted by notfred on October 5, 2006, at 8:11:47

Alchohol and benzos will but never heard of it alone. Maybe lowered heartrate but that's the lessened anxiety. Love Phillipa

 

(benzos, resp. depression) » notfred

Posted by Questionmark on October 6, 2006, at 17:03:32

In reply to Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patte, posted by notfred on October 5, 2006, at 8:11:47

Yeah, you guys are saying the same thing. And he said "alone"-- alone is not with alcohol consumption. No biggie just thought i'd point out too.


> > Not true at all. Enough of a benzodiazepine dose will definately produce respiratory depression. Especially with alcohol consumption. They're not candy. But you're right, the difference between the window of therapy and the LD50 is far greater with benzodiazepines than barbitruates.
>
>
> Did you read the supporting quotes, the last 2 paragraphs of my post ? We are saying the same thing.
>

 

Shallow inconsistent breathing rhythms...? » qbsbrown

Posted by Questionmark on October 6, 2006, at 17:11:25

In reply to Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patterns?, posted by qbsbrown on October 4, 2006, at 22:46:11

> I haven't felt this on any other benzo. but it just feels like it's inconsistant, and that im not doing it enough. I know that benzos slow breathing, but this seems to make it more irregular.
>
> Brian

That is very strange. I have never heard of this or experienced.
But you know I get the same thing with caffeine-- I'm constantly breathing in an inconsistent rhythmic, shallow pattern-- like I keep closing my epiglottis during the middle of inhalations and exhalations-- especially during and toward the end of exhalations-- to make like certain sounds and/or get a certain feeling... I dunno it's really hard to explain. But it's annoying as hell!
Is this similar to what you're describing?
Why does this happen?

 

Re: Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patterns? » qbsbrown

Posted by nellie7 on October 7, 2006, at 14:21:41

In reply to Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patterns?, posted by qbsbrown on October 4, 2006, at 22:46:11


Yes, klonopin can do that. I used to take it with luvox and it made breathing more difficult plus worsened my depression.

 

Re: Klonopin: breathing patterns » qbsbrown

Posted by laima on October 9, 2006, at 16:37:43

In reply to Klonopin: interfear with your breathing patterns?, posted by qbsbrown on October 4, 2006, at 22:46:11

Interesting. I've had panic episodes where I couldn't breathe right (or at all), went to emergency room on several occasions because of it, and was "cured" with xanax. I have a friend who couldn't breathe right when he was stressed, and they gave him a low dose of xanax to take regularly. (Why always xanax with breathing?) But I use klonopin now, and I am uncertain about its effects on breathing, even though it's supposed to be a mild anticonvulsant and muscle relaxer. I heard that use of klonopin at night can cause or worsen gastro-reflux by relaxing that muscle which keeps the stomache from backing up, so it would make sense then that it might also relax lungs??


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