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Awoke Gasping For Air After Inhaling Wax Vapour. On Steroids. Family History Of Sleep Difficulty. Worrisome

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Posted on Sat, 11 Aug 2012
Question: Hi I am due to go in for a sleep study soon.Twice I awoke gasping for air -this was after inhaling wax vapour during an art activity - i attribute that to the initial inflamation of the adenoids for which i was perscribed steroids and later after a week when it resurfaced antibiotics.There was only one minor episode since .There is a family history of sleep difficulty -my mum wears amouth piece at night to allieviate snoring.(i do not snore).Now in prep for sleep study i have been put on zantac 150 mg a nasal spray and zirtec - i have been taking zirtec due to persistent nasal drip(due to a bend in the inner section of skin which seperates the nostrils in the nasal passage-so i have always had sinus/nasal o problems.I also take St.Johns Wort which i have just learned can act as a muscle relaxant. (and hence i am going to start cutting this down and eliminating it)-My query is can zantac also act as a muscle relaxant as i want the sleep study to give a true mirror image of my sleep pattern and furthermore isn't there a possibility that this was a more or less isolated period caused by the occupatuonal/passive inhalation of wax vapour ? - thanks (note the percription of zantac puzzles me as i do not have acid reflux or any tummy problems-if it is a muscle relaxant would it make it worse?)
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (7 hours later)
Hi,

Thanks for posting your query.

Zantac is not a muscle relaxant; it does not cause any muscle relaxation. It is a H2 antagonist, which inhibits secretion of gastric acid. It is not going to affect the sleep study.

Also, your symptoms are more likely to be due to occupational inhalation of wax vapour.

Zantac may be given to you just as a preparatory measure before the sleep study.


You may continue to take Zantac until the sleep study is completely done.

It is advisable to stop using St. Johns wort as there are no clinical studies that prove its effectiveness. It is not a direct muscle relaxant but can affect the metabolism of other drugs especially pain medications.

I hope to have answered your query. Please do write back in case you have follow up queries to ask.

Regards,
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shanthi E

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 2483 Questions

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Awoke Gasping For Air After Inhaling Wax Vapour. On Steroids. Family History Of Sleep Difficulty. Worrisome

Hi,

Thanks for posting your query.

Zantac is not a muscle relaxant; it does not cause any muscle relaxation. It is a H2 antagonist, which inhibits secretion of gastric acid. It is not going to affect the sleep study.

Also, your symptoms are more likely to be due to occupational inhalation of wax vapour.

Zantac may be given to you just as a preparatory measure before the sleep study.


You may continue to take Zantac until the sleep study is completely done.

It is advisable to stop using St. Johns wort as there are no clinical studies that prove its effectiveness. It is not a direct muscle relaxant but can affect the metabolism of other drugs especially pain medications.

I hope to have answered your query. Please do write back in case you have follow up queries to ask.

Regards,