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Suggest Treatment For Panic Attacks
Question: I am currently in hospice care and I have been on oxycodone since 2001 now I am on high dose oxycodone 50 mgs every 4 hours around the clock. I recently started having these major panic attacks and after doing some research found that they possibly could be caused by the high dose oxycodone so I have taken it upon myself to drop the dose 5 mgs for a few days then 5 mgs more after that I am now down to 40 mgs every 4 hours and my panic attacks are now even worse and my hospice nurse has put me on lorazepam .5mgs every 2 to 4 hours as needed for panic attack symptoms. My question is: am I dropping my dose of oxycodone to quickly or should I not have reduced my dose? I also have completely cut out caffeine from my diet as it could have been a trigger. I used to drink 4 to 8 cokes a day, did I do the right thing in stopping the cokes cold turkey? I have been totally debilitated for the past 2 days from these Panic Attacks. What should I do? Do I need to go back on my original dose of oxycodone? and do you have any advice you can give me for my panic attack issue?
Brief Answer:
The panic attacks are most probably due to withdrawal from Oxycodone
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for choosing HEALTH CARE MAGIC for your health related queries
I have read your query and I can understand your problem. Oxycodone is a opioid analgesic and you are taking high doses of the drug 50 mg every 4 hours. You have reduced the doses to 40 mg per 4 hours in a short time. Now you have severe anxiety and panic attacks. The hospital nurse have advised you to take Lorazepam 0.5 mg every 4 hours and on PRN basis.
As per my opinion you have reduced the doses of Oxycodone quickly and this has resulted in precipitation of restlessness and severe panic attacks. Usually it is advised to reduce the doses of drug by about 20% every 2-3 weeks to prevent withdrawal symptoms. You have been taking high doses and sudden reduction has resulted in panic symptoms. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine drug and it can help in panic and anxiety symptoms but I am afraid the drug will not have much effect in your symptoms because most likely they are occurring due to Oxycodone withdrawal.
Taking Caffeine may be a trigger but it should not result in severe panic symptoms. And as per my opinion stopping coke cold turkey has nothing to with these severe anxiety and panic symptoms.
As per my opinion you should visit your doctor again and should consult to increase the dose of oxycodone again. If you want to reduce the doses then you can start tapering the doses gradually once your symptoms become a little better.
Try to relax your self by listening light music. Try relaxation exercises like progressive muscle relaxation exercise, breathing exercises. This will help to calm you of anxiety symptoms. You can also discuss to stop Lorazepam because the drug will not help much in symptoms due to withdrawal.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again if you have more doubts.
The panic attacks are most probably due to withdrawal from Oxycodone
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for choosing HEALTH CARE MAGIC for your health related queries
I have read your query and I can understand your problem. Oxycodone is a opioid analgesic and you are taking high doses of the drug 50 mg every 4 hours. You have reduced the doses to 40 mg per 4 hours in a short time. Now you have severe anxiety and panic attacks. The hospital nurse have advised you to take Lorazepam 0.5 mg every 4 hours and on PRN basis.
As per my opinion you have reduced the doses of Oxycodone quickly and this has resulted in precipitation of restlessness and severe panic attacks. Usually it is advised to reduce the doses of drug by about 20% every 2-3 weeks to prevent withdrawal symptoms. You have been taking high doses and sudden reduction has resulted in panic symptoms. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine drug and it can help in panic and anxiety symptoms but I am afraid the drug will not have much effect in your symptoms because most likely they are occurring due to Oxycodone withdrawal.
Taking Caffeine may be a trigger but it should not result in severe panic symptoms. And as per my opinion stopping coke cold turkey has nothing to with these severe anxiety and panic symptoms.
As per my opinion you should visit your doctor again and should consult to increase the dose of oxycodone again. If you want to reduce the doses then you can start tapering the doses gradually once your symptoms become a little better.
Try to relax your self by listening light music. Try relaxation exercises like progressive muscle relaxation exercise, breathing exercises. This will help to calm you of anxiety symptoms. You can also discuss to stop Lorazepam because the drug will not help much in symptoms due to withdrawal.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again if you have more doubts.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
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