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What Causes Panic Attacks At Night, Severe Headache And Breathing Problem?

Posted on Fri, 15 Apr 2016

Question: my wife wakes up in the middle of the night and feels like theres a rope around her waste and has a terrible head ache and her head is hot her lips are numb and feels like she is going to die and she go*s into panic mode.i have woke up in the middle of the night and i have to give her a nudge because i swear she is not breathing and she sleeps with her mouth wide open which happens quite a bit

Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
needs evaluation

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern for your wife.

She is 78 year old with problem of panic attack at night.

To evaluate such problem at this age I need more information.

- Since when is this happening?

- What is frequency of such episodes per night and per week?

- How dose episode subside, on its own or with some intervention?

- Dose she have any medical problem like diabetes or hypertension?

- Dose she have any stress in life?

- How is her overall physical health?

- IS she taking any medicines?

- Does she feel any problem in daytime?

I will be happy to help further after your response.

Regards,

Dr.Chintan Solanki.

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

Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (9 hours later)

she has had this twice now last night and two weeks ago and both at night.she gets up and walks the floor until it partly gets a little better when she wakes up with this she panics and feels like she is going to die so she walks the floor until it subsides she takes two 10 mg at night of amitriptyline.she does have have some stress over this

Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
likely panic attack, organic problem should be ruled out

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for information.

History suggests they were panic attacks likely due to stress. You can ask her doctor to increase dose of amitryptiline up to 30 mg.
Considering her age I also recommend to rule out any organic cause for such problem with help of routine physical examination, neurological examinations, and routine blood investigations and if needed brain MRI scan.

Take care and feel free to discuss further to clear your doubts.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

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