Many years ago I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. It does not give me any trouble, unless it is somehow connected with my other problem. I have been diagnosed with air hunger.

Occasionally I have the sensation of a shortage of air in my lungs. This causes me to cough suddenly and take several deep breaths to relieve the feeling. I have never smoked and over the years have had several normal chest X-rays. A stress test also showed no abnormalities.

My doctor has prescribed Ativan and Buspirone daily. These seem to help somewhat but are not a cure. The problem intensifies when I have a cold and at other times for no apparent reason. This has been occurring for many years.

DEAR READER:
Air hunger is a respiratory distress condition. It is marked by labored breathing, difficulty breathing and/or the feeling of not getting enough air into the lungs. It can be very disturbing when it occurs. It is not related to mitral valve prolapse.

Your physician appears to have taken appropriate first steps in testing. I believe the next step should be a CT scan or MRI which shows more detail and may pick up an abnormality previously missed. Lung masses, cancer and other conditions need to be ruled out before you can be definitively diagnosed with a benign condition.

I would like to mention that since you appear to be responding favorably to Ativan (an anti-anxiety drug) and Buspirone (a tranquilizer), your air hunger may simply be a manifestation of a panic disorder. Perhaps a psychiatrist or therapist would be the appropriate next step to take.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Pulmonary Disease”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure mention the title.

DEAR READER:
Ativan is used to treat anxiety disorders. It is also unavailable in 100 mg tablets. At that dosage she would have to be taking 50 of the highest dosage pills (2 mg) every day. I highly doubt this is the situation. Perhaps she is taking 1 mg daily. This is something that you need to clarify in case of an emergency. Knowing proper prescription names, dosages, etc. is vital. The same holds true for her Zoloft.

Zoloft is prescribed for panic disorders and as an anti-depressant. It is available in 25, 50, and 100 mg tablets. A general initial dose would be 25 mg per day for the first week, with graduation to 50 mg following that. Periodic evaluation by a physician would determine a necessity for an increase in dosage. Therefore, your mother could certainly be (and in my opinion, most likely is) overmedicated.

Side effects from the two medications are similar. These include confusion, agitation, drowsiness, dizziness, balance/coordination problems, weakness, nausea, and changes in appetite. Ativan carries the very serious side effect of seizures and Zoloft may (usually during initial treatment) worsen depression and increase thoughts of suicide or bodily harm. Also of interest is that Zoloft can adversely interact with Ativan.

I believe now is the time to sit down with your mother’s physician and psychiatrist to explain what is going on and express your concerns that she is being over medicated. If they are unwilling to listen, perhaps it is also time to find a new psychiatrist who will re-evaluate her and hopefully reduce her medications.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Medical Specialists” and “Mental and Emotional Illness”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 (per report) to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).