Hey has anyone ever experiences issues with swallowing and breathing at the same time while on Strattera? After every meal I cough uncontrollably and have the feeling as if I have aspirated fluid and or food into my lungs. I am worried that I might get pneumonia. I am also worried that it might be a neurological issue.

I went to the doctor and he thinks it is reflux but I doubt it. Nonetheless I am going to take Priolisec for a few weeks and see if that helps. He said if that does not work to go back to him and he would do a speech therapy with video swallow test.

Any other's experiencing this symptom?

Note that the doctor I went to is an Ear nose and throat doc. Almost forgot to mention that ;)

Hey has anyone ever experiences issues with swallowing and breathing at the same time while on Strattera? After every meal I cough uncontrollably and have the feeling as if I have aspirated fluid and or food into my lungs. I am worried that I might get pneumonia. I am also worried that it might be a neurological issue.

I went to the doctor and he thinks it is reflux but I doubt it. Nonetheless I am going to take Priolisec for a few weeks and see if that helps. He said if that does not work to go back to him and he would do a speech therapy with video swallow test.

Any other's experiencing this symptom?

Absolutely. It gets quite scary sometimes too! My throat seems to close up when I get into a coughing fit. I have noticed a pattern though.

It is usually when I am distracted while eating - watching something exciting on TV, in conversation with other people, sometimes on taking the first sip of alcoholic drink, usually in public surroundings where I am not comfortable. Almost always very embarrassing as people think I am choking. In public restaurants is worst as it causes a great fuss, and the last thing I need when I am trying to get air through my closed windpipe is people crowding, slapping me on the back, forcing me to drink water.

I believe it is part of a stress reaction, not so much a swallowing problem. My Ear nose throat exam showed a soft and elongated palate, but that on its own should not create the problem.

GP suggested I take a mild sedative when facing social occasions where I am naturally nervous and 'wound up'(ADD/Aspergers Syndrome person)

I would be pleased to hear from you or anyone else who has this weird phenomenon too. We should be able to get a better answer than taking a Valium - don't you agree?

Kathybee

Wow thanks for the feedback! I can relate to your experience as well -being distracted while in a social setting and swallowing down the wrong pipe leading to a coughing fit.

While on Strattera I don't get distracted as easily so this reaction is a little different, seems like a drug side effect. Nonetheless, I will certainly advise once I follow up with my ear nose and throat doctor.

Hi there - Glad to see your saw my post.:)

Another reason I was given by a GP (MD) is that the muscles that control swallowing are becoming lax as I am getting on in years and therefore don't close over properly. Mmmm - don't think I swallow that one :p

I am guessing you are a young person - right? - so this possibly will not apply to you.

I take anti-depressants (Lovan 40mg per day) and often wonder whether there is a relaxant in the medication which contributes to the lax muscle tone theory....

....Mmmm we can wonder, but it sure would be nice to find an expert who could give us some definitive answers. I'm sure you agree! :cool:

Please keep in touch, and let me know how you go.

For the Ear Nose Throat test, it was rather weird!!! I went to Melbourne ENT hospital as I wanted someone who knew what they were about. Can't really afford a Specialist as I am on Disability Pension.

They said they would like to try a technique and would I be willing to try it. Yep - I Sez - Anything to stop these choking episodes. An endoscopic tube was fed up my nose through one nostril, then fed further, further, further, until the tip of the endoscopy was AT the site of actual swallowing. Can you picture that? Up the nose, down the airway at back of throat, then further down to where we swallow. It was certainly not painful in any way, so don't be alarmed.

In case you are not aware, endoscopy means a tiny camera is at the end of the tube, so we had 'LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION' all going on in Kathy's gullet :p

Through the monitor, they could see the actual swallowing action and how the muscles performed, and also where what was (if you get me!)

The answer was the long soft palate bit, but told that was not a major problem and to go home and not worry about it !!!!!!

Bit rude that!!!! Since my husband was frightened I was going to die in one of my choking episodes one day.

So, hang in there. As I said, please keep in touch, and anyone else on this forum who suffers from this problem.

We would really like to solve this embarrassing and often scary one!

Kathy

Hey Kathy,

Thanks for keeping in touch!! I am a bit tired so apologies this will be a bit brief. I recently went to a holistic doctor who suggested my weak swallowing reflex was due to poor blood production and circulation. It sounds plausible. I do have issues flexing other muscles in my body and can feel weak at times though I am physically strong.

Christine

Thanks for letting me know - I was wondering how you were getting along.

I have started Ritalin ten days ago and am hoping a side effect will be that I 'lose' this phenomenon.

I was always tired, but now have more than enough energy for a 64 year old gran!!!

I am really pleased with Ritalin, though my husband complains that I am 'too high'

Oh well, I love having all the extra energy.

Best wishes to you, and that you feel much fitter ... and quickly

Kathy:)

Kathy,

Glad the Ritalin is working for you :). I hope it also helps your swallowing issue. I'm considering adding Ritalin to the Strattera I take for times I feel burnt out. Although maybe that's a sign I am just too busy -lol. Besides working I am riding horses, working out, kayaking...mainly I am feeling good it's just those days when I think I just run myself ragged.

Anyway, thanks again for your input. Keep in touch!

Hiya Buddy!

I am not familiar with Strattera, but I believe it is an SSRI? along the lines of Prozac? I have been on 2x20mg Prozac daily for the past ten years. I could not live without my "Mother's little helper"

The idea that the Ritalin MAY assist with the choking episodes has proven WRONG - if anything, it may make it even more likely as I am now rushing around like a madwoman doing all the backlog of jobs that have been mounting up over years of feeling overwhelmed, tired, etc.

So pleased I have started the Ritalin (I first requested it 7 years ago) when I was first diagnosed ADD (inattentive type)

Mind you, I think I can easily insert the H in that dx now that I have all this energy.

I am loving it, but Fred (husband) says I am still 'too high' - but then, he's my second hubby (Australian slang) and he has never seen me as outgoing and proactive before !!

Cheers - must get back to cleaning out cupboards or something

Kathy

Kathy,

You have so much energy!! Love it. I am the inattentive type with episodes of depression. Strattera which is a neurepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI's are serotonin reuptake inhibitors) really helps with the depression as well as the ADD. I've taken SSRI's and they just make my brain feel cloudy. Would love to try Ritalin but my doc won't put me on ritalin though because it may make me too anxious. I don't know about that LOL!!

So your husband thinks you have too much energy? Well I wonder if that is about personality differences as much as it may be about the ritalin. One of my good friends is naturally high energy and her husband says the same thing!!