COPD & Emphysema Support Group

COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...

936 Members

10,879 Posts

0 Online

buickoreo 04/13/2015

i take 1/2 of my 5mg oxycodone and the next day my breathing is down,does this mean im in a bad level of copd or is it anxity from the drug wearing off? the same thing happens with my diazapm 5 mg?thanks

Gnott 04/13/2015

You need to be more specific in what you mean by my breathing is down, but not sure it would make much of a difference in my reply. (Smile)

Both of those drugs have the common side-effects of dizziness, drowsiness, light-headedness, or breathing problems. In general can be thought of as part of doing their job, and why there is always a caution for the elderly and those with COPD. Of course the level of annoyance, distress, or tolerance varies dramatically between individuals and even dependent on subtle variances in the current conditions of the same individual. So I would not say that your reaction of increased down breathing from the drug is in any way a reliable indication of how severe your COPD or anxiety may be.

However, if you are concerned about your breathing being down then you need to immediately contact your pulmonologist.

buickoreo 04/13/2015

thanks for your reply,the day after i take these meds im am more short of breath than normal,my ? is am i causing damage or is anxity and increased shortness of breath a normal after affect,my pulmdr says well thats what we prsribe,him or his nurse have not been much help,this is my 2nd DOC the first one was worse

CaitsMom 04/13/2015

It's the drugs wearing off. You are less anxious when you take them & so you notice the anxiety from being short of breath more when you are not taking them.

Or at least this is true for me.

Hugs.

buickoreo 04/13/2015

thanks,i kinda felt thats what it was but i wanted some info from ppl who acually live this stuff and i can get a straigt answer

jarca 04/13/2015

I take both an opiate and an antianxiety pill.
ditto what caitsmaom said.
It helps , so i i don't take it it is worse

Morphine has been proven the best for dyspnea (SOB) as it relaxes the airways and decreases broncho spasms.
while
Lorazapam is often used to treat the anxiety; "fight or flight" symptoms of being unable to breath, but not the cause of not being able to breath

http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern-medicine/content/can-you-give-morphine-patient-copd?page=full

https://www.caring.com/blogs/older-patients-wiser-care/end-stage-copd-opiate

Join the Conversation