Health Discussion / Excessive Saliva and Swallowing

amielczarski · 2007-06-11 09:55:43

I have been under a great deal of stress lately. When I go to sleep, I wake up in the middle of the night with throat spasm (involuntary spasms of swallowing) that puts me in a panic attack. I try to deep breath and hope it will not happen again, but once again, it starts. My doctor recently gave me Xanax to try to sleep. I don't want to take this drug as it is highly addictive. I sometimes take Nyquil and this puts me to sleep, but I almost always get up during the course of the night into a tailspin of throat spasms and panic. Upon awaking, I have obsessive thoughts and excessive saliva also forcing me to swallow since I can't have a conversation if my mouth is filled with saliva. My throat muscles are killing me. I don't want to obsess over this. Does anyone encounter a similar problem. Will this go away? My doctor wants to put me on Cymbalta (which is for depression). I believe I am having anxiety attacks. I also was on Paxil a few years back when I lost my job (I am a single mom raising a 12 year old) and I blew up 70 pounds on the medication. It took me up to now to take most of the weight off and I am still overweight. I don't want to go on medication that will blow me up again. I researched the internet and almost all mind altering drugs out there will put on weight gain. Does anyone have a suggestion? Which anxiety medication or anitdepressant does not put on weight? I was told Wellbutrin does not, but my doctor seems to think that Wellbutrin will make me more anxious. Please help! I want to know if anyone has had a similar problem and what drug they are using to help them not obsess and feel relax. Also, what drug out there does not cause weight gain?

Thanks.

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YankeeRose · 2007-07-27 21:47:24

Hi.
I have the same exact problem. I also have gerds, and was wondering if this was because of my gerds, but I have also been under stress lately, and started having these swallowing spasms. Sometimes at night, i have involuntary swallowing, and a few times during the day, it feels like my swallowing is off rhythm, if that make sense. It sends me into a panic. I am starting to become afraid to eat, because I am afraid that i will choke. I am so concious of every swallow i take now, that it is getting ridiculous. Do you have any idea how many times we swallow salilva during the day???...lol. I think that I am almost making myself have these spasms because Im so aware of my swallowing. I am currently on protonix for my gerds, but nothing for anxiety. I need to relax, but this is like a vicious cycle, and now Im stressing over this! It did help to see your post. At least I know that im not the only one. Now, the question is, what do we do about this, and how long will this last?

dannic1 · 2007-08-02 22:49:21

Hi all,

The more I have been on the internet reading different posts, the more that
I am starting to realize that the problem you guys are describing is very, very
common. I had a preoccupation with my swallowing back in high school under a lot of stress. I, too, got the excessive saliva problem. My mom took me to the g.p., but he couldn't find anything wrong. It went away on its own and then reared its ugly head last year, several years after high school, when I was under stress again. I think you become aware of your throat/swallowing and then it becomes a vicious cycle. I personally believe that it can be an OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) problem, which is an anxiety disorder. I have also been told that it could be do to a phobia. Anyway, I'm going to go and see an OCD specialist for mine. I tried biofeedback for the anxiety and it helped with the anxiety, but not necessarily with the swallowing obsession. I'm changing therapists and am wondering if I need to be on medication as well? Don't feel alone - talk to God if you are a believer and pray, pray, pray. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

I have GERD and I have read that this can also cause the excessive saliva, although that part has gotten better for me. I think I swallow excessively sometimes because I'm nervous/still have anxiety in me. Sometimes I just feel like I can't relax like I used to be able to do and then I think I focus on the problem more...you know, like being told not to think of a pink elephant, and then thinking of it all the time. I pray that therapy will help me. Drink caffeine for the excessive saliva - it seems to help dry me out, although I know a lot of caffeine isn't necessarily good for you. I also will get the occasional throat spasm while I'm talking - especially when I'm nervous.

God bless.

danni

amielczarski · 2007-08-13 12:58:31

Have any of you experienced the throat spasms during sleep that wake you up during the night? This throws me into a panic state and when I finally relax I start to doze but another comes back to reawake me again.

Wondering if any of you have had this sensation? I do believe the increased saliva is steming from stress and anxiety. It seems to not be so evident when I am drinking alcohol and this relaxes me. However, it is not a good idea to self-medicate with alcohol as I seem to be overdoing it lately.

Any suggestions?

mamacatco · 2007-10-26 23:27:43

Have you had your thyroid checked? I was having the same problems and the cause was hyperthyrodism. I had a total thyroidectomy and after a few years of trying to get my medicine regulated I am finally back to normal.

#1 2007-06-11 09:55:43

Excessive Saliva and Swallowing - Anxiety

2007-06-11 09:55:43

#2 2007-07-27 21:47:24

Re: Excessive Saliva and Swallowing - Anxiety

#3 2007-08-02 22:49:21

Re: Excessive Saliva and Swallowing - Anxiety

#4 2007-08-13 12:58:31

Re: Excessive Saliva and Swallowing - Anxiety

#5 2007-10-26 23:27:43

Re: Excessive Saliva and Swallowing - Anxiety