The beneficial effects of oral amitriptyline in anxiety- induced hyperventilation syndrome; a case series

Anxiety-induced hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) is common, affecting 10% of the population with a female predominance and maybe continuous or episodic [1,2]. It forms part of the “dysfunctional breathing” group which includes vocal cord dysfunction, phobic disorders and panic attacks most of which are associated with hyperventilation [3]. Dysfunctional breathing arises frequently in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affecting up to 20% of patients. Only a small percentage of patients with hyperventilation seek medical attention. When they do, they attribute the symptoms to a more sinister cause for which they seek help; leading to frequent hospital attendances with expensive medical investigations often without early recognition of the true diagnosis.