panic-attack reaction to compazine

montyfull · Oct 21, 2009

This happened to me in the ER a week ago. Decided to get online to see if it happened to anyone else. I have pretty wicked IBS and went into the ER because nausea has become one of my newest symptoms and I thought it was a sign that something was actually wrong this time (aside from the IBS). Never throwing up. Just nausea...persistant and horrible. Anyway, I had an odd reaction to a nausea medication a long time ago...and all I can describe it as was severe despair and panic. I thought it was because the nurse didn't take the time to push it in slowly, so I made sure to tell the nurse they should probably slow push.

My nurse in the ER diluteded it in an IV bag and it dripped slowly. I wasn't at risk of throwing up, so he took his time. About 15 minutes later I felt an immediate need to get the hell out of dodge! It was accompanied by a horrible feeling of helplessness, despair, and I found I was hyperventillating. I was gasping for air and running around my little room like a mad woman. I called my husband in and screamed for him to get the nurse. The nurse came in a little confused and all I could get out between gasps was "COMPAZINE! COMPAZINE!" He ran out of the room, came back, sat me back down on the bed and gave me a combination of Benadryl and Valium. I went from complete terror to damn near unconscious from the sedation - which was a great improvement. I couldn't even move my hands to comfort my husband who was visibly upset by the whole thing. All i could do was listen while he tried to compose himself. But even under that incredibly heavy blanket of sedation, I could STILL feel that compazine working on my brain. It took a while for it to let up. It is, hands down, the worst feeling in the world. I'd say if I had to live with that feeling for more than a few minutes, I would have probably tried to find something sharp to put myself out of misery. I've had nightmares about it.

Zofran, on the other hand, works great, though I doubt it would stop me from throwing up if my stomach was determined. Everyone now knows Compazine is on my allergy list. Just thought I'd share my story in case anyone else is looking for answers.

needcalm · Oct 31, 2009

Same here...only it's been 17 days since receving IV port injection of COMPAZINE and the agitation and panic has not stopped. I can't sleep more than an hour at a time when I wake up in a panic. During the day I'm constantly having that panicking feeling. This is a terrible drug and I was not warned of the effects. Doctors and nurses need to warn patients up front so they can make a decision. This drug has ruined my life I have no clue when this terror will end.

nolabarkeep · Oct 31, 2009

We give this for migraines a lot in my ER. I've seen more people freak out on Compazine than any other drug I administer. I just stay with them and give constant reassurance that the feeling will pass. Some pt's have run out of the unit at full speed, never to be found. What can you do? I'd run to.

leslie :-D · Oct 31, 2009

We give this for migraines a lot in my ER. I've seen more people freak out on Compazine than any other drug I administer. I just stay with them and give constant reassurance that the feeling will pass. Some pt's have run out of the unit at full speed, never to be found. What can you do? I'd run to.

um...give them some benadryl and/or valium?

notify the doc??

something!!!

wow.

leslie

montyfull · Oct 31, 2009

Same here...only it's been 17 days since receving IV port injection of COMPAZINE and the agitation and panic has not stopped. I can't sleep more than an hour at a time when I wake up in a panic. During the day I'm constantly having that panicking feeling. This is a terrible drug and I was not warned of the effects. Doctors and nurses need to warn patients up front so they can make a decision. This drug has ruined my life I have no clue when this terror will end.

Hey Needcalm,

I'm not a nurse...and nurses might kill me for saying this (!!!) but until it passes, I have found relief with some over the counter benadryl at night. But I have to say, if it doesn't let up soon - see a doc.

nolabarkeep · Nov 1, 2009

um...give them some benadryl and/or valium?
notify the doc??
something!!!
wow.
leslie

Leslie, thank you for your comment, it was ever so insightful. The Dr. is notified, of course. I am a RN, I don't make medical decisions without consulting the Dr. I assumed this was obvious. I will be more clear in the future. Medications such as Benzos and/or Benadryl can alleviate the side effects of Compazine. However, it doesn't always work. Hence the bolting out of the ER. Some humans are overly sensitive to medication and adding the side effects of a Benzo and/or Benadryl on top of that sometimes freaks them out even more. Medication is not always the answer, sometimes you can actually comfort your patient without pushing a medication into their veins. Do you work in the ER? It is not terribly uncommon for pt's to leave if things are not going their way. Hence the "WHAT CAN YOU DO?"

nuangel1, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2009

i have seen a couple bad dystonic reactions to compazine .but i have also seen the sudden panic and agitation also to reglan. we don't give much phenergan.

leslie :-D · Nov 1, 2009

Leslie, thank you for your comment, it was ever so insightful. The Dr. is notified, of course. I am a RN, I don't make medical decisions without consulting the Dr. I assumed this was obvious. I will be more clear in the future. Medications such as Benzos and/or Benadryl can alleviate the side effects of Compazine. However, it doesn't always work. Hence the bolting out of the ER. Some humans are overly sensitive to medication and adding the side effects of a Benzo and/or Benadryl on top of that sometimes freaks them out even more. Medication is not always the answer, sometimes you can actually comfort your patient without pushing a medication into their veins. Do you work in the ER? It is not terribly uncommon for pt's to leave if things are not going their way. Hence the "WHAT CAN YOU DO?"

your post did not indicate any antidotes had been given.

thanks for clarifying.

as for the neurotoxicity/paradoxical effects that occur, meds would be the first line of attack.

but now you are adding that benzo/benadryl only exacerbated the problem.

so yes, in these cases, i don't know what else could be done.

with that i agree.

leslie

traumarns · Nov 2, 2009

seen the "heebie jeebies" with comp, phenergan, reglan and low dose inapsine. if somebody has a rx with one of those and has never had the others, i always get order for benadryl, or just zofran. (can give pretty high doses of zofran)

when all else fails we give ativan or valium. when that doesnt work, they buy a bed upstairs and let the admit docs figure it out.

love HIGH dose inapsine, specially for our out of control intoxicated peeps, no heebie jeebies, just night night.

GwenKC · Sep 29, 2010

needhelp, did it eventually wear off? I had the Toradol and Compazine IV on Monday and today is Wednesday and I still feel very agitated.. How long will this last?

sharkdiver · Sep 29, 2010

I've had that reaction too. I exlpained it to my GP like this:
Dr: You have listed down Compazine as having an allergy to. What was your reaction?
Me: Picture a squirrel on crack........

LOL!

Never had compazine, but that perfectly describes the adverse reaction I have to benzos....I'll remember that description for the next time I'm asked......

GwenKC · Sep 29, 2010

I hate this feeling. Some people said they got over it in a day some said a week.. ? :confused: It really can scare someone to know that a medicine can have this effect on someone. I was told to take Benadryl some say not to that it will reactivate the compazine?? Why can't everyone be on the same page? Some tell me to take Melatonin some say not to.. Any ideas?