The successful treatment of vocal cord dysfunction with low-dose amitriptyline – including literature review

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Authors: VA Varney, H Parnell, J Evans, et al

Published Date November 2009 , Volume 2009:2 Pages 105 - 110 DOI 10.2147/JAA.S6673

VA Varney¹, H Parnell¹, J Evans¹, NT Cooke¹, J Lloyd², J Bolton³

¹Department of Respiratory Medicine, ²Department of Speech and Language Therapy, ³Department of Liaison Psychiatry, St Helier Hospital, Carshalton, Surrey, UK

Abstract: Vocal cord dysfunction is an asthma mimic. Diagnosis of this condition requires a high index of suspicion if unnecessary treatments are to be avoided. We describe the findings from our case series of 62 patients (age range 18 to 90 years) in whom the diagnosis was confirmed. Our findings show low-dose amitriptyline to be very effective in 90% of cases, with rapid benefit for those patients whose symptoms had been present for less than 12 months. This treatment, in conjunction with psycho-therapeutic and behavioral therapies may reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. Future studies may show whether this treatment regimen may reduce demands on the speech and language therapists.

Keywords: vocal cord dysfunction, asthma, amitriptyline, wheeze, anxiety