Question: I took Ashwaghandha a week ago to prevent my extremely high level of anxiety and prevent mental breakdown ( I was on my last nerve and have been that way for weeks). Unfortunately it has the opposite effect on me the opposite of how it is described) On the first day I took 480mg (85 of it was withalides root) and I was unable to stay awake for more than 30min period at a time before crashing back in bed. I felt weak like I would pass out every time I tried to do anything physical such as getting a snack from the fridge. I took 1/3 a pill on the following night. I woke up lethargic. Going to the car, I felt like I would faint. If I walked into a store, I would nearly faint and have to sit and leave. I continued to take it to avoid breakdown. I was able to go on a walk in the park full of energy on the following day. I continued to take very small doses for the next four days. I used it for a week altogether. After getting off Ashwaghandha, for the last 5 Days I have experienced shortness of breath after walking more than 1 minute. My thyroid tsh was taken a day after, as well as a test for diabetes. They were negative. My cbc, anemia, and nutritional value were fine except for a low carbon dioxide level (3 points below the norm). My chest xray taken showed that my lungs and heart are fine.my oxygen level us awesome and I don't have asthma (was tested). I learned that Ashwaghandha can cause respiratory depression. I'm afraid that this pill (in powder form taken with water on about 15 occasions) has permanently destroyed my respiratory system and caused permanent shortness of breath because it slowed my nervous system and as an adaptogen, it made a permanent change. If the Ashwaghandha caused me to have shortness of breath for the past 5 days is it possible for me to reverse it with another drug or herb that stimulates the cns? I'm supposed to get on Paxil but I don't know how long it will take for the Ashwaghandha to clear my system. I'm afraid that this shortness of breath, which physically makes me feel weak and tired and feel slight chest pain will never go away.