Anxiety attacks can often be limited or eliminated by reducing the concentration of inhaled carbon dioxide. Disclosed is a handheld device for reducing the carbon dioxide concentration of inhaled air by using stacked sheets having rows of adsorbents deposited thereon and which form a removable cartridge. The cartridge is placed into an adsorbent cartridge cradle to secure the cartridge within the device housing and to maintain ventilation channels through the cartridge. Inhaled air passes through the adsorbent containing cartridge and exhaled air exits the device through a bypass to avoid poisoning the adsorbent with exhaled carbon dioxide.
