Mario77: Multiple medication mishaps

[Altostrata]

We want you to stop rocking the boat so we can see your baseline symptom pattern and which drug is doing what. Every time you make a drug change, you set this back 4 days to a week. That's 4 more days to a week that you have to cope with drug adverse effects.

 

Once we see your baseline symptom pattern, we can suggest corrections that probably will gradually take effect in the same 4 days to a week. In short, you will gradually feel better once we can get your nutty drug schedule straightened out.

 

Then you can start tapering off all of your drugs.

[Mario77]

7AM  Propranolol 40mg, cold feet, slight low back pain

8AM Clonazepam 0.75mg

9AM Lex 12.5- sleepy, tried to nap, jolted by terror moments and ruminations, 

10AM Amlodipine 10mg

12PM slight chest and abdominal discomfort

1 PM light headache

2PM clonazepam 0.75mg

3PM A bit of chills

4PM improving

9PM clonazepam 0.75mg

10:30 PM will get liquid mirtazapine 18.75

 

Thanks @Altostrata & @Frogie

[Frogie]

@Mario77

 

Do you live where it is cold? I know my feet and hands are cold almost all the time. I live in Colorado.

 

Overall, your notes aren't showing a lot of anxiety that were having.

 

Please keep them coming.

[Mario77]

@FrogieCold feet when I am waking up...in bed, under covers , with socks...😒

I do have ruminating thoughts and worries, especially in the morning.

 

[Frogie]

Have you checked your temperature?

 

Ruminating thought and worries are very normal in wd also.

[Mario77]

Yes, no fever.

I agree, my "anxiety" is a it different than my original anxiety.

Have a nice week! I'll keep in touch. Thanks.

[Mario77]

@Altostrata @Frogie

How about silexan, some lavender extract. I used to take that, and some magnesium and fish oil. Any good? 

[Frogie]

@Mario77

 

We don't suggest supplements except magnesium and omega

 

Magnesium

Omega-3 Fish Oil

 

When you try them, only try one at a time and in a small amount. Wait a few days before introducing the other one in a small amount.

[Mario77]

It's just the second day on my schedule and it's tough...Just saying..

[Frogie]

@Mario77

 

It is going to be rough until your body stabilizes because you've made so many changes in such a short amount of time.

 

Hang in there and keep the notes coming so we know what is going on.

[Mario77]

@Frogie @Altostrata

6AM woke up , a bit of chills, rumination, worry, hyperventilating

7AM propranolol 40, worry, stiff back

8AM clonazepam 0.75, breakfast, slight agitation, lack of concentration

9AM Lexapro 12.5 chills , stiff back, lack of concentration

10 AM Amlodipine, hard to concentrate at work, feeling cold, restlessness

12 PM Lunch, feeling cold, stiff back

12:30PM Reading SA...:)

1PM Stiff neck, chest pain (maybe from work stress), abdominal discomfort, abdominal muscle contraction, slight tremor and increasing agitation (akathisia?)

2 PM  clonazepam 0.75mg

3 PM still agitated, pacing around

4PM bad back pain

5 PM home, half hour in bed (nap?), a bit better

7PM dinner

7:30-10PM in bed, nap (?) tossing and turning

10:30 PM Clonazepam 0.75 plus mirtazapine 18.75

[Frogie]

@Mario77

 

It looks as though the akathisia is lessening since there is no mention of it in your notes.

 

A stiff back could be the way you slept, and the neck could be stress/work related.

 

As to you always being cold, have you had your thyroid checked? That could be a sign of a thyroid deficiency. Although it could simply be that you are "cold blooded". I'm very cold blooded and have to wear sweaters even in the summer with the ac running.

[Mario77]

I have a stiff back only when I am anxious. My thyroid is OK, I checked that. Usually I have no problems regulating my temperature.

Yes, not more bad akathisia I think, but I am agitated and pacing around , especially in the early afternoon.

[Frogie]

@Mario77

 

I think the agitation will take time to go away, since you were up and down so much on the medications. 

 

Hopefully sticking to these doses and schedule, you'll see improvement soon.

[Mario77]

@Frogie @AltostrataSo, stick to the schedule, no matter what!

What do I tell my doc, I need her for scripts and stuff...She offered mu clonidine, Lyrica or increase the lex to above 20...:)

[Mario77]

I really need some encouragement right now...looks like it's the worse time of the day...

Once I reach home, I am a bit better. Evening are the best.

[Altostrata]

Yes, stick to the schedule. We need to see exactly how your drug cocktail is affecting you, so we can suggest which ones to taper. 

 

How long have you been taking amlodopine at 10 a.m.? What effects do you feel from it? When did you start feeling cold? When was the last time your blood pressure was checked?

 

On 1/5/2022 at 5:58 PM, Mario77 said:

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1956-0,172-0,1013-0,703-0

 

 

You're aware you're taking several drugs that lower blood pressure, correct?

 

3 hours ago, Mario77 said:

@Frogie @AltostrataSo, stick to the schedule, no matter what!

What do I tell my doc, I need her for scripts and stuff...She offered mu clonidine, Lyrica or increase the lex to above 20...:)

 

You're taking 5 drugs, do you want to make your situation even more complicated?

 

Why don't you tell her you're trying to stabilize on your current cocktail? Is this the doctor who's gotten you into your current pickle?

[Mario77]

@Altostrata @Frogie

 

6 AM Woke up hyperventilating, ruminating thoughts

7 AM propranolol 40mg, out of bed, agitation

815AM Clonazepam 0.75mg hard to concentrate

9:30 AM Escitalopram 12.5mg 

10:30 AM Amlodipine 10mg, stiff back, yawning, brain fog

11:30 agitation, pacing the restroom

12 Lunch

1 PM Shakiness, cold, jaw clenching

2 PM clonazepam 0.75mg

3 PM chest pain, cold, agitation, stiff back

530 PM home, exhausted in bed

7 PM lunch

8 PM better

930 PM will take last clonazepam 0.75mg of the day

1030 PM will take liquid mirtazapine 18.75mg (1 1/4 ml)

 

I am checking my blood pressure regularly. It is normal. I am taking amlodipine at 10AM instead of 7AM for 3 days now. I am ALWAYS cold when I have my crises (anxiety, side effects, interactions, withdrawal, whatever they are) and I have problem regulating my temperature.

 

My present doc added escitalopram (on top of my mirtazapine from the first doctor) and switched me from lorazepam to clonazepam. So, yes, I see your point...but I have to stay in good terms with her (she is my prescriber after all, and I need her, the wait for an appointment is 3 months here).

Thanks again.

 

 

[Frogie]

@Mario77

 

You have to do what you think it right. But if your provider keeps upping your medications, we can't help you taper. You need to stabilize and let your CNS rest before you go up and down anymore.

[Altostrata]

No, you do not have to do what your prescriber says. You are paying her as an expert consultant. She works for you.

 

You have the right to decline any drug prescription. You have the right to decide to reduce or go off any of your drugs.

 

As @Frogie said, if you keep on changing your drugs, we can't help you, it would be a waste of our time.

[Mario77]

@Altostrata @FrogieI got that. And I need your help. But you realize how hard it is to do the right thing (nothing, just wait and bite the bullet to stabilize) when someone is promising you the end of the suffering with just one small additional pill. or two...maybe 3.🙄

I'll keep the notes coming. Any discernable pattern so far? 

[Chlo]

7 minutes ago, Mario77 said:

@Altostrata @FrogieI got that. And I need your help. But you realize how hard it is to do the right thing (nothing, just wait and bite the bullet to stabilize) when someone is promising you the end of the suffering with just one small additional pill. or two...maybe 3.🙄

I'll keep the notes coming. Any discernable pattern so far? 

Hang in there, my friend, we are all in this together 🙏

[Altostrata]

Yes, you're having adverse effects from the drugs you insist on overusing.

 

Mario, you are the only one who governs what goes into your mouth. All of our members have to take responsibility for their own drug regimens. If you can't do that, we cannot help you.

 

If you prefer to follow your doctor's advice, you can do that. Just take your problems to her, not us.

[Mario77]

@Altostrata @FrogieLike I said, I am ready to follow your advice. 

[Mario77]

Good news, I was able to read a full chapter of a book last evening!!! It's such a long time since I even tried to do that...let alone succeed.

Today my brain fog is not so foggy...Thanks God!

[Chlo]

2 minutes ago, Mario77 said:

Good news, I was able to read a full chapter of a book last evening!!! It's such a long time since I even tried to do that...let alone succeed.

Today my brain fog is not so foggy...Thanks God!

Praise God!! What is the name of the book? 

[Mario77]

"The spy and the traitor". KGB and stuff...How are you?

[Chlo]

Just now, Mario77 said:

"The spy and the traitor". KGB and stuff...How are you?

Panicky, breathless.  But better than I was last week.

[Mario77]

Better is better. Keep up the good work!  Reach anytime. I am thinking of you.

[Chlo]

1 minute ago, Chlo said:

Panicky, breathless.  But better than I was last week.

Alto said I'm having a adverse reaction to my antidepressant,  I haven't been able to stabilize since August. Please pray for me. 

[Mario77]

I will. God help us!

[Mario77]

13 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Yes, you're having adverse effects from the drugs you insist on overusing.

@Altostrata @Frogie I don't insist, but I am scared of touching anything right now. Any suggestions? Stay put for a while?

[Frogie]

@Mario77

 

You don't have to take the dosage the dr insists on you taking. As @Altostrata has said, it's your body and you can decide what to do. Your dr should be supportive of you wanting to take care of yourself.

 

I would hold on what you are taking and not touch anything. You have gone up and down so much your CNS needs time to stabilize and heal.

 

Maybe you should look for a dr that will support you. I'm not telling you what to do, just a friendly suggestion.

[Mario77]

OK, that's what I will do. I am so eager to get rid of these; but I know I have to SLOWLY taper everything, when the time comes. Maybe @Altostrata or you can help with a plan. All I wonder now if I should move dosing times around, but I don't think so...correct?

Thanks, @Frogie

[Frogie]

@Mario77

 

No, please don't touch anything. You've got to stabilize and moving things around and up and down are just wreaking havoc on your system.

 

You just need to stay put at what you are doing right now and let it all settle.

[Altostrata]

@Mario77, you're feeling better because your nervous system is catching up with the drug changes. When this settles, my guess is you'll be reducing that afternoon dose of clonazepam. We need to continue to see your daily notes.