LotusRising: Buspar, Ativan

[LotusRising]

Hi @Frogie

 

I slept for an hour or so at the beginning of the night and then tossed and turned. Must have slept a bit more because woke again at 300 from a nightmare. 
 

My current doses are .038mg/.038mg/.039mg/.039mg

 

I held yesterday after reducing my first two doses two days ago, so I’m thinking I will decrease the last two today. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

I'm glad you slept, but sorry about the nightmare.

 

I just wanted to check on you.

[LotusRising]

Hi @Frogie

 

Hope you had a nice day. 
 

Just a question - I keep getting abdominal tightening in between doses. I had it yesterday around 1500 and again today at the same time. Seemed to fade out yesterday into the evening. Can I assume it is related to the reductions I made to my 1000 dose. And just to confirm, I will feel the changes of a reduction in 3-4 days? But this can also build up over time, correct? What would be the amount of time? 

[Frogie]

Hi @MedRN

 

Yes. You feel changes about 4 days after a change in dosage, so what you are feeling are the accumulative changes. Does that make sense?

 

I hope you had a decent day despite this.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie so this could potentially be from 8 days ago then, or even more? I’m trying to figure out how to avoid this in the future. 
 

Yes, my day was better up until about 300pm. Got out for a walk - we’re actually above zero after a big deep freeze. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

It could be because it builds up in your system. But it could be from the immediate reduction also. A combination of all of it.

 

That's great you got out for a walk. Got some fresh air.

 

My day was ok, grocery shopping and sat with the internet down for the second day in a row lol... Thanks for asking.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Its so hard to make sense of it all. I never know when to reduce and when to hold. I held off on my 1600 dose, but maybe I’ll go ahead and do the 2200 dose anyway. I haven’t reduced this one since the 17th.
 

The abdominal tightening is really tough - makes it really hard to eat and I’m worried about my weight. I wasn’t much to begin with and I’ve essentially lost all my muscle.  I’ve noticed my appetite has been so small the last few days ☹️

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Can you eat small frequent meals? Yogurt, peanut butter with crackers, tuna/chicken salad, cheese and crackers. Even soup? You just want to get protein as much as you can. Protein shakes are really good and easy to get down. Oatmeal. I'm trying to come up with some simple things that might taste good too.

 

I have asked some other moderators for some advice on what we could possibly do next. Hopefully I will hear something soon.

 

You really are handling this well as hard as it is.

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

I know it hard to make sense of all of this. What bothers one person, doesn't affect the other.

 

It's the pits sometimes, but just remember, every time you reduce you are that much closer to the finish line🙂

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Thank you. 
 

Yes, I am trying to eat small, frequent meals. Those are good suggestions. I’ll try some soup and tuna with crackers sounds good too. 
 

Yes, my husband says the exact same thing. Always closer to the finish line. And all symptoms pass eventually. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

You are so welcome. I'm glad I can help.

 

At least you have a positive attitude. That goes a long way. And your husband supporting you is second to none.

 

Hope you can eat some tuna and crackers. That would be great protein.

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

After conferring with other moderators, we think that you should reduce the two middle doses every day by .001 mg and leave the morning and night dose alone for the moment.

 

We'll get you off those two and then concentrate on the other doses.

 

Please keep me posted.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Ok, I'll have a look back through my notes, but I believe I had a hard time with processing that 2200 dose when the middle ones got smaller? I don't believe the 0400 dose has ever been a problem though. What is the reason for reducing the two middle doses?

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Our way of thinking is you may not have the tightening as bad reducing the 2 middle doses first then we can move to reducing the morning one then the night one. The night one would be the last one because it give you the least symotims,

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

I had a look through all my notes and it looks like we tried reducing out the two middle doses around Dec 11/12, but it appears as though I had an increase in tightening after both my 0400 and night time doses. When we changed the schedule to every 6hrs and started evening out the doses again, the tightening seemed to get better again. As much as I would love to work toward only two doses a day, I’m thinking my body prefers all the doses to be similar. 
 

Also, is it a big jump to go from reducing one dose per day, to reducing two doses per day? That’s about 10% a week right? 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

That's where we are doing a rapid taper to get you off the medication the quickest way and hopefully without a lot of withdrawal symptoms.

 

I'm thinking if we could get you off of a couple of them, you could hold for a little while and then we could get you off the other two. The tightening would hopefully subside some them is what we are thinking.

 

If you aren't comfortable with that, then can you try doing a .001 mg reduction across the board everyday and see how you do? I just want to get you off as quickly as possible.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Ok, yes, it all makes sense.  I definitely want to be off this medication.

 

Everything gives me anxiety about this, I have to be honest. I think you told me you had to rapid taper near the end of your taper,? 

 

So, the first option drops the two middle doses by .001mg for a total of .002mg a day. The second option would be across the board, so .004mg/day? I tried this beginning of January and ended up with terrible day long withdrawal headaches. I can still only tolerate paediatric painkiller doses. I'm wondering about reducing by .002mg/day, so the 0400/1000 one day and 1600/2200 the next, and so on? - similar to first option, but I wouldn't be reducing out the two middle doses. I'm almost doing this currently. If that works out, then I could try bigger reductions?

[Frogie]

@MedRN

1 minute ago, MedRN said:

I'm wondering about reducing by .002mg/day, so the 0400/1000 one day and 1600/2200 the next, and so on? - similar to first option, but I wouldn't be reducing out the two middle doses. I'm almost doing this currently. If that works out, then I could try bigger reductions?

You could try this if you feel comfortable doing that. Try it 2 or 3 days and see how you do and then we can go from there. I just want to get you off of it as fast as possible without too many side effects.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Ok, I’ll try this to start. And I would just hold at the first sign of withdrawal symptoms?

 

And ideally, I would try to do consecutive doses, but is this necessary? I started having the abdominal tightness again this morning and it hasn’t let up - so I’ve been reducing based on symptoms and the order is a little askew. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Yes, please hold at the withdrawal symptoms. That means you are going way too fast. And then we can address that.

 

Consecutive doses are best, but you have to listen to your body and do what you feel is best so you can function.

 

 

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Ok, I will try this. I reduced two doses today, so I’ll consider this my day 1. 
 

Thanks again for all your help.

 

Hope you’re having a nice weekend 😊

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Today sounds perfect.

 

Let me know how you feel tomorrow. I'll be in and out.

 

You also have a nice weekend. Hopefully you can go for another walk.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Just wanted to quickly share with you that last night was the best sleep I’ve had since before this all started   I woke at 2 briefly, felt like my stomach was trying to tighten and then it passed and I fell back asleep. 
 

My heart rate is really shooting up today when I move around - hopefully it calms down a bit. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

That is wonderful news! I think as you go lower, you'll feel better. 

 

Your heart rate will even out eventually. That is very normal. Sometimes mine still shoots up to 90 just sitting here. The dr has assured me it is ok. So I just watch it here and there but I wear a fitbit so I'll move too. Otherwise, I sit in my recliner all day with my little fur baby lol...

 

Just keep trucking along and I think you're going to see a much wanted/needed improvement the lower you go🙂

[LotusRising]

Hi @Frogie

 

I seem to be doing ok with the reductions, but I am getting some inter dose abdominal tightening. Do you think it would be wise to hold for a day, or do you think it will even out over time? I got it before my 1000 and 1600 dose today. It doesn’t seem to go away until my next dose peaks. 
 

What do you think?

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

If you think you can handle it I would go ahead and reduce. Otherwise hold a day and see what happens.

 

Wishing you luck! You've got this.

[LotusRising]

Ok, I think I’ll try for one more day and see if anything changes. It makes it impossibly hard to eat, but I’ll keep on with the little bites here and there. To be honest, it just feels like really bad bloating. It’s like my whole digestive system has slowed down. But definitely uncomfortable and hard to sleep 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Frogie]

@medrn

 

Here is a link on bloating (it also covers nausea and things). But might give you some ideas.

 

Digestive problems:  Nausea, Diarrhoea, Bloating, GERD

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Just checking in on you

[LotusRising]

Hi @Frogie

 

Thanks for checking in. 
 

I’ve definitely been better. I’ve now done 3 full days reducing two doses each day. Today would be my 4th, but I think I’ll only reduce the one dose today. My abdomen tightened for 16 straight hours from yesterday afternoon and into this morning. I think just too much for my body to handle. Otherwise no symptoms. Just some mild ear pressure that passes. 

 

So, today I’m at .146mg daily dose. 
 

0400 - 0.036mg (reduced today)

1000 - 0.036mg

1600 - 0.037mg

2200 - 0.037mg

 

Depending how I feel, I’ll maybe reduce that 2200 dose. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Sounds like wonderful news to me.

 

You are doing great. Look how low you have gotten in a short amount of time. 

 

Go get it girl!

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Yes, huge reduction compared to other weeks! I may need to slow it down a little, but I’m happy with the progress

 

 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

I think you’re doing really well. You’re that much closer to zero! I’m very happy with your progress 😊

[LotusRising]

Hi @Frogie

 

Just a couple questions/concerns:

 

Not feeling so great today. For the last week or so I have barely had an appetite, as I think I've mentioned. I'm sure all the abdominal tightening has had an affect on that. I am trying to eat small meals frequently, but now I'm getting diarrhea. The diarrhea and lack of appetite has me a little concerned, as I don't weight much to begin with.  I see from the site that lots of people have digestive issues - just wondering to your knowledge, is this something that comes and goes? I didn't have any previous gut issues and was taking probiotics and digestive enzymes. This week I have added in kefir to see if I can replenish some good bacteria and also some ginger tea to help with any inflammation. Do you have any other ideas? I was going to add in some L-glutamine for my gut, but I see some people have had bad reactions from it. I'm also going to try taking digestive enzymes again. Hopefully, no reactions to them. 

 

Also, my heart rate is going up to 135 just walking up the stairs, but I'm assuming this will pass. Do you think any of these new symptoms could be attributed to the quicker pace of the taper?

 

Sorry, lots of questions today 😣

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

It's really normal. I went through that the whole 4 years I tapered off my Lexapro. The Gastroenterologist actually had me drink Metamucil twice a day to have fiber and it did help. So a psyllium husk drink is what he wanted me to drink. You could try some Pepto-Bismol if that doesn't help. 

 

My heart rate sometimes in the middle of the night if I wake up is 120+. But the dr told me it was normal going through all of this. If you feel concerned I would ask the dr though.

 

You might wait a couple days and see if your tummy settles a little and how you feel.

 

Take care.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Yikes, 4 years to go through that is a long time!
 

It’s hard not having a appetite, especially when I’m moving around a lot more. 
 

Hopefully it will settle.