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Burning sensations from withdrawal -- skin, mouth, head, elsewhere


peggy

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Hi. My sister is in withdrawal and has a constant burning brain. It never goes away. She wears ice packs on her head. She is still tapering Mirtazapine. How many people healed who had a burning brain as a symptom? She just needs a little hope.

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1 hour ago, icerose87 said:

Hi. My sister is in withdrawal and has a constant burning brain. It never goes away. She wears ice packs on her head. She is still tapering Mirtazapine. How many people healed who had a burning brain as a symptom? She just needs a little hope.

 

Hi.   I Cold Turkey on Amitriptyline.  Reinstated it almost 3 months later (Dec 21, 2019) and this is when I started to feel my brain is inflamed and it is hypersensitive.  It also feel as my crane is too small and my brain has swelled and it kind of hurts.  I have a neck cushion I can heat in microwave stove that I often use for my back pain, and now I put it on top or back of my crane, and it feels good to do so.  I guess cold or hot does work.  I did not start to taper yet.  Just focusing on stabilizing right now.  There is some progress and symptoms are a little less intense, and I'm sleeping enough now after a more than 40 days total insomnia.  I think your sister's brain is also hypersensitive.  I plan to micro taper maybe at the end of this year, and spacing each reduction by as many weeks as necessary.  I'm convinced this burning brain will go away too.  How fast or slow is your sister tapering Mirtazapine?  Maybe she is doing it too fast?  Certainly, a mentor or veteran member here will answer you, but they will need that info.

1989, 25mg, Amitriptyline 1st prescribed for 1wk insomnia, 2020 october Cold turkey

20/12/21, 22.5mg reinstated; waited 1.5 year to start tapering

21/07/25, 20mg tapering started. 10% every 4 weeks

22/02/26, 9.5mg - Emergency surgery put chaos to tapering: chronic insomnia till May

22/04/11, 10mg tapering started. 10% every 4 week. Sleep came back but trickled away in Sep' 22

22/09/17, 5,1mg - 10/15, 4.6mg - 11/12, 4,1mg - 12/10, 3.7mg.  Too fast. Permanent symptoms.

22/12/28, 4,0mg - partial updose where I'll remain until perfect stabilizing

22/12/30, 4,0mg - started Melatonin 3mg, Maritime Pine Bark Extract am & pm

23/02/03, 4,0mg - sleeping well every night with dreams, symptoms are diminishing

22/03/20, 4,0mg - insomnia is back on some nights. Waves. Anxiety. My dog is sick.

Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Omega Alpha Labs) in capsules am & pm, Melatonin 3mg

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She is tapering 0.5 mg per month. It may be too fast, but she can’t wait anymore. I do think she has a hypersensitive brain, too, but I don’t see her stabilizing on this drug. She never stabilized on any psych drug she has ever been on. 

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I had that in my first couple of dosage drops before I realized I probably needed to go slower. After the last really bad withdrawal I had, I held my dosage for 3 months and then tapered by a lower amount. I haven't felt that again in my last few dosage drops. Trying to draw/paint what I was feeling helped, and doing whatever I was able to do in that time, which wasn't much.

2005 - 2016 on & off methylphenidate and bupropion; short terms trials of other medications; tried many supplements

2016 Nov - 2017 Mar citalopram ramp up 0-->30mg (4 months)

2017 Mar - 2018 Jan held at 30mg (11months); taking 1.5x 20mg tablets, cutting 20mg tablets in half. inconsistency in split tablet led to extreme side effects.

2018 Feb - 2018 May taper 30mg-->20mg (3months), ~2.5mg/month, cutting tablets; at 20mg side effects (vertigo, headache, etc) disappeared

2018 May - 2019 Apr held at 20mg (11months); attempted taper from 20mg; tried ~17.5mg cutting tablets but symptoms too strong

2019 Apr - 2021 Jun tapered 20mg-->10mg (26months); ~5%/month dissolving tablets in water and pipetting with syringe; min lorazepam 2-3x/mo to mitigate symptoms

2021 Jun - 2023 Nov held at 10mg (29months)

2023 Nov - Nov 7 10mg solid to liquid; Dec 7 liquid 10mg; Dec 14 9.9mg; Dec 21 9.8mg; Dec 28 9.75mg; Jan 27 9.65mg; Feb 3 9.53mg; Feb 18 9.45mg

 

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  • 2 months later...

Severe burning after withdrawal

 

Is there a way to treat severe burning sensations in head and all over body after stoppong Abilify 5 mg without tappering. I am currently on Brintellix 20 mg.

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added topic title

2009 Cipralex 10 mg mid 2009 to mid 2010

2010 Cipralex 20 mg mid 2010 to mid 2016 . 

2016 Lustral  1/4 tablet for one week July 2016

2016 Cipram ( Celexa ) 20 mg July to August 

2016 Cipralex 10 mg August 2016 to September

2017 Brintellix 10mg January 2017 till January              2018

2017 Dogamatil January till Febuary

2017 Abilify 10mg till January 2018

2018 prozac,Cipram,Risperdal,Achtenon and Quitapex from January to May 2018 stopped all

2018 Brintallix 20mg May to present day

2019 Faverin 100mg May to January 2020

2019 Abilify 5mg January 2019 till March 2020

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On 8/27/2019 at 3:44 PM, Andi said:

Hello everybody,

 

So a couple of years ago i started Lexapro 20mg. The first 2 years i had no problems at all, then after about 2 years i started to get neck pain, and not just some pain but really intense nerve pain that made it hard to even move my neck. I went to the docter and he kept saying it was just stress and i should not worry so much. After walking around with the neck pain and ruling out everything else i decided to quit the Lexapro because i was suspecting it to be the cause of the problem. I then made a stupid mistake by quitting cold Turkey but atleast one thing was very clear: after 2 days the neck pain was for the most part gone, after a couple of weeks i got hit with the discontinuation syndrome and the neck started to irritate as well but never so bad as on Lexapro. So last year i started Venlafaxine because the docter prescribed it to me after i was doing very bad, (which i now know was because of the withdrawal syndrome) I felt better within 3 days on 37mg, after a week i went op to 75mg and oh my god my neck started to burn like never before!! I was sweating from just trying to move my neck. So i decided to lower the dose to 37mg and once again the neck was feeling better within 2 days. So 6 months ago i quit Venlafaxine after a short taper, the first 6 weeks i was doing oke, then after 6 weeks i got hit once again with the withdrawal syndrome. So after about 6 months i had enough and i reinstated the Venlafaxine at a very small dose 6mg! After about 3 days i got flue like symptoms and my neck started to burn again!! The flu was gone after one night but the neck pain stayed, since the neck pain was to much i decided to quit but now after about 3 days the neck pain is still here, im starting to get really frustrated because i cant live with this. Normally the problem Always went away after lowering or quitting the drug however now its still here. I like to make clear that i have no other issues, i was actually starting to feel better on 6mg but decided to stop because of the neck pain. Now the question i like to ask: Is there really no one that has any idea what could have caused this problem? Its not a withdrawal issue since the medication started it in the first place. Could it be serotonin syndrome? Or could there be an underlaying issue? My blood tests where Always fine. It scares me that it doesnt go away now because this is seriously making me think about ending it all. I cant believe that in this day and age no one has any idea what could have caused this. Obviously i will make an appointment with my doctor and i want to be checked by a neurologist.

 

Hi Andi, my story is a bit similar, I just wrote an introduction post. 

 

I developed burning pain in my legs after trials with 3 different ADs (desvenlafaxine was the one that caused it, I stopped it after 2 weeks and switched to amitriptyline, also stopped it after 2 weeks because it worsened the burning so I switched to Imipramine, and stopped it too after 4 weeks because the burning was unbelievable). 

 

Now it's been 4 months off everything (except mirtazapine, which I have taken for 2 years), I still have terrible waves but not windows, the burning never goes below 6/10. How has yours progressed?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi, I was just looking through the files here for things that stood out to me and this one did. Burning brain, that's something that i had in Effexor withdrawal. The only way I could describe what was happening to my brain was that it felt like it was almost on fire. It doesn't feel that way anymore. I've been off for about 38 months now after way too quick of a necessary taper.

Gussy

On effexor for at least 11 years. Last few years going through ivf treatment dose has ranged from 150-200mg. Mainly 150 though. Tapered from about 175mg mid jan 2017 to zero mid april 2017. 2&1/2 months of straight hell. Getting there now though.

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  • 1 month later...

I too have it, im off all meds for 23 months and still burning over all in my torso. All that ever helped me is an icepack.. 😕

2008 - Setralin 150mg, CT after 1 year. 
2015 - Venlafaxin 150mg. CT after 1 month. 
2016 - Brintellix 100mg, CT after  2 years.
2018 

January - Mirtazapin 25 mg, CT after 1 month. 
Mars - Setralin 100 mg. CT after 1 month. 
August- Lexapro 5 mg. CT after 1 month, adverse reaction. Stopped all benzo, sleeping pills here too. 

2019 

January - Took fluconazol and itraconazol, strong reaction, like bein floxed. 

January - Used progesteronecream 200mg a day for 1 month. Severe reaction month 2 so i stopped (maybe built up cream in tissues?) 

April - Took plan-B, this messed me up the most. 

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My husband had severe burning sensations on the top of his head for about 16 months after completing his Risperidone taper. We went to ER, neurologists, pain specialists, even acupuncture and NO ONE really took this seriously. It caused sleep deprivation and made everything WORSE. Apparently, this is a parasthesia and what we believe helped him was he started taking ALA, benfotiamine and ALCAR together. I learned through research that this combination is helpful for many people who suffer from neuropathy (diabetic, chemo) and thought it might also help here. He was desperate for relief and tried it. CAUTION: ALCAR is psychoactive so... research is key. We didn’t know if it just got better or these supplements helped until we were traveling and he didn’t bring these and stopped taking them for a week, the burning comeback in a milder way so we thing it did actually help him. 

Husband's Med History:

2mg Risperidone 2009 - 2017

Risperidone taper from 2mg - 0.. 08/2017-07/01/18

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  • 2 weeks later...

That burning could be akathisia

I have been on several antidepressants including: Serzone 1998-2006 (unknown dose)-Celexa 2006- 2018 40 mg 1x -Lexapro 2018-2019 20mg 2x-Luvox 2018 (unknown dose)-Effexor 2006-2007 (unknown dose)-Gabapentin 2018 (abused)-Propranolol 2018 (Unknown dose)-Clonidine 2018 0.5 mg 1x-Oxycodone 2014-2017 (abused)-Ativan 2mg 3x 2002-2018-Oxycontin 2014-2017 (abused)-Mirtazapine 15mg 1x (2018)-Rexulti 2mg 1x (2018-2020)

 

Now taking

- Dexedrine 25mg twice a day IR Since 2018-

-Suboxone 12mg once daily Since 2017-

-Trintellix 10mg once a day Since 2018-

- Klonopin 2 mg once a day Since 2002 (lost effect)

 

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  • 5 months later...

i feel like burning skin when i try to walk for 2 to 3 minutes. what is going on with me .  please help i m very tense and anxiety is on top due to it.

2010 citanew 10mg ct after 6 monthes

 

2015 citanew 10mg ct after 5 to 6 monthes

 

April 2020 xanax .25 mg ct after 1 month

 

April 2020 citanew 10mg ct August 2020

 

several wd , insomnia, anxiety, fear, muscle spasm, weakness on left side.

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I do not have the burning but have near constant itching of my face and scalp. It feels like I have something crawling on my scalp and a feather touching my face/neck very lightly. It can be quite maddening. I have read on this site that our issue is most likely due to our damaged central nervous system. My itching started shortly after I reduced my drugs in April which was 10 months ago. I suppose it will go away in time. I hope.

 

Paxil  07/1997 - 10/1998 Quit CT  

Neurontin, topamax, trazadone,  ssri AD (don't remember which one) 12/1998 - 06/1999 CT everything

Eflexor Xanax  04/2000 -08/2000 CT  ***01/2008-05/2013 on/off lexapro, lamictalseroquelsaphris, pristiq  Start/Stop CT at intervals 

Zoloft 200 mg 07/2013  WD 04/3/20 - 04/8/20 Quit

Seroquel 800 mg 07/2013 2013 *400 mg 07/2019  *** WD 04/15/2020 - 06/19/20 Quit

Ambien 10 mg 07/2013  WD 5 mg 04/29/2020, 2.5 mg 12/24/20, 1.66 mg 01/21/2021, 1.25 mg 02/16/2021 *** 02/22/2021 Quit

Xanax  2 mg prn 07/2013 - 04/23/20 Quit CT

Lamictal 150 mg 07/2013 WD 05/06/20 -06/11/2020 Quit

Propranolol 03/21/2020 - 04/20/2020 Quit CT

Hydroxyzine  12/14/2020 - 12/27/20 Quit

Allegra 24 hr 01/11/21 Flonase Nasal Spray 01/11/21

Magnesium Glycinate 100mg x3 daily D3 5000iu daily 

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@saimshah Unfortunately it's just a symptom of withdrawal that will get better with time. I also have the burning. It's improved from when I initially had it, but it still comes back for a week or 2 at a time. 

5/24 - Started .5mg - 1 Klonopin as needed - 7/20 - Started Lexapro 5mg (still on Klonopin) - 7/27 - Lexapro 10mg - 8/5 - Started tapering Klonopin stabilizing on a daily dose of .25mg - 8/17 - Jumped at .065 (fast taper... but it seemed to work)

8/17 - Lexapro to 9mg (time to get rid of the next drug..) - 8/29 - Lexapro to 6.5mg from 9mg (probably too fast but I had only been on Lexapro for a month so I felt like I could get away with it), 9/8-9/13 - Had alcohol all week sporadically (1 to 2 drinks) because I was feeling so much better. I tested with 1 drink, got away with it, and just kind of got excited.. ugh 

9/13 - Lexapro was down to 2.78mg (so 8/29-9/13 6.5 to 2.78mg) way too fast I know. 9/14 - Had a dentist appointment, received probably Lidocaine - Had mild anxiety in the afternoon after Novocaine wore off - 9/15 - Feels like I'm starting back into acute benzo withdrawal, 9/16 - Definitely very back into acute something, feels like Benzo withdrawal with severe burning sensation on skin, doing laps around the house. 

9/17 - Updosed Lexapro to 3.9mg 

9/19 - Updosed Lexapro more to 4.46mg

9/21-9/22 - reinstated Klonopin for 2 days .03125 mg 

9/26-10/16 - reinstated Klonopin again .03125 mg-.046875mg 

9/29-12/1 - reinstated Klonopin again - 03215mg-.065mg Klonopin

12/1 - 0 Klonopin

3/2 - .67mg Lexapro - Having a terrible month

3/12 - 0 Lexapro - advised it may actually be causing adverse side effects

 

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its not only burning if i stand burning starts in my hands and arms and i feel exhausted and start panicking. I was not able to sleep from last 11 days it was just 2 to 3 hours sleep but today i was able to sleep more then 6 hours. i started mindfullness meditation from YouTube. I guess meditation really works in our case and we feel light and less anxious. I will try to walk today again and see if burning improved or not.

2010 citanew 10mg ct after 6 monthes

 

2015 citanew 10mg ct after 5 to 6 monthes

 

April 2020 xanax .25 mg ct after 1 month

 

April 2020 citanew 10mg ct August 2020

 

several wd , insomnia, anxiety, fear, muscle spasm, weakness on left side.

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Ya I mean, anything you can do for mindfulness helps. I usually notice the burning starts with a stressor, even a very minor one.  It leads to insomnia for me (I have it right now didn't sleep tonight) which in turn leads to more intense burning the next day. Until I'm able to sleep it persists.  Sometimes a hot shower before bed helps relieve some of the intensity of the burning and makes it easier to sleep. I'm finding coconut water (high in potassium) might help too. But I've only been testing that theory a few days. 

5/24 - Started .5mg - 1 Klonopin as needed - 7/20 - Started Lexapro 5mg (still on Klonopin) - 7/27 - Lexapro 10mg - 8/5 - Started tapering Klonopin stabilizing on a daily dose of .25mg - 8/17 - Jumped at .065 (fast taper... but it seemed to work)

8/17 - Lexapro to 9mg (time to get rid of the next drug..) - 8/29 - Lexapro to 6.5mg from 9mg (probably too fast but I had only been on Lexapro for a month so I felt like I could get away with it), 9/8-9/13 - Had alcohol all week sporadically (1 to 2 drinks) because I was feeling so much better. I tested with 1 drink, got away with it, and just kind of got excited.. ugh 

9/13 - Lexapro was down to 2.78mg (so 8/29-9/13 6.5 to 2.78mg) way too fast I know. 9/14 - Had a dentist appointment, received probably Lidocaine - Had mild anxiety in the afternoon after Novocaine wore off - 9/15 - Feels like I'm starting back into acute benzo withdrawal, 9/16 - Definitely very back into acute something, feels like Benzo withdrawal with severe burning sensation on skin, doing laps around the house. 

9/17 - Updosed Lexapro to 3.9mg 

9/19 - Updosed Lexapro more to 4.46mg

9/21-9/22 - reinstated Klonopin for 2 days .03125 mg 

9/26-10/16 - reinstated Klonopin again .03125 mg-.046875mg 

9/29-12/1 - reinstated Klonopin again - 03215mg-.065mg Klonopin

12/1 - 0 Klonopin

3/2 - .67mg Lexapro - Having a terrible month

3/12 - 0 Lexapro - advised it may actually be causing adverse side effects

 

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merged similar topics

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Sorry for the discomfort you’re all experiencing. I have also developed strange numbness and tingling in my ankles, shins, back of hands, forearms and lips. I can only ascribe this to WD from Seroquel. I recently reduced my dose too aggressively. I’m guessing that with time it will resolve. It seems that burning hands and feet are a common WD symptom 

April 2019 ct from Clonazepan (Klonopin) 0.5mg. Chaotic CT

Gabapentin November 2019 600mg Chaotic RT

Nozinan November 2019. RT

ct Gabapentin and Nozinan May 2020

Seroquel in July 2020 90mg. Reduced to 50mg in Feb 2020 over one month. Too fast!!

Lexapro July 2020 5mg

Propranolol to control Tachycardia 2020. 15mg given in December 2020 on Cardiologist recommendation. 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Burning skin is one of my worst symptoms... seems to have gotten worse over time... used to be just my feet,now it's all over at times. Almost 7 years off.🥺

went on Prozac 1994-99,60mg.poopout ct  back on 2001-2002,prozac weekly 2002,not working,Effexor 75 mg.?2003-mar.2004 gaining weight 8wk. taper,wellbutrin 150 mg.mar. -may 2004 ctmedfree til july 2005 back to Prozac gaining weight again,back on wellbutrin jan.2006150-300 mg.bad constipation.also was taking aygestin(hormone)perimenopausal irregular bleeding.back on Prozac around sept,?2006,hysterectomy jan30.2007(adenomyosis)off&on Prozac til 2009,citalopram about 1 mo, April 2010 no effect,Effexor again may -mar, 2011.ct,Prozac aug,-dec, 2011 &sept-nov 2012,paroxetine oct,23 2013-may 4 2014 20 mgs.tapered 6 wks.-failed RI in Oct.2014-in protracted WD.started 10 mgs. Fluoxetine May 25 2021 .Stopped fluoxetine May 2022 at 5 mgs.

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  • 2 months later...

For me its a strange tingling and hot feeling of my feet. And I am now getting a little bit of it in my other extremities too.  It comes on pretty randomly and lasts a random amount of time. I havent figured out what would help.

???? To  early April 2021: citalopram 20mg. This was a about 12+years

April 2021: stopped taking citalopram 

6/10/2021 to 6/11/2021: started taking buspirone for anxiety . Got ringing in the ears and insomnia so I stopped

6/16/2021 reinstatement of citalopram at 10mg

8/12/2021: 4.5ml/9mg citalopram 10/11/21 4ml 11/15/21 3.5ml 12/28/2021: 3ml/6mg 1/28/2022 2.5ml/5mg  2mL/4mg 3/6/2022 1.5ml/3mg 4/12/2022  5/31/2022 1ml/2mg  7/31/2022 .5ml/1mg

9/3/2022: .4ml/.8mg citalopram. after a few days got some severe withdrawal so  .45ml/.9mg 9/8/2022 10/6/2022 1mg again .45ml/.9mg 12/9/2022

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 7/7/2012 at 11:03 PM, peggy said:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

See also:  Paresthesia: Pins & Needles, Numbness, Tingling, Burning Sensations

______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

is this a symptom of withdrawal or is my dog too hot for my feet at night?

Hi guys,

 

There is evidence now that viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can cause neurological impairments such as paresthesia i.a.

"It was recently documented that, in addition to systemic and respiratory symptoms, 36.4% (78/214) of patients with COVID-19 develop neurological symptoms, including headache, disturbed consciousness, and paresthesia. Severely affected patients are more likely to develop neurological symptoms than patients who have mild or moderate disease (
Mao et al., 2020)."

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7146689/)

Ven

 

2014 – 2020: Venlafaxine (extended release) in doses from 37,5 – 300 mg

2017: Venlafaxine - started tapering off after discontinuation had failed

12-15-2019: Venlafaxine 2,64 mg (8 beads) = 4 weeks

01-15-2020: Venlafaxine 1,32 mg (4 beads)] = 6 weeks || 02-29: 1,98 mg (6 beads) = 6 weeks || 04-15: 1,65 mg (5 beads) ≈ 14 weeks = 3,5 month || 07-25: 1,98 mg (6 beads) = 1 day || 07-26: 1,65 mg (5 beads) ≈ 2 weeks || 08-10: 1,98 mg (6 beads) = 4 days || 08-14: 1,65 mg (5 beads) = 4 days || 08-18: 0,99 mg (3 beads) = 6 days || 08-24: (0 mg)

08-2020 – 03-2021: Diazepam occasionally in doses from 2,5 – 5 mg

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12 minutes ago, Venlafckcine said:

Hi guys,

 

There is evidence now that viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can cause neurological impairments such as paresthesia i.a.

"It was recently documented that, in addition to systemic and respiratory symptoms, 36.4% (78/214) of patients with COVID-19 develop neurological symptoms, including headache, disturbed consciousness, and paresthesia. Severely affected patients are more likely to develop neurological symptoms than patients who have mild or moderate disease (
Mao et al., 2020)."

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7146689/)

Ven


Not only SARS-CoV-2 can cause these issues but also hsv-2 (herpes simplex) may cause limb numbness, paresthesias, and weakness.

(https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/795486)
 

 

2014 – 2020: Venlafaxine (extended release) in doses from 37,5 – 300 mg

2017: Venlafaxine - started tapering off after discontinuation had failed

12-15-2019: Venlafaxine 2,64 mg (8 beads) = 4 weeks

01-15-2020: Venlafaxine 1,32 mg (4 beads)] = 6 weeks || 02-29: 1,98 mg (6 beads) = 6 weeks || 04-15: 1,65 mg (5 beads) ≈ 14 weeks = 3,5 month || 07-25: 1,98 mg (6 beads) = 1 day || 07-26: 1,65 mg (5 beads) ≈ 2 weeks || 08-10: 1,98 mg (6 beads) = 4 days || 08-14: 1,65 mg (5 beads) = 4 days || 08-18: 0,99 mg (3 beads) = 6 days || 08-24: (0 mg)

08-2020 – 03-2021: Diazepam occasionally in doses from 2,5 – 5 mg

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  • 1 month later...

This doesn't seem to be a very active thread, but I feel the need to get my thoughts down somewhere.  

 

My skin/body started burning back in May 2020 with Mirtazapine.  I've been trying ever since to get off of it.  It occurs every day to varying degrees and I'm feeling very discouraged and depressed.  It just won't go away.  I've held at 15mg now for 6 months and things are no better.  It really ramped up when I made to big of a drop in February.  Previously it had just been my knees, hands and arms, but after the drop, my face, scalp, mouth, legs and back are affected.  Even the insides of my ears.  It's not just an uncomfortable feeling, it hurts a lot.  I've tried topical treatments that have had no effect.  I was prescribed gabapentin and that didn't help plus gave me some bad side effects.  I feel like there's no end in sight because each time I try to decrease my dose, even by 5%, I have a ton of withdrawal symptoms and the burning gets worse.  1.5 years of this is just too much.

February 2020 - present Mirtazapine  

     February - July 2020                    15mg

     July - September 2020.                22.5mg

     September 2020.                           30mg

     October 2020 - February 2021    22.5mg

     February 2021.                               15mg

     July 2021 starting liquid taper

May 2021 - present Buspar

     May 2021    5mg 3x per day

     July 2021.    10mg 3x per day

Supplements: Daily multi vitamin, iron,    
    calcium d glaucurate

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@timetofeelgood

 

Really sorry to hear this :( Are you getting any windows at all? Or is it every day and it comes and goes with your thoughts? 

5/24 - Started .5mg - 1 Klonopin as needed - 7/20 - Started Lexapro 5mg (still on Klonopin) - 7/27 - Lexapro 10mg - 8/5 - Started tapering Klonopin stabilizing on a daily dose of .25mg - 8/17 - Jumped at .065 (fast taper... but it seemed to work)

8/17 - Lexapro to 9mg (time to get rid of the next drug..) - 8/29 - Lexapro to 6.5mg from 9mg (probably too fast but I had only been on Lexapro for a month so I felt like I could get away with it), 9/8-9/13 - Had alcohol all week sporadically (1 to 2 drinks) because I was feeling so much better. I tested with 1 drink, got away with it, and just kind of got excited.. ugh 

9/13 - Lexapro was down to 2.78mg (so 8/29-9/13 6.5 to 2.78mg) way too fast I know. 9/14 - Had a dentist appointment, received probably Lidocaine - Had mild anxiety in the afternoon after Novocaine wore off - 9/15 - Feels like I'm starting back into acute benzo withdrawal, 9/16 - Definitely very back into acute something, feels like Benzo withdrawal with severe burning sensation on skin, doing laps around the house. 

9/17 - Updosed Lexapro to 3.9mg 

9/19 - Updosed Lexapro more to 4.46mg

9/21-9/22 - reinstated Klonopin for 2 days .03125 mg 

9/26-10/16 - reinstated Klonopin again .03125 mg-.046875mg 

9/29-12/1 - reinstated Klonopin again - 03215mg-.065mg Klonopin

12/1 - 0 Klonopin

3/2 - .67mg Lexapro - Having a terrible month

3/12 - 0 Lexapro - advised it may actually be causing adverse side effects

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I also have burning hands, feet and torso. And my scalp feels like ants crawling on my nerve endings. I will say it is getting less and less with each passing month. I get muscle twitching too and tightness and weakness but less frequently. I am glad to be able to say something positive because I have not been very positive lately. The mental stuff is harsh right now. 

Paxil  2000 - 2002  Tried unsuccessfully to discontinue

2002 - 2010 A series of trial and error, Wellbutrin, Effexor and unsuccessful attempts to discontinue.  

2010 - 2017 Lexapro With several unsuccessful attempts to withdraw 

2012 - 2017 Lamictal Successfully withdrew Lamictal no problem

2017 - 2020 Switched to 40mg. Prozac to prepare try another Withdrawal. 

2020 - On 15mg Remeron for a few months during withdrawal

Completely off of Antidepressants since Sept. 2020

Klonipin as needed throughout the process. .25 mostly, some .5, some .125,  2 to 12 times per mo.

 

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I’m now trying to drop my beta blocker and the burning has resumed. Tge beta blocker seems as difficult to drop as Gabapentin. I know that the burning eventually subsided once your nervous system calms down. But it can take a really long time…

April 2019 ct from Clonazepan (Klonopin) 0.5mg. Chaotic CT

Gabapentin November 2019 600mg Chaotic RT

Nozinan November 2019. RT

ct Gabapentin and Nozinan May 2020

Seroquel in July 2020 90mg. Reduced to 50mg in Feb 2020 over one month. Too fast!!

Lexapro July 2020 5mg

Propranolol to control Tachycardia 2020. 15mg given in December 2020 on Cardiologist recommendation. 

 

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  • 1 month later...

Burning legs starting in the afternoon..

 

Since last week, I have been experiencing skin hypersensitivity and paresthesia in my lower legs especially my left calf and shin. 

 

It has morphed to a hot burning sensation the last 3 days.  It consistently appears after noon, subsides around 5, and then comes back when I am about to sleep for a bit.

 

I have not changed much in my routine, but the two variables have been the weather fluctuations - low/high/low, and an increase in magnesium glycinate the last 3 days. 

 

I have also noticed increased hunger and gut activity, and the leg pain seems to subside after food.  

 

Anyone have any ideas of what it could be? 

 

-Withdrawal related neuropathy triggered by weather changes

-RLS

-Magnesium increase (from 100-200mg - although my rbc mg was normal).

Gut related

 

I have also been noticing my HR has started to spike into the 130-140s with brisk walks (it doesn't seem to happen so much in the summer with the same exercise).

 

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with existing topic

Chronic IBS since 1990

Former smoker (1992- Jun 2017)

Prescribed mirtazapine for sleep in Aug 2017 after IBS flare-up following Nicotine cessation.

Mirtazapine 7.5mg 8/17 to 5/18

Mirtazapine 3.75mg 5/18 to 1/19

Off Mirtazapine since 2/19.

Vit B, Vit D+K2 and Magnesium Glycinate as needed.

On Ayurvedic herbs for GI issues - Guduchi since Jul 2020, Indukantham since Oct 2020

On Ashwagandha 1g since Nov 2020

 

 

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  • 2 months later...

I have been reading about this phenomena that happened to me and others on the forum. I have read about limbic kindling, but I don't think that is actually what happened to me, perhaps some form of it, but it just didn't feel quite right.

 

I think what is occurring is actually a neurotoxic TBI just like one that can be caused by recreational drugs, as I have seen many recover from 'kindling' and most people on here don't seem to have all the symptoms this person has, this looks to be a very important article. I think more doctors should be aware this can occur either on an initial dose or especially re-instating while a patient is actually in withdrawal and past the acute stage, which seems to be the most common risk on here, including this person.

 

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/brain-long-term-lexapro-chemically-induced-tbi/

 

Fortunately, I feel like the more days off prozac, the better my headache feels, and the only other issue I had on this list this gentlemen has was some difficulty concentrating which has faded, I also have sleeping problems, so hopefully my brain will heal, but the lessening headache makes me feel promising my brain is doing it's job. This is definitely what I think is occurring to so many on here that get this symptom, it's a form (hopefully mild) of a brain injury.

 

I only saw this article in one other place and it was really not relevant, thought I would share here.

 

Thoughts?

Klonopin Mar 2013 - Feb 2021 - used .000 gram scale to cut pills did very slowly from 2017-2021, had no issues stopping after final dose that was sub .5mg diazepam equivalent (If anyone wants advice for tapering Klonopin with a gram scale, feel free to ask!)

tapered off zyprexa twice over 2 weeks in my 20's, had little issue with that after about 3-4 years of use both times.

Prozac 40MG for 5 years - 2016 - 2021 (Total of 13 years of consecutive use)

(Most recent after last break, been on cumulatively in my life 14 years all times combined, 3 separate on/off occasions, all successful except most recent 3/4)

Recent Issue:  Tapered gradually from 40MG down to 0MG from May 7th - Aug 18th

Felt fine through Oct 5th, slowly started getting depression, panic, and anxiety (Was original thing I was treated for)

Decided to go back on SSRI Nov 1st, reacted very bad to 20mg reinstatement, day 1 was fine, day 2 had ADR. Doctor said to drop dosage.

Took 5mg for 2 weeks, 10mg for 2 weeks, still felt physically sick, could not take 20mg for more than 3 days, looking for advice going forward (ADR)

Not happy about it, but on 1.5mg 3x ativan and temazepam 15mg for sleep

(Was sleeping 2-3 hrs nightly prior to temazepam, was first thing that broke 2-3 hr then wide awake sleep cycle)

Main symptoms: headaches from certain foods and meds, sleep is broken, anxiety and agitation is extremely high, cortisol spike sensitive, bad in morning better at night, panic attacks, concentration is awful, focus is awful, anhedonia is awful, sensitive to light and noise, especially noise, extreme depression, intense bouts of fear, every looks and feels 'scary' at times, stress tolerance extremely low, have bouts of extreme anxiety, and bouts akathesia, and bouts extreme anticipatory anxiety over basic events/tasks. Nervous system is clearly crashed.

No Prozac for 249 days.

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On 8/16/2020 at 8:51 AM, JuicysJoi said:

My husband had severe burning sensations on the top of his head for about 16 months after completing his Risperidone taper. We went to ER, neurologists, pain specialists, even acupuncture and NO ONE really took this seriously. It caused sleep deprivation and made everything WORSE. Apparently, this is a parasthesia and what we believe helped him was he started taking ALA, benfotiamine and ALCAR together. I learned through research that this combination is helpful for many people who suffer from neuropathy (diabetic, chemo) and thought it might also help here. He was desperate for relief and tried it. CAUTION: ALCAR is psychoactive so... research is key. We didn’t know if it just got better or these supplements helped until we were traveling and he didn’t bring these and stopped taking them for a week, the burning comeback in a milder way so we thing it did actually help him. 

Hi!!!
can you please clarify what is ALA and ALCAR, I have some benfotiamine but My burning keeps driving me crazy Im desperate for help

March-October 2019 Escitalopram 10 mg, Trazodone 50 mg, quit cold turkey, mayor depression, nothing else  2021  January - Alcohol withdrawal - Got me to the ER, treated with carbamazepine 200mg x 7 days 2021 Feb - Apr Trazodone for sleep 50 mg May-June 2021  Trazodone up and down 50-100 mg for sleep July 2021, Got trazodone down from 100 mg to 50 mg without tappering and then tried to quit, extreme withdrawal- reinstate instantly without knowing it was due to this August 2021- went back again to 50 mg trazodone - symptoms got worse (electricity, anxiety, RLS) September 2021- started gabapentin up to 300 mg x3 due to this neurological symptoms (that were due to trazodone wd but didnt know) October  2021- cold turkey gaba - EXTREME WD- reinstated to 500 mg Nov-Dic 2021 tried to tapper trazodone again  Dic 23 - 2021 didn't take the quarter trazdone I was taking ((up to here I didnt know my symptoms were coming from trying to wean off Traz)  Dic 24- 25 - 2021 massive WD (burning skin like hell all over body-suicide levels, electricity all over)  dic 25/21  reinstatement to 50mg as I felt too overwhelmed by the WD January 2022- 50 mg traz - giving me way too many symptoms (burning skin and electricity)- end of January 2022- lowered to 25 mg- symptoms got better Feb- July 2022- waves and windows but manageable August 2022- major setback - dizziness, rocking boat syndrome, burning skin, electricity all over nonstop, different levels of akathisia, anxiety.

PRESENT: TRAZODONE 17,5 mg (11 pm), Gabapentin free 17 July 2023

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 10/6/2021 at 5:55 PM, tsranga said:

Anyone have any ideas of what it could be? 

 

-Withdrawal related neuropathy triggered by weather changes

-RLS

I am not sure on what it could be, Ive been getting the burning skin for almost two months nonstop all over, mostly my upper back

Ive read some places where they say the burning skin could be from serotonin receptors oversensitivity but I havent been able to understand why this happens, if anyone knows please share

Anyone has anything that has brought relief to this particular symptom?

March-October 2019 Escitalopram 10 mg, Trazodone 50 mg, quit cold turkey, mayor depression, nothing else  2021  January - Alcohol withdrawal - Got me to the ER, treated with carbamazepine 200mg x 7 days 2021 Feb - Apr Trazodone for sleep 50 mg May-June 2021  Trazodone up and down 50-100 mg for sleep July 2021, Got trazodone down from 100 mg to 50 mg without tappering and then tried to quit, extreme withdrawal- reinstate instantly without knowing it was due to this August 2021- went back again to 50 mg trazodone - symptoms got worse (electricity, anxiety, RLS) September 2021- started gabapentin up to 300 mg x3 due to this neurological symptoms (that were due to trazodone wd but didnt know) October  2021- cold turkey gaba - EXTREME WD- reinstated to 500 mg Nov-Dic 2021 tried to tapper trazodone again  Dic 23 - 2021 didn't take the quarter trazdone I was taking ((up to here I didnt know my symptoms were coming from trying to wean off Traz)  Dic 24- 25 - 2021 massive WD (burning skin like hell all over body-suicide levels, electricity all over)  dic 25/21  reinstatement to 50mg as I felt too overwhelmed by the WD January 2022- 50 mg traz - giving me way too many symptoms (burning skin and electricity)- end of January 2022- lowered to 25 mg- symptoms got better Feb- July 2022- waves and windows but manageable August 2022- major setback - dizziness, rocking boat syndrome, burning skin, electricity all over nonstop, different levels of akathisia, anxiety.

PRESENT: TRAZODONE 17,5 mg (11 pm), Gabapentin free 17 July 2023

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  • 1 month later...
On 1/11/2022 at 3:31 AM, lenavikander said:

Hi!!!
can you please clarify what is ALA and ALCAR, I have some benfotiamine but My burning keeps driving me crazy Im desperate for help

ALC = Acetyl-L-carnitine

ALA = Alpha-lipoic acid

Xanax 0.4mg on and off only for bedtime occasionally from 2015

2019.6 Xanax Inter-dose withdraw after 8 weeks continuous usage 

2019.6.3 100mg Zoloft

2019.6.27 CT 0.4mg Xanax cross over to 7.14mg Valium 75mg Trazodone

2019.8.29 Jumped Valium at 0.5mg

2019.12.15 Jumped Zoloft at 4mg

2020.1.4 Jumped Trazodone at 5mg

2020.6.1 95% healed with no symptoms and sleep very well

2021.4.6 Reinstated 1mg Zoloft and 10mg x3 Tandospirone for anxiety setback from antibiotics 2021.4.25 0.5mg Zoloft and 10mg x3 Tandospirone 2021.5.7 Jumped Zoloft at 0.25mg as adverse effects 2021.6.2Tapered and jumped Tandospirone as mild serotonin syndrome Couldn’t take Seremind (Lavender oil) neither it could also cause the serotonin syndrome 2021.6.13 1mg Cyproheptadine before bed and got better and better 2021.8.13 Bad wave don’t know if triggered by chocolate ice cream

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi, Wondering if anyone can help.

 

I have suffered a burning mouth since being on pregabalin a couple of weeks, and had some burning pain to my skin in the early days of taking it,  I would then get it when I dropped at all, I would wait for it to pass and taper again. 

However, I caught covid on 22nd March and since 24th March I have been in burning pain throughout my skin, and my burning mouth is much worse, this has all become worse in the last 2 days, insomnia is dreadful, my sinuses are so dry they hurt and its like I keep getting bee stings in  my eyes and over my body.  I've held my dose since 11th march when the burning reappeared but seems covid has exaggerated everything and made this unbearable.   

My question is do you think by upping my dose slightly it could help? or what would you do if this was you?

My Intro topic  

Insomnia following AZ vaccine April 21.

May 21-July 21-Began Lorazepam.  Withdrew as per Dr recommendations. (i now have learned that this was too fast)

August 21 diagnosed with Fibromyralgia and CFS and possible Ehlers Danlos

September 21- Started Pregabalin/Lyrica 150mg, upped to 250mg in the coming weeks, didn't like the way it made me feel so dropped to 200mg end Nov 21/start Dec 21 (as per Dr advice) found the survivors group, held there until

22nd Jan 22 began following Ashton Manual. Got to 88mg am and pm (176mg daily) 11th March.  Holding here atm as caught covid, and appears I have symptoms of long covid.

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@Lovetobefree

From memory folk got this burning thing even on reducing quite low. 
 

From my experience having Covid alongside you I think that is the reason for the ongoing discomfort. 
 

The two supplements recommended on SA are omega and magnesium—but I think you knew that!  
 

Hope someone else chips in. 
 

OldDodgy 

My Intro topic.  Was Dickie in FB gabapentinoids 

2020 January Stopped Quetiapine 150 at night in a fairly chaotic fashion with holds, jumping at 6mg 

2020 June Stopped Pregabalin 150 at night using Ashton Method Some holds. 

2021 December Stopped Mirtazipine 15 using Ashton Method. (Slower at end). 

Nov 21 - Given Quetiapine 12.5 for sleep. Reduced mid March 2022 to 6mg - Off 30/5/22

Feb 2022 Ongoing Diazepam 17.5, Blip at Christmas when took 22.5mg for a few days, now 24 FEB Stable 17.5 as advised. Had long covid. Now going to 16.25 from 8/7/22. 7% drop 

Oxazepam 10mg.STOPPED 10th FEB 2022  “Rescue dose x 2 in 2 months. 

Buccastem 3mg less than 1 a month for nausea. 

Past meds since 1969 -Approx dates only available. Tranxene 15, Clomipramine 150 for about 25 years. 1993 Paroxetine 20 AD change. Diazepam 20mg swap from Tranxene.

Oxazepam 10mg Prn since 1990's  1995 Trial of MAOIS. 2000 Escitaopram 10mg. 2015 trial of Trazadone. 2004 Pregabalin 150 at night.

2015 Started on Quetiapine 150 note, Mirtazipine 15 note. Diazepam increased to 30mg split dosing. 

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10 hours ago, Lovetobefree said:

Hi, Wondering if anyone can help.

 

I have suffered a burning mouth since being on pregabalin a couple of weeks, and had some burning pain to my skin in the early days of taking it,  I would then get it when I dropped at all, I would wait for it to pass and taper again. 

However, I caught covid on 22nd March and since 24th March I have been in burning pain throughout my skin, and my burning mouth is much worse, this has all become worse in the last 2 days, insomnia is dreadful, my sinuses are so dry they hurt and its like I keep getting bee stings in  my eyes and over my body.  I've held my dose since 11th march when the burning reappeared but seems covid has exaggerated everything and made this unbearable.   

My question is do you think by upping my dose slightly it could help? or what would you do if this was you?

Hi @Lovetobefreesorry to hear how awful things are for you right now. Although our situations are different, I can relate to the burning sensations and mine were made worse by covid recently. The burning tends to affect my arm and leg muscles, but since covid my eyes also sting and burn and my sinuses too. Sorry, I can’t advise re updosing as I don’t have any experience. Just want you to know you’re not alone with experiencing these symptoms. Take care. 

Mid-August 2020 - started 15mg Mirtazapine, increased to 30mg 2 weeks later. Late-September 2020 - switched to 20mg Paroxetine as Mirtazapine exacerbated RLS. October 2020 - stopped Paroxetine because of worsening RLS, muscle twitching and general restlessness.

Mid-October 2020 - Switched to 50mg Sertraline. Restlessness, muscle twitching and other symptoms even worse. Stopped taking it on 18 November following advice from GP - took every other day for a week before stopping completely. Mid-November 2020 - GP prescribed Propranolol to take as and when required for anxiety. Have only taken a few times as it makes me very light headed. January 2020 - currently taking magnesium citrate powder in evenings to help with RLS. Also taking high strength omega-3 fish oil. 
 

 

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  • Mentor

Hello @Lovetobefree and welcome!

 

 I acquired the dry mouth, dry sinuses and dry eyes when starting lexapro in 2019.  It continues to this day. Side effect. Worse when tapering. The sinuses were like a burning feeling.

 

I do know it goes away because years ago Paxil caused this to me and when I came to extremely low dose it went away. 
 

During tapering in January I acquired burning mouth and dry still there too. And of all things to trigger it was Krispy Kreme donuts 🤨. I know this because I tried it again in a taper in March. It’s gone as of this moment but I feel it with different foods and drinks in a taper. Our whole nervous system is hypersensitive when change dose and can even be an adverse reaction. 

 

So I would ask myself did it start with new medication? 
Did it get worse with medication dosage increase ?

We do know with medication side effects- symptoms are more likely the higher the dose and the longer on the medication. 
And with me I noticed the times I started a med if dr prescribed too much to start with I would be more likely to have symptoms . Just like tapering too fast. 
Iam no dr or mod , just my experience. 
 

You are in the rt place to get help and figure this out. 
Hang in there!
 

There is a lot of info here. If you want to search something- type in your search engine- ( what you are looking for and surviving antidepressants ) - 

burning mouth surviving antidepressants. 

 

 

2000-2013 Paxil - 1 year fast taper

2013-2018 merry go round
zoloft, cymbalta, lamictal, Prozac.

 Nov. 2018 lexapro 15 mgs, Dec. 2019 to Mar. 2020 taper to 10mg. Jul 2020 to October 2020 taper to 8.5 ml.
Oct 2020 reinstated to 9 ml.
Apr 2021 to Jul  taper to 7ml. Oct 2021 to Jan 2022 taper to 5.9ml, Mar 5 2022 5.8 ml, Mar 12 5.7ml, Mar 20 5.6ml, Mar 27 5.5ml, April 23 5.4ml, April 30 5.3ml, May 7 5.2ml,  Jul 9 2022 5.4ml, 

Klonopin prn, Allegra 180 for 3 seasons, aspirin 81 mg, plavix , nitroglycerin 0.4 mg prn, 2k mg  turmeric Qunol, 4- Trader Joe’s omega 3 -2400 mg, Pepcid 20mg,  Prilosec 40 mg, Tylenol arthritis 4 tablets daily, 350mg calm magnesium citrate, melatonin 2.5- 5mg as needed to sleep. Saline spray as needed. 

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On 4/6/2022 at 6:52 PM, OldDodgy said:

@Lovetobefree

From memory folk got this burning thing even on reducing quite low. 
 

From my experience having Covid alongside you I think that is the reason for the ongoing discomfort. 
 

The two supplements recommended on SA are omega and magnesium—but I think you knew that!  
 

Hope someone else chips in. 
 

OldDodgy 

Thank you @OldDodgy hope you're feeling much better now xx

 

My Intro topic  

Insomnia following AZ vaccine April 21.

May 21-July 21-Began Lorazepam.  Withdrew as per Dr recommendations. (i now have learned that this was too fast)

August 21 diagnosed with Fibromyralgia and CFS and possible Ehlers Danlos

September 21- Started Pregabalin/Lyrica 150mg, upped to 250mg in the coming weeks, didn't like the way it made me feel so dropped to 200mg end Nov 21/start Dec 21 (as per Dr advice) found the survivors group, held there until

22nd Jan 22 began following Ashton Manual. Got to 88mg am and pm (176mg daily) 11th March.  Holding here atm as caught covid, and appears I have symptoms of long covid.

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On 4/6/2022 at 8:27 PM, HealthHopeHappiness said:

Hi @Lovetobefreesorry to hear how awful things are for you right now. Although our situations are different, I can relate to the burning sensations and mine were made worse by covid recently. The burning tends to affect my arm and leg muscles, but since covid my eyes also sting and burn and my sinuses too. Sorry, I can’t advise re updosing as I don’t have any experience. Just want you to know you’re not alone with experiencing these symptoms. Take care. 

@HealthHopeHappinesssorry to hear you're suffering this too.  When did you have covid?  Have you found anything that has eased it at all? do you find yours gets worse as the day goes on?  and affects your sleep?

My Intro topic  

Insomnia following AZ vaccine April 21.

May 21-July 21-Began Lorazepam.  Withdrew as per Dr recommendations. (i now have learned that this was too fast)

August 21 diagnosed with Fibromyralgia and CFS and possible Ehlers Danlos

September 21- Started Pregabalin/Lyrica 150mg, upped to 250mg in the coming weeks, didn't like the way it made me feel so dropped to 200mg end Nov 21/start Dec 21 (as per Dr advice) found the survivors group, held there until

22nd Jan 22 began following Ashton Manual. Got to 88mg am and pm (176mg daily) 11th March.  Holding here atm as caught covid, and appears I have symptoms of long covid.

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