Ninabird: Effexor withdrawal?

[Ninabird]

I reacted horribly last month when my Dr gave me 50k units of Vitamin D (my levels are in the teens) Should I try for 1k units? Or should I stay away from them for right now?

Should I attempt fish oil or magnesium? I tried to edit my last text to you and attach these questions so I don't have multiple threads to you but it wouldn't allow me to do so. Sorry.

[Ninabird]

@Altostrata When bumping up my dose of Duoloxetine from 7:30 am to noon, can I expect any increase in symptoms? I am asking so I know what to expect. 

 

Also, is tagging you on these ok or should I just ask the questions without tagging? I don't want to get a warning to tagging. 

[Altostrata]

On 5/25/2022 at 8:04 PM, Ninabird said:

....

Altostrata, In your experience has changing the timing of medication provided relief from these awful symptoms?

....

 

Changing your drug schedule may relieve the symptoms you appear to get after you take those 4 drugs together.

 

If you move your duloxetine dosage an hour later each day, you may not feel any change at first. It will take a week for your system to register the changes.

 

If you need vitamin D3 supplementation, you might get a weak liquid vitamin D3 and start with a tiny drop in the morning, much less than 1000iu, to get used to it.

[Ninabird]

Once my system registers the change what can I expect in terms of symptoms? I have a very sensitive system. 

[Ninabird]

@Greatful You get burning in your head too? I just read a post that you commented on that your brain urns. Mine too.....it is an awful symptom. I am sorry to hear you are in a wave. You are in my thoughts.

[Ninabird]

Yesterday I was struggling but nor struggling....does that make sense? I didn't have high anxiety or a burning in my head....I felt mentally defeated? I would get up to wash a few dishes or to water a plant outside and my head would feel utterly exhausted and I had to go sit down. I was very withdrawn today. I was in my own world. No rumination....just staring off into space. I would get little spurts of anxiety but they would go away rather quickly. I had absolutely no appetite all day but made myself eat lunch and dinner. I fell asleep on the floor petting my dog around 8:30pm. Went straight to bed at 10. Woke around 4am, 5 am and then 6am with anxiety and sadness. This morning the anxiety doesn't seem to want to go away or ease up. I haven't eaten anything yet. After having a wonderful window Wednesday afternoon it's back into a wave. 

I am working on acceptance of where I am in WD. There is nothing I can do about it and it seems when I get sad, scared or try to ignore the symptoms I make it worse. Learning how to accept something that is painful is going to take a lot of practice and determination. 

I may have had a rocky start to my day but whose to say that in an hour it won't turn around into a brief window. 🙏

 

[Ariel]

Hi @Ninabird

I can relate to what you describe. I have days like that too. 

 

Keep in mind that -- based on what I've read in your posts -- you're leading a pretty active life. It's great that you're so functional and managing so well (though I know it might not necessarily feel like that on the inside); at the same time your WD body and brain are working hard healing and adjusting. It's only natural that you will have hours, days, weeks -- extended periods of time -- when you experience overwhelming fatigue. (Not saying that to worry you, just to offer perspective.) Sounds like you paid attention and listened to your body, taking breaks as needed. Kudos!

 

From my point of view you're really making a valiant effort and doing a great job. You've got a proactive, positive attitude and you seem adept at taking care of yourself. I also get the impression you have a solid support system, and you're skilled at reaching out socially. You've got a lot going for you and I trust that with everything you're doing you're setting yourself up for success. I hope you give yourself lots of credit! 

 

Speaking of acceptance, I agree with you that it's a valuable, even essential practice throughout withdrawal. You may have already seen this help topic (and maybe I've even sent it before -- it's a favorite), but just in case: Acceptance and Hope

 

SA search for "acceptance" brings up numerous results. 

 

Hugs to you and your dogs, Ninabird! I gotta say --

1 hour ago, Ninabird said:

I fell asleep on the floor petting my dog around 8:30pm.

-- this sounds pretty good to me! 

 

Dogs are not allowed in my building so I'm always jazzed to greet the dogs I meet in the park. Extra motivation to get out for walks. 

 

Take care <3

A.

 

 

[Ninabird]

31 minutes ago, Ariel said:

It's only natural that you will have hours, days, weeks -- extended periods of time -- when you experience overwhelming fatigue.

I don't feel overly fatigued. I do on a rare occasion. I am struggling mostly with mental symptoms. Take today for example, I woke up with my usual anxiety (4) after a few hours anxiety turns into pressure in my head mixed with a burning sensation, I try to focus on my computer but can only manage for 30 minutes at a time. I want to break down and cry but I fight it. I now have tension in my arms and biceps. I want to take the dogs out today for their walk (they are staring at me as I type this) but I can't muster up the will to do it. I have been at this battle for over a year now.

YES! I am very thankful that I am functioning. I get up everyday and shower, read my bible and pray, clean my house, cook, walk my dogs, run errands and work. Everything I just mentioned I push myself to do. I am so blessed that I have moments every day, regardless of how short in duration, I get windows. I don't know how I would get through if I didn't have those. 

Altostrata has me moving the time I take my Duoloxetine from 7:30 to noon. I am a little nervous that this will cause my symptoms of WD to flare up as any change seems to do that. She hopes that spacing the Duoloxetine will help with my mid-day surge of symptoms. 

As soon as I stabilize I plan to resume my taper of Lexapro. I am holding at 10mg. Once that is completed I can finally tackle my .50mg of Klonopin. One baby step at a time.

 

Sorry for rambling on.....

 

How are you doing lately? 

 

[Ariel]

2 minutes ago, Ninabird said:

I don't feel overly fatigued. I do on a rare occasion. I am struggling mostly with mental symptoms.

 

I apologize, Ninabird. I must have misunderstood what you meant. 

 

2 hours ago, Ninabird said:

I felt mentally defeated? I would get up to wash a few dishes or to water a plant outside and my head would feel utterly exhausted and I had to go sit down. I was very withdrawn today. I was in my own world. No rumination....just staring off into space.

 

Thank you for clarifying. These symptoms are so subjective and every experience is entirely personal in its singularity. There may be common patterns but there's no way to know what it's like to be in anyone else's body, ever. I'm sorry I projected my interpretation of your description. 

 

5 minutes ago, Ninabird said:

I want to take the dogs out today for their walk (they are staring at me as I type this) but I can't muster up the will to do it. I have been at this battle for over a year now.

 

I hear you. <3

 

8 minutes ago, Ninabird said:

Altostrata has me moving the time I take my Duoloxetine from 7:30 to noon. I am a little nervous that this will cause my symptoms of WD to flare up as any change seems to do that. She hopes that spacing the Duoloxetine will help with my mid-day surge of symptoms. 

As soon as I stabilize I plan to resume my taper of Lexapro. I am holding at 10mg. Once that is completed I can finally tackle my .50mg of Klonopin. One baby step at a time.

 

You are very brave! I am in awe of slow-taper-ers. You really win the patience and courage award. 

Best of luck to you with the upcoming changes -- I'm rootin' for ya! 

A.

[Ninabird]

33 minutes ago, Ariel said:

You are very brave! I am in awe of slow-taper-ers. You really win the patience and courage award. 

Best of luck to you with the upcoming changes -- I'm rootin' for ya! 

A.

Hi Ms A,

Thank you for your sweet words. You are such a lovely human. 

I just got back from a 1 mile walk with my dogs. I made myself get out there. Next stop is the grocery store. I am making Hungarian Goulash and a beautiful fresh greens salad. Where I live we are surrounded by Almond orchards to strawberry fields. I love fresh fruits and veggies. Yummy. 

I will upload a picture of my doggies someday ( I can't figure out how to make the file smaller) 

 

xo

NB

[Ninabird]

21 hours ago, Altostrata said:

f you need vitamin D3 supplementation, you might get a weak liquid vitamin D3 and start with a tiny drop in the morning, much less than 1000iu, to get used to it.

I just ordered the drops. They are 1000iu. Start w a drop a day? A week? I just looked at my bloodwork my D is 29L. 

My Dr is concerned over my B3 levels in 2020 they were 474. In January of this year it went to 1329. Last Monday I did another panel to see if it was just a fluke.Waiting on the results.  Could AD increase vitamin B3 levels like that? 

[Altostrata]

More likely, your diet influences your B3 levels.

 

You'll have to look at the bottle and see how much D3 is in a drop, @Ninabird

[Ninabird]

3 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

More likely, your diet influences your B3 levels

 

I eat pretty clean. I drink green smoothies in the morning. I don’t take supplements of any kind. I just ordered the vitamin D drops you suggested. 

[Ninabird]

@Altostrata

Hi there. I got my liquid vitamin D3 in today. Serving size for 1k IU is .50ml. There are 19 drops in .50ml. What is your suggestion for starting out on the drops? Thank you for all of your help.

 

Update on moving the Duoloxetine up to noon. I am up to 10:30am. So far it's been an ok transition. Today has been the best day so far. I will keep you updated. 🙂

[Altostrata]

You might start with 1 drop (one drop) and see how it affects you. If no reaction, you might try 2 drops tomorrow, 3 drops the day after, etc. When you start to feel it, go back to the prior dosage.

[Ninabird]

3 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

You might start with 1 drop (one drop) and see how it affects you. If no reaction, you might try 2 drops tomorrow, 3 drops the day after, etc. When you start to feel it, go back to the prior dosage.

Thank you. 

[Ninabird]

On 5/27/2022 at 11:03 AM, Ariel said:

. I'm sorry I projected my interpretation of your description

You have nothing to be sorry about. You are being a kind person to me and I appreciate you sweet A. 

[Ninabird]

On 5/12/2022 at 10:54 AM, TentacleFinn said:

Again, you are so strong! Lend me some of that strength!! Right now I find the stress just adds to the brutality! I need to channel my Ninabird!

 

Ah, I think I am a little the opposite, it is always interesting how differently WD hits us all! 

 

Make sure you're gentle with yourself! It may take four days to a week to feel your way through the liquid differences - tapering before your body has fully adjusted can give it a bit of a shock. 

 

I have had sudden muscle tension in my arms two days this week, as if they have had metal poured inside them, so I can relate a bit!

 

Im glad to hear it! Especially the anxiety rushes. Try to be patient with yourself. Things may come back as you taper, the mods links to ways to deal are lifesavers. 

 

I seem to have caught a virus (not covid! 2 tests many days apart) and im two weeks deep, but I am coping! You wouldn't know it from my journal, it always sounds so dire, but a month ago I couldn't sleep AT ALL or keep food down so im much improved! I have started a gratitude list ala Ariel but I dont want to clog my topic!

 

Im in Australia! Its hella late so you wouldnt know it!

 

I hope your adjustment to liquid is gentle and your tension today is low!!

How are you doing? You’ve been in my mind. Sending you warm hugs for California. 🌴

[Ninabird]

@Altostrata

Yesterday was not a good day. The morning was the usual 

6:30 woke w anxiety (4) 

took Klonopin .25mg

7:30 Lexapro 10mg Estradiol .50mg

8:30 anxiety (5) muscle tension, ears ringing,

9:30 same 

10:30 anxiety (2) ears ringing, small anxiety rush 

11:30 Take Cymbalta 30mg

12:00 feeling emotionally down

1:00 feel better 

2:00 feel down again 

3:00 anxious, sad, ears ringing

4:00 same

5:00 same but anxiety is at a (4)

6:00 feeling better 

6:30 .25mg Klonopin 

7:30 anxiety (3)

8:00 anxiety (3) feeling sad, defeated, legs ache for some reason, ears ringing

9:00 feel sleepy, sad, defeated 

10:00 bed 

 

 

 

 

 

5:00am anxiety (5)

6:00 anxiety (5) ears ringing, feeling sad, legs ache, head feels heavy

6:30 .25mg Klonopin

7:30 10mg Lexapro, .50mg Estradiol 

 

 

yesterday and today I feel alot worse. Is this from moving my dose? Is this to be expected when moving dose time? I’m trying not to get overly anxious over feeling worse. I can’t afford to spiral. 

 

[Ninabird]

Can’t stop crying. I feel awful. I don’t understand how I’m feeling so much worse right now. Can any mod offer any explanation as to why I seem to be getting worse?

[Ninabird]

@ArielHi there. I’m having a really rough 2 days. Sure could use an Ariel pep talk. 

[Ariel]

Hi @Ninabird

I'm sorry you're having a rough go of it. Sounds like you might be in a wave? 

Try to ride it out as best you can... I know you are so good at pushing through, you are very brave. Maybe experiment with not pushing but also not giving in to the spiraling thoughts and neuro-emotions, if you can help it. Explore what that balance might look like? 

I know that's easier said than done. There are some waves that are so hard there really isn't anything clever to do about them, they just have to be endured for the duration. 

The good news is that a wave is finite and it will pass, eventually. Keep reminding yourself of that. And whatever gentle comfort you can possibly find while it lasts, no matter how small, go with that. 

Take gentle care of yourself. Try to ground yourself in any way you can. And hang in there, dear Ninabird. It will get better. 

Sending you a big HUG,

A. 

[Ariel]

Just sending you a link to the help topic on Neuro-emotions in case you feel like reading or re-reading it. <3

[getofflex]

Are you still on 10 mg of the Lexapro? 

 

In the past 2 years, you have made a good number of significant drug changes.  Hopefully you have read the links supplied in my first post to you early in your thread.  As you can see from the info in those links, these drugs make changes to our nervous systems, and it takes time for the nervous system to re-establish homeostasis.  In the meantime, our systems tend to be destabilized.  This is why we have the symptoms.  I see you switched forms of Lexapro in the past month.  Did you gradually switch over, or switch all at once?  This link will explain many of the changes that go through the brain.  It may help you understand why we have windows and waves, and why recovery is so gradual.  

 

What is Happening in Your Brain? 

 

Are you having any other symptoms besides anxiety?  

 

I'm very sorry that you are dealing with this right now.  I know how much it sucks, I've been through it myself.  Try to slow down and take it easy as much as you can, and be gentle on yourself.  Check out some of the non drug coping techniques.  I don't know if this would help you, but listening to relaxing yet upbeat music really helps me with anxiety. So does taking a gentle walk outside.  Hopefully, you will get a chance to do something to nurture yourself today.  

[getofflex]

Also, Baylissa is very soothing and comforting.  Try listening to some of her reassuring video messages:   https://mccare.org/reassurance-room/

 

Here are other resources from Baylissa: 

 

https://mccare.org/user-guide/

 

 

 

Edited May 30, 2022 by getofflex

[Ninabird]

17 minutes ago, getofflex said:

Hopefully you have read the links supplied in my first post to you early in your thread

Good morning. Yes, ma’am. I have read everything you have sent me. I’ve read lots of other blogs as well. 

[Ninabird]

18 minutes ago, getofflex said:

 Did you gradually switch over, or switch all at once?

All at once. I am now back on the pill form. 10mg. 

[Ninabird]

20 minutes ago, getofflex said:

re you having any other symptoms besides anxiety?

Ringing in the ears, muscle tension, fatigue, sadness, burning in my head, feeling like I want to jump out of my skin. Today is the first day I laid in bed and cried. I was crying because I feel unwell mentally. I’m scared. 
Right now it’s 10am and some of the symptoms have calmed down. I still have to take my Cymbalta at 12. 

[Ninabird]

Getofflex,

im supposed to be resuming my Lex on the 9th of June assuming I’m ready. 🙏🏻

[Ninabird]

@Ariel Thank you for your encouraging words. I don’t recall being in a wave quite like this. 

[getofflex]

23 minutes ago, Ninabird said:

im supposed to be resuming my Lex on the 9th of June assuming I’m ready

I though you were already taking Lexapro?   What do you mean resuming your lex?  

[Ninabird]

33 minutes ago, getofflex said:

I though you were already taking Lexapro?   What do you mean resuming your lex?  

I meant resume my taper , sorry. 

[getofflex]

Ok that makes sense.  Thanks for clarifying.   I suggest that you listen to your body and wait until you are stable for a couple of weeks before doing any tapering. Otherwise you run the risk of overwhelming your nervous system and having worse symptoms.  Could you put your reduction off until a later time?   

[Ninabird]

2 minutes ago, getofflex said:

 Could you put your reduction off until a later time

I can. 
 

Could the recent move of the Duloxetine from 7:30 to noon have caused this reaction? I know it’s hard to say for certain I’m just hoping that it’s not a sign of me spiralling. Forgive my dramatics right now. I’m just a little scared. I’m all I have to support myself. 
 

Thank you for being so kind Getofflex. You have no idea how much it means to me. 

[getofflex]

It’s hard to say exactly what caused this wave. Do please put off your reduction.  Your brain will thank you for it.  It could be the sudden change from pill to liquid then to pill again, or the other recent drug changes. Have you had alcohol or cbd or other mind altering substances?

Edited May 30, 2022 by getofflex

[Ninabird]

7 minutes ago, getofflex said:

Have you had alcohol or cbd or other mind altering substances?

No. I don’t drink, no CBD or any other drugs than those prescribed. The only thing I consume that is considered “bad,” is sugar. I live and eat very healthy.