Caiterz: sweaty, switchy and newly off mirtazapine

[Caiterz]

Seroquel Abillify Wellbutrin Prozac Lexapro Zoloft Paxil Buspar Hydroxyzine Trazedone Cymbalta Lamictal Propanolol Oxcarbazepine Prazosin Xanax Celexa Amitriptylin Ambien Mirtazapine

Hi, 33/F

Ive been on all of the above medicines at some point or another from 2002 to recently. I have stopped them all with no withdrawl issues..... except for something very strange has happened recently. Is this withdrawl? 

Current Meds: Prilosec (GERD), Lasix (IIH) , Lisinopril (BP)

I was taking zoloft a couple months ago, and a bit after i started that, i started mirtazapine. I had Covid around this time too. It was very mild. Biggest symptoms were being a mucus fountain, sore throat, a little bit muscle weirdness, and weird headaches, including headaches WHILE sleeping. a couple weeks later my situation changed, im in a much better, happier place (unrelated to meds), so i stopped zoloft. (I have been on zoloft before and had no withdrawl symptoms). Not long after that, i had a weird depersonalization with my hands. Now, i am a very scientific person, i do not act based upon emotions as much as i can... I have no body dysphoria.

 I was riding in a car on a day i was kind of tired, didnt sleep much (hard night of minecraft), and all of a sudden my hands felt like they weren't my hands.

 

If I'm on my phone texting, my brain just goes "HEY WHY ARE THOSE FINGERS MOVING? THOSE ARENT MINE. WOW!"

 

and my brain is amazed that they are moving every 10 seconds. It's the most disturbing thing Ive ever felt.

 

I don't feel it if I can't see my hands, so for example, if I'm texting In the dark or at my PC. This feeling primarily happens when texting on my phone. Wearing fingerless gloves dampens the effect slightly.

 

I've been really upset over it, and I feel my back and arms be really tense and sore, which is normal for when I'm upset

.

The only Injuries to happen recently was I was cut by my washing machine, and my cat scratched me.

 

No numbness or tingling at that time.

 

I've been going to therapy since 2003, and have only ever been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, so I am not insane.

 

I have not gone through anything traumatic recently. If anything, I've been having a really good time this month, for the first time in years.

Fearing it could be the mertazpine, i stopped it.

 

about a week later, i started sweating profusely at night. drenched. No nightmares. no anxiety. just DRENCHED.  a few days after i started to get drenched every night, i woke up SOAKING wet one day, my spine started feeling cold and numb and i had a panic attack. My muscles didnt work, it was as if i were drunk. my head was fuzzy and confused, and i stumbled BARELY into the bathtub. I managed to get into the bathtub, still clothed, and into hot water. I felt a little better, still confused. arms and spine still feel a bit weird,.

I went to the ER for the first time in my life. They found nothing wrong. EKG, Chest Xray, Blood work, pee test, and they gave me an IV for hydration.

while im glad its nothing seriously wrong (i guess), i am still freaked out by waking up drenched. I still get really upset being cold by being drenched. My arms and hands feel very twitchy. sometimes my legs. I had some mild tingly-ness in my fingertips for a couple days, but thats gone now. It feels the more days go on, the more twitchy i get, and IDK if its med withdrawl from mertazepine, since i only took it for a month. I LOVED the med. i slept really good and had AWESOME dreams....

 

I have an appt with my general dr on the 30th, but im afraid theyre going to tell me more of "we dont know whats wrong"

Feeling twitchy and cold and fuzzy and panicy all the time is absolutely ruining this change in my life that is the happiest ive been in a long time. I am just -so scared-.

Also for the record, i keep my house around 70F, so i dont get hot or cold due to environmental factors. I do not get hot or sweat while i am awake. I do not feel hot at night. I seem to feel a bit better as time goes on throughout the day, and im scared to sleep because i know im going to be drenched and panicing.

The only thing that has seemed to have improved, is i dont know if i just got used to it or what, but when texting, i dont get a lot of the "My hands arent mine" feeling anymore. but my arms and hands still FEEL physically weird being twitchy. Im holding myself tight and having soreness in my shoulders... 

I am well aware that i should not be stopping meds cold turkey, but i have never had a problem before this, so i am curious if it could be the issue?


Medicine withdrawl? tetanus from my washing machine? Cat scratch fever? Am i finally going crazy? I am scared. what do you all think?>

 

 

Edited June 24, 2022 by ChessieCat
removed background colour from 1st line

[Frogie]

@Caiterz

 

Welcome to SA. We are a volunteer ran site helping members taper off psychiatric medications, or have tapered off and are now healing.

 

This is your introduction page where you will receive information, ask questions and meet other members. We ask that you only have one introduction page so we can keep all your information in one place.

 

Can you please create a signature page.

 

How to List Drug History in Signature - Introductions and updates - Surviving Antidepressants

 

Are you still taking Mirtazapine? If so, what dose? Or did you cold turkey off of it also.

 

I would say that you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms from stopping Zoloft cold turkey. We never suggest a cold turkey. We suggest a 10% a month taper and some go much slower that that.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

What is withdrawal syndrome?

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

What is happening in your brain? - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants

 

How psychiatric drugs remodel your brain - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants

 

You could try to reinstate a small dose of 0.50 mg Zoloft to see if that would help with your symptoms. It takes 7-10 days for it reach full capacity in your system. You can always updose in small amounts if needed. Then a nice long hold before you would taper off very slowly.

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?

Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro)

 

Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft)

 

We don't suggest supplements on here except two as they can be too stimulating. If you would like to try them, try one in a small amount and wait a few days before introducing the other.

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

King of supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants

 

After reading the links provided, please reach out with any questions you may have.

 

 

Edited July 3, 2022 by ChessieCat
provided correct link for tips topic for Zoloft

[Caiterz]

Ok, i added them to my signature. 

I have read the links and know the risk and stuff, but I have a question.

I have been off 100mg Zoloft for a month now, and I am still experiencing insane sweating, twitching, shakiness, brain fuzziness, slight confusion.

I just assumed that if i "ride it out" it may just go away, but it is not.

If i -go back on- zoloft (of how many mg? I Dont think i can cut 100mg small enough to make .5mg) and taper off, is that what I should do to maybe minimize symptoms??

If I go back on zoloft will these symptoms go away? (if it is indeed zoloft withdrawl)?

Thanks!

[ChessieCat]

Hi caiterz and welcome from me too.

 

Frogie accidentally gave the incorrect link for the Tips for Tapering topic for your drug.  I have edited her post.

 

Post #1 of this topic explains how to get non standard doses.  It is possible to make a liquid from Zoloft tablets.

 

Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft)

 

Q:  Did you read Post #1 of this topic?  If not, please read it.

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

When reinstating it is better  to start with a small dose and increase by small increments.  It is better to start with a low dose than to risk taking too much.  The idea of reinstating is not to get rid of withdrawal symptoms completely but to bring them to a bearable level.  That is you don't keep trying to find the "perfect dose" otherwise you might make things worse.

[ChessieCat]

Please include the following in your drug signature with approximate dates for when you started and stopped them as well as telling us how you stopped them (last dose you took).  We need to be able to see your complete drug history at a glance:

 

Seroquel Abillify Wellbutrin Prozac Lexapro Zoloft Paxil Buspar Hydroxyzine Trazedone Cymbalta Lamictal Propanolol Oxcarbazepine Prazosin Xanax Celexa Amitriptylin Ambien Mirtazapine

 

List it as:

 

drug name:  date,dose; date dose; date dose

drug name:  date,dose; date dose; date dose

drug name:  date,dose; date dose; date dose

[ChessieCat]

Please also add the dates to these like the example I gave above:

Zoloft 100mg - 2 months
Mirtazapine - 7.5mg - 2-3weeks

[Caiterz]

Thank you for the link, it was very helpful. I filled out my sig as much as I can. sorry it isnt more. 

I bought a precision scale and hopefully can start at .5mg

I am actually desperate to try anything, because living like this is really hell.