Arc333: help and advice on withdrawal or rebound

[Arc333]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm really hoping someone here can help give me some reassurance or advice on what I've been going through as I feel like I'm in a living hell and I really pretty new to the whole antidepressant thing. I tried to date everything as exact as possible but some may be a few days off.

 

I need to preface this by saying even though I've been going through a lot of medical problems since around 2016, I've always been a pretty upbeat/happy person. I did develop minor claustrophobia due to all the medical test I went through, but all in all I never had any anxiety/panic beyond what most people would consider normal. This changed around Oct. of 2021. To keep a long story short there was a miscommunication with my doctor's office where they inadvertently led me to believe I had lung cancer. I started having some severe anxiety and panic attacks thinking I was dying so my Primary doctor put me on Imipramine 10mg (3x daily) with a single prescription of Xanax to help with the panic attacks. I trusted him and didn't really know anything about antidepressants other than that my wife has been on Prozac for a number of years and it's helped her tremendously.

 

So after seeing a few more doctors I was informed I didn't actually have cancer and that the nurse had read the report wrong. Even so I was still having anxiety/panic attacks so I didn't stop taking the Imipramine. Now about this time (end of Nov 2021) my wife started taking THC gummies for her intense migraines as no medicine had been able to help her. Neither of us drink or have ever done drugs but I decided to try one with her. I learned later you are absolutely not supposed to mix this with Imipramine. Needless to say I freaked the **** out. In my ignorance I decided no more of this medication or anything for me so I stopped the Imipramine cold turkey and have never touched the THC again. My doctor never informed me not to stop taking this stuff cold turkey either.

 

My mental state seemed to change to one of panic and fear 100% of the time. Like it was permanently locked in fight or flight mode. I returned to my primary doctor and told him what was going on and ask if I should get back on the Imipramine or try something else to wean off of. He said it couldn't be caused by the Imipramine as I was outside of the withdrawal window for it but he'd recommend me to a psychiatrist as I was literally shaking and crying in the office.

 

I saw a nearby psychiatrist via telemed around the middle of Dec 2021. He also told me it couldn't be withdrawal as I hadn't been taking Imipramine for over 2 weeks at that point and that mixing it with THC wouldn't have done anything. He told me I had severe anxiety over the cancer thing and Lexapro would help. He put me on 20mg or Lexapro. I took the Lexapro for about 2 months. It absolutely did nothing for my constant fear and anxiety, but it made me feel like a zombie. It also caused sexual problems and numbness, and I also developed teeth chattering (not grinding/bruxism) and tremors/shaking in my arms. I discussed this with him and he decided it would be better to switch me to Prozac as that had less side effects.

 

The Prozac really didn't do much of anything either. I felt less zombie like, but the panic, fear, and anxiety were all still present. The sexual side effects were less, but the tremors/teeth chattering were still present. After about a month and a half I informed him I wanted to be off of it and try to just get back to normal/drug free. He gave me a 2 week taper after which he said there wasn't any need to see me anymore and I should be fine.

 

The problem is my side effects have never gone away. I still have very intense fear/panic over death and dying. Sometimes my brain feels so cloudy I can barely form a sentence. I cry randomly, my teeth still chatter, I still have tremors. I went back to my Primary who informed me this is in no way related to the antidepressants I took as withdrawal symptoms only last from 2-6 weeks at most and you have to take them for years for that.

 

I thought I was slowly recovering, having a good day here and there, but then in Sept. of 2022 I was prescribed Itraconazole, and antifungal for histoplasmosis. This medication has a black box warning that it can cause heart failure and after about a month my pulse had dropped to the 30s. I developed a bad arrhythmia on top of it. I stopped taking it and have mostly recovered (still have a few tests to run), but I feel like my anxiety/fear has come back ten fold.

 

My problem is that I don't know if I'm experiencing withdrawal from the antidepressants or if I'm relapsing into some sort of panic disorder/massive anxiety. I mean, I didn't really take them for that long-- especially compared to some people--and the doctors tell me it can't be related. On the other hand I also never had this cloudy brain, teeth chattering, tremors, or constant fear of death before taking the antidepressants. I just want to feel normal again. Every day feels like a living nightmare. I'm never happy. I haven't felt like myself in over a year. Should I be having these side effects/withdrawal symptoms 6 months later?

 

Do I just need to give it more time? Should I go back onto an antidepressant to see if it helps and then try to wean off of it? The Imipramine might have actually been helping while I was on it, but it's unclear if it was that or just the finding out I didn't have cancer.

 

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to be as informative as possible. Please let me know if I can clarify anything. Any help or advice anyone can give me is greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your time.

[manymoretodays]

Hi Arc333,

Welcome.

And I'm so sorry for the struggle you've been through to date.

Thanks for getting your signature done!

I think it's just been a bit too much, and hard on your nervous system for the last year.  All the drugs tried and stopped.

I sure couldn't see you trying another AD(antidepressant) and expecting any relief of your present symptoms.

 

Did symptoms worsen after the antifungal?

We do have a brief topic, and it's possible that the antifungal could have temporarily further exacerbated your nervous system dysfunction.  Some antibiotics do, so it's possible.

Has anybody taken antifungal tablets while tapering from psych drugs?

Scroll down in ^ and read the post by composter.

 

I think your best bet would be to avoid any further psychiatric or psychoactive drugs like the plague, or just avoid them.  You're sensitive, they don't help with anything.

 

What you can do is use as much non-drug coping as possible, specific to your symptoms.

And gain a sense of hope for healing, by understanding what has happened to you.

Take a look at: One theory of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome(just click on the underlined passage to go to the topic, scroll up if need be and start with the first post in topic)

with an eye towards the autonomic dysregulation that happens

 

This may also apply to your experience of the past year:

Hypersensitivity and Kindling

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made.  The CNS likes stability. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.

 

It does sound like you were progressing prior to the antifungal, and that is good.  Often we see healing in a Windows and Waves pattern of Stabilization

 

Non-drug coping for some of your symptoms that may help while you and your nervous system are recovering:

I'll pull up some of the topics on anxiety and panic.  And yes, I tend to disagree with those who said your symptoms were un-related to the onslaught of medication(s) you were given.

 

Read the first post here by Altostrata:  Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms as it mentions again the autonomic dysregulation that it sounds like you are experiencing

 

I bolded some of the links that related to symptoms you mentioned.  The others are all worth exploration.  I got a little link happy tonight and just copied a whole bunch over from our Symptoms and Self Care forum.  Again just click on the underlined passages to go to topics, and scroll up if need be, and start with the first posts in topic.

sudden-fear-terror-panic-anxiety-or-sensory-overload-from-withdrawal/

 

ways-to-cope-with-daily-anxiety/

 

health-anxiety-hypochondria-and-obsession-with-symptoms/

(and this can happen to any of us really ^, you certainly had due cause for the initial and then some of the subsequent anxiety)

 

MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS
 
Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system
 
Mindfulness and Acceptance
 
Good links for anxiety/worry

Inhabiting our bodies in meditation http://wp.me/p5nnb-aSX

Meditation can heal the brain which can heal the mind and body

Mindfulness, Meditation, and Prayer after Brain Injury

Pranayama Breathing for Anxiety and Depression

 

PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression, or withdrawal symptoms

 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Radical Acceptance

The Dr. Claire Weekes method of recovering from a sensitized nervous system

 

Relaxation exercises, guided meditations, calming videos, sleep hypnosis

 

"Change the channel" -- dealing with cognitive symptoms
 
Behavioral Activation Therapy: Getting out and doing things helps depression
 
"Forest bathing" reduces cortisol, aids mood, immune system
 
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
 
Neuroplasticity and limbic retraining
 
Reframe stress to become more resilient

 

Art Therapy

 

Journaling / Journalling / Writing Therapy / Therapeutic Writing

 

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

Music Therapy / Music for Wellness and Healing

 

I think you have every chance of a complete recovery, with patience, and avoidence of any further psychoactive medication.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system.  

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

This is your introduction/journal page where you have now introduced yourself to the community, you can ask questions here regarding your case, give updates, and just keep a record of your journey.

Welcome again.

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

 

Edited October 25, 2022 by manymoretodays

[Arc333]

Hey Manymoretodays,

 

Thanks for the reply! Symptoms definitely got worse while I was taking the antifungals, but it started slow (unnoticeable) and gradually got worse until I stopped taking it (roughly a month). It was also affecting my heart rate/pulse which is why I stopped taking the antifungal, and I feel like that's when they got the worst.

 

I read through the theory of withdrawal symptoms you linked and it definitely sounds like me. My wife says I always get all the side effects of medication and they rarely every help me. I know everyone is different so there's no set time on impairment/recovery, but from what I gather it's definitely a possibility I'm still experiencing withdrawal effects even six months later? My plan was to give it a year (Next March) and then decide if I needed to go back on something. From the sounds of it though maybe I should just stay off and stay away.

 

I'll be going over some of the links (don't worry I get link happy too sometimes lol). I've never really been a supplement guy. I used to take some fish oil a long time ago but haven't in awhile. Perhaps it's time I start back up. Thanks again for all the info.

[Arc333]

Just out of curiosity I was wondering if anyone has/had any problems with teeth chattering during a long withdrawal period? Not bruxism per se, but rather just teeth chattering like you were cold. Also any accompanying tremors, especially in the arms? The chattering is really what makes me think something is is still messed up in my brain because I never had this before taking the antidepressants and now it's a daily thing. Still hoping I'm in some sort of long recovery/withdrawal and am not just completely messed up for life :p.