Lilliehope: just starting taper- three meds

[Lilliehope]

I was having insomnia in June 2022 due to stressful life event. All natural resources like acupuncture, body work, supplements were not working. Became desperate after weeks of not sleeping. Sadly, each doctor tried something else that did not work. Now I’m on three meds- side effects are horrific and wanting to start to taper but need to pick an order and create a taper schedule. 50mg Hydroxyzine, 25mg desvenlafaxine xr, and 2mg klonapin.  I’m researching taper methods for all three. It feels overwhelming at this point to decide the order and taper methods. I am feeling quite scared- just at the beginning of this journey. My cognitive impact has been immense- amnesia, cannot process and memory problems. Any encouragement would be appreciated. 
 

[Lilliehope]

I am looking for more information about tapering Hydroxyzine HCL tablet strategies and am wondering if anyone has researched this or has any experience. I would also like to learn more about how ssri evolved from first generation anthistimines. I did not realize that Hydroxyzine impacts serotonin and other neurotransmitters so much. I am going to reach out to a compounding pharmacist to see if the Hydroxyzine HCL tablet can be made into a liquid solution for more exact tapering. I have read that Hydroxyzine withdrawal symptoms can be numerous and needs to be tapered very carefully. I will update what I find out. 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Lilliehope

 

I combined your posts into this Introductions topic -- only one Introduction to member. This keeps all your tapering questions in one place.

 

I see you went off Effexor and Wellbutrin in 2022? About when did you go off? What happened after you went off?

 

Of hydroxyzine, Pristiq, and Klonopin, when was each introduced, and why?

[Lilliehope]

I tapered Wellbutrin and Effexor from 2015 to 2016 over about 1.5 years.  I was off everything by the end of 2016 and was on no meds from end of 2016 to august 2022. My brain was the most healed that I could recall… I could think clearly and sleep well. Because I tapered slowly I do not recall any severe withdrawal symptoms during the Effexor/Wellbutrin taper which looking back now is quite surprising. But in July of 2022 I tried to go back on Effexor and had a violent reaction - tingling/ chest pain.. so I stopped after a few days. 
 

when my 2022 trauma/insomnia started in June, after weeks of ptsd and not sleeping I went to my primary and he asked what “worked” in prior depressions - I tried temazepam for a few nights and woke up shaking violently so stopped it, I tried the Effexor listed above and stopped after violent reaction, so primary said to try psychiatrist so I went to the one who tapered me in 2015-2016. She started me on pristiq 25mg on 09/01/22 and said It was a more pure form of Effexor and I should not react to it. I immediately had skin tingling and other symptoms which was a reaction but she said I just needed to increase my dose more slowly. Looking back I don’t understand why she was starting me on an SNRI when my chief complaint was insomnia and PTSD and anxiety. I was not having depression at that point. She also prescribed lorazepam 1 mg as needed for daytime anxiety up to two times per day which I used occasionally during July, and she said I should try Lunesta for sleep because it is less habit-forming than temazepam or any of the benzos. I tried a few nights on the Lunesta, and would wake up with my skin and scalp on fire, tingling. I emailed her about this and she told me to just add some valerian and natural supplements. I got discouraged and was introduced to a nurse who supposedly specializes in PTSD therapy and helping people with drug withdrawal. This nurse told me the only way to get through  my PTSD And start sleeping again was with controlling my anxiety with Klonopin and Asked me to text my primary for a script for 2 mg per day, along with 50mg Hydroxyzine hcl to help with sleep. I started those two on 09/26/22. 
She guaranteed me that by controlling my anxiety with the Clonopin the hydroxyzine would then help me sleep. 
Sadly my life events at that time were very traumatic and stressful And I am grieving that I did not research all the things that were prescribed. I was in a very vulnerable state and trusted “the professionals “. 
Very quickly I started Reacting to the Klonopin and hydroxyzine with intermittent withdrawal, but When I would describe my symptoms the nurse would attribute them to my underlying PTSD And even suggested I see a neurologist to rule out MS. The symptoms She attributed to MS we’re not there until I started the Medication’s that she recommended for Klonopin and hydroxyzine now in combination with Pristiq. Thankfully I found the benzodiazepine coalition website and learned that all my symptoms were from the medication’s and not a new diagnosis of MS.  The combination of the three medication’s – Pristiq 25 mg, hydroxyzine 50 mg, and Klonopin 2 milligrams Is giving me dozens of painful symptoms daily. I know my hope for healing is to taper but I am terrified of the process and really want to educate myself on all the options for each medication. My brain And nervous system are already so compromised. 

 

[Altostrata]

Thanks. What happened when you attempted to reduce hydroxyzine?

 

I will need to see your daily symptom pattern. Please keep daily notes of times o’clock you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. We need to know how you feel before and after taking each drug, and your symptoms in between. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time o’clock on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. This can help identify symptoms that are adverse effects from one of your drugs.

[Lilliehope]

I have been having so many symptoms there are too many to post in a timeline and I’m so weak I don’t have the strength to organize and type it all. I started trying to taper desvenlafaxine (I’m on 25mg extended release) daily around 2 or 3pm. ) I bought a Gemini scale and since Feb 23rd have been sanding off one corner of the 25mg tablet equal to 10% by weight. I have been feeling horrible (at least 30 withdrawal symptoms) too many to list but I’m also on clonazepam and Hydroxyzine which also have side effects and inter dose withdrawal. I don’t know what to do at this point as my symptoms all feel unmanageable but too.difficult to tell if they are withdrawal, side effects or both. Any thoughts, suggestions or encouragement I would appreciate. 

[Altostrata]

2 hours ago, Lilliehope said:

I’m also on clonazepam and Hydroxyzine which also have side effects and inter dose withdrawal.

 

We need you to post daily symptom notes, 24 hours at a time. We won't be able to help you, we can't make guesses about your symptoms. What you think are withdrawal symptoms may be something else.