ElaineM: Need advice on fluxotine withdrawal

[ElaineM]

At this point if I don’t feel better soon I would maybe go back on meds cuz I truly feel awful. Don’t know if it would help or make things worse. I am feeling pretty discouraged because I genuinely don’t know what to do.

[LostInCanada]

@ElaineM I was just thinking of you yesterday. The hydroxyzine can cause the opposite effect of its intended purpose, especially when your system is sensitive. The problem with protracted withdrawal is it causes us to think this situation will never end, I will never get better. But the thing is you have had good nights of sleep, in fact more good than bad. And this blip will pass. Could it be a wave when this happens? I find telling myself 'it is okay if I don't sleep, I will get some sleep another night. I will just choose to rest and practice deep belly breathing...' Something like that helps me. Also when anxious, I will say ' it is okay. I am an anxious person but I am safe. I've dealt with this before and will be okay..'

I don't know if you have read or listened to Claire Weekes or tried CBT but that could help. 

I know many have heightened issues due to hormonal fluctuations so your pregnancy is also playing a part. 

You are doing great and dealing with all this while being pregnant is amazing. ♥️🙏💯

[LostInCanada]

I wanted to mention that a took a child's dose of Benadryl after multiple wasp stings. It put me in a wave with insomnia, etc. so it doesn't surprise me that hydroxyzine caused insomnia. 

I know you circle around thinking about going back in the drugs. You know my take on that. As you get older the side effects become greater. Also if the drug poops out you will be in a worse case scenario. Did you try lavender oil for anxiety? Did I give you the link before? 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19962288/

And here is the link for an excellent book by Claire Weekes

https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Help-Your-Nerves-Anxiety/dp/0593201906/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2H901IFONP503&keywords=claire+weekes+hope+and+help+for+your+nerves&qid=1701625959&sprefix=Claire+Weekes+%2Caps%2C790&sr=8-1

It is always your choice but the non drug methods do take time and effort. 👍

[ElaineM]

I truly have fought tooth and nail to stay off of drugs, I just don’t usually have panic attacks like this. Anxiety over sleep, yes but not panic attacks were I feel trapped and really claustrophobic. Especially when I didn’t even really have the mucous in the back of my throat anymore, and I was basically just panicking over nothing. Last night I had to sleep in the living room of the vacation house we are staying at because the bedroom just made me feel claustrophobic. I don’t generally have anxiety over such unrealistic things. Do you think the hydroxyzine triggered that. I kinda wonder, but I’m scared it wont go away now that it’s triggered🤷🏻‍♀️ I was struggling with sleep before trying this med, so I don’t think I would say it started the insomnia, but I was wondering if it started the panic attack thing. Good to know! Thank you!! As for not worrying about sleep…It doesn’t seem to work well for me at all🙈I don’t worry near as much unless there is a special event/vacation going on, and if that’s the cause, I find it hard to be able to not. Even if I try not to think about it, it’s still subconsciously there. I also looked into lavender but it didn’t look like a great option with pregnancy. Haven’t read that book but did get a sleep book someone else recommended on basically not overthinking sleep etc. and it just doesn’t seem realistic to me😂 maybe I’m not as good at controlling myself as some😂🙈

[modelarz71]

I am following this thread because I am on WD after escylatopram and my "depression" is now high.
I'm also thinking about going back to AD, because additionally on WD I got a stomach ache.
However, I have many concerns, as Lost in Canada writes about, and I don't know what to do next myself.
I'll see what you decide.
I want to fool myself that so many people are taking AD, I was almost healthy and then I was taking it, maybe now that I am sick there is no more to think about.
Greetings

[LostInCanada]

15 minutes ago, ElaineM said:

Do you think the hydroxyzine triggered that.

I know that Benadryl totally gave me anxiety, feeling off, just not right in my thinking, insomnia. It took me over a month to get back to where I was before taking it. They are both the same drug class. I know others on here have had increased anxiety from hydroxyzine. Unfortunately health workers do not acknowledge/understand how other meds affect someone in withdrawal. You have alot going on: withdrawal, vacation, added med, pregnancy. Instability and being out of your routine are definite stressors. It sucks and as I have mentioned before, going back on a higher dose can cause more problems. No easy solution. 

[LostInCanada]

@modelarz71 please translate thanks 

[ElaineM]

I did decide that the medicine wasn’t a bit worth it…still didn’t help me🙈 and just made things worse. I also forgot how well it helps to up melatonin occasionally. I usually take 3 mg but when I started a wave last time I upped to 6 for awhile and it actually really helps me sleep/maybe even helps my anxiety!! so definitely a better option. 

 

Yes I remember you saying upping your dose can cause problems.. What about trying another med? I really am not for meds as much as possible but it is so hard sometimes to know what to do.

[ElaineM]

I am not ready to start another med yet, but just trying to learn about options… I do appreciate you sharing so kindly about how you do not suggest going back on..I do find it so hard because I hear so much about how I shouldn’t go back on and at times I wonder if I am fighting going back on meds to much…like maybe it isn’t a good option for some…but maybe the benefits out way the risks for me… I can be really stubborn about not wanting to go back on but I also know that being anxious a lot isn’t good for your body either. I have wondered if therapy would be a good option, it’s just so expensive. I don’t know tons about CBT for this but did to it as a kid for OCD. I went to a therapist as a child.

[LostInCanada]

3 minutes ago, ElaineM said:

What about trying another med? I really am not for meds as much as possible but it is so hard sometimes to know what to do.

I have a friend that is going this route. He believes he needs the meds. He is in such a bad state. They have him trying everything and nothing is helping. I honestly worry because every one of these drugs have a black box warning of suicide. That terrifies me because during my cold turkey I had those very dark moments.

[ElaineM]

hmm ok… yes that is so hard. So frustrating to me that going off of these meds can leave us with few options all from withdrawal🙈 I do want to mention that the first night when I tired the hydroxyzine it seemed to help me sleep(I was still at home)…but once I was on the trip, It wasn’t enough to help me with my anxiety. Third night taking it was when I woke up and had a panic attack🙈 maybe it just took a bit to cause the bad symptoms?

[LostInCanada]

I have another friend on some ADs as well. The drug has really stopped working for him but they just keep upping the dosage. He has been hospitalized so many times. He is a mess. I know it will take time for me to get 'right' but to me it is the better option.

[LostInCanada]

4 minutes ago, ElaineM said:

maybe it just took a bit to cause the bad symptoms?

Yes probably as it built up in your blood. Glad you stopped taking it. It's interesting because my mom just got an antihistamine (meclizine) given her for vertigo  and the pharmacist told her not to take it more than 3 days in a row. 

[ElaineM]

Yes! I believe the best option for me right now is to hold out. Do you think these panic attacks should stop as soon as the med completely leaves my system.. especially since I didn’t have these before?

[LostInCanada]

I can't say for sure but it seems like a reaction. Just remember you were safe. It was just thoughts. Thoughts aren't facts. You made it through and you will again. You are strong. All of us are on here. ♥️ Therapy is expensive here too.  Some therapists are better than others so that is a trial and error think too. I think I sent you a link before for free CBT online. 

[ElaineM]

Thank you for your time and thoughts🤍 Hope you have a good Sunday and hope we both continue to improve. I would love to know when you make it through all of this if you care to share then!!

[ElaineM]

Is there a list of meds that can cause reactions? I would have never known to avoid Benadryl so I was curious.

[LotusRising]

@ElaineM

 

We have a topic on this, but it seems mostly related to others' personal experiences:

 

 

Personally, I stay away from most medications. Going through this has made me question everything I put into my body, even if it's something that's been around forever, like tylenol. If I do feel like I need/want to take something, I research it.

[ElaineM]

hmm so interesting…I take tylenol and unisom and they seem to help me sleep. I don’t take tylenol all the time but I’ve taken lots of unisom.

[ElaineM]

I’m also curious what stuff I should avoid with childbirth. My hope it to have a natural birth but you never know…I didn’t even know all this stuff could upset people.

[LostInCanada]

@ElaineM I had to look up unisom. So there is a drug free herbal one and then there is the one that is a hypnotic drug. Which one do you take? The drug one is to be taken no longer than 2 weeks. I know some members on here are tapering hypnotics such as zopiclone due to the body becoming dependent on it. 

Was your first birth natural? I had two natural births. Anything the give you affects baby as well. So though it was years ago and way before withdrawal,I said no to Demerol or anything offered. Some drugs are necessary. They give a shot to help the uterus contract to minimize bleeding. Also there may be local freezing if stitches are needed. 

Probably a good idea to speak with the midwife to find out what possible drugs could be anticipated and if there are options. Then I would research. Antibiotics, especially fluoroquinolones (many individual names for them) and beta lactams seem to be the worst. 

I am like lotusrising and try to stay away from everything but sometimes it can't be avoided. 

 

[ElaineM]

The unisom I take is not the herbal but from what I understand you don’t usually become dependent, it just stops working. My midwife doesn’t act like it a problem at all to take more than two weeks. I did with my first pregnancy and with this one. In fact a lot of women take it to help with nasaua. I haven’t noticed that unisom or tylenol causes any bad symptoms for me. 
 

I did not have a natural birth with my first. I don’t really know what they gave me🙈 I had an epidural and pitocin because I was induced. Other than that, I don’t know that I had much except for pain meds after cuz I was in lots of pain. 

 

I’m aware it is best to go natural… I will see how it goes. I was just asking if there are things that would cause withdrawal to be worse. 

[ElaineM]

Another question🙈 how long after I get through all this stuff is medication “safe” (in the sense that it won’t cause bad withdrawal affects) to take again. I’m talking about anxiety meds (hopefully never but still curious) and decongestants, benedryl etc..

 

Clearly I am not near as sensitive as some people are. I take unisom, tylenol, and iphaprophen (and yes I know a lot of these things aren’t always the healthiest option, I don’t just pop the pain pills all day, I am actually decently “crunchy.” Such as I don’t vaccinate my daughter etc. but I’m also don’t ban everything either🙈)

[LostInCanada]

37 minutes ago, ElaineM said:

except for pain meds

If you can stick to Tylenol since you are fine with it, that would be best. I know the stronger the drug the more chance of reacting. It is so individualized. I mean Benadryl shouldn't be a problem but it was. Crazy and the medical professionals don't have an awareness or knowledge of how things affect someone in withdrawal differently. Research is your friend for sure.👍

[ElaineM]

Is there any mucous thinner that is safe to take. I can’t seem to get past this panic over mucous stuff. It’s so illogical but it’s causing me to wake up multiple times through the night because it’s making me so anxious. I’m not sure how to shake it.

[LotusRising]

Have you tried saline rinses or a neti pot? 

[LostInCanada]

6 hours ago, ElaineM said:

Is there any mucous thinner

Drinking ginger tea, mint tea or chamomile throughout the day should help clear it. Can you sleep with pillows propped up? Trying to eat low histamine foods might help for now as well. 

[ElaineM]

Tried a saline rinse but didn’t have the proper stuff to do with with. I may run ti town and get it though. Still would like to know if there are any meds safe to take though? or even nose sprays?

[LostInCanada]

I don't think anyone can recommend any drug. It is just too unpredictable how a person could react. There are nose sprays that are just saline solution. I have used those. You can always use the search icon on here if you have a specific product in mind.

[ElaineM]

makes sense! thank you!

[ElaineM]

Ok sorry for all the messages but I’m doing terrible. I woke up like 40 minutes after I fell asleep with a jolt and panic attack and my anxiety is so high…. Running on very little sleep, can’t go back to sleep because I’m anxious it might happen again. My brain is going to go crazy if I don’t get some sleep soon. Any thought? How long should these panic attacks last?

[LostInCanada]

Are you still taking unisom nightly? There are contraindications between it and prozac. It can also reduce the effectiveness of prozac. Because it didn't affect you negatively before it is possible that adding the hydroxyzine made you sensitive to it now since those 2 drugs should not be taken together either. It would be helpful if you updated your drug signature with everything you take , for how long and how often. 

We have also discussed the early morning cortisol rush. Blackout curtains, no blue light a couple hours before bed, good sleep routine and hygiene. For myself, the strict routine is all that helps. Ofc I still only get about 2 hours at a time but can fall asleep usually pretty fast again. 

Always check drug interactions before taking them. It is easier to prevent issues than to undo them. 

Please use the search icon to see what others have used to help with sleep. It is very common. 

The purpose of this site is to help you safely get off antidepressants. Adding any drug can cause destabilization and prolong the process.

[LostInCanada]

There is a free app called Dare which some use on here. You have to be willing to put in the time to get the benefit. I haven't tried it yet but I just downloaded it.

[ElaineM]

I haven’t taken unisom for several nights now. Not since before I took that other med! Thank you for the app suggestion!

[ElaineM]

I hear people on here talking about not using adaptogens. Does that count for like herbal ones like attached pictures? and what about full spectrum CBD? I know i tried in the past at beginning of withdrawal and although it didn’t help, don’t know that it made anything worse.

[LostInCanada]

@ElaineM some have used them and had issues, other have used them successfully only to have them become activating and others are fine with them. If you wish to try them it is better to do it with the individual adaptogen so you can identify if it causes a problem or is beneficial. Feel free to use the search icon for the specific ones to help you make your decision.