Holden : Discontinuation Syndrome?

[Holden]

It looks like I need to do an intro before posting in other forums. I was on cymbalta for a year and then switched to 40 mg Prozac and 300 mg Wellbutrin (down to 150 mg the last couple years) for 7 or 8 years. I started getting extreme heart palpitations and heart rhythm issues (extra beats, pauses) and it was possibly started from an interaction between cyclobenzaprine use for 6 months. I have also been on 16 mg of suboxone for 8 years.

 

The antidepressants seemed to make the palpitations worse, so after I immediately stopped cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxer)

 

I did a fast taper of both antidepressants (like a couple months, maybe).

 

Been completely off since February sometime (maybe the end of February). Heart palpitations improved some but I have had, mutating other issues. I also had a minor abdominal surgery to remove endometrial cyst in April so some issues are hard to determine the cause. I’ve had extreme digestion and nausea issues, which had gotten quite a bit better but seem to coming back pretty badly. I have a rib that keeps being pulled out of place (probably from surgery, just fyi), but I’m also having extreme/constant muscle twitches that started a couple months ago but have gotten worse. I also have pins and needles feeling, weird pressure around leg and arm sometimes, and a weird pain I will get in extremities or muscles. Muscles now get tired easily since the muscle twitches.

 

Doctor doesn’t think any of this stuff is from fast antidepressant withdrawal but she seems very uneducated, it was at her advice I made the final jump sooner than I would’ve. Now she keeps pushing me to start taking other ssris or ssnris but I’m really sensitive to drugs and am afraid that’ll make things worse. I’m also extremely anxious a lot of the time, gets worse with physical symptoms. They’ve done blood tests, including to check for vitamin deficiencies (all normal). Im hoping to do something or find a doctor or someone who is knowledgeable about this because it feels like it just gets worse and worse. Any advice at all would be appreciated! Thank you!

Edited August 27, 2023 by manymoretodays
just spacing for readability

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Holden

 

As you've noted, you have had many health issues that might cause odd symptoms. Which symptoms started after you went Prozac and Wellbutrin in February? Which do you think might be withdrawal symptoms?

 

Very few doctors know anything about withdrawal.

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[Holden]

Thank you for the response! I’m trying to respond to your comment Altrostrata, and I guess I’m not doing it right lol. I’m sorry this took me so long to get back, it’s been a rough month. The only symptom that didn’t seem to correspond somewhat with getting off the Prozac and Wellbutrin is the heart palpitations (and that could have been from the combination of taking cyclobenzaprine, suboxone, Wellbutrin, and Prozac - they were never sure). Since coming off the antidepressants (and it did take like a month to even start to notice most of these things) I’ve gotten muscle twitches (everywhere, often), tingling and a little bit of pain in arms (just sometimes), tingling and twitching by mouth (quite often), maybe more joint pain, my periods are often late now, worse hormonal acne, and unfortunately the anxiety has really gotten bad lately even without the physical symptoms. I have not followed my doctor’s recommendations of starting another antidepressant because I truly fear what it would do at this point. I also still get heart palpitations, although they did not find anything structurally wrong with the heart (which is good, but never really got an answer). Now I take lorazepam as needed for anxiety, which is not as effective as you’d think and causes worse anxiety after, suboxone (which I’d like to get off but it’s hard with everything in flux), and propranolol for palpitations as needed. It seems like my hormones and nervous system are really messed up at this point? Of course I don’t know that for sure but it’s what it feels like and I’m kind of at my wits end and miserable; it seems to have mostly started after getting off of those meds too fast. 

[manymoretodays]

Hi Holden, and welcome aboard,

Can you get to the signature link that Alto gave you, and then give a try at doing one?  They are so helpful to us.  And different from the information you gave at registration, and in your narratives.......as once done it will appear below all your posts and give us a snapshot view of your drug history.  Thanks in advance.

 

You responded okay above, it's there, it's just that the first 2 posts done by new members need moderator approval before going through.  That way.....every newbie gets seen by staff initially.

 

And I'm sorry to hear of all your symptoms.  Many of which do concur with WD(withdrawal).  I'll give you a few basics......links to topics so you can see for yourself and read.  As I don't know what you have read/seen so far to date.

 

I also went and put some spacing in your first post, for ease of readability.  Might just be me, this morning.......but it can get hard to read block text sometimes, when viewing many entries here.  So, if you can do some spacing, that would also be great.  I know it's harder if on a phone device, as I was limited to that recently........  The site flows best I think, if using a PC.......but many do get by with other devices.

 

I do know, we don't deal here with suboxone and tapering of that.  So that is going to make your case a bit more difficult too.  Do you have resources to help and support with suboxone WD?  I hope they are out there.

 

The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

More on what happens once we've developed a physiological dependency on our drug or drugs and then about WD(withdrawal)

Brain Remodelling

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Dr.Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

look for the downloadable PDF ^

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

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.

 

Welcome back and welcome.

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

I don't know if you've found our Symptoms and Self Care forum/section yet.  Here is what we have there on one of your symptoms:

Irregular heartbeats, palpitations, tachycardia, bradycardia

 

And also on anxiety:  Ways to cope with daily anxiety

 

Most of us have had to pick up and use many new practices to cope with WD.  So I hope those help you know you are not alone in what you are going through now, and provide some help.

Edited August 27, 2023 by manymoretodays