Hopefulhermit: Support/guidance needed

[Hopefulhermit]

Hello Warriors:

 

After 26 years of use, in Jan Feb 2023 I was rapid tapered off of Prozac in 5 weeks by Amen Clinic. I had some discomfort including brain zaps and vertigo, but overall I was ok. I was also taking Zyprexa 5mg at the time to treat chronic head pain due to Moderna vaccine injury. Perhaps that softened the landing. In May of 2023 Amen clinic added 2mg Valium prn for severe head burning symptoms I had been experiencing for a year. The burning for a little better around July, so I decided to stop the Valium and Zyprexa cold turkey and see how I felt. That was a decision approved by my doctor. I was fine for about 12 days and then things went horribly wrong. After taking a Zpack for a dental procedure, I was suddenly hit by withdrawal. I suddenly felt like I was being stunned by a taser gun and felt like I was being electrocuted 24/7. I did not have the compulsion to pace, so I do not think this is akathisia. I am and have always been able to sit still, but the pain of the electrocution feelings makes it intolerable to be still unless someone is rubbing my skin or I am reading or keeping myself distracted. I also went into acute withdrawal from the Zyprexa and had SI for 3 weeks. That settled down, thankfully, but the buzzing/tasered feeling did not go away. 

My Dr. at Amen clinic said I had akathisia so he reinstated Valium at 4mg prn. He said I could go up to 20mg/day but I refused to go over 4mg. It has been 18 months now and I still have this horrifying withdrawal symptom. I have been tapering the Valium and am now down to 1.55mg and probably still have another year to go. The Valium tapering is hard on my already sensitized nervous system, but I keep going with a micro taper guided by my new doctor at the Taper Clinic. 

I do not think I can keep on going with this electrical feelings/tension that I have in my body. I barely get 6 hours of sleep a night and get jolted awake with cortisol rushes and it makes me feel like I’m being electrocuted. 

Is it too late to reinstate Prozac at a low dose even though it’s been almost 2 years? 

I still suffer from chronic head pain due to the vaccine injury and it is just too much for me to handle anymore. I have hopelessness and depression from the pain only. When I have windows, which are mostly in the evening, and don’t feel any pain, I’m as happy as can be. Thank you for taking the time to read this. 
 

 

1997-2023 Prozac 20mg for panic disorder 

2004-2008 Effexor for panic disorder 

2008 tapered off Effexor 

2013 increased Prozac to 40mg for panic, became manic, doctor prescribed Lamotrigine for bi polar 

2014-2023 Lamotrigine 100mg

2022-2023 Zyprexa 2.5-5mg for chronic head pain/burning 

Feb 2023 5 week rapid taper of Prozac 

may 2023 Valium 2mg PRN for head burning 

July 2023 Cold turkey Valium and Zyprexa 

July 15, 2023 strong withdrawal symptoms set in: strong SI, hallucinations, electrocution feelings, painful body vibrating 

July 16, 2023 reinstate Valium 4mg/day

September 2023 switch doctors to Taper Clinic and begin Lamotrigine taper 100mg

November 2023 begin Valium taper 4mg

March 2024 Stop Lamotrigine taper 50mg

December 2024 currently tapering Valium 1.55mg

Edited December 2, 2024 by Emonda
Name to title and spacing

[Emonda]

Welcome @Hopefulhermit

I can see your signature as part of your initial post, but can you follow these instructions to add it to your 'signature', please: instructions. Adding a signature ensures your drug history appears at the bottom of every post, making it more efficient for those trying to assist. This link should go directly to your own signature: Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

To confirm I understand:

• You stopped Prozac CT in February 2023. You said it was a rapid 5 week taper. Can you add some detail to this, please. Dose/dates.
• You stopped Lamotrigine CT in March 2024. Can you also add some dose/date detail for that, too.
• You were on 4mg of Valium as on November 2023. Now, you are at 1.55mg.

11 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

so I decided to stop the Valium and Zyprexa cold turkey and see how I felt. That was a decision approved by my doctor. I was fine for about 12 days and then things went horribly wrong.

 

11 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

I suddenly felt like I was being stunned by a taser gun and felt like I was being electrocuted 24/7. I

 

When you stop these sorts of medications abruptly / too quickly, WD symptoms are the predictable outcome. Can you relate to anything on this list: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

11 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

I have been tapering the Valium and am now down to 1.55mg and probably still have another year to go.

 

11 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

The Valium tapering is hard on my already sensitized nervous system, but I keep going with a micro taper guided by my new doctor at the Taper Clinic. 

 

When you have WD symptoms, it's best to pause your taper until things improve. If you push on with the taper, things just get worse. So, I'd pause your valium taper.

 

11 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

Is it too late to reinstate Prozac at a low dose even though it’s been almost 2 years? 

 

You should read these two links below. Reinstating is best within the 1st 3 months.

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

Kindling

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but two that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. Add one at a time and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

Avoid alcohol.

Once you clarify the above, someone will try to assist.

 

Warm wishes to you.

 

Emonda

[Emonda]

11 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

When I have windows, which are mostly in the evening, and don’t feel any pain, I’m as happy as can be.

 

This is really positive and a sign of recovery. Recovery from ADs and tapering is not linear. There are good days and not-so-good days/weeks/months. This is referred to as the Windows and waves pattern of stabilization.

 

11 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

I have hopelessness and depression from the pain only.

 

You've already seen windows of improvement above. With more time + patience (and pausing the valium taper), I'd expect to see further gradual improvement.

[Hopefulhermit]

Thank you for responding. I am still trying to figure out how to use this page and format. To answer your questions, I did not CT Lamotrigine. I tapered down to 50mg. Additionally, I do not see anything on the withdrawal symptom list that resembles the constant chucking feeling I have. Maybe the full body zaps? I know what brain zaps feel like and this is not it. It’s more of an inner tension/inner tremor/electrical feeling. It’s hard to explain and I’m looking to find people who share a similar feeling. 
Lastly, I will speak to my Dr about reinstating. He suggested 1mg to start. Thank you. 

[Emonda]

7 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

I tapered down to 50mg.

 

Can you please show the dates/doses you took to get to 50mg?

 

7 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

I do not see anything on the withdrawal symptom list that resembles the constant chucking feeling I have.

 

Do you mean nausea? It is item 35 on the checklist and a common WD symptom.

 

7 hours ago, Hopefulhermit said:

It’s more of an inner tension/inner tremor/electrical feeling.

 

Like items 46 and 49 on the checklist?

 

Or more like this (from the kindling link I gave you)  kindling is an activation reaction -- a sense of overstimulation, which may be an inner electrical feeling, anxiety, nervousness, panic, or at the extreme, akathisia, which includes an urge to move to relieve intense inner agitation.

 

Looking forward to your clarification.

 

Emonda

[Claudelex]

Hi @Hopefulhermit, although our drugs are different I’m experiencing head burning, I guess it’s nerves.  It eased up for a bit but is now back in full force. Along with tension headaches tinnitus and tight neck muscles.  I also experienced the inner electrical buzzing feeling which was quite constant a few months ago.  This has eased up quite a bit but I still get it, for example today hasn’t been a great day with it.  Hope your symptoms improve soon.