Christian Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 DJ. I'm very sorry. I'm in bad shape too after a failed reinstatement. I want to caution you though. I did feel a little better once I stopped lexapro in early March. But I did decline in the last 30 days and I lost more of my sleep (down to 4 hours a night even with Remeron). Insomnia and extreme fatigue is not a good combo. This might be just a brief wave but I was already in bad shape and thought the worst was behind me. I'm not going to reinstate again as I have to move on. I'm not going to stabilize on it it just lowered my anxiety some. Be careful my friend. I'll include you in my prayers. Lexapro: started in 2002 at 10 mgs. Ambien: started as a as needed sleep aid in 2010. Quit Lexapro cold turkey in June 20015 due to contributing to low sodium issues. Restarted Lexapro in late November for a week (only 5 mgs) but quit due to dizziness side effects. Side effects worsened for 3 weeks until 12/24/15: Protracted WD hit, experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia lack of full concentration and social challenges. Reinstated Lexapro on 1/1/16 at 5 mgs. Increased per Dr to 7.5 MG. Tapered off Lexapro in March 2016. Started 50MG of Seroquel in late January 2016 for bedtime to help in eliminate Ambien. Tapered off both Seroquel and Ambien in March 2016. 2/14/16: Prescribed both Remeron (15 MG) and Temazapam (15 MG) for sleep. Also use Klonopin and Ambien again in place of Temazapam to avoid addiction. However I did take Temazapam 60 straight days 6/15/16: Stopped use of all benzo's and now use Belsomra 1-2 times a week. Still on 15 MG of Remeron 10/11/16: Off all psych medications After kindling, trying to regain my strength suffering from severe mental and physical fatigue. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted July 10, 2016 Author Share Posted July 10, 2016 So I have been on lamictal for a few months doc wanted to start slow and work me up to 50mg and than taper the celexa. I am a mess just want it all to end. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 Doing very poorly doc said he thinks most or all of my problems are due to Celera withdrawal and kindling still. Wish in would have never went on this lamictal since it has not really done anything to help and I have been on it for 2.5 months now. Seem to be more agitated on it but I don't really know he wants me up to 50mg but I don't think I am going any higher if anything think I am going to drop it down some. Going on 4 years now and I am almost in worse shape than I was when all this started what a nightmare. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 11, 2016 Administrator Share Posted July 11, 2016 Dj, what do you mean when you say you're more agitated on Lamictal? What happens after you take it? What is your daily symptom pattern, what times do you take your drugs, and at what dosages? More Lamictal may not be better. Please do NOT taper Klonopin until we get this sorted out. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted July 20, 2016 Author Share Posted July 20, 2016 Hey alto, Lamictal 35mg 8:00am Celexa 1.5mg 8:00am Klonopin .25mg 7:00am, 1:00pm, 7:00pm and around 12:00am Wake up at 7am and lay around and eat breakefast usually am bad upon awakening a get a little better by 10am. I am bad again after lunch at 1230 by 130 I am usually a little better until 4 or 5 worse and than better by 6 or 7pm until around 9 or sometimes all night not feeling well. I usually sleep through the night. I just upped the lamictal from 30mg to 35mg starting on Sunday and I am feeling worse akathesia. Seems since I stated lamictal I have been getting more headaches and agitation. I may have been better off on 20mg. Do you think I should go back down. Honestly at this point I am ready to sell my truck and business or file bankruptcy because I can't function in society, I don't give a **** anymore and am sick of trying anything. I am ready to flush all the pills down the toilet and have my mom take care of me for a few year's. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted July 20, 2016 Author Share Posted July 20, 2016 I see the doc in the morning again but not sure what he is going to say and don't really care anyway. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 20, 2016 Administrator Share Posted July 20, 2016 I don't understand why you're playing with the Lamictal dosage. It doesn't look to me like you're getting adverse reactions from Lamictal -- you're taking the Celexa at the same time. If you get a headache from increasing Lamictal, go back to 25mg. Did you have headaches when you were taking 25mg? You said it helped a little, what did you mean by that? Please report your symptom notes like this: 7:00 a.m. Wake 7:00 a.m Klonopin .25mg [symptoms after that??| 8:00 a.m. Lamictal 35mg, Celexa 1.5mg [symptoms after that??| 10:00 a.m. Feel better ??? Lunch [symptoms after that??| 1:00 p.m Klonopin .25mg[symptoms after that??| and so forth. The way you're reporting them, it's hard to understand what's happening. When do you get "akathisia"? You must keep notes on paper every day. What do you mean by "akathisia"? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 I was playing with the lamictal dose because the doctor thought it would be good for me to get to 50mg so I have been slowly increasing. I have akathesia throughout the day everyday and usually comes and goes it seems when the klonopin wears off and feels like inner torture, bugs crawling under skin and like anxiety times 100 and i have a hard time sitting still or thinking when its bad. I went back to the doctor yesterday and he said if I felt the lamictal was to much to go back to 25mg he also said that he thinks the klonopin is a big part of my problem and he wants me to try and crossover to valium try to get a little more stable and than try and taper off the remainder of the celexa by the end of the year. I need to keep better notes but it seems most of my symtoms still come and go dependent on the klonopin doses. what do you think? April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Christian Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 DJ, I'm sorry you are still having a tough time. I have to say I find it amazing with all the anxiety and akasithia you have had for a couple years now and your sleep has remained stable. And no fatigue too. Usually that comes after suffering from anxiety and stress. I can't think of many that has had as much as you have had. I'm hoping you remain strong. Lexapro: started in 2002 at 10 mgs. Ambien: started as a as needed sleep aid in 2010. Quit Lexapro cold turkey in June 20015 due to contributing to low sodium issues. Restarted Lexapro in late November for a week (only 5 mgs) but quit due to dizziness side effects. Side effects worsened for 3 weeks until 12/24/15: Protracted WD hit, experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia lack of full concentration and social challenges. Reinstated Lexapro on 1/1/16 at 5 mgs. Increased per Dr to 7.5 MG. Tapered off Lexapro in March 2016. Started 50MG of Seroquel in late January 2016 for bedtime to help in eliminate Ambien. Tapered off both Seroquel and Ambien in March 2016. 2/14/16: Prescribed both Remeron (15 MG) and Temazapam (15 MG) for sleep. Also use Klonopin and Ambien again in place of Temazapam to avoid addiction. However I did take Temazapam 60 straight days 6/15/16: Stopped use of all benzo's and now use Belsomra 1-2 times a week. Still on 15 MG of Remeron 10/11/16: Off all psych medications After kindling, trying to regain my strength suffering from severe mental and physical fatigue. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 God help me I listened to this doc again and am now in worse shape on this lamictal he wanted me up to 50mg and that wasent working and now back at 25mg but think I am in an uproar from that I don't know who to listen to I am so crazy I can't keep track of anything and dont know who to listen too. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 I have no idea how I am continuing to work and live through this I dropped the lamictal down and now am dizzy and completely electrified through my whole body. I don't know whether I am coming or going most of the time. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted September 3, 2016 Author Share Posted September 3, 2016 (edited) I have a sinus infection I think after cold and I am scared to death to take antibiotics. If I have to what is the best one to take in withdrawl? Will they mess me up badly? Edited September 3, 2016 by scallywag merged from created topic "antibiotics" April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus scallywag Posted September 3, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 3, 2016 Djones - I've moved your post from the standalone topic "antibiotics" you created to your introduction topic so that all the information about your situation will be in one place, or one of two places the other being your benzo taper topic. Some people have treated nasal and sinus infections with weak saline solutions in a neti pot. To find more information, try a web search (google) for "neti pot" infection Generally there are different antibiotic medications indicated for a specific suspected infection. Doctors will have better information about this than we do. Here's a thread that discusses antibiotics during withdrawal: Cipro Levaquin, Z-pack Read that and come back here to post your questions. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to 0.0 mg Aug. 12; details here scallywag's IntroductionOnline spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet Link to comment
LexAnger Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 Hi DJ, Just check how you are doing. Drug free Sep. 23 2017 2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks. 2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg 2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain 2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain; 2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain 2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg, 2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on 2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks. 2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR 2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg 2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg, Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 Not doing to well I have been tapering the celexa and now down to 1mg and they switched generics on me and I feel totally messed up. Never really stabilised and considoring just throwing the celexa away and being done with it. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 I feel it's just prolonging my suffering at this point. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
LexAnger Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 God, this mix of more drugs is hard to figure out what's really happening. For the kindling reaction from lex dose increase, all the windows I got so far were from quick drop of lex. The WD symptoms are still there but the reaction ones are much much worse so I'm riding the WD out and cutting very fact ( 1% everyday lately it actually made things better). Drug free Sep. 23 2017 2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks. 2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg 2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain 2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain; 2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain 2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg, 2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on 2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks. 2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR 2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg 2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg, Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 Hi everyone I am still in the thick of battle with this. As you can see from my Sig I am off the celexa on 25mg a day of lamictal and crossed over to Valium from klonopin in hopes of stabilizing and having an easier withdrawal. I am a mess doctor said I could try more lamictal but honestly don't want to be on anything but I have heard it's worked for some people. Dont really know know how I am ever going to make it out of this mess. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted February 11, 2018 Author Share Posted February 11, 2018 Hi there, I am still struggling been off the celexa for coming up on a year now been dealing with this for 5 years and still taking 10mg of Valium a day I doubt I will ever recover while still on the Valium and still on a low dose of lamictal. Nothing seems to help just in hell most of the time with akathesia being there everyday will it ever go away? Please help. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted February 11, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 11, 2018 Hi Djones, Please update your drug signature. Clicking on this link will take you to your own signature: Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature What is your current symptoms pattern? Are you keeping notes on paper of when you take your drug and when your symptoms worsen? Are you still taking 25mg Lamictal? * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share Posted February 12, 2018 Yes I am still taking the lamictal symptom pattern is I feel horrible upon awakening at 7am than take my morning dose of lamictal and 5mg of Valium usually gets a little better for a couple 3 hours than back into akathesia by 10am very bad usually until after lunch than a tad better in the afternoon by late afternoon dinner time usually bad again. Take my second dose of 5mg Valium at 7pm and usually but not always am better at night. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted February 12, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 12, 2018 On 6/25/2016 at 12:39 AM, Djones1984 said: Hi been away from forum for awhile still suffering without much relief. Been listening to this doctor who has me on around 30mg of lamictal and have noticed some symptoms are a little better but 30mg may be a little to activating. Really not much has changed he wants me to get up to 50mg very slowly stay put for a long while than slowly taper the rest of Celera by around a 10th of a milligram per week or so and than start tapering the k which he said would take a year. So I suppose 3 years in already have another 3 years to taper and than try and recover it seems to me I will be in tell for another 5 years. Makes me sick and it just feels like the benzo is making me sicker but I am stuck. Hi, D. Just a thought. ChessieCat mentioned that 25 mg of lamictal is a high dose, especially for someone in withdrawal, so I went back to your benzo thread and found where you had posted about it back in 2016. You found 30 mg to be too activating, as I've highlighted in that old post. Do you think that the 25 mg lamictal may be too activating? Please see Alto's post, which I've copied from the thread Lamictal (lamotrigine) to calm post-discontinuation withdrawal symptoms: On 10/3/2011 at 6:21 PM, Altostrata said: Here are a few tips about using Lamictal that I learned from my doctor. I'm not an expert and I don't know how this would be applied to any particular person: - Dosages are individual, need to be started at very low amounts, and slowly titrated up. - He starts everyone out at 2mg or less. Because I was so hypersensitive, he started me on .5mg. He likes to give a dosage a try for 4 days to see how it works, get beyond initial wooziness, etc. - The trick is to find exactly the right "sweet spot" for your nervous system. At one time, I started at .5mg, went up to 2.5mg, backed down again to 1mg, eventually settling at 1.07mg. In a second phase, I titrated up to 5.4mg. (I am currently tapering off.) Now, someone else's optimal dose may be 24.3mg or 38.2mg or 10.1mg. - For someone with withdrawal insomnia, the "sweet spot" is a dosage at which sleep is increasing towards normal and side effects are negligible. - Lamictal does increase GABA somewhat while decreasing glutamatergic transmission. However, the GABA system needs glutamate to make GABA so too much Lamictal will have a paradoxical effect -- you don't want to go too high. - Signs that you're taking too much Lamictal: Queasiness or headache (or both), sleeplessness, agitation. - Initial side effects can be wooziness, grogginess, sleepiness, lack of energy. - To firmly establish the newly revived healthy brain patterns, expect to stay on the Lamictal for about a year. He has had patients who went off the medication and were fine, they didn't need to take it anymore. - In severe withdrawal insomnia, deep sleep is the first to go and the last to come back. It's important because human growth hormone is secreted in deep sleep and it is physically and mentally restorative. When deep sleep returns, emotional numbing will lift. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 I don’t really know what is causing what wish I would have never started the benzo or the lamictal. I do know the lamictal is not doing anything helpful and maybe I should just stop taking it. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 Thank you for all the help shep I just don’t know what my next move shall be it has just been so long with little improvement. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted February 24, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 24, 2018 On 19/02/2018 at 7:07 AM, Djones1984 said: I do know the lamictal is not doing anything helpful and maybe I should just stop taking it. I hope by this you don't mean cold turkey. tips-for-tapering-off-lamictal-lamotrigine * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted February 25, 2018 Author Share Posted February 25, 2018 No I don’t mean cold turkey just am sick of all of this if I would have just stayed off the benzo and not started the lamictal I would have probably been better by now. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted February 25, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 25, 2018 1 hour ago, Djones1984 said: No I don’t mean cold turkey That's good. I was a bit concerned so I'm glad that's not what you meant. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 Still here and in a bad way it’s been over 5 years now I started tapering the Valium down from 10mg to 9mg. I am back at square one again the akathesia has never went away and at this point it’s probably perminant damage from the celexa reaction. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted June 20, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 20, 2018 I am so sorry you are still having so much difficulty! SG Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002 Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots! Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep. June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015. Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month. 12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 Ya I don’t know what to do anymore I am back in acute suffering again. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 20, 2018 Administrator Share Posted June 20, 2018 What time of day do you take Lamictal? Does it do anything for you? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 Alto I take the lamictal in the morning along with the Valium I don’t think it does a thing. Doctor was trying to get me up to 50mg but I don’t know I tried before and don’t think it went well. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 Alto at this stage do you think it’s the Valium keeping my nervous system so messed up? And preventing much healing? What your thoughts? Thanks April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 20, 2018 Administrator Share Posted June 20, 2018 I don't know. Why do you take lamotrigine and Valium at the same time? The lamotrigine might be more helpful in split doses. The way to do this is to move 12.5mg later by an hour or so each day until you're taking it 12 hours later. What times of day do you take your drugs, and their dosages? Are your symptoms better or worse at any particular time of day? What is the effect of the evening Valium? Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Djones1984 Posted June 21, 2018 Author Share Posted June 21, 2018 Alto I take my lamictal and 4mg of Valium at 7 in the morning when get up with fish oil. I take my night dose of Valium at 7pm. There was a symptom pattern of feeling better after I toke my morning dose of Valium but that has went away. For the last few days I have just been meserable pretty much all day. Usually my evenings were better but I had the worst night ever last night with pain in my legs, chest, and depersonalization and anxiety so bad I couldn’t fall asleep till 4am and only slept 3 hours so getting back into insomnia that I have not had for awhile. April 2013 Doc put me back on 40mg of celexa for 2.5 weeks than switched to Paxil 3 weeks adverse reaction and kindling reaction July 2013 5mg celexa and .5mg klonopin daily 5/15/16 started lamictal and currently at 25mg daily once a day. 1/1/17 crossed over from .5mg klonopin to 10mg Valium. 3/1/17 off celexa from getting down to around .25mg. 5/25/17 started tapering the Valium from 10mg to 9mg 6/25/17 dropped down to 8mg Valium currently on 8mg of Valium and 25mg of lamictal once a day in the morning never could handle more than 25mg of lamictal and never really felt anything from it. 7/2/17 updosed to 10mg Valium and holding split twice a day and holding. 3/1/18 dropped Valium from 10mg to 9.5mg 4/1/18 dropped Valium from 9.5 to 9mg still on 25mg lamictal. Updosed 6/20/18 Valium 10mg and 25mg lamictal and holding. Link to comment
Freedom1975 Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 New to the site. Just read this posting from the beginning.Djones I can only hope to have the courage you have as I begin my journey off these meds. Your story seems all to familiar to me and my story These are all start dates for current meds. March 2017. Mirtazipine. April 2017 zopiclone July 2017 zoloft, clonazepam Oct 2017 propanolol Am now taking 12.5 mg Zoloft. 3.75 mg zopiclone. 0.5mg clonazepam and 5 mg propanolol. 15 mg of mirtazipine. Was quickly tapered off lexapro and started having nausea issues. Was givin metaclopermide and got severe Akathasia. This was about a year a go. Since then they put me on multiple drugs which of course made the Akathasia worse.so i have ct a lot of drugs in the last year and have been on the above drugs for about 8 months. Started tapering the zoloft 3 months ago. Any specific questions about meds i was givin please ask Link to comment
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