marie123: tapering trazodone

[Hibari]

@marie123

 

Hi Marie,

 

I think you are wise to avoid taking action on the results of your bloodtest. Many people on BenzoBuddies have talked about wacky bloodtests and symptoms that then improved when they got off of meds including non benzos. 

 

I've shared in the past how I gained 30lbs on Mirt the first time I was on it and now matter what I did, I couldn't budge my weight. I was puffed up and had fluffy weight around my middle. When I went off the med, I lost 25lbs without trying. It just melted off in about 2 months. 

 

All this to say that Mirt does affect our bodies but our bodies bounce back after we are off. 

 

Hibari 

[marie123]

Hi Hibari. Thanks for stopping by. I do believe the biggest culprit is Mirt. I'll try the niacin and fish oil to lower the cholesterol and try to get into exercising again. It's going to take me another 2 years with this taper since I am crawling off the med. It's not worth it to try and speed it up to save a few months. Once I'm done with it I think I will see the high cholesterol number plummet. The Mirt forums are full of people taking Mirt and their cholesterol shot up and went down and even halved after finishing their taper. It's common.

 

Oh Hibari how I hated that fluffy gut! I looked like I was ready to give birth seriously. Mine went down a lot but I keep pushing to get healthier and thinner. Maybe I'll be like you when you stopped Mirt and drop a lot of lbs. when I'm off. That will be great. Be well. Marie.

[Oaktree1]

Hi Marie,

 

Just wanted to chime in the cholesterol - the last time I had readings my own was hugely up too but I had just had Covid also.  I am putting off getting new bloodwork done until August as I don't want more bad news at the moment.  I am also taking niacin as I went back on my B complex and have been taking it for the past 5 years.  I am also taking plant stenols which are meant to lower cholesterol naturally - I take it in a yoghurt drink - will see if it makes any difference come August.

 

I follow your progress closely - I am a year behind you in the Mirt taper - you are right to take it slow and steady - you are really getting there though - down to 2.3mg - once you are in the 1's then you are on the home stretch.  Not that far away now.

 

Oaktree

[marie123]

Hello Oaktree. May I ask what does of Niacin did you take? Doc wants me to take 250 mg. I know about the "flush" when you take it. I took my first dose by splitting the 500 mg capsule in half. I had an awful flush on my arms with red burning skin with hives and welts. I had to stick my arms in cold water. It went away in a half hour. I know I can dose up to get used to is and avoid the flush but I think I'll hold off for now. It is not good for your liver. In my women's multi-vitamin it contains 20 mg niacin but it's not enough to lower cholesterol.

 

I was searching around and came upon Nutram Oat Bran Powder. You can put it in your smoothie, yogurt, coffee, etc. It's like eating a ton of oatmeal and all natural. What is does is what oatmeal does on a much larger scale, it mops up the cholesterol. I think I am going to try that. It's in my Amazon cart now (good reviews). I found it on Reddit.  I'm going to try and love fish too. My spouse eats a lot of salmon so if I can get into eating that it will help me.

 

You mentioned plant sterols. What brand can you recommend? Sometimes I feel like a science experiment lol. Marie.

 

 

[Oaktree1]

Hi Marie

 

I checked the B complex tablet I take and it only has 12mg of Niacin.  I think you are right to hold up up dosing it.  There is no regulation on vitamins and I think our livers have enough to deal with in coming off these meds.  I am only taking it as my OB GYN recommended it because I had thyroid issues along with Selenium and it's meant to be good for hair growth.

 

I take a yoghurt style drink made by Benecol which is very palatable.  Unfortunately it is not available in the States though the company does do a spread and some chocolate chews over there.  I have attached the link to the site below.  I knew of someone with bad cholesterol who brought hers down by switching from butter to the spread and going with low fat cheese (Ugh).  The spread is very white - I have never tasted it - the look of it put me off - apparently it is crammed with plant stenols though which naturally lower cholesterol.  There is more information anyway on the site below. 

 

 I am mainlining butter at the moment.  I eat Kerrygold or Connnaught Gold which are grass fed.  Apparently butter as long as it is grass fed is good for the brain though maybe not so good for cholesterol.  I try to make myself feel better about eating it by thinking that it is repairing my brain receptors.  Apparently the butyrate molecule contained in butter is extremely good for brain function.  Come August though - I may have to exclude it as a food source completely.  The last time I went off dairy products my cholesterol came down to 4.8ml.  That's why I am taking lots of Benecol instead.  Might not be enough though.

 

The Nuttram Oat bran powder sounds just as good really as the Benecol and as an added bonus with the bran is great for the gut (or so I've found in my case).   LOL - yes - I agree about feeling like a science experiment. 

 

Here is the link for the products available in the US.

 

https://www.benecolusa.com/faqs#:~:text=About the Spreads,-What are Benecol&text=Benecol® Spreads are the,saturated fat%2C low cholesterol diet.

 

Oaktree1

[marie123]

Hi Oaktree. I think I am going to order the chocolate chews. The daily amount is 4 chews that have 20 calories each. I am a bit concerned about the sugar. The reviews are good and said that it did work to lower cholerestol. I probably will get the Nutram too. Thanks for the info. The yogurt sounds good. Hopefully they will make them here in the states one day. Marie.

[marie123]

Hello. It's difficult sometimes when I get these wild swings of emotion lately mainly anger. Little things I am able to let go easily. A friend of mine really pxxxed me off the other day. I perceived it as taking advantage and I just don't tolerate that nonsense anymore. It's hard to decipher what part is the Mirt anger or real anger. It wasn't just anger, it felt like rage. I read Brassmonkey's notes on "emotional spirals" and I believe I am in one. I think I am in the hangover part where I feel kind of wiped out, a bit disassociated, and with some anxiety thrown in. I don't know how to deal with anxious because it's so chemical and I am not really an anxious person. I didn't like the feeling so I went out to my garden and starting planting some new plants. The garden looks great.

 

I need to stop and think next time I get angry, rephrase it and just say oh well. It's really to avoid the wave that follows. I'm going to hold a bit until the wave passes. The cuts might be piling on. Marie.

[Utek]

Hi Marie,

Thankfully, rage is not a major withdrawal symptom for me, but one thing happened a while back that maybe you'll get a chuckle out of.  Someone ate the last of my salad dressing out of the refridgerator.  I didn't confront them, but when I got into the car by myself, I went berzerk.  I screamed that I hated them and wanted them out of my life forever.  They actually bought me another whole bottle of salad dressing a few days later, lol.

 

I really try to stay emotionally even.  I do feel agitation more than I ever did before mirt.  I agree that you can't let people take advantage of you.

 

I get blood work in August.  I let you know how the cholesterol  is going.  I'm eating a lot of fruit and salad, and taking my fish pills.

I hope you have a great summer!

[marie123]

Hi Utek. Thanks for stopping by. Lol the salad dressing. I did not confront either. I'm going on a two week couples trip with her so I must behave. We will just go on some different tours than them. Watch out for Mirt on the low doses. It's still strong and at the same time your brain is free of most of it so it's trying to sort things out.

 

The benecol chocolate chews taste like tootsie rolls. The plant stenols in them lower the cholesterol. I am also taking fiber pills and eating oatmeal. My diet is excellent though so I still believe it's the Mirt. I won't consider a statin until I'm off Mirt and lost more weight. Today is a nice window day.

 

Enjoy your summer too.

Marie.

[Estman]

On 5/17/2023 at 8:12 PM, marie123 said:

Hello. It's difficult sometimes when I get these wild swings of emotion lately mainly anger. Little things I am able to let go easily. A friend of mine really pxxxed me off the other day. I perceived it as taking advantage and I just don't tolerate that nonsense anymore. It's hard to decipher what part is the Mirt anger or real anger. It wasn't just anger, it felt like rage. I read Brassmonkey's notes on "emotional spirals" and I believe I am in one. I think I am in the hangover part where I feel kind of wiped out, a bit disassociated, and with some anxiety thrown in. I don't know how to deal with anxious because it's so chemical and I am not really an anxious person. I didn't like the feeling so I went out to my garden and starting planting some new plants. The garden looks great.

 

I need to stop and think next time I get angry, rephrase it and just say oh well. It's really to avoid the wave that follows. I'm going to hold a bit until the wave passes. The cuts might be piling on. Marie.

HI  Marie,

Same here I reduced the dose 8 days ago and I have a heavy wave again On the 3rd day, great mental fatigue began in addition, there was an emotion of aggression or anger, which is usually not the case. Things that don't concern me suddenly cause it On the 4th and 5th day, there was an unreasonable sadness and at the same time the sleep became very bad There was also constant unrest-agitation. last night there was total despair and anxiety and inability to sleep, plus nausea. I went from 8mg to 7.9mg at the last reduction, that is a small step because I couldn't fall asleep, I took 1 tablet of levomepromazine and half a tablet of Betaloc (metropolol) last night. Unfortunately, they didn't help much, I could sleep maybe 1-2 hours and today I feel very bad. There is severe depression and suicidal feelings. Everything seems somehow apathetic and hopeless. It is better not to take these medicines, when I am in trouble I just hope that something will help. The hardest part is at night when other family members are sleeping I can't fall asleep and at the same time there is a lot of depression-anxiety which is usually not there. There are strong compulsions and fear that I will never be able to get rid of them. I would just like to fall asleep and not think thoughts, but they come automatically and only negative ones. it seems that I have stomach hypoacidity and also an inflammatory process. now I have been taking 3-4 capsules of Betaine-Pepsin with each meal and it has helped there has been less feeling of heaviness and bloating. The nausea has been less than usual, but it occurs when I reduce the dose. I live in the country and now the whole garden is full of apple and cherry blossoms The birds are singing and the weather is beautiful, warm, but unfortunately the wave spoils everything I don't want to think that it will last another 6-7 years, as long as I reduce I hope you are better

E.

[marie123]

Hello Eastman. These meds are awful. They change how we feel with phony emotions like sadness, anger and anxiety. I find it best to remember these are from the meds and not what we would feel in our natural state. I know the feeling of not sleeping very well. It all seems much better when we sleep, right? I tried different things to sleep. Finally I started watching sleepy documentaries on the tv but on the very lowest volume. It had to have a narrator with a calming voice. The voice that put me to sleep was David Attenborough doing the Blue Planet series. It was all about the ocean, the fish, etc. It's calming. Don't watch it, just listen to it. Try it and see if it helps you sleep. It really worked well for me. Be well. Marie.

[marie123]

Hello. It's time to cut again since I am in a nice window. I only give myself a couple days of feeling really good before I cut. I figure I'll have all the good days when I'm done. Going slow and low I don't expect any harsh withdrawal. It should feel like I small cut, but it should diminish into small waves, tiny waves and then no waves. This cut will put me at 2.2 mg Mirt. I almost can't believe it. Be well. Marie.

[Gigi68]

Well done Marie! You are almost into the 1’s! I have been able to to reduce my hold times to 3 weeks instead of 4. All of my WD now (mostly insomnia) happens in the first week. Isn’t it great to be on a low dose?

[marie123]

It's great Gigi. I finally see the end. It's not an easy feat. We are tough ladies for sure. Marie.

[marie123]

Hello everyone. The last cut has been going well so I'll cut next week at 3 weeks. This will bring me down to 2.1 mg Mirt. I might be able to get down to 1.9 mg before my trip in September. The piece is getting so small but I can still manage to cut/file/weigh the piece fine. I have some rashes and itchiness that I think will improve once I'm off. I still have some edema left but it will resolve once I'm done.  I'm trying apple cider vinegar and some good moisturizer that helps the skin. I'm still on the weight loss journey. I had some Mirt rage happen again but I was able to let it go. This is the answer, let it go.

 

The air is very smoky here from the wildfires in Canada. I have a headache from the smoke I think. It's getting in the house even with AC. Yesterday it was very bad. I did not go outside at all since the smoke was heavy with an eerie yellow tinge. I did go to a doctor appointment but wore a mask outside today. Be well. Marie.

[Carmie]

Wishing you well with your continued taper @marie123, I’m glad your last cut went well💛

[marie123]

Hello Carmie. It's been quite a ride, but at least now with the slow and low cuts w/d is minimal. You're doing a slow taper too so it's helpful to you too. Good luck to all of us tapering and be well. Marie.

[Carmie]

Yep, I’m doing a slow taper as well @marie123, I just dropped by 0.05mg again two days ago. Slow and steady does it🐌🐌🐌

 

Sending hugs🤗

[marie123]

Thanks Carmie.

 

Marie

[marie123]

Hello everyone. Tonight I made my tiny cut of .1 mg Mirt. I'm down to 2.1 mg now. I had some light AM nausea for some days but it has gone away. I have light TMJ in my right jaw with some swollen gums and a slight toothache (right side too). It's just a w/d symptom I've had before that will pass. I have been waking too early but still able to get on with my day. I might need some room darkening curtains. I may just try taping large trash bags first around my bedroom windows to see if that works first. Hubby has been waking early too. Sinuses have been irritated. It seems to be spring allergies and wildfire smoke causing it. It's going to be great when I get into the 1's. Maybe I'll have a nice piece of carrot cake to celebrate. It's my favorite. Be well. Marie.

[marie123]

Hello everyone. This is just an update for my records. The last cut I felt the next day and a few days after. I had some heavy fatigue with some weakness. I stabilized after a few days so all is good now. I have a good rhythm going with my taper. It's not too fast and not to slow. There shouldn't be any surprises. I am surprised that I can tolerate alcohol once in a while. I don't have any reactions to food and can drink coffee. I can plan trips. This is a big one. I remember a trip to Panera was like going into a creepy funhouse lol.

 

I do feel some bladder pain on and off. It's not a UTI since it hurt during the time it was tested at the GYN. Coffee irritates it. I bet the Mirt irritates it and also causes muscle bladder pain. The bladder is a muscle. I remember with trazodone withdrawal the bladder really hurt. I had spasms and was almost the worst withdrawal symptom I've had.

 

Happy 4th of July. Marie.

[Hibari]

23 hours ago, marie123 said:

Hello everyone. This is just an update for my records. The last cut I felt the next day and a few days after. I had some heavy fatigue with some weakness. I stabilized after a few days so all is good now. I have a good rhythm going with my taper. It's not too fast and not to slow. There shouldn't be any surprises. I am surprised that I can tolerate alcohol once in a while. I don't have any reactions to food and can drink coffee. I can plan trips. This is a big one. I remember a trip to Panera was like going into a creepy funhouse lol.

 

I do feel some bladder pain on and off. It's not a UTI since it hurt during the time it was tested at the GYN. Coffee irritates it. I bet the Mirt irritates it and also causes muscle bladder pain. The bladder is a muscle. I remember with trazodone withdrawal the bladder really hurt. I had spasms and was almost the worst withdrawal symptom I've had.

 

Happy 4th of July. Marie.

Congratulations on getting even lower on your dose @marie123.  

 

Sounds like your symptoms are manageable, which is a good thing.

I'm sorry to hear you have some bladder pain. I do think these meds cause some form of cystitis and bladder irritation.

 

But I'm happy to hear you are eating what you want and are able to drink coffee. I added coffee back in two weeks ago because Mirt makes me feel so sluggish. I have a 1/2 cup in the morning and it makes me feel happy to be able to drink it without issue. 

 

You are almost in the 1's! 

 

Hibari 

[marie123]

Thanks for stopping by Hibari. I have it in my head that a have kidney stone. A friend mentioned it to me. I did something I thought would help. I drank two glasses of water with some olive oil and apple cider vinegar in them. It supposed to help break up the stone. I thought it wouldn't hurt but today I feel more ill. Moderate nausea and dizziness along with rough sleep. It could also be the sangria I had at the 4th of July party I went to. Sometimes I get away with it. This heat is brutal in our area and I think it's affecting me too. I have the AC going on constantly. I get too cold and adjust the AC, then I get too hot and adjust the AC. It's bad temperature regulation and I can't get used to the heat outside. I am sweating and then getting the chills.

 

I am just going to chill out and try to get some rest and naps in. This will all pass. Marie.

[Bestill]

Marie- drink water with fresh lemon juice.  That will also help prevent kidney stones.  My dad always gets them but since drinking his lemon water daily he has been stone free.

 

I also seem to be affected by this weather too and the air conditioning just adds to it.  I have air filter systems going on through my house as well but the muggy and hot temps with thunderstorms and change in pressure is causing me to feel unwell as well . Still functional and acting like I’m fine on the outside but know you aren’t alone.

 

❤️

[marie123]

Hi Bestill. I am going to try the lemon juice. I have a bag of fresh lemons so I will  use those. The temperature deregulation is definitely caused by the Mirt. I looked into it and read about it. It affects the part of the brain that regulates temperature. I really noticed this this morning when I took my shower. I went in to a hot shower and it took me a longer time to notice it was too hot. I turned on the cold and I did not feel the freezing cold right away. It's weird huh?

 

Last night I slept and got the hours in (7) but I woke up every 2 hours or so. It happened four times.  I woke up, ate, had the weird shower and it made me so tired. I went back to bed to rest. I had one of those fitful Mirt naps, half-asleep with fast circulating very strange dreams. I remember someone on here posting who was tapering and very low in dose. She posted that she had hallucinations and had to lay down and "see them" so she could feel better. I wonder sometimes if some psychedelic is in Mirt. I am going to do some research.

 

Anyways I seriously considering a tapering vacation. I hate this POS drug. Be well. Marie.

[Dodger]

Hi Marie, I saw where you said you have no food reactions. I was wondering if you used to have them? It's my biggest enemy! Just needed some hope that gets better. 

[marie123]

1 hour ago, Dodger said:

Hi Marie, I saw where you said you have no food reactions. I was wondering if you used to have them? It's my biggest enemy! Just needed some hope that gets better. 

Yes Dodger I used to have food allergies. The ones I remember are orange juice (possibly the citric acid), Chinese take out (msg/soy), coffee (could not tolerate/would give me fake anxiety).

 

What I want you to know is yes it does get better. What med are you tapering from? Marie.

[Dodger]

I am tapering from hydroxyzine. Doing a very slow taper right now. I'm so glad it has gotten better for you. Those are some of the same foods that bother me too and I think it's because the med depleted all my stomach enzymes and I can't digest anything. I've been on it for 10 years. Not a good med to be on long term in case anyone was wondering 😕 

[marie123]

Dodger is that an AD? My stomach is also messed up. I don't think any of these meds are good long term. A slow taper is a very good thing to do.

 

I feel improved this evening so I guess that it's a good sign. I am going to hold my dose for a long time. Marie.

[Dodger]

It's an antihistamine, supposedly you can fast taper and just stop it but that is not the case. Good idea on the slow taper for us both. 🥰

[marie123]

I feel so much better today. So I have stabilized with sleep, fog is gone, weakness and dizziness gone. I think it was the alcohol mostly with a few cuts catching up with me. I think I am going to hold the rest of the summer. I want to see what stable feels like with a 3 month hold. I should be in a perfect spot for a fresh taper. Be well. Marie.

[marie123]

Hello everyone. I am nice and stable now. After my last posts I experienced a bit more intense withdrawal symptoms. I had several days of extreme bloating and stalled digestive system. I had to wear very loose pants because I could not tolerate anything around my tummy. It was so uncomfortable. Luckily that stopped but I then had several days of my bladder being affected. In a weird way observing this happening, it seemed that w/d hit one system, fixed it, and went to another symptom. Bladder hurt like a UTI. Home test showed nothing, but I knew it would. A couple days of that and then I literally could not stop peeing. This stopped after a few days too.

 

I am holding until October for max stability for my trip. Holding a while gives all w/d to catch up. I am eating healthy and getting some exercise and sun. I even played pickleball yesterday. Be well. Marie.

[marie123]

Hello everyone. I am still holding and I feel pretty good with just some light side effects. I'm getting better at pickleball and stronger physically. I need to get off Mirt to release my knees. I mean that they still have edema and are so they are not working fully. I lost a couple more pounds.

 

Last night we were talking about how to sleep on the red eye to Europe. My spouse was more concerned that me. I told him to try some benedryl or unisom. He tried both and they didn't work. I could not believe it when he asked for one of my Mirt pills. I told him absolutely not and some get into trouble with even one pill. He said he was not like me (sensitive to meds). I told him I am trying to protect him and left it at that. With a quarter dose he probably would pass out and sleep and be a total zombie the next day. I certainly would be if I was starting fresh. A zombie would not work doing touring. I feel Mirt is too dangerous for some people and I will not take the chance.

 

I can't wait to taper again in October. Be well. Marie

[brassmonkey]

Having flown several dozen long haul flights, I can tell you trying to get good sleep on an airplane is next to impossible. At best you can get fairly good sleep, otherwise you lay there with your eyes closed for several hours. Many times, I have experienced "twilight sleep" where I'm somewhat conscience but still asleep. It can be fairly restful if you let it. The trick is to not get "freaked out" over the prospect of not sleeping. Just cuddle down into your personal space and let it happen. On the redeye they try to make things as conducive as possible.

 

I would suggest earplugs, an eye mask and some way to support your head, small pillow or a light jacket you can roll up. They usually provide a light blanket. I would stay away from any sort of sleep drug as it will probably cause more trouble than it's worth. Even though it is a long quiet flight there will be a lot going on that you need to be aware of and being drugged won't help.

 

If you haven't selected your seats yet, try to get a window seat on the left side as you face the front of the plane. It's not guaranteed, but the Northern lights are quite active right now and you might get a good show as you pass over Iceland.

 

I hope you enjoy your trip.

[marie123]

Hi Brassmonkey. Oh I would love to see the Northern Lights but unfortunately we are in the middle aisle. Four seats are together in the middle for me, spouse, and friends. If I can find an empty window seat on the left maybe I'll sneak over. Some other friends of ours are in Iceland right now. I hope they see the lights.

 

I don't worry about sleep that much anymore. If I sleep I sleep but I did sleep one time on a redeye. Spouse is not asking anymore about the Mirt. That's good. Thank you for helping me out the times I was in a bad spot tapering. It really helped. Be well. Marie.

[Hibari]

Sounds like you are doing well @marie123. 

 

Mirt does cause that water weight gain but congratulations on being active and playing pickle ball! That's quite a fast moving gain so I really admire you for taking it on. 

 

All my clothing fits except for the Mirt weight gain in my stomach,  which is not usually where I hold onto weight. I am lying gained 10lbs this time whereas last time I gained 30llbs. Maybe because this time I was only on it a little over 6 weeks before I started tapering. Who knows?

 

Anyway, good to hear your update and progress tapering. 

 

Hibari