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Utahgal: Hi


Utahgal

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Utahgal, why are you taking cortisol?

Did anyone else taking gabapentin or tapering from it suffer from loss of appetite? I just can't stand the thought of food for most of the day. Luckily by dinner, I can eat. I have lost a lot of weight and I am scared, my psychiatrist accused me of being anorexic and put me on zyprexa........and I still can't gain weight!I just wondered what others' experiences were.

 

Did your psychiatrist put you on Zyprexa specifically so you would gain weight?

 

I posted the Medscape article here http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4873-withdrawal-effects-while-discontinuing-antipsychotic-medications/

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

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I take cortisol because my saliva test showed that it was low. My thyroid doc put me on it, otherwise I would not be able to tolerate thyroid meds. I've been on it 9 months with no problems.

 

My psychiatrist put me on zyprexa for weight gain and sleep. I'm about 15 lbs underweight. I personally think its the gabapentin making my stomach feel blech. I have no desire to eat!

 

I should note that I tried to reduce gabapentin last December. The same thing happened! I had horrific panic and nausea. I quickly reinstated to 300 mgs (I had decreased by 100). It was a few days before Christmas and I was desperate to feel better for my kids. My husband gave me geodon and it did wonders! It stopped the panic! (My husband is a physician). He then send me to the psychiatrist who switched me over to zyprexa to try to help me gain back some weight. I was feeling slowly better. Then I started thyroid meds, and continued to be slowly better. Then 2 months ago is when we decided to taper the gab again. I had totally forgotten how bad I was in December! I definitely need to do a much slower taper with lower doses.......like 10 mg cuts.

 

So now I am stuck on 2 meds, zyprexa and gabapentin. And I'm still not back to normal!

 

I'm wondering when the time comes if I should switch back to geodon since it does come in liquid form. A liquid taper may be way easier.

 

I am just so scared as to why I don't feel better yet. Why is it so hard to stabilize? I find myself obsessing and always searching about gab and zyprexa withdrawal. I know I shouldn't, but I just can't help myself. I'm addicted to reading about it. Most of the stories are horrific. I am so scared!

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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Thank you Alto for the link. I am scared to death to think that even if a do a mega slow taper off the zyprexa, I still will most likely suffer! It did list some meds to take to ease the suffering. I have nothing against using meds short term to get me through.

 

I wish there were more members here who could consult me on zyprexa or geodon. And gabapentin for that matter. I know Flower and I will be cheering each other on with the GABA taper.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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My endocrinologist uses a 24-hour urine test to test cortisol. Not sure what a saliva test would prove, as cortisol changes throughout the day (meimei noted this). Is your thyroid doc a specialist?

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.

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The saliva test measures at 4 different times of day. My doc is integrative med but knows more about thyroid issues than most endocriminologists. Not a big fan of the TSH worshipping endos. I'm sure Karma would agree.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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My gabapentin taper was actually fairly easy compared to the other ones. I'm tapering multiple meds very very slowly so it took me over two years to get off 300 mg of gabapentin.

 

I dissolved it in water and used a pipette to measure out my daily dose, which I slowly decreased. I divided out my total daily dose into six-hour intervals and took the same amount each time even at night. (Since another med I'm taking I have to take in divided doses also, every three hours, this is the routine that worked for me.)

 

I had only mild symptoms from cutting the gabapentin. I generally cut by about a milligram at a time. I didn't follow a calendar schedule, and I was tapering other meds at the same time, so my schedule would not be relevant to yours. I taper by symptoms, holding when they ramp up and not cutting again until they settle down. I do keep a daily journal of doses and symptoms (ranked on a numerical scale), which I highly recommend. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1779-rate-symptoms-daily-to-catch-withdrawal-early/

 

When I came off (at 1 mg) I had a ramp up of symptoms that settled down over about eight weeks. They were quite tolerable. I held my other tapers during that time.

 

I've been functional and working full-time throughout my taper of multiple meds (which I actually never managed to do for very long while I was on the meds at full doses, which I found quite disabling).

 

Some times are definitely tougher than others, but it's never like the dark hole of hell that it has been when I've tried to quit meds CT or too fast. The bad times are just like, I feel crappy and I'm cranky and agoraphobic and I can't do as much stuff as I usually do, for a while, until things settle down, which they usually do within two to six weeks.

 

I think you'll be fine as long as you start stable and take it slow. Start small and slow while you're learning how your body is going to respond, and then you can ramp it up if you find you can go faster. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much more in control you'll feel, and be, when you do it this way.

 

The key is "slow" and "stop and hold when things ramp up."

 

Good luck!

 

--Rhi

 

PS:  I would highly recommend getting a copy of Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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I'm starting to feel down about my lack of recovery. As I first posted in my intro, I had to reinstate 300 mgs gabapentin after a taper gone terribly wrong. It's been over 2 months and although I feel about 40% better, I am still suffering from early morning anxiety, mild nausea, lack of appetite, and general weakness. Could this really be from the gabapentin taper? How long does it usually take to bounce back? Why does my psychiatrist insist that it's not from the gabapentin? He is trying to blame my thyroid medication because I take armour and I know it's not from that!!!Has anyone else been through something like this? I really expected to be back to normal after reinstating the gabapentin.

 

When I went through my gabapentin disaster it was about six months before things settled down. During that time I was started on a couple of other meds, and I wish I hadn't done that now because I'm still tapering those...sigh.  But I was desperate. I'm sure you can relate. I don't know how long it would have taken to normalize without the other meds but given my past experience I doubt they were especially helpful in that regard.

 

Psychiatrists and doctors are very uninformed and misinformed about psych meds and withdrawal. From med school onwards, their education about these drugs is supplied by pharmaceutical companies and KOLs who are in their pay. The most widely used textbook on the subject in med school, for example, has prominent contributions by psychiatrists who are earning six figures a year from pharmaceutical companies. I know this sounds like crazy conspiracy talk, but unfortunately it's just the truth. For-profit health care is really not such a great idea, IMO. Any time there are billions of dollars in profits at stake, greed wins.

 

Research into drugs is paid for by the companies that stand to profit from them. Psychiatric meds are HUGEly profitable. So no real research has been done on effects of long term use of psychiatric meds nor on how to get off of them.

 

Overall, except for a few physicians who have worked in this area and learned about it on their own, we have found that most psychiatrists' and doctors' advice about quitting psychiatric meds is not particularly well-informed nor helpful. I hope your experience is better than that.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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My psychiatrist is the one who made my taper plan that landed me in the nut hut for 4 days! He also told me that there are no withdrawal effects coming off zyprexa! I now realize that I will have to develop my own taper plan, with the help of this forum, and insist he lets me do it my (our) way this time.

 

My plan now is to stabilize and regain my health. Easier said than done. I really do still feel weak, anxious, and no appetite. I'm sure it will get better with time. In the meantime I enjoy reading and learning from this wonderful site. I am very thankful for the responses I get. It really helps me feel not alone in this mess.

 

Gabapentin and zyprexa suck! Lol

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I agree ..we need to stay put for a long while.I too am ill..I've lost my appetite and everytime I mess with gaba my hair falls out.I should have known not to do this..I can't even move the same mgs around. I recently tried to improve sleep by dividing Trazadone and gaba. Boy was that a mistake. My Doc will hear about it..Now I'm trying to put it back without using anything for the anxiety..When I get ready I will sure look to Rhi for help. Stay put...it looks like we will have to wait for a few months...I've been messing around with gaba since Dec...Yuk! I'd rather not sleep than feel like this.

 

We will make a plan, and begin again..

C/T Celexa and Trazadone on Jan.29th 2014
Prescribed 1mg of Klonopin every 6 hours on Jan.29th
Began tapering Klonopin April 18th..stretching time between doses...at first one hour for 2 weeks then a half hour for app.10 days then another half hour 10days later.
Presently at .25 three times a day..6 2 and 10pm. Trying to stabilize.
Also still taking gabapentin 300mgs 2xs a day..

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Thanks Flower!

 

I was hoping to hear from you. It took Rhi 6 months to feel better from a GABA mess. It's only been 2 for me. I would like to start in January if possible. For now its just one day at a time. I do need Xanax for now. Hopefully the anxiety settles soon. I too will be asking Rhi for help. Maybe we will be cutting at the same time and can keep each other company.

 

A friend of mine from my thyroid forum often says, "When walking through the fires of hell, keep on moving! Don't take a seat!"

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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Thanks Flower!I was hoping to hear from you. It took Rhi 6 months to feel better from a GABA mess. It's only been 2 for me. I would like to start in January if possible. For now its just one day at a time. I do need Xanax for now. Hopefully the anxiety settles soon. I too will be asking Rhi for help. Maybe we will be cutting at the same time and can keep each other company.A friend of mine from my thyroid forum often says, "When walking through the fires of hell, keep on moving! Don't take a seat!"

Be careful with the Xanax. Read the benzo section, any threads on interdose withdrawal, and you may want to take a look at benzo forums too. If you take it once a day or more for more than a week or two you will probably develop dependence, with interdose withdrawal symptoms (worsening of anxiety, panic attacks). This can be managed by taking multiple doses around the clock, but it's a hassle. The best thing is to not get dependent in the first place, but that's very tricky with benzos--they are quickly addictive. 

 

Be careful with those. They can be worse than ADs or gabapentin.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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utahgirl..I messaged you...We will survive this.I take nothing for the anxiety from this mess.An occasional vistiril seems to help a little but I stay away from the benzos. I can't believe how unsettling this can be ..I did sleep better separating the traz and gaba but it set off these SEs again..Yuk! Now I will have to move the gaba back to the usual time with the traz.This has made my neck hurt..

 

Woops I think my message got lost..I think it will just take us some time..Taking the gaba a while longer will not hurt anything,I guess....I hate the anxiety the most..

C/T Celexa and Trazadone on Jan.29th 2014
Prescribed 1mg of Klonopin every 6 hours on Jan.29th
Began tapering Klonopin April 18th..stretching time between doses...at first one hour for 2 weeks then a half hour for app.10 days then another half hour 10days later.
Presently at .25 three times a day..6 2 and 10pm. Trying to stabilize.
Also still taking gabapentin 300mgs 2xs a day..

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I am scared of the Xanax. When my anxiety is high, I don't know what else to do. When my anxiety is mild, but annoying, I use some of the techniques that I read on this forum about anxiety: meditation, yoga, deep breathing, Epsom baths, relaxing music. But what do you all do when none of those things work and you are suffering terribly?

 

I really hope my system calms down soon. I really can't take this! I really can't live any kind of life.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I am having such a bad day again! My anxiety is awful! I only got half way to the grocery store and had to turn back because it was so bad. I felt too dizzy and anxious to drive.

 

I'm still not sure if this is left over damage to my system from that bad gabapentin taper 2 months ago. Or, maybe my body is not tolerating the synthroid I started a month ago.

 

In any event, it is so scary and difficult to deal with. I really need to be functional for my family. Thankfully I do not have to work. There is no way I could have a job. It saddens me because I use to teach and loved it! I really miss it. It is my goal to feel better and go back to work. I do realize that this may take a few years. I am so impressed with those of you who manage to work through this!

 

I also think I need to balance my thyroid. It may be what is causing many of my symptoms in addition to the zyprexa and gabapentin.

 

The anxiety piece is the worst for me. It is next to impossible for me to function when feeling this way.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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Hang in there- I just finished a good book called "Your survival instinct is killing you" It has some interesting concepts on how to deal with anxiety. It also explains how the different areas of our brain works & what produces the anxiety. When you check about your thyroid be careful about taking any iodine supplements. I thought mine might have been out of whack a couple years ago & took some of them. Horrendous anxiety and heart palpitations. I am also taking zanax to deal with the withdrawal symptoms. I worry about the withdrawal from it later on, but figure I have to function. Was put on the lowest long lasting dose. Just take it a day at a time. Try to focus on doing one thing at a time. Even is it is something small, you are getting something accomplished. Will say some prayers for you too.

 

Jan. 1994 Pamelor

2000 switched to Zoloft 

2011 Zoloft pooped out- Dr. switched me directly to Lexapro15mg -had a horrible 6mths

2013 upped Lexapro to 20 mgs-pooped out

June 2013 Dr. added 150 Wellbutrin to Lexapro.

July 2013 Switched back to Zoloft 100mgs.Was still taking Wellbutrin. Lots of anxiety from the Wellbutrin

July 2013 Started to wean Wellbutrin- off by Sept.

Oct. 2013 added 400 mgs of Neurotin to the Zoloft

Jan 2014 Tapered off of the Zoloft and onto Prozac 30 mgs. Also still taking 400 mgs Neurotin

Feb 2014 Reduced Prozac to 13 mgs. Still taking 400 mgs Neurotin

Aug. 2014 Prozac 13 mgs. Finished with Neurotin. .7 Risperadol

 

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Dear Utahgal:

So sorry to hear of all you are going through. There have been so many changes in meds that I'm sure it is really difficult to figure out what's doing what. I know the good folks here have emphasized the caution in changing things too rapidly. You probably already know that Gabapentin inhibits voltages at calcium gated receptors. A large reduction would presumably result in the opposite reaction. The expected symptoms would include insomnia, loss of appetite, and muscle weakness. If you do a search for gabapentin withdrawal and magnesium, You will find a lot of folks coming off gabapentin using magnesium to reduce symptoms. The purported method of action is theorized in many articles on the subject. I don't have the background to weigh in on that. I do think that people on this site have tried magnesium and can give you the value of their experience. I know they will suggest that if you try it, do so at a very small dose. It is also important to note that magnesium cannot be taken less than two hours before you take the Gabapentin. Best guess (you said you take the gabapentin at bed time) would be to take it the magnesium in the morning. One good thing is that you should know if it helps in one day. It might take longer to improve sleep much, but if it is going to help with muscle weakness and appetite, it should happen within hours. Hopefully, some of the "mag-experienced" will weigh in on this. Speaking of "weigh", taking Zyprexa to put on weight, makes no sense to me. The drug has been proven to interfere with insulin sensitivity. Short term gain and long term problems. Guess he Zyprexa is something to address later on when everything has stabilized.

Be well,

Ed

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I am having such a bad day again! My anxiety is awful! I only got half way to the grocery store and had to turn back because it was so bad. I felt too dizzy and anxious to drive.I'm still not sure if this is left over damage to my system from that bad gabapentin taper 2 months ago. Or, maybe my body is not tolerating the synthroid I started a month ago.In any event, it is so scary and difficult to deal with. I really need to be functional for my family. Thankfully I do not have to work. There is no way I could have a job. It saddens me because I use to teach and loved it! I really miss it. It is my goal to feel better and go back to work. I do realize that this macpiy take a few years. I am so impressed with those of you who manage to work through this!I also think I need to balance my thyroid. It may be what is causing many of my symptoms in addition to the zyprexa and gabapentin.The anxiety piece is the worst for me. It is next to impossible for me to function when feeling this way.

 

I'd take a look at the Xanax. The kind of sudden attack of intense anxiety you're describing sounds exactly like my own symptoms of interdose withdrawal. I'd definitely want to rule that out. Xanax can be really nasty in that regard. It's quite the (moneymaking) trap.

 

Take a look at the benzo area and read some of the threads there where Skyler and I have talked to people about interdose withdrawal.

 

I suspect that benzos, which are tricky in the best of cases, are even trickier for people who are dealing with withdrawal. It seems to be pretty common.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

If I were you I'd be taking the gabapentin in multiple daily doses as well--there can be ups and downs with it, as it's cleared through the kidneys in something like six hours (I'd double-check that, but I know it clears fairly quickly).

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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  • Administrator

The saliva test measures at 4 different times of day. My doc is integrative med but knows more about thyroid issues than most endocriminologists. Not a big fan of the TSH worshipping endos. I'm sure Karma would agree.

 

I do agree.  I'm not a fan of TSH worshipping endos. 

 

The reason for the 4 times a day cortisol test is to identify the cortisol rhythm or the pattern. Saliva testing is controversial, but I've seen many patients helped by identifing their cortisol pattern and getting appropriate treatment - it is not mainstream medicine and in my experience most conventional doctors don't understand it.  But I am on the same treatment.

 

When my endo checked my serum cortisol level in the AM only and it was high she said that since I was on antidepressants it was supposed to be high.  I fired that endo.

 

Marnie, you indicated that your ferritin was low and that you were working on improving it ... it is possible that your symptoms are from adding thyroid treatment before getting your ferritin in range.  From what I understand the body needs ferritin/iron in order to utilize thyroid hormone appropriately. 

 

It is interesting that ferritin/iron needs to be optimized in order for the system to utlize thyroid.  In fact, I've also found that when my iron is too high ... so high in-range ... I also get anxiety.  I literally give blood to lower my iron saturation and it does relieve the anxiety.

 

Karma

2007 @ 375 mg Effexor - 11/29/2011 - 43.75 mg Effexor (regular) & .625 mg Xanax

200 mg Gabapentin 2/27/21 - 194.5 mg, 5/28/21 - 183 mg, 8/2/21 - 170 mg, 11/28/21 - 150 mg, 4/19/22 - 122 mg; 8//7/22 - 100 mg; 12/17 - 75mg; 8/17 - 45 mg; 10/16 40 mg
Xanax taper: 3/11/12 - 0.9375 mg, 3/25/12 - 0.875 mg, 4/6/12 - 0.8125 mg, 4/18/12 - 0.75 ; 10/16 40mg;

1/16 0.6875 mg; at some point 0.625 mg
Effexor taper: 1/29/12 - 40.625 mg, 4/29/12 - 39.875 mg, 5/11/12 - Switched to liquid Effexor, 5/25/12 - 38 mg, 7/6/12 - 35 mg, 8/17/12 - 32 mg, 9/14/12 - 30 mg, 10/19/12 - 28 mg, 11/9/12 - 26 mg, 11/30/12 - 24 mg, 01/14/13 - 22 mg. 02/25/13 - 20.8 mg, 03/18/13 - 19.2 mg, 4/15/13 - 17.6 mg, 8/10/13 - 16.4 mg, 9/7/13 - 15.2 mg, 10/19/13 - 14 mg, 1/15/14 - 13.2 mg, 3/1/2014 - 12.6 mg, 5/4/14 - 12 mg, 8/1/14 - 11.4 mg, 8/29/14 - 10.8 mg; 10/14/14 - 10.2 mg; 12/15/14 - 10 mg, 1/11/15 - 9.5 mg, 2/8/15 - 9 mg, 3/21/15 - 8.5 mg, 5/1/15 - 8 mg, 6/9/15 - 7.5 mg, 7/8/15 - 7 mg, 8/22/15 - 6.5 mg, 10/4/15 - 6 mg; 1/1/16 - 5.6 mg; 2/6/16 - 5.2 mg; 4/9 - 4.8 mg; 7/7 4.5 mg; 10/7 4.25 mg; 11/4 4.0 mg; 11/25 3.8 mg; 4/24 3.6 mg; 5/27 3.4 mg; 7/8 3.2 mg ... 10/18 2.8 mg; 1/18 2.6 mg; 4/7 2.4 mg; 5/26 2.15mg; 8/18 1.85 mg; 10/7 1.7 mg; 12/1 1.45 mg; 3/2 1.2 mg; 5/4 0.90 mg; 6/1 0.80 mg; 6/22 0.65 mg; 08/03 0.50 mg, 08/10 0.45 mg, 10/05 0.325 mg, 11/23 0.2 mg, 12/14 0.15 mg, 12/21 0.125 mg, 02/28 0.03125 mg, 2/15 0.015625 mg, 2/29/20 0.00 mg - OFF Effexor


I am not a medical professional - this is not medical advice. My suggestions are based on personal experience, reading, observation and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers

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I'm feeling like I may need to go to the psych ward. The anxiety won't let up and I feel awful. I can't function.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Administrator

Utahgal, have you tried the magnesium? Mag citrate or glycinate are good.

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.

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I've tried remag, mag citrate, and Epsom baths. I don't know why I still feel so ill. It's been 2 months and I did go right back on my full dose of gabapentin. My psychiatrist refuses to believe that it's gab related. He wants to blame my thyroid doc. He thinks I should go off all thyroid meds. I feel low thyroid contributes to this mess. My levels were always normal, but low normal. I've been working with an integrative med doc to slowly get my thyroid levels to the upper part of the range. I know Karma understands this stuff.

 

What will the psych ward do for me? Do I need more meds to stabilize? I just don't know how to function right now. I feel so anxious and weak. I try to lay down, but feel so restless and miserable. Toss and turn, and moan.....lol. I get up and feel so weak and panicky. It's difficult to read, or do housework. I definitely can't drive. How do I function?

 

What should I do?

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I could care a less about tapering! I just want relief and to feel stable so I can have some kind of a life. I'm really scared.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I don't feel well either after messing with this gaba,It is unrelenting. I took an extra and it did help.I believe this to be WD ...I'm hoping for relief too.

 

Prayers for you ..Does the zanex help?

C/T Celexa and Trazadone on Jan.29th 2014
Prescribed 1mg of Klonopin every 6 hours on Jan.29th
Began tapering Klonopin April 18th..stretching time between doses...at first one hour for 2 weeks then a half hour for app.10 days then another half hour 10days later.
Presently at .25 three times a day..6 2 and 10pm. Trying to stabilize.
Also still taking gabapentin 300mgs 2xs a day..

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The Xanax helps if I take 2 which is 1 mg total. Normally I take 300 gab at night. This morning I took an extra 100 mgs in the am. I may try this for a week and see if I can stabilize. Right now I just really need to get stable and with the least amount of Xanax the better! Hopefully this 100 mg addition works. I'll worry about tapering it later. Right now I just need some relief. I am so sick of waking in a panic every morning that lasts til the afternoon. I am so not functional.

 

Any ideas are welcomed!

Xxoo

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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Flower

 

What dose gab are you on? How much extra are you taking? I'm glad that is at least helping you get some relief. Get stable and worry about tapering later.

 

When you do taper, maybe you can try getting gab in liquid form and taper very very slowly at 5 or 10 mgs a month! That's what I plan to do!

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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So I woke up again this morning at 4. It took about 10 minutes for the anxiety / panic feelings to set in. Nothing triggers it, it just happens each morning since the failed gabapentin taper 2 months ago.

 

I decided to experiment a little and take half of a dose of zyprexa (1.25 mgs) thinking it should help me sleep and fix the anxiety. Nope! Didn't work. So, by 5 I got up and read some posts on this forum to is tract myself. By 6 I was still quite anxious so I tok 2 Xanax totaling 1 mg. I read some more and finally got calm and tired by 6:30. I went back to bed and slept til almost 8.

 

When I got up, I still had some anxiety, but it was mild enough I could read the paper and enjoy the morning with my husband. Most mornings I'm an extreme mess with anxiety and nausea. It was a welcomed relief.

 

A few hours later we decided to go out shopping for the day! A huge success for me! I decided to take a 100 mg gabapentin. Normally I only take 300 mgs in the evening. I got through my day of shopping just fine. I had a few waves of anxiety, but they passed. Aside from being a little tired, I'm having a much better day.

 

The trick to breaking the cycle may be to take a double Xanax in the morning and an extra, small dose of gabapentin in the morning as well. Hopefully this breaks the cycle I seem to be stuck in and I won't need those extra meds after a few weeks.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I've been reading the articles on this forum about tapering. I will have 2 meds to taper when the time is right. I will do them separately. The gabapentin is easy because I can get it in liquid form and go as slow as I want.

 

The zyprexa will be more tricky. I'll either have to make my own solution as it does not come in liquid form......I already checked with my compounding pharmacy OR I can do a cross over to geodon which does come in liquid form. Any suggestions as to which way I should do it? I was on geodon, but my doc switched me over to zyprexa a few months ago to try to help me gain weight. (Which I haven't).

 

I think the gabapentin is causing me to have no appetite! I'm guessing I should taper the gabapentin first.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Utah, I feel like you're not hearing what I'm saying about the Xanax: if you take it just once a day (or anything less than four to six times), it's definitely going to contribute to anxiety other times. I highly recommend you learn about interdose withdrawal effects. Xanax relieves anxiety at first but causes a rebound effect that leads to actually more anxiety after it wears off.

 

This is why Heather Ashton devised the "Valium crossover" method--the short-acting benzos cause this problem in withdrawal, and since you're struggling with withdrawal symptoms and anxiety, this is definitely something I would take a look at if I were you.

 

Also, please consider the things I have said about taking your gabapentin regularly, same amount each time at regular intervals. About six hours worked for me.

 

I won't repeat this stuff again, just wanted to make sure you heard, leaving it up to you otherwise.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Is Zyprexa for anxiety or sleep Utahgirl? Did the extra gaba help at all? Careful of the benzo...It will get you.

C/T Celexa and Trazadone on Jan.29th 2014
Prescribed 1mg of Klonopin every 6 hours on Jan.29th
Began tapering Klonopin April 18th..stretching time between doses...at first one hour for 2 weeks then a half hour for app.10 days then another half hour 10days later.
Presently at .25 three times a day..6 2 and 10pm. Trying to stabilize.
Also still taking gabapentin 300mgs 2xs a day..

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I just take the Xanax in the morning and then my anxiety goes away. I don't need to take it again. I don't have the interdose withdrawals.

 

I quit taking my synthroid a few days ago, and I feel much better. I think the synthroid was causing the anxiety. I only needed 1 Xanax this morning and probably won't need anymore today.

 

I will talk to my doc about spacing out the gabapentin doses instead of taking all 300 mgs at night. So I guess I should ask to take 100 mgs three times a day?

 

I was prescribed zyprexa to stop the gabapentin withdrawals and for sleep, and to increase my appetite. I am a skeleton right now. It's not helping that much. My doc wants to increase my dose, but I refuse! In fact I just decreased it from 5 mgs to 2.5 over the past 2 weeks. I will keep it there for now.

 

I feel better today than I have in weeks! I hope this continues!

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Administrator

Please be careful about decreasing any drug that quickly -- by 50%. We recommend 10% decreases to let your nervous system down easy.

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.

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Alto, you are right. I did that too fast. I had only been on the increased dose a couple of weeks so I figured it wouldn't hurt to go back down. I plan to stay at the 2.5 dose for some time, until after my gabapentin taper. I really want to taper off the gab, but unfortunately my nervous system is still a mess. In the meantime, I am reading posts on this forum and trying to educate myself.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I went off my synthroid, which I was only on for a month. I also take armour thyroid, 30 mgs am and 30 mgs afternoon. I've noticed recently that my anxiety is much worse when I take it! I'm wondering if I need to come off armour also. My system just can't tolerate anything right now.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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have you begun the taper of the gaba?

C/T Celexa and Trazadone on Jan.29th 2014
Prescribed 1mg of Klonopin every 6 hours on Jan.29th
Began tapering Klonopin April 18th..stretching time between doses...at first one hour for 2 weeks then a half hour for app.10 days then another half hour 10days later.
Presently at .25 three times a day..6 2 and 10pm. Trying to stabilize.
Also still taking gabapentin 300mgs 2xs a day..

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No. I'm not touching the GABA. I feel terrible. Huge anxiety all day. I'm not sure if I need the hospital or psych ward. Maybe I need a new medication. I am so dysfunctional. I want to die.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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