success ☼ Undiagnosed1: Unsure of what to do next

[AliG]

 Do you realize you may be setting yourself up for a rough time? 100 mg drop every 2 wks is not what we advise. We advise 10 % taper method and little use of Benzos.

[Shep]

1 hour ago, Undiagnosed1 said:

How often can I take the k 

 

Hi, Undiagnosed.

 

I'm not up to speed on your thread, but I saw this and thought I'd give add some benzodiazepine information.  You can become dependent on Klonopin in as little as 2 - 4 weeks, even with "as needed" use, so please use caution. As Ali so wisely posted, you are tapering too fast. Your nervous system isn't able to keep up. 

 

It's best to go slowly off one drug than have to taper additional drugs. Also, Klonopin can turn paradoxical, meaning your anxiety will increase when you take it. I have been around benzodiazepine forums for over 3 years now and have watched many people become dependent with "as needed" use, so please consider slowing your taper. 

 

There are many ways of handling anxiety without adding benzos. Please see:

 

Non-drug coping techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

[KarenB]

Undiagnosed, that's great info from Shep and Ali.  You need to hold your dose and allow some stabilisation.  The extreme anxiety you are experiencing is most likely from the too-fast tapering. 

[Altostrata]

On 7/5/2017 at 11:08 PM, Altostrata said:

 

 

The above indicates you've injured your gut somehow. If you're reacting to foods such as beef, bacon, cheese, etc., that indicates histamine intolerance. Histamine intolerance can cause very uncomfortable anxiety surge-like reactions. You may wish to eliminate high-histamine foods for a while -- all fermented foods, aged or preserved meats, cheese, yogurt, for example -- and let your gut heal.

 

How did you get to 700-900mg gabapentin at night? Why are you taking an inconsistent dosage?

 

My guess is you're suffering rebound anxiety in the morning from the whopping dose of gabapentin you take at night. Gabapentin is benzo-like. This sets you up to feel awful for the rest of the day. The food reactions aren't helping.

 

 

Are you taking 700mg gabapentin every night? How long have you been taking only 700mg at night?

 

On 7/6/2017 at 4:48 AM, Undiagnosed1 said:

I only take it at night due to it causing dark looping thoughts. It scares the crap out of me. It was prescribed for anxiety... I've been trying to drop the dosage.

My dose was

300 8:00am

300 3:00pm

900 10:00pm 

 

 

 

 

 

^What drug does this refer to?

 

Are you still using the blackout curtains? Did your symptoms get worse since last winter?

 

If I were you, I'd immediately go on a non-irritating low histamine diet: No canned food, no preserved or aged meat (beef, pork, and sometimes lamb are aged), no fish. See Histamine food intolerance and https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11175/everything-you-need-to-know-about-histamine-intolerance.html

[Undiagnosed1]

Yes mam I am taking 700mg every night. 

I have been at 700 for a little over a week now. 

I have been taking the dose only at night for a couple of months due to the dark thoughts and it causing more anxiety. 

 

The above refers to the gaba dose as it was originally prescribed dose. 

 

I am still using the blackout curtains and a mask. 

 

My anxiety and panic are not so much when the sun comes up it comes soon after getting up or with any stimulation. 

 

The anxiety got better 6 weeks after stopping the mirt. Then it seemed the gaba turned on me started causing the dark looping thoughts and was making anxiety way worse. 

I'm also waking every morning with dark ruminations. 

 

I'm scared, I just want to get off all this stuff and pray to heal. 

 

After I cut the gaba anxiety goes up for a few days then seems to come back down to the daily baseline. 

 

The only relief I get is when I take a piece of klonopin in all I've only takin .5 in two months as tempting as it has been. I stick with 250 mag when I first get up along with my fish oil and my coreg. 

[Undiagnosed1]

I honestly feel like I'm back to where I was before they loaded me up on all this crap. But worse because I'm afraid to leave the house due to panic setting in. I can't control my body it goes nuts. I also notice when I do take the k I can eat whatever I want with no adverse reaction. I have no doubt my gut is messed up due to the Stevens Johnsons syndrome. I know we don't premote benzos here but if it could give me a few more years of semi normal life I'd take it. 

[Altostrata]

You'd rather be addicted to a benzo than go on a histamine intolerance diet for a while?

 

Yes, it's possible the gabapentin has turned on you. Or, your nervous system has become very sensitive to its effect.

 

My guess is that you might suffer rebound anxiety in the morning because the one big dose of 700mg gabapentin you took at night is wearing off.

 

If I were you, I might try dividing the gabapentin dose: Take 500mg at your regular time and take 200mg 2 hours earlier.

[Undiagnosed1]

No mam I don't want to be addicted I guess its the sense of normality that it gives me. I will take your advise and give all this a try. 

I'm going to have to do 300 and then 400 because of how my script is. The looping dark thoughts it gives me scare the crap out of me.

 

Its strange about the diet because I can eat cheese, drink kiefer, yogart and junk food without an issue. I had a sandwich from a restaurant and it caused the worst bloating and gas pain turkey and cheese . Yet a sandwich from chick-fil-a grilled chicken with bacon and Munster cheese no problems. Its frustrating  

[KarenB]

I'm glad you're going to try Alto's ideas Undiagnosed.  It would be good to see some of your suffering relieved a bit.  I imagine that as you get to know what foods you can tolerate you'll be able to create a personalised sort of diet that works for you. 

 

I found I had to really cut down on sugar and caffeine, because they made all my symptoms worse, but I do fine with meat etc.  Different issues for all of us, and we just have to work out what's going to ease things the best for our own situation. 

[Undiagnosed1]

So yesterday was really harsh on me

 

Awoke at 8:00am

Racing negative thoughts 

Mag, fish oil and 12.5 coreg

 

10:00am anxiety and palpitations lasted into the afternoon. Which left me exhausted and distraught.

Its really hard to stay positive though this. Spent the rest of the evening trying to recover.

 

8:00pm 300mg gaba 12.5 coreg

10:00pm 400mg gaba 25mg trazodone

 

Slept ok 

Today awoke racing negative thoughts

Fish oil 12.5 coreg 

 

Smaller waves of anxiety on and off 

Through out the day 

 

 

 

[Undiagnosed1]

Ok so the diet changes have made the difference in my body shaking after I eat that's a plus. 

Staggering the gabapentin hasn't done much. But I'm going to continue to take it as told.

 

Do the waking with horrible thoughts go away? Its stressing me out so bad I've been dealing with it since stopping the mirt.

 

The daytime anxiety is so bad idk what to do. Feels like I'm gonna go off the deep end at times its depressing.

 

The last gabapentin cut seems to have leveled out no palpitations no real panic.

 

8:00am coreg12.5, fish oil 

8:00pm coreg 12.5, gabapentin 300mg 

10:00pm gabapentin 400mg trazodone 25mg

 

Daily symptom pattern 

Awake to horrible thoughts, shakes me up 

Anxiety pretty high until afternoon 

Ruminations most of the day. 

Things seem to clear up a bit towards 6:00pm 

Feel almost normal from about 8:30pm to 11:00pm

[powerback]

hi undiagnosed I've learned to not pay attention to my thoughts and mind when I wake up .its horrible  isn't it .the mind and memory and withdrawl is an astonishing experience .in a few hours it dissipates and sometimes I get relief ,I believe it will pass some day for me ,we got to believe .I dream of the day I'm off them and can tell everyone it works out in the end .I've a passion to get off them and never look back 

Take care

PB

[powerback]

Also take it from me please try what the moderators suggest ,they really know there stuff ,once we stop believing in quick fixes we can open our mind to new ways and relief .wish you the best .

[Undiagnosed1]

Ok looking for advise 

My worst symptom continues to be the aweful anxiety which comes in waves from 10:30 am to 2:00pm mag helps a little as well as theanine . 

 

My question is do I continue to move the 8:00pm gabapentin dose back 2 hours at a time. The anxiety is so bad I can't hardly eat anything until night time. I'm getting desperate I have steered clear of any benzo use. 

 

Could this possibly be caused by the trazodone?

 

8:00am Coreg 12.5mg , fish oil and l-theanine 

10:00am 250mg mag

8:00pm 300 gabapentin coreg 12.5

10:00pm 400 gabapentin 25mg trazodone along with l-theanine

 

[Undiagnosed1]

OHow do I split this gabapentin safely back to three doses? On 700 mg which I'm now seeing are two different manufactures. The morning anxiety is sooo bad and I don't want to take any k. But things are brutal sweating badly from my hands and feet body shaking ect till evening time. Ifnthis doesn't work I don't know what I'm going to do. My only other alternative would be a benzo and I don't want to go that route if I can avoid it. Been holding out like this for months using mag and l-theanine. Please advise I'm at the end of my rope here.

Wake at 8:00am take 12.5 coreg 

Severe anxiety sets in by 10:00am and comes in intense waves until late afternoon. 

8:00pm 300mg gabapentin 12.5mg coreg 

10:00pm 400mg gabapentin 25mg trazodone

 

Severely depressed due to this situation trying to stay strong for my wife and myself.

[scallywag]

What is the thinking for taking 300 mg gabapentin at 8 pm and then the remaining 400 mg at 10 pm?

 

Have you ever taken gabapentin earlier in the day? If yes, at what time of day did you take it and why did you switch to taking it in the evening?

[Undiagnosed1]

I was previously taking it split throughout the day 

8:00am

3:00pm 

10:00pm

I started having horrible looping thoughts and assumed that it was caused by the gabapentin but I'm not sure it could be from the remeron c/t in February. So I moved it all to the evening. Alto suggested splitting the dose as it is now and stated I could be having rebound anxiety from it. 

So I'm hoping by splitting the dose back up I can stop the anxiety from being completely debilitating without starting colazapam. Its so bad I can't hardly eat 

and I can't function. I've been using mag and theanine with very little relief. I do have a window at night normally really good between 8:00pm and 11:00pm with improved mood and no anxiety.

 

[scallywag]

I've asked other moderators to have a look at your dosing schedule.  I'm not familiar with gabapentin and drugs like it and want you to get some ideas about split timing from people who know about them.

[Undiagnosed1]

Thank you very much 

[Altostrata]

Undiagnosed, please update your signature with your latest drugs and dosages.

 

Did you have any withdrawal from reducing the trazodone?

 

It's possible some of the symptoms you have in the early part of the day are from trazodone's evil metabolite mCPP. It's possible the Coreg is blocking its metabolism.

[Undiagnosed1]

My signature is currant Mam 

 

I did not notice anything different from the reduction in trazodone 37.5 to 25

 

I seem to be sleeping ok 

My dosing schedule is

8:00am coreg 12.5 stopped fish oil unsure if it was stimulating me

8:00pm 12.5 coreg  300 gabapentin 

10:00pm 400 gabapentin  25 trazodone 

11:00 pm 200 l-theanine 

Bed

Awake at 7:00am 

Sometimes it starts right after getting up other times it starts around 10:00 either way its intense and I usually get a few waves throughout the day until evening. By night I'm pretty calm after taking my 10:00pm dose I have less anxiety than all day. And then the vicious cycle starts all over again. I do have anxiety issues and this has triggered the worst ocd in my life. I feel so traumatized . I have absolutely no appetite due to the anxiety. I'm just trying to hold on tight. 

 

[Altostrata]

Did those morning waves get worse or better after you reduced the trazodone?

 

This is why we need you to keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. Are you keeping those notes?

[ChessieCat]

This is an example of the best way to keep notes so that the mods can assist you:  Keep notes on paper

[Undiagnosed1]

I am 

The symptoms did not change.

I had a few days of waking a couple of times through the night then things settled down again. But other than that no change. 

[Undiagnosed1]

7-31-17

8:00am awoke to racing thoughts/anxiety took 12.5 coreg

10:30am anxiety started to subside/ feet cold and clammy 

12:30pm worked a few hours/few racing thoughts/ some si

4:00pm feeling slightly clearer able to clean house a little bit. 

 

 

[Undiagnosed1]

8:00pm gaba 300mg coreg 12.5 

10:00pm gaba 400 traz 25

11:00pm 200 l-theanine bed

12:30am awoke sweating 200 l-theanine

250 mag took a while to fall back asleep

7:30am awoke sweating anxiety/si

8:30am calming down 12.5 coreg

9:00am breakfast 

 

[Undiagnosed1]

Almost positive I'm having interdose withdrawal from gabapentin please advise.

[Undiagnosed1]

10:00am hands and feet sweating 

4:00pm hands and feet sweating looks like I've been in the tub to long waves of anxiety all day.

5:00pm sweating stopped/ feeling exhausted from anxiety

7:00pm dinner

8:00pm 300 gabapentin 12.5 coreg

10:00pm 400 gaba 25 trazodone

[Undiagnosed1]

6:00am awoke 250 mag 200 l-theanine 

6:30am slight sweating 

[Undiagnosed1]

8:00am took fish oil noticed very much improved mood

11:00am anxiety still under control

[Undiagnosed1]

12:00pm ate started feeling anxiety

[Undiagnosed1]

I'm thinking of cold turkey trazodone something is causing this crazy bad anxiety I can't take much more. I've been going through this for so long I don't want to start a benzo to quell this. 

I sleep well but wake up so anxious and it comes in horrible waves. I survived the remeron. I pray to survive this too. Something's got to give.

[powerback]

I can totally relate to your pain and heartache ,I'm only on bead 2 of a micro taper ,I'm thinking what's the point if I'm struggling so bad ,today was a very bad day indeed .

I've barely had a relief from anxiety at all .

such impossible decisions we are  left with .

take care

PB

[Undiagnosed1]

I've been like this for so long it hurts. I'm picking holes in my face my thumbs bleed from chewing on them. When the waves hit if I get up I feel like my guts arms and legs are shaking even though they're not. I can't function at all. My wife is so strong but breaks down sometimes and it tears me apart. This is a very tough month for me personally and I keep praying that I can continue to stay strong. Every time I have to go to the doctor I'm scared there gonna lock me up. I shake and sweat uncontrollably. I wish I could stabilize but idk if its a matter of stabilizing. I wish I could get some tips or opinions. 

[Survivor1]

Hello Undiagnosed,

 

Sorry you are going through such a difficult time.  I see that you are considering dropping trazodone.  I would advise that you reconsider.  You have gone from 100 traz to 25  and 15 remeron to 0 in the past 6 or 7 months.  This is incredibly fast.  You are probably having protracted WD from both.  I think if you were to drop traz completely, you may add insomnia (and other symptoms) to your anxiety and that would be hellish.

 

Earlier this year, I went from 62 traz to 51 and took 2.5 months to stabilize.  Additionally I just jumped off 2.4 remeron and after 2.5 months, I am still not stable.  So you can see, it can take a while for the nervous system to right itself.

 

Unfortunately, they say time is the only healer.  You do not have any physical symptoms and that in itself is something to celebrate.  I know that anxiety is awful, I had it bad last year when I rapid ct'd seroquel and had to reinstate.

 

My advise is to stay the course and do not change anything for a long time, until you are stable.

 

Whatever you decide, I wish you speedy healing ...

[Undiagnosed1]

Thank you for your response survivor I really appreciate it. I'm just feeling desperate which I'm sure we all are.