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Head noise and other symptoms in the head


squirrel

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I have had this rhythmic whooshing noise in time with my heartbeat for 11months and I hate it its my scariest symptom. Reading threads some people lump it together with tinnitus. It isn't as loud as it used to be . And sometimes I can only hear the other noises like static, high pitch whine etc but very short periods. Does anyone else get this whooshing specifically ?

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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Any chance we can merge this with the other head thread ? Valuable info on both and good for searchers to have a head thread as these symptoms cause a great deal of worry

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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I am glad to find this thread as I thought I'm the only one with daily head problems ever since my initial attemp tapering. Most complains I saw from others are anxiety, depression, insomnia etc when tapering, while my main symptoms are always physical mostly on head and upper body with pain, numb, pressure, swelling needling, burning and very strange and uncomfortable sensations, it always the worst in morning and usually lasts for good 8 hours gradually lessens in evening. It involves the entire head, face, ear, neck, upper back, shoulders. It also moves around actually I can feel the moves inside my head, ssoooo weirded and uncomfortable I always feel like to cut of my entire head and upper body off.

 

I hope to hear more on this from others who also have the same issue to help me with a better understanding.

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,

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You are definitely not the only one and my symptoms have the same pattern of being worse in the morning. Hopefully others will chip in because I find it uncomfortable frightening and distracting and it would be reassuring to know how common it is. Am typing this in the morning and there is loud whoosh whoosh whoosh of my heartbeat in my head. Nice to know its slow and regular but doesn't stop me worrying am about to have a stroke any minute !

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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Thanks for responding Cressida! When did it start for you and any patterns over time? I'm trying to figure if it's more from side effects of the drug or withdrawal. Can you update your signature and share more details of your experience in this regards?

 

I always thought its lexapro related, but seems you are taking Paxil.

 

I hope you are doing better today.

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,

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  • Member

I had a lot of different symptoms in my head and everywhere else. In protracted withdrawal I had every symptom described in the Symptoms thread except for pgad. It wouldn't have done much good for me to ask about them, however, as I was way past reinstatement (they started at the beginning of year 2) and I had already committed to riding them out until they got better and went away (which they have). I just noted them in my thread off and on. Symptoms are VERY common to people or else few would ever find this website.

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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I am so happy to find this thread!  I have always had sinus/allergy problems, but this time is the worst!  My last taper was horrible symptomwise - dizzy, nausea, fatigue, weepy, angry, fear, depressed, etc.  At the same time, I ended up with a sinus and ear infection.  Finishing a round of antibiotics now with little improvement.  Started with a killer allergy attack to birch pellets we were burning in our new pellet stove.  (forgot I was allergic to birch).  Now, when I move my head a certain way, I get extremely dizzy, have waves of pressure, nausea, pain.  Can't exercise as too dizzy.  Afraid I have a sinus tumor or something.  Hoping it will pass as my antibiotic finishes and my taper levels off.  I was taking Omega3 fish capsules last year, but let it go as it didn't seem to impact me one way or the other.  Did we decide if this helps with the problem?  Brain fog is bad and I can't remember anything, even what I just read :(

 

Any help is appreciated.

1998- Began taking 20 mg. of Paxil for homesickness 2001-CT and crash/hospitalized 1 week for anxiety. Tried quitting, changing to other ADs, gave up. 2014 -Weaned @ 10% every 4 weeks. Latest 5-14 11.7 mg., 6-14 10.5 mg., 8-21 9.5 mg., 9-17 7.7 mg.,10-14 6.9 mg., 11-14 6.2 mg., 12-14 5.6 mg., 1-15 5.0 mg. 2-15 4.5 mg. (miscalculated may actually be 3.3), up-dosed to 3.7 3-17-15. Hydroxyzine HCl 25 mg. as needed (antihistamine) for anxiety.

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Thanks for responding Cressida! When did it start for you and any patterns over time? I'm trying to figure if it's more from side effects of the drug or withdrawal. Can you update your signature and share more details of your experience in this regards?

 

I always thought its lexapro related, but seems you are taking Paxil.

 

I hope you are doing better today.

I was on 10mg of paxil for two years. Tapered off over 2 months June 2012. Had appalling anxiety, panic, muscle tension etc. had the odd glass if wine to help with the muscle tension . January 2014 going through very stressful period started having a couple of glasses of wine a day to help with the stress and very bad muscle symptoms. Noticed anxiety and MT was getting worse and going up and down so I stopped the wine and all hell broke loose. Surprised I didn't die. Was like acute ct for about 4 weeks and the head symptoms started just before I stopped the wine. Picked up slowly over next 4 months then bought one of this Nutribullet smoothie makers and started to make fruit smoothies trying to be healthy and same reaction as wine. All hell broke loose. That was last November and am still recovering slowly avoiding all sugar even fruit as have discovered sugar sends me back to hell.

Interestingly I know other people whose head symptoms have started around the two year mark. I think my brain is now super substance sensitive and I avoid sugar, alcohol obviously, coffee and loose leaf tea. Even one pudding ramps up my symptoms. The pulsing head started a few weeks before I stopped the wine. I don't think the head symptoms are drug specific I think they are triggered by withdrawal of anything from our super sensitive brains. So I have the pulsing/whooshing. Feelings of pressure. Very very tight scalp, head neck and shoulders. Scalp so tight if I move my forehead up and down vision goes blurry . Feeling like the brain behind my forehead is set like concrete, solid and heavy. Thought processes feel sluggish. Think the only thing is to avoid the triggers meticulously and wait for the brain to heal

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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I am so happy to find this thread! I have always had sinus/allergy problems, but this time is the worst! My last taper was horrible symptomwise - dizzy, nausea, fatigue, weepy, angry, fear, depressed, etc. At the same time, I ended up with a sinus and ear infection. Finishing a round of antibiotics now with little improvement. Started with a killer allergy attack to birch pellets we were burning in our new pellet stove. (forgot I was allergic to birch). Now, when I move my head a certain way, I get extremely dizzy, have waves of pressure, nausea, pain. Can't exercise as too dizzy. Afraid I have a sinus tumor or something. Hoping it will pass as my antibiotic finishes and my taper levels off. I was taking Omega3 fish capsules last year, but let it go as it didn't seem to impact me one way or the other. Did we decide if this helps with the problem? Brain fog is bad and I can't remember anything, even what I just read :(

 

Any help is appreciated.

Sounds awful ! I don't really get dizzy its one thing I ve been spared. Have to be careful with exercise as even brisk walking can make things worse. Learned not to do it every day ( how ridiculous) think there are differing opinions on fish oil. I ve taken one a day for years so clearly not helping my situation. But I wouldn't take anything in high doses given my recent reactions and I try to avoid new things or certainly taking new things ( like fruit !!!!!! ) regularly . Crazy as it seems don't want my brain habituating/sensitising to anything

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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Thanks so much every for chiming in and thank you Cressida for providing details! I found this topic got less attention in the forum and hope we can continue sharing experience with each other to figure out some relieves. I will provide more details about my situation later today.

 

Thanks again for hanging in and be so supportive!

 

LexA

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,

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We " need to put our heads together " to get through this. Stay in touch

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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I will fisrt read all of your introductions to understand better see if anything I can share to help. Im glad we have each other!

Hug to all!

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,

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cant be more true, cressida! No one else in the entire world could ever understand or help. Only us, the one experience the most weired thing are the sole source of knolwdge and information. This is so far the most disabling and difficult obstacles to taper the meds. 

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,

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I am so happy to find this thread! I have always had sinus/allergy problems, but this time is the worst! My last taper was horrible symptomwise - dizzy, nausea, fatigue, weepy, angry, fear, depressed, etc. At the same time, I ended up with a sinus and ear infection. Finishing a round of antibiotics now with little improvement. Started with a killer allergy attack to birch pellets we were burning in our new pellet stove. (forgot I was allergic to birch). Now, when I move my head a certain way, I get extremely dizzy, have waves of pressure, nausea, pain. Can't exercise as too dizzy. Afraid I have a sinus tumor or something. Hoping it will pass as my antibiotic finishes and my taper levels off. I was taking Omega3 fish capsules last year, but let it go as it didn't seem to impact me one way or the other. Did we decide if this helps with the problem? Brain fog is bad and I can't remember anything, even what I just read :(

 

Any help is appreciated.

Alaskamom, what you describe with your head and the dizziness etc, I've had for a long time. I am now almost 41 months off meds and I FINALLY got some real relief around 36 months off with the head issues. For a couple of months ALL my head issues left me. Finally. I've had every kind of head symptom and also these rushes and massive pressure in my sleep that would wake me every night. I was terrified of having a stroke for almost 18 months with these.

I too use to take omega 3's the first 18 months of WD id say. Once I stopped I started getting all these head issues and I had brain zaps really bad ( like several every minute, every day for months on end until they subsided by 36 months off). I tried omegas again this past summer and my head instantly felt much worse and got better when I stopped them. I was going to try them again now but my head stuff has Returned recently. Thankfully it's much milder this time around but still enough for me to be too afraid to start omegas again. Fresh ginger helps me with nausea. And the days my head is bad I try not to do much at all. Even sitting here I'll get dizzy and wierd feelings. Or strange sensations or random pains. My brain feels swollen and I swear I either hear or feel it sizzling all the time. It keeps me up most of the nights. It's still much milder though. I used to not be able to move around for weeks with the pains and uncomfortable dizziness.

13 years of Ssri's - celexa, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft

2 fast tapers and 2 cold turkeys over the years

Psych med free since September 4th 2011 - fast tapered then CT'd 12.5 mg of Zoloft

 

 

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

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Finished reading everyones intro, now I feel clueless as all of us have similar head symptom while our med and taper histories are quite different. Guess I still try to lay out my situation here for you to think of.

 

Started 6 months ago severe reaction to the dose increase from 2.7 to 4.5 mg lex, everyday ever since

 

Symptoms: pressure, numbness, fullness, pain, heavy, needling, swelling, tension all over the head, face, neck, shoulder, upper back

 

daily pattern: from the 2nd second waking up, as I know it's not there the 1st second working up, continue for the rest day until sometime in mid or late afternoon then gradually lessons. Most evening they basically cleared off.

 

Triggers: so far unknown. My everyday life is like programmed, same schedule, food, ppl, etc, almost stress free living alone

 

What helped: human light massage on the back especially round the spine. No professional needed, any human hands. Swimming is another effective reliever. I feel the effect is from the touch of soothing water to the nerves, Highly recommended if massage is not available.

 

Excercise: daily walk, swim. Alternative day strength training.

Supplement: fish oil

 

One thing disappointing is that I had high hopes for the micro taper I have been doing (0.5% holding for 2 weeks) to reach a goal of minimal symptoms, which seems true considering the most common symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, brain zap, anxiety, depression ( I have no or occasional minor issues in those ) but the head/ back symptoms are always there. It did improve a tiny bit maybe over the past 6 months. This makes me thing they are more caused by drug side effects than withdrawal. Now I hear some of you actually started having them post withdrawal so it disapprove my original reasoning. I was hoping as I get to lower doses, it might eventually go away. This is what kept me going through each day. Now I doubt how much longer I can endure if it continues like this for another year or even longer.

 

On the other hand, if you are still tapering and having other typical WD symptoms, micro taper is the way to go. There is a thread about this. I will send the link in the next post.

 

If you can shed any lights on the head symptoms, my heartfelt appreciation to you.

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,

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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,

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Finished reading everyones intro, now I feel clueless as all of us have similar head symptom while our med and taper histories are quite different. Guess I still try to lay out my situation here for you to think of.

 

Started 6 months ago severe reaction to the dose increase from 2.7 to 4.5 mg lex, everyday ever since

 

Symptoms: pressure, numbness, fullness, pain, heavy, needling, swelling, tension all over the head, face, neck, shoulder, upper back

 

daily pattern: from the 2nd second waking up, as I know it's not there the 1st second working up, continue for the rest day until sometime in mid or late afternoon then gradually lessons. Most evening they basically cleared off.

 

Triggers: so far unknown. My everyday life is like programmed, same schedule, food, ppl, etc, almost stress free living alone

 

What helped: human light massage on the back especially round the spine. No professional needed, any human hands. Swimming is another effective reliever. I feel the effect is from the touch of soothing water to the nerves, Highly recommended if massage is not available.

 

Excercise: daily walk, swim. Alternative day strength training.

Supplement: fish oil

 

One thing disappointing is that I had high hopes for the micro taper I have been doing (0.5% holding for 2 weeks) to reach a goal of minimal symptoms, which seems true considering the most common symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, brain zap, anxiety, depression ( I have no or occasional minor issues in those ) but the head/ back symptoms are always there. It did improve a tiny bit maybe over the past 6 months. This makes me thing they are more caused by drug side effects than withdrawal. Now I hear some of you actually started having them post withdrawal so it disapprove my original reasoning. I was hoping as I get to lower doses, it might eventually go away. This is what kept me going through each day. Now I doubt how much longer I can endure if it continues like this for another year or even longer.

 

On the other hand, if you are still tapering and having other typical WD symptoms, micro taper is the way to go. There is a thread about this. I will send the link in the next post

 

If you can shed any lights on the head symptoms, my heartfelt appreciation to you.

That's what I was saying Lex. It doesn't seem to matter what the substance is. When its withdrawn from the brain it can cause this severe reaction and you can become sensitive to it which would be why your up dose caused major problems.

One if the hardest things about WD is the lack of predictability of symptoms and time frames everyone reacts a bit differently but individuals can share patterns. My head neck and back symptoms ( can include arms and calves and feet ! ) got much worse when I stopped the drug and ramp up massively if I am in flare or anxious. I d always had regular massages but doesn't take long for them to reach gridlock again.

I didn't get dizziness depression or zaps but I have had massive anxiety since being off and fatigue.

I think tapering and being off are a continuum of withdrawal and I wish I thought your symptoms were a side effect of the drug rather than WD but I hope you prove me wrong.

I know very well I frequently feel I can't go on and its no use contemplating the possibility of another year of it you have to get through each day or hour by hour if necessary.

I presume you are familiar with Claire weekes work. All the symptoms we get she describes in her books on nervous breakdown but says no one gets them all and our pattern has declared itself.

My WD was going pretty well till the wine and the sugar ( equivalent of your up dose ) set off the head symptoms and massive surges of anxiety and the cortisol nights mornings.

I don't take any other drugs and only ordinary supplement doses fish oil and multi vitamins and minerals . Too frightened to add anything else into the mix in case it goes wrong !

You are doing great with the things you are doing and neither IMac or myself have found any magic solution other than the reassurance that comes from comparing notes. My head is very tight at the moment and I can hear/ feel my heartbeat in my head ( not my ears as such ) bit of scalp massage bit of distraction bit of ohysical activity don't know what else I can do

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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Pulsing in the ear - anxiety symptom

Pulsing in the ear, throbbing sound:

Pulsing sound in the ear(s), ache or pain, shooting pains, heart-pulsing like sound, swishing, swirling, throbbing, or beating sound in or seemingly behind the ear. It can occur in one or both ears, and can randomly shift from ear to ear or from one ear to both ears.

This symptom might also feel as though your heart is beating in your ear.

Sometimes this symptom is diagnosed as Pulsatile (throbbing) tinnitus.

Stress and anxiety caused pulsing in the ear sound should NOT be considered a serious medical problem. Many people experience this symptom when stressed and/or overly anxious. In many cases, this symptom subsides on its own when stress and/or anxiety have been reduced and the body has had sufficient time to calm down and recover.

 

Found this

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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Think all our symptoms are on here.Dont know if the hyperlinks work but lead to a fuller explanation

 

 

Medical Advisory

Because there are many medical conditions that can cause anxiety-like sensations and symptoms, we recommend that all new, changing, persistent, and returning symptoms be discussed with your doctor. If your doctor concludes that your sensations and symptoms are solely stress related (including anxiety-caused stress), you can be confident that there isn't another medical reason for your symptoms. Generally, most doctors can easily tell the difference between stress- and anxiety-caused sensations and symptoms from symptoms caused by other medical conditions.

 

If you are uncertain about your doctor’s diagnosis, however, you may want to seek a second and even third opinion. But if all three opinions concur, you can be assured that stress (including the stress that being overly anxious can cause) is the cause of your sensations and symptom and not some other medical or biological problem.

 

 

For more information about each symptom, click on the associated link below where available.

 

Body (symptoms associated with the body in general):

•Allergy and anxiety

•Allergies and anxiety

•Allergy problems, increase in allergies (number, sensitivity, reactions, lengthier reactions)

•Back pain, stiffness, tension, pressure, soreness, spasms, immobility in the back or back muscles

•Blanching (looking pale, loss of color in the face or skin)

•Blushing, turning red, flushed face, flushed skin, blushing, red face or skin

•Body aches, parts of or your entire body feels sore and achy, feels like your body and muscles are bruised

•Body jolts

•Body zaps

•Body shakes

•Body tremors

•Body temperature increase or decrease, change in body temperature

•Brain zaps

•Burning skin, itchy, “crawly,” prickly or other skin sensations, skin sensitivity, numbness on the skin

•Burning skin sensation on the face, neck, ears, scalp, or shoulders

•Buzzing sensation in the feet, toes, hands, fingers, arms, legs

•Chest pain, chest tightness

•Choking

•Choking feeling in throat

•Chronic Fatigue, exhaustion, super tired, worn out

•Clumsiness, feeling clumsy, co-ordination problems with the limbs or body

•Cold chills, feeling cold all the time

•Cold hands and feet

•Craving sugar, sweets, chocolate, usual craving for sugar and sweets

•Difficulty speaking, moving mouth, talking, co-ordination problems with the mouth or tongue

•Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, dizzy, feeling dizzy

•Electric shock feeling, body zaps

•Excess of energy, you feel you can’t relax

•Falling sensation, feel like your are falling or dropping even though you aren't

•Feel like you are going to pass out or faint

•Feel cold, chilly, cold all the time

•Feel wrong, different, foreign, odd, or strange

•Flu-like symptoms, general malaise, feel ill, like you are coming down with a flu

•Flushed face, red face, flushed skin

•Frequent urination

•Frequent urination at night

•Frequent urination in men

•Hair loss, hair is thinning, or clumps of hair are falling out

•Head and Brain Zaps

•Head and brain zaps - medication causes

•Heart palpitations, racing heart

•Hyperactivity, excess energy, nervous energy

•Increased or decreased sex drive

•Infection - increased infections, persistent infection

•Motion sickness feeling

•Mouth or throat clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•Muscles that vibrate, jitter, tremor, or shake when used

•Muscle twitching

•Muscle weakness

•Nausea

•Nausea vomiting

 

•Neck, back, shoulder, head pain, tightness/stiffness

•Neck tension

•Night sweats, waking up in a sweat, profusely sweating at night

•No energy, feeling lethargic, tired

•Numb tinging hands

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Numbness and tingling fingers

•Numbness and tingling, and other skin sensations on hands, feet, face, head, or any other places on the body

•Persistent muscle tension, stiffness

•Pounding heart, heart feels like it is beating too hard

•Pulsing or throbbing muscles. Pulsing or throbbing sensation.

•Red skin, skin looks like or is turning red

•Rib or rib cage tightness, pressure, or feeling like a tight band around the rib cage

•Sexual Dysfunction, sexual uninterest

•Shooting pains, stabbing pains, and odd pressures in the neck, head, or face

•Shooting pains in the face

•Shooting pains in the scalp or head

•Skipped heart beats

•Sore or tight scalp or back of the neck

•Startle easily

•Sweating, uncontrollable profuse sweating

•The floor feels like it is moving either down or up for no reason

•Tightness in the ribs or rib cage area, may also feel like a tight band around the ribs or rib cage area.

•Tingling numb hands

•Tingling sensations, anywhere on the body, including the hands, feet, legs, arms, head, mouth, chest, groin area

•Throat or mouth clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•TMJ

•Trembling, shaking, tremors

•Twitching

•Unsteadiness, dizziness, feeling dizzy or lightheaded

•Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom (similar to urinary tract or prostate infection symptoms)

•Warm spells

•Weak - feel weak, weakness, low energy, light, soft, like you may faint

•Weak legs, arms, or muscles

•Weak limbs/extremities

•Weight loss, weight gain

 

Chest (symptoms assocaited with the chest area):

•Chest tremors, trembling in the chest, chest feels like it is vibrating

•Chest pain or discomfort

•Concern about the heart

•Feel like you have to force yourself to breath

•Find it hard to breath, feeling smothered, shortness of breath

•Frequent yawning to try and catch your breath

•Heart Palpitations – beating hard or too fast, rapid heartbeat

•Heart - Irregular heart rhythms, flutters or ‘skipped’ beats, tickle in the chest that makes you cough

•Pounding heart, heart feels like it is beating too hard

•Rib or rib cage tightness, pressure, or feeling like a tight band around the rib cage

 

Emotions (see mood - symptoms commonly associated with emotions, mood, and feelings)

 

Fears (symptoms associated with fear):

•A heightened fear of what people think of you

•Afraid of being trapped in a place with no exits

•Constant feeling of being overwhelmed.

•Fear of being in public

•Fear of dying

•Fear of losing control

•Fear of impending doom

•Fear of making mistakes or making a fool of yourself to others

•Fear of passing out

•Fear that you are losing your mind

•Fears about irrational things, objects, circumstances, or situations

•Fears of going crazy, of dying, of impending doom, of normal things, unusual feelings and emotions, unusually frightening thoughts or feelings

•Feeling afraid all the time

•Heightened self awareness, or self-consciousness

•Need to find nearest washrooms before you can feel comfortable

•Need to seat near exits

 

Head: (symptoms associated with the head)

•Anxiety headaches, migraines

•Brain fog

•Burning, itchy, tight scalp

•Dizziness or light-headedness

•Frequent headaches, migraine headaches

•Feeling like there is a tight band around your head, pressure, tightness

•Hair loss, hair is thinning, or clumps of hair are falling out

•Head, neck or shoulder pain, tightness/stiffness

•Head zaps, head tremors

•Giddiness

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Shooting pains, stabbing pains, and odd pressures in the neck, head, or face

•Shooting pains in the face

•Shooting pains in the scalp or head

•When you close your eyes you feel like are beginning to, or will, float upwards

•Sore jaw that feels like a tooth ache

•TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) - clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth

 

Hearing / Ear(s): (symptoms commonly associated with hearing and the ears)

•Feel like there is something stuck in your ear, that your ear canal it plugged or blocked, that there is a pebble in your ear that you can't get out

•Low rumbling sounds

•Reduced hearing, frequent or intermittent reduced hearing or deafness in one or both ears

•Ringing in the ears, noises in the ears, noises in the head

•Pulsing in the ears, throbbing sound in the ear(s)

•Tickle or itch in your ear that you can't seem to get at

 

Mind (symptoms associated with the mind and thinking):

•Afraid of everything

•Altered state of reality, consciousness, or universe feeling

•Brain Fog

•Deja Vu, a feeling like you've done or experienced something before

•Depersonalization

•Derealization

•Desensitization

•Difficulty concentrating, short-term memory loss

•Difficulty thinking, speaking, forming thoughts, following conversations

•Disorientation

•Fear of going crazy

•Fear of losing control

•Fear of impending doom

•Feelings of unreality

•Frequent feeling of being overwhelmed, or that there is just too much to handle or do

•Having difficulty concentrating

•Nightmares, bad dreams

•Obsession about sensations or getting better

•Repetitive thinking or incessant ‘mind chatter’

•Short-term learning impairment, have a hard time learning new information

•Short-term memory impairment, can't remember what I did a few days, hours, or moments ago

•Spaced out feelings, feeling spaced out

•"Stuck" thoughts; thoughts, mental images, concepts, songs, or melodies that "stick" in your mind and replay over and over again.

•Trapped in your mind feeling

•Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear

•You often feel you are carrying the world on your shoulders

 

Mood / Emotions (symptoms associated with mood, emotions, and feelings):

•Always feeling angry and lack of patience

•Depersonalization

•Depression

•Dramatic mood swings (emotional flipping)

•Emotionally blunted, flat, or numb

•Emotional "flipping" (dramatic mood swings)

•Emotions feel wrong

•Everything is scary, frightening

•Feeling down in the dumps

•Feeling like things are unreal or dreamlike

•Frequently being on edge or 'grouchy'

•Feel like crying for no apparent reason

•Have no feelings about things you used to

•Not feeling like yourself, detached from loved ones, emotionally numb

•Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear

•You feel like you are under pressure all the time

 

Mouth / Stomach (symptoms associated with the mouth and stomach):

•A ‘tinny’, ‘metallic’ or ‘ammonia’, or unusual smell or taste

•Aerophagia (swallowing too much air, stomach distention, belching)

•Burning mouth, feeling like the inside of your mouth is burning, or tingling, or like pins and needles, or all of these together or at different times

•Burning tongue, feeling like your tongue is burning, or tingling, or like pins and needles, or all of these, or all of these together or at different times

•Choking

•Constant craving for sugar or sweets

•Constant lump in the throat feeling

•Constipation

•Diarrhea

•Difficulty swallowing

•Difficulty talking, pronouncing certain letters or sounds, mouth feels like it isn't moving right, slurred speech

•Dry mouth

•Esophageal spasms

•Feeling like you can’t swallow properly or that something will get caught in your throat

•Feeling like your tongue is swollen

•IBS

•Lack of appetite or taste

•Lump in the throat, tight throat, something stuck in your throat

•Mouth muscles twitching/jumping

•Mouth or throat clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•Nausea

•Nausea vomiting

•Nausea or abdominal stress

•Nervous stomach

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Stomach muscle spasms, twitching

•Stomach upset, gas, belching, bloating

•Teeth grinding

•The thought of eating makes you nauseous

•Tight throat, lump in throat

•Throat or mouth clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•TMJ

•Tongue symptoms - Tingly, “stretched,” numb, frozen, itchy, “crawly,” burning, twitching, “jumpy,” aching, sore, or swollen tongue (when it isn’t).

•Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom

•Vomiting

 

Skin: (symptoms associated with the skin)

•Burning itching skin (hands, feet, face, lips, etc.)

•Burning skin sensations, skin sensitivity

•Itching burning skin but no rash

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Red skin, looks like your skin is red or turning red for no reason

•Skin problems, infections, rashes

 

Sleep (symptoms associated with sleep and sleep problems):

•Difficulty falling or staying asleep

•Frequent bad, bizarre, or crazy dreams

•Hearing sounds in your head that jolt you awake

•Insomnia, or waking up ill in the middle of the night

•Jolting awake

•Waking up in a panic attack

•You feel worse in the mornings

 

Sight (symptoms associated with the eyes and sight):

•Distorted, foggy, or blurred vision

•Dry, watery or itchy eyes

•Eye tricks, seeing things our of the corner of your eye that isn’t there, stars, flashes

•Eyes sensitive to light

•Spots in the vision

•Flashing lights when eyes are closed

•Your depth perception feels wrong

 

Touch (symptoms associated with the sense of touch):

•Burning skin sensations, skin sensitivity

•Feeling cold or chilled

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Pain

•Tingling, pins and needles feelings

 

Other symptoms are often described as: Being like a hypochondriac, muscle twinges, worry all the time, tingles, gagging, tightness in the chest, tongue twitches, shaky, breath lump, heart beat problems, head tingles, itchy tingling in arms and legs, and so many more.

 

In addition, you might also find yourself worrying compulsively about:

• Having a heart attack

• Having a serious undetected illness

• Dying prematurely

• Going insane or losing your mind

• Suddenly snapping

• Losing it

• Uncontrollably harming yourself or someone you love

• Losing control of your thoughts and actions

• Being embarrassed or making a fool out of yourself

• Losing control

• Fainting in public

• Not breathing properly

• Losing control of reality

• Choking or suffocating

• Being alone

 

These are some of the more common symptoms of anxiety. This list is not exhaustive.

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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Pulsing or throbbing muscles. Pulsing or throbbing sensation

Pulsing or throbbing muscles. Pulsing or throbbing sensation: You may feel a pulsing sensation in one or more muscle groups or parts of the body. It may feel like a slow, mild, rhythmic pulsing or throbbing, or may feel like a rapid gentle tremor-like sensation, or a combination of these sensations.

They may occur rhythmically or sporadically, and can be of short duration or persist from day to day, or in any combination of.

 

 

Now I just have to persuade myself not to be frightened of it

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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Cressida,  I have the whooshing.  It started a few months ago but just when I was going to sleep.  Just this past week though I am noticing it is happening during the day as well and it is much louder than it was.  I agree it is distressing and also distracting.  I hope it goes away!

Previous brief history with Celexa, Wellbutrin (2007? for smoking cessation), one month on Lamictal in 2009, one month on Remeron 2009. Prescribed Cymbalta approximately 2009 initially at 60 mg then 30 mg and finally 20 mg.  

January of 2014 was changed to generic then in February of 2014 I missed two days = severe withdrawal (suicidal thoughts, uncontrollable crying, isolation, etc). February 2014- switched back to name brand Cymbalta and started tapering from 20 mg by counting beads.  Average rate was about ten beads every 1-2 weeks

Approx July 2014 - slowed down taper, removed 3-5 beads every 1-2 weeks. 

October 9,2014 - 13 beads/ January 1, 2015 - 12 beads/ February 13, 2015 - 11 beads/March 13, 2015- 10 beads

May 17- 9 beads/ June 20, 2015 - 8 beads/ October 8, 2015 - 7 beads

 

Supplements:  Vitamin E, fish oil, magnesium. cod liver oild-ribose, sunflower lecithin, DMAE, choline, inositol, ubiquinol coQ10, B-complex vitamin D3

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I suffer with the heartbeat whooshing, as well. Is there anything we can take in the way of supplements? I take mag chelate and fish oil. I'm exhausted!

January 2012 - Prescribed 900mg gabapentin and 30mg Norco for lower lumber spinal stenosis pain.

September 2013 - Spinal fusion surgery, 6 levels. Hospital ramped up meds 1500mg gabapentin, 100mg Norco, 80mg Oxycontin, 25mg Fentanyl patch.

January 2014 - Sever nausea daily and with back pain every 4 hours. 2 trips to ER. First endoscopy found ulcer. Treated with Sucralfate and PPI. Second endo in May found no ulcers. Doctors said it was the opiates causing the nausea. CT'd Oxycontin, Fentanyl patch.

July 2014 - Lost 48 lbs. due to not eating because of severe nausea. GP prescribed Prozac 20mg and Ativan 2mg prn. Tried for 4 days, quit. Two week followup GP said keep taking Prozac. 4 days, quit again. Ativan taken rarely prn for anxiety and appetite.

August 2014 - Went to detox. Off opiates. Still nauseous, helmet head, drugged feeling. Doctor CT'd gabapentin. Ended up in ER. Found 2 gallstones. Gabapentin reinstated at 900mg. Tried botched up and down taper to get off Gabapentin. No tapering advice from doctor. Said to just CT again.

September 2014 - Coded on table during gallbladder surgery. Developed liver biloma due to CPR by doctor. Had bile bulb inserted for 2 wks to drain.

October 2014 - Gallbladder removed. Still nauseous, 3am cortisol surging, drugged helmet head, vertigo, breathlessness, whooshing head, heart palps.

November 8th, 2014 - CT'd gabapentin suggested by family and 4 different doctors. Was told no withdrawal is associated with gabapentin. Have been in hell ever since. No windows, just one big tsunami every day with same symptoms for 4 months.

December 26, 2014 - Found SA. At least I know I'm not insane. My family thinks I'm doing this to myself. Akathesia has become unbearable.

March 10, 2015 - In absolute daily hell with no relief. Currently taking magnesium 200mg before bedtime.

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Don't think there's s magic pill. If you look on the thread head symptoms everyday there's some comforting info on the whooshing I found and shared. Mines still there but doesn't bother me as much since I read that

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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I have had this rhythmic whooshing noise in time with my heartbeat for 11months and I hate it its my scariest symptom. Reading threads some people lump it together with tinnitus. It isn't as loud as it used to be . And sometimes I can only hear the other noises like static, high pitch whine etc but very short periods. Does anyone else get this whooshing specifically ?

January 2012 - Prescribed 900mg gabapentin and 30mg Norco for lower lumber spinal stenosis pain.

September 2013 - Spinal fusion surgery, 6 levels. Hospital ramped up meds 1500mg gabapentin, 100mg Norco, 80mg Oxycontin, 25mg Fentanyl patch.

January 2014 - Sever nausea daily and with back pain every 4 hours. 2 trips to ER. First endoscopy found ulcer. Treated with Sucralfate and PPI. Second endo in May found no ulcers. Doctors said it was the opiates causing the nausea. CT'd Oxycontin, Fentanyl patch.

July 2014 - Lost 48 lbs. due to not eating because of severe nausea. GP prescribed Prozac 20mg and Ativan 2mg prn. Tried for 4 days, quit. Two week followup GP said keep taking Prozac. 4 days, quit again. Ativan taken rarely prn for anxiety and appetite.

August 2014 - Went to detox. Off opiates. Still nauseous, helmet head, drugged feeling. Doctor CT'd gabapentin. Ended up in ER. Found 2 gallstones. Gabapentin reinstated at 900mg. Tried botched up and down taper to get off Gabapentin. No tapering advice from doctor. Said to just CT again.

September 2014 - Coded on table during gallbladder surgery. Developed liver biloma due to CPR by doctor. Had bile bulb inserted for 2 wks to drain.

October 2014 - Gallbladder removed. Still nauseous, 3am cortisol surging, drugged helmet head, vertigo, breathlessness, whooshing head, heart palps.

November 8th, 2014 - CT'd gabapentin suggested by family and 4 different doctors. Was told no withdrawal is associated with gabapentin. Have been in hell ever since. No windows, just one big tsunami every day with same symptoms for 4 months.

December 26, 2014 - Found SA. At least I know I'm not insane. My family thinks I'm doing this to myself. Akathesia has become unbearable.

March 10, 2015 - In absolute daily hell with no relief. Currently taking magnesium 200mg before bedtime.

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This is my dominating WD symptom.

January 2012 - Prescribed 900mg gabapentin and 30mg Norco for lower lumber spinal stenosis pain.

September 2013 - Spinal fusion surgery, 6 levels. Hospital ramped up meds 1500mg gabapentin, 100mg Norco, 80mg Oxycontin, 25mg Fentanyl patch.

January 2014 - Sever nausea daily and with back pain every 4 hours. 2 trips to ER. First endoscopy found ulcer. Treated with Sucralfate and PPI. Second endo in May found no ulcers. Doctors said it was the opiates causing the nausea. CT'd Oxycontin, Fentanyl patch.

July 2014 - Lost 48 lbs. due to not eating because of severe nausea. GP prescribed Prozac 20mg and Ativan 2mg prn. Tried for 4 days, quit. Two week followup GP said keep taking Prozac. 4 days, quit again. Ativan taken rarely prn for anxiety and appetite.

August 2014 - Went to detox. Off opiates. Still nauseous, helmet head, drugged feeling. Doctor CT'd gabapentin. Ended up in ER. Found 2 gallstones. Gabapentin reinstated at 900mg. Tried botched up and down taper to get off Gabapentin. No tapering advice from doctor. Said to just CT again.

September 2014 - Coded on table during gallbladder surgery. Developed liver biloma due to CPR by doctor. Had bile bulb inserted for 2 wks to drain.

October 2014 - Gallbladder removed. Still nauseous, 3am cortisol surging, drugged helmet head, vertigo, breathlessness, whooshing head, heart palps.

November 8th, 2014 - CT'd gabapentin suggested by family and 4 different doctors. Was told no withdrawal is associated with gabapentin. Have been in hell ever since. No windows, just one big tsunami every day with same symptoms for 4 months.

December 26, 2014 - Found SA. At least I know I'm not insane. My family thinks I'm doing this to myself. Akathesia has become unbearable.

March 10, 2015 - In absolute daily hell with no relief. Currently taking magnesium 200mg before bedtime.

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It's how I know I'm still in WD.

January 2012 - Prescribed 900mg gabapentin and 30mg Norco for lower lumber spinal stenosis pain.

September 2013 - Spinal fusion surgery, 6 levels. Hospital ramped up meds 1500mg gabapentin, 100mg Norco, 80mg Oxycontin, 25mg Fentanyl patch.

January 2014 - Sever nausea daily and with back pain every 4 hours. 2 trips to ER. First endoscopy found ulcer. Treated with Sucralfate and PPI. Second endo in May found no ulcers. Doctors said it was the opiates causing the nausea. CT'd Oxycontin, Fentanyl patch.

July 2014 - Lost 48 lbs. due to not eating because of severe nausea. GP prescribed Prozac 20mg and Ativan 2mg prn. Tried for 4 days, quit. Two week followup GP said keep taking Prozac. 4 days, quit again. Ativan taken rarely prn for anxiety and appetite.

August 2014 - Went to detox. Off opiates. Still nauseous, helmet head, drugged feeling. Doctor CT'd gabapentin. Ended up in ER. Found 2 gallstones. Gabapentin reinstated at 900mg. Tried botched up and down taper to get off Gabapentin. No tapering advice from doctor. Said to just CT again.

September 2014 - Coded on table during gallbladder surgery. Developed liver biloma due to CPR by doctor. Had bile bulb inserted for 2 wks to drain.

October 2014 - Gallbladder removed. Still nauseous, 3am cortisol surging, drugged helmet head, vertigo, breathlessness, whooshing head, heart palps.

November 8th, 2014 - CT'd gabapentin suggested by family and 4 different doctors. Was told no withdrawal is associated with gabapentin. Have been in hell ever since. No windows, just one big tsunami every day with same symptoms for 4 months.

December 26, 2014 - Found SA. At least I know I'm not insane. My family thinks I'm doing this to myself. Akathesia has become unbearable.

March 10, 2015 - In absolute daily hell with no relief. Currently taking magnesium 200mg before bedtime.

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It's how I know I'm still in WD.

I know what you mean by dominating. Its very hard to ignore. Mine is quieter than when it started. I do hope it goes altogether . There is some comfort in so many of us getting it

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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  • 3 months later...

Think all our symptoms are on here.Dont know if the hyperlinks work but lead to a fuller explanation

 

 

Medical Advisory

Because there are many medical conditions that can cause anxiety-like sensations and symptoms, we recommend that all new, changing, persistent, and returning symptoms be discussed with your doctor. If your doctor concludes that your sensations and symptoms are solely stress related (including anxiety-caused stress), you can be confident that there isn't another medical reason for your symptoms. Generally, most doctors can easily tell the difference between stress- and anxiety-caused sensations and symptoms from symptoms caused by other medical conditions.

 

If you are uncertain about your doctor’s diagnosis, however, you may want to seek a second and even third opinion. But if all three opinions concur, you can be assured that stress (including the stress that being overly anxious can cause) is the cause of your sensations and symptom and not some other medical or biological problem.

 

 

For more information about each symptom, click on the associated link below where available.

 

Body (symptoms associated with the body in general):

•Allergy and anxiety

•Allergies and anxiety

•Allergy problems, increase in allergies (number, sensitivity, reactions, lengthier reactions)

•Back pain, stiffness, tension, pressure, soreness, spasms, immobility in the back or back muscles

•Blanching (looking pale, loss of color in the face or skin)

•Blushing, turning red, flushed face, flushed skin, blushing, red face or skin

•Body aches, parts of or your entire body feels sore and achy, feels like your body and muscles are bruised

•Body jolts

•Body zaps

•Body shakes

•Body tremors

•Body temperature increase or decrease, change in body temperature

•Brain zaps

•Burning skin, itchy, “crawly,” prickly or other skin sensations, skin sensitivity, numbness on the skin

•Burning skin sensation on the face, neck, ears, scalp, or shoulders

•Buzzing sensation in the feet, toes, hands, fingers, arms, legs

•Chest pain, chest tightness

•Choking

•Choking feeling in throat

•Chronic Fatigue, exhaustion, super tired, worn out

•Clumsiness, feeling clumsy, co-ordination problems with the limbs or body

•Cold chills, feeling cold all the time

•Cold hands and feet

•Craving sugar, sweets, chocolate, usual craving for sugar and sweets

•Difficulty speaking, moving mouth, talking, co-ordination problems with the mouth or tongue

•Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, dizzy, feeling dizzy

•Electric shock feeling, body zaps

•Excess of energy, you feel you can’t relax

•Falling sensation, feel like your are falling or dropping even though you aren't

•Feel like you are going to pass out or faint

•Feel cold, chilly, cold all the time

•Feel wrong, different, foreign, odd, or strange

•Flu-like symptoms, general malaise, feel ill, like you are coming down with a flu

•Flushed face, red face, flushed skin

•Frequent urination

•Frequent urination at night

•Frequent urination in men

•Hair loss, hair is thinning, or clumps of hair are falling out

•Head and Brain Zaps

•Head and brain zaps - medication causes

•Heart palpitations, racing heart

•Hyperactivity, excess energy, nervous energy

•Increased or decreased sex drive

•Infection - increased infections, persistent infection

•Motion sickness feeling

•Mouth or throat clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•Muscles that vibrate, jitter, tremor, or shake when used

•Muscle twitching

•Muscle weakness

•Nausea

•Nausea vomiting

 

•Neck, back, shoulder, head pain, tightness/stiffness

•Neck tension

•Night sweats, waking up in a sweat, profusely sweating at night

•No energy, feeling lethargic, tired

•Numb tinging hands

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Numbness and tingling fingers

•Numbness and tingling, and other skin sensations on hands, feet, face, head, or any other places on the body

•Persistent muscle tension, stiffness

•Pounding heart, heart feels like it is beating too hard

•Pulsing or throbbing muscles. Pulsing or throbbing sensation.

•Red skin, skin looks like or is turning red

•Rib or rib cage tightness, pressure, or feeling like a tight band around the rib cage

•Sexual Dysfunction, sexual uninterest

•Shooting pains, stabbing pains, and odd pressures in the neck, head, or face

•Shooting pains in the face

•Shooting pains in the scalp or head

•Skipped heart beats

•Sore or tight scalp or back of the neck

•Startle easily

•Sweating, uncontrollable profuse sweating

•The floor feels like it is moving either down or up for no reason

•Tightness in the ribs or rib cage area, may also feel like a tight band around the ribs or rib cage area.

•Tingling numb hands

•Tingling sensations, anywhere on the body, including the hands, feet, legs, arms, head, mouth, chest, groin area

•Throat or mouth clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•TMJ

•Trembling, shaking, tremors

•Twitching

•Unsteadiness, dizziness, feeling dizzy or lightheaded

•Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom (similar to urinary tract or prostate infection symptoms)

•Warm spells

•Weak - feel weak, weakness, low energy, light, soft, like you may faint

•Weak legs, arms, or muscles

•Weak limbs/extremities

•Weight loss, weight gain

 

Chest (symptoms assocaited with the chest area):

•Chest tremors, trembling in the chest, chest feels like it is vibrating

•Chest pain or discomfort

•Concern about the heart

•Feel like you have to force yourself to breath

•Find it hard to breath, feeling smothered, shortness of breath

•Frequent yawning to try and catch your breath

•Heart Palpitations – beating hard or too fast, rapid heartbeat

•Heart - Irregular heart rhythms, flutters or ‘skipped’ beats, tickle in the chest that makes you cough

•Pounding heart, heart feels like it is beating too hard

•Rib or rib cage tightness, pressure, or feeling like a tight band around the rib cage

 

Emotions (see mood - symptoms commonly associated with emotions, mood, and feelings)

 

Fears (symptoms associated with fear):

•A heightened fear of what people think of you

•Afraid of being trapped in a place with no exits

•Constant feeling of being overwhelmed.

•Fear of being in public

•Fear of dying

•Fear of losing control

•Fear of impending doom

•Fear of making mistakes or making a fool of yourself to others

•Fear of passing out

•Fear that you are losing your mind

•Fears about irrational things, objects, circumstances, or situations

•Fears of going crazy, of dying, of impending doom, of normal things, unusual feelings and emotions, unusually frightening thoughts or feelings

•Feeling afraid all the time

•Heightened self awareness, or self-consciousness

•Need to find nearest washrooms before you can feel comfortable

•Need to seat near exits

 

Head: (symptoms associated with the head)

•Anxiety headaches, migraines

•Brain fog

•Burning, itchy, tight scalp

•Dizziness or light-headedness

•Frequent headaches, migraine headaches

•Feeling like there is a tight band around your head, pressure, tightness

•Hair loss, hair is thinning, or clumps of hair are falling out

•Head, neck or shoulder pain, tightness/stiffness

•Head zaps, head tremors

•Giddiness

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Shooting pains, stabbing pains, and odd pressures in the neck, head, or face

•Shooting pains in the face

•Shooting pains in the scalp or head

•When you close your eyes you feel like are beginning to, or will, float upwards

•Sore jaw that feels like a tooth ache

•TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) - clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth

 

Hearing / Ear(s): (symptoms commonly associated with hearing and the ears)

•Feel like there is something stuck in your ear, that your ear canal it plugged or blocked, that there is a pebble in your ear that you can't get out

•Low rumbling sounds

•Reduced hearing, frequent or intermittent reduced hearing or deafness in one or both ears

•Ringing in the ears, noises in the ears, noises in the head

•Pulsing in the ears, throbbing sound in the ear(s)

•Tickle or itch in your ear that you can't seem to get at

 

Mind (symptoms associated with the mind and thinking):

•Afraid of everything

•Altered state of reality, consciousness, or universe feeling

•Brain Fog

•Deja Vu, a feeling like you've done or experienced something before

•Depersonalization

•Derealization

•Desensitization

•Difficulty concentrating, short-term memory loss

•Difficulty thinking, speaking, forming thoughts, following conversations

•Disorientation

•Fear of going crazy

•Fear of losing control

•Fear of impending doom

•Feelings of unreality

•Frequent feeling of being overwhelmed, or that there is just too much to handle or do

•Having difficulty concentrating

•Nightmares, bad dreams

•Obsession about sensations or getting better

•Repetitive thinking or incessant ‘mind chatter’

•Short-term learning impairment, have a hard time learning new information

•Short-term memory impairment, can't remember what I did a few days, hours, or moments ago

•Spaced out feelings, feeling spaced out

•"Stuck" thoughts; thoughts, mental images, concepts, songs, or melodies that "stick" in your mind and replay over and over again.

•Trapped in your mind feeling

•Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear

•You often feel you are carrying the world on your shoulders

 

Mood / Emotions (symptoms associated with mood, emotions, and feelings):

•Always feeling angry and lack of patience

•Depersonalization

•Depression

•Dramatic mood swings (emotional flipping)

•Emotionally blunted, flat, or numb

•Emotional "flipping" (dramatic mood swings)

•Emotions feel wrong

•Everything is scary, frightening

•Feeling down in the dumps

•Feeling like things are unreal or dreamlike

•Frequently being on edge or 'grouchy'

•Feel like crying for no apparent reason

•Have no feelings about things you used to

•Not feeling like yourself, detached from loved ones, emotionally numb

•Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear

•You feel like you are under pressure all the time

 

Mouth / Stomach (symptoms associated with the mouth and stomach):

•A ‘tinny’, ‘metallic’ or ‘ammonia’, or unusual smell or taste

•Aerophagia (swallowing too much air, stomach distention, belching)

•Burning mouth, feeling like the inside of your mouth is burning, or tingling, or like pins and needles, or all of these together or at different times

•Burning tongue, feeling like your tongue is burning, or tingling, or like pins and needles, or all of these, or all of these together or at different times

•Choking

•Constant craving for sugar or sweets

•Constant lump in the throat feeling

•Constipation

•Diarrhea

•Difficulty swallowing

•Difficulty talking, pronouncing certain letters or sounds, mouth feels like it isn't moving right, slurred speech

•Dry mouth

•Esophageal spasms

•Feeling like you can’t swallow properly or that something will get caught in your throat

•Feeling like your tongue is swollen

•IBS

•Lack of appetite or taste

•Lump in the throat, tight throat, something stuck in your throat

•Mouth muscles twitching/jumping

•Mouth or throat clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•Nausea

•Nausea vomiting

•Nausea or abdominal stress

•Nervous stomach

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Stomach muscle spasms, twitching

•Stomach upset, gas, belching, bloating

•Teeth grinding

•The thought of eating makes you nauseous

•Tight throat, lump in throat

•Throat or mouth clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•TMJ

•Tongue symptoms - Tingly, “stretched,” numb, frozen, itchy, “crawly,” burning, twitching, “jumpy,” aching, sore, or swollen tongue (when it isn’t).

•Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom

•Vomiting

 

Skin: (symptoms associated with the skin)

•Burning itching skin (hands, feet, face, lips, etc.)

•Burning skin sensations, skin sensitivity

•Itching burning skin but no rash

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Red skin, looks like your skin is red or turning red for no reason

•Skin problems, infections, rashes

 

Sleep (symptoms associated with sleep and sleep problems):

•Difficulty falling or staying asleep

•Frequent bad, bizarre, or crazy dreams

•Hearing sounds in your head that jolt you awake

•Insomnia, or waking up ill in the middle of the night

•Jolting awake

•Waking up in a panic attack

•You feel worse in the mornings

 

Sight (symptoms associated with the eyes and sight):

•Distorted, foggy, or blurred vision

•Dry, watery or itchy eyes

•Eye tricks, seeing things our of the corner of your eye that isn’t there, stars, flashes

•Eyes sensitive to light

•Spots in the vision

•Flashing lights when eyes are closed

•Your depth perception feels wrong

 

Touch (symptoms associated with the sense of touch):

•Burning skin sensations, skin sensitivity

•Feeling cold or chilled

•Numbness

•Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling

•Pain

•Tingling, pins and needles feelings

 

Other symptoms are often described as: Being like a hypochondriac, muscle twinges, worry all the time, tingles, gagging, tightness in the chest, tongue twitches, shaky, breath lump, heart beat problems, head tingles, itchy tingling in arms and legs, and so many more.

 

In addition, you might also find yourself worrying compulsively about:

• Having a heart attack

• Having a serious undetected illness

• Dying prematurely

• Going insane or losing your mind

• Suddenly snapping

• Losing it

• Uncontrollably harming yourself or someone you love

• Losing control of your thoughts and actions

• Being embarrassed or making a fool out of yourself

• Losing control

• Fainting in public

• Not breathing properly

• Losing control of reality

• Choking or suffocating

• Being alone

 

These are some of the more common symptoms of anxiety. This list is not exhaustive.

I got here today by doing a search for  Esophageal Spasm. This is what I was told yesterday finally the big problem I had after a car accident where I broke my rib hurt all the bits of from the rib to the head in the collision. When it looked this up on other med type sites it is suggested to be a problem related to anxiety or other psych problems. It did not feel this way to me it felt like pain... it felt like fluid going into my one lung all the time causing infection. It felt like something was broken and it did not stop completely with H2 blockers but continued for the last 2 years. 

 

Now I realize with my history a stress reaction after a car accident would not be a strange thing so I am going to take a look at the rest of the list to see if it makes any sense to me. 

 

These are the ones I am positive I have or had post accident:

•Back pain, stiffness, tension, pressure, soreness, spasms, immobility in the back or back muscles

•Body aches, parts of or your entire body feels sore and achy, feels like your body and muscles are bruised

•Body jolts

•Body zaps

•Body shakes

•Body tremors

•Body temperature increase or decrease, change in body temperature

•Burning skin sensation on the face, neck, ears, scalp, or shoulders

•Buzzing sensation in the feet, toes, hands, fingers, arms, legs

•Chest pain, chest tightness

•Choking

•Choking feeling in throat

•Chronic Fatigue, exhaustion, super tired, worn out

•Clumsiness, feeling clumsy, co-ordination problems with the limbs or body

•Difficulty speaking, moving mouth, talking, co-ordination problems with the mouth or tongue

•Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, dizzy, feeling dizzy

•Feel wrong, different, foreign, odd, or strange

•Flu-like symptoms, general malaise, feel ill, like you are coming down with a flu

•Infection - increased infections, persistent infection

•Motion sickness feeling

•Mouth or throat clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•Muscles that vibrate, jitter, tremor, or shake when used

•Muscle twitching

•Muscle weakness

•Nausea

•Nausea vomiting

•Neck, back, shoulder, head pain, tightness/stiffness

•Neck tension

•Night sweats, waking up in a sweat, profusely sweating at night

•No energy, feeling lethargic, tired

Rib or rib cage tightness, pressure, or feeling like a tight band around the rib cage

•Sexual Dysfunction, sexual uninterest

•Shooting pains, stabbing pains, and odd pressures in the neck, head, or face

•Shooting pains in the face

•Shooting pains in the scalp or head

•Skipped heart beats

•Sore or tight scalp or back of the neck

•The floor feels like it is moving either down or up for no reason

•Tightness in the ribs or rib cage area, may also feel like a tight band around the ribs or rib cage area.

•Tingling sensations, anywhere on the body, including the hands, feet, legs, arms, head, mouth, chest, groin area

•Throat or mouth clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking

•TMJ

•Trembling, shaking, tremors

•Twitching

•Unsteadiness, dizziness, feeling dizzy or lightheaded

•Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom (similar to urinary tract or prostate infection symptoms)

•Warm spells

•Weak - feel weak, weakness, low energy, light, soft, like you may faint

•Weak legs, arms, or muscles

•Weak limbs/extremities

•Weight loss, weight gain

•Anxiety headaches, migraines

•Brain fog

•Burning, itchy, tight scalp

•Dizziness or light-headedness

•Frequent headaches, migraine headaches

•Feeling like there is a tight band around your head, pressure, tightness

•Hair loss, hair is thinning, or clumps of hair are falling out

•Head, neck or shoulder pain, tightness/stiffness

•Shooting pains, stabbing pains, and odd pressures in the neck, head, or face

•Shooting pains in the face

•Shooting pains in the scalp or head

•When you close your eyes you feel like are beginning to, or will, float upwards

•Sore jaw that feels like a tooth ache

•TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) - clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth

 

Hearing / Ear(s): (symptoms commonly associated with hearing and the ears)

•Feel like there is something stuck in your ear, that your ear canal it plugged or blocked, that there is a pebble in your ear that you can't get out

•Low rumbling sounds

•Reduced hearing, frequent or intermittent reduced hearing or deafness in one or both ears

•Ringing in the ears, noises in the ears, noises in the head

•Pulsing in the ears, throbbing sound in the ear(s)

•Tickle or itch in your ear that you can't seem to get at

Mind (symptoms associated with the mind and thinking):

•Afraid of everything

•Altered state of reality, consciousness, or universe feeling

•Brain Fog

•Deja Vu, a feeling like you've done or experienced something before

•Depersonalization

•Derealization

•Desensitization

•Difficulty concentrating, short-term memory loss

•Difficulty thinking, speaking, forming thoughts, following conversations

•Disorientation

 

Ok I gave up grew weary of the list... I have this to say.  Many of these symptoms are the vary same symptoms you have with a concussion.  Or with a bone spur in your jaw which I just happen to have. Or never damage in you neck shoulder a broken rib ... trauma to you chest ect.  There are many other reasons a person could have these symptoms if they are never looked at how would you ever know?  

 

Next this is also the list of withdrawal symptoms I have only experienced BRAIN ZAPS when in withdrawal I am quite amazed to see it make this list and I wonder if it should be here... is somebody making something up really?  I have also searched brain zaps many times over the years and the only reference I ever found for it was drug withdrawal... ONLY nothing else. 

 

I guess  if I worked for pharma I would have to fine tooth comb these sites and make all the dysfunction/symptoms of wd fit some disorder so I can have my buddies put it in the DMS... 

 

Sure seems a bit much to me it seems like fiction. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • 2 months later...

I have headache rarely, but most of the time I can really feel my brain hurting. Is that even possible? I was told that is because since serotonine makes us more happy, relaxed our blood vessels are normal, and now, since I lack serotonine in wd my blood vessels are shrinked and that's why I feel my brain hurts. What do you think about this?

CD off meds in July 2015, not on any medication since. Went through WD nightmare, now dealing with normal anxiety, but decided not to leave this forum yet because I want to support and give hope to others. ♡

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My brain hurts and burns all the time too. I can even locate certain regions in the brain where it hurts.

 

The brain zaps hurt a lot as well. 

 

I'm not sure if it's really pain from inside the brain, or if it's just nerves somewhere else making it appear like it hurts in the brain. 

 

It could have to do with the blood vessels as you say. Or maybe it's a brain-parathesia? 

 

Parathesia: "an abnormal sensation, typically tingling or pricking (‘pins and needles’), caused chiefly by pressure on or damage to peripheral nerves."

 

You're definitely not alone with this symptom. 

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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  • 4 weeks later...

This is one of my worst symptoms right now; a crushing feeling around my temples and forehead, nausea, brain fog, and I pretty much become nonfunctional. It feels like having a severe cramp in my head and many time in my neck also. It is all I can do to function at a minimal level until it passes. I may or may not also have tinnitus and brain zaps.

 

Anyone else dealing with this right now?

20+ years of Zoloft 50-100 mg CT 03/2014 for 5 months
Back on Prozac 20 mg for 4 months CT since 11/2014
Found this forum the last day of 2014
The secret is to keep going!  Time will heal.


 
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I have been suffering from these head symptoms for quite some time. I feel like my head is on fire, I get the wooshing sound in both my ears and my hearing gets less. I feel like my head is going to explode at any moment and I either can't think straight or I am going to go insane. I also get tingling sensations. How long does it take before they go away? I am still taking Seroquel 50 mg. in the morning and 37.5 mg. in the evening. Is there anything that helps with these horrible symptoms?

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Silly Lady and pug. I ve had these symptoms for 17 months. Head whooshing has been continuous distressing symptom.

16th July I started wearing a mouth guard at night after finally finding someone who managed to stop the head whooshing and other symptoms on the net. My dentist had mouthguard made to fit me. Symptoms haven't gone completely but much reduced . And not only the physical symptoms but the anxiety and the cortisol wake ups. It has been transformative. And I ve been doing a simple exercise to stretch the scm muscle. You can find this if you google chiropractor exercise for scm muscle.

Do a simple test. Push out your lower jaw gently as far as you can and see if noise changes. Go back to normal then gently turn your head and look up to 11o clock position and 1 o clock position and gently push lower jaw forward.

Bruxism is a well known side effect and WD symptom of ssri s. I became aware of how much am clenching jaw in day too. First morning I woke having used mouthguard I panicked because my bottom jaw felt dislocated I was so used to being tight. Only took few minutes to feel ok.

I am sleeping so much better too.

I came back to tell you this because its helped me so much and I know your distress. You aren't ingesting a substance it can't hurt you . So well worth a try good luck !

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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Cressida,

 

Thank you for the great information and suggestions, they are greatly appreciated!

20+ years of Zoloft 50-100 mg CT 03/2014 for 5 months
Back on Prozac 20 mg for 4 months CT since 11/2014
Found this forum the last day of 2014
The secret is to keep going!  Time will heal.


 
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I feel like someones pouring cola into my skull usually comes alongside anxiety.

Sertraline 100mg amytrip 60mg diazepam 4mg (and when needed) since late 90's.Reduced all meds over 6 wks (too short) last doses 13 wks ago.Still having withdrawals.I would have done it differently

5th august 2015 reinstated 5mg amytripiline.increased to 10mg amtrip 9th sept 2015.

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Cressida,

 

Thank you for the great information and suggestions, they are greatly appreciated!

I do hope it can help you , if you try it can you feed back so we get a wider body of experience . Its so worth a try !

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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