Terry: withdrawing from Xanax and Zoloft

[Frogie]

Hi:

 

I just wanted to drop by and say hi and see how you are doing?

 

I hope well

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Terry]

Hi Frogie,

 

Thanks for stopping by.  I think of you and wonder how the xanax taper is coming along.  I hope you're doing well and not having a hard time with WD.  I also hope that after you jump off next month you'll feel terrific.

 

As for me, I'm dealing more with physical pain than WD.  Don't get me wrong, I still have poor sleep, mild anxiety, fatigue and brain fog.  But I can deal with those better than all the pain I'm having.  I may be facing hip replacement and who knows what else.  My big concern with surgery is being hospitalized and maybe having my taper messed up; also the greater possibility of exposure to Covid.

 

Wishing you the very best!

Terry

[Frogie]

Just now, Terry said:

Hi Frogie,

 

Thanks for stopping by.  I think of you and wonder how the xanax taper is coming along.  I hope you're doing well and not having a hard time with WD.  I also hope that after you jump off next month you'll feel terrific.

 

As for me, I'm dealing more with physical pain than WD.  Don't get me wrong, I still have poor sleep, mild anxiety, fatigue and brain fog.  But I can deal with those better than all the pain I'm having.  I may be facing hip replacement and who knows what else.  My big concern with surgery is being hospitalized and maybe having my taper messed up; also the greater possibility of exposure to Covid.

 

Wishing you the very best!

Terry

I think of you quite often. I’m doing as well as I can on a speedy taper. But turning the corner soon!
 

I’m so sorry to hear about your hip. I’m sure that is not a situation you wish to be in right now. As you stated the surgery, being hospitalized and the COVID-19 is very unsettling to you. I hope you can find the right answers. You can always hold your taper until this I s straightened out, which I’m hoping is soon for you.

 

We have family in Minneapolis and they tell us it has been unusually hot and humid. Hope you’re staying cool.

 

You are doing wonderful and like I said, I hope you find the answers soon.

 

Take care of yourself and keep me posted 😊

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Terry]

On 8/25/2016 at 8:08 PM, brassmonkey said:

Hi Frogie--  There's going to be a lot of confusing information flying around for a bit but it will start to make some sense in a while. So ask all the questions hat come to you.

 

" I did the initial taper in 6 weeks from 20mg to 10mg. I've been stuck at 10mg for about 2 weeks now."  This is the important thing right now. It's telling me that you don't want to do anything for several months. You've done a very large and quick taper to get to the 10mgs and it is going to take a while for your brain to sort things out.  During that time any changes in dosage will just add to the confusion.  I need to talk it over with the other mods but it might be a good idea to increase your dose back to about 15mg and stabilize there.  

 

Yes, that's basically how it works. You take, for example 10mg this month, 9mg next month and 8.1mg the month after that.  Until you get down to about 0.3mg which is a convenient place to jump off.

I realize this post is old and things may have changed.   But according to this, with a standard 10% taper, I could be down to 0.3mg sertraline by the end of this December.  Would that really be a safe jumping off point?

[Frogie]

3 minutes ago, Terry said:

I realize this post is old and things may have changed.   But according to this, with a standard 10% taper, I could be down to 0.3mg sertraline by the end of this December.  Would that really be a safe jumping off point?

I think that is too high to jump at that point but we can ask @brassmonkeyfor his help😊

 

I jumped off Lexapro at .05ml.

[brassmonkey]

Yes terry things have changed.  In the past that would have been considered a good jumping off point, but we have learned a lot since I wrote that four years ago. We have found that the lower the dose the better. We are in the process of developing an Endgame Tapering strategy that will further define the process. For now I would calculate a good Theoretical Exit Dose as 0.02mgai for your sertraline. Now, this is a theoretical target dose and not a hard and fast number. For the last part of your taper you will need to be paying close attention to what your body is telling you in regards to the reduction amounts and hold periods.  When you start to get to the 0.02mgai dose range it will all be up to how you feel and react to the reductions as to where to make the jump.

[ChessieCat]

@Terry

 

I've moved the posts from Frogie's intro to your own intro.

[Terry]

I am looking for some advice on an upcoming situation.  In September I'm scheduled for total hip replacement.  The orthopedist said I would have surgery one day and be discharged the following day.  By my surgery date my sertraline dose will be about 0.43 mg.  My plan is to not mention that I'm on it, since they might try to give me a standard dose.  If I'm really able to go home the day after surgery I can take my usual dose then and stay on my tapering schedule.  However, If for some reason I'm unable to go home at that time, I'm wondering how long I can risk going without taking my usual dose. 

 

Thanks for any help the mods can offer.

 

Terry

[Frogie]

3 minutes ago, Terry said:

I am looking for some advice on an upcoming situation.  In September I'm scheduled for total hip replacement.  The orthopedist said I would have surgery one day and be discharged the following day.  By my surgery date my sertraline dose will be about 0.43 mg.  My plan is to not mention that I'm on it, since they might try to give me a standard dose.  If I'm really able to go home the day after surgery I can take my usual dose then and stay on my tapering schedule.  However, If for some reason I'm unable to go home at that time, I'm wondering how long I can risk going without taking my usual dose. 

 

Thanks for any help the mods can offer.

 

Terry

I'm sorry you have to have surgery, but I certainly hope that is goes smoothly.

 

Maybe you could have someone bring you your dose if you have to stay longer than one day? Just a suggestion.

 

Sending healing vibes to you

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Terry]

1 hour ago, Frogie said:

Maybe you could have someone bring you your dose if you have to stay longer than one day?

Thank you for answering.  Actually, I had thought about making up a few doses ahead of time.  But my husband would have to smuggle them in so caregivers wouldn't see and suspect something like illegal drugs.  I'm not sure what would happen if I got caught.

 

 I should probably just trust that everything will go smoothly and I won't need any surreptitious activity. 😅

 

I hope you're doing OK with your Xanax taper.  Very soon you'll be done with it and on to better things.  I wish you the very best, dear Frogie! 

 

Terry

[Frogie]

19 minutes ago, Terry said:

Thank you for answering.  Actually, I had thought about making up a few doses ahead of time.  But my husband would have to smuggle them in so caregivers wouldn't see and suspect something like illegal drugs.  I'm not sure what would happen if I got caught.

 

 I should probably just trust that everything will go smoothly and I won't need any surreptitious activity. 😅

 

I hope you're doing OK with your Xanax taper.  Very soon you'll be done with it and on to better things.  I wish you the very best, dear Frogie! 

 

Terry

Maybe have your dr write instructions for your husband to bring it in for you? Then he wouldn’t have to sneak it in and get caught.

 

 I’m sure everything will be fine and you’ll be home the next day.

 

 I’m doing ok. Be done soon then the healing can begin.

 

Good luck. Please post how you’re doing!

 

Wishes for a speedy recovery 😊

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Terry]

I was sent information about my surgery on 9/17.  Listed under possible pain medications were oxycodone, gabapentin, and NSAIDS.  I have had oxy before so I know what it's like and how to be careful.  However, gabapentin is a different story.  Does this interfere with AD WD?  My taper has been going reasonably well and I don't want to do anything that might upset it.  I'm aware that anesthesia may pose a risk to my taper, but that's not something over which I have any control.

[Frogie]

47 minutes ago, Terry said:

I was sent information about my surgery on 9/17.  Listed under possible pain medications were oxycodone, gabapentin, and NSAIDS.  I have had oxy before so I know what it's like and how to be careful.  However, gabapentin is a different story.  Does this interfere with AD WD?  My taper has been going reasonably well and I don't want to do anything that might upset it.  I'm aware that anesthesia may pose a risk to my taper, but that's not something over which I have any control.

I was on gabapentin for a nerve problem. I was on it for years. I had to taper off of it just like an antidepressant. I know of other members here that are tapering off of it at the moment. If it were me I would stay away from that.

 

I am sending lots of good wishes to you for your surgery. I hope everything turns out well.

 

I hope I was able to help with your question. 

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Terry]

Thanks, Frogie, for the good wishes.  I am optimistic that all will go well.  My guess is that the gabapentin would just be a short term med, but even that might upset things.  I plan to take as little medication as I really need, just enough to get me through the pain.

 

Best to you as you reach the end of your xanax taper.  You're so close now!

 

Terry

[Frogie]

8 minutes ago, Terry said:

Thanks, Frogie, for the good wishes.  I am optimistic that all will go well.  My guess is that the gabapentin would just be a short term med, but even that might upset things.  I plan to take as little medication as I really need, just enough to get me through the pain.

 

Best to you as you reach the end of your xanax taper.  You're so close now!

 

Terry

You need to get through the pain and you will make the right decisions based on what is right for you.

I think all will go well for you and you will soon be on the road to recovery!

You too are very close to the end. Congratulations!

Please let us know how the surgery went

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Terry]

This morning  I experienced a strange visual disturbance while watching a video.  It was as though I was seeing some kind of pattern overlaying a part of my field of vision, then changed briefly to an overall sense of visual interference.  It scared me and I wondered if it might be something serious, but after about 20 minutes or so, it disappeared, and now I have a headache and my eyeballs ache.  I don't recall ever having anything like this before.  I dropped my dosage by 8.9% yesterday, so maybe this is the reason for it?

 

Terry

[brassmonkey]

Hi Terry-- that is a good basic description of a Visual Migraine. More bothersome than dangerous, it is a subset of the traditional migraine headache but not always painful.  For me, they tend to leave a "hangover" that lasts several hours and then clears up. General stress tends to be a trigger as does bright flashes of light. I've done a lot of research on them as I get them every few weeks. Doctors don't really know why they happen (like a lot of things) but they do show up on brain scans. It is a chemical disturbance of the visual cortex in the brain, sort of like a muscle spasm. Pretty scary when you first go through one, but from what I can find out the worst they can do is give you a headache.

[Terry]

Thanks for the information, Brass.  It was so helpful.  I did a quick search on Visual Migraines and found images which might depict them.  There were a couple that were very much like what I saw.  If it happens again it won't be so alarming.

[ChessieCat]

 

1 hour ago, Terry said:

I have pain, which is to be expected, but so far it's controlled by ibuprofen and tylenol.

 

Please be aware that ibuprofen can cause stomach issues if taken regularly.  I had to take a 7 day course of prescription Celebrex anti inflammatory tablets but only managed to take 3 days because I ended up with a very upset stomach.  At a completely different time since then I have tried taking 6 x OTC ibuprofen (they are a mild anti inflammatory) daily but found after 4  days I started getting an upset stomach which I believe was caused by the ibuprofen.

 

Overuse of acetaminophen / paracetamol can cause severe liver damage.

 

Edited September 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[Terry]

I'm aware of the side effects of ibuprofen, and I take OTC pills (400 mg) with meals.  I alternate that with tylenol (1000 mg), which I'm careful not to overdo.  For now it's all I have for pain management.  I chose those rather than taking oxycodone, which seems like a worse option.  I wish I had other, less damaging analgesics, but I don't know of any.  My friend, who is a homeopath, has recommended arnica for pain, but it just doesn't seem to have any effect on me. 

 

 

[Frogie]

6 hours ago, Terry said:

I'm aware of the side effects of ibuprofen, and I take OTC pills (400 mg) with meals.  I alternate that with tylenol (1000 mg), which I'm careful not to overdo.  For now it's all I have for pain management.  I chose those rather than taking oxycodone, which seems like a worse option.  I wish I had other, less damaging analgesics, but I don't know of any.  My friend, who is a homeopath, has recommended arnica for pain, but it just doesn't seem to have any effect on me. 

 

 

I think the tylenol and ibuprofen is safer than oxycodone. As long as you are careful and take it with food you should be ok. I have used the arnica for pain when I twisted my ankle, but I didn't find it did too much either. I think everything sounds ok to me, based on my experience with all of this. I think you are doing wonderful not using pain meds! Hopefully you will heal fast and be up and running soon lol...

[Terry]

Thanks, Frogie.  I appreciate you sharing the benefit of your experience with me.

[Terry]

Does anyone know if gabapentin is taken for only two weeks, does it need to be tapered?  Or can I just quit?  My post-surgical pain is getting to be too bad and gaba is supposed to help with nerve pain.

[ChessieCat]

Gabapentin for 2 weeks.  It might be better to do a fast taper off instead of CT.  You might be okay to reduce by 25% off original dose (not current) every few days to a week.  You will need to listen to your body and if you start getting symptoms hold on that dose for longer.

 

tips-for-tapering-off-neurontin-gabapentin

 

NOTE:

 

On 5/26/2012 at 12:46 PM, tezza said:

Taking magnesium at the same time as gabapentin decreases the absorption of gabapentin.

Avoid taking aluminum or magnesium containing products (such as antacids) for 2 hours before your gabapentin.

 

 

[Frogie]

Hi Terry:

 

Just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing?

[Terry]

Update:  I'd been having my usual WD symptoms until a few weeks ago. Then  I started having itchy skin on my low back.  Next it spread to my entire back and abdomen.  Then my left arm, my right arm and rib cage.  I also have a kind of burning sensation over much of my body, but oddly enough, it can make me feel colder.  I know there are things suggested on this site for dealing with anxiety, insomnia, and other WD side effects.  But I'm wondering if there are any things I can do for this itching.  It's driving me nuts!  I've used a couple of anti-itch/burn type creams, but to no real avail.  I took an antihistamine tablet last night.  I don't know that it helped the itching, but it put me to sleep.

 

I had some of this about 10 months ago, but nowhere near as bad as it is now.  It went away for a while, and I thought I was done with it.  The skin doesn't look any different than usual, so I feel fairly certain it's WD related.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[ChessieCat]

I've resorted to using calamine lotion.  A good, old-fashioned, probably forgotten remedy and cheap.  If your skin is very dry it might not be good.  But I've had really bad itching on the front of my abdomen, like hives but no spots (I think it's been a reaction to eating egg tomatoes which I think might be higher in histamine than others) and have felt like ripping my skin off.  The calamine lotion worked a dream and very quickly too.

 

skin-issues-hives-acne-dryness-itching-etc

 

[Terry]

Thanks, Chessie.  I'll have to consider getting some.

[RachelSusan]

@Terry

 

Hi Terry, I decided to come over to your page to answer you. I am not sure why but somehow it seemed like a polite thing to do.  Sort of like not always making your friends drive to your house but sometimes going over to their house instead.

 

Your last post surprised me. It sounds like we both have more than our fair share of orthopedic problems. All the surgeries you mentioned I have either had or have thought about having.

 

I have had one lower back surgery, one neck surgery, surgery on both shoulders, and at one point considered a complete shoulder replacement but then opted not to have it.  Now the doctors are recommending toe surgery due to arthritis. The first year that I had the hip replacement I also had pain in that leg, in the thigh, but then I got lucky and the pain mostly went away; I still get a twinge now and then.  It is indeed sometimes very difficult to know where the pain is coming from. Orthopedic problems are difficult. I wish you the very best results with your upcoming operation. I send you all my support.

 

Happy holidays to you and your family.

Warm wishes.

RS

[Terry]

22 hours ago, RachelSusan said:

We both have more than our fair share of orthopedic problems.

You have had a LOT of orthopedic problems, some of which I have in common with you.  I have longstanding issues with my back, and (I believe) an inherited tendency for arthritis.  All of which are a pain, literally!  I've had both a hip and knee replacement, and last February I had a toe removed.

 

Did you ever address the thigh pain you mentioned with your orthopedist?  I've been wondering if I should see my surgeon to see if there's anything wrong.  I'd like to think that maybe it will resolve with time like yours did.

 

Thanks so much for sharing with me.  It's of some comfort to know I'm not alone.

 

Hope you have the best holiday this pandemic will allow.  BTW, I loved the way you celebrated Thanksgiving.  It was so very thoughtful of you.  And how wonderful to have a husband who cooks!

 

Terry

[RachelSusan]

@Terry

 

Hi Terry,

 

My surgeon felt the pain in my thigh was from where the I was healing, however there was a brief moment when the thought was that it was coming from some place else.  Since it went away I assume the doctor was right and it was a healing pain.  With these things it is often very difficult to know where the pain is originating from.

 

Thank you for your thoughts on my Thanksgiving celebration.  It was very rewarding for both my husband and I.

 

Happy holidays to you as well. I really like the way your phrased it. It was just so perfect.  So I wish the same for you. "hope you have the best holiday this pandemic will allow."

On 12/22/2020 at 7:44 AM, Terry said:

Hope you have the best holiday this pandemic will allow. 

 

[Frogie]

@Terry

 

Happy New Year!

 

I hope your appointment went well and you are feeling better.

[Terry]

@FrogieI did see my surgeon a week ago, and he thought I had bursitis in my hip.  He gave me a cortisone shot, but it hasn't made any real difference thus far.  He also said the pain could be from my spine, and I'm having a low back MRI later today. 

 

Taper-wise, I just keep chugging along, keeping my eyes on jumping off later this year.  I have to keep reminding myself that I can't hurry the process if I want it to go well. 

 

 

[ChessieCat]

On 12/23/2020 at 2:44 AM, Terry said:

last February I had a toe removed.

 

This may be causing you to walk differently to how you had been which means that you would be using different muscles in different parts of the body which you hadn't been using.  If we are not using a particular muscle then others compensate, and it can be a chain reaction.

 

I hurt my lower back in June 2020, seeing a physiotherapist/physical therapist, doing hydrotherapy and pilates core strengthening exercises and stretches.  Because of my injury I was favouring certain parts of my body and have had to get my muscles working the right way.  I found it very helpful watching Youtube videos about the different muscle groups.  As an example I started getting pain in the muscle below the back part of my knee and I'm fairly certain from my research that it was being caused by weak hamstrings.  So I started doing exercises to strengthen my hamstrings and the pain has gone.  Another example is that hip pain at night (which I had and it has mostly abated) can be caused by tight leg muscles (possibly quadriceps).

 

Sam Webster is a teacher and has made videos for his students.  I found them very helpful.  This is a playlist that another Youtuber has created just on muscles from his videos:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITcd7YelCjI&list=PL_zlmuV_JOpUmOI3XV7KNX60vVk3nfRtd

 

[ChessieCat]

Pain in the thigh can be from a nerve in the lower back being touched.  This video demonstrates how/where this can show up in the affected leg.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfh-MFCpWHw&t=652s

[Frogie]

@Terry

 

I’m sorry to hear you are still in pain. I hope the MRI doesn’t show anything major. 

 

You’re doing so well with your taper. Almost there!

 

Please keep me updated with the MRI report.

 

Wishing you tons of healing!