Snowyowl16

[Snowyowl16]

Feeling good for 2 days after 10 days of crippling nausea. I am due to taper next week. I never want to re live those 10 days. I may reduce by 1 mg and see where I am at. Starting a new job and feeling sick is not an option.

[Frogie]

29 minutes ago, Snowyowl16 said:

Feeling good for 2 days after 10 days of crippling nausea. I am due to taper next week. I never want to re live those 10 days. I may reduce by 1 mg and see where I am at. Starting a new job and feeling sick is not an option.

Are you still taking Zofran?

 

Good luck with getting over the nausea, but only taper 10%. I learned my lesson with that. I've had nausea for 2 days and haven't tapered or anything.

 

Have fun with your new job. A new adventure.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Snowyowl16]

Hi Frogie, yes, I am at 18 mg so 1 mg is less than 10% I am being really cautious. I reinstated at 18 mg after being on 15 mg X 2 weeks and I think it over sensitized me. The moderators told me to reinstate at 16 mg but I thought I was being extra careful restarting at 18 mg. Turns out I was wrong. Next time I will listen. I try not to take the zofran. I took it 1 day last week to get through a work shift. I have been taking Zantac twice a day and it is helping.

It is funny though I quit venlafaxine 37.5 mg cold turkey about 15 months ago and started citalopram. I had nausea non stop for 2 monrhs! 

Thanks for the support! 

[Frogie]

3 hours ago, Snowyowl16 said:

Hi Frogie, yes, I am at 18 mg so 1 mg is less than 10% I am being really cautious. I reinstated at 18 mg after being on 15 mg X 2 weeks and I think it over sensitized me. The moderators told me to reinstate at 16 mg but I thought I was being extra careful restarting at 18 mg. Turns out I was wrong. Next time I will listen. I try not to take the zofran. I took it 1 day last week to get through a work shift. I have been taking Zantac twice a day and it is helping.

It is funny though I quit venlafaxine 37.5 mg cold turkey about 15 months ago and started citalopram. I had nausea non stop for 2 monrhs! 

Thanks for the support! 

My Lexapro makes me nauseous sometimes and I'm at 2mg. It's crazy how this stuff is on your system.

 

I don't know if you have to taper Zantac like you do Prilosec. You might want to ask a mod. It he er helped me. I was on both Zantac and Prilosec. I tapered off Prilosec and still get GERD once in a while. 

 

I take Zofran and it works great. My dr said you can't get addicted to it.

 

Hope you are doing well.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Snowyowl16]

Hi Frogie, I was on nexium for a long time. I have always had stomach problems. I had to taper off. I now take Zantac as needed but with the recent nausea I am taking it twice per day. I try not to take zofran because it gives me severe constipation for days.

Hope you are feeling well today.

 

[Frogie]

On March 28, 2018 at 8:42 AM, Snowyowl16 said:

Hi Frogie, I was on nexium for a long time. I have always had stomach problems. I had to taper off. I now take Zantac as needed but with the recent nausea I am taking it twice per day. I try not to take zofran because it gives me severe constipation for days.

Hope you are feeling well today.

 

Hi:

 

Just wondered how the nausea is?

 

Hope better.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Snowyowl16]

Hi Frogie,  Thanks for touching base! I w as free of nausea last week but have decreased my dose by 1 mg on monday. Had some nausea nd anxiety this am but took gaba, nauzene (thanks for the recommendation ) and Zantac and it resolved. I am taking it day by day. I will have to treat my symptoms, but hopefully I am tapering slow enough I won't have any. (Trying to be optimistic).

 

How are you feeling?

 

Snowy

[Frogie]

3 hours ago, Snowyowl16 said:

Hi Frogie,  Thanks for touching base! I w as free of nausea last week but have decreased my dose by 1 mg on monday. Had some nausea nd anxiety this am but took gaba, nauzene (thanks for the recommendation ) and Zantac and it resolved. I am taking it day by day. I will have to treat my symptoms, but hopefully I am tapering slow enough I won't have any. (Trying to be optimistic).

 

How are you feeling?

 

Snowy

I'm glad the Nauzene is working for you. I haven't had any nausea, but I have been just angry at the world. I'm nit that kind of person. I'm nice to everyone. I don't know what's going on.

 

Frogie xx

[Snowyowl16]

I have been there Frogie. Be patient with yourself. Don't let others get you down. Only you know what you need. Have you ever tried "tapping" also called Eft or emotional freedom technique. It has helped me in the past. 

Relax and do something nice for yourself.

Hugs..Snowy

[DMV64]

Hi Snowyowl

I just wanted to pop in and offer my support for you in your recovery. I was reading your intro and I really know how hard it is to wait. I have found through several mistakes that it is the best way. On the days when I think I can't take another day I try to remember that things always change and I don't always feel this way.

Hoping you have a good day!

-D

[Snowyowl16]

Hi DMV64, thanks for the support. I learned my lessen when I had to reinstate. I started back too high and think that caused some of my symptoms. I don't want to have to reinstate again. Therefore, I am going really slow. Hoping to get to the point of "taper in the background" which is a great term I read somewhere on this site. The wealth of knowledge and support is incredible.  

Be well..Snowy

[Altostrata]

On 3/21/2018 at 9:16 AM, Snowyowl16 said:

I feel like I am making my symptoms worse. If I don't think about my nausea, anxiety, heart beating like a drum it goes away or at least fades in to the background if I stay busy. The minute I stop and think; I actually feel ok and do a check of symptoms they come rushing back. How do I stop this cycle? I have listened to a few videos from Dr Claire Weekes which were excellent and have bought one of her books. Anyone else have this problem?

 

Hello, Snowyowl. Did these symptoms start after you began reducing citalopram?

 

What is your daily symptom pattern? Please keep notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. This helps us determine what's causing what.

[ChessieCat]

The following explains the best way to keep notes:

 

Keep notes on paper about your drug dosages and daily symptom pattern

 

A symptom pattern that occurs regularly over several days could mean the symptoms are from withdrawal, other adverse effects of drugs, or something else you do on a daily schedule.

 

In the course of discussion in your Introductions forum topic, you may be asked to keep notes on paper of your daily symptom pattern, including when you take your drugs, their dosages, and any symptoms.

 

What we need to see for every individual day over several days is:

- Time and dosage for drugs taken in morning
- Time and description of any symptoms in the morning
 
- Time and dosage for drugs taken in afternoon
- Time and description of any symptoms in the afternoon
 
- Time and dosage for drugs taken in evening
- Time and description of any symptoms in the evening
 
- Time and dosage for drugs taken in middle of the night
- Time and description of any symptoms in the middle of the night (such as waking)
 
And so forth. A diary, in chronological order, such as:
 
6 a.m. Woke and vomited
8 a.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
10 a.m. Had diarrhea
10:30 a.m. Ate breakfast
11:35 a.m. Got a headache, lasted one hour
12:35 p.m. Ate lunch
4 p.m. Stomachache
5 p.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
6 p.m. Ate dinner
9:20 p.m. Headache
10:00 p.m. Took 50mg Seroquel
10:20 p.m. Headache got worse
10:30 p.m. Fell asleep
2:30 a.m. Woke, took 3mg Ambien (NOT "took 1/2 tablet Ambien")
2:45 a.m. Fell asleep
4:30 a.m. Woke with headache

 

An appointments diary is perfect for this and can be bought at stationery stores. 

They have a page for each day with times for appointments which can be filled in with doses, symptoms etc as shown by Alto.

[Snowyowl16]

Hi Altostrata, the symptoms started after reinstating. I think the dose was too high. I am feeling better as I am down to 17 mg now. I will go to 16.2 mg in another week. I feel better reducing by 5% every 2 weeks.

[Snowyowl16]

So I started training/orientation for my new job the other day. I felt fine in the am. Took gaba just in case I started feeling panicky. Felt ok until mid morning as I kept checking in with myself re. How do I feel. Well, long story short I induced a full blown panic attack by lunch time. When I start to feel anxious I frantically try to do anything to make it stop. Tapping, acupressure points, deep breathing, mindfulness etc. But it continues. I somehow made it through the day but by the end had a pounding headache. I was so discouraged.

Day 2 started out anxious. Took gaba but was tired as had woken up at 3 and couldn't get back to sleep for hours. On the drive in I felt anxiety creeping up and was so discouraged I said to myself "I surrender". No more frantically making it stop etc. Just let it come. Well..it came and then went. Now I understand what Dr Weekes means by floating. Now if only I am able to do this when I need to get on an airplane in a few days. 

[Snowyowl16]

Finally feeling stable/well on 15 mg celexa after about 5 weeks holding. I am tempted to just stay here. The smallest drop upsets my whole system-nausea, can't eat, headache, jaw clenching to the point my jaw clicks when I eat. Morning cortisol spike, heart pounding etc..dreading the next drop.

I am worried about having a procedure next week and meds they give me may destabilize my system. 

[Carmie]

8 hours ago, Snowyowl16 said:

Finally feeling stable/well on 15 mg celexa after about 5 weeks holding. I am tempted to just stay here. The smallest drop upsets my whole system-nausea, can't eat, headache, jaw clenching to the point my jaw clicks when I eat. Morning cortisol spike, heart pounding etc..dreading the next drop.

I am worried about having a procedure next week and meds they give me may destabilize my system. 

 

Hi Snowyowl, 

 

Glad to hear you’re feeling stable at the moment. I’ve actually been having a hold for months now and won’t be tapering again until the end of August. I’ve been trying to make lots of happy memories before I taper again. 

 

Yes, it certainly can be tempting to stay where you are but I want to get these meds out of my system and get my brain back into equilibrium. It’s going to take a very long time. It’s a day at a time but we will eventually get there one of these days. 

 

Hope all goes well with your procedure💚

 

 

[Snowyowl16]

Thanks Carmie. I have come to the conclusion I may be on this drug at a hopefully low dose until I retire. 

 

 

[Carmie]

10 hours ago, Snowyowl16 said:

Thanks Carmie. I have come to the conclusion I may be on this drug at a hopefully low dose until I retire. 

 

 

 

 

Have you thought of microtapering snowyowl?

 

You could go extremely, extremely slow with really long holds. Even the teeniest reduction might still give you the sense of moving forward with your tapering. 

 

Like i said I’ve been having a bit of a break too but will start again at the end of August. I’m going to try and do microtapering, I’ve never done it before. I’ve only ever done the cut and hold, and I’ve been doing water titration for ages now. 

 

The lowest dose of Seroquel I can get is a 25mg tablet. I put that in 20ml of water n at the moment I’m down to 7.5mg of the Seroquel.

 

To do the microtapering I’m going to get 7.5mg compounded capsules and put that in a high dose of water, the calculations are on my thread. It took me forever to figure out the math. 

 

Take care💚

[Snowyowl16]

I had been in a pretty bad wave now for about 2 weeks. Was starting to feel better so went down on my dose from 13 mg to 12.6 mg 3 days ago. Now anxiety is increased, heart pounding irritable bowel churned up. Should I go back to 13 mg or is that too much of an increase? I have to work tonight. Ugh..This is horrible. Any suggestions about reinstating?

[jozeff]

Hi snowyowl,

 

Just bumped into your story! I have very similar problems. How are you doing? I'm really curious if you are feeling stable now and if your tapering is goin well.

 

Good luck and hope to hear from you.

 

Cheers

 

Jozeff

 

[Snowyowl16]

Hello Jozeff,

 

Thanks for stopping by. I haven't been here much lately. It does seem like our stories are very similar. I have been on celexa for over 15 years. I have gone down in dose over the years always in an attempt to go off but have always had to go back on to relieve the withdrawal symptoms. Of course I didn't know that is what the symptoms were at that time.

I like you also tried venlafaxine. I went off a small dose of 37.5 mg cold turkey and immediately back on celexa as the venlafaxine made me feel like I was in a constant fog. This is when the  panic attacks really started for me.

I also up dosed at the beginning as I tapered too fast. My up dose left me almost bedridden with nausea for 10 days though. My nervous system is super sensitive. I can no longer have coffee in the am as it is too bitter. I can no longer wear perfume, I wear sun glasses when it's cloudy.

I am currently stuck at 13 mg of citalapram and have been since September. The nausea and anxiety are my worst symptoms. I have no appetite at all some days.

I was initially anxious about getting my dose down and off of this medication. I have come to realize it is more about how I feel and not the dose I am on. I am working part time, don't think I could work full time at this point but am trying really hard to continue on with life in a reasonably comfortable way. If it takes me 10 years to taper off so be it! 

You should be proud you are sober this was a huge accomplishment! Don't beat yourself up about the rest of it. Take it day by day and who cares what dose you are on. Like age it is just a number. Listen to your body and keep it slow and steady.

 

Happy healing

 

Snowy

[Snowyowl16]

Well I am taking the plunge to resume my taper after essentially a 4 month hold. My main symptom is nausea and from everything I read nausea is caused by too much serotonin. Fingers crossed. I only came down 0.2 mg. Any input on nausea and why it happens in withdrawal. I have read that the receptors up regulate but I can't find the link.

[Gridley]

Nausea is a very common withdrawal symptom, and many members have reported having it.

PDF Monthly List of Dr Glenmullen's Symptoms to Print 

 

 

[ChessieCat]

On 3/19/2018 at 8:18 AM, ChessieCat said:

I've merged the new Intro topic you created with your original Intro topic.  Each member has only 1 Intro topic where they can ask questions about their own situation and journal their progress.  It keeps your history in one place.

 

Please do not create any more Intro topics.  Thank you.

 

I've merged another new intro topic you have created with your original Introduction topic.  This has been done on several times.

 

SA works differently to many other forums.  As explained previously in the above quote from March last year, each member has 1 Introduction topic.  This keeps their history in one place, making it easier for the mods and members to find your information.  It also creates a case study.  See:

 

On 5/15/2011 at 5:22 AM, Altostrata said:

With our documentation of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome, we hope to educate the medical establishment about this problem. Case studies are essential; they are evidence understood by doctors, the psychiatric industry, and government regulatory agencies.

 

Please do not create any more Introduction topics in the future.  It wastes valuable moderator time which can be better used assisting members.  Thank you.

 

 

21 minutes ago, Snowyowl16 said:

My main symptom is nausea and from everything I read nausea is caused by too much serotonin.

 

When we take a psychiatric drug, we are adding chemical/s to the brain.  The brain then has to change to adapt to getting the chemical/s.  It might have to change something to do with A and then once that change has been made it affects B so another change has to be made and so on down the line.  It is a chain reaction, a domino effect.

 

The same thing happens when we take the drug away.  That's why we can experience such a vast array of withdrawal symptoms, and they can change, and be of different intensity.

[Snowyowl16]

Well I am taking the plunge to resume my taper after essentially a 4 month hold. My main symptom is nausea and from everything I read nausea is caused by too much serotonin. Fingers crossed. I only came down 0.2 mg. Any input on nausea and why it happens in withdrawal. I have read that the receptors up regulate but I can't find the link.

[Snowyowl16]

I am sorry I don't know how to find and add to the original topic

[Altostrata]

Hello, Snowyowl. This is your original Intro topic.

 

I wouldn't try to puzzle out symptoms by connecting them to neurotransmitters, all of your body systems are involved. It's very complex, and nobody knows exactly what causes any of the symptoms.

[Carmie]

Hi snowyowl, 

 

Wishing you all the best with your continued tapering. Just remember to go really slow and to have long holds. Sending hugs🤗

 

 

[Snowyowl16]

Has anyone ever been woken up from sleep by panic? I get waves of anxiety and almost full body numbness, uncontrollable shivering and an urge to use the bathroom. Ugh..got back to sleep but it continues this morning.

[ChessieCat]

It's a cortisol surge.

 

waking-with-panic-or-anxiety-managing-cortisol-spikes

 

[Snowyowl16]

Thanks Chessie, I have had them before but this was so severe and at 230 am! Dark room etc. It continued on through the morning. Triggered by my constant anxiety and worry I am sure.

[ChessieCat]

I know I've posted some of these links before but I've added some more.  The diagram about how anxiety affects the body can be helpful in understanding what is happening.

 

During any taper, there will be times of discomfort.  We strongly encourage members to learn and use non drug coping techniques to help get through tough times.

 

Understanding what is happening helps us to not get caught up with the second fear, or fear of the fear.  This happens when we experience sensations in our body and because we don't understand them we are scared of them and then start to panic.

 

This document has a diagram of the body explaining what happens in the body when we become anxious:

 

https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/AnxietySelfHelp.pdf

 

Anxiety Stuff - all kinds of stuff about anxiety attacks and things that help ...

 

Audio FEMALE VOICE:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)

 

Audio MALE VOICE:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)

 

Non-drug techniques to cope

 

dealing-with-emotional-spirals

 

Dr Claire Weekes suffered from anxiety and learned and taught ways of coping.  There are videos available on YouTube.

 

Claire Weekes' Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System

 

Audio:  How to Recover from Anxiety - Dr Claire Weekes

 

CBT Course:  An Introductory Self-Help Course in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

 

Resources:  Centre for Clinical Interventions (PDF modules that you can work through, eg:  Depression, Distress Intolerance, Health Anxiety, Low Self-Esteem, Panic Attacks, Perfectionism, Procrastination, Social Anxiety, Worrying)

 

On 4/28/2017 at 4:03 AM, brassmonkey said:

 

AAF: Acknowledge, Accept, Float.  It's what you have to do when nothing else works, and can be a very powerful tool in coping with anxiety.  The neuroemotional anxiety many of us feel during WD is directly caused by the drugs and their chemical reactions in the brain.  Making it so there is nothing we can do about them.  They won't respond to other drugs, relaxation techniques and the like.  They do, however, react very well to being ignored.  That's the concept behind AAF.  Acknowledge, get to know the feeling involved, explore them.  Accept, These feelings are a part of you and they aren't going anywhere fast. Float, let the feeling float off as you get on with your life as best as you can.  It's a well documented fact that the more you feed in to anxiety the worse it gets.  What starts as generalized neuroemotinal anxiety can be easily blown into a full fledged panic attack just by thinking about it.

 

I often liken it to an unwanted house guest.  At first you talk to them, have conversations, communicate with them.  After a while you figure out that they aren't leaving and there is nothing you can do to get rid of them.  So you go on about your day, working around them until they get bored and leave.

 

It can take some practice, but AAF really does work.  I hope you give it a try.

 

 

[Carmie]

Hi snowyowl, 

 

How are you doing?💚

[Snowyowl16]

Hi Carrie, Thanks for stopping in. I am down to 11mg and feeling good until yesterday. Anxiety off the charts, headache, nausea, chills etc. My Dr wants me on a PPI (Omeprazole, pantoprazole) for the nausea and I did take 1 Monday. Not sure if that triggered it as there is a drug interaction especially with the omeprazole. I am seeing GI next week. I am hoping this will pass I really like my job and it is incredibly difficult to work some days.

 

Anyway, how are you?

[Carmie]

Hi Snowyowl, 

 

I’m sorry you started feeling bad again yesterday, but how wonderful that you’ve been feeling good until then. It shows how much your brain is trying to heal itself and trying to reach homeostasis. The nausea meds may have triggered your symptoms, especially as you said, that there is drug interaction. 

 

Have you tried any natural remedies for nausea? If you did, did they help at all, even a little? Please let us know how you go with the GI.

 

I’m glad you like your job, it must be hard working though if you’re nauseas all the time. I hope it eases soon. 

 

I’m not doing too badly, thanks for asking. I’m getting some waves, but they’re bearable. I’m stuck in bed a lot lately due to my chronic illness, but I am in good spirits. I have lots of wonderful distractions to keep me occupied. 

 

Take care, sending hugs🤗