deejay: 34 years old recovery in process

[deejay]

15 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

deejay, see your drug interactions report below. I would subtract another 25mg from your Zoloft dose as soon as possible and stop taking mirtazapine.

 

You may get withdrawal symptoms from this, but your adverse reactions justify it.

 

When did you take Zoloft on Monday 11th June 2018? How much did you take? It's extremely important you list all drugs and dosages.

 

How does the doctor know it's ear drum damage?

 

Did you stop alpazolam cold turkey?

 

How often do you take lorazepam? That's not in your daily notes for Monday 11th June 2018.

 

IMPORTANT: Here is the report for 4 of your drugs from the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1488-0,1640-0,1979-2549,2057-1348

 

 

15 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

 

Interactions between your drugs

Major

sertraline mirtazapine

Applies to: Zoloft (sertraline), mirtazapine

Using sertraline together with mirtazapine can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases may result in coma and even death. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms while taking the medications. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate

lorazepam sertraline

Applies to: lorazepam, Zoloft (sertraline)

Using LORazepam together with sertraline may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate

lorazepam mirtazapine

Applies to: lorazepam, mirtazapine

Using LORazepam together with mirtazapine may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate

lorazepam quetiapine

Applies to: lorazepam, Seroquel XR (quetiapine)

Before using LORazepam, tell your doctor if you also use QUEtiapine. This combination may cause excessive sedation, confusion, dizziness, or lack of coordination. If you take both medications together, tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. You may need a dose adjustment if you take both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate

sertraline quetiapine

Applies to: Zoloft (sertraline), Seroquel XR (quetiapine)

Using QUEtiapine together with sertraline can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances (for example, magnesium or potassium loss due to severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting). Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with these medications, whether together or alone. Avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate

mirtazapine quetiapine

Applies to: mirtazapine, Seroquel XR (quetiapine)

Using QUEtiapine together with mirtazapine can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances (for example, magnesium or potassium loss due to severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting). Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with these medications, whether together or alone. Avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

 

 

Mon 11th June Zoloft 125mg taken 7;30am

 

I went to the hospital, they said possibly ear drum damage because they couldn't find anything else. My hearing sense because extremely sensitive after the 3rd March as stated in above posts. When people talk upclose it's extremely painful. Constant inner popping ever since, quivering inside ears. I think Monday just set if it completely.

 

I have not taken any Mirtazipine for the last 3 nights.

 

Yes I had no choice to stop Alprazolam cold turley because they refused to give me more.

 

Week before last I was taking 1mg/day at no distinct time, just when I felt I couldn't cope.

 

I decreased it to 0.50mg once daily for 2 days, then 0.25mg twice a day for 2 days, then 0.025mg for the next 2 days. This morning however I took 1mg because of the way I was feeling.

[Altostrata]

Not clear about your Zoloft intake. Weren't you taking 200mg, just reduced to 175mg?

 

Have your symptoms changed since you stopped mirtazapine?

 

Not sure if that's a definitive diagnosis of ear drum damage.

[deejay]

29 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Not clear about your Zoloft intake. Weren't you taking 200mg, just reduced to 175mg?

 

Have your symptoms changed since you stopped mirtazapine?

 

Not sure if that's a definitive diagnosis of ear drum damage.

 

Yes had been on 200mg Zoloft and 175mg today and yesterday as per your request with no difference in mood or symptoms

 

No, symptoms have not stopped since stopping Mirt, they are worse every day

[deejay]

I did not take it for 3 days roughly 2 weeks ago and I did notice the extreme dizziness/lightheadness was far less intense, convulsion/twitches less severe and no different physical symptoms/WD's were present during this time. I was considering dropping another 50mg off the nightly dose, sp 150mg before bed. I have been taking 250mg Seroquel XR for roughly 10 weeks nightly 9-10pm, except for the previous 3 nights in which I only took 200mg/night 9-10pm

[deejay]

I also forgot to mention that I requested to be changed to Prozac - fluoxetine (Luvan here in Oz), roughly 1 month ago. Got the prescription but I didn't end up taking any and remained on Zoloft. I just cannot understand why it no longer works. sensitization maybe, I do not know

[Altostrata]

3 hours ago, deejay said:

Monday 11th June 2018

7:00am 175mg Zoloft
8am - 4pm ED most of day for ears (3pm x2panadol osteo) left ear shot, possibly ear drum damage with extreme high pitched ringing constantly, right ear on it's way out
4pm - 10pm burning arms, nerve (buzzing through whole whole body), shock snesations/legs, stabbing pains l/chest, jaw, neck & head
10pm - 200mg seroquel xr
11pm - Continued all above symptoms plus muscle/limb convulsions, brain fog, blurred vision, pressure/speech, hypnogogic's, visual disturbances, fell asleep

 

Tuesday 12th June 2018
6:00 awoke, severe chest burning, both arms numb, hands/legs buzzing (cannot remember anything from 11pm night before) shooting pain abdomen, extreme dizzy-ness
6:45am sound disturbance, loss of co-ordination walking
7:00am 1mg lorazepam & 175mg Zoloft taken 2 minutes apart
7:15 breakfast 2 banannas
8:20am pressure behind eyes, straining to see, shooting pain LS head
8:30am back to reality, muscle spasms right leg
9:00am stabbing pain abdomen

 

Will rectify list and edit this post tonight, if there is a problem with the format let me know, as stated I am unale to think clearly and cognitive function has been severely affected. I will try and do my best as requested but if you can cut me just a little slack that would be appreciated. If am listing too any symptoms let me know
 

 

^For Monday 11th June 2018, did you take Zoloft at 7:00am? Did you take lorazepam?

 

How is it you have noted symptoms for Tuesday? It's still Monday in North America. Are these days correct?

 

deejay, do you see the 6 major interactions between 4 of your drugs in https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/18088-deejay-34-years-old-my-life-is-ruined/?do=findComment&comment=358826 

 

Now mirtazapine is gone, but it has a half-life of 30 hours or more, so some will be in your body for around 7 days.

 

 

1 hour ago, deejay said:

No, symptoms have not stopped since stopping Mirt, they are worse every day

 

Have your symptoms gotten increasingly worse since you stopped mirtazapine?

 

Do you often get muscle/limb convulsions after taking 200mg Seroquel XR?

 

Cold turkey is a high-risk way to go off a drug, and you are experiencing why it is a bad idea. Zoloft isn't "working" because your nervous system has been destabilized by going on and off drugs.

 

Temazepam, diazepam, oxazepam, alprazolam, and lorazepam are all benzodiazepines. They all act similarly, but with different strengths and half-lives. They are technically and actually addictive.

 

We need detailed information about the benzos. How long have you been taking any benzo at least once a day? Why did your doctor switch you from one to another? What happened when you took diazepam (Valium)?

[Alich]

Hai deedjy, if there is some one stupid than its me. Whe didnt know this pills can harm you so badly.I did 3 times c/t at zoloft 200 gr end managd to reinstall at 200gr its a good thing you didnt try to reinstall another ad. I think you will be fine. 

[LaurnaT]

Hi, Deejay,

From my point of expertise, schizophrenia is a treatable EAR condition. Drugs harm the tiny muscles in the middle ear. My son was schizophrenic for 10 years (ages 16 to 26) before we discovered that music focused on his right ear could cure him. Two years later (2008),  his substance abuse made him schizophrenic again. Focused Listening cured him again. That's the year I studied neurology to find out how music focused on his right ear could cure him. Eight years later, he had another substance-related episode (2016) and this time without even a tiny bit of meds, Focused Listening cured him again.

 

If your ears had not recovered from all those years of Zoloft (and you evidently did not know how to strengthen them), even a tiny bit of medication could push you into psychosis. You can learn how to heal yourself.

 

People at this site know a lot about medications and tapering and the least amount that will control your symptoms.

 

You are doing well to be able to write here. You have lost some of your left-brain dominance -- what Chessie Cat was telling you about the temporal lobe and language, etc. is solid neurology.  When the right ear cannot send enough sound to the left-brain, it cannot sustain its normal dominance. Every two minutes, your right-brain kicks in for two minutes of uncontrolled nightmarish symptoms, including hallucinations, loss of eye focus, intense emotions, etc. Then, your left-brain gets its two minutes to try to be rational, but on a short supply of sound energy.  You likely are cycling all day long until you get more upset. Then, when you calm down, the four-minute cycle reappears. Two minutes of psychotic right-brain, two minutes of rational left-brain.

 

As your ear muscles usually allow you to sleep, they are having trouble relaxing to do that. Whatever will help your body muscles to relax -- massage, a warm shower -- will send feedback to your ears to help them relax.

 

The other body systems your ear regulates have lost their timing mechanism.

 

I don't know what kind of CDs your mom got for you, but try listening to one of them for just five minutes and ONLY with your right ear, which means using headphones with the left one blocked. Keep the volume low. If you can do that two or three times a day, it will get a little more sound energy into your left-brain. She can get you some Bach and Mozart violin concertos for a few weeks from now.

 

Don't try to listen to the music for longer than five minutes. And you don't have to listen in the sense of paying attention. Just expose yourself to it the way you would breathe air or stand in a shower. This will strengthen your damaged ear and will get some extra energy into your sound-starved left-brain. After you start to feel better -- and you will start to feel better -- you can listen for a little longer each day or week.

 

Your life has not been ruined! You will get your health back. You have a flock of angels at this site.

 

Prayers from Canada marked "High Priority" to Australia,

Laurna

 

[deejay]

1 hour ago, LaurnaT said:

Hi, Deejay,

From my point of expertise, schizophrenia is a treatable EAR condition. Drugs harm the tiny muscles in the middle ear. My son was schizophrenic for 10 years (ages 16 to 26) before we discovered that music focused on his right ear could cure him. Two years later (2008),  his substance abuse made him schizophrenic again. Focused Listening cured him again. That's the year I studied neurology to find out how music focused on his right ear could cure him. Eight years later, he had another substance-related episode (2016) and this time without even a tiny bit of meds, Focused Listening cured him again.

 

If your ears had not recovered from all those years of Zoloft (and you evidently did not know how to strengthen them), even a tiny bit of medication could push you into psychosis. You can learn how to heal yourself.

 

People at this site know a lot about medications and tapering and the least amount that will control your symptoms.

 

You are doing well to be able to write here. You have lost some of your left-brain dominance -- what Chessie Cat was telling you about the temporal lobe and language, etc. is solid neurology.  When the right ear cannot send enough sound to the left-brain, it cannot sustain its normal dominance. Every two minutes, your right-brain kicks in for two minutes of uncontrolled nightmarish symptoms, including hallucinations, loss of eye focus, intense emotions, etc. Then, your left-brain gets its two minutes to try to be rational, but on a short supply of sound energy.  You likely are cycling all day long until you get more upset. Then, when you calm down, the four-minute cycle reappears. Two minutes of psychotic right-brain, two minutes of rational left-brain.

 

As your ear muscles usually allow you to sleep, they are having trouble relaxing to do that. Whatever will help your body muscles to relax -- massage, a warm shower -- will send feedback to your ears to help them relax.

 

The other body systems your ear regulates have lost their timing mechanism.

 

I don't know what kind of CDs your mom got for you, but try listening to one of them for just five minutes and ONLY with your right ear, which means using headphones with the left one blocked. Keep the volume low. If you can do that two or three times a day, it will get a little more sound energy into your left-brain. She can get you some Bach and Mozart violin concertos for a few weeks from now.

 

Don't try to listen to the music for longer than five minutes. And you don't have to listen in the sense of paying attention. Just expose yourself to it the way you would breathe air or stand in a shower. This will strengthen your damaged ear and will get some extra energy into your sound-starved left-brain. After you start to feel better -- and you will start to feel better -- you can listen for a little longer each day or week.

 

Your life has not been ruined! You will get your health back. You have a flock of angels at this site.

 

Prayers from Canada marked "High Priority" to Australia,

Laurna

 

 

My hearing has been fine my whole entire life apart from mild tinnitus. Only after the 3rd march did they become super extra sensitive. They went about the sae time as my eyesight changed, basic short term memory and concentration.

 

Thanks for your advice it is greatly appreciated.

[deejay]

2 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

^For Monday 11th June 2018, did you take Zoloft at 7:00am? Did you take lorazepam?

yes I took 175mg Zoloft as per your request and 0.25mg lorazepam

 

How is it you have noted symptoms for Tuesday? It's still Monday in North America. Are these days correct?

I put up a brief symptom list this morning for today (Tuesday) and was going to add the rest tonight

 

deejay, do you see the 6 major interactions between 4 of your drugs in https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/18088-deejay-34-years-old-my-life-is-ruined/?do=findComment&comment=358826 

yes I do

Now mirtazapine is gone, but it has a half-life of 30 hours or more, so some will be in your body for around 7 days.

yes ok

Quote

 

 

 

Have your symptoms gotten increasingly worse since you stopped mirtazapine?

they are about the same

 

Do you often get muscle/limb convulsions after taking 200mg Seroquel XR?

muscle/limb/hand/finger convulsions/twitches started about the 5th March but very minor, they got a little worse as time went on but they got more worse while taking Seroquel. I have never had these problems before in my entire life, whilst on Zoloft for the 12 years or my life efore.

 

Cold turkey is a high-risk way to go off a drug, and you are experiencing why it is a bad idea. Zoloft isn't "working" because your nervous system has been destabilized by going on and off drugs.

perhaps I could go down to 150g tonight? I have taken 200mg the last 3-4 nights

 

Temazepam, diazepam, oxazepam, alprazolam, and lorazepam are all benzodiazepines. They all act similarly, but with different strengths and half-lives. They are technically and actually addictive.

I realize that now, I have never been on a benzo in my life before the 3rd March 2018

 

We need detailed information about the benzos. How long have you been taking any benzo at least once a day? Why did your doctor switch you from one to another? What happened when you took diazepam Valium (diazepam) I took roughly x35 15mg  between 4th March - 5th April almost every day at different times, sometimes 1 a day sometime 2-3 nothing really happened apart from a bad headache a few hours after each one.

Oxazipam I took x60 15mg tablets nearly every day, the same, sometime 1-2-3 pills between 6th April - 20thMay

20th May - Present x35 1mg Lorazopam - Nearly every day again some times 1 tablet sometimes 2. 

4th March - 6th June x55 Apo-Propanolol 40mg tablets. Again Random days and times, sometime 1 a day, sometimes 2 sometimes 3

4th March - 16th March x28 Tamezepam 15mg tablets mostly every night

Quote

2 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

2 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

 

 

[deejay]

LaurnaT: during the last 3 months ears became more and more sensitive to the point where I had to put my hands over them from pain from people just talking normally. They both were popping constantly, vibrating sounds, etc.. Last sunday we went for a drive, daughter walked back to car on left side and spoke to me at a normal tone, my left ear suddenly felt like it burst with severe pain. Pain lasted the next 1 1/2 days. It feels like it's all blocked now with water in it but there is nothing in there. The severe ringing which has developed in it suggest to me some sort of damage. As said above I have had mild Tinnitus a lot of my life, but the ringing now is bordering on painful and if it gets any worse I don't know what I will do. Whenever I lie down now I can feel my pulse in the left one, throbbing like.

 

 

[deejay]

AltoStrata, roughly 2 months after stopping CT I took my usual 200mg dose of Zoloft. The same thing happened I was so incredibly happy for a good 14 or so hours until it wore off. This was the time when I should have reinstated. And what happened to me on the 3rd March did not happen back then.

 

The 4th month when things started going down hill rapidly, looking back now, things were happening and I know no it was my brain trying to cope with the chemical change but couldn't. It was more than just depression. I remember the inner trembling at times but didn't think much of it. The quivering chest apon waking. Constant tremors when waking which was more than just feeling upset. Constant tremors throughout days. The 2 weeks prior to the 3rd I started getting these funny burning type feelings through body at times not intense. But again didn't think much of it. The last week they were there 24/7. Every now and then they would disappear and my mood would life significantly, but when they returned again mood dropped. This wasn't a case of just feeling happier because the burning was gone, it was something in my head. A couple of times when it stopped I felt completely ontop of the world, like a brand new person. The 3 days prior to the 3rd it was there all the time with extremely low mood. The hypnogogic's were also there the 2 days prior but I had no idea what they were. I was seeing images of myself when I shut my eyes etc..

 

Please don't shoot me down here but what happened to me on the 3rd, something happened in my brain which I cannot explain and I don't think any Dr./Psych will ever be able to understand. All the benzo's were taken at the start to try and get rid of the physical pain.

 

Also, on the morning of the 5th of March I woke up in horrible pain terribly upset, insides like sandpaper/chemical/acidic burning. 1 hour later something happened. My whole body felt so incredibly good, like I had had a massive morphine shot and just completely at ease. I was in complete bliss, similar to the feeling I had back in Oct last year. I thought to myself HEY I'm good again. Feeling lasted about 4 hours then crashed back down. The feeling Zoloft used to give me has come back twice in the last 3 months, once for an hour and once for 3 hours. With each time it came I felt completely ontop of the world again, telling myself ok things have settled down.....

 

This is what i'm talking about, that's how Zoloft was for me. Over the last 12 years I often took my dose at night off/on for the feeling it gave me the following morning. It would wake me up early but when I woke I felt so amazing. If I didn't take it at night I would wake up a little later and somewhat flat but 10minutes after taking morning dose I would be ontop of the world again. So much energy, so much motivation.

 

I didn't know that anti=depressants were not meant to be like this, people say they are not addictive, but this instant tremendous feeling is why I DID become addicted to them. I took this feeling for granted the last 12 years, and now that it is not here anymore...

 

I abused this brain altering drug thinking there would be no consequences....

[Altostrata]

deejay, how are you feeling today, since you dropped mirtazapine 4 days ago and decreased Zoloft to 175mg 2 days ago?

 

I've explained to you a number of times how going on and off drugs can cause nervous system instability. Your hearing is governed by your nervous system. Because of nervous system instability and hypersensitivity, drugs are affecting you differently than they did before.

 

Please try to communicate in a concise way so we don't miss any important information. You have a habit of giving too much information at once.

 

Communicate your drug and symptom notes with date and time on the left, notes on the right, in list form.

 

As I understand it, here is your recent benzo history, benzos being temazepam, diazepam, oxazepam, alprazolam, and lorazepam;

 

prior to 3 March 2018: No benzo intake

4th March - 5th April 15mg Valium (diazepam) roughly x35 tablets almost every day at different times, sometimes 1 a day sometime 2-3 nothing really happened apart from a bad headache a few hours after each one

6th April - 20th May 15mg Oxazipam x60 tablets nearly every day, 1-2-3 pills a day

20th May - Present 1mg Lorazopam x35 tablets Nearly every day again some times 1 tablet sometimes 2.

 

I feel fairly confident that, as you've been taking a benzo just about every day since March 4, you are physiologically dependent on benzos, even if you don't think you're feeling anything from them. Benzos have the diabolical ability to cause paradoxical reactions that are just like withdrawal symptoms. We need to get your benzo intake regular to figure out what's going on.

 

Please continue the benzo discussion here.

Edited June 12, 2018 by Altostrata
added link

[LaurnaT]

Hi, Deejay,

You may also have had-- or still have--a middle ear infection. You should have your ears checked by a doctor. Hyper-sensitivity to sounds usually passes when the sound stops. Pain that lasts for a day and a half is not a basic hearing problem (like the hyperacusis associated with autism) but usually indicates physical trauma, such as infection.

 

The "popping" usually is the sensation of equalizing of pressure between the air-filled cavity of the middle ear and the pharynx (the back of your nose and throat) where the air pressure is the same as that surrounding you. The equalization is an exchange of air through the Eustachian tube(s). Frequent popping, when you are not changing your altitude--driving up and down high hills or taking off or landing in an airplane, means that unusual pressure is building up in the middle ear, which could mean an infection. 

 

Drugs definitely can cause tinnitus, hypersensitivity to sound, and other ear-related symptoms. But you also have to rule out infection before just blaming the medications.

Laurna

[ChessieCat]

@Laurna, When I made my first 10% reduction of Pristiq I experienced bad ear pain and ear pressure.  I didn't realise that it was a WD symptom at first and took some OTC cold medication to try and clear it.  This didn't make any difference.  I increased my Pristiq by a small amount and after a few hours the pain and pressure lessened.  When I made my next reduction I experienced a similar thing with both pain and pressure but it wasn't very bad so I didn't updose.  After a few days it did go.  I have experienced this mild pain and pressure several times during the 2 years I have been tapering.

 

If it had not cleared the first time I would have gone to the doctor to get it checked out.

[LaurnaT]

Hi, Chessie Cat,

I recognize the connection between ear pain and drugs. Without seeing "before" and "after" audiograms, I would not know whether your experiences of ear pain also were instances of drug trauma to your ears. But there are cases when an ear infection has caused all the symptoms of psychosis. Paralysis of the stapedius muscle (Bell's palsy) causes symptoms similar to a stroke. I certainly am not qualified to make those distinctions without expert medical examination. Although I don't hesitate to confront doctors if I see a need to.

 

I encountered a young man with all the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (which also resemble "milder" SSRI and withdrawal and residual symptoms) that he was sure must be related to his recreational drug use and medications. When I saw his audiogram, I asked him to get a third medical opinion. He had been examined twice by doctors. The third one, an otolaryngologist, did a proper job. The malaise turned out to be caused by a plug of wax in the right ear that was deafening his right ear to the higher frequencies of sound. His illness was real. His brain certainly was sufficiently sound-deprived to cause various cognitive and other physical symptoms (fatigue, digestive upsets). But the reason was not the drugs and air travel and other etiologies he described that might have damaged his ears. The Focused Listening he did probably supported his deprived ear prior to treatment and gave him a tune-up following treatment, but his chief problem was the common trauma of hardened ear wax. And the otolaryngologist found a physical malformation unrelated to symptoms that probably should be corrected surgically. (oops! not the bonus he was hoping for!) 

 

Just sayin' . . .

Laurna

 

[Shep]

Deejay, Alto started a benzo thread for you. Please see this thread:

 

deejay: benzo salad

[deejay]

apologies I went away for a few days to try and clear my head. psych ditched Seroquel to Zyprexa 15mg. I am going to go to the doctor tomorrow and ask to be put onto klonopin 4mg /day, because they are much longer lasting I will take 2mg in morning and 2mg at night with the Zyprexa.

 

I know theres a major interaction between the two, the same as with lorzepan and Zyprexa but none of that has been happening and I've been taking the 2 for over a week now.

 

the reason I want to switch to klonopin is because of the debilitating anxiety/panic and constant terror. I will take it at the same time every day/night and I want to stay on it for maybe 6 months and then do a slow wean over 3 months.

 

as for Zoloft I went down to 175mg for the 4 days but syptoms didn't go away, 150mg for 4 days and the same and have been on 125mg for the last few days and again.. same. I will go to 100mg Zoloft tomorrow.

 

I will say this again though, yes many of my symptoms are the same as others but my case is different. it honestly felt like I had suffered a severe stroke back on the 3rd march which brought all of this on. Thus sending my brain into complete overload and causing great trauma. hence all the horrible pains I have had ever since, the complete visual change, and my ears going sensitive. the only reason I started the benzo's to begin with was because of the debilitating 24/7 pain. the same excruciating pain I was suffering for the first 4-5 days is slowly getting nearly as intense again now.

 

My ears are getting worse, the 24/7 ringing in left ear has gotten lowder to the point it aches all day and feels like the insides are blocked, sae with right ear but no ringing. went to the dr he said the left drum was red but pretty much said "get used to it" I felt like smacking him in his left ear but that wouldn't be very Christian like would it.

 

Eyes have also gotten predomenlenty worse. I said it's like I see the world in 3d but that's the way to describe it. things stick out more at me and are a lot sharper like when you sharpen up a photo in a paint program.

other syptoms include...

If I walk into a lit room from dark room I can barely see

if I stare at something, other things in visual field disappear then reappear

I see light trails

I see after images of things when the stimulus has passed lasted upto 3 seconds sometimes. (same with hearing, sounds and people talking echo around in my head after it happens but sometimes up to 10seconds)

I see white vertical lines when staring at walls, ground

dark patches appear randomly then dissappear

last night I was staring at the ground between my 2 feet. they both became transparent then disappeared, I had to blink a couple of times for them to come back.

in a dull lit room peoples faces go all blurry

vision "jolts" at times and when this happens a hugh electrical nerve shock goes straight through me.

stare at brick walls and sometimes my complete visual field turns brick colour as if im blind. have to blink or look away for vision to come back. again when it comes back I get the nerve zap

often see a bright white dot just when looking normally, close my eyes and it's still there

3 days ago I notices all these millions of stars buzzing around when I look at a blue sky

nighttime after walking outside from a lit room then look at hard surface I see blue vertical lines

when I close my eyes I see colours which completely cover both eyes and as of late all this flickering. the flickering annoys me, it's like all these pixulated images are there but are just in dots and lines.

I see bright white lites covering both eyes when closed.

Also when ever I close my eyes most times, I see scenes as if i'm there, these are different to the hypnogogic hallucinations I think. for eg today while luying down I closed my eyes and the kitchen wall appeared, asif my eyes were open and staring right at it. open my eyes and see the brick wall at the side of bed. 

 

eye test came back perfectly fine so that's telling me brain damage or severe nerve damage somewhere. this started about 5 days after the 3d march

 

Severe nerve pain in my left arm/hand and left foot has also gotten worse. its 24/7. it's not perifual nervous system related because no trauma has been there so that's cns damage

 

my cnS has been fried

[Altostrata]

deejay, the constant drug changes make it impossible for us to guess where the symptoms are coming from.

 

What times of day do you take your drugs, and at what dosages? Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages.

 

You will have to stop changing drugs for a while to capture a symptom pattern that can be interpreted. We can't help you until you do this.

 

You're going to have to decide whether you want to pursue a pharmaceutical solution or to minimize the drugs. We offer support in minimizing drugs. We can't advise you on mixing up a drug cocktail, that's what you're doing with your doctor.

 

[ChessieCat]

I've moved your signature issue to the technical topic:  technical-support-and-bug-reports

 

[deejay]

maltostrata I need an anti-psychotic right now to try and get all this rubbish out of my head as that is what distresses me the most. if it goes away i will wean off it but since stopping seroqual xr I have not had the extreme dizziness to the point of passing out. no new symptoms have arose from starting Zyprexa apart from slow urination and arms getting hotter when in sun

 

I understand what your saying about the dr's mixing everything up. what do you think about me going down to 100mg Zoloft and staying on for however long to see if things stabalze?

[deejay]

1 hour ago, ChessieCat said:

I've moved your signature issue to the technical topic:  technical-support-and-bug-reports

 

ty kindly

[Altostrata]

8 hours ago, Altostrata said:

What times of day do you take your drugs, and at what dosages? Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages.

 

[deejay]

9 hours ago, deejay said:

I lost my whole signature somehow, does anyone here have a copy of it?

 

[Altostrata]

You deleted it, deejay. You'll have to compose it again.

 

More importantly, I need the answer to my question.

 

Perhaps you can come back when you're ready to taper. We can't do anything for you when you're switching, mixing, and matching drugs and unable to answer questions from the staff.

[Djones1984]

Just wanted to say I made all the mistakes your making and you need to stop now. I went through the same deal you are on way to high a dose of zoloft after the reaction. I dont like meds but I doubt I would have made it through the first 6 months of this without the klonopin. You need to pick doses and stay there because what you are doing now is just upsetting your cns even more. I have had everything you are describing and more you need to stop trust me.

[Djones1984]

Quit listening to your doctor there is only a handfull of doctors in the world that know anything about this. Please stop and listen to the people here your life is not over.

[frasier23]

On 6/8/2018 at 4:13 AM, deejay said:

The Zoloft no longer works anymore and my mind/body has been left in absolute ruin. Something happened to my brain on the 3rd and it has damaged my sleep, my eye sight has been severely affected, my hearing has been affected and that's just the start. I have been on a cocktail of sleeping tablets and benzo's but nothing will help me. It has gotten to the point where I am in physical pain 24 hours a day. Burning, stabbing pains, numbness, pins and needles, constant sweats, chills, nerve pain.

 

The anxiety is debilitating, I cannot sit still, I am in a state of panic all the time and absolutely terrified to sleep because of all the horrific nightmares and the nocturnal panic attacks. That's just the physical side, mentally I am hallucinating all the time and am now on 250mg Seroquel/day. My mind has been turned to absolute mush. I don't take drugs or drink but my face looks like it has gained an extra 20 years in the last 3 months with the severe black bags under my eyes. I cannot do anything anymore,

 

I relied on the Zoloft for so long, and now that it no longer works i just cannot function. Suicidal thoughts are with me every day. How could I have done this to my self, I wish I could take back the last 7 months and not have gone off them cold turkey. My life has been ruined for ever. I have been talking to the Psych and he cannot understand what has happened to me, he said going off the Zoloft wouldn't have caused all this but I know it has. My whole life flashed before my eyes every single day, a life that i know is now gone forever. I have come completely detatched and it is horrible.

 

my family are trying to support me the best way they can but they don't realize what's happened. I am only 34 years old and now I am going to be a complete vegetable for the rest of my life. More physical symptoms include loss in co-ordination, memory loss, confusion, I see these white vertical and horizontal lines, dark patches, patches of light, palinopsia affects with my vision change. I thought my will power was stronger than the medication, but my brain thought otherwise. I should have done an extremely low taper over 1-2 years and none of this would have happened. 

Its always hard to compare experiences with others. But this text taken from your intro more or less describe how Ive felt between somewhere 2015 and somewhere in 2017. Ive will not go into details Im still a bit "sensitive" about what happened. I don't care really but you know what I mean. Some details are in my thread. I just want to tell you that a lot changed during late 2017 and this spring. I don't have any hallucinations thank good. 99% no images. Intrusive thoughts,

 yes but Im used to it and it get less for every month coming I know it now. Same goes with Hypnogoga hallucinations which came 100% from Zyprexa. I don't have / care about it anymore which makes sleeping possible. I can even sleep again if I wake up this spring/summer , something I thought I would never experience again.

 

This helped me. Ive stayed with family bedridden for a long time(not months , over year). I meet only people I trust with my life (important if you have images,thougts etc). For me this wasn't many people. I did nothing but lay in bed and eat once every day.(mom did food) All emotions , suciidal thoughts , thoughts blabla 24/7 . I didn't even have energy to plan how to end it all. If I "felt" (think more logical thoughts) doing something (like buy a present) , I tried to do it somehow but I accepted that I wouldn't succeed. I told all people I was connected with the truth and that I didn't think I would live long. I only ate food that was easy to my body and heart. (fish , water , soft) . I talked a lot with my family how I felt about everything. Made many tears. My room was 100% (blackout curtains) dark so when I did "all nighters" it felt somehow that I was "sleeping" but I wasn't. I used the day to solve my thoughts in head and usually talked with mom about it. Every night I tried to sleep by myself. First 6months I didn't sleep a second if I didn't take sleep aid. I could sleep between 30min - 3h/night with help of sleep aid. Also was good for my voices and overall mental health (Stesolid is my favourite , don't abuse it!). Usually every 3rd night I took a pill at 4am. In the beginning I took every night but since I saw that sleep pill lost its effects fast I knew I had to try sleeping naturally fast. My record without sleep is 8 nights. I did that before starting with sleep aids. Don't try that, it can destroy abilities I believe.

 

Try to see the sunlight/light every day(morning) if you can even if its just for minutes. Use the day to surf the internet and read about positive things, try to find a game to play or something. In the beginning I did absolutely nothing but after some months I started read more on Internet, I found a silly mobile game (think it was Hayday). These is good things to focus on do instead of hearing voices , having images etc.

After a while(took a long f*king time 12months+) you can start reading about how to improve food to heal better, train sports/gym/walk etc to make hormones and new receptors in brain faster etc.

 

My vision and hearing and sense of smell was also affected by my withdrawal. My sense of smell is better today and feels normal. I still have tinnitus but I rarely think about it anymore plus its not as high anymore. My visions still bugs me a little bit but IM ok with it(still little bit dry eyes, blurred vision). Im not so detailed in my thread but I wrote roughly how my sleep been last 2 years. If you have family talk with them so you don't have any pressure on you and tell them that it takes year to heal and you have to take it in your pace. Talk about your illogical thoughts, images, delusions etc. They will go away and its good to have them out of your system. (don't tell doc though!!) 

 

One day at a time. Your body and brain, heart and soul is most important now. Tell people that. Don't to anything that feels bad. Medicines is no help long term.  Brain is plastic , it can heal completely. If not at least A LOT! Enough to think about a future at least. No drugs or alcohol if that wasn't obvious. Also try to stay away from caffeine, nicotine, milk  and sugar. I stopped with everything immediately when I realised I may not become normal again. Alcohol destroys many good people.

 

[frasier23]

Another thing, if you watch my thread and also my signature, you can see that my writing today is much more structured and more well written. With that said, I just want you to understand how low on energy I was. How disoriented my brain was. I had almost no energy to even beg for help. Almost didn't care. Could barely write one small text. The biggest reason it took me so long to write my signature was not because I was lazy, it was because it was too much work for me. Im very happy that a few people here on this site contacted me privately and sent some inspiration to me. I didn't even had energy to write back, later on I forgot about it.

 

[deejay]

On ‎6‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 11:40 PM, frasier23 said:

Another thing, if you watch my thread and also my signature, you can see that my writing today is much more structured and more well written. With that said, I just want you to understand how low on energy I was. How disoriented my brain was. I had almost no energy to even beg for help. Almost didn't care. Could barely write one small text. The biggest reason it took me so long to write my signature was not because I was lazy, it was because it was too much work for me. Im very happy that a few people here on this site contacted me privately and sent some inspiration to me. I didn't even had energy to write back, later on I forgot about it.

 

thankyou for sharing buddy. My eye sight upsets me greatly, I had a complete visual change which happened in a couple of seconds back in March. I had plans on getting back into Truck Driving before I went off the meds, but now.. if they don't return I may never drive again. I'm getting an Electroretinography done which is costing me $845. It's going to upset me evan more when they say they have no idea why they have changed and that it's something in my brain which is un-treatable. I'm not talking just blurry, they completely changed but it's so hard to describe. 

[deejay]

On ‎6‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 10:18 AM, Djones1984 said:

Quit listening to your doctor there is only a handfull of doctors in the world that know anything about this. Please stop and listen to the people here your life is not over.

I am going to stop listening to advice from curtain people in offices and put all my energy into the people here. No more stuffing around

[deejay]

On ‎6‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 10:14 AM, Djones1984 said:

Just wanted to say I made all the mistakes your making and you need to stop now. I went through the same deal you are on way to high a dose of zoloft after the reaction. I dont like meds but I doubt I would have made it through the first 6 months of this without the klonopin. You need to pick doses and stay there because what you are doing now is just upsetting your cns even more. I have had everything you are describing and more you need to stop trust me.

 

The reaction felt like I had just had a stroke with the pain as I could imagine the pain of a stroke. Do you know if anyone else on this forum suffered this kind of reaction ? 

[frasier23]

6 hours ago, deejay said:

 

The reaction felt like I had just had a stroke with the pain as I could imagine the pain of a stroke. Do you know if anyone else on this forum suffered this kind of reaction ? 

Yes I had same reaction and have similiar after thoughts about it even today. My vision, smell, hearing were disturbed. Today my vision feel normal even though its worse than my normal sight was but Im fine. Smell is ok but not as good as before. Still have tinnitus 24/7 but dont think about. It also affected half of my body. I dont think about that today if Im not focusing on it.

 

Give this 18months+ without medicines before making final analyse is my advice based on my experiences. 

[deejay]

40 minutes ago, frasier23 said:

Yes I had same reaction and have similiar after thoughts about it even today. My vision, smell, hearing were disturbed. Today my vision feel normal even though its worse than my normal sight was but Im fine. Smell is ok but not as good as before. Still have tinnitus 24/7 but dont think about. It also affected half of my body. I dont think about that today if Im not focusing on it.

 

Give this 18months+ without medicines before making final analyse is my advice based on my experiences. 

Another question, were your meds instant for you in the way Zoloft was for me? I used to take a dose of Zoloft and within 10min I would feel ontop of the world, they used to give me a somewhat Euphoric type feeling, hence why I became addicted to them in the first place. And now that they no longer work I just cannot function.

 

The only sense that wasn't affected with me is my smell as that's still perfect. Sight has gone and ears went super extra sensitive when it happened. It slowly progressed worse and worse to the pint where I would have to cover my ear from just people talking normally in the room. Not too long ago my Daughter talked close to my left ear unexpected and it felt like y ear drum burst and ever since have had 24/7 high pitch squeal. I also suffer Palenopsia as I see after images a lot and also Palinacausis where sounds echo around in my head after the fact

[deejay]

Altostrata: No more mucking aroud on my behalf, need to get my life back. Not listening to any more Dr's or Psych's. I'm putting my life in SA's hands. Will start fresh tomorrow and every day after with full journal

[Altostrata]

We can't take that responsibility, deejay, but you can. Have you been able to find a face-to-face counselor?

 

We need that drug and symptom journal.