Dysautonomia (autonomic dysregulation) - POTS, syncope, etc.

[India]

On 4/5/2011 at 9:29 PM, stan said:

Normally there is a stabilite in these two systems example :

heartbeat not too accelerate and not too slow ; as antidepressants fire receptors of nerves, it is going too slow or too fast heartbeat

i have as all people dysautonomia : many systems, organs do not function correctly

@intothewoods

[India]

On 6/19/2014 at 8:06 AM, NoMeaning25 said:

Anyone know if this will work? http://blog.synergyhealthconcepts.com/new-treatment-for-dysautonomia/

 

Alto, is this actually what we are dealing with?? 

 

http://www.dinet.org/index.php/information-resources/pots-place/pots-symptoms Is withdrawal just dysautonomia or is it a combination of things?

 

Im just trying to figure out whats wrong with me so that i can at least show my mom what im dealing with and find a doctor willing to work with me. 

 

When I read dysautonomia I felt this sense of:

thsts it, that’s exactly it. That’s what this withdrawal is. 

I’m sorry you are still suffering. I hope some healing is going on underneath all of this. 

May I ask your age?

 

[drugged]

"Acquired dysautonomia: As the article describes, people may develop autonomic symptoms after infections or exposure to toxins, and these are diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, etc. Recovery is slow and can take years."

 

I've often wondered if my "fibromyalgia" is the result of exposure to toxins.  It could very well be given my long exposure to toxic prescription drugs.  

 

[NoMeaning25]

On 7/17/2019 at 12:49 AM, India said:

When I read dysautonomia I felt this sense of:

thsts it, that’s exactly it. That’s what this withdrawal is. 

I’m sorry you are still suffering. I hope some healing is going on underneath all of this. 

May I ask your age?

 

 

I am now 30 years old. Sadly, im much worse now than I was in 2014. But yeah. Thats why i dont even bother posting. There a lots of us actually. We keep in touch. 

[Gussy]

Hi. My i came off effexor pretty quickly in 2017. I must say i.m doing a LOT better than then. Alto even decided i.m in recovery mode now, i sure think i am. Might anyone know if after coming off far too quickly it may.ve caused my n.s to not be able to properly control my blood pressure? I notice it when i get up from sitting or from bending over at times. You know, the dizziness? Sometimes it.s strong, others not so strong and sometimes not at all. This only started after I came off Effexor. Another thing, i did have those awful muscle feelings that i imagine almost everyone has. I really think i still have them to less a degree in my right butt muscle and hamstrings. Does this sound possible? Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated and please don.t be in a super rush to reply as i know there will be many here in more need of help than me. Gus.

[ChessieCat]

When my Pristiq dose was increased from 50mg to 100mg my diastolic blood pressure increased.  I wore a halti monitor for 24 hours.  The doctor did not make the connection between the increase in my AD dose.  He just increased my BP medication.

 

Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) is a synthetic form of the isolated major active metabolite of venlafaxine (Effexor).

 

It may be that your BP reduced after you stopped the Effexor and it may be the lower BP causing the dizziness.

 

I had tight legs muscles when taking Pristiq.  When walking I had difficulty lifting my foot high enough to step from the road up the kerb, which is only about 5 or 6 inches high.  As my dose got lower the tightness lessened and now I only get it occasionally.

 

[Altostrata]

Merged similar topics.

 

That sounds like Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS):

 

Quote

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition that affects circulation (blood flow). POTS is a form of orthostatic intolerance, the development of symptoms that come on when standing up from a reclining position, and that may be relieved by sitting or lying back down. The primary symptom of an orthostatic intolerance is lightheadedness, fainting and an uncomfortable, rapid increase in heartbeat.

 

Or orthostatic intolerance:
 

Quote

 

Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is the development of symptoms when standing upright which are relieved when reclining.^[1] There are many types of orthostatic intolerance. OI can be a subcategory of dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system^[2] occurring when an individual stands up.^[3]

There is a substantial overlap between syndromes of orthostatic intolerance on the one hand, and either chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or fibromyalgia (FM) on the other.^[4] It affects more women than men (female-to-male ratio is at least 4:1), usually under the age of 35.^[5]

Orthostatic intolerance occurs in humans because standing upright is a fundamental stressor and requires rapid and effective circulatory and neurologic compensations to maintain blood pressure, cerebral blood flow, and consciousness. When a human stands, approximately 750 mL of thoracic blood is abruptly translocated downward. People who suffer from OI lack the basic mechanisms to compensate for this deficit.^[1] Changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and cerebral blood flow that produce OI may be caused by abnormalities in the interactions between blood volume control, the cardiovascular system, the nervous system and circulation control system.^[6]

 

 

 

Many people get this as a symptom of psychiatric drug withdrawal. It tends to go away with time.

 

Regular gentle exercise, such as at least 30 minutes of walking each day, can help.

 

If you do a lot of sitting, you might also need to do leg stretching exercises each day to relieve muscle tension.

[NoMoreLexapro]

I had elevated thyroid antibody levels (very high) 8-10 yrs  ago. I took some medications and they went down, at times to normal levels.  I haven't taken any thyroid medication for at least 2-3 yrs. 

 

In the fall I had two vertigo attacks out of the blue.  Was dizzy in the morning for a few days and then I was fine.  The 2nd week, however, I had an out of the blue panic attack (first one ever).  I was diagnosed w/GAD, even though I never had had anxiety before, and 3 days later I was put on lexapro. 

 

I was dizzy every day I was on lexapro.  I've been off for 17 wks.  I still am dizzy, but within the last 4 wks the disorientation/dizziness/DR has gotten worse and my PCP and I noticed that my pulse goes way up when I am standing compared to lying down (or sitting).  We are working on trying to get tests for POTS.  I talked to a chiropractic neurologist (didn't know they exist) and he said that, for $7000 he could treat me, that he doesn't think this is WD, and that there is a strong correlation between thyroid issues and POTS. 

 

There's no question lexapro greatly exacerbated my dizziness, but has anyone ever thought they were in WD but they actually had POTS/thyroid issues and were brought back to normal with some kind of treatment for those conditions? 

[tsranga]

Anyone on this thread or otherwise have a recurrence of POTS like symptoms in withdrawal and when did it finally resolve?

 

I had this dizziness when standing up and fluctuating heart rate (30 bps from 60 to 90 and back) early in withdrawal, which resolved with electrolytes and salt augmentation last year.  It has reappeared this summer, 15 months since C/T of mirtazapine.  I am now 19 months off.

 

Just a couple of other data points -  I had vasovagal syncope in adolescence,  but have never fainted since then except once 15 years ago when due to severe dehydration. I also developed IBS  & reflux oesophagitis about 30+ years ago when I also started smoking. My IBS  flared-up after I quit smoking in 2017, for which I was prescribed mirtazapine. I have been off mirtazaline since 2019. 

 

Is it possible that my underlying symptoms are primarily due to iatrogenic withdrawal & should eventually resolve? Or could this be a progressive deterioration in my autonomic dysfunction that nicotine (which mimics acetylcholine) kept in abeyance? 

 

Overall, I am probably at 60-70% of my pre-mirtazapine function. My mental health is definitely better and the gut is also stabilizing thanks to a very restrictive low-FODMAP, low-fibre diet.   So food intolerance disrupting the gut and sleep at night, and POTS symptoms during the day are the two main symptoms that remain.  I have also not been able to gain any weight ( I am about 20-25lbs off my normal weight). I was better in winter on both counts, which is why I am perplexed at the recurrence in summer.  

[Gussy]

Hi, I just have a quick question if that's ok. I've been sweating a reasonable amount a few nights from my lower legs and sometimes from my groin down to my feet lately and wonder if this could be caused by dysautonomia? I.d sweat like crazy at night time in the worst of it .  Or could it due to some other lingering post taper craziness? Also, i couldn.t find a topic to post my next question in so sorry if this is the wrong place. My lower leg bones felt like they were twisting in the worst of it, does anyone know what causes that? There aren.t many posts here about twisting bones, maybe it's uncommon? Any ideas?

[Sleepless]

Has anyone developed pots after stopping an SSRI and healed?  If so, how long did it take you?  No horror stories please...

[manymoretodays]

Hi Sleepless,

I think that many have recovered from POTS here, including our fearless founder, Altostrata.

One way to see, might be to put some of the post-er's here in the searchbox feature at the top right of the screen.

Just put in their used name, and when a list comes up of posts, look for their Introduction topics.

Then you could even ask, if they have not posted for awhile, or you might see some resolution mentioned.

 

I'm seeing a lot of posts, on this topic, at least on this page, without any response, or further discussion.

 

Are you familiar with the Success Stories forum?  That might be another place to look, and read members accounts of their healing.

 

I notice that you have had a lot of medication changes and then some brief trials of things too, since last August.

Your nervous system might be craving some stability a lot, right now.......and consistency.  Maybe that will help, more than anything else.  Oh, I hope so.

 

Best, L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[AdviceNeeded]

In the instance of possible drug induced dysautonomia (such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, altered sweat response, sleep difficulties, etc), could a programme of moderate exercise help sway the body towards regaining homeostasis? Sort of remind it what it should be doing?

 

It’s just a thought, I wondered what people with a deeper understanding and more experience would think?

[tsranga]

On 11/27/2020 at 2:31 PM, Sleepless said:

Has anyone developed pots after stopping an SSRI and healed?  If so, how long did it take you?  No horror stories please...

I had the same question.. been dealing with many of the symptoms indicative of POTS/dysautonomia and its now close to 2 years..  

 

[tsranga]

On 11/30/2020 at 9:19 AM, AdviceNeeded said:

In the instance of possible drug induced dysautonomia (such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, altered sweat response, sleep difficulties, etc), could a programme of moderate exercise help sway the body towards regaining homeostasis? Sort of remind it what it should be doing?

 

It’s just a thought, I wondered what people with a deeper understanding and more experience would think?

 

I am doing exactly that.. I have found that the following regimen helps minimize the symptoms/flare-ups - 

 

1. Start with the lowest intensity exercises.. you can do it lying down (like rowing/swimming, yoga etc). Then slowly build it up. You don't have to do heavy aerobic work,since the heart is already working hard just when standing

2. Hydrate - at least 48oz-64oz. with electrolytes. Make sure you get enough sodium.

3. Take frequent 20-30 min breaks to lie down with feet up and belly breathe. This helps to send blood to the gut and digest food. Also do it after you have stood on your feet or exercises for more than a couple of hours.

4. If you have GI issues, also avoid any high FODMAP foods. Dairy and gluten as well. You maybe able to add it back in small portions one at a time, but try it for at least 8 weeks.