Rezten: Effexor withdrawal

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

 

2:30 a.m. woke up slept on and off until 7:30.  About 6 hours sleep.  Woke up tired, brain fog/dysfunction

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  

8:30, ate breakfast took 100 mg magnesium still brain fog,

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch, 

12:30 100 mg magnesium still have brain fog, headache

3:15 too 400 mg ibuprofen 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan,  headache subsided

5:00 are supper no headache, brain fog very mild

7:00 update SA page,

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 .5 mg Melatonin and 67.5 mg Trazadone

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Physically felt really good today but I had excessive worry about health, etc.  I assume neuro emotions.  I have been like this all week 

 

5:00 a.m. woke up slept on and off until  About 6.5ours sleep. Woke up with a headache. Almost no brain fog/dysfunction 

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  

8:30, ate breakfast took 100 mg magnesium headache gone

9:00 a.m. went to store

11:30 went for a 10 min walk

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch, 

2:00 100 mg magnesium 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan,  

6:00 ate supper

7:00 update SA page, feels like a slight headache coming on

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 .5 mg Melatonin and 67.5 mg Trazadone

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

 

5:00 a.m. woke up.  About 6.5 hours sleep.  Slight brain fog.

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  

8:30, ate breakfast took 100 mg magnesium still mild brain fog, mild anxiety

10:00 went to church

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch

2:30 100 mg magnesium still have brain fog

1:30 took 1/2 hour nap. Still some brain fog.

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan, 

6:00 ate dinner 

7:00 update SA page,

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 67.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

 

2:30 a.m. woke up slept 9n and off until 7.  5.5 hours of sleep

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  

8:30, ate breakfast took 100 mg magnesium still mild brain fog/dysfunction mild anxiety very emotional 

9:30 went to bible study headache starting

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch less anxiety

1:30 100 mg magnesium still have brain fog

2:00 took 1/2 hour nap. Still some brain fog.

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan, 

6:00 ate dinner 

7:00 update SA page,

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 67.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

 

4:30 a.m. woke up. Slept on amd off until 7:30  About 7 hours sleep.  Slight brain fog.

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  

8:30, ate breakfast took 100 mg magnesium still mild brain fog, mild anxiety 

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch

2:30 100 mg magnesium still have mild brain fog

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan, 

6:00 ate dinner 

7:00 update SA page,

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 67.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Extreme emotions have been up an down for the past few days.  I haven't tracked the time it happens, it just does.  I assume I am going through some neuro emotions.  Mostly fear and anxiety, obsessive thoughts.  On a good note, brain fog/dysfunction has been a lot less.

 

5:00 a.m. woke up.  Slept on and off until 6:30.  Got about 6.5 hours of sleep

7:15 went to hair appt. 

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  

9:00 ate breakfast took 100 mg magnesium 

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch

2:30 100 mg magnesium 

1:30 took 1/2 hour nap. 

4:45 took .5 mg Ativan, forgot to take it at 4

6:00 ate dinner 

7:00 update SA page,

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 67.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

 

[Shep]

11 hours ago, Rezten said:

Extreme emotions have been up an down for the past few days.  I haven't tracked the time it happens, it just does.  I assume I am going through some neuro emotions.  Mostly fear and anxiety, obsessive thoughts.  On a good note, brain fog/dysfunction has been a lot less.

 

I've noticed the days when I have less brain fog, I have more neuro-emotions. When the brain wakes up, it tends to want something to focus on and will grasp the most scary and obsess over it. 

 

The "change the channel" method is very effective for not feeding into the fear.

 

"Change the channel" -- dealing with cognitive symptoms

 

The more you can do this during episodes of neuro-emotions, the more you can use the natural neuroplasticity of the brain and re-train it in a positive direction. 

 

Another great thread on how to not feed into the fear is:

 

Dealing With Emotional Spirals

 

Just by acknowledging that your emotions are in fact neuro-emotions, you are showing a lot of insight.  I was a slow learner and it took me quite awhile to make the connections. 

[Rezten]

23 minutes ago, Shep said:

I've noticed the days when I have less brain fog, I have more neuro-emotions

Thank you for the information.   Very helpful for me and helpful  to know I'm not the  only one.   And yes, I noticed if one symptom is less another one seems stronger.  

[Rezten]

On 12/9/2018 at 7:10 AM, Shep said:

 

Just by acknowledging that your emotions are in fact neuro-emotions, you are showing a lot of insight.  I was a slow learner and it took me quite awhile to make the connections. 

I hope these are neuro emotions.  It's very intense fear/anxiety and I feel it will never go away, but a few weeks ago it wasn't as intense so I guess it's just the up and down healing pattern.  

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

I will be lowering Trazadone to 60.75 mg tomorrow

 

3:30 a.m. woke up.  Slept on and off until 7:30.  Got about 5.5 hours of slee

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Moderate anxiety

9:00 ate breakfast took 100 mg magnesium 

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch still moderate to high anxiety

12:30 took 1/2 hour nap

2:30 100 mg magnesium emotional/ anxiety

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:00 ate dinner 

Went to mental health support group. Very anxious some brain fog

7:30 update SA page,

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 67.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Rezten]

@Gridley or @Altostrata or @Shep

 

I accidentally too .5 mg of Ativan instead of 1 mg Valium. So this morning I took .5 mg Ativan and .5 mg Valium.  It should have been 1.5 mg Valium.

 

what should i do?  

 

my schedule os 1.5mg Valium a.m 1 mg Valium noon, .5 mg Ativan at 4 and .5 mg Ativan at 8

 

sorry I tagged 3 different people, I'm nervous about what I did.

 

thank you

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

I wasn't sure how to handle my morning medication mix up so I decided to just keep the rest of the day the same as far as medication.  I am going down to 60.75 mg Trazadone tonight.

 

3:30 a.m. woke up.  Slept on and off until 7:30.  Got about 6.5 hours of sleep

8:00 took .5 mg Valium  and .5 mg Ativan by mistake.  Should have been 1 mg Valium instead of .5 mg Ativan.   Moderate anxiety

8:30 100 mg magnesium

9:30 went to bible study low anxiety

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch low anxiety

2:30 100 mg magnesium low anxiety

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:00 ate dinner 

7:30 update SA page, still low anxiety

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.75 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Shep]

22 hours ago, Rezten said:

I accidentally too .5 mg of Ativan instead of 1 mg Valium. So this morning I took .5 mg Ativan and .5 mg Valium.  It should have been 1.5 mg Valium.

 

what should i do?  

 

my schedule os 1.5mg Valium a.m 1 mg Valium noon, .5 mg Ativan at 4 and .5 mg Ativan at 8

 

12 hours ago, Rezten said:

I wasn't sure how to handle my morning medication mix up so I decided to just keep the rest of the day the same as far as medication. 

 

Sorry no one was available to answer your question earlier, but keeping the rest of your schedule the same is the best way to go after a mix up. 

 

You likely still had Valium in your system (the half-life is up to 200 hours) so taking Ativan instead of Valium won't cause too much of a disruption. 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

I have had heart palpitations on and off past few days.  They were really bothersome today so I took propranolol.   Not sure if it's related to Trazadone taper.

 

3:30 a.m. woke up.  Slept on and off until 7:30.  Got about 5 hours sleep

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium

8:30 100 mg magnesium

9:30 went to store

10:15 went for a walk

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch moderate anxiety

12:30 took 10 mg Propranolol for heart palpatations 

2:30 100 mg magnesium moderate anxiety

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:00 ate dinner 

7:30 update SA page, still low anxiety

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.75 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

I am concerned about heart palpitations.   I know they are not usually serious, but not sure why they are happening more frequently.

Am I tapering too fast? They started before this taper a few days ago. Is it a wave from Effexor withdrawal ?  I feel I may be in a wave now. A few weeks ago, I was feeling better, less brain fog, no nausea, emotions fairly stable.  The past maybe 5 -7  days I feel like it's coming back. Neuro fear/anxiety is back. Crying a lot, nausea returned, more brain fog.  I'm still better than I was a month ago though so that's a good thing.

 

3:30 a.m. woke up.  Slept on and off until 7:30.  Got about 5 hours of sleep

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Moderate anxiety

9:00 ate breakfast took 100 mg magnesium 

10:00 heart palpit at ions starting

10:30 Went out to a meeting

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch still moderate to high anxiety

12:15 took 10 mg Propranolol for heart palpitations

2:30 100 mg magnesium emotional/ anxiety

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:00 ate dinner 

6:30 update SA page,

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.75 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Altostrata]

How long do the palpitations last? What is the level of intensity?

 

You are taking a fairly hefty amount of benzodiazepines -- Valium and Ativan -- on a complex schedule. Your body is dependent on a steady level of benzos. Please be aware that if you don't keep to your benzo schedule, that may cause withdrawal-like symptoms. Be sure not to skip any doses.

 

The benzo dosing mixup a couple of days ago might be affecting you now with withdrawal-like symptoms.

 

It doesn't look like the trazodone reduction has affected your sleep pattern -- what do you think?

[Rezten]

8 hours ago, Altostrata said:

How long do the palpitations last? What is the level of intensity?

Hi Alto,

The palpitations seem to last hours although I mostly notice them when laying down.  Not sure how to describe the intensity, but it's a fairly heavy thump I feel.  I've had them on and off all along but they usually wouldn't last long or be too bothersome so I didn't pay them much attention.

 

8 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

It doesn't look like the trazodone reduction has affected your sleep pattern -- what do you think?

No, it doesn't seem to have affected my sleep pattern.  

[Rezten]

@Altostrata I would like to add that I started having palpitations around 11:00 today.  I took 10 mg Propranolol at noon. It is now 1:20, I'm laying down and the palpitations are fairly strong.  Not sure if I should up my magnesium?  I tried taking 400 mg a day, but i was getting headaches, so I lowered it and headaches stopped.  I now take 266mg/day

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

I am not sure if this 8s related to Trazadone reduction, but I noticed some tingling feeling on my skin and jittery especially this evening.  Not sure what to do.  Do I updose?  Or hold here for a while?  If I I go back up I only have two capsules left of the 67.5 mg and probably won't be able to get a refill until Tuesday as I get it at a compounding pharmacy and they are closed on the weekend and usually can't do same day.

 

4:00 a.m. woke up.  Slept on and off until 7:00.  Got about 5.5 hours of slee

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Moderate anxiety

8:30took 100 mg magnesium 

9:00 went for a walk

11:00 heart palpitations

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch still moderate to high anxiety and took 10 mg Propranolol 

1:30 still have heart palpitations 

2:30 100 mg magnesium sill moderate anxiety

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:00 ate dinner, but not much nausea, tight chest

6:15 100mg magnesium

6:30 update SA page, high anxiety

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:00 500 mg taurine 

9:30 60.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Altostrata]

Your symptoms are probably due to inconsistent benzo dosing. Symptoms from this can last for a while. You need to stick to your benzo schedule.

 

If I were you, just in case, I'd ask my doctor for a Holter monitor to identify any arrhymia.

 

It seems to me your trazodone tapering is going well. In my opinion, trazodone may be contributing to those daytime symptoms. It may be interacting with your benzos, see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4335312/

 

Or, the amount of benzos you're taking could be triggering an adverse reaction. Palpitations are among side effects https://www.drugs.com/sfx/diazepam-side-effects.html

 

On 10/9/2018 at 11:12 AM, Rezten said:

Here is the drug interaction list.  https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=862-441,1488-899,2228-0,1115-648,1548-0

 

When did you finally go off Prozac? Please clarify your signature.

[Rezten]

5 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

It seems to me your trazodone tapering is going well

So I will stay at the 60.75.

 

7 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Or, the amount of benzos you're taking could be triggering an adverse reaction. Palpitations are among side effects

So th theres not much I can do unless I hold Trazadone and start benzo taper?  

 

But we aren't sure if that's causing them?

 

[Altostrata]

1 hour ago, Rezten said:

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Moderate anxiety

 

Were you anxious before you took Valium at 8:00 a.m. or did that occur afterward?

[Rezten]

1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

Were you anxious before you took Valium at 8:00 a.m. or did that occur afterward?

I was already anxious 

[Altostrata]

Is that typical, that you feel anxious after you wake up?

 

Do you feel better after you take Valium? Are there any times of day when your symptoms are less intense?

 

 

[Rezten]

3 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Is that typical, that you feel anxious after you wake up?

Yes.  I had a good almost two weeks starting on Thanksgiving where that didn't happen, i was feeling pretty good.  but the past week or so it has started again.

 

4 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Do you feel better after you take Valium? Are there any times of day when your symptoms are less intense?

No, the Valium doesnt help.  Late evening seems to be when my body calms down and I feel better around 7 ish

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Trying to adjust my diet to see if that's causing heart palpitations.  A lot of brain dysfunction all day.  Tired all day too, but these are symptoms I have everyday.

 

3:30 a.m. woke up.  Slept on and off until 7:30.  Got about 5.5 hours of sleep. Woke up tired, nervous stomache no appetite 

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Moderate anxiety

8:30 133 mg magnesium

11:45 ate schnitzel and low salt potato chips for lunch

12:00 1mg Valium, 

12:10 heart palpitations startin, but not too bad, tolerable.

1:15 palpitations have stopped

2:30 100 mg magnesium emotional/ anxiety had a snack of pinapple 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:00 went to a  hristmas party moderate anxiety.  Ate some dips, that was it. Stayed about an hour.  Felt disconnected.

6:15 had  turkey and ham on a low carb wrap

7:00 update SA page, tired, so far palpitations have not come back.  

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.75 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Shep]

Rezten, I'm glad you're working on improving your diet. 

 

You mention that the palpitations were tolerable. Overall, are you feeling better? 

[Rezten]

49 minutes ago, Shep said:

You mention that the palpitations were tolerable. Overall, are you feeling better?

A far as palpitations go I am feeling better, they were mild and not long lasting today.  Overall feel like crap today.  Nausea, brain dysfunction, very tired, emotional.  

 

I fell this way most days, but today was really rough.

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Heart Palpitations were mild and not long lasting today.  Other symptoms, neausea, brain dysfunction, tired, tight chest, vision a little blurry.

 

3:30 a.m. woke up. Unable to fall back asleep.  Got about 5 hours sleep

7:15 ate breakfast - glass of milk and a banana 

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Moderate anxiety. Mild heart palpitations lasted 10 min.

8:45 took a 15 min nap

9:15 ate breakfast took 133 mg magnesium 

10:00 went for a short walk

11:00 ate clementine 

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch meat sauce with miracle noodles (no carb noodles)

12:30 slight palpitations on an off. 

2:00 ate rest of my lunch.  Unable to finish it earlier.

2:30 133 mg magnesium feeling emotional/ anxiety/ no palpitations.  Very nauseated, tired

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:20 ate dinner - greek salad and steak. Still feeling nausea, but not as bad

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page, no palpitations 

7:30 mild palpitations llfor a few minutes.  I mostly notice them when laying down and if I change position.  But they settle down in about 5 -10 minutes.

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:00 500 mg Taurine 

9:30 60.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Heart Palpitations were mild and not long lasting today.  Other symptoms, neausea, brain dysfunction, tired, tight chest,. The palpitations are more prevent when I get up from laying down.

 

3:30 a.m. woke up. Went to bathroom palpitations pretty strong when I got back in bed.  Settled after 5 minutes or so. Slept on an off until 7. about 6.5 hours asleep.

Nausea starting when I wake up, anxiety tight chest.

7:30 ate breakfast - slice of ham and cheese

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Moderate anxiety.

8:30 133 mg magnesium

9:00 jittery, hands a little shaky anxious.

9:30 went for a 10 min walk. Palpitations when I got back, but went away in about 5 minutes

10:00 went to vet, higher anxiety still nauseated 

11:30 ate lunch cashews and turkey in a low carb wrap

11:40 laying down reading mild palpitations for a few minutes

12:00 1mg Valium, 

1:50 slight palpitations on and off. Laying in bed reading. Still nausea, tight chest , anxious

2:15 snack milk and some pineapple took 133 mg magnesium anxiety, still nauseas

2:30 fell asleep for about 5 minutes or so woke up with a wave of anxiety and strong palpitations.  They went away in a few minutes.

3:00 went to store 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:00 feeling a little calmer, no palpitations.

5:30 ate supper - rotisserie chicken and cole slaw

6:00 mild nausea feeling anxious a little jittery.

7:00  update SA page, no palpitations, 

7:30 feeling less anxious. A little calmer. Still tight chest and some nausea

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Shep]

I noticed you haven't used Propranolol recently. This is an improvement. 

[Rezten]

24 minutes ago, Shep said:

I noticed you haven't used Propranolol recently. This is an improvement. 

I did last night around 10.  I had palpitations and I couldnt fall asleep. 

[Rezten]

6 hours ago, Rezten said:

6 hours ago, Shep said:

I noticed you haven't used Propranolol recently. This is an improvement. 

I did last night around 10.  I had palpitations and I couldnt fall asleep. 

I didn't take the taurine last night.  I have had palpitations all day from mild to moderate.   Do you think maybe the taurine was helping?

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

I took 10 mg of propranalol last night. Palpitations started right when i tirned light off.  I gave it some time but they didnt go away.   Other symptoms, neausea all day, brain dysfunction, tired, tight chest,

Is it possible the palpitations are just part of the withdrawal symptoms?.

 

2:30 a.m. woke up. Unable to fall back asleep.  Got about 4 hours sleep.

7:15 nausea. Had a glass of milk

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Moderate anxiety. Mild heart palpitations 

8:30 took 133 mg magnesium 

11:30  ate lunch - clementine and rotisserie chicken

12:00 1mg Valium, 

12:30 trying to take nap. Moderate palpitations starting

1:00 took 10 mg Propranolol 

1:45 palpitations subsided

2:30 133 mg magnesium feeling emotional/ anxiety/ no palpitations.  

3:30 mild palpitations 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan had a few cashews 

5:30 ate dinner - chickey cordon Bleu (No flour) and green beans

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page, no 

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 Took 10 mg Propranolol at 10 last night for palpitations.

No palpitations so far today.  Other symptoms, neausea, brain dysfunction, tired, tight chest not as bad as they have been.  

 

3:00 a.m. woke up. Slept on and off until 7 about 6 hours sleep. Very tired when I woke up as I usually am

7:15 - glass of milk

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Mild anxiety 

8:30 133 mg magnesium 

10:00 ate banana 

10:15 went for a walk and to the store

11:45  ate sausage peppers onions

12:00 1mg Valium, 

2:00 133 mg magnesium still mild anxiety

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:30 ate dinner - hamburger salad

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page,

6:50 heart palpitations.  Started when I got up from the chair to do something came back and they started.  Its 7:04 I am laying down and still notice them. 

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.5 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

 

I got this from the heart palpitations section:

 

And YES - palpitations get worse with food (particularly carbs and sugar), perimenopause, stress, exercise, after a particularly LARGE meal, when you are dehydrated, when you haven't had enough potassium, etc. But mostly - when you haven't SLEPT. The less you sleep, the worse they get. And YES, they are a major cause of not sleeping. Because as soon as you lay down - BOOM - your heart starts banging around like bats in a bird cage.

[Shep]

On 12/18/2018 at 1:11 PM, Rezten said:

I didn't take the taurine last night.  I have had palpitations all day from mild to moderate.   Do you think maybe the taurine was helping?

 

It's possible. Here's an article off Mercola about the role of taurine for heart health:

 

Taurine: Facts About This Crucial Amino Acid

 

I'm no expert on supplements, so you may want to do some research, as well. But if you feel it wasn't hurting and could have been helping, you may want to add it back in. 

 

 

On 12/18/2018 at 6:47 PM, Rezten said:

Is it possible the palpitations are just part of the withdrawal symptoms?.

 

Yes, heart palpitations are experienced by people withdrawing from psych drugs. 

 

This is Alto's post on it in the thread Irregular heartbeats, palpitations, tachycardia, bradycardia

 

On 3/6/2012 at 1:39 PM, Altostrata said:

Irregular heart beats and palpitations are very common withdrawal symptoms.

 

If your symptom started during or after withdrawal, it is likely a withdrawal symptom and an indication you have tapered too fast.

 

Like other withdrawal symptoms, this goes away with time. Also, walking helps regularize autonomic function and heart rate. Make sure you get at least a half-hour of walking every day, if you can tolerate it.