Rezten: Effexor withdrawal

[Rezten]

2 hours ago, Shep said:

 

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

I assume theres no easy way to tell if this is from WD, current meds or diet.  I am also having throat issues.  Feels like something is stuck in my throat.  I've had the feeling for months but it seems worse past 2 weeks.  Also occasional shortness of breath.  I have read all of these can be WD symptoms.  These all seem to have started around same time as palpitations.   Maybe I am in a wave and this will pass?

 

I guess I'm not sure what to do about tapering meds.  Do I continue with Trazadone taper or hold and taper Valium?  I was hoping to be able to wait until I was at least at 50 mg or 25 mg Trazadone or completely off before starting benzo taper.  

 

I made an appointment with my PCP today.  We'll see what she says about heart palpitations. 

 

[Rezten]

I saw my PCP. She did an EKG and it was fine.  My lungs are clear.  Oxygen level good so she told me to up Propranolol to 20 mg twice a day as needed.  I asked for Atenelol, but she said because my BP is normal she doesnt want to risk lowering it too much.  

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Heart Palpitations were strong this morning.  Other symptoms, neausea, brain dysfunction, tired, tight chest were mild after mid morning. I'm going to try taurine again.

 

3:30 a.m. woke up. Slept on and off until 7:15.  About six hours sleep. Nausea 

7:30 breakfast. Slice of ham and cheese

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .

8:30 moderate palpitations took 133 mg magnesium. Nausea going away

9:00 took 10 mg Propranolol 

10:00 still have palpitations on and off

11:45 Dr. Appt. Very mild palpitations 

12:00 1mg Valium

12:15 ate lunch turkey in a low carb wrap.

12:30 went for a walk

1:00 Moderate palpitations 

1:30 took 20 mg Propranolol 

2:15 palpitations in ally stopped 

2:30 no palpitations.  No nausea

3:00 cashews for a snack

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

4:30 broccoli and ranch dressing for snack

6:oo ate dinner - meatballs and sauce.

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page, no palpitations.

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:00 500 mg Taurine 

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

[Altostrata]

You can rule out foods causing palpitations by going on an exclusion diet for a week or 10 days. Cured meats such as ham are prime suspects.

 

Histamine food intolerance

 

Elimination or exclusion diets for reactions to food (food intolerance)

 

If you found taurine helpful, I would continue to take it.

[Shep]

21 hours ago, Rezten said:

I assume theres no easy way to tell if this is from WD, current meds or diet.  I am also having throat issues.  Feels like something is stuck in my throat.  I've had the feeling for months but it seems worse past 2 weeks.  Also occasional shortness of breath.  I have read all of these can be WD symptoms.  These all seem to have started around same time as palpitations.   Maybe I am in a wave and this will pass?

 

 

When you get hit with a cluster of symptoms like this, it's likely an overall nervous system destabilization in play. You may want to hold or even make a small updose if it gets unbearable. 

 

You may even want to switch to a micro-taper going forward. This is the gentlest way to come off these drugs. 

 

Micro-taper instead of 10% or 5% decreases

 

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

The Brassmonkey Slide is a way of making micro-taper reductions weekly, as opposed to a larger reduction once a month. 

 

As Alto mentioned, you may want to try an elimination diet to rule out issues with foods. And take a read of the micro-taper threads to see if you might benefit from a slower taper, as well. 

[Rezten]

9 hours ago, Altostrata said:

You can rule out foods causing palpitations by going on an exclusion diet for a week or 10 days. Cured meats such as ham are prime suspects.

 

Histamine food intolerance

 

Elimination or exclusion diets for reactions to food (food intolerance)

 

If you found taurine helpful, I would continue to take it.

Thanks.  I'm going to try the elimination diet.

[Rezten]

4 hours ago, Shep said:

You may want to hold or even make a small updose if it gets unbearable

Because the symptoms started before my last Trazadone taper I didnt think it had to do with that, but maybe.  I thought my last two tapeers have gone well and was thinking of doing my next taper at 3 weeks.  The past two days I've been feeling better and so far today palpitations have been mild to nothing.  So I'm not sure what to do.  I thought waves were sometimes part of the healing process and just happened.  I guess I have to think about it some more.  See how the next few days go

[Rezten]

I'm thinking I will hold a few more weeks or another month to see if that helps.  That worries me though because what if it is one of the meds causing palpitations.   Any suggestions?

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

No palpitations in the morning.  Other symptoms, neausea, brain dysfunction, tired, tight chest, we're all mild today. I am going to do the elimination diet.  I had trouble falling asleep.  Took over an hour to fall asleep.  Feeling better overall today, except for palpitations after lunch.

 

 

4:30 a.m. woke up. Slept on and off until 7:30  Got about 6.5 hours sleep

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Ate breakfast. Nervous stomache. Mild to moderate anxiety. Mild palpitations

8:30 took 133 mg magnesium

10:00 went to store. Less anxiety

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch.

12:30 moderate palpitations 

1:00 took 20 mg propranalol 

2:30 133 magnesium.  Very little anxiety

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:15 ate supper

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page, no palpitations 

7:30 palpitations took 20 mg Propranolol 

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:00 500 mg Taurine 

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

[Shep]

16 hours ago, Rezten said:

I am going to do the elimination diet. 

 

Holding and doing the elimination diet sounds like a great plan. 

 

Once your nervous system is destabilized, it can become sensitive to so many things. 

[Rezten]

27 minutes ago, Shep said:

 Holding and doing the elimination diet sounds like a great plan.

Ok. I'm still concerned it's the Valium or Trazadone causing the palpitations.  But I guess holding a little while won't hurt anything.  Hopefully the diet helps. 

[Rezten]

I remember a while ago finding a list of Doctors on this site that are familiar with withdrawal.  I tried to find it again, but not sure where I saw it.  Does anyone know where I can find it?

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Heart Palpitations in the morning.  I had them on and off all day, but they weren't too bad. Other symptoms, neausea, brain dysfunction, tired, tight chest, we're mild. I have noticed a burning or uncomfortable feeling g where my heart would be, but I have read others have had similar issues so I'm guessing withdrawal symptom.  My trout still feels like something stuck in it, but not as bad.

 

3:30 a.m. woke up. Slept on and off until 7 got about 6 hours sleep.

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  MI'll anxiety

8:30 went out for breakfast

9:30 took 133 mg magnesium 

10:00  took 10 mg Propranolol

11:00 went for a short walk

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch

12:30 slight palpitations on an off. 

2:30 133 mg magnesium, slight palpitations 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:00 ate dinner. Feeling very tired

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page, no palpitations 

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:00 500 mg Taurine 

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

[Shep]

21 hours ago, Rezten said:

Ok. I'm still concerned it's the Valium or Trazadone causing the palpitations.  But I guess holding a little while won't hurt anything.  Hopefully the diet helps. 

 

Yes, you're correct - it could be a side effect of the Valium or the Trazadone. Or it could be the combination of both of them. The goal is to find out which is going to cause more problems - dealing with a side effect versus dealing with the symptoms of tapering too quickly. 

 

Any variable you can remove, such as keeping your supplements to a minimum and eating as clean as possible, can help keep your nervous system as healthy as possible so it can handle these symptoms and / or side effects. So you're doing great by working with your diet. 

 

From your latest journal, it sounds like you're stabilizing a bit. I hope this continues. 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

No heart palpitations until after lunch.   . Other symptoms, neausea, brain dysfunction, tired, tight chest, we're mild by lunch time. Minor throat issues which after reading more about the histimine diet I believe that's what was causing my throat swelling.  I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept mor than usual.  Yesterday too.  I'm wondering if it's the taurine.  I am not sure if taurine is helping with palpitations as they aren't as bad, but it could be diet change too.

 

3:30 a.m. woke up. Slept on and off until 7 got about 6 hours sleep.

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Mild anxiety/nausea

8:30 took 133 mg magnesium 

10:00  went to church

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch

12:30 slight palpitations on an off.

1:00 laid down to read palpitations enough to bother me took 10 mg Propranolol 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:00 ate dinner. Feeling very tired

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page, no palpitations 

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

8:30 500 mg Taurine 

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

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Mild palpitations on and off most of the day.  The past few nights i noticed as soon as i was ready to try to sleep the palpitations would start pretty intense even though i was laying in bed reading before that with no issues. I read melatonin can cause Palpitations so i didnt take it last night. I had trouble faling asleep and still had mild palpitations.  Im going to try again tonight.  Or maybe it is the Trazadone,  which makes me wonder if I should hold on my taper.  If I stay on scedule, my next taper is in 2 weeks.  Should I go forward with it?  I need to decide this week as I see my psychiatrist Friday and he will write the script for 54mg Trazadone for compounding.   Other symptoms, neausea, brain dysfunction, tired, tight chest, we're mild. I am sticking to histimine diet. Throat much better, still a little tight but it's not as bad.  

 

Didn't get to sleep until around midnight.  Woke up at 6:30. About 6.5 hours of sleep.

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Mild anxiety/nausea

8:30 took 133 mg magnesium 

9:00 a.m. mild palpitations

10:00  went for a walk

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch

1:00 laid down to read slight palpitations 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:00 very emotional. Called crisis hotline.  

6:00 ate dinner. No nausea.

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page, no palpitations 

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.5 mg of Trazadone 

•  
• Quote

[Shep]

12 hours ago, Rezten said:

Or maybe it is the Trazadone,  which makes me wonder if I should hold on my taper.  If I stay on scedule, my next taper is in 2 weeks.  Should I go forward with it?

 

I would hold for awhile. A few posts back, I posted about the concept of "overall nervous system destabilization". That's a clear sign your nervous system is asking for a rest. 

 

What do you think about holding for at least a month and see if you can achieve a bit more stability? 

[Rezten]

14 minutes ago, Shep said:

What do you think about holding for at least a month and see if you can achieve a bit more stability? 

Yeah, that's fine.  I will hold for another month..

[powerback]

https://blog.bulletproof.com/how-to-elimination-diet/

I think we need to bare in mind how sick and dysregulated our system gets in withdrawl ,so its well worth trying .

[Rezten]

1 minute ago, powerback said:

think we need to bare in mind how sick and dysregulated our system gets in withdrawl ,so its well worth trying .

Thank you for the link.  I have been doing the elimination diet for several days and some symptoms have subsided or lessened.  The HR and palpitations are still here but not as bad.  Hopefully with the diet and hold things will settle down.  Thank you for the link!

[powerback]

19 minutes ago, Rezten said:

Thank you for the link.  I have been doing the elimination diet for several days and some symptoms have subsided or lessened.  The HR and palpitations are still here but not as bad.  Hopefully with the diet and hold things will settle down.  Thank you for the link!

Your welcome Rezten  .gluten,sugar,caffeine,dairy, soya are some of the worst .our system gets such a shock ,god knows what happens long term in relation to toxins .

refined sugar is a poison ,in years to come it will be thought of on the same lines as ciggerates .

Take care and peace to you 🙏.

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Mild palpitations mostly in the morning and high HR. I ended up taking melatonin as I had trouble falling asleep.  Slight palpitations but not too bad. Do I still need to post daily symptoms regularly?  Since I'm on a hold I was thinking of not posting for a while unless something changes.

 

Woke up at 3:30. Slept on and off until 7. About 6.5 hours sleep

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Mild anxiety/nausea

8:30 took 133 mg magnesium 

9:00 a.m. mild palpitations

10:00  went to store anxious jittery

10:30 went for a walk still anxious jittery

11:00 HR up not to high but higher than my normal.  

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch 

        HR leveling out not as jittery 

4:00 took .5 mg 

5:30 ate dinner. No nausea.

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

7:15 pdate SA page, no palpitations 

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.5 mg of Trazadone .5 mg Melatonin 

[powerback]

11 hours ago, Rezten said:

Today's update

 

Mild palpitations mostly in the morning and high HR. I ended up taking melatonin as I had trouble falling asleep.  Slight palpitations but not too bad. Do I still need to post daily symptoms regularly?  Since I'm on a hold I was thinking of not posting for a while unless something changes.

 

Woke up at 3:30. Slept on and off until 7. About 6.5 hours sleep

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  Mild anxiety/nausea

8:30 took 133 mg magnesium 

9:00 a.m. mild palpitations

10:00  went to store anxious jittery

10:30 went for a walk still anxious jittery

11:00 HR up not to high but higher than my normal.  

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch 

        HR leveling out not as jittery 

4:00 took .5 mg 

5:30 ate dinner. No nausea.

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

7:15 pdate SA page, no palpitations 

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 60.5 mg of Trazadone .5 mg Melatonin 

Keep notes on paper rezten .no harm in having a break from the site .the support will be here when you come back .

Keep well .

Peace 🙏.

[Rezten]

My heart palpitations have pretty much gone away, but yesterday and today my HR is higher than usual.  When sitting or laying its between 80 and 90.  That's not my usual.  When I woke this morning it was 90.  Is this something to be concerned about or just let it go?

[Shep]

What is your usual? 

 

This is what the Mayo Clinic says is normal:

 

A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.

 

What's a normal resting heart rate?

[Rezten]

My normal is between 60 and 70 ish.  The past hour and a half it has been low 70's so maybe it's nothing serious.  I went for a short walk this morning and it was around 112-120 while walking.  Some of the walk was an incline.  

 

I was feeling more anxious too this morning and yesterday I had a few appts, went to store and put to dinner.  Those things since WD have always increased my anxiety and I have to push through them that may have increased HR too.  I was just surprised that when I woke up it was 90

[Rezten]

13 minutes ago, Shep said:

What is your usual? 

My normal is between 60 and 70 ish.  The past hour and a half it has been low 70's so maybe it's nothing serious.  I went for a short walk this morning and it was around 112-120 while walking.  Some of the walk was an incline.  

 

I was feeling more anxious too this morning and yesterday I had a few appts, went to store and put to dinner.  Those things since WD have always increased my anxiety and I have to push through them that may have increased HR too.  I was just surprised that when I woke up it was 90

[dj2010]

29 minutes ago, Rezten said:

My normal is between 60 and 70 ish.  The past hour and a half it has been low 70's so maybe it's nothing serious.  I went for a short walk this morning and it was around 112-120 while walking.  Some of the walk was an incline.  

 

I was feeling more anxious too this morning and yesterday I had a few appts, went to store and put to dinner.  Those things since WD have always increased my anxiety and I have to push through them that may have increased HR too.  I was just surprised that when I woke up it was 90

 

Dont worry too much about this, I’ve just got a Apple Watch and been tracking heart rate, most days resting heart rate is between 57 - 63 some days it goes to around 70 ish, this is usually after bad nights sleep, read online that it can vary a lot depending on circumstances, my heart rate was around 130 this morning while on a walk, 

 

one weird thing noticed a couple of months ago before got Apple Watch and was using Fitbit was when woke in morning and put on my sad lamp my heart rate would go up from 65 to around 120 while lying down, only happened when put sad lamp on, Fitbit is not as accurate though don’t think,  stopped using sad lamp now because of that

 

anxiety can alter heart rates a lot, it’s nothing to worry about

[Rezten]

@dj2010 Thank you for the information.   I'm trying not too worry too much.

[Rezten]

Today's update.  I'm posting my daily symptoms because I reduced Trazadone starting last night. Emotions are up and down through out the day.  I've been that way for several weeks though.

 

 

2:30 a.m. woke up. Slept on and off until 7:30  Got about 5 hours sleep. Woke up groggy, nausea anxious.

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .  

9:00 a.m. ate breakfast

8:30 took 133 mg magnesium and 1400 mg fish oil

10:00 went to store. emotional/anxious

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch.

1:00 133 mg magnesium . Anxiety and nausea lower

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:15 ate supper.

6:00 hair appt. Crying a lot during appt. Nausea.

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 54 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Rezten]

Today's update.  Overall a good day.  As day went on anxiety lessened, less brain fog and nausea.

 

 

3:30 a.m. woke up, fell backnasleep until 5:20 then slept on and off until 8:00  Got about 7 hours sleep. Woke up tired and groggy.  Anxious brain dysfunction

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .

8:30 took 133 mg magnesium

9:00 ate breakfast, still some brain dysfunction, nausea

11:00 went to store

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch.

2:00 133 mg magnesium.  Less nausea and brain dysfunction.

2:30 took a 20 min nap

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:00 ate supper.  Slight increase in anxiety

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 54 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Rezten]

Today's update.  Tired more than usual most of the day. A little more brain dysfunction in the morning.  Lately mornings are rough and I usually start feeling better around noon.

 

 

3:00 a.m. woke up, Slept on and off until after 7.  Got about 6 hours sleep. Woke up tired and groggy.  Anxious brain dysfunction

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium .

8:30 took 133 mg magnesium

9:00 ate breakfast, still  brain dysfunction, nausea

10:00 - 11:30 bible study. Feeling anxious and disconnected

12:00 1mg Valium, ate lunch.

12:30 anxiety and brain dysfunction less.  Less nausea.

2:00 133 mg magnesium

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

6:00 ate supper.  Feeling tired

6:30 133 mg magnesium 

6:45 update SA page

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 54 mg of Trazadone and .5 mg Melatonin 

[Altostrata]

Please read

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1488-899,862-441,2228-0&types[]=major&types[]=minor&types[]=moderate&types[]=food&types[]=therapeutic_duplication&professional=1

 

[Rezten]

23 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Please read

@altostrata  Thank you. I have not had any respiratory issues so far.  Do you think I should change anything? Should I taper Trazadone quicker?

[Altostrata]

Please observe for a couple of weeks to see the results of your Jan 22 trazodone reduction.

 

You are taking a benzo all day long. That is the likely cause of grogginess and "brain dysfunction."

[Rezten]

@AltostrataOk.  Thank you.  I will. Do you want me to post my daily symptoms for a while still?  Are you thinking I should start tapering benzo instead?