nirubhai Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) Hi, Is it possible to get natural sleep after heavy use of valium for about 40 years? I'm off from valium for last 3 years and tapering etizolam*. Took valium from 1970 to 2014. * Link to wiki information about this drug. Etizolam (marketed under the brand name Etilaam, Etizola, Sedekopan, Etizest, Pasaden or Depas) is a benzodiazepine analog. Edited November 3, 2018 by ChessieCat added link to wiki info Valium 30, 40 to 50 mg from 1970 to 2014. Decreasing valium and mirtaz 25 in 2014 to 2015 March. Shifted to etizolam 1 mg and 2 other tranquilizers (names out of memory) in April 2015. Following change of place and psychiatrist, shifted to etizolam 2 mg. Tapering began Sept 2018. Light depression and acute insomnia continue. Link to comment
nirubhai Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 (edited) Hi all Is magnesium intake at the time of Benzodiazepine withdrawal really helpful as claimed often? Dr Heather Ashton, the famous benzo fighter has advised AGAINST all supplements. Your take please. NB Edited November 5, 2018 by ChessieCat unbolded font Valium 30, 40 to 50 mg from 1970 to 2014. Decreasing valium and mirtaz 25 in 2014 to 2015 March. Shifted to etizolam 1 mg and 2 other tranquilizers (names out of memory) in April 2015. Following change of place and psychiatrist, shifted to etizolam 2 mg. Tapering began Sept 2018. Light depression and acute insomnia continue. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus manymoretodays Posted November 7, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 7, 2018 Hi nirubhai, And welcome aboard. Can you tell us a little bit more about your history. Please put your withdrawal history in your signature this is the portion you see under other members posts, unless using a phone device. Just follow the instructions in the above link. And I'm just going to give you the bare minimum of links here to some of our information regarding tapering and withdrawal. The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs. Why taper by 10% of my dosage? What is withdrawal syndrome. Dr.Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list. The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization Brain Remodelling When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur. How did you come off Valium? What dose do you take presently of your etizolam, and how are you tapering it? Have you a history of any other psychiatric type drugs? And what is your sleep like presently? You might find some helpful information and non drug coping here: Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems There is a whole indexed list of topics in the first post, specific to sleep problems, in the link ^ We do have members on benzo's, and magnesium supplements. I'll give you a few more links regarding your question. Important topics about tests, supplements, treatments, and diet Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker I think you'll find that we may vary a bit here at survivingantidepressants from some of Dr. Ashton's ideas and philosophy. You are also most welcome to take a look over in our Benzo tapering and recovery area Perhaps you would like to start an introduction there as well. Best, Love, peace, healing, and growth, mmt Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks. Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988. In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm. Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time). 5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014) 12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs. My last psycho med ever! Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to 2016 Dec 16, medication free!! Longer signature post here, with current supplements. Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016. And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed. Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022. Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜 None of my posts are intended as medical advice. Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider. My success story: Blue skies ahead, clear sailing Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 24, 2019 Administrator Share Posted April 24, 2019 Hello, nirubhai. How are you doing now? Here are our sleep tips This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
nirubhai Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 I quit etizolam on 27 March and it's 50 days of having been off. I am, alongside the issues of depression and brain fog, facing the problem of acute insomnia in nights. I am taking Amitriptyline 10 mg for the last 3 days, and it's giving me some help in sleep (something is better than nothing way). Should I continue with this antidepressant? I just fear, I may get dependent on it, and that may crack away my life itself this time. Please help. Valium 30, 40 to 50 mg from 1970 to 2014. Decreasing valium and mirtaz 25 in 2014 to 2015 March. Shifted to etizolam 1 mg and 2 other tranquilizers (names out of memory) in April 2015. Following change of place and psychiatrist, shifted to etizolam 2 mg. Tapering began Sept 2018. Light depression and acute insomnia continue. Link to comment
nirubhai Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 While withdrawing from etizolam and having quit it finally, I've developed severe brain fog. Any idea to correct it and be normal? Valium 30, 40 to 50 mg from 1970 to 2014. Decreasing valium and mirtaz 25 in 2014 to 2015 March. Shifted to etizolam 1 mg and 2 other tranquilizers (names out of memory) in April 2015. Following change of place and psychiatrist, shifted to etizolam 2 mg. Tapering began Sept 2018. Light depression and acute insomnia continue. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted May 16, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 16, 2019 3 minutes ago, nirubhai said: I've developed severe brain fog. Any idea to correct it and be normal? It will slowly get better. You just need to be patient and give your brain time to adjust to not getting the drug. brain-fog-blank-mind-comprehension-cognitive-and-memory-problems are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
nirubhai Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 Day 54 of benzo freedom. Sleep acute hard to get. Took amitriptyline 10 mg yesterday which somewhat helped. Will it be OK to go with this drug for sleep? Valium 30, 40 to 50 mg from 1970 to 2014. Decreasing valium and mirtaz 25 in 2014 to 2015 March. Shifted to etizolam 1 mg and 2 other tranquilizers (names out of memory) in April 2015. Following change of place and psychiatrist, shifted to etizolam 2 mg. Tapering began Sept 2018. Light depression and acute insomnia continue. Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted May 17, 2019 Moderator Share Posted May 17, 2019 Please do not get mixed up with this drug. We do not recommend adding any drug to cover up or control WD symptoms, because it puts you right back where you were to start with. Having to get off of another drug. Amitriptyline hydrochloride, also known as Elavil, is a tricyclic antidepressant. That is what they used before benzos were invented. It is quite addictive and very, very hard to get off of. 20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013. Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks. The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better. Final Dose 0.016mg. Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017 "It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general." Stephen Hawking Link to comment
intothewoods Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 14 hours ago, nirubhai said: Took amitriptyline 10 mg yesterday which somewhat helped. Will it be OK to go with this drug for sleep? I've been on Amitriptyline for 15 years and regret the first pill. It's peddled by physicians as somewhat benign yet, as @brassmonkey said, it's terribly addictive. If you google the side effects of even short-term use, you'll see it causes neurological problems, including cervical dystonia, and a host of other ugly things I can attest to. I'm tapering at a glacial pace because it doesn't let go without a fight. * Fluoxetine: 40 mg 1999-2012; 60 mg 2012-March 2019; 45.2 mg at present. * Provigil: 25-100 mg PRN 2005 to mid-2015; 200-300 mg mid-2015 to early 2016; tapered from 300 mg in early 2016 to 100 mg early 2017; tapered from 100 mg early 2017 to 33 mg June 15, 2019; 8.9 mg at present. * Amitriptyline: 10-15 mg 2002-2013; 25 mg 2014 to December 5, 2018; December 15, 2018 converted to water suspension and tapered to 16.5 mg at present * Diazepam: 5 mg at night 2002-present. Supplements: Iron for anemia Recent tapering timeline: 2019: Fluoxetine 60 mg Provigil 33.5 mg Amitriptyline 25 mg Diazepam 5 mg 2022: 45.2 mg 8.9 mg 16.5 mg 5 mg Back Story: From 2012 thru early 2017, relocated and cycled through over 20 primary and psych docs (supposedly for severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) who prescribed two dozen different psych meds in search of the "perfect therapeutic combo." Took most for only a few days, some for a week. Included Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Lexapro, Seroquel, Lamictal, Klonopin, Lyrica, Gabapentin, Belsomra, Tramadol, Librium, Halcyon, Remeron and -- the last straw, Trintellix. Began in early 2016 when it was still called Brintellix (Pharma's attempt to combine the words "brilliance" and "intelligence" in a pill name), became unable to eat or sleep, lost 25 lbs and the ability to speak. Slowly tapered myself back to Prozac by 2017 but was unable to stop akathisia, cortisol mornings and kindling which continue, actively, through present. Link to comment
nirubhai Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 I am on clonazepam 0.5 mg, mirtazapine 7.5 mg, and escitaloprám 10 mg for about 3 months and I intend to quit these drugs by water titration on 1 ml progressive taper plan. I am simultaneously tapering all these drugs in view of non availability of these drugs in future in this part of my country. Will it help me? What should be the time limit of my tapering, 4 or 5 or 6 months? Please help. Valium 30, 40 to 50 mg from 1970 to 2014. Decreasing valium and mirtaz 25 in 2014 to 2015 March. Shifted to etizolam 1 mg and 2 other tranquilizers (names out of memory) in April 2015. Following change of place and psychiatrist, shifted to etizolam 2 mg. Tapering began Sept 2018. Light depression and acute insomnia continue. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 22, 2021 Administrator Share Posted March 22, 2021 Hello, @nirubhai. This is your Introductions topic. 19 hours ago, nirubhai said: 1 ml progressive taper plan What is this? We cannot predict how long it will take you to taper off those drugs, or if you will get withdrawal symptoms from tapering all of them at once. If the drugs will not be available, you'll have to do the best you can. Read about your drugs here This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
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