Sleepan: amitriptyline cold turkey - 4th week reinstatement in peril as I started cardiac coherence

[Oyster]

Hi @Sleepan I have read that combining vitamin E with magnesium is a really useful strategy.  Take care.

[Terry]

20 hours ago, Sleepan said:

I will certainly research on Fish Oil studies benefits for brain injuries. 

Hi Sleepan,

 

I am also a "woman gifted in years", as Rhiannon puts it.  😉  As I age I can clearly see that my brain does not function as well as it did just a few years ago, so I need all the help I can find.  I visited a functional medicine doctor who recommended EFA-Sirt Supreme fish oil capsules.  I had been taking Swanson brand fish oil that I ordered from their website, but decided to switch based on this very knowledgeable doctor's advice.  Shortly after I started taking EFA-Sirt Supreme my anxiety seemed to calm down.  Perhaps I was just entering a window at that point, but I really do believe a high quality product can make a difference.  I was also taking MCT oil which is very good for the brain.

 

Best wishes for your taper!

[Sleepan]

Thank you so much Terry.  Just before reading your message, I opted to replace Magnesium (test) by Nordic's Naturals Ultimate Omega 1000mg, EPA 325mg, DHA 225mg (test 1st day).  I will search however for EFA-Sirt Supreme, as well as MCT oil.  I may choose to buy the latter in the following weeks.  Of course, the quality in making "some" supplements can make a significant difference.  Some are more difficult to extract than others.  I'll write to you to give an update.  I see you are now at 0.9 Sertraline since yesterday.  A year between reductions seem a good strategy.  Please update your page on your symptoms in the coming days,  hoping they will be almost none.  I want to plan for the best strategy.  I like yours a lot.  

[Sleepan]

@Terry  I researched MCT oil and I'm impressed.  I want to order, but so many brands make it hard to choose.  I would be grateful if you could share me the brand you use. 

 

Biotics Research's EFA-Sirt Supreme looks extremely effective.  It is on my Wish List.  

 

I'm immensely grateful, Terry, for suggesting those two supplements.  They appears to be a winning pair, indeed.  Perfect for gifted old ladies.

[Sleepan]

@Oyster  Thank you for sharing the tip on Vitamin E combined to Magnesium the boost effect. Will look for a quality Vitamin E, certainly.                 

[Terry]

6 hours ago, Sleepan said:

@Terry  I researched MCT oil and I'm impressed.  I want to order, but so many brands make it hard to choose.  I would be grateful if you could share me the brand you use. 

 

Biotics Research's EFA-Sirt Supreme looks extremely effective.  It is on my Wish List.  

 

I'm immensely grateful, Terry, for suggesting those two supplements.  They appears to be a winning pair, indeed.  Perfect for gifted old ladies.

Here's the brand I bought.  Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil ( MCT Oil)

[Oyster]

Hi @Sleepan and @Terry thanks for bringing my attention to MCT oil - had never heard about its benefits before today.

[Sleepan]

Update : At the end of 6^th week, on January 30^st, I started Cardiac Coherence again and I could not sleep the following 3 nights, so I stopped cardiac coherence again on January 2^nd, and started sleeping well again on 3^rd-4^th.   I think it means that cardiac coherence is very effective, and my brain and nervous sytem are not ready to align with the heart, yes?

I’m into 8^th week reinstatement of Amitriptyline 22.5mg (titration).  I slept 5 out of 7 previous nights which is very good.  I'm more calm, more sleepy, but also my mind is getting more foggy, poor memory.  It is probably due to having less anxiety.  I read many articles here on SA and I like a lot topic "What is happening in your brain" shared by @Altostrata on someone explaining “symptoms themselves are a way for one to know that healing is taking place”.  So knowing waves are signs that brain is working to heal itself is very encouraging to support them with less anxiety.

I was losing a lot of hair since I went Cold Turkey on Ami.  I rubbed my crane with Castor oil yesterday and washed my hair an hour later.  I’m losing less hair today. I also rub Castor oil on side of my forehead and back of my neck, to help with my headache which is almost gone.

Other symptoms that I wonder about are a difficulty to urinate and very itchy especially underarms.

As for supplements, I alternate right now between small dose of Fish Oil 1000mg and Magnesium 100mg.  I added Tulsi Capsules 1000mg.

I found a juice recipe for brain inflammation that I made today:  1/4 beet, 4 mandarines, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cayenne pepper.  I ordered some Barley Grass Powder and I will add it.  Barley Grass Powder can be added everywhere, even on salad.  I'm germinating some Fenugreek seeds which is very good to heal the brain.  I also go outside for a walk everyday on a trail with my dog.  

Overall, I think I am stabilizing until now.  I'm getting better with Meditations and it helps a lot with sleeping at night, as I control more my racing thoughts.  

[Terry]

13 minutes ago, Sleepan said:

very itchy especially underarms

For about 6 or 7 months I had a number of itchy areas.  It started with the back of my head, then my arms, abdomen, low back and right calf.   I wondered if it was from WD.  Now I'm sure as all of it has disappeared.  I seem to be losing more hair too.  Very disconcerting!

[Sleepan]

@Terry  Thank you for sharing your own experience.  It started to itch on the low back too.  I worry a little for underarms' itch as it is the location of lymph.   I'll apply Castor oil on both my underarms for one week to start and I'll update about it.

 

I discovered Castor oil warmly recommended by an hygienist.  He said to apply Castor oil on belly, and cover it with something warm. 

P.S. I just did it and it is not too sticky.

 

 

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

3 hours ago, Sleepan said:

Other symptoms that I wonder about are a difficulty to urinate and very itchy especially underarms.

 

Hello, Sleepan. The difficulty in urination is a side effect of amitriptyline. Was your last dosage change on January 20?

 

The itching may be dry skin from indoor heating in the winter. Do you use deodorant or some product under your arms?

[Sleepan]

@Altostrata   No change to my dosage since January 20.  It is still 22.5mg total every day, at constant time.  It is possible the difficulty in urination started after I quit Cold Turkey Amitriptyline and before my reinstatement on December 21st.  I have to push my belly and make some extra efforts to be certain my bladder is empty but it does not hurt.  Of course, I thought of having stones in my bladder or kidneys.  I ordered and received Stone Breaker extract, a natural herb also called Chanca Piedra, but have not used it yet, being careful to not disturb my reinstatement.

 

I never used underarms' deodorant.  I never sweated much.  I searched about underarms' itching and found it could be dermatitis or Lymphoma or Inflammatory Breast Cancer.  I have an appointment with a doctor at the end of February, and I will ask her to check my underarms.  I do not feel any growth of the Lymph and my breasts are not hard or swollen or warmer, so I feel no urgency.  It is probably a dermatitis.  Thank you for asking.

 

 

[Happy2Heal]

On 2/11/2020 at 5:06 PM, Sleepan said:

very itchy especially underarms.

 

 

hmm, I have itchy underarms too.

it comes and it goes and I've never connected it to WD although I don't recall that I had itchy underarms at any time in the past.

 

I also have had itchiness in other places, to the point where it drove me to distraction and I scratched my skin raw

 

It is probably from dry air,  I think it happens most in the winter or if I'm in air conditioning for a long time (which I think can also dry the air)

 

it wouldn't surprise me if it was connected somehow to WD though, there are so many odd symptoms we can get 

 

[Sleepan]

I'm starting to have more new symptoms and I fear my reinstatement is not working.  Maybe my dose is too high (I wish I started at a lower dose)? 

 

Since week 4 of my reinstatement, per week I slept 4 nights average and had 3 days in a wave.  I had , I sleep 4 hours - 8:30am-12:30am - then I go back to bed and it is half sleep and insomnia.  Maybe it is caused by my fear?  I started to eat more carbs and sugar since 2-3 weeks.  I had the insight waking up that it could be the culprit, so I will cut sugar and carbs starting now.  

 

The plan for me considering my old age, is to keep taking the current dose 22.5mg by titration for a long time, i.e. one year to stabilize.  When will I know I'm stabilized, so I can start to taper?  I can't wait to taper.  

[Rosetta]

Thinking of you.  I have had a lot of itching throughout this experience.  A lot of tingling and numbness, too.  Sometimes itching is very similar — caused by odd signals the brain sends out as it is changing.  Of course, winter dry skin is very common, too.  I think we all need to drink more water.  Do you like hot tea?  I find that it is a good way to hydrate in winter when I don’t crave liquid much.  I like the warmth of the mug and the sensation of drinking hot tea.  I turn down the heat, bundle up and have tea as a way of calming myself.

Rosetta 

[Sleepan]

@Rosetta   So nice to  hear from you. Winter is nice this year on the northeast too.  Not too cold or windy with not more than 1 snowfall per week, so walking outside is everyday right now.  Very grateful for that.  

 

I like tea.  Black Tea is very nice with a pinch of Himalayan salt.  Today, I drank a fresh lemon tea with raw honey.  I have also a choice of herbal teas such as Nettle, Echinaea, Chamomille, Dandelion, Egyptian Licorice, Green Tea, etc.  I usually drink one or two per day.  I often drink homemade vegetable juices as its minerals are all & quickly absorbed. 

 

I also calm myself by making many new recipes per week.  It takes full consciousness to do so.  I only eat one full meal course per day.  Today I did a new side dish:  mushroom squares then zucchini little squares then garlic cooked with a mix of butter & olive oil.  In the end, I poured over the three, some butter and lemon juice and some lemon rind, making it perfect.  It accompanied with peanut butter chicken pieces from yesterday (using coconut milk, soy sauce and lemon).  Almost decadent but very easy and quick to do. 

 

I'm quite calm.  Not hungry since my homemade vegetable juice and the meal above around 12pm.  I will not eat before tomorrow 12pm.  I feel a strong urge to fast for few days while taking my doses, and this is a way to test the waters, yes?  Have you ever read on that subject and be tempted to try yourself, Rosetta?  I saw some members wrote on their fasting experiences in this forum and read few posts.  I need to investigate it more as the question is, can one fast for more than 24 hours while taking an anti-depressant?   

 

I meditate a little every day.   I listened a video by a british astrologer, Pam Gregory, on YouTube who said that Feb 23 New Moon will be a great opportunity for a month to have supernatural experience in meditations for a lot of us.  She also mentioned she meditate herself since many years.  I found it very interesting that it is also my birthday, which means that this New Moon will help me in meditate until my next birthday.  It is a short video. Maybe you'll enjoy listening to it since it is about meditation.

 

I feel well now.  And I enjoy confiding to you, Rosetta. 

 

 

 

[Sleepan]

There’s one great advantage from a brain injury by anti-depressants.  One’s mental is handicapped, but it also is in potential healing mode.  Knowing this, you can let go of being a mental for a more spiritual state of being.  It is easier to not judge and to live in the “now”.  I watched a documentary where Alzheimer patients in France go to class of meditations and they are good enough to increase their well-being and cognition too.

P.S.  I’m taking Lion’s Mane 1000mg since 3 days and my mental is significantly improved.  However, I learned a lot on how it feels good to not be so addicted to one’s mental activity.

My reinstatement is improving.   I sleep most of the time now.  My symptoms from the CT and reinstatement in spite of a resistance to Amitriptilyne, are less intense.  @Altostrata @Gridley @Rosetta @Rhiannon @Vegalia

 

 

[Sleepan]

On 2/11/2020 at 8:36 PM, Altostrata said:

Hello, Sleepan. The difficulty in urination is a side effect of amitriptyline. Was your last dosage change on January 20?

 

@Altostrata    I think often about your question and maybe you could tell me if this is important and did not say before.   This difficult in urination started after going Cold Turkey Amitriptyline early October as I opted to take Melatonine instead.  In fact, it started about 2 weeks later combined with an out-of-this-world water diarrhea that occurred from 3am-6am every night as Melatonin effect ceased (I had to run to toilet every 5min and repeat dozens of times).  This is when I noticed that I had to force to urinate.  It was a wild 4 weeks.  The diarrhea stopped suddenly as I took one Berberine supplement, and was replaced by a total 4 weeks total insomnia, but the difficulty in urination continued, as it still does.  Since the total insomnia, diarrhea is not a problem anymore.  HOWEVER, it has diminished a little in intensity this week.  I also slept 6 on 7 nights.

 

When I started the reinstatement on December 21st, then I started to have side effects and also paradoxal effects from taking Amitriptyline. Taking it now has nothing to do yet in how it felt when I was taking it before Cold Turkey.  I think I built a resistance towards it.  So my state now feels like a mix of Cold Turkey withdrawal symptoms, side effects and paradoxal effects.  Maybe it is not important that I see the difference.  With time, I'll probably will discern them.  P.S. Thank you so much Altostrata for this wonderful forum where one can be saved from this catastrophe that has befallen so many.

 

For probably about 20years, I was taking 25mg as prescribed every night.  I was not happy with taking it to go to sleep but it always seemed as the least of my life problems.  However, I started to not take it every night and it was approved by doctors and pharmacists as it was prescribed to me to use if necessary.  Further, I found out I could not sleep if I did not take it every night, so I cut it roughly in half and took half of it and discovered I could sleep with it.  I suspect now that some serious withdrawal symptoms or side effects appeared because of my cavalier attitude with this pill, such as having hives in both my hands' palms that nothing helped.  Doctor think it is Eczema (maybe it is).  I also started to have dizziness and sudden diarrhea where nothing doctors could find why, and also a burn-out in 1996 when doctor prescribed me 2 anti-depressants in a 2-weeks row (probably Paxil, Effexor) while still taking Amitriptyline (do not remember I ceased it then) and having terrible side effects from these.  So it seems I've been building a resistance and hypersensibility to these almost 20 years ago…?  My point is that it is lucky of me to have Cold Turkey Amitriptyline as I was faced by the severity and how this pill has taken over my brain and my body was handicapped without it.  Now, I'm able to reinstate it to better taper it the right way.  It is a good time for me to fix this as I'm also on a warrior mode to beat this and be better than before.   I really believe it.   

 

[Sleepan]

@Altostrata    I only took Paxil and Effexor (names from memory) 1 week each, as prescribed to me in 1996 for burn-out.  Because both those two anti-depressants freaked me out, I convinced the doctor that I did not want any more of these, and he succeeded to get me a sickness paper saying that only rest could heal me, and work insurance finally accepted it.  I probably had some withdrawals effects from both of these, but since I was on a burn out, I never thought that it was such.  My point is I never imagine those pills were dangerous.  And I thought Amitriptyline was not an anti-depressant, proof being that I had a severe burn out at work.  But fact is Amitriptyline had not a good effect on me anymore 20 years ago, after taking it 10 years.  The only good thing about it is that it helped me to fall asleep as I forgot how to do it myself.  But I was never at my best again since I started taking it in 1989. How could it be different?  I can't wait to taper it totally and I'll be patient. 

[Rosetta]

I’m glad to hear that you can sleep.  That must be wonderful.

[Sleepan]

@Terry  I'm thinking about you. 

[Sleepan]

@Rosetta   I'm a serious dreamer, so I am thrilled for sure.  It is like not eating for a week and finding how delicious food is, and how little you need since your stomach shrank.  I'm very grateful, Rosetta.

[Altostrata]

That's good to hear. What is your current drug schedule, with dosages?

[Sleepan]

My dosage is still 7.5mg am and 15mg pm, by titration.  I started sleeping a full week in my 9th-10th weeks of reinstatement.  It looks like I'm stabilizing on Amitriptyline. it was very gradual.  1st week of reinstatement, no sleep at all and feeling paradoxal effects (in hindsight) as if the dose was doing the opposite.  Gradually more good nights' sleep (2 on 7, 3 on 7, 4 on 7, 5 on 7, 6 on 7 and going now for a full 7 nights' sleep).  The last wave did not last long, was intense and depressing, but the day after I felt a lot of healing has taken place.  I've got a long road still ahead and steps back, as my brain's inflammation is far from gone, but it is also a time of discoveries that feel like in few years from now, I'll just be a better person both physically and mentally.  

[Sleepan]

@Altostrata

On 2/23/2020 at 8:21 PM, Altostrata said:

That's good to hear. What is your current drug schedule, with dosages?

 

@Altostrata My current drug Amitriptyline schedule is 7.5mg at 8am and 15mg at 8pm since January 21st.  I used Titration method.  I'm starting to sleep almost all nights even if those nights have two parts, awaking at 12am or 1am or 2am or 3amp, then going back to bed and sleeping rest of the night.  It seems to me as I'm stabilizing.    

 

It feels to me as if this dosage is too high for my sensitive brain after the Cold Turkey, because I always feel like if I had the Flu.  I wish I had started my reinstatement on December 21st at the lowest dosage possible  as recommended in this forum.  So I can't wait to taper this dosage.  I'm puzzled on WHEN and HOW I will taper those two daily dosages.  I am considering to taper first the 8am dosage from 7.5mg to 0mg during a period of about 3 months.  It would leave the 8pm dosage of 15mg to taper thereafter.  Do you think it would be safe to taper my dosage in this manner and when do you think I will be ready to do it?

 

I have an appointment since early January with a doctor for February 28th.  This doctor is replacing my current doctor on 4-month sick leave and she has little time to see my current doctor's patients.  The reason for requesting this appointment is to get a new prescription of 3x10mg Amitriptyline per day (replacing my current 2x10mg) so I have enough for my daily dosage prescription.  1x10mg is to cover my 8am dosage of 7.5mg and the other 2x10mg for my 8pm dosage. 

 

Since this doctor is not my regular doctor, I'm anxious to see if she will accept to write me a prescription of 3x10mg per day for a year (replacing my current 2x10mg per day), giving me sufficient time until I'm ready the tapering stage.  I'll print my Reinstatement Journal for her consideration.  If not, I intend to ask her to refer me to a neurologist or psychiatrist.  But in Canada, it could mean a waiting time of many months before an appointment

[Altostrata]

Looks like reinstatement worked. If you think you may be taking a bit too much amitriptypline, let's check to see if your symptoms follow any daily pattern. Please keep daily notes of times of day you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. You can post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right.

 

[Sleepan]

21 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Looks like reinstatement worked. If you think you may be taking a bit too much amitriptypline, let's check to see if your symptoms follow any daily pattern. Please keep daily notes of times of day you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. You can post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right.

 

Thank you so much, Altostrata.  I already take notes of schedules & symptoms.  I will be attentive to my symptoms pattern and take note of it.  So this way, I'll know for sure if there's too much or not.  Especially the brain "zap", which for me is the feeling of inflammation in the brain i.e. swelling that it feels tight in the crane, as well as some ringing or some sound that at times beat like heart. Also, this weird symptom of a foreign zig zag floating on my left eyeball as well as lightning on the extreme left when I look to the left which appeared first time on Feb 3rd, the day after I stopped cardiac coherence which I started again on January 31st and stopped on Feb 2nd after my insomnia started again and I did not sleep for 3 days.  As soon as I stopped cardiac coherence, I slept again for 3 following nights (early February, I was only sleeping 3 or 4 nights per week - It has greatly improved since).  I was then taking MCT oil and Magnesium supplements during that time.  I'm now alternating between all my preferred supplements as shown in my Profile Signature.

 

 I suspect my Brain can't manage the Coherence right now.  Or maybe I just entered a Wave at same time as I started Cardiac Coherence, and the Wave ended day after I stopped Cardiac Coherence.  Really odd!

 

That early February Wave was a little rough though.  I noted in my Journal some panic, strong brain zap and crazy thoughts the uncommon type for me, and I noticed that I started to lose a lot of hair (I rubbed my scalp with some Castor oil, two times, for 1 hour, and it helped.  The best would be to leave the Castor oil on my scalp covered with bath towel).  

 

[Altostrata]

How are you doing, Sleepan?

[Terry]

Hi @Sleepan,

 

How are you?  I haven't seen you post anything for a few months, and wonder how your taper is coming along.  Hope that you are well and staying safe in these difficult times.

 

Best wishes,

Terry

[Sleepan]

Hi everyone,

 

So sorry for not giving you news since March, I think.

 

I noticed the invitation for the movie “Medicating Normal” next Saturday 1pm and I’ll register today.

 

I’m depressed right now and cry often, for two reasons.

 

1.        I’m really worried on health officials’ horrible measures imposed on  us.  I’m never been worried much about the virus, since I prepare all my food and pay attention to make it as healthy as possible and take some good supplements when needed. My big frustration is not knowing if we will ever be able to live free as we did before.

 

2.       I’m sad of my stupidity to try tapering my morning dose only.  My misunderstanding was to think that I could add the am and pm total dose 22.5mg for finding the 10% amount.  Next time, I will decrease the 10% individually, i.e. 1.5mg/1st month for 1st decrease of 15mg pm dose, and 0.4mg/1st month for 1st decrease of 4mg am dose.

 

For now, I’m not changing anything for awhile and not the covid craziness is gone as it disturb me too much right now. 

 

And when I start tapering again, I will post about my tapering project here before, which I should have done last March.

 

I will go and read some of your comments, and see how you are doing .  I’m so happy I noticed the invitation as it will help me to come out of my worries that sadden me.  I will not see a doctor for my depression which is not that bad.  I just cry often.  I have a project to start praying.

 

Sleepan

 

[Sleepan]

On 5/7/2020 at 10:11 AM, Terry said:

How are you?  I haven't seen you post anything for a few months, and wonder how your taper is coming along.  Hope that you are well and staying safe in these difficult times.

 

Best wishes,

Terry

 

Hi @Terry

 

I'm sorry if I did not see your post earlier.  I just posted an update. I tried to taper my am dose taking 10% for the total of my am and pm dose.  Bad idea that I got by myself, but now I understand I should make the 10% taper individually for am and/or for pm.  I stopped tapering the am when I started to not sleep at all again, so I knew it was the problem, so I increased from 1mg to 4mg gradually in few weeks until I started sleeping again. 

 

Now I stay stabilized at 4mg am and 15mg pm.  I will not start to taper again before I posted my intent in AD Forum, and get some approval about it.  I think next time, I would like to bring the 15mg pm dose at 10mg (doing 10% reductions per months from pm dose only and not the total day dose incl. am). 

 

Having an am and pm dose is more complicated when one tapers, yes? 

 

I'm safe and strong enough as one can expect in those difficult times.  I have both times of optimism and pessimism every day.   I guess it is the same for you and everybody here?  I intend to take time to read on here on all people coping with medicating issues and the codvid nightmare both together.

 

Thank you for thinking about me, @Terry

 

You're all so kind, you and everyone here.  I missed you people.  I guess I do like birds.  When the times are hard, I hide somewhere.

 

Sleepan

 

[Mia1]

How are you doing now?

[Sleepan]

I reached tolerance of my medication around May 15, 2021 by not sleeping anymore, except 2-3 times.  I made some changes, bringing my am dosage and adding it to my evening dosage which is now 20mg, but it did not do any good. So now, I'm stuck on what to do:

 

1) lower the dosage - I know it is counterproductive, but it may break thru my tolerance?

2) rise the dosage - from how much and it is dangerous I reach a tolerance there fast enough, yes?

3) substitution - maybe I could ask for Librium low dosage, while I would do a 10% reduction monthly of Amitriptyline.

 

I will now read what other members said or what worked for them on the issue of tolerance.

 

I finally found how to write a topic, so I did not want to lose this one.  Insomnia is starting to make me anxious.

 

Thank you anyone if you have a suggestion.

[Sleepan]

TOLERANCE issue  Amitriptyline is not working for me since May 15, 2021 and the result is insomnia. 

 

I was hesitant to start tapering, but now I have to do something,  

 

My choices are: a) lower the dosage. I'm currently taking 20mg; 2) rise the dosage (I have no confidence it will work well); 3) substituting is interesting but it is complicated, but maybe it will be the best option in the end.

 

Right now, I made up my mind:  I will lower dosage to 18mg (90% of 20mg) as I think it could shake up the TOLERANCE issue I am stuck in.

 

It can be worst than it is now.  I'm not sleeping anymore. 

 

Certainly someone did this before in this type of situation, yes?  What can I expect?

 @Altostrata @Gridley@brassmonkey  

 

Thank you.

 

[brassmonkey]

You've pretty much nailed the choices you have. I would suggest reading through this:

 

 

 

[wantrelief]

Hi Sleepan,

 

I am really sorry to hear you are in the position you are and aren't sleeping at all.....that sounds brutal.

 

I also found myself in a position where one of the drugs I am on, citalopram, stopped working in 2019.  I was experiencing some work related stress and spiraled into a deep depression that I thought was probably caused by the drug but I wasn't completely sure.  After updosing (which didn't help at all) and holding for quite awhile, I decided the best course of action would be to start slowly tapering down.  It was terrifying to me to start a taper feeling so awful but I did and it took quite awhile but I eventually started to feel better (although I am still tapering and have my ups and downs - I still feel much better than I did back in 2019).  So my hope is that this will be the case for you, that at some point in time you will feel better and your sleep will slowly improve as you taper off the drug that is causing the problem.

 

Wishing you all the best,

WR