Coronavirus, covid-19, covid-19 vaccine, & psychiatric drug tapering & withdrawal

[Henosis]

Had first Pfizer dose.
I was pretty anxious about it, so it’s sort of difficult to distinguish that from the initial vaccine effects. But during the 15 min waiting period I did get dizzy, a little disoriented and sort of panicky. Thankfully that faded quickly and I headed home.  
 

Arm was sore, like most. Later that evening I felt extra stimulated and anxious (and tongue was burning). Now it’s important to point out that It wasn’t terrible and that this is *exactly* what happens to me if I eat any number of triggering foods, sugar, etc. Same as the rebound from alcohol as well. So perhaps not a surprise I guess. 

 

I went to bed, and slept like ****, waking up on and off, elevated heart rate, with that stimulated feeling for a while. I didn’t have a panic attack or anything too wild. I have also had a night like that from a stressful situation alone, so I’m not sure what is a true vaccine effect decoupled from anticipation/health anxiety. 
 

Next day I was back to normal and totally fine.

 

A little apprehensive about dose two In a few weeks, but confident that it’s much preferred to getting COVID. I can’t wait to be done and be able to start doing normal things again, travel, etc. 
 

I may try to convince my psych to give me a few Valium for backup. 

[Shep]

On 3/13/2021 at 12:33 AM, Henosis said:

I may try to convince my psych to give me a few Valium for backup. 

 

Just a quick FYI that Valium's active metabolite has a half-life of up to 200 hours, so it's easy to become dependent on it. And you can become dependent on benzos in just a few days (see the update to the FDA prescribing guidelines issued a few months ago:  - FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated). 

 

On 3/13/2021 at 12:33 AM, Henosis said:

Next day I was back to normal and totally fine.

 

Sounds like you handled this very well. I wouldn't tempt fate by thinking you need a benzo when you've already proven you're strong enough to get through the first shot. 

 

Just a thought. 

[marie123]

Hello everyone. I had my second Pfizer vaccine yesterday. I felt nothing yesterday except the injection site was a bit sore. Today I feel more tired than usual and that's about it. No uptick in any w/d stuff. I feel safer now and will slowly get out and about in a couple weeks. Slow is the operative word as there are a couple of variants floating around here. I am going to be conservative and see how everything plays out. Maybe an outdoor dinner at a restaurant in the near future. There is a definite ramping of supply and distribution of vaccines here in the US,  Pfizer, Moderna and J&J.  I would say to everyone here to get the vaccine. It will protect you, your family, and everyone else. Feel better. Marie.

[Henosis]

3 hours ago, Shep said:

 

Just a quick FYI that Valium's active metabolite has a half-life of up to 200 hours, so it's easy to become dependent on it. And you can become dependent on benzos in just a few days (see the update to the FDA prescribing guidelines issued a few months ago:  - FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated). 

 

 

Sounds like you handled this very well. I wouldn't tempt fate by thinking you need a benzo when you've already proven you're strong enough to get through the first shot. 

 

Just a thought. 

Thanks, but I have a lot of experience with benzos, both within and outside of SSRI tapering and withdrawal.
 

Second doses of the mRNA vaccine typically provoke much stronger side effects than the first, so I don’t think it’s necessarily a great idea to use one experience to inform the other. 

I remain hopeful I’m one of the lucky ones, or that those flu-like symptoms don’t exacerbate the anxiety issues.

[Shep]

18 hours ago, Henosis said:

Thanks, but I have a lot of experience with benzos, both within and outside of SSRI tapering and withdrawal.
 

Second doses of the mRNA vaccine typically provoke much stronger side effects than the first, so I don’t think it’s necessarily a great idea to use one experience to inform the other. 

I remain hopeful I’m one of the lucky ones, or that those flu-like symptoms don’t exacerbate the anxiety issues.

 

Fair enough, Henosis. But we don't recommend the use of benzos to deal with the side effects of a vaccine any more than we advocate the use of benzos (or any other psychiatric drug) to deal with withdrawal effects. 

 

It's risky and that's something to note for others reading this thread who may not know about this class of drug and how quickly dependency can set in. We need to provide informed consent for members' safety. 

[Henosis]

4 hours ago, Shep said:

 

Fair enough, Henosis. But we don't recommend the use of benzos to deal with the side effects of a vaccine any more than we advocate the use of benzos (or any other psychiatric drug) to deal with withdrawal effects. 

 

It's risky and that's something to note for others reading this thread who may not know about this class of drug and how quickly dependency can set in. We need to provide informed consent for members' safety. 

Understood. I’ll report back after the second dose.!

[tntd]

Well, being a veteran I ended up being able to get my vaccine earlier than most my age. I think they must have their own vaccine pool and ages criteria. Anyway, my husband and I both received our vaccines on Monday. He hasn't really had any problems (update: he had fatigue, cog fog, headache and chills all very mild) but I ended up in the ER with anaphylaxis. I was fortunate that it wasn't bad enough to have to be admitted. I was also fortunate that the vaccine was administered at a hospital so the ER was right there. I started having symptoms of an allergic reaction about 15 to 30 minutes after the shot. I actually had an immediate reaction that went away right away, that was interesting. My husband was with me and he noticed it too.

 

Shortly after we left I got really dizzy and weak and then things started to swell and I started having some difficulty breathing. That was scary.  It all happened within the first hour after the shot. I take an antihistamine on a regular basis but also took another one not long after the symptoms started. I was fortunate that it kicked in shortly after my tongue started swelling. I was terrified to use my epi pen because it's adrenaline, yikes. I probably should have because of the breathing difficulties. Fortunately I didn't end up needing it and I said no to the steroids they suggested. I've been taking Benadryl when the symptoms come back. Today hasn't been as bad. The allergy symptoms are finally starting to fade. They do seem to come and go randomly though.  

 

I also had some of the regular previously noted side effects of headache, chills, body aches, sore arm, swollen arm, and extreme fatigue. They are gone now.  I have also had increased wd sxs which I believe is due to the anaphylactic reaction I had. 

 

From everything I've heard most people don't need to worry about having a severe reaction like I did. I have a history of severe allergies in the first place, including a reaction to a previous flu vaccine. I carry an epi pen on a regular basis because of it so I was one of those people they told to be prepared just in case. I went into it thinking all would be well but prepared just in case it wasn't. I'm alive, I've had one dose of the vaccine as well as a bout with COVID so I'm pretty well protected even though I can't have a second dose. Hopefully that remains the case as the virus mutates as I will be someone who needs to be protected by everyone else which is not a feeling I like. 

 

Every day is a new adventure!!! 

 

Hugs and healing to everyone, 

 

T

[Henosis]

2 hours ago, tntd said:

Well, being a veteran I ended up being able to get my vaccine earlier than most my age. I think they must have their own vaccine pool and ages criteria. Anyway, my husband and I both received our vaccines on Monday. He hasn't really had any problems (update: he had fatigue, cog fog, headache and chills all very mild) but I ended up in the ER with anaphylaxis. I was fortunate that it wasn't bad enough to have to be admitted. I was also fortunate that the vaccine was administered at a hospital so the ER was right there. I started having symptoms of an allergic reaction about 15 to 30 minutes after the shot. I actually had an immediate reaction that went away right away, that was interesting. My husband was with me and he noticed it too.

 

Shortly after we left I got really dizzy and weak and then things started to swell and I started having some difficulty breathing. That was scary.  It all happened within the first hour after the shot. I take an antihistamine on a regular basis but also took another one not long after the symptoms started. I was fortunate that it kicked in shortly after my tongue started swelling. I was terrified to use my epi pen because it's adrenaline, yikes. I probably should have because of the breathing difficulties. Fortunately I didn't end up needing it and I said no to the steroids they suggested. I've been taking Benadryl when the symptoms come back. Today hasn't been as bad. The allergy symptoms are finally starting to fade. They do seem to come and go randomly though.  

 

I also had some of the regular previously noted side effects of headache, chills, body aches, sore arm, swollen arm, and extreme fatigue. They are gone now.  I have also had increased wd sxs which I believe is due to the anaphylactic reaction I had. 

 

From everything I've heard most people don't need to worry about having a severe reaction like I did. I have a history of severe allergies in the first place, including a reaction to a previous flu vaccine. I carry an epi pen on a regular basis because of it so I was one of those people they told to be prepared just in case. I went into it thinking all would be well but prepared just in case it wasn't. I'm alive, I've had one dose of the vaccine as well as a bout with COVID so I'm pretty well protected even though I can't have a second dose. Hopefully that remains the case as the virus mutates as I will be someone who needs to be protected by everyone else which is not a feeling I like. 

 

Every day is a new adventure!!! 

 

Hugs and healing to everyone, 

 

T

Sorry to hear about the allergic reaction, but it sounds like you have a history of this and came out ok 👍.

 

I wanted to add that there is preliminary evidence and arguments from ID epidemiologists that a second mRNA shot is likely not necessary if you’ve had COVID. Antibody levels after the first are sky high, and don’t seem to appreciably improve after the second.
Obviously it’s complex, and that is not the current recommendation from the CDC. But it should put your mind at ease a bit.

 

A larger concern may be lacking the ability to get a variant booster down the road, but we’ll see if that happens or not. 

 

[tntd]

Hey Henosis,

 

Thanks. I've never had quite such a severe allergic reaction so that took me completely by surprise but you are right, everything turned out ok . Interestingly I was listening to a show with Dr Fauci and he said that only 2 - 4 people in a million have a severe allergic reaction. Fortunately most people don't have to worry about it and most of the people I know who have had the vaccine have had little to no side effects from it. 

 

Interestingly the ER doctor told me about the early studies showing that one shot and combined with having had COVID equal the same level of protection as two shots. I was relieved to hear it but of course I looked it up too. On top of that my daughter had already read about it. Thank you so much for letting me know that you have the same information. As you said my only concern now are the variants which hopefully our T-cells still recognize and activate against so even if we do get sick it won't be as bad!! I'm going to try not to borrow that worry for now and just concentrate on continuing to heal.

[Kristinhopes]

Well I got the 1-dose Johnson and Johnson yesterday: pretty immediately I felt nauseous. I then had an apparent vasivagul reaction because I awoke surrounded by nurses tending to me. I had fainted and also hit my head. I ended up at urgent care. Feeling really tired and out of it today, sore arm, head ache. Traumatic experience unfortunately for me. 

[Longroadhome]

On 3/12/2021 at 7:26 PM, Longroadhome said:

I had my AZ vaccine on Monday 8th March.  

The muscle around the vaccine site is a little achy 5 days later but nothing really. 
On the evening after I had it done my body felt a little achy with flu like symptoms but that had gone by the next morning . 
all in all I can’t complain. 
it has not sent me into a wave and has not made my wd symptoms worse. 
 

I tested positive for COVID in October last year. I had very few symptoms. Pain above my eyes and pains in my stomach  along with a slight temperature . That was it . 

Its now been 17 days since my first vaccine and I’d just like to report I’m feeling fine. 
As stated earlier apart from pain around the injection site which lasted for just over a week I had no other symptoms. 
 

[Colonial]

1 hour ago, Kristinhopes said:

Well I got the 1-dose Johnson and Johnson yesterday: pretty immediately I felt nauseous. I then had an apparent vasivagul reaction because I awoke surrounded by nurses tending to me. I had fainted and also hit my head. I ended up at urgent care. Feeling really tired and out of it today, sore arm, head ache. Traumatic experience unfortunately for me. 

 

I'm so sorry about that.

Fortunately, (in regards to Our particular situation) AND unfortunately, (to the general public) that is not all too uncommon.

Feel better soon.

 

[bheb]

On 3/18/2021 at 12:22 PM, tntd said:

Hopefully that remains the case as the virus mutates as I will be someone who needs to be protected by everyone else which is not a feeling I like

So sorry to hear about your reaction. But stuff like this is important for me and others to read! I forget that some people can’t take the vaccine (though seems most can take this than others) so it’s not enough just for vulnerable populations to be vaccinated. As we learn more about their protection against asymptomatic transmission.
 

I’m getting my first dose on Monday. Somewhat nervous, but fingers crossed & I will report back!

[Superwoman]

On 3/18/2021 at 2:59 PM, tntd said:

As you said my only concern now are the variants which hopefully our T-cells still recognize and activate against so even if we do get sick it won't be as bad!! I'm going to try not to borrow that worry for now and just concentrate on continuing to heal.

I read that the shots are only slightly less effective against the new variants.  You should still be protected against the new variants currently circulating.  You are right, if you do get sick with the new variants it likely won’t be as bad as it would if you had no vaccine.  Hopefully they will do research on develop a vaccine that is safe for people like you with severe allergies/anaphylaxis.  

[Sonia009]

I had my first covid Oxford AZ jab around three weeks ago. My arm gave me no problem, I had aches and flu symptoms, weird feeling in throat like I was catching a cold, tiredness, lethargy, increased tinnitus and giddiness. I was getting some light headed feelings before the jab through withdrawal but this dizziness was more severe. It is slowly easing and the flu symptoms are gone. On searching the internet for giddiness following the covid jab I came across a forum where lots have people have written in with their symptoms, particularly severe dizziness. Some have vestibular disorders but not all. If anyone is interested this can be found @vestibular.org, VEDA forum, Covid-19 side effects. 

[Johni]

 

Hi there. I thought I'd post it too. I got my first Zeneca vaccine at 9.30am on Wednesday. at 3 o'clock at night I woke up with chills and flu-like symptoms. I have been completely weak ever since. Today, the fever is over but this sluggish weak feeling still persists. take care

[Johni]

 

afterword: today I became positive 🙈🙈🙈

[Sonia009]

Hi @ Johni how are you now?

[Johni]

Hello @Sonia001. today quite well. my fever is gone just a weakness

[Colonial]

@Johni

Many people here are being infected at the very mass vaccination centers as well.

A thousand people in and out of a gymnasium in 7 hours, what could possibly go wrong, right?

Feel better soon.

 

[Sonia009]

37 minutes ago, Johni said:

Hello @Sonia001. today quite well. my fever is gone just a weakness

That's good to hear. Hopefully the weakness will wear off soon too. Cake care.

[Johni]

I became rashed, although it could be from cipralex or a combination of the two.

[Sonia009]

20 minutes ago, Johni said:

I became rashed, although it could be from cipralex or a combination of the two.

I believe this is another side effect after reading testimonials on the website I mentioned. Just yesterday I was speaking to someone who had the jab in her left arm and straight away she felt a pain in her right arm that shot up to her eye. That evening she developed redness and swelling on her upper chest area and an ache in her neck. The swelling and redness went quickly, by the next day, but she still has an ache in her neck several weeks later. I guess it affects us in different ways, unless you're one of the lucky ones.

[Johni]

this was once the case when cipralex was reduced

[manymoretodays]

Pfizer for me.  And done!

1st shot on March 10th and 2nd on the 31st of March, exactly 3 weeks apart.

I got scheduled and in as soon as it opened up for the 50 and over age group.  I honestly did not know which vaccine I'd be getting until I got there.  I was actually comforted that it was Pfizer.  A risk I felt okay with.  

 

Felt fortunate considering the far reaching consequences of the Covid pandemic.  So much loss and confusion out there.  So much division.  It's hard when it's all around us.

I did alternate arms.  

The second one hit me between 24 and 48 hours out, fatigue, emotionalism........and so, taking it real easy today, with the expectation that I will be fine 72 hours out and so it will be.

 

Really proud of myself, it took courage to go get a experimental vaccine through the Health Department here.  Mass immunization, not mandatory, and apparently I may need a booster in 6 months.   So be it.

 

The weather is beautiful, wish you all healing.  I have a lot of faith to guide me.

[sunnysideup69]

On 4/2/2021 at 6:00 PM, Johni said:

 

afterword: today I became positive 🙈🙈🙈

Hi there,

Do you mean you have tested positive for Covid?

Hopefully not but if so, take care.

[Johni]

hi. due to the holidays i can only go next time to test. It’s probably positive because I’m pretty bad. Just lying all day.

[sunnysideup69]

On 3/31/2021 at 11:34 AM, Sonia001 said:

I had my first covid Oxford AZ jab around three weeks ago. My arm gave me no problem, I had aches and flu symptoms, weird feeling in throat like I was catching a cold, tiredness, lethargy, increased tinnitus and giddiness. I was getting some light headed feelings before the jab through withdrawal but this dizziness was more severe. It is slowly easing and the flu symptoms are gone. On searching the internet for giddiness following the covid jab I came across a forum where lots have people have written in with their symptoms, particularly severe dizziness. Some have vestibular disorders but not all. If anyone is interested this can be found @vestibular.org, VEDA forum, Covid-19 side effects. 

 

Hey @Sonia001,

How are you? I too have had the Oxford Astra Zeneca jab, two weeks ago. Felt like I'd been hit by a bus for 48 hours after, then fine, then fluey again 10 days later. Now, feel absolutely fine. 

Really glad I did it, was nervous though.

[Sonia009]

34 minutes ago, sunnysideup69 said:

 

Hey @Sonia001,

How are you? I too have had the Oxford Astra Zeneca jab, two weeks ago. Felt like I'd been hit by a bus for 48 hours after, then fine, then fluey again 10 days later. Now, feel absolutely fine. 

Really glad I did it, was nervous though.

Hi @ sunnysideup69,

Glad you're ok. Yes it is nerve racking, like walking into the unknown. I'm ok apart from headaches and dizziness. Plodding on the best I can. Made me realise the dizziness I get with withdrawal is more of a light headed feeling. Not looking forward to next one scheduled for middle of May.

[Sonia009]

40 minutes ago, Johni said:

hi. due to the holidays i can only go next time to test. It’s probably positive because I’m pretty bad. Just lying all day.

Sorry you're not feeling too good. Maybe it's the side effects of the vaccine, the flu symptoms can be pretty bad. Hope you have a better day tomorrow. 

[sunnysideup69]

3 minutes ago, Sonia001 said:

Hi @ sunnysideup69,

Glad you're ok. Yes it is nerve racking, like walking into the unknown. I'm ok apart from headaches and dizziness. Plodding on the best I can. Made me realise the dizziness I get with withdrawal is more of a light headed feeling. Not looking forward to next one scheduled for middle of May.

Yeah, I too was nervous. I think especially for those of us that have had this wretched tangle with psycho drugs, it feels riskier, also.

 

Hopefully your May jab will be easier to deal with. I'm definitely hoping for less side effects after.

[Sonia009]

2 minutes ago, sunnysideup69 said:

Yeah, I too was nervous. I think especially for those of us that have had this wretched tangle with psycho drugs, it feels riskier, also.

 

Hopefully your May jab will be easier to deal with. I'm definitely hoping for less side effects after.

Thanks Sunny, hope yours go ok too. 

[ikam]

Hi, got my second pfizer vaccination on Thursday evening. 

Was all right for two days, today had diarrhea and really fast heart rate... Extremely tired and headache. 

Seems like delayed response... 

[Henosis]

On 3/15/2021 at 8:34 AM, Henosis said:

Understood. I’ll report back after the second dose.!

I’m now 8 days out from second dose of Pfizer. I had no side effects besides a sore arm, no exacerbation of withdrawal/tapering symptoms, etc.

[Crochet]

I got the the first Moderna vaccine last Tuesday.  My arm started to hurt that night and my system was activated.  I didn't sleep at all, which threw me into a really bad wave for a day.  Luckily I got some sleep the second night and this was followed by two relatively low symptom days.

 

The arm pain moved to my armpit it is still sore there.  My doctor says this is happening to many people where their lymph nodes are impacted.  I guess they're even revising guidelines for mammograms.

 

My symptoms from the shot were arm pain, then armpit pain.  But, it activated my system and put me into a wave. 

 

I'm not sure I'm up for the second shot. My doctor asked me to give it a month, then decide.  Apparently there is some wiggle room in terms of when you get the next shot.

[Colonial]

Younger people seem to be having more symptoms than older.

Supposedly due to the younger people having a more vibrant immune response.

 

Younger Women of child bearing age having the most symptoms,

Thought to be due to higher estrogen levels.

Still conjecture but that seems to be the patterns.