Greatful: Is this withdrawal or too many med changes at once?

[Mia1]

I do think of you 😊 I’m so happy you were able to spend time with your daughter and grandchildren, that’s awesome!! It sounds like you’re managing your symptoms well, I’m really happy to hear that. I know what you mean about the conversation piece though, I can literally get overstimulated being on the phone. It’s a fine balance of doing and just being. 

You have a lot of courage and strength yourself, look how well you’re doing!! I really appreciate your encouragement, it means a lot to me, thank you 💗

P.S I responded to you on KLP’s thread

[Greatful]

@AltostrataHere is 3 daily notes.  Did you mean Xanax when you said Ativan?  

Thanks for all you and your mods do..

 

Monday 6/21

12am- wake up from sleep go back to sleep

4am- woke up  tense

4-6am- Restless sleep anxiety

6:30 am- get up  weak light headed, dizzy, foggy, lethargic, fatigue,

7am- eat yogurt  Shaky, brain buzzing and brain numb

8am- 37.5 Lamictal,  50mg vit c, 1000mg omego 3, 50mg magnesuim  still having the above symptoms

9am- short walk

12- 50mg  magnesium 

1:30pm- light lunch  1000mg Omego3, 200mg L Theanine   Still weak and fatigue

5pm- 5mg Lexapro,  .029mg Xanax    Dinner   light fatigue

9:30-pm  25mg Trazadone,  .125 Xanax,  .5mg melatonin

Anxiety, depression, and brain buzzing all day

 

Tuesday 6/22

1:30am- Wake up back to sleep

4-5am- wake up on and off    tense

5am- 50mg magnesium       Very tense, anxiety spikes, panic

6am-get up    Very tense, anxiety, brain buzzing and numb, weak, brain fog, fatigue

7am- yogurt

8am- 37.5 Lamictal,  1000mg Omego 3, 200mg 50mg vit c   still having the same symptoms from above

12- lunch still  feel the same

2pm- 50mg magnesium, 1000mg Omego 3,  200mg L Theanine

5pm- 5mg Lexapro,  .029mg Xanax  symptoms decreasing

9:30pm- 25mg Trazadone, .125 Xanax .5mg melatonin

light depression and anxiety all day  Brain buzzing and numb all day

 

Wed.  6/23

12:30am- wake up   back to sleep

2:30am- wake up    back to sleep

4am- wake up

5am- 50mg magnesium, anxiety

5am to 6am- up in bed   lethargic, foggy, mild depression. tense

7am- get up and eat yogurt  

8am - 37.5mg Lamictal, 1000mg Omego 3,  50mg vit c

9am- walk still feel anxiety and mild low mood, brain buzzing and numb

10am- 50mg magnesium

1pm- lunch  Brain still a mess, anxiety

2pm- 1000mg Omego 3,  50mg magnesium,  200mg L Theanine  

3-4pm feeling better some anxiety and panic

5pm- 5mg Lexapro,  .029 Xanax  50mg magnesium    Dinner  

feeling better;/

9:30  25mg Trazadone, .125 Xanax  .5mg melatonin

I have 2 questions

1-- do you think the Lexapro is to activating and not letting me sleep more sound.  I sleep restless. You would think I would sleep like a log with the sleep meds

2--Do you think I am taking to much sleep aid, and that is why I have such a hard time in the morning with lethargic, low mood and foggy brain

    If so, do you think I should move my Lexapro to earlier in the day and stop melatonin?  

 

 

 

 

 

[Greatful]

@Mia1 @KittenLePurr  I stumbled across this do a google check on how to change negative thinking.  Found this web site mrsmindfulness.com/the -four-keys-to-overcoming-negative-thinkingkfor-good/   

These are the first 2 ( there was to much for me to copy and paste here.  It would have taken up a lot of space). I think it might be a idea for you to check it out..  I thought of you Mia1. and you already profound wisdom on mindfulness, and I think this is what you have been trying to tell us.

 

 

GETTING UNSTUCK: THE ‘NAME IT TO TAME IT’ TECHNIQUE

People trapped in negative thinking often tell me they feel hopeless because they often wrestle or argue with the thoughts or push them away, but the research shows that trying to struggle with thoughts in these ways just amplifies them (1) as you may have noticed in your own life. What you resist persists.

So how do you move through life in a way that is practical, peaceful and authentic without getting stuck in negative thought patterns?

Here is the first step. It’s a very powerful, simple, tried and tested technique for untangling from thoughts without struggling with them. It’s called the ‘name it to tame it’ technique.

‘Name it to tame it’ is a phrase coined by author and psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Siegel. Here’s the basics of how ‘name it to tame it’ works:

When an unhelpful thought pattern (and the associated emotion) arises you simply mentally ‘label’ the story. You’ve probably noticed many of our thoughts are repetitive and involve the same story lines. For instance one of my stories often is, “Who am I to be putting myself ‘out there’ teaching mindfulness. Aren’t you supposed to be perfect first!? Have it all totally together?!” I find this story unhelpful so when thoughts come up along that storyline, I simply mentally note to myself, “Ahhhh the ‘who do you think you are’ story is here again” and then I let it go.

By ‘let it go’ I simply mean, I stop giving it all my attention and stop taking it so seriously. I realise it’s just a thought, not reality, then I open my awareness to the world around me again—the birds in the trees, the sounds, the breeze. I get out of my head and into my life (more on this in key two)

As soon as you name the mental story or pattern, you have now stepped back from being caught up in it. In other words you have initiated cognitive defusion. From a neuroscience perspective, when you name the thoughts you stop being hijacked by them from the negativity they create (2) because you bring the smartest part of your brain online (the frontal cortex). The frontal cortex is reflective and helps you step back and get a greater perspective. You can do the same thing with emotions, naming them to tame them like “ahhh anxiety is here” or “oh shame has arrived”.

When naming or labelling your thoughts or emotions, one important tip. Make sure when you mentally label, to do it in a soothing, kind tone of voice. This is important as it helps you to settle and invite compassion and soothing into that moment instead of aggression or struggle. We’re not going to battle with the mind here. We are gently training it into new neural pathways of peace and ease. At a biological level, when you ‘name it to tame it’ in a soothing voice you even get a squirt of soothing neurotransmitters in the brain! This brings feelings of calm and ease and comfort (3).

KEY TWO: COMING TO YOUR SENSES

“Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness.” ~ James Thurber

Notice that many negative thoughts mostly flow from two directions. The first is dwelling on the past—maybe you ruminate over mistakes, problems, guilt and anything in your life that’s did not go the way you believe it should have gone. The second is worrying about the future—fear of what may or may not happen for yourself, others or the planet.

This may take the form of stress over whether or not you will achieve certain goals or anxiety about the security of your finances or relationships. Or perhaps you may worry about getting old. Whatever your particular negative thoughts are, notice that in order to engage in negative thought patterns the mind needs to cast its focus mostly into past or future. Either that or we judge and mentally label things in the present moment to be ‘bad’.

When lost in negative thinking we tend to be so engrossed in thoughts that we completely lose touch with what is actually happening in the present moments of our lives. We miss the little pleasures of living each day. The sunlight on your skin, the taste of the food we’re eating, a real connection with someone we love while they are talking. When we’re lost on our heads we lose touch with the world around us….and we lose touch with ourselves.

To become more present, and able to step out of negative thinking, one powerful method is to ‘come to your senses’. To do this simply redirect your attention out of the thoughts in your head and bring your focus to your sense perceptions.

Whether you’re in your home, at the office, in the park or on a subway, notice everything around you. Use your senses to their fullest. Don’t get into a mental dialogue about the things you see, just be aware of what you’re experiencing in this moment.

Be aware of the sounds, the scents, the sensation of the air on your skin or the contact points with the seat beneath you. Be there fully in the moment. This is a form of mindfulness practice (more about this below).

Research from Prof. Mark Williams from Oxford University showed that when difficulties arise in life many of us tend to get caught up in excessive unhelpful thinking. Sometimes people try to stop constant unhelpful thinking but we don’t have to try to stop our thoughts. A more effective way to ease all that internal noise, Prof. Williams teaches, is to pay attention to our direct sensory experience. In this way there’s simply little to no room left in our attention for all that excessive thinking. Coming to our senses calms the mind and grounds us in the present moment.

Now, it’s not that we’re aiming to live completely immersed in our senses all the time. It’s appropriate to think when it’s useful of course. But we can use this awareness of our senses to ground and centre us in a greater awareness when when we find ourselves caught up in negative thinking.

It is actually almost impossible to be both deeply present in the moment in our senses and keep the negativity going! Try it out as an experiment and find out for yourself to see whether this is true.

Have a great day

 

[Mia1]

I actually do a variation of this every day, mindfulness is really important. I love the article, she really put together a good formula, have you been practicing? I appreciate you sharing this.

How are you doing today?

[Greatful]

1 hour ago, Mia1 said:

 

@Mia1 Did you go and read the whole article?  I saved it on my favorites.  I think I will have to go back to it many times for refresher and I don't think I can learn all the techniques at once.  Yes I went for a walk shortly after I read it and I was constantly naming thoughts  that's your ocd thought,  that's your neg thought,  that's your low self esteem thought,  to name a few....And oh yeah I need to look around me but don't get in to a mental dialog with what you see. It did put a stop to ruminating and it felt good to put a stop to immediately feeling bad about yourself when you have a neg thought.  Since this wd I am really taking a look at myself and realizing how neg I am.  Like Millie Obrien said how we can be a inner self critic and feel like we have to whip ourselves into shape for not being good enough.

 

I actually had a fairly good evening.  Not depressed and anxiety way down.  Some ups and downs today.  It is really discouraging when you feel okay and then you feel the slow I don't  "feel so good"  roll in.  But I have been trying to use the name it skills.  Like here is the anxiety, or here comes the wd sick feeling.   

 

How are you doing? Are feeling more symptoms since your jump off of Amitriptyline.  You are brave.  Show me it can be done!!!!!!

 

I can't thank you enough for helping me learn more about mindfulness and acceptance.  I needed the little push to start helping myself.  I am trying not to be afraid to go forward.  After years of thinking and feeling this way it is scary.  I feel like I am in a maze and I don't know where the doors is.  If you look behind that is all you know, but to look forward it is into the unknown....I hope my brain will reroute my thinking pattern quicker than later.  ha ha .  I am not the most patient person.  I guess that will have to be another skill will I learn.......  

[Mia1]

Hi Greatful,

 I found the article online so was able to read all of it, thanks again. It sounds like your hard work is paying off, that’s fantastic!! I would start off just focusing  on the first two steps if I were you, name it and then shift your focus away from it. Like she says in the article it does get easier with practice so keep doing it everyday. You’re really doing such a good job with your recovery.

 I’m happy to hear you had a good day. As for me my symptoms are pretty consistent but they do not bother me and in time they will be gone. I’m just grateful for everything I’m learning on this journey. It really can be done and I’m living proof that even in active w/d you can be at peace. This will be behind you before you know it and you’ll be unstoppable with everything you’re learning, wait for it!!

I’m happy to hear I was able to help you, I’m here for you anytime 💗

 

[Altostrata]

Sorry, I meant Xanax.

 

23 hours ago, Greatful said:

8am- 37.5 Lamictal,  50mg vit c, 1000mg omego 3, 50mg magnesuim  still having the above symptoms

 

How do you feel after this? Does your symptom pattern change? How does it change?

 

Quote

 

5pm- 5mg Lexapro,  .029 Xanax  50mg magnesium    Dinner  

feeling better;/

9:30  25mg Trazadone, .125 Xanax  .5mg melatonin

 

 

This is an eccentric dosing pattern. Lexapro is often stimulating. Does Lexapro make you tired? Did you ever take Lexapro in the morning?

 

What do you divide your Xanax dosing into 0.029mg at 5 p.m. and 0.125mg only 4.5 hours later? Why do you take trazodone with Xanax?

 

Please put ALL your drugs in this Interactions Checker and post the report or a link to it in this topic.

 

[Greatful]

7 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

How do you feel after this? Does your symptom pattern change? How does it change?

  The mornings are rough I haven't noticed any big change.  late afternoon and evenings tend to be better

 

10 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

This is an eccentric dosing pattern. Lexapro is often stimulating. Does Lexapro make you tired? Did you ever take Lexapro in the morning?

 

What do you divide your Xanax dosing into 0.029mg at 5 p.m. and 0.125mg only 4.5 hours later? Why do you take trazodone with Xanax?

 

Please put ALL your drugs in this Interacti

23 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

This is an eccentric dosing pattern. Lexapro is often stimulating. Does Lexapro make you tired? Did you ever take Lexapro in the morning?

 

What do you divide your Xanax dosing into 0.029mg at 5 p.m. and 0.125mg only 4.5 hours later? Why do you take trazodone with Xanax?

 

Please put ALL your drugs in this Interactions Checker and post the report or a link to it in this topic.

 

ons Checker and post the report or a link to it in this topic.

 

     Lexapro does not make me feel tired.  Yes, I started out taking Lex in the morning but about 4 hrs  later when I was at work I feel awful and nausea.  So I move it to evening thinking I would be sleeping when this occurred.  

 

    I was taking .125mg xanax as need throughout the day. Usually no more than 3 to 4 times a day.... weaned down to  .125 at night only, but  after about 5 days notice what I thought were some withdrawal symptoms around 3:30 -4:0pm, so I added that small bit back in. 

 

I take trazodone and xanax at bed time because I couldn't sleep and was a mess from all the med changes.  My doctor was more than happy to let me to take it with the Trazodone.  I was desperate and he said sure.  He was often telling me to take more xanax then I was.  I am afraid to stop taking the xanax at night for fear of more destabilization.

 

Do you think I should try and change my Lexapro to the morning.  I was wondering if it was causing me to sleep restless even though I am taking so much to sleep aid.  Because I take so much to sleep, it that might be why the mornings are so hard.  I was hoping to wean off of melatonin to see if that will help with the morning fatigue and fogginess.  

I am afraid to do anything without proper guidance,  I have been a mess since last fall.. 

 

I did check on drug tracker and yes it tells me that I am on 4 cns meds and they only recommend 3.

Drug tracker does not let me put in L Theanine so I call the Pharmacists and she checked it against my prescriptions.  She said it was fine.

I do not know how to make a link to post it here.  A pdf tile is to large.

 

 Thank You for your help.   Any advice is very much appreciated.  

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

35 minutes ago, Greatful said:

Yes, I started out taking Lex in the morning but about 4 hrs  later when I was at work I feel awful and nausea.

 

Does this still occur?

 

36 minutes ago, Greatful said:

I do not know how to make a link to post it here. 

 

Please copy the link from the URL bar at the top of your browser.

[Greatful]

I take my lex at 5pm, around 8pm-9pm my stomach doesn't feel right.  It is not as bad as when I first started the lex.  I do wake up with no appetite and nauseated.  Not much of a appetite all day but can eat.  Was very nauseated when I first started lex

 

 

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1430-848,1013-565,2228-0,133-54,1749-15695,3906-0,238-3823

 

Thanks again

[KittenLePurr]

On 6/24/2021 at 10:24 AM, Greatful said:

@Mia1 @KittenLePurr  I stumbled across this do a google check on how to change negative thinking.  Found this web site mrsmindfulness.com/the -four-keys-to-overcoming-negative-thinkingkfor-good/   

These are the first 2 ( there was to much for me to copy and paste here.  It would have taken up a lot of space). I think it might be a idea for you to check it out..  I thought of you Mia1. and you already profound wisdom on mindfulness, and I think this is what you have been trying to tell us.

 

 

GETTING UNSTUCK: THE ‘NAME IT TO TAME IT’ TECHNIQUE

People trapped in negative thinking often tell me they feel hopeless because they often wrestle or argue with the thoughts or push them away, but the research shows that trying to struggle with thoughts in these ways just amplifies them (1) as you may have noticed in your own life. What you resist persists.

So how do you move through life in a way that is practical, peaceful and authentic without getting stuck in negative thought patterns?

Here is the first step. It’s a very powerful, simple, tried and tested technique for untangling from thoughts without struggling with them. It’s called the ‘name it to tame it’ technique.

‘Name it to tame it’ is a phrase coined by author and psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Siegel. Here’s the basics of how ‘name it to tame it’ works:

When an unhelpful thought pattern (and the associated emotion) arises you simply mentally ‘label’ the story. You’ve probably noticed many of our thoughts are repetitive and involve the same story lines. For instance one of my stories often is, “Who am I to be putting myself ‘out there’ teaching mindfulness. Aren’t you supposed to be perfect first!? Have it all totally together?!” I find this story unhelpful so when thoughts come up along that storyline, I simply mentally note to myself, “Ahhhh the ‘who do you think you are’ story is here again” and then I let it go.

By ‘let it go’ I simply mean, I stop giving it all my attention and stop taking it so seriously. I realise it’s just a thought, not reality, then I open my awareness to the world around me again—the birds in the trees, the sounds, the breeze. I get out of my head and into my life (more on this in key two)

As soon as you name the mental story or pattern, you have now stepped back from being caught up in it. In other words you have initiated cognitive defusion. From a neuroscience perspective, when you name the thoughts you stop being hijacked by them from the negativity they create (2) because you bring the smartest part of your brain online (the frontal cortex). The frontal cortex is reflective and helps you step back and get a greater perspective. You can do the same thing with emotions, naming them to tame them like “ahhh anxiety is here” or “oh shame has arrived”.

When naming or labelling your thoughts or emotions, one important tip. Make sure when you mentally label, to do it in a soothing, kind tone of voice. This is important as it helps you to settle and invite compassion and soothing into that moment instead of aggression or struggle. We’re not going to battle with the mind here. We are gently training it into new neural pathways of peace and ease. At a biological level, when you ‘name it to tame it’ in a soothing voice you even get a squirt of soothing neurotransmitters in the brain! This brings feelings of calm and ease and comfort (3).

KEY TWO: COMING TO YOUR SENSES

“Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness.” ~ James Thurber

Notice that many negative thoughts mostly flow from two directions. The first is dwelling on the past—maybe you ruminate over mistakes, problems, guilt and anything in your life that’s did not go the way you believe it should have gone. The second is worrying about the future—fear of what may or may not happen for yourself, others or the planet.

This may take the form of stress over whether or not you will achieve certain goals or anxiety about the security of your finances or relationships. Or perhaps you may worry about getting old. Whatever your particular negative thoughts are, notice that in order to engage in negative thought patterns the mind needs to cast its focus mostly into past or future. Either that or we judge and mentally label things in the present moment to be ‘bad’.

When lost in negative thinking we tend to be so engrossed in thoughts that we completely lose touch with what is actually happening in the present moments of our lives. We miss the little pleasures of living each day. The sunlight on your skin, the taste of the food we’re eating, a real connection with someone we love while they are talking. When we’re lost on our heads we lose touch with the world around us….and we lose touch with ourselves.

To become more present, and able to step out of negative thinking, one powerful method is to ‘come to your senses’. To do this simply redirect your attention out of the thoughts in your head and bring your focus to your sense perceptions.

Whether you’re in your home, at the office, in the park or on a subway, notice everything around you. Use your senses to their fullest. Don’t get into a mental dialogue about the things you see, just be aware of what you’re experiencing in this moment.

Be aware of the sounds, the scents, the sensation of the air on your skin or the contact points with the seat beneath you. Be there fully in the moment. This is a form of mindfulness practice (more about this below).

Research from Prof. Mark Williams from Oxford University showed that when difficulties arise in life many of us tend to get caught up in excessive unhelpful thinking. Sometimes people try to stop constant unhelpful thinking but we don’t have to try to stop our thoughts. A more effective way to ease all that internal noise, Prof. Williams teaches, is to pay attention to our direct sensory experience. In this way there’s simply little to no room left in our attention for all that excessive thinking. Coming to our senses calms the mind and grounds us in the present moment.

Now, it’s not that we’re aiming to live completely immersed in our senses all the time. It’s appropriate to think when it’s useful of course. But we can use this awareness of our senses to ground and centre us in a greater awareness when when we find ourselves caught up in negative thinking.

It is actually almost impossible to be both deeply present in the moment in our senses and keep the negativity going! Try it out as an experiment and find out for yourself to see whether this is true.

Have a great day

 

This is great, a perfect summary! I needed to read this. I forget to be a witness to my thoughts so often.   Thank you. Literally it changes everything if you stop letting yourself get caught up in the thoughts about whatever happened or is happening...

[Altostrata]

@Greatful strongly recommend you print out that drug interaction report for discussion with your prescriber, in case there is any resistance to your reducing your drug cocktail.

 

Why was the lamotrigine added? Did it ever have any effect? Was it easy to reduce?

 

If I were you, I would gradually move the Lexapro earlier by an hour each day until you are taking it with lunch. Please continue to post daily notes during this process.

 

Your Xanax intake needs to be more balanced. @Frogie or @Shep will help you work out a plan.

 

 

[Greatful]

 

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

 strongly recommend you print out that drug interaction report for discussion with your prescriber, in case there is any resistance to your reducing your drug cocktail.

 

I will be starting with a new psychiatrist next week.  My last one decided he didn't know what to do with me anymore and suggested I go on a drug Holiday.  Now after learning more on SA, last winters drug mess could have been avoid if he would have upped the prozac a tiny bit until I stabilized.  He obviously didn't put it together that I was in wd.   As of right now my visit will be via internet DUO.  I will try and explain my goals to get off the meds.

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

Why was the lamotrigine added? Did it ever have any effect? Was it easy to reduce?

After a batched  taper my me to get off of Lexapro 2015. Doctors again didn't recognize it was wd.  Tried many meds to stabilize, hospitalized and came out on different med still unstable changed meds again, ended up on Prozac still was struggling.  Thought we would add Lamictal to see if that would help.   I told him I had high energy at time when I was on Lexapro.  I was on 20mg. ( I am now wondering if I was over activated) So he thought maybe I was bi-polar 2.  

 

The Lamictal flattened me.  When I was on 200mg of Lamictal I was losing my memory.  I had a real hard time doing paper work that had anything  to do with numbers.  It was a problem at work.  My brain felt slow.  It was hard for me to think a  thought all the way though.  My mind would not go there.  I had a hard time thinking of words.  Since I dropped down to 37.5mg. Sometimes when I would taper down, within 24 hrs I would feel a loosening feeling in the front of my brain.  Like a knot loosening.  I noticed a big difference at work,  I can do paper work.

 

I really couldn't tell if it was easy to reduce.  I was having wd from the Prozac,  trying several meds, lower Limictal, one week by 50mg, the next week going up 50mg on Seroquel.  My brain was in a constant mess and super bad headaches.  Just telling you about it makes me so anger at my Psychiatrist.  How could he let this happen. 

[Frogie]

Hi,

 

How often do you take the .25 mg Xanax? How long have you been taking it now?

 

I will be happy to help you set up a continuous schedule if you would like.

[Mia1]

1 hour ago, Greatful said:

I really couldn't tell if it was easy to reduce.  I was having wd from the Prozac,  trying several meds, lower Limictal, one week by 50mg, the next week going up 50mg on Seroquel.  My brain was in a constant mess and super bad headaches.  Just telling you about it makes me so anger at my Psychiatrist.  How could he let this happen. 

Understandable, so many different medications in a year and now he wants you to take a med holiday? I had no idea. At least you found this site and can now taper safely. And you can now make informed decisions going forward. Once I’m done with my klonopin taper I’ll never put another drug in my body, it’s empowering!!

[Altostrata]

Please include your drug difficulties in 2015 in your signature.

 

1 hour ago, Greatful said:

My last one decided he didn't know what to do with me anymore and suggested I go on a drug Holiday....I told him I had high energy at time when I was on Lexapro.  I was on 20mg. ( I am now wondering if I was over activated) So he thought maybe I was bi-polar 2. 

 

This is a psychiatrist who truly doesn't know what he's doing.

 

After @Frogie sets up a schedule, we'll discuss how you can gradually transition to that schedule. In the meantime, please move the Lexapro earlier and keep notes. If you found the Lexapro activating before, it's very likely interfering with your sleep.

 

Thanks so much, @Frogie

[Greatful]

@Frogie  Hi Frogie  I am very sensitive and I tried to be conservative,  so I would brake the 25mg in half.  So on a average I would take 2 to 5

.125mg. a day.  I was taking it since Dec.  It is hard for me to  say, I was never on a schedule it was as needed.  In the last 3 weeks or so I have been taking  .0625mg at 5:00pm and  .125mg at 9:30pm.   I tried to just take the .125mg only at bed  time 9:30pm and no xanax during the day. 

 

I notice after a few days I was feeling off at around 4pm in the afternoon, so that is when started taking the .0625mg with my Lexapro to take the edge off. I thought maybe I was in xanax withdrawal. (I noticed I put the wrong dosage down when I was talking to Altrostrata  I said the pill weight .029   I meant to say .0625mg) 

 I am suppose to move my Lexapro slowly to noon,  what do I do with that little .0625mg xanax. I take at 5pm. 

 

 

Thanks for all the help

[Frogie]

Hello

 

What if you tried .0625 in the morning, .0625 afternoon and then .125 at bedtime (or an hour or so before bed).

 

 Just an example I took mine at 6 am, 2 pm and 8 pm on a regular basis. I didn’t feel any withdrawal staying on that schedule personally.

 

I think getting you on a regular schedule will be best and you can address moving the Lexapro to lunchtime.

 

Let me know what you think.

 

 

[Shep]

23 hours ago, Greatful said:

I take my lex at 5pm, around 8pm-9pm my stomach doesn't feel right.  It is not as bad as when I first started the lex.  I do wake up with no appetite and nauseated.  Not much of a appetite all day but can eat.  Was very nauseated when I first started lex

 

 

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1430-848,1013-565,2228-0,133-54,1749-15695,3906-0,238-3823

 

Thanks again

 

Greatful, thanks for posting the drug interaction report. It does indeed list a number of interactions that may be causing some of your symptoms. 

 

@Frogieis giving you great advice on spacing out your benzo, especially doing that before making any timing changes with the Lexapro. 

 

I just want to clarify when you're taking all of your drugs so that you can space them out apart from each other to reduce any chances of a drug interaction. 

 

Also, I'm concerned that some of your supplements, such as melatonin and magnesium are sedating, and along with taking sedating drugs, some of your symptoms may be paradoxical from dampening down the nervous system too much (when you dampen down the nervous system, it fights to stay alert, creating the paradoxical reaction). 

 

Please list the times of the day that you are taking each of your drugs and each of your supplements and then we can work to schedule the benzo in three times a day as Frogie wisely suggested. The goal will be to (1) reduce any chances of a drug interaction and (2) to reduce any chances of a paradoxical reaction. 

 

 

[Greatful]

@Shep @Frogie  Hi Thanks for getting back to me so quick.  I also want to say you are a inspiration to me,  Med free and what a hard fought journey.. I will be leaning on you when I get stable enough to start my Lexapro taper.  I am beyond scared. The last 8 months have been a nightmare.  I have been feeling slightly better the last few days.  Some ups and downs but the evenings have been some relief.

 

 As you can see I do not take much xanax anymore.  So should I move my little .0625mg (1/4 of a .25mg tablet) along with my Lexapro?  I think we are trying to get the lex to noon.   I don't think I need to take xanax 3 times a day.

 

Do you think I should stopping the melatonin at night.  I feel to foggy, weak and down in the morning.  We are hoping that by moving the Lex to a earlier time I should sleep better at night.  I would like to keep taking my magnesium through out the day...My magnesium Glycinate are 100mg capsules.  I pour 1/2 a capsule in water and drink.  I do this 3 to 4 times a day  (150mg to 200mg a day total)  I really notice when I take it.  

I also take L Theanine 200mg in the early afternoon.    Should I take the Magnesium at designated times?  I have been taking them as needed. 

 

Thank you for your help 

[Altostrata]

Thanks, @Frogie and @Shep brilliant. @Greatful, we need to know the times of day (o'clock) you take your drugs, with their dosages.

 

Do not suddenly reduce your Xanax dosage. If you've been taking it every day for more than a week, you could be physiologically dependent on it even if you've been taking it irregularly. Please keep daily notes every day, post them here 24 hours at a time. We may need several days of notes to analyze irregular Xanax dosing.

 

It's more likely the trazodone or Xanax that makes you foggy in the morning than the melatonin. Still, you are taking a lot of "brakes" at night.

 

While we're discussing your Xanax dosing, you can move Lexapro earlier by one hour each day. 

[Greatful]

@Altostrata @Shep @Frogie 

 

I have have been taking my xanax  .0625mg and .125mg at the same time for about 3 weeks.   Only take Xanax twice a day.  

 

8am--   Lamictal 37.5mg -   Omega  1000mg -  Time released vitamin c   500mg 

2pm--   Omega 3   1000mg  -  L Theanine 200mg

5pm--   Xanax,  .0625mg - Lexapro 5mg

9:30pm--  Trazodone 25mg - Xanax .125mg -  Melatonin .5mg  (not exact I brake a 1mg tablet in half

Magnesium Glycinate  50mg 3 to 4 times  not exact times    5am   10am     1am   5pm  This is not on a schedule.  Should I put it on a schedule? 

 

I will be taking my Lexapro in the next half hour.  Should I move my Xanax (.0625 with it)  

What kind of schedule do you need.  I can do new one, I just sent you 3 on  Wednesday June 22.  

 

Thanks  I will wait to hear back on the Xanax

[Altostrata]

Please move only the Lexapro. We still need to figure out your benzo schedule, keep that consistent for now.

 

It's not necessary to take magnesium on a strict schedule.

[Greatful]

@Mia1Hi sounds like you are having a good day.  That is great.  Your positivity shines through all the way to Minnesota.

 

Well my appt. with my new psychiatrist is tomorrow via internet DUO.  Not sure what to tell her.  Were would I start?  Do I tell her I was in WD from Prozac last fall and neither me or my doctor new this.  So we did several drug changes in 3 months, which lead me to where I am today.  Do I tell her I am in WD and side affects from Lexapro.  Will she believe in WD from Prozac (I have been off it since Dec) WD from Seroquel that I took for 5 weeks and ct'd, WD from Zoloft that I took for 4 weeks ct'd WD or from tapering down from Lamictal 200mg to 37.5mg in 2 months.  When I look at all the changes I went through in the last 6 months I can see why my brain went nuts....I can only hope she will be on board, or else I have to go back to my other Doc. at least so I can keep getting my prescriptions.  I will still have to keep looking for a new Doc. if she doesn't want to work with me because my old one is starting to drop hrs to retire.  I was planning on my husband being home so he could be in on the consult.  He was called out of town on a business trip.  I don't always hear everything clearly so having him there would help to get the information right.  I guess I will write down all my questions and any information I want to make sure to talk about tonight.  Any suggestions of what to ask or pertinent information I should tell her? 

 I'm a little down today, maybe it's my husband going out of town or the Doctor appt. tomorrow.  I am also moving my Lexapro from5pm to noon.  I started moving it a hour a day since Friday.  

 

I miss my visiting with my friends and my family.  It is still so hard to keep up with conversations and then my brain starts buzzing and going nuts.....I tell myself that is a good time to focus on myself and be still.  I use to avoid my pain by watching tv all the time, now that is also to  stimulating.  I can once in awhile, but it usually isn't for very long.  All that talking and noise.😆 

So I am learning to be unentertained and having to focus facing my fears and restlessness.  I am working real hard on stopping the neg self defeating  thoughts that are always present.  It is a work in progress and sometimes it feel like small things are starting to come together.  

 

I have been enjoying my front covered porch.  I do spend a lot of time on it.  I finally broke down and bought myself a  patio recliner, that way I can put my feet up, be on my computer, listen to the birds sing and the wind blowing through the trees.  I would be going nut being stuck in the house with the air on.  Talk about claustrophobic.  I am thinking about some art work like you mentioned.  Or I read somewhere to get a loom and make hats for the homeless?  

  

 

I'll let you know how it goes

 

[Greatful]

@Mia1 And I should mention that the neighbors across the street have little waterfall stand, so I get to hear the water, birds and the wind

Can it get any better☺️

[Mia1]

25 minutes ago, Greatful said:

Hi sounds like you are having a good day.  That is great.  Your positivity shines through all the way to Minnesota.

Thank Greatful, it’s good to hear from you!

 

27 minutes ago, Greatful said:

Well my appt. with my new psychiatrist is tomorrow via internet DUO.  Not sure what to tell her.  Were would I start?  Do I tell her I was in WD from Prozac last fall and neither me or my doctor new this.  So we did several drug changes in 3 months, which lead me to where I am today.  Do I tell her I am in WD and side affects from Lexapro.  Will she believe in WD from Prozac (I have been off it since Dec) WD from Seroquel that I took for 5 weeks and ct'd, WD from Zoloft that I took for 4 weeks ct'd WD or from tapering down from Lamictal 200mg to 37.5mg in 2 months.  When I look at all the changes I went through in the last 6 months I can see why my brain went nuts....I can only hope she will be on board, or else I have to go back to my other Doc. at least so I can keep getting my prescriptions.  I will still have to keep looking for a new Doc. if she doesn't want to work with me because my old one is starting to drop hrs to retire.  I was planning on my husband being home so he could be in on the consult.  He was called out of town on a business trip.  I don't always hear everything clearly so having him there would help to get the information right.  I guess I will write down all my questions and any information I want to make sure to talk about tonight.  Any suggestions of what to ask or pertinent information I should tell her? 

Because most doctors lack the necessary information to understand psychiatric drug withdrawal I would probably share the minimal information to get the drugs you need to need to continue a safe taper. Are you going to be asking for different doses or stay on your current doses? What is your overall tapering plan? You’ve had so many changes this year your nervous system definitely needs stability. Honestly with all these changes you really are doing an amazing job.

 

37 minutes ago, Greatful said:

I tell myself that is a good time to focus on myself and be still. 

You have really good awareness of what you need. 

 

40 minutes ago, Greatful said:

  I am working real hard on stopping the neg self defeating  thoughts that are always present.  It is a work in progress and sometimes it feel like small things are starting to come together.  

It is definitely a work in progress but you have the courage and strength to face your fears, I think you’re amazing!!

 

43 minutes ago, Greatful said:

I have been enjoying my front covered porch.  I do spend a lot of time on it.  I finally broke down and bought myself a  patio recliner, that way I can put my feet up, be on my computer, listen to the birds sing and the wind blowing through the trees.  I would be going nut being stuck in the house with the air on.  Talk about claustrophobic.  I am thinking about some art work like you mentioned.  Or I read somewhere to get a loom and make hats for the homeless?  

I also find nature to be so healing, it sounds beautiful. I LOVE the idea of making hats for the homeless.

 

46 minutes ago, Greatful said:

I'll let you know how it goes

Please do 😊

[Greatful]

@Shep

I have a couple of questions.  I was reading about Omega 3 here on SA and it looks like the oil I am using may not be very good. Kirkland Brand They don't do a  brake down to say how much of each oil.  So I ordered Nordic Ultimate  Omega with lemon (probably for taste?), is it okay to switch over all at once?   SA also said to take vitamin E with the fish oil to help with the absorption, so ordered that also, can I add that into my supplements?  I am so nerves about any changes without advice.  It feels like I am a little kid☺️

 

Tomorrow I will be finishing moving my Lexapro to noon.  Have you come up with a plan on my xanax?

Thank You

[Altostrata]

Kirkland may be fine. What does the label say for EPA and DHA per capsule?

 

You can switch fish oil as much as you want.

[Greatful]

1000mg Fish oil

Omega 3 fatty acid (EPA+DHA) 250mg

Other Omega 3 fatty acids 50mg

 

Should I start the vitamin E also  I already order  the fish oil and Vit E they will be coming tomorrow

Thanks

[Altostrata]

250mg EPA+DHA is weak fish oil. Fine to take, but you'll have to take 4 capsules at each meal to get to 3000-4000mg EPA+DHA per day.

 

Look for a stronger fish oil with 600mg EPA+DHA per capsule.

 

[Mia1]

Good luck today, don’t forget to let me know how it goes!!

[Greatful]

@Mia1 It actually went all right.  My daughter came over to be here for me.  There was so much ground to cover, I think she will workout.  She was not apposed for me to try and wean off meds.  She was wondering if the Lexapro was contributing to the brain zaps.  She wanted to know if I was ready to start tapering now.😬  I told I think I need a little more time to stabilize.  I have another appt. in two weeks.

 

  I have been having windows in the late afternoon and evenings for  several days but I don't think that is stable enough.  I still have low times during the day and that scares me, I hate it when the low mood set in.

 

I didn't sleep real well last night, I suppose I was worried about the appt.  My appt. was at 11 am  and I felt pretty good, had some lunch and fatigue set in. Not feeling so good now, nauseated, dizzy, my brain is doing its normal crazy sensations, weak and tingling in the arms and legs, my left side of my face is numb and left eye is sore and  very drained. It would be so much easier on my mind if I knew how much is wd and if some of this is the lex.   Isn't it crazy how this wd can change symptoms throughout the day. 

I also have been moving my Lex  a hour a day and I am at were the mods want me to be, noon  Maybe some of that is causing a shift in mood. 

 

Sorry I am melting down, hubby is not home to lean on, so lucky you.  I am trying to stay in the moment but the panic is trying to seep in.😪

 

[Mia1]

I’m so happy it went well and that she’s on board. Glad your daughter was there to support you. It is crazy how symptoms change but at least you’re having windows everyday!! Does your husband have to travel weekly for work?

[Greatful]

@Mia1 No my hubby doesn't travel weekly.  It all depends on the job.  He works on stand by power, the big generators at hospitals, hotel, military bases anywhere that has his company for stand by power. I have been lucky, his boss is trying to limit his travel right now, so he can be home with me.  He should be home tomorrow evening sometime.

 

How was your day? 

[Mia1]

That’s great, it helps to have the support. I had a really restful day, thanks for asking.

[Greatful]

@Mia1Good morning.  I bet you can feel me draining all your energy.  I am constantly using you as a reference in my mind.  ACCEPTANCE, ACCEPTANCE, you make it sounds so easy.  You have proven it came be done.💪 ‼️ When you first started to work on this  was it always a constant effort in you mind all day.  Does it get easier?  What are some of the things you would tell yourself to get you back on track?  Did you have a hard time staying positive when you were in the thick of your paws.  How did you handle and  combat neg when the doom and gloom struck? I am working hard at it.  Just looking for things I can tell myself.   

 

Can you explain what paws means?  I wonder if I am in paws from Prozac and Seroquel?  I try not to think about some of the poor members who have been dealing with it for years.🥵  I really want to start tapering Lexapro.  How long are you going to wait to start your taper and will you still start when you are have wd symptoms?

 

If you have time I found a explanation about acceptance Starlitegirlx.  I thought this might resonate with you.  Go to Finding meaning in the forms

Acceptance and Hope,  page 1 about half way down Starlitegirlx. Give it a read.

 

I also have been  catching myself on how quickly I think negatively, about things and then I think neg. about myself.   I know that my low self-esteem is really going to play apart in staying positive and finding the strength to move forward. This something I will be working real hard on with my Therapist.  

 

Thank You for taking up space in my mind.😊  Although sometimes I can't comprehend how you make it sound so easy.  Remember patience is a tough one for me. I know your going to tell me PRACTICE, PRACTICE.  It is kind of like on a car trip and you keep asking are we there yet🙄

 

Have a great day