MariS: Severe akathasia and insomnia

[MariS]

I was taken off antidepressants cold turkey and kindled. I had no idea this was dangerous. 4 months later I have severe insomnia and akathasia. Is there anything I can do for the insomnia? I’m not doing well at all. I’m scared.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  I'm sorry to hear that you were taken off your drugs cold turkey.  You will find help here, and you will heal.  I know this feels very bad now, but there is definitely hope for you.  Many people here have been through what you are going through, and recovered.  You are in my prayers.  Please hang in there.  

 

First of all, can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

 Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. This is extremely important. 

 

Considerations About Stability Stop Jumping Around

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

When we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad.  This is called windows and waves.

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

We may consider a reinstatement, but first I need to know more about your history.  Firstly, did you have any significant adverse effects (side effects) while on the drugs?  Secondly, have you had any improvement in your symptoms since the CT 4 months ago?   Going back on a small dose of your drug, or increasing your dose, which we call reinstatement, is best done very carefully.  This is temporary, and after stabilizing you would then taper gradually off of this.  There is some risk involved, and we need more specifics about your drug history before we can suggest a good dose at which to reinstate.  Here is some information about reinstatement.  

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart.  We in this forum have been through this, and we understand first hand the pain and discomfort you are going through.  Please know that the brain is amazing in it's healing abilities.  It takes time, but healing can and will happen. 

Edited June 20, 2021 by getofflex

[MariS]

Thank you so much!  I just added my medication history to my signature.  Please let me know if you don’t see it!

[brassmonkey]

We can see it just fine. What would be really helpful would be several days of a symptom diary. Symptom, time of day, food and the like. It could help us establish any patterns in what you are feeling and help to come up with a plan on how to handle things.

 

[Greatful]

@MariSHi, I wanted to encourage you to hang in there.  I was on and off several  meds last winter.  It really is hard on you brain and emotional health.  I can feel your pain and panic.  There is a lot of information here on SA.  I found it encouraging to learn about what is happening to me. How the drugs change things in your  brain.  The symptoms and care thread are very helpful in learning about the different withdrawal symptoms people have. It helped me feel less alone and relieved that some of the weird things going on in my thought and emotions were normal.

 

Go through the success stories for inspirations. 

 

Why did  they take you off of your meds?   

Take care of yourself.  

Greatful

 

[MariS]

I have severe akathasia and severe insomnia every day.  I get no relief and have no idea what to do.  I was taken off the meds because I had seratonin syndrome.

[Greatful]

@MariS  Did you start a symptoms diary for @brassmonkey ?  

Hang in there.  

 

Example

6 a.m. Woke and vomited
8 a.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
10 a.m. Had diarrhea
10:30 a.m. Ate breakfast
11:35 a.m. Got a headache, lasted one hour
12:35 p.m. Ate lunch
4 p.m. Stomachache
5 p.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
6 p.m. Ate dinner
9:20 p.m. Headache
10:00 p.m. Took 50mg Seroquel
10:20 p.m. Headache got worse
10:30 p.m. Fell asleep
2:30 a.m. Woke, took 3mg Ambien (NOT "took 1/2 tablet Ambien")
2:45 a.m. Fell asleep
4:30 a.m. Woke with headache

 

[Greatful]

@MariS  How are you doing?  I am concerned if you are okay.

[MariS]

Hi, this is Mari’s friend.  She is really struggling and asked me to submit this because she gets sucked in seeing other people struggling and gets overwhelmed.  She has been off all meds for 5 months and is saying that she’s in agony and doesn’t want to die.  She is only getting about one hour of sleep a night for the last month and is scared to try any meds/herbs/etc.  could she reinstate something at a micro dose?  Watching her go thru this is agony.  I don’t know what to do to help.  I’ll ask her about the daily journal.  She just isn’t up to doing much at all right now.

[getofflex]

Hello Mari's friend, can you help her establish a daily symptom and activity log as requested above?  It would help us know what to suggest as far as reinstatement.  Here is an example: 

 

6 AM woke with anxiety

8 am took 2.5 mg lexapro

10 am stomach is upset

10:30 am ate breakfast

11:35 am got a headache, lasted one hour

12:35 ate lunch

4 pm feel a bit better

5 pm took 2.5 mg lexapro

6 pm ate dinner

9:20 pm headache 

10:00 pm took 50 mg Seroquel

10:30 pm feeling dizzy

10:30 pm fell asleep 

2:30 am woke, took 3 mg Ambien

2:45 am fell asleep

4:30 am woke, but got back to sleep 

 

I will notify the other mods, and see what else we can do.  

Edited July 2, 2021 by getofflex

[Greatful]

@MariS   MariS do you think you could do a daily log or get your friend to help you?  We really want to help.  Please don't suffer alone.

Don't read any else's forms,  Just post here on your page and let us help you.  

Please reach out.

[Heal95]

Hey @MariS

 

I was severely kindled and subsequently poly drugged and CTd. 
At months 3-6 I had some severe insomnia and agitation I couldn't sit down despite having about 2-3 hours of very broken sleep. 
I'm at almost 3 years off and although I am not fully healed I am sleeping better. It's very difficult at the beginning and even after a few years off but it does get better so hold on to hope because it will get better. It's a bumpy ride but it does improve.