Happyvib: possible cystitis PGAD

[Happyvib]

Hi,

ive recently been taken off Effexor which I was on for 2 months, I was then on pristiq for 25 days. 
3 months in total. I have had a really tough year trialling meds that didn’t help but made everything worse. 
My psyc told me to stop pristiq cold turkey due to my rapid decline in mental state. 
the first 6 days where hell with zaps and vertigo and migraines. I still feel dizzy at times and my cognitive function feels like it’s lagging. Now day 10 I have woken with what I thought was a UTI. I went to the doctor and I don’t have a UTI.

Upon research based on symptoms I’m concerned it’s Cystitis as my bladder feels like it’s on fire and or possible PGAD.

are there any success stories where this naturally corrects itself and this is another withdrawal symptom. Naturally the body and nerves will take time to heal? 
advise and help needed- I mentally feel so good putting all meds in the bin but feeling very overwhelmed physically 

thank you in advance x 

[getofflex]

Hello and welcome to SA.  Congratulations for getting off the Effexor and Pristiq!  This is a major accomplishment.  You say they made everything worse.  In what way did they do this?  What side effects did you have while on these drugs?  

 

What symptoms are you having since you came off besides dizziness and brain fog?  

 

Withdrawal from psych meds can cause bladder issues.  Here is a thread where other members discuss this.  Interestingly, the first 2 posts involve Effexor and Pristiq (venlafaxine, and desvenlafaxine) 

 

Urination and Bladder Issues

 

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.  This explains why you are having these symptoms. 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

 Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

What is Happening in Your Brain

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Acknowledge, Accept, Float

 

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

 

Here are some success stories of members who had urinary issues:  

 

Coldturkmama

 

Matisse

 

LostDog

 

Pug (mentions bladder issues on page 8)

 

Yes, your system will take a lot of time to heal, since the nervous system is so vast and complex.  The keys are time and patience.  Hang in there, and be gentle on yourself.  

 

Edited August 28, 2021 by getofflex

[DinaDina]

Hi! I'm so sorry that you're dealing with this. I have similar symptoms. They started when I canceled Zoloft (I was taking it for only month). I have urinary urgency, constant urge, bladder fulness and pain and sensitive genitals (PGAD). I'm becoming better but it's very slower improvement. You can read my thread where I described my condition. There are also many advices from people who deal with this too.

[Happyvib]

feb 2021- March 2021 Prozac 10-20mg

stop cold turkey due to adverse affects

march- April- Lexapro 2.5- 5 mg. Stopped due to adverse affects. 

Trillinex 4 days. Stopped due to manic- ish feelings

effexor- June 2021 37.5mg 1 week, 75mg 3 weeks, 112.5 3 weeks

straight switch to pristiq 50mg. 
25 days told to stop cold by psychiatrist 

side effects: brain zaps for 2 weeks. Fatigue. Nausea. Brain fog. Memory issues

[getofflex]

Thank you for the drug history. I have copied it into your signature for you, so that it will appear along with each post to help the other staff.   

[Happyvib]

8 hours ago, DinaDina said:

Hi! I'm so sorry that you're dealing with this. I have similar symptoms. They started when I canceled Zoloft (I was taking it for only month). I have urinary urgency, constant urge, bladder fulness and pain and sensitive genitals (PGAD). I'm becoming better but it's very slower improvement. You can read my thread where I described my condition. There are also many advices from people who deal with this too.

Hi thanks so much for your reply- what is helping you improve? Supplements, therapy etc? Mine is getting better each day I think?

it’s very conflicting and scary withdrawal side effect. Lots of women chose to go back on a drug to rectify the situation. I just don’t know what to do at this point 

[getofflex]

1 hour ago, Happyvib said:

. I just don’t know what to do at this point 

I believe the best thing you can do is click on the link for non-drug coping techniques and try some of these ideas. Take good care of yourself physically and mentally. Don’t overdo it. Stick to a regular schedule and routine. Eat a healthy diet. Avoid unnecessary stress and drama. Try and get outside and walk a little bit each day at least about a half an hour if you can. Try to get extra rest physically and mentally if possible. Do things to soothe and nurture yourself.

Edited August 29, 2021 by getofflex

[DinaDina]

On 8/29/2021 at 11:49 PM, Happyvib said:

what is helping you improve? Supplements, therapy etc?

To be honest, I do nothing. I just try to live. I avoid doctors and any meds after this story with AD.

[Happyvib]

Effexor withdrawal

 

Hello, I was hoping for some advise. 

I recently came off Effexor and pristiq. I was only on Effexor for 60 days and pristiq 25 days. My doctor cut me off cold turkey.

 

I endured horrific vertigo and brain zaps for 1 month. Now at 7 weeks I’m waking with horrific morning anxiety. My depression was at a scary point of not wanting to live. 

I am a mum with two small children. I suffer with PMDD and GAD also.

 

my doctor suggested I try an extremely low dose of Prozac to help me and feels I need it. How do you know if your in withdrawal or you actually need medication? 

i can’t keep living the way I’m living but I’m petrified of going back on meds. 

 

Edited October 11, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

2 hours ago, Happyvib said:

my doctor suggested I try an extremely low dose of Prozac

 

Q:  What dose of Prozac is your doctor suggesting?

 

The dose that your doctor says is extremely low dose might be a higher dose than SA would suggest.

 

I have let the other mods that you are asking for assistance.

[Happyvib]

24 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Q:  What dose of Prozac is your doctor suggesting?

 

The dose that your doctor says is extremely low dose might be a higher dose than SA would suggest.

 

I have let the other mods that you are asking for assistance.

2.5mg only potential going to 5mg and staying there 

[Altostrata]

@Happyvib, what happened when you took Prozac before? What were the adverse effects you got from Prozac?

 

According to your signature, since February, you have taken 5 antidepressants, and gotten adverse reactions from all of them. Were they all prescribed by the same doctor? Is this the same psychiatrist who told you in June to cold-turkey 50mg Pristiq, from which you got acute withdrawal symptoms and now protracted withdrawal syndrome?

 

Did you discuss all your adverse drug reactions with this doctor?

 

If the same doctor was the cause of all these adverse drug incidents, if I were you, I would not take further advice from this doctor, who does not appear to know what they're doing.

 

Before you take anything else, we need to know more about what happened when you took Prozac in February and the symptoms that caused you to cold-turkey Pristiq in June. Thank you.

[Happyvib]

Hi thanks so much for your reply. 
no this is a new psych and one I trust. 
 

in January the old pysch put me onto Prozac. I managed to start the med okay. Normal side effects nausea fatigue spacey etc. then on the 6th day they increased me to 20mg. This dose is extremely high for lots of people. It floored me with emotional blunting and severe panic attacks. I dropped back to 10mg for one week then stopped. I felt really good. But that’s impossible as Prozac half life takes a long time to leave the system. 
my new pysch has referred to papers being 5mg of Prozac can be just as effective at 20mg for many less the aide effects. Higher doses don’t mean better out comes. 
I suffer from pmdd. 
the Effexor withdraw through me into a suicidal state. I lasted 7 weeks as was getting worse each week not better. 
I suffer severe morning anxiety as a result- I wake at 5.30am every morning heart pounding and extreme nausea. 
I was at a loss of what to do? I’m a mum with two small children. 2.5mg Prozac has actually stopped the brain zaps also? 
what is your advise? X 

thank you for your time 

[getofflex]

On 10/12/2021 at 9:27 PM, Happyvib said:

2.5mg Prozac has actually stopped the brain zaps also? 

Are you saying that you have now gone on 2.5 mg prozac?  I'm confused by this statement.  You pose it as a question, yet you use past tense indicating you went on the prozac.  We need to know this to know what to advise you.  

 

 

[Happyvib]

Sorry for the confusion.

I have started 2.5 Prozac 

[getofflex]

When did you start Prozac again?  Please put this in your signature.  
 

what is your reason for going back on the Prozac?  Is it to help reduce withdrawal symptoms?  How have you felt since you went back on it?  

Edited October 15, 2021 by getofflex

[Happyvib]

Needing help asap

 

Hello I’m a 42 year old female

very sick.

I was in WD last year for 3 months most likely from a benzo and CT Effexor by my psych. I lasted 3 months and was told I was relapsing in my mental health.

I was put back on a benzo and Zoloft. I did not stabalise. I tried to ween off the benzo and went into horrific WD.

I was managing okay.

I went to a woman’s centre for help looking at my hormones etc when I told them my story they updosed and crossed me to Valium from Ativan. 
I went to another doctor who put me on Paxil. I suffered two SVT attacks in 3 weeks so was switched back to Effexor. I became actively suicidal and full of adrenaline. The doctor then said switch back to Paxil. It’s been 12 days and I feel like I have seretonin syndrome. I went to the ED and they said continue the meds and this is still benzo WD. I’m down to 4mg Valium from 7.5. 
my muscles twitch and are so tight. I vomit everyday. I see halos around lights. All the negative symptoms listed in Paxil but no one is listening. 
I need to get off Paxil but I’m also in benzo WD. They put me in 25mg seroqual to get sleep. 
Can anyone please help me?! 

 

Edited July 10, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

Please update your drug signature with all drugs and dose changes since June 2021 and if you have stopped a drug include the last dose you took

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

I have asked the other staff for assistance.

 

 

[Altostrata]

@Happyvib what times of day do you take each of your drugs, and their dosages? Are your symptoms worse at any particular times of day?

 

You say:

 

On 7/10/2022 at 2:25 PM, Happyvib said:

I was put back on a benzo and Zoloft. I did not stabalise. I tried to ween off the benzo and went into horrific WD.

I was managing okay.

 

You were managing okay on reduced Ativan? How much were you taking? Then you crossed over to diazepam? When did your latest round of symptoms start?

[Happyvib]

I was managing but i had severe wd symptoms. When they crossed me to valium i was discharged at the hospital for regusing to take more which lead my anxiety to sky rocket.

My symtoms are constant. I take 10 mg paxil 8am with 2mg valium, then 2mg valium 8pm and sero 25mg about 9pm 

[Happyvib]

hello i desperatly need help with my situation. is tgere anyone i can speak with please??

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Happyvib

 

On 7/11/2022 at 7:33 PM, Happyvib said:

I take 10 mg paxil 8am with 2mg valium, then 2mg valium 8pm and sero 25mg about 9pm 

 

Is this still your drug schedule? What is your symptom pattern like now?

[Happyvib]

i went to hospital and i was polydrugged. 

i was taken off paxil and valium. put on ritalin and olanzapine. wasnt coping with ritalin at all so they kept increasing lamactil. put ke on 1.5 klonopin at night and 3mg ativan in the day. intrusive thoughts where put of control so they started lexapro after 3 weeks of hell vomiting anxiety they straight switched me to pristiq again- my skin started burning they increased the olanzapine to 7.5. i started to dissacociate badly. they stopped thr olanazpine CT said no wd. they stopped pristiq CT after 3 weeks. 

they cut the benzos out. and dropped lamactil from 100 to 50. i have never felt so much anxiety in my life i tried to take my own life.

i was told to go home by the crisis team. im a mess. i just dropped 100 lamactil to 75 and the anxiety is horrific. sweating shaking vomiting. they administed 25mg sero so i can sleep. i wake with a buring brain literally. and they have told me to stay on .5 klon in the day. i dont think i will make this