Ginger23: Need advice

[Frogie]

@Ginger23

 

I would stop the multi vitamin at least. Take the vitamin d in the morning because it can cause you to become stimulated also.

 

I would bet you are also having wd symptoms from cutting your Valium in 1/2. It can last up to 200 hours in your body, so you are now feeling the symptoms.

[Ginger23]

@Frogieomg I didn’t know vit d stimulant too. Ok will do. 
 

do you recommend me tapering Valium more since in benzo wds or staying put?  I hv no clue if I’m stabilizing on Zoloft. This is crazy stuff. Zoloft and Valium wds are similar? Can Val wds cause pulsating ringing in ears headache insomnia lightheaded weak. Jerks spasms tightness Numbness off balance all that I was hvn with Zoloft wds?  I can’t differentiate what is what anymore 

[Frogie]

@Ginger23

 

I would hold on the Valium because you are having wd symptoms. You need to stabilize before you taper anything. Valium causes dizziness and light head mostly. 

[Ginger23]

@Frogie  geez I can’t hv more of that. I originally took Zoloft because I hv pots. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. So this has been a nightmare my bp and heartrate been all over the place. 

[Altostrata]

22 hours ago, Altostrata said:

How do you feel now compared to how you felt a month ago?

 

[Ginger23]

Not great. My sleep still horrible in morning hours only getting 4 hours broken in middle. Still depressed and cry easily. Unmotivated exhausted. My muscles still twitching spasms occasionally and feel tense some still. Random headache and body aches. Lightheaded. No appetite 

 

my anxiety is way less not getting adrenaline agitated anymore. Ribs calming down. Idk why. Definitely more calm. 

[Ginger23]

Protracted withdrawals from Zoloft?

 

I know I had late withdrawals hit me from ct Zoloft twice in a year each time 2 months quit. First time I knew was mistake and reinstated. This led to seratonin syndrome or overdose cbd oil which never heard of. But that led me to ct again and hit 2.5 months later with dying wds Oct 23. Pure insomnia plus. Dr said reinstate slapped me with a lot sleep meds also.

I stopped sleep meds a month ago. My sleep is aweful waking every hour or 2 not feeling I slept. I am depressed crying, muscle pain, headaches, muscle spasms tightness jerks tingling numbness rib pain. 
 

my question is if I was in protracted withdrawals Is the reinstatement this long at original dose Zoloft causing more harm than good and will I ever stabilize?  When do I taper not seeing any sign of improvements?  Anxiety better but I feel deathly and can’t function 

 

this whole time I’ve took Valium randomly took more at first on Oct then sticking to 5mg a night. I now can’t tell what is what anymore!  
 

anyone experienced this and finally get straightened out get theirselves back? 

 

Edited March 14, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[Shep]

6 hours ago, Ginger23 said:

I stopped sleep meds a month ago.

 

6 hours ago, Ginger23 said:

this whole time I’ve took Valium randomly took more at first on Oct then sticking to 5mg a night.

 

Ginger, when you say you "stopped sleep meds a month ago," does that include Valium or are you still taking Valium? 

 

Please list the drugs and supplements you're currently taking, the time(s) of day you take them, and the dose. 

[Ginger23]

@Shep I was polydrugged because my pure insomnia from Zoloft wds. I hv listed in signature. I upped Valium at the time too desperate to sleep more 10mg. I now tk my original dose 5mg at night. I haven’t takin it regularly until wds oct23 started now I’m trying to not overuse my Valium because prescription will not allow more. I mainly used ambien 10mg for 2 months then dayvigo 1 month then others tried didn’t help listed in signature. 
 

I only tk Zoloft 50mg and Valium 5mg and Zyrtec 10mg now. Still horrible sleep and feel unwell. Get morning sleep only waking up constantly get Mayb 4 hours now. 

[Ginger23]

3-9. (Unwell)
Fell asleep early morning still Woke 7 felt like didn’t sleep took cbn took hour slept til 12

2:30pm Zoloft 50mg. Just don’t feel tired after taking it like used to

 

3:30pm ate chicken and rice. Felt warm in chest and chilled all day. (Flintstone vit, calphonite 2, fish oil)

 

10pm Valium 5mg. Don’t feel tired at all.

 

11pm Zyrtec 10mg. Helps itchy rib been not as bad now not eating a lot. Not hungry or thirsty it’s rediculous 

 

3-10 (unwell)

Fell asleep in morning but woke 6:55am frustrated. Took cbn laid awhile finally slept til 11ish. Can’t nap or sleep more. I’m exhausted. Head hurts body hurts 2 Tylenol 

 

2pm Zoloft 50mg. Not much different feeling. Ears pulsating ringing. 
 

3:37pm 2quercitin, vit d, lipoic acid, zinc

 

4:52. Flintstone vit w food 2 mg theonate 

 

10pm Valium 5mg. Not sleepy

 

11pm Zyrtec. 
 

12-1am 2cbn can’t feel sleepy. 

 

3-11 (unwell)

Slept 4amish to 8:30. Then took cbn sleep lil more 11-1:30. Took zinc, 2 mg theonate laid all day. Depressed like all these days exhausted weak. Not hungry not thirsty. Like I’m dying 

2:30pm Zoloft 50mg. 

6:15pm 2 Tylenol headache and body hurts numbness in arms legs still come go and is now again 

9:45pm Valium 5mg. Not sleepy 

11:30pm Zyrtec 10mg. 
12-1am 2 cbn. Helps me sleep some I think 

 

3-12 (unwell)
woke within hour sleep in morning hours sometime. Drank milk took cbn slept til 9:30am then exhausted took zinc 2mg theonate and cbn slept til 1:30. I get broken sleep. I want to die how I feel. Not functioning and most my day is sleeping since I can’t at night. 
depressed I want to die

2:30zoloft50mg. 
10:30 Valium 5mg

11:42 Zyrtec 10mg 

12 cbn. Laid forever not sleeping still yet until 4/5am every freaking night

 

im not improving one bit. Only adrenaline rushes and anxiety has improved. 
 

still hurt all over, headache, ringing ears, depression, doomed feeling, can’t focus, not sleeping still but 4 hours sporadic, numbness legs arms, chills, can’t get out of bed or couch. Can’t leave the house. Ribs hurt off on and itch. No appetite. Lightheaded. Not totally thirsty either strange. Flashes in corner of eyes in dark crying a lot!! I feel like I’m slowly dying 

 

Sorry hvnt felt like texting my days they all same. Hell 

 

@Altostrata @Frogie

[Ginger23]

3-14. (Very unwell). Mentally wearing on me these drugs are killing me

 

didnt sleep until 5am or 6. Woke 9am. Took quercitin, zinc, vit d, black current seed oil drank milk. Laid back down took forever to sleep few more hours woke 2:30pm   I feel so exhausted like drugged tired

 

3pm Zoloft 50mg. Depressed and hurting all over. Laid on heat pad

 

5:08pm b vit, with oatmeal. Dandelion tea. Feel not hungry at all 

 

7pm. Ate salmon broccoli corn. Took chlorella cherry juice 

 

8:47pm. In a lot of burning pain my body aches numbness legs arms tight muscles joint pain. Took Advil. Rib burns too itchy. 
 

9:21pm. Advil helping some. I got enraged I am tired of this was crying. Argue with husband about how long this is I can’t take it dreading sleeping again since Oct 23. I’m feeling worse not better only anxiety better adrenaline feeling, spasms getting less. 

10pm Valium 5mg 

 

11pm. Zyrtec 10mg 

I’ve never been so depressed as now. I feel absolutely horrible. Fight sleep fight to survive.  @Altostrata how do you know when you in protracted withdrawals and kindling by keep taking the med u reinstated??  I have not felt one positive thought yet!  All this time since October reinstated. 
 

@Frogie since Valium isn’t mkn me sleepy is it causing a negative effect on my sleep. Also is it prolonging ambien wds?  I quit it ct after tkn it 2 months straight following by dayvigo dr gv to stop ambien 

[Altostrata]

On 3/11/2022 at 1:43 PM, Ginger23 said:

my anxiety is way less not getting adrenaline agitated anymore. Ribs calming down. Idk why. Definitely more calm. 

 

@Ginger, I know you don't feel great, but this is an improvement. Maybe not enough, but it is going in the right direction. Could you take this into account and stop reporting your symptoms as though they're deteriorating?

[Ginger23]

@Altostrata I am mentally deteriorating. I cry constantly and so deeply depressed I want to end myself. I can’t focus on anything or do chores I’m physically unable too. Weak, stiff muscles feel numb, fatigue extreme, headache and body aches hit me out of nowhere, ringing ears. SLEEP is nothing much and killing me mentally most of all. I feel I’m not healing. 
 

please tell me these will get better because the thoughts in my head are not good. I feel like this will never end. I can’t feel like myself even a tiny moment of the day I have left from laying around sick. 

[Altostrata]

6 minutes ago, Ginger23 said:

I feel like this will never end.

 

This may be a major problem for you to work on with a psychotherapist. You've had some improvement, but you dismiss it.

 

When people go off psychiatric drugs, they feel so often physically, if they have a habit of mind to catastrophize or expect the worst, that comes out and adds psychological torment to the withdrawal torment. You would do better to fix your mind on recovery rather than expectation of disaster, which make a miserable situation worse. Can you work on this?

[Ginger23]

@Altostrata  how? What do you suggest? I will try anything to feel anything positive. I cry so much in despair I’m crying now writing this. (My whole family asleep and here I am awake til they go to school)  
 

  I feel mentally broken ptsd from all this. I’m afraid to leave the house (physically and mentally) I’m dreading bedtime. I can’t enjoy nothing. i can’t concentrate on my kids talking to me. I feel more is wrong with me 24/7 I hv never experienced such a negative depression this bad in my life. How can I break this mind cycle. 
 

thank you. I hv no support here from family. No one understands 

[Altostrata]

Are you able to work with a psychotherapist or other counselor for face-to-face coaching?

[Ginger23]

@AltostrataIll have to search for one in my area.  If thy tk my insurance which I’m losing because I’m losing my job over this. 8 year job at the post office I love

[Altostrata]

Can you not go on disability leave? 

 

Do you have a good relationship with your pastor?

[Ginger23]

@AltostrataI took 2 fmlas. First one thought my old RMSF infection was flaring so took lots antibiotics while a naturopath convinced me to drop Zoloft. That’s started my hell. 

 

2nd fmla is thus nightmare and it’s not getting better anytime soon. Jan was the end of it
I hv no disability leave that I know of. 

 

I signed up for disability because this made my pots worse and dr was trying to help with beta blockers but it made me feel worse stopped it because I knew something else was wrong my sleep vanished 

 

no pastor 

[Altostrata]

Why don't you apply for disability?

[Ginger23]

@Altostrata  I did and it’s taking along time to get an answer. I can’t work unfortunately not like this. 

[Shep]

@Ginger23You may want to join Benzo Buddies for social support. I wouldn't get your tapering advice there, though. The tapering information on that site is a hit or a miss, very random. But the social support can be extremely helpful. 

[Ginger23]

@Shep  I emailed David he gv me plan off benzobuddies. I know it’s aweful situation I hv no clue what causing what. 

[Ginger23]

@Altostrata  new symptom last night was burning joints muscles. I could not sleep until 7:45am. Had to tk Tylenol. And finally got 2 hours sleep woke then drank milk. 2 more hours. But I feel achy again. Took Advil. Also last several weeks I hv flashes in corners eyes trying to sleep. I never mentioned because thought was nothing now I notice it every time 
 

zoloft at 1:39pm. I’ve been in bed all day. I feel bad. 
 

im not understanding this. I hv no appetite either. No improvements except anxiety adrenaline feeling, vibrations calming, muscle spasms tightness calming some still there tho 

[Altostrata]

35 minutes ago, Ginger23 said:

zoloft at 1:39pm. I’ve been in bed all day. I feel bad. 

 

Isn't 3 p.m. your usual time to take Zoloft? You must keep to a consistent drug schedule.

 

Is it possible you're coming down with a virus?

[Ginger23]

@Altostrata it’s 2:30pm I usually tk but the no sleep I thought it’s messing w sleeping so I moved it up an hour. 
 

I tested at home for covid19 and negative. I hv no other symptoms of viral. I still get rib pain burning and itching last night with that. I hv had headache each day this week tkn Tylenol. And my pulsating ear ringing been on off since Aug with ss episode. It’s annoying me more lately. I’m not understanding this. 
 

this unwell is not new. I’m usually on couch or bed every since Oct 23 hit me sleep disappeared. Sleep meds helped but after effects were not good. I’m afraid to try anymore sleep meds but I can’t go on with no sleep only 3-4 hours waking twice in between. If this does not improve What will happen?   How long can it tk to improve sleep at least after reinstating?  I’m scared on getting worse 

 

i reinstated Zoloft Oct 25!  

[Altostrata]

I know it's not enough, but 3-4 hours sleep is not terrible for withdrawal syndrome. Are you able to keep your bedroom very dark, quiet, and cool?

 

Do you feel any effect from Zoloft or Valium?

 

Have you had any alcohol drinks, taken an antibiotic, made any other drug changes? 

 

Are you able to get any exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes per day?

 

 

[Ginger23]

@Altostrata I honestly can’t tell after taking them. Zoloft was gvn me anxiety after tkn.  Now don’t notice it. It doesn’t mk me sleepy either.  Valium only calms me tad. Nothing big at all. Not too sleepy from it either. The first week I reinstated I remember Zoloft gv me chocking feeling, warm brain, kind of tired but that was right before I started sleeping pills 
 

i don’t do alcohol, coffee, or antibiotics this whole time. Not a lot sugar either 
 

I tried lemon balm extract in tea few days ago it may had tad alcohol but I barely dropped in tea not much 

 

I would really hv to push myself to exercise that’s how deconditioned I am. I been so exhausted from no sleep I can’t function well. Lightheaded too because of pots

[Altostrata]

Please try to get some exercise, such as walking for 5 minutes outside to start, then increase it as much as you can. This is important for POTS, too. You get the circulation going, it helps everything inside get coordinated. It could help sleep, too.

 

Is your bedroom very dark, quiet, and cool?

 

 

[Ginger23]

@Altostrata I’ll start trying to exercise some.  It’s hard!  Yes bedroom is all that.   

[Ginger23]

@Altostratais it safe to try hydroxyzine instead of Zyrtec tonight? If so, how much  I want something to help me sleep. If not ok. I will suffer. I cried all night because was exhausted and not doze.  It’s crazy I get no nighttime sleep at all since before Oct 23

[Altostrata]

16 minutes ago, Ginger23 said:

@Altostratais it safe to try hydroxyzine instead of Zyrtec tonight? If so, how much  I want something to help me sleep.

 

Probably. I don't know how much.

 

If you've been taking Zyrtec every day, you may get rebound itching if you don't taper off.

[Ginger23]

@Altostrata  oh no. I hvnt thought of that. I may try hydroxyzine tonight if no help w sleep I’ll taper Zyrtec and tk when itching bad only. This sucks. I try Valerian tea this evening too. Hope it’s ok?  

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, Ginger23 said:

I try Valerian tea this evening too. Hope it’s ok?  

 

There are many existing topics on SA.  You can use the site search function or use an internet search engine and add site:survivingantidepressants.org to the search term.

 

There is a topic about valerian and there is another one about herbal teas.

[Ginger23]

3-15. @Altostrata
Burning pain and restless all night fell sleep at 7:45ish am. Woke 11:30ish. Drank milk took quercitin Tylenol Zinc black current seed oil and laid back down got 1 more light hour. Been aweful 

1:40pm Zoloft 50mg not tired after taking:(

5pm took Advil hurting again 

6pm lauricidin 

9:47pm Valium 5mg idk nothing much from this drug. @Frogie
10:18pm. Crying again. I miss my kids. Being there for them. I hvnt during this time. Can’t sleep or function can’t focus on anything they say. My ears are driving me crazy pulsating ringing 
11:30pm or 12 hydroxyzine 75mg hope helps sleep but idk. Better than ambien

 

I had this open and it closed I can’t remember my day sucks. Just quick notes 

[Frogie]

@Ginger23

 

Did you stop taking the Valium?