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Many medications can negatively impact the brain: Concerns about Anesthesia http://wp.me/p5nnb-9fX


GiaK

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my newest: 

From Science Direct:

As pediatric specialists become increasingly aware that surgical anesthesia may have lasting effects on the developing brains of young children, new research suggests the threat may also apply to adult brains…

 

“We demonstrate that anesthesia-induced cell death in neurons is not limited to the immature brain, as previously believed,” said Loepke. “Instead, vulnerability seems to target neurons of a certain age and maturational stage. This finding brings us a step closer to understanding the phenomenon’s underlying mechanism” (read more)

 

 

Yes, thank you. Anesthesia has always messed me up. I avoid it if at all possible now because now it’s much worse for me and even dangerous.  Many people in psych drug withdrawal and those with withdrawal syndromes in general become acutely sensitive to many drugs. Anesthesia can pose big problems for us…be aware.

 

 

Some percentage of us who’ve withdrawn from excessive amounts of psychiatric drugs or in some cases just had a bad reaction to one psychiatric drug can become hypersensitive to any and all psychotropic medications as well as any other drugs and many supplements too that cross the blood/brain barrier. There is a spectrum as well with some people having more or less sensitivities.  At the extreme, since many of these medicines are used in emergency treatment it’s actually dangerous for us to go to an emergency room even in a true emergency! A doctor who doesn’t understand the nature of the iatrogenic illness some of us have could actually kill us while doing standard care.

 

To learn more read: Multiple Drug Sensitivity (the outcome of over-prescribed medications)

Everything Matters: Beyond Meds 

https://beyondmeds.com/

withdrawn from a cocktail of 6 psychiatric drugs that included every class of psych drug.
 

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I did not know this about anesthesia and the young brain. Not at all surprising.. Is this common knowledge now? I don't have kids so have had no exposure to recent info.

 

I had anesthesia many times as a kid, courtesy of a shady urologist who convinced my parents that my sister and i needed cystoscopies on yearly basis.

 

File this under information I would like to unknow..

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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How long lasting are these effects supposed to be?

 

I had teeth that wouldn't come out on their own so in junior high, I had them pulled and the adult teeth surgically exposed. I picked the local anesthesia as opposed to going under. It makes me glad I was afraid of being put out, but since then I've had a few endoscopies and colonoscopies, which involved anesthesia, of course. At the time, I never felt so bad from it. The first time I woke up, took some ibuprofen, drank some Mountain Dew and went to a pool party.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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  • 1 month later...

 

my newest: 

From Science Direct:

As pediatric specialists become increasingly aware that surgical anesthesia may have lasting effects on the developing brains of young children, new research suggests the threat may also apply to adult brains…

 

“We demonstrate that anesthesia-induced cell death in neurons is not limited to the immature brain, as previously believed,” said Loepke. “Instead, vulnerability seems to target neurons of a certain age and maturational stage. This finding brings us a step closer to understanding the phenomenon’s underlying mechanism” (read more)

 

 

Yes, thank you. Anesthesia has always messed me up. I avoid it if at all possible now because now it’s much worse for me and even dangerous.  Many people in psych drug withdrawal and those with withdrawal syndromes in general become acutely sensitive to many drugs. Anesthesia can pose big problems for us…be aware.

 

 

Some percentage of us who’ve withdrawn from excessive amounts of psychiatric drugs or in some cases just had a bad reaction to one psychiatric drug can become hypersensitive to any and all psychotropic medications as well as any other drugs and many supplements too that cross the blood/brain barrier. There is a spectrum as well with some people having more or less sensitivities.  At the extreme, since many of these medicines are used in emergency treatment it’s actually dangerous for us to go to an emergency room even in a true emergency! A doctor who doesn’t understand the nature of the iatrogenic illness some of us have could actually kill us while doing standard care.

 

To learn more read: Multiple Drug Sensitivity (the outcome of over-prescribed medications)

 

 

I think I'm just starting to realize now that I seem to have become hypersensitive to drugs that I used to take without any side effects.  Regular everyday drugs like Benadryl and Sudafed to others like Ambien and Klonopin.  I remember when I used to take these 13 years ago, and I was just fine. No lingering side effects, no hangover feeling.  But not anymore.  Up till now I thought it was the combination of the antidepressant with these drugs that produced the intensified side effect.  But  now I'm thinking there's more to it than that, as you state.

And...is this why I get all these flu-like symptoms every time I go into withdrawal? Because of the antihistamine affect of antidepressants?

 

Just read your blog post referenced above. Wow, you were incredibly lucky to have found a doctor like that. Doctors like that are virtually non-existent these days.  Does he know anyone like him in New Jersey?

 

Also, what supplements are not advised during withdrawal?  Which ones don't cross the blood-brain barrier?

 

And what has your doctor recommended to you regarding diet?

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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supplements vary from individual to individual...it's not consistent...

 

and diet is the same...I've been on a dietary odyssey for several years now and there have been all sorts of stages and new discoveries...the only solid thing I can tell you is REAL WHOLE FOOD...

 

from there it really becomes totally individualized. 

 

I write about it here: http://beyondmeds.com/gut-health/

 

I take hardly any supplements any more as I began to react to almost all of them...again, that varies and often changes even in time with the same individual.

 

sorry, it's a lonely journey in large part...where we really need to figure things out for ourselves...doctors can't do a lot more than we can do for each other in that regard...well, in fact we often do much more for each other, really.

 

I can say though, even if lonely, it's fascinating and a friend early on told me to be curious about my experience and I've never forgotten that. 

Everything Matters: Beyond Meds 

https://beyondmeds.com/

withdrawn from a cocktail of 6 psychiatric drugs that included every class of psych drug.
 

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supplements vary from individual to individual...it's not consistent...

 

and diet is the same...I've been on a dietary odyssey for several years now and there have been all sorts of stages and new discoveries...the only solid thing I can tell you is REAL WHOLE FOOD...

 

from there it really becomes totally individualized. 

 

I write about it here: http://beyondmeds.com/gut-health/

 

I take hardly any supplements any more as I began to react to almost all of them...again, that varies and often changes even in time with the same individual.

 

sorry, it's a lonely journey in large part...where we really need to figure things out for ourselves...doctors can't do a lot more than we can do for each other in that regard...well, in fact we often do much more for each other, really.

 

I can say though, even if lonely, it's fascinating and a friend early on told me to be curious about my experience and I've never forgotten that. 

Thanks for your reply, Gia.  I've browsed through your blog, curious to read about your story.  I didn't find any specifics about what it is, the symptoms or ailments that keeps you disabled.  Do you describe it anywhere?  

Also, if you are on SSDI, was it difficult to get and/or convince them of your disability?  I spoke to one lawyer recently, but she didn't seem to understand at all how depression can cause physical and emotional symptoms that can keep one from working.  

 

This is a very lonely journey indeed.  No one seems to understand. Not the doctors, therapists, friends, parents, lawyers, etc.

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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The aftermath of polypsychopharmacology: my story on Dr. David Healy’s site  –this is the most complete short synopsis of having been grossly over-drugged and my path to drug freedom.

 

And now too a mini memoir at Mad in America: Everything Matters: a Memoir From Before, During and After Psychiatric Drugs

 

The above two pieces can serve as a mini history of my personal journey in and away from the psychiatric system.

 

I just cut and pasted the above from the about page...most concise history...there is a link to a list of symptoms at the end of the first article...I don't have all of them anymore...

Everything Matters: Beyond Meds 

https://beyondmeds.com/

withdrawn from a cocktail of 6 psychiatric drugs that included every class of psych drug.
 

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The aftermath of polypsychopharmacology: my story on Dr. David Healy’s site  –this is the most complete short synopsis of having been grossly over-drugged and my path to drug freedom.

 

And now too a mini memoir at Mad in America: Everything Matters: a Memoir From Before, During and After Psychiatric Drugs

 

The above two pieces can serve as a mini history of my personal journey in and away from the psychiatric system.

 

I just cut and pasted the above from the about page...most concise history...there is a link to a list of symptoms at the end of the first article...I don't have all of them anymore...

 

 

I read both articles, Gia, and a few other blog posts, and I guess I wanted to know more. You mentioned that you couldn't talk on the phone and hardly even talked to your husband. I was curious as to what that was all about.  One thing I discovered years ago, after using xanax for a few months, that it created a state called Hyperacusis, where I started to not be able to tolerate regular every day sounds. They felt like they were amplified.  The buzzing sound from fluorescent lights in the supermarket, the parking lot, neon signs in pizza shops, soda machines....it all sounded like a thousand bees in my ear.  I couldn't stand it.  My ENT (ear nose throat) doctor later confirmed that benzos can do that. It made total sense to him, but he didn't explain the science.  After I had stopped using the xanax, the hyperaccusis went away.  But it was sure scarry while it was happening.  F'ing meds!

 

I also read your post about your bipolar cat - how ironic and pefectly synchronous!  There really are no accidents in life, huh?

 

I also liked all the yoga videos.  Interesting about the posture where you put your legs up against a wall - I learned to do that in dance class, when I was 15. We would also spread our legs while up against the wall. Apparantly it's a technique dancers use all the time.  But you say it has some sort of pain relieving attributes?

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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bipolar cat? not sure what that is about...I don't remember that post off-hand...oh you mean...her thyroid...not bipolar...I may have compared her energetic shifts facetiously to bipolar. I do not consider myself bipolar either so I'm not sure what the significance of my cat being like that meant to you. It was a painful long process before she finally died...helping her stay balanced...

 

I still can't talk much and cannot make commitments to be with people on the phone or in person...never know when I might be able to handle it...it stimulates the autonomic nervous system chaos and I have trouble breathing and get heart palps etc...

 

early in it was actually complicated by dysarthria...a neurological condition I seemed to have though I was not dx'd formally...I found others who also had it when they were bad off...

 

I'm glad the archives are helpful to you...there is a long list of more personal musings here: http://beyondmeds.com/personal-journey/

 

they contain lots of information about all the stages of withdrawal...from my experience and drawing on the experience of others I was coming through those phases with...I have wanted to figure a way to make them more accessible for folks going through the really rough stuff but I've not figure anything out...

 

Keep in mind the early posts I did not know what I was doing really...so don't assume some of what I did would be recommended at this point given what I know :-) 

Everything Matters: Beyond Meds 

https://beyondmeds.com/

withdrawn from a cocktail of 6 psychiatric drugs that included every class of psych drug.
 

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  • 1 month later...

What happens if you need to have surgery in withdrawal? I am so scared now. I have mutliple sensitivities etc but by me not going for the biopsy surgery could me something bad goes undetected. Any imput would be appreciated

Was on Citalopram 20mg since Feb 2008 - switched to Paxil 20mg in August 2010

Tapered way too fast in April 2012 by skipping days. Taper completed in 6 weeks

Tried prozac 20mg for 3 days - felt spaced out, not better.

Tried 30mg Cymbalta for 2 days. SEVERE ADVERSE REACTION

Antidepressant free since 14 August 2012

Birth control on and off during this time - Last taken 18 June 2017 - Morning after pill 

Started mainly using 0.5mg Xanax beginning 2016 for severe panic attacks and anxiety due to trauma

Xanax on and off never more than 0.5mg at a time, never taking it 3 days in a row - used sparingly 

 

6 Years antidepressant free - Still in severe withdrawal with over 60 symptoms

Severe setback started May 2018 with no let up to date. Developed many new symptoms like tremors, inner vibrations, insomnia, visual distortions and dr/dp are 100x worse, i have severe sensitivity to movement, My dizziness and vertigo got worse and it now feels like im constantly rocking on a boat, my anxiety is sky high, suicidal idiation is back, i feel extremely brain damaged 

 

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  • Administrator

Medfree, if you need the biopsy, you must put your fears aside and get it. There are alternatives we've discussed in another topic.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thank you Alto. If general Anesthesia is needed, will i be OK?

Was on Citalopram 20mg since Feb 2008 - switched to Paxil 20mg in August 2010

Tapered way too fast in April 2012 by skipping days. Taper completed in 6 weeks

Tried prozac 20mg for 3 days - felt spaced out, not better.

Tried 30mg Cymbalta for 2 days. SEVERE ADVERSE REACTION

Antidepressant free since 14 August 2012

Birth control on and off during this time - Last taken 18 June 2017 - Morning after pill 

Started mainly using 0.5mg Xanax beginning 2016 for severe panic attacks and anxiety due to trauma

Xanax on and off never more than 0.5mg at a time, never taking it 3 days in a row - used sparingly 

 

6 Years antidepressant free - Still in severe withdrawal with over 60 symptoms

Severe setback started May 2018 with no let up to date. Developed many new symptoms like tremors, inner vibrations, insomnia, visual distortions and dr/dp are 100x worse, i have severe sensitivity to movement, My dizziness and vertigo got worse and it now feels like im constantly rocking on a boat, my anxiety is sky high, suicidal idiation is back, i feel extremely brain damaged 

 

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Thank you Alto. If general Anesthesia is needed, will i be OK?

 

I am currently going through a tapered withdrawal from Lexapro, and I recently needed surgery that required general anesthesia.  I was fine.  Well, I did have a mini-meltdown before surgery, but that was because I had only gotten 4 hours of sleep the night before, instead of my usual 8 or 9.  Lack of sleep = emotional volatility.  That was the bigger problem. That, and FEAR. 

The anesthesia itself didn't cause any problems.  In fact, I had complications from my surgery, and needed another procedure that required going "under". Plus countless of doses of opiates for pain.  One thing I found out, is that opiates (narcotic meds like Percocet, Vicodin, Dilauded, Morphine, etc.) can actually CAUSE INSOMNIA, despite the fact that they make you very sleepy.

 

Either way, it's been 3 weeks now since I got out of the hospital, and the whole time I stayed with my tapering schedule, and I have not noticed any worsening of my depression or increase in symptoms that can be attributed to antidepressant withdrawal or anesthesia and opiate complications.

 

Hope this helps, and resolves your fear.

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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