Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

Neuromuscular symptoms: muscle tics, twitches, fasciculations, spasms, cramps, restless legs


Hopeful

Recommended Posts

Thanks nowhere...

Paxil start September 2003 due to Fluoroquinolone adverse reaction that I wish doc. knew what it was. 10mg. most of the time with a few short runs of 20mg. FAST tapered 3 times and finally hit poop out or a reaction to nsaid's in Nov.2013. Started a 10% taper Jan. 2014 and have been ok until Sept 14 and went through a short hell. Now plodding through and looking for the light with unrelenting insomnia and pain, fog, loss of interests....<p>12/20/14 - .8mg.

1/01/15 - .75 mg.

1/15/15 - .42 mg. better sleep now, hope it continues...

2/11-15 - .25 mg. doing really good!! 2 weeks feel 85% of old me!

3/17/15 .14 mg. Knee pain bad!

4/07/15 .05 mg. this is so small now that I am estimating and just licking it off palm small as a "." 

4/13/15 NOTHING !!!! Took my last little micro dose on 4/12/15. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What are you experiencing DLB?

---

Started in June 2004 - Lexapro 10MG

Off and on from 2004 to 2008 - Lexapro 10MG

October 2008 - Lexapro 10MG

Late April 2012 - Lexapro 5MG

Late August 2012 - Cold Turkey

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did not mean to imply you were wanting meds. In fact, the helpfulness of physiotherapy gives you a hint of sorts. My mother, who is 90+, knits or crochets every day and has for years, has arthritis pains in her hands but has very little of the joint deformation usually seen with arthritis. A lot of the stuff in wd, all you can do is wonder because it is not readily diagnosable.

I do wonder is some of it would be diangnosable if we had the right tests at the right time... if we were well enough to make it.  I especially wonder about brain zaps and EEG I am sure the brain zaps I was having every time I moved my eyes would have been picked up on an EEG.. I wonder about other things too like EMG for the muscles that are constantly contracted.  

There was once a person on pp who had a theme sorry I know that is the wrong word but I can't think of the right one.. 

saying?  

attached to her thread it said something like this

 

"whether you can find something depends on the test you use to look for it..."

 

That is the gist of it.. if they would believe that would be a start but as "psych patients we start down a few rungs on the ladder" there is a thread about it don't make me hunt for it please... I am lazy... 

peace

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WI you are always so kind to me, thank you.  I hope you and your Mom find something that works, for all of our sakes! 

 

I just tried a herb I take sometimes for sleep and I forgot it could help a bit with joint issues.  Seemed to make the knee pain a little less awful the past few days.  Unfortunately though with regards to sleep it turned on me the next day...First night I got decent sleep, then last night I didn't sleep at all until the sun came up.  So I'm back at square one I guess...

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So I'm reading this and wondering if during withdrawal is it normal for muscles/ tendons to get real sore easily from straining that would never cause it previously??

That is certainly what I experience DLB.

March 2013-June 2015 reduced from 40mg to 18.5mg paxil. In mid June 2015, switched to Zoloft 50mg. (was on paxil approx 20 years)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm having pretty bad spine pain, numbness and tingling after going cold turkey off ssris I had been on for 10 years. It feels like my nerves are inflamed and it gets worse when I am super anxious. I have an MRI next week- I'm sure they won't find anything wrong and will chalk it up to arthririts or anxiety.

 

Anyone have luck with a doctor or tests indicating any damage?

Diagnosed bi-pollar II in 2003 at age 15.

Lithium, lexapro and seroquel for the next 8 years, with occasional klonopin.

Quit seroquel cold turkey in 2011.

1st unsuccessful attempt to stop ALL meds cold turkey- 2012

Switched to lithium, citalopram and adderall (only on adderall for a few weeks).

Cold turkey off EVERYTHING Feb 2014.

 

Previous symptoms; crying spells, suicidal depression and hopelessness (3 months). Frequent urination and chocolate, allergy medicine and food sensitivities (3 months). Body pain radiating through my spine, legs, arms and butt followed by muscle stiffness, weakness and tingling/loss of feeling (7 months). Brain zaps, head aches and intense depersonalization. Fight or flight upon waking and difficulty sleeping (2 months). Difficulty regulating body temperature-incredibly cold hands and feet (8 months). Diarrhea and difficulty eating (lost over 30 pounds). Acute and itchy acne? on my forehead, cheeks and chest (7 months). 

 

Current symptoms: anxiety, obsessive compulsions, feeling stuck/unable to act/shocked, pain along my spine, hair loss, easily stressed and overwhelmed, difficulty with social situations, generally moody. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I stopped effexor I had the ongoing problems with various pains (my knee, pelvic pain). I had MRI in both occasions, nothing there...I got lots of painkillers, but eventually physio helped.

At present I have had problems with paresthesia, and again physio is most helpful...

When I felt anxious it increased the sensation...but the physiotherapist assesed me and I believe in his formulation. I have very tense muscles in my back and WD added extra strain to this. Namely I have tenssion in the muscles that deal with fight and flight response...

 

I think good formulation and trust in a health practioner with set of exercices ans some meditation are the most helpful, at least for me...

- 12.03.2021- doxepin- 50mg

- 6.11.2020- 75mg

- 16.10.2020- 100mg

- 30.09.2020- doxepin- 125mg

- May 2020, omeprazole 40mg switched to esomeprazole 20mg

- 2012 re-started Doxepin 75mg, evening. Increased to 150mg

- 2012, Atenolol 25mg, twice a day

- 2016, Low dose of HRT in evening, Sandrena and Utrogestan 

- Long term of Nasal spray Otrivine

- 2012, PPI Omeprazole 40mg-evening

24.10.2014- Started ESCITALOPRAM-first 5mg and then 10mg; due to the adverse symptoms reduced on 5.01.2015- Escitalopram- 2.5mg 22.07.2016- re-started reduction by 1% at a time. Completed tappering on  19.03.2020 😇

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

My update on this symptom--it has gradually improved since I stopped taking a herb that may have caused it.  Or at least "unmasked" it.  It's a bit disappointing as the herb worked really, really well for brain fog.  Maybe it's just a coincidence but the knee pain came on right when I started it and as it was interfering with sleep I simply can't afford to continue taking the herb on the chance it's the cause, even with the significant improvements in brain fog.

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Oh, Sky, what limbo! Bear with me as I make a suggestion and feel free to scrap it if you think it's too risky. Herbs can be really potent, but is there another more gentle food source that you could eat that might give some of the good stuff from the herb, but be less potent?

*I'm not a doctor and don't give medical advice, just personal experience
**Off all meds since Nov. 2014. Mentally & emotionally recovered; physically not
-Dual cold turkeys off TCA & Ativan in Oct 2014. Prescribed from 2011-2014

-All meds were Rxed off-label for an autoimmune illness.  It was a MISDIAGNOSIS, but I did not find out until AFTER meds caused damage.  All med tapers/cold turkeys directed by doctors 

-Nortriptyline May 2012 - Dec 2013. Cold turkey off nortrip & cold switched to desipramine

-Desipramine Jan 2014 - Oct. 29, 2014 (rapid taper/cold turkey)

-Lorazepam 1 mg per night during 2011
-Lorazepam 1 mg per month in 2012 (or less)

-Lorazepam on & off, Dec 2013 through Aug 2014. Didn't exceed 3x a week

-Lorazepam again in Oct. 2014 to help get off of desipramine. Last dose lzpam was 1 mg, Nov. 2, 2014. Immediate paradoxical reactions to benzos after stopping TCAs 

-First muscle/dystonia side effects started on nortriptyline, but docs too stupid to figure it out. On desipramine, muscle tremors & rigidity worsened

-Two weeks after I got off all meds, I developed full-blown TD.  Tardive dystonia, dyskinesia, myoclonic jerks ALL over body, ribcage wiggles, facial tics, twitching tongue & fingers, tremors/twitches of arms, legs, cognitive impairment, throat muscles semi-paralyzed & unable to swallow solid food, brain zaps, ears ring, dizzy, everything looks too far away, insomnia, numbness & electric shocks everywhere when I try to fall asleep, jerk awake from sleep with big, gasping breaths, wake with terrors & tremors, severely depressed.  NO HISTORY OF DEPRESSION, EVER. Meds CREATED it.

-Month 7: hair falling out; no vision improvement; still tardive dystonia; facial & tongue tics returned
-Month 8: back to acute, incl. Grand Mal seizure-like episodes. New mental torment, PGAD, worse insomnia
-Month 9: tardive dystonia worse, dyskinesia returned. Unable to breathe well due to dystonia in stomach, chest, throat
-Month 13: Back to acute, brain zaps back, developed eczema & stomach problems. Left leg no longer works right due to dystonia, meaning both legs now damaged
-7 years off: Huge improvements, incl. improved dystonia

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Also, what was the herb?

*I'm not a doctor and don't give medical advice, just personal experience
**Off all meds since Nov. 2014. Mentally & emotionally recovered; physically not
-Dual cold turkeys off TCA & Ativan in Oct 2014. Prescribed from 2011-2014

-All meds were Rxed off-label for an autoimmune illness.  It was a MISDIAGNOSIS, but I did not find out until AFTER meds caused damage.  All med tapers/cold turkeys directed by doctors 

-Nortriptyline May 2012 - Dec 2013. Cold turkey off nortrip & cold switched to desipramine

-Desipramine Jan 2014 - Oct. 29, 2014 (rapid taper/cold turkey)

-Lorazepam 1 mg per night during 2011
-Lorazepam 1 mg per month in 2012 (or less)

-Lorazepam on & off, Dec 2013 through Aug 2014. Didn't exceed 3x a week

-Lorazepam again in Oct. 2014 to help get off of desipramine. Last dose lzpam was 1 mg, Nov. 2, 2014. Immediate paradoxical reactions to benzos after stopping TCAs 

-First muscle/dystonia side effects started on nortriptyline, but docs too stupid to figure it out. On desipramine, muscle tremors & rigidity worsened

-Two weeks after I got off all meds, I developed full-blown TD.  Tardive dystonia, dyskinesia, myoclonic jerks ALL over body, ribcage wiggles, facial tics, twitching tongue & fingers, tremors/twitches of arms, legs, cognitive impairment, throat muscles semi-paralyzed & unable to swallow solid food, brain zaps, ears ring, dizzy, everything looks too far away, insomnia, numbness & electric shocks everywhere when I try to fall asleep, jerk awake from sleep with big, gasping breaths, wake with terrors & tremors, severely depressed.  NO HISTORY OF DEPRESSION, EVER. Meds CREATED it.

-Month 7: hair falling out; no vision improvement; still tardive dystonia; facial & tongue tics returned
-Month 8: back to acute, incl. Grand Mal seizure-like episodes. New mental torment, PGAD, worse insomnia
-Month 9: tardive dystonia worse, dyskinesia returned. Unable to breathe well due to dystonia in stomach, chest, throat
-Month 13: Back to acute, brain zaps back, developed eczema & stomach problems. Left leg no longer works right due to dystonia, meaning both legs now damaged
-7 years off: Huge improvements, incl. improved dystonia

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In retrospect, I do believe my knee problem is related to Zoloft. It began in august 2014, last month of a too rapid taper. I had been on a quick powerwalk and the next day my knee was lovked, I couldn't walk for a week. I got better but I still iften get pain in that knee. I cannot see another link than the AD.

2008-2014: various doses of Sertraline between 25-150mg. Put on it initially for very mild anxiety.

Occasionnally Xanax 0.25mg, maybe twice a month.

Summer 2014: much too rapid taper off Sertraline (had no clue about withdrawal) from 25mg to nothing in about two months.

September 2014: last Sertraline pill.
End november 2014: begin WD symptoms (severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, zaps, head/face/ear pressure, severe debilitating anxiety and insomnia, muscle pains and spasm,..) 

Begin february 2015: had developed what I now know is akathisia, arrived at the psych ER severly sleep deprived. Put on a drug regimen consisting of: Sertraline 25mg, Trazolan 100 mg for sleep and Temesta 2,5 when needed.

Had a severe adverse reaction to the Sertraline reinstatement and became acutely suicidal within days. Akathisia and all physical symptoms became worse. Doctor pushed the doses further up until I, in a moment of lucidity, found a psychiatrist who believed me when I said I was in WD.

Mid march 2015: off all psych meds. Suicidal thoughts diminshed greatly, insomnia got somewhat better but akathisia is still relentless and physical symptoms quite debilitating. At least drugs are out of my system and healing can finally commence.

I avoid coffee, alcohol and exercise and am not taking any supplements whatsoever. I am just leaving my body and brain to be.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am also having knee soreness that doesn't seem to go away or let up much. I have had this in the past with cold weather, but not for as long as this has lasted. I think a saw some posts where folks had made a magnesium lotion that seemed to help with the pain. I'll see what else I can find on that. Mine feels like my knee is swollen and I also sometimes have a burning sensation, it's very strange. I am in good health and not overweight, so I tend to attribute it coming off the Paxil too quickly.

2005-2009, Lexapro 10 - 20 mg, CT WD w/severe depression and anxiety:  2010-2015, Paxil, 30 - 40 mg, tapered off at 10 mg/week, moderate anxiety and depression:  2010-2015, Clonozapam 0.25 mg, as needed for anxiety and sleep:  1/10/2015, Zoloft 25 mg, tried to increase to 50 and 75, but nausea and dizziness:  2/13/2015, Paxil 5 mg, added back after 2 weeks at zero to reduce WD:  2/28/2015, Paxil 10 mg, increased from 5 mg to reduce WD, HOLDING:  3/04/2015, Zoloft discontinued (reduced to ~12.5 mg on 2/19, ~6.25 mg on 2/26, then zero):  4/26/2015, Paxil starting 10% taper (no scale so was inadvertently at 20% taper, yikes!):  4/30/2015, Paxil 10 mg, reinstated (WD disappeared between August 2015 and May 2016)

5/02/2016, Started 10% taper, reinstated to 10 mg on 5/11/16:  4/29/2017, Last dose of Paxil (working with holistic psychiatrist, lots of supplements to aid WD):  Primary symptoms: apathy, demotivation, anhedonia, fatigue, stress intolerance, moderate social anxiety

7/1/2018 Finally feeling like myself again, success!!! Praise God! Even with the stress of relocating recently, I am feeling pretty good most of the time now. Granted, I eat healthy, I exercise, I don't drink caffeine or alcohol and I try hard find a healthy balance of quiet and social times. Hang in there and keep the faith, you can do it too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

M

 

My update on this symptom--it has gradually improved since I stopped taking a herb that may have caused it.  Or at least "unmasked" it.  It's a bit disappointing as the herb worked really, really well for brain fog.  Maybe it's just a coincidence but the knee pain came on right when I started it and as it was interfering with sleep I simply can't afford to continue taking the herb on the chance it's the cause, even with the significant improvements in brain fog.

Maybe have a break from it then try again with a small amount, it is a shame if it helped with the brain fog and may be ok with smaller amounts.  

 

I was fit and walked everywhere, was a keen gardener and DIY freak. Fitted bathrooms and kitchens in my houses and did all the decorating.

Then I went down the psych rabbit hole and within months my knee was so swollen and sore. An x ray showed arthritis which couldn't have been caused by the drugs but I believe the drugs made it suddenly start to deteriorate. Within 2 years I was walking with a stick,  then crutches and a wheelchair.Since then I had a hip replaced, knee replaced and about to have the other hip replaced. My shoulders are arthritic, so are my hands and feet. The doctors were astounded at the speed of the degeneration in my joints and I never thought it had anything to do with the drugs until I came here! Now I am convinced all the drugs and withdrawals are responsible. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, Sky, what limbo! Bear with me as I make a suggestion and feel free to scrap it if you think it's too risky. Herbs can be really potent, but is there another more gentle food source that you could eat that might give some of the good stuff from the herb, but be less potent?

 

Good idea, but I don't honestly know if there is a substitute.  I'd have to do more research, it's a herb I honestly know very little about.

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, what was the herb?

 

I am not sure if I should put it up here as I'd be worried someone might try it and get problems from it.  It's pretty potent and I don't know enough about it to feel comfortable mentioning it. 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oops, up-thread is a bit confusing--I took two different herbs, one helped with sleep and seemed to help with the knee issue too but also caused panic attacks later on. 

 

The other seemed to bring out the knee problem though helped with brain fog.

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In retrospect, I do believe my knee problem is related to Zoloft. It began in august 2014, last month of a too rapid taper. I had been on a quick powerwalk and the next day my knee was lovked, I couldn't walk for a week. I got better but I still iften get pain in that knee. I cannot see another link than the AD.

 

This is like what happened to me.

 

I did some knee bends and then it came on.  But then I took a herb at the same time so maybe it's from the herb.  If it's from the knee bends though it's so absurd as it wasn't like I did a major work-out or anything.  So frustrating!

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am also having knee soreness that doesn't seem to go away or let up much. I have had this in the past with cold weather, but not for as long as this has lasted. I think a saw some posts where folks had made a magnesium lotion that seemed to help with the pain. I'll see what else I can find on that. Mine feels like my knee is swollen and I also sometimes have a burning sensation, it's very strange. I am in good health and not overweight, so I tend to attribute it coming off the Paxil too quickly.

 

Hi Prestorb, sorry you are having this too.  Good idea re the magnesium, I couldn't tolerate it straight up but there's yet another herb I can take that I can tolerate that has a lot of magnesium.  So if it does act up again I'll try that, and report back.  Hope yours let's up too or the mag helps you.

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

M

 

My update on this symptom--it has gradually improved since I stopped taking a herb that may have caused it.  Or at least "unmasked" it.  It's a bit disappointing as the herb worked really, really well for brain fog.  Maybe it's just a coincidence but the knee pain came on right when I started it and as it was interfering with sleep I simply can't afford to continue taking the herb on the chance it's the cause, even with the significant improvements in brain fog.

Maybe have a break from it then try again with a small amount, it is a shame if it helped with the brain fog and may be ok with smaller amounts.  

 

I was fit and walked everywhere, was a keen gardener and DIY freak. Fitted bathrooms and kitchens in my houses and did all the decorating.

Then I went down the psych rabbit hole and within months my knee was so swollen and sore. An x ray showed arthritis which couldn't have been caused by the drugs but I believe the drugs made it suddenly start to deteriorate. Within 2 years I was walking with a stick,  then crutches and a wheelchair.Since then I had a hip replaced, knee replaced and about to have the other hip replaced. My shoulders are arthritic, so are my hands and feet. The doctors were astounded at the speed of the degeneration in my joints and I never thought it had anything to do with the drugs until I came here! Now I am convinced all the drugs and withdrawals are responsible. 

 

Hi mamma, thanks for the suggestion.  Unfortunately though I only took a small amount so it looks like this herb may be out for me. 

 

And your situation is so upsetting!  With me it also felt like I had some kind of sudden onset arthritis that was severe.  What have they done to us with these drugs??? Is there anything you can do that makes the remaining joint issues feel better?  

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I take 400 mg of chelated magnesium at night for sleep, but it hasn't helped my knees at all. You can get this from of Mg at any vitamin store, it doesn't upset my stomach at all but some do have that problem.

2005-2009, Lexapro 10 - 20 mg, CT WD w/severe depression and anxiety:  2010-2015, Paxil, 30 - 40 mg, tapered off at 10 mg/week, moderate anxiety and depression:  2010-2015, Clonozapam 0.25 mg, as needed for anxiety and sleep:  1/10/2015, Zoloft 25 mg, tried to increase to 50 and 75, but nausea and dizziness:  2/13/2015, Paxil 5 mg, added back after 2 weeks at zero to reduce WD:  2/28/2015, Paxil 10 mg, increased from 5 mg to reduce WD, HOLDING:  3/04/2015, Zoloft discontinued (reduced to ~12.5 mg on 2/19, ~6.25 mg on 2/26, then zero):  4/26/2015, Paxil starting 10% taper (no scale so was inadvertently at 20% taper, yikes!):  4/30/2015, Paxil 10 mg, reinstated (WD disappeared between August 2015 and May 2016)

5/02/2016, Started 10% taper, reinstated to 10 mg on 5/11/16:  4/29/2017, Last dose of Paxil (working with holistic psychiatrist, lots of supplements to aid WD):  Primary symptoms: apathy, demotivation, anhedonia, fatigue, stress intolerance, moderate social anxiety

7/1/2018 Finally feeling like myself again, success!!! Praise God! Even with the stress of relocating recently, I am feeling pretty good most of the time now. Granted, I eat healthy, I exercise, I don't drink caffeine or alcohol and I try hard find a healthy balance of quiet and social times. Hang in there and keep the faith, you can do it too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had lots of joint problems and various pain that I associate either with side effects or/and withdarwal. I think this is generally related to the inflamation...a. present I suffer from hands pain, especially towards the morning. It seems like arthritis...i only hope it will go away...it is also difficult when I drive/holding steering wheel...

In the past I would take painkillers, this led to restarting ADs...

I think tumeric and bromelain are good for inflamation.

I found that phisiotherapy was very helpful in the past...

- 12.03.2021- doxepin- 50mg

- 6.11.2020- 75mg

- 16.10.2020- 100mg

- 30.09.2020- doxepin- 125mg

- May 2020, omeprazole 40mg switched to esomeprazole 20mg

- 2012 re-started Doxepin 75mg, evening. Increased to 150mg

- 2012, Atenolol 25mg, twice a day

- 2016, Low dose of HRT in evening, Sandrena and Utrogestan 

- Long term of Nasal spray Otrivine

- 2012, PPI Omeprazole 40mg-evening

24.10.2014- Started ESCITALOPRAM-first 5mg and then 10mg; due to the adverse symptoms reduced on 5.01.2015- Escitalopram- 2.5mg 22.07.2016- re-started reduction by 1% at a time. Completed tappering on  19.03.2020 😇

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I take 400 mg of chelated magnesium at night for sleep, but it hasn't helped my knees at all. You can get this from of Mg at any vitamin store, it doesn't upset my stomach at all but some do have that problem.

 

Sorry to hear it doesn't help for your knee issue.

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had lots of joint problems and various pain that I associate either with side effects or/and withdarwal. I think this is generally related to the inflamation...a. present I suffer from hands pain, especially towards the morning. It seems like arthritis...i only hope it will go away...it is also difficult when I drive/holding steering wheel...

In the past I would take painkillers, this led to restarting ADs...

I think tumeric and bromelain are good for inflamation.

I found that phisiotherapy was very helpful in the past...

 

I get some pain occassionally in my hands.  And an overall stiffness that is worse in the winter, must have something to do with blood flow.  I hope it doesn't get worse.

 

Have you tried the tumeric? 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I have had lots of joint problems and various pain that I associate either with side effects or/and withdarwal. I think this is generally related to the inflamation...a. present I suffer from hands pain, especially towards the morning. It seems like arthritis...i only hope it will go away...it is also difficult when I drive/holding steering wheel...

In the past I would take painkillers, this led to restarting ADs...

I think tumeric and bromelain are good for inflamation.

I found that phisiotherapy was very helpful in the past...

 

 

I get some pain occassionally in my hands.  And an overall stiffness that is worse in the winter, must have something to do with blood flow.  I hope it doesn't get worse.

 

Have you tried the tumeric?

No, I haven't. Need to buy it. I hear that bromelain is also good...

- 12.03.2021- doxepin- 50mg

- 6.11.2020- 75mg

- 16.10.2020- 100mg

- 30.09.2020- doxepin- 125mg

- May 2020, omeprazole 40mg switched to esomeprazole 20mg

- 2012 re-started Doxepin 75mg, evening. Increased to 150mg

- 2012, Atenolol 25mg, twice a day

- 2016, Low dose of HRT in evening, Sandrena and Utrogestan 

- Long term of Nasal spray Otrivine

- 2012, PPI Omeprazole 40mg-evening

24.10.2014- Started ESCITALOPRAM-first 5mg and then 10mg; due to the adverse symptoms reduced on 5.01.2015- Escitalopram- 2.5mg 22.07.2016- re-started reduction by 1% at a time. Completed tappering on  19.03.2020 😇

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Please can anyone tell me if they have had muscle and shoulder pain as a withdrawal symptoms. IT is a painful burning and aching pain with muscle tightness also across my neck.THis keeps me away at night to the point of no sleep and then exhausted in the day only to be kept awake all night the next night.I have had this now for a month with no relief.I am currently on 3 mg of paroxatine (very long and slow withdrawl)Also I have a strange feeling g as if all my muscles in my body are moving all the time from my feet to my head.Im hoping that this will go away.

Katieb

Been taking paroxatine for approx 15 years.Tried a few times yo stop but failed. Am currently on 3.5mg liquid

Jan 2016 been slow tapering paroxatine and i am currently at 2.9 mg and last drop was 5 weeks ago.

Started to feel awful about 3 weeks ago with brain ???? , shakes, blurred vision and dizzyness. ..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah been there with the neck and it lasted 3 months. Horrible pain. Now i have bad leg weakness and sore knees. The neck pain does go. I also get the twitching moving muscles. All normal withdrawal stuff. How did you taper??

Paxil start September 2003 due to Fluoroquinolone adverse reaction that I wish doc. knew what it was. 10mg. most of the time with a few short runs of 20mg. FAST tapered 3 times and finally hit poop out or a reaction to nsaid's in Nov.2013. Started a 10% taper Jan. 2014 and have been ok until Sept 14 and went through a short hell. Now plodding through and looking for the light with unrelenting insomnia and pain, fog, loss of interests....<p>12/20/14 - .8mg.

1/01/15 - .75 mg.

1/15/15 - .42 mg. better sleep now, hope it continues...

2/11-15 - .25 mg. doing really good!! 2 weeks feel 85% of old me!

3/17/15 .14 mg. Knee pain bad!

4/07/15 .05 mg. this is so small now that I am estimating and just licking it off palm small as a "." 

4/13/15 NOTHING !!!! Took my last little micro dose on 4/12/15. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi.DlBMy drops are a 1.7% drop every 4 weeks sometimes I have to stay longer depending on symptoms. I feel every small drop.But this is the first time I have had serious pain like this.I often cry through the night.15Years on this drug and many attempts to quit but didn't realise all those times before my body was in wd.Just told by the doctor that I needed to go back on the medication.Thankfully I am a little bit more educated now. Where are you up to now?

Been taking paroxatine for approx 15 years.Tried a few times yo stop but failed. Am currently on 3.5mg liquid

Jan 2016 been slow tapering paroxatine and i am currently at 2.9 mg and last drop was 5 weeks ago.

Started to feel awful about 3 weeks ago with brain ???? , shakes, blurred vision and dizzyness. ..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi.DlBMy drops are a 1.7% drop every 4 weeks sometimes I have to stay longer depending on symptoms. I feel every small drop.But this is the first time I have had serious pain like this.I often cry through the night.15Years on this drug and many attempts to quit but didn't realise all those times before my body was in wd.Just told by the doctor that I needed to go back on the medication.Thankfully I am a little bit more educated now. Where are you up to now?

Been taking paroxatine for approx 15 years.Tried a few times yo stop but failed. Am currently on 3.5mg liquid

Jan 2016 been slow tapering paroxatine and i am currently at 2.9 mg and last drop was 5 weeks ago.

Started to feel awful about 3 weeks ago with brain ???? , shakes, blurred vision and dizzyness. ..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

wow you did go slow. I am at .14 mg after a 14 month taper from 10 mg. I got that neck pain at about 7 mg. I cant believe the amount of pain this stuff can cause.I had this same leg and knee thing every time i tried quiting before and on startup so it is definately ssri related.

Paxil start September 2003 due to Fluoroquinolone adverse reaction that I wish doc. knew what it was. 10mg. most of the time with a few short runs of 20mg. FAST tapered 3 times and finally hit poop out or a reaction to nsaid's in Nov.2013. Started a 10% taper Jan. 2014 and have been ok until Sept 14 and went through a short hell. Now plodding through and looking for the light with unrelenting insomnia and pain, fog, loss of interests....<p>12/20/14 - .8mg.

1/01/15 - .75 mg.

1/15/15 - .42 mg. better sleep now, hope it continues...

2/11-15 - .25 mg. doing really good!! 2 weeks feel 85% of old me!

3/17/15 .14 mg. Knee pain bad!

4/07/15 .05 mg. this is so small now that I am estimating and just licking it off palm small as a "." 

4/13/15 NOTHING !!!! Took my last little micro dose on 4/12/15. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have recently started to get knee and hip pain too but nothing like the pain I am in at the moment.It is driving me up the wall especially with lack of sleep.I hope it goes soon.Dont relish the thought of another 2 months.

Been taking paroxatine for approx 15 years.Tried a few times yo stop but failed. Am currently on 3.5mg liquid

Jan 2016 been slow tapering paroxatine and i am currently at 2.9 mg and last drop was 5 weeks ago.

Started to feel awful about 3 weeks ago with brain ???? , shakes, blurred vision and dizzyness. ..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hang in there it will go but its gonna take time. I thought it would never end it was like the worst stiff neck i ever had and it kept me up at night also. Now im just up at night from withdrawal and this is worse. Is your knee pain at top of kneecap? That is where mine is and it hurts going down stairs. Just know that the neck pain will go no matter how bad it feels now because when it happened to me i researched it and found dozens of people with the same thing and was reassured it will go away and it did.

Paxil start September 2003 due to Fluoroquinolone adverse reaction that I wish doc. knew what it was. 10mg. most of the time with a few short runs of 20mg. FAST tapered 3 times and finally hit poop out or a reaction to nsaid's in Nov.2013. Started a 10% taper Jan. 2014 and have been ok until Sept 14 and went through a short hell. Now plodding through and looking for the light with unrelenting insomnia and pain, fog, loss of interests....<p>12/20/14 - .8mg.

1/01/15 - .75 mg.

1/15/15 - .42 mg. better sleep now, hope it continues...

2/11-15 - .25 mg. doing really good!! 2 weeks feel 85% of old me!

3/17/15 .14 mg. Knee pain bad!

4/07/15 .05 mg. this is so small now that I am estimating and just licking it off palm small as a "." 

4/13/15 NOTHING !!!! Took my last little micro dose on 4/12/15. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator

Hi Katie-- welcome to SA.  Intense muscle pain is pretty common in paxil WD especially when you get to the lower doses.  I have read a lot of peoples complaints about it when they reach the 3mg range.  Luckily I didn't get the tight burning shoulders but I did get a lot in the legs and lower back.  It will go away on its own given time.  I had some luck with plain old aspirin, magnesium citrate and a strong hot shower massage.  I also used gentle yoga and constant stretching to help keep it loose.  Other than that I haven't found much of anything to really help.  Sorry I couldn't be more positive. Hope that helps some.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks all for your replies.I was feeling quite alone after the closure of the other site and its taking a while for me to find my way around this one due to feeling pants and not sleeping and thinking straight. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

Been taking paroxatine for approx 15 years.Tried a few times yo stop but failed. Am currently on 3.5mg liquid

Jan 2016 been slow tapering paroxatine and i am currently at 2.9 mg and last drop was 5 weeks ago.

Started to feel awful about 3 weeks ago with brain ???? , shakes, blurred vision and dizzyness. ..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

my case, 12 years paroxetine , it begin with burning shoulders, espescially right, then slowly all muscles pain, joints, spine, ribcage, fore-arms, all body, until today 6 years, with weakness fatigue,  a kind of fibromyalgia induced by paxil paroxetine, i could not pull a market chariot during years, today i can, but still disabled, the muscles play a part in my off balance, all this is linked in brain

before taking paxil, i was healthy, had nothing

for anxiety 

12 years paxil - cold turkey 1,5 month - switch celexa 1 year taper; total 13 years on brain meds 

67 years old - 9 years  med free

 

in protracted withdrawal

rigidity standing and walking, dryness gougerot-szoegren, sleep deteriorate,

function as have a lack of nerves, improving have been very little 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh Stan that sounds horrible.I also feel old and like my body hurts every day was healthy before paxil. Everyday something .

Been taking paroxatine for approx 15 years.Tried a few times yo stop but failed. Am currently on 3.5mg liquid

Jan 2016 been slow tapering paroxatine and i am currently at 2.9 mg and last drop was 5 weeks ago.

Started to feel awful about 3 weeks ago with brain ???? , shakes, blurred vision and dizzyness. ..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something I forgot to mention that accompanies all this is a real heavy feeling in my arm and pins and needles which last for weeks, then go and come back again. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Been taking paroxatine for approx 15 years.Tried a few times yo stop but failed. Am currently on 3.5mg liquid

Jan 2016 been slow tapering paroxatine and i am currently at 2.9 mg and last drop was 5 weeks ago.

Started to feel awful about 3 weeks ago with brain ???? , shakes, blurred vision and dizzyness. ..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy