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

Dizziness, vertigo, light-headedness, rocking or swaying sensations


squirrel

Recommended Posts

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

For ear problems see:  ear-issues-blocked-pressure-tinnitus-congested-eustachian-tube-disfunction-etd

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

This symptom is really getting me down. I feel unsteady at the best of times but every so often I get intense feelings of dizziness , the floor seems to be moving quickly under my feet i feel so unsteady,I have head pressure and feel nauseous. Dizziness has been a main symptom for me since stopping paroxetine 6 years ago.

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added link to ear problems

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm assuming you've had this checked out?? Dizziness can appear for so many reasons.

 

I hope this goes away and you start feeling better very soon!

 

 

Charter Member 2011

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Squirrel, I'm so sorry you're still dealing with this. It's very disheartening to still have such a very debilitating symptom for so long. I really believe it will end, though. It's just taking a very long time.

 

Now, just a question. Am I remembering correctly? Did you get some benefit from the vertigo exercises that were prescribed for you? Is that right? Did they stop helping?

 

Did you see we have a new member -- awalkerphoenix -- who had dizzy spells prior to meds and benefited from exercises given by a physio therapist. Might be worth comparing notes?

1996-97 - Paxil x 9 months, tapered, suffered 8 months withdrawal but didn't know it was withdrawal, so...

1998-2001 - Zoloft, tapered, again unwittingly went into withdrawal, so...

2002-03 - Paxil x 20 months, developed severe headaches, so...

Sep 03 - May 05 - Paxil taper took 20 months, severe physical, moderate psychological symptoms

Sep 03 - Jun 05 - took Prozac to help with Paxil taper - not recommended

Jul 05 to date - post-taper, severe psychological, moderate physical symptoms, improving very slowly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

my dear Squirrel, when i read this, i am sad to see how long you suffer from a very debiliting thing,

i will have too some debiliting things, i see and feel it, standing will be a problem for me because today my equilibrium is wrong...

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

Hi stan my equilibrium is wrong everyday since I stopped the drug and fear that it may never return.

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

i am getting really concerned because i keep having funny turns( not in the humerous sense ).Had one today, got out of my car to go to the shop and as I stood up felt a bit dizzy which is not unusual for me. As I came out of the shop it was as if the whole of my surroundings were moving I felt so disorientated I virtually staggered back to the car.When I sat down again it was better but I felt woosy, dizzy and agitated all day.No point in going to docs she hasn't got a clue! Getting really worried as I have been having similar but not as bad for 3 weeks now.

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I could go into a whole list of why you should not worry about this - I am out of time this morning but let me tell you just one.

 

Tight muscles in the head, neck and shoulders compress muscle propreceptors that send signals to the brain. When they are compressed by muscle tension the brain gets wrong signals. It goes what the hell something is wrong - data does not compute. Save the human - make her dizzy so she sits and wont fall.

 

Then there is the fact that stress alters the viscosity of the inner ear fluid so the celli don’t work properly and you get a "Turn" as you UK people call it. Then there is stress and GABA which is all over the inner ear and auditory nerve.

 

Fear of it makes it worse - you are OK

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thanks Razzle how do you know all this stuff? its amazing!

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont post my professional position on line but I can say that I have a medical and psychological background...plus I love knowing how out bodies work and why mine does not in some cases

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

Acta Otolaryngol. 2010 Sep;130(9):981-3.

A possible explanation for dizziness following SSRI discontinuation.

 

Smith PF, Darlington CL.

 

Source

 

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand. paul.smith@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

 

Abstract at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20144124 Full text at http://www.mediafire.com/?3v4waouysa70j6q

 

Dizziness is the most commonly reported symptom of abrupt discontinuation from the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) category of antidepressants. The reported dizziness is exacerbated by even slight head movement, and therefore is likely to be vestibular in origin. The SSRIs most implicated are those with short half-lives and which are most selective for serotonin (as opposed to noradrenaline), e.g. paroxetine and sertraline. Since the vestibular nucleus complex (VNC) has an abundance of serotonin receptors, the abrupt withdrawal from an SSRI is likely to have a substantial impact on the electrophysiological activity of neurons within it. Here we suggest that the abrupt withdrawal from an SSRI is likely to cause a sudden decrease in serotonin in the VNC, which will disrupt the function of VNC neurons bilaterally, causing dizziness without vertigo.

Edited by Altostrata
added link to full text

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

squirrel, why don't you write the author of this paper and ask him why your dizziness has lasted so long?

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Alto I, May do that.I have tried various others in the past but they have not replied to me. Any Idea how I can read the full article?

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

Due to squirrel's diligent searching for this journal article (thank you very much, squirrel), I've posted a link to it above.

 

The paper was published in a journal for otolaryngologists (ear-nose-throat, or ENT, specialists). The authors believe withdrawal dizziness has its origins in the nerves of the inner ear. They are experts on the function of serotonin in the vestibular, or inner ear, system. They are guessing that, since SSRIs increase serotonin, the decrease in serotonin after discontinuation affects these nerves:

 

"....Serotonin has been found in the peripheral vestib- ular system, in the vestibular labyrinth, although its function there is poorly understood (see Smith and Darlington [11] for a review). Serotonin is also known to be an important neurotransmitter in the brainstem vestibular nucleus, which along with the cerebellar ␣occulus, is the only area of the brain to receive direct input from the vestibular nerve carrying vestibular sensory information from the inner ear...."

 

They further suggest that "....the decrease in serotonin may result in the reduced activation of the 5-HT1F receptors, thereby increasing glutamate release by VNC neurons...."

 

But the dizziness could have other causes: "....It is of course possible that dizziness following discontinuation of SSRIs is related to the effects of reduced serotonin in other areas of the brain that are involved in vestibular sensory processing. Vestibular information is transmitted from the VNC to many areas of the limbic system and neocortex via multiple polysynaptic pathways and conceivably any of them could be implicated in the generation of dizziness. However, the high concentration of serotonin receptors in the VNC and the co-localization of the 5-HT1F receptor with glutamate suggest a simpler explanation. Why some patients are affected and others are not, even though they discontinued the same SSRI, is more difficult to explain given our current understanding...."

 

In the conclusion: "....drugs that modulate serotonin and its many receptors, such as tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and SSRIs for depression; buspirone for anxiety disorders; ergotamine, the triptans (e.g. sumatriptan), methysergide and pizotifen for migraine; 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (e.g. ondansetron) for nausea and vomiting; and psilocybin, mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, i.e. Ecstasy) as recreational drugs, may also affect vestibular function, in some cases predisposing users to blurred vision and falls...."

 

What does this mean, practically, for squirrel? My interpretation is that these doctors believe glutamatergic hyperactivity has taken over in the inner ear to produce this withdrawal symptom -- exactly parallel to our theory of withdrawal syndrome in general.

 

I'm not a doctor, and I don't know how this could be treated. One could print this paper out and take it to a sympathetic otolaryngologist who might craft a treatment. Dr. Smith's e-mail is given above, he might even know of someone you could see.

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

squirrel, please see new posts in the Dizziness 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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks I have emailed him so will see what happens.

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the conclusion: "....drugs that modulate serotonin and its many receptors, such as tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and SSRIs for depression; buspirone for anxiety disorders; ergotamine, the triptans (e.g. sumatriptan), methysergide and pizotifen for migraine; 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (e.g. ondansetron) for nausea and vomiting; and psilocybin, mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, i.e. Ecstasy) as recreational drugs, may also affect vestibular function, in some cases predisposing users to blurred vision and falls...."

 

 

Benzodiazepines are one of the major medication groups to strongly affect dizziness and balance.

I was "TryingToGetWell" (aka TTGW) on paxilprogress. I also was one of the original members here on Surviving Antidepressants

 

I had horrific and protracted withdrawal from paxil, but now am back to enjoying life with enthusiasm to the max, some residual physical symptoms continued but largely improve. The horror, severe derealization, anhedonia, akathisia, and so much more, are long over.

 

My signature is a temporary scribble from year 2013. I'll rewrite it when I can.

 

If you want to read it, click on http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/209-brandy-anyone/?p=110343

Link to comment
Share on other sites

can anyone define glutamatergic hyperactivity ? tried to google it but its all doctor talk and I don't understand it.

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jeez, serotonin is in the vestibular system. It's in the enamel organs. It's in the GI tract. Is it any wonder we have the cornucopia of w/d symptoms we do? :blink:

1996-97 - Paxil x 9 months, tapered, suffered 8 months withdrawal but didn't know it was withdrawal, so...

1998-2001 - Zoloft, tapered, again unwittingly went into withdrawal, so...

2002-03 - Paxil x 20 months, developed severe headaches, so...

Sep 03 - May 05 - Paxil taper took 20 months, severe physical, moderate psychological symptoms

Sep 03 - Jun 05 - took Prozac to help with Paxil taper - not recommended

Jul 05 to date - post-taper, severe psychological, moderate physical symptoms, improving very slowly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

Yep, serotonin is everywhere.

 

can anyone define glutamatergic hyperactivity ? tried to google it but its all doctor talk and I don't understand it.

 

squirrel, read One theory of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome -- does it make it clearer?

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yes it does thanks

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Been to see balance specialist today. he says I have uncompensated labyrinthitus. I need vestibular physio.he wants me to take cyclizine to calm it down before I start physio. However this is an antihistamine. according to David Healy many anti-histamines'are serotonin reuptake inhibiting

so you might end up back on an SSRI effectively' so what do I do guys??????????

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hi Squirrel,

 

in France they give Betaserc, tanganyl and so on

does this cure : no

and many side-effects with cyclizine (destroy other receptors)

he can make you movements, no need meds first

it is as psychiatrist, they drug you first before speaking why you have agoraphobia

in your case i would never swallow more these craps meds

it is because these meds that you are where you are

 

you can lie ,do as you take them (and throw them away), so he will make you physical movements, and you will see what happens

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

I see it like Stan. I would never again take any medicine if it were not for saving my life.

End of 2008: Remeron 15mg for around 2 months. Unorthodox taper, no problems.
End of August 2009: Lexapro 10mg for only 4 days. Panic attack after 3 pills. Severe gastro problems in the morning for 3 days after last pill. 2 weeks later strong w/d symptoms set in.

Acute WD lasted around 3.5 years. I am feeling much better today, 5.5 years out, but still have some symptoms left.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi, Squirrel,

 

I don't feel like I know enough about drugs to make an informed recommendation. But I am with Stan and Maybe. If you have had problems with antihistimines, and a long, grueling recovery from WD, I'd take the prescription, not fill it and get to the physical therapist as soon as possible.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

1989 - 1992 Parnate* 

1992-1998 Paxil - pooped out*, oxazapam, inderal

1998 - 2005 Celexa - pooped out* klonopin, oxazapam, inderal

*don't remember doses

2005 -2007   Cymbalta 60 mg oxazapam, inderal, klonopin

Started taper in 2007:

CT klonopin, oxazapam, inderal (beta blocker) - 2007

Cymbalta 60mg to 30mg 2007 -2010

July 2010 - March 2018 on hiatus due to worsening w/d symptoms, which abated and finally disappeared. Then I stalled for about 5 years because I didn't want to deal with W/D.

March 2018 - May 2018 switch from 30mg Cymbalta to 20mg Celexa 

19 mg Celexa October 7, 2018

18 mg Celexa November 5, 2018

17 mg Celexa  December 2, 2019

16 mg Celexa January 6, 2018 

15 mg Celexa March 7, 2019

14 mg Celexa April 24, 2019

13 mg Celexa June 28, 2019

12.8 mg Celexa November 10, 2019

12.4 Celexa August 31, 2020

12.2 Celexa December 28, 2020

12 mg Celexa March 2021

11 mg  Celexa February 2023

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

This is excellent, squirrel. Did you show anyone the paper about withdrawal and dizziness?

 

I agree with everybody. Try the physical therapy first, tell the docs you are hypersensitive to medications and want to add that as a last resort, you had a severe adverse reaction to an SSRI and are concerned about taking an antihistamine at all.

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

he would not be interested in the paper, i told him my problems began when I stopped paroxtine, he just said 'thats odd its usually when you start it.' he is very old school I'm afraid.

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

Well, at least the physical therapist will be paying attention to you. I've found they are very smart and empathetic.

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am not so sure I agree with his diagnosis last time I saw him he said it was visual vertigo, now its uncompensated labyrinthitusI think Its paroxetine damage! but need to know if it is permanent.

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Squirrel, I hope that the PT brings you some relief. In the meantime, the best way to deal with old school docs is act like an old fashioned patient in his presence: deferential, respectful...then do what you damn please with your life. I am staying tuned for the PT results.

 

1989 - 1992 Parnate* 

1992-1998 Paxil - pooped out*, oxazapam, inderal

1998 - 2005 Celexa - pooped out* klonopin, oxazapam, inderal

*don't remember doses

2005 -2007   Cymbalta 60 mg oxazapam, inderal, klonopin

Started taper in 2007:

CT klonopin, oxazapam, inderal (beta blocker) - 2007

Cymbalta 60mg to 30mg 2007 -2010

July 2010 - March 2018 on hiatus due to worsening w/d symptoms, which abated and finally disappeared. Then I stalled for about 5 years because I didn't want to deal with W/D.

March 2018 - May 2018 switch from 30mg Cymbalta to 20mg Celexa 

19 mg Celexa October 7, 2018

18 mg Celexa November 5, 2018

17 mg Celexa  December 2, 2019

16 mg Celexa January 6, 2018 

15 mg Celexa March 7, 2019

14 mg Celexa April 24, 2019

13 mg Celexa June 28, 2019

12.8 mg Celexa November 10, 2019

12.4 Celexa August 31, 2020

12.2 Celexa December 28, 2020

12 mg Celexa March 2021

11 mg  Celexa February 2023

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am not so sure I agree with his diagnosis last time I saw him he said it was visual vertigo, now its uncompensated labyrinthitusI think Its paroxetine damage! but need to know if it is permanent.

 

hi Squirrel,

based on my actual state, i think actually :

the body is not able to heal all the functions (or hormones, or nerves repairing...it is all the same thing)

i think even he heals bad some areas

i would say that an area who function, the body is lost in the chaos and can destroy a part of a function which was well functioning

thinking that the body is able to only heal in the good direction is a mistake

he heals as he can over years better, worse and so on

so you can improve your equilibrium a day but it can last years, it depends from so many factors :genetics,age,health, organs diseases,psychological, time,...)

so "permanent"? nobody has the answer!

so let the body try to heal you slowly , give it more time, do swallow nothing , i do not see another solution for me and you and others sufferer

 

bye!

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

How do they even diagnose that?

 

I have dizziness as well, and it started in a really weird way. This was before I started getting morning anxiety... I went on a boat for two days, and then when I got off I got "land sickness"... you feel like you are still on the boat (no nausea, just a sensation like things were moving, and affected by my own body movement. Felt better while in movement in a car). I've had it many times in my life before, but usually it goes away in a few hours or a day or two max. This time it lasted months. I heard it happens to people sometimes, that it is not an inner ear thing, but rather something in the brain, and that it can last years. It only affected my balance if I had my eyes closed and leaned forward... just a misstep or two. I went to a doctor to get a checkup and mentioned the dizziness, and she made me stand with my arms extended and my eyes closed. She said I didn't sway, which meant it was not in the cerebellum.

 

Right when it seemed like it was starting to fade, I started getting the anxiety and also was sick to my stomach. Turns out I had amoebas. But now I've been treated for the amoebas and still have the dizziness. The dizziness has mutated, though. Now it's not so much like the outer world is moving, and I do lose my balance more often.

 

My point in all of this explanation is... it is SO COMPLICATED to piece apart causes and effects!! And doctors are so lost! I really have found the best advice and most understanding on this forum. I find most doctors don't really dig to get to the root cause. There are probably some easy cases, and then there are people like us... I feel like a doctor would have to really know you in and out to help you. I went to an ultra-recommended ayurvedic doctor yesterday and even that didn't seem any different. The only difference was he hugged me and asked deep down where I thought my pain and anxiety came from and recommended yoga. Which is fine, but I still felt like I was on a conveyor belt.

 

So hard to find answers.

 

I'm willing to bet our dizziness will go away with time if we just welcome it and let it have its place for the time it needs. I say this, but I also am deeply afraid that it will never go away.

'94-'08 On/off ADs. Mostly Zoloft & Wellbutrin, but also Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, etc.
6/08 quit Z & W after tapering, awful anxiety 3 mos. later, reinstated.
11/10 CTed. Severe anxiety 3 mos. later & @ 8 mos. much worse (set off by metronidazole). Anxiety, depression, anhedonia, DP, DR, dizziness, severe insomnia, high serum AM cortisol, flu-like feelings, muscle discomfort.
9/11-9/12 Waves and windows of recovery.
10/12 Awful relapse, DP/DR. Hydrocortisone?
11/12 Improved fairly quickly even though relapse was one of worst waves ever.

1/13 Best I've ever felt.

3/13 A bit of a relapse... then faster and shorter waves and windows.

4/14 Have to watch out for triggers, but feel completely normal about 80% of the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Question: for those of you who are experiencing dizziness, how soon after discontinuing ADs did you notice it creep up? (Or maybe it was sudden?)

 

The study seems to suggest it would be a quick onset due to a sudden discontinuation.

'94-'08 On/off ADs. Mostly Zoloft & Wellbutrin, but also Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, etc.
6/08 quit Z & W after tapering, awful anxiety 3 mos. later, reinstated.
11/10 CTed. Severe anxiety 3 mos. later & @ 8 mos. much worse (set off by metronidazole). Anxiety, depression, anhedonia, DP, DR, dizziness, severe insomnia, high serum AM cortisol, flu-like feelings, muscle discomfort.
9/11-9/12 Waves and windows of recovery.
10/12 Awful relapse, DP/DR. Hydrocortisone?
11/12 Improved fairly quickly even though relapse was one of worst waves ever.

1/13 Best I've ever felt.

3/13 A bit of a relapse... then faster and shorter waves and windows.

4/14 Have to watch out for triggers, but feel completely normal about 80% of the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

All the studies on withdrawal syndrome claim symptoms start within a few days, but many of us found more recognizable symptoms started later, sometimes weeks later.

 

The research, such as it is, is not correct in this regard.

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My dizziness started a few months after I stopped the drug

Started Seroxat(Paxil) for panic attacks in 1997 stopped the drug in 2005 tapered over 3 months ( doctors advice)

Suffered severe and protracted withdrawl ever since.

No other medication taken.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's the problem with so many scientific studies. It's so hard to get funding, most of these are limited to checking effect for weeks after, not months or years. Someday, I hope, more studies will be done. I sent in my "story" to withdrawalcases@gmail.com in the hopes that it might help.

'94-'08 On/off ADs. Mostly Zoloft & Wellbutrin, but also Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, etc.
6/08 quit Z & W after tapering, awful anxiety 3 mos. later, reinstated.
11/10 CTed. Severe anxiety 3 mos. later & @ 8 mos. much worse (set off by metronidazole). Anxiety, depression, anhedonia, DP, DR, dizziness, severe insomnia, high serum AM cortisol, flu-like feelings, muscle discomfort.
9/11-9/12 Waves and windows of recovery.
10/12 Awful relapse, DP/DR. Hydrocortisone?
11/12 Improved fairly quickly even though relapse was one of worst waves ever.

1/13 Best I've ever felt.

3/13 A bit of a relapse... then faster and shorter waves and windows.

4/14 Have to watch out for triggers, but feel completely normal about 80% of the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been to see balance specialist today. he says I have uncompensated labyrinthitus. I need vestibular physio.he wants me to take cyclizine to calm it down before I start physio. However this is an antihistamine. according to David Healy many anti-histamines'are serotonin reuptake inhibiting

so you might end up back on an SSRI effectively' so what do I do guys??????????

 

 

David Healey is correct and I would avoid antihistamines. BTW, antihistamines only treat symptoms and thus, do NOT cure the problem. In fact, utilizing such will only confuse your receptors, when ingesting for a few weeks and then ceasing the drug.

 

This will not produce positive long term results. This was also stated in one of the posts I made regarding Ototoxicity (Drugs that Damage the Ears).

 

I agree with others re: follow Stan's suggestion.

 

 

BTW, just to prove that antihistamines target AD WD receptors. When I was tapering from a reinstatement that went horribly wrong, a child's dose of Gravol (dimenhydrinate) had the power to reduce very violent WD symptoms.

 

This proves that antihistamines target receptors that are in AD WD states.

 

 

I learned that I had to avoid that which had the power to help in the short term since, anything that helps will hinder long term recovery, if taken consistently.

 

How are receptors suppose to heal IF they are being regularly doused with another similar chemical? Please read what I have copied and pasted below my signature.

 

I know how difficult this is for you Squirrel and my hope is that the physical therapy will provide beneficial results.

 

 

Much More Healing to You!

 

 

Punar

 

 

Medication for Vestibular Disorders

 

http://www.vestibula.../medication.php

 

The use of medication in treating vestibular disorders depends on whether the vestibular system dysfunction is in an initial or acute phase (lasting up to 5 days) or chronic phase (ongoing). During the acute phase, and when other illnesses have been ruled out, medications that may be prescribed include vestibular suppressants to reduce motion sickness or anti-emetics to reduce nausea.

 

Vestibular suppressants include three general drug classes: anticholinergics, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines. Examples of vestibular suppressants are meclizine and dimenhydinate (antihistamine-anticholinergics) and lorazepam and diazepam (benzodiazepines).

 

Other medications that may be prescribed are steroids (e.g., prednisone), antiviral drugs (e.g., acyclovir), or antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin) if a middle ear infection is present. If nausea has been severe enough to cause excessive dehydration, intravenous fluids may be given.

 

Symptoms must be actively experienced without interference in order for the brain to adjust, a process called vestibular compensation. Any medication that makes the brain sleepy, including all vestibular suppressants, can slow down or stop the process of compensation.

 

Therefore, they are often not appropriate for long-term use. Physicians generally find that most patients who fail to compensate are either strictly avoiding certain movements, using vestibular suppressants daily, or both.

 

 

VEDA medical advisor Timothy C. Hain, MD, has detailed information about the most commonly prescribed medications that can be a helpful starting point for talking to a physician about the available options.

To Face My Trials with "The Grace of a Woman Rather Than the Grief of a Child". (quote section by Veronica A. Shoffstall)

 

Be Not Afraid of Growing Slowly. Be Afraid of Only Standing Still.

(Chinese Proverb)

 

I Create and Build Empowerment Within Each Time I Choose to Face A Fear, Sit with it and Ask Myself, "What Do I Need to Learn?"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy