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

Survivor1: sleeping after trazodone (and benzo)


Survivor1

Recommended Posts

Thanks Marie.  I wonder how long I will have to hold after my too-large drop.  I can't imagine feeling like this for the next 3-4 months!  Will have to wait and see...

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment
  • Replies 435
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Survivor1

    247

  • scallywag

    36

  • Altostrata

    21

  • AliG

    17

Top Posters In This Topic

Four weeks now since my large drop of trazodone, and I think I can safely say that I will not need to updose.  I still have fatigue, anxiety (constant, but low grade), dizziness and a few other minor sxs.  But I feel that I am over the hump - touch wood.  Will wait for at least another 4 weeks to stabilize further then make another drop.

 

My sleep has improved with this drop, but I still have some twitching, which keeps waking me up.  I am thinking of moving about 0.5 mg mirtazepine to the morning and taking the ramainder at night with the trazodone and seroquel.  I will do this tonight as I don't think I can wait another month to do this.  Hopefully I am not too sedated in the morning!

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

So, on 04/17, I decided to split the mirtazepine dose to see if it would address the remaining twitching.  I took 1.9 at night with the other meds and 0.5 the next morning.

 

That did not go over well!  I was VERY shaky in the morning, with anxiety through the roof.  By afternoon I was feeling better, but today the anxiety and shakiness are still there. I know that they are not from the large traz drop, as I was feeling fairly well before the split.  I am a little scared of this med.  Seems like I will have to super-micro taper off it (1% or less).  

 

That means that instead of tapering down off mirt first, as I was planning to do, I may have to reduce trazodone first.  

 

Now that I am at a lower dose of traz, I find that even though I sleep 6 hours a night, the sleep does not feel restful.  The quality of sleep on trazodone was quite good even though short (gave only 6 hours at its peak).

 

I am trying to re-stabilize after this blip.  Man, anxiety stinks!

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Time for an update...

 

A week ago I posted that I am over the hump.  Well, now I am not so sure!  I have been having massive anxiety the last few days and having VERY sick episodes.  I do not want to updose since it is now 5 weeks since the drop.  Am trying to hang on ...

 

Even worse, my serotonin syndrome sxs are back.  They had diminished when I made the drop in traz, but again I am having rapid heart rate, insomnia - 4 hrs a night now, some twitching (although there is some improvement with this one) during the night that get better as the day wears on.  This puzzles me as I thought once serotonin levels are reduced (from the drop in traz), they are reduced for good.  The best remedy for this is to reduce mirtazepine, but anytime I make a reduction in this, however small, anxiety skyrockets.  So I am trying to reduce trazodone instead thinking I'll be better able to tolerate it, but now I am now so sure ...

 

Anyhow, seems like I'll have to just push through.  I am praying to stabilize soon, so that I can make small drops in traz.  I have been calculating how long it will take to taper traz and it seems like it will take me at least fours years!  So four years of this before I see any relief?  Lord help me!

 

Right now am in a dark place ...

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Update ...

 

Feeling better since last post with regard to the trazodone drop.  However the twitching, rapid heart rate and diminished sleep are recurring.  I was very hopeful when I dropped the trazodone since I had seen improvements for about two weeks after, but these symptoms are slowly coming back.

 

I am thinking  of moving mirtazepine to the morning (all of it), at least for a few days to see if there is improvement.  Have to be prepared for sedation in the morning ... ugh.  Have run out of ideas.  Dejected because feel I need to get rid of the mirt but can't seem to drop it without severe wd.

 

Question:  If I take mirt in the morning, would tapering it affect sleep at night?

 

Thanks for the support.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Can't believe I posted about feeling better only yesterday.  Today I have been hit hard again.  I have developed brain zaps, incredible shakiness/feeling vulnerable, ear myoclonus (that again!), constant low-grade headache,  among the other usual suspects.

 

I felt that by now (in my 6th week since the traz drop) I would see more better than worse days. But today is the worse yet.  I am praying that it doesn't deteriorate further.

I am really trying to hold on and not updose as doing so would only cause the drug interaction (traz/mirt) to worsen, and I've come this far ...

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Survivor1, thanks for stopping by my thread with your encouraging words, it is much appreciated.  I've read through your thread and very sorry to hear that you have had to suffer through some very challenging times.  I'm astonished when I read about doctors over-prescribing these very dangerous drugs ... it's unconscionable.  I can very much relate to you writing about feeling good one day and the next day you are thrown back into withdrawal.  It's very discouraging when symptoms change so drastically from one day to the next, sometimes hour by hour, and can be very disheartening.  After trying to speed up my taper a couple of months ago, it caused a lot of problems and I'm now in the middle of a three-month long hold to re-stabilize so I can restart my taper.  If you are able, please try and hold at your current dose ... I do believe that the body/mind does eventually rebalance itself if we hold at a stable and steady dose.  Am wishing you every success getting off of this poison.            

Current Prescription Drugs for Hypothyroidism:  Synthroid 100mcg / Cytomel 5mcg (15 years Pristiq/Effexor)

Tapering Schedule
September 15, 2016 - switched from Pristiq 50mg to Effexor XR 75mg; November 10, 2016 - reduced to 67.5 Effexor XR
December 9, 2016 - reduced 60.75
January 5, 2017 - reduced 54.67
January 30, 2017 - reduced to 49.0
February 20, 2017 - reduced to 44.0 
May 20, 2017 - reduced to 40.25 (holding for additional month due to late onset of withdrawal symptoms after this taper)
July 17, 2017 - reduced to 38.24
August 15, 2017 - reduced to 37.5 (50% of my original dose)

October 15, 2017 - reduced to 35.6

November 12, 2017 - reduced to 33.8
December 15, 2017 - up-dose to 35.6
December 28, 2017 - up-dose to 37.5

Link to comment

So, the good: things have not deteriorated; the bad, they are just all-round unbearable, lol.

 

3 hours of sleep last night due to the twitching; don't know now if the twitching is from wd or mirt/traz interaction ...  On the few nights there were no jerks/twitches, and I have had a few of those, I get 6 hours of sleep.  I still have heavy limbs, anxiety, dizziness as the other main sxs.

 

On the home front, had a blowout argument with husband.  Can't understand why after 6 weeks since dropping traz I still have strong wd; said at this point wd sxs must be "psychosomatic", and "doesn't make sense".  Thinks I am catastrophizing when I tell him it will take me several years to get off the meds, because he thinks I could get off mirt "this summer" by tolerating the wd. Reminded him of last summer when I rapid tapered trazodone...  Argh!

 

This has been hard on the family as I do not do as much with the kids anymore, and he has been filling the void so far without complaining.  So I think it all came to a head this morning.

 

This forum has been good for me because it is the only place where people understand what wd is really like.  I had started seeing a CBT therapist to help me cope with the wd sxs, and while she is supportive of the taper, she mentioned that if I wanted to stay on the meds, then that's ok too because "antidepressants are harmless".  I did not respond to that.

 

Something I need to work on:  always thinking that the drugs will poop out any moment, and I will be in a bigger soup than I am now.  This causes a lot of unnecessary anguish as I seem to lie in wait for it to to happen.  I need to focus on the fact that they have not as yet (and may not ever will).

 

Thanks for listening, all.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Sounds like you are doing everything you can to keep your head above water! Sometimes, that is ALL we can do. And that is ok. Hard on others though I am sure - they don't understand fully what this rollercoaster is like. Hoping and praying your symptoms ease and you stabilize asap!

-Meg

Sep '18 - became pregnant  in late August, then on 9/5 insomnia/anxiety went THROUGH the roof. I tried a lot of things but here is what is current: 

Paroxetine: 6.2mg (began 9/5/18, and there was a new manufacturer of which I just found out 2 days ago) during the day

Olanzapine 7.5mg at night

Ambien: 5-10mg at night

Xanex: 5-10mg at night

Fish Oil: for prenatal things

 

  • Aug '18: Paroxetine 6.6mg, (30mg thyroid hormone, fish oil, vit D3, SBI protect, probiotic. Following AIP diet)
  • Mar '16: began taper from 20mg. Decreasing .75mg or less each month or more. Sporadically used Ambien &/or Trazodone for insomnia. 
  •  Sep'15: tried to come off slower. Used fish oil, vit D3, and regular exercise/healthy diet to assist. (Taper sched= 18mg for 60days, 15mg for 60d, 10mg for 30d, 8mg for 30d) At my 3rd week of 8mg in Nov '15, insomnia and panic attacks began. Back up to 20mg after a month of horrible withdrawal. 
  • Oct'12-Sep'15: 20mg Paxil
  • Sep'12: 1st attempt to get off, naively tried cold turkey per Dr. suggestion. Couldn't work for 2 months. Another Doc upped dose to 20mg.
  • Jun '09-Aug '12: 10mg Paxil for severe insomnia due to anxiety. Also took Ambien/Trazodone for sleep.  Other meds taken sporadically: Ativan, Abilify, Xyrem 

 

My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 

 

 

Link to comment

Hello Meg,

 

Your support really means a lot.  Things are good at home now, I think we all needed to vent.  Made me aware even more that I am not the only one affected by this.

 

Today I am feeling much better, but as you know this can be followed by a nasty wave.  But I am making sure to take the time to appreciate all windows!

 

Thanks for stopping by, my Texas friend.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Survivor1, you have come a long way juggling a multi-drug taper and am happy to hear that things aren't getting any worse.  Sounds like you have a positive attitude which really is half the battle.  Very hard to stay positive when things can be so challenging day-to-day.  Hoping you start to feel better soon.  All the best to you.

Current Prescription Drugs for Hypothyroidism:  Synthroid 100mcg / Cytomel 5mcg (15 years Pristiq/Effexor)

Tapering Schedule
September 15, 2016 - switched from Pristiq 50mg to Effexor XR 75mg; November 10, 2016 - reduced to 67.5 Effexor XR
December 9, 2016 - reduced 60.75
January 5, 2017 - reduced 54.67
January 30, 2017 - reduced to 49.0
February 20, 2017 - reduced to 44.0 
May 20, 2017 - reduced to 40.25 (holding for additional month due to late onset of withdrawal symptoms after this taper)
July 17, 2017 - reduced to 38.24
August 15, 2017 - reduced to 37.5 (50% of my original dose)

October 15, 2017 - reduced to 35.6

November 12, 2017 - reduced to 33.8
December 15, 2017 - up-dose to 35.6
December 28, 2017 - up-dose to 37.5

Link to comment

Hi Baroquep,

 

I am trying to be positive but it is hard because I am in an adverse reaction situation.  Combo ramps up my heart rate and twitching which leads to poor sleep (the reason I'm on them in the first place!).

 

So there is no choice but to push through.

 

I hear you about the constantly changing symptoms, can be disheartening at times... Anyway I think I am on the upswing (note I said this at week 2 also, lol), touch wood.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  All the best to you too in this challenging journey.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Into the 7th week since dropping dose of traz, but still not stabilized!  Having anxiety, shakiness, weak limbs as the main sxs, with other minor ones.

 

Wearing me out ...

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Into the 7th week since dropping dose of traz, but still not stabilized!  Having anxiety, shakiness, weak limbs as the main sxs, with other minor ones.

 

Wearing me out ...

 

Hang in there! I will be praying for you.

Main thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/14472-shakeyjerr-say-hello/

History: Prozac & Lithium from 1999 to 2003. Ended up back on after 4 months because taking a beta-blocker caused immediate depression (just 2 doses - turned out I didn't even need it; I had no other withdrawal symptoms - I might have ended up med and withdrawal-free otherwise :(). - Switched to Effexor (75mg 3/day) and Seroquel (50mg 3/day) in 2010. - Did a self-taper during 2016. - Developed Discontinuation Syndrome 02/17.

Supplements: Magnesium-Glycinate 400mg split into 4 100mg doses throughout the day. Vitamin C 500mg - once per day. Fish Oil 1360 mg (950 mg Active Omega-3) - twice per day.

I'm not a doctor. I use the internet, experience, and trial & error. Seek medical advice if necessary.

Link to comment

Thanks, ShakeyJerr.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

In the 8th week after the traz drop.  Sxs are actually worsening :(!  WTH? I thought that at least they wouldn't be getting worse, even hoped for improvement, by now.  Can't imagine this, it's not like I have ct'd.  Anyway the body will heal only when it heals ... hoping for stabilization soon.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Survivor, I am so sorry to hear your symptoms are worsening! :( What dose are you on and what symptoms are worse? I see you are in Texas as well, are you able to get outside much? Around the area I live in TX it has been great weather, which always helps me when I am struggling. I imagine your brain IS healing and sometimes things get worse right before they get BETTER!

Sep '18 - became pregnant  in late August, then on 9/5 insomnia/anxiety went THROUGH the roof. I tried a lot of things but here is what is current: 

Paroxetine: 6.2mg (began 9/5/18, and there was a new manufacturer of which I just found out 2 days ago) during the day

Olanzapine 7.5mg at night

Ambien: 5-10mg at night

Xanex: 5-10mg at night

Fish Oil: for prenatal things

 

  • Aug '18: Paroxetine 6.6mg, (30mg thyroid hormone, fish oil, vit D3, SBI protect, probiotic. Following AIP diet)
  • Mar '16: began taper from 20mg. Decreasing .75mg or less each month or more. Sporadically used Ambien &/or Trazodone for insomnia. 
  •  Sep'15: tried to come off slower. Used fish oil, vit D3, and regular exercise/healthy diet to assist. (Taper sched= 18mg for 60days, 15mg for 60d, 10mg for 30d, 8mg for 30d) At my 3rd week of 8mg in Nov '15, insomnia and panic attacks began. Back up to 20mg after a month of horrible withdrawal. 
  • Oct'12-Sep'15: 20mg Paxil
  • Sep'12: 1st attempt to get off, naively tried cold turkey per Dr. suggestion. Couldn't work for 2 months. Another Doc upped dose to 20mg.
  • Jun '09-Aug '12: 10mg Paxil for severe insomnia due to anxiety. Also took Ambien/Trazodone for sleep.  Other meds taken sporadically: Ativan, Abilify, Xyrem 

 

My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 

 

 

Link to comment

Hi Meg,  thanks for checking up on me.  Unfortunately, I am not out of the woods.  Anxiety is the worst followed by severe fatigue.  I think I am able to weather them because I'm sleeping OK; I am able to go for walks despite the body aches.  I know these sxs are part of the deal, but when they appear late or worsen after so many weeks, it is disheartening.

 

I am now worried that I will have to wait more than the regular month after a normal drop to stabilize if my sxs show up late, thereby lengthening my taper even more...

 

I hope you are doing well in your taper.  Glad you are able to get off trazodone (am jealous a little bit  ;) ).

 

Cheers.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

Update:

 

Now in the tenth week after dropping large dose of traz.  Still not stabilized.  Anxiety is the worst.  Am having windows regarding fatigue, body ache though.  Toughing it out ...

 

I had been sleeping at least 6 hours/night which is OK for me.  However, the twitching that I had been complaining about for the longest while (either adverse reaction to a drug I'm taking, or interaction between them), has worsened, and so has sleep. The scariest is when my windpipe contracts suddenly and I can't breathe causing a panic attack ... As an experiment, I have moved the mirtazepine to morning, starting today.  All day I have been pretty sedated.  Don't know if this will let up as the days go on.  I am hoping that sleep improves after this, although I expect in the next few days it may worsen.

 

So, overall, I'm meh, just passing each day hoping for a better one next day ... I am actually shocked how long it is taking to stabilize from the traz drop, and how late symptoms are popping up:  Week 7 paresthesia, week 8 intense anxiety, week 9 restless leg, etc. 

 

I am really worried about this twitching thing.  It is usually followed by awakening, rapid heart rate.  And I know the only way out of it is to get off the drugs. But I know my body will not even allow a 10% taper, so I am stuck in this situation for a long time ...

 

Anyway, my plan is to stabilize from the trazodone, then begin a slow taper off mirtazepine.  Beyond that, I will hold off on the planning.

 

Sigh ...

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Survivor1, sorry to hear you are still having problems.  When I ran into trouble trying to speed up my taper, I had to hold for a long time before I started to stabilize.  I was a little surprised at how long it took, almost three months.  As well, I had to eliminate just about every supplement I was taking because I was so sensitive.  Noticed in your signature that you are taking a multivitamin and fish oil and wonder if either of these supplements are causing you additional issues.  I know that some people on this site who have taken fish oil and have had a bad reaction.  As well, B vitamins seems to aggravate withdrawal symptoms, so you might want to check your multivitamin.  In my experience, even the most innocuous things can cause us trouble, coffee, sugar, too much exercise, etc.  Another thing I discovered was that not all of us can tolerate a 10% reduction.  Since starting my taper last year, I consistently reduced 10% every month but when I ran into trouble back in February this year, I was very hesitate to reduce at 10% so did a test reduction of 7% this month and this time has been much easier for me.  While we are all different, and what works for one person may not work for another, thought I'd share my experience with you to see if any of the above might help you as well.  Hoping you find stability soon.  Best of luck.

Current Prescription Drugs for Hypothyroidism:  Synthroid 100mcg / Cytomel 5mcg (15 years Pristiq/Effexor)

Tapering Schedule
September 15, 2016 - switched from Pristiq 50mg to Effexor XR 75mg; November 10, 2016 - reduced to 67.5 Effexor XR
December 9, 2016 - reduced 60.75
January 5, 2017 - reduced 54.67
January 30, 2017 - reduced to 49.0
February 20, 2017 - reduced to 44.0 
May 20, 2017 - reduced to 40.25 (holding for additional month due to late onset of withdrawal symptoms after this taper)
July 17, 2017 - reduced to 38.24
August 15, 2017 - reduced to 37.5 (50% of my original dose)

October 15, 2017 - reduced to 35.6

November 12, 2017 - reduced to 33.8
December 15, 2017 - up-dose to 35.6
December 28, 2017 - up-dose to 37.5

Link to comment

Hi Baroquep,

 

Thanks for stopping by.  I will heed your advice regarding supplements. In the past, they have not been issues, but will consider them if I don't stabilize soon.  Today I feel decent, so I'm hoping stability is around the corner.

 

Unfortunately, I now have to focus on an adverse reaction situation regarding mirtazepine.  Suffice it to say that I need to start tapering that drug as soon as I can, but I am really scared of it as past experience on reducing it has been really bad.

 

Am feeling very overwhelmed, scared about my general situation.  The reason for dropping such a large dose of trazodone was to address what I thought was a negative interaction between trazodone and mirt, but it now appears that the culprit is the mirt.  Am also developing new side effects from it (eyelid twitching 30 mins after dosing for a few hours!)

 

I am very glad that you have been able to resume your taper, and doing well.  I appreciate your support!

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Moderators, please advise ...

 

As you can see from my posts, I have been having issues with drug interactions between trazodone and mirtazepine for a while.  It is the reason for the large drop of trazodone recently, thinking the interaction would diminish.  But, last week the symptoms began to worsen.  I started having severe insomnia where I would drift off but each time I would be jolted awake.  I am positive that this wasn't from the trazodone drop - it felt different.

 

Fortunately, I have mostly stabilized from the trazodone drop done 10 weeks ago.

 

Three days ago, I moved mirt to the morning to see if that would make a difference. It didn't. In fact the s**t has hit the fan. I now have complete insomnia (1hour last night), racing heart, night sweats, goosebumps, panic attacks, increased twitching, all textbook symptoms of serotonin syndrome.  I suspect the increase in symptoms is caused by the increased amount or mirtazepine in my system due to dosing 12 hears earlier.

 

What to do?

 

I am contemplating cold-turkeying from 2.4 mg, but maybe this is my panic-stricken mind talking.  Has anyone jumped mirtazepine from 2.4 and lived to tell about it.

 

The other option would be to do large cuts and stabilize after each, but knowing I would not get any relief until I'm off.  I don't know if this is even advisable as serotonin syndrome in extreme cases if left untreated can be fatal.

 

Please let me know if there are any other options that I haven't thought about.

 

I am trying not to panic, but frankly am close to it.

 

Thanks for listening.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Friends,

 

I took the plunge - I missed my remeron dose yesterday.  I just couldn't tolerate the adverse effects anymore.

 

Immediately I saw reduction in all symptoms. There was no night sweating, no racing heart, 75% reduction in muscle jerks/twitching, 50% reduction in alerting so was able to sleep decently.  I assume as the remaining remnants of remeron are gone so will the rest of the symptoms.

 

I had spoken to my GP and her advice was to get off remeron, reducing by 0.5 mg every week (a "proper" taper to her since I'm on such a "small" dose), so pretty much a cold-turkey.  I don't know if I have a choice anymore, so I decided to jump.

 

I feel like I'm on the uptrack of a roller coaster without a safety harness; I am savoring these few honeymoon days as I know what is coming soon, bracing for the worst, and hope that I can white-knuckle it through. 

 

Will update (read complaint, whine, vent ...) as time goes on.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Hi Survivor1,

 

You did what you think was best for you.

I am glad that some of the symptoms that you have experienced have reduced.

Stay positive and strong. You might not experience really bad WDS.

I read through your thread and I too was taking Seroquel and Mirtazapine when I could not sleep 3 years ago. I quit Seroquel cold turkey.

What is it with Seroquel being prescribed for insomnia? It is not right.

I wish you all the best.

Hopefull :)

DRUG HISTORY:

 

November 2013- Zoloft, ( Bad reaction).

January 2014 - March 2014 Seroquel.( Quit Cold Turkey).

January2014- Mirtazapine, I was taking 15mg at one stage, reduced to 7.5mg, Pgad reactions to Mirtazapine. Doctor kept increasing it to 37.5mg, until July 2014. No improvement, experiencing panic attacks, on 37.5 mg. I had enough by October 2014. Began tapering.

October 2014- Started tapering Mirtazapine from 37.5mg.

September 2015- Down to 4mg of Mirtazapine. Crashed.

September 16th- Up dosed to 5mg. Held this dose for almost 5 months. Stabilised.

February 2016- Began tapering again. From 5mg to 4.5mg of Mirtazapine. (Rocking the boat, again)! Lol. :(

Link to comment

1 week after ditching mirt:

 

Low grade body ache, strong abdominal pain (and some diarrhea), fullness (pressure?) in ears, tinnitus.  Am concerned about tinnitus, but will have to cope; hope it does not get worse.  

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

I am so sorry to hear you are suffering. Have you had your thyroid tested lately? Tsh free t3 and free t4 to make sure it's not worsening symptoms? I have thyroid issues as well and know all to well how it affects me when they are hyper or hypo. Wishing you all the best!

Current age - 29

 

At Ages 16- 20 Celexa 40 mg 

 

2014- September through February of 2016 ( 18 months) Celexa 20 mg

 

Tapered for Several months

 

Celexa free since February of 2016

Link to comment

Kalinia,

 

Thank you for your support.  My thyroid is normal (all three values), tested 3 months ago.  My sxs are from WD, as I felt perfectly fine just before dropping mirtazepine.  I just have to grin and bear it ...

 

Hope you are doing well!

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

2 weeks off mirt:

 

Am still functional.  Have several episodes of feeling quite sick, but passes after 1-2 hrs.  Feel WD ramping up over the last two days, so I expect worsening as time goes on.  

 

Current SXS: tinnitus, burning skin, broken sleep (at this time still getting 5-6 hrs), some shakiness, abdominal pain.  Random episodes of dizziness, limb weakness, feeling faint.  So far, all tolerable.

 

By end of week 1, ALL sxs of serotonin syndrome gone. Yay!  Now I have to hunker down for this jump from mirt; so far, so good.

 

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Great news!  I hope you remain steady & stable.  Take things slow.  WD is excruciating.  I wouldn't care if it took me 10 years to taper off meds if it meant the end of my WD symptoms.  

 

Hope things are still going well for you!

Mid 2014 - June 2016 (~ 2.5 yrs): sertraline 75mg. Under advice of my Pysch NP, weaned off in 1 month

Sept 2017 - Feb 2017 (6 months): Latuda (dose 20mg up to 80mg). Under advice of Psych NP, weaned off in 6 weeks (Jan - mid Feb). Tirtated down 20mg every 2 weeks.

Nov 2017 - Feb 2017 (3 months): lamictal 100mg. Abruptly taken off. This was the "wean": 100mg, 50mg, then off

Feb 2017: sertraline 150mg for 1 week to bring me out of a severe suicidal depression. Abruptly stopped due to serotonin syndrome. Tried to reinstate 50mg a week later, but the serotonin syndrome symptoms came back. Not possible to reinstate sertraline.

March 2017: remeron 7.5mg. Took one dose that knocked me out for two days. Refused to take it again

February 2017 - March 2017: Ativan 1mg. Took 5 pills total spread out over the course of 3 weeks. No longer taking it.

6/16/18 - 6/26: celexa 1.25mg

6/27/18 - 6/29: celexa 2.5mg, 6/29 had burning and agitation within 30min of dose

6/30/18 - present: celexa 1.25mg

Link to comment

Hello Trying,

 

Your support means a lot. Thanks for your kind words. I'm in the third week of a forced drop off mirtazepine, and like you, am trying to hold on.  

 

It's waves and windows; since it's only been a few weeks, I expect the windows to get shorter and shorter until I get over the hump.  Most of the week was OK, but from yesterday, I saw a rapid deterioration.  I knew it was coming, so am holding on as I cannot reinstate this drug due to serotonin syndrome reaction with another I'm taking.

 

It's summer holidays and my kids are home from school.  Again I am sick like I was last summer when I rapid tapered trazodone.  I'm afraid all they see of me is as a sick person.

 

Am gonna ride it out ...

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

4 weeks off mirt:

 

Wow, I survived 4 weeks!  Overall it has been tolerable, but this past week has seen a worsening of sxs.  Today I am feeling quite sick, out of sorts.

 

So far the worst sxs have been fatigue, GI distress (abdominal pain/cramps, nausea, bloating, loose stools), tinnitus.  Others are disorientation, dizziness, broken sleep (but still getting around 5-6 hours), burning skin.  I have seen improvement in the disorientation, dizziness and fatigue.  Hope the improvements continue.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if WD becomes worse over the next few months.  I am just hoping I can muster enough sleep through it - that is my arbiter of how well I can cope with WD.

 

I will update as the weeks progress ...

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Hi Survivor,

 

Congratulations on getting off the mitrazepine.    I was reading through your thread and I have been experimenting with the same 3 meds that you are familiar with (trazadone, mitrazepine, and Seroquel)  lately to see if they might help my present sleep issues.  I am 3 1/2 years out from stopping Zoloft and zyprexa cold turkey and the sleep has been awful most of the time.  I had posted on your thread last year about how I had taken to having 3 beers a night as a way to sleep, but I had started developing gi problems from the drinking (bloating/constipation and even fecal breath) and had to quit drinking last Jan.  for a while I was taking a cocktail of 5 htp, l-theanine, melatonin, and tulsi tea with holy basil and was getting 5 hours of   sleep, but it was broken and shallow and not restorative at all and was getting progressively worse:  2 hours a night where all I could do the next day was sit at my computer. 

 

the hypnic jerks and hypnagogic hallucinations were becoming constant and after 3+years of this it was getting to be too much for me so I ended up getting  scripts for trazadone and Seroquel and mitrazepine.  the trazadone didn't do much.  I was getting 5 hours of broken sleep for a few days, but then started developing severe upper body weakness, so I quit it.  I tried mitrazepine and Seroquel together for a couple nights and was able to get 7 hours of sleep each night and woke with energy, but later on in the day, the fatigue was brutal.   I think it could be from the mitrazepine, by late afternoon, I felt like a puppet whose strings had been snipped. all the energy just drained out of me.   although when I took Seroquel once by itself, I felt all groggy or drugged out in the morning.  i am not exactly sure where to go from here. 

 

anyways, I hope you continue to see some improvements.  dealing with these drugs doesn't seem to offer any real good solutions sometimes. 

 

poetjester

Court committed to take Prozac, Paxci, and Respiradol from 8/95 to 3/96.   developed severe akithisia and brain damage.  Was unable to speak and walking in circles 15 hours a day.  Went in for 5 sessions of ECT during a 10 day period in March of '96 and my forced medication was discontinued at that time.  My akithisia and brain damage cleared up within a few days of stopping the meds.

 

On Zoloft (200 mg) and Zyprexa (17.5 mg) March 1998- Feb 2014

In between was placed on Effexor 200 mg and Abilify for six months in 2004.  Developed mild akithisia which went away once I stopped the Abilify.  Developed severe GI issues in Dec 2001 and from that time on suffered from fatigue and hypersomnia where I would sleep between 12 and 20 hours a day and rarely ever left my apartment. 

 

Had tapered to 100 mg of Zoloft and 7.5 mg of Zyprexa at the time of going cold turkey Feb. 2014

Went 5 days without sleep at the beginning while vomiting all over my apt.  Had brain zaps for a number of weeks and also lightheadedness which both eventually went away.  However 2 1/2 yrs later I still struggle with insomnia, depression, and fatigue.

 

 

 

 

Link to comment

Hello PJ,

 

Thanks for stopping by my thread.

 

I am very sorry to hear of your situation.  Lack of sleep is terrible and wouldn't wish it on anyone.  

 

Regarding the three meds, if you must take something for sleep, I would take one instead of a combo.  I had to cold quit mirt because of an interaction with trazodone, and am now in the thick of WD.  I hope my sleep eventually recovers from it, I have to have faith.  Mirtazepine is a bear to discontinue and is notorious for poop-out/adverse reactions, and seroquel has a lot of very undesirable side effects ... each has its own evil.  But I understand the need for sleep.  I am lucky that I get at least 5-6 hours of sleep on the trazodone (for now) with few side effects.  I will start tapering as soon as I stabilize from this blip, as I know tolerance will build soon; this October, I will have been on it for two years.

 

I wish you the best.  You are in a horrible situation and my heart goes out to you.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Survivor, thanks for stopping by my thread and your words of encouragement, it is much appreciated.  It can be very frustrating not knowing what you can do to help yourself as withdrawal symptoms are so unpredictable.  The only way I have been able to manage so far is to do long holds.  Wish there was a one size fits all when it comes to these drugs.  Guess it a lot of ways, I am lucky that long holds have been helpful.  Know that I would be a complete basket-case otherwise.  Hoping that you find some relief in the coming months and glad to hear that you are getting a reasonable amount of sleep, that definitely helps when you are in withdrawal.  Hang in there, hope you find stability from withdrawal soon.  Best, BaroqueP

Current Prescription Drugs for Hypothyroidism:  Synthroid 100mcg / Cytomel 5mcg (15 years Pristiq/Effexor)

Tapering Schedule
September 15, 2016 - switched from Pristiq 50mg to Effexor XR 75mg; November 10, 2016 - reduced to 67.5 Effexor XR
December 9, 2016 - reduced 60.75
January 5, 2017 - reduced 54.67
January 30, 2017 - reduced to 49.0
February 20, 2017 - reduced to 44.0 
May 20, 2017 - reduced to 40.25 (holding for additional month due to late onset of withdrawal symptoms after this taper)
July 17, 2017 - reduced to 38.24
August 15, 2017 - reduced to 37.5 (50% of my original dose)

October 15, 2017 - reduced to 35.6

November 12, 2017 - reduced to 33.8
December 15, 2017 - up-dose to 35.6
December 28, 2017 - up-dose to 37.5

Link to comment
  • 4 weeks later...

8 weeks off 2.4 mg mirt ...

 

Weeks 1-6: Cracks in the dam appear.  Main symptoms were intense fatigue, tinnitus, GI issues.  All very tolerable at this point.  I suspected worse was coming, but I secretly hoped that I'd be one of the lucky ones to have mild WD.  No such luck!  Seems like I am one of the unlucky saps for whom WD shows up late.

 

Weeks 7-8:  Dam breaks.  Same issues but much, much worse.  Also strong shakiness, out-of-control feelings, some neuropathy, brain zaps, alerting sensations when trying to rest.  Am in a strong nausea wave for the past two days.  I expect things to get even worse as I had a 6 week honeymoon period in the beginning, so am bracing for another month or two of intense WD.  Ugh.

 

Positives:

1) Mood is good; was feeling quite despondent that I had to taper 3 drugs prior to this mirt d/c, so now I feel a little lighter since one is gone.

2) Sleep is at least 6 hours/night

3) No stomach churning anxiety (hope I don't jinx it!); only its cousin, shakiness.  I was/am REALLY scared of this, so hope it stays away!

4) Am functional

 

To cope, I keep telling myself "it's only WD", "it will get better."  Seems to work so far.

 

Wishing stability to all ...

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment
  • 4 weeks later...

12 weeks off 2.4 mirt ...

 

Well I'd like to say that I'm seeing the light at the end, but I can't at the moment.  These past two weeks especially have been the worst yet.

 

Current symptoms in order of discomfort:

Tinnitus - had from day 1; getting worse

Fatigue/body ache - had from day 1; getting worse

Paresthesia - cold burning skin

Body jerks/twitches, alerting sensations when resting

 

Manageable symptoms:  GI issues (mainly bloating), broken sleep but still getting at least 6 hours, shakiness, numb spots in sole of feet, dry skin and hair (tell-tale sign that my thyroid is out-of-whack), weight gain without lifestyle change (wth), hyperacusis.

 

Extremely grateful for:

Adequate sleep

No anxiety from WD (although have shakiness)

No nausea (have had many other GI issues, of which only bloating remains)

Decent mood, but the tinnitus is testing me

 

I am confident that the most of the symptoms will abate eventually.  The one that concerns me is the tinnitus.  I get fearful that it may not go away and that gives me some anxiety.  It feels like a weight in the pit of my stomach...  Otherwise, I am plodding along.

 

 

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy