DaveB: trying to stop a roller coaster year

[DaveB]

On 6/24/2017 at 3:52 PM, KarenB said:

I'm currently checking in with the other mods about all that. 

 

I never heard, did the other mods agree that staying at 20mgs of Paxil is my best option? What about pregabalin, as it is not an antidepressant am I able to reduce my dose of that more liberally?

[DaveB]

On 6/23/2017 at 11:16 PM, Finn25 said:

Ultimately, I stayed on Lexapro and stabilized on 20 mg over the course of 7 weeks.

 

Was this 7 weeks at 20 after the initial 6 weeks at 10, so 13 weeks total until you felt you stabilized?

[DaveB]

4 hours ago, Utah49er said:

 

I never heard, did the other mods agree that staying at 20mgs of Paxil is my best option? What about pregabalin, as it is not an antidepressant am I able to reduce my dose of that more liberally?

 

The reason I ask is I was scheduled to pick up my pregabalin prescription today, but the pharmacy closed for the holiday and didn't tell me. So I am faced with going two days without the pregabalin, will this further destabilize me? Or since this is a non-serotogenic drug is it not as critical? 

[KarenB]

Yes, the mods did agree that holding your dose at 20mg is the best plan to get you stable.  And like I've been saying, so far the signs are good. 

 

Pregabalin - you will need to taper this carefully too.  See tips-for-tapering-off-lyrica-pregabalin for the details.  While you are trying to stabilise you should hold this dose steady.  We recommend tapering only one drug at at time, to avoid complications.  Are you able to get an emergency dose from somewhere, just enough for the next two days? 

 

You would also benefit from reading keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable.

[DaveB]

19 minutes ago, KarenB said:

Yes, the mods did agree that holding your dose at 20mg is the best plan to get you stable.  And like I've been saying, so far the signs are good. 

 

Pregabalin - you will need to taper this carefully too.  See tips-for-tapering-off-lyrica-pregabalin for the details.  While you are trying to stabilise you should hold this dose steady.  We recommend tapering only one drug at at time, to avoid complications.  Are you able to get an emergency dose from somewhere, just enough for the next two days? 

 

You would also benefit from reading keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable.

 

Yikes! That doesn't sound good for me the next couple of days. Do I need to go that slow if I have only been taking a drug for like 5-6 weeks?

[KarenB]

Hmm.  4 weeks is the standard 'cut off' point for needing to taper more slowly.  We could ask Alto what she thinks, since 6 weeks is close to that.  Perhaps 25% reductions.  You might be better to hold the paxil, and get off the pregabalin first.  I will get back to you when I have some input from the others. 

[DaveB]

1 hour ago, KarenB said:

Hmm.  4 weeks is the standard 'cut off' point for needing to taper more slowly.  We could ask Alto what she thinks, since 6 weeks is close to that.  Perhaps 25% reductions.  You might be better to hold the paxil, and get off the pregabalin first.  I will get back to you when I have some input from the others. 

 

Yes, my plan is to taper off the pregabalin 1st as it is very expensive. That is provided I ever stabilize from this nightmare!

[Altostrata]

On 6/26/2017 at 8:26 AM, Utah49er said:

 

Does my timeline tell you anything? Tracking symptoms is tough for me cause the anxiety just comes in waves constantly throughout the day and consists of shaking (mostly in hands), restlessness, sweating, feeling sensitive/burning skin and sometimes a little in my eyes, and racing thoughts some of an OCDish quality (mostly centered around "will this ever get better?" "what has happened to me?" "why can't I go back to normal?" "how am I feeling?" "is it getting better/worse?" ect). 

 

Yes, your timeline suggests to me that the pregabalin is helping you sleep but you are getting rebound from the 300mg in the evening. It's a hefty dose. As it wears off overnight, my guess is you are getting rebound anxiety in the morning. Same thing happens with your 11 a.m. dose: When it wears off in the evening, you get rebound anxiety.

 

Pregabalin is benzo-like. You might do better by spacing out your dosage, perhaps take 200mg 3 times a day, with the last dose at 11 p.m., and after a while, 150mg 4 times a day.

 

On 6/25/2017 at 9:08 PM, Utah49er said:

 

5:00 - 6:30AM - Early Waking, some anxiety.

7:00 - 7:30AM - Out of bed, anxiety increases to very high level.

8:00AM - 20MGs Paxil

9:00AM - 2g Omega 3, Multivitamin, Probiotic, 250mgs Magnisium, DHEA

11:00AM - Take 300mgs Pregabalin Anxiety begins to decrease.

11:00AM - 3PM - Usually pretty good window of lower anxiety with glimpses of feeling like my previous normal self. 

3PM - 7PM - Anxiety seems to uptick a bit, not as bad as Morning, but usually worse than eay afternoon

7PM - 11PM - Anxiety on the level with early afternoon, lower anxiety with glimpses of feeling normal, but certainly not normal yet.

11PM - 300MGs Pregabalin and Bed.

 

This was today, and feels like it has been a pretty standard pattern for the last couple of weeks and maybe longer, I have just started paying attention the last few weeks though since reinstating the Paxil. Also, is it bad I am "reinstating" a different drug than the one I was on, should I be thinking of switching back to Zoloft for reinstatement?

 

Thanks for your symptom pattern notes, that is very helpful. Please keep doing this every day. 

 

Have you been able to tell if taking Paxil has helped your withdrawal syndrome? Ordinarily, doctors substitute Prozac when withdrawing from SSRIs such as Zoloft and Lexapro rather than Paxil.

 

On 6/26/2017 at 8:20 AM, Utah49er said:

 

Does my timeline tell you anything? Tracking symptoms is tough for me cause the anxiety just comes in waves constantly throughout the day and consists of shaking (mostly in hands), restlessness, sweating, feeling sensitive/burning skin and sometimes a little in my eyes, and racing thoughts some of an OCDish quality (mostly centered around "will this ever get better?" "what has happened to me?" "why can't I go back to normal?" "how am I feeling?" "is it getting better/worse?" ect). 

 

My guess is the rebound anxiety from pregabalin wearing off twice a day is exacerbating the background waves from withdrawal upset.

 

4 hours ago, Utah49er said:

 

The reason I ask is I was scheduled to pick up my pregabalin prescription today, but the pharmacy closed for the holiday and didn't tell me. So I am faced with going two days without the pregabalin, will this further destabilize me? Or since this is a non-serotogenic drug is it not as critical? 

 

If I were you, I would go to an urgent care center or an emergency room and get enough pregabalin to last until you can get your refill.

[DaveB]

29 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Have you been able to tell if taking Paxil has helped your withdrawal syndrome? Ordinarily, doctors substitute Prozac when withdrawing from SSRIs such as Zoloft and Lexapro rather than Paxil.

 

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I started the Paxil before I found this site and it was prescribed to me when Zoloft and Lexapro "failed" to help my "relapse" of anxiety after a doctor's standard 6-week trial. I now know this "failure" was most likely simply due to the fact that 6-weeks was probably just insufficient time for my CNS to stabilize. 

 

To answer your question, I do think I am better off now than I was before I started the Paxil...if only very slightly.

[DaveB]

47 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Yes, your timeline suggests to me that the pregabalin is helping you sleep but you are getting rebound from the 300mg in the evening. It's a hefty dose. As it wears off overnight, my guess is you are getting rebound anxiety in the morning. Same thing happens with your 11 a.m. dose: When it wears off in the evening, you get rebound anxiety.

 

My guess is the rebound anxiety from pregabalin wearing off twice a day is exacerbating the background waves from withdrawal upset.

 

 

Great info, thank you!

[DaveB]

51 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Pregabalin is benzo-like. You might do better by spacing out your dosage, perhaps take 200mg 3 times a day, with the last dose at 11 p.m., and after a while, 150mg 4 times a day.

 

If I were you, I would go to an urgent care center or an emergency room and get enough pregabalin to last until you can get your refill.

 

I wish I could, silly as it is, pregabalin is the same cost per pill, regardless of dose. It is $8/pill no matter what. So 4 per day would be simply too expensive.

 

My Dad actually had some extra Lyrica due to nerve pain he didn't need, so I was able to get some, which is a relief!

[Finn25]

17 hours ago, Utah49er said:

 

Was this 7 weeks at 20 after the initial 6 weeks at 10, so 13 weeks total until you felt you stabilized?

 

Yeah, around 2 months from the time I started 10 mg is when I started having windows where I felt closer to normal. But it was, and still is, a very non-linear path. I've had days between December and now where the symptoms have come back and I struggle to function. But it's not as intense now, and the periods don't last as long as they did.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's not like a switch was flipped and I declared myself stable. It's a slow lurch and like I mentioned, I should have held at 20 mg longer before I started my taper.  If I had, I would probably feel even better than I do now.

 

Hopefully you'll feel more like yourself soon. It sounds like you're on the right track. 

 

[DaveB]

7 minutes ago, Finn25 said:

 

Yeah, around 2 months from the time I started 10 mg is when I started having windows where I felt closer to normal. But it was, and still is, a very non-linear path. I've had days between December and now where the symptoms have come back and I struggle to function. But it's not as intense now, and the periods don't last as long as they did.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's not like a switch was flipped and I declared myself stable. It's a slow lurch and like I mentioned, I should have held at 20 mg longer before I started my taper.  If I had, I would probably feel even better than I do now.

 

Hopefully you'll feel more like yourself soon. It sounds like you're on the right track. 

 

 

Thanks for your advice and encouragement. Ugh...the last two days my anxiety has been so high! Is cold turkying off of a 50mg dose of Zoloft going to be the mistake that forever ruins my life? Days like this it feels like it! Why couldn't I have found this site last October? Hell I am at the point where I am wondering why the hell I ever tryed to get off in the 1st place, my life was totally great. If I had I only known what this would do to me. Now I am on a max dose of pregabalin, an equivalent dose of Paxil to my Zoloft, and still feel more anxiety and terrible than I even had in my life before these last 6 months. When will I get a break?!

[ShakeyJerr]

19 minutes ago, Utah49er said:

Hell I am at the point where I am wondering why the hell I ever tryed to get off in the 1st place, my life was totally great.

 

Go reads this thread - it might help you process your thinking on the "why go off" question:

 

 

[DaveB]

15 minutes ago, ShakeyJerr said:

 

Go reads this thread - it might help you process your thinking on the "why go off" question:

 

 

 

That is the problem though Jerr, I have been a much more selfish and short tempered person since going through this withdrawal. I am consumed by feelings and thoughts of anxiety, so I am far less the husband and father I used to be. You are right, of course I want to be off meds, but right now I NEED to get some relief and feel like myself again! I hope I can stabilize and get my life back so I can work towards my goal of getting off meds!

[scallywag]

The cost issues can be managed by getting a prescription for a larger dose and then making smaller doses from the commercially prepared tablet or capsule. For example, 90-days of Cymbalta 60 mg cost me about $450; my last 90-day supply of 30 mg caps was about $325.00, much more than half of the 60 mg.

[DaveB]

On 7/3/2017 at 5:55 PM, KarenB said:

 And like I've been saying, so far the signs are good. 

 

I actually told my wife on Sunday I think we are starting to get to the end of this anxiety problem and I am stabilizing, since Sunday I have felt like my body is in constant fight or flight mode, no windows at all. I feel like I am at square one, honestly don't remember the last time it was this bad without any real breaks. Am I going backwards? Sleep is still pretty good surprisingly, I wake at about 7-7:45 which is to my alarm sometimes, last week I could have actually slept in until as late as I wanted, whereas this week when about 7 hits, there is no chance of getting back to sleep. I did miss a dose of pregablin on Monday, but this constant anxiety started Sunday night, so I don't think that is it (though I am sure it didn't help). Am I still on the right track? 

[DaveB]

On 7/3/2017 at 5:55 PM, KarenB said:

Yes, the mods did agree that holding your dose at 20mg is the best plan to get you stable.  And like I've been saying, so far the signs are good. 

 

 

On 7/3/2017 at 10:16 PM, Altostrata said:

Have you been able to tell if taking Paxil has helped your withdrawal syndrome? Ordinarily, doctors substitute Prozac when withdrawing from SSRIs such as Zoloft and Lexapro rather than Paxil.

 

23 hours ago, Finn25 said:

 

Yeah, around 2 months from the time I started 10 mg is when I started having windows where I felt closer to normal.

 

Do you think up-dosing the Paxil would be a good idea and help me to stabilize? Seems like many people, like Finn, only stabilized after they got to higher doses of their SSRI. 

[DaveB]

Maybe it is the supplements I take that is causing this, when I started taking fish oil I pretty much couldn't tolerate the high doses (100-150mgs) of Zoloft I was taking, and it helped me get down to 50mgs, the dose I took for 5 for years. Is it possible the fish oil is making me hypersensitive to reinstatement of SSRIs? Sorry, I just can't believe what has happened to me these last 6 months since attempting to reinstate my previous dose of Zoloft. It has been like a 24/7 rush of adrenaline and cortisol and every-time I see a light or window, it shuts off or closes before I even get to it.

[DaveB]

On 6/26/2017 at 11:31 AM, bubble said:

Before I discovered this site I would reinstate a different AD and I pulled through every time. It's a slow process, improvements are seen on a weekly and monthly basis but it's a very busy construction site as Jerr so nicely described and healing is happening.

 

How slow of a process? I mean you say you pulled through everytime, but I am all of the sudden finding myself really struggling at about a month in, and wondering if it took you months to stabilize. Did you ever feel the meds made you worse to begin with?

[KarenB]

Reacting to waves or blips with a drug increase is a sure-fire way to NOT stabilise.  You may have been entering a wave on that Sunday, then exacerbated it with the missed dose.  Also, 20mg is a fairly high dose already.  You need to think long term, Utah.  There is no quick fix for this stuff.  Remember that windows and waves picture - the stair-case slowly going up and down, but overall going up. 

 

I wouldn't make any changes to your supplements right now, since the results could be muddied by the missed dose.  Wait a week or two, then if still struggling, you could try cutting out the fish oil.  It's important to make only one change at a time, so you know what's causing what. 

 

What are you doing to try to build yourself up during this time?  Do you have a way to remember the important things - like that windows/waves graph, or things mods have told you in this thread?  I used to write them all down and stick them on my wall.  Because you really need to keep the big picture in mind, as well as the stuff that will get you there.  At the moment you are crumbling every time you hit a blip - and that will wear you out. 

 

Can you write a self-care plan here on your thread?  And stick a copy on your kitchen wall? 

[Altostrata]

Utah, is your pregabalin a powder in a capsule? If so, you can divide the doses by taking it as a liquid. See the method in Tips for tapering off Lyrica (pregabalin)

[DaveB]

10 hours ago, KarenB said:

Reacting to waves or blips with a drug increase is a sure-fire way to NOT stabilise.  You may have been entering a wave on that Sunday, then exacerbated it with the missed dose.  Also, 20mg is a fairly high dose already.  You need to think long term, Utah.  There is no quick fix for this stuff.  Remember that windows and waves picture - the stair-case slowly going up and down, but overall going up. 

 

Good advice thank you. So my daughter is sick and I was up with her a bunch last night. When I was up in the middle of the night, I felt almost completely normal zero to minimum anxiety. Then I slept to my alarm at 8AM, and when I woke the anxiety hit hard...but when I was up at 3 and then again at 6 I felt almost no anxiety. Is there any reason this would be? 

[DaveB]

10 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Utah, is your pregabalin a powder in a capsule? If so, you can divide the doses by taking it as a liquid. See the method in Tips for tapering off Lyrica (pregabalin)

 

Yes, powder in a capsule. So divide my current dose? You are not talking about tapering yet, correct?

[ShakeyJerr]

25 minutes ago, Utah49er said:

So my daughter is sick and I was up with her a bunch last night. When I was up in the middle of the night, I felt almost completely normal zero to minimum anxiety. Then I slept to my alarm at 8AM, and when I woke the anxiety hit hard...but when I was up at 3 and then again at 6 I felt almost no anxiety. Is there any reason this would be? 

 

Thy enemy's name is Cortisol. In my house, it is a curse word 

 

During the evening and night, cortisol production is at a minimum. And in the case of last night, any cortisol you were producing was being used up quickly in your care and concern for your daughter (I had a very similar situation a few months back with my daughter being sick at night).

 

Then in the morning, you got your normal cortisol dump - which in recovery from withdrawal causes heightened anxiety. And in the case of this morning, you probably had a larger than normal dump because of the events of last night.

 

You might also be having adrenal fatigue. These drugs play havoc with our adrenal glands. Have you been having any back or knee or hip pain during your med changes/taper? If so, that could be a sign of adrenal fatigue. Do some googling if you are so inclined. 

 

Hang in there! 

 

SJ

[DaveB]

14 hours ago, KarenB said:

Reacting to waves or blips with a drug increase is a sure-fire way to NOT stabilise.  You may have been entering a wave on that Sunday, then exacerbated it with the missed dose.  Also, 20mg is a fairly high dose already.  You need to think long term, Utah.  There is no quick fix for this stuff.  Remember that windows and waves picture - the stair-case slowly going up and down, but overall going up. 

 

Thanks, I just hope I am indeed going up. Last few days it us felt like down, but I guess waves are that way.

13 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Utah, is your pregabalin a powder in a capsule? If so, you can divide the doses by taking it as a liquid. See the method in Tips for tapering off Lyrica (pregabalin)

 

2 hours ago, ShakeyJerr said:

 

Thy enemy's name is Cortisol. In my house, it is a curse word 

 

During the evening and night, cortisol production is at a minimum. And in the case of last night, any cortisol you were producing was being used up quickly in your care and concern for your daughter (I had a very similar situation a few months back with my daughter being sick at night).

 

Then in the morning, you got your normal cortisol dump - which in recovery from withdrawal causes heightened anxiety. And in the case of this morning, you probably had a larger than normal dump because of the events of last night.

 

You might also be having adrenal fatigue. These drugs play havoc with our adrenal glands. Have you been having any back or knee or hip pain during your med changes/taper? If so, that could be a sign of adrenal fatigue. Do some googling if you are so inclined. 

 

Hang in there! 

 

SJ

 

I don't have any back pain, or other pain. I get headaches, and my eyes feel like they are burning (weird right?) but other than those symptoms it is just sweating, shaking, etc. 

 

Anything I should for sure be avoiding. I don't smoke or drink, no other drugs other than the Paxil and Lyrica. I know exercise is good for anxiety, how much and what kinds are best? What about sugar, caffeine, etc? Are those super bad, or is diet not that big of a factor? I just want to try to do all I can to help this process.

[KarenB]

Gentle exercise = good.  Too much will ramp up your cortisol and therefore your symptoms.  Gentle walking and gentle yoga are what I like.  You'll figure out your own limits. 

 

Sugar, caffeine, junk food, alcohol = bad. 

 

How's that self-care plan coming?  A self-care plan should cover care for both body and soul.

[bubble]

On 2017-7-4 at 6:16 AM, Altostrata said:

 

Pregabalin is benzo-like. You might do better by spacing out your dosage, perhaps take 200mg 3 times a day, with the last dose at 11 p.m., and after a while, 150mg 4 times a day.

 

My guess is the rebound anxiety from pregabalin wearing off twice a day is exacerbating the background waves from withdrawal upset.

 

 

If I were you, I would go to an urgent care center or an emergency room and get enough pregabalin to last until you can get your refill.

 

[DaveB]

So, a month into keeping everything stable in order to try to stabilize, I still deal with anxiety, pretty much all day. This last week it may even be more than before "reinstating" Paxil. My sleep is much better, I pretty much sleep great all night, but other than that things remain pretty much the same. So should I be discouraged or hopeless due to my lack of progress with anxiety and pretty much feeling the same or worse than the last 5 months or encouraged due to the fact my sleep has finally stabslized after 5 months, and I am now (hopefully) through what should be the hardest part of reinstatement? 

 

Does stabalizing always work eventually if given enough time? Or would I do well to look into tweaking some things due to my lack of progress?

 

Don't most people stabilize by now, should I be hopeful that stabilization will still take place even though it has already been a month of doing the same thing?

[Happy2Heal]

13 minutes ago, Utah49er said:

So, a month into keeping everything stable in order to try to stabilize, I still deal with anxiety, pretty much all day. This last week it may even be more than before "reinstating" Paxil. My sleep is much better, I pretty much sleep great all night, but other than that things remain pretty much the same. So should I be discouraged or hopeless due to my lack of progress with anxiety and pretty much feeling the same or worse than the last 5 months or encouraged due to the fact my sleep has finally stabslized after 5 months, and I am now (hopefully) through what should be the hardest part of reinstatement? 

 

Does stabalizing always work eventually if given enough time? Or would I do well to look into tweaking some things due to my lack of progress?

 

Don't most people stabilize by now, should I be hopeful that stabilization will still take place even though it has already been a month of doing the same thing?

 

 

you are able to sleep thru the night, forgive me for being jealous... I am now about 9 mos past reinstating and I have not slept a full night yet. I  average maybe 4 broken hours of sleep, or less- rarely a tiny bit more. *le sigh*

 

I think since you updosed a month ago, you'd be just one month since a change, so still having some anxiety during the day after just a month since that change, seems 'not too bad' all things considered. Of course everyone differs in how they respond to changes.

 

so if were me, I'd be very encouraged!!  it sucks, I'm sure, to have anxiety all day. and that's gotta be wearing on you, but to be able to sleep well, is, in my opinion,  a VERY Good sign that you are well on your way to be stabilized.

 

I know that only magnesium and fish oil are recommended here, and since ppls reactions to things vary a LOT, I hesitate to mention this, but I've had such great luck with glycine for anxiety and for improving the quality of my sleep.... I wonder if it might help you with your daytime anxiety? I take 2 grams at night and one in the morning but I started off with a much smaller amnt, to test whether or not I'd have a reaction to it. (you can open a 1 gram (1000mg) capsule and dump the powder out into water, it mixes easily and has a slightly sweet taste)

 

just an idea.

sorry you are still dealing with anxiety, it's no fun at all.

 

 

[DaveB]

18 minutes ago, Happy2Heal said:

 

 

you are able to sleep thru the night, forgive me for being jealous... I am now about 9 mos past reinstating and I have not slept a full night yet. I  average maybe 4 broken hours of sleep, or less- rarely a tiny bit more. *le sigh*

 

I think since you updosed a month ago, you'd be just one month since a change, so still having some anxiety during the day after just a month since that change, seems 'not too bad' all things considered. Of course everyone differs in how they respond to changes.

 

so if were me, I'd be very encouraged!!  it sucks, I'm sure, to have anxiety all day. and that's gotta be wearing on you, but to be able to sleep well, is, in my opinion,  a VERY Good sign that you are well on your way to be stabilized.

 

I know that only magnesium and fish oil are recommended here, and since ppls reactions to things vary a LOT, I hesitate to mention this, but I've had such great luck with glycine for anxiety and for improving the quality of my sleep.... I wonder if it might help you with your daytime anxiety? I take 2 grams at night and one in the morning but I started off with a much smaller amnt, to test whether or not I'd have a reaction to it. (you can open a 1 gram (1000mg) capsule and dump the powder out into water, it mixes easily and has a slightly sweet taste)

 

just an idea.

sorry you are still dealing with anxiety, it's no fun at all.

 

 

 

Thank you for your response. Yeah, the anxiety is terrible, often times I have contemplated going to the hospital just so they can give me something to give me a break from the anxiety, even if only for a few days. Honestly I probably would have, if not for the fact my wife and three kids need me, even if I am only semi-functional.

[Happy2Heal]

2 minutes ago, Utah49er said:

Thank you for your response. Yeah, the anxiety is terrible, often times I have contemplated going to the hospital just so they can give me something to give me a break from the anxiety, even if only for a few days. Honestly I probably would have, if not for the fact my wife and three kids need me, even if I am only semi-functional.

 

 

Oh I hear you! i've been on the verge of running to a shrink to try to get some kind of med to help me sleep. The problem is, there isn't any med that will help. I am now just as likely, if not more likely, to have even worse insomnia from any kind of tranquilizer or sleep med. Most drugs go paradoxical on me now.

 

you will get thru this.

have you tried deep breathing? meditation? relaxation tapes or CDs? calming music? distractions?
forgive me if this has all been suggested and/or tried before, I didn't read thru your whole thread.

 

I have had severe anxiety every day since starting this journey but as time as gone on, it's not primarily just in the early part of the day, and sometimes it only lasts a very short while (like an hour) today was a day of low lever anxiety all day, kinda sucked but I'll take it over the high intensity stuff.

 

the good news is that you ARE improving and you ARE going to reach a place where you aren't so anxious any more. it's coming.

 

I pray for your sake that it comes soon. in the meantime, see if there's any non drug methods that help you. they rarely eliminate all of the anxiety but you'd be surprised how helpful a lot of those different things can be.

 

which reminds me, I need to get back to yoga, it was a huge help to me when I was going weekly.

 

all the best to you....

hopefully someone else will be able to tell you if tweaking anything is a good idea, but in general, its' best to keep things as stable as possible, no tweaks.

 

as someone who is always wanting to tweak, and having bad results those times that I've tried, I have to say, as boring as it is, and as much as it seems like doing nothing, just holding where you are and NOT making any changes is probably best!!

 

 

[KarenB]

A month is not long where w/d is concerned.  The stabilised sleep is a VERY good sign that further stabilisation will come.  As we have said

19 hours ago, bubble said:

On 4/07/2017 at 4:16 PM, Altostrata said:

 

Pregabalin is benzo-like. You might do better by spacing out your dosage, perhaps take 200mg 3 times a day, with the last dose at 11 p.m., and after a while, 150mg 4 times a day.

 

My guess is the rebound anxiety from pregabalin wearing off twice a day is exacerbating the background waves from withdrawal upset.

 

Have you tried this yet? 

Have you made a self-care plan yet? 

[manymoretodays]

30 minutes ago, Utah49er said:

 

Thank you for your response. Yeah, the anxiety is terrible, often times I have contemplated going to the hospital just so they can give me something to give me a break from the anxiety, even if only for a few days. Honestly I probably would have, if not for the fact my wife and three kids need me, even if I am only semi-functional.

 

Hey Utah 49.  You might consider a supportive break if possible sometime now or in the near future.  I guess I lucked out being alone through most of my severe stuff.......as far as the W/D goes.  Supportive people around......most didn't ask too many questions.......and I explained as well as I could knowing they wouldn't quite get it.  It went okay that way.  And I still have those friends and family in my life to this day.........amazing!  I wasn't working and didn't have small kids at home.........still.........life doesn't stand still for any of us during this time.

 

  You would be real lucky to find a hospital that gives you a break from the anxiety.........other than another pill or a cold turkey.  I mean talk to your wife and all.  Family out of state who somewhat understand?  A no pressure retreat of sorts........maybe that's just dreaming........but imagine.  Brainstorm.   I think we all have the "I want to go back on meds" syndrome........especially in the first year or two.  The W/D last resort of "I have to go back on something".  Part of neuroemotions I believe.  It passes.    I mean I just wonder if you have considered.........even 2 weeks or something.........of a bit of a break from work and family.  Only guessing but it might serve you all well......employer, family, and self.  Just a thought.  Anything that will keep you at your best "semi functional" for the long haul.  Medication reactions can be a good explanation to friends and family who may never quite grasp the whole concept.

 

There is a topic here at surviving antidepressants somewhere........maybe in "off topic" that I will revive if I can find it.  Just a virtual retreat anyway.  I'm sure many might enjoy it.  Then there's the swearing topic.  It used to just make me laugh to go there and swear.  Good to find some, even bad humor, is better than none. 

 

Sounds like you are doing great and getting some great input.  Keep up the hard work.

 

Best, hugs

 

mmt

 

 

[DaveB]

3 hours ago, KarenB said:

A month is not long where w/d is concerned.  The stabilised sleep is a VERY good sign that further stabilisation will come.  As we have said

Have you tried this yet? 

Have you made a self-care plan yet? 

 

I have not tried it simply because for the last week or so I am not getting any real anxiety relief from my 11AM 300mg dose, so I haven't seen the benefit it cutting into the capsules to make a less powerful dose spread throughout the day. 

 

Yes I have an exercise plan of 3-4 times a week, mostly resistance training and running or swimming. I also downloaded an app called calm for meditation, am cutting down on soda (my only source of caffeine and a main offender of sugar for me), and I have bought some epsom salt to give those baths a try. I am sure my wife will make fun of me taking salted baths haha, but we gotta do what we gotta do...right?

 

Again thanks for always replying and being here to help me through, it is SO much appreciated!

[DaveB]

4 hours ago, Happy2Heal said:

 

 

Oh I hear you! i've been on the verge of running to a shrink to try to get some kind of med to help me sleep. The problem is, there isn't any med that will help. I am now just as likely, if not more likely, to have even worse insomnia from any kind of tranquilizer or sleep med. Most drugs go paradoxical on me now.

 

you will get thru this.

have you tried deep breathing? meditation? relaxation tapes or CDs? calming music? distractions?
forgive me if this has all been suggested and/or tried before, I didn't read thru your whole thread.

 

I have had severe anxiety every day since starting this journey but as time as gone on, it's not primarily just in the early part of the day, and sometimes it only lasts a very short while (like an hour) today was a day of low lever anxiety all day, kinda sucked but I'll take it over the high intensity stuff.

 

the good news is that you ARE improving and you ARE going to reach a place where you aren't so anxious any more. it's coming.

 

I pray for your sake that it comes soon. in the meantime, see if there's any non drug methods that help you. they rarely eliminate all of the anxiety but you'd be surprised how helpful a lot of those different things can be.

 

which reminds me, I need to get back to yoga, it was a huge help to me when I was going weekly.

 

all the best to you....

hopefully someone else will be able to tell you if tweaking anything is a good idea, but in general, its' best to keep things as stable as possible, no tweaks.

 

as someone who is always wanting to tweak, and having bad results those times that I've tried, I have to say, as boring as it is, and as much as it seems like doing nothing, just holding where you are and NOT making any changes is probably best!!

 

 

 

Thank you for your insight, recommendations, and comments. They mean a lot!