Ellen: hi - withdrawing from Trazodone

[compsports]

This is week three on a 25% reduction of trazodone. I'm still handling the migraines with Excedrin Migraine on work days. Now I have a new symptom coming on, and I don't know if it's a drug side effect, a WD effect, an underlying illness, or environmental; as I've had this symptom in the past, even before starting any drugs.  I'm just feeling down in the dumps with no hope of my life ever getting better, no hope for my physical and emotional recovery, very little hope of ever getting of trazodone, lonely, discouraged, and fighting tears.  Of course a shrink would automatically call it clinical depression, but I'd love to get to the root cause to get rid of it if at all possible.  Still broken hearted over losing my fiance, still down from being so very physically sick for 17 years, and still down because I can't be the mom I want to be, BUT if I knew that a drug were causing this I could taper it, and if I knew it were a trazodone WD symptom I could expect it to get better with time. It's just all so complex.  Of course I like looking at the big picture and considering all possibilties before jumping to conclusions, but this hurts in the meantime.  Any support or insight would be welcome.  Thank you.  Have a blessed Christmas.

HI Ellen042.

 

I haven't thoroughly read your thread so please forgive me if I am missing something. Could you be experience these reaction due to your dosage reduction being too big since 25% is a huge amount?

 

I don't know, it sounds like you are dealing with alot of cr-p that is compounded by this reduction.  Of course, that is just my opinion and nothing more.

 

I do hope you feel better soon.

 

CS

[Ellen042]

Yes, it is possible, and so are the other things I mentioned.  I cant go back up in the trazodone dosage for reasons already discussed.  Thank you though.  It would be nice if it were merely a WD symptom, as that would ease with time.  Appreciate your feedback.

[Barbarannamated]

Ellen,

A slightly off-topic question... what antimalarial do you take?

[Altostrata]

Weepiness can be a withdrawal symptom.

 

I also think you should give yourself the opportunity to feel normal sorrow about your breakup and normal worry about your medical condition without giving it a psychiatric label.

[Ellen042]

Hi. It's been a month on 75mg trazodone rather than 100mg trazodone, and the migraine hasn't let up one bit. Per my history, I can't go up to nearly 100mg trazodone again. Anyone else have experience with migraines while coming off AD's? If so, how long did it take for the migraine to go away? I realize trazodone is a migraine preventative, so migraines during withdrawal should be expected, but so are a number of other AD's.

 

My next question is general and speculative. Yes, I have underlying physical illnesses, namely a chiari malformation, dysautonomia, and Lyme disease, but does anyone think I'd do better physically by being off ALL meds? If our bodies build up a tolerance to psychoactive drugs, surely the do somewhat with non-psychoactive drugs as well. I'm just so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I've been terribly ill for 17 years now, and my psyc symptoms are nothing compared to my physical symptoms. I realize this isn't the focus of this website, but there IS no website that I've found which addresses both mental and physical illness in the same person. I realize no one here (that I know of) is a physician either, but I'd love any hope anyone could give me in general. It feels like my very life is dependent on my medicines, and that's not a fun way to feel. My doctors just keep telling me I'd be much worse off without my medicine, but maybe they're wrong, just as psychiatrists can be wrong sometimes too. Thank you for listening and for any feedback. Blessings, Ellen

[Ellen042]

And thank you Alto for your last sentence. That was kind and empathetic. Sorry that I just now saw it. I do tend to be hard on myself, but in my own experience, getting to a diagnosis has brought much relief, especially the Lyme and dysautonomia diagnoses. I see your point though. Thank you.

[Meimeiquest]

Ellen, I don't know. I think I might more want a second opinion to make sure I was doing (or eliminating) everything possible. I read of a doctor in Columbia, MO, Dr. Crist. My brother In law is being treated in Ft. Collins, CO at trilifehealth.com...they are integrative docs and minimize meds. (I flew to CA once to see a fibro specialist--I might be a little too free in my search for answers). Dr. Furman says he's never met a headache he couldn't heal nutritionally (although he's probably never had a patient with a chiari malformation). I am just throwing ideas out there.

 

I have been reading a bit on Lyme because my mom thinks I should be checked for it. But it seems like the diagnosis is so controversial if you don't know when you might have contracted the disease. I really don't need another controversial diagnosis . Do you have any thoughts on that?

[Ellen042]

Meimei, you don't need to know when you contracted Lyme for it to be diagnosed accurately.  Igenex in CA is the most respected and reputable lab in the country for diagnosing Lyme with both high sensitivity and high specificity. 

 

You just have your doctor mail your blood to the lab for testing.  Costs about $500.  Accepts almost no insurance.  They do a Western Blot to detect spirochetes of Lyme and coinfections in your blood.  Some spirochetes cross the blood brain barrier, so they test for neuro-Lyme as well.  I've not found anyone to argue with an Igenex result.  You're right: the other labs are controversial.  That's why doctors recommend Igenex and why patients are willing to fork out the $500.  I wouldn't waste my money elsewhere, as doctors would be arguing about the accuracy and sensitivity of the test results.  Go for the gold standard.  You (and she) will be glad you did. 

 

And if your results should come back positive, all you need is one Lyme literate MD to treat you.  The treatment works, so don't worry about any controversy.  Also if your results turn out positive for coinfections too, make sure you're treated for them as well.  They're just as viscious as Lyme itself. 

 

So that I don't get knocked for going off topic, how about PMing me- or you can meet up with me on Lymenet.org.  I'm Ellen there too.  In fact, take a look around the website even if you're not looking for me.  You'll find tons of helpful info there, including whether or not you should be tested for Lyme. 

[Meimeiquest]

Thank you! I hope someone has insight that clear on your question!

[Ellen042]

Please- can anyone offer input?  I've been suffering for 17 years and have seen dozens of doctors with no recovery.  I realize you can only help as a friend, not a professional, but I still need your help and support.

[Altostrata]

Not sure what your question is. If it's about being off all drugs -- the more drugs you're on, the greater the risk of drug-drug interactions, many of which are undocumented. Even if you don't feel adverse effects, it's better for your overall health to take as few drugs as possible. They're hard on our bodies in many ways.

 

There are sites that are specifically about Lyme disease, if that's what you want to discuss. Only a few people here are familiar with it.

[flower]

Ellen how are you...flower

[Altostrata]

@Ellen042 , how are you doing?