SelmaLady: How do I do this?

[SelmaLady]

Thank you Luv (((Hugs))).  I've read some posts on different sites that people do ok with switching to the natural thyroid med but don't think they were in w/d!!  I agree with you tho that making a change right now might be troublesome for your already struggling brain.  You didn't have any noticeable increase symptoms tho did you when you lowered your dose?

 

When (if) I go onto the natural thyroid I will begin with minuscule amounts and increase over a loooooong time.  I wouldn't know how else to do it.  My daughter and husband are thinking it might help to see some improvement in my overall if the thyroid weren't off base but who knows???  I'm praying so hard for wisdom too.

[Wildflower0214]

Wow. This is all a lot to deal with. I totally understand why you are so concerned with the thyroid situation. I have refrained from doing anything about my endocrine issues for precisely the reasons you outlined.

 

I have also had some less than desirable experiences with naturopaths who respond similarly to pdocs when the supplements they recommend make you sick. It became about me and my "hypervigilence". But, they are all different. So, I'm sure you can find a decent one who will listen to your concerns.

 

I hope it all works out for you. Prayers and love. XOXO

[SelmaLady]

Thank you so much WF for prayers.  I'm wondering if you are hypo, what kinds of symptoms (if any) that you are having and what your labs are. 

 

I so wish that there were a site where these kinds of double imbalances could be discussed.  I am on a site (Yahoo) where there is help and discussion of thyroid treatment using desiccated.  But I surely don't see anyone there who is also in a state of brain destabilization from psych meds.   So I have to try and overlay what reactions people have to my own brain chaos.  And of course the one that is the most worrisome is anxiety and insomnia!  Just what I need added to what I already deal with.  Would it be better to go ahead and attempt to at least balance the thyroid or would it be better to hold off and allow the brain to bring back some balance----unless of course, the imbalance of a badly functioning thyroid is adding to the problem of balance.  Round and round...

 

I did find an MD who prescribes desiccated thyroid but I will have to wait until December at least to see him as I am on Medicare and his practice accepts only a couple of new Medicare patients a month.  I of course, am hoping for some miracle that will cause my thyroid labs to show up better than they are now.  I do try not to dwell on this 24/7 but that requires constant vigilance.  Add that to the extreme effort to keep from freaking out about the perceptual distortions...  Ah well, it keeps me staying busy with things that distract.

 

I am surely more functional than I was this time last year.  I'm able to do most of the housework, some yard work and even allow husband to go into town for hours w/o me.  Last year, I could barely endure his not sitting next to me at all times.  Something is healing, something is finding it's way through the maze to a place closer to normal functioning.  But I can't taper more than a tiny amount at a time or I can feel the balance beginning to tip again.

 

Right now, maybe because of the tooth extraction and carbocaine, I have found myself slipping into more of an upreg that is causing broken sleep and scary mornings.  Also, I've done a tiny reduction in the Doxepin so perhaps that's part of the reaction.  Or maybe its just a brain that is terribly out of sync and is constantly in flux.  Whatever it is, I surely don't like it and it pulls the rug out from under me again.  So fragile.  Awful way to feel.  BUT, I do believe in a constant move to stability so that's what keeps me hopeful.  That and my confidence that God will never remove His presence from me.

 

The days are shorter and darker.   Does anyone else notice a deepening of anxiety or insomnia?  I'm thinking that during the summer, I am constantly outside, in the sun and working hard.  Now I spend far less time outdoors -- maybe I should try at least to stay out longer.  My hardest times have always been during the winter.  I hopefully, can find a way to make it easier this year...

[Meimeiquest]

So many things for you still...I'm sorry. Last fall I had problems with the light changes, not yet this year so far. I was able to isolate it to the sunset and the change in the angle of light. What helped me most was turning on all the lights and closing the blinds during the period of dusk. I was okay once it was really dark. I am also strict about going to bed and waking up on the same schedule. We have aluminum foil on the bedroom windows and I wear a really comfortable sleep mask. And maybe it was just believing that I was empowered to handle it, who knows. I hope you find something that works for you.

[luv2knit]

I think the season change does make things even more difficult for all of us. Glad you've seen improvements since last year, but so sorry for what you are still experiencing.

 

Praying you are able to get some answers to your thyroid issues.

 

XOXO

[SelmaLady]

So many things for you still...I'm sorry. Last fall I had problems with the light changes, not yet this year so far. I was able to isolate it to the sunset and the change in the angle of light. What helped me most was turning on all the lights and closing the blinds during the period of dusk. I was okay once it was really dark. I am also strict about going to bed and waking up on the same schedule. We have aluminum foil on the bedroom windows and I wear a really comfortable sleep mask. And maybe it was just believing that I was empowered to handle it, who knows. I hope you find something that works for you.

Thank you Mei for these possible "helps" with getting my sleep back in order. I do have black out curtains but I hadn't thot about the different slant of the sun as the seasons change.  Makes a lot of sense.  I have been wearing ear plugs the last couple of nights and I think I will add the sleep mask and see how that goes tho I usually not comfortable with something on my face but I'll give it a go.  I do try to go to bed at the same time which is fairly early at 9:00pm.  But my sleep has been all over the place these past few days.  I'm sure in will even out at some point!  I'm glad that you have found your "sweet spot" for sleep.

[SelmaLady]

I think the season change does make things even more difficult for all of us. Glad you've seen improvements since last year, but so sorry for what you are still experiencing.

 

Praying you are able to get some answers to your thyroid issues.

 

XOXO

 

((Luv))   Yes.  I really do believe that seasonal changes, especially the summer to fall change has to have an influence on our basic rhythms.   If only things would just the SAME until our systems can sort all this out!!  Not going to happen.

 

Thank you for your prayers for my  thyroid woes.  You know that you have my prayers too.

 

I googled "SSRI and thyroid" and didn't find any real red flags.  But there was a reference in one of the articles about TCA's that indicated a problem.  So I googled "TCA and thyroid" and found several posts that indicate that they (TCA's) most definitely affect the thyroid!  Makes sense to me since I had little problem with my thyroid numbers until this last lab (the CNP who orders the labs neglected to order thyroid panels last year so I don't really know what my labs would have been then).  I also read where there is a possibility of taper off the desiccated thyroid med if the reason for the imbalance is removed.  So I'm feeling a great deal more hopeful now that something can be worked out so that I won't have to stay on thyroid meds after I'm off the Doxepin.  Told hubby time for another cut in the Doxepin!  (-: 

[WinningThrough]

Hi SelmaLady. I just wanted to say hello and send a hug. I'm very sorry to hear of the thyroid problems xx

[SelmaLady]

Hi Winning.  Thank you so much for posting here.  I read your posts and am always hoping that you are seeing some better days.  I know they will come but what a huge mountain to climb to get there, huh?  I have so much respect for you for the hard work that you put in in trying to get through this.  So looking forward to your recovery!

 

[SelmaLady]

Over a month since my last post... Lots of things happened/happening. 

 

Had a very bad herpes infection last month.  Because I react to any chemical, I didn't take either the anti-viral med or the pain med that was prescribed to me and just toughed it out.  Blessedly, the worst of it was over in a couple of weeks.  And I didn't seem to be thrown off much by it. 

My latest crisis has happened because the supplier of the brand of Clonidine that I normally take, ran out of stock and I was forced to go to another supplier.   Husband began the crossover to the new brand by minuscule amounts, meticulously weighing out bits of both the pills.  But when I got to 3/4 new and 1/4 old, I hit the wall.  I went into intense akathisia, sobbing, increased visual space shrinkage (this had been getting less and less) and horrible DP feelings of losing my mind.  We called around to see if another pharmacy might be able to special order the Clonidine directly from the supplier, but were refused.  My husband called the supplier that I have always used (Qualitest in Alabama) and the really kind lady who helped us did find that they have restocked their Clonidine.  So I called my on line pharmacy (Express Scripts) and low and behold, they now DO have the Qualitest Clonidine available!!  So then had to call doc's office to send over new rx---good news, the new rx is being processed for mailing.  

 

Unfortunately , all this fooling around with the pills has caused my b/p to skyrocket.  I'm averaging 160/100.  It does go down after my morning dose but then climbs slowly back up during the day.  I NEVER had high b/p before taking the Clonidine---it's reacting only to the changes.  I don't know how dangerous it is to let it remain high hoping that my usual dosage (0.1mg 2x a day) will re-balance the system.  Am I waiting for a blood serum level to even out?  The only thing husband and I can think of to do if it doesn't come down is to a add 1/4 tab at noon and see if that will help to stabilize.  But I'm already in a bad wave from the changes and don't want to increase that.  I especially don't want to take any chances of amping up my akathisia that I had all morning after that first reaction.   It's so, so upsetting to have no doctor who could help with this.  We are left to try to diagnose and treat ourselves with little to rely on.   I continue to just hate being so vulnerable, so fragile. 

[lundeliz]

Oh wow, Selma Lady, it's unbelievable how sensitive our systems are. I'm so

 

sorry that happened. I can no longer tolerate my bp meds. I really hope it all

 

evens out for you very soon. (Hugs)

[SelmaLady]

Oh wow, Selma Lady, it's unbelievable how sensitive our systems are. I'm so

 

sorry that happened. I can no longer tolerate my bp meds. I really hope it all

 

evens out for you very soon. (Hugs)

 

So hard to figure out what (if anything) we're supposed to be doing or not doing to at least keep ourselves as stable as possible.  Things just seem to conspire against that.

 

Are you not taking any b/p meds at all?  What were you taking?  Is your b/p ok now?  As with all drugs, I am so sorry that I started this med.  Clonidine is supposedly one of the hardest to get off of.   All we can do is to press on...  Thank you so much for your encouragement.   ---  we'll get there at some point.  

[lundeliz]

I was on Bp meds for 30 yrs.before Cymbalta with no problems.

I took a beta blocker and a diuretic. Since WD I can't tolerate

them anymore. I weaned off the beta blocker and stopped the

diuretic. I eat a very low sodium diet to control the Bp best I

can. Truthfully, I don't take my Bp very often. It freaks me out

because I can't take the meds, so what to do? It's not a good

situation at all. My prayer is that I will get past this WD and

the sensitivities and be able to take meds again. It really scares

me. Are you taking the Clonidine for Bp problems? I'm glad you were

able to get your old brand med again. I hope it all levels out soon.

This is all pretty much a nightmare.

[luv2knit]

So much going on, Selma. I'm praying that the transition to the original Clonidine will work out well for you, and things will begin to stabilize. Am I remembering wrong, or did you say you went on the Clonidine originally for the akathisia?

 

XOXO

[SelmaLady]

I was on Bp meds for 30 yrs.before Cymbalta with no problems.

I took a beta blocker and a diuretic. Since WD I can't tolerate

them anymore. I weaned off the beta blocker and stopped the

diuretic. I eat a very low sodium diet to control the Bp best I

can. Truthfully, I don't take my Bp very often. It freaks me out

because I can't take the meds, so what to do? It's not a good

situation at all. My prayer is that I will get past this WD and

the sensitivities and be able to take meds again. It really scares

me. Are you taking the Clonidine for Bp problems? I'm glad you were

able to get your old brand med again. I hope it all levels out soon.

This is all pretty much a nightmare.

 

I'm so sorry that you had to get off of the BB --- What kind of symptoms did it give you that made it intolerable?  Did you notice any change as you were tapering and/or after you stopped?  I surely don't blame you for not taking your b/p often.  If there's nothing to be done about it, there's really no point in knowing...I really know how that feels.  I have heard many times before about people who had b/p problems with meds and after getting off and that they actually recovered from all the problems with it.  We can hope that's the cause with us!

 

I was given the Clonidine in the hospital because of my fear of the akathisia I had in 2013.  (I was in the hospital for a Valium o/d---NOT a good choice!)  I didn't have akathisia again until I had to take the penicillin for a bad gum/jar infection -- sent me right back into it but it DID calm down again in a few months.  I'm not "normally" hypertensive".  Clonidine is a type of alpha blocker tho it's really in a category by itself.   Very strong stuff.  Scares me to death.   Like you, I can't dwell there because it's going to be a long time before I can work my way off of it!  (Doxepin is first in line)  

 

Please know that my husband and I are praying for you.  This will be resolved.  We surely need the courage to get there tho...

[SelmaLady]

So much going on, Selma. I'm praying that the transition to the original Clonidine will work out well for you, and things will begin to stabilize. Am I remembering wrong, or did you say you went on the Clonidine originally for the akathisia?

 

XOXO

 

Yes, the akathisia.  I don't know if it had any effect at all on it because the tons of Valium that I took slowed my system waaaaaaaaaaaaay down and may have been the reason that I haven't had it bad since then.  I really don't know. 

 

Actually, I just stopped taking the new Clonidine completely because I seemed to be having a bad reaction to it----the further I upped it, the worse I got.  I'm wondering if it had to do with the strength of it or possible fillers, etc.  Whatever it was, I couldn't take it.  Wish I could "stock up" on the Qualitest Clonidine in case that happens again---very frightening to think that what you need you can't possible get! 

[lundeliz]

After I would take the BB at night, I would

get a really bad headache and could not go

to sleep. I weaned off over six months and

it went pretty well. Afterwards, I had some

episodes of spiking Bp, but it didn't last

too long.

Thank you so much for the prayers. It's very

much appreciated. I will also remember you in

my prayers. I'm so looking forward to the day

we can all put all this mess behind us. I hope

everything stabilizes for you very soon.

[SelmaLady]

After I would take the BB at night, I would

get a really bad headache and could not go

to sleep. I weaned off over six months and

it went pretty well. Afterwards, I had some

episodes of spiking Bp, but it didn't last

too long.

Thank you so much for the prayers. It's very

much appreciated. I will also remember you in

my prayers. I'm so looking forward to the day

we can all put all this mess behind us. I hope

everything stabilizes for you very soon.

 

Thank you so much for telling me about your experience with the BB.  Before tonight, I had thot that I was just reacting to the new Clonidine, but tonight, after I took the Qualitest Clonidine, within 10 minutes I felt "weird" and anxious,  Then I began the pacing and sobbing---then came the nausea --  I took my b/p 20 min after taking the Clonidine and it was 174/117!!!!!!!!!!!   Nothing I can do about it.  I'm just trying to be as calm as I can. 

 

So thank you for letting me know that you did fine after your came completely off.  My first reaction is to take huge leaps in doses to get rid of it.  But since you did ok with going 6 mths, I feel a little less frantic. Who knew that you could get a paradoxical reaction to a b/p med???  But once you destabilize your CNS, all things are possible.  There is another lady on a FB site that I'm on who also had a paradoxical reaction to her BB when she went through benzo w/d and had to come off.   The up side of getting off the Clonidine tho is that is contraindicated with Doxepin.  The doctor who put on the two together should be another doctor not permitted to prescribe anything beyond an aspirin!!!!   And you know that I go to have my scripts renewed every year with a Nurse Practitioner and she NEVER looks as the interaction of these pills!!  Just absolute madness. 

 

XOXOXO

 

 

[lundeliz]

Madness is right. So you think the Clonidine has turned on you? Sounds

like that's what has happened. I tried several other bp meds after coming

off the bb and they all set the akathisia off. It's good that you don't actually

need it for your bp.

I had taken the bb for almost 30 yrs. and did OK weaning off, so I bet you

will do fine. It's unbelievable how complicated our lives have become because

of these psych meds. Just can't wait till this is all behind us. Praying things calm

down soon for you,

[SelmaLady]

Madness is right. So you think the Clonidine has turned on you? Sounds

like that's what has happened. I tried several other bp meds after coming

off the bb and they all set the akathisia off. It's good that you don't actually

need it for your bp.

I had taken the bb for almost 30 yrs. and did OK weaning off, so I bet you

will do fine. It's unbelievable how complicated our lives have become because

of these psych meds. Just can't wait till this is all behind us. Praying things calm

down soon for you,

 

What's strange about my reaction to the Clonidine is that, in the morning, when I take that dose, my b/p actually goes DOWN.  It then climbs as the day goes on.  But at night when I take my second dose, my b/p jumps way up w/i 10 mins of taking it and I have to pace the front porch for quite awhile, akathisia bad and sobbing.  During the night, it continues to climb most times so that by the time I get up in the morning, it's sky high.  I know that all of this is "just" reaction to the chaos that is my brain chemistry right now but I feel like I need to come off the Clonidine regardless.   This morning husband cut dosage by 1/4 and after I took it, my b/p did still come down.  I guess all I can do is to taper as smoothly as possible right now --  I KNOW that jumping around on any med is disastrous for a brain that is out of sync.  BTW:  When I take the Clonidine, I get akathisia too.  I am always close to getting akathisia---I have to be so very careful with everything.  Last year when I tried to move my Doxepin over to a liquid to begin tapering I went into a horrible time of akathisia and even PGAD,  Before I even got to 1/2 of the dose over to liquid I crashed.  Bad, bad time of it.  So I guess I have to just go slowly with the Clonidine even tho it is probably responsible for the super high b/p?  Having to make these kinds of decisions w/o really understanding what is going on and knowing that the medical community would not comprehend any of this, is just bizarre.   And frightening to be out on a limb and not know when or if it's going to break.... 

 

Thank you so much for "talking" to me about this and for your prayers!    Hang on.  You have one more day of healing and one less day to endure this horrible place.

[lundeliz]

Thanks SelmaLady. It is all really scary, especially

when there is nobody to turn to for guidance. My

akathisia is ramped up so high right now, and I can't

think of any reason for it, except maybe just a bad

wave. I've thought maybe the melatonin has turned on

me? I have cut back now to about .5mg. It is all such

a nightmare. Yes, lets hang on for better times to come.

[SelmaLady]

Thanks SelmaLady. It is all really scary, especially

when there is nobody to turn to for guidance. My

akathisia is ramped up so high right now, and I can't

think of any reason for it, except maybe just a bad

wave. I've thought maybe the melatonin has turned on

me? I have cut back now to about .5mg. It is all such

a nightmare. Yes, lets hang on for better times to come.

 

So hard many times to know what causes increases in the intensity or amount of symptoms.  I surely know what's causing my ramp up but nothing can be done about it except to ride out the taper of the Clonidine and hope I do not have a severe reaction to the high b/p.  I've tried to think of what a hospital would do to bring down the b/p w/o meds and there isn't anything.  Oh yeah.  A benzo for the anxiety!  So like you say, we just keep going in hopes this will get better.  I have low thyroid so I'm supposed to eat SALT!!   But with the high b/p I have to cut it nearly out!   I guess I have to go with the high b/p now and work on the thyroid next.  Like some old car that just keeps falling further and further apart!

 

I don't know that melatonin would affect your akathisia, but anything's possible.  Do you notice an increase in the intensity of the akathisia after you take a melatonin?   I just think that once our systems get into high gear it takes time, sometimes a lot of time, for the whole thing to reprogram itself.  I know with akathisia that there's this constant message in our heads to DO something to stop it.  Makes if even harder to get through.  Does the crying help to bring it down at all?  I know if when I go on a sobbing stretch, that usually brings down the intensity some, at least for awhile.   I also do better sometimes if I ride in the car---something about moving helps me to be in sync with my body.   Also pacing outside is sometimes better than in the house.  So wish I had some really good coping tools but when I get hit I'm like you, all I can do is pace and cry.  ((Liz))   This all does have a time of ending.  We'll push through til we get there.   xoxo

[Meimeiquest]

I had problems on a beta blocker and ended up using an ARB to cover while I tapered the BB. Like you, I don't have hypertension, it just sprouted after I went off Wellbutrin and seemed connected to the benzo. My highest reading was 200/110 and the doctor was freaking out. Alpha and beta blockers are very psycho-active. The ARBs and diuretics aren't, but given your sensitivity I don't know how you would do.

[lundeliz]

SelmaLady, I also have low thyroid and had to get off that med too. After coming off Cymbalta,

 

I would notice I would go into a severe akathisia episode a few minutes after taking the med. What

 

a big mess. I often go for a drive during an episode. Somehow I can drive but not just sit. It gives my legs

 

a rest. I went for two drives today. I can't tell that crying helps any, but I don't have much control over

 

it. Thank you for saying this has an ending. I really need to hear that. I just pray for the strength to endure

 

it. I'm hoping for you to have an easy time tapering off the clonidine. I'll keep you in my prayers. We will come

 

out the other side of this one day. XOXO

[luv2knit]

Praying for both of you, Liz and Selma, that both the BP and akathisia will get under control and stay under control. So far, fortunately, I seem to be able to continue to tolerate the supplements that helped me get off my BP meds before withdrawal. I did have someone on one of the FB withdrawal groups freak out on me and tell me I MUST get off the Krill Oil if I am ever going to get rid of the akathisia. I do think she's wrong (at least in my case), and I am glad I decided not to mess with this. I'm afraid this would have caused more issues. Never thought about the thyroid meds causing issues. I do have better times with the akathisia (although right now is NOT one of them), so I don't think anything I'm taking right now is directly responsible for the akathisia. Tough enough to get through withdrawal, without all these other issues--plus paradoxical reactions to EVERYTHING!!

[JanCarol]

SL - what are your current doses?  Is your signature current?  You haven't made any changes since July? (sorry, I don't have time tonight to search your whole thread)

[SelmaLady]

SL - what are your current doses?  Is your signature current?  You haven't made any changes since July? (sorry, I don't have time tonight to search your whole thread)

Hi Jan Carol, thank you for checking in or me.

 

I am stuck to some point on the Doxepin and Zoloft tapers as I 've had some pretty bad things happen that affect my stability.   Each time I get ready to start up again on the Doxepin taper, something seems to happen that sends me down the rabbit hole again, at least for awhile.  I was just getting ready to begin a good, steady taper of the Doxepin again when I got hit with my pharmacy changing brands for the Clonidine which ended up with my becoming what appears to be paradoxical to it --- blood pressure went sky high.  I eventually was able to get back to my original brand but the damage was done so that even the original brand does not act as it should and my blood pressure remain very high.  I did try upping the dose at one point but that just made the numbers super scary higher.  So I'm now in process of tapering the Clonidine with hopes of being off of it w/i a couple of months.  

 

The other worrisome contributor to my not tapering the a/d's is that I discovered last summer I apparently have a very low thyroid.  So I stopped tapering the Doxepin and tried to find a doctor in my area that is familiar with a "natural" thyroid hormone replacement regiment.  I did find one fairly near me (about an hour and a half drive from me) but, because I'm on Medicare, I had to wait to be scheduled----his practice takes only 2 new Medicare patients each month!  I am now scheduled for my first appt with him next month.  In the interim, I am still tapering off the Clonidine very slowly --- the upset with the brand switch caused me to go back to some nasty symptoms including akathisia which I make every attempt to avoid.  That seems to have quieted down now but I do know that it is always there, waiting to re-emerge. 

 

So I have to continue on with the Clonidine taper and hope that I can somehow explain enough to the new doctor to cause him to be aware of my brain chaos w/o trying to "fix" that at all.  Sigh...  I don't think I should begin anything new until I get off the Clonidine but I do know that low thyroid can affect my BP too. 

 

I tried to change my Signature to reflect any changes I've made to the meds but because I am doing such a micro taper its hard to translate that into mgs.  My husband whose doing the actual tapering using a scale estimated as best as is possible.  Hope its understandable!

[JanCarol]

Yep! Thanks for replying.  So 7/15 was your last taper? 

 

If you cannot put each taper in (I understand micro-tapers) please just put in the dates and doses you started tapering, and your current doses, with a note that you microtapered in between.  That should be fine - so that when we see your posts around the site we know how far along you are.

 

I have no thyroid at all.  I went from levothyroxine to natural thyroid about 9 months ago.  I cannot call it an unbridled success - as "natural thyroid," while it is full spectrum (contains all thyroid factors T1-4), is irregular because different animals have different levels.  So even though my thyroid is made at a compound chemist - because it is from natural animals instead of a lab - there is no guarantee that I'm getting the same dose from batch to batch - or even day to day.

 

If you still have your thyroid, it may be fine for you.  I'm going to reevaluate after another 6 months or so as I learn more from

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

 

I heard that it is a "shirtsleeve" Christmas in the US this year.  Golf instead of skiing.  I hope you see the sun today.

[SelmaLady]

Hopefully, I can make my very compromised brain post a Signature that is reflective of what's going on!  I have trouble with the actual Signature site anyway as if I post more than the lines I have posted now, it tells me I've exceeded my limit of words/lines!  Has always been that way.  But I'll see if I can eliminate one of the other lines with hopes of getting edited lines posted. 

I'm so sorry that you had to have your thyroid removed!  Just adds another juggling act to the mix.  I didn't realize that the desiccated is in constant change!  I do so poorly with any kind of change.  Do you notice that you feel any better from that porcine supplement as opposed to the synthetic?  I am so symptomatic right now that I really don't know how I'm going to discern what is from the addition of the thyroid and what is a taper. 

I do have the STTM book and I have done some research.  Also on on the STTM forum and try to read the posts from that.  Are you taking any of the add'l supplements that are recommended?  Geezz, I really don't know if I'm going to be able to tolerate much of anything!  So frustrating (and scary).  

I'm in Oregon and it is wet and cold here with snow and ice.  The warm weather seems to be on the opposite coast.  Glad to have the cold and wet---we badly needed it after 2 years of a pretty severe drought.  When I pace on the front porch it takes some time to layer up!   The sun is out shining on the snow.   I read that Australia had record heat last month.   Hope that's passed now.   

 

[nz11]

Hopefully, I can make my very compromised brain post a Signature that is reflective of what's going on!  I have trouble with the actual Signature site anyway as if I post more than the lines I have posted now, it tells me I've exceeded my limit of words/lines!  Has always been that way.  But I'll see if I can eliminate one of the other lines with hopes of getting edited lines posted. 

 

 

 

 

Yeah i had this issue too....lines appear to be the determinant factor so...

 

You could always post it like this.....

 

1971-81  Valium 5mg c/t PAWS; 1988- through now Zoloft 25mg; 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off;  2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS;  2013 O/D Val 230mg;  2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zolft 25mg; 12/27  Doxepin 49mg Mico Tapering  Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper; Clonidine mg 0.1 3/4  (Removing 6 grains a day) From .02 mgs a day

 

 

That way you can get more room.

[Altostrata]

Where are you in your tapering, SelmaLady?

 

It's not a good idea to reduce your blood pressure medication if reducing the antidepressant causes your blood pressure to jump.

[SelmaLady]

Where are you in your tapering, SelmaLady?

 

It's not a good idea to reduce your blood pressure medication if reducing the antidepressant causes your blood pressure to jump.

 

I'm still at the levels of Doxepin and Zoloft that I have in my signature.  I haven't changed that.   I only tapered the Clonidine because I thot I had become paradoxical to it.  Now I don't think that was the case but just a jump in B/P from the change in the generic brand.  I am back to my original brand of Clonidine and am going to try to reinstate as much as it takes to lower the B/P---hopefully soon.   This is just so scary to be dealing with really high B/P and not being certain what to do about it.   I'm not going to taper either one of the a/d's until I get settled with the Clonidine. 

 

Thank you so much  Alto for your help---I really am just going blindly trying to figure out the best way to get off these drugs. 

[Altostrata]

SelmaLady, how are you doing?

[SelmaLady]

SelmaLady, how are you doing?

Thank you for asking, Alto.   I'm doing much better in a lot of areas, especially cognitively, emotionally and functionally.  I'm still grappling with the visual space shrinkage.  I'd had no increase in that area for over 2 months but now it's shrinkage again tho only every few weeks.  I stopped the Clonidine taper as my b/p is good and is staying there.  I'm now tapering the liquid part of my Doxepin by small increments.  I do believe that this drug is the one that I need to be free of first.  I've been able to be nearly fully functional tho don't drive because of the visual.  I have resumed going out to shop with my husband and going to church on the Sundays that I'm able to fully concentrate.  I'm so so grateful to have come this far and am trying to do NOTHING that will jeopardize it.  I've had a couple of painful incidents but have been able to push thru w/o taking any type of pain relief.  I'm amazed at how much pain I can get through w/o any help!  I can see that the pharmaceutical companies have conditioned us to a type of helplessness that keeps us from toughing things out at all.  I'm looking forward to getting more and more of my drugs out of my system! 

[ChessieCat]

Hi SelmaLady,

 

I've just seen one of your posts in an SA topic and realised that I haven't seen you around.  How are you these days?

[SelmaLady]

16 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Hi SelmaLady,

 

I've just seen one of your posts in an SA topic and realised that I haven't seen you around.  How are you these days?

ChessieCat,   Thank you for asking about me!  I've been meaning to give an update but I'd wanted to report that I've restarted my Doxepin taper and I've had to postpone it several times.  Hopefully, I can pick it up again in a couple of weeks---  I am now completely off the Clonidine after a super slow taper.  My b/p has gone down and that's a relief. 

 

As far as the rest of my symptoms, I continue to have a "fishbowl" visual experience as well as severe DR.  My DP has lessened a great deal for the most part which allows me to live a normal life for the most part.  So many of my weird symptoms have gone and except for the visual perceptual disorder, I continue to improve slowly.  Normal feelings have returned and best of all, akathisia is very rare.  I'm grateful.  As I said I will pick up my micro tapering of the Doxepin by the end of this month.   

 

I wanted to update my signature but with my cognitive deficits, I can't seem to find how to find it!