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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ClearSkies on February 6, 2006, at 21:14:12
Hello, I weaned off of xanax 6 days ago. I was taking .25mg a day for over a year, and had tapered down before that from 1mg a day. Not a high dosage, long-ish term use.
So I have felt the tingling brain zaps, some spastic jerks in my arms and legs, and hand tapping that seems to soothe, Those are all but stopped by now.
Concurrently, I have a wicked sinus infection, but started to treat today with antibioltics. All joints are aching, my skin is supersensitive to any touch - water from the show, body lotion, brushing my hair...and I have been running hot and cold for a couple of days.
Can I assume this last group of symptoms belong in the sinusitus group of woes, and that the zappy thingly energy bolts are from the xanax going bye-bye?
Two type of misery at the same time are tough to figure out. What should I attempt to ease with OTC drugs, and what to I hunker down and suffer through?
Oh, and when will both of these be better?
Thanks for all your advice.
ClearSkies
Posted by JenStar on February 6, 2006, at 23:21:17
In reply to What symptom is withdrawal?, posted by ClearSkies on February 6, 2006, at 21:14:12
hi ClearSkies,
I'm sorry you're going thru a rought detox! :( I had a bad bout when I went from 20mg/day of Lexapro to 10 mg/day. I had the brain zap things, a kind of weird whooshing head rush dizziness thing, and AWFUL diarrhea. I did have hot/cold too, and my eyes were sensitive and actually hurt. My joints ached. I was still able to function (except for a few days when the diarrhea kept me chained to the porcelain master) but I was miserable.I would suggest: Benadryl for the head stuff (if you're not allergic.) I do have allergies too, but the Benadryl seemed to help all-round with the head rush/zappy things and the dizziness. If you have diarrhea (hope you don't), take Immodium or similar. Advil helped me with aches/pains/etc.
Get lots of sleep! Drink lots of water, try to avoid caffeine and sugar substitutes (like in Diet drinks). Eat lots of whole foods, like veggies and lean meats. Be nice to yourself. :)
I hope you feel better soon. Keep us posted!
JenStarPS - I know the sinusitis is an infection, but I wonder if somehow, when we taper off drugs like this, our bodies somehow become more prone to infections? Any ideas?
Posted by ClearSkies on February 7, 2006, at 7:48:47
In reply to Re: What symptom is withdrawal? » ClearSkies, posted by JenStar on February 6, 2006, at 23:21:17
Shouldn't my doctor have warned me about the withdrawal effects from stopping the xanax? Maybe suggest something to help with these symptoms? I feel as if I'm being punished for having taken this medication.
We have been trying to stop it since October. The best I was able to do until now was a 1 day break here and there, as my anxiety has been a constant. This time around I was already dealing with some cognitive problems - not being able to remember the previous day, difficulty reading and writing - since I felt so horrible, I was determined to get off the xanax for good.
CS
Posted by JenStar on February 7, 2006, at 19:19:46
In reply to I think I am missing something here, posted by ClearSkies on February 7, 2006, at 7:48:47
I think your doctor should have warned you and offered advice, but sadly, not all doctors a)know about the side efx, b)Believe that there are side efx, and c)care all that much.
I think that many doctors *do* care, but are not that educated. I know that sounds weird - obviously doctors are HIGHLY educated in med school! BUT -- that being said -- some doctors don't keep up with research, reading, and new findings.
Drug companies are very tight-lipped about side effects, and rarely publish them unless they have to. Everyone knows there are severe weight gain and sexual side efx issues from SSRI's, but the drug co. websites don't back this up, and say it's a tiny percentage who suffer from it.
Doctors who don't do the right reading/research may only do a cursory scan of drug information, and may not realy *know* what happens when you take a drug and when you stop taking it. The more experienced ones may know because they've heard from previous patients, but new doctors (or lax doctors) might just be oblivious.
Doctors get most of their information about new drugs from the drug reps, who are hired to push the drug's positive merits and keep the other stuff quiet. They also get info from medical journals, but often times the publications there don't represent the 'real world' experiences, either.
So....shame on your doctor for not being prepared. I'm sorry! Hopefully you're getting the info you need elsewhere?
JenStar
Posted by ClearSkies on February 7, 2006, at 22:20:20
In reply to Re: I think I am missing something here » ClearSkies, posted by JenStar on February 7, 2006, at 19:19:46
ok so now my thoughts are doing circuit training
going a little too quickly for me to keep up
i am nowhere near sleepy
sleepy is a village far far away
ha! a little joke crept ini think i will be ok
just have some totally weird apparently profound at this moment thoughts skippping their merry way through my brain
i hope i don't remember this experience. if i knew how i felt right now i would be freaking out completely.
Posted by JenStar on February 7, 2006, at 22:31:14
In reply to holy kookamunga, posted by ClearSkies on February 7, 2006, at 22:20:20
You'll be OK. sometimes insomia and racing thoughts happen to people too (unfortunately!) I know each day seems like an eternity but you WILL feel better "soon" (although I know "soon" doesn't come soon enough!)
Take care of yourself!
JenStar
Posted by Sabrina_0805 on February 11, 2006, at 10:29:11
In reply to Re: holy kookamunga » ClearSkies, posted by JenStar on February 7, 2006, at 22:31:14
I just loved the phrase "holy kookamunga". Think I'll use it at home instead of "holy sh*t".
How are you feeling now ClearSkies?
Sabrina
Posted by ClearSkies on February 21, 2006, at 19:56:46
In reply to Re: holy kookamunga, posted by Sabrina_0805 on February 11, 2006, at 10:29:11
I think that Kookamunga is a train stop on a railway line in America. Isn't it a grand word? Koo-Ka-MUNG-AHHH...
I am thoroughly de-xanaxed, I think. Tingly fingers, head and toes have stopped.
Creepy skin ultra-sensitive has also returned to normal.I am not certain of what made me feel so uttery miserable as I had a sinus infection and a spot of shingles happen at the same time. Probably because of being messed up by medication changes.
It feels good to be off the xanax hamster-wheel. My anxiety is bad tho nowhere near as bad is it used to be. I am tired of all the tricks up my doctor's sleeve.
CS
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