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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by francis8 on August 9, 2006, at 8:22:40
this is my story. my name is francis. in oct 05, i suffered from chronic insomnia and my doc referred me to a psychiatrist who prescribed me ssri/sleeping tablet combination. i was put on trazodone/faverin/prozac/remeron (for about 1.5 week each) for altogether 6 weeks. i was finally taken off the ssri in mid nov 05 becos my doc felt i was much too sensitive to the ssri which elevated my anxiety. but i got some very very weird reactions after stopping which included itch, brain shivers, painful pins, heavy arms etc. the psychiatrist just said i had anxiety and little did i know then that i was suffering with withdrawal. anyway i was asked to take bromazepam 0.75 mg/day as needed but that did not quite help. i probably took about 10-15 x 0.75 mg from mid nov 05 when i stopped the ssri till edn dec 05.
in jan 06 i went to a neurologist who asked me to take the bromazepam regularly. but by then i have read about the addictiveness of benzos. i reluctantly went on 3 weeks of 0.75-1.5 mg/day of bromazepam but decided that i did not want to be dependent on the benzo so quickly cut that out in a week. i was on such a low dose and also for such a short period that i could not see myself prolonging taking the benzo by doing a slow taper.
it's been 6 months since i'm off the bromazepam and 8.5 months off ssri. i'm still feeling anxious, jittery, nervous, have speech and
hearing difficulty (my ear fills up with pressure and pops even at the same altitude).i know time will heal me but i just wonder if i should have done a slow taper on the benzo as most of my current symptoms developed
after stoppong the benzo. i'm not suffering terribly (no pain but the anxiety and speech/hearing difficulty is a real pain. i have
stopped working since mid mar 06 as i was unable to hold onto my job. so i'm not sure if i should reinstate and maybe go through the whole process again which may or may not help me.appreciate any thoughts and advise. many thanks.
Posted by silvercoin on August 9, 2006, at 17:03:05
In reply to ssri/benzo withdrawal after short term use, posted by francis8 on August 9, 2006, at 8:22:40
> this is my story. my name is francis. in oct 05, i suffered from chronic insomnia and my doc referred me to a psychiatrist who prescribed me ssri/sleeping tablet combination. i was put on trazodone/faverin/prozac/remeron (for about 1.5 week each) for altogether 6 weeks. i was finally taken off the ssri in mid nov 05 becos my doc felt i was much too sensitive to the ssri which elevated my anxiety. but i got some very very weird reactions after stopping which included itch, brain shivers, painful pins, heavy arms etc. the psychiatrist just said i had anxiety and little did i know then that i was suffering with withdrawal. anyway i was asked to take bromazepam 0.75 mg/day as needed but that did not quite help. i probably took about 10-15 x 0.75 mg from mid nov 05 when i stopped the ssri till edn dec 05.
>
> in jan 06 i went to a neurologist who asked me to take the bromazepam regularly. but by then i have read about the addictiveness of benzos. i reluctantly went on 3 weeks of 0.75-1.5 mg/day of bromazepam but decided that i did not want to be dependent on the benzo so quickly cut that out in a week. i was on such a low dose and also for such a short period that i could not see myself prolonging taking the benzo by doing a slow taper.
>
> it's been 6 months since i'm off the bromazepam and 8.5 months off ssri. i'm still feeling anxious, jittery, nervous, have speech and
> hearing difficulty (my ear fills up with pressure and pops even at the same altitude).
>
> i know time will heal me but i just wonder if i should have done a slow taper on the benzo as most of my current symptoms developed
> after stoppong the benzo. i'm not suffering terribly (no pain but the anxiety and speech/hearing difficulty is a real pain. i have
> stopped working since mid mar 06 as i was unable to hold onto my job. so i'm not sure if i should reinstate and maybe go through the whole process again which may or may not help me.
>
> appreciate any thoughts and advise. many thanks.
>
I guess the drug I would suggest considering is nortriptyline, which is anxiolytic and good for sleep. It is also one of the best tricyclic ADs in regard to lack of severity of side effects.Todd
Posted by fca on August 9, 2006, at 20:50:59
In reply to Re: ssri/benzo withdrawal after short term use, posted by silvercoin on August 9, 2006, at 17:03:05
It is reasonable to believe that given the time you were on these drugs and the dosages that your continued symptoms are not related to any withdrawl but are part of your illness. Why not go back to the pdoc and discuss your concerns and see where that takes you. BTW, I strongly resisted taking any benzos and had to be threatened by my pdoc to stay on them until the acute symptms subsided. While there can be tolerance and dependence they are also an extremely useful adjust to other medications. Good Luck
Posted by fca on August 9, 2006, at 20:53:26
In reply to ssri/benzo withdrawal after short term use, posted by francis8 on August 9, 2006, at 8:22:40
adjunct not adjust--BTW--I am extremely grateful she encouraged me to stay on them for a time.
Posted by Phillipa on August 9, 2006, at 21:44:16
In reply to Re: ssri/benzo withdrawal after short term use, posted by fca on August 9, 2006, at 20:53:26
I agree with all of the above I would advise you to see a doc again. Love Phillipa
Posted by francis8 on August 10, 2006, at 3:24:42
In reply to Re: ssri/benzo withdrawal after short term use, posted by fca on August 9, 2006, at 20:50:59
hi there. can i ask what symptoms did you have and what were the reason for the symptoms? also what benzo did you take and for how long? thanks.
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