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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2007, at 21:25:41
I've been blaming this so called anxiety on the inability of my benzos to work. But I"ve done the desentization things that make me uncomfortable and was able to. But I can't relax for a monent my mind is in a million places and I have to walk or ride my bike but get tired and then can't sit still. Could the increase in luvox cause this whatever it is as I've been so miserable I don't know what to do. And no docs listen to me assume it's depression but seriously I'm not depressed maybe unhappy as I can't sit still and enjoy anything til I take my benzos at bed and then want to read my favorite thing but I konk out. Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on June 16, 2007, at 21:45:39
In reply to Wonder if I Have Akathesia inability to sit but ha, posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2007, at 21:25:41
Yes, it could be the Luvox, but it depends on when the inability to sit still started. Have you been like this for a while or did it start immediately after the dose increase? Another possibility is that the restlessness is a mild form of benzo withdrawal syndrome that happens during the day (because you only take your benzos at night?). A similar thing is happening to me with opiates - it's misleading to think that when you've developed tolerance you'll no longer feel any effect from taking the drug. Most often what happens is that you feel relief after taking your usual dose, but the length of time you feel relief gradually decreases until you start feeling tense and uncomfortable during the day - getting withdrawal symptoms before it's time to take your next dose.
Q
Posted by gardenergirl on June 16, 2007, at 21:51:22
In reply to Re: Wonder if I Have Akathesia inability to sit bu » Phillipa, posted by Quintal on June 16, 2007, at 21:45:39
How's your thyroid doing? If you're still hyper, that can cause physical agitation.
gg
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2007, at 21:57:14
In reply to Re: Wonder if I Have Akathesia inability to sit bu » Phillipa, posted by Quintal on June 16, 2007, at 21:45:39
Probably when I did up the luvox and all the medical problems started. One MD medical says one thing another says another but the endo said as I asked about the benzos there is nothing to be done. Nothing to take. Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2007, at 21:59:17
In reply to Re: Wonder if I Have Akathesia inability to sit bu, posted by gardenergirl on June 16, 2007, at 21:51:22
GG don't know yet as blood drawn yesterday but the one six weeks before TSH 2.5 which is in the normal range. But then he contradicts himself and says we like to see a l. Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on June 16, 2007, at 22:26:34
In reply to Re: Wonder if I Have Akathesia inability to sit bu » Quintal, posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2007, at 21:57:14
I don't know Phillipa. He's probably right that there's nothing really you can take to mend the benzo problems, well nothing you'd be comfortable taking like Zyprexa for instance. If you've developed tolerance and if the restlessness is due to the tolerance then I think you'd feel better off them than continuing to keep yourself in a state of semi-withdrawal - you can't fully recover in that situation, it's like picking a scab every time you take another dose. Do you remember Laima?
__________________________________________________I feel I should elaborate a little about why I think klonopin didn't work out for me. First of all, I never heard of benzo tolerance or withdrawal until after about 4 years of use- I thought my worsening anxiety was just that, and no one offered a clue otherwise. As my dose kept going up, and at times other sedating meds were also piled on, the doctor I had at the time eventually put me on an awful lot of daytime stimulants to compensate. I mean a lot- like 80mg ritalin on top of antidepressentrs like effexor and wellbutrin, for example. On top of that I'd drink excessive coffee. Meanwhile, not understanding the drug effects well, I eventually did take on too many excessively stressful projects, no doubt creating excess stress for myself. I figured I could always turn off the effects of overstimulation at night with the more sedating meds. I also didn't relax enough or take much downtime. I really started using medications to adjust my energy levels artificially. When another doctor began suggesting I re-examine my lifestyle choices and excessive use of stimulating substances and common drinking, I resisted, because I didn't comprehend that there was any problem. And again, when tolerance began to show up, since I had never heard of it, I just kept compensating by piling on meds. By the time I became better informed, I was in pretty deep. (And switched doctors.) Being more aware than I was, no doubt your experience should be better. I still use a daytime stimulant, but it's a microscopic fraction of what I used to use. I'm sleeping not perfect, but alright for now.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070207/msgs/732093.html
__________________________________________________I think there's a message in there Jesus Is Saviour could benefit from too.
__________________________________________________It's plausable that the valium is even contributing to your anxiety now, Phillipa, by setting you up with daily crashes. I say this because I am stunned to find that I am much less jittery after leaving klonopin behind after using it for over 4 years. I'm also sleeping sounder. Still have anxiety, but I'm WAY less jittery/panicky now. Just a thought.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061217/msgs/715201.html
__________________________________________________Q
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2007, at 22:51:38
In reply to Re: Wonder if I Have Akathesia inability to sit bu » Phillipa, posted by Quintal on June 16, 2007, at 22:26:34
Quintal only difference is I could up the dose and don't. Gave up 5mg of valium about a month ago didn't notice it. And I'm venturing further from the house and explosing myself just this week to being in Malls and purchasing things for the EBAY business by myself. Maybe I've gone too fast as therapist assignment was only to drive myself to her next appointment myself and I've been to the hairdressers, and called managers in stores lost in the rain in my car to figure out how to get the most for my money. I don't do those things? Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on June 17, 2007, at 0:28:55
In reply to Re: Wonder if I Have Akathesia inability to sit bu » Quintal, posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2007, at 22:51:38
The thing is that you've given up 5mg Valium and you do seem to be noticing something Phillipa. It's great that you're managing to to be more independent, but as you say, you might be going a little too fast for comfort. There's a tendency to try and do it all at once to prove yourself in a way, but often that just wears you down and you end up back in the same place you started, feeling defeated. Give yourself a break and congratulate yourself for driving to the appointment yourself. My counselor often advised me to give myself a reward after each thing I forced myself to do - a piece of chocolate cake, a beer, or a codeine tablet, whatever, so that I associated these tasks with something pleasant and felt better after doing them. Might be something to try? How about you reward yourself with a beer at night on the days you've spent exposing yourself?
Q
Posted by Phillipa on June 17, 2007, at 11:21:18
In reply to Re: Wonder if I Have Akathesia inability to sit bu » Phillipa, posted by Quintal on June 17, 2007, at 0:28:55
Oh Quintal how I wish. I lost my taste and smell 3 years ago and my favorite was corona and lime and to drink one and not taste it would be devastating and no nothing wrong with my nose and no allergies it's so depressing when food has no meaning. And I also fall asleep before the benzos have time to work and then can't get up in the morning I sleep late and then I have nothing to do and I get too anxious to volunteer or work so what do I do? Love Phillipa ps thanks for taking this time with me. The crazymeds says lcup of coffee on luvox is toxic like six I drink tea could that be it but I'm tired even after l0 hours of sleep I need to wake up and that doesn't do it either.
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