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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 Reggie BoStar on January 7, 2010, at 2:10:22
I'm being switch from Pristiq to one of the old Tricyclics, Protiptyline. Last week I took my last Pristiq dose and went to the full dose of Protriptyline. Something has happened last night. Two days ago I felt strange in a bad way. I thought it was an oncoming cold because my throat was sore and I felt feverish. When I went to sleep that night I slept for most of two days with awful dreams. Today I got up and everything was different in a bad way. I can't describe it except that nothing feels the same. I don't want any part of anything that's going on around me. There's no appetite and a sick feeling. Could this be the Pristiq going away or the Protriptyline taking effect? This would be the first time I've come off an SSRI or SNRI without going to another. It's horrible. When I was 10 I had my first anxiety attack and serious bout of depression which started all in an instant. My insides took a turn and suddenly everything was different in a bad way, just like today when I got up. It's ugly outside, dark and cold and I want nothing to do with anything I have, this house, the life I've lived the past 20 years. I want to go away from it but I don't know where to go. That's what this feels like. Now I also had a migraine when I woke up which I treated with Maxalt. That's a Triptan med like Imitrex. The migraine I expected because that can happen anytime but especially when I switch meds. It's just this feeling that I woke up in a different, bad place. I wonder if this is the withdrawal. Sometimes when people have a stroke they say their "mind took a turn" and nothing is the same again. Not necessarily bad like it is for me now, just all different. Well, bad is the difference I'm feeling. I'm surrounded by lots of books and videos and no matter what I try to read or watch, the feeling is different now than it was before. Just two days ago I used to love the late-night talk shows like Tonight and Letterman and had liked them for many years. Tonight they're lousy. Stupid, not funny, boring, too long. Could withdrawal from an SSRI or SNRI be like this? Did something maybe happen to my mind like a stroke or something? The migraine was a really bad one before the Maxalt knocked it down. Without stuff like that I'm pretty sure it would have been the worst migraine I've had in many years. This is terrible.
Posted by Laney on January 7, 2010, at 8:34:10
In reply to Pristiq withdrawal - I think - horrible, posted by Reggie BoStar on January 7, 2010, at 2:10:22
Because they are two different kinds of meds, couldn't your doctor just add the new one and you could slowly taper off of the old one?
Someone else with more expertise hopefully will chime in.
By the way, this is where I am. I'm on paxil and too afraid to go off of it because of what your describing. I would rather they add something to it first than to go off and experience what your going through.
Hang in there!
Laney
Posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2010, at 11:01:38
In reply to Pristiq withdrawal - I think - horrible, posted by Reggie BoStar on January 7, 2010, at 2:10:22
Reggie I don't know what to say. Have you called you doc today? sounds strange could the triptan like med be involved? As Laney I sure hope someone with more knowledge answers. Just know I'm here for you. Phillipa
Posted by Reggie BoStar on January 7, 2010, at 11:31:41
In reply to Re: Pristiq withdrawal - I think - horrible, posted by Laney on January 7, 2010, at 8:34:10
> Because they are two different kinds of meds, couldn't your doctor just add the new one and you could slowly taper off of the old one?
>
> Someone else with more expertise hopefully will chime in.
>
> By the way, this is where I am. I'm on paxil and too afraid to go off of it because of what your describing. I would rather they add something to it first than to go off and experience what your going through.
>
> Hang in there!
>
> LaneyThanx Laney,
Actually, that's how he's been doing it. When I took the final dose of Pristiq last week, it was the minimum dose after a tapering period of a few weeks. The Protriptyline was slowly introduced during that time until I was already at the max dose when I stopped the Pristiq. I wasn't very clear about the details of how I stopped in my message - sorry. My thinking is erratic at this time.RE Paxil: Maybe if you have the option to taper off Paxil slowly while adding something else, it might not be too bad for you. Always remember in these guinea pig experiments that everyone is different and will react in different ways. That I'm having a hard time with this doesn't mean you will.
I do have a bad experience with Paxil in 1998, but it's not related to a monitored withdrawal from the stuff. For me, it just suddenly stopped working, exactly as though I had stopped taking it. This was after being on Paxil about 6 months. It was nobody's fault. My pdoc may have known that such things happen rarely, but his was a reasonable decision to put me on Paxil. I just happened to be that rare case that spontaneously quits.
Once again, though, everyone is different with these things. I think as long as you're being slowly switched from one med to another, and the process is being monitored by your pdoc, you're probably doing the best you can to minimize discomfort. Remember, mine is probably a rare case.
I'm up after only 3 or 4 hours of sleep. Dreams were pretty bad in an unsettling way, not scary like nightmares but very upsetting. When I woke up I was still in that other world, the bad one. I must get outside for a walk even though I feel weak, depressed, and just plain sick. Maybe that will help.
What's helping somewhat is a PBS series that's being run right now. I've TiVo'd the whole series so as not to miss any episodes. It's called "This Emotional Life". Each episode deals with personal experiences, therapeutic methods, and research on a different emotion. Going through this mess I've already seen the episodes on Fear, Happiness, Love. It's not New Age or hokey as far as I can see. Input from professional psychologists and researches is used frequently. Plus it's interesting to see some of the new methods of therapy being developed. They even did a segment on Dr. Phil, comparing his methods with those of other professional psychologists and psychiatrist. Dr. Phil was very honest about what his methods accomplish and what they don't accomplish. He explained how his staff of researchers compiles the latest information on therapeutic methods and medications. He said up front that what he does is never intended as a "cure", and never could be in his venue. He added that his intent was to start a process of recovery and teach his subjects where to start. I was pleasantly surprised by this, though not enough to watch his show. I just have a bad feel for the context, which at times seems to go overboard in the sensationalism department.
However right or wrong his approach is, he and his staff certainly do their homework.
Thanx again, Laney, and all the best with your situation. If you work it right, odds are it won't be too rough on you.
Reggie BoStar
Posted by Reggie BoStar on January 7, 2010, at 13:53:15
In reply to Re: Pristiq withdrawal - I think - horrible » Reggie BoStar, posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2010, at 11:01:38
Hi Phillipa,
Thanks for the boost. I don't know what's going on. I did manage to get outside for a walk and actually managed to complete the usual route. It's about 3.5 miles. It's not strenuous, just takes a lot of time. It wasn't the same. I walk through a rural area that's really nice. Well, it was really nice. Now it's just there. I didn't get tired but that deadness for the surroundings really bothered me.Another symptom of whatever it is has appeared. I noticed last night that my throat was dry and raw. I figured I was coming down with a cold and that was causing the problems. Today I know different. That dry mouth is now no saliva. I bit into a pick-me-up brownie after the walk. As I chew on it I get no help from saliva. It stays dry. Not that it's stale, but even try chewing on a fresh one with no saliva. Gross. Everything is gross and now this.
I'm washing it down with Coke Zero to try to keep my eyes open. I'm going to call my pdoc and dentist. I hope they can get to the bottom of at least part of this mess.
Thanx again Phillipa and I sure hope things are going better for you than this.
Reggie BoStar
Posted by Reggie BoStar on January 7, 2010, at 19:35:38
In reply to Re: Pristiq withdrawal - I think - horrible » Reggie BoStar, posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2010, at 11:01:38
Hi Phillipa,
My pdoc left a message on my answering machine. He told me to stop taking the Protriptyline in order to try to fix the dry mouth and help the inflammation heal. Unfortunately if I do that, then the only AD I'll be taking is the Wellbutrin I've been taking all along. I'm going to call him tomorrow and ask him about that.So, I have another withdrawal to look forward to. It should actually be pretty quick because these old Tricyclics are in and out of the system fast. I'll probably know tomorrow whether or not stopping the Protriptyline will make things even worse.
One thing I at least had the presence of mind to do: I checked my central humidifier to make sure it was working. I had to rule that out as the source of the dry throat. It was set to 40%. I've upped it to 45% just to make sure.
There's a rule of thumb here in New England that sets the upper limit of humidity during the Winter at 50%. Any higher than that and the windows start to sweat and water builds up wherever the moisture barriers are inadequate. Usually that's in the attic. It can make a real mess.
I contacted my dentist too, who will look me over next Wednesday to see if the damage to my palate needs fixing somehow. It's been inflamed since the dry mouth episode aggravated it somehow. I think that's what the "sore throat" the other night was.
That rambling is a good sign. I hope my dreams take it easy on me tonight.
Reggie BoStar
Posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2010, at 21:08:14
In reply to Re:Pristiq Withdrawal Update » Phillipa, posted by Reggie BoStar on January 7, 2010, at 19:35:38
Hi Reggie I too am from the North East. I'm really preplexed by what you describe. I know that I never could tolerate TCA's not really any ad only benzos. Look I lost my sense of taste and smell it faded away over six years ago. So I have an idea what your're feeling in a way. What are you thinking stroke? Is that babblemail on of yours? if not babblemail me. Love Phillipa
Posted by Reggie BoStar on January 8, 2010, at 8:35:31
In reply to Re:Pristiq Withdrawal Update » Reggie BoStar, posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2010, at 21:08:14
Hi Phillipa,
I've sent you a Babblemail with an update. Except for the return of the normal rambling, all is still pretty morbid. However I'm in touch with all my docs, even my dentist! I make a bunch of phone calls again today. Will post an update, hope I remember to, that is.
Reggie
Posted by Phillipa on January 8, 2010, at 20:13:15
In reply to Re:Huh?????? » Phillipa, posted by Reggie BoStar on January 8, 2010, at 8:35:31
Reggie yes received it earlier glad things seem better. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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