9th May 2005
I'm very frightened and hope I'm in the right place.
I've been on heavy psychiatric drugs for the past 5 years,and finally found a Dr.(psychiatrist)who is helping me to get off all of them but the mood stabilizer,one drug at a time.
The first to go was the 10mg of Zyprexa,4 months ago,(a nueroleptic and anti-psychotic that is actually only supposed to be used for a short time),it had made me gain 100lbs. but I was still anxious about going off of it because it helped me to sleep. Even with tapering,I had awful insomnia,sweating episodes,dizziness and nausea. The insomnia was so bad he prescribed Desyrel(a sedating antidepressant)for sleep. I shortly swelled up in the face and neck,had trouble swallowing,even more disabling fatigue,and a flu-like syndrome. I was assured that none of these symptoms were related to the trazodone. I went and had bloodwork done,tests,etc.--no infection,no nothing. A ENT Dr. suggested I try stopping the trazodone. With my psychiatrist's permission,I did,3 days ago. I still feel tired,but the swelling's down.
Now,even though I still feel crappy,(I've lost my part-time job),the Dr. is already cutting my Klonopin(that I've also been on for 5 years-a benzo)from 2mg to 3.5.
I'm so tired,my sleep is poor,I'm wondering if I'll ever feel normal again,or if I have permanent damage from these so-called "safe" drugs. I'm very depressed,and feel dysfunctional. I'm afraid to turn to my pyschiatrist,who will just write me another prescription for something else.
After long-term use of any strong drug,do you ever feel good again after withdrawal? I need hope.
I've been on heavy psychiatric drugs for the past 5 years,and finally found a Dr.(psychiatrist)who is helping me to get off all of them but the mood stabilizer,one drug at a time.
The first to go was the 10mg of Zyprexa,4 months ago,(a nueroleptic and anti-psychotic that is actually only supposed to be used for a short time),it had made me gain 100lbs. but I was still anxious about going off of it because it helped me to sleep. Even with tapering,I had awful insomnia,sweating episodes,dizziness and nausea. The insomnia was so bad he prescribed Desyrel(a sedating antidepressant)for sleep. I shortly swelled up in the face and neck,had trouble swallowing,even more disabling fatigue,and a flu-like syndrome. I was assured that none of these symptoms were related to the trazodone. I went and had bloodwork done,tests,etc.--no infection,no nothing. A ENT Dr. suggested I try stopping the trazodone. With my psychiatrist's permission,I did,3 days ago. I still feel tired,but the swelling's down.
Now,even though I still feel crappy,(I've lost my part-time job),the Dr. is already cutting my Klonopin(that I've also been on for 5 years-a benzo)from 2mg to 3.5.
I'm so tired,my sleep is poor,I'm wondering if I'll ever feel normal again,or if I have permanent damage from these so-called "safe" drugs. I'm very depressed,and feel dysfunctional. I'm afraid to turn to my pyschiatrist,who will just write me another prescription for something else.
After long-term use of any strong drug,do you ever feel good again after withdrawal? I need hope.