3 replies to this topic

[Hailsmarie]

I need all of your advice! I posted earlier about how the Tylenol Cold and Flu completely took away my brain zaps, but I need some comfort and advice. My doctor and I agreed that Cymbalta is evil and she decided to put me on 10 MG of Trintellix (a newer SSRI). The reason why I am asking advice is because I am a natural worrywart. I have gone cold turkey off 30 MG of Cymbalta before and had only 4 days of symptoms, but I have since gone through a hard benzo cold turkey (not my idea, last doctor is dumb and he also wouldn't take me off Cymbalta). I have been off benzos for 4.5 months (3 of which were one long panic attack of epic proportions that made me, a normally happy bubbly person hide in my house for 3 months). So I suppose I need some advice because today marks the 8th day I have been off Cymbalta and I was getting a little anxious. I am afraid because even though I have gone off this medication without problems before, I feel completely scared after the benzo incident. I no longer have brain zaps or dizziness and heart palpitations went away. I just don't want to go through hell all over again and unfortunately reading a lot of your stories reminds me of my horrible time spent in withdrawal from benzos. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. (Oh and I stopped drinking caffeine months ago and only drink water with some occasional tea because I also need to lose weight and caffeine is not good for my anxiety/panic attacks).

[fishinghat]

Well HM, usually the second time around with the same benzo or ssri/snri is a little more difficult. But that is typically what happens, each person is different. Trintellix has a fairly significant withdrawal (by what I have read) but not near as bad as Cymbalta. Time will tell.

 

By the way, the next time you need to come off a benzo let me know. I know a technique (water titration) that allows one to come off benzos slowly enough to avoid significant withdrawal. Also, there are a couple anti anxiety meds that work almost as well and have no withdrawal. They should be tried first.

[Hailsmarie]

Hey I just read your response! What other meds would you recommend? I came back here because even though I am done with the brain zaps and all that "fun" stuff, my biggest struggle right now is with anxiety and panic attacks. I am only taking 10mg Trintellix and 15mg Buspar. I do have some Propranolol 5mg for panic attacks and I took it once but it made me feel weird (like I was having all over body aches). This is just me personally, but I would rather have the other symptoms than panic attacks and anxiety because my ex doctor decided it would be a great idea to cold turkey me from 2mg Klonopin which lead to my 3 month long panic attack. That was back at the beginning of February and now it is May and I just want to be done with the anxiety. I have had panic attacks and anxiety my whole life but never this bad. It made my original problem even worse!

[fishinghat]

Hi HM

 

There are two other meds that have been used extensively that re NOT addictive nor do they have withdrawal. First clonidine. It controls adrenaline, goes to work in about 1 hour and has no withdrawal. Do not use with propranolol. It may lower blood pressure (as most anxiety meds do). The other is hydroxyzine. It goes to work in about 30 minutes and has no withdrawal. So not take it with Benadryl. These medicines are typically effective and can even be used at the same time as long as your blood pressure doesn't drop too low.