894 replies to this topic

[invalidusername]

Er.. yes and no!

 

I got woken up by a neighbour after 5 hours sleep as he needed me to move my car. So the chilly morning air woke me. 

 

After an hour I drifted back off to sleep, but only for 30 mins as the MH team turned up early and broke my sleep again! So I am working on little sleep again, and nerves which have been spiked twice by the door buzzer during sleep

[invalidusername]

Gardenlady - I can only hope that I am not one of these poor souls, and remaining at the lowest dose is my best hope for not encountering these issues. It does worry me that I have an intolerance for these things - as seen with the Duloxetine. I told the MH team today that I am hoping for it to be a bridging med until the Lexapro kicks in. As I said before, I do not want to have to rely on any more meds. The doc gave me the classic line "well what would you do if you were diabetic? You would continue to take your medication. You are the same with your brain"...

 

No no no. My brain is not permanently "ill". I hope. I don't want to be on these pills for the rest of my life. This has obviously awoken my anxiety and depression knowing what Cymbalta has done to others...

[invalidusername]

A quick update for the end of the weekend.

 

i took my 25mg of Pregabalin around 6pm as I have done on Friday and Saturday. It didn't seem as potent however. I went to the grocery store and although uncomfortable as there were a lot of people around, I didn't feel any rising panic. I could have stayed in there for some time if needed. But I did start feeling very dizzy again and had around 30 mins of feeling very nauseous. 

 

Mood-wise is a little less than yesterday (but being around a 9/10 it will be difficult to top!), but I'd still say mood is around a 7/10, but as much as I don't like to say it, it doesn't help being around the wife in her present state 24/7. If I were out at work and having a little social interaction i dare say it would have been a bit better...

 

Still. Onwards.

 

Wondering whether the pregabalin will affect my depression in any way. Side effects show it can make it worse. Hope I am not one of these statistics!!

[juli]

sounds like a very positive day.  hang in there IUN.  you will get there one day at a time.  

[invalidusername]

Thanks Juli - I was reading your Lexapro post again this evening.

 

Wanted to ask - at what point did you feel the Lexapro started kicking in?

 

I know it is always subjective, but on day 11 of full dose (day 19 over all) - and just trying to get a forecast.

[invalidusername]

I'm really not sure what to do as I woke this morning with a feeling of dread (not really uncommon), but also still very tired despite sleeping quite well. Also felt very dizzy. I took my dose of pregabalin and that was it. I feel like I have taken about 500mg of valium. My vision is all over the place, i can't keep my eyes open and can barely get myself to the bathroom. Has done nothing for my mood at all.

 

I am sick of side effects and taking all these different pills. But also tired of having such a uncontrollable mood.

 

Any ideas guys?

[juli]

My story is a bit different because I waited until I was completely stable to do the cross-taper.  My reinstatement back to 40mg Cymbalta didn't really work and it took me about 8 weeks to recover from my 1 day of cold-turkey.

 

My cross-taper started from a state of stability and I went up to 15mg Lexapro a bit slower than you did.  I think it's going to be a bit of a wait for you because your CNS was in a state of shock when you introduced the Lexapro and went up a bit fast.  I would say to just hang in there and wait for the Lexapro to get you stabilized and don't be afraid to use your anxiety meds to get you through.  

 

The goal is to get stable right now and worry about the anxiety meds later.  It's much easier to wean off of those.  I have gotten myself off of a high dose of xanax addiction and it was not a huge problem for me.  I just went nice and slow.

[juli]

I don't know much about pregabalin but it sure sounds like it didn't agree with you today.  Maybe you should only take it when things get really bad.  I am so sorry about your mood situation  I know it's so hard but you must try to be patient.  You have been through so much and your body just needs time to get healed and back to normal.  I feel like you are probably still adjusting to the switch to the 15mg of Lexapro.

You will get better IUN.  Keep telling yourself that.  You have had some good days since starting the Lexapro so try to hang on to that.

Hugs,

Juli

[fishinghat]

Are you still taking the 25 mg IUN?

[invalidusername]

Yes - still taking the 25mg....

[fishinghat]

Well I guess you try 10 or 12 next.

[invalidusername]

Thanks Juli.

 

I am trying to be as patient as I can be with the Lexapro. I think I was just so discouraged by this morning after such a good weekend. But things did clear up a bit shortly after I wrote. I am up and walking about the appartment, drinking tea, googling etc. But so many have had these reactions to Pregabalin and I really don't want to be on this stuff unless I really need it. 

 

It should really be used continuously, so maybe I do need something akin to a benzo? There is always Hats choice of hydroxyzine.

 

Clonidine is similar to what I am on I think and could just as easily cause similar drowsiness.

 

Its all a medication minefield

 

Thanks ever so for your support - really means a lot,

 

Much love,

 

Matt/IUN

[invalidusername]

Well I guess you try 10 or 12 next.

 

I could - but it does seem like it is doing very little as of today. As said in Juli's post, maybe hydroxyzine would be more favorable? I do agree that Lexapro needs to do its work, but things did get quite difficult towards the end of last week.

[juli]

The xanax helped me tremendously during my worst days of withdrawl.  Not sure I could have gotten through without it.  I didn't use it for more than a few weeks or so and thankfully didn't get addicted to it again.

[fishinghat]

What are you using that you feel is similar to Clonidine. Clonidine does not cause sleepiness usually.

[invalidusername]

My concern is the effects of the pregabalin and having to stop that at some point. 

 

I am used to the correct use of benzos having resisted the stash of valium in my drawer. I have only ever used it when absolutely necessary, so I am quite sure I would not abuse or get hooked on a benzo.

 

If I am going to start the first 3 hours or so of every day not being able to function, then this will only increase my anxiety - just as it did this morning. If there would be another 3-4 weeks for this to pass, then I need to wait for the Lexapro to do that first and have a stop gap when things are bad as Juli said. Maybe that would be Xanax?

[fishinghat]

It sounds like the pregabalin works but it is too strong a dose. My wife has had multiple back surgeries and takes it for the pain. She only takes a half of a 25 mg.

[invalidusername]

Interesting... Very glad I didn't start on what I was recommended which was 2 x 75mg a day. 

 

I'm sure there is nothing in it, but being a pain killer... and me being hypersensitive to other pain killers (ibuprofen, paracetamol, aspirin etc), perhaps I have issues tolerating other classes?

 

You would better know. But for now, I will divide the dose again and see what occurs in the morning.

[Noush]

Just wanted to swing by and wish the group A Merry Healthy Christmas!

[fishinghat]

A very Merry Christmas to all as well and may the new year bring healing and peace.

[invalidusername]

And from me - a big thanks to all for all your support. Wishing you all a very happy Christmas.

[invalidusername]

Just a quick lyrica/pregabalin update...

 

Didn't take my evening dose of 25mg due to effects of yesterday, but woke up all the same - not out-of-it, but still very dizzy and a very nasty headache/fog, and mild nausea. This was around 4 hours ago. It has cleared a bit, but not to the point I would risk walking anywhere. Just divided the 25mg as Hat has said. 

 

Side effects are all very well, but when they are bad enough to stop you getting on, it does have a tendency to lower your mood.

[fishinghat]

I know that some on here have used pregabalin to help with their Cymbalta withdrawal but not many. Later I think I will do a little digging into old posts.

[invalidusername]

Thank you Hat.

 

Clearly it is concerning first off that it is not FDA approved for anxiety. Secondly, there appears to be a number of law suits against Pfizer for long term effects. Not quite in the same league as Cymbalta, but again concerning. 

[KathyInFL]

 Merry Christmas!     

[invalidusername]

Thanks Kathy!! And the same to you

 

Wishing you every bit of luck with the rest of your day! Take it easy - will be thinking of you

[Noush]

IVU - How you feeling today?

[invalidusername]

Not so good today Noush.

 

Woke with a very heavy mood of both depression and anxiety. Nasty feeling of just not caring about anything whatsoever. Its all caught up with me and having the really bad thoughts. Also very nauseous and starting to get dizzy again.

 

Really hate it when you wake up feeling so bad that you don't even have a chance to get your mind in place, or rationise anything. The control is just taken from you.

 

Trying to blame the Pregabalin as they have had me almost bed-ridden since Sunday which has meant I have not even been up for going out for a walk. Dropped my dose to 25mg yesterday and still not sure what to do with it. Will take another 25mg today.

[fishinghat]

12.5 mg IUN. You are sensative to it I think.