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This is my third time on, has worked well for me before but had forgotten it can be a bit troublesome in the beginning.
I had tapered down to 2.5 mg for a whole year and then stressful life events made me crash again. Have now increased up to 10mg which worked for me before.
Just looking for a bit of cheerleading, to be honest. Had four hours sleep last night and feeling rough. Had week off work last week for new dose to settle in but back at work tomorrow, and remembering that new dose settling in can take time. Plus very vivid, dramatic dreams.
Aaaargh!
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Paula2019 ruth08109
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ruth08109 Paula2019
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Thanks Paula, yes, I do think there will be a bit of a wobble.... fingers crossed it won't be too bad and I won't send myself back through the roof again...
ruth08109 Paula2019
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Well, it's taken a few days, but the tetchiness has definitely kicked in. It's like it takes a few days for the body/brain to catch up with the change of dose. My guts feel really off, too. Ugh.
Paula2019 ruth08109
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ruth08109 Paula2019
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ruth08109
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Okay so...... Quick update. Last Friday, as Gp advised, I cut from my huge leap up to 10mg, back down to 5mg again.
All of the symptoms of restlessness and agitation just seemed to disappear overnight, so I know they were a side effect of raising the dose way too much.
Today it's Wednesday morning. Day 6 after decrease. Feeling a bit anxious in the mornings, but this is generally dissipating during the day. Mood and sleep still not great, but considering I went from 2.5mg to 10mg to 5mg, I have given my nervous system and brain a bit of a shake, so am gonna give it a few weeks to settle.
Thankfully, I am only working two days a week until the end of term, and then have August off, so the pressure is off work wise.
One thing though..... I was prescribed beta blockers in case of anxiety attack whilst resettling on dose. I haven't actually been taking them every day as suggested. I took one the first day, a week ago, as my anxiety was through the roof and I had a panic attack at the gp surgery. Definitely calmed me down, and didn't notice any adverse side effect that time.
However, took one yesterday at the beginning of work as I was feeling a bit angsty. Calmed me down, but by the afternoon my mood was really flat, and was depressed for a couple of hours at the end of the day. Lifted when I got home. Instinctively, I guessed the mood change was something to do with the beta blocker....... (although obviously, having switched dosing around over the last month, this could also be contributing.)
Anyway, I was looking online and have found that beta blockers can indeed cause low mood/depression...... so I don't think am going to be using those again! Think I might just try to cope with the angst with some natural remedies.
Anyone else experienced weird effects from beta blockers?
And wondering if anyone has tips for natural remedies to help with anxiety. Rescue remedy?
gillian176 ruth08109
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lois95799 ruth08109
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ruth08109
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Ugh. 7 days into reduced dose and going through side effects of reducing dose again. It's strange how it takes about a week for these effects to kick in... Feeling shaky, anxious and tetchy this morning. Very absent minded yesterday, too. Patience required.....
ruth08109
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14 days into 5mg. (upped from 2.5 to 10, then back down, a less than a month ago.....)
Updating. OK so, can't say I feel like my former self yet, but my appetite and my sleep have definitely improved. Hypersensitivity to sound and - thank god- insomnia have gone. Not waking up with panic attacks, either. Having some periods of time where I am even forgetting that I am anxious/depressed.
First seven days of this dose, calm, and then towards the end, gradually increasing anxiety.... Now feeling more sedated than anxious. Not really wanting to do things, but cajoling myself into doing them anyway, and generally being glad I did. I am going to give myself until the end of July at this dose, and see how I feel. Then see gp and decide whether I want to up to 7.5mg
The thing that's hard to remember is, it's not always about increasing the dose. It's often about just allowing time for it to work..... that's the tricky bit.
Increasing meds has been an eye opener for me. It's not been the same as starting from scratch, if anything, the side effects from increasing have been worse. Really didn't expect that.
gillian176 ruth08109
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It takes time for the full effect to accumulate
And when you reduce it can take a while for it to hit you as well!
My second time around is from jan 18 but I have to say I think I have also improved over the last few months
I am still debating wether this is better weather better self mgt with yoga etc or that’s just how it is for me
ruth08109 gillian176
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Glad to hear you're on the up! So good. I'm two weeks into my 5mg dose and still feeling some side effects.
Gotta be patient with these things, but it's tricky.
Paula2019 ruth08109
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So pleased to hear that you are feeling better, 6 weeks is something I read often to give these meds time to settle, although I am so sensitive to them my doctor and pharmacist tells me to give it 2 months. Patience and waiting is definitely tricky because all this takes its toll. I am still settling also, and like you have seen improvements, but that tiredness and lack of motivation is so hard, am hanging in there. Its given me alot of problems at work but will not give up without a fight, they will have to drag me out of there screaming ha! joking aside its not funny when you are trying to hang onto a job and its because of the meds that is causing all this.
ruth08109 Paula2019
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Hi Paula, good to hear from you. Yes, you are right..... The waiting takes its toll. Whenever I have a bad day am trying to just patiently remind myself that it's only two weeks. God though, it's all the ups and downs and feeling normal then feeling whack again that's so tricky. I am never sure which me is getting out of bed in the morning. Totally understand the hanging onto a job part, as well.... I can't afford to not work, it's the last two weeks of term so just hanging in there. Was dead ratty at work this week though. Aaaargh. We shall overcome!
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