@Maria A. I have had that horrible horrible insomnia...for months on end, with no help, so ended up in my third treatment center, which put me on different drugs and I'm still in that hamster wheel. I can honestly say that Hell itself could not be much worse than non stop anxiety and no sleep to escape for even a few hours. I didn't want to live like that.
Now that I have support and know that the horrible hell is from the meds, I THINK I will be able to tolerate it, knowing it is temporary, albeit, an unknown length of time.
After going through the sleepless hell 4 different times, I am certain I won't die or go crazy from lack of sleep. In fact, numerous studies have been done about lack of sleep that (surprise surprise) knock the fear mongering "If you dont' sleep you'll DIE!!" folks on their ear. It just isn't true. In fact, one man lived to be 80 years old after being unable to sleep more than an hour or two most of his life. (I learned all this from a Canadian site called anxietycentre.com.)
So, while it is a great deal of suffering, I am no longer afraid of insomnia. The realization that I can survive it helps a lot. And this forum. Of course, my sleep has been OK for awhile. Restless legs are AWFUL and I dont' get enough sleep, but Im not in that awake all night season.
So all I'm saying is...BRAVO FOR TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF and try not to fear the sandman staying away. Or anything, really. We can't keep the birds (of fear) from flying over our heads. But we can prevent them from making nests on our heads. Martin Luther said that.
Keep sharing. We are here with you!!!!!
atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.
Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper
started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.
been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)
immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.
Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.
I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.
October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.
Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL
Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.
TaperCommunity
