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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by heidegger on May 16, 2009, at 15:32:12
In 2001 I started taking remeron and effexor and clonazepam. After a year of trying I've gotten off all of them. A year of insomnia and stomach pain. I have been off the remeron for two months. Without even trying I have lost twenty pounds. My systolic blood pressure is lower by twenty points.
But I feel physically horrible all the time. I can't sleep. I can't focus on anything. I feel always as if my head is in a vice. My legs are always freezing. This is qualitatively different from any sort of depression I've experienced in the past and the physical symptoms do not resemble those of depression. For the first time I can say there is something biological going on.
What should I do?
Please don't waste your time and tell me it isn't eight years on remeron that's caused this.
I have taken many SSRIs and effexor and have discontinued all of them without any ill effects.
Posted by raisinb on May 16, 2009, at 16:20:06
In reply to remeron, posted by heidegger on May 16, 2009, at 15:32:12
That doesn't sound good. Did you taper off the Remeron with a schedule? What did your pdoc say?
I'm guessing that it's the NE reuptake properties of Remeron--that you're missing now--that are responsible for your symptoms. What was the reason you discontinued it?
Posted by Phillipa on May 16, 2009, at 17:34:41
In reply to Re: remeron » heidegger, posted by raisinb on May 16, 2009, at 16:20:06
Yes why did you discountinue? Love Phillipa
Posted by ricker on May 16, 2009, at 18:24:11
In reply to remeron, posted by heidegger on May 16, 2009, at 15:32:12
> But I feel physically horrible all the time. I can't sleep. I can't focus on anything. I feel always as if my head is in a vice. My legs are always freezing.
> What should I do?Well, it doesn't sound like you're feeling great?
Maybe restart the remeron and see if your symptoms disappear. You can always stop the remeron again, maybe a pain but at least you'll know if remeron is involved?
Posted by Zana on May 16, 2009, at 19:20:29
In reply to remeron, posted by heidegger on May 16, 2009, at 15:32:12
Try a post to Larry Hoover about remeron discontinuation. He says it is very hard to discontinue without rebound insomnia because it down regulates histamine receptors so much that they basically shut down. He recommended weaning at no more than 7.5mgs a week. Klononpin is notoriously hard to discontinue and can have long lasting discontuation side effects not unlike those of barbituates.
Hope this helps. Larry is a font of information. See if you can get his input.Zana
Posted by ricker on May 16, 2009, at 20:12:53
In reply to remeron, posted by heidegger on May 16, 2009, at 15:32:12
I should of added I was on Remeron for 5 years - 15mg and discontinued several times with no side-effect other than a brief disturbance in my sleep pattern. Everyone reacts different when starting, or stopping meds. Maybe I'm fortunate in that stopping meds and going on to another is pretty much unremarkable for me, anyway.
I've also been on clonazepam 22 years, 0.5mg tid and have weened myself off several times during that time with minimal problems.
Cold turkey is one thing but weaning off has never been a problem for me, especially the Remeron. But, as mentioned, we're all unique when it comes to chemical manipulation.I hope you feel better soon. Regards, Rick
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 17, 2009, at 19:28:02
In reply to remeron, posted by heidegger on May 16, 2009, at 15:32:12
Did you taper slowly off of Remeron?
Sounds like hell. I'm really sorry.
I LOVE your chosen name. A favorite philosopher of mine.
I hope you feel better.
> In 2001 I started taking remeron and effexor and clonazepam. After a year of trying I've gotten off all of them. A year of insomnia and stomach pain. I have been off the remeron for two months. Without even trying I have lost twenty pounds. My systolic blood pressure is lower by twenty points.
>
> But I feel physically horrible all the time. I can't sleep. I can't focus on anything. I feel always as if my head is in a vice. My legs are always freezing. This is qualitatively different from any sort of depression I've experienced in the past and the physical symptoms do not resemble those of depression. For the first time I can say there is something biological going on.
>
> What should I do?
>
> Please don't waste your time and tell me it isn't eight years on remeron that's caused this.
> I have taken many SSRIs and effexor and have discontinued all of them without any ill effects.
Posted by newquestions on May 21, 2009, at 15:40:11
In reply to remeron, posted by heidegger on May 16, 2009, at 15:32:12
It might be from long term damage and withdrawal of SSRIs and serogenic agents in total, and not remeron specifically. Go to paxilprogress.org and read the long term protacted withdrawal stories and you will see many people experiencing similar things.
My own story is the following: After 7 years on zoloft, I started to experience new side effects like brain fog, muscle ache and fatigue. I cycled through other antidepressants looking for relief but they didn't help and many made me feel worse, including increasing depression and anxiety. I now realize that this was "poop out" where my body adapted to the drugs and can't tolerate them anyone. I am now 5 months off all drugs and feel like crap! My most distressing problems are confusion, cognitive problems and fatigue. People on paxil progress describe it as protracted withdrawal, and say your automatic nervous system has become unstable after years of use. They recommend you stay off all drugs and let your system heal.
Where you on more than one serogenic drug at the same time?
Posted by newquestions on May 21, 2009, at 17:21:17
In reply to remeron, posted by heidegger on May 16, 2009, at 15:32:12
What type of cognitive problems are you having?
This is the end of the thread.
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