: Finally, my situation

[Guest guest]

Hello , Thank you for writing. I found the file, after a while. It wasn't where I expected it to be so I had to look under many main headings. Is there a search possibility that I just don't notice? I am still trying to catch up on reading posts (incl. the benzo group) - now on the 25th - but had decided to at least ask questions as they occurred to me rather than "saving" them. I certainly intended to write with my own situation, but have gotten a lot of good information in the meantime just reading. Since you are kind enough to ask, I hope you don't mind if I just go ahead and unload the whole stuff on you with as much detail as possible as suggested in the files. After a rather involved drug history, right now the situation is this - 800 mg Tegretol, 150 mg. Zoloft per day. I intend to come off of them, my dr. wants me to stay on the Tegretol a while but is for me

getting off the Zoloft as soon as I'm ready (I started these both in a clinic). I think I'm almost ready, but want to be careful as I finished with benzos end of February and don't feel quite right. Anxiety in the morning, flu like feelings off and on for a few days at a time, sometimes with nausea and sometimes without. The nausea is similar to that in seasickness. I also get that from time to time without the other flu-like symptoms (headachy, general achiness, itchy nose, rundown feeling). Re nutrition and supplements: I used to take a mag/cal. combination, but learned through this site that they should be taken separately. I also wrote today (under subject "mineral toddy") about that. so here is a paste from that e: "I live in Switzerland where there are 2 major international pharmaceutical companies. Ironically, however, natural/herbal

remedies are held in very high regard here, are of superior quality and even get excellent display space in the pharmacies. There are several very highly esteemed natural/herbal companies. Therefore, I would like to see what is available here in place of some of the brand name supplements you recommend. Since Switzerland has quite a few mineral springs and produces high quality mineral water, may we start with the mineral toddy? What do I need to know to find one here? You may have already answered someone else's post - I am only on the 25th in reading my posts - but I am still confused about the magnesium/calcium. I have been taking 240 mg magnesium in the morning because of the high level of anxiety that seems to be connected with the high level of cortisol. Maybe I should take more, since just now looking at the package it says that it supplies 80% of RDA. I take 600 mg of calcium (75% RDA) in the evening which is in combination

with 5 micrograms (I think, there is a funny symbol that looks a bit like a backyards small y, then a g) of Vitamin D3 (100% RDA). Should I reverse the Mag. and Cal. (I've been sleeping fairly well lately, thank goodness)? Last, for now, why do they sell the combination mag/cal if they shouldn't be taken together? I have also read that they aid each other but of course that doesn't necessarily mean they should be taken together." I saw in the file that mag/cal should be 1 to 2, so that looks like I should take a second mag, equalling 480 (I can't halve them, they're capsules). If my translation is right from the box, it would be magnesium oxide. I also got some gingko last week, 60 mg per day (learned a "new" word in Italian : gingko, pronounced jinko). After learning here about the cortisol, the most important things for me seemed

to be the mag and gingko. The lemon doesn't work. I also take C (around 500 mg depending on how I feel), E (am out of it right now), milk thistle. I used to take brewer's yeast mixed into milk with a malted flavor multivitamin powder but that is just too much milk. Sometimes I can get the brewer's yeast in tablets but the last few times I've been to this market they didn't have them so I got the powder. I don't trust manufactured B-complex to be in the right proportions. Our main meal is in the evening and this is the second week we have been eating meat and cooked vegetables and salad for dinner (although we had green beans tonight which doesn't count!). Last night though, we went to a friend's vernissage and had an impromptu invitation for spaghetti, which I was in "withdrawal" for anyway. I have hot chocolate first thing in a.m., I know that's not good, but it soothes me. Then I

try to have a banana a little later and maybe bread with melted cheese, or leftovers. I'm not very good in the daytime. I can't think of anything else informative right now and this has gotten very long, except for to say I am very frightened now of when it's time to go off the tegretol. Once when I was sick, I forgot for two days in a row the afternoon one (400 mg). Then I had two days of the most incredible, horrifyingly awful anxiety. As bad as when I went into the clinic. Then 2 weeks later, having vowed never to let that happen again, due to totally ridiculous circumstances, I didn't take the afternoon dose one day, then 2 days later, also didn't, and the same thing happened. After two days, the anxiety reduces down to mornings. I'm sorry to say (this will be met with disapproval for sure!) that I accidentally found out that a low-strength paracetamol/codeine mixture helps alot (something like Tylenol 3, I think), so I take that

when I have it. I guess I should see if you agree with my plan: when I taper the Zoloft, a rule of thumb would be 10% of the given dose at the time every week or 2. Is that right? I will write in another email to see what anyone in the group has actually experienced when tapering Zoloft, too. Well, at last, that's it. Thanks so very much for being interested! Kendra emmaryllis wrote: >> Hi, I couldn't get this file, I think it was an attachment and I have Yahoo. However, when I hit reply I got this,

which is kind of hard to read. Is it possible to resend it some other way? Also, I don't think this is mentioned, but could lack of sleep trigger suicide? My brother-in-law, who was on various prescription drugs and I think still on methadone committed suicide after days of little or no sleep. I know he was desperate although he did not talk of suicide, only of lack of sleep. Shortly before, he went to Zurich (about 3 hrs away) to buy some Rohypnol on the street but got robbed and couldn't get it.> > Thanks> KendraHi Kendra,Welcome to the group. You can read all of the files that were e-mailed to you on the main website for the group. Here is the link: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Withdrawal_and_Recovery/It would be helpful if you

could share your reasons for joining with us. Are you currently taking any medications, or attempting to withdraw from any medications? If so, what are they and what dosage are you currently taking?Once we have a little more information, it will be easier for , the list owner, to make recommendations and suggestions for you.I'm glad you're here -- I look forward to hearing more from you.

Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kendra,

Thanks for details you provided. , the list owner, will be

the one to provide more specific information for you.

Often if a person is taking multiple medications it's a good idea to

schedule a consultation with so you can get more

individualized advice. If you are interested in a consult, there is

scheduling information in the files too.

I wanted to mention specifically that we don't recommend pre-

determined timetables for the withdrawal process. It's important

not to rush the process and to wait until you feel stable following

each reduction. The time needed can vary greatly from person to

person.

Thanks for the information, Kendra. will be getting back

to you with more specifics.

Take care,

>

> Hello ,

>

> Thank you for writing. I found the file, after a while. It

wasn't where I expected it to be so I had to look under many main

headings. Is there a search possibility that I just don't notice?

>

> I am still trying to catch up on reading posts (incl. the benzo

group) - now on the 25th - but had decided to at least ask questions

as they occurred to me rather than " saving " them. I certainly

intended to write with my own situation, but have gotten a lot of

good information in the meantime just reading. Since you are kind

enough to ask, I hope you don't mind if I just go ahead and unload

the whole stuff on you with as much detail as possible as suggested

in the files.

>

> After a rather involved drug history, right now the situation is

this - 800 mg Tegretol, 150 mg. Zoloft per day. I intend to come off

of them, my dr. wants me to stay on the Tegretol a while but is for

me getting off the Zoloft as soon as I'm ready (I started these both

in a clinic). I think I'm almost ready, but want to be careful as I

finished with benzos end of February and don't feel quite right.

Anxiety in the morning, flu like feelings off and on for a few days

at a time, sometimes with nausea and sometimes without. The nausea

is similar to that in seasickness. I also get that from time to time

without the other flu-like symptoms (headachy, general achiness,

itchy nose, rundown feeling).

>

> Re nutrition and supplements:

>

> I used to take a mag/cal. combination, but learned through this

site that they should be taken separately. I also wrote

today (under subject " mineral toddy " ) about that. so here is a paste

from that e:

>

>

> " I live in Switzerland where there are 2 major international

pharmaceutical companies. Ironically, however, natural/herbal

remedies are held in very high regard here, are of superior quality

and even get excellent display space in the pharmacies. There are

several very highly esteemed natural/herbal companies. Therefore, I

would like to see what is available here in place of some of the

brand name supplements you recommend. Since Switzerland has quite a

few mineral springs and produces high quality mineral water, may we

start with the mineral toddy? What do I need to know to find one

here?

>

> You may have already answered someone else's post - I am only on

the 25th in reading my posts - but I am still confused about the

magnesium/calcium. I have been taking 240 mg magnesium in the

morning because of the high level of anxiety that seems to be

connected with the high level of cortisol. Maybe I should take more,

since just now looking at the package it says that it supplies 80%

of RDA. I take 600 mg of calcium (75% RDA) in the evening which is

in combination with 5 micrograms (I think, there is a funny symbol

that looks a bit like a backyards small y, then a g) of Vitamin D3

(100% RDA). Should I reverse the Mag. and Cal. (I've been sleeping

fairly well lately, thank goodness)?

>

> Last, for now, why do they sell the combination mag/cal if they

shouldn't be taken together? I have also read that they aid each

other but of course that doesn't necessarily mean they should be

taken together. "

>

>

> I saw in the file that mag/cal should be 1 to 2, so that looks

like I should take a second mag, equalling 480 (I can't halve them,

they're capsules). If my translation is right from the box, it would

be magnesium oxide.

>

> I also got some gingko last week, 60 mg per day (learned a " new "

word in Italian : gingko, pronounced jinko).

>

> After learning here about the cortisol, the most important

things for me seemed to be the mag and gingko. The lemon doesn't

work.

>

> I also take C (around 500 mg depending on how I feel), E (am out

of it right now), milk thistle. I used to take brewer's yeast mixed

into milk with a malted flavor multivitamin powder but that is just

too much milk. Sometimes I can get the brewer's yeast in tablets but

the last few times I've been to this market they didn't have them so

I got the powder. I don't trust manufactured B-complex to be in the

right proportions.

>

> Our main meal is in the evening and this is the second week we

have been eating meat and cooked vegetables and salad for dinner

(although we had green beans tonight which doesn't count!). Last

night though, we went to a friend's vernissage and had an impromptu

invitation for spaghetti, which I was in " withdrawal " for anyway.

>

> I have hot chocolate first thing in a.m., I know that's not

good, but it soothes me. Then I try to have a banana a little later

and maybe bread with melted cheese, or leftovers. I'm not very good

in the daytime.

>

> I can't think of anything else informative right now and this

has gotten very long, except for to say I am very frightened now of

when it's time to go off the tegretol. Once when I was sick, I

forgot for two days in a row the afternoon one (400 mg). Then I had

two days of the most incredible, horrifyingly awful anxiety. As bad

as when I went into the clinic. Then 2 weeks later, having vowed

never to let that happen again, due to totally ridiculous

circumstances, I didn't take the afternoon dose one day, then 2 days

later, also didn't, and the same thing happened. After two days, the

anxiety reduces down to mornings. I'm sorry to say (this will be met

with disapproval for sure!) that I accidentally found out that a low-

strength paracetamol/codeine mixture helps alot (something like

Tylenol 3, I think), so I take that when I have it.

>

> I guess I should see if you agree with my plan: when I taper the

Zoloft, a rule of thumb would be 10% of the given dose at the time

every week or 2. Is that right? I will write in another email to see

what anyone in the group has actually experienced when tapering

Zoloft, too.

>

> Well, at last, that's it. Thanks so very much for being

interested!

>

> Kendra

>