Nasty Cold Virus + Intense Wave

[[Se...]]

I've been "waving" here for a couple weeks, after somewhat enjoying a 50%-better window that lasted on and off for a few wks. in October.  I am intensely grateful that this partial window occurred.  It shows me there IS hope after all (I think  )

 

Anyway, I've contracted a killer cold in last five days or so and it really felt as if I was in acute (month 1 - sheer terror, hell & agony) all over again with this viral infection.  Why could this be?  I think I've read of others experiencing setbacks when addled with a virus.  Today, I am still feeling absolutely miserable - physically and mentally.  The depression, anxiety and physical symptoms are at an all-time peak, it appears.  Just a wave, or a reaction to the cold?

 

Would appreciate anyone's insight and input on if this has also happened to them and if there are any theories as to why we might be so sensitive to viruses in w/d.

 

Thanks.

[[Wo...]]

I don't know why , but the same thing happens to me when ever I get a cold. Its a bad wave started by a cold, and it last about a week or so after the colds clear up. I wouldn't worry to much about it, I've heard other people say the same thing. This benzo wd works in strange ways.

[[em...]]

This happened to me too when I got a real bad cold.  I felt like I was slammed back into the first week or two when I came off the benzo.  I don't know if it was the virus or the cold medicine I was taking or some combination, but I really felt like shit.  But it lifted once I was no longer sick!

[[Se...]]

Thanks, all.  I look forward to climbing up the healing ladder a little higher once this rotten cold & wave dissipate 

[[De...]]

Hi all,

 

I contracted a nasty virus twice when I was tapering and on both occasions I noticed a distinct rev up in withdrawal symptoms. I came across this explanation at the time so I'll post it here :

 

Quote:

 

Viruses

 

When in recovery from benzodiazepines commonly reported is symptoms of benzo withdrawal increased during a bout of the flu or a bad cold. Strange as it sounds there does seem to be a link as so many people seem to experience this. Often a simple explaination can reassure people why they are feeling worse so I will try to put forward a theory.

 

The immune system does interact with the brain by releasing chemicals known as cytokines which make you feel headachey and sleepy and fatigued and reducing your appetite by interacting with cytokine receptors in the brain and also throughout the body. It is the body's way of telling you that you are ill and you need to rest. There are also parts of the brain activated during an infection e.g. pituitary gland secreting hormones during an infection. It may be this chain of events which causes benzo symptom increase during a flu or bad viral infection.

 

The good news is a virus is temporary and so is the symptom increase so if you find yourself under the blankets with a flu and your benzo symptoms increased rest assured it is most likely just because you have a virus and not that you are 'going back to square 1'. You will start feeling better within a few days to a few weeks. I have not yet seen any medical studies of this increase in symptoms of withdrawal during a flu or virus infection. However I felt it worth mentioning because so many people give anecdotal reports of this symptomatology increase during times of illness.

 

http://www.bcnc.org.uk/drugs.html