Cortisol surges ...help!!!

[[Re...]]

Hey guys I am waking up in the middle of the night shooting straight up from sleep heart racing feels like I am in the middle of running a marathon and going to have a heart attack. This also happens around 7am. I am on prednisone steroids low dose for last three years for an autoimmune condition. I have had this mildly in the past just in am from steroids, but Nothing like this. It scares me so badly. I am worried I will have a heart attack. I have had heart tests they all come back good. But this is very scary. Anything I can do to lessen these. I hate it!!!

Thanks

[[Ia...]]

Will beta blockers help?

[Guest [Le...]]

Whoa, I remember those well. 

 

You're only off a few weeks, so those may start to ease up soon. I had surges continuing for the first month after I jumped from Ativan, but then they mercifully began to fade (gone now).

 

You should be seeing relief soon! 

 

To avoid late-day revving up, is it possible to take the prednisone after you wake up for the day?

[[Re...]]

Yes I take it around 8am. I can't take any meds by mouth because my disease has affected my pancreas so I cannot take beta blockers  this is how I got stuck on the ativan for anxiety in hospital as it just dissolves. I can handle the symptom as long as it is harmless. It just feels so scary and serious when happening. Do we know if these surges are dangerous?

[Guest [Le...]]

It's good that you had heart tests - mine were normal too, even though I thought I was going to have heart attacks from the surges. As long as you keep your doctor apprised of your situation, you should be fine!

 

The surges can be terrifying, but they seem to be a universal part of benzo withdrawal, unfortunately. If you can avoid taking more drugs, the surges may lessen on their own, as mine did. But of course your doctor would have to advise you on that.

[[Be...]]

I know, it's horrible. I had the same thing during my early taper when I made too large cuts. Fast heart rate and panic is not uncommon, especially in acute withdrawal phase which is where you are at. This typically lessens but right now, you are overly sensitized. Since you have had this racing heart before and your heart has tested fine, I hope that is reassuring. The cortisol surges are not harmful, just darned disruptive. Hang tight.

[[Ch...]]

My surges are between 130 AM and 3 AM and I am done sleeping til the next evening....It doesn't matter if I stay up til 10 PM or go to bed at 6 PM, the sleep disrupting surges still happen.  I am longing for the day that symptom is GONE!!!

Hang in there, it has to get better!

[[Ma...]]

This symptom left me very sudden and I am very thankful for that..

I would not take a new med against it - its "just" WD..

Chin up!

[[si...]]

The surges will slowly get better over time. Mine are nothing like they were in the beginning.

[[sl...]]

Can you all describe what you feel?  I get so many jerks, jolts and shocks at the moment of sleep, but I've been getting many more of these surges too.  It's like a sudden flow of toxic energy through my body at the moment I drift off.  Like a chemical spill that sends bad, anxious energy throughout.  My body will find every physical way to keep me awake. 

[[Be...]]

That about sums it up.