I need reassurance! Zoloft, PPD and PPA, Clonazapam, Xanax, and Onset Symptoms

[[Wi...]]

Long post but ALOT has been going on. I was on Clonazepam for years and got off first cold turkey (big mistake) and then slow withdrawal three years ago. I was off of it 6 months and then got pregnant, went the entire pregnancy and 6 months after without anything. Then they said I was experiencing Postpartum depression and that I needed to take Zoloft. I think I was just having some stress and withdrawal symptoms still from the Clonazepam. Anyway they put me on the Zoloft and then I started to be ok. Well I stopped that cold turkey because I was 8 days late. Then I had stroke like symptoms, shortness of breathe, BAD anxiety, went to the ER a few times and so I got back on the Zoloft. I started to feel a little better but still have breakthrough anxiety and have to take a Xanax every now and again. Plus the Zoloft is making my periods heavier and longer. Has anyone experience anything like this and were able to get off the meds without bad withdrawal symptoms? I have bad neck and shoulder tension, extremely clogged ears, shortness of breath, disequilibrium and the whole nine yards. We were wanting to have another baby before long because I am 36 and don't want any further complications. I need hope! I felt good that I had conquered the clonazepam and now I feel worse off because I am taking Zoloft and Xanax.

[[ca...]]

It's heartbreaking to read about your experience! Some of the things you are experiencing I can't honestly relate to. Instead of working with the patient to get on top of these issues many western doctors want to put you on another medication that only adds to the problems and many times makes us sicker. Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines is very very difficult and the people that prescribe it know little if anything about what the patient has to go through to get off of it. Putting someone on an antidepressant may bring some temporary relief I suppose from the symptoms of withdrawal but you have another drug that is screwing with your body and mind. I was on Xanax For a very short time, it has been a nightmare getting away from its hold. It takes a lot of time to break free. It takes a lot of patience on you and those around you to get through it. If you can find a doctor that isn't a drug pusher and knows about withdrawal, that would be a very big help. I wish you the best and hope that you can get on with your life.

[[Tr...]]

Are you feeling worse now while on Zoloft or do you not like the fact that you're taking the medication? It may help but it sounds like it's complicated. Did the Zoloft help with your depression? Just not the anxiety?

 

It took me 3 months to taper off of Zoloft, and that was 6 months after I tapered off Klonopin. I didn't suffer from bad withdrawal, but did feel a lot of anxiety during the last month of my Zoloft taper. Things need to be taken very slowly with these medications, and they have bad side effects, as you're experiencing.

[[Wi...]]

Once the Zoloft leveled out I felt (and my family) that it was working. It doesn't help that life events have created and added to my anxiety. I have had a pacemaker since I was 9 and although I am doing ok with that in 2013 they went in to change my pacemaker and leads and punctured my lung (pneumothorax) and I got a blood clot during that. In 2012 my husband had a dirt bike wreck. In 2014 my husband had a really bad motorcycle wreck and ended up being a possible double amputee. He is still in recovery from this and no short of a miracle to even be here. 25 surgeries in 3 years. We had our first born in 2015 and then in 2016 someone hit him and totaled his truck, trailer, and four wheeler when he was coming back from a mudding event. I was doing really good from the clonazepam withdrawl back in 2014. Felt SO good to be medicine free. But then when my daughter was 6 months old I started having really bad disequilibrium, muscles spasms and I think my anxiety of the out of body experience + breastfeeding, caring for my husband and working full time threw me in a depression. I don't like the side effects of medicine. I don't like that something like this has effected me so much and that I am yet again on medicine to mask the symptoms. Plus we want to try to have another kid soon. (Crazy I know). I wanted to get off the Zoloft but seeing that I have to take Xanax as needed for anxiety I am not sure I am ready to taper off anything yet.

[[Tr...]]

So sorry you've been through so much. You sound very brave! It's good to hear you're stable and that your family has noticed the difference. I wouldn't taper off yet, but at the same time try to take the minimum you need to be able to go about your day. You don't want to take more than you need to. The Zoloft should help keep your anxiety in check and is probably a good long term solution. You may need to talk to your doctor about when you can taper off the Xanax once you've been stable for a while.