help!!

[[sp...]]

this morning again I woke up with heart palpitations and almost the beginnings of a panic attack.  Have never had a panic attack before.  I opened the window and felt better.

 

Is this w/d??  I stopped (acc to dr. orders)  0.5. mg ativan 2x/day, and on the same day started 5mg valium 2x/day.  So I dont' think I have any less benzo in my system........is this w/d? or is this the concerta that I added the same day?  Please help; this is nuts.

[[Ge...]]

this morning again I woke up with heart palpitations and almost the beginnings of a panic attack.  Have never had a panic attack before.  I opened the window and felt better.

 

Is this w/d??  I stopped (acc to dr. orders)  0.5. mg ativan 2x/day, and on the same day started 5mg valium 2x/day.  So I dont' think I have any less benzo in my system........is this w/d? or is this the concerta that I added the same day?  Please help; this is nuts.

 

Hello..

 

It takes valium one month to settle into your system.. people are cautioned to substitute valium on a schedule to gradually corss over.. but you are there now... the first week or so should be the hardest, then you should start to feel better.  Once you stabilize and begin to taper follow suggestions you see on this site.  Your doc did not take into account the difference between the half life of ativan (10 to 20 hrs) and that of valium (20 to 100 hrs) so you are feeling withdrawal.  Check this link for verification: http://www.non-benzodiazepines.org.uk/benzodiazepine-names.html

 

For the panic attacks.. try to let the feelings go.  They are related to withdrawal, and once the valium kicks in you will start to feel better. I'd suggest you come down from the valium very slowly to let yourself get further stabilized.

 

Hope this helps a little,

Georgie

[[sp...]]

thanks so much for responding....really appreciate any and all feedback.

 

i only get them in the morning.....I know concerta can cause palpitations but bc they only happen in the morning, i'm wondering if that's from the w/d?  I'm scared to call the pharmacist. 

 

I might try and stop concerta for tomorrow only and see how i feel.  DOes anyone know if concerta's heart palpitations can happen at any time, or is morning more likely?

[[Ge...]]

 

i only get them in the morning.....I know concerta can cause palpitations but bc they only happen in the morning, i'm wondering if that's from the w/d?  I'm scared to call the pharmacist. 

 

I might try and stop concerta for tomorrow only and see how i feel.  DOes anyone know if concerta's heart palpitations can happen at any time, or is morning more likely?

 

How long have you been on the concerta.. do you take it every day? It may take you a year to come off the valium.. depending on how you tolerate the taper..and going off concerta at the same time is ill advised unless you had some side effects, etc., that make this necessary.  btw.. concerta is not in your sig line... suggest putting this in?

 

Georgie

[[Ga...]]

thanks so much for responding....really appreciate any and all feedback.

 

i only get them in the morning.....I know concerta can cause palpitations but bc they only happen in the morning, i'm wondering if that's from the w/d?  I'm scared to call the pharmacist. 

 

I might try and stop concerta for tomorrow only and see how i feel.  DOes anyone know if concerta's heart palpitations can happen at any time, or is morning more likely?

 

I dont know about concerta but I do know mornings are worst for me. I hope the awful heart palps stop for you soon.

[[sw...]]

thanks so much for responding....really appreciate any and all feedback.

 

i only get them in the morning.....I know concerta can cause palpitations but bc they only happen in the morning, i'm wondering if that's from the w/d?  I'm scared to call the pharmacist. 

 

I might try and stop concerta for tomorrow only and see how i feel.  DOes anyone know if concerta's heart palpitations can happen at any time, or is morning more likely?

 

Hey there,

 

I'm sorry you're having a rough time, right now.  The info about valium having a longer half life (and thereby requiring longer to build up in your system) is correct, so the good news is that you will get some relief the longer you are on valium.

 

As for the heart palps, I am not familiar with the other medication that you mentioned, but palps are an extremely common withdrawal side effect.  The good news is that as scary as they are, they apparently are not harmful, but the even better news is that, generally speaking, they can be controlled very easily with a beta blocker. 

 

I would suggest speaking to your doctor about this problem and see what s/he says about it.  Also, panic attacks can be cause by a racing pulse, so if that is something that is going on with you, already, then beta blockers would help with that, as well.

 

Best wishes.

 

[[sp...]]

I've been taking concerta for 6 days.

[[sp...]]

And thanks so much for responding, everyone. 

[[Ge...]]

I've been taking concerta for 6 days.

 

I think that concerta could cause your heart to race... something you could ask the pharmacist about?  Were I in your position, I would not add a new psychotropic drug just as you are coming off the benzos.  At one time, I was prescribed ritilin.. and it made my heart race.. but again, you need to work with the doc.  Maybe educate him with some of the info you find here?

 

Also.. you are still pretty new into the valium... check with one of the admins here to see if they think you can still do a cross taper (substituting one benzo for another is not a cross taper.. a cross taper will often take between one and two months).  Would your doc support you on a graduated cross taper?  Or, do you have enough ativan left over to see you through. 

 

Georgie

[[ba...]]

As  dr. Ashton states valium has a half life  of 200 hrs.