DEPRESSION/ANXIETY MEDICATION AND TENDENCY TO FALL?

Mental health
1

Hi folks:   I suffer from Panic disorder and mood disorder that seems to interchange itself with a form of bi-polar depression.  Have been suffering with these conditions along with their bedfellows of insomnia, generalized anxiety and PTSD for years.

I take 15 mgs remeron at bedtime, 3/12 mgs of xanax broken into quarters during the day, 125 mgs. lamictal and 50 mgs. doxepin. I think each one of these meds may cause falls but....

Because I have general balance problems and I'm considered a fall risk because I've experienced several broken bones since 2012 from falls, I'd like to know if I'm one of the few people here who is like a total klutz -- walking into door jams, banging my little toe on the sofa (broken twice already) and have a constant feeling as tho I'm going to tip over (without feeling dizzy or experiencing vision problems) or are the medications destroying my balance?  It's getting to the point of where I'm beginning to be afraid that I may fall at any time.

I have an appointment with a neurologist next month and I'm going to ask him if he will  give me referral for MRI to rule out any problems in my brain but until them, I would really appreciate knowing if anyone else is experiencing falls for unknown reasons?

Thanx.

 

2

I'm sorry, but I do not know about balance issues with the medication.  But I came to just share some thoughts with your situation.

I'm just a little concerned because of your benzo use.  How long have you been taking them?  I'm sure you are aware of the insane withdrawals from taking it too much right?  Just kinda worried and I hope you can figure out a way to get off them or at least lessen some time.  I'd imagine that your other medications should help with your anxiety already.  I just am concerned that you will gain a bad tolerance to xanax.

My worries go out to you!  

God Bless you!  Update me!

3

Hi Gerand:

Thank you for your concern and kind words.

I've been taking xanax since 1990 when I began suffering panic attacks.  The attacks were so many and so terrifying that I didn't think I could continue living that way -- always in fear during an attack and waiting for the next one.  I couldn't focus and had no one I could talk with about them who would understand or even care.  I was actually bed bound for a while.

I'm fully aware of the lasting effects of benzos -- I opted to take the med, even tho my psychiatrist told me that as I age, the side effects would probably help to destroy my short-term memory and that I would develop a dependence on them.  I don't leave home without them.

I'm lucky that over all these years I've never had to increase my dose and in fact decreased it but I will be on them the rest of my life because I NEVER want to experience another panic attack.  It's OK because they have helped me function, I had a good job (am now retired), have friends who can relate to my condition and altho Ive been restrict in many things from being able to do what others can, I have managed to enjoy living without attacks.

My original question regarding falls was to see if others taking a benzo had a propensity to fall more once they began the med or were on it for a while.  I have been a fall risk most of my life (even as a child) but it now seems like I'm off balance quite a bit of the time.  I'm not sure if the medication is causing this of if there may be some other underlying cause (vision,hearing, brain, etc) that I should pursue. 

I see my psychiatrist on Thursday and am going to talk to him again about this but I'm almost positive he's going to chalk my falls up to the medication.  I won't be able to see the Neurologist until several months from now but I do plan on discussing this and insisting on an MRI brain scan.  We'll see  If you want, I will keep you up to date on the results.

Since you are the only person who was kind enough to answer, I guess others have not experienced falls because of the medication.

Since you are on this board, I suspect you are familiar or suffer from panic disorder and possibly depression.  What is your story, if you don't mind me asking.

Thanks again and don't worry about me.  I hope you are healthy and have enjoyed the summer.  Stay safe and may God bless you as well.

You made me feel very good.

4

Wow that is quite a story.  It is really touching to me because life is sometimes pretty tough, but its life and we are all in this together.  

You have been taking benzos for an insanely long time.  Have you tried other remedies to combat panic?  

So the most useful weapon in my arsenal against anxiety was a book.  I was so desperate to get rid of my panic attacks that I looked up popular and highly rated books online.  I found an amazing one on Amazon and honestly it paved the way to my recovery from panic attacks.  I recommend you search for popular books on panic.

I really am not aware of that symptom from xanax, but you might want to just call your normal physician to ask if there is any record of people having that symptom.  And well, benzos do make you a bit woozy.  Random question, but what is your daily dosage for xanax?

There are so many nice people on this forum, but maybe they just haven't answered because they haven't had that symptom.  

Well basically my story is not nearly as intense as yours, but I would definitely say that the events that took place easily want to end my life.  I am quite young.  I am 23, but I started experiencing my first anxiety symptoms about two years ago.  One night I woke up and I was going mad.  I didn't know what I was experiencing, but well that was my first panic attack.  From there, I had panic attacks daily and they are very very debilitating.  It's like something that is in you, so wherever you go, you can't escape.  

I went to the doctor, went to a therapist, and looked up remedies online.  I was so desperate.  But I'm thankful that over time, I learned more about panic and about this terrible season in my life.  I'm grateful for my experiences because I am able to help people going through similar things.  I'm on Celexa and take ativan about every other day.  

I asked you if you have tried any other remedies because I find that with the right state of mind, you can learn to not be afraid of panic attacks.  I read that the more you change your life because of your panic, your panic will only get worse.  

Hope to talk to you very soon.

God Bless

 

5

Hi just reading your post now.l am tapering off diazepam at the moment I never abused it for 10 years however I have found over the last few years my balance has been very poor.I couldn't understand what was going on then l discovered long term use of benzos can cause this.l have to be honest l believed l wasn't an addict as l never took a high dose, never craved it or misused it in any way.l feel like an absolute idiot now.l am tapering off very slowly at the moment and it is hell however if it resolves the balance problem it will be worth it.

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Hi Gerard:

Yes, I tried everything available to me.  I went to group therapy for maybe 5+ years (that helped), light therapy, cognitive therapy, read all of Claire Weekes books about anxiety, learned self talk, listened to tapes, tried meditation, yoga, music and warm baths, etc.  Nada.

Both of my parents suffered from some and several forms of panic disorder -- my dad covered his social phobia with alcohol and mother would run into the basement and hide if the weatherman reported a storm a state away that may be headed our way.  I was reared in a dysfunctional home environment and I know that my panic disorder was inherited.  All it needed to rear it' ugly head was a trauma in my life.  It came I'm sorry to say when I was 16  (father was stabbed and almost lost his life trying to help someone to get out of the middle of the street). I'll never forget what his bloody slashed jacket looked like.  That happened right before my first real panic attack.  I went downhill after that.

I'd be overjoyed to find the "right state of mind" that would relieve my anxiety as well as xanax does but I don't think at my age that I can retrain my mind to function in a different way.  I've tried so many other medications as well (I think I tried every SSRIs & SNRIs for depression and other benzo  in an attempt to lower my anxiety -- nothing worked as well as xanax. 

I'll be seeing my psychiatrist today and I want more info on Cymbalta what he recommended a couple months ago.  When one reads about it, it seems like a wonder drug but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Im glad to know that you have found relief from your panic.  I applaud you.  Nice chatting with you too. 

Be well.

I have no plans to wean off of xanax because I have yet to find a anything else that works as well.  I do have a fear of falling down and busting my hip.  I told my mother who was 93 that if she fell and broke her hip or was unable to walk, that would be the end for her and it was. She too took xanax but only 1 mg to help her sleep and make her less afraid of everyday living.

 

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Thanx for your reply marleen.  I do hope your taper from xanax will relieve your balance problem.  Please keep me informed on your progress.  You are the first person to mention a possible balance problem because of xanax.

I wish you very good lock with your taper -- gooooo very sloooooow.  Took me a year to taper off 1 mg.  I still take 3 1/1 a day cut up into small pieces throughout the day akin to time release.  Actually the time release form of xanax did not work for me.

Good luck and blessing to you.

8

Glad to hear your coming down l am on valium however the long term effect of all of the benzo family are the same.l have to say l thought coming off antidepressants was bad but this is in a league of its own.Sorry l ever started them.

9

I know it seems impossible.  I know for sure that I had it much better than you, but I still know that there is hope.  It is not impossible to get rid of this.  

Now I know that there will never be a remedy as effective as xanax.  No matter what supplements you take, it will never amount to the relieve from xanax.  

However, I would encourage you to try things ON TOP of xanax.  There are many remedies that come together to build you a better quality of life.  

I don't mean to offend you.  I know that you have been through a lot and you pretty much aren't hopeful anymore about other solutions.  I see that in the way you speak.  It seems like there is no hope left, but there is.

I recommend these supplements ON TOP of xanax.

Vitamin B Complex (It may help balance out your body more.  You also may be deficient in this vitamin.)

Magnesium Citrate and Calcium Citrate.  I've read that this helps a lot with calming your body.  

Flaxseed Oil (Also helps with mood and anxiety)

I recommend these on top of your xanax because I believe you can enjoy your life just a little more.  And I'm sure these would help you out even just a tiny bit more.

God Bless! 

10

Thanx again Gerard for your input.  When I saw my psychiatrist yesterday we talked about my decreasing xanax because of my fall risk.  He did say that xanax was the #1 med I'm taking as far as causing falls is concerned. 

When I see him again after my motor trip with my brother from Chicago to California, I'm going to start Cymbalta while remaining on the same dose of Remeron at 15 mgs. and xanax at 3 1/2 mgs.  He told me to call him right away if I have adverse side effects that I cannot deal with but he too agreed that there is a possibility of weaning me off xanax after adding Cymbalta to the mix.

I'd be happy to quit it, if I do not experience any panic attacks.  I love to be able to work with my doc.  He's very understand and seems up on med interactions and side effects.  He said slow is the only way to go when getting on or off a med.

So I'm going to try.  Wish me luck.  you words have encouraged me.

-Anita

11

I hear that.  I tried weaning off Remeron and got down to 7.5 mgs from 30 and all the symptoms roared back that I had prior to going on the med.  I went back to 15 on the advise of my doc.  If I had that problem with Remeron, I can't imagine how difficult it would be to be totally off xanx.

Good luck with your taper.  I'd like to know how long it takes you to wean off valium.  Oddly enough, I was able to quit valiium and start xanax without a problem but.....I know xanax, as you mentioned "is in a leagueof it's own."

Let us know how it goes for you. 

12

That means a lot to me.  I hope what your doctor and you are doing will help you out more.  

And also the supplements I've recommended are also up for offer if you ever want to try them along the line.