The crazy derealization vision stuff all started well into Lyme treatment and about 2 months into kolonipin use.
when i up the benzo dose my symptoms of Derealization get alot better, temporarily.
i am really leaning towards the Benzo causing my Derealization from tolerance withdrawal.
so please answer this very crude survey of mine
i want to hear from you out there with Derealization, are you on a Benzo as well,
what i mean is, does anyone here have Derealization and never been on a benzos ??
thanks for you feedback .
Posted by LSG Scott (Member # 21624) on :
so no one here has Derealization then
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Nicole does.
Posted by Knight33 (Member # 22028) on :
i have derealization...not on benzo
Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
I ave depersonalization derealization,on klonapin
Posted by Nicole2011 (Member # 30672) on :
I have it but mine started when i started getting sick
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
On Benzo's a long time (18 years) and have been on high doses when needed. Never Klonopon, though.
I had Depersonalization and probably derealiziation when I was first diagnosed and in my very early treatment days (first four months or so). At that time I was on three different Benzos - at night only - because I couldn't sleep. When my mental state got better, I quickly weaned down on the Benzo's.
I get rebound anxiety when I wean down too quickly.
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
Yes, Benzo tolerance w/d CAN cause depersonalization.
It can be very very pronounced in most all Benzo.'s but the most severe is seen in Valium.
I'm a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and have seen this alot in my practice when clients taper too fast or develope tolerance.
Posted by Nicole2011 (Member # 30672) on :
I actually take xanax 0.25mg & has been taking it since Jan. But i started having this feeling before i started the xanax... I was given ativan twice dec 27th & jan 2nd.. idk if that couldve caused this feeling.. but i doubt it
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
I'm told that Lyrica helps some with this symptom, as well as Gabapentin and Neurontin (Same drug)
Posted by jwall (Member # 22999) on :
Yes, my derealization started when I was given klonopin...scared me to death to see my kids playing at the playground, but it was like a dream!! I quickly weaned off of it (total benzo time was 1 month) and was stuck in a perpetual state of derealization for a while...but it is slowly getting better after 2 years! It actually did get better when I was put on neurontin for my severe lyme pain. I would love to come off neurontin, but I will wean very, very slowly and pray the derealization doesn't get worse. Awful, awful side effect of benzos!!!!!
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
I have derealization, it can get pretty bad. Never been on any benzos, can't even tolerate them. Bartonella infection for me.
Posted by jackie81 (Member # 27031) on :
I had this before benzos and actually found that taking the benzo helps with it.
i suspect Bartonella infection in me too because I had the weird , dreamy vision right from the onset of my symptoms
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
I have been on xanax for vertigo for about 10 years of more without any issues. I am four months into Lyme treatment now and had derealization happen to me last week when in a crowded, loud buffet with ten friends.
I do not feel that it is the xanax since the xanax actually helps with this situatin. Alot of time derealiz is from anxiety as told to me by my LLMD and neuro lyme as we all know is major anciety.I am fine if not in an overstimulated enviroment, but I take the xanax everyday to control my vertigo (inner ear disease).
Posted by LSG Scott (Member # 21624) on :
thank for the feedback
Posted by jwall (Member # 22999) on :
LSG Scott, If you go to a benzo forum, derealization is quite a common complaint. It is a known side effect of benzos. It is also a known symptom of Lyme and coinfections. If yours started after benzo use, I would blame the benzos. If it started before, it was caused by the infection.
Benzos are supposed to help with derealization as well, but you're right, you have to keep increasing the dosage b/c some people reach tolerance (others don't). When you reach tolerance, then you are automatically thrown into withdrawal. When you increase the dosage, the derealization gets better temporarily until tolerance happens again. The only remedy for this was to just come off klonopin all together.
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
Klonopin is one of the worst for tolerance and withdrawl, isn't it? I've never used this one.
I've been on the same dose of Ativan (1mg) at night to sleep for 12 years or so. I only take Xanax during the day when I need it.
I think Diazepam (Valium) is another one that is highly addictive - it stays in your system a long long time.
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
For me, benzos actually help DR & DP.
I had DP and DR BEFORE I started benzos, so for sure they are not the cause for me; Bartonella most likely is...
I take .5 or 1mg of Ativan for sleep and it helps.
Best
Derek
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
I need to stop reading forums...I now panicked myself into thinking that I need to stop the xanax they have me on for so many years to control my inner ear disorder. I take .5mgs 4x a day and when I mentioned starting to reduce it a a quarter at a time all my docs get nuts.
DO I belive them when they say I need it for a medical condition? I am sure that when I do not take it my world spins again, but all this talk about addiction and derealization is adding more stress to my health.
Is it possible for someont to take xanax for the rest of their lives? I am scared now
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
I've taken Xanax for about 18 years. I take Ativan at night to sleep and Xanax for break through anxiety. Some days I don't need the Xanax.
If you've haven't had to increase doses and it's helping your health condition - I say don't worry.
I used to worry about being on SSRI's and Benzo's forever - but they are life changing drugs for me. I had severe social anxiety and severe general anxiety and severe depression that I inherited from both of my parents. Combine that with the Lyme and I'll do what I can to feel better and improve the quality of my life.
It's difficult "not to worry" with this disease but I think in this instance you should listen to your body and your physicians.
I say - bring on the Benzo's! (as long as they are helping, not hurting and you don't have to keep increasing dose)
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
Thanx Mojo
They write it for 1mg 4 times a day...but I refuse and take only 2 mgs throughout the day. I break them into .5 each time. I will not increase them not matter how bad I feel. It is crazy but I am afraid.
I think I am on them forever now due to the vertigo that happens when off them. I cannot last a full day without them, dont know how you do. I start to get dizzy and falling over about 5 hours between them..
Stay strong and I will go take my meds now..I tried all day not too but so dizzy that I cant sit up straight!!!
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
You are being very concerned about taking too much - and I think that is a good attitude.
Back in 2006 I was on a three different benzos and was very concerned about it. My Phys. knew I was like this and she kept telling me not to worry that I would be OK. I was so wired up that I needed what I was taking and probably more. Once I resolved this issue that was causing the uber-anxiety I quickly weaned down to my normal dose.
I am sorry you have vertigo- do they know the cause? Sometimes it's the "sand" in the middle ear (or something like that!) and I've heard folks talk about natural remedies - including a chiro treatment. I've never had it buy my FIL did.
Best of luck to you
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
Mojo
I had bells palsy at age 19,and was sent to an neuro who rushed me into a NY hospital and did a mastoidectomy (removed that hard bone behind your ear) so the facial nerve had room to swell and heal up. I only got 75% facial movement back but was left with permanent vertigo and some hearing loss.
The three nerves are together in the inner ear so when they did the surgery it disturbed the other two. Today they know this complication and no longer do the surgery..Oh well, I was one of the case studies I guess...now EVERY doc I have ever seen, including LLMD calls it a barbaric procedure.
So I have lived 30 years dizzy and functioned ok until this damn lyme thing took my life away!!! THanx for you good wishes
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
Oh, I'm sorry!
I hope something better is discovered to help you - in the meantime you are doing a great job.
Posted by tclimb (Member # 29508) on :
this is something patients do not hear about so are most likely afraid to talk about. I certainly experienced this for sometime before diagnosis as illness was culminating. of course I was treated for depression before getting to a doctor who would listen to my need for lyme terapy!
Posted by tclimb (Member # 29508) on :
where's the spell check when you need it! Posted by tlime (Member # 29508) on :
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