no sleep /panic attacks

[Thornthorpe]

I have been off antidepressants since Christmas , but have started with panic attacks and serve anxiety which seems to be getting worse everyday .dread nights as seem to panic when try to sleep feel like I am afraid to sleep , I had been on floxoitine for 3 years then my doctor changed them to mirtazapine which made me feel dreadful as well as made me gain weight which I didn’t need to do , so over Christmas weened my self off them felt ok for a while ,but the anxiety and awful panic attacks have just seemed to ram up my fibromyalgia symptoms .years ago had rosacea cleared up after menopause but that has also come back . Has anyone any ideas on herbal medicine for anxiety and help to sleep ,

[yorkshire_lass]

I sometimes make a cup of Pukka ‘Night Time’ herbal tea, the smell is lovely and soothing.

Coming off antidepressants can be tough, with unwanted side effects, so I’d urge you to go back to your GP and ask for her/his advice.

Sorry you’re having such a difficult time 😢

[KimiJay]

You certainly need to have a break from all you are going through coming off the meds. I can only give personal experience but I am doing quite well on Wood Betony tea right now. Limit to three per day perhaps? It may well help with sleeping too. Meanwhile you will naturally become very knowledgeable about teas for sleep now because you've decided to go that way and the information will find you. Health food shops helpful and will have the products you need. Just, whatever you do don't go anywhere near licorice in tea. Pukka puts it in everything and it can wind up some people like me to get more stressy.

I also resort to short courses of Rhodiola Rosea during the daytime only. It gives me a lift during the day and helps to make internal thoughts more positive and hopeful. Check out internet for what clashes with it though but don't believe all the hype out there either.

- Gut biome also important to work on eventually but see how the tea helps you first and five minutes every now and then doing slow deep breathing. (I'm glancing out of my window on and off as I write this. There is still some brightness and activity and there is always something surprising happening up there in what might seem emptiness. So take time out and drink in tea and sky and see what both activities together can do for you? 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️

[Brigga]

whenever I’ve tried to come off my ADs (3 attempts) I found withdrawal symptoms kicked in around the 6-8 week point. Each time I’ve given in and gone back to my usual dose. I’m trying again but tapering much more slowly this time. It sounds like you’re going through the toughest part at the moment. If you can ride it out you’ll probably start to feel better in a couple of weeks x

[Tiswot]

St John’s Wort is natures equivalent of an SSRI. Why did you come off Fluoxetine? If it worked before it might be worth going back to your GP and talking things through with him/her.

[bookish]

Could I ask if anyone has checked your vitamin B12 and folate, and ideally magnesium, levels yet? It is quite possible given your age and other health conditions that you are not able to absorb well. Serum tests alone cannot rule out a deficiency (no test can) but may rule one in, as long as you aren't aready taking any B vitamins. If you are, things get a bit more complicated. You mention having had covid, and bladder control issues, plus the anxiety and panic attacks, which shout B vits depletion and low magnesium at me! Please don't treat before testing, especially the Bs as it will distort the results. Additionally Fluoxetine may deplete CoQ10, magnesium, melatonin, vit B2, B6, B9 (folate), B12, possibly to a lesser extent vits D and C, zinc, B3, glutathione. If you were already a bit low or have (epi)genetic predispositions to being low, this may have been enough to push you into deficiency. The magnesium should help you sleep as well as being calming and essential for rather a lot of bodily functions. Cheers