Jump to content

The Dizziness Group: For those who are floating, boating, falling or flying


[La...]

Recommended Posts

Yes, an ENT is probably the best specialist to consult. They can do various kinds of testing, and while it's hard to get a confirmation that your balance issues are, indeed, due to the medications you're on/were on, they can at least give you information about what you do and don't have going on. For many of us, the testing comes back "normal". However, if there's something going on that needs to be addressed -- and can be addressed, then you're in the right place to get some help with it.

 

Sometimes it's a matter of elimination of other possible causes of your dizziness. If the ENT doesn't find anything, then a neurologist can be consulted as well. Where I am, we start with the family doctor, and s/he can make the referrals based on the symptoms and the possible causes. Again, keep in mind that dizziness can have a range of causes. I had to have my eyes thoroughly checked too, because vision is one-third of balance (along with the vestibular system and proprioception).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Though  elimination  did you  get to why  you have your  sxs?

 

All of the other things were ruled out. The psychiatrist I saw after all that testing felt strongly that it was caused by the meds. He'd had other patients who'd experienced the same symptoms caused by benzos and/or SSRIs/SNRIs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you Lapis! for your respond and help,  love this group it was been very helpful tome :smitten:

 

You're welcome, bonty! Glad to help.  :-*

 

By the way, I was still on benzos and antidepressants (SNRI, then an SSRI) when I went through all that investigation and testing. The dizziness started during my fourth year on clonazepam, but it wasn't mentioned as a possible cause until I really started to ask questions about it. If I did bring it up, I was told that it was "such a small dose" that it wouldn't cause such problems.

 

Having done so much research now, I just find that unbelievable. There's a ton of info that says that all of the psychiatric medications can affect balance. There are so many neurotransmitters involved in balance, and all of these medications affect neurotransmitters (by design). Dizziness is listed as a possible side effect of all of them. Also, benzodiazepines are considered to be "vestibular suppressants" in the medical literature, they're sometimes prescribed for some types of dizziness -- but they're only meant for short-term use. If you suppress the vestibular system for years, what do you expect will happen?

 

:(

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Lapis2

 

Thanks for the link.

 

My pleasure, MrX! We all need some good news. And it's a hugely generous thing that this BB did, because many people leave and don't come back to update us. Sharing such good news provides hope and emotional sustenance for anyone still in the trenches. The fact that SheWhoMust got her balance back 100% is just phenomenal!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you Lapis! for your respond and help,  love this group it was been very helpful tome :smitten:

 

You're welcome, bonty! Glad to help.  :-*

 

By the way, I was still on benzos and antidepressants (SNRI, then an SSRI) when I went through all that investigation and testing. The dizziness started during my fourth year on clonazepam, but it wasn't mentioned as a possible cause until I really started to ask questions about it. If I did bring it up, I was told that it was "such a small dose" that it wouldn't cause such problems.

 

Having done so much research now, I just find that unbelievable. There's a ton of info that says that all of the psychiatric medications can affect balance. There are so many neurotransmitters involved in balance, and all of these medications affect neurotransmitters (by design). Dizziness is listed as a possible side effect of all of them. Also, benzodiazepines are considered to be "vestibular suppressants" in the medical literature, they're sometimes prescribed for some types of dizziness -- but they're only meant for short-term use. If you suppress the vestibular system for years, what do you expect will happen?

 

:(

I apologize I just found your response, I have the same issue with the Dr. I see he  says Im in such small dose,  Im are rare case  :'( Its  very disturbing to have  a dr. tell you that...

I also need  proof  bc im on disability... a neurologist can do a test as well? I also have muscle weakness

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you Lapis! for your respond and help,  love this group it was been very helpful tome :smitten:

 

You're welcome, bonty! Glad to help.  :-*

 

By the way, I was still on benzos and antidepressants (SNRI, then an SSRI) when I went through all that investigation and testing. The dizziness started during my fourth year on clonazepam, but it wasn't mentioned as a possible cause until I really started to ask questions about it. If I did bring it up, I was told that it was "such a small dose" that it wouldn't cause such problems.

 

Having done so much research now, I just find that unbelievable. There's a ton of info that says that all of the psychiatric medications can affect balance. There are so many neurotransmitters involved in balance, and all of these medications affect neurotransmitters (by design). Dizziness is listed as a possible side effect of all of them. Also, benzodiazepines are considered to be "vestibular suppressants" in the medical literature, they're sometimes prescribed for some types of dizziness -- but they're only meant for short-term use. If you suppress the vestibular system for years, what do you expect will happen?

 

:(

I apologize I just found your response, I have the same issue with the Dr. I see he  says Im in such small dose,  Im are rare case  :'( Its  very disturbing to have  a dr. tell you that...

I also need  proof  bc im on disability... a neurologist can do a test as well? I also have muscle weakness

 

Well, yes, neurologists do certain kinds of tests and ENTs do other kinds of tests. They're looking at possible causes of dizziness from their respective points of view. Again, bearing in mind that dizziness can have different causes, these doctors will have different types of tests to offer in order to rule things out.

 

Here are a few possible causes of dizziness: high blood pressure, low blood pressure, stroke, MS, head injury, vestibular issues (e.g. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Meniere's Disease, migraine-related vertigo, Mal de Debarquement Syndrome), panic attacks, all kinds of medications, visual issues, tumours....and the list goes on. There are different sensations of what people refer to as "dizziness" too. For example, one can feel spinning or sensations of floating/being on a boat, or they can feel faint. Vision can be affected too.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[75...]

Hi evrybody!

I've been here before right after my first taper jump. I had then a lot of dizziness and brain zaps right after the jump. They went on during the three months off but  they had subsided a lot before my reinstatement. Now I've been off for two months after another year taper and not dizziness so far, at least not as bad as before. No brain zaps at all.

My feeling is that although I did a  10 months taper the first time I was not hundred percent when I jumped. Important thing that I did on the second taper was to really cut on carbohydrates from my diet and added more meats mainly fish. As supplements I took a lot of omega 3 and curcumin. Obviously after my bad experience with L theanine I won't ever take any supplements that target my brain.

I just want to share that is my feeling that food plays a Hugh roll  as how we feel and how we cope with body and mental  reactions after and during withdrawal.

Hope this help to some.

Mice

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi evrybody!

I've been here before right after my first taper jump. I had then a lot of dizziness and brain zaps right after the jump. They went on during the three months off but  they had subsided a lot before my reinstatement. Now I've been off for two months after another year taper and not dizziness so far, at least not as bad as before. No brain zaps at all.

My feeling is that although I did a  10 months taper the first time I was not hundred percent when I jumped. Important thing that I did on the second taper was to really cut on carbohydrates from my diet and added more meats mainly fish. As supplements I took a lot of omega 3 and curcumin. Obviously after my bad experience with L theanine I won't ever take any supplements that target my brain.

I just want to share that is my feeling that food plays a Hugh roll  as how we feel and how we cope with body and mental  reactions after and during withdrawal.

Hope this help to some.

Mice

 

I'm so glad to hear that you're doing better, Micedana! Wonderful news! Thanks for sharing your update with us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi All,

I don't know how to update my original post but I think it's important for everyone to know that after 4 years of dizziness AND suffering a concussion that worsened symptoms for 2 years- PLUS going on/off another terrible antidepressant, I am HEALED.  I had debilitating dizziness and more w/d symptoms than I can explain- to the point of entering a mental health ward for a few days.  I think it important that people know you can heal from this. I had multiple setbacks and more brain damage from the concussion but here I am- fully joyful, stable, grounded and full of life again! You will be too.

 

Brussellsprout

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi All,

I don't know how to update my original post but I think it's important for everyone to know that after 4 years of dizziness AND suffering a concussion that worsened symptoms for 2 years- PLUS going on/off another terrible antidepressant, I am HEALED.  I had debilitating dizziness and more w/d symptoms than I can explain- to the point of entering a mental health ward for a few days.  I think it important that people know you can heal from this. I had multiple setbacks and more brain damage from the concussion but here I am- fully joyful, stable, grounded and full of life again! You will be too.

 

Brussellsprout

 

This is such great news Brussellsprout!  It would be so great if you wrote a success story, there are too many people suffering with these symptoms who feel hopeless and your story would provide them with hope.

 

I hope you'll consider it.  :smitten:

 

Pamster

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll try to figure out how to do write a success story. I am only 6 months fully medication-free and I figured a success story is most appropriate at 12 months off.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll try to figure out how to do write a success story. I am only 6 months fully medication-free and I figured a success story is most appropriate at 12 months off.

 

No pressure, just whenever you feel ready.  There isn't really a time table for writing one, its up to you and if you feel you've recovered.  Here is the link to the board just in case.  Success Stories  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Dizzy Buddies,

Here's some good news about the vestibular system! It's in the form of an abstract I just came across on PubMed when was searching for recent studies on this topic.

 

"The adult brain produces new neurons to restore balance after vestibular loss"

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32614308/

 

Abstract

 

Following partial or total loss of peripheral vestibular inputs, a phenomenon called central vestibular compensation takes place in the hours and days following the injury. This neuroplasticity process involves a mosaic of profound rearrangements within the brain stem vestibular nuclei. Among them, the setting of a new neuronal network is maybe the most original and unexpected, as it involves an adult reactive neurogenesis in a brain area not reported as neurogenic so far. Both the survival and functionality of this newly generated neuronal network will depend on its integration to pre-existing networks in the deafferented structure. Far from being aberrant, this new structural organization allows the use of inputs from other sensory modalities (vision and proprioception) to promote the restoration of the posture and equilibrium. We choose here to detail this model, which does not belong to the traditional niches of adult neurogenesis, but it is the best example so far of the reparative role of the adult neurogenesis. Not only it represents an original neuroplasticity mechanism, interesting for basic neuroscience, but it also opens new medical perspectives for the development of therapeutic approaches to alleviate vestibular disorders.

 

I'm not sure how this pertains to what we're experiencing here, but to read good news about "adult neurogenesis"...well, that's amazing!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, great news. Publishing date is recent too so it must be accurate.

 

Thanks a lot Lapis2.

 

Hi MrX,

My pleasure! It's really amazing to me to read something like this: "Among them, the setting of a new neuronal network is maybe the most original and unexpected, as it involves an adult reactive neurogenesis in a brain area not reported as neurogenic so far. "

 

It shows that research is constantly discovering new, positive things about the brain.  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Among them, the setting of a new neuronal network is maybe the most original and unexpected, as it involves an adult reactive neurogenesis in a brain area not reported as neurogenic so far. "

I thank God everyday for this kind of good news and people like you are in my prayers too!

 

Thank you so much. I want this vestibular damage get healed someday. This dizziness and boaty sensations aren't that bad like others in here yet it's very debilitating sigh.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Dizzy Buddies,

I'm still checking out the studies on PubMed to see what might pertain to us. I just came across this one, and it mentions "diagnostic errors" when it comes to dizziness. Having read quite a few abstracts, I would say that that appears to be quite common.

 

"Vestibular vertigo"

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32678559/

 

Abstract

 

Vestibular vertigo is most often caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine or stroke. Features, diagnosis and treatment of vestibular vertigo in patients with these diseases are discussed. The authors analyze common diagnostic errors based on the data of 700 outpatients (205 men and 495 women, aged 25-88 years, mean age 55 years). It is noted that the cause of vertigo is often misdiagnosed with vertebral-basilar insufficiency, discirculatory encephalopathy, cervical spine pathology; at the same time, BPPV, Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis or vestibular migraine is diagnosed less often. This fact reflects the lack of awareness of physicians about these diseases. BPPV, Meniere's disease and migraine are effectively treated and therefore their diagnosis and adequate treatment are of great importance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to the neurologist to do some tests and told him I was off balance, dizziness, blurry vision... he said usually it lasts 2 weeks but I'm still tapering... Thats so not true at all... he recommend  a pill for my dizziness, that people take for Meniere's disease with a bunch of side affects.... >:(

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...