Autoimmune ?

Has anyone developed an autoimmune condition either during their taper or during withdrawal?

I would like to know as well

Yes, I did.  I was having interdose and tolerance w/d symptoms and went to my doc and he sent me to specialists.  A neurologist ran an anti-ANA, anti-nuclear antibody, screening test and it came back positive.  Doc then sent me to a Rheumatologist and she ran a bunch of tests and an antibody came back postive, a procoagulant antibody.  I was diagnosed with Lupus, the blood vessel type and not the tissue type.  I was then diagnosed by a Hematologist with Thrombophilia--at risk of stroke or heart attack, after he reviewed all my current medical records.  My opinion is that people who have withdrawal symptoms should be screened for autoantibodies.  Another lady on here was having horrific withdrawal symptoms and finally the docs found a bunch of autoantibodies in her body which were attacking her brain and body.  She was diagnosed with Limbic Encephalitis, inflammation of her brain.  It was caused by high amounts of alot of autoantibodies.  Docs always ignore the antibody response when people go to see them.  If someone is having bad withdrawal symptoms and go to their doc and he says all your tests are normal, then the doc isn't running the right tests, IMO.  Something is obviously wrong. 

Me too - Just diagnosed - Positive ANA, low complements, antiprothrombin IgM - for now the Dr says no Lupus and he is just diagnosing me with auto immune hives and swelling (my symptoms) - positive its from withdrawal, but no Dr (including this one) would ever connect the two -

 

Becksblue - are you on medications? I was offered an anti malaria drug, but so far, I have not taken - I'm using LDN and lots of benadryl  - I did start taking low dose aspirin again - are you better?

 

I would love to get a poll from all of who here has had this - there is a theory about what benzo's can do - and it would explain possibly how these drugs and withdrawal can cause autoimmune conditions - and many of the symptoms of withdrawal mimic autoimmune conditions as well - for me - i had symptoms of MS and RA - during and following my last taper - but when my ANA was tested then - it was all negative - this time, no such luck

 

i hope others reply to this thread

I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and hashimoto's thyroiditis (borderline high antibodies) while on Benzos.  May have had thyroid issues before benzos but, tests were ok and never diagnosed with anything thyroid related.  Never had the cystitis symptoms before benzos-no definitive test/lab results but, symptoms are similar.  Sooo hard to figure out if benzos and withdrawals are mimicking these diseases or causing flare ups...ugh.

Burned Out thank you for replying - I'd really like to see how many here were diagnosed on or during withdrawal

 

its uncanny to me how auto immune has sky rocketed especially since the newer benzos really became popular and more heavily prescribed long term

I have all the symptoms of an autoimmune disorder & all my tests came back negative. Doc thought I may have lupus or something else. Can't find anything other than a slightly elevated red blood count. As I went lower on my taper, many symptoms improved. (bladder issues resolved, fatigue & severe aches/pains resolved. My beet red face & extreme flushing are improving.

 

I'm convinced benzos mess with almost every system.

Yes, my ANA was 1:80 and should be less than 1:40. I got the results this week.  FLIPRAIN talked about this during her withdrawal -- that she was diagnosed with lupus, but after 3.5 years off, she doesn't have it.  I wonder what is going on in our systems during withdrawal that causes this?

Ledgekay - I've heard a few theories having to do with oxidative stress on cells and then our bodies don't recognize and attack, etc.  also theories about inflammation - certainly withdrawal symptoms mimic many autoimmune illnesses - thats to be expected but I'm very interested in knowing who actually turned up positive with antibodies -

 

I live and breathe by Fliprains story - not only have I been diagnosed now with autoimmune illnesses (3 so far) but I also developed sleep apnea on the drug (CPAP's are NOT sexy - just ask my husband who now calls me darth) - I also have had some pretty serious vision issues - black spots that only resolved with an updose and a bogus (I believe) diagnoses of thyroid eye disease - my eyes are not bulging but in the scan they did - one Dr saw what he thought was indication of it - a second dr said no - and I believe Flip had some serious vision stuff -

 

Anyway - I hope everyone will continue to bump this thread and hopefully get some traction - get a good head count

 

and like I said - praying for an outcome like Flip's - that it all goes away.........Thanks to everyone for replying and thank you Carol Jean for starting

l think my latest health issues would fall under this category, at least of an immune system run amok.  In the last few months I am dealing with rosacea (both of the facial skin and eyes) and eczema. In the distant past there have been unexplained situations of arthralgias and rashes but none of the lupus or parvovirus tests confirmed any definite diagnosis.  My suspicion is that during the healing process since getting off benzos my nervous system is on overdrive and with that has come the skin issues. Perhaps once the healing finally occurs and things settle down so too will the skin issues settle down.

I developed rosacea of the face and eyes at six and a half months off.......never had any skin issues.  I am sure it was caused by the stress of withdrawal.  And I am hoping it goes away when the withdrawal substantially subsides......I refuse to treat it with any antibiotics

 

CJ

Although low dose antibiotics are supposed to help with rosacea it seems that avoiding stress (huge challenge), alcohol, temperature extremes, spicy foods and using a gentle skin care regime provide the most relief. Restasis is helping a ton with the dry eye symptoms.  I have no financial interest at all the Paula's Choice company but find their line of products for sensitive/rosacea skin is helpful.  They are available online, their prices are a lot more affordable than prescription creams and there is a lot of science to back up their products.