Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia?

heyK · 04-15-2008, 03:03 PM

If you take away the globalized pain associated with Fibromyalgia, the symptom profile is very much like the possible symptom profile of withdrawal. It includes: fatigue, sleep disorder, anxiety, light/sound sensitivity, headaches, cognitive fog, and others. And Fibromyalgia seems to be initiated by some sort of physiological stressor which causes a major prolonged fight or flight response—kind of like SSRI withdrawal. But the prognosis for Fibromyalgia is pretty poor, whereas it seems like people do recover from SSRI withdrawal. Why the difference?

Katesmom · 04-15-2008, 04:22 PM

I don't know, but I'll tell you one irony--SSRIs are often prescribed FOR fibromyalgia. Criminal.

scotia21 · 04-15-2008, 04:44 PM

I believe that a lot of fibromyalgia is just SSRI side effects that is misdiagnosed because doctors don't want to believe that this crap can cause pain like that.

Cindywho · 04-15-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katesmom

I don't know, but I'll tell you one irony--SSRIs are often prescribed FOR fibromyalgia. Criminal.

My mother takes Paxil for fibro.

Amaya's Nana · 04-15-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindywho

My mother takes Paxil for fibro.

My sister takes Cymbalta for it!!! Funny, she never had a fibromyalgia symptom until she went on Zoloft about 12 years ago. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......

heyK · 04-15-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotia21

I believe that a lot of fibromyalgia is just SSRI side effects that is misdiagnosed because doctors don't want to believe that this crap can cause pain like that.

Interesting...so what you've noticed is that Fibromyalgia tends to come AFTER SSRI use rather than prior to it most often?

daisyydaisy · 04-15-2008, 07:30 PM

My mom has fibro and has not used SSRI's. however her thryoid fluctuates off and on being borderline.

altostrata · 04-15-2008, 07:51 PM

Fibromyalgia and antidepressant withdrawal syndrome are similar in that both may involve destabilization of the autonomic nervous system. Also, for some people, fibromyalgia is considered a condition of neurological hypersensitivity.

Casey1231 · 04-15-2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyK

Interesting...so what you've noticed is that Fibromyalgia tends to come AFTER SSRI use rather than prior to it most often?

Personally, I had horrendous fibromyalgia before ever going on an SSRI. But fibromyalgia symptoms (pain, fatigue, cog-fog, emotional lability, etc.) can be caused by so many things that it would be nearly impossible to trace the original causative factor, IMHO.

heyK · 04-15-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altostrata

Fibromyalgia and antidepressant withdrawal syndrome are similar in that both may involve destabilization of the autonomic nervous system. Also, for some people, fibromyalgia is considered a condition of neurological hypersensitivity.

But why does the prognosis for Fibromyalgia seem to be that it doesn't go away, but in withdrawal it supposedly does?

daisyydaisy · 04-16-2008, 12:19 AM

Likely because the SSRI have already done the damage and densensitised the nervous system. Fibro is an oversensitivity of the neuro system as Altostrata had stated. I think the SSRI dull this part of your body so that after you wean its like the damaged portion remains...damaged so to speak. Its like pinching yourself...after a while you don't feel the pain.

Songbird · 04-16-2008, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyK

But why does the prognosis for Fibromyalgia seem to be that it doesn't go away, but in withdrawal it supposedly does?

I guess it is because, with SSRI withdrawal, the causative factor has been removed.

LarryJ · 04-16-2008, 04:31 AM

I dont know much about fibromyalgia, but has anyone who has it ever tried this "cure"?

http://users.adelphia.net/~sherry423/GuaiWhey/index.htm

04-16-2008, 10:06 AM

I didn't know their was mental symptoms involved in fibromylagia.

scotia21 · 04-16-2008, 11:20 AM

Fibromyalgia is another lovely disease that my mother and her doctor are convinced that she has. She just will not believe that it has anything to do with the fact that she has been on ADs for over 20 years.

04-15-2008, 03:03 PM	#1
heyK Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 418	Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia? If you take away the globalized pain associated with Fibromyalgia, the symptom profile is very much like the possible symptom profile of withdrawal. It includes: fatigue, sleep disorder, anxiety, light/sound sensitivity, headaches, cognitive fog, and others. And Fibromyalgia seems to be initiated by some sort of physiological stressor which causes a major prolonged fight or flight response—kind of like SSRI withdrawal. But the prognosis for Fibromyalgia is pretty poor, whereas it seems like people do recover from SSRI withdrawal. Why the difference? __________________ 1993 - end of 2001: Zoloft (75 mg) 2002 - 2003 (total of 11 months): Prozac + Buspar (to deal with the Zoloft withdrawal) Off all drugs for a year going through withdrawal with no letup in symptoms, so in 2004 I (regrettably) went back on Zoloft to try a slower taper. 11/19/05 - Finally off again.

04-15-2008, 04:22 PM	#2
Katesmom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,706	Re: Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia? I don't know, but I'll tell you one irony--SSRIs are often prescribed FOR fibromyalgia. Criminal. __________________ Katesmom aka Kim started Paxil Oct. 2003 for PIH Paxil free since 19 Jul 2005 ". . .the cruelest lies are often told without a word. . .the kindest truths are often spoken, never heard." -- Ben Folds

04-15-2008, 04:44 PM	#3
scotia21 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 5,419	Re: Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia? I believe that a lot of fibromyalgia is just SSRI side effects that is misdiagnosed because doctors don't want to believe that this crap can cause pain like that. __________________ 1/05/07 20mg-17.5 1/20 17.5-15 2/24 15-12.5 3/08 12.5-10 3/29 10-7.5 4/12 7.5-5 6/15 5-3.75 6/30 3.75-2.5 7/28 2.5-1.5ish 8/11 1.5-1 8/25 1- zero "Keep lighting candles, eventually nobody will be in the dark" me "Why is it so hard for everybody to believe that a pill can change brain chemistry for the better but not for the worse?" me "Time does not come in pill form" me

04-15-2008, 07:30 PM	#7
daisyydaisy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 608	Re: Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia? My mom has fibro and has not used SSRI's. however her thryoid fluctuates off and on being borderline. __________________ "Truth is what stands the test of experience" (Einstein) Feb. 21-08 Paxil 25.0 - 22.5mg March 27-08 20.0mg May 2-08 17.5mg june 5-08 15.0mg july 11-08 12.5mg nausea,heaving july 24-08 15.0mg bit better july 29-08 17.5mg bit better august 4-08 20mg and staying put Synthroid .075MG 2003

04-15-2008, 07:51 PM	#8
altostrata Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 4,652	Re: Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia and antidepressant withdrawal syndrome are similar in that both may involve destabilization of the autonomic nervous system. Also, for some people, fibromyalgia is considered a condition of neurological hypersensitivity. __________________ '97-'99 Prozac 10mg, tapered, no problem '02-'04 Paxil 10mg, tapered 1mg/wk Oct '04 10/04-12/04 Hypomania, sweating, brain zaps 12/04-7/05 Insomnia, weepy, pseudo-anxiety, anorgasmia 1/05-1/06 Wellbutrin 100-250mg 9/05-4/06 Disabled -- fatigue 1/06-5/07 Vits C, D3, E, mag, zinc, fish oil, acupuncture, whey protein isolate, melatonin help 1/08-1/09 Disabled -- severe insomnia Recovering with aid of an extraordinary MD. See http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...?p=582889#post

04-16-2008, 12:19 AM	#11
daisyydaisy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 608	Re: Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia? Likely because the SSRI have already done the damage and densensitised the nervous system. Fibro is an oversensitivity of the neuro system as Altostrata had stated. I think the SSRI dull this part of your body so that after you wean its like the damaged portion remains...damaged so to speak. Its like pinching yourself...after a while you don't feel the pain. __________________ "Truth is what stands the test of experience" (Einstein) Feb. 21-08 Paxil 25.0 - 22.5mg March 27-08 20.0mg May 2-08 17.5mg june 5-08 15.0mg july 11-08 12.5mg nausea,heaving july 24-08 15.0mg bit better july 29-08 17.5mg bit better august 4-08 20mg and staying put Synthroid .075MG 2003

04-16-2008, 04:31 AM	#13
LarryJ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 613	Re: Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia? I dont know much about fibromyalgia, but has anyone who has it ever tried this "cure"? http://users.adelphia.net/~sherry423/GuaiWhey/index.htm __________________ Larry Started 10 mg Pexeva June 2007 Started taper - January 2008 Completed taper to 0 using LMS program - June 2008 "Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." "To face and accept one's nervous symptoms without adding second fear and to let time pass for recovery---how important this is. It works miracles if you are prepared to do just this." - Dr. Claire Weekes

04-16-2008, 10:06 AM	#14
colinstelfox Posts: n/a	Re: Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia? I didn't know their was mental symptoms involved in fibromylagia.

04-16-2008, 11:20 AM	#15
scotia21 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 5,419	Re: Why is Withdrawal Like Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is another lovely disease that my mother and her doctor are convinced that she has. She just will not believe that it has anything to do with the fact that she has been on ADs for over 20 years. __________________ 1/05/07 20mg-17.5 1/20 17.5-15 2/24 15-12.5 3/08 12.5-10 3/29 10-7.5 4/12 7.5-5 6/15 5-3.75 6/30 3.75-2.5 7/28 2.5-1.5ish 8/11 1.5-1 8/25 1- zero "Keep lighting candles, eventually nobody will be in the dark" me "Why is it so hard for everybody to believe that a pill can change brain chemistry for the better but not for the worse?" me "Time does not come in pill form" me

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