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Question: I have been battling with tremendous anxiety, insomnia and headaches, since I stopped drinking. It has been almost 7 weeks now, and the episodes are still pretty intense. I am taking a Seroquel, which was prescribed for me to combat the anxiety and insomnia. The medication certainly helps, but I wanted to get your opinion on if you thought this current situation that I am experiencing is out of the ordinary and should I still be feeling this type of anxiety. Also, when do you think that these symptoms might start subsiding? Thanks in advance
Brief Answer:
I will encourage you not to relent your efforts!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
The anxiety you have reported is attributable to the fact that you stopped drinking alcohol. Something has changed and the body has to adapt to that. This is clearly part of the withdrawal and weaning process. These symptoms may be a lot discomforting but compared to the advantage of not having to deal with both the short term and long term health problems associated with excess alcohol consumption, it is worth it. Stay the cause and you would triumph.
Seroquel is not typically used for patients going through alcohol cessation. Do you have any other problems of anxiety before you stopped alcohol? If yes, then I can understand why. If you didn't, benzodiazepines like clonazepam may be better options in persons going through alcohol cessation and having symptoms of anxiety. I will like that you ask your doctor about this and hear what his thoughts are.
When the symptoms would disappear completely is not clearly defined. However, the peak must have certainly passed and every other day there would be an improvement in the severity of symptoms. I will like you to take the improvement and not the completet cessation of symptoms as this may be a long process.
I hope this helps. I wis you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
I will encourage you not to relent your efforts!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
The anxiety you have reported is attributable to the fact that you stopped drinking alcohol. Something has changed and the body has to adapt to that. This is clearly part of the withdrawal and weaning process. These symptoms may be a lot discomforting but compared to the advantage of not having to deal with both the short term and long term health problems associated with excess alcohol consumption, it is worth it. Stay the cause and you would triumph.
Seroquel is not typically used for patients going through alcohol cessation. Do you have any other problems of anxiety before you stopped alcohol? If yes, then I can understand why. If you didn't, benzodiazepines like clonazepam may be better options in persons going through alcohol cessation and having symptoms of anxiety. I will like that you ask your doctor about this and hear what his thoughts are.
When the symptoms would disappear completely is not clearly defined. However, the peak must have certainly passed and every other day there would be an improvement in the severity of symptoms. I will like you to take the improvement and not the completet cessation of symptoms as this may be a long process.
I hope this helps. I wis you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I thank you for your quick response-it is very helpful, and encouraging. I do have spurts where I feel better, but then the anxiety feelings come back , and sometimes( like today) very strongly. I am being told these feelings will subside at some point, but it is still QUITE difficult when you are going through them . I was I on Ativan for about six days, and then the doctor switched me to the Seroquel, because I didn't want to stay on something so addicting. I am not aware of any prior anxiety feelings while I was drinking, but who knows-I may have been masking them with the alcohol. The doctor is starting me on clonidine today, to help with my spiking blood pressure, and she says that this medication also helps with the physical symptoms of anxiety. I would like to get your thoughts on that.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Brief Answer:
Let's see how well you do on this new addition!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I now understand the basis of you being on seroquel and not ativan.
Yes, clonidine has some effect on sympathetic function and should help with anxiety. But as you know, this is not the main function of clonidine.
I always like to give time and see how well a medication responds. I will suggest that you start the drug and let's monitor too see what changes especially with the anxiety. This would be helpful.
Keep me updated as you navigate through this so that we can work together to fix it. Above all, resist the easy way out, returning to alcohol consumption.
Let's see how well you do on this new addition!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I now understand the basis of you being on seroquel and not ativan.
Yes, clonidine has some effect on sympathetic function and should help with anxiety. But as you know, this is not the main function of clonidine.
I always like to give time and see how well a medication responds. I will suggest that you start the drug and let's monitor too see what changes especially with the anxiety. This would be helpful.
Keep me updated as you navigate through this so that we can work together to fix it. Above all, resist the easy way out, returning to alcohol consumption.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
One more thing. My dosage of the Seroquel was increased a couple of days ago, and since then, I have been very brain foggy-almost catatonic at times(all I want to do is sleep)-it is a scary feeling. I also have a Chronic Fatigue(candida overgrowth), which at times makes me feel very foggy as a result. Is this condition a result of the increased medication, or do you think this is still more from the alcohol withdrawal. I know you mentioned that the brutal anxiety( as well as the other various symptoms) that I am having is a because of the chemical imbalance in my brain since I stopped drinking, and so I am under the believe that my brain is still in working order(I had a brain MRI about 5 months ago which was totally fine), and should return to normalcy at some point. Please give me your feedback on this , as I am feeling really horrible. Thanks in advance.
Brief Answer:
Take a little longer before we conclude!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It would be difficult at this time to say whether these symptoms are caused by the increased dosage o not. I will suggest that you take it for at least a week and if you continue to feel same, we may attribute it to this drug and consider other options.
I believe your brain i still in good shape. Do not get worried about this now. What matters most at this time is that you are making necessary changes that would protect the brain forever. Be proud of it and stay positive.
I hope this helps. I wish you well.
Take a little longer before we conclude!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It would be difficult at this time to say whether these symptoms are caused by the increased dosage o not. I will suggest that you take it for at least a week and if you continue to feel same, we may attribute it to this drug and consider other options.
I believe your brain i still in good shape. Do not get worried about this now. What matters most at this time is that you are making necessary changes that would protect the brain forever. Be proud of it and stay positive.
I hope this helps. I wish you well.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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