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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Pizotifen
Question: hi I a taking pizotifen after having an 'aura' and having some blurred vision in left side .. eye tests are good but I now feel like I am wearing tight hat all day with intermittent pain behind the eyes, especially the right eye. I have been struggling to sleep on pizotifen, like no sleep for 3 days ! so I have reduced my dosage to 0.5mg but I am considering not taking them what is the safe way to stop taking this drug and is there any other advice you could provide ?
Brief Answer:
Not to be stopped suddenly.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I understand your concerns and I shall try to answer this query at my best.Firstly,is it is migraine for which you are getting Pizotifen?, and if it is causing issues,then there is a complete range of medicines available for the condition and you can discuss with your treating physician about stopping the medicine,and switching on to an alternative medicine.
Regarding stopping this drug,it has not to be stopped suddenly to prevent withdrawl symptoms like anxiety,tremors,weight loss,dizziness. It has to be gradually tapered and then stopped.
I can see,in your history that you have already reduced the dose to 0.5 mg which is a pretty low dose.Are you taking 0.5 mg twice a day?For how long now,you are taking 0.5 mg? Let's say you are taking it for a couple of weeks,then you can safely stop it.
If you have any further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Not to be stopped suddenly.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I understand your concerns and I shall try to answer this query at my best.Firstly,is it is migraine for which you are getting Pizotifen?, and if it is causing issues,then there is a complete range of medicines available for the condition and you can discuss with your treating physician about stopping the medicine,and switching on to an alternative medicine.
Regarding stopping this drug,it has not to be stopped suddenly to prevent withdrawl symptoms like anxiety,tremors,weight loss,dizziness. It has to be gradually tapered and then stopped.
I can see,in your history that you have already reduced the dose to 0.5 mg which is a pretty low dose.Are you taking 0.5 mg twice a day?For how long now,you are taking 0.5 mg? Let's say you are taking it for a couple of weeks,then you can safely stop it.
If you have any further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your reply.
Yes the pizotifen was prescribed for migraine although still not confirmed .. The symptoms were as described with an aura then headache the issue I returned to the dr with was that I felt really 'fuzzy' following the episode .. Eyes tests were fine and ears checks were also good I did not lose any cognition but my dr thought that pizotifen would be s good idea just in case ? I took 0.5 once a day for a weeks but experienced a kind of flashing lights when closing eyes st night so returned to dr he upped my dose to 1.5mg a night I took this for a week but two days in found it impossible to sleep flashing lights became more intense I then called my dr who suggested returning to 0.5 the past 4 days .. I still feel like I'm wearing a hat - pressure around the head at eye level ? What could that be ? Yesterday I missed my pizotifen dose on purpose and managed to sleep fully ? I was considering missing again this evening and taking one tomorrow .. Do you think I could just stop right now ? I would really appreciate any suggestions to why I should be feeling this tight hat experience ?
One thing that happened before this was I took the flu vaccine for he first time .. Could this be contributing ?
Thank you for your time and consideration
Yes the pizotifen was prescribed for migraine although still not confirmed .. The symptoms were as described with an aura then headache the issue I returned to the dr with was that I felt really 'fuzzy' following the episode .. Eyes tests were fine and ears checks were also good I did not lose any cognition but my dr thought that pizotifen would be s good idea just in case ? I took 0.5 once a day for a weeks but experienced a kind of flashing lights when closing eyes st night so returned to dr he upped my dose to 1.5mg a night I took this for a week but two days in found it impossible to sleep flashing lights became more intense I then called my dr who suggested returning to 0.5 the past 4 days .. I still feel like I'm wearing a hat - pressure around the head at eye level ? What could that be ? Yesterday I missed my pizotifen dose on purpose and managed to sleep fully ? I was considering missing again this evening and taking one tomorrow .. Do you think I could just stop right now ? I would really appreciate any suggestions to why I should be feeling this tight hat experience ?
One thing that happened before this was I took the flu vaccine for he first time .. Could this be contributing ?
Thank you for your time and consideration
Brief Answer:
Pizotifen can be stopped.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up with further details.
Pizotifen can sometimes cause headache,depression and anxiety. This 'tight hat experience' can be due to Pizotifen. 0.5 mg once a day is low dose and can be stopped, for now.
Please start doing mental relaxation exercises like meditation as that will ease off your pressure(tight hat) like symptoms.
Apparently, it has been a few weeks when you took flu vaccine,so that should not be causing issues at present.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Pizotifen can be stopped.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up with further details.
Pizotifen can sometimes cause headache,depression and anxiety. This 'tight hat experience' can be due to Pizotifen. 0.5 mg once a day is low dose and can be stopped, for now.
Please start doing mental relaxation exercises like meditation as that will ease off your pressure(tight hat) like symptoms.
Apparently, it has been a few weeks when you took flu vaccine,so that should not be causing issues at present.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your advice .. I have stopped taking the orescription and feel much better, although i still gave slight tension. I have XXXXXXX XXXXXXX grade in aikido so i am well versed in breathing and meditation so will double my efforts in these areas .. It can inly be good fir me.
One further question in regard to coffee / diet etc.. I have spent my whole adult life drinking an expresso for breakfast but i have avoided this since my episode on 21 Dec. Do you believe that it could be possible that coffee contributed to my episode after all this time ? I have also tried to reduce sugar / salt but there dirs not apoear to becany worsening after eating chocolate occasionally .. What can you suggest in tegard to this ?
Thank you again
One further question in regard to coffee / diet etc.. I have spent my whole adult life drinking an expresso for breakfast but i have avoided this since my episode on 21 Dec. Do you believe that it could be possible that coffee contributed to my episode after all this time ? I have also tried to reduce sugar / salt but there dirs not apoear to becany worsening after eating chocolate occasionally .. What can you suggest in tegard to this ?
Thank you again
Brief Answer:
This is to be observed and established by yourself.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Migraine is well known to be associated with various trigger factors. Coffee and chocolate have been documented as important trigger factors.However,different individuals may have variable trigger factors.It can be best established by the individual only,whether eating a particular food item,worsens his symptoms or not.So,you are the best judge that way.
If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
This is to be observed and established by yourself.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Migraine is well known to be associated with various trigger factors. Coffee and chocolate have been documented as important trigger factors.However,different individuals may have variable trigger factors.It can be best established by the individual only,whether eating a particular food item,worsens his symptoms or not.So,you are the best judge that way.
If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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