I am still stuck in this cycle with the benzodiazapine medication. It is very tiring. I cannot seem to get off of it. I have been tapering off the Diazepam after switching from Lorazepam for two months now. When I recently tried to stop completely a week or so ago, I began to get recurrent rapid heartrate. It was so severe that I eventually got a Holter Montor from a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. By the time I got the monitor, I had gone back on the medication, so extreme 140+ bpm episodes that I had been experiencing for about three days before was not recorded, though they did say I had tachycardia due to some sort of stress, and finding the source of the stress was important.
I can tell that the Diazepam irritates my system. I do not have any autoimmune disease, though the symptoms this medication gives me mimics those types of conditions. I had a full rhumetology panel done because of it. I am certain that I am either allergic or having a toxic reaction to this medication. I believe the reason why is a combination of having taken Seroquel for many years (around 13) and stopping it, as well as the stress induced by taking a homeopathic remedy that further activated my misfiring mechanisms. Seroquel works very strongly on the histamine receptors, and hence it is a very heavy sedative. I took it unnecessarily for many years for anxiety. It made me sleep 12 hours a day. It had a strong impact on my body's development. It doesn't seem illogical to assume that it has effected my histamine receptors, perhaps damaged them, or impared their ability to work properly on their own. I have had many allergic reactions to antidepressants and other medications this year. They manifest in the form of boils, hives and rashes and intense stomach pain. I believe my body will heal once I get off of all medications completely.
I am now taking about .75mg Diazepam a day. The heartrate issue is becoming more of a problem, and harder to stabalize. I realize that my tolerance is going up with time, so even though I went back up on the medication with the onset of the rapid heartrate at night, I am still withdrawling more and more as the days go on. I am fearful of what is to come completely stopping the drug, but I know it is time to do it. I feel that I need medical monitoring to withdrawal safely. I do not think my body is reacting in a predictable manner. It is hard to get any doctor to understand my perspective. They all seem to disagree that the Diazepam could be causing this problem, but I have documented my taper and it is clear to see there is a negative causal relationship between the dose of the Diazepam and the frequency and intensity of this rapid heartrate. I also regret to say that I am having mild hallucinations coupled with extreme anxiety right before dosing the Diazepam.
What is even more controversial is that the now chronic and unexplained pelvic inflammation that I am experiencing is declining as I go down on the Diazepam. The stomach pain is decreasing as well. But I now have more symptom of withdrawal, and that includes chest pain as well as the need to sleep coupled with voilent startle responses during sleep, hypersensitivity to excitement, sensations of the ground shaking, and throat and lung irritation.
I am almost certain that I am allergic to the Diazepam as well as dependent on it. I need to get off this drug. It is a very peculiar and delicate situation. I am sad that I have not been able to get the understanding of any medical professional, as it has made this process much more distressing.
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