[GreyGoose]

Here's my story...

I'm a long-time anxiety, panic attack, OCD, depression sufferer.

I Had a MAJOR panic attack/Anxiety episode about 3 months ago (triggered by something unrelated to any drugs I was on or the prostatitis)

I Developed prostatitis at about this same time (again, unrelated)

I took Cipro XR (1,000mg) for a month

I took Xanax for 2 weeks

I took Ativan for 2 weeks

I took Oxazepam for a month (only at night)

I'm having almost constant anxiety w/ occassional panic attacks

Half-awake/half-asleep most nights, unrestful sleep and waking too early.

I jump at every little noise. I feel like my face and various other parts are "vibrating/trembling" with anxiety (weird, I know). If I bow my head like I'm taking a nap, a few seconds later my lower lip will start quivering a little bit like I'm nervous or something.

Last night it took me 45 minutes to fall asleep, I only slept 3 hours and during that three hours I woke up three different times kicking like crazy and hollering after having nightmares.

It's been like this off and on for a number of nights. I took Neurontin for two nights and it gave me bad anxiety (100mg dose) and really bad anxiety (250mg dose) so I had to stop. I have been taking Vistaril and sleeping like a baby with it but I've never had SUSTAINED problems sleeping like this.

As I said, I took Cipro for a month and I know that Cipro can really boost the heck out of any caffeine in your system so if you take a 1,000mg Cipro tablet and then drink 2 cups of coffee, it's like you drank 10 cups of coffee!. I've also heard that Cipro can cause delayed effects, stay in your system for months or even years and I'm finding that I get extreme anxiety/jumpiness with even one cup of coffee and I hav'nt taken any Cipro in about a month. And yet, when I drink coffee now, I get the same intense anxiety I got when I drank coffee while on the Cipro XR (1,000mg). Could it STILL be in my system??.

I quit the benzos cold-turkey 4 days ago. Am I still going through benzo withdrawl?. Delayed side effects from the cipro?. Have I developed a dependancy on benzos for sleep so that now I can't even sleep without them?. What the heck is wrong with me?!?!

Sorry if any of this has been said/mentioned before. Just filling in the blanks and searching for others who can relate.

Thank's a bunch!!

[Parker10]

Sorry you are still going thru this. DId u read the responses to you when you first posted about this? (Minus the info in Cipro). Many people have offered advice, and support. The person here who posts who has much knowledge felt you were in benzo withdrawal as did I. You probably should have seen a Doctor (oh - we did also suggest not going cold turkey).

As far as Cipro, my Momjust finished a 2 week course, and I got the sheet from her that comes with medication from the drug store, and I saw nothing about anxiety. I do know that it claims that as much as 2 weeks after finishing the drug you CAN get an intestinal upset (pseudo colitis).

Another suggestion - stop the caffeine totally. Caffeine is liquid anxiety. Anyone with panic and anxiety issues needs to discontinue all caffeine. Headache a few days, but other than that it is not bad, and the rewards are unreal ! I have been off all caffeine for about 18 years due to past panic , and every once in a while I will get hold of a regular Pepsi with caffeine and I KNOW IT - my body lets me know real fast I am giving it something it does not want !

Interestingly, Neurontin is given also for "restless leg syndrome" to help people sleep. Sorry it is not working well for you. Perhaps its time to see your Doctor again and start from scratch.

Good luck !

[Parker10]

Just reread your post in other thread about benzo withdrawal - on the 14th you said u were on your 3rd day being off benzo's cold turkey. That would make it now either 6-7 days off the benzo's. You should be thru the worst of the withdrawal at least......might make u feel better knowing that !

[GreyGoose]

Hi Parker

Yes, I sure did read the other posts and I was very greatful for them. Of course, this begs the question; "then why did'nt you respond?"

Well, frankly, sometimes I just feel too poorly to respond (or even say thank you) beyond the initial "burst" of fright-induced, come-crying-to-mama energy I get when a panic attack is zapping it's way through me like a heaven-sent thunderbolt and I feel an intense, indescribable desire to post.

Sometimes I'll just "put it off until later" and still other times, I'll just figure that the advice/reply did'nt require anything other than me simply reading it. Sometimes I just plain forget, get distracted, etc.

Anyway, I had new symptoms that I did'nt mention/forgot to mention/just popped up recently and so this changed the "clinical picture" as well as my need/desire to solicit information with respect to this changed picture. I know the core content of my last 3 posts has been "benzo withdrawl" but since I forgot to mention the Cipro and because I've taken several different medications since then, I thought I should ask again with this in mind.

I know this is a very detailed explanation for something relatively simple that could have been said in only a few words but I don't want anyone here to think I'm eith posting every time I get a little twinge here or there or that I'm duplicate-posting all over the place or still yet, that I don't tremendously appreciate all of you or the help you have given me (even though I may not always openly show it).

I'll be going in to see the doctor this afternoon for some Vistaril (hopefully) and to explain my problems to her and see what happens. Thank's again and I'll let you know how I make out

[Parker10]

Hope you get some answers and help at the Doctors today and looking forward to hearing about it !

[Schatze]

I' m an insomniac and get Restless Leg Syndrome from time to time (caused by deep losses of iron). The symptoms you're experiencing are like the ones I get when my Restless Leg Syndrome flares up. They call it Leg Syndrome, but it can effect all parts of your body.

Just something to consider and hope it helps.

Missi