Disclaimer: This information is based on research from the Internet, books, articles and studies and/or companies selling products online. Statements have not been evaluated and are not be considered as medical advice. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. For diagnosis or treatment, consult a qualified physician.
Introduction
If you are taking any other medication, are suffering from a medical condition and/or are concerned about any of the advice or ingredients, you should consult your (qualified) doctor, do your own research and check for interactions.
If you are pregnant, breast-feeding or have/had breast cancer, do not take any herbs or supplements that are estrogenic and affect hormone balance.
Remember that diet, exercise and relaxation are equally important to your health.
Not all things work for all people, so adjust accordingly.
Check all new drugs and supplements for interactions at:
https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html
Always check for interactions when adding new vitamins or supplements.
Use herbs in moderation.
Watch for allergic reactions.
Not all vitamins and supplements are created equal. Make sure your products come from a reputable source. Look for veracity and testing, if possible. Some vitamins and supplements can be taken with no limitations, but some can build up in the liver and become toxic. Limit your intake of vitamin D3. It is preferable to get your D3 from sunshine and only certain special tanning beds.
Some possible withdrawal symptoms
- Anxiety
- Brain and body zaps
- Constipation
- Depression
- Detox
- Dizziness / vertigo
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Inflammation
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Nerve pain/neuropathy
- Pain
- P.A.W.S. (PAWS)
- Rage
- Restless legs
- Sweating
General help: Nutrition
Blood sugar fluctuations and nutrient depletion (magnesium and B vitamins) may cause anxiety, irritability, anger, rage, cravings (sugar, food, alcohol), fatigue, and extreme hunger.
Schedule 5 small, protein-rich meals each day. Having protein snacks on hand can help to keep blood sugar level. Try to keep your hormones stable: avoid soy protein. There are many plant-based (non-soy, non-dairy, non-meat) sources of protein. (Soy can cause either weak estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity.) Try to keep your blood sugar stable. Cut out sugar, dairy, sweeteners, alcohol, simple carbs and anything that converts directly to sugar when digested. As they are digested, both sugars and starches are turned into the sugars that the body uses for energy. Fiber passes through the digestive system without turning into sugar.
Stop smoking: nicotine also causes rapid spikes and dips in blood sugar.
Low blood sugar can cause major problems. Try these suggestions:
- Adopt a clean, anti-inflammatory diet. Consider eating more vegetables and fruits, drinking lots of water and cutting back on sugar, alcohol, meat and processed foods.
- Avoid processed, pre-packaged foods and fast food.
- Eat organic, fresh, non-gm foods.
- Take Omega 3 (fish or flax seed oil).
- Take magnesium. Some people have found soaking in a tub with magnesium flakes can help.
- Drink filtered water.
- Try using essential oils. (Such as Young Living, doTerra).
- Take good quality vitamins and minerals. For example: ProHealthbrand – Super Multiple II
- Drink noni juice or cherry juice – but avoid artificial sweeteners and preservatives.
- Try cultured and fermented foods and drinks.
- Anxiety
Diet and gut health can make a huge difference. This has a wide range of information:
Conquering Anxiety, Depression and Fatigue Without Drugs – the Role of Hypoglycemia
Consider these therapies
- Aroma Therapy
- Yoga
- T’ai Chi
- Qigong
- Meditation
- Breathing Exercises
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
It is also worth looking at these links:
This is absolutely full of good, common sense advice. Give it a try:
5 Natural Ways to Kick Anxiety
This links to several different treatments all connected to the same theme of stimulating the vagus nerve. Please give it a go, it looks really helpful for your state of mind:
A Vagus Nerve Survival Guide to Combat Fight-or-Flight Urges
Brain and body zaps
- Omega 3s – fish or flax seed oil
- Foods high in Omega 3
- Magnesium
- B complex vitamins
There is a lot here about brain zaps, mixed in with general advice about taking time to taper slowly. You may not agree with it all (and you may laugh scornfully at some of it), but as with most things, there is something valuable for everyone: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/brain-zaps#home-remedies
Constipation
Introduce these slowly until the desired results are achieved.
- Prunes, raisins, dates, figs, other fruits and berries
- Fruit juice
- Spinach
- Lemon and lime in filtered water
- Linseed oil
- Hot tea / hot water
- Aloe vera juice (can cause diarrhea)
Depression
Diet and gut health are key to fighting depression. (Link to connection-between-mental …)
- Niacin: start with very small doses. Niacin can produce an uncomfortable “flush”. You can read about it here: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/niacin-flush
- Cashews
- Sunshine – at least 20 minutes daily, if you can
- Light exercise as tolerated, yoga, T’ai Chi, Qigong, gentle stretching, Pilates, aqua workouts, walking
- SAD Light box
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/q-and-a/whats-the-difference-between-cbt-and-dbt
Dizziness / vertigo
There is a lot of support here:
Headache and migraine
Do try these:
- Yoga, supplements, essential oils and dietary modifications are all natural, safe and effective ways to reduce headache symptoms.
- Stay hydrated.
- Magnesium
- Get plenty of sleep, if you can.
- Essential oils (peppermint on temples, lavender inhaled)
- B-complex vitamins
- Cold compress
- Yoga
- Acupuncture (But some may find this is a cleansing procedure which causes them problems.)
- Gentle exercise (go for a walk)
- Indigestion
If you are tapering, take your drug dose and eat some applesauce. Stay away from any dairy products.
Try these:
- Ginger
- Peppermint
Inflammation
Anti-inflammatory agents may interact with anti-depressants.
Several herbs and spices contain the same active ingredients as many of the prescribed anti-inflammatory medications.
Herbs and spices that may have anti-inflammatory properties include:
- Arnica Montana (used topically)
- Turmeric
- Willow Bark
- Ginger
- Rosemary
- Cinnamon
- Insomnia
This is a common problem anyway, as we age.
Nausea
- Aloe Vera juice. Introduce this slowly: it can cause diarrhea.
- Certain teas: chamomile, ginger, mint and oolong, lemon balm
- Ginger root
- Peppermint
- Acupressure: Sea Bands
Nerve pain / neuropathy
As always, do your own interactions check. If you are still taking Cymbalta/duloxetine, some of these are not suitable.
21 Ways to Heal Nerve Pain Naturally
Acupuncture Neuropathy Protocol
Diet is one of the most effective ways to fight pain and inflammation. Lots of common sense suggestions here:
- Anti-inflammatory diet
- Turmeric
- This is how to make Golden milk. Looks utterly vile to me!
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Tart cherry juice
- Cayenne (if you tolerate nightshades)
- Magnesium
- Epsom Salt soaks
- Essential oils applied topically (peppermint, wintergreen)
- Arnica cream
- Massage
- Acupuncture
Rage
- Schedule 5 small, protein-rich meals each day.
- Keep your hormones stable: avoid soy protein.
- Keep your blood sugar stable. Cut out sugar, dairy, sweeteners, alcohol, simple carbs and anything that converts directly to sugar when digested.
- Stop smoking.
This may not be what you were expecting! See if anything chimes with your feelings:
The Necessity of Honoring Our and Others’ Rage
Restless legs
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/
This explains all the basic of restless leg syndrome and suggests what you can do to help. Please don’t consider even more drugs to hide the effects of withdrawals brought on by drugs!
- Reflexology
- Trace mineral and electrolyte drops (added to water)
- Magnesium oil (applied topically)
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