Phenobarbital & BRAIN ZAPS unbearable!

[ktoddweaver]

I have NOT found anyone on the web that has had this experience with quitting Phenobarbital and Brain Zaps! (except those who have quit anti-depressents, seem to have something close)

About 3-1/2 years ago; I aburtbly, (did not taper down), but bit the bullet and quit, and stopped taking around 300mg of Phenobarbital a day! I am lucky I did not have a seizure, or end up dead. However, ever since then, I have these horrible brain zaps every 10 - 15 seconds, until I take either some type of opiate drug (Like Vicodin, hyrdocodone) or about 600mg of Tramadol a day. These brain zaps have gotten so bad, that if I did not have any Tramadol (which I prefer over opiates) I would not even be able to drive, and would have to go to E.R.

I have had 2 MRI's, an EEG and and Echo Cardo. For the most part, everything looks okay with the exeption of some small white foci, that usally older people get. My neulogist is having a 3rd MRI for the back of my neck and brain area, along with a hefty dose of blood tests I just took. He put me on Tegretol just to keep down any seizures, and Gabapintin - which really does not work for me, just makes me foggy headed.

Phenobarbital is a very old drug, that they acutally used to (and still do) treat animals for seizures. It's a barbituate, what some of the older generation meds. In the 1950's they actually used it to treat depression! Anyway, the reason I was put on Phenobarbital and Valium, was because I was an acute acoholic and had a seizure when trying to quit alcohol with no medications. So it all started in detox, for alcohol. That was almost 7 years ago, (by the grace of Christ), but they kept me on this Valium and Phenobarbital (which they used in detox at the Hospital in Californa).

I am thinking because it is on old drug, that maybe I am experiencing the samething others experience when they quit taking antidepressants such as SSRI'S or SNRI's... I don't know?

Now here is the IRONIC thing, my neuroligist (and a couple other docs) said, if all else fails, then we may have to put you back on Phenobarbital, to see it these brain zapping episodes away!!! I don't even know what to think here... I don't know what to do here, and I sure in the hell do not want to ever take that hell bound drug Phenobarbital drug ever again!

If ANYONE has information that you or someone else may have, that has also been on and quit Phenobarbital, and have ANY info on these extreme, pulsating dizzy brain zaps caused by quitting Phenobarbital. Why Vicoden and opitas supress this dizzyness is beyhond me..

But please contact me, message or email me at: [email protected]

QUICK NOTE: My Doctor and Neuroligist thinks that my past chronic alcoholism might a big possiblilty, (when I finally my drinking career, finally came to an end almost 7 years ago). And that, because I did have a seizure while attempting to quit without detox, that is why they put me on phenobarbitol and diazepam when I finally did quit (to prevent any more seizures from occuring), which could have been helping or masking these brain zaps

MRI FINDINGS: "The Mri reveals over a dozen small foci of increased T2 siganal intensity in the periventricular, supraventricular, and subcortical white matter of bothe cerebal hemispheres. The patient is somewhat young (41) for microangiopathic ischeme changes and other possiblities such as vasulitis or chronic migrane headaches must also be considered...."

I have one more MRI of the neck and back of brain to look for any nerve (or pinched nerves) along with any degenration that would be associated with my past alcoholism.

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

Foci are a sign of neurodegeneration. This may be why you have those tics.
You may have caused irreversible damage from when you drank.

 

[ktoddweaver]

Thanks Jay

My Neuroligist thinks that this might a big possiblilty, that is, when I finally my drinking career, finally came to an end almost 7 years ago. And that, because I did have a seizure while attempting to quit without detox, that is why they put me on phenobarbitol and diazepam when I finally did quit (to prevent any more seizures from occuring)

So the MRI actually reads something like this:

MRI FINDINGS: "The Mri reveals over a dozen small foci of increased T2 siganal intensity in the periventricular, supraventricular, and subcortical white matter of bothe cerebal hemispheres. The patient is somewhat young (41) for microangiopathic ischeme changes and other possiblities such as vasulitis or chronic migrane headaches must also be considered...."

Well, obviously it takes a doctor (or my best friend Google) to figure out what all this means. However I have had doctors, and even my current Neuroligist, ask me "why are you so resistant to taking Phenobarbital again?"
I tell them because "ever since I quit taking phenobarb 3-1/2 years ago, I have had these intense brain zaps, that are undescrable, and I have always associated it with aburbtly quitting this medication with the zaps..."

However, some, and my current Neuroligist (and his nurse) said they have never heard of such of a thing like what I am describing to them from Phenobarbital. (With anti-depressants, yes, but not from this medication). So, my doctor, and Neurologist both think that the Phenbarbital had been masking these weird brain zaps, since I was put on phenobarbital right when I quit drinking alcohol. HOPEFULLY they are right!!! Because I can't even function without taking this and that in the morning, and it's always still there, just not as bad.

I have 1 more MRI of the neck and back of brain to look for any nerve (or pinched nerves) along with any degenration that would be associated with my past alcoholism.

Thanks for taking the time to reply!
Todd

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

It would be in your best interest to just stay on phenobarbital.
The bad part is is that this my linger for a lifetime.