AHI increase after valium withdrawal

[sila]

I’m experiencing an AHI increase subsequent to valium withdrawal. I’ve been off valium for 6 weeks now.

My APAP equipment, hosing and mask are in good shape.

I’m losing a significant amount of weight rapidly since valium withdrawal. In and of itself this is a good thing.

What are possible reasons for AHI increase in this scenario? Thanks in advance.

[Chris8243]

Have you asked your doctor? The one who prescribed it and your weaning off of it OR your sleep doctor? I would think it's totally out of your system by 6 weeks.

Maybe without valium your sleep architecture has changed (REM, etc)?

Maybe it's just time for a pressure tune-up?

Post your equipment profile & a sleepyhead graph to provide more info. The instructions for both are on top of the forum info.

[sila]

I’m guessing that sleep architecture has changed. I’m noticing much more REM and restless sleep movements subsequent to valium withdrawal. Also overbreathing.

I weaned off valium on my own. Very slow taper over two year period. The sleep doc doesn’t have an answer.

I’m on auto CPAP, so I can’t change pressure on my own, as far as I know. It’s set for 5 through 20 range. My sleep doc said the setting is fine.

I don’t think sleepyhead is currently available.

Valium metabolites have very long half lives, so the stuff can stay in one’s fat cells for many months subsequent to withdrawal.

[chunkyfrog]

Nobody "can't" adjust their own machine.
5-20 is NO SETTING AT ALL. It is WIDE OPEN.
Your cpap has been set to FAIL. No wonder you feel terrible.
You providers are not doing their JOB, so it's up to you.
The secret is in the "clinician's" manual, available free from apneaboard.
Sleepyhead is compatible with your apap.

[zonker]

I don’t think sleepyhead is currently available.

welcome to the zoo! please see the bottom of my post for a download link for sleepyhead.

good luck!

[kteague]

I’m guessing that sleep architecture has changed. I’m noticing much more REM and restless sleep movements subsequent to valium withdrawal. Also overbreathing.

Do you have RLS or Periodic Limb Movement Disorder?

If you are semi awake more often during the night the machine could be confusing wake breathing with sleep breathing and reporting events that aren't really events.

[sila]

Do you have RLS or Periodic Limb Movement Disorder?

If you are semi awake more often during the night the machine could be confusing wake breathing with sleep breathing and reporting events that aren't really events

Yes to RLS and periodic limb movements, along with being awake or semi awake a lot during the night and rolling over a lot. This has all been been intensified by lack of sedation.

My OSA is technically mild. Sleep study was diagnostic at 5.5 AHI. It doesn’t take a high AHI for me to feel exhausted.

I’m going to try a cervical collar to keep my chin off my chest to see if that helps. I have a short neck:)

[sila]

Zonker, thanks for the welcome and the link!

[Chris8243]

Zonker, thanks for the welcome and the link!

I knew Zonker would come through! I was hoping he or she would give you the links

[zonker]

Zonker, thanks for the welcome and the link!

sure thing! and yes, the foam cervical collar should help. and, of course, getting some sleepyhead charts up for the experts to look at.

[zonker]

Zonker, thanks for the welcome and the link!

I knew Zonker would come through! I was hoping he or she would give you the links

hat-tip.gif

i prefer "it", actually....

[gocamels]

Valium metabolites have very long half lives, so the stuff can stay in one’s fat cells for many months subsequent to withdrawal.

You'll see in the literature that the terminal half-life of valium's main active metabolite is roughly 100 hours - so theoretically 500 hours (3 weeks) until it's cleared out.

That said, about 10 percent of long-term users will have withdrawal symptoms years after their last dose. So, it's entirely possible that your issues are still partly because of the Valium. And unfortunately, there's no reliable answer for how long the Valium-related part will last.

[kteague]

Do you have RLS or Periodic Limb Movement Disorder?

Yes to RLS and periodic limb movements, along with being awake or semi awake a lot during the night and rolling over a lot. This has all been been intensified by lack of sedation. My OSA is technically mild. Sleep study was diagnostic at 5.5 AHI. It doesn’t take a high AHI for me to feel exhausted.

A few things jump out at me. Since you have a diagnosis of periodic limb movements, I'm wondering if any of them showed up on your diagnostic study where your AHI was 5.5? The reason I ask is because if a person has both sleep apnea events and limb movements during a study, there a good chance both the OSA and PLMD are more severe than the study is able to appreciate. Reason is if your limb movements weren't present you would have had more sleep time in which apneas could manifest. And if your apneas weren't present, you would have more sleep time for the movements to manifest. Both of these disorders vie for prominence and the strongest at any given moment will win the battle and cause arousal. Both of these vary from night to night and thoughout a night. Effectively treating either condition may seem to cause the other to worsen, when it's not really "causing" it to worsen, it's just allowing things to happen.

When you were on the Valium, did it stop your legs from moving or did it cause you to sleep through the movements? What efforts have already been taken in regards to your PLMD? Is your ferritin level up near 100 as is recommended for those with RLS and/or PLMD? Have you had your magnesium, vitamin D and B vitamins checked? I am fortunate that I have been able to control my jumpy legs by using a TENS Unit. The jury is still out on if it could help many others as it is off-label use of the TENS.

[sila]

kteague,
Interesting about TENS.

As to valium suppression of movement or allowing for sleeping through movement, possibly. I have no data to support any inference or conclusion.

Makes sense somehow that treating one condition would make another worsen.

Ferritin is low normal. Magnesium, vitamins D and B12 in high normal range. Due to genetic predisposition to a rare blood disorder I have to be careful about supplementing with iron and B12. I also have a chronic Bartonella infection (Lyme coinfection) which eats iron stores. Life is interesting, eh what?

[sila]

You'll see in the literature that the terminal half-life of valium's main active metabolite is roughly 100 hours - so theoretically 500 hours (3 weeks) until it's cleared out.

Thanks, gocamels! I’m wondering if enough research has been done on desmethydiazepam clearance rate to absolutely verify the above. I’ve heard of one addiction doc’s office having the experience of trace metabolites showing up in urine months after people have gotten off valium.