Does this sound like serotonin syndrome?

Gert her to a doctor. With addicts, especially benzo’s, you never know what she’s taking or how much, or what else they could take. Wellbutrin also has a seizure warning, and something is causing her to lock up like that, not good. Is someone giving her her meds now or is she still self-medicating?

it is obvious that she needs medical intervention STAT,

I try to monitor her, but it’s almost impossible for me to make sure she’s taken her medication (or not taken it). She keeps her ativan separate from all of her other medications (a bottle in her bedroom, a bottle in her purse, etc). I know she forgets to take her medication regularly so I bought her one of those pill organizers that have the day and time of day to help her remember. It hasn’t helped.

I wanted to take her to the hospital this morning, but again, she refuses any medical attention. She appears to be perfectly normal but I know that it will probably happen again.

You may have to call an ambulance the next time it happens. This sounds like serious stuff and more than you can handle. Or enlist other family membersto make her see a doctor.

I did call an ambulance, and the paramedics came and she refused treatment. They checked all of her vital signs and blood sugar; everything was fine. She offered to bring her in anyway and she refused. She actually managed to sign a refusal form and the paramedics left without billing us.

Oh – you are in a tough spot, I see! Are there other family members who can help intervene?

As loving and supportive as my dad is, he is kind of clueless when it comes to situations like this. My brother is indifferent to everything. My dad will text me or call me to let me know when these “episodes” happen. He called the ambulance one time too but again, she refused. My dad doesn’t really know or understand medical issues so he kind of leaves things like that up to me. But again, I’m only 21 and I’m having a hard time getting her to listen to me or getting anyone to see the seriousness of it all. It’s almost like I need to become power of attorney over her, but I don’t think her doctor would declare her unfit. I’m stuck. :(

Maybe you need to talk to a counselor or perhaps even her GP or psychiatrist? It sounds like she gets really sick.

At this point, I’d take it in my own hands and call her GP like @janbb suggests. Memory problems while doped up are a big problem and she may need to relinquish control of those to your dad or even you, like someone handing her her doses and keeping the meds locked up.

I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this, I’m dealing with a slightly different case, but very similar to your own, so I understand it’s very difficult to force adults to get the help they need, especially addicts.

Are the muscle problems all the time, the weakness and discomfort, and the extreme episodes have only happened a few times?

If she has muscle pain all over she should at minimum get a run of the mill CPK and kidney test.

Does she take statin drugs? If she does this can be a serious life threatening emergency to have muscle pain all over. Some other drugs also have this kind of side effect.

You said she doesn’t have the episodes when she takes her bensos, but are they happening when she hasn’t taken her meds? Withdrawal would likely be more traumatic if she is addicted than after taking a pill.

I would also check vitamin D, Thyroid, Iron, electolytes, and B12 as they all affect muscles. Along with whatever else the doctor feels should be ruled in or out. Hopefully, he will include thos automatically.

She must go to the doctor to at least get some answers. She probably is afraid of being told she has to stop her meds. Or, maybe she believes the doctors won’t find any answers.

@JLeslie Sometimes addicts are afraid to be honest with dr’s because they take their pills too quickly, then have to buy from the street to supplement the addiction, or withdraw rapidly which causes severe withdrawal symptoms based on how much they are ‘used’ to taking.

I suggest you ask @rarebear.

@KNOWITALL You suggest I ask @rarebear? Or, the OP?

I agree addicts supplement or don’t want to go to the doctor or tell the doctor the truth. That’s why I wrote she may not want to go to the doctor because they might want to take her off or change her meds. A hospital is even worse, because they will control what medicines she can have. If she is admitted she will certainly not be getting all the fix she wants if she is supplementing with street drugs, or lying to doctors about her dose.

@JLeslie Yeah, I agree with you. I was telling the OP maybe she should ask rarebear.

@Tequila There’s also a group similar to Al-anon for families of addicts. She hasn’t admitted to herself that she is an addict. I doubt she’ll seek help until then. But maybe you can get a little more support to help deal with this. Anybody know the name?

@Adirondackwannabe I think it’s Narc-anon or something like that.

Isn’t there a way to commit an adult with destrictive behavior as well, like in the old days when a man could have his wife committed fairly easily? (Not to give anyone ideas)

@KNOWITALL Lightbulb! I think it’s only if they have to go to the hospital for an od or something like that. I think they can commit themselves but it’s tough for anyone else to do it.

@Adirondackwannabe Committing somebody to a mental hospital is an emotional, gut-wrenching thing to do, but sometimes—for their own good—it must be done. The procedure varies from state to state, but in general, involuntary commitment is done by a doctor, therapist, and/or court.

Often, after a suicide attempt, temporary commitment is mandatory. The key is usually that the person has to be a threat to themselves or others. We’ll give you some guidelines on how to accomplish this unpleasant but sometimes-necessary task.

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Someone-Committed-to-a-Mental-Hospital

@KNOWITALL Thanks. I agree. But asking a 21 year to be the adult in a family is tough too.
@Tequila Hang in there. This is probably about the worst case situation. Get yourself some support and remember to take care of yourself. We’ll try to be here as much as we can for you.

@Adirondackwannabe Oh honey, I know, I ran away at 17 and left my mom to fend for herself, I was DONE being the adult. She has her dad she said.

While I was looking at the symptoms for withdrawal for this particular drug seen here: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine_withdrawal_syndrome

Most of the symptoms you mentioned are related to the drug. If your mom is addicted and goes through withdrawal these symptoms would make sense would they not?

Yes it could be serotonin syndrome but that’s really beside the point.

You can try to deal with each incident separately and keep running around in circles or you can just bite the bullet and deal with the real problem.

Your Mother is a serious addict to multiple pharmaceuticals and alcohol. She needs serious long term (minimum 3 months) inpatient detox, medical management, rehab and ongoing education about addiction issues.

Anything short of that will just be like swatting at flies. You have to keep doing it over and over and does not solve the problem.

If she keeps going like this it will kill her. I hate to be that blunt but that is the unvarnished truth. I don’t mean to sound uncaring. I’m simply trying to prevent what happened to my own Mother (with the help of the dear family Doctor). And, yes, it killed her.

1. However you do it, it is imperative that you get your Father up to speed. That is critical. I gave you one suggestion previously but that’s certainly not the only option. But you have to figure out how to get the truth across to him so he won’t have to be at her funeral wondering why he didn’t see this.

2. You need to find a LOCAL in person source of support for what you’re going through (and will be going through) if you choose to make a serious commitment to an organized intervention.

There are people who either are or have gone through exactly what you’re going through now in dealing with an addicted loved one.

As well as support they can be an invaluable resource for the local professionals best equipped to deal with addiction issues ( Hint: it is not her GP. He’s currently part of the problem)

It doesn’t much matter whether its Al- Anon or Narc- Anon (as long as its not connected with Scientology as many narcotic rehab programs are) but find a group you feel comfortable with.

If you want to save her life there aren’t any shortcuts or half measures. The underlying problem is long term addiction and the only solution is inpatient addiction treatment. Everything else is beside the point. There is just no way around it.

Please make some calls and find a group for family members dealing with addicts. The addiction of a loved one is such a daunting issue to deal with. Why not avail yourself of the experience and wisdom of those who have walked in your shoes?

I wish you the best. This is not an easy road.