Anti Depressants or natural remedies?

[Scooby doo]

Hello, I am new to this forum., I started twitching over a month ago. Have been very stressed and full of anxiety over my brother who has a malignant brain tumor. The twitching started after I had been using Zantac for a while for reflux. I thought perhaps I depleted my magnesium levels. My family doctor told me when I saw him that I had no other symptoms like weakness or atrophy so said it was stress and suggested I go on zoloft. Ive been on it for 2 weeks and I am very nauseas from it so I want to stop. The twitches dont bother me as much during the day but drive me crazy at night when I try to go to sleep. i have found ativan to help me sleep. Does anyone have any more natural remedies to calm the twitching and anxiety at bed time? I would be most grateful for any advice.

[Yuliasir]

Hi Scooby,
very sorry for your brother... and you can be sure that your flareup is related to that severe stress. Antireflux drugs can provoke twitches excatly because of depleting on Ca-Mg, so your doctor is right.
it is also common for our twitches to upset us when we going to bed.

As for natural remedies, it is funny but a cup of good tea with cream and sugar (in an old English way) helps alot to get sleepy and sleep well. tested that many times on myself and on other people )) A walk in about three hours before going to bed also helps. There are some strong normotonic herbal meds (those to normalise mood and help with sleep disorders), based on valeriana root (I personally use a drug made of valeriana root, thorn and leonuria, it is practically strong sedative called sedaphitone, but I do not know if you have that in your country, it is rather common in an Eastern Europe), also st johns wort is strong herbal sedative but it can be dangerous and should be used with great care.

I would also like to say that severe ilness of a close family member needs a special attention and care too. Are you attending any special programs for relatives suffering those circumstances? I was translating quite a lot of materials once im my career regarding those issues and programs, and I know that such programs might exist and should be also helpful.

Another note I would like to made is that zoloft is not the only SSRI and not the only antianxiety med, so you also may refer back to a doctor asking for another treatment program.

with sympaties,
Yulia

[aztwitchy]

a while back I started doing sea salt baths as recomended by another member BFSBurger and I have found the nights i do those I sleep a lot better. Sorry to hear of your brothers situation...that is definitely stressful and I feel for you and your family.

[BFSBurger]

Dead Sea Salt baths contain Bromine which can act as a natural sedative. Recommended immediately before bed for 20 minutes in very hot water. Two full cups worth in the bath tub. Make sure its fully dissolved. Get everything done you need to get done before sleep (brushing teeth etc). You may not stop twitching altogether, but you will likely doze off to sleep far more comfortably than you have ever imagined.

They are magical.

BFSB