Piqua, OH
A 56-year-old male asked:
I have tremors in my stomach upon entering rem sleep. i have ptsd and was taken off xanax (alprazolam) in 2 weeks by a va intern 2 years ago. need cause/solution!
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

Dr. Grant Brenneranswered
Psychiatry 26 years experience
Many possibilities: You should meet with a neurologist to see if it is neurological or stress-related. Have you had a sleep study - how do you know the tremors happen with REM? Is it related to nightmares? You also could have a Functional Neurological condition. Also sounds like you have concerns about the way the Xanax (alprazolam) was stopped and whether it might be related, a question you can ask upon evaluation, as well.
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3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

A Verified Doctoranswered
Addiction Medicine 51 years experience
PAWS: Post-acute withdrawal syndrome. In people who have been on benzodiazepines for long periods of time, tapering should be accomplished over months, not weeks. This intern was under the supervision of an attending physician, and you should make contact with that physician (or your PCP in the VA). A small increase in the clonazepam (am sure it is 0.5 NOT 0.05) may help and then can be tapered.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 17, 2016
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