☼ RachelSusan: Zoloft - on, off and reinstated

[arbor]

Gosh, I'm so sorry that you're experiencing such pain. 👾    I hope it resolves soon, dear @RachelSusan

Thinking of you,

Arbor

[RachelSusan]

@arbor Thank you Arbor for you good wishes.  I know I will eventually improve, it is just living through the discomfort now which is hard.

 

I started taking Dramamine (Meclizine) for the nausea, which is severe for about 8 hours a day. Do you or any of the other mods know if this is acceptable or if it is a bad thing? I did a drug interaction check and came up with something, which I posted below:

Moderate

meclizine

gabapentin

Applies to: meclizine, gabapentin

Using meclizine together with gabapentin may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

[arbor]

Hi @RachelSusan--I'm glad you checked the interaction.  It might set you up for further withdrawal.  Nausea is awful.  I was terribly nauseous on Prozac.  Eventually I found some relief by taking ginger.  I followed the recommended dosage on the supplement bottle.  

Really looking forward to this passing for you 💜

[RachelSusan]

@arbor Hi Arbor, I checked and Dramamine (Meclizine) is an antihistamine. I seem to recall that antihistamines are problematic while in withdrawal but I don't remember why. My nausea  was controlled yesterday by the Dramamine but the tremors were much worse last night. I will not take it again but I am wondering if you or any of the other mods can recall why it's a problem. I now know it can be, I just like to know how things work, I have a very curious mind.  Thanks for your time and support.

 

[arbor]

Thanks for posting your reaction @RachelSusan.  It'll be helpful for others.  The way I research subjects here is by going to my browser and typing in the subject, then the site.  For example:  Dramamine: survivingantidepressants,org   

And you could do the same for Meclizine.  If something is on the site, it usually comes up.

2 hours ago, RachelSusan said:

I now know it can be, I just like to know how things work, I have a very curious mind. 

In my opinion, a wonderful quality!

Arbor 💜

[RachelSusan]

@arbor It is indeed a great search tool and I used it at the same time I did the drugs interaction check. From the search many things came up, however some of the things said about the Meclizine were in opposition to each other.  So I ended up going from memory and I thought one of the mods said don't do it, I just wasn't sure. I am sure however that somewhere in all these pages is more information regarding the reasons why, but I ran out of steam to keep reading. I will of course revisit it when I feel I can read again. And yes I did have a very bad night last night. Symptoms felt aggravated. So I won't do it again. I am now going to try ice tea made from fresh ginger root.

 

I appreciate you checking in on me and answering me.  Even though I have memorized all the suggestions and guidelines given on this site over the last six years I find that during my own withdrawal they suddenly seem hard to recall or to do. I am behaving though, no medicine changes, stay off the Meclizine,  epsom salt baths. Self care, trying to distract, relaxation tapes, slow walks, and so on. However as always any suggestions are welcome.

 

Thank you again for giving your time to me. I appreciate it.

 

 

[LarryS]

@RachelSusan Sorry to hear of your recent symptoms, struggles and challenges.  Understand you are holding fast with some windows of relief.  Hang in there.  You will get back on track.  Hugs.  🙏😎

[arbor]

You're a trooper @RachelSusan and you sure are making every effort to help yourself in the recovery process.  Hold steady now as much as you can before your next move with the medications.  You've probably heard that a bunch of times.  I wholeheartedly believe you will get through this with patience and compassion.  I also stopped taking Gabapentin during my first year of w/d.  I was in so much agony, it was hard to tell what was causing what.  These are the supplements that I found useful: magnesium glycinate, fish oil, melatonin (as recommended on site) as well as taurine.  I find them all soothing for my system, even though it's a very mild soothe.  If you're unfamiliar with taurine, there are studies online that can give you more info--keeping in mind that we now know that studies aren't always reliable.  I found ice-packs helpful for burning sensations and for sleep.  When you have your blood tests, try to include Vitamin D and ferritin levels.  If you've been on cortisol I think it's important to have comprehensive blood tests.  I hope this is useful.

Big hugs to you.

Arbor 💜🕊️

 

[RachelSusan]

@LarryS Thank you for stopping by. I am defiantly hanging in there. I will post more and visit you on your page when I am feeling a little more up to it.

Edited December 2, 2022 by RachelSusan
typo

[RachelSusan]

@arbor Love hearing from you. Thank you for the good suggestions. They are most appreciated. I will answer a little more in depth when I am feeling a bit better.

[RachelSusan]

@arbor@manymoretodays @Altostrata

 

Thank you arbor, Altostrata and manymoretodays for your time. I know how many people are on this site all needing attention, so I really appreciate your help.

 

Update. After about 30 days of very intense symptoms they are starting to lessen.  The symptoms are still there but they are definitely decreasing, and I can function. I look forward to continued improvement in the future.

 

I continue to drink tea made from ginger. I don't really have anyway of knowing if it is helping with the nausea or if the nausea would have come down on it's own, but just to be safe I will continue to drink it.

 

Thank you to everyone else who stopped by to offer their support. @Soup@j1290 @LarryS @Aveju

Edited December 5, 2022 by RachelSusan
spelling

[Aveju]

Watching (reading) you and seeing how well you handle all of this with such grace really helps me and motivates me (and others) to keep goin!!!

I’m so glad to see that the symptoms are lessening and you are getting more relief. 🤗 

[Soup]

@RachelSusan this is wonderful news I am so happy things are settling for you just wonderful 

[RachelSusan]

@Soup @Aveju

 

Thank you both very much.

[manymoretodays]

On 12/5/2022 at 9:32 AM, RachelSusan said:

Update. After about 30 days of very intense symptoms they are starting to lessen.  The symptoms are still there but they are definitely decreasing, and I can function. I look forward to continued improvement in the future.

 

I continue to drink tea made from ginger. I don't really have anyway of knowing if it is helping with the nausea or if the nausea would have come down on it's own, but just to be safe I will continue to drink it.

 

Hi RachelSusan!   And yay!  Happy dance.

I have come to love ginger ale.  I don't even know why.

I've also found the tea to be helpful with nausea.

 

Are you still doing okay, at least as good as above?

 

I am hoping so. 

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[RachelSusan]

@manymoretodays Thank you for checking in, I really appreciate it. 

 

I still am symptomatic however I continue to improve.  Some of the symptoms that remain are internal tremors, headaches, and feeling shaky for around four hours at about the same time, every day. However the good news is that the symptoms are usually mild/moderate and I do see them decreasing in severity as time goes by. For the most part the nausea is gone. Based on how bad it was when I first crashed I am grateful for this much improvement. I know from my past experiences with crashing that it can take a long time to heal.

 

The support I received from everybody was fantastic. I know when I am hurting it feels great just to have someone say hello, which I certainly got when I posted that I was having a problem.

 

And yes, ginger ale and ginger tea are both great. I used to love Moscow Mules made with ginger beer, but for the foreseeable future there is no alcohol for me. However I now have something to look forward to  once I am completely healed.

 

Thank you again for your immediate response when I first posted, especially considering you were on vacation at the time. It was really kind of you.

[Soup]

@RachelSusan glad to see you are getting some relief that is good news ❤️

[RachelSusan]

@Soup Thank you for stopping by. It means a lot to me.

 

I am indeed grateful for any relief. I know from my past experience that it can take a very long to heal.

 

Soup, I think about you and want the best for you. Sending my support.

[Happy2Heal]

oh my @RachelSusan

I had no idea you were going thru all this!  I am so sorry!

I had meant to check on your thread but so much for good intentions ....Glad I finally got around to it but upset with myself that it took so long.

 

I am so surprised to see that you've been dealing with this because I see you post all over the forum giving great advice and support, you've posted to me several times and I do recall you mentioning some health issues but I had no idea they were this bad. Thank you for being there for me in my struggles, it means even more to know that you took the time and effort while you were/are not doing well yourself. 

 

 

I'm glad to see that things are improving but gah!! My idea of a fair universe is that folks like you who have already been thru so much with WD should be given a **get out of jail free** card for any type of WD issues in the future, forever and forever

 

that would be the only fair thing, right? 

 

yep I sometimes  live in a fairy tale. 🙄😆  but seriously it hurts my heart when someone as sweet as you is suffering.

so not fair.

 

 

On 12/18/2022 at 2:05 PM, RachelSusan said:

And yes, ginger ale and ginger tea are both great.

 

 

do ginger cookies help at all?

 

gingerbread men/women perhaps?

 

did you see the cartoon on the Gingerbread man at the drs with a sore knee? the doc asks "Have you tried icing it?"

 

 

 

[RachelSusan]

@Happy2Heal Hi Happy2Heal,

This is in answer to the other thread we wrote to each other on, as well as your post on my thread. Thank you for stopping by.

 

I absolutely was doing great. I did my final cut of Zoloft January 1, 2022 with no repercussions.

During the summer and fall I started to taper my Gabapentin as well as made multiple changes in the dosage of prednisone I took. At the beginning of November I had a big crash. One or even both medications together could have possibly played a role in this. They both need to be tapered and both seem to have the similar withdrawal symptoms. My symptoms were acute and painful.  Nausea, intense headaches, internal tremors, external tremors, dizzy, sweating, loss of appetite, to name a few of them. Approximately 40 days later I seem to be recovering. Some of the symptoms have gone away and the few that are left are at a moderate to low level. I believe that they will continue to diminish.

 

Please don't feel that you missed any signs or you should have been more attentive. At the beginning of our conversations I was doing great. We communicated before my crash happened.

 

You mentioned on the other thread that while you were in the thick of it you needed constant reassurance. I did too. For me at least, I believed that I would get stuck with the withdrawal symptoms. It was hard for me to believe that a person could possibly recover from something so awful. I think it is natural for anybody going through withdrawal to feel this way.  I do try and give that reassurance to people that are hurting like we were. I see in your posts that you do the same as well.

 

You mentioned in the other thread that you gave yourself an attitude adjustment. Good for you. I find myself doing that quite frequently. I am not always successful though. It sounds like you were quite successful.

 

I follow your thread so please keep us up to date on how you are doing.  You have a lot going on, all which you seem to be handling very well, but I still remain concerned.

 

Thanks again for stopping by. Warm wishes and big hugs.

 

 

 

[RachelSusan]

I wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday. If you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or anything other holiday I may not have mentioned, I hope it is a joyful event for you. But for some of you going through withdrawal it may not be joyful, this time of year can make you feel worse. It might appear to you that everyone else is having a wonderful experience but you are not, or perhaps you are feeling so bad you just can't be around other people. Some of you may not even be able to get out of bed at this time. It is hard and it can be very depressing. Please remember that you are in the process of healing, that there will be more holidays for you, just maybe at this particular time you need to take it easy.

 

All of you on this site have my very best wishes and my thoughts are with everyone, but especially those that are still suffering.

 

As to the moderators that have given of their time and energy I thank all of you.

Edited December 25, 2022 by RachelSusan
typos

[Soup]

@RachelSusan thank you for your lovely words . Wishing you the best of the season as well and healing for all in the new year 

[RachelSusan]

@Soup Thank you Soup. The same to you.

[Finnishgirl]

Thank you for your wise and empathetic words and merry Christmas! ❤️

[Erimus]

Merry Christmas Rachel. Thanks for being there for so many of us. 

[RachelSusan]

@Finnishgirl Thank you and happy holidays to you as well. May all your tapers continue to be smooth.

[RachelSusan]

@Erimus Happy Holidays to you as well.  You've come a long way and I wish you continued healing and much happiness in the year to come.

[j1290]

Happy New Year, RS!  How's things with you?

[RachelSusan]

@j1290 Hello.  How nice of you to stop by.

 

In answer to your question, I am surviving but I have had better times. It has been about two months since my crash.  I have improved, however I am still getting symptoms every day. They include tremors, headaches, sinus pressure, and insomnia. Thankfully the nausea, sweating, dizziness, and chills are gone. Also the symptoms are not all day long like they were at the beginning, but rather about six hours a day. What is interesting is that they happen close to the same time every day. I had hoped to be further along in my recovery however I remind myself that some people have been suffering for a lot longer and with worse symptoms. In spite of the symptoms I am trying to lead a normal life and do as much as I can. I am still exercising, but gently, and I am still socializing with family and functioning somewhat as if life were normal. Today will be beautiful, clear and cool. I appreciate the day and look forward to getting outside a little later.

 

Thank you again for stopping by. I read your posts and I am pleased that you continue to decrease. I am sorry though that you have symptoms. You do seem to manage those symptoms well. I remain impressed with your attitude about the whole thing.

 

Happy New Year to you as well. You probably didn't expect an entire dialogue when you stopped by to offer your good wishes for the coming year. In spite of all that is going on I look forward to continued improvement for both of us. So yes, it is a happy new year.

Edited January 2, 2023 by RachelSusan
What else but the usual typos. I can't type!!!!

[j1290]

1 hour ago, RachelSusan said:

You probably didn't expect an entire dialogue when you stopped by to offer your good wishes for the coming year.

Are you kidding?!?  I'm thrilled to get an update on your situation!  You're the most decent and well spoken person on the internet, so I'm really happy to hear you talk about yourself for a bit and get to know you.  

 

1 hour ago, RachelSusan said:

I am still getting symptoms every day. They include tremors, headaches, sinus pressure, and insomnia.

I can sure relate to this.  Glad to hear that some of the other flu like symptoms have resolved!  When I got those in addition to the others it was a rough headspace for a while.

 

1 hour ago, RachelSusan said:

Also the symptoms are not all day long like they were at the beginning, but rather about six hours a day. What is interesting is that they happen close to the same time every day.

Fascinating!   I know once I realized my symptoms were predictable, it helped calm my nerves a bit.  I wish you didn't have any at all, but I'm happy for you that you have time in your day that's symptom free.  

 

1 hour ago, RachelSusan said:

In spite of the symptoms I am trying to lead a normal life and do as much as I can.

Handled like a champ!   This is the ideal that I try to live up to.  

 

1 hour ago, RachelSusan said:

Thank you again for stopping by. I read your posts and I am pleased that you continue to decrease. I am sorry though that you have symptoms. You do seem to manage those symptoms well. I remain impressed with your attitude about the whole thing.

 

Thanks, I have my ups and downs and try to keep it positive despite the mood cycles.   I think your example of living life despite the challenges says more than words.  That's going to be my resolution for '23, to get out more and not make this taper the centerpiece of my life.   

 

I think this is going to be our year taper-wise, RS!  Looking forward to good things for us both!

[RachelSusan]

@j1290 Loved your responses.

 

1 hour ago, j1290 said:

I know once I realized my symptoms were predictable, it helped calm my nerves a bit.

Finding the pattern in things seems to help a lot of us. For me I think of it as the trains do run on time in my life. It was the same when I was going through withdrawal with the Zoloft, and of course it eventually went away.

 

[manymoretodays]

Are you doing better RachelSusan?  Your tone and everything sound like it.  I know you are quite the trooper and rarely complain.

 

Are you breathing comfortably through these infection prone winter months RS?  I sure hope so.

 

6 crappy(excuse my language) hours a day leaves 18 better hours.  Maybe you should sleep less so you can enjoy them, the better hours.........and of course I am kidding.  I sure hope your sleep is sound and uninterrupted too.  That can be such a blessing and promote healing too, I believe.

 

Lovely to see you actively doing your thing here, kindness and support.

 

Healing.

L, P, H(again), and G,

mmt 💜

 

[RachelSusan]

@manymoretodays Thank you for stopping by. 

 

LOL, do I want to sleep less?  Not in a million years. Oh my no. 🤪 You did make me laugh out loud though. The insomnia is still really bad, or maybe it is just bad. I guess it is all relative. I am getting around 4 or 5 hours a night, but some nights are only two hours.  I guess to some people 4 or 5 hours would sound like heaven.

 

I am muddling through.  I still have symptoms every day.  I have noticed a pattern though. I will have about 3 days that are what I call symptom mild days (only 6 hours of symptoms), then I will have about 3 days where the symptoms flare up and on those days the symptoms are much more severe and last a lot longer. During the flare-ups (waves) those are the nights that I get about two hours of sleep. It's been two months and I thought I would be a little further along than this.  I just have to ride this out. 

 

As for me complaining, I did a lot of that the first time around with the Zoloft. I was new and didn't really understand what was happening to me.  I think the newbies have it the hardest because it is so shocking and unexpected. I became almost completely nonfunctional during that period of time with the Zoloft. I could barely read the information that was provided here via links, it was hard to walk because I was so dizzy, and on and on. You get the idea. You mods really pulled me through. I felt like a hand was extended to me through the darkness and I grabbed on to that hand, and all of you lifted me up and out. This second time around you and Altostrata, along with my other well wishers, extended a helping hand once more. I remain grateful.

 

 

[LarryS]

@RachelSusan  Hello.  I reacted to the post above because I liked what you had to say in the last paragraph of the post.  It explains and highlights why you in particular, and the rest of us also, appreciate the helping hand of others like you on this site.

[RachelSusan]

@LarryS Thank you so much LarryS.  What a nice thing to say.

[Soup]

@RachelSusan I hope you are doing well