samanthaelizabeth: How do you manage to keep working while taper off

February 12, 2018

On 2/4/2018 at 11:11 AM, nz11 said:

Dearest SamanthaElizabeth.

There may be a misunderstanding here.

I was inviting you to do a submission to the Scottish Govt. -refer my drug sig.

This may be too much for some people at this stage and that is totally fine.

As for redoing your intro topic introduction post, at a guess i doubt the moderating team would allow you todo that as they have enough to do as is.

However there is nothing stopping you from quoting the post you want to change and then perhaps saying i want to rewrite this and then do so as a new post.

If you are referring however to telling this to the Scottish govt. Then that would be most awesome.

nz11

Hi NZ, I recieved an email, they have requested to publish my story. Is this done for everyone?

February 12, 2018

Hi, if anyone can help me with applying for SSDI in the U.S. - I really feel like I can no longer work but I need the money. I don't know maybe cognitive dysfunction? Especially with MS

February 12, 2018

When will this ringing in my left ear stop? I have been back on Zoloft 200MG since 01/26/18.

February 12, 2018

It seems like I am on such a high dose of Zoloft, I guess I kept begging the doctor to increase the dose because it wasn't working fast enough. Anyway, How am I ever going to get off of 200mg of Zoloft. What would be the equivalant of another drug? I see people taper off of like 40mg and so forth!

February 12, 2018

My doctor (MS doctor) wants me to go to the ER for new symptoms and IV steroid treatment. I'm so scared to have IV steroids at this point in time, scared to death! I just don't think I should be on anything having MS and all. Advise please!

February 12, 2018

18 minutes ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

My doctor (MS doctor) wants me to go to the ER for new symptoms and IV steroid treatment. I'm so scared to have IV steroids at this point in time, scared to death! I just don't think I should be on anything having MS and all. Advise please!

I would hate to scare you further SE but you said it yourself your already on 200mg of Zoloft so you don't want to go up ,so its a taper down ,you cant cold turkey ,we all know what's a possibility if that happens .please stay calm ,such a bummer for you ,I'm truly sorry you are suffering with both withdrawl and MS .

,I think you need attention with having this and MS medication to deal with .hope the mods can help soon .

Please stay calm and try your best not to catastrophize.

February 12, 2018

1 minute ago, powerback said:

I would hate to scare you further SE but you said it yourself your already on 200mg of Zoloft so you don't want to go up ,so its a taper down ,you cant cold turkey ,we all know what's a possibility if that happens .please stay calm ,such a bummer for you ,I'm truly sorry you are suffering with both withdrawl and MS .

,I think you need attention with having this and MS medication to deal with .hope the mods can help soon .

Please stay calm and try your best not to catastrophize.

Thank you, I won't cold turkey. The more I find out about these AD'S the more pissed off I get. I don't even know if I should try to taper but since I reinstated after only tapering for a week and then off totally for one day. I reinstated within a few days from 100mg-200mg my left ear won't stop ringing and I am having awful sweats literally soaking my blanket and clothes. This happens right after I take the Zoloft at 6 am and I go back to bed.

February 12, 2018

How do I know that i'm making the right decision to taper? Maybe I should just stay on this crap for another 20 years.

February 12, 2018

20 minutes ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

How do I know that i'm making the right decision to taper? Maybe I should just stay on this crap for another 20 years.

Ye so tricky isn't it ,I'm holding now for months and even though I question my hold I realise it can get a lot worse like before ,the gold posts have changed constantly for me the last 2 years.

i think you need to give yourself an amnesty for a few months and don't think at all ,it could be doing you more harm than good .thinking constantly must be away of control when we think we are loosing control .

The simple honest fact is we cant know until the decision is made .I know one thing ,ive made more informed decisions since joining this site than I did when my DR was calling the shots ,I exhausted he's pitiful attempts to control my withdrawl symptoms .

you have a dilemma with your IV that I hope a mod can advise you on .

February 12, 2018

Can I take magnesium or Gaba (supplement)?

February 13, 2018

Hi Samantha,

I'm hoping a Mod will come by and talk with you about the sweating. That's a bit of a concern perhaps considering the fact that you are on a high dose of Zoloft. Have you had your blood pressure and your heart rate checked recently? I'd be curious to know what these two readings are right after your Zoloft dose and when the sweating starts.

Do do you have

Diarrhea?

Fever?

Shivering?

Goosebumps?

Headache?

Anything odd with your muscles? Tension? Twitches? Rigidity?

Dialated pupils?

February 13, 2018

Yes, I did have my face (forhead) was rigid a couple of weeks ago and my eyes were dialated also. I think I did have some shivering the other day and yes to the diarrhea, every morning.

February 13, 2018

Well, I think I would get the heart rate and blood pressure checked. Can you go to a pharmacy where they have a blood pressure monitor?

Take your temperature before you take your Zoloft and then again when you wake up sweating. It's probably not a problem, but I think you should know.

Do you know how to check your heart rate? I'm sure there is somewhere on the internet that tells you how.

When you had Dialated pupils was this before the sweating started?

Pay attention to see if you are shivering and keep notes on all this stuff, ok?

February 13, 2018

41 minutes ago, Rosetta said:

Well, I think I would get the heart rate and blood pressure checked. Can you go to a pharmacy where they have a blood pressure monitor?

Take your temperature before you take your Zoloft and then again when you wake up sweating. It's probably not a problem, but I think you should know.

Do you know how to check your heart rate? I'm sure there is somewhere on the internet that tells you how.

When you had Dialated pupils was this before the sweating started?

Pay attention to see if you are shivering and keep notes on all this stuff, ok?

Thanks Rosetta! Hope you are doing great! I applied for a work from home job with a well known company, plus I have an interview tomorrow!

February 13, 2018

Good luck, Samantha!

February 13, 2018

7 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

Hi, if anyone can help me with applying for SSDI in the U.S. - I really feel like I can no longer work but I need the money. I don't know maybe cognitive dysfunction? Especially with MS

Hi samathaelizabeth,

To the best of my knowledge most of the applying for SSDI is done online now. It may be a good idea for you to call your local social security office as well. And then go in and meet with whomever is assigned to you(it used to be done alphabetically by last name). You may not be able to make an appointment directly. You may need to go on into the office and take a number and wait. That was my experience way back when. The social security agent was then able to pull up information and tell me what I could expect IF approved as far as payments go. Payments are based on your work credits up to the point of your application. And often times there is a wait period and and appeals period. In any case the process may not be quick. SSI for disability is another option if you qualify........basically poverty level as defined by them.

If your cognitive dysfunction is prominent right now I think you might consider finding a friend or relative to accompany you and/or help you with applications. Do you know of any local agencies that might help you with this also? Some do engage legal help to apply and there is no cost until you get your initial payment(if approved). Then they can only take a small percentage off of what you are paid(in back pay sort of) since the time of your disability.

Usually they will request medical records for you as well. Lot's of medical(including psych) records are good. So have on hand your various providers names and addresses and when last seen when applying.

I would agree......especially with MS. I don't know if W/D is a recognized disability.........however, I would be doubtful that it is.

Hope that helps.

To summarize: Call your local office. Go online. Consider help with the process, friend, relative, someone from an agency, or legal.

Love, peace, healing/inrecovery, and growth,

manymoretodays

Oh and good luck on the job interview tomorrow? Just saw that. Could be a better option if you can do it from home. SSDI is not one of my proudest accomplishments, believe me. Thankful for it however.

Edited February 13, 2018 by manymoretodays

February 13, 2018

5 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

My doctor (MS doctor) wants me to go to the ER for new symptoms and IV steroid treatment. I'm so scared to have IV steroids at this point in time, scared to death! I just don't think I should be on anything having MS and all. Advise please!

4 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

How do I know that i'm making the right decision to taper? Maybe I should just stay on this crap for another 20 years.

Hi samanthaelizabeth,

Can you express to your Dr. your wish not to receive steroids? I was able to do this once and my wishes were respected. It was for a wrist sprain though. I knew that I was ultra sensitive to medications at that point(W/D and poly medications through many years), and just told them that. Different situation I know.......but possibly of help to you.

Is your MS doctor fully aware of your psych drug history and present usage? I hope this isn't too redundant. And how was your MS diagnosed? Is it still a diagnosis of exclusion? I mean here that they exclude all other diagnoses that could account for symptoms of MS. Is/was a definitive test done? It wouldn't hurt to ask if your medication usage(past and present) could be causing some of your symptoms. Again sorry if this is redundant. I am just trying to address the immediate right now.

Do ask as well to be evaluated for "serotonin syndrome". Most are familiar with that. A decrease is dosage is often helpful with that.......rather than adding additional medications or increasing dosages anymore. I would hope that on arrival to the ER that they will ask for all your present medication usage and you can certainly fill them in on some of your recent history of medications and changes of.

I think yes, tapering has got to be a better option for you than continuing jumping around with dosages and different medications.

Love, peace, healing/inrecovery, and growth,

manymoretodays

Edited February 13, 2018 by manymoretodays

February 13, 2018

Oh......yes on magnesium and W/D. Generally safe.

Here is our thread on that.

http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

Just a caution not to overdo especially if diarrhea is presently a symptom. I mainly just do baths in Epsom salts now myself(magnesium sulfate). On occasion a small amount by mouth mixed in lot's of water. Calming. And helps me a lot with muscle aches.

Anyway.......one thing at a time. Hang in there sam. Hoping for a report when you can.

Best,

mmt

Edited February 13, 2018 by manymoretodays

February 13, 2018

6 minutes ago, manymoretodays said:

Hi samanthaelizabeth,

Can you express to your Dr. your wish not to receive steroids? I was able to do this once and my wishes were respected. It was for a wrist sprain though. I knew that I was ultra sensitive to medications at that point(W/D and poly medications through many years), and just told them that. Different situation I know.......but possibly of help to you.

Is your MS doctor fully aware of your psych drug history and present usage? I hope this isn't too redundant. And how was your MS diagnosed? Is it still a diagnosis of exclusion? I mean here that they exclude all other diagnoses that could account for symptoms of MS. Is/was a definitive test done? It wouldn't hurt to ask if your medication usage(past and present) could be causing some of your symptoms. Again sorry if this is redundant. I am just trying to address the immediate right now.

Do ask as well to be evaluated for "serotonin syndrome". Most are familiar with that. A decrease is dosage is often helpful with that.......rather than adding additional medications or increasing dosages anymore.

I think yes, tapering has got to be a better option for you than continuing jumping around with dosages and different medications.

Love, peace, healing/inrecovery, and growth,

manymoretodays

Hello manymoretodays; thank you for your response. I'm not going to get steroids, I have decided against it. Yes, I was diagnosed in 2008 ( I think it was triggered by trying Effexor a few days before) I had a lot of lesions on my brain and they did a lumbar puncture to confirm. I am afraid to say anything to any doctor about tapering, because they don't know $*IT! I am in this by myself, if I decide to taper I will have to continue going to the doctor and pretend that i'm taking my regular dose and do it myself. I just don't know if I should taper Zoloft first or Mirtazipine? Maybe a MOD will chime in??? I am in need of some guidance here!! I hate all doctors! Sadly, I see too many MS patients being prescribed so many things that are only harming them. Thank you again.!!

February 13, 2018

Hi sam,

I am a mod. And we have been discussing your more recent symptoms and management. I hope that's okay. Can you hold tight for a bit? I'm thinking Zoloft but will defer to the general consensus on that, and then how much of a decrease is yet to be determined. So no ER tonight then?

I think you could probably mention to your doctor or ask about if he/she thinks any serotonin syndrome might be going on as well? You most recently got back up to 200mg. of Zoloft on the 18th of January I see. It can be crazy making sometimes.......I understand how you feel........well, a little bit.......I have not had to deal with a diagnosis of MS.........(((())))) those are hugs.

Remeron steady at 15 mg. since 2012 with possibly a change in dosage time recently?

And then the Copaxone just started this month.

Thanks for the quick reply to my questions. Restful night wishes.

mmt

Edited February 13, 2018 by manymoretodays

February 13, 2018

On 2/1/2018 at 2:19 PM, samanthaelizabeth said:

The ER doc said no to Seratonin Toxicity.....?

Not every doctor even knows what serotonin toxicity is.

On 2/9/2018 at 12:12 PM, samanthaelizabeth said:

I have had no appetite since reinstating my Zoloft to 200mg. The only time I even feel like eating is after I take my Mirtazipine.

On 2/9/2018 at 12:31 PM, samanthaelizabeth said:

I do want to start tapering the Mirtazipine because I can't believe that I have been on it for 6.5 years. I have successfully tapered off of it twice but those times I was only on it for 1-2 years. Now I'm getting scared about tapering. it seems since my reinstatement of zoloft that i'm still not back to so-called normal. I don't have an appetite, I wake up every morning drenched in sweat. I don't know what to do, I don't want to switch to another AD because i'm scared of the havoc that will be placed on my system. But, what am I supposed to do stay on this for another 20 years?

Thank you for recounting your drug history above. My impression is that you had adverse effects from Ativan, such as rebound panic attacks, but still took it long enough to become physiologically dependent on it. When you went off it, you got withdrawal syndrome and that's been underlying all your drug intake, including Zoloft, since. It could also explain some of your "depression," although I think more recently that was Zoloft poop-out. (You also got Zoloft withdrawal syndrome when you switched to Wellbutrin.)

Since you've been on and off Zoloft and other drugs, you've become more sensitive to Zoloft. My guess is the sweating is an adverse effect of Zoloft; it's excess serotonicity exacerbated by the mirtazapine.

Rather than reduce mirtazapine, my guess is you'd be better off reducing Zoloft. Your "depression" is due to either drug adverse effects, overhanging withdrawal syndrome, emotional anesthesia, autonomic instability, MS, perimenopause, or all the above. Please stop worrying about the mirtazapine, it's helping you sleep, Zoloft isn't helping you do anything other than avoid Zoloft withdrawal symptoms.

When did the ringing in the ear start?

I don't know anything about MS treatment. If I were you, I'd listen carefully to your doctors' recommendations regarding MS and prioritize those treatments over any "psychiatric" treatment. As it does not seem you started with "depression" (rather, work stress treated with Ativan), it is unlikely you deserve the psychiatric diagnosis of "depression." In terms of psychiatry, your drug has been your problem.

February 13, 2018

2 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

Hi sam,

I am a mod. And we have been discussing your more recent symptoms and management. I hope that's okay. Can you hold tight for a bit? Yes, thank you. I'm thinking Zoloft but will defer to the general consensus on that, and then how much of a decrease is yet to be determined. So no ER tonight then? No E.R. don't want steroids

I think you could probably mention to your doctor or ask about if he/she thinks any serotonin syndrome might be going on as well? I went to the ER 2 weeks ago because of high BP, doc said no seratonin syndrome, but did say it was a drug reaction.You most recently got back up to 200mg. of Zoloft on the 18th of January I see. It can be crazy making sometimes.......I understand how you feel........well, a little bit.......I have not had to deal with a diagnosis of MS.........(((())))) those are hugs.

Remeron steady at 15 mg. since 2012 with possibly a change in dosage time recently? same time as always

And then the Copaxone just started this month. Yes, after a break for 6 years-was in denial about having MS

Thanks for the quick reply to my questions. Restful night wishes.

mmt

February 13, 2018

13 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Not every doctor even knows what serotonin toxicity is.

Thank you for recounting your drug history above. My impression is that you had adverse effects from Ativan, such as rebound panic attacks, but still took it long enough to become physiologically dependent on it. When you went off it, you got withdrawal syndrome and that's been underlying all your drug intake, including Zoloft, since. It could also explain some of your "depression," although I think more recently that was Zoloft poop-out. (You also got Zoloft withdrawal syndrome when you switched to Wellbutrin.)

Since you've been on and off Zoloft and other drugs, you've become more sensitive to Zoloft. My guess is the sweating is an adverse effect of Zoloft; it's excess serotonicity exacerbated by the mirtazapine.

Rather than reduce mirtazapine, my guess is you'd be better off reducing Zoloft. Your "depression" is due to either drug adverse effects, overhanging withdrawal syndrome, emotional anesthesia, autonomic instability, MS, perimenopause, or all the above. Please stop worrying about the mirtazapine, it's helping you sleep, Zoloft isn't helping you do anything other than avoid Zoloft withdrawal symptoms.

When did the ringing in the ear start?

I don't know anything about MS treatment. If I were you, I'd listen carefully to your doctors' recommendations regarding MS and prioritize those treatments over any "psychiatric" treatment. As it does not seem you started with "depression" (rather, work stress treated with Ativan), it is unlikely you deserve the psychiatric diagnosis of "depression." In terms of psychiatry, your drug has been your problem.

Thank you Alostrata, I have been searching for that validation since 1999! I could cry right now, having someone validate what I have known all along. I am going to start reducing the Zoloft so down to 180MG? How would I do this? I'm not telling my PDOC that i'm doing this, by the way. I don't trust any of them. God Bless you, you are truly an angel!

February 13, 2018

Please read this Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline) It explains how to make a liquid.

You might ask your doctor if you can take 100mg Zoloft in the morning and 100mg in the evening, to reduce side effects. Then you can take 100mg in tablet form and then 80mg in liquid form.

Alternatively, you might remove your psychiatrist from the payroll and ask your GP or other doctor to prescribe 100mg tablets and Zoloft liquid so you can take 100mg + 80mg in liquid form.

February 13, 2018

12 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Please read this Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline) It explains how to make a liquid.

You might ask your doctor if you can take 100mg Zoloft in the morning and 100mg in the evening, to reduce side effects. Then you can take 100mg in tablet form and then 80mg in liquid form.

Alternatively, you might remove your psychiatrist from the payroll and ask your GP or other doctor to prescribe 100mg tablets and Zoloft liquid so you can take 100mg + 80mg in liquid form.

I take my Mirt at night, I can't take the two so close together. I think you are correct, I'm going to ask my GP about getting the 80MG in liquid form.

February 13, 2018

Hi, Samantha.

I looked up the side effects of the Copaxone and noticed an overlap of side effects of this drug and withdrawal effects of SSRIs:

Copaxone Side Effects

10 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

Yes, I did have my face (forhead) was rigid a couple of weeks ago and my eyes were dialated also. I think I did have some shivering the other day and yes to the diarrhea, every morning.

12 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I am having awful sweats literally soaking my blanket and clothes. This happens right after I take the Zoloft at 6 am and I go back to bed.

Did these symptoms start or become worse after you started taking the Copaxone?

Reducing the Zoloft sounds like a very good plan, as you have linked the symptoms to happening right after dosing Zoloft, but I wanted to see if these symptoms got worse after adding in the Copaxone.

When you have multiple drugs with similar side effects / withdrawal effects it can be harder to know what is causing what, so please continue to keep careful notes and let us know how you're doing.

February 13, 2018

7 hours ago, Shep said:

Hi, Samantha.

I looked up the side effects of the Copaxone and noticed an overlap of side effects of this drug and withdrawal effects of SSRIs:

Copaxone Side Effects

Did these symptoms start or become worse after you started taking the Copaxone?

Reducing the Zoloft sounds like a very good plan, as you have linked the symptoms to happening right after dosing Zoloft, but I wanted to see if these symptoms got worse after adding in the Copaxone.

When you have multiple drugs with similar side effects / withdrawal effects it can be harder to know what is causing what, so please continue to keep careful notes and let us know how you're doing.

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it.

I'm just not sure what to do. Am I even stabilized yet on my regular dose? I talked to my PDoc about tapering of the Mirt but not the Zoloft, he will probably not tolerate it. I wouldn't even know where to begin, I have had depression in my life, but nothing that I couldn't work through on my own. The only serious depression I ever had was after the Ativan experience back in 1999, which was bad. I have been so afraid to ever stop taking zoloft that I just resigned myself to being on it the rest of my life. My husband doesn't tolerate disruption in his life, so I don't know what to do? I have an appointment with a new counselor next week, what do I say to her? Nobody in the mental health field believes in anything other than drugs. I'm not sure I could handle tapering down, my life now is already so different since the Wellbutrin messed everything up. I have at least, god willing another 20 years left on this planet and wonder if it is wise to go off the Zoloft. I just don't know anymore-If I never would have taken that Ativan all of this wouldn't be happening to me. I know i'm just rambling right now..just letting all of my thoughts out. I don't want to mess up my husband's life, he is so supportive with my MS and he doesn't like it when I cry. I don't want to go through years of suffering trying get off 20 years of AD use, I already am not the happiest person right now. My whole life has been about getting ahead in life, being proud of myself and I just feel like I have let my husband down. I am supposed to go to a job interview today and don't even feel like I can do that. I have contributed to this household for 30 years, now I'm useless. I can't even go on Facebook anymore, everyone is busy enjoying their lives but not me.

To answer your question @Shep these symptoms have been going on since before the Copaxone shots which I take 3 times a week. I know it's my own decision on whether or not to taper, but it's a hard decision. My husband doesn't even know that I take Mirt. If I decided to taper how will it affect me? Will I be happy? Will my dead receptors grow back after being dead? How would I start? I can't afford to buy liquid Zoloft. I would have to go down to 180 mg, how would I accurately measure this from 2 100mg tablets? I'm sorry I'm just scared. Thank your for your help.

Sam

February 13, 2018

I am shaking right now, I feel so nervous.

February 13, 2018

Quote

I'm not sure if I'm too obsessed with this site and internalizing everything I read on here. Before, I never gave my AD a second thought.. Now, I am questioning it everyday. I feel stuck. Do I talk with my new counselor about this? or just keep quiet?

February 13, 2018

I am not the same anymore, I can't even get in the shower to go on an interview. I wish I could just stay home, but my husband expects me to work.

Quote

February 13, 2018

I'm sorry, Sam. Baby steps. Just do what you need to, and if you never make it to the interview it's ok. Don't think about the goal, just the next action you nee to take, then the next.

February 13, 2018

I'm going to a new general doctor tomorrow because I can never get in to see my doctor, it's always a different person. Should I tell him about my reinstatement about a possible taper? Or should I call my Pdoc and tell him i'm not doing well? Please someone help!

Quote

February 13, 2018

I cannot eat, should I just force myself?

February 13, 2018

10 minutes ago, Rosetta said:

I'm sorry, Sam. Baby steps. Just do what you need to, and if you never make it to the interview it's ok. Don't think about the goal, just the next action you nee to take, then the next.

Thanks Rosetta, I am very hard on myself. I have to find a way to fix that. I'm not going to the interview, I have applied for a work from home job with a good company. I hope they call me, I don't think I can work outside the house right now. I can't believe this is happening to me. When will I become stable? I wish I could take a benzo, my husband won't let me after he found out about the Klonopin.

February 13, 2018

Yes, eat. You will feel better after you do.

Samantha, you are sick. You have MS, and you have a syndrome that is real whether the doctors you meet will admit it or not. Some doctors do admit it. They have written books about it. They have put their careers on the line to expose it.

Your husband is going to have to accept that 30 years of financial contribution to the household is enough for now. You are in an anxiety spiral, and you need to sit down and breathe. You should not be driving.

The pressure you are putting on yourself is not necessary, and it's very harmful. You are going to have to stand up for yourself -- for your mental health. If you do, you might find that your husband understands better than you think he does. If not, then he had better start to understand.

You are going to harm yourself with all this stress. Stress is the last thing you need right now. It is obviously too hard for you to search for a job. Please be kind to yourself. You are legitimately ill, Sam. You don't need anyone, including your husband, to agree with that. You know it. I went through the same experience when I was still trying to work. Exactly the same. I couldn't meet people. You can't. It's ok. This is the nature of the disease -- intense anxiety. Forgive yourself and let your marriage vows remind you that you do not have to work if you can't. Remember? In sickness and it health. No one can expect you to work right now. It's cruel if someone does.

Rosetta

February 13, 2018

25 minutes ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I cannot eat, should I just force myself?

yes ,I did today myself ,we need to keep energy levels and strength up. I had massive anxiety in my system that turned hunger off and this is very odd for me .always have a huge appetite.

samanthaelizabeth: How do you manage to keep working while taper off

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