Tired Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Hi Was on Remeron for two years and clonazepam for two years, withdrew from benzo knew I had to go slow, but went off remeron in six weeks, had a lot of waves and windows, but i am suffering so bad for last ten days, mania, insomnia, 24 hour torture, is it too late to reinstate, been a little over 4 months since I took 15 mg, that’s where I jumped benzos 2 mg from 2013-2015 tapered 2015-2017 put on 45 mg remeron 2013. -2015 to counterac the benzos, roller coaster of symptoms july 1 2017- sept 15/2017 tapered remeron, too fast. Had to reinstate to 7.5 unbarable syptoms. Going slow this time, live and learn. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted January 22, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 22, 2018 Hello, Tired, and welcome to SA. I am sorry you are having such terrible withdrawal symptoms, but I'm glad you found your way here. To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly? Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. Regarding reinstatement, please read the first few posts of this topic: About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Reinstatement isn't a guarantee of diminished symptoms for everyone but reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome. The only other alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis. Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take longer. If, as in your situation, the last dose was more than 3 months ago, it's possible that reinstatement might not work. Try a very small dose (in case of hypersensitivity), such as 2mg. Remember that symptoms won't improve right away but you need to pay attention to whether symptoms worsen. An adverse reaction doesn't take a long time to show up. If symptoms get even more severe after reinstating, you should STOP taking the medication immediately. If symptoms stay the same, continue taking that amount for at least 2 weeks while keeping track of symptoms. Please keep notes on paper of your symptoms and the times of your dose(s). This post has a useful format for a daily log:Take notes of doses and symptoms. To get a small consistent dose, such as 2mg, you'll need to either weigh crushed tablets or make a liquid. This link contains information about how to reduce a tablet of Remeron to get a smaller dose: Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapine) Also see: Using a digital scale to measure doses. In the meantime, two supplements that we recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Best, Gridley Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of Aug 26: 4.0mg Taper is 95% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Tired Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 On 2018-01-22 at 9:31 AM, Gridley said: Hello, Tired, and welcome to SA. I am sorry you are having such terrible withdrawal symptoms, but I'm glad you found your way here. To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly? Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. Regarding reinstatement, please read the first few posts of this topic: About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Reinstatement isn't a guarantee of diminished symptoms for everyone but reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome. The only other alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis. Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take longer. If, as in your situation, the last dose was more than 3 months ago, it's possible that reinstatement might not work. Try a very small dose (in case of hypersensitivity), such as 2mg. Remember that symptoms won't improve right away but you need to pay attention to whether symptoms worsen. An adverse reaction doesn't take a long time to show up. If symptoms get even more severe after reinstating, you should STOP taking the medication immediately. If symptoms stay the same, continue taking that amount for at least 2 weeks while keeping track of symptoms. Please keep notes on paper of your symptoms and the times of your dose(s). This post has a useful format for a daily log:Take notes of doses and symptoms. To get a small consistent dose, such as 2mg, you'll need to either weigh crushed tablets or make a liquid. This link contains information about how to reduce a tablet of Remeron to get a smaller dose: Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapine) Also see: Using a digital scale to measure doses. In the meantime, two supplements that we recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Best, Gridley Thanks for the reply, wish I could have stuck it out but couldn’t endure thinking this could go on for who knows how long. Great information, took 7.5 mgs and did feel better, dr. recommended I start at 30 and work down take a few months, oh how they don’t know what they’re doing! Still very scared, but will go very slow this time, thank goodness for sites like these, benzos 2 mg from 2013-2015 tapered 2015-2017 put on 45 mg remeron 2013. -2015 to counterac the benzos, roller coaster of symptoms july 1 2017- sept 15/2017 tapered remeron, too fast. Had to reinstate to 7.5 unbarable syptoms. Going slow this time, live and learn. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted January 24, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 24, 2018 We are always here for you. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of Aug 26: 4.0mg Taper is 95% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Tired Posted January 24, 2018 Author Share Posted January 24, 2018 This may have already been discussed here, does anyone know if you can have intradose with drawl from antidepressants, as you can with benzodiazepines. I suffered with many conditions while interdose wd for many years not knowing, not sure if this happens with AD benzos 2 mg from 2013-2015 tapered 2015-2017 put on 45 mg remeron 2013. -2015 to counterac the benzos, roller coaster of symptoms july 1 2017- sept 15/2017 tapered remeron, too fast. Had to reinstate to 7.5 unbarable syptoms. Going slow this time, live and learn. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted January 24, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 24, 2018 Tired, Please do your drug signature. To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly? Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of Aug 26: 4.0mg Taper is 95% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted January 24, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 24, 2018 It will depend on a number of factors. The half life of the drug What form of the drug you are taking (ie immediate release, making your own liquid from tablets) The time you are taking the drug (ie some people skip days to taper - it is best to take the same dose, at about the same daily) To try and work out if you are experiencing interdose withdrawal, my suggestion would be to keep daily notes on paper of the time/s you take your drug/s and write down what symptoms appear and the time they do. Keep Notes on Paper * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted January 24, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 24, 2018 As previously requested please create a drug signature. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Tired Posted January 4, 2021 Author Share Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) Akathisia 15 months out Been a long time since I have needed support off all meds, Last one mirtazipne lately under a lot of stress have gone into akathasia and it’s unbearable. Is this possible after being off for 15 months was on it for 3 years, 45 mg Any input would help how could it last, and how to manage. Edited January 5, 2021 by manymoretodays added title, merged with Introduction topic benzos 2 mg from 2013-2015 tapered 2015-2017 put on 45 mg remeron 2013. -2015 to counterac the benzos, roller coaster of symptoms july 1 2017- sept 15/2017 tapered remeron, too fast. Had to reinstate to 7.5 unbarable syptoms. Going slow this time, live and learn. Link to comment
Alice1 Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 Yes. Akathisia didn’t hit me until month 12. Take care of your nervous system. It will go but it can come back if you’re careless. December 2014 - Lexapro 20 mg August 2016 Med free (6 week taper) December 22 2021 added Abilify 5mg / Ativan .5mg / Depakote ER 1000mg Discontinued Abilify 5mg on 12-30-21---accidental dose on 1-13-22 (looks like Ativan) Ativan PRN/Discontinued 1-14-22 Only drug is Depakote ER 1000mg ( looking to taper slow and safe for once ) 3/24/22 Depakote 625mg Propranolol 20-40mg PRN Link to comment
HealingWithQi Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 I had akathisia come and go my entire PAWS journey (been off for 6.5 years). The first 4 years were the worst. I still get a very mild version today once in a while, but it's very tolerable, hardly can call it akathisia anymore. My ways of coping: 1. Acupuncture (sometimes the first treatment made it worse and I would have to come back multiple days in a row) 2. Bath - Luke warm water. Added three or so dropper fulls of ionic magnesium. Added at least one cup if not more of lavender epsom salt. Sat in the bath sometimes for hours. Sometimes would get full relief that would last. Sometimes would only get full relief while in the water. Sometimes would only take the edge off. I'd also bring a distraction like watching tv on my phone or listening to music to keep my focus off the discomfort. 3. Alternating zone out distraction with breathing and embracing the awfulness. Didn't so much grant me relief as just a way to bide time until it lessened. I found that if I let it come on in full and embrace it, then it would lessen shortly and allow me some time in which I could get lost in a distraction. Riding the waves essentially. The more I fought it the worse it got. 4. Reminding myself to not be afraid. Stress makes it worse. Crying sometimes helped, sometimes made it worse. Again it's just about riding it out. Hang in there! Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus manymoretodays Posted January 5, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 5, 2021 Hi Tired, @Tired And welcome back. 14 hours ago, Tired said: Last one mirtazipne lately under a lot of stress have gone into akathasia and it’s unbearable. Is this possible after being off for 15 months was on it for 3 years, 45 mg Any input would help how could it last, and how to manage. How did you come off your mirtazapine? Did you taper and how? Any other symptoms along the way or since coming off of it? Just fill us in a bit more, it's been awhile...... And hey, welcome back. L, P, H, and G, mmt Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks. Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988. In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm. Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time). 5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014) 12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs. My last psycho med ever! Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to 2016 Dec 16, medication free!! Longer signature post here, with current supplements. Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016. And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed. Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022, and again finally 5/25/24. Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜 None of my posts are intended as medical advice. Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider. My success story: Blue skies ahead, clear sailing Link to comment
Tired Posted January 6, 2021 Author Share Posted January 6, 2021 Hi really having a struggle withdrew off benzos in about three years and then withdrew from mirtazapine 45 mgs withdrew over a year and a half but could tell my brain still never really recovered, heart palpitations at night and in the morning but tolerated, an increase in stress brought me back to akathasia, so scared don’t know what to do. thank you for listening benzos 2 mg from 2013-2015 tapered 2015-2017 put on 45 mg remeron 2013. -2015 to counterac the benzos, roller coaster of symptoms july 1 2017- sept 15/2017 tapered remeron, too fast. Had to reinstate to 7.5 unbarable syptoms. Going slow this time, live and learn. Link to comment
Vasherr Posted September 9, 2022 Share Posted September 9, 2022 Hi, @Tired, I want You to know that You are not forgotten. How are You feeling now? Wishing You a lifelong window! V. Duloxetine 2016/17 - 30/60mg/30mg, c/t, light WD. Sertraline June 2019 50mg ADR Clorazepate June 2019 20-15-10mg for 3 weeks then sparsely until 2022, 2 times per month max and very low dose (5mg) Clorazepate Jan2022 10mg 5 days 2,5mg 2 days then off Venlafaxine June 2019 75mg ADR, 17,5mg, titrated to 37,5mg Venlafaxine Jan 2022 Covid, hard ADR on 37,5mg, reduced to 20mg ADR, tried ct, crash, Venlafaxine 22Jan22 reinstated 9,4mg, too low/ 01Feb22- 12mg/ 12Feb- 11,25mg/ 16Feb- 11mg/ 20Feb- 10,8mg/ 24Feb22-10,575mg/ 16Mar22- 10,46mg/ 26Mar22- 10,35mg/ 26Apr22- 10mg/ 01Oct- 9,9mg/ 13Nov- 9,7mg 01Jan24-7,5mg MAR24 Due to another sudden intolerance had to fast taper venlafaxine to 1,14mg Seems like all of this time I was in benzo withdrawal, because when I took it now in desperation to help it made me feel worse, tried reinstatement first 1mg, then 0,05mg both made me feel worse. Link to comment
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