Lucydownunder Posted January 9, 2019 Posted January 9, 2019 Hello fellow battlers background: 6 years on Pristiq, for the most part not much releaf from depression, ocd symptoms. Apart from the 1st year. Also suffer from adhd with great success with treating with dex but currently arnt on due to changing psych. Decided to get off Pristiq about 3 months ago due to its ineffectiveness as I was quite depressed (I suspect I may have bipolar type 2) I had also started taking cbd oil which had a fantastic improvement in my mood, anxiety, adhd, sleep. so I felt like I would like to get of Pristiq. I regrettably tapered of too quickley. Over a few weeks. What I thought were The major withdrawal symptoms were gone and Assumed I was out of the woods. Here I am 3 months in and I’m experiencing what many others have, the symptoms of ADS/WD my main symptoms are, Anxiotey, diarrhoea (induced by the anxiotey) flu like (hot flush, body pains, nausea) I don’t believe the level of anxiety is normal for me though I did have some before hand. Now my my question is given how long I was on them, how quick I tapered off. Do I restart back in a 1/4 of 50mg and try and taper off or keep trucking as I already am a few months into this? It it has been a hellish time. But discovering what might be the cause of it has brought me great releaf, and reading others experiences on here to feel not alone in this. Amy advise would be welcome
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted January 11, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Posted January 11, 2019 (edited) On 1/8/2019 at 6:40 PM, Lucydownunder said: Now my my question is given how long I was on them, how quick I tapered off. Do I restart back in a 1/4 of 50mg and try and taper off or keep trucking as I already am a few months into this? Hi Lucy and welcome to SA. You are definitely not alone. It sounds like you have been having quite a time of it. We'll try to figure out your exact situation and what would be the best course, moving forward. To help us do this, please create a "drug" signature listing current and recent dosages and changes: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/18343-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/ Please also include when you started the CBD oil. That can have an effect on withdrawal symptoms as it acts on the nervous system. We don't subscribe much to diagnoses, but there is much to learn on this site about non-drug coping strategies for dealing with withdrawal, and for distress in general. I'll post some links, but the most important step for right now is the drug signature. Again, welcome. Thanks for your patience. Edited January 11, 2019 by SkyBlue added something 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted January 11, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Posted January 11, 2019 This forum section has a wealth of information worth reading, especially the first topic on Non-Drug Techniques. https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forum/8-symptoms-and-self-care/ Please keep notes on paper about your daily symptom pattern, as that often provides helpful information. 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted January 11, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Posted January 11, 2019 Hi Lucy and welcome from me too, I'm a bit further down under than you are. 😉 G'day mate! 12 minutes ago, SkyBlue said: Please keep notes on paper about your daily symptom pattern, as that often provides helpful information. Example: 6 a.m. Woke with anxiety 8 a.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro 10 a.m. Stomach is upset 10:30 a.m. Ate breakfast 11:35 a.m. Got a headache, lasted one hour 12:35 p.m. Ate lunch 4 p.m. Feel a bit better 5 p.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro 6 p.m. Ate dinner 9:20 p.m. Headache 10:00 p.m. Took 50mg Seroquel 10:20 p.m. Feeling dizzy 10:30 p.m. Fell asleep 2:30 a.m. Woke, took 3mg Ambien (NOT "took 1/2 tablet Ambien") 2:45 a.m. Fell asleep 4:30 a.m. Woke but got back to sleep * 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
Lucydownunder Posted January 15, 2019 Author Posted January 15, 2019 Hi guys so nice to hear from you both ill update my sig ASAP Update: since my last post I attempted to get back on pristiq (1/4 of 50ml) in the hope it would relive my crippling anxiety - it didn’t. After several nights of broken sleep, barely eating and other side effects of pristiq onset I had to go to the emergency department from the insessent panic attacks. Valium was prescribed and the 5 tablets given were all consumed by the next day (staying at a freinds) Saw a GP who advised me to not try and get back on pristiq and put me on 15ml of Avanza at night. Yes I’m back on the antidepressant merry go round but I was really left with no choice. But I feel like it might be easer to get of Avanza if and when I’m ready. At least the tablets can be cut. The last 4 nights with Avanza I have finally been able to have a full uninterrupted sleep and a notacble reduction in frequency and intensity of anxiety and panic attacks. Eating is also returning to normal. I’m still having an extremely hard time due to anxiety and the stress this disruption has caused (I’m a single parent and may have to move closer to support, change my son’s school) regarding thr cbd I would say I was on it for several months before discontinuing Pristiq. I gues I have awnsered my own question as I’m not planing on restarting pristiq. I have been keeping a journal cheesie cat, although not quite as detailed as you described. Im very keen to take cbd again as I feel it was really helping with my symptoms. Any thoughts on this?
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now