Moderator Emeritus Sassenach Posted March 18, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 18, 2019 Today on BBC radio 2 primetime SSRI withdrawal discussed. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0003d1m Apologies my head very foggy today If link does not work go to BBC.co.uk Listen again Jeremy Vine Show Date 18/3/2019 Escitalopram 10mgs from mid 2007 ( can't remember exact date) to 11th Dec 2018 Fentanyl patches ( don't remember dose ) from Nov 2014 to 11 Dec 2018 Quit both cold turkey Dec 2018 Reinstated 3rd March 2019 2.5 mgs. Updosed 8March to 5mgs and holding 25/11/19 Started taper 4.5mgs and holding This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner If you are going through Hell, keep going. NCIS series 15, David MaCallum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeterminedAnna Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 Hi Sassanach, Thanks for posting this – I'm in the UK, so have a BBC TV licence and can listen. The discussion starts from about 1:10. It's good that it's being discussed in mainstream media – I doubt it would have been 10, or 15 years ago. But, I still thought It peddled the same old lines, and didn't really offer to listeners anywhere to go and get more information. In the UK, Mind charity's advice seems to be the best to me, because it talks about 10% reduction and is a robust and credible source of information. I didn't rate the doctor's comments that antidepressants keep depression at bay – for me, they numb feelings which isn't a better option (which was mentioned by Sarah Vine). Numbing or masking a problem isn't really fixing a problem. The doctor also hinted that if symptoms of depression appear while withdrawing, then that's the original depression returning. I disagree strongly with that. Likewise I disagree with the comments by Sarah Vine about 'chemical imbalance' – my own belief is that antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs CAUSE chemical imbalances. It wasn't a long slot, so to be fair to the show, it's difficult to do the subject justice. And I'm biased of course, with a lot of cynicism towards officialdom and how it currently deals with antidepressant withdrawal. I was pleased to hear the doctor say antidepressants are fast becoming a last resort option, and that CBT and exercise / lifestyle changes are more often the first course of action. So I hope in another 10 or 15 years time there will be more transparent and realistic antidepressant withdrawal coverage in the media, and coverage that offers more solid facts, with more recognition and admittance by the medical community. Thanks for sharing this. LATEST SITUATION *GSK-BRANDED LIQUID SEROXAT* CURRENTLY HOLDING AT 4.84MG LIQUID SEROXAT (PAROXETINE) DAILY, FOLLOWING 5% TAPER SINCE JUNE 2020 AS FOLLOWS: 1 APR 21: UPDOSE TO (AND HOLDING SINCE) 4.84MG PER DAY, AS 4MG LUNCHTIME, 0.84MG EVENING PREVIOUS TAPERING SINCE JUNE 2020: 13 Mar 21 (CRASHED 19 MAR 21) 4.72mg per day, as 4mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 13 Feb 21: 4.96mg per day, as 4.24mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 16 Jan 21: 5.2mg per day, as 4.48mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 19 Dec 20: 5.48mg per day, as 4.76mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 21 Nov 20: 5.76mg per day, as 5.04mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 24 Oct 20: 6.04mg per day, as 5.32mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 26 Sept 20: 6.36mg per day, as 5.64mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening | 29 Aug 20: 6.68mg per day, as 5.96mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening | 1 Aug 20: 7mg per day, as 6.28mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening (bereavement, didn't reduce) | 4 Jul 20: 7mg per day, as 6.28mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening | 6 Jun 20: 7.36mg per day, as 6.64mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening *OTHER MEDS/SUPPLEMENTS* Since my March 2021 crash (above), I have very occasionally taken a benzo, and increased some of my supplements. Please see this document. ———————————————————————————————— PREVIOUSLY From 12 May 19 to 5 Jun 20 inclusive: 7.72mg per day, as 7mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening. Split my doses in May 2019 as I suspect half-life is more of a factor at lower doses. Further history here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Sassenach Posted March 18, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 18, 2019 Hi Anna I pretty much agree with you, but at least she publicly stated that the medical profession knows very little about withdrawal from these drugs. I think, that at last means we can actively challenge GPs whose first response is " you have recurring depression " which is what I am currently getting from my doctor. I listen to Jeremy Vine regularly and Sarah Jarvis is a regular guest and usually a good contributor but I suspect she had to choose her words carefully because the establishment view will not change overnight. I am sorry to read that someone as young as you has had such a battle. I was lucky to be healthy and fit in my younger life. I wish you well and keep fighting Escitalopram 10mgs from mid 2007 ( can't remember exact date) to 11th Dec 2018 Fentanyl patches ( don't remember dose ) from Nov 2014 to 11 Dec 2018 Quit both cold turkey Dec 2018 Reinstated 3rd March 2019 2.5 mgs. Updosed 8March to 5mgs and holding 25/11/19 Started taper 4.5mgs and holding This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner If you are going through Hell, keep going. NCIS series 15, David MaCallum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeterminedAnna Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) Thank you Sassenach for your kind wishes. And thanks too for the response and yes, you are right – at least she publicly acknowledged medical establishment's ignorance about antidepressant withdrawal. Sending a virtual hug your way. Thank you again. Edited March 20, 2019 by DeterminedAnna Gramma LATEST SITUATION *GSK-BRANDED LIQUID SEROXAT* CURRENTLY HOLDING AT 4.84MG LIQUID SEROXAT (PAROXETINE) DAILY, FOLLOWING 5% TAPER SINCE JUNE 2020 AS FOLLOWS: 1 APR 21: UPDOSE TO (AND HOLDING SINCE) 4.84MG PER DAY, AS 4MG LUNCHTIME, 0.84MG EVENING PREVIOUS TAPERING SINCE JUNE 2020: 13 Mar 21 (CRASHED 19 MAR 21) 4.72mg per day, as 4mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 13 Feb 21: 4.96mg per day, as 4.24mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 16 Jan 21: 5.2mg per day, as 4.48mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 19 Dec 20: 5.48mg per day, as 4.76mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 21 Nov 20: 5.76mg per day, as 5.04mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 24 Oct 20: 6.04mg per day, as 5.32mg lunchtime, 0.72mg evening | 26 Sept 20: 6.36mg per day, as 5.64mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening | 29 Aug 20: 6.68mg per day, as 5.96mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening | 1 Aug 20: 7mg per day, as 6.28mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening (bereavement, didn't reduce) | 4 Jul 20: 7mg per day, as 6.28mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening | 6 Jun 20: 7.36mg per day, as 6.64mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening *OTHER MEDS/SUPPLEMENTS* Since my March 2021 crash (above), I have very occasionally taken a benzo, and increased some of my supplements. Please see this document. ———————————————————————————————— PREVIOUSLY From 12 May 19 to 5 Jun 20 inclusive: 7.72mg per day, as 7mg lunchtime; 0.72mg evening. Split my doses in May 2019 as I suspect half-life is more of a factor at lower doses. Further history here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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