Andie Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Reverend Oliver Harrison has been a long-term user of antidepressants - but when he came off the medication, it caused "horrendous" side effects. Leading medical experts are warning that using Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) drugs for long periods of time could be doing permanent damage to patient's bodies. https://news.sky.com/story/i-was-in-absolute-hell-the-effect-of-coming-off-antidepressants-11688078 Current Dose 0.5mcg Clonidine and 1.25 Diazepam PRN for treatment of iatrogenic hypertension. 2010 .Prescribed Pristiq 100 mg in July by GP 2010 .Reduced to 50mg by splitting and weighing. Held at 50mg 2014. Reduced from 50-35 .Held at 35mg. 2017. Taper from 35mg commenced using compounded Desvenlafaxine 2018. 23/06 13.5mg. 21/07 12.5mg. 25/08 11.5mg. 09/2018 10mg. 14/11 11mg (updose) 21/11 -12mg (updose) 2019. Still holding at 12mg and stuck. 2020. January 2019 Prozac Bridge-- Prozac 2.5 to 10mg and Pristiq 23rd Jan 6mg/ 27th Jan 5mg/ 28th Jan 3mg/ 30 Jan 0 Prozac 6th Feb 9.5mg. Vitamin D3 5000iu with K2 Magnesium Glycinate with Glycine and Passionflower 600mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andie Posted April 10, 2019 Author Share Posted April 10, 2019 Also from Sky News Long-term antidepressant users are risking permanent damage to their bodies, according to leading medical experts. Dr Tony Kendrick, a professor of primary care at the University of Southampton, says more urgent action needs to be taken to encourage and support long-term users to come off the medication. https://news.sky.com/story/long-term-use-of-antidepressants-could-cause-permanent-damage-doctors-warn-11688430 Current Dose 0.5mcg Clonidine and 1.25 Diazepam PRN for treatment of iatrogenic hypertension. 2010 .Prescribed Pristiq 100 mg in July by GP 2010 .Reduced to 50mg by splitting and weighing. Held at 50mg 2014. Reduced from 50-35 .Held at 35mg. 2017. Taper from 35mg commenced using compounded Desvenlafaxine 2018. 23/06 13.5mg. 21/07 12.5mg. 25/08 11.5mg. 09/2018 10mg. 14/11 11mg (updose) 21/11 -12mg (updose) 2019. Still holding at 12mg and stuck. 2020. January 2019 Prozac Bridge-- Prozac 2.5 to 10mg and Pristiq 23rd Jan 6mg/ 27th Jan 5mg/ 28th Jan 3mg/ 30 Jan 0 Prozac 6th Feb 9.5mg. Vitamin D3 5000iu with K2 Magnesium Glycinate with Glycine and Passionflower 600mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRothbard Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 i really don't like hearing that there may be permanent damage September 2014 to July 2015 - 20 mg Lexapro, 30mg Mirtazipine August 2015 to November 2016- 10mg Lexapro, 30 mg Mirtazipine Nov. 2016 to Nov. 2017 - 10mg Lexapro, 3.75 mg Mirtazipine Nov. 2017 to Mach 2018 - 5mg/2.5mg Lexapro, 0mg Mirtazipne Mach 2018 to Dec. 2018 - 0mg Lexapro, 0mg Mirtazipne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
direstraits Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 I'm scared to death...God help us. went on Prozac 1994-99,60mg.poopout ct back on 2001-2002,prozac weekly 2002,not working,Effexor 75 mg.?2003-mar.2004 gaining weight 8wk. taper,wellbutrin 150 mg.mar. -may 2004 ctmedfree til july 2005 back to Prozac gaining weight again,back on wellbutrin jan.2006150-300 mg.bad constipation.also was taking aygestin(hormone)perimenopausal irregular bleeding.back on Prozac around sept,?2006,hysterectomy jan30.2007(adenomyosis)off&on Prozac til 2009,citalopram about 1 mo, April 2010 no effect,Effexor again may -mar, 2011.ct,Prozac aug,-dec, 2011 &sept-nov 2012,paroxetine oct,23 2013-may 4 2014 20 mgs.tapered 6 wks.-failed RI in Oct.2014-in protracted WD.started 10 mgs. Fluoxetine May 25 2021 .Stopped fluoxetine May 2022 at 5 mgs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Frogie Posted April 10, 2019 Moderator Share Posted April 10, 2019 This is very scary, since I just came off Lexapro almost 2 weeks ago after being on an antidepressant for 22 years! PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist. Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form) ---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil. Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper. 19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020) I am not a medical professional. The suggestions I make are based on personal experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 @Altostrata thoughts on this article? There seems to be nothing but “permanent damage” articles in the media today... med history: 17 years total Concerta: 2 yrs - cold turkey, brought on first "depression" Short trials of Zoloft and Effexor: 1-3 years - multiple cold turkey's brought on OCD intrusive thoughts for the first time Lexapro 15-20 mg (16 yrs) - tried to quit once, cold turkey, worst WD ever, had to go on to 20mg to stop WD Welbutrin 150mg (8-ish yrs) NO w/d symptoms from CT Adderall 5-7.5mg (8-10-ish yrs) quit CT, brought on many WD symptoms, but manageable. Begin taper March 2018 : Currently on 4.4 mg lexapro - down from 20mg Symptoms : depression, horrible intrusive thoughts and urges, new onset PMS/PMDD, constant extreme irritation and anger, visual hallucinations, irrational thinking patterns, panic, nausea, dizzy, intolerance to working out, chemical sensitivities, noise sensitivities, memory issues, heart palps, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andie Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 1 hour ago, Peachy said: @Altostrata thoughts on this article? There seems to be nothing but “permanent damage” articles in the media today... I had a similar reaction when I first read this article. I don't know where this idea of permanent damage has come from. This Doctor is only speaking speculatively, but it is doing nothing but scaring those of us who have been on long term medication. I believe the point he was trying to make was that in order to mitigate any long term harm to patients, patients need to be supported to safely withdraw them off their medication. I think that message got lost by the shock value of the headline and opening paragraphs. It certainly got our attention though. For me, the one and only reason I have been on long term medication is because I have been unable to withdraw. Current Dose 0.5mcg Clonidine and 1.25 Diazepam PRN for treatment of iatrogenic hypertension. 2010 .Prescribed Pristiq 100 mg in July by GP 2010 .Reduced to 50mg by splitting and weighing. Held at 50mg 2014. Reduced from 50-35 .Held at 35mg. 2017. Taper from 35mg commenced using compounded Desvenlafaxine 2018. 23/06 13.5mg. 21/07 12.5mg. 25/08 11.5mg. 09/2018 10mg. 14/11 11mg (updose) 21/11 -12mg (updose) 2019. Still holding at 12mg and stuck. 2020. January 2019 Prozac Bridge-- Prozac 2.5 to 10mg and Pristiq 23rd Jan 6mg/ 27th Jan 5mg/ 28th Jan 3mg/ 30 Jan 0 Prozac 6th Feb 9.5mg. Vitamin D3 5000iu with K2 Magnesium Glycinate with Glycine and Passionflower 600mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 @Andie same. Also the reason I had to go higher and higher. Everytime I stopped I needed more to make the WD stop. med history: 17 years total Concerta: 2 yrs - cold turkey, brought on first "depression" Short trials of Zoloft and Effexor: 1-3 years - multiple cold turkey's brought on OCD intrusive thoughts for the first time Lexapro 15-20 mg (16 yrs) - tried to quit once, cold turkey, worst WD ever, had to go on to 20mg to stop WD Welbutrin 150mg (8-ish yrs) NO w/d symptoms from CT Adderall 5-7.5mg (8-10-ish yrs) quit CT, brought on many WD symptoms, but manageable. Begin taper March 2018 : Currently on 4.4 mg lexapro - down from 20mg Symptoms : depression, horrible intrusive thoughts and urges, new onset PMS/PMDD, constant extreme irritation and anger, visual hallucinations, irrational thinking patterns, panic, nausea, dizzy, intolerance to working out, chemical sensitivities, noise sensitivities, memory issues, heart palps, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbles Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 I agree that speculation along those lines is not helpful. If it exists, which is not proven, maybe the recommended speed of the taper is at fault? I also agree that I'm still only on these meds because they're so hard to stop. 2005 St John's Wort / 2006-2012 Lexapro 20mg, 2 failed attempts to stop, tapered over 4.5 months in early 2012 January 2013 started Sertraline, over time worked up to 100mg July 2014 Sertraline dropped from 100mg to 75mg, held for six months, slower tapering until 2019 22 Dec 3.2mg 2020 Sertraline 19 Jan 3.1mg, 26 Jan 3.0mg; 1 Mar 2.9, 7 Mar 2.8, May (some drops here) 24 May 2.5, May 29 2.4, June 21 2.3, June 28 2.2mg, July 4 2.1mg, July 24 (or maybe a bit before) 2mg, early Nov switched to home made suspension; 29 Nov 1.8mg; approx 25 Dec 1.6mg) 2021 Some time in about Jan/Feb realised probably on more like 1.8mg and poss mixing error in making suspension; doses after 10 Feb accurate; 10 Feb 1.6mg; 7 Mar 1.4, continued monthly 10% drops until 1mg, then dropped 0.1mg monthly. May 2022,0.1mg, now dropping 0.01mg per week 29 August 2022 - first day of zero! My thread here at SA: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1775-bubbles/page/21/ Current: Armour Thyroid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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