kelley182: Long term antidepressant user trying to adjust to life without

[kelley182]

In my early 20s, I developed hypoglycemia which came with panic attacks.  I was put on Luvox and took it for 4 years.  I stopped it and didn’t realize the anxiety was withdrawal so I was put on Paxil for 13 years.  I came off of Paxil too fast and did so using Prozac to taper.  I also suffered an emotional trauma during this time.

Since this time, I have been struggling.  I have tried to go on a few other antidepressants but the side effects were debilitating so I had to stop them.  I am on numerous supplements and also trying CBD.  I have had so much trouble that I lost my job of 15 years a week ago. 

I finished the Paxil in October and the Prozac in January.  I did try cymbalta for 2 days in March and Prozac for about 10-11 days in early April.  

When not on an SSRI I have days with anxiety, insomnia and muscle aches.  The insomnia really perpetuates the anxiety.  

I am scared because I can’t take an SSRI and now i’ve lost my job because I have days where working is difficult.  I was able to keep my job for so long because I work at home and could cry or whatever I needed to do between meetings.

 

Someone please tell me that my brain is still adjusting and this will get better.  It’s a very scary time for me.

[Gridley]

Hello, kelley182, and welcome to SA.  I'm sorry you're having these symptoms, which are typical of withdrawal from antidepressants like Paxil and Prozac.  Yes, your brain is still adjusting and this will get better. But it will take time. 

 

Are there some days when you are symptom-free?

 

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.  Please include your Paxil taper, Prozac crossover and any supplements you're taking.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

Withdrawal symptoms arise because your body got used to the drug being present and now has to work very hard to accommodate its absence.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

 The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

These explain it really well:

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

   On 8/30/2011 at 2:28 PM,  Rhiannon said: 

When we stop taking the drug, we have a brain that has designed itself so that it works in the presence of the drug; now it can't work properly without the drug because it's designed itself so that the drug is part of its chemistry and structure. It's like a plant that has grown on a trellis; you can't just yank out the trellis and expect the plant to be okay. When the drug is removed, the remodeling process has to take place in reverse. SO--it's not a matter of just getting the drug out of your system and moving on. If it were that simple, none of us would be here. It's a matter of, as I describe it, having to grow a new brain. I believe this growing-a-new-brain happens throughout the taper process if the taper is slow enough. (If it's too fast, then there's not a lot of time for actually rebalancing things, and basically the brain is just pedaling fast trying to keep us alive.) It also continues to happen, probably for longer than the symptoms actually last, throughout the time of recovery after we are completely off the drug, which is why recovery takes so long.

 

You're right that lack of sleep can make symptoms worse.  

 

Tips to help sleep - so many of us have that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

Relaxation exercises, guided meditations, calming videos, sleep hypnosis

 

Some members have found Melatonin helpful with insomnia.   

 

 Melatonin for sleep   

 

It's best to start at a very low dosage, such as .25mg, and gradually increase if needed to the lowest effective dose.  

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do 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 

 

Magnesium comes in many different forms.  I've found magnesium glycinate to be a good one.

 

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.

 

While it is often a first response to stress to take a B-Complex, in withdrawal it can be overstimulating.

 

Hypersensitive to B Vitamin or B-Complex  

 

These links have information and techniques that can help you deal with anxiety.  Dr. Claire Weeks did pioneering work in treating anxiety, and many SA members have benefitted from her work.

 

Audio:  How to Recover from Anxiety - Dr Claire Weekes

VIDEO:  Peace from Nervous Suffering - Claire Weekes (1 hour) (http://sendvid.com/vgquc1dg)

 

Anxiety Stuff - all kinds of stuff about anxiety attacks and things that help …

 

10 minute Restorative Yoga for Relaxation | Up the wall

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kelley182]

I was on luvox for 4 years and Paxil for 13.  I went through hell on earth coming off of Paxil but I somehow did it.  I guess because I laid in bed and had a great therapist.  I finished the Paxil itself in October I believe.

my dr used Prozac to taper me off of Paxil which caused problems that I didn’t realize were truly related to the Prozac.  My dr put me on Xanax Xr to treat those symptoms.  I was on Xanax XR for 2 months.

I was off of Prozac and Xanax sometime in January.

About 30 days later, I thought I felt worse.  At some point in March, my dr and I tried Cymbalta.  I only took this for 2 days as I was unable to get out of bed to make a meal.  Then in early April I tried Prozac.  My brain freaked out.  It was like someone hit a fast forward button and 2 days in on 10 mg, I jolted up after 2 hours of sleep.  I took the 10 mg for 2 more days, 5 mg for 3-4 days and then 2.5 mg for a day.  I believe I went through withdrawal and now have horrid insomnia.  I think i’m actually getting worse and am scared out of my mind.

At this point I want to take another SSRI but I have read a lot about how the next reaction could be even worse.

i have already lost my job and feel horrible for my husband.  Although he caused some of this and practically forced me off the Paxil.

 

Ever since I took the Prozac, the things that used to give me peace no longer do.  I used to be able to calm down by walking my dog or doing something outside.  Now I just want to lay on the couch but I don’t feel peaceful enough to do that.  The insomnia is what’s really killing me...it is driving me insane.  I stopped the Prozac in April 17 and this is still here.  I have had a few good nights and that helps.  I also recently stopped Kavinace which has phenibut in it and causes insomnia when you stop it.

 

i desperately need help but I cannot find it. I’ve looked at going inpatient but my psychiatrist says that i’m so much higher functioning than the patients in there.  I have looked into RTCs but most don’t take insurance.  I need one who understands that I’m sensitive to these drugs and can’t take them.  

 

Did anyone else on here suffer for this long?  Is it possible this is still protracted withdrawal? 

I need help in the worst way...

 

 

 

[laydefish]

Hi @kelley182 & Welcome to the Group! Sorry to see you having so many issues, but your on the road to recovery. Unfortunately the symptoms you've described as well as the time frame for quitting spells out typical Withdrawal Symptoms, Protracted would be typically 18 plus months. Hang in there, it does get better!  I'm 8 1/2 months Antidepressant free after 11 years & Benzo (Valium) free after 7 years & I haven't felt this good in years- Not totally symptom free but everyday I feel more like myself than I have in years, see I was in Tolerance Withdrawal & didn't realize it- And it felt awful. So the future looks bright & it will happen for you!  I noticed were in the same neighborhood- small World Huh?  Take Care & feel free to contact me anytime!  Laydefish