Hudgens Posted March 5, 2016 Author Share Posted March 5, 2016 Oh, just reread your post and should say I didn't get through with minimal symptoms. There's no such thing as going through this without a lot of suffering I think I had less than others because I went slowly for the most part But make no mistake I went through hell-especially for a couple of months in 2012! It's all doable though. And very worth it. Sept 12th 1992-began taking Imipramine (50mgs) for panic attacks. Stopped Imipramine after 4 months (cold turkey). 7 months later experienced "mysterious" bad flu-like symptoms, although, without upper respiratory problems or fever. Because of this and a day of panic attacks, was put on Prozac (20mgs?) for 2 months and then, when that didn't work-was put back on Imipramine, plus Xanax 1 mg (4Xdaily)-October 1993. March 1999-switched from Imipramine (50mgs) to Celexa. 2008-switched to Pristiq for 3 months, then back to Effexor XR (after bad reaction to the Pristiq). Sept 1st 2010-Switched from Effexor XR (75mgs) to Effexor Generic (solid form) in preparation for taper. Nov 15th 2010-Began tapering from 75mgs Effexor Generic. January 13th 2014-.06mgs April 17th 2014- .03mgs May 11th 2014- .02mgs Ended taper October 31st 2014 Oct 4th 2015-11 months post taper and completely back to normal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reachingforthestars Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Hudgens, did you take Celexa as long as eight or nine years before Effexor? If so did you have any withdrawal symptoms from Celexa after you switched to Effexor? Your journey has given a lot of hope! Thank you! Citalopram 40mg from 2003-2015 Jan 2015 started tapering first dropped to 35mg, Feb 30mg, March 25mg, April 20mg, May 17,5mg, June 15mg, July 12,5mg, Aug 12,5mg, Sep 0mg for 5 days because of stomac flu and after I raised to 7,5mg. All the symptoms of acute WD shaking, diarrhea, vomiting, barely could walk ect. Still didn't realize that it wasn't only stomac flu but I was also going through WD. Oct 2,5mg and crashed again badly and quickly raised to 4mg. It was then when I knew my symptoms were due to WD. Then in November after a month holding on 4mg raised to 5mg due to muscle weakness and had a VERY BAD reaction to reinstatement: akathisia(lasted for one or two weeks), insomnia, anhedonia... Drop quicly back to 4mg, Dec 3mg Jan 2016 2,6mg( in the middle of Jan after I had been on 2,6mg for a week I tried to updose to 2,8mg and immediately had bad reaction to it: akathisia for a day, andehonia got worse. The next day dropped back to 2,6mg), Feb 2,4mg( a new symptom PGAD lasted 24/7 for 2 months after that on and off), March 2,4mg, April 2,3mg, May 2,2mg, June 2,1mg, July 2,0mg( Pgad almost nonexisting, sleeping pretty good, still some anhedonia but there has been a lot of gradual progress), Aug 1,97mg-1,89mg, Sep 1,88mg-1,49mg, Oct 1,48mg- 1,70mg, Nov 0,65mg- current dose 0,5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudgens Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 I took Celexa for 1-2 months before beginning Effexor, and it was a smooth transition. Sept 12th 1992-began taking Imipramine (50mgs) for panic attacks. Stopped Imipramine after 4 months (cold turkey). 7 months later experienced "mysterious" bad flu-like symptoms, although, without upper respiratory problems or fever. Because of this and a day of panic attacks, was put on Prozac (20mgs?) for 2 months and then, when that didn't work-was put back on Imipramine, plus Xanax 1 mg (4Xdaily)-October 1993. March 1999-switched from Imipramine (50mgs) to Celexa. 2008-switched to Pristiq for 3 months, then back to Effexor XR (after bad reaction to the Pristiq). Sept 1st 2010-Switched from Effexor XR (75mgs) to Effexor Generic (solid form) in preparation for taper. Nov 15th 2010-Began tapering from 75mgs Effexor Generic. January 13th 2014-.06mgs April 17th 2014- .03mgs May 11th 2014- .02mgs Ended taper October 31st 2014 Oct 4th 2015-11 months post taper and completely back to normal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopeinahpwr Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Hudgens, Thank you, thank you for posting! I have been so concerned about how I'm going to get my Dr to agree to give me enough pills each month so that I can split them down in an effort to really slow taper the correct way! Then I started thinking about doing exactly what you have done, but thought to myself...that would never work as I could never assure that the dose is the same!...but you did it! You have given me and I'm sure many others hope! God bless you and please stay in touch, you are an inspiration and your story is truly needed! Ben On zoloft since 2000 for OCD/anxiety. Tapered off from 150mg to 100, 50, 25 over Dec/Jan 2015. After month n half off, began depression. Being terrified, as I never had depression before, after a few days, went back to 50mg, then five days later to 100mg. Now stable. I will stop this medication, with time and perseverance...my current taper level and timing are as follows, which includes No other Rx's, No alcohol, NEVER any illicit drugs: 84mg from October 2016 82mg from February 2017 79mg from April 2017 77mg from June 2017 75mg from July 2017 "Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift." - Eleanor Roosevelt "Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation." - Viktor Frankl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudgens Posted April 11, 2016 Author Share Posted April 11, 2016 You don't need any more pills-you just reduce each one you take each day using whatever method works best for you. If you using solid pills (generic) you just take off a little bit from the place where the pill divides and then break it in half and take an AM and a PM dose-the trick is to take off the same amount each day. I didn't have to resort to the eyeball measuring method until I was down to 1 or 2 mgs-the doses just became too brittle to measure with the gizmo I used up until then. small amounts of powder aren't that hard to judge-I used a single edge razor blade to move the piles around and did it on colored printer paper. I may just be good at judging symmetry. I think the scales you can buy are accurate until you get down to below a mg-so you can go pretty far that way. Sept 12th 1992-began taking Imipramine (50mgs) for panic attacks. Stopped Imipramine after 4 months (cold turkey). 7 months later experienced "mysterious" bad flu-like symptoms, although, without upper respiratory problems or fever. Because of this and a day of panic attacks, was put on Prozac (20mgs?) for 2 months and then, when that didn't work-was put back on Imipramine, plus Xanax 1 mg (4Xdaily)-October 1993. March 1999-switched from Imipramine (50mgs) to Celexa. 2008-switched to Pristiq for 3 months, then back to Effexor XR (after bad reaction to the Pristiq). Sept 1st 2010-Switched from Effexor XR (75mgs) to Effexor Generic (solid form) in preparation for taper. Nov 15th 2010-Began tapering from 75mgs Effexor Generic. January 13th 2014-.06mgs April 17th 2014- .03mgs May 11th 2014- .02mgs Ended taper October 31st 2014 Oct 4th 2015-11 months post taper and completely back to normal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted April 15, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 15, 2016 Thank you so much for posting. I'm on the SSRI originally for panic attacks too starting in 1990 (so about 25 years). I was able to get off the ssri and benzo the summer of 2014, but then the panic attacks came back full force. I'm guessing that was in large part to cutting things down much too quickly. Amazingly, as I was going through the process I had some extra anxiety (to the degree that I quit drinking coffee) but not really any other symptoms. It was just that the damn panic attacks came back and were relentless. I'm going to do this again, but go much more slowly. I already dropped some too quickly (I now know) but I'll just give myself some extra time before I start dropping again, and go slow from here on out. Your story is inspirational My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopeinahpwr Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Elbee, We can do this. I see you've been on ADs yourself for some time. I'M praying for you man. On zoloft since 2000 for OCD/anxiety. Tapered off from 150mg to 100, 50, 25 over Dec/Jan 2015. After month n half off, began depression. Being terrified, as I never had depression before, after a few days, went back to 50mg, then five days later to 100mg. Now stable. I will stop this medication, with time and perseverance...my current taper level and timing are as follows, which includes No other Rx's, No alcohol, NEVER any illicit drugs: 84mg from October 2016 82mg from February 2017 79mg from April 2017 77mg from June 2017 75mg from July 2017 "Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift." - Eleanor Roosevelt "Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation." - Viktor Frankl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudgens Posted April 15, 2016 Author Share Posted April 15, 2016 It's interesting to me that you're not experiencing any of the 100 other withdrawal symptoms. -just a return of your original panic attacks- If the panic attacks are just that, then you would've gottin off the antidepressant with no withdrawal and therefore maybe should just go into therapy to learn to deal with the attacks-it Can be done without drugs. I was started on an antidepressant around the same time as you and for the same reason. I do get attacks still-once in a great while-but I've learn in therapy what to do about them and so it just doesn't bother me much anymore. Of course the other possibility is that you just hadn't gottin to the withdrawal yet-sometimes it takes months. Still, some people can stop antidepressants fairly quickly with no withdrawal-at least that's what I've heard. Sept 12th 1992-began taking Imipramine (50mgs) for panic attacks. Stopped Imipramine after 4 months (cold turkey). 7 months later experienced "mysterious" bad flu-like symptoms, although, without upper respiratory problems or fever. Because of this and a day of panic attacks, was put on Prozac (20mgs?) for 2 months and then, when that didn't work-was put back on Imipramine, plus Xanax 1 mg (4Xdaily)-October 1993. March 1999-switched from Imipramine (50mgs) to Celexa. 2008-switched to Pristiq for 3 months, then back to Effexor XR (after bad reaction to the Pristiq). Sept 1st 2010-Switched from Effexor XR (75mgs) to Effexor Generic (solid form) in preparation for taper. Nov 15th 2010-Began tapering from 75mgs Effexor Generic. January 13th 2014-.06mgs April 17th 2014- .03mgs May 11th 2014- .02mgs Ended taper October 31st 2014 Oct 4th 2015-11 months post taper and completely back to normal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member cymbaltawithdrawal5600 Posted May 30, 2016 Member Share Posted May 30, 2016 I am so glad to see you continuing to visit the site and offer your experience, strength and hope to people here. Many recovered members get caught up in rebuilding their lives and really don't have time to come back and help out and we really need that. People need to see and hear from someone who punched through to the other side, even if just to say: "I had that, it was terrible, but it went away". What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878 July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site. Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopeinahpwr Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 Thank you Hudgens, your journey gives great hope! Ben On zoloft since 2000 for OCD/anxiety. Tapered off from 150mg to 100, 50, 25 over Dec/Jan 2015. After month n half off, began depression. Being terrified, as I never had depression before, after a few days, went back to 50mg, then five days later to 100mg. Now stable. I will stop this medication, with time and perseverance...my current taper level and timing are as follows, which includes No other Rx's, No alcohol, NEVER any illicit drugs: 84mg from October 2016 82mg from February 2017 79mg from April 2017 77mg from June 2017 75mg from July 2017 "Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift." - Eleanor Roosevelt "Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation." - Viktor Frankl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudgens Posted June 2, 2016 Author Share Posted June 2, 2016 Welcome! Sept 12th 1992-began taking Imipramine (50mgs) for panic attacks. Stopped Imipramine after 4 months (cold turkey). 7 months later experienced "mysterious" bad flu-like symptoms, although, without upper respiratory problems or fever. Because of this and a day of panic attacks, was put on Prozac (20mgs?) for 2 months and then, when that didn't work-was put back on Imipramine, plus Xanax 1 mg (4Xdaily)-October 1993. March 1999-switched from Imipramine (50mgs) to Celexa. 2008-switched to Pristiq for 3 months, then back to Effexor XR (after bad reaction to the Pristiq). Sept 1st 2010-Switched from Effexor XR (75mgs) to Effexor Generic (solid form) in preparation for taper. Nov 15th 2010-Began tapering from 75mgs Effexor Generic. January 13th 2014-.06mgs April 17th 2014- .03mgs May 11th 2014- .02mgs Ended taper October 31st 2014 Oct 4th 2015-11 months post taper and completely back to normal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted August 1, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 1, 2016 Hmm, I'm following this thread but never got an email that there were replies. Strange. Ya the first time I got off the meds in 2014 I had very few WD symptoms in the 4 month process, mostly increased anxiety. Then 2 months later the panic attacks hit again full force. But why I've been recognizing since my last post is that things were going downhill for some time before 2014 (which now I recall is why I got off the meds) and since the "reinstatement" I have been experiencing more difficulties that I guess I was just in denial about or not wanting to see? Regardless, again, thank you for documenting your courageous story! My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cakesgimmecakes Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 This story gives me so much hope regarding insomnia. And just an overall sense of well being I'm looking for. THANK YOU for coming back and sharing. Please continue to update us. September 2001 - 10 mg Sarafem (fluoxetine) for mild case of PMS that could have been helped by exercise and diet modification! I was NOT depressed prior to taking this drug. July 2002 - CT, no issues except stomach distention (honestly, I think daily running helped, but I didn't know a thing about WD or that it even existed) August 2003 - reinstated to resolve severe stomach bloating (a WD symptom from year before; didn't realize it was a WD symptom) 2003-2009 - on and off 10-20 mg, CT at several points with no issues! Literally no issues except stomach distention. March 2009 - CT, no issues except estrogen/progesterone imbalances and stomach distention March 2010 - reinstated 10 mg for one month, CT, no issues except estrogen/progesterone imbalances and stomach distention November 2010 - reinstated 10 mg for one month, CT, insomnia began one month later. January 2011-January 2015 - went on 10 mg fluoxetine every six months for one month, always CTing. March 2015-November 2015 - Finally learned to taper! September 2019 - fully recovered from WD; gut issues remain "The only way out is through." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff22000 Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 Hi Hudgens - I am inspired by your recovery story! how are you doing these days?? I would like to know if you are still med free and enjoying life? I am struggling with Effexor withdrawal following a change of dose from 187.5mg per day down to 150mg per day several months ago now. Maybe it takes a bit longer to level out again after a 20% reduction of Venlafaxine (or should I just call it hell!) be great to hear from you Geoff Been on various SSRI's since early 1990's. Prozac, mirtazapine, citalopram, Effexor to name a few. Cymbalta 60mg for last 5 years. Over 20 years of medication without breaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Just went through your story Hudgens and wanted to say you are a shining light. One of a very few who would taking the time to give back. Not sure if i'll use your little wrench you used to WD but I might buy some sandpaper right away. Hopefully it won't get too sandy when I give it a try. Dave. 2008-2012: Cymbalta, Zyprexa, Valium (5 days supply), 2012 - Seroquel x 4 weeks C/T. 2014 - Seroquel x 2 Weeks C/T. Crossed to Risperidone 3mg for 6months until December. 2014 - Stopped Risperidone. Xfer > Anti-Depressant 200mg Zoloft and 6mg Clonazepam. 2018 - 150mg Clomipromine changed Anti-depressant. Tapered Benzo to 1mg Clonazepam. 2019 - xfer to 20mg Diazepam. Currently: Anafranil: 75mg. 17th Dec 2022 70mg. 27th Dec 22: 75mg, 14 January 23': 70mg. 16-26th January: 50mg (too fast drop no sleep). Jan 28th 2023: 70mg. 20 Feb 2023: 65mg. 11/06: 60mg 9/08: 55mg 15/08/23 : 50mg 3/03/2024: 60mg (Updose) 25/04: 57.5mg Diazepam (V): 25th Oct 2019' 20mg. 22 Dec 19' 19mg. 04 Apr 2020' 18mg, 30 September 20' 17.5mg , 13 Nov 2020' 17mg. 01 January 2021: 16mg, 13th Aug 21' 15mg. 1st Nov' 2021 14.5mg. 1st Dec' 2021 14mg. 13 January 2022: 13.5mg, 11 Feb: 13mg. 11 April 22' 12.5mg, 12 May 22': 12mg, 6th September 2022: 11mg Valium. 9th October: 10.5mg, 25th Oct 10mg. 12 March 23: 9.5mg 2 April: 9.25mg 23 April: 9mg 12/05: 8.75 26/05: 8.5 12/09: 8.25 21/09: 8.5. 3/10: 8.25 17/10: 8mg 20th Nov Brassmonkey: (7.9.,7.8, 7.75) 5 Feb: 7.25mg. 23 Feb: 7mg *. Have tried to go at faster rate than 0.5mg but is currently too fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupa Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 Dear Hudgens how are you?A little update will be appreciated.Thank you. Cold turkeyed risperidone (1m.g)and trihexyphenidyl combination drug out of ignorance,In August 2016 after one month use. Withdrawal symptoms settled at dreamful,disturbing sleep. Thus introduced to olanzapine for sleep.Started using olanzapine out of ignorance. Tapering olanzapine 10 m.g from February 2017. May 2018 :Still suffering dreams,Still tapering olanzapine at 0.625.100ml water+2.5 mg olanzapine. June 2018 22.5ml=0.57mg.July 2018 20ml,August 2018-17.5ml,September 2018-15ml,October 2018 10 ml,December 2018 7 ml, BrassMonkey slide method so far at lower doses.2 nd December cold turkeyed , only to reach minure doses as reinstatement to cutshort endless tapering process.4rth December started 1ml. Almost no symptoms and sleep is better,So started 0.5 ml from 17-12-2018. "0"from31-12-18.Re birth happened from 10- 2020,as rejuvenation took whole2019.Completely recovered now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishSteve Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 On 9/16/2015 at 5:08 AM, LexAnger said: Thanks so very much Hudgens for sharing your successful tapering! Each of us who is still on the way needs it so much to continue this most terrifying, painful and long battle! It's just beyond unbelievable even for the micro tapers. Can you share more insights about how did it feel during the slow taper, what you were able and unable to do etc. did all symptoms go away without other complications to your general health? Again, your great success can save many lives. One of members I befriended here on the forum just took her life last week losing hope no being terrified by the non- out of the hell thinking. Please update us when you can as you heal further. Best wishes to you. So happy for you! LexA On 9/16/2015 at 5:08 AM, LexAnger said: Thanks so very much Hudgens for sharing your successful tapering! Each of us who is still on the way needs it so much to continue this most terrifying, painful and long battle! It's just beyond unbelievable even for the micro tapers. Can you share more insights about how did it feel during the slow taper, what you were able and unable to do etc. did all symptoms go away without other complications to your general health? Again, your great success can save many lives. One of members I befriended here on the forum just took her life last week losing hope no being terrified by the non- out of the hell thinking. Please update us when you can as you heal further. Best wishes to you. So happy for you! LexA 1)On Seroxat (Paxil) 14 years Stopped working. 2) September 2017 cross tapered to Mitrazipine 15mg over 4 week period. 3)Six weeks after cross taper tried to reinstate to Seroxat at low dosage. Lasted 10 days. Failed. 4) Remained on just Mirtazapine 15mg for 8 months. 5) in May 2018 attempted cold turkey from Mitrazipine. Lasted 4 days. Failed. 6) reinstated 15mg for 9 days 7) reduced dose of Mirtazapine to 7.5mg. Been on this dose for six weeks to the present day and I’m now totally unstable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishSteve Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 On 9/16/2015 at 5:08 AM, LexAnger said: Thanks so very much Hudgens for sharing your successful tapering! Each of us who is still on the way needs it so much to continue this most terrifying, painful and long battle! It's just beyond unbelievable even for the micro tapers. Can you share more insights about how did it feel during the slow taper, what you were able and unable to do etc. did all symptoms go away without other complications to your general health? Again, your great success can save many lives. One of members I befriended here on the forum just took her life last week losing hope no being terrified by the non- out of the hell thinking. Please update us when you can as you heal further. Best wishes to you. So happy for you! LexA On 9/16/2015 at 5:08 AM, LexAnger said: Thanks so very much Hudgens for sharing your successful tapering! Each of us who is still on the way needs it so much to continue this most terrifying, painful and long battle! It's just beyond unbelievable even for the micro tapers. Can you share more insights about how did it feel during the slow taper, what you were able and unable to do etc. did all symptoms go away without other complications to your general health? Again, your great success can save many lives. One of members I befriended here on the forum just took her life last week losing hope no being terrified by the non- out of the hell thinking. Please update us when you can as you heal further. Best wishes to you. So happy for you! LexA It’s unbelievable. Someone writes a story about success and healing which lifts the spirits, And then immediately under it, someone makes a very triggering comment about someone else taking their life. A quick reminder you have to be so careful on perusing this site, the carpet can be pulled out from under your feet in an instant. 1)On Seroxat (Paxil) 14 years Stopped working. 2) September 2017 cross tapered to Mitrazipine 15mg over 4 week period. 3)Six weeks after cross taper tried to reinstate to Seroxat at low dosage. Lasted 10 days. Failed. 4) Remained on just Mirtazapine 15mg for 8 months. 5) in May 2018 attempted cold turkey from Mitrazipine. Lasted 4 days. Failed. 6) reinstated 15mg for 9 days 7) reduced dose of Mirtazapine to 7.5mg. Been on this dose for six weeks to the present day and I’m now totally unstable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted January 6, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 6, 2019 Hi there, The staff at SA are wondering how you are. We'd love to hear how you are doing now. Would you mind dropping by and giving an update? Thanks. CC * 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudgens Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 I last Checked in in 2016. I was on imipramine for 3-4 years and switched to effexor XR for the rest of my 21 yrs of antidepressant use. Effexor I was told at the time was one of the toughest to get off of. My taper was extremely slow, 4 years. Believe it or not, at the end, I was using a magnifying glass to count out about 12 grains from a tiny pile of powdered effexor pill! My first day without any effexor was Halloween 2014. 7 years later I'm still healthy with not a hint of anything that could be interpreted as a withdrawal symptom. Happy to say this can be done. By the way, Alto is right is guessing, at least in my case, that once you're passed this part of your life you just want to move on, ie, Not revisit the past including the forum. Best of luck and my sympathies to everyone still suffering and searching for a way out. I found it here. 5 Sept 12th 1992-began taking Imipramine (50mgs) for panic attacks. Stopped Imipramine after 4 months (cold turkey). 7 months later experienced "mysterious" bad flu-like symptoms, although, without upper respiratory problems or fever. Because of this and a day of panic attacks, was put on Prozac (20mgs?) for 2 months and then, when that didn't work-was put back on Imipramine, plus Xanax 1 mg (4Xdaily)-October 1993. March 1999-switched from Imipramine (50mgs) to Celexa. 2008-switched to Pristiq for 3 months, then back to Effexor XR (after bad reaction to the Pristiq). Sept 1st 2010-Switched from Effexor XR (75mgs) to Effexor Generic (solid form) in preparation for taper. Nov 15th 2010-Began tapering from 75mgs Effexor Generic. January 13th 2014-.06mgs April 17th 2014- .03mgs May 11th 2014- .02mgs Ended taper October 31st 2014 Oct 4th 2015-11 months post taper and completely back to normal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiasofia Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Thank you so much for checking in @Hudgens I moved your post so it's together with the rest of your success story. Fantastic that you are withdrawal free and understandable that you moved on from the forum. I'm tagging @ChessieCat so she sees your update These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I have learned, not medical advice. Drug history 2002-2019 Citalopram/Escitalopram, Lamictal 2019 April Escitalopram, quit at 10mg (withdrawal), Oct Escitalopram 10mg reinstated, quit after a few days (adverse reaction) 2019 Oct Lamictal cut from 200mg to 100mg 2019 Dec Lithium 83x2 mg 2020 Aug-Nov Lamictal tapered to 50 mg 2020 Nov 24 Lithium taper started, 30 Jan off Lithium 2021 15. March-31. May Lamictal tapered to 32.5 mg (holding) 2022 10. Jan started taking 25mg+5mg+2mg+0.5 liquid, 22. Jan went back to taking 25mg+5mg+half 5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudgens Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 (edited) Note to members: Suggesting drugs to other people is not permitted on SA because it could be dangerous. I have suggested in my response post that friend joins SA to get direct assistance from the staff. Thank you. Switching from one antiD to another. During my time on antidepressants I switched a few times FM one antiD to another. I only had one that didn't work. A close friend cannot get off his effexor though it has a dangerous side effect for him, massive weight gain and thus diabetes. I want to advise him to switch to a drug that doesn't have this side effect. I know I did this years ago switching between imipramine and prosac, then to Cellexa etc. But I can't remember exactly how this was done. I seem to remember perhaps taking both at the same time and pulling the old drug out from under the new, so to speak. Please see note at top of post I'd like to hear about others experience with this sort of thing, how they did it, whether there was any trouble, etc. Thanks. Edited November 6, 2021 by ChessieCat added topic title before merging with intro topic and added note Sept 12th 1992-began taking Imipramine (50mgs) for panic attacks. Stopped Imipramine after 4 months (cold turkey). 7 months later experienced "mysterious" bad flu-like symptoms, although, without upper respiratory problems or fever. Because of this and a day of panic attacks, was put on Prozac (20mgs?) for 2 months and then, when that didn't work-was put back on Imipramine, plus Xanax 1 mg (4Xdaily)-October 1993. March 1999-switched from Imipramine (50mgs) to Celexa. 2008-switched to Pristiq for 3 months, then back to Effexor XR (after bad reaction to the Pristiq). Sept 1st 2010-Switched from Effexor XR (75mgs) to Effexor Generic (solid form) in preparation for taper. Nov 15th 2010-Began tapering from 75mgs Effexor Generic. January 13th 2014-.06mgs April 17th 2014- .03mgs May 11th 2014- .02mgs Ended taper October 31st 2014 Oct 4th 2015-11 months post taper and completely back to normal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted November 6, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 6, 2021 11 hours ago, Hudgens said: A close friend cannot get off his effexor though it has a dangerous side effect for him, massive weight gain and thus diabetes. I want to advise him to switch to a drug that doesn't have this side effect. It is nice to hear that you want to help your friend. However, it could be dangerous for you or others to make suggestions about which drug to switch to. Also, it can cause you a lot of stress and anxiety. Please ask this friend to join SA so that the staff can work with him directly. Working through a third party is very difficult. * 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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