Hartattack: 8 years on SSRIs with severe depersonalization and stomach issues. Can anyone relate?

[Hartattack]

Hey guys,

 

I am somewhat new here. I started SSRIs in 2013 after weed-induced and persistent depersonalization. After 8 years now, for so many reasons, I am now off entirely and starting to heal. I went completely off last Christmas 2020, so I am coming up on a year. It took about 6 months for me to full feel the effects of withdrawal. I think I am through the worst of it, however I just want to know if I will ever heal. A stool test indicated that I have high levels of Clostridia dificile and that my gut bacteria is way out of balance. I also have severe depersonalization, depression and anxiety and feel like I am constantly in a fog.

 

Can anyone relate??

 

I really want to know when my stomach will start to get better, but I am sure it is tough to say since we are all so unique and different.

 

Thanks guys!  

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Congratulations for getting off SSRI's!  Yes, I can certainly relate to your withdrawal symptoms.  

 

What you are describing sounds to me like common symptoms of withdrawal from psych meds.  Eventually this should resolve, as long as you take good care of yourself, and avoid weed, alcohol, and other mind altering substances.   Have you seen a doctor about your stomach issues?  The normal treatment for clostridium difficile is antibiotics.   You may want to try a probiotic like Culturelle first, as some antibiotics are hard on the nervous system.  Our son had Cdif as a baby, and this really helped him.  

 

Here is a thread about antibiotics as they pertain to withdrawal: 

 

Antibiotics and Withdrawal

 

Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Use this format:

 

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Etcetera

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.   This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications.

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

What is Happening in Your Brain

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

I hope that you find what you need here.  Please let us know how you are doing. 

[Mystagogy]

On 12/4/2021 at 7:59 PM, Hartattack said:

A stool test indicated that I have high levels of Clostridia dificile

You're doing something about that, right? That can be pretty serious.

 

The rest, I can relate except it's not been nearly that long for me. I wish we all knew how long this stuff would last. I can handle a lot when I know there's an end in sight.

[Hartattack]

Thank you both for replying. @Mystagogy I am not doing enough to battle the Clostridia. I think I need to find a good gut specialist who can help me with this. I agree, if I knew forusure how long this would last, everything would be much easier. 

 

@getofflex Thank you so much for the detailed reply. I feel better knowing that people going through withdrawal are looking out for each other. All the information you provided is very helpful. I definitely want to stay away from the antibiotics, and I will look into Culturelle. I fear that my gut will never rebalance unless I get to some place warm where I can farm and as much good bacteria as possible.

 

Here is a list of the drugs I have taken and when:

 

Zoloft: 2013- 2015, 50mg

Zoloft: 2016- 2016, 100mg 

Zoloft: 2017- 2017, 250mg

Prozac: 2018- 2019, 40mg

Prozac: 2019- Christmas 2020, 80mg tapered down to 0mg over the course of 6 months.

 

If you can provide anymore specific advice now knowing the type of drugs and timing, I would be so grateful! Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[getofflex]

There are also some good foods to eat, anything with active cultures in it - yoghurt, aged cheeses, Kefir, and others:  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-super-healthy-probiotic-foods. I would avoid processed, sugary foods as well.  

 

Thanks for your drug history.  I've copied into your signature box, so that it will automatically appear with each post.  

 

My suggestion to you for psych med withdrawal would be to learn non drug coping techniques, and be patient.  This will eventually sort itself out.  I would definitely avoid weed like the plague, and any other mind altering stuff.  

 

[Hartattack]

Hey everyone,

 

Thank you for all the help thus far. I am very grateful for this community. I am wondering if I should reinstate. I was on for 8 years total and CT'd multiple times. I have now been off for 2 years. I imagine if I did, I would reinstate with Pr0zac since that was the last drug I was on. Thank you.

[Onmyway]

Hi @Hartattack, 

every member gets one intro thread only. Please use this as your thread instead of starting new ones. 

 

It is up to you whether you want to reinstate but if you gave us some context we may be able to advise. You haven't posted here in a year. 

Why do you want to reinstate now? 
OMW

[Hartattack]

Ah, understood. Thank you.

 

I do not want to reinstate at all actually-- I see the drugs as complete poison to my body. However, I will do nearly anything to heal, and if a low dose reinstatement helps my body to re-adjust and heal faster, that is what I want. I guess it is impossible to know what will happen.

 

I saw this YouTube video where, at minute 47:20, AltoStrata explains that she often recommends people try very low dose reinstatement of the original drug and that it often is effective. 

 

Now, I am 2 years away from Prozac, which I know is much longer than most people who would try to reinstate. I wonder, though if people at 2 years have reinstated with success? I just have not seen much healing- Definitely some, but not a lot. My depersonalization and level or terror was so high when the withdrawal first kicked in (about 4 months after stopping entirely) and its come down just a bit to the point where I am not nervous throughout the day and I can breathe- but since moving past this acute phase, it seems I am in limbo and not much is changing. The DP/DR is still there on top of persisting stomach issues, depression, anxiety, fatigue and more. I did see some good windows over this past summer, and had some more normal bowel movements and felt overall just a bit better. But since then I am back to this baseline state of just numbness. 

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

 

 

[Onmyway]

Hi @Hartattack

At 2 yrs in we wouldn't recommend a small dose reinstatement in general but it's hard to say if it will help or not. It is not entirely risk free as it may destabilize you if you are hypersensitive but the risks are lower if you try just 0.5mg. 

 

up to you to decide, nobody can predict how your body will react 

 

have you read the threads on reinstatement in the symptoms forum?

 

omw

 

[peaceandlove]

What exact stomach issues are you having? Is it acid reflux, constipation, etc? @Hartattack

[Elaine5]

How are you? 

[Hartattack]

I am hanging in there guys, thank you for asking. My stomach issues are mostly constipation, imcomplete evacuation and imbalance of gut bacteria. My stool smells very strange. Can anyone relate to this? Thanks.