Oaktree1 Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 I don't bother with Quora except for gossip rubbish - I agree about the mental health answers - awful. I did answer one question and got put in my place by some psychiatric nurse who wrote something alone the lines of 'if you have seen mad people as I have....you would realise that mental illness exists....there are verifiable changes on scans etc, etc, etc. Pure waste of time responding to someone who thinks she is the expert - didn't bother arguing. Shrinks and their ilk are all over Quora like rabid termites. They must have a lot of free time to be devoting themselves to a free website or maybe they want more clients/victims and it's a way of attracting them. I suppose when you only see someone for 15 minutes or so on average to give them more drugs it must free you up a bit to write propaganda. 1 Currently tapering Mirtazapine; previously tapered Cymbalta 30mg from June 2018-Feb 2019 and Seroquel 150mg to zero from Oct-December 2020. Supplements for Hashimoto's disease and histamine issues relating to Mirtazapine: Vitamin D3 1,000mcg, bio-identical HRT, Selenium, Quercetin, Lutein, Zinc, Vitamin C, Omega 3. Mirtazapine Taper: 2021 16th Aug - transitioned to liquid from tablet by dissolving two 15mg tablets into a solution of 15 ml water and 15 ml maple syrup on a starting dose of what I thought was 7.5ml; 17 Sept - 7.31; 24 Sept - 7.13; 15 Oct - 6.95; 6 Nov - 6.78; 21 Nov - 6.61; 5 Dec - 6.51; 2022 - 1 Jan 6.41; 1 Feb - 6.1; 9 Mar - 5.8; 13 Mar - 5.9; 7 Apr - 5.8; 21 Apr - 5.7; 7 May - 5.63; 23 May - 5.55; 8 June 5.50; (got COVID on 12th June so held); 1 July 5.4; 15 July 5.32; 8 Aug 5.2; 15 Aug 5.1; 22 Aug 5; 19 Sept 4.9; 2 Oct 4.81; 13 Oct 4.71; (COVID Booster 17/10/22 so longer hold ); 1 Nov 4.65; 3 Nov 4.60; 10 Nov 4.55; 13 Nov 4.50; 17 Nov 4.45; 20 Nov 4.40; 2 Dec 4.30mg; 9 Dec 4.20mg; I discovered that the volumetric container measured 33ml rather than 30ml in Dec 2022. Following helpful advice from moderator OnMyWay (see her reply of the 5th March) discovered taper with the dilution was 3.8mg (calculated by dividing 30/33 so that every 1ml of solution has 0.90ml of Mirtazapine. 7.50 - 0.90= 6.6ml which was the starting dose on 16th Aug 2021 not 7.5ml). I decided to keep using the solution as I didn't want more change to deal with than I had to. 2023 17 Mar 4.1(3.7); 26 Mar 4.0(3.6); 14 Apr 3.9(3.51)28 Apr 3.8(3.42); 6 Jun 3.7(3.33); 19 Jun 3.6(3.24); 30 Jun 3.5(3.1); 19 Jul 3.4(3.06); 27 Jul 3.35 (3.01); 29 Jul 3.3 (2.97); 4 Aug 3.25 (2.92); 7 Aug 3.2 (2.88); 21 Aug 3.1 (2.79); 14.09 3 (2.7); 29th Sept 2.9(2.61); 15 Oct 2.8(2.52); 30 Oct 10 2.7(2.43); 13 Nov 2.65(2.38); 20 Nov 2.6(2.34); 26 Nov 2.55(2.29); 10 Dec 2.5(2.25); 2024 - 14 Jan 2.45(2.20); 22 Jan 2.40(2.16); 29 Jan 2.35(2.11); 2 Feb 2.3 (2.07);15 Feb 2.25(2.02); 22 Feb 2.21 (1.98); 29 Feb 2.17(1.95); 7 Mar 2.13(1.91); 21 Mar 2.05 (1.84); 31 Mar 2.01 (1.80); 14 Apr 1.90 (1.71); 29 Apr 1.80 (1.62); This is not 'medical advice' - my 'non medical advice' is don't get any more 'medical advice' or you may end up getting more 'medical treatment' i.e more drugs, DSM labels and/or ECT. Please do not PM me thanks. Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 12, 2023 Author Share Posted May 12, 2023 WRT to the Quora post. I got a mixed bag of replies. Some horrible but some very supportive and others nonsensical. Never tried it before so thought I would give it a go. Lots of very defensive people. My feeling right now is that I probably won't waste too much time with it. I will say that there are others on there who see things much the same as we do so it's all what you look at. I did post another comment under that doctors answer in response to a comment from someone else that took my side and I referenced a couple of recent studies I read. No further comments from Dr. Evil so perhaps that put him in his place. 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 13, 2023 Author Share Posted May 13, 2023 One last thing about Quora. It really is a mixed chaotic bag of just about everything and quite a few scammers lurking about which I suspect is true of just about all social media these days. There are many patients who are vigorously, angrily, and very defensively defending their medications and psychiatry. It reminds me that years ago I was the same way. I was totally dependent on my pills and my psychiatrist and while still working was convinced that those 2 things were the only reason I was still functioning. I hadn't yet realized how badly I was being hurt by the system and by the medications. Once that realization hit the sense of betrayal was horrific and it still affects me greatly today and leaves me with a great deal of rage that I am still figuring out how to deal with. When I think of those people who are defending their medications and their psychiatrists I feel very badly for them. There is nothing you can say or do to tell them any different and unfortunately they will, as we all have here on SA, have to find out the hard way and go through the same process and deal with the same feelings of betrayal. So, I feel sorrow and compassion for those people for whom there is nothing I can do to help and who will someday most likely end up here at SA frightened to death with the same problems and the same anger and sense of betrayal. For those people I have added them to my 'Kitty Prayer List'. For the psychiatrists who are defending their craft this is of course not the case. They should be ashamed of themselves for calling themselves healers. They are money grubbing control freaks. On the flip side I have also come across some individuals and professionals (MD's, RN's, Psychologists, Therapists, Legal Organizations, etc.) who do see things our way here at SA and they are trying to spread the word and offer help and support to people. All in all it unfortunately reinforced the notion I carry with me that we live in a pretty crazy scary world and it's no wonder so many people struggle with mental health including myself. It's why I've turned to animals and nature for my sense of peace. It's the only place I have ever found peace for myself. 4 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
Oaktree1 Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Great post particularly about it being a scary world and being better off with animals and nature as a whole - I suppose the patients defending their labels and their drugs on Quora find it scary too and think they are safe by following the mental health system. They get social acceptance by being compliant i.e. going along with being labelled and drugged. Most people are sheep and then there's the wolves who run everything and the sheep look up them like they have their best interests at heart. I was a sheep too for much of my life until the last few years. I kept believing that there was goodness in the world or probity - there is but it's so rare as to be remarkable. The people at the top of our society in every field, the ones with the money - they're 99% toxic and ruthless. I was looking at a documentary recently on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and they filmed the young men who were drafted in to take the radioactive waste off the roof. They were picked as they were young and fit and they all looked so happy and excited before as they went to their doom. They were lied to and they got sick very quickly. Towards the end of the job you can see the visible change in them from the wide eyed virility of their first appearance on screen. In the videos after exposure they look cowed and weak and sick. They were given medals and some additional roubles and a thank you from the fatherland or whatever rubbish they make up over there to use people up and make them feel good about being used. The ones in charge that were prepared to use them as fodder - they're the wolves. It's a horrible old world. The destruction of lives in the mental health industry is only part of it - it's all over really. The sense of betrayal you refer to and the loss of potential and a life that might have been different is I agree very hard to live with. I don't really trust any institution in the world at large now or people in general. I feel like I am living in Indian country in a metaphorical sense. Yes better to stay in nature if you are lucky enough to do so and be careful about who one interacts within our own species. Trust few and always paddle your own canoe is about the size of it really. 1 Currently tapering Mirtazapine; previously tapered Cymbalta 30mg from June 2018-Feb 2019 and Seroquel 150mg to zero from Oct-December 2020. Supplements for Hashimoto's disease and histamine issues relating to Mirtazapine: Vitamin D3 1,000mcg, bio-identical HRT, Selenium, Quercetin, Lutein, Zinc, Vitamin C, Omega 3. Mirtazapine Taper: 2021 16th Aug - transitioned to liquid from tablet by dissolving two 15mg tablets into a solution of 15 ml water and 15 ml maple syrup on a starting dose of what I thought was 7.5ml; 17 Sept - 7.31; 24 Sept - 7.13; 15 Oct - 6.95; 6 Nov - 6.78; 21 Nov - 6.61; 5 Dec - 6.51; 2022 - 1 Jan 6.41; 1 Feb - 6.1; 9 Mar - 5.8; 13 Mar - 5.9; 7 Apr - 5.8; 21 Apr - 5.7; 7 May - 5.63; 23 May - 5.55; 8 June 5.50; (got COVID on 12th June so held); 1 July 5.4; 15 July 5.32; 8 Aug 5.2; 15 Aug 5.1; 22 Aug 5; 19 Sept 4.9; 2 Oct 4.81; 13 Oct 4.71; (COVID Booster 17/10/22 so longer hold ); 1 Nov 4.65; 3 Nov 4.60; 10 Nov 4.55; 13 Nov 4.50; 17 Nov 4.45; 20 Nov 4.40; 2 Dec 4.30mg; 9 Dec 4.20mg; I discovered that the volumetric container measured 33ml rather than 30ml in Dec 2022. Following helpful advice from moderator OnMyWay (see her reply of the 5th March) discovered taper with the dilution was 3.8mg (calculated by dividing 30/33 so that every 1ml of solution has 0.90ml of Mirtazapine. 7.50 - 0.90= 6.6ml which was the starting dose on 16th Aug 2021 not 7.5ml). I decided to keep using the solution as I didn't want more change to deal with than I had to. 2023 17 Mar 4.1(3.7); 26 Mar 4.0(3.6); 14 Apr 3.9(3.51)28 Apr 3.8(3.42); 6 Jun 3.7(3.33); 19 Jun 3.6(3.24); 30 Jun 3.5(3.1); 19 Jul 3.4(3.06); 27 Jul 3.35 (3.01); 29 Jul 3.3 (2.97); 4 Aug 3.25 (2.92); 7 Aug 3.2 (2.88); 21 Aug 3.1 (2.79); 14.09 3 (2.7); 29th Sept 2.9(2.61); 15 Oct 2.8(2.52); 30 Oct 10 2.7(2.43); 13 Nov 2.65(2.38); 20 Nov 2.6(2.34); 26 Nov 2.55(2.29); 10 Dec 2.5(2.25); 2024 - 14 Jan 2.45(2.20); 22 Jan 2.40(2.16); 29 Jan 2.35(2.11); 2 Feb 2.3 (2.07);15 Feb 2.25(2.02); 22 Feb 2.21 (1.98); 29 Feb 2.17(1.95); 7 Mar 2.13(1.91); 21 Mar 2.05 (1.84); 31 Mar 2.01 (1.80); 14 Apr 1.90 (1.71); 29 Apr 1.80 (1.62); This is not 'medical advice' - my 'non medical advice' is don't get any more 'medical advice' or you may end up getting more 'medical treatment' i.e more drugs, DSM labels and/or ECT. Please do not PM me thanks. Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 14, 2023 Author Share Posted May 14, 2023 11 hours ago, Oaktree1 said: Great post particularly about it being a scary world and being better off with animals and nature as a whole - I suppose the patients defending their labels and their drugs on Quora find it scary too and think they are safe by following the mental health system. They get social acceptance by being compliant i.e. going along with being labelled and drugged. Most people are sheep and then there's the wolves who run everything and the sheep look up them like they have their best interests at heart. I was a sheep too for much of my life until the last few years. I kept believing that there was goodness in the world or probity - there is but it's so rare as to be remarkable. The people at the top of our society in every field, the ones with the money - they're 99% toxic and ruthless. I was looking at a documentary recently on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and they filmed the young men who were drafted in to take the radioactive waste off the roof. They were picked as they were young and fit and they all looked so happy and excited before as they went to their doom. They were lied to and they got sick very quickly. Towards the end of the job you can see the visible change in them from the wide eyed virility of their first appearance on screen. In the videos after exposure they look cowed and weak and sick. They were given medals and some additional roubles and a thank you from the fatherland or whatever rubbish they make up over there to use people up and make them feel good about being used. The ones in charge that were prepared to use them as fodder - they're the wolves. It's a horrible old world. The destruction of lives in the mental health industry is only part of it - it's all over really. The sense of betrayal you refer to and the loss of potential and a life that might have been different is I agree very hard to live with. I don't really trust any institution in the world at large now or people in general. I feel like I am living in Indian country in a metaphorical sense. Yes better to stay in nature if you are lucky enough to do so and be careful about who one interacts within our own species. Trust few and always paddle your own canoe is about the size of it really. Couldn't have said it better myself. Tired of having to always be pulling a knife out of my back by wedging the handle of the knife in the door frame and leaning forward then trying to stitch the damage up with a mirror. There are good individuals in the world but unfortuately the only way to find them is to continually get burned to sort them out which is something I am not willing to do any more. The systems we are supposed to be able to depend on as a whole are very corrupt and power driven and anyone driven by power (and money) just can't be trusted. ie: pretty much all politicians. Here is an article in the Smithsonian called "Research Suggests Politicians are More Likely to be Psychopaths." I wholeheartedly agree and this explains the current state of the world. Only a bunch of psychopaths would create such a world. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/research-suggests-politicians-are-more-likely-to-be-psychopaths-11364143/ Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 14, 2023 Author Share Posted May 14, 2023 Having said what I did in this last post I realize that this is of course a medication withdrawal forum and not a vent your frustrations with the systems of the world forum and many people I'm sure do not agree with my worldview and some may find it distressing. Since I don't want to distress anybody I will, from this point on, refrain from too much World negativity and if anybody would like to discuss these ideas in further detail feel free to message me and I would be happy to discuss or simply listen to other people vent they're frustrations. 😉✌️😺😺 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 14, 2023 Author Share Posted May 14, 2023 Well, that didn't take too long. As it happened with Facebook many years ago of which I was a member for all of 2 weeks before deleting my account I have now done the same with Quora. I posted some facts and figures and a couple of studies in the comments and they have been deleted and not by me. Not sure how it happened but oh well. So much for that. So, yet another social media toxic soup to avoid. Not worth wasting my time. 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
Oaktree1 Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 They have mods who check (like Twitter) and users can report you also. At a guess I would say it was the psychiatrist you took on. You could raise it but you probably wouldn't get a straight answer. Very frustrating - freedom of speech - not. Anyhow I know there are probably others who have a different take on the world on this forum and I agree it is ultimately a support forum for drug withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes can be good to vent - i.e. why are so many people so distressed by life now that they end up having to take drugs? On the bright side there are some good eggs out there in psychiatry:- Joanna Moncrieff, Mark Horowitz, Steve Shipko, David Healy, good old Peter Breggin long may he live and there's quite a few more I can't remember exactly and lots of psychologists and sociologists who are strongly critical like David Cohen, John Read and Lucy Johnstone. Also lets face it there is extraordinary site, Altostrata the woman who set it up and she and the other mods who run it for no payment, a beacon of hope and a databank of scientific information and plain horse sense for thousands of people all over the world. 2 Currently tapering Mirtazapine; previously tapered Cymbalta 30mg from June 2018-Feb 2019 and Seroquel 150mg to zero from Oct-December 2020. Supplements for Hashimoto's disease and histamine issues relating to Mirtazapine: Vitamin D3 1,000mcg, bio-identical HRT, Selenium, Quercetin, Lutein, Zinc, Vitamin C, Omega 3. Mirtazapine Taper: 2021 16th Aug - transitioned to liquid from tablet by dissolving two 15mg tablets into a solution of 15 ml water and 15 ml maple syrup on a starting dose of what I thought was 7.5ml; 17 Sept - 7.31; 24 Sept - 7.13; 15 Oct - 6.95; 6 Nov - 6.78; 21 Nov - 6.61; 5 Dec - 6.51; 2022 - 1 Jan 6.41; 1 Feb - 6.1; 9 Mar - 5.8; 13 Mar - 5.9; 7 Apr - 5.8; 21 Apr - 5.7; 7 May - 5.63; 23 May - 5.55; 8 June 5.50; (got COVID on 12th June so held); 1 July 5.4; 15 July 5.32; 8 Aug 5.2; 15 Aug 5.1; 22 Aug 5; 19 Sept 4.9; 2 Oct 4.81; 13 Oct 4.71; (COVID Booster 17/10/22 so longer hold ); 1 Nov 4.65; 3 Nov 4.60; 10 Nov 4.55; 13 Nov 4.50; 17 Nov 4.45; 20 Nov 4.40; 2 Dec 4.30mg; 9 Dec 4.20mg; I discovered that the volumetric container measured 33ml rather than 30ml in Dec 2022. Following helpful advice from moderator OnMyWay (see her reply of the 5th March) discovered taper with the dilution was 3.8mg (calculated by dividing 30/33 so that every 1ml of solution has 0.90ml of Mirtazapine. 7.50 - 0.90= 6.6ml which was the starting dose on 16th Aug 2021 not 7.5ml). I decided to keep using the solution as I didn't want more change to deal with than I had to. 2023 17 Mar 4.1(3.7); 26 Mar 4.0(3.6); 14 Apr 3.9(3.51)28 Apr 3.8(3.42); 6 Jun 3.7(3.33); 19 Jun 3.6(3.24); 30 Jun 3.5(3.1); 19 Jul 3.4(3.06); 27 Jul 3.35 (3.01); 29 Jul 3.3 (2.97); 4 Aug 3.25 (2.92); 7 Aug 3.2 (2.88); 21 Aug 3.1 (2.79); 14.09 3 (2.7); 29th Sept 2.9(2.61); 15 Oct 2.8(2.52); 30 Oct 10 2.7(2.43); 13 Nov 2.65(2.38); 20 Nov 2.6(2.34); 26 Nov 2.55(2.29); 10 Dec 2.5(2.25); 2024 - 14 Jan 2.45(2.20); 22 Jan 2.40(2.16); 29 Jan 2.35(2.11); 2 Feb 2.3 (2.07);15 Feb 2.25(2.02); 22 Feb 2.21 (1.98); 29 Feb 2.17(1.95); 7 Mar 2.13(1.91); 21 Mar 2.05 (1.84); 31 Mar 2.01 (1.80); 14 Apr 1.90 (1.71); 29 Apr 1.80 (1.62); This is not 'medical advice' - my 'non medical advice' is don't get any more 'medical advice' or you may end up getting more 'medical treatment' i.e more drugs, DSM labels and/or ECT. Please do not PM me thanks. Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 14, 2023 Author Share Posted May 14, 2023 @Oaktree1 No doubt there are good individuals out there. If you ever need to vent just feel free to message me and vent away. 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 15, 2023 Author Share Posted May 15, 2023 UPDATE Big News!!! I am in my 22nd month off of Seroquel. Yesterday was the 10th day in a row that I have been able to be outside and active with no consequences so far. I've been doing spring chores, raking, mulching, leaf blowing, cleaning up the gravel from the snow plow this winter, finishing my asparagus bed, mowed my field for the first time, prepped beds for planting, etc. every afternoon for several hours. I've never been so happy raking the lawn in my life!! One day I went to therapy which is 160 miles round trip and another day I did my first Feral Cat Rescue mission in a long time and that drive was over 220 miles total going around the state picking up equipment that was no longer needed on site. So far, no consequences. Just a couple of months ago activity for 2 days in a row cost me multiple days of misery and this time last year just driving to the transfer station was scary. Now the activity seems to be making me feel better like it did before all of this started. Anxiety and depression are zero. Still sleeping 6-8 hours a night (still broken due to Nocturia) and starting on Saturday, April 15th I have started having many nights of sleeping in 2 hour or 3 hour stretches so the Nocturia is finally showing regular and consistent signs of packing it's bags and heading off into the sunset. I can also stay up late enough now to sit outside for a bit and star gaze. Massive difference from this time last year when I was still taking huffs off of a bottle of welding oxygen to get by and was wondering how I was going to be able to mow my field over the summer. I am also getting fasting blood sugars in the 90's pretty consistently now so the insulin resistance seems to also be packing it's bags and is headed out into the sunset with the Nocturia. I hope they're happy together. Somewhere else!! 😛 So, I am going to continue with my current routine of slow mornings and getting stuff done in the afternoon and working to slowly rebuild my strength since I have become pretty weak over the last 22 months and I am going to maintain the easy to digest low histamine diet at least until I get my gut testing done again at the end of September. If this continues and I can maintain a decent electrolyte / fluid balance and be more active I will hold off on any med changes or tapering until I get my strength back. Seems like the best decision rather than push too hard and upset my nervous system again too soon. Hopefully this trend will continue. I am going to buy a new canoe this week so I can get out on the lakes and rivers around here and get some quiet time out in nature in a way that is not overly strenuous. 😁✌️😻😻 4 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
j1290 Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 Congratulations on everything! I can't wait to hear about your adventures. That canoe looks like so much fun. Sounds like you're going to have a great time this summer. You ever do any REI groups or outdoor meetups or anything? I did a few and had fun. Nice people. 2 I am not a doctor and do not offer any medical advice, only my own experience. Consult your physician. 2011-2015 tapered off 300MG of Effexor. Back in the Paxil Progress days. No rebound. 2005-2021: 450 mg Bupropion XL Daily 2021 Buporopion May 450mg/June 400mg/July 375mg/Aug 10th 360mg/ 2021 Dec - 150mg IR, 3x day = 450mg Bup, Heritage manufacturer-yellow color pill. 2022 May 3 - 3 x 150mg IR Bup, Avet brand(pharmacist said they merged with Heritage-orange color) -migraines REINSTATED-BACK TO MY LAST STABLE DOSE/TIME RELEASE 2022 June 5 - switched back to 3 x 150mg XL one time per day= 450 mg total Bup-Apotex brand CURRENT TAPER 2022 Aug 31 - 450MG to 412MG IR Bup//Sep. 28, 2022: 412mg to 375mg//Oct 26, 2022: 375mg to 365 mg//Nov 21, 2022: 365mg to 327mg//Dec 27, 2022: 327 mg to 290 mg//Dec 31, 2022: 290mg to 262mg//Jan 28, 2023: 262mg to 190mg//Feb. 19, 2023: 190mg to 140mg//Mar. 18, '23: 140mg to 100mg// Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 15, 2023 Author Share Posted May 15, 2023 Thank you. It feels really good to finally have a sense that this is nearing a conclusion. 😁 As I've said in other posts I have been a loner pretty much since birth. Even as an infant I hated being held. My parents have both told me that when picking me up you had to be careful because more often than not you got bit and not playfully, I bit hard. I think that was baby speak for stop touching me and put me down. I was always happiest with a pile of legos, my books, my models, and my outer space record that talked about aliens and space travel if given a choice or I was laying in the branches up in a tree staring at the clouds dreaming of airplanes and adventures and once old enough I worked. I have always chosen solitary activities as that's where I am comfortable. So I don't usually do groups or meetings I prefer being out in nature alone and quiet whether it's hiking, skiing, canoeing, kayaking, or whatever. Not to mention I am immune deficient and don't want to get sick. I've spent more than enough of my life down and out and sick and don't want to risk wasting any more time if I don't have to. Long Covid can take a flying leap and there's only one way to avoid that nightmare. Don't get it. Thanks again everyone for all of the support. Even a dyed in the wool loner like me does need help now and again and it is greatly appreciated. 😉✌️😺😺 2 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
Thorin Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 38 minutes ago, FeralCatman said: UPDATE Big News!!! I am in my 22nd month off of Seroquel. Yesterday was the 10th day in a row that I have been able to be outside and active with no consequences so far. I've been doing spring chores, raking, mulching, leaf blowing, cleaning up the gravel from the snow plow this winter, finishing my asparagus bed, mowed my field for the first time, prepped beds for planting, etc. every afternoon for several hours. I've never been so happy raking the lawn in my life!! One day I went to therapy which is 160 miles round trip and another day I did my first Feral Cat Rescue mission in a long time and that drive was over 220 miles total going around the state picking up equipment that was no longer needed on site. So far, no consequences. Just a couple of months ago activity for 2 days in a row cost me multiple days of misery and this time last year just driving to the transfer station was scary. Now the activity seems to be making me feel better like it did before all of this started. Anxiety and depression are zero. Still sleeping 6-8 hours a night (still broken due to Nocturia) and starting on Saturday, April 15th I have started having many nights of sleeping in 2 hour or 3 hour stretches so the Nocturia is finally showing regular and consistent signs of packing it's bags and heading off into the sunset. I can also stay up late enough now to sit outside for a bit and star gaze. Massive difference from this time last year when I was still taking huffs off of a bottle of welding oxygen to get by and was wondering how I was going to be able to mow my field over the summer. I am also getting fasting blood sugars in the 90's pretty consistently now so the insulin resistance seems to also be packing it's bags and is headed out into the sunset with the Nocturia. I hope they're happy together. Somewhere else!! 😛 So, I am going to continue with my current routine of slow mornings and getting stuff done in the afternoon and working to slowly rebuild my strength since I have become pretty weak over the last 22 months and I am going to maintain the easy to digest low histamine diet at least until I get my gut testing done again at the end of September. If this continues and I can maintain a decent electrolyte / fluid balance and be more active I will hold off on any med changes or tapering until I get my strength back. Seems like the best decision rather than push too hard and upset my nervous system again too soon. Hopefully this trend will continue. I am going to buy a new canoe this week so I can get out on the lakes and rivers around here and get some quiet time out in nature in a way that is not overly strenuous. 😁✌️😻😻 Mate that is fantastic news! Very glad to read your post and hear that you’re doing so well! Also, I bought a kayak this last summer and even though I only got out three times it was beautiful and peaceful! You’ll love it! 1 Age 16 (1995 - 2000) -Paroxetine Age 21 (2000-2004) - Effexor 37.5mg Age 24 (2004-2012) - Lexapro (70mg), Xanax minimum 2mg Xanax a day About 32 (2012-2017?) - Every mood stabiliser under the sun (not at the same time) and minimum 2mg Xanax a day; occasional amisulpride About 35 (2017-current) - Lurasidone 80 mg, quickly titrated down to 40mg, Pristiq (50 mg), minimum of 2mg Xanax a day About 41 (2020) Switched from Xanax to clonazepam and started tapering at 0.125 mg each reduction, tapered off Pristiq with a cross taper at the end, low dose of dextroamphetamine. Age 42 (2021) Tried to taper off Lurasidone three times. Quick taper from 40mg to 0 mg over a couple of months the first time. Reinstated at 20mg. Tried twice more to taper from 20 mg to 0 mg dropping by 5 mg each reduction (about every 2 weeks). Age 42-43 (April 2022) 20mg-18mg; May 18mg-16mg; June 16-14mg; September 14-12mg; September 12-14mg reinstated. February 2023 - hiccup with brand change, Back to Apotek brand and switch to homemade suspension. Age 44 (August 2023 -restarted clonazepam taper). Start dose 0.375mg. 1/9/2023 - 0.365mg; 1/10/2023 - 0.324mg; 1/11/2023 - 0.264mg; 1/12/2023 - 0.25 mg (holding); 1/2/2024 - 0.232mg; 1/3/2024 - 0.221mg; 1/4/2024 - 0.205mg; Health regimen: walks, hot/cold showers, ice baths, breathwork, mostly healthy diet, therapy...... Open to ideas! Supplements: Milk Kefir, Mag, Omega 3, CBD/THC. Link to comment
j1290 Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 27 minutes ago, FeralCatman said: Thanks again everyone for all of the support. Even a dyed in the wool loner like me does need help now and again and it is greatly appreciated. 😉✌️😺😺 I know all too well what it's like being a loner, so I wanted to put the idea out there just in case. I appreciate you considering it. Your list of hobbies sounds very similar to my own, except I never would have thought to do such a kind thing as cat rescue. It sounds challenging and enormously rewarding. Please keep us updated, I'm looking forward to hearing more about it. 1 I am not a doctor and do not offer any medical advice, only my own experience. Consult your physician. 2011-2015 tapered off 300MG of Effexor. Back in the Paxil Progress days. No rebound. 2005-2021: 450 mg Bupropion XL Daily 2021 Buporopion May 450mg/June 400mg/July 375mg/Aug 10th 360mg/ 2021 Dec - 150mg IR, 3x day = 450mg Bup, Heritage manufacturer-yellow color pill. 2022 May 3 - 3 x 150mg IR Bup, Avet brand(pharmacist said they merged with Heritage-orange color) -migraines REINSTATED-BACK TO MY LAST STABLE DOSE/TIME RELEASE 2022 June 5 - switched back to 3 x 150mg XL one time per day= 450 mg total Bup-Apotex brand CURRENT TAPER 2022 Aug 31 - 450MG to 412MG IR Bup//Sep. 28, 2022: 412mg to 375mg//Oct 26, 2022: 375mg to 365 mg//Nov 21, 2022: 365mg to 327mg//Dec 27, 2022: 327 mg to 290 mg//Dec 31, 2022: 290mg to 262mg//Jan 28, 2023: 262mg to 190mg//Feb. 19, 2023: 190mg to 140mg//Mar. 18, '23: 140mg to 100mg// Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 15, 2023 Author Share Posted May 15, 2023 In the USA there are feral cat rescue organizations all over the place. If you are interested just google your location and you will find one. The organization I volunteer with does Trap-Neuter-Release and feeding and care of various colonies. Often times the cats are relocated to farms and barns to pull rodent patrol duty and in return they get looked after by the property owners with food, shelter, water, medical care if needed, etc. The LAPD actually uses feral cats to control the rat population in their parking garage and the LAPD cares for the cats in return. The organization I volunteer for is always looking for people to feed, trap, transport, and foster the cats after surgery prior to going back home or to a new location. Some of our volunteers have built holding sheds or have made spaces in garages or barns where the cats stay and are cared for while in recovery from surgery. Donations are always needed and people with pickup trucks are always helpful. Also, things like feeding stations need to be built so if you're handy you can do that. I have done this in the past. There is also a thrift store run by my organization that raises money for the cats. Lots of stuff to do. If you're a loner like me you can work independently and still contribute. Plenty for anyone to do and do it in a way that works for you. I'm sure it is similar at all of the organizations nationwide. If you're interested look it up. Help is always needed. 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 16, 2023 Author Share Posted May 16, 2023 UPDATE Now that I have a ton of vitals recorded I have discovered a reliable way to tell when my body is stressed and that it is telling me I need to take a break. Very consistently now when my body temp is about half a degree higher than normal, my O2 levels drop slightly, and my blood sugar goes up a few points in the morning I know my body has become stressed and it's time to take a break and lay off for a few days. That happened this morning so now I know to take it easy until those numbers go back to normal. I have been getting morning glucose readings in the 90's. This morning it was 108 and I didn't sleep as well last night. So, time for a break so I don't push myself off the cliff again. When things go back to normal I will get back at it again. 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
Thorin Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 Hi FCM, Here is the link to one of the fermentation books we discussed. When your diet can handle it I think you'll enjoy this. Book 1 I'm having some trouble with the second file so will post that when I get it sorted. Cheers 1 Age 16 (1995 - 2000) -Paroxetine Age 21 (2000-2004) - Effexor 37.5mg Age 24 (2004-2012) - Lexapro (70mg), Xanax minimum 2mg Xanax a day About 32 (2012-2017?) - Every mood stabiliser under the sun (not at the same time) and minimum 2mg Xanax a day; occasional amisulpride About 35 (2017-current) - Lurasidone 80 mg, quickly titrated down to 40mg, Pristiq (50 mg), minimum of 2mg Xanax a day About 41 (2020) Switched from Xanax to clonazepam and started tapering at 0.125 mg each reduction, tapered off Pristiq with a cross taper at the end, low dose of dextroamphetamine. Age 42 (2021) Tried to taper off Lurasidone three times. Quick taper from 40mg to 0 mg over a couple of months the first time. Reinstated at 20mg. Tried twice more to taper from 20 mg to 0 mg dropping by 5 mg each reduction (about every 2 weeks). Age 42-43 (April 2022) 20mg-18mg; May 18mg-16mg; June 16-14mg; September 14-12mg; September 12-14mg reinstated. February 2023 - hiccup with brand change, Back to Apotek brand and switch to homemade suspension. Age 44 (August 2023 -restarted clonazepam taper). Start dose 0.375mg. 1/9/2023 - 0.365mg; 1/10/2023 - 0.324mg; 1/11/2023 - 0.264mg; 1/12/2023 - 0.25 mg (holding); 1/2/2024 - 0.232mg; 1/3/2024 - 0.221mg; 1/4/2024 - 0.205mg; Health regimen: walks, hot/cold showers, ice baths, breathwork, mostly healthy diet, therapy...... Open to ideas! Supplements: Milk Kefir, Mag, Omega 3, CBD/THC. Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 Thought everyone would like to know that 3 of my providers now have the link to Outro Health as well as Surviving Antidepressants. 2 have or will be signing up and probably all 3 of them will so they can have access to the library. One of the 3 providers is actually stuck on Venlafaxine (Effexor) and has downloaded information for themselves because they have tried multiple times to stop it and have gotten very sick every time. They have all been a bit shocked by what this process involves and one of the other 3 has been absolutely horrified by the process I have been going through and has altered some of their office procedures to compensate for the information I have given them. So, the word is spreading. Change is happening 😁 3 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 1 hour ago, FeralCatman said: Thought everyone would like to know that 3 of my providers now have the link to Outro Health as well as Surviving Antidepressants. 2 have or will be signing up and probably all 3 of them will so they can have access to the library. One of the 3 providers is actually stuck on Venlafaxine (Effexor) and has downloaded information for themselves because they have tried multiple times to stop it and have gotten very sick every time. They have all been a bit shocked by what this process involves and one of the other 3 has been absolutely horrified by the process I have been going through and has altered some of their office procedures to compensate for the information I have given them. So, the word is spreading. Change is happening 😁 I think I'm going to print out a copy of the "Stopping Antidepressants" hand out that has been published by the UK Royal College of Psychiatry and then add in a page with links to Outro Health and Surviving Antidepressants and then leave copies of it in the magazine rack whenever I have to go to the hospital or a provider's office so that people can find it and read it for themselves and start asking questions. I feel like it's time to start getting the word out anyway that I can so that more people start becoming aware of this and anybody that has social media it may be a good idea to post this link on your social media page so people can read it and decide for themselves. 😁 https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/stopping-antidepressants 2 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 18, 2023 Author Share Posted May 18, 2023 UPDATE Yesterday I got hit with a life stress type situation. I handled it but it really threw me off balance pretty fast. So, my psychological stress tolerances are definitely still quite low. Last night I had nightmares and slept badly. I woke up at 0330 with a lot of cortisol flowing through my system. I know this will pass and some of this is a PTSD response. So, despite much progress being made there is still quite a ways to go. 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
Thorin Posted May 18, 2023 Share Posted May 18, 2023 8 minutes ago, FeralCatman said: UPDATE Yesterday I got hit with a life stress type situation. I handled it but it really threw me off balance pretty fast. So, my psychological stress tolerances are definitely still quite low. Last night I had nightmares and slept badly. I woke up at 0330 with a lot of cortisol flowing through my system. I know this will pass and some of this is a PTSD response. So, despite much progress being made there is still quite a ways to go. I get this too. It can be hard to differentiate between WD and a PTSD/trauma response. I do know that with self care they both settle so for me the approach is often the same. Self care, patience, listening to what the body needs etc. It’s a hard road dealing with both WD and PTSD. 1 Age 16 (1995 - 2000) -Paroxetine Age 21 (2000-2004) - Effexor 37.5mg Age 24 (2004-2012) - Lexapro (70mg), Xanax minimum 2mg Xanax a day About 32 (2012-2017?) - Every mood stabiliser under the sun (not at the same time) and minimum 2mg Xanax a day; occasional amisulpride About 35 (2017-current) - Lurasidone 80 mg, quickly titrated down to 40mg, Pristiq (50 mg), minimum of 2mg Xanax a day About 41 (2020) Switched from Xanax to clonazepam and started tapering at 0.125 mg each reduction, tapered off Pristiq with a cross taper at the end, low dose of dextroamphetamine. Age 42 (2021) Tried to taper off Lurasidone three times. Quick taper from 40mg to 0 mg over a couple of months the first time. Reinstated at 20mg. Tried twice more to taper from 20 mg to 0 mg dropping by 5 mg each reduction (about every 2 weeks). Age 42-43 (April 2022) 20mg-18mg; May 18mg-16mg; June 16-14mg; September 14-12mg; September 12-14mg reinstated. February 2023 - hiccup with brand change, Back to Apotek brand and switch to homemade suspension. Age 44 (August 2023 -restarted clonazepam taper). Start dose 0.375mg. 1/9/2023 - 0.365mg; 1/10/2023 - 0.324mg; 1/11/2023 - 0.264mg; 1/12/2023 - 0.25 mg (holding); 1/2/2024 - 0.232mg; 1/3/2024 - 0.221mg; 1/4/2024 - 0.205mg; Health regimen: walks, hot/cold showers, ice baths, breathwork, mostly healthy diet, therapy...... Open to ideas! Supplements: Milk Kefir, Mag, Omega 3, CBD/THC. Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 18, 2023 Author Share Posted May 18, 2023 56 minutes ago, Thorin said: It’s a hard road dealing with both WD and PTSD. It most certainly is and it's impossible to differentiate. What I think happens is that due to being in withdrawal you're stress tolerances are very low so you're more susceptible to a trigger and once you trigger the stress response the PTSD response just jumps on the pig pile for the hell of it because that's what PTSD likes to do and it becomes one big emotional Pig pile that you have to crawl out from underneath. What gets me by after all these years is knowing that these episodes always pass even though they suck. 😉✌️😺😺 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
Thorin Posted May 18, 2023 Share Posted May 18, 2023 4 minutes ago, FeralCatman said: It most certainly is and it's impossible to differentiate. What I think happens is that due to being in withdrawal you're stress tolerances are very low so you're more susceptible to a trigger and once you trigger the stress response the PTSD response just jumps on the pig pile for the hell of it because that's what PTSD likes to do and it becomes one big emotional Pig pile that you have to crawl out from underneath. What gets me by after all these years is knowing that these episodes always pass even though they suck. 😉✌️😺😺 Mate that is spot on. Bloody pig piles. And they do always pass 😉 2 Age 16 (1995 - 2000) -Paroxetine Age 21 (2000-2004) - Effexor 37.5mg Age 24 (2004-2012) - Lexapro (70mg), Xanax minimum 2mg Xanax a day About 32 (2012-2017?) - Every mood stabiliser under the sun (not at the same time) and minimum 2mg Xanax a day; occasional amisulpride About 35 (2017-current) - Lurasidone 80 mg, quickly titrated down to 40mg, Pristiq (50 mg), minimum of 2mg Xanax a day About 41 (2020) Switched from Xanax to clonazepam and started tapering at 0.125 mg each reduction, tapered off Pristiq with a cross taper at the end, low dose of dextroamphetamine. Age 42 (2021) Tried to taper off Lurasidone three times. Quick taper from 40mg to 0 mg over a couple of months the first time. Reinstated at 20mg. Tried twice more to taper from 20 mg to 0 mg dropping by 5 mg each reduction (about every 2 weeks). Age 42-43 (April 2022) 20mg-18mg; May 18mg-16mg; June 16-14mg; September 14-12mg; September 12-14mg reinstated. February 2023 - hiccup with brand change, Back to Apotek brand and switch to homemade suspension. Age 44 (August 2023 -restarted clonazepam taper). Start dose 0.375mg. 1/9/2023 - 0.365mg; 1/10/2023 - 0.324mg; 1/11/2023 - 0.264mg; 1/12/2023 - 0.25 mg (holding); 1/2/2024 - 0.232mg; 1/3/2024 - 0.221mg; 1/4/2024 - 0.205mg; Health regimen: walks, hot/cold showers, ice baths, breathwork, mostly healthy diet, therapy...... Open to ideas! Supplements: Milk Kefir, Mag, Omega 3, CBD/THC. Link to comment
j1290 Posted May 18, 2023 Share Posted May 18, 2023 1 minute ago, FeralCatman said: What I think happens is that due to being in withdrawal you're stress tolerances are very low The pig pile bit made me LOL 😄 That all makes sense that it's easier to get set off while everything is off balance. 1 I am not a doctor and do not offer any medical advice, only my own experience. Consult your physician. 2011-2015 tapered off 300MG of Effexor. Back in the Paxil Progress days. No rebound. 2005-2021: 450 mg Bupropion XL Daily 2021 Buporopion May 450mg/June 400mg/July 375mg/Aug 10th 360mg/ 2021 Dec - 150mg IR, 3x day = 450mg Bup, Heritage manufacturer-yellow color pill. 2022 May 3 - 3 x 150mg IR Bup, Avet brand(pharmacist said they merged with Heritage-orange color) -migraines REINSTATED-BACK TO MY LAST STABLE DOSE/TIME RELEASE 2022 June 5 - switched back to 3 x 150mg XL one time per day= 450 mg total Bup-Apotex brand CURRENT TAPER 2022 Aug 31 - 450MG to 412MG IR Bup//Sep. 28, 2022: 412mg to 375mg//Oct 26, 2022: 375mg to 365 mg//Nov 21, 2022: 365mg to 327mg//Dec 27, 2022: 327 mg to 290 mg//Dec 31, 2022: 290mg to 262mg//Jan 28, 2023: 262mg to 190mg//Feb. 19, 2023: 190mg to 140mg//Mar. 18, '23: 140mg to 100mg// Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 19, 2023 Author Share Posted May 19, 2023 That life stress situation that threw me off continued into today but was finally resolved and thank goodness because it caused me way more anxiety than it should have so I've spent a lot of time worrying and ruminating the last few days so hopefully I'll feel better again now that that's done. I am also the proud owner of a new Old Town 16 ft fishing canoe and I'm going to take it for a trial run on Sunday since tomorrow it's going to rain all day 😁✌️😺😺 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 UPDATE Last night was the first night in well over a year since the nocturia started that I slept 4 hours in a row without having to pee and was really fine until about 6:00 this morning even though after I got up I wasn't able to sleep well after that and I only got about five and a half hours sleep last night but it wasn't because I had to keep peeing so this problem does seem to be getting better and I believe now ultimately it's going to disappear just like everything else that came and went. 😉✌️😺😺 2 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 31, 2023 Author Share Posted May 31, 2023 I have been reading about protracted withdrawal and post acute withdrawal syndrome which has typically been associated with benzodiazepine withdrawal but seems to apply across the board with neuroactive substances. I am noticing a lot of similarities between the PAWS from benzos and the PAWS I and others have experienced with anti-psychotics. The symptoms and process seem pretty similar to me and I think I may know why. Benzos work on the GABA receptors which therefore are modulating GABA and Glutamate which are at the top of the neurotransmitter food chain in the CNS. As a result they pretty much change the levels and distribution of all of the neurotransmitters in the CNS by default because those 2 modulate pretty much everything else. Anti-psychotics don't touch GABA but they to bind with almost everything else in some way with each one having a different but very diverse and extensive receptor binding profile. Since they hit so many receptors that moves up the food chain in a cascade of changes and will cause changes in GABA and Glutamate and have the same basic effect but with different side effect profiles. Basically it's 2 ways of approaching a problem to get the same result. Sedation. This is why benzos used to be called minor tranquilizers and anti-psychotics used to be called major tranquilizers. Since it's 2 ways of approaching the same problem to get the same result then it would make sense that their acute and post acute withdrawal would be similar. This is a theory of course but I am thinking that for those on anti-psychotics who are struggling to get off of them it may be helpful to refer to the benzodiazepine withdrawal information for some guidance on how to proceed and deal with it or at the very least have something that looks somewhat familiar since anti-psychotic withdrawal information is not anywhere near as well studied and therefore information is sparse. If anyone thinks this is hogwash please chime in and let me know why before I go skipping too far down a dead end road. 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
StayHopeful Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 @FeralCatman I wouldn't doubt if that were true at all, and a reasonable hypothesis for sure. 2 hours ago, FeralCatman said: Anti-psychotics don't touch GABA but they to bind with almost everything else in some way with each one having a different but very diverse and extensive receptor binding profile. Since they hit so many receptors that moves up the food chain in a cascade of changes and will cause changes in GABA and Glutamate and have the same basic effect but with different side effect profiles. That's the problem though, the varying side effects they cause. Two people taking the exact same medication dose for dose, may have some effects in common and some that aren't. They are wildly differing from person to person, not to mention, some individuals don't seem to be affected at all. Though we understand what neurotransmitters and receptors are responsible for what action in the body, at what levels of medication cause those actions, we can only guess. Let's say John and Jane Doe are the same age, in good health and are both taking 50mgs of Seroquel. John is having effects (good or bad) at 33mgs. Seroquel doesn't come in a 33mg pill. A 25mg pill is too little but a 50mg pill is too much - how would his doctor know that? Jane isn't having any effects at all. What is going on in her body in comparison and how would her Dr know? Unfortunately, we can't actually see these neurotransmitters floating around or being accepted by receptors - would be great if we could, like blood flowing through arteries or the effects of moisture absorption into skin (not sure if those are good analogies but hopefully you get my drift). If there was a way to test serotonin levels, dopamine levels, etc. and see where any excess is actually going per individual, we'd get an idea of what to expect during and after psych med use and who would be susceptible. Just thoughts... 1 1993-1997 Prozac 20mg 1997 Paxil 10mg 1998 Zyban 2005-2010 Celexa 20mg 2005-2014 Xanax .5mg prn 2010-2022 Lexapro 40mg tapered, last dose 2/12/22 2014 Zoloft 10mg 2014-2022 Seroquel 800mg tapered, last dose 7/13/22 2022 Klonopin .5mg prn (haven't used it yet) Lexapro start taper 12/16/21 - 40mg - 30mg, 1/2/22 - 20mg, 1/15/22 - 10mg, 2/1/22 - 5mg, 2/12/22 - 0mg. Seroquel start taper 12/16/21 - 800mg - 600mg, 1/2/22 - 400mg, 1/15/22 - 300mg, 2/12/22 - 200mg, 3/1/22 - 150mg, 3/15/22 - 100mg, 4/1/22 - 50mg, 4/15/22 - 25mg, 5/1/22 - 12mg, 5/15/22 - 6mg, 6/15/22 - 3mg, 7/13/22 - 0mg. Currently taking magnesium, fish oil, calcium and vitamin D3. Cut down processed foods and sugar, no alcohol or caffeine. Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted May 31, 2023 Author Share Posted May 31, 2023 8 minutes ago, StayHopeful said: @FeralCatman I wouldn't doubt if that were true at all, and a reasonable hypothesis for sure. That's the problem though, the varying side effects they cause. Two people taking the exact same medication dose for dose, may have some effects in common and some that aren't. They are wildly differing from person to person, not to mention, some individuals don't seem to be affected at all. Though we understand what neurotransmitters and receptors are responsible for what action in the body, at what levels of medication cause those actions, we can only guess. Let's say John and Jane Doe are the same age, in good health and are both taking 50mgs of Seroquel. John is having effects (good or bad) at 33mgs. Seroquel doesn't come in a 33mg pill. A 25mg pill is too little but a 50mg pill is too much - how would his doctor know that? Jane isn't having any effects at all. What is going on in her body in comparison and how would her Dr know? Unfortunately, we can't actually see these neurotransmitters floating around or being accepted by receptors - would be great if we could, like blood flowing through arteries or the effects of moisture absorption into skin (not sure if those are good analogies but hopefully you get my drift). If there was a way to test serotonin levels, dopamine levels, etc. and see where any excess is actually going per individual, we'd get an idea of what to expect during and after psych med use and who would be susceptible. Just thoughts... I certainly agree with everything you said which is what makes this so unbelievably difficult. Still finding it hard to believe that all these really smart people that came up with this idea couldn't see this from the get-go. I am 21 months off the Seroquel and have had quite a few good days but then when I overdo it like I did yesterday it's like getting hit by a freight train all over again it really makes you question your decision to put yourself through all this. The hard part is that your limits change on a daily basis so it's impossible to know when you're past the point at which you're going to have symptoms again until you have the symptoms again which really sucks. Still in shock that I can feel this bad this far out after doing so well for a while. I know that this will pass but holy smokes. Days like this make me certainly wish for the good old days when I still believed in the idea of taking a pill and you could fix anything. 😔 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
StayHopeful Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 Kudos to you for being off Seroquel for 21 months. 👏 I'm sorry you've gone through so much and still getting slammed when you're just trying to get back your norm and regular activities. It is hard to believe, how extremely difficult it is getting off these meds, and even harder to deal with. ☹️ What a crap shoot! It's all trial and error. We never know what will set us off - seasonal changes, foods, exercise, stress, or even having a fun exciting time. Then if we can connect it in hindsight, it'll change on us, and we always pay for it later. 😔 I agree completely that there really isn't a way for anyone to know with certainty, that they're truly healed - even years later. It's hard to grasp the concept, like the vastness of space. No one knows. As for the smart people not seeing all this from the get-go... I don't think long term thinking was a part of those medications being developed or used, and by default, we ARE the long-term study. There are very few on this site that have been on such high doses of an antipsychotic for a long period of time, as we have. I push the thoughts away, but I'm still terrified at times of future consequences of my fast taper from such a high dose. Aside from yours, and a few others - brain fog on the pseudonyms (JanCarol, Happy2Heal - I think), there isn't much information from experiences to draw from. Thank you for all your detailed charts, they've provided me with a lot of needed information and understanding. Though this site is called Surviving Antidepressants, hopefully, more people who've also been on antipsychotics at those doses, healed or not, will share their experiences here. So we can mutually draw from the needed information. Congrats on your canoe. I grew up fishing and it's one of my favorite things to do, haven't been able to go in a while, but hope to do some this summer. 1 1993-1997 Prozac 20mg 1997 Paxil 10mg 1998 Zyban 2005-2010 Celexa 20mg 2005-2014 Xanax .5mg prn 2010-2022 Lexapro 40mg tapered, last dose 2/12/22 2014 Zoloft 10mg 2014-2022 Seroquel 800mg tapered, last dose 7/13/22 2022 Klonopin .5mg prn (haven't used it yet) Lexapro start taper 12/16/21 - 40mg - 30mg, 1/2/22 - 20mg, 1/15/22 - 10mg, 2/1/22 - 5mg, 2/12/22 - 0mg. Seroquel start taper 12/16/21 - 800mg - 600mg, 1/2/22 - 400mg, 1/15/22 - 300mg, 2/12/22 - 200mg, 3/1/22 - 150mg, 3/15/22 - 100mg, 4/1/22 - 50mg, 4/15/22 - 25mg, 5/1/22 - 12mg, 5/15/22 - 6mg, 6/15/22 - 3mg, 7/13/22 - 0mg. Currently taking magnesium, fish oil, calcium and vitamin D3. Cut down processed foods and sugar, no alcohol or caffeine. Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted June 1, 2023 Author Share Posted June 1, 2023 @StayHopeful That's the hardest part about all of this. The unknown. My dad was a commercial pilot when I was young and I described it to him in the following way. 'It's like flying through the clouds through a mountain range with nothing but an altimeter, an attitude indicator to help keep wings level, and the height of the highest mountain. You can't see a thing, you have no compass or sense of direction, no airspeed indicator, no radio to call for help or give directions. All you can do is to try to keep flying high enough to avoid running into a mountain until the clouds clear out so you can go VFR (visual flight rules) and see a place to land and hope you don't run out of gas before you do." Even if you aren't a pilot that description is pretty easy to visualize. It's scary as hell. I've dealt with many things in my life that threw a lot of unknowns at me, my childhood, boot camp, submarine service, my jobs, my second wife, a friend overdosing in my house, injuries and much shorter illnesses, etc. Most of it external or comparatively short in nature. You knew it would pass and there were ways to get a break from it. This withdrawal nightmare takes the cake. There are just no guideposts as to what you can get away with on any given day and it's just waiting in the shadows to $*^# up your day. (Pardon the expletive but sometimes there are no other words) There is no taking a break. This is why earlier in my thread I commended everyone for being just as mentally tough as any special forces operator I ever met. Perhaps even tougher in some ways. All you can do is keep taking the next step and every time you bounce off a mountain top you shake it off and keep on flying. Eventually the clouds will open up. The good news for myself is that last night was better than the night before and this morning I feel much better than yesterday morning so I am already recovering and it is taking longer with more activity to set things off. I will have to take things really easy for a bit and then try again at some point. I would really like to start tapering my other meds but I don't dare right now if things get upset this easily. It's very hard to know what to do and when to jump off that cliff. Definitely not ready yet. I talked to someone who whet through Seroquel withdrawal who went on to help others do the same. They said they have seen the full range of things happen. Some recover and move on just fine, others partially recover, and a few don't seem to get much better. That said, comparing yourself to others is not very useful most of the time especially in this case because of the differences in genetics, physiology, diet, exercise, fitness level, co-occuring illnesses, bad habits, good habits, stress load, living circumstances, social support and social needs, employment, coping skills, etc. There really is no way to compare which is why recovery looks so different for everyone. Hopefully someday someone will put it all together and find some patterns in this mess. Thanks for the input and reach out any time. 😉✌️😺😺 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted June 1, 2023 Author Share Posted June 1, 2023 UPDATE Earlier this year I had a bad reaction to the ginger that I had been using for my guts and I tried it again this morning and I'm no longer reacting badly to it so yet one more thing that came and went. So creepy and bizarre that this stuff happens the way it does. Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted June 2, 2023 Author Share Posted June 2, 2023 UPDATE I just went through my chart and looked back over the last few weeks and gained some perspective after this last couple of tough days. First - A tough day now is nothing even close to what things were a year ago. None of the really crazy stuff seems to happen quickly as long as I am smart about backing down. Second - I posted earlier about having had many days in a row of working outside and doing a cat rescue mission and making a long drive to therapy. That ended up being 11 days in a row of significant activity with no issues. This past December it only took a couple of days to get a bad reaction. The tipping point in my notes seems to be the life stress situation I posted about that tipped the scales and started issues. That situation continued for a number of days before it was resolved and that seems to be when I started having issues with having to reduce my activity level. So, at this point physical stamina is still in fact improving. However my life stress tolerances are still low especially when it involves needing someone else to get something done for me and they are performing at a sub par level. I am very much anti-procrastination and when I need to get something done I become very single minded and can become the bulldozer in the room until the task is complete. I am extremely detail oriented and am a bit of a perfectionist. Unfortunately this is an unreasonable expectation when working with other people. This gives me an indicator on where I need to work on things. Also, part of the severity of my response to the situation is rooted in years of trauma and the anger that I am still dealing with. Right now my 'Bull@&$*-O-Meter' needle is still wrapped around and is pegged on red line and I have no patience to deal with things like what just happened. This all plays into what I now call the 'Pig Pile Effect' that I have posted about earlier. This also tells me that when a life stress situation crops up that I need to back down on the physical stuff so I can deal with the stress. Right now physical activity is still apparently adding to my stress load instead of helping like it used to. Once the stress is gone and I take time to rest then I should be able to get back to the physical stuff again. Even after 2 years my body is still not up to dealing with stress from more than 1 direction at a time right now. However, healing is happening and keeping the notes that I do is very useful and helping me to maintain that perspective vs. getting overly discouraged. 2 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
j1290 Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 11 hours ago, FeralCatman said: Unfortunately this is an unreasonable expectation when working with other people. Can relate. Group projects can be bafflingly difficult for me. I have a business coach that's helped me a lot. Turns out my expectations have been miscalibrated. 11 hours ago, FeralCatman said: Also, part of the severity of my response to the situation is rooted in years of trauma and the anger that I am still dealing with. I have done a lot of work on this, and still have a lot to go. EMDR has been a real help in this department. It's not magic, but I've found a lot of relief that CBT didn't provide. 11 hours ago, FeralCatman said: I posted earlier about having had many days in a row of working outside and doing a cat rescue mission and making a long drive to therapy. This is super cool! 1 I am not a doctor and do not offer any medical advice, only my own experience. Consult your physician. 2011-2015 tapered off 300MG of Effexor. Back in the Paxil Progress days. No rebound. 2005-2021: 450 mg Bupropion XL Daily 2021 Buporopion May 450mg/June 400mg/July 375mg/Aug 10th 360mg/ 2021 Dec - 150mg IR, 3x day = 450mg Bup, Heritage manufacturer-yellow color pill. 2022 May 3 - 3 x 150mg IR Bup, Avet brand(pharmacist said they merged with Heritage-orange color) -migraines REINSTATED-BACK TO MY LAST STABLE DOSE/TIME RELEASE 2022 June 5 - switched back to 3 x 150mg XL one time per day= 450 mg total Bup-Apotex brand CURRENT TAPER 2022 Aug 31 - 450MG to 412MG IR Bup//Sep. 28, 2022: 412mg to 375mg//Oct 26, 2022: 375mg to 365 mg//Nov 21, 2022: 365mg to 327mg//Dec 27, 2022: 327 mg to 290 mg//Dec 31, 2022: 290mg to 262mg//Jan 28, 2023: 262mg to 190mg//Feb. 19, 2023: 190mg to 140mg//Mar. 18, '23: 140mg to 100mg// Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted June 5, 2023 Author Share Posted June 5, 2023 For those who have not signed up or not yet heard of Outro Health which is an antidepressant withdrawal Telehealth service now available in Canada I highly recommend looking them up and getting on the wait list so you can get access to their library and all of the resources. There is another website called the Inner Compass Initiative which is also very helpful that you may want to check out as it has a searchable database for different symptoms. The following text is what Outro Health has to say about acute and protracted withdrawal from antidepressants and some of the data on the timeline came from this website. Hopefully it's okay to do this and I won't get into any trouble but I thought it would be helpful for people to read this and also see the references that that they used. Acute Versus Protracted Withdrawal Background Antidepressants are psychotropic drugs. When you take a psychotropic drug every day, your brain, nervous system and body gradually adapt over some weeks to the constant influence of the drug. Once this adaptation is established, the body moves into a state called physical dependence. In this state a person becomes at risk for the development of withdrawal symptoms the dosage of the drug is reduced too fast. Withdrawal symptoms demonstrate that the brain, nervous system, and body have become physically dependent on the drug. Physical dependence is not the same as addiction, where the person also craves the drug. While antidepressants are not addictive, they do cause dependence. But what we know about the phases of withdrawal comes from addiction medicine, where psychotropic withdrawal has been more closely studied. Withdrawal is said to occur in an early acute phase starting shortly after stopping the drug, followed by a protracted (lasting for a longer period of time) phase. What is acute withdrawal from antidepressants? Early in the history of the newer antidepressants, SSRIs were presumed to be different from addictive drugs and old antidepressants in that they did not cause dependence or withdrawal. Eventually, case reports from doctors revealed that people did get withdrawal symptoms when SSRIs were stopped (20,22). The long lists of symptoms that are the core of what doctors know about antidepressant withdrawal were derived from these clinician observations as well as adverse drug reaction databases and clinical trials. In all these instances, the antidepressant was stopped abruptly or over perhaps a week or two (8). Once withdrawal from the newer antidepressants was recognized, it was said to be minor and over within a few weeks(24,25). There was no need to define phases of antidepressant withdrawal. Because these symptoms arise suddenly and dramatically after cessation of the drug, we now recognize and refer to this period of initial, intense antidepressant withdrawal symptoms as acute withdrawal(3,23). How long does acute withdrawal last? Across psychotropic drugs, the acute withdrawal phase has been observed to last about 2-3 weeks before it changes into the protracted withdrawal phase. The difference between the two phases is the duration of the symptoms and symptom pattern(15). Coincidentally, the entire antidepressant withdrawal syndrome was long believed to last only 2-3 weeks (14). It seems likely now that early papers were describing the symptoms of the acute phase, where symptoms sometimes completely resolve, while the protracted withdrawal syndrome that might come afterward went unrecognized (6,10). What are acute antidepressant withdrawal symptoms? Although there are dozens of antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, doctors are often taught to recognize only a handful with the simple mnemonic FINISH, devised in 1998 (Berber, 1998): Flu-like symptoms Insomnia Nausea Imbalance Sensory disturbances Hyperarousal (anxiety/agitation) This gives doctors a vague but narrow expectation of the symptoms to look for when their patients go off their drugs. In contrast, a 2019 international survey of 867 patients(21) found their most frequent acute withdrawal symptoms were Anxiety/Panic Irritability Dizziness Brain Zaps Nightmares Nausea “Brain zaps”, the electrical shock sensation in the head that is perhaps the most recognizable antidepressant withdrawal symptom, does not appear in the early journal articles, but is now known as a hallmark of acute antidepressant withdrawal (7,18). What is the treatment for acute antidepressant withdrawal? The only known treatment for acute antidepressant symptoms, which is the period shortly after discontinuation of the drug, is reinstatement of the drug. This should assist nervous system stabilization. After the withdrawal symptoms go away, the person might be able to taper off more gradually(2,27). What is protracted withdrawal? Like “acute withdrawal”, the term "protracted withdrawal" has only recently been used in connection with antidepressants, because antidepressant withdrawal has long been assumed to be "time-limited” to a few weeks(14,24). Given this expectation, antidepressant withdrawal symptoms that persist past a short period are often misidentified by doctors and patients as “relapse” rather than protracted withdrawal(12). However, it has become clear that as with addictive psychotropics, a protracted phase may follow the acute phase of antidepressant withdrawal – a previously unidentified serious risk of antidepressant use. (4,7,9,10). There is no clear border between acute and post-acute withdrawal syndrome. One authority suggests if withdrawal symptoms last more than 6 weeks, the protracted withdrawal phase has begun(3). What are the symptoms of protracted withdrawal? As protracted withdrawal syndrome is essentially a continuation of acute withdrawal syndrome, it encompasses all of the symptoms that can appear in the acute phase. Withdrawal symptoms are known to change throughout both phases, with patients often being able to recognize the difference between symptoms related to withdrawal versus symptoms related to the original psychiatric complaint(3, 10). A study of protracted antidepressant withdrawal cases reported on an Internet site found these were the most common symptoms, with about ⅔ of the cases having both physical symptoms and emotional symptoms(10): Anxiety - 53.6% Depression - 36.3% Insomnia - 36.2% Gastrointestinal - 33.3% Decreased concentration (brain fog) - 26.1% Brain zaps - 21.8% Headache - 21.8% Suicidal thoughts - 20.3% Muscle aches - 17.3% Visual - 15.9% Tremor - 15.9% Fatigue - 13% Dizziness - 11.6% Sweating - 5.8% Post-antidepressant sexual dysfunction (PSSD) - 2.9% Psychotropic drugs might differ somewhat among their acute withdrawal symptoms, but protracted withdrawal syndrome tends to have similar features across psychotropics(1,26). How long does protracted withdrawal from antidepressants last? Very little investigation has been done into protracted antidepressant withdrawal. One large study in patients who had been on antidepressants for more than a couple of years and then roughly tapered off found a clear increase in withdrawal symptoms a month after stopping antidepressants, with those with withdrawal symptoms continuing after 9 months mostly resolved by 12 months on average (Lewis 2022). Evidence extracted from patient narratives on an Internet site suggests that protracted withdrawal in these likely more severe cases tends to resolve in 2-3 years (10). This accords with what is known about protracted withdrawal from addictive drugs (15,16). What is the treatment for protracted antidepressant withdrawal? Protracted withdrawal from antidepressants has only recently been recognized and is poorly understood. Doctors may prescribe many different kinds of drugs to address the wide range of symptoms, but they may or may not have a beneficial effect. Informal patient reports indicate a very low dose reinstatement of the original drug may help. Any drug treatment, though, may make protracted withdrawal syndrome worse, due to accompanying increased neurological sensitivity. Perhaps the most reliable treatment is to be patient and allow the symptoms to naturally and gradually resolve over time(7). How to avoid acute or protracted withdrawal syndrome? It’s important to recognize that all that is known about acute or protracted withdrawal from antidepressants is from people who were abruptly discontinued from their drugs or tapered over only a few weeks. There is evidence that very gradual tapering over months rather than weeks reduces the incidence and severity of acute withdrawal symptoms, and thus protracted withdrawal syndrome as well(12). Sources: Alsheikh, M. Y. (2021). Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome: The Major Cause of Relapse among Psychoactive Substances Addicted Users. Archives Of Pharmacy Practice, 12(4), 91–97. https://doi.org/10.51847/iOICfUjpnm Baldessarini, R. J., & Tondo, L. (2019). Effects of Treatment Discontinuation in Clinical Psychopharmacology. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 88(2), 65–70. https://doi.org/10.1159/000497334 Chouinard, G., & Chouinard, V.-A. (2015). New Classification of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Withdrawal. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 84(2), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1159/000371865 Cosci, F., & Chouinard, G. (2020). Acute and Persistent Withdrawal Syndromes Following Discontinuation of Psychotropic Medications. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1159/000506868 Davies, J., & Read, J. (2019). A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based? Addictive Behaviors. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027 El-Mallakh, R. S., & Briscoe, B. (2012). Studies of long-term use of antidepressants: How should the data from them be interpreted? CNS Drugs, 26(2), 97–109. https://doi.org/10.2165/11599450-000000000-00000 Framer, A. (2021). What I have learnt from helping thousands of people to taper off antidepressants and other psychotropic medications. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125321991274 Haddad, P. (1997). Newer antidepressants and the discontinuation syndrome. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 58 Suppl 7, 17–21; discussion 22. https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/depression/newer-antidepressants-discontinuation-syndrome/ Hengartner, M. P., Davies, J., & Read, J. (2019). How Long Does Antidepressant Withdrawal Typically Last? The American Journal of Psychiatry, 176(6), 487. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19020142 Hengartner, M. P., Schulthess, L., Sorensen, A., & Framer, A. (2020). Protracted withdrawal syndrome after stopping antidepressants: A descriptive quantitative analysis of consumer narratives from a large internet forum. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125320980573 Horowitz, M. A., & Taylor, D. (2019). Tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(6), 538–546. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30032-X Horowitz, M. A., & Taylor, D. (2022). Distinguishing relapse from antidepressant withdrawal: Clinical practice and antidepressant discontinuation studies. BJPsych Advances, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2021.62 Horowitz, M. A., Framer, A., Hengartner, M. P., Sørensen, A., & Taylor, D. (2023). Estimating Risk of Antidepressant Withdrawal from a Review of Published Data. CNS Drugs, 37(2), 143–157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-022-00960-y Jha, M. K., Rush, A. J., & Trivedi, M. H. (2018). When Discontinuing SSRI Antidepressants Is a Challenge: Management Tips. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(12), 1176–1184. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18060692 Lerner, A., & Klein, M. (2019). Dependence, withdrawal and rebound of CNS drugs: An update and regulatory considerations for new drugs development. 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SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Protracted-Withdrawal/SMA10-4554 Schatzberg, A. F., Haddad, P., Kaplan, E. M., Lejoyeux, M., Rosenbaum, J. F., Young, A. H., & Zajecka, J. (1997). Serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome: A hypothetical definition. Discontinuation Consensus panel. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 58 Suppl 7, 5–10. Shelton, R. C. (2006). The nature of the discontinuation syndrome associated with antidepressant drugs. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 67 Suppl 4, 3–7. UCLA Dual Diagnosis Program. (2019). Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) | Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior. https://www.semel.ucla.edu/dual-diagnosis-program/News_and_Resources/PAWS Wolfe, R. M. (1997). Antidepressant withdrawal reactions. American Family Physician, 56(2), 455–462. 1 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
FeralCatman Posted June 16, 2023 Author Share Posted June 16, 2023 UPDATE I have a little bit of bad news followed by some really good news. The bad news is the hyponatremia or low sodium has definitely gotten worse. A couple of days ago I was working outside and it was not too hot but I did work up a little bit of a sweat and later in the day I got really sick. That night I was up due to nausea and headache and I didn't figure out until the next day which was yesterday that my sodium had gone low. I know it was the sodium because yesterday I crammed a bunch of salt in and it fixed the nausea and the headache was greatly improved. This is a bit scary to me because this is what happened last time I was in the hospital and I am already taking in quite a bit of extra salt as well as sufficient fluid has recommended by my doctor and my nutritionist but I apparently lose it very quickly if I sweat. The nausea was definitely the low salt and the headache was the low salt coupled with inflamed sinuses so I'm going to have to be really careful and make sure to load up on salt on days where I'm going to be out and working up a sweat. The most likely culprit as I said earlier in my thread is the carbamazepine. More than likely since Paxil is known to do this as well but the incidence is much lower and the metoprolol has a low incidence of this it is likely a combined effect now of all three. I think this is my body's way of letting me know it's time to start getting the rest of this stuff out of my system. So I'm trying to make a decision on what to do next. The good news is two separate things also happened at the same time. I took a low dose aspirin for the headache to see if it would affect me negatively and it did not so I took three more and that helped the sinus pressure so now aspirin is definitely on the table as something I can use if needed. Last night for the first time in over 2 years I effectively slept through the night. I went to bed at 8:00 and slept until 1:00 p.m. I only had to pee that one time and when I realized what happened I got really excited and didn't fall back to sleep until about 2:00 and then slept until 5:00 so that was 8 hours of extended rest which is awesome. That's the best indicator I have yet that healing is happening and that I am getting closer to homeostasis. 😉✌️😺😺 Current Psychiatric Medications Paxil 10mg daily (a.m.) 2017 - Present Carbamazepine IR 182 mg twice daily (364mg Daily) 2011 - Present (Currently Tapering) Past Psychiatric Medications From 1994 to August 2021 Seroquel (in Recovery since August 2021 final dose 6.25mg), Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Xanax, Lamotrigene, Olanzapine, Lorazepam, Welbutrin, Trazodone, Oxazepam, Gabapentin, Abilify, Topiramate, Prazosin, Ambien (See Attached Spreadsheet And Seroquel Tapering And WIthdrawal Summary) Current Non Psychiatric Medications - Levothyroxine 88mcg (a.m.)-Vitamin D3 1000 IU (p.m.)-Fexofenadine 180 mg twice daily -Clonidine 0.1 mg (p.m.)-Azelastine / Ipratropium / Nasacort Nasal Spray Other - Fish Oil Twice Daily-Multi-Vitamin (a.m.)-Vitamin C 1000mg Daily (a.m.)-Saline Nasal Spray-Salsalate 750mg twice daily PRN, Diclofenac Gel on affected joint PRN-Magnesium Citrate 250mg twice daily, Betaine HCL & Digestine Enzymes With Meals Quitting Seroquel_A Vacation In Hell_Redacted.pdf Other Documents https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/26099-feralcatman-recovering-from-seroquel/?do=findComment&comment=633907 Link to comment
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