Momoffour: Struggling Post-Sertraline CT

[Momoffour]

Another new symptom my head starts hurting when I try to read. My eyes are going blurry 

[Momoffour]

I talked to Dr. Shipko. Called and left a voicemail and he called back. He said to go to 12.5 mg and use a benzo as prn but no longer than a week. He said that doesn't work to bridge to Prozac. He said absolutely no antipsychotic Thoughts? 

[Altostrata]

Since your symptoms began after cold turkey of sertaline, they're more likely due to that.

 

Sure, you can do as Dr. Shipko suggested. I've been urging you to increase by 1mg for weeks, does a leap to 12.5mg sound better to you? If it doesn't work out, what are you going to do?

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata I have no clue. I just can't keep carrying on like this Have you seen people be hypersensitive and have a history like mine stabilize? The more i think about it i think i had some withdrawal symptoms while on the zoloft before. i have only been at 3 mg for a week  what would you reccomend i do if it doesn't work out? I'm hesitant to go to 12.5 because this far it has only made me worse. 

[ChessieCat]

Q:  Do you drink alcohol?

 

Alto previously asked about alcohol but you did not respond regarding this.

[Momoffour]

No, I don't wouldn't dare try. 

I can't tolerate magnesium and get a kindling effect from that.

[Momoffour]

I really feel like most of the withdrawal is from the antipsychotic. But you'd know more than me. 

[Altostrata]

I'm kinda done coaxing you to increase by 1mg. I don't feel I can do any more for you. Sorry.

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata I did not say i wouldn't i said i was hesistant... If its only made me worse to keep going up.... i don't understand is all. 

[Altostrata]

I've given you my best guess. I can't predict the future. All you can do is try something and see.

[Momoffour]

@Altostrataso if it's only made me worse .. what should I try now? That's what I'm asking. I can either bridge to Prozac or try an antipsychotic at this point. 

[Ginger23]

@Momoffour  this is aweful to not know what to do. I know I was very bad at the beginning of wds. I wished I wasn’t polydrugged to tell u how it went. I still questioning my reinstatement but no anxiety is good just other stuff not good. I don’t feel like myself at all. Not sleeping normally plus. It’s aggravating these drugs are not what I signed up for. It helped my pots originally but wds caused pots worse and now stabilizing it again. It messes with everything. I wished Zoloft was stabilizing you. Surely alto has seen this a lot? @Altostrata  does it get worse before getting better up dosing small doses?  I’m trying to understand this stabilizing mess. I’m sorry we all going through this 

[Ginger23]

Also @Altostrata this is off topic and if not allowed to ask fine.  What is your opinion on using ketamine or psychedelics to help wds from antidepressants and other psych meds?  I see this more and more. Any clue this is legitimate?  Thanks as always 

[Altostrata]

@Momoffour, We don't diagnose or prescribe here. Since our focus is tapering and withdrawal syndrome, our tools are limited. If you don't feel reinstatement is working, I'm really sorry. I don't think I can help you further.

 

6 minutes ago, Ginger23 said:

Also @Altostrata this is off topic and if not allowed to ask fine.  What is your opinion on using ketamine or psychedelics to help wds from antidepressants and other psych meds?  I see this more and more. Any clue this is legitimate?  Thanks as always 

 

I think this is nonsense.

[Ginger23]

@Altostrata  so it’s nonsense I mentioned this? I see research on this but I wondered your thoughts. I’ll tk nonsense. I know losing my life job cars house and myself is nonsense too. I’m sorry I just wonder if there’s more helpful things to get off these nonsense dangerous horrible drugs I’d like to know. I know you are knowledgeable and thought to ask. I’m sorry I mentioned. I’m really sorry @Momoffourwe are going through this hell. I hate these drugs we get freaking stuck on because of idiot drs and our being misled to believe we need them for our undiagnosed ailments like me pots and like you what they slapped you with without considering therapist first. They let me go years without a thought of me ever coming off because I think they know it’s hard to and pharma Mks them sign for liability purposes protecting themselves and the drs prescribing. We are left scrambling for pieces of ourselves shattered by the wds and damage done from these drugs. I’m so pissed it took my life away. My sleep. My job. My home. My family is more affected my kids are affected their mom in bed housebound months and here I am back on this trying to stabilize I’m so mad at all this. Mad at myself for ever taking this. I’m sorry I had to rant. We are lost fighting in unknown territory 

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata it is withdrawal. I'm just not understanding how if I quit an antipsychotic too and possibly have withdrawal from that how the SSRI I was only on 2-3 weeks and could swear I already felt light withdrawal while on the sertraline which is maybe why I had issues... How the SSRI will stabilize me?

 

 

I'm sorry that I've upset you. I want to keep trying this. I am just scared about how I get worse every time I go up. I'm terrified and feel there's no way out  I will do as you say and keep notes. 

Edited March 18, 2022 by Frogie
deleted duplicated sentence

[Frogie]

9 hours ago, Ginger23 said:

@Altostrata  so it’s nonsense I mentioned this? I see research on this but I wondered your thoughts. I’ll tk nonsense. I know losing my life job cars house and myself is nonsense too. I’m sorry I just wonder if there’s more helpful things to get off these nonsense dangerous horrible drugs I’d like to know. I know you are knowledgeable and thought to ask. I’m sorry I mentioned. I’m really sorry @Momoffourwe are going through this hell. I hate these drugs we get freaking stuck on because of idiot drs and our being misled to believe we need them for our undiagnosed ailments like me pots and like you what they slapped you with without considering therapist first. They let me go years without a thought of me ever coming off because I think they know it’s hard to and pharma Mks them sign for liability purposes protecting themselves and the drs prescribing. We are left scrambling for pieces of ourselves shattered by the wds and damage done from these drugs. I’m so pissed it took my life away. My sleep. My job. My home. My family is more affected my kids are affected their mom in bed housebound months and here I am back on this trying to stabilize I’m so mad at all this. Mad at myself for ever taking this. I’m sorry I had to rant. We are lost fighting in unknown territory 

@Ginger23

 

I am so, so, so sorry you are suffering the way you are. This isn't fair to anyone. I am so sorry for your situation. I truly am.

 

But, can you please ask these questions on your page so you aren't taking up space on @Momoffour thread.

 

Thank you.

Edited March 18, 2022 by Frogie

[Momoffour]

@AltostrataI'm sorry that I've upset you. I want to keep trying this. I am just scared about how I get worse every time I go up. I'm terrified and feel there's no way out  I will do as you say and keep notes

[Momoffour]

3mg has definitely made me worse but I will try 4mg soon 

[Altostrata]

Moving up on these small doses makes you feel worse but taking 12.5mg makes sense to you because Dr. Shipko suggested it.

 

Sorry, I'm not about to read and respond to your complaints if you do that, or any dosage increase. It will be endless. I'm tapped out. Perhaps another staff member will help you.

 

If Dr. Shipko doesn't come out of retirement to take you as a patient, you probably could find a doctor to prescribe 12.5mg sertraline and a benzo. Please take your problems to a doctor, not to us.

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata I'm not taking Shipkos advice... I am taking yours... you told me to go to 4mg no? if its just giving me more and more symptoms as i go up and you feel i should stay at 3 or discontinue reinstatement ill do that too. 

[Altostrata]

Please do not tag me again. I've brought your topic to the attention of the other moderators, they can decide if they want to help you.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

15 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Moving up on these small doses makes you feel worse but taking 12.5mg makes sense to you because Dr. Shipko suggested it.

 

Sorry, I'm not about to read and respond to your complaints if you do that, or any dosage increase. It will be endless. I'm tapped out. Perhaps another staff member will help you.

 

If Dr. Shipko doesn't come out of retirement to take you as a patient, you probably could find a doctor to prescribe 12.5mg sertraline and a benzo. Please take your problems to a doctor, not to us.

She never said taking 12.5mg makes sense to her.  

[Frogie]

@Momoffour

 

I'm going to try to help you here.

 

Before I can see what is going on, can you please post 24 hour notes for a couple of days?

 

Keep daily notes of drug schedule and symptoms to track patterns and progress

 

It is definitely not the Abilify causing these issues. It is going off the sertaline too quickly that has caused your issues.

 

At this point, with the notes, I am point on with Alto that you need to updose to 4 mg and hold for 7-10 days. That is how long it takes your body to respond to this updose.

 

Here are some links that you might find helpful also.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

 

 

[Momoffour]

@Frogie okay. I will go to 4mg tomorrow and start notes in the morning.  Thank you. I'm wondering if the last 2 meds desensitized me. I did not have problems on Prozac. Atall

[Altostrata]

1 hour ago, NeDaytoDayMJ said:

She never said taking 12.5mg makes sense to her.  

 

I'm still 100% tapped out. Sorry.

[Frogie]

@Momoffour

 

You weren't on the Sertraline for more than 2-3 weeks and then the dr just stopped you, or did you stop it yourself?

 

Do you remember having any symptoms going on or off of the Prozac? Why did you go off of the Prozac?

 

I still think trying 4 mg Sertraline first and waiting a week to 10 days and see what happens, and you giving me notes will be best at this moment.

 

Here is some information on bridging over to Prozac, although that is a last resort that we ever suggest. And because you have been off of it for a significant amount of time, there is no guarantee that the bridging over will even work.

 

The Prozac switch or "bridging" with fluoxetine

 

[Momoffour]

@Frogie I don't remember any side effects or any negative coming off that was noticeable?. I have always been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder which I now realize may have been from the drugs  My doctor stopped me because I had weird vision and muscle tension after the 2-3 weeks. After stopping that is when the real hell I've never experienced in my life began in the second month off with sensitivity to everything as far as food supplements etc. 

[Frogie]

@Momoffour

 

Let's try the 4 mg just for a week to 10 days, with notes.

 

If that doesn't work we can look at the possibility of Prozac. Do you have a dr that you can trust with all of this?

[Momoffour]

@Frogie kind of. I cannot offord the doctor that knows about withdrawal unfortunately. Mine denied it but will give me whatever I ask for usually. 

[Frogie]

@Momoffour

 

As long as you have a dr on board that will work with you in these circumstances.

[Frogie]

@Momoffour

 

In the meantime, you might want to read Erell's page. She bridged over to Prozac. You will be able to see her struggles.

Edited March 18, 2022 by Frogie

[ChessieCat]

Erell's Prozac bridge posts start here April 2020:

 

erell-struggling-with-paroxetine

 

And this one July 2021:

 

 

[Erell]

Hello @Momoffour, 
As indicated in pm, I will answer here.

 

You asked me if I had ever seen people with a story like yours stabilize: yes, of course, we see it every day.

We all tend to look for the story that will resemble ours in every way, but this is not possible, each situation is unique.
However, all the testimonies and experiences with these molecules have one thing in common: a destabilized nervous system.
Can the nervous system regain stability? Yes, clearly, all the testimonies show it, whatever the story.
I have no doubt about the healing capacities of our bodies.
 

Another thing we learned from the testimonies is that this stabilization can take time: unfortunately, in these situations, we don't have a "quick fix", the body needs time.
I would love to be able to make predictions, but I have to be honest and admit that no one can predict how long it will take, or how your body will react to a change.

 

It sounds like you are currently suffering from withdrawal symptoms after stopping the sertraline. My humble opinion is that a Prozac bridge would be risky: your nervous system being in a state of destabilization, it may be risky to impose yet another change.
Switching between molecules is always risky, and it's possible that what your body needs most right now is stability.

 

I know how scary these symptoms can be, and how confusing being in this situation can be. 
Rest assured that you are not alone, and that recovery is possible.
Feel free to visit our success story section and read the testimonials of those who have gone through this ordeal before us and are now living their lives.

 

In this journey, we need to arm ourselves with tools that allow us to face the symptoms, discover and practice non-drug coping skills.
What is helping you right now? 

 

We also need to treat our nervous system with a lot of patience and compassion: I can only recommend to avoid ingesting substances that will act on the nervous system (alcohol, weed, ...). 

 

I hope this answer will provide you with some answers to your questions.

Take care.

 

[ChessieCat]

23 minutes ago, Erell said:

In this journey, we need to arm ourselves with tools that allow us to face the symptoms, discover and practice non-drug coping skills.

 

Non-drug techniques

[Momoffour]

Thanks for all of the help, the comments etc i am just done with life, done with SA nobody can save me at this point. I've done nothing but screw myself up more with more symptoms unbearably none are going away and any little windows ive had are gone. I cannot keep doing this, i get there is no quick fix but if i cannot stabilize i dont see what the point in life is. i will not keep waking up every day suffering, i just wanted to stabilize and taper properly i thought maybe I could. all this has done is take my life away, take my kids mother away, its ruined everything and i cannot suffer for more than a year like this. I cannot tolerate supplements, coping skills do not help no relief ever.  Im sorry guys ❤️ Take care