JulesBinkstar: Introduction

[JulesBinkstar]

How to I introduce myself?

[ChessieCat]

Hello and welcome to SA,

 

Thank you for creating your drug signature.

 

Q1:  What is the reason you want to get off the drug? 

 

Q2:  Have you tried to get off this drug or any other psychiatric before?  If yes, please provide more information.

 

Q3:  Is sertraline the only psychiatric drug you have ever taken? If no, please provide more information.

 

Q4:  Has you dose been increased at any time?  If yes, why?

 

Q5:  Do you feel that the sertraline is no longer working like it used to?

 

Please answer the above questions and provide any information that you think will be relevant.

 

This explains what an Introduction topic is:

 

Your Introduction topic is a way for you to introduce yourself to the group. It will be like a journal, so we can all follow and respond to your progress. Members may respond to your topic and give you support and encouragement.

 

Your Introductions topic keeps your history all in one place so you don't have to repeat it in your posts. You can post questions about your particular situation in your Introductions topic and report your progress there.

 

Each person's Introduction topic is important to the site:

- The staff can keep track of how you are doing by reading your intro topic.
- These are informal case histories and progress reports. They will be invaluable for visitors to the site who may be suffering the same symptom pattern that you are, and for medical researchers.
- You will not have to keep explaining your history.
- By keeping reports of individual developments in the intro topics, proliferation of topics will be reduced.

 

You can read about others' experiences in their Introductions topic. The Introductions topics also are a collection of case histories to educate the medical profession about tapering and withdrawal.

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by ChessieCat

[JulesBinkstar]

14 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Hello and welcome to SA,

 

Thank you for creating your drug signature.

 

Q1:  What is the reason you want to get off the drug? 

 

Q2:  Have you tried to get off this drug or any other psychiatric before?  If yes, please provide more information.

 

Q3:  Is sertraline the only psychiatric drug you have ever taken? If no, please provide more information.

 

Q4:  Has you dose been increased at any time?  If yes, why?

 

Q5:  Do you feel that the sertraline is no longer working like it used to?

 

Please answer the above questions and provide any information that you think will be relevant.

 

This explains what an Introduction topic is:

 

Your Introduction topic is a way for you to introduce yourself to the group. It will be like a journal, so we can all follow and respond to your progress. Members may respond to your topic and give you support and encouragement.

 

Your Introductions topic keeps your history all in one place so you don't have to repeat it in your posts. You can post questions about your particular situation in your Introductions topic and report your progress there.

 

Each person's Introduction topic is important to the site:

- The staff can keep track of how you are doing by reading your intro topic.
- These are informal case histories and progress reports. They will be invaluable for visitors to the site who may be suffering the same symptom pattern that you are, and for medical researchers.
- You will not have to keep explaining your history.
- By keeping reports of individual developments in the intro topics, proliferation of topics will be reduced.

 

You can read about others' experiences in their Introductions topic. The Introductions topics also are a collection of case histories to educate the medical profession about tapering and withdrawal.

 

Q1. I want to get off Sertraline because it is ruining my life, it has also caused many deficiencies and now stomach/gut issues.

 

Q2. I started on 50mg then it got increased to 200mg over the 20 years I have been in it.

I have tapered down to 100mg over 2 year's which was complete hell for me as I had no support and was told to cut pieces off which I now know was the incorrect way of doing it and very dangerous.

 

Q3. Before I was prescribed Sertraline the doctor's at the hospital tried me in many other antidepressants, I think there were 8 different one's in the space of 6 month's, it was horrific for me, I had so many side effects and lost a lot of weight.

 

Q4. My initial dose was 50mg but the doctors kept increasing it.

Looking back now I don't 5hink I should have been put on it.

I put my trust in the doctor's at the time, wish I hadn't.

 

Q5. The Sertraline is making my life hell. I have every single side effect plus more.

I have many deficiencies now including Vit B12, Vit D, Folate, Ferritin, these are what I know of but there are many more which the doctors have not tested for.

I also have a lot of intolerances caused by the Sertraline too.

My Stomach and digestive system is completely messed up causing me a lot of problems.

I desperately want to get off these mind debilitating drugs, heal my stomach/gut, start to supplement my deficiencies and get my life back.

 

[ChessieCat]

Thank you for answering my questions.

 

Q6:  Did you have times when you were taking sertraline when you felt okay?  If yes, can you give us some idea of how long you felt okay on a particular dose; eg you felt reasonable for "x" years?

 

Q7:  If you did feel okay for a number of years at a time, why was the dose increased?

 

Q8:  Apart from the deficiencies, what symptoms are you having now?

 

Q9:  How is your sleep?

 

 

Edited October 19, 2022 by ChessieCat
renumbered questions

[ChessieCat]

3 hours ago, JulesBinkstar said:

Before I was prescribed Sertraline the doctor's at the hospital tried me in many other antidepressants, I think there were 8 different one's in the space of 6 month's, it was horrific for me, I had so many side effects and lost a lot of weight.

 

Q10:  Can you remember what drugs were tried; if not are you able to get the information from your doctor?

 

Post #1 of this topic has a list of many of the psychiatric drugs which might prompt your memory:  Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

[JulesBinkstar]

17 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Q10:  Can you remember what drugs were tried; if not are you able to get the information from your doctor?

 

Post #1 of this topic has a list of many of the psychiatric drugs which might prompt your memory:  Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

Gosh this is 20 years ago and i have since changed Doctor's Surgery twice, both are not helpful at all.

I do remember Citalopram, Escitalopram being the first 2 types, then when in hospital I can't remember the exact order but I was put on Paroxetine, Venlafaxine, Mirtazapine, there was an old type antidepressant they tried me on begin with letter D but can't remember the name, Fluoxetine and then Sertraline.

They also had me on Chlorpromazine for a few months (horrible drug I couldn't think in that).

Chlordiazepoxide for a while too.

Sleeping tablets but they didn't work on me, Zopiclone and Zolpidem.

Propranolol as I developed really bad anxiety from the Antidepressants.

Then had problems with my stomach and bowels so they put me on PPI'S Lansoprazole and Mebeverine, then Senna and Laxido.

Pain medications were Pregabalin, MST and Oramorph.

It's been one medication after another, all of which I think we're for side effects from the Sertraline.

I didn't know this before as my brain and body have literally been taken over by all of these drugs.

This is why I want to be free of Sertraline as it has ruined me, I have lost 20 years of my life and I want to be able to live again as I feel like I am just surviving at the moment and this is not right.

 

[ChessieCat]

Thank you for the extra details about which drugs you have been on.  It is very helpful.

 

Please answer the following questions:

 

5 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Thank you for answering my questions.

 

Q6:  Did you have times when you were taking sertraline when you felt okay?  If yes, can you give us some idea of how long you felt okay on a particular dose; eg you felt reasonable for "x" years?

 

Q7:  If you did feel okay for a number of years at a time, why was the dose increased?

 

Q8:  Apart from the deficiencies, what symptoms are you having now?

 

Q9:  How is your sleep?

 

 

 

[ChessieCat]

5 hours ago, JulesBinkstar said:

there was an old type antidepressant they tried me on begin with letter D but can't remember the name

 

Perhaps this one?  However it doesn't matter if you don't remember.

  

On 3/2/2013 at 6:47 AM, Altostrata said:

Doxepin is an older tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) sometimes prescribed for sleep issues.

 

[Altostrata]

Hello, @JulesBinkstar

 

You've been taking sertraline consistently over the last 20 years?

 

18 hours ago, JulesBinkstar said:

I have many deficiencies now including Vit B12, Vit D, Folate, Ferritin, these are what I know of but there are many more which the doctors have not tested for.

 

Are you being treated for this? Are you taking any other drugs now? If yes, please put ALL your drugs in the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php and copy and paste the results or a link to them in this topic.

 

What times o'clock do you take your drugs or supplements, with their dosages?

 

Which symptoms do you attribute to sertraline? Are your symptoms better or worse at any particular times of day?

[JulesBinkstar]

21 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Thank you for answering my questions.

 

Q6:  Did you have times when you were taking sertraline when you felt okay?  If yes, can you give us some idea of how long you felt okay on a particular dose; eg you felt reasonable for "x" years?

 

Q7:  If you did feel okay for a number of years at a time, why was the dose increased?

 

Q8:  Apart from the deficiencies, what symptoms are you having now?

 

Q9:  How is your sleep?

 

 

Q6. That's a difficult question as I've not ever felt right on these Meds due to the side effects or should I say what they have done to me ie depleting vitamins and minerals etc.

I've kind of been numb to a lot of this because if the pain meds they also put me in IE Morphine which I'm off now and noticing more of what is happening to me, if that makes any sense.

 

Q7. My dose was increased in the first few years I think? It's all quite a blur at the beginning, I'm only just getting my brain back since coming off Oramorph and lowering the Lustral (Sertraline).

 

Q8. Symptoms, gosh there are lots at the moment but I don't think my GP putting me on 5mg Folic Acid helped me at all.

Palpitations, pins & needles, numbness, burning sensations, cold hands/feet, tremors, blurred vision, swallowing difficulties, tinnitus, RLS, shaking, itching, dry skin, hair loss, chronic fatigue, restlessness, eye floaters, brittle nails, excessive bleeding then no bleeding? Excessive thirst then no thirst?

Appetite increased then decreased?

Nausea, Diahrea, I've had disassociation, not been able to find words or even think?

Not being able to more than one thing at a time because of being really confused.

I have had times where I have been sobbing my heart out when on higher doses and also suicidal thoughts also on higher doses, this wasn't normal at all.

I must say that I want to be able to live a normal life and I don't feel as if I am on these mind debilitating drugs.

 

Q9. My sleep is horrific and always has been on these drug's, the doctors told me this was a normal side effect and did try me on sleeping 5ablets but they didn't help me sleep at all just made me worse but I have since found out that they aggravate SSRI's and cause more issue's.

I basically have insomnia from these drug's which doesn't help matters at all.

When I was put on morphine that used to knock me out but at random times so I for many years had to get my sleep when I could.

Now I can go to bed at say 10pm, still be awake at 12am, may drop off for 20mins, wake up, drop off again for 10mins, wake up again and this can go on till 5am, I may get 3hrs if I'm lucky but it's all broken sleep.

I do remember when I was first out on morphine that I would go into coma states for up to 20hrs plus, this was after not sleeping for 3 days though.

[JulesBinkstar]

15 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Perhaps this one?  However it doesn't matter if you don't remember.

  

 

Sorry but I can't remember.

[JulesBinkstar]

6 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Hello, @JulesBinkstar

 

You've been taking sertraline consistently over the last 20 years?

 

 

Are you being treated for this? Are you taking any other drugs now? If yes, please put ALL your drugs in the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php and copy and paste the results or a link to them in this topic.

 

What times o'clock do you take your drugs or supplements, with their dosages?

 

Which symptoms do you attribute to sertraline? Are your symptoms better or worse at any particular times of day?

The only one my old GP bothered with was my low Folate which was 2.5, they put me on 5mg if Folic Acid for 3 month's, I was glad to finish them as it was horrific for me, had terrible palpitations and Diahrea but they did give me energy as I was severely fatigued, could barely function.

My other deficiencies I was trying to supplement myself but I had a bad reaction.

Don't know if it was the D3, K2mk7 or the Magnesium Bisglycinate?

Had horrific palpitations worst I've ever experienced, difficulty in breathing, swallowing, dry mouth/throat, tinnitus, blurred vision, headache.

I don't know if it was the D3, K2mk7, magnesium, combination of all 3, or the Folic Acid.

I have since found out that all these vitamins increase serotonin levels so there could be some kind of adverse reaction, if high doses taken maybe serotonin syndrome? I don't know.

The amounts I 2as taking were;

 

First week

 

Vit D3 5,000iu 

K2mk7 100mg with 14g of healthy fats at 9am

Lustral (Sertraline) 100mg 11am

Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg 1hr before bed

 

Second week

 

Vit D3 10,000

K2mk7 100mg

Lustral (Sertraline) 100mg

Magnesium Bisglycinate 400mg

Same times as above.

 

Symptoms vary throughout the day, it depends if I am moving around or not, if I do I get more palpitations.

My RLS used to be worse throughout the day, then changed to when I woke up early hours, now I've got it back in the day again since doing the Vit D protocol, maybe it's zapped all my magnesium?

Maybe it's the Folic Acid that has lowered my B12 and Ferritin I just don't know?

My pins and needles are worse now, got them in my hands, arms, legs and feet, also getting more numbness, freezing cold, my thighs burn and ache, blurred vision getting worse again, cramps coming back again in lower legs/feet, still getting loose stools, appetite is decreasing, so is my fluid intake, I was drinking about 3 litres a day before folic acid and Vit D, now I'm struggling to get 1 litre in me.

 

[Altostrata]

It sounds like you have health problems while you are also taking sertraline, which you have been taking for many years.

 

On 10/19/2022 at 4:36 AM, JulesBinkstar said:

I have tapered down to 100mg over 2 year's which was complete hell for me as I had no support and was told to cut pieces off which I now know was the incorrect way of doing it and very dangerous.

 

Do you still have symptoms that started while you were tapering sertraline? These might be withdrawal symptoms.

 

10 hours ago, JulesBinkstar said:

I'm only just getting my brain back since coming off Oramorph and lowering the Lustral (Sertraline).

 

You've just come off a narcotic? How long were you taking it? Were you tapering this narcotic and sertraline at the same time?

 

On 10/19/2022 at 4:36 AM, JulesBinkstar said:

I have many deficiencies now including Vit B12, Vit D, Folate, Ferritin, these are what I know of but there are many more which the doctors have not tested for.

 

How were these deficiencies identified? Did you medical doctor tell you that you had these deficiencies? Why are you not getting medical treatment for them?

[JulesBinkstar]

21 hours ago, Altostrata said:

It sounds like you have health problems while you are also taking sertraline, which you have been taking for many years.

 

 

Do you still have symptoms that started while you were tapering sertraline? These might be withdrawal symptoms.

 

 

You've just come off a narcotic? How long were you taking it? Were you tapering this narcotic and sertraline at the same time?

 

 

How were these deficiencies identified? Did you medical doctor tell you that you had these deficiencies? Why are you not getting medical treatment for them?

I didn't know I had deficiencies untill recently but they have been masked by the morphine I was taking, my GP hasn't been helpful at all.

 

I tapered 2020 and 2021 but had to stop summer last year as fell ill with Costachondritis (mod note: from mayo clinic:  inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone), haven't tapered since.

 

My GP wanted me off Oramorph so started to reduce my dose last year and I came off it end of May this year.

 

I had an endoscopy in June this year and the hospital advised me to get my GP to do blood tests as they could see I wasn't well, the bloods showed low levels in Folate, B12, ferritin and Vit D, but my old GP only supplemented my Folate with 5mg of folic acid, she 8gnored everything else.

I have moved doctors surgery and they are just as bad.

My levels are definitely low.

 

Folate was 2.5 now 20

B12 was 426 now 400

Ferritin was 49 now 42

Vit D was 61 

UK readings 

 

Other FB Group's has said I am very low and need to supplement.

I've even had to pay for my own private blood tests as my GP wouldn't do them at the beginning.

They won't even check my Thyroid or do a full iron panel, I can't afford these.

 

Edited October 21, 2022 by ChessieCat
added mod note

[Altostrata]

 If I were you, I'd supplement, starting with a very low dose, perhaps 1/4 of a tablet every day for each vitamin, and gradually building up. We don't provide general medicine advice here, sorry.

[ChessieCat]

SA suggests only trying one thing at a time and not to make any drug changes when trying something new.  As Alto said, start with a very small dose.

 

If there is more than one variable then if something changes, gets worse or improves, you will not know what was the cause.

 

the-rule-of-3kis-keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable