Happyhippy: Drug free at 60, cold turkey

[Happyhippy]

As a 60 yo woman I took a hard look at my past life of various antidepressants since 1981 inevitably winding up with a 40 year RX drug habit, over weight and in pain. I'm active and eat health following an anti inflammatory diet w/ very little dairy or gluten and was just stuck physically.  June 6th 2023 I made the decision to do a hard reset and stop  My high dose Paxil and Deseryl and Xanax, not taper.   As you'd expect the following week was of your typical physical drug withdrawal response, insomnia, loss of appetite, diaphorsis etc.    What I didn't expect was that in the second week I started to feel an undeniable amount of strength returning,  muscle coordination improvement and lack of pain. A high akin to a mushroom trip with heightened senses of pleasure,  euphoria and an overwhelming sense of calm. I feel awake for the first time in decades. No unwanted thoughts or emotions, I have 40 years of coping skills and cognitive behavioral therapy in my arsenal. My gut health was the first to return to normal - there was No more bloating , constipation or abdominal pain. The chronic pain I'd been suffering with limiting my ADLs was GONE! And remains that way. I now have the flexibility of my teenage self and am back to practicing yoga on the floor with relatives ease. It's almost as if every cell in my being is undergoing a rebirth and is new again. The only side effect I have found unpleasant is scattered facial numbness which I'm hoping will ease its way back to normal as well. The 'electrical shocks' were an interesting side effect , it feels as though the nerves in my body are awaking again for the first time and I feel great. It's only been 20 days and I feel newborn and loving it...  Finding this site  has been a relief. There is No Support available for Antidepressant Withdrawl. It is not even discussed in the Healthcare industry.  To entertain this thought process is considered non complainant , a 'behavioral' abnormality. I am in control of my mind, my body and my senses for the first time in my life ❤️

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Happyhippy

 

The high you felt was withdrawal hypomania. Since you went off 3 drugs cold turkey, this may last a few weeks. If you find you go into a different severe phase of symptoms, you have severe withdrawal syndrome. I hope for your sake that this does not happen and you recover quickly.

[Happyhippy]

I never thought it would be like this, should I expect a crash ? Most of the acute physical  Withdrawl is over except for some facial numbness and muscle tremors that come and go.  Is that normal?

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Going off 3 psychiatric drugs all at once is very risky, especially when one has been on them a long time.  So, a crash is quite possible. It can take several months for withdrawal to start to manifest itself.  And withdrawal can take years to recover from, and can be debilitating and cause significant suffering. I urge you to please read the information I'm about to present, and you will understand all this a lot better, and be able to make informed choices.  

 

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

 

March 12, ’22: Lexapro 5 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

March 29, ’22: Lexapro 4 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

April 17, ’22:  Lexapro 3.8 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

May 19, ’22:  Lexapro 3.8 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 25 mg

 

 

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

 

How to List Your Drug History in Your Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

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

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

When we see your drug history, with specific drugs and dosages and length of time on the drugs, we can better assist you and give you specific suggestions.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.  

[Altostrata]

21 hours ago, Happyhippy said:

I never thought it would be like this, should I expect a crash ? Most of the acute physical  Withdrawl is over except for some facial numbness and muscle tremors that come and go.  Is that normal?

 

It's possible that you'll be lucky and get away with a month or so of withdrawal symptoms. It's also possible these will become more severe.

 

Before further discussion, Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[Happyhippy]

Day 22 with no drugs. My 'high' is over and most of the facial numbness is gone, vision is much improved and muscle tremors have calmed down. Finding myself snippy at people. Reminding myself to eat, Diet consists of chicken and eggs, whole fruits and vegetables and milk, 1 ensure pro max daily and a multi vitamin. 

[Altostrata]

That's good. How's your sleep?

[Happyhippy]

I knew that I would be giving up sleep in order to be off these drugs. I high school I seldom slept more that two hours a night, the drugs allowed me to sleep. No drugs=no sleep

[Altostrata]

Insomnia is a common withdrawal symptom.

 

What is your sleep schedule?

[Happyhippy]

Oh, you misunderstood me . I have suffered from severe insomnia since Age 12. I Will never sleep naturally. I have gone back to my baseline. This is my normal-insomnia , not to be confused with a 'side effect' .

[Altostrata]

You may wish to work on rehabilitating your sleep:

 

 

What is the sleep cycle?

 

Tips to help sleep -- so many of us have that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

Path to Better Sleep FREE online for everyone from the US Veterans Administration

 

Music for self-care: Calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

White noise devices for sleep

 

Melatonin for sleep: Many people find it helpful

 

TV or computer use in evening can disrupt sleep: Bright light signals the brain that it's daytime

 

If by any chance you sleep during the day or go to bed in the morning, you have delayed sleep phase syndrome and can retrain your sleep pattern.