SingingFish: Trintellix Cold-Turkey (Unwilling) Withdrawals | Seeking Tips + Advice

[SingingFish]

Hi! New here. This is my second time attempting to go off Trintellix (5 mg, comparatively a baby dose) with very bad withdrawal. I tried tapering around this time last year with medical supervision (2.5 mg), but after a few weeks I felt the emotional destabilization and mental fogginess wasn't worth it. Now I suspect we just did it too fast. Two weeks ago, July 8, I ran out of medication due to a miscommunication with my doctor, and though I have an appointment on the 25th, the office has ghosted me in regard to getting a temporary refill. Bit of a mess. 

 

The last two weeks have been the most emotionally chaotic in recent memory. I began to feel sensitive in a way that was out of character about 3 days into quitting, which consisted of spontaneous crying bouts and exhaustion. From previous experience I clocked it as withdrawal and started recording my symptoms early on. Learned weed and alcohol exacerbated my withdrawal the hard way (I smoked on the 16th, drank on the 18th, in each case the day after was nightmarish. Sober now. Fool me twice, haha). 

 

Withdrawal includes (*for ones that are most consistent daily, though all repeat):

- brain zaps (3-4 times in total, once today)

- mental confusion

- lack of physical coordination

- feeling "high" (experienced this again today) though sober

- headaches

- this one's specific: it feels like someone is very gently pulling the hair on the back of my head, around where my lambdoid suture probably is. Weirdly tingly. Kinda interesting 

- forgetfulness*

- inability to focus*

- loss of appetite*

- insomnia*

- irritability (I am rarely angry or impatient, this past week I get incredibly annoyed at minor inconveniences)* 

- mania-like episodes that cycle within hours (excitement, terror, depression)

- lack of motivation*

- feelings of dread and terror*

- exhaustion*

- dizziness* 

- vertigo 

- tinnitus 

- trembling*  

- feelings of self-consciousness and insecurity, primarily from acting flighty and odd and re-living those awkward social encounters* 

- a constant sense of anxiety and vulnerability* 

 

Some days are very bad, some are manageable. Mostly I just feel raw. I live alone. I take no supplements. I am ADHD. Does anyone have any advice/experience with going off Trintellix? If so, what did your withdrawal and timeline look like? It doesn't seem to be a medication known for bad withdrawals, though maybe I am not looking in the right places. I have a few good friends I have leaned on during this time and have been rather obsessively playing the guitar, which works pretty well for the anxiety. If anyone has any good vitamin or supplement recommendations, especially, I'm all ears. 

 

I am probably going to go back on Trintellix after the 25th, or whenever I get a refill. Despite the foul withdrawal I am kind of conflicted, because I really do not want to be on the med. When the withdrawal symptoms back off I feel more "like" myself and my positive emotions have more clarity, including, unfortunately, the unpleasant ones. Maybe that's wishful thinking though. I'll confer with my physician on what's the right move, possibly going back on and tapering etc. I've been consistently on SSRIs for 5 years, but do not recall significant withdrawals with other meds, likely due to swapping to a different one immediately. I am 21 now and suspect being on SSRIs during those developmental years might be part of why I'm having such an adverse reaction. Thanks for reading. I found this forum last week and reading different posts made me normal at a time I assumed I had gone a bit batty. 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @SingingFish

 

If I were you, I'd make an emergency call to your prescriber and get a refill right away. Suggest you take half-dose to start, this should stop the withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Give that half-dose a week to build up. Please let us know how you're doing. 

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[Emonda]

Hi @SingingFish,

Did you obtain more Trintellix on the 25th? If so, what dose did you reinstate? Have things stabilised?

 

On 7/23/2023 at 1:52 PM, SingingFish said:

Trintellix (5 mg, comparatively a baby dose)

 

I'm sitting at 3.09mg of the same AD and notice a 2% reduction each week. 5mg is a significant dose to CT from.

 

On 7/23/2023 at 1:52 PM, SingingFish said:

I am 21 now

 

I started on ADs at your age, almost 30 years ago. You are fortunate to have found this site now. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience in this community to learn from.

 

On 7/23/2023 at 1:52 PM, SingingFish said:

Does anyone have any advice/experience with going off Trintellix?

 

I've lost count of how many times of tried to withdraw. Since following the Brass Monkey method (2.5% reduction per week x 4 weeks + 2 week hold), I've tapered by ~80% over 18 months. Go nice and slow, try some counselling, and you can do it.

 

Take care.