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Dream while awake? Sleep paralysis, hypnogogic hallucinations, sleep-state misperception


Phil

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Here is an website which has information about sleep paralysis:

 

https://www.sleepadvisor.org/sleep-paralysis/

 

_______________________________________________

 

Does anyone else suffer this during withdrawal?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_state_misperception

 

I came across a discussion about it on the other site and realized that I also have it, at times.

Sometimes I fall asleep in the daytime for a nap, but it doesn't feel like I have slept, and I am still aware of my surroundings. Very weird.

 

There is also mention of it on this forum, from people who came off benzos or other meds:

 

http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic32119.html#quick_reply_input

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added link at top of post

Off Lexapro since 3rd November 2011.

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I may have this. I will look for information and stories about it, so as to confirm, but it could explain a lot for me. I'll keep you inform.

First AD -sertraline- in 2007at the age of 13 because of child abuse

2009-2013: intricate story of multiple wds, meds and cts, gradually became a living mess

Feb 2013: last CT from a cocktail of four drugs, symptoms are relenting but witness a constant sharpening of the brain

 

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I am still experiencing this. According to a sleep specialist I've talked to, it's not sleep-state misperception, it's probably very light sleep.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I remember a few years back an ex of mine said I was a very light sleeper, and this was a while after I had originally came off of SSRIs. Never really considered it at the time though.

Off Lexapro since 3rd November 2011.

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I definitely have this. I know I have slept, but I still have the feeling that my brain remained active all night and am convinced that I haven't slept a wink. An odd feeling of absence disconnection...

First AD -sertraline- in 2007at the age of 13 because of child abuse

2009-2013: intricate story of multiple wds, meds and cts, gradually became a living mess

Feb 2013: last CT from a cocktail of four drugs, symptoms are relenting but witness a constant sharpening of the brain

 

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I have this sometimes, I think. My daughter used to have this in high school too I remember--she would come out of the bedroom very upset because she couldn't sleep and would say she hadn't slept a wink for hours, even though I had just heard her snoring.

 

My sleep is weird from the meds though. I vaguely remember what it used to feel like to actually get deep, restorative sleep. It happens about once a year now.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Interesting.

 

I have been told before that I was "out cold," yet I remember the person coming into the room to check on me, then leaving, and hearing discussions in the next room. It gets to the point where I open my eyes just to show that I'm not actually sleeping, because it gets frustrating to be told I was asleep when I wasn't.

 

At the same time, I have had times when I was sure I was lying awake thinking, yet somehow something happened without my knowledge (a fan was turned off/on or something) so I must have drifted off in there somewhere.

 

I'm still exhausted, though. Sigh.

History is approximate; I didn't track my dosages.

 

1995 - started zoloft/sertraline for depression

1995-2008 - sertraline ranged from 100-200mg, may have gone as high as 250mg

2006 - 2009 - added welbutrin/budeprion SR, 150 mg

sometime in 2009-2010 - stopped budeprion c/t

sometime around 2009-2010, Tapered down sertraline w/o guidance to 50 mg, then 25mg.

~ feb 2010, stopped sertraline.

~ Apr 2010, resumed 25mg low dose (really bad business trip)

Oct 2010, stopped sertraline

Jan 2011 - another bad business trip "breaks" my sleep.

 

current issues include insomnia, anxiety, GI distress, depression.

Taking multivitamins, Vitamin D, fish oil, Chinese herbs, ~ 0.5mg melatonin in the evening.

Going to therapy and acupuncture once a week.

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This happened to me this morning, and I noticed it because of having read this thread! I looked at the clock and it was 7 and I rolled over and daydreamed and thought for a few minutes and then my wrist alarm went off and it was 8, and I didn't actually experience myself as having been asleep, but I must have because I really didn't feel like anything like an hour had gone by either. I made a mental note of it, because I had just read this thread about it yesterday.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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  • 8 months later...

Had hallucinations last night - very similar to febrile hallucinations I had as kid - I was stuck on ceiling looking down, things looked far away that are in the room. Ive never had this since I was a kid and didnt have a fever. Still scary. I'm very dizzy and disoriented this morning ( more than usual).

 

No people or hearing voices involved. Husband is at sister's about hour away. I texted him and told him, but no response.

 

Any thoughts?

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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Silent migraine???

Everything was ok. And then it wasn't.

 

Med History

11/2009- 50 mg Zoloft (1st ad ever) in combo w/.50 xanax for 2 weeks then use xanax as needed (1st benzo ever)

9 days on Zoloft, I was awake for 9 days straight C/T Zoloft

11/2009- trazadone to sleep for 2 weeks c/t Trazadone

12/2009 start 10 mg Lexapro w/ Xanax as needed

5/2010-3 week taper off lexapro

9/2010? back to Lexapro 10 mg after 5 or 6 weeks c/t leapro

12/2010-10mg paxil

5/2011-6 week paxil taper

8/2011 5mg lexapro

last lexapro pill January 7 2012

all this as per doc orders Thanks Doc!

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Or Alice in wonderland syndrome - part of EBV...

Everything was ok. And then it wasn't.

 

Med History

11/2009- 50 mg Zoloft (1st ad ever) in combo w/.50 xanax for 2 weeks then use xanax as needed (1st benzo ever)

9 days on Zoloft, I was awake for 9 days straight C/T Zoloft

11/2009- trazadone to sleep for 2 weeks c/t Trazadone

12/2009 start 10 mg Lexapro w/ Xanax as needed

5/2010-3 week taper off lexapro

9/2010? back to Lexapro 10 mg after 5 or 6 weeks c/t leapro

12/2010-10mg paxil

5/2011-6 week paxil taper

8/2011 5mg lexapro

last lexapro pill January 7 2012

all this as per doc orders Thanks Doc!

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I am taking a stab at the possibility that this was derealization? :) Hugs, Annej

My Intro
2000-Effexor and Klonopin
April 2011- C/T Adderall, lithium, Seroquel, Lunesta; Pristiq and Klonopin cut by 1/2 due to med-induced "rapid cycling"
May 2011- Pristiq/Lexapro bridge/taper
June, 2011- K cut to 0.5 mg (doctor)
July 18, 2011 - Lexapro done
October 2011- K taper started
Jan, 2012- Off K, Remeron started -bad idea
March 2012- Horrific Tardive Akathisa/TD (Dx: TA versus withdrawal akathisia secondary to K w/d)
May 2012- Reinstatement of K
Current Psych Meds: Klonopin 2 mg + Propanolol 15 mg and titrating up
As of June 2013: TA gone or suppressed - struggling with tolerance to benzos - beta blocker helping

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Barb....my first thought was, it wasn't really a hallucination, but a very vivid dream that left you feeling uncomfortable. These types of dreams leave us tired and disoriented the next day.

 

I used to have a recurring dream for 40 some odd years. I finally told a therapist and she explained it to me and I never had it again. Can you elaborate on it. If you were on the ceiling you were at a safe distance, protecting youself from something you probably did not want to be in. You were being cautious and observing and could not be touched on ceiling.

 

You were actually taking care of yourself in this dream which is a good thing.

 

This helped me, hope it helps you. Can you draw a pic of it?

 

Hugs

Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/

 

Paxil 1997-2004

Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available

at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries

Lexapro 40mgs

Lexapro taper (2years)

Imipramine

Imipramine and Celexa

Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each

45mgs. Serzone  50mgs. Imipramine

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Or Alice in wonderland syndrome - part of EBV...

 

Ajnjj,

Thank you for this info! I was aware that migraine and many other neurologic conditions could produce hallucinations, but never heard of this. One article states that 50% of kids are positive for EBV by age 5. I wouldn't be surprised if that was what caused my hallucinations as a kid. I got them regularly with fevers and they weren't of too great concern, apparently. Scared the heck outa me, I remember clearly. I would beg my parents to get me down from the ceiling. Their heads looked BIG and bodies small, like caricatures. And things were far away. Everything distorted. I was fully awake. I wasn't dancing. :o. (Reference to 80s song)

 

The other nite, it was brief, but I recognized it immediately. It is very different than derealization or dream.

 

Also finding info about visual hallucinations with visual impairment. My vision has been poor most of my life and especially troubling during withdrawal and the last few days. Post vitreous detachment. May be coincidence.

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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Barb,

 

You are welcome. I recognized what you said and I thought of the EBV and the Alice in wonderland syndrome. I wonder if your having a flare? Are your glands swollen? How is your throat? Also, my 3 year old and 5 year old tested positive for EBV. How about that?!

 

Hope you are feeling better.

Everything was ok. And then it wasn't.

 

Med History

11/2009- 50 mg Zoloft (1st ad ever) in combo w/.50 xanax for 2 weeks then use xanax as needed (1st benzo ever)

9 days on Zoloft, I was awake for 9 days straight C/T Zoloft

11/2009- trazadone to sleep for 2 weeks c/t Trazadone

12/2009 start 10 mg Lexapro w/ Xanax as needed

5/2010-3 week taper off lexapro

9/2010? back to Lexapro 10 mg after 5 or 6 weeks c/t leapro

12/2010-10mg paxil

5/2011-6 week paxil taper

8/2011 5mg lexapro

last lexapro pill January 7 2012

all this as per doc orders Thanks Doc!

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Ajnjj,

 

Sorry. Just noticed this.

Ive never been tested for EBV. Interesting, considering the primary symptom that earned me the Zoloft prescription in 1993 was fatigue.

 

Just mentioned this episode to a small group of friends online, careful to say "neurologic event". The social worker of the group asked me if there was "a reputable psych hospital for a thorough workup" near me. Aside from the contradictions in that one statement, it is frightening how quickly people are trained to think "abnormal/psychiatry" for medical issues.

 

B

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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  • 2 months later...

I just ordered a book called "Sleep Paralysis; A Dreamers Guide". It's about how to turn the crazy and terrifying sleep disorders such as Sleep Paralysis, Hypnogogic Hallucinations, Head Noise, Vibrations, etc. into a positive journey of Lucid Dreaming or Out of Body Experiences (OBE) It looks like a very good and practical book. I've had sleep disorders like this all of my life, and it's been magnified terribly since the w/d.

 

I'm going to stop fighting things and try to turn them positive. I feel like these things are "Dwellers on the threshold", that I need to stop fighting. Even before I had w/d syndrome, I had many experiences with symptoms upon falling asleep that remind me of the w/d symptoms (minus the zaps). The "whooshing" and "Buzzing" sound is known to happen before an OBE, or "Atral Traveling". I may be stepping out of the Symptom topics into the Finding Meaning area. But this discussion can be anything dream related, scientific or spiritual. Any thoughts?

 

 

Here is a website that gives good advice on how to turn these experiences into something positive. How To Stop Sleep Paralysis and Turn it Into a Lucid Dream.

 

I feel that if I can get a handle and an "allowed" control over these things, then it will help me get out of the emotional and anxiety dreams as well. I still have to take Stramonium every night before bed to keep me from the anxiety dreams. Truly, I feel that I have PTSD from a few of the anxiety dreams I had at the very beginning of my w/d experience. Even when the dreams at face value weren't scary or nightmarish, they had a very strong emotion, dread and doom feeling to them that still scares me when I think about it. I've never had dreams traumatize me so much.

Taper from Cymbalta, Paxil, Prozac & Antipsychotics finished June 2012.

Xanax 5% Taper - (8/12 - .5 mg) - (9/12 - .45) - (10/12 - .43) - (11/12 - .41) - (12/12 - .38)

My Paxil Website

My Intro

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Very creative approach, Shanti. Thank you.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I had a lucid dream, I think for the first time ever, a few months ago. I started thinking I should try to cultivate lucid dreaming as a way to potentially stay asleep and maybe even sleep deeper. Let us know if you have any success!

'94-'08 On/off ADs. Mostly Zoloft & Wellbutrin, but also Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, etc.
6/08 quit Z & W after tapering, awful anxiety 3 mos. later, reinstated.
11/10 CTed. Severe anxiety 3 mos. later & @ 8 mos. much worse (set off by metronidazole). Anxiety, depression, anhedonia, DP, DR, dizziness, severe insomnia, high serum AM cortisol, flu-like feelings, muscle discomfort.
9/11-9/12 Waves and windows of recovery.
10/12 Awful relapse, DP/DR. Hydrocortisone?
11/12 Improved fairly quickly even though relapse was one of worst waves ever.

1/13 Best I've ever felt.

3/13 A bit of a relapse... then faster and shorter waves and windows.

4/14 Have to watch out for triggers, but feel completely normal about 80% of the time.

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  • 1 month later...

Over the years, I noticed that if I missed a dose of Effexor, I'll wake up the next morning with a really odd sensation.

Aside from the strange dreams, brain zaps, etc., I wake up with crazy closed eye visuals.

The only way I can describe it is my brain is sending me information faster than I can process it...like my brain is sending my eyes flashcards of random pictures a light speed. Often there will be strange sounds and other weird sensations as well.

Since I tapered down 10% of my regular dose a few weeks ago I wake up almost every day with this. It's worse if I don't get enough sleep. It goes away after a while, but I definitely feel "out of it" most of the day regardless. There are also minor visual disturbances throughout the day, but this one in particular scares the hell outta me.

I'm just hoping it's part of the WD and not a permanent fixture of my existence now.

2001 september - Effexor XR 75 mg, Seroquel 250 mg
2001 november - Effexor XR 150 mg
2003 - Replaced Seroquel with 20 mg Nozinan
2005 - Discontinued anti-psycotic medications for good
2009 january - Started having panic attacks
2009 - split 150 mg Effexor XR into 75 mg twice daily
2010 - Occasionally Clonazapam and Adivan for panic attacks
2012 - Realization that Effexor no longer works, and may even be having adverse reactions to it.
2012 October 18 - Begin slow taper (1 bead removed from each morning and evening 75mg capsule), February 18, 2013 - 140 beads per pill (X2 per day) (About 65%), 2013 November 16 - 70 beads per pill (X2 per day) (32.5%), 2014 September - 27 beads per pill (X2 per day) (12.5%) November 2 2015 - 1 bead per day (0.23% of original dose) and SLOWLY spacing doses out 25 hours, then 26, 28, currently 29hrs
November 2014 at 200mg Welbutrin

February 21st, 2016 - Last dose of Effexor forever

Monday, March 7, 2016 - Started decreasing Wellbutrin, currently at >25mg once a day

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Hallucinations were the reason I stopped taking effexor.

 

Like, lucid, confused for reality hallucinations.

 

I currently still have sub-hallucinations and constant rainbow static in my field of vision.

 

I have the same sensations you describe when falling asleep.

August 2012 - Cold turkey'd effexor xr 75mg

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flong, how about putting back a few beads of Effexor XR? It sounds like maybe the 10% decrease was a little too much for you.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Yes, it's the only good thing about Effexor XR.

 

If I were you, I'd make smaller decrease. Morning hallucinations sound like a red flag.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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No problems this morning. Just fatiuge.

So im probably over analyzing this, but my first reaction is that is hallucination are caused by something I'm eating...chances are the lack of the drug is playing tricks on me though. I cant believe how horrible it is to come off this stuff. Its 130 in the afternoon and i havent been able to get out of bed. This is not like me. Hope i can recover from this first reduction soon.

2001 september - Effexor XR 75 mg, Seroquel 250 mg
2001 november - Effexor XR 150 mg
2003 - Replaced Seroquel with 20 mg Nozinan
2005 - Discontinued anti-psycotic medications for good
2009 january - Started having panic attacks
2009 - split 150 mg Effexor XR into 75 mg twice daily
2010 - Occasionally Clonazapam and Adivan for panic attacks
2012 - Realization that Effexor no longer works, and may even be having adverse reactions to it.
2012 October 18 - Begin slow taper (1 bead removed from each morning and evening 75mg capsule), February 18, 2013 - 140 beads per pill (X2 per day) (About 65%), 2013 November 16 - 70 beads per pill (X2 per day) (32.5%), 2014 September - 27 beads per pill (X2 per day) (12.5%) November 2 2015 - 1 bead per day (0.23% of original dose) and SLOWLY spacing doses out 25 hours, then 26, 28, currently 29hrs
November 2014 at 200mg Welbutrin

February 21st, 2016 - Last dose of Effexor forever

Monday, March 7, 2016 - Started decreasing Wellbutrin, currently at >25mg once a day

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  • Administrator

Something you've eaten? Unless it's magic mushrooms, it's more likely your nervous system has stabilized a bit, thank the deity.

 

Please taper by a smaller amount next time, flong.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hypnopompic Hallucinations. While the ones you have with your eyes closed before sleep are Hypnogognic Hallucinations. Many people do this naturally. Like me. But they are much worse with the w/d syndrome. Niacin really helps with them. It's dream imagery you're still having while you start to have conscious awareness.

Taper from Cymbalta, Paxil, Prozac & Antipsychotics finished June 2012.

Xanax 5% Taper - (8/12 - .5 mg) - (9/12 - .45) - (10/12 - .43) - (11/12 - .41) - (12/12 - .38)

My Paxil Website

My Intro

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  • 1 year later...

Anyone have had hallucinations in withdrawal from psyk drugs?

 

I had never experienced it before going on and when i quit my medicine i had massive hallucinations, often when i go to bed i saw things and also colorful patterns and stuff, its not so often now but earlier i had it

2007 - 2013: was on citalopram (tried to quit a few times, never worked, always went back on. max dose 40mg)

2012-2013: was tapering my citalopram all down to 2,5 mg then quit.
2013/aug: Took  my last pill 

W/D hit me bad after a few weeks off my medicine.

2014/August: 12 months off (much improved)

2015/April: 20months off. ( much improved, still some symtoms comes in waves, but not so intense.)

2015/june: 22months off. FELT different than before, all shakings suddenly stopped, feel much better. a fantastic feeling!

2016/Feb : 2 years and 6 months off, END of my suffering. I feel perfectly fine and back to normal. 
2018/Oct: Iam still feeling great. It is hard to believe my own story when I read back, what I went through!

 

 

 

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Hallucinations are a recognized potential symptom in psychiatric drug withdrawal, including antidepressants.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Member

I would get patterns behind my lids if I closed my eyes after my final awakening in the morning if I tried to squeeze in a few more zzzz's. Slightly alarming because they are so strange. That's when I give up and wake up for good. Such odd symptoms we all get.

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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I see patterns of color when eyes are closed, too. Always have but worse now

I'M A WEANER!  :D 
atavan PRN ,Paxil approx 20 yrs ago for major depression
Switched to Klonopin PRN through to current
Paxil wore out
Changed to Effexor 
Depakote added
enormous weight gain - flat affect - led to depression - dropped depakote
Dropped Effexor, changed to Paxil 
PDoc added mixed salts amphetamines for ADHD - took for 2 yrs - was ok at first but had to cut as symptoms too intense -  then the crash was too much. STOPPED
Vyvanse started in 2013 (APRIL) - more smooth than IR amphetamine tabs---Have not used vyvanse daily in full amt since May 2013 

Paxil CT withdrawal 10/2012  :wacko:  Klonopin CT WD

Switched Klonopin to Xanax prn  - too strong

WD CT from XANAX after taking for a while - it was awful but can be done if you hold on!

Back to Klonopin PRN - working very hard to avoid taking it at all. 

Effexor 37.5 started 02/2013, 75mg by 03/2013, 150mg by 05/2012 (approx)  :blush:

Effexor 150mg 3/10/2014 Microtaper -3beads  :unsure:

3/11/2014-4beads ,3/12/14 - 5, 3/13/14 -6, 3/15/14 - 7, 3/18 - 8, 3/22 - 10, 3/24 - 12, 4/6 - 13, 4/7 - 14, 4/11 - 16 - on 4/19 ran out of brand took generic. Bad move. Back on brand on 4/20 and updosed 2 beads. 5/1 - 15, 5/6 - 16, 5/9 -17, 55/10 -17, 5/15 -18, 5/21 -19, 5/24 -20, 6/3 - 21, 6/6 -23, 6/13 -24,6/19- 25, 6/21 -26, 6/25 -27

6/28 -28, 6/29 -30, 7/3 -34, 7/8 -35, 7/17 -36, 7/30 -41,7/31 -42, 8/2 -43, 8/3 -44, 8/5 -45, 8/14 -48, 8/26-50, 9/24 -53, 10/24 -55, 12/1 -57, (lost the tally sheet, thus taper info for some of it), 4/19-63, 4/26-64, 4/30-65 Switched to wt reduction - now @ -.068, 7/14 -.070, August 2015 -.074, between Sept & October 10 -.077, Nov. -.078(feeling great), -.090 as of 1/10/16, down to  -.101 since January 2016 (it is now 6/24/16), -.105 as of 8/13/16
 
 

Ladies, please don't underestimate the possibility of perimenopause. The symptoms can be similar to, may intensify & in some cases mimic protracted w/d from ssri's & benzo's. 

 

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  • 1 month later...

Ok so I'm freaking out a little.

 

Managed to go out for a walk with my boyfriend. He pointed out 2 pigeons on one of the roofs. Then we saw a couple of corgi dogs being walked and he pointed these out to me too. My boyfriend said "you don't often see those on the roof" referring to the pigeons and for a split second I saw the two corgis on the roof in my minds eye. I almost said No, you don't often see corgis on the roof. Then I realised my mistake. Am I losing the plot??? I didn't actually see them on the roof, it was more like a dream.

 

Last weekend he was ironing while we were both in the lounge. I later asked if he needed any work shirts ironing and he said he'd just ironed four right in front of me.

 

I seem to be going completely potty.

 

Is this withdrawal or am I starting to lose my mind? I've never hallucinated before but now I'm wondering what to expect next. Anything could happen at this stage.

The only way out is through.

 

Aug 2013 - Augmentin leading to akathisia

Sept-Nov 2013 - Citalopram 20mg, severe reaction, off at 5mg. Valium 4mg, prn

Oct 2013 - 5 zopiclone tablets, 7.5mg

End Nov 2013-end Feb 2014, Seroquel, top dose 150mg, off at 25mg

End Nov 2013-early march 2014, Zoloft 100mg top dose, off at 25mg

End Dec-2013-early April 2014, lorazepam 1mg prn

April 3rd 2014 zoloft 5mg for a few days. 18/4/14 - zoloft, 1mg. Came off at 0.35 mg,14th June 2014

29 June 2014 - 1mg lorazepam, last ever

29 June 2014 - med free

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  • Moderator Emeritus

This doesn't sound like hallucinations WT. Not at all. You said you didn't actually see the corgi's on the roof but saw them in your mind's eye... You imagined them is what I'm guessing you mean. People do that quite often! Thats why eyewitness testimony is often called into question. I had someone tell me a story about seeing a certain cat in a coffee shop I frequent. I could swear I'd seen it too... I don't know why the image got caught in my head like a memory, but it did.

 

And the shirts being ironed? Again, sounds normal to me. You may not have been paying attention to such a mundane behavior. Have you ever driven and suddenly realized you "hadn't been paying attention" and were much further along in your drive than you realized? It happens a lot when people make the same drive repeatedly as well, like driving to work. Or when someone is reading and doesn't hear you repeatedly call their name? It's a form of dissociation. Again, normal.

 

I'm pretty sure you're ok and haven't gone potty or lost your plot.

 

:)

1988-2012: Prozac @ 60mg (with a few stops and starts)

Fall 2012: Returned to 40mg after discontinuing and horrid withdrawal 

Fall 2013: 40mg Fluoxetine, added 150mg Wellbutrin to treat fatigue 

Winter 2014: Attempting to taper both (too fast)

April 2014: 9mg Fluoxetine + 37.5 Wellbutrin 

Summer 2014: 8 mg Fluoxetine + 0 Wellbutrin (way too fast a drop)

Late summer/Early Fall 2014: Debilitating Withdrawal symptoms 

Fall 2014 - Wellbutrin successfully kicked to the curb but…

Oct- Dec 2014: Panicked reinstatement of Fluoxetine ->30mg - held for 5yrs

Jan 2021: taper to 20mg Fluoxetine  then tapering by 1mg every 2-3 months

Fall 2022 - held at 10mg->December 2022: 9mg->Feb 2023: 8mg ->March 2023: brassmonkey slide begins: 7.8mg -> 7.6 -> 7.4->2 week hold (April)->7.2->7mg->6.8->2 week hold->6.6-> 1-month hold ->(June)-6.5->4-week hold-> (July)-6.4 (discontinued brassmonkey slide and slowed taper)-> (Aug)-6.2->(Sept)-6.0->(Oct)-5.9->(Nov)-5.8->(Dec)-5.7->wave!->(Jan)-5.8->(Feb)-6mg and holding.

 

My 2014 withdrawal experience: https://rxisk.org/antidepressant-withdrawal-a-prozac-story/

 

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Thanks Addax. You've made me feel better :-)

 

You've reminded me that this is all normal stuff. Before all this happened, I did loads of stuff on autopilot, as everyone does. I guess because I feel so cognitively impaired, nothing feels normal so anything that would have been normal in the past feels abnormal now. In my 'normal' times, I'd quite often be so wrapped up in something I was doing that I wouldn't notice what was going on around me. And in the past, I would have made a joke about the corgis because, well, it's quite a funny image really!

 

Thank you :-)

The only way out is through.

 

Aug 2013 - Augmentin leading to akathisia

Sept-Nov 2013 - Citalopram 20mg, severe reaction, off at 5mg. Valium 4mg, prn

Oct 2013 - 5 zopiclone tablets, 7.5mg

End Nov 2013-end Feb 2014, Seroquel, top dose 150mg, off at 25mg

End Nov 2013-early march 2014, Zoloft 100mg top dose, off at 25mg

End Dec-2013-early April 2014, lorazepam 1mg prn

April 3rd 2014 zoloft 5mg for a few days. 18/4/14 - zoloft, 1mg. Came off at 0.35 mg,14th June 2014

29 June 2014 - 1mg lorazepam, last ever

29 June 2014 - med free

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  • Moderator Emeritus

How's your sleep? This stuff happens to me when I'm sleep deprived. Brain a bit sluggish

Please note - I am not a medical practitioner and I do not give medical advice. I offer an opinion based on my own experiences, reading and discussion with others.On Effexor for 2 months at the start of 2005. Had extreme insomnia as an adverse reaction. Changed to mirtazapine. Have been trying to get off since mid 2008 with numerous failures including CTs and slow (but not slow enough tapers)Have slow tapered at 10 per cent or less for years. I have liquid mirtazapine made at a compounding chemist.

Was on 1.6 ml as at 19 March 2014.

Dropped to 1.5 ml 7 June 2014. Dropped to 1.4 in about September.

Dropped to 1.3 on 20 December 2014. Dropped to 1.2 in mid Jan 2015.

Dropped to 1 ml in late Feb 2015. I think my old medication had run out of puff so I tried 1ml when I got the new stuff and it seems to be going ok. Sleep has been good over the last week (as of 13/3/15).

Dropped to 1/2 ml 14/11/15 Fatigue still there as are memory and cognition problems. Sleep is patchy but liveable compared to what it has been in the past.

 

DRUG FREE - as at 1st May 2017

 

>My intro post is here - http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2250-dalsaan

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  • Moderator Emeritus

How's your sleep? This stuff happens to me when I'm sleep deprived. Brain a bit sluggish

Me too Dalsaan. I  remember when I was going through many drug changes in a short space of time. I saw cats

everywhere, just fleeting, like in the corner of my eye, and would hear my name being said but  not sure how or

where from.  While on effexor full dose I often forgot things that had just happened ( like the ironing incident) .

 

I'm not sure that I would call them hallucinations, they were not real and I never thought they were, just strange.

There are changes going on in the brain so I think it is not surprising to experience some of these things,

especially when sleep deprived as Dalsaan said. I don't think you are going loopy at all, you are aware that what's

happening isn't real.  I suspect that it will soon pass, but this is only my opinion from my own experiences. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

As mentioned above, hallucination is potential side effect of withdrawal from antipsychotic medication and antidepressants. So, would that mean some one having hallucination during tapering from antipsychotic medication is having side effect?  and is that an acceptable reaction to the meds. should I have to hold on my tapering until the hallucination go away or I should continue to taper while hallucination? any input pls. thanks

Hi, 

This is Tyson. I'm not sure if I'm doing this in the right place. But I'm doing this cause I thought I don't have a file here. 

I was trying to get some help from members with my son's withdrawal, but it's been lost somewhere. So, I thought maybe I should 

put my intro. and then that might help.

My son started Respiradol 3mg took that for three month and dropped it. Then Abilify 5mg for six month and due to his restlesnes, stopped by his doc. 

then got ordered to take zyprexa 15mg. He took zyprexa for five years but lowering with the help of doc and compounding pharmacy. he is now on 1.25mg. but 

things are getting tough. no nutrition guide or supplements. 

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