Sunstone: Relapse or withdrawal?

[Sunstone]

I have been off brintellix since may. Its been a rollercoaster!

The first weeks was ok. Then i became on and of depressed for a few weeks. Some days has been so good, like myself - a new me.

And suddenly i get the same side effects/problems i use to have when i was on them, and was the reason i had to quit. The last couple of months i have had so much ocd (intrusive thoughts), and a few panicattacks.

The ocd was the main reason i had to use antidepressants, but the panicattacks is new to me. It has starting to take up all my mind. In the beginning it was easy to handle, but now it can ruin the whole day. I'm afraid that my only choise is to get back on the meds if this continues, but that would also destroy me. Maybe anyone can give me some advice? Maybe i just have to be patient, and this is withdrawals?

Edited October 3, 2023 by FireflyFyte
edited title

[LotusRising]

Hi @Sunstone

 

Welcome to SA. Please have a look around the site. There are many resources here. 

 

2 hours ago, Sunstone said:

The first weeks was ok. Then i became on and of depressed for a few weeks. Some days has been so good, like myself - a new me.

 

It sounds like you may be experiencing the windows and waves pattern of stabilization. Please see the below link for more info.

What was your tapering timeline for coming off brintellix? 

 

Have you tried any non-drug coping skills for your OCD symptoms? 

 

You might find this helpful:

 

 

What is the reason that you have switched drugs over the years?

 

If you have more questions specific to your situation, please post them here so the moderators will see them and can help you.

 

Thank you,

 

MedRN 

[Sunstone]

15 hours ago, MedRN said:

Hi @Sunstone

 

Welcome to SA. Please have a look around the site. There are many resources here. 

 

 

It sounds like you may be experiencing the windows and waves pattern of stabilization. Please see the below link for more info.

What was your tapering timeline for coming off brintellix? 

 

Have you tried any non-drug coping skills for your OCD symptoms? 

 

You might find this helpful:

 

 

What is the reason that you have switched drugs over the years?

 

If you have more questions specific to your situation, please post them here so the moderators will see them and can help you.

 

Thank you,

 

MedRN 

I have read everything that is relevant to me. Been reading since before I decided to taper, so i was prepared. I think i used two months or so coming off brintellix. Went from 10 to 5 mg. That was before i knew i should do it slower. From 5mg to 0 i used 1,5 months i guess. 5-2,5-1,5-0,5 and then zero. It went really good.

The reason that i switched drugs is the same reason i had to stop taking them. I felt angry, apathic, anhedonia and zero love for those around me on all of them, but my doctor wanted me to try another antidepressant to see if my side effects went away. He said that brintellix had the least side effects. 

I would read more about non-drug coping methods. I feel like i have good methods, but they just wont work. The thoughts is taking over my head. I really just hope this is withdrawals 

[LotusRising]

@Sunstone

 

It can take time for non-drug coping methods to work, especially when natural feelings have been numbed by prescription drugs for so long. They certainly aren't a quick fix, but with practice, they can help. Have you ever tried therapy?

[Sunstone]

1 hour ago, MedRN said:

@Sunstone

 

It can take time for non-drug coping methods to work, especially when natural feelings have been numbed by prescription drugs for so long. They certainly aren't a quick fix, but with practice, they can help. Have you ever tried therapy?

I tried therapy before they put me on medication. Didn't really had the motivation to work on any methods back then. The medication worked so good. I do want to get therapy again, but here in Norway you need a medical referral from your doctor to get an appointment(publicly funded). The district psyciatric centre turned me down and wrote i should get back on medication instead because it worked so good with my ocd. Now my only choise is to see a private psychologist (costs about 300$ per 2 hours) or get back on meds. Or just fins out of coping mechanisms on my own. Yesterday was so bad, i had to take valium

[LotusRising]

1 hour ago, Sunstone said:

here in Norway you need a medical referral from your doctor to get an appointment(publicly funded). The district psyciatric centre turned me down and wrote i should get back on medication instead because it worked so good with my ocd

That's terrible that the recommendation is for you to go back on medication. 

 

What coping skills have you tried? do you have a good support system?

 

What symptoms were you having that made you feel you needed valium? Please be careful with this one, as even with intermittent use, it is still easy to become dependent. Could you please also add it to your signature.

[Sunstone]

32 minutes ago, MedRN said:

That's terrible that the recommendation is for you to go back on medication. 

 

What coping skills have you tried? do you have a good support system?

 

What symptoms were you having that made you feel you needed valium? Please be careful with this one, as even with intermittent use, it is still easy to become dependent. Could you please also add it to your signature.

Yes i know. I got so mad, filed a complaint and my doctor sent a new referral. 

I try to just let the thoughts be there. Like backround noise, and i would never try to think through my thoughts like i did before. Hard to explain in english. Like i wont start a conversation or discussion with the thoughts.

 

Yesterday was such a bad day, i could barely function. My child is my biggest trigger for ocd, and i was alone with her all day. The thoughts became so intense, and i just needed a break. I dont use them as much. 5 pills in two months. The main reason I take it is for seizures (epilepsy) do i have to write all my non psyciatric drugs on it?