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Gregor007: My story of incorect tapering, several adverse reactions and not knowing what was going on with me for more than a year.

Gregor007

By Gregor007
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Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hello felow members.

I would like to share my story with SSRI drugs and withdrawal.

I am a 32 year old male from Slovenia.

 

My story begins in high school when I was diagnosed with OCD. I had an urge/need to memorise every detail in class, and I needed to have all items in my room in specific place. I also checked the locks of the doors several times at night before I could fall asleep etc, typical OCD.

My mother took me to a psychiatrist and she put me on Sertraline, and Olanzapine (doctors reasoning for Olanzapine was to counter any possible initial side affect of Sertraline, I think I used it for aprox 2 months and then discontinued it and proceeded to take ony sertraline). I was also taught to practice exposure and response prevention therapy.

I began using the drugs and practicing ERP and in a period of one year, my life turned around completly. I felt better than ever, my OCD simptoms became managable and I moved on with my life.

Even tough I learned how to control my OCD, the doctor never sugested coming of it and I was never under the impression that this drugs can be dangerous long term so I continuned taking it for aproximately 15 years. I really don't remember exactly what dosages I was on, but for the last few years I was taking 300mg of sertraline per day (max dose is usualy 200mg, but as per drug regulations, it can be perscribed up to 300mg for OCD).

In the last couple of years, it regained some of my OCD tendencies but I accepted it and learned how to live my life despite it. It was more like an »inconvenience« rather than a disability. I was able to live a meaningfull life and was happy non the less.

My life then hit a turning point in the beggining of 2023.

I received a phone call from my psychiatrist and she proposed I tried switching to Fluvoxamine that is supposed to be superior for OCD.

I bought in to it and decided to give it a go, after all she is a doctor and she must know what she is doing.

 

BOY WAS I WRONG!

 

The protocol fot the switch was to take 250mg for 4 days, 200mg for 4 days, 150 for 4 days, 100mg for 2 days, 50mg for 2 days then continue with 50mg luvox per day.

With the introduction of a new drug I got really motivated to raise the quailiy of my life and get rid of some OCD tendencies like beeing overly meticulous and tidy, I started to practice ERP again and I felt great in the begining stages of the switch (looking back at it know, I might have been a really strong placebo effect). I also had more energy and less fatigue (I was not aware that lethargy was a side effect of SSRis, therefore it's no wonder I felt better once I got off 300mg of sertraline).

So far the experiment worked, I felt great and my tought process was "if it ain't broke, dont fix it." I continued taking the 50mg of luvox for the next three months. At that time, I started experiencing some anxiety, it felt really strange. I called my doctor and she proposed we raise the dose of Luvox to 100mg and I did.

After around one week, is when the hell broke loose. I started experiencing severe panic attacks out of nowhere. I was really anxious and could not focus, my anxiety was sky high and I started experiencing a sense of doom. I had no idea what was going on with me, it was the scariest feeling I have ever felt in my life. My doctor was on holiday and I could not reach her. I went to an emergency room and they gave me a sedative and advised that I lover my dose of Luvox and wait for further instructions from my psychiatrist. After a couple of days, the anxiety lessend and I was finaly able to reach my doctor. She told me that I must have had a bad reaction to the drug and we desicted to discontinue it. I was then on the lowest dose so she told me that I can just stop taking it and I did.

Not long after discontinuating, I felt better, panic atacks and anxiety were gone, and I felt normal again.

Unfortunatelly, back then, I was under the impression that I need and SSRI since I was told for years that OCD is a disease caused by low seratonin and that SSRI drugs for me are like insulin for a diabetic. I was afraind that my OCD will return with vengeance so I asked my doctor for another drug.

She recomened that I start Fluoxetine and so I did. I took 20mg of fluoxetine, and was fine after one week. My doctor told me to raise the dose to 40mg and I did. Aproximately 14 days after starting prozac (and a week after upping to 40mg) I once again started to experience panic atacks and hightened anxiety. I immediately tought of it as another paradoxical reaction so I went back to 20mg for a few weeks, and since I wasn't feeling back to mornmal, I stoped taking it as I felt like it's doing me harm.

It took for abouth a month for me to start feling better and then my doctor advised me to get back to Sertraline.

After a couple of weeks of reintroducing 25mg of sertraline, same thing happened, I got really bad anxienty and panic atacks so I freaked out and stoped taking it. I said to hell with it, I will be without drugs since I feel better after going off them after a paradoxical reaction.

But then about two weeks later, our of nowhere, I started geting really depressed. I had constant low mood, I lost all interests in the things I like, no motivation, no concentration, memory impairment, irational fears, and trouble sleeping.

It felt really strange, since I never had depression before in my life, nothing like tihs! Neather was there any external reason to be. I was really freaked out and called my psychiatrist.

She insisted that I start a new drug, and since I was really desperate and scared I went for it. We tried Vortioxetine. I imediately felt a relief after taking it, but after 3 days I once again started to experience the same panic atacks and heightened anxiety like with other drugs.

I stopped taking it and tried taking Duloxetine shortly after. Same story. My doctor finaly agreed that SSRIS no longer work for me and she put me on 150mg Wellbutrin few days later.

First couple of days were not so bad since I really tought this drug will work becsause it's suposed to work on other receptors and It must have had some sort of placebo effect, but then it backfired big time. I started to experience severe anxiety, panic atacks, restlessness, agitation and my depression was full blown.

I was really freaked out and decided to visit another psychiatrist to get a second opinion. He told me that I need to give this drug at least a month or two to start working and that I need to push through it.

Trust me, it was living hell. And after 5 weeks with no improvements, my doctor instructed me to raise the dose to 300mg. I was reluctant to do so, but she reasured me that this is the right thing to to so I did. The very next day I ended up in a emergency hostipal because I was experiencing a nervous breakdown. The anxiety was through the rough.

The emergency doctor told me that this kind of reaction is not unusual upon dose increase, she gave me a few lorazepam tablets and told me to push throught it and see if it settles.

My life was a constant agony in the next month or so, and with no improvement, my doctor told me to raise the dose to 450mg. I told her no way, but she insisted, she told me to folow her instruction or get a new psychiatrist. I was in a really bad and confused state, not knowing what was going on, beeing desperate so I ended taking 450mg of wellbutrin. What I shortly experienced was some of the worst panic attacks ever imaginable. At that point I was geting suicidal toughts and tought to my self that I must have gone insane and that I need urgent medical assistance.

Out of desperation I turned my self in to a psychiatric institution, hoping that they will figure out what is happening to me.

Boy was I wrong again.

It was an awful experience. Barely any therapy, you are more or less left on your own with other patients and given drugs. We had group therapy three times per week, other activities were classes like art, listening to music, and playing walleyball. In the afternoons you were left on your own, we mostly played cards with fellow patiens and talked about our feelings. Group therapies made no sense to me, as I kept insisting that I have no external facotrs that could triger my depression and anxiet, and the doctors looked at me like I am a creature from out of space and of course did not belived me.

Regarding medicament therapy, they lovered the dose of wellbutrin to 150mg (thank god!), but added 25mg of sertraline regardless of me mentioning that I don't respond well to any antidepressant. They never mentioned any reasoning for why they put me back on sertraline. You basicly wake up, and need to report to a nurse and they give you your drug therapy. Like expected I was a total mess, really anxious, had panic atacks, cried all the time, was not able to concentrate etc.

After 5 days, they raised my dose of sertraline to 50mg. I felt even worse. They But they did not want to hear about me complaining about the effect this drugs have on me, they insisted that there must be something wrong psychologicaly but could not figure out what. I had to take a few alprazoram tablets to get through the next couple of days.

After two weeks I decided to leave, since I felt like they were poisoning me and made me feel like I was going crazy.

I continuned taking my persrcibed therapy but I felt worse and worse. I developed migrenes, had no energy, was crying daily, anxious and depressed. I could not take it any more, it was geting harder and harder.

I came a cross of a book by Peter Gotzsche - Deadly Psychiatry and Organised Denial. It opened my eyes about this industry! I decided to dig further and got ahold of Robret Whitakers Anatomy of an epidemic and Toxic psychiatry by Peter Breggin. It all made perfect sense to me!

I decided that I need to get of this medicine since I felt that it was poisoning me. I first stopped taking Wellbutrin and after about a couple of weeks, I lovered my dose of Sertraline to 25mg. I felt a bit better so I stoped taking it all together after 14 days.

I am now 11 weaks after my last dose. First two weeks I felt a bit better, but then it startet go get progressively worse. I developed severe inner restlessness, severe agitation,I feel like I will explode any minute, complete brain fog, I can't concentrate, I feel like half of my brain is missing, I am in constant panic mode, high level of anxiety 24/7. I feel like my heart is pounding inside my chest (even though my heart rate and blood presure are really low), I fell like the most desperate person alive, I have a complete sense of doom and severe depression. I can't connect with anybody or anything, thiss all feels like a bad dream, I feel like I am living in a seperate universe than other people, it's really hard to explain. I am cureltny on sick leave from work and can't imagine returining since I can't function at all.

After doing my reasearch, and finding this forum, It finaly made sense to me that this whole process was trigered with crossing from Sertraline to Luvox last year.

Long story short, I came to the conclusion that I am in a protracted withdrawal from Sertraline since last year, with constant kindling and series of adeverse reactions from all of the drugs I was put on since then. All because of the ignorance of my doctors and corrupted drug industry.

For the last couple of weeks I am staying at my mums because I am totaly  disabled and can't function. I feel like I am geting worse every week and that frightens me like hell!

My last round of Sertraline was hellish, and I literaly felt it was poisoning me, therefore It did not made sense to me to do a really slow taper since I was never even remotely stable, I now realise that thas was a mistake, but I really didn't imagine it could get even worse but it did for sure. Lesson learned.

I know that my nervous system is completly sentisized and destabilised, therefore I am scared to reintroduce sertraline or any other drug even though I am feeling progressively worse so I really don't know what to do at this point. 

 

I am in a really dark place so I wanted to share my story like so many of you before me.

Your toughts and advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you all who took their time and read my story.

Edited by Emonda
Name to title
1

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Emonda changed the title to Gregor007: My story of incorect tapering, several adverse reactions and not knowing what was going on with me for more than a year.
  • Moderator
Jane318 Contributor

Jane318

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted (edited)

Greetings @Gregor007 and welcome to SA.  We are a community of volunteers providing peer support in the tapering of psychiatric medications and their associated withdrawal syndromes. 

 

Thank you for completing your drug signature.

 

Thank you also for sharing your story.  I cannot find the right words to express my sorrow and outrage for all you have gone through.  

 

On 11/18/2024 at 12:58 PM, Gregor007 said:

I came to the conclusion that I am in a protracted withdrawal from Sertraline since last year, with constant kindling and series of adverse reactions from all of the drugs I was put on since then.

Based on your narrative, I would concur.

 

On 11/18/2024 at 12:58 PM, Gregor007 said:

I came a cross of a book by Peter Gotzsche - Deadly Psychiatry and Organised Denial. It opened my eyes about this industry! I decided to dig further and got ahold of Robret Whitakers Anatomy of an epidemic and Toxic psychiatry by Peter Breggin. It all made perfect sense to me!

I also recently read "Anatomy" by Robert Whitaker - truly eye-opening.

 

On 11/18/2024 at 12:58 PM, Gregor007 said:

My last round of Sertraline was hellish, and I literaly felt it was poisoning me, therefore It did not made sense to me to do a really slow taper since I was never even remotely stable, I now realise that thas was a mistake, but I really didn't imagine it could get even worse but it did for sure. Lesson learned.

I know that my nervous system is completly sentisized and destabilised, therefore I am scared to reintroduce sertraline or any other drug even though I am feeling progressively worse so I really don't know what to do at this point. 

 

Reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome.  It isn’t a guarantee of diminished symptoms but it’s the best tactic available. The only alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis.  Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take many months or longer.  

 

If you decide to try reinstatement, it would be with a VERY LOW dose of Sertraline - no more than 10% of your last dose (25 mg), which would be 2.5 mg.  So maybe try 1 mg per day for 4-7 days - If you have immediate adverse reaction, stop.  If symptoms improve, hold at this dose indefinitely, until you stabilize, then begin a slow taper to zero.  If no improvement, increase a bit more - maybe to to 1.5 or 2 mg per day and repeat.  You should be able to tell pretty quickly if reinstatement is going to work for you.  If not, stop.  

 

Suggested reading:

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

How long does it take to stabilize after reinstating or updosing?

Hypersensitivity and kindling

 

You may also want to read more about withdrawal:

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

Brain Remodelling 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

 

As you heal, it is very normal to have periods where you feel better, and periods where you feel terrible.  This is what we call the windows and waves pattern of stabilization.  This is actually a good sign of healing!  Read more about windows and waves here:   The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

It’s important to keep tabs on your symptoms during this time.  This will help you identify your windows and waves and reveal your progress, which is encouragement we need!  You can use the following list of typical withdrawal symptoms as a template for a journal, if you wish:  Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF).  

 

You may choose to also track your foods and activities to identify things that trigger symptoms as well.  We do encourage people who are tapering to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and recreational drugs.  Many prescription and OTC drugs can cause problems too and should be avoided as much as possible. We recommend only two supplements here at SA, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.  

 

Please know that you can and will heal, with time and patience.  The important thing is to trust your body, that it knows how to heal and never give up!  Trust Your Body: Learning to Heal.   You've had the discipline and commitment to develop some effective coping skills, and you have educated yourself on how these powerful drugs affect our brains and how to get off of them.  I am confident that you will succeed. 

 

This is your introduction topic.  Each member gets one intro topic- please post updates and questions here, in this thread.

 

Please let us know what you decide and how we can help going forward.

 

Best wishes.

Edited by Jane318
editorial

I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions.

My Intro Topic:  Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End.  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.  Jeremiah 17:14a.

DRUG HISTORY:

1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft.  dosages unk.  1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy.  Resumed 1993 (?).

2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms.  Resumed meds.  2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk).  2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day.  Stayed at this dose for many years.

2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023.  By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day.

July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day to address severe withdrawal symptoms.  Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve.  Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day)

Dec 21, 2024 - resumed tapering.  1.36 mg/day.

Other meds:  75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism

Supplements:  Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily).

zanti Rookie

zanti

Posted
Posted

Welcome @Gregor007!

 

Glad you finally found the right place ( this forum ).Your healing journey starts now.

 

We have similar stories and situations, the difference is I have found since 2023 a stable cocktail that allows me to lead a normal life.But I still dream and want to get rid of these horrible drugs and "Undiagnose" myself.I will get there, and you will too.

 

Read everything you can on this forum, there is great information, life saving info here.Take Mg and Omega 3.Find non-chemical ways to relax.Don't ever give up the fight.Stay strong!

1

prior to 2013: few years of mixed herbal supplements, mainly St.John's Wort, 5-HTP etc

2013-2023 - Paroxetine 20-40mg.Several CT and fast taper withdrawals.Reinstatements, dosage increase, switches back and forth with fluoxetine, escitalopram, venlafaxine with ocassional additions of olanzapine, bromazepam, xanax, clonazepam, bupoprion, valproic acid, pregabalin.

jan.2023 - Clonazepam CT withdrawal - hospitalization

jan.2023 - PRESENT - Venlafaxine 150mg, Quetiapine 200mg, Gabapentin 300mg and Mirtazapine 30mg.

 

03 Nov 2024 - Start of Venlafaxine XR taper - 5% reduction, down to 142.5mg ( incorrect taper due to bad scale ) - back to 150mg, rebooting...

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Dear Jane318, thank you for approving my introduction topic and your kind reply!

 

This website trully is a blessing for all of us who are suffering from drug induced harm.

I have read all of your sugested postst and more, including several stories from fellow members with whom I deeply sympathize.

It is a tragedy that we can't rely on our doctors to provide us with proper guidance but insted are causing us even more iatrogenic harm, so once again, thank god for this forum and the comunity, since no one else can understand our suffering. It really is outherworldly, nothing a healthy brain can ever imagine possible.

 

What shocked me the most during this experience is the severe depression that I devleped out of nowhere. I used to be really joyful person, fun to be around. I was known to be the one who laughed the most. I had several interests, full of passion and motivation, optimism and determination.

Sure there were times when I felt really sad, like when I broke up with a girl that I was really in love with, or when I was working at a job that wasn't fulfiling, but this is a normal response to life. Even tough there were times where I was sad and dissapointed, I was still rational. I was able to use this as motivation to make changes in my life and I always did. I always saw a way out of everything.

For example, following my last breakup a few years ago, after the initial shock somehow subsised, I used the time and energy to focus on my self. I was determined to make a change in my life so I focused on my carer. I got way more focused at work and got a promotion a few months later. I started to enjoy my job much more and that brought additonal joy and motivation in my life.

 

Fast forward to the end of last year, I was in a relly good place. I was able to buy my dream apartment, got another promotion at work that I worked really hard for and wanted more than anything. I had great meaningufull relationships etc. I felt like the sky was the limit.

 

But out of nowhere, I got hit with severe depression. I lost all interests in my hobies and future plans, lost all motivation, was not able to experience joy. The whole world became a really dark place overnight. I also became a very anxious person, and lost the ability to focus and concentrate. I'ts like my IQ has droped significantly.

 

And the only change in my life was stoping the drugs. Therefore I tought to my self that this must be chemical depression. It all felt so sureal to me, nothing made sense.

But the most frustrating thing to it all is that I couldn't reach my previous state even after trying to reinstate the drugs. Not only that, but ecah drug atempt made me feel worse.

 

I have only now come to realise that it's not uncomon for reinstalment to not work once you enter protracted withdrawal, specialy if you have been pollidruged.

 

I feel like I have dug a larger hole with each drug atempt and that the "brain damage" is beyond repair and that I am further and futher from my old true self to a point of no return.

 

But I guess that all of us feel this way... Sense of doom and despair is a common symptom of WD. You simply can't see a light at the end of the tunel when your normal brain functions are disabled. It's a whole different situation than a toothache, where even if the pain is unbarable, your rational brain keeps teling you that it will end eventually.

 

 

10 hours ago, Jane318 said:

Reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome.  It isn’t a guarantee of diminished symptoms but it’s the best tactic available. The only alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis.  Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take many months or longer.  

 

 

I have been considering reinstaling a truly minimal dose of sertraline for the last several days, since my simtopms are getting worse. I have developed severe nervousness and inner restlessness and agiation that I didn't have before. But I have several doubts/fears:

 

1.) since I am severely sentisised by now, I can react badly to even 1mg of sertraline, it's impossible to predict. I have learned by now that things can always get even worse.

2.) I am aware that my only solution to heal completly is for my brain to "reapair" themself, and that will require time in order for them to reach homeostasis, and I am afraid that by reinstaling I will only delay this by causing another disturbance to my already shocked brain and that I will lose the last 10 weeks beeing off competly.

 

Basicly I am afraid that I will cause more harm and even further delay the process of healing. But on the other hand, things are unbarable, and it's our human nature to try anything to releave at least some degree of pain.

 

Therefore I am facing an impossible decision. I am sure that I will regret everyting I decide non the less. So it's basicly a coin flip at this stage.

 

2

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Dear @zanti,  I have read your topic a few days ago and you have my depest simpathy.

What has ben happening to you is really tragic and I can imagine that beeing on that coctail of drugs ins't fun, but at least you have some stability from where you can do a proper taper and I am sure that you will succed!

 

Thank you for your advice on magnesium and fish oil, I have been taking 6 grams of quailty fish oil and 400mg of magnesium glycinate continously for the last 10 years. I used to be highly passionate bodybuilding enthusiast, former competitor and a licenced fitness trainer therefore health suplements and proper nutrition have always been a staple in my life.

 

As per advice on this forum, I have discontinuned all other health suplements for the time beeing. 

 

1

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Jane318 Contributor

Jane318

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted
10 hours ago, Gregor007 said:

Basicly I am afraid that I will cause more harm and even further delay the process of healing. But on the other hand, things are unbarable, and it's our human nature to try anything to releave at least some degree of pain.

Therefore I am facing an impossible decision. I am sure that I will regret everyting I decide non the less. So it's basicly a coin flip at this stage.

I understand why you are fearful to reinstate, even at a small dose, given all you you have been through and are enduring right now.  That said, 1 mg is much smaller dose than the lowest you had been taking.  I believe you would know right away if it made things worse or better.  If you choose not to reinstate, you will still eventually stabilize, although it will be uncomfortable for some time.    May you have wisdom in this decision. 

I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions.

My Intro Topic:  Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End.  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.  Jeremiah 17:14a.

DRUG HISTORY:

1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft.  dosages unk.  1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy.  Resumed 1993 (?).

2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms.  Resumed meds.  2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk).  2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day.  Stayed at this dose for many years.

2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023.  By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day.

July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day to address severe withdrawal symptoms.  Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve.  Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day)

Dec 21, 2024 - resumed tapering.  1.36 mg/day.

Other meds:  75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism

Supplements:  Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily).

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 11/21/2024 at 12:56 AM, Jane318 said:

I understand why you are fearful to reinstate, even at a small dose, given all you you have been through and are enduring right now.  That said, 1 mg is much smaller dose than the lowest you had been taking.  I believe you would know right away if it made things worse or better.  If you choose not to reinstate, you will still eventually stabilize, although it will be uncomfortable for some time.    May you have wisdom in this decision. 

 

I must say that I am tempted to try with 1mg just because of a longshot possibility that It might lessen a few of the symptoms.

But so far my body has been rejecting all drugs like crazy, I know that they were all higher dosages, but non the less, I feel like every introduction and reinstalment made me feel worse and sent me further away from recovery.

I have been off sertraline for 10 weeks now. My brain and body is trying to establish homeostasis, so wouldn't reintroducting even 1mg of the drug hinder the progress?

 

So bassicly I am wondering, am I risking loosing 10 weeks of progress with reinstalment? I know that this is impossible to know, but would be nice to have some imputs/toughts from other menbers.

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • 2 weeks later...
Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi all,

hope you are having a nice sunday.

 

I have finaly noticed some changes in the last week.

I had a few really brief windows, where some of my simptoms were not as severe, but unfortunatelly they were really brief (maybe up to 30 minutnes or an hour max)

 

Maybe it's a sign that the shift of direction is comming?

 

Unfortunatelly I am still highly unfunctional.

my energy is all time low, and my brain fog and ability to concentrate and use logic are severely impaired.

anxiety and nervousness are also present all the time and Its really hard for me to fall aslep and even when I finaly do, I wake up fairly soon because of anxiety.

 

Is this a sign that I should not mess with reinstalment at this point?

 

I am still really tempted to try and reinstate 1mg of sertraline in hope that it will relieve some of my simptoms without causing another adverese reaction, but I am scared that it might hinder the progress that my brain made in the meantime while I was off completly and because I am over 12 week mark since completly stopping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi.

Yesterday was one of the worst afternoons of my life.

I got struck with severe migraine, out of nowhere. This happened for the first time in my life.

I had headaches before, but never a migraine. It lasted for about 4-5 hours, the pain vas sureal, I spent most of the time on a toilet vomiting.

It subsided around 9pm. I was exhaused as hell but could not fall asleep. I barely got a few hours of sleep and today continued to be a really bad day for me.

Fortunatelly I haven't yet experianced another migraine, but my anxiety and nervousness is way worse than last week.

I can't focus and concentrate at all.

Crying spells all day. I am chained to the bed basically.

 

@Jane318 do you think it's too late now to try and reinstate 1mg of sertraline? I am now 3 months away from my last failed reinstalment of 50mg.

Last week I got a few short windows, that gave me strength to try and "toughen it out", but this week apears to be much tougher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Jane318 Contributor

Jane318

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted

@Gregor007 - My heart is breaking for you right now. 

 

It is normal for symptoms to cycle through "windows" and "wave:"  The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

However, if you choose to do so, I do not think it is too late to try 1 mg of sertraline per my previous reply:  https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/31893-gregor007-my-story-of-incorect-tapering-several-adverse-reactions-and-not-knowing-what-was-going-on-with-me-for-more-than-a-year/#findComment-712905.  While three months is optimum window, others have found relief further out.  If you decide to try and it immediately makes things worse, stop.  This indicates possible kindling reaction, which will make things worse and is even harder to recover from.

 

Please keep us posted.  Praying this will help.

I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions.

My Intro Topic:  Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End.  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.  Jeremiah 17:14a.

DRUG HISTORY:

1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft.  dosages unk.  1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy.  Resumed 1993 (?).

2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms.  Resumed meds.  2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk).  2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day.  Stayed at this dose for many years.

2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023.  By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day.

July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day to address severe withdrawal symptoms.  Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve.  Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day)

Dec 21, 2024 - resumed tapering.  1.36 mg/day.

Other meds:  75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism

Supplements:  Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily).

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
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Posted

@Jane318 thank you so much for your reply. Means the world!

 

after much consideration, I have come to the conclusion that this might be worth trying.

 

In theory it might ease some of my simptoms, but would not be enough to cause adverese reaction like it did the last time I tried reinstaling. Even a small improvement at this point is a blessing.

 

I keep asking my self this question every day and it is killing me. This is the only thing I haven't yet tried. If I try it, and it makes me worse in the next few days, I can always remove it. At least then I will know that I have tried literaly everything and there is nothig else but to suffer through it. I think it will make my suffering a bit easier knowing that.

 

also, at this point, I don't think I have much to loose by trying it. This process of healing will take a lot of time regardless, If I reinstate 1mg and feel an adverse reaction and stop, that might set me back for a week or two, what is that compared to months/years of suffering. At least it will give me peace by knowing I tried literally everyting to ease my suffering.

 

Is my thinking rational?

 

I am privileged to have a sister who is a pharmacist.

She can make me liquid sertraline suspension from one 50mg tablet at work.

I will ask her to make it today in the afternoon.

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Jane318 Contributor

Jane318

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted
4 hours ago, Gregor007 said:

also, at this point, I don't think I have much to loose by trying it. This process of healing will take a lot of time regardless, If I reinstate 1mg and feel an adverse reaction and stop, that might set me back for a week or two, what is that compared to months/years of suffering. At least it will give me peace by knowing I tried literally everyting to ease my suffering.

Is my thinking rational?

I think your reasoning is spot on.  Grateful you have a sister who is a pharmacist to help you with the trial.  Wishing you you the best, please keep us posted.

I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions.

My Intro Topic:  Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End.  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.  Jeremiah 17:14a.

DRUG HISTORY:

1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft.  dosages unk.  1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy.  Resumed 1993 (?).

2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms.  Resumed meds.  2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk).  2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day.  Stayed at this dose for many years.

2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023.  By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day.

July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day to address severe withdrawal symptoms.  Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve.  Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day)

Dec 21, 2024 - resumed tapering.  1.36 mg/day.

Other meds:  75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism

Supplements:  Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily).

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Got my liquid suspension made with Ora Blend 

 

Will try it in the morning (it's 20:28 in the evening at my location)

 

71e600fe-a7fa-4817-9407-b2ceca4db416.jpg

2

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi all. 

I have introduced 1mg of sertraline this morning. 

So far I don't feel anything yet. 

I know that I need to wait a few days for the body to fully register it. 

But so far I didn't experience any adverse reaction yet (any new simptoms or worsening of current ones). fingers crossed it stays that way. 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi

today is my second day of reinstalment atempt.

 

I must say that today is much worse than yesterday. I had a really nasty panic attack that lasted for an hour straight. I am strugling with severe nervousness and hightened anxiety since morning. (those are my usual wd simptoms, but are more severe today than they were yesterday and day before yesterday)

 

I really don't know if this is because of sertraline, or is it just an usual fluctuaction in the severity of the simptoms.

 

How do you differentiate it?

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Jane318 Contributor

Jane318

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted

@Gregor007

11 hours ago, Gregor007 said:

today is my second day of reinstalment atempt.

I must say that today is much worse than yesterday. I had a really nasty panic attack that lasted for an hour straight. I am strugling with severe nervousness and hightened anxiety since morning. (those are my usual wd simptoms, but are more severe today than they were yesterday and day before yesterday)

I really don't know if this is because of sertraline, or is it just an usual fluctuaction in the severity of the simptoms.

How do you differentiate it?

It is hard to know for sure.  Yes, this drug has a long half-life so it is possible that your system has become so sensitized that even this low dose is going to cause problems.  If I were you, I would continue at 1 mg/day for another day or two.  If symptoms continue to worsen, stop.  You will have to just wait this out.  If symptoms appear to be improving after a couple more days, continue for another few days to make sure.  Please keep us posted.

I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions.

My Intro Topic:  Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End.  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.  Jeremiah 17:14a.

DRUG HISTORY:

1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft.  dosages unk.  1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy.  Resumed 1993 (?).

2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms.  Resumed meds.  2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk).  2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day.  Stayed at this dose for many years.

2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023.  By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day.

July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day to address severe withdrawal symptoms.  Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve.  Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day)

Dec 21, 2024 - resumed tapering.  1.36 mg/day.

Other meds:  75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism

Supplements:  Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily).

  • Moderator
Jane318 Contributor

Jane318

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted

@Gregor007 - To help sort out what is going on here, we need the daily notes to see what happens before and after the drug is taken. 

 

What time of day do you take 1mg Sertraline? What is your symptom pattern before and after you take it?

 

Please keep daily notes on paper with times of day for when you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms. You can post them in this topic with a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom, drug and dosage) on the right.

 

Observing your symptoms is the only way we can tell what it's doing. If it's not doing anything, you might increase the dose slightly. Please post your daily notes here in your Intro topic.

I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions.

My Intro Topic:  Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End.  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.  Jeremiah 17:14a.

DRUG HISTORY:

1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft.  dosages unk.  1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy.  Resumed 1993 (?).

2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms.  Resumed meds.  2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk).  2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day.  Stayed at this dose for many years.

2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023.  By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day.

July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day to address severe withdrawal symptoms.  Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve.  Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day)

Dec 21, 2024 - resumed tapering.  1.36 mg/day.

Other meds:  75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism

Supplements:  Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily).

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi.

Yesterday evening was tough.

I was really anxious at night time so It took me till around 4 a.m. to fall asleep.

I woke up today at 8:00 and took my dose of sertraline.

at around 9:20 I got another panic atack, just like the one I had yesterday afternoon. (shortness of breath, feeling like the world is about to come to an end etc)

I feel more alert today but it's really hard to focus because of a constant "sense of doom" feeling. I feel overstimulated in a bad way. It is starting to feel exactly like when I was taking 50mg of sert the last time around, the feeling of beeing poisoned by it. It's hard to explain.

The alertnes brings up my cognitive functions a bit, and I am a bit less nervous but more anxious (panicky)

 

Really not sure that this is the right path to continue on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

OMG

 

My day is getting progressively worse!
I am having severe panic attacks and sense of doom.
Definetly one of the worst days of my life. 
I had to call my Mother to come from work earlier because I was afraid that I will going to kill my self.
I am soooo overstimulated right now.
Yestersay was kind of strange, some ups and downs but today is one of the worst days of my life!
 
My mind is going crazy! I am constantly ruminating about throwing away 3 months of progress and doing even more damage to my brain.
 
I really regret messing with this drugs again :(
 
 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Jane318 Contributor

Jane318

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted (edited)

@Gregor007 -  If you feel you are having a bad reaction to the sertraline, you should stop it now.  Otherwise, continue at 1 mg.

 

After conferring with other moderators, I suggest you reinstate Wellbutrin at 10 mg as well as 1 mg sertraline, unless you decide to stop the latter.  Wellbutrin can react very extreme with WD symptoms many weeks or months later after stopping.   As before, you should know quickly whether the Wellbutrin will help or make things worse.

 

Of course, you have the option of stopping the sertraline and not reinstating again at all.  Your situation is so complex because of the multiple drugs and sudden / fast stops.

 

Do not expect positive results suddenly. All your posts and your signature point to a quite extreme sensitization of the nervous system. This will probably need a lot of to time to heal.... 

 

Later, we can provide guidance on how to taper off both drugs.  

 

Please hang in there and keep us posted.

Edited by Jane318

I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions.

My Intro Topic:  Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End.  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.  Jeremiah 17:14a.

DRUG HISTORY:

1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft.  dosages unk.  1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy.  Resumed 1993 (?).

2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms.  Resumed meds.  2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk).  2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day.  Stayed at this dose for many years.

2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023.  By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day.

July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day to address severe withdrawal symptoms.  Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve.  Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day)

Dec 21, 2024 - resumed tapering.  1.36 mg/day.

Other meds:  75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism

Supplements:  Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily).

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Dear @Jane318

 

I am 100% sure that I am having a bad reaction to sertraline. 

It's the exact same feeling as the last time when I took it at a higher dose.  

 

I will discontinue it, and I am definetly not touching wellbutrin.  

 

I am afraid that this ADR even further dammaged my brain and I am afraid that it will take away the progress I made in the last 3 months since beeing off and make my protracted withdrawal even worse than it already was. 

 

Am I overcatastrophising it?

 

Is it possible that I just need to wait for this 3mg to leave my sistem and will return to my last weeks badeline? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Jane318 Contributor

Jane318

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted

 

@Gregor007 

8 minutes ago, Gregor007 said:

Dear @Jane318

 

I am 100% sure that I am having a bad reaction to sertraline. 

It's the exact same feeling as the last time when I took it at a higher dose.  

I will discontinue it, and I am definetly not touching wellbutrin.  

I am afraid that this ADR even further dammaged my brain and I am afraid that it will take away the progress I made in the last 3 months since beeing off and make my protracted withdrawal even worse than it already was. 

Am I overcatastrophising it?

Is it possible that I just need to wait for this 3mg to leave my sistem and will return to my last weeks badeline? 

I am so sorry that reinstatement made things worse instead of better for you.  Given that you took the very small dose only a couple days, I am very optimistic that you will recover to your prior baseline very quickly and continue to heal.

 

Please keep us posted.

 

I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions.

My Intro Topic:  Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End.  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.  Jeremiah 17:14a.

DRUG HISTORY:

1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft.  dosages unk.  1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy.  Resumed 1993 (?).

2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms.  Resumed meds.  2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk).  2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day.  Stayed at this dose for many years.

2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023.  By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day.

July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day to address severe withdrawal symptoms.  Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve.  Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day)

Dec 21, 2024 - resumed tapering.  1.36 mg/day.

Other meds:  75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism

Supplements:  Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily).

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi

I did not take sertraline this morning and the panicky feeling is subsiding as the day progresses.

 

But there is a treade off, my cognitive functions are declining gradualy. I am returing to prior baseline where my cognitive functions were severely impaired. I like to describe it as having a "full head", or "cognitive blockage" with impaired short term memory. Low IQ feeling. I am also starting to get more nervous (inner restlesness, and iratibility)

 

Yesterday I felt more alert, could process information better but could not think clearly because of severe panic and intrusive toughts. Really hard to explain.

Unfortunatelly The level of panic and anxiety is to much to endure. I really don't see a point in continuing it. I also believe it would be detrimental to my long term brain healing. I see no point in pushing through an ADR as it only makes things worse in my experience.

 

I really hoped that this experiment would work by the priciple "the dose determines the poison", but unfortunatelly my brain and nervous system are way to sensitive for even that small of amount. I am sure that the same would happen if I entroduced Wellbutrin or any other antidepressant therefore I will not touch this drugs ever again.

 

I guess there is no other choice for me but to wait for my brain and nervous system to heal on their own with time.

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted
5 minutes ago, Gregor007 said:

I like to describe it as having a "full head", or "cognitive blockage" with impaired short term memory. Low IQ feeling. I am also starting to get more nervous (inner restlesness, and iratibility)

 

 

Hi Gregor 007, please understand that Wellbutrin is a totally different AD than a SSRI' (like sertraline). 

 

SSRI's "work" mainly on serotonin, whereas Wellbutrin "helps" to raise the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline.

 

It is quite common that withdrawal symptoms from Wellbutrin kick in 2-3 months after stopping this drug cold turkey or after tapering too fast. And often people feel extremely well and energised shortly after stopping this drug. Wellbutrin is a kind of amphetamine and its withdrawal symptoms show a lot of similarities with stopping amphetamine.

 

Some common WD symptoms of Wellbutrin are: short memory problems, irritability or even aggressiveness. Extreme muscle or joint pains, migraines, anxiety and panic attacks, (heavy) insomnia, etc. 

 

Think also of Alheimer like symptoms, which is quite logical since Alzheimer patients have low dopamine production... And stopping Wellbutrin lowers dopamine levels...

 

Because of the above I suggested @Jane318 to advise you to take a small amount of Wellbutrin. This might help to ease your healing process. I totally understand that you are afraid to take a psychotropic drug again. But a low dose of 5-10 mg may really help. 

 

Of course you can choose to let only time do the job. But my experience is that healing from Wellbutrin withdrawal can take a lot time if we taper too fast or stop cold turkey. 

 

A very safe option which you could also try is to take L-Theanine combined with Caffeine in a ratio of 2:1. For example 100 mg L-theanine and 50 mg Cafeine. This combination raises the dopamine. Do not expect wonders, but it may ease your symptoms a bit. This does not work on the noradrenaline levels. And they also have a lot of negative effect in the Withdrawal symptoms. Therefor it would be better to do a small reinstatement of Wellbutrin. If you are willing to try, you could start wit 5 mg.

 

If you want to know how to cut Wellbutrin pills (I guess you take 150mg XL?) you can watch this video.

 

 

 

1

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,4mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30,0 , May 29,1, 28,2, July 23,7, Aug 22,6, 21,4, Dec 21,0, 20,5, 20,0  Jan 2025 19,6 mg

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Dear @Go2zero, thank you for your reply!

 

Taking wellbutrin was an awfull experience for me. It made me extremly anxious. I only took it for so long and so much because my doctor insisted that it needs "time to work", and that I shoud push through the negative effects. 

 

I threw all my tablest away because it was pure poison and I did not want them around me. Taking it was a really traumatic experience for me :(

 

Unfortunatelly I can't reinstate it even if I decided to do so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted
4 hours ago, Gregor007 said:

Taking wellbutrin was an awfull experience for me. It made me extremly anxious. I only took it for so long and so much because my doctor insisted that it needs "time to work", and that I shoud push through the negative effects. 

 

 

I understand. But please also understand that stopping such a drug cold turkey, can give severe withdrawal symptoms as you are experiencing at the moment.

 

A very small dose could help ease the symptoms and speed up the healing process. If you would decide one moment to reinstate, you can always ask a doctor for a prescription.

2

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,4mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30,0 , May 29,1, 28,2, July 23,7, Aug 22,6, 21,4, Dec 21,0, 20,5, 20,0  Jan 2025 19,6 mg

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted
15 hours ago, Go2zero said:

I understand. But please also understand that stopping such a drug cold turkey, can give severe withdrawal symptoms as you are experiencing at the moment.

 

I am well aware by now that every psychoactive drug can cause severe withdrawal symptoms since it interupts with our brains normal function, including wellbutrin. And I am sure that the severity of my withdrawal is in part atributed by rapid discontinuation of wellbutrin, even tough it's impossible to determine to what extent, since the same WD simptoms can also be atributed to SSRIs.

 

But considering how I reacted by reintroducing 1mg of sertraline (the panic attacks were the same as when I introduced 25mg last time), this cleary shows how sensitised my nervous sistem is, and doesn't this suggest that the same will most likely happen if I introduce a small amount of wellbutrin, even though it works on different binding receptors?

 

I belive that also explains the main reason why I reacted badly to wellbutrin in the first place when I started taking it this year and specialy when raising the dosages since its activation properties most likely only further aggravated my protracted withdrawal symptoms caused by years of SSRI use and rapid discontinuation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted (edited)
6 hours ago, Gregor007 said:

this cleary shows how sensitised my nervous sistem is, and doesn't this suggest that the same will most likely happen if I introduce a small amount of wellbutrin, even though it works on different binding receptors?

 

This question is impossible to answer, since everybody reacts different to these drugs and also when tapering. In your first post you asked for our thoughts and advice. This is what we have given. It is up you to decide now how to continue in your situation.

 

Please let us know if or when you need any advice.

Edited by Go2zero

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,4mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30,0 , May 29,1, 28,2, July 23,7, Aug 22,6, 21,4, Dec 21,0, 20,5, 20,0  Jan 2025 19,6 mg

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi.

Thank you for sharing your toughts.

Plesase note that I appreciate your time and effort invested in me!

 

I have been struck wtih a massive depressive wave in the last week, shortly after my reinstalment attempt.

Not sure if it's related to it, or if it's just a normal "windows and waves" from of healing from wd.

But the fact of the matter remains that I am feeling worse in the last 7 days than I did in the two weeks prior.

I just lay most of the day, have no energy and feel really hopeless. 

 

Prior to last week, I had a few short moments every now and then where I was able to be more optimistic about my future and tought to my self that my condition will improve with time.

Unfortunatelly this now seems as a distant future, and I feel terrible and hopeless.

But I guess this is a normal part of the game right?

I learned by now that healing isn't linear.

I hope to see some improvements in the near future, because this is the only thing that can give me hope and optimism.

 

Regarding Wellbutrin, @Go2zero's theory is completly valid. There is a high probability that some of my simptoms are caused by Wellbutrin withdrawal and not only SSRIs.

Unfortunatelly at this moment, I am still traumatised by the adverese affects experianced by reinstalment attempt of sertraline and am therefore afraind to try reinstaling wellbutrin because I am afraid that it will cause similar adverse reaction even at a very small dose :(

Therefore I am not sure if it's a risk worth taking.

 

I also don't even know if I could get a perscription for it, since my doctor might be hesistant to perscribe it to me based on the fact that this drug gave me such anxiety that I ended up in a hospital.

 

I have an appoitment with my psychiatrist in two days. Trust me, I don't want to go, since she will impose drugs on me, and try to convince me that I need them and so on. I am going only because I am currently on sick leave from work, and seeing a psychiatrist is a demand from my GP. I guess I need to stick to their protocol in order to get further sick leave approval.

 

 

 

 

 

1

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

j1290 Veteran

j1290

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, Gregor007 said:

I have an appoitment with my psychiatrist in two days. Trust me, I don't want to go, since she will impose drugs on me, and try to convince me that I need them and so on. I am going only because I am currently on sick leave from work, and seeing a psychiatrist is a demand from my GP. I guess I need to stick to their protocol in order to get further sick leave approval.

Good luck with this, Gregor!  Please let us know how it goes!

I am not a doctor and do not offer any medical advice, only my own experience.  Consult your physician.

2011-2015 tapered off 300MG of Effexor.  Back in the Paxil Progress days.  No rebound.   

2005-2021:  450 mg Bupropion XL Daily

2021 Buporopion May 450mg/June 400mg/July 375mg/Aug 10th 360mg/

2021 Dec - 150mg IR, 3x day = 450mg Bup, Heritage manufacturer-yellow color pill. 

2022 May 3 - 3 x 150mg IR Bup, Avet brand(pharmacist said they merged with Heritage-orange color) -migraines

REINSTATED-BACK TO MY LAST STABLE DOSE/TIME RELEASE

2022 June 5 - switched back to 3 x 150mg XL one time per day= 450 mg total Bup-Apotex brand

FINISHED TAPER 2022 Aug 31 - 450MG to 412MG IR Bup//Sep. 28, 2022: 412mg to 375mg//Oct 26, 2022: 375mg to 365 mg//Nov 21, 2022: 365mg to 327mg//Dec 27, 2022: 327 mg to 290 mg//Dec 31, 2022:  290mg to 262mg//Jan 28, 2023:  262mg to 190mg//Feb. 19, 2023:  190mg to 140mg//Mar. 18, '23:  140mg to 100mg//can't remember the rest but jumped to zero Sept 5, 2023

CURRENT TAPER:  Finasteride

 

  • Moderator
Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted
10 hours ago, Gregor007 said:

Not sure if it's related to it, or if it's just a normal "windows and waves" from of healing from wd.

This is hard to say for sure. I would think it is normal WD. You have had so many changes in meds and dosages during the last 2 years. This has most probably sensitised your nervous system. This will heal, but it needs time and lots of stability (so no drugs changes).

 

Only a few days of reinstatement usually do not give symptoms that last for very long.

 

If I were you I would still try a tiny Wellbutrin reinstatement, because of the reasons I explained earlier. 

 

If doctors do not want to cooperate, you can ask yourself the question who is most important. You or the doctor? 

 

If you would want to reinstate Wellbutrin, you could ask another doctor for it.

 

And if your doctor insists to take a medication you do not want, you could still accept the prescription. But it is your decision if you actually would swallow the pills... 😉

 

 

1

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,4mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30,0 , May 29,1, 28,2, July 23,7, Aug 22,6, 21,4, Dec 21,0, 20,5, 20,0  Jan 2025 19,6 mg

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted
19 hours ago, Go2zero said:

If I were you I would still try a tiny Wellbutrin reinstatement, because of the reasons I explained earlier. 

 

I read your post about cutting Wellbutrin XL tablets.

You mentioned that you need to take it at least 3 times per day, since it turns in to instant release.

So if I were to take 5mg per day, I would need to take one serving of 2mg and two servings of 1,5mg (I guess?)

This seems impossible to do by cutting 150mg tablets. 

 

Can I make liquid suspension with Ora blend and one XL tablet?

 

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted
3 hours ago, Gregor007 said:

So if I were to take 5mg per day, I would need to take one serving of 2mg and two servings of 1,5mg (I guess?)

This seems impossible to do by cutting 150mg tablets. 

 

 

Taking it in 3 servings, is only at higher dosages. Higher dosages would kick in to much, therefor it should divided over the day. If you would only take 5 mg you could take it once a day. Best in the morning, since it is activating. It is possible (with some practice to cut a 150 mg in 30 pieces. 

 

Wellbutrin XL is nearly impossible to dissolve, so making a suspension is almost impossible. If you would have Wellbutrin IR it would be possible. But as far as I know only XL is available in Europe. Or is Instant Release available in your country? 

 

 

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,4mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30,0 , May 29,1, 28,2, July 23,7, Aug 22,6, 21,4, Dec 21,0, 20,5, 20,0  Jan 2025 19,6 mg

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted
17 hours ago, Go2zero said:

Or is Instant Release available in your country? 

 

Unfortunatelly only XR. 

 

I got one bottle of 150mg XR today from my doctor. 

 

 

Would you recomend me to start with 5 or 10mg? 

 

Maybe take 5mg in the morning and then another 5mg in the afternoon? 

 

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

  • Moderator
Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted
18 minutes ago, Gregor007 said:

Would you recomend me to start with 5 or 10mg? 

 

If I were you I would start with 5 mg per day. If that would work it is better than starting directly with 10mg.

 

You can divide this 5mg over 2 servings. But 5 mg is already very small in size. You could try to divide that in two. Otherwise take it as 1 serving in the morning.

 

See what this does and report here please. It may take 1 - 2 weeks before you feel a difference. But you may also notice a change much earlier. We all react differently....

 

Do you have scales to weigh your daily dosages?
 

Please understand the difference between pill weight (my pills weigh 190 mg on average) and active ingredient (150mg per pill).

 

You should try to cut the pill in 30 parts (more or less equal). I am not saying this is easy, but it can be done with some practice. Look at the video I made and mentioned earlier. Small differences in weight will even out over the week. 

 

Best way to weigh and cut very small servings like 5mg, is by cutting a pill for example in 6 pieces of 25 mg. And then by eye cut this 25 mg in 5 more or less equal parts. This is better than weighing parts of 5mg each. The scales are more accurate in weighing weights over 10mg is my experience.

 

Let me know if you have any questions. 

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,4mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30,0 , May 29,1, 28,2, July 23,7, Aug 22,6, 21,4, Dec 21,0, 20,5, 20,0  Jan 2025 19,6 mg

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

Gregor007 Rookie

Gregor007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

@Go2zero, first of all, thank you so much for your time and consideration invested in me.

 

Unfortunatelly I don't have a scale weight that accuare, I called a few specialised stores near me, and they would need to order one, as they are not on stock.

My sister works at a pharmacy and has acces to laboratory grade scale, she will try to cut one pill for me as per instructions of your video. 

I hope she mannages to get a few servings of near 5mg of active ingredient for now.

 

 

49 minutes ago, Go2zero said:

See what this does and report here please. It may take 1 - 2 weeks before you feel a difference. But you may also notice a change much earlier. We all react differently....

I really hope I make it for that long. I am afraid that my anxiety will skyrocket shortly after reinstaling, like it did with Sertraline attempt last week.

 

I am planning to take it tomorrow morning.

 

Fingers crossed I don't loose my mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sertraline from 2008 till 2023 (was as high as 300mg for several years)

end of April of 2023 - switched from 300mg of Sertraline to 50 mg fluvoxamine in total of 17 days. 

21.8.2023  raised luvox to 100mg and got a severe adverse reaction one week later

29.8.2023  decreased back to 50mg and discontiuned it after two weeks.

25.9.2023  introduced 20mg of fluoxetine, discontiuned if ater about a few weeks.

23.11.2023 reinstated 25 of sertraline, discontinuned it after about 2 weeks.

26.1.2024  Vortioxetine 5mg, discontinued after  4 days,

30.1.2024 Duloxetine 20mg, discontinued after 3 days

6.2.2024  Wellbutrin 150mg, upped to 300mg on 25.3., upped once againg to 450mg on 15.5.2024

21.5.2024  Wellbutrin lovered to 300mg, 29.5.2024 - Wellbutrin lowered to 150mg, added 25mg of Sertraline (raised to 50mg after 5 days)

23.8.2024 removed Wellbutrin, Sertraline lowered shortly after to 25 mg and discontiuned after about two weeks. 13.9.2024  drug free

 

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