mattinsmom Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I sure hope you were able to sleep. I'm glad you had your visit and happy to hear that you now have a chance to catch your breath. Current: Lorazapam: 2mg: 4/9/15: 2mg - 1.5mg: already sick/nothing noticed. No changes in sleep noted after illness. Lamictal: 7/27/13 - 8/6/13: 400mg - 500mg(dr order) mouth sores, headache, cognitive/balance, heart palp...8/7/13 - 8/23/13: 500mg - 400mg; symptoms↓...10/10/13: 350mg; fever/flu-like <2-weeks...12/30/13: 325mg; fever/flu-like symptoms <1-week...2/10/17: 300mg; no significant changes noted. Discontinued: Omeprazole: 09/2103 40mg...5/1/14: 20mg... 8/21/14 = 0 Wellbutrin: 11/22/13: 300mg – 225mg...12/6/13 delayed reaction- mood swings, weight↓, heart palp/chest pain, alerting...12/14/13: 187mg; physical symptoms↓, neuro emotions ↑, weight stable...12/20/13: 225mg; physical symptoms return, emotions stable <1-week, weight↓...4/21/14: 187mg; weight↑...5/17/14 (neurologist ordered discontinue asap):168mg; headache, mood swings, ↑weight, sleep flux...5/24/14: 150mg; headache, mood swings, ↓cognitive/balance...6/2/14: 112mg; see above, weight stable, <3-weeks... 6/28/14: 100mg; moody...7/25/14: 87.5mg; family troubles... 8/4/14: 75mg; headaches; moody... 8/9/14: 50mg headaches... 8/12/14: 37.5mg; 8/17/14: 25mg...8/26/14 = 0 Hydroxyzine; 10mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. Mood changes/rage Buspirone: 7.5mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. No changes. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted July 29, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted July 29, 2014 I'm glad you had the visit, it sounds lovely and exhausting, and I hope you're now sleeping and recovering well! Hugs Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010. Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea. Feb 15 2010: 300 mg Neurontin 200 Lamictal 10 Celexa 0.65 Xanax and 5 mg Ambien Feb 10 2014: 62 Lamictal 1.1 Celexa 0.135 Xanax 1.8 Valium Feb 10 2015: 50 Lamictal 0.875 Celexa 0.11 Xanax 1.5 Valium Feb 15 2016: 47.5 Lamictal 0.75 Celexa 0.0875 Xanax 1.42 Valium 2/12/20 12 0.045 0.007 1 May 2021 7 0.01 0.0037 1 Feb 2022 6 0!!! 0.00167 0.98 2.5 mg Ambien Oct 2022 4.5 mg Lamictal (off Celexa, off Xanax) 0.95 Valium Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted July 31, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted July 31, 2014 As always I have come down to earth with a big bang . Exhausted and barely able to even step outside. In pain and have a new and very strange headache. Maybe the visit has just worn me out or maybe I've picked up a virus, or maybe it is just withdrawal as usual. I need to remind myself that this will pass, as always. Even sitting on the sofa is difficult and hurts my head and neck so have to lie down. Back to bed for me I think, just ride that board, in my bed! **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
btdt Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Sometimes bed is the only game in town. I hope it eases soon. peace Mamma WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted August 1, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 1, 2014 Thinking of you MamaP. I am back from my trip and doing fairly well except that my sleep has been disrupted for some reason. I am waiting to return to "normal" so that I can resume tapering. A disruption in routine can sometimes be a good thing for me and jerk me out of a funk but too much can slam me to the ground. It is a balancing act. I am expecting company again as a niece is getting married. The loss of personal space with a ton of [poeple will only last a week but our middle daughter will stay here for three weeks as she will be photographing several other weddings. She and I have a history of bumping heads but she has always had a friend near by to escape to and give me my down time. That friend has moved but she has others. At least we have come to recognize when it is time to separate. Wishing you peaceful sleep. I think that having these visits, although exhausting at the time, will serve a good purpose in the long run, don't you think? We are building relationships that are important. The inconvenience at the time will go away in time but the relationships we build will remain forever. I'm counting on it anyway!! RU Peace & rest. Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 1, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 1, 2014 The visit was worth it RU, I am very close to my grandson but had never spent so much time with him. He spent almost every weekend with me for years until he moved in with his dad, then it was maybe one weekend a month or so. I find it hard to be with anyone 24/7 however much I love them and a bored teenager was a bit trying. I wanted to do so much with him but didn't have the energy, I'm just glad he had an ipad . Today was another bad day and I felt really ill earlier. Sweating profusely but feeling cold, nausea and dizzy. Went to bed for a couple of hours and slept for an hour or so. I think I was dehydrated because of the sweating and felt a bit better after a few glasses of water. A few days ago I collected my new script and the tramadol is a different make. I suspect that is not helping, I seem to be feeling quite ill after taking it. I would so love to be able to flush the lot away! **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
btdt Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 I know it is difficult to do things when you feel unwell but maybe a call to the drug store would result in getting the brand of tramadol your body is use to if you can manage it it may be at least part of the issue. I am having those things too...some of them. . Sweating profusely but feeling cold burning hands or one hand mostly... I don't know why... there is likely a reason I think we are both fed up with this. I know we are... I wish you peace Momma WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
EternalOptimist Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Hi Mama P. Though I answered you in my thread I wanted to put my nose in here and catch up on what you're going through right now. I know what you mean about having difficulty being with someone 24 seven. It takes so much out of it. I so love having a visit from loved ones and friends when I can which isnt often enough for my mental health but my physical can't handle it well. I know it gets a lot better from the benzo withdrawal can't believe I'm doing this again. I don't know anything about tramadol but I do know that sometimes We can react differently to different manufacturers. I am so sorry you're feeling quite ill right now. Keep drinking the water. Hugs 1989-2004 low doze Xanax nightly. 2004 w/d in hospital c/t with 3 other meds, (trazadone, phenobarbital, risperdal) Tapered off those meds in 7 months. 2010- bad anxiety so tried Valium and klonopin, back to hospital, came home on nothing, got much better. 12-23-2013- hospital for anxiety, depression,insomnia...used low dose lamictal 12 days with mitrazapine. Came home on 15 mg mitrazapine, down to c. 10 mg mitrazapine in c. 3weeks, 7.5 mg in 32 days.. Tapered off mitrazapine March 6, 2014. Took .75 mg April 20 and 1.05 mg April 21st. Ended taper March 6, 2014. Take supplements tho not all daily: fish oil, Vit. C., Vit. D, cal/mag, little multi, mag at night, Been taking homeopathic remedy since June, 2014 via a Homeopathic M.D. (Trained in psychiatry). 1-12, 2018 put on 60 mg cymbalta; 150 lyrica for anxiety and 50 mg trazadone. Tapered of trazadone after 3 months on it and tapered off of lyrica in about 9 months. As of March, 2019, only on 60 mg cymbalta. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 3, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 3, 2014 Thanks BT. It's been a really odd few days. Felt ill and didn't go out at all. Completely wiped out. I've been going to bed and sleeping several times a day and yesterday started dreaming. Not weird creepy dreams, just dreams. Not the withdrawal in limbo type when I don't know if they are real or not. Yesterday I got angry at something someone said, not even about or to me, but I felt angry. I started to clean the house and got more done than I've done in a long time. I went out and it rained, torrential rain with thunder and lightening. It was great, I love a good storm as long as I can watch from shelter. Last night I realised that I had been angry, really angry and enjoyed the storm. All this told me that the past few days were healing days and now I am at another stage of recovery. I also devised another way of tapering. The beads are not uniform in size but I couldn't really see that much difference by eye. My new pack has some larger beads and the sizes are more visible. It upset things a bit and I could feel that things had changed. I lined a tub with black card and tipped out a capsule. I was on 4 of the smaller beads so I hit on a new way. I now use tweezers and a magnifying glass and pick out the largest 3 beads. The dose isn't actually changed much because the amount should be pretty much the same as the 4. I intend to keep taking the 3 largest beads, which will get smaller as I go along. When the capsule has finished I will be taking 3 of the smallest beads. I will drop to 2 of the largest beads when I open a new capsule. A capsule will last 3 months and the drop will be very gradual.........HOPEFULLY! **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 3, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 3, 2014 Thanks EO, you posted as I was typing, we will get there in the end. **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
mattinsmom Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I'm glad that you had a thunderstorm. I'm not a fan of rain but I've been told that it is one of Gods ways of washing away the dirt. Freshening up the slate. And- you are such an inspiration to me. The creative ways and commitment you show to your tapering, this your being, is truly amazing. Current: Lorazapam: 2mg: 4/9/15: 2mg - 1.5mg: already sick/nothing noticed. No changes in sleep noted after illness. Lamictal: 7/27/13 - 8/6/13: 400mg - 500mg(dr order) mouth sores, headache, cognitive/balance, heart palp...8/7/13 - 8/23/13: 500mg - 400mg; symptoms↓...10/10/13: 350mg; fever/flu-like <2-weeks...12/30/13: 325mg; fever/flu-like symptoms <1-week...2/10/17: 300mg; no significant changes noted. Discontinued: Omeprazole: 09/2103 40mg...5/1/14: 20mg... 8/21/14 = 0 Wellbutrin: 11/22/13: 300mg – 225mg...12/6/13 delayed reaction- mood swings, weight↓, heart palp/chest pain, alerting...12/14/13: 187mg; physical symptoms↓, neuro emotions ↑, weight stable...12/20/13: 225mg; physical symptoms return, emotions stable <1-week, weight↓...4/21/14: 187mg; weight↑...5/17/14 (neurologist ordered discontinue asap):168mg; headache, mood swings, ↑weight, sleep flux...5/24/14: 150mg; headache, mood swings, ↓cognitive/balance...6/2/14: 112mg; see above, weight stable, <3-weeks... 6/28/14: 100mg; moody...7/25/14: 87.5mg; family troubles... 8/4/14: 75mg; headaches; moody... 8/9/14: 50mg headaches... 8/12/14: 37.5mg; 8/17/14: 25mg...8/26/14 = 0 Hydroxyzine; 10mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. Mood changes/rage Buspirone: 7.5mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. No changes. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 5, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 5, 2014 I am feeling much more stable the last few days. Like I have taken another step forward. Something has shifted and it feels like another stage in healing. Maybe the new way of selecting beads is making things more stable, or the cut from 4 to 3. I had been feeling very much like I was before I started tapering. The cut would have been barely anything from 4 smaller to 3 larger beads but whatever it is I'm holding on to it as long as I can! Maybe it is just a new window but it is reassuring to think it is because of the teeny cut. I had been wondering if I would ever be able to get off because a whole bead was just too much of a cut at 25% . Sadly the arthritis has become worse and sciatica has floored me . Barely any sleep last night for the pain which is a pain because my sleep had improved for a few nights too! (Another reason I could be feeling better ) . I spent the morning looking for exercises on youtube and found a couple that have really helped, for now anyway Last night I had an epsom salts bath and laid for an hour topping up the hot water until it subsided. I should have got straight into bed but tidied up first, not a good move! **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
btdt Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 So next time you will go to bed before tidying maybe if you feel like it... I am so moody I can see myself in this ... it comes and goes and today is a come day. I don't know if you have tried cold packs on anything that hurts or not... I have never used it on my foot since I healed the break...a doc last wk or so suggested I use cold. I did not think it would help thought it would cause even more pain and spasm... but low and behold he was right. I have a lump in my foot at the instep it keeps me from walking a LOT especially lately the cold pack really helped and I have an aversion to cold unless I am sweating.. actually don't like it when I am sweating the kind of sweating where I am feel cold... I have two kinds of sweating one where I am hot and like cold... another where I am sweating but feel cold inside. Just an idea for me it seemed a bad one but turned out to be ok. peace WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
wulfgar Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Hi mammaP, I was thinking a bit about omeprazole. You were tapering it dec-may and had to updose effexor. I have been reading about how omeprazole is a liver enzyme inhibitor of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. Also read somewhere that effexor and its metabolite uses CYP2C19 enzymes to metabolize. This is probably of no help now, but this would mean that when on omeprazole your blood serum of effexor were higher and when you tapered omeprazole your body began to metabolize effexor quicker. Omeprazole seems like a bad combo with psych meds! Regards Wulfgar 2010: Mirtazapine 30mg followed by Zopiclone 7.5 mg for sleep post surgery due to pain.2012-> Tapering Mirtazapine and Zopiclone at different rates unsuccessfully.2013: Hospitalized 10 days due to complete Insomnia. Forced back up to 45mg Mirtazapine, 7.5 mg Zopiclone and also Theralene 1 ml.2013-03: Lab showed Vitamin D deficient. Found the vitamin d and insomnia connection. Supplementing vitamin d. Sleep improved by 1-2 hours2013-04: Dropped mirtazapine to 30 due to severe side effects. Quit Theralene. Zopiclone 7.5.2013-05 - 2013-11: Mirtazapine taper monthly 25 20 15 11 8 4 2.5 mg2013-12 Holding M at 2.5. Need to taper Zopiclone due to daytime nausea and vomiting. Taper zopiclone 1/4 red every 5 d. Last Z 2013-12-192013-12-31 M:2.5. Reinstated Zopiclone 3.75 due to Insomnia2014-01-06 M:2.5. Taper Z 1.9 ... 2014-01-14 M:2.5. Z 1 mg.Jumped of Zopiclone 01-20. Jumped mirtazapine 02-16. Theralene: 10mg 02-09. 8mg 03-09. 5mg 03-15. 4mg 03-24. 3mg 04-08. Jumped 04-21.Zopiclone free for 251 days. Mirtazapine free for 224 days. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 5, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 5, 2014 Hi mammaP, I was thinking a bit about omeprazole. You were tapering it dec-may and had to updose effexor. I have been reading about how omeprazole is a liver enzyme inhibitor of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. Also read somewhere that effexor and its metabolite uses CYP2C19 enzymes to metabolize. This is probably of no help now, but this would mean that when on omeprazole your blood serum of effexor were higher and when you tapered omeprazole your body began to metabolize effexor quicker. Omeprazole seems like a bad combo with psych meds! Regards Wulfgar Wow, thanks for that Wulfgar! That makes perfect sense! Who would have thought that PPI would do that? **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
Fireball2014 Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 The docs should know this med stuff! On SSRI's/SNRI's for @ 25 years, first Prozac 18 years Took Pristiq last 3 years, had increase in severe migraines Started tapering Pristiq 100 mg every other day, was ok Tried Topamax for 2 weeks, but side effects intolerable Continued taper, able to tolerate 100mg every 4th day At 6 weeks cut 100mg tab to 50mg & had bad reaction Only taking 25mg sumatriptan or 0.5mg Ativan as needed 4 weeks later withdrawal worse, where do I go from here? Stabilizing on 4mg Prozac, NO triptans, NO Ativan 3.6mg hold since June 18 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted August 6, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 6, 2014 Just wanted to stop by with a hug and say congratulations on dropping another bead, I hope you managed to get a bit more sleep. I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes Link to comment
Nikki Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Hi MamaP Checking in with the folks here. Had to back track a bit in the posts. Spending so much time with someone gets to me. I need my down time to be alone. That may have contributed to your feeling poorly. I think it is amazing that you continue with your taper. I always remember something you told me awhile back..."that the meds were what was making you feel bad." If you need to sleep....then sleep..... Hugs Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 6, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 6, 2014 The docs should know this med stuff! I agree Fireball they should know this stuff, sadly the drug companies are teaching them about the drugs and are not being honest. Thank goodness for the internet! Thanks Petu and Nikki, I have actually slept better the last couple of nights and stayed up all day! I have turned a corner but not sure why. Maybe I just needed to sleep, it really does make a huge difference. I do feel that the drop has been good for me, just hope this window stays open a while. Went out today with my daughter and 2 little grandsons, we went to a park and I borrowed a mobility scooter. It was amazing to be able to go through the trees and sit by the streams. The air was fresh and the ground was lovely and moist after a downpour yesterday. There was a bug hunt on for the kids, the owners had fixed huge bugs to trees and posts. The boys had great fun finding the bugs and crossing them off their sheets. We had lunch first then had ice cream after. It was a lovely afternoon. Tomorrow the 5 year old is coming for a sleepover and we are going to the garden centre to buy some plants for the garden. Normal things, like normal people do. During a wave I always feel like it will never get better, but it does. It really does get better everyone, don't despair and NEVER give up. Waves do pass, they really do and when they pass the windows are so sweet, the rain is fresh and reviving, the wind is blowing away cobwebs and dust. The sun is making things grow and topping up our vitamin D. 2 years ago I felt nothing. My brother died and I didn't care. I was sad for his family but I couldn't feel the grief that should go along with losing a sibling. I didn't cry, I felt nothing. Today I enjoyed every single second, and 2,3, 5 or even 7 years ago I would never have dreamed I would feel like this again. Pain has been bad and I couldn't walk, but that is nothing, my head was clear and that is everything **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
Muddles Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 I'm so pleased for you mammaP. You so deserve this. 2008 - Doctors appointment with stress induced anxiety led to Citalopram prescription. Severe adverse reaction Mirtazapine prescribed - adverse reaction but told to stay on. Poop out - December 2013 15mg Currently on 13.5mg, April 12mg May 10th - 11mg June 10th - 10mg July 8th - 9mg September - 0mg Link to comment
Nikki Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 that sounds so nice the way you spent the day and the scenery sounds beautiful and peaceful. Love the reminder about waves:) Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment
btdt Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Glad your turned the corner peace WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
Athena Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 HI MammaP, I'm very happy for you that you can enjoy your days, every second of it like you say! It's a wonderful reminder that we will all end up feeling better. Thank you for sharing with us. Take care! 2000-2001: Effexor 2005-2012: Celexa, Zoloft, Effexor, desipramin, Wellbutrin, mirtazepin, Lamictal, Remeron, Abilify, nortriptylin, Cipralex, Cymbalta, and others I don't remember. Really bad side effects to all. Sept-Nov 2012: Paxil 20mg, Wellbutrin 100mg, Imovane 5mg Nov 2012: Paxil 20mg --> 10mg Dec 2012: Paxil 10mg-->0; 1 week later: HUGE WD symptoms. Started to get informed on the internet and back to 10mg Paxil. Dec 2012-Jan 2013: Paxil 10mg, Wellbutrin 100mg, Imovane 2.5mg End Jan 2013: P 9mg, W 100mg, I 2.0mg Feb 2013: P 8mg, W 100mg, I 1.5mg April 2013: P 7mg, W 100mg, I 1.25mg May 2013: P 7mg, W 90mg, I 1mg June 2013: P 7mg, W 80mg, I 0mg July 1/2013: P 7, W 70 July 22/2013: P 7, W 60 Aug 2013: P 7, W 50 Sept 2013: P 6.1, W 50 Oct 2013: P up to 6.3, W 50 Nov 2013: P 6.2 to 5.9, W 50 Dec 2013: P 5.9, W 40 Jan 2014: P 5.3, W40 Feb 2014: P 5.3, W 30 March-April 2014: P 5.3, W 26 May 2014: P 5.3, W 20 June 2014: P 5.3 W 15 July 2014: P 5.3, W 14 Aug 2014: P 5.3, W up to 15 Sept 2014: P 5.3, W 14 Oct 2014: P 4.8, W 14 Nov 2014: P 4.3, W 14 Dec 2014-Jan 2015: P 3.9, W 14 Feb 2015: P 3.9, W 12 March 2015: P 3.6, W 12 April-May 2015: P 3.3, W 12 June 2015: P 3.3, W 10 July 2015: P 3.3, W 8 Aug-Sept 2015: P 3.3, W 6 Oct 2015: P 3.0, W 6 Nov 2015: P 2.7, W 6 Dec 2015: P 2.4, W 6 Jan-Feb 2016: P 2.4, W 5 March 2016: P 2.2, W 5 April 2016: P 2.2, W 4 May-June 2016: P 2.2, W 3 July 2016: P 2.2, W 2 Aug 2016: P 2.2, W 1 Sept 2016: P 2.2, W 0!! Oct 2016: P 2.0 Nov 2016-Jan 2017: P 1.8 Feb-Mar 2017: P 1.9 April-May 2017: P 1.8 June 2017: P 1.6 July-Dec 2017: P 1.5 Jan-April 2018: P 1.6 Others: Cytomel 25mcg (thyroid), vit. C, vit D, Omega-3 fish oil, Magnesium bisglycinate , Melatonin 1mg, 81mg Aspirin, Milk peptides, L-theanine, Valericalm tincture mix, scullcap tincture, Suan Zao Ren (jujube seeds) Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 7, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 7, 2014 I have my 2 little grandsons here for a sleepover. I was only having one but the little one was upset because he wanted to come too. We went to the playpark. They are little whirlwinds and don't keep still for a minute! Bath soon and wind down for bed. Hopefully little one will sleep later than 5am! **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
mattinsmom Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 You make my heart smile. Current: Lorazapam: 2mg: 4/9/15: 2mg - 1.5mg: already sick/nothing noticed. No changes in sleep noted after illness. Lamictal: 7/27/13 - 8/6/13: 400mg - 500mg(dr order) mouth sores, headache, cognitive/balance, heart palp...8/7/13 - 8/23/13: 500mg - 400mg; symptoms↓...10/10/13: 350mg; fever/flu-like <2-weeks...12/30/13: 325mg; fever/flu-like symptoms <1-week...2/10/17: 300mg; no significant changes noted. Discontinued: Omeprazole: 09/2103 40mg...5/1/14: 20mg... 8/21/14 = 0 Wellbutrin: 11/22/13: 300mg – 225mg...12/6/13 delayed reaction- mood swings, weight↓, heart palp/chest pain, alerting...12/14/13: 187mg; physical symptoms↓, neuro emotions ↑, weight stable...12/20/13: 225mg; physical symptoms return, emotions stable <1-week, weight↓...4/21/14: 187mg; weight↑...5/17/14 (neurologist ordered discontinue asap):168mg; headache, mood swings, ↑weight, sleep flux...5/24/14: 150mg; headache, mood swings, ↓cognitive/balance...6/2/14: 112mg; see above, weight stable, <3-weeks... 6/28/14: 100mg; moody...7/25/14: 87.5mg; family troubles... 8/4/14: 75mg; headaches; moody... 8/9/14: 50mg headaches... 8/12/14: 37.5mg; 8/17/14: 25mg...8/26/14 = 0 Hydroxyzine; 10mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. Mood changes/rage Buspirone: 7.5mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. No changes. Link to comment
WinningThrough Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 So glad you feel better MammaP :-) Your message gives me a lot of hope. The only way out is through. Aug 2013 - Augmentin leading to akathisia Sept-Nov 2013 - Citalopram 20mg, severe reaction, off at 5mg. Valium 4mg, prn Oct 2013 - 5 zopiclone tablets, 7.5mg End Nov 2013-end Feb 2014, Seroquel, top dose 150mg, off at 25mg End Nov 2013-early march 2014, Zoloft 100mg top dose, off at 25mg End Dec-2013-early April 2014, lorazepam 1mg prn April 3rd 2014 zoloft 5mg for a few days. 18/4/14 - zoloft, 1mg. Came off at 0.35 mg,14th June 2014 29 June 2014 - 1mg lorazepam, last ever 29 June 2014 - med free Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 10, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 10, 2014 What a week it's been! The day out with my daughter and the little ones was incredible, a beautiful day. Next day I was shopping in town, then in pain from doing too much . Thursday I took the boys out and they stayed over. They are very young and boisterous, full of energy and very inquisitive. It was a lovely day but I was flagging by the end of it! Next day took them home to Mum and stayed for dinner which is always a big affair with lots of Dad's family round. I can't drive after my meds so stayed over and spent yesterday with them before driving home. Today my window was slammed shut again, probably because I overdid things massively but it is hard when I'm feeling good not to do things. The fact is that we never know what tomorrow will bring and have to make the most of those windows! Even if I had not done all those things my window could have slammed shut at any moment. Was it worth it? Oh yeah . My only regret is tat it didn't last one more day, I had things planned for today that I couldn't do because I've felt so ill and in bed most of the day. Hopefully I will bounce back tomorrow and the window will be open again. **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
lexicon Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Here is wishing you a wonderful, wide open, breezy window my dear mammaP ❤️ It is fabulous that you enjoyed your time with family You are lovely, and I appreciate you very much ❤️ Holding you in prayer, for well being and healing .. Love, Lexi Hello, I am tapering Lorazepam, and my daily dose is 1.125 mgs. I followed a long hold for 5 months, ( Nov-March 2019) hoping to find some stability, but it did not work. So I resumed my taper and hold pattern. For the last 3 years, I have been using a daily microtaper, cutting .001mgs per day, with holds as needed. Symptoms are head pressure, labored breathing, palpitations, abrupt surges of dizziness, this being my worst symptom for now, internal tremors, my latest nemesis, unsteadiness, anxiety, plus many other symptoms that cycle in, and cycle out consistently. Not a day passes, without grief I take no other meds. January 2013 - 15 day quick taper off 10 mgs of Lexapro, and 25 mgs of Sertraline, at a detox clinic. Link to comment
tjs19 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Congrats on the window - glad you made the most of it. It's good to do things when you feel up for it, even if you pay for it later. Now hopefully another window will soon come... Prescribed: Sertraline HCl (Zoloft) (25 mg - 1 pill) for anxiety - took from October 2012 to September 2013; tapered over the last month or so with the smallest dose being approximately quarter of a pill/6.25 mg Trazodone (50 mg) for sleep/anxiety - took from September 2012 to February (roughly) 2013, then 25 mg from March 2013 through August 2013; tapered over 3-4 weeks or so over the last month of consumption Zolpidem tartrate (Ambien) (10 mg) for sleep "as needed" - only took three of these total (terrible rebound anxiety the next day) Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 15, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 15, 2014 After a lovely window last week I crashed and felt really ill for a few days. The day before yesterday was the worst and almost fainted a couple of times. Yesterday I felt a bit better but still rough, and all over the place. No sleep and couldn't concentrate on anything. Kept bumping into things and just wanted to sleep. I decided I was not going to spend another day inside on the sofa but wasn't up to driving so too the bus for the short trip into town. I took out my bus fare and put it in my pocket to save time getting on. In the shop I went to pay and I'd left my bag at home! . I had no choice but to walk home . It took a long time and I took it very slowly. There are benches along the route and I sat on each one for a few minutes. I saw things I never noticed before, walked through the avenue of trees that hang right over the road. Saw a little babbling brook and some cattle behind the trees. It was amazing to smell the trees and I arrived home very very sore but exhiliarated! Straight into a magnesium bath and felt energised enough to sort some things out while waiting for the bath to run. I feel much better in my head for that walk. I will pay for it tomorrow and be in a lot of pain but who cares when I had a clear head for a while and have lovely photos on my phone! Sadly I didn't sleep again, the insomnia is back with a vengeance. Now I have a lot of pain and am exhausted today. This morning I had the awful feelings of doom again and wanting to die. Considered suicide too for a while, as I was laid there trying to convince myself it is a good idea to get out of bed! Why do I always have to pay so dearly for my windows? I know I do too much when I am feeling better but what is the alternative? Sit here and stagnate permanently? I feel very depressed and weepy, useless and pathetic. I have my appointment at the hospital next week for my legs, not looking forward to that one bit. I know there will be lots of tests and scans etc before they decide what is to be done, and I just don't want to do it. The letter said I will need treatment and the doctor will discuss my options. The options are surgery or leave it. I don't want surgery but don't want to carry on like this either. Sometimes I just want them to take the leg and give me a prosthetic one, they are much more advanced these days and have to be better than the crumbling painful one I have now! Maybe it is withdrawal again, but shouldn't be. I dropped a bead but the dose would have stayed the same because it was 3 larger beads instead of 4 smaller ones. I hate that these beads changed size, it is so miniscule but makes such a difference. And the tramadol brand change is probably having an effect too. I know all this but can't do anything about it until I am due a new script, then I can ask the pharmacy to get my old brand. It was the surgery that dispensed my last one. Next week I am going to a religious convention and staying in a spa hotel but today I am not looking forward to it because I will be on my own. I will be surrounded by people and looked after but will still be on my own. I don't know many people who will be there. Everyone I know are going to other venues that I can't get to. The hotel is lovely and there is a spa and swimming pool which will be lovely, so I will make the most of that! On a positive note I will meet lots of new people and may make some good friends. **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
MaryKA Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Hello mammaP, I hope you have had a good day? It has just occurred to me that 'windows' are not unknown to people who aren't on/coming off psych meds. I mean, is it like the tiredness that I in my later teen years would feel? Like after a big night out, or a big day out, or something that was exhausting, say on a Saturday, I would sleep in on Sunday morning, then have a normal day and a normal bedtime ready for Monday and think 'well, that's sorted, I've caught up on my sleep', and then get up on Monday (or maybe even Tuesday) and still I would feel that I had to catch up on my sleep. My schoolmates said the same. And, haha, my 18-year-old daughter does too! So this must be something that's been going since the time dot. HTH About getting out of bed. Is it a deep-seated thing? I ask cos I've realised I pause in bed in the morning quite alot and have (I hope, no longer now I've realised it) subconscious thoughts that there is nothing to get up for, that I don't want to live today, and that for me is deep seated. (I know why it is deep and I consciously reject it, but there it lurks for me to more actively reject....) Anyway, you don't have to answer my question (obviously ): I'll just say, whether it has been part of you for a long time or relatively recently, don't let it get to you. Enjoy! You so absolutely live your life when you can how you can, like a normal teenager but with the wisdom of the grandmother that you are . I hope I have people around me 20 years from now like you do. <sunglasses> xxx Started citalopram May 12, from 10 to 40 mg/d over 2 months Wanted to come off in May 13 and did it too quickly: decrease from 40 to 0 mg/d over 2 weeks; WD from then onwards, increasing in intensity to be unbearable at 4 weeks later; reinstated 10 mg/d for 2 days (WD severity halved); reinstated 20 mg/d (initial WD symptoms decreased but not gone entirely until after 8 weeks) Started 5--7% taper: Aug 13: 19 mg/d, mild WD on day 3; thereafter none notable; Nov 13: 18 mg/d, no WD; Dec 13: 17 mg/day, no WD for 3 weeks, then (at Christmas) tearfulness; Jan 14: 16.7 mg/d, Apr 14: 15.7 mg/d, Jun 14: 14.5 mg/d; Jul 14: 13.5 mg/d (6.9% reduction), Aug 14: 12.5 mg/d (7.4% reduction) Sharing experience makes a difference Link to comment
btdt Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Ah Life it has those interesting days where you just have to make due and sometimes you find something worth seeing on the way seems to be your good fortune on purse forgetting day. I am sorry you have this leg issue to look after on top of withdrawal I wonder if a slight hold on meds for a bit would be useful just till you get situated and know what the options are from the doctors. Health issues are so stressful by themselves being as stable as possible when it is time to make choices or do any exams may be a good idea. This is a just a suggestion I trust that you know what is best for you. I know for myself health concerns can still put me off it is the stress of it I can't seem to deal with sometimes other things depending on what is up. I am happy to hear you have the spa to look forward too and are taking the most possible positive stance on the idea. I wish you peace WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
mattinsmom Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Ah, so the Gods made you notice the trees and the brook and the cattle. Funny how those things happen I know that you get hit so hard after a window. I hear the exhaustion and frustration in your words. I understand the misery of the clock tic-tocking away and the limitations it causes the next day. I can't make anything better but I can cheer for the good moments you had, honor the space that you are in, and thank you for not dying. Current: Lorazapam: 2mg: 4/9/15: 2mg - 1.5mg: already sick/nothing noticed. No changes in sleep noted after illness. Lamictal: 7/27/13 - 8/6/13: 400mg - 500mg(dr order) mouth sores, headache, cognitive/balance, heart palp...8/7/13 - 8/23/13: 500mg - 400mg; symptoms↓...10/10/13: 350mg; fever/flu-like <2-weeks...12/30/13: 325mg; fever/flu-like symptoms <1-week...2/10/17: 300mg; no significant changes noted. Discontinued: Omeprazole: 09/2103 40mg...5/1/14: 20mg... 8/21/14 = 0 Wellbutrin: 11/22/13: 300mg – 225mg...12/6/13 delayed reaction- mood swings, weight↓, heart palp/chest pain, alerting...12/14/13: 187mg; physical symptoms↓, neuro emotions ↑, weight stable...12/20/13: 225mg; physical symptoms return, emotions stable <1-week, weight↓...4/21/14: 187mg; weight↑...5/17/14 (neurologist ordered discontinue asap):168mg; headache, mood swings, ↑weight, sleep flux...5/24/14: 150mg; headache, mood swings, ↓cognitive/balance...6/2/14: 112mg; see above, weight stable, <3-weeks... 6/28/14: 100mg; moody...7/25/14: 87.5mg; family troubles... 8/4/14: 75mg; headaches; moody... 8/9/14: 50mg headaches... 8/12/14: 37.5mg; 8/17/14: 25mg...8/26/14 = 0 Hydroxyzine; 10mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. Mood changes/rage Buspirone: 7.5mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. No changes. Link to comment
EternalOptimist Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Hi mama P again. I just attempted to post and lost it darn. I just want to commend you for that walk home and how nice to feel exhilarated even though it wasn't planned. Thumbs up. Maybe you will have a similar experience in this upcoming convention? Such a rough ride these ups and downs. I can relate somewhat to what you wrote last about feeling useless pathetic depressed etc. Glad it doesn't stick around when the windows come. I'm rooting for you. 1989-2004 low doze Xanax nightly. 2004 w/d in hospital c/t with 3 other meds, (trazadone, phenobarbital, risperdal) Tapered off those meds in 7 months. 2010- bad anxiety so tried Valium and klonopin, back to hospital, came home on nothing, got much better. 12-23-2013- hospital for anxiety, depression,insomnia...used low dose lamictal 12 days with mitrazapine. Came home on 15 mg mitrazapine, down to c. 10 mg mitrazapine in c. 3weeks, 7.5 mg in 32 days.. Tapered off mitrazapine March 6, 2014. Took .75 mg April 20 and 1.05 mg April 21st. Ended taper March 6, 2014. Take supplements tho not all daily: fish oil, Vit. C., Vit. D, cal/mag, little multi, mag at night, Been taking homeopathic remedy since June, 2014 via a Homeopathic M.D. (Trained in psychiatry). 1-12, 2018 put on 60 mg cymbalta; 150 lyrica for anxiety and 50 mg trazadone. Tapered of trazadone after 3 months on it and tapered off of lyrica in about 9 months. As of March, 2019, only on 60 mg cymbalta. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 17, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 17, 2014 Hi Mary, it's great to 'see' you . My mornings are just sluggish and horrid, due mostly to lack of sleep plus the hangover from the tramadol, yuk. Having said that I've always been a night owl, always, as long as I can remember. I love early mornings but only get to enjoy them as I am going off to bed in summer . Thank you EO, BTDT and Amy,my buddies, I felt so ill a few days ago and as usual felt like this is it, life would be like that until I die, which I hoped would be sooner rather than later. Then I forgot my bag and had the lovely experience because of it, followed by more another really bad day. Yesterday I decided I would go into town on the bus again, but made sure I had everything with me. I did what I had to do but had no enjoyment from it and was home within an hour. I didn't really NEED to go but sitting here feeling sorry for myself is getting too familiar so off I went. When I got home I was in pain again but I had been out and breathed in fresh air, moved my body and had face to face contact with people even if it was only for seconds as I paid for my things. Last night I was weepy again, and prepared for my meeting today. I always prepare but don't always get there and listen in on the telephone link, feeling out of it and miserable but grateful that I can listen. Had a bad night again last night but got up and actually made it to the meeting . Sat fighting back tears and almost left because I felt like the dam would burst and I would cry my eyes out but stayed and gulped back those tears. There was a call for volunteers to clean a hall that had been hired to host a lunch party for international delegates coming to the convention. I volunteered and spent the afternoon scrubbing toilets ! Once again I am exhausted and my back is killing but I did it! Those loos are sparkling and ready for anyone and I DID IT. My windows and waves pattern is definitely changing. The waves are just as traumatic but they don't last as long and soon give way to more windows. I was looking at a site yesterday that I spent a lot of time on before I started tapering. It is a site based on CBT and is great. I realised that it had helped me a lot to change my thinking and that has helped when withdrawal has been hard, but I was feeling low and went back for another look. I'll share it on the symptoms and self care forum, I think the link is there already but itis well worth looking into for anyone who is in withdrawal. The bit I looked at was, a negative thought, such as thinking someone has ignored you, can escalate. She ignored me, why did she ignore me? She doesn't like me....I am an awful person....... and so on. Before you know it you are in bed feeling ill and unable to pull yourself together! THAT IS ME. Withdrawal is terrible and is physically disabling It is so easy to fall into the trap of negative thinking and we need to change the channel. Today I changed the channel.....again! I keep flicking back to the negative channel but it is easier to switch channels now. **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
Nikki Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Hi MamaP.....you really summed it up about falling back into negative thinking when WD hits. But you did get yourself out and that is great. Is the weepiness part of your windows? I have that. So glad when it passes. I admire your perseverance thru all of this. Hugs Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now