Tanya: Thyroid and wd

[Tanya]

Hi my name is Tanya and I've been on seroxat for 15 years,I've tried twice to come off and had to have physiciatric help and then back up to the 40 mg.

My history is very long and complicated but in short I have severe M.E,no thyroid and had a stroke four years ago,my husband of twenty years left me a year ago ,and in still trying to get my thyroid levels right.i hate being on seroxat as I've gained six stone on it and have no libido at all.

I want to start trying to reduce it and this time be succesfull.is there any suppliments I should start? I can get the liquid prescribed and I'd like to reduce by 5% . Is there hope of coming off this drug?

Tanya.xxx

[Petunia]

Hi Tanya,

Welcome to this forum.  There's no need to be nervous, all of us here are in the same situation in one way or another. 

 

It sounds like you have been through a difficult time, I'm sorry you've had to deal with all of this.

 

With the help here, you will be able to come off seroxat, it may take a while, but you will be able to do it.  I was on Lexapro for over 13 years and tried 4 times to stop taking it, but couldn't.  I finally managed by tapering.  But I didn't know about this site then, and tapered too fast.

 

Here is a link with information for tapering off Seroxat (also known as Paxil)

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/405-tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine/?hl=seroxat

 

If you put your drug history in your signature, it makes it easier for members to be able to offer advice and support.  Instructions for how to do that are here:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

Some people find magnesium to be helpful, here is a link with some information about it:

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

A lot of us have found omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oil capsules, help withdrawal symptoms, more information can be found here:

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

Others will be along soon with more help and support

 

I hope you feel better very soon.

Petu.

 

 

[Meimeiquest]

Hi Tanta,

 

Welcome aboard! I hope a lessening of your troubles is in your future!

 

One of our members, Gia, recently posted about a book that has pulled a lot of ideas together for me, Unravelling CFS. I believe it is only available in the US as an e book, but since it was written in Great Britain, it might be available in hard copy there. If his premises are correct, you already have cortisol issues as an ME patient. That can also be an issue in withdrawing from an AD, so you might want to look in the forums for information in advance, especially for info on reducing cortisol flooding (and waking up early feeling awful) at first light. More info on the book is available at Gia's website, www.beyondmeds.com.

 

I also found the paper Harm Reduction to be helpful early on, although I would point out that this website recommends decreasing doses at 10% of the last dose, not 10% of the starting dose.

 

Good luck!

[Barbarannamated]

Hi Tanya.

 

What is ME? (I feel like I should know this..)

 

All the best to you. You've landed in a great place that I wish I had found sooner.

[Jemima]

Hello, Tanya, and welcome to the forum. Tapering Serotax (Paxil here in the USA) at 5% is a good plan.  Here's our general topic on tapering:

 

Why Taper By 10% of My Dosage?

 

Please note that you don't have to start at 10% - that's a maximum and many people find 10% is too much of a cut at once.  And yes, you can get off of Serotax and get off of it comfortably by taking things slowly and gradually.  It's important to listen to one's body and stop tapering when withdrawal symptoms set in, or even updose a bit at that point. 40 mg. is a high dose of Serotax, so I would be especially careful in your place.  I'm glad to see that you can get the liquid.  That will make things far easier.

 

I don't know what M.E. is, either. ?

 

You'll find lots of solid information and friendly support here.  Again, welcome.

[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

Found this link which might be it:

 

http://www.mecfs.org.au/what-is-meorcfs

 

 

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a severe, complex, acquired illness with numerous symptoms related mainly to the dysfunction of the brain, gastro-intestinal, immune, endocrine and cardiac systems. ME has been classified as a neurological disorder in the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases  since 1969 (ICD 10 G93.3).

[Narcissus]

 

 

Is there hope of coming off this drug?

 

Yes!  As the others have already said, pacing yourself is key.  It sounds like you're already preparing for a slower taper, which is terrific.  So sorry to hear about your husband and your poor health.  Please let us know how the taper goes or if you have any more questions.

[Tanya]

I'm on 40 mg seroxat and want to start tapering down,do I switch solely to liquid or try to work with both the liquid and tablets?

[basildev]

Hi Tanya,

 

I merged this topic with your introduction.

 

If you have the liquid I'd say use that. I'd suggest using one or the other.

 

I made a liquid out of my tablets but only because the liquid form of my medication wasn't readily available.

[Tanya]

Can I ask if any of you suffer with other health conditions like.M,E and thyroid problems? I have both of these which causes daily struggles and I'm terrified of making my life worse with wd and unbearable to cope ,but I'm desperate to come off seroxat.

[Petunia]

Hi Tanya,

 

I think there are some members here who also have CFS, which is what ME is called in the US.  I apologize if I have that wrong.  Here is the link to your original post with some replies:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4741-tanya-tapering-seroxat/#entry59301

 

There was a reply from Meimeiquest with some information about a book,  I think this is the link to what she was suggesting:

 

http://beyondmeds.com/2013/07/24/ans-and-interaction/

 

I can understand your concern with starting to taper off medication, given your other health conditions, but I think that by taking it very slowly, it should still be possible.

 

More experienced help should be along soon.

[abir]

Hi Tanya,

i have CFS and hashimoto's.. i have been on ADs for CFS for more than 17 years and i felt that they made my fatigue and brain fog worse in the last 7 years...so i tried to stop taking them but i did not do it in the right way... i knew nothing at all about withdrawal.... i went from 100mg to 0mg in 2 months and 1 week..and so i have been struggling with WD for the last few months and my CFS symptoms got much worse too.....  but again, i tapered too fast, i did not give my body enough time to recover...

 

it is good that you are researching withdrawal before you make your decision.. on one hand, tapering/stopping the meds is going to put your body under a lot of stress and this naturally is going to make your symptoms worse and you would also have to deal with withdrawal symptoms... but, on the other hand, these meds are definitely doing harm to our bodies, they negatively affect our mood, energy level, motivation, concentration, memory....etc....

 

and tapering properly is very important...tapering the right way is supposed to reduce the severity and the duration of your withdrawal symptoms... also, when you do it slowly, you can ge a feel of how the cut is affecting you so you would be able to slow down, take a break or even increase the dose a bit if the symptoms becomes unbrearable ...so basically you would have more control ...

 

if you decide to go ahead and start tapering, make sure to check your iron, B12, zinc, vitamin D, thyroid..etc.. and correct them before you start tapering... it is hard to start taking new supplements while you are already in withdrawal, since you become even more sensitive to drug, supplements or even food while in withdrawal...

 

good luck with your decision... you are already doing the right thing but researching and asking questions...

[Tanya]

Hi,can I ask how the CFs effects you.?

[abir]

it is very hard for me to write or think - but i will try to describe it a bit...it is basically this constant and complete exhaustion - i am in bed most of the time - i am in bed for days in a row... i just need to shut down, physically and mentally for most of the time, like i don't really exist... i am exhausted and out of breath even when lying down... but the mental aspect of it is even harder to deal with - every little thought or feeling is too much to handle... i can't concentrate at all.. even thinking about and planning in my mind how i am going to make a salad is too much...

and now with the withdrawal, my other symptoms got worse too, like my joints pain and even i am getting recurrent UTIs now like i did the first couple of years after i got sick!!

[Karma]

Hi Tanya

 

I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis ... I also have celiac disease and adrenal insufficiency.  Fortunately I caught this before it became CFS ... but I was certainly on my way.

 

For me I got my thyroid balanced before I started weaning off of my SSRI.  Here is a thread I started on thyroid http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1593-thyroid-symptoms/?hl=thyroid ... there may be something helpful here for you.

 

Note that I no longer have brain fog, my memory is sharp, I have energy and my other thyroid symptoms have resolved ... now I am slowly weaning off of Effexor and I am currently at only 4% of my original dose.

 

Welcome to the forum ... and my best advice is only to change one thing at a time and give that a week or two to see how it works out.  Only then try to change something else.

 

Karma