Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted March 14, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 14, 2014 Hi bubble, just stopped by to see how you're doing. Sounds like you're slogging through it and coming through okay. Give yourself lots of time, you'll be up and down a bit for a while, that's perfectly normal and you can ride it out. It will pass and you'll feel much better! Glad you're enjoying the spring. We're having early spring here too and the first wildflowers are beginning to appear. 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
Wolfhound Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 I am very happy to read about your well thought plans. Chapeau! Put on trazadone for 8 weeks. Psychic akathisia started on 100 mg. Not a single doctor believed me telling me it is all anxiety in my head. Terrible suicidal urges. Got voluntary hospitalised. Acknoledged adverse reaction, put me off cold turkey. Instalated mirtazapine to block the reaction of trazadone. 5 weeks on mirtazapine.acathisia worsened, suicidal, homicidal urges. Nobody believed. Finally they stopped mirtazapine cold turkey. My heighest dose of trazadone was 200 mg, of mirtazapine 30 mg. Since the c/t, suicidal, acathisia continuing. tried promethazine for sleep. Tried atarax. Currently taking klonopin for 10 days. Good for sleep, but my condition worsening. Unable to tell if it is klonopin or a bad wave. In the former hospital i took twice gabapentin. It should be all my medication. i was offered promethazin for sleep 25 mg and also small amount of quetiapine. Both are antipsychotics, even if ptomethszin very weak. Terribly afraid. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 14, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 14, 2014 thank you dears this kind of support always lifts me up Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
DrugSlave Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Glad to hear your hard work has paid off. Take the time to heal yourself. Best wishes On Effexor since February 2003; Mar/2012 - dropped from 150mg to 131mg; Apr/2012 - 112.5mg; Jul.2/2012 - 94mg; Oct.21/2012 - 75mg - first started noticing withdrawal symptoms; Nov.16/2012 - 56mg; Dec.11/2012- 37.5mg; Jan.5/2013 - 19mg; Jan.22/2013 - 22.5mg (withdrawal too strong); Jan.23/2013 - 37.5mg (MUCH worse; very sick) Jan.24/2013 - 30mg; May 26/2013 - 27mg (started 10% method - too much) Dec.25/2013 - 27.3mg (no relief after 7 month hold; slow updose) Mar.6/2014 - 37.5mg (3.5 year hold, no improvement); Nov.2/2017 - 2.5% drop/36.6mg; Nov.30/2017 - 4% drop/35.1mg; Dec.28/2017 - 6% drop/33mg; Jan.25,/2018 - 8% drop/30.4mg; Feb.22/2018 - Held at 30.4mg; Mar. 22/2018 - 10% drop/27.4mg; Apr.19/2018 - 10% drop/24.7mg; May 17/2018 - 5%/23.5mg; Nov.21/2018 - 1.7% drop/23.1mg; Dec.19/2018 - 1.7%/22.7mg; Jan.23/2019 - 2.6%/22.1mg; Feb.27/2019 - 3.6% drop/21.3mg..holding...considering slow updose back to full dose Link to comment
Nikki Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Hi Bubble....hormones do play a big part in our lives. I can understand the Xanax taper coming first. It does have a sedating effect and for me I get a rebounding depression. I took one last night and I am paying for it today. How wonderful for you to be able to cut yourself some slack to attend to your needs. It will really does help. In spite of tapering you always sound good:) I did a two year taper from Lexapro. I did use the liquid. Keep it to a minimum (less than 10%) if you need to. I had a hard time with it. After a drop I got hit with big depression (uncontrollable crying). The anxiety was a constant. I found magnesium citrate to be helpful with that. I never took Xanax. I was afraid of it. To me.....you have got this covered and will do well:) 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 bubble Posted March 16, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 16, 2014 thanks for your support DrugSlave and Nikki! Things seem to have improved immensely. Tonight I had a mishap though. I was so pleasantly tired with physical exertion after another 4 hour hike that I forgot to set the alarm for the night dose. I slept peacefully for straight 8 hours and was awoken at my usual time by mild anxiety. I realized the syringe was full next to the bed so decided to take 1.5 mg in the morning dose and another 1.5 in the noon dose so that my intake in 24 hour remains the same. I felt more sedated and had to sleep for another two hours, was also quite irritable but other than that there were no other consequences. The spring is reviving me. I adore it so much. Busy planting flowers, enjoying the sun and blue skies, everything is blooming and smelling. I rode my bike for 20 kilometers today and I so dread going back to the office tomorrow I'm behind with my work on the annual report which is due by the end of the month. It's the 6th time that I'm working on it and previous years I put an unbelievable amount of effort into it. This year I'm just failing to mobilise myself. I was doing badly every March over the past 5 years (due to my misinformed attempts at tapering) but when I look at what I did, I'm amazed. I think that apart from my tapering (which is much more benign than ever before), I' m just fed up with this job Even if you feel well psychologically, such work is bound to exhaust one's resources so I'm not pathologising myself (too much). However, the fact is that I've been fighting terribly with my focus, concentration and attention and having to do a lot o solitary writing (even when it's mostly compiling and organizing what I did over the year) feels like running a marathon with a broken leg I dream so much of taking days off just to be in nature, work in the garden, roam the woods in search of wild edible plants. But I can't. There are no days off when the report is being written I will have to motivate myself to do it. Put the earphones with some music on and hit the road (hugely inappropriate expression for somebody stuck behind a desk ;( I was so happy that my awful symptoms disappeared (although I expect their come back of course). But I hope the worst after the cut is over and now I can just hold... spring healing to all Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted March 16, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 16, 2014 I slept peacefully for straight 8 hours and was awoken at my usual time by mild anxiety. I realized the syringe was full next to the bed so decided to take 1.5 mg in the morning dose and another 1.5 in the noon dose so that my intake in 24 hour remains the same. I felt more sedated and had to sleep for another two hours, was also quite irritable but other than that there were no other consequences. I have done exactly the same. You did the right thing by taking the late dose and I was told by someone that being able to sleep through a dose is a good sign. Keep up the good work. You are doing the right thing to get outside. I was able to take a long walk myself earlier this morning and after reading your post I am going to head back out. So thanks for the inspiration!! I agree…. YAY spring ( although we are expecting snow… grrrr. Won't last long though. ) RU 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
EternalOptimist Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Bubble, your getting out in nature sounds wonderful and good you can do this. So healing there. Can understand your desire to take time off from work to enjoy more of nature. Sounds so healthy. Great progress. Your overall progress is amazing. Thanks for checking in with me. Best EO 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
Nikki Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 I think that apart from my tapering (which is much more benign than ever before), I' m just fed up with this job Even if you feel well psychologically, such work is bound to exhaust one's resources so I'm not pathologising myself (too much). However, the fact is that I've been fighting terribly with my focus, concentration and attention and having to do a lot o solitary writing (even when it's mostly compiling and organizing what I did over the year) feels like running a marathon with a broken leg Bubble this is not coincidence: I left the window open from yesterday and when got up (not woke up) this paragraph was rightin front of me. I needed to read this....it is what I am thinking about alot lately. You sound very good. I bet having 8 full hours of sleep is the most revitalizing thing. It makes all the difference in the world. 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
Wolfhound Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Just a quick look at your amazing week-end activities and I would like to say GREAT! Put on trazadone for 8 weeks. Psychic akathisia started on 100 mg. Not a single doctor believed me telling me it is all anxiety in my head. Terrible suicidal urges. Got voluntary hospitalised. Acknoledged adverse reaction, put me off cold turkey. Instalated mirtazapine to block the reaction of trazadone. 5 weeks on mirtazapine.acathisia worsened, suicidal, homicidal urges. Nobody believed. Finally they stopped mirtazapine cold turkey. My heighest dose of trazadone was 200 mg, of mirtazapine 30 mg. Since the c/t, suicidal, acathisia continuing. tried promethazine for sleep. Tried atarax. Currently taking klonopin for 10 days. Good for sleep, but my condition worsening. Unable to tell if it is klonopin or a bad wave. In the former hospital i took twice gabapentin. It should be all my medication. i was offered promethazin for sleep 25 mg and also small amount of quetiapine. Both are antipsychotics, even if ptomethszin very weak. Terribly afraid. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 17, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 17, 2014 Yes RU, spring therapy is definitely recommended (snow doesn't have much chance any more...) Nikki, we will have to do something about work situations WF, it was so great to experience how nature heals and it lasted almost the whole day today... I'm also happy to see you getting better (so slowly that you might not feel it but it's happening big hug to all Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
EternalOptimist Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Bubble, found the name of that test: Detox Genomic Profile via Genova Diagnotics. Cost $399 back in 2007. EO 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 bubble Posted March 19, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 19, 2014 thanks EO! I sure don't mind the info but just found out it was btdt on wolfhound's thread asking about it Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 19, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 19, 2014 just a brief update for my future reference: it seems that withdrawal symptoms abated significantly 10 days after the cut (greatly facilitated by the sun, flowers and spending long hours outdoors). Yesterday anxiety returned but I can somehow tell a difference between WD anxiety and my 'normal' anxiety that is the result of my internal processes (and stress at work that I'm learning to manage without drugs... managed to calm myself down and felt ok today. Was even productive, that is, able to focus. the deadline is approaching so it really motivated me. I think I can say Taurine gives me a headache and fish oil makes me feel strange so I'm taking only magnesium now. Not bad at all 2 weeks after the cut but I will subscribe to Rhi's strategy of smaller cuts (maybe more frequently) with occasional long holds. it was sooooo great to get all the support here! lots of healing to everyone Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
lexicon Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 My dear Bubble, you are an inspiration to me, and I appreciate you and your tireless caring for others, myself included, very much You are a remarkable person, who uplifts my spirit, time sand again Holding you in thought and prayer, and wishing you many blessings ((( Hugs ))) 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
Nikki Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Bless your heart and it is so refreshing to hear that you could tell the difference between the WD anxiety and the normal stuff. And yes, I agree with Lexicon.....thank you for always being there 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 bubble Posted March 20, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 20, 2014 thank you Nikki and Lexicon I say a lot of nonsense but I know how much it means to me to be heard so I risk turning out stupid just so that people would know there is someone out there hearing them. So I do what I like people doing to me like you two generous and kind souls Making a difference between the WD anxiety and my dear, old friend of many years is actually a matter of intensity and whether it is a reaction to something happening inside me or around me: WD anxiety is very intense and happens even when I feel stress-free. That's how I can tell what is what... I just make this distinction because the pattern has developed after 2 cuts: 5 days after the cut I'm hit with brutal anxiety (the lesson learnt: I will make smaller cuts in the future to reduce brutality which furher stresses my poor CNS. This time anxiety was coupled with rage (it seems my brain was very angry that this 'friendly' substance was taken away from it so it went into a fury). Now I just feel my 'normal' anxiety that I'm used to and continue to hold... hugs bubble Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Wolfhound Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I am so happy for you, you seem doing great! So I am sending some healing thoughts in this sunny day...let your better times continue. Put on trazadone for 8 weeks. Psychic akathisia started on 100 mg. Not a single doctor believed me telling me it is all anxiety in my head. Terrible suicidal urges. Got voluntary hospitalised. Acknoledged adverse reaction, put me off cold turkey. Instalated mirtazapine to block the reaction of trazadone. 5 weeks on mirtazapine.acathisia worsened, suicidal, homicidal urges. Nobody believed. Finally they stopped mirtazapine cold turkey. My heighest dose of trazadone was 200 mg, of mirtazapine 30 mg. Since the c/t, suicidal, acathisia continuing. tried promethazine for sleep. Tried atarax. Currently taking klonopin for 10 days. Good for sleep, but my condition worsening. Unable to tell if it is klonopin or a bad wave. In the former hospital i took twice gabapentin. It should be all my medication. i was offered promethazin for sleep 25 mg and also small amount of quetiapine. Both are antipsychotics, even if ptomethszin very weak. Terribly afraid. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 20, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 20, 2014 I am so happy for you, you seem doing great! So I am sending some healing thoughts in this sunny day...let your better times continue. the same for you!!!! just by opening forum and seeing how many of us you have 'visited', I will dare conclude you are also feeling a tiny bit better: a taste of what is to come... Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Wolfhound Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Not exactly Bubble! But I felt I had to share positive things also and I am really happy when reading your posts. Put on trazadone for 8 weeks. Psychic akathisia started on 100 mg. Not a single doctor believed me telling me it is all anxiety in my head. Terrible suicidal urges. Got voluntary hospitalised. Acknoledged adverse reaction, put me off cold turkey. Instalated mirtazapine to block the reaction of trazadone. 5 weeks on mirtazapine.acathisia worsened, suicidal, homicidal urges. Nobody believed. Finally they stopped mirtazapine cold turkey. My heighest dose of trazadone was 200 mg, of mirtazapine 30 mg. Since the c/t, suicidal, acathisia continuing. tried promethazine for sleep. Tried atarax. Currently taking klonopin for 10 days. Good for sleep, but my condition worsening. Unable to tell if it is klonopin or a bad wave. In the former hospital i took twice gabapentin. It should be all my medication. i was offered promethazin for sleep 25 mg and also small amount of quetiapine. Both are antipsychotics, even if ptomethszin very weak. Terribly afraid. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 20, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 20, 2014 I know it's not exactly but it's a tiny, tiny bit better (and we like tiny (when I'm on the forum this much, it means I'm not doing well either and have difficulties focusing on other tasks so forum has become a symptom for me or better to say, a coping strategy for dealing with symptoms but yesterday I worked extra hard and achieved a lot during a window so feel ok,,. Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Wolfhound Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 Hi Bubble, hope this week-end is fine for you and the spring is still helping you in healing! W. Put on trazadone for 8 weeks. Psychic akathisia started on 100 mg. Not a single doctor believed me telling me it is all anxiety in my head. Terrible suicidal urges. Got voluntary hospitalised. Acknoledged adverse reaction, put me off cold turkey. Instalated mirtazapine to block the reaction of trazadone. 5 weeks on mirtazapine.acathisia worsened, suicidal, homicidal urges. Nobody believed. Finally they stopped mirtazapine cold turkey. My heighest dose of trazadone was 200 mg, of mirtazapine 30 mg. Since the c/t, suicidal, acathisia continuing. tried promethazine for sleep. Tried atarax. Currently taking klonopin for 10 days. Good for sleep, but my condition worsening. Unable to tell if it is klonopin or a bad wave. In the former hospital i took twice gabapentin. It should be all my medication. i was offered promethazin for sleep 25 mg and also small amount of quetiapine. Both are antipsychotics, even if ptomethszin very weak. Terribly afraid. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 22, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 22, 2014 Thank you Wolfhound! I'm very happy to say this is really the case (and would so much want the same for you). I spent 8 hours outdoors today, we actually got lost in the woods and had to hike much longer and steeper than we planned to. But endorphin has a very calming effect on me. My body is achy but my spirit is calm. I had an unexpected surge of anxiety on Thursday: the intensity I was spared for long and for no reason I could possibly identify... The only think I noticed was the fact that I ran out of magnesium I take with me to work but it would be really unusual for a benign supplement to case such anxiety... going to see how you are doing Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Wolfhound Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Hi Bubble..and good morning. Wow, what a hike! Congratulations! I must say I envy you a little since I have always adored hiking. But I am happy for you...being in the woods after spending the whole week working and working...and working... is a bliss. I have surges of anxiety all the time. Last week typically late afternoon. How do you cope? Have you tried something specific? I cannot offer advice since I have never been in my life an anxious person so I am learning.... I tried meditation, I am not good at it. I tried some relaxation techniques...it did not help with this kind of anxiety. Yesterday I read some benzo withdrawal success stories and it helped a bit... Where do you hike usually, are there mountains where you live? What kind od woods? Do not mind my asking please but mountains and woods have been my lifelong hobby... Put on trazadone for 8 weeks. Psychic akathisia started on 100 mg. Not a single doctor believed me telling me it is all anxiety in my head. Terrible suicidal urges. Got voluntary hospitalised. Acknoledged adverse reaction, put me off cold turkey. Instalated mirtazapine to block the reaction of trazadone. 5 weeks on mirtazapine.acathisia worsened, suicidal, homicidal urges. Nobody believed. Finally they stopped mirtazapine cold turkey. My heighest dose of trazadone was 200 mg, of mirtazapine 30 mg. Since the c/t, suicidal, acathisia continuing. tried promethazine for sleep. Tried atarax. Currently taking klonopin for 10 days. Good for sleep, but my condition worsening. Unable to tell if it is klonopin or a bad wave. In the former hospital i took twice gabapentin. It should be all my medication. i was offered promethazin for sleep 25 mg and also small amount of quetiapine. Both are antipsychotics, even if ptomethszin very weak. Terribly afraid. Link to comment
moodyblues78 Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Hi Bubble. I`m glad you are living your life! I`m not having much of it right now. Just doing the things I have to and nothing more. I have plans to become more active in the near future. All the snow is almost gone so maybe I will start riding my bicycle with my son. Also I have to teach my daughter to ride too.. These are positive tressors that will keep me busy. I am actually looking forward to it. You (as well as many others here) are in my thoughts even when I`m not very active in writing. 08 Cipralex 10mg for about 6 months. 11-12 Cipralex 20mg. Unsuccesful WD. 12-13 Zoloft 100mg with Diazepam 10-20mg as needed for anxiety.Fall 13 Tapering Zoloft 100->50->25->12,5->0 in 2,5 months and CT Diazepam. 12/24/13 RI Zoloft 12,5mg. 1/21/14 11mg 3/18/14 9,9mg 2/18/14 8mg 4/22/14 7,6mg 5/5/14 7,2mg 5/12/14 -> cutting 0,5mg per week, holding when necessary. 8/18/14 -> cutting 0,25mg per week holding when necessary. 10/20/2014 -> cutting 0,1mg per week, holding when necessary.12/28/2014 Jump! Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 23, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 23, 2014 Hi Bubble. I`m glad you are living your life! I`m not having much of it right now. Just doing the things I have to and nothing more. I have plans to become more active in the near future. All the snow is almost gone so maybe I will start riding my bicycle with my son. Also I have to teach my daughter to ride too.. These are positive tressors that will keep me busy. I am actually looking forward to it. You (as well as many others here) are in my thoughts even when I`m not very active in writing. that's so nice to hear! and the same for me: it's like a acquired many friends here and I also find myself thinking about them when I'm away. Actually your mention of a bike inspired me for a bike ride last Sunday!!! I'm very happy for you that you can look forward to things: it doesn't come easy to us and we have to cherish such moments. When I actually feel something nice about something or just the 'ordinary' motivation to do things, noticing something nice, wanting to buy a little thing, etc. I'm so happy and feel blessed in addition because I'm able to actually FEEL this I WANT, I SEE, I CARE ergo I'm alive, the awful fog of depression has lifted and I'm alive (at least for a while, like a spring sun that is quickly covered by a cloud. Only to emerge again. Like our windows and waves). Today I went to the fresh market and could feel the joy looking at various green leaves and spring flowers. I could feel being a part of spring and felt like buying myself daffodils. Now I feel something looking at them in the vase. People take this for granted but for me it's like a miracle. not being an automaton. This doesn't happen to me often. Actually before I did that awful mistake of stopping Lexapro I felt alive also. 3 years before that before I stopped taking Zoloft I also felt alive. (but it was't 'thanks' t does drugs. It's because I've been working very hard on my childhood trauma and abuse and I started feeling at peace with so many things that had been hurting me badly. When I stopped Zoloft I wasn't lucky to find this forum but I knew that out of the blue sheer horror that descended on me was because of it... I digressed a little thinking about your Zoloft situation and your introductory post of trauma you experienced as well. Speaking from this window, I'm just sending a message to all of us in wave (myself including that we do recover. (I still can't do all the things I'd want to and was able a long time before when all that hit me but I'm at peace with that now. Or as you would say: I've learnt to accept it and accept myself. I adore your posts on humorous acceptance all the best and thanks for dropping by! bubble 1 Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 23, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 23, 2014 Hi Bubble..and good morning. Wow, what a hike! Congratulations! I must say I envy you a little since I have always adored hiking. But I am happy for you...being in the woods after spending the whole week working and working...and working... is a bliss. I have surges of anxiety all the time. Last week typically late afternoon. How do you cope? Have you tried something specific? I cannot offer advice since I have never been in my life an anxious person so I am learning.... I tried meditation, I am not good at it. I tried some relaxation techniques...it did not help with this kind of anxiety. Yesterday I read some benzo withdrawal success stories and it helped a bit... Where do you hike usually, are there mountains where you live? What kind od woods? Do not mind my asking please but mountains and woods have been my lifelong hobby... I very much look forward to replying to your questions: I adore woods and hiking too! I actually grew up with my grandparents in the country and their house was on top of a hill, last before the forest. So one could say I grew up in the forest But i definitely grew up with its rhythms and changes. My parent's house was also just across from a forest. Now I live in a big city but bought myself a flat on the outskirts 15 minutes on foot from a meadow with a stream and woods a bit further away. I believe it is exactly the same type of woods you have in your country since we are not that far at all. We have a lot of tourists coming here for their summer vacation from the CR with their cars, going to the coast. 6 years ago I joined a hiking club and was very active there for a few years. The only reason I'm not so active at the moment is that you have to be very fit for that and you acquire this fitness best if you go on hiking trips every weekend. But then that becomes your life(which is not bad at all, of course, except that you can't do other things like visit friends and family, go out...) And it was also my boyfriend who was not so fit so I gave up on bigger hiking trips and mostly went to the short ones. There are great hiking opportunities here. We have a great mountain close to the town but also lots of hills and mountains along the coast where you hike with the view of the sea! amazing experience. My club also organises hiking trips to islands in April and May before it becomes too hot, we go to neighbouring countries, sometimes as far as Austrian Alps. Every summer (if you have money) they have amazing tours which combine hiking with exploring cultural sites (in Turkey, Greece, this year they are going to England!!! But I can't really afford it especially not every year Went only one year when we went on the amazing trip to Andorra and hiked there as well as in the Spanish part of the Pyrenees. We visited Barcelona on the way back and many other places, including Provence, amazing Spanish national park Ordesa, hiked around Montserrat.... It was the best trip of my life Climbed to 3 000 meter twice in 3 days in Andorra The only thing I can do is to invite you to come over, you'd love it (Writing about this made me forget about the anxiety business so I will keep it for later not to spoil this nice moment of 'hiking';) you will hike very soon again (in the meantime you can check some of my hiking albums on the fb). big hug 1 Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Wolfhound Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Let´s forget anxiety and live this very present moment in something really healing.... Thanks for answering!! I am sorry, but I don´t belong to the group of cars with CZ labels coming every summer in mass to your country. I have never been there...but my eldest brother definitely belongs to it and goes every summer to your coast. I don´t like summer and hot weather....I always say I would like to be born in Scandinavia or Siberia. Going to the seaside in hot summer is one of my nightmares... I have asked about the woods since I think the kind of mixed central European woods (oak, spruce, beech, birch)tends to disappear when you go south. But as I said, I have never been in your country so I don´t know... When I was small we lived close to the wood even if I was born and raised in the capital, we lived in the suburb. I was used to go walking in the woods pretty often and we would go mushrooming as well (that´s a specific hobby here). I discovered mountains thanks to my husband who was born in a small town in our highest mountain chain. With him, we would return there a go hiking, we would go hiking even when our children were babies, in prams or using baby carriers...they got used to walking from the age of toddlers...it was difficult, for sure, but it was worth it. Now it is like a dream for me, I am so tired and exhausted I am happy to make a short walk around our house...So I must let the idea of mountain and hiking sleep...I try to look at it as a part of the future which is difiicult with all the negative thinking. Maybe I should add the idea of visiting your country in the spring..... Put on trazadone for 8 weeks. Psychic akathisia started on 100 mg. Not a single doctor believed me telling me it is all anxiety in my head. Terrible suicidal urges. Got voluntary hospitalised. Acknoledged adverse reaction, put me off cold turkey. Instalated mirtazapine to block the reaction of trazadone. 5 weeks on mirtazapine.acathisia worsened, suicidal, homicidal urges. Nobody believed. Finally they stopped mirtazapine cold turkey. My heighest dose of trazadone was 200 mg, of mirtazapine 30 mg. Since the c/t, suicidal, acathisia continuing. tried promethazine for sleep. Tried atarax. Currently taking klonopin for 10 days. Good for sleep, but my condition worsening. Unable to tell if it is klonopin or a bad wave. In the former hospital i took twice gabapentin. It should be all my medication. i was offered promethazin for sleep 25 mg and also small amount of quetiapine. Both are antipsychotics, even if ptomethszin very weak. Terribly afraid. Link to comment
Muddles Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Sounds beautiful where you both live. We have woods near by which I love and as children would be there every weekend. You have inspired me to maybe try and take a walk sometime soon. My sister still goes a lot - either walking or biking and says she feels it's a real stress buster! 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
Muddles Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Sounds beautiful where you both live. We have woods near by which I love and as children would be there every weekend. You have inspired me to maybe try and take a walk sometime soon. My sister still goes a lot - either walking or biking and says she feels it's a real stress buster! 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
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 23, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 23, 2014 Wolfhoud, I stopped going to the coast in summer for the very same reason! June is much better and spring is amazing. Our country is part continental, exactly the same as the CR with the identical flora, especially in the part where I live. The other part is Mediterranean and some 200 kilometers to the south from us the type of forests really changes but here we enjoy beeches, oaks, spruce and birches. I love seeing little kids in the forest And the walk round the house is just a start of a new beginning. Muddles, yesssss! Follow up on the inspiration Once I found here on the forum the topic on benefits of what they called forestbathig. I didn't have to read about it to understand what they mean )) In all seasons, especially now when little green leaves are coming out at such a pace you can almost see them grow. and all the flowers, and smells... you get healing impulses from all directions. Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Wolfhound Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 So I assume you live somewhere more to the north...I agree, forest is magic. Even when I was a healthy woman I have always felt something magic when walking in the woods. It is still here...I especially loved a dump forest after a shower of rain...the mist , the air, the smell...the calm and the natural colours are really something that has a healing power. DO you go to the coast in June? I have a friend in France living on the famous Cote d´Azur and she told me she never goes bathing in July and August with the tourists Put on trazadone for 8 weeks. Psychic akathisia started on 100 mg. Not a single doctor believed me telling me it is all anxiety in my head. Terrible suicidal urges. Got voluntary hospitalised. Acknoledged adverse reaction, put me off cold turkey. Instalated mirtazapine to block the reaction of trazadone. 5 weeks on mirtazapine.acathisia worsened, suicidal, homicidal urges. Nobody believed. Finally they stopped mirtazapine cold turkey. My heighest dose of trazadone was 200 mg, of mirtazapine 30 mg. Since the c/t, suicidal, acathisia continuing. tried promethazine for sleep. Tried atarax. Currently taking klonopin for 10 days. Good for sleep, but my condition worsening. Unable to tell if it is klonopin or a bad wave. In the former hospital i took twice gabapentin. It should be all my medication. i was offered promethazin for sleep 25 mg and also small amount of quetiapine. Both are antipsychotics, even if ptomethszin very weak. Terribly afraid. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted March 23, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 23, 2014 the link to forest bathing (couldn't find it through search because I thought it was spelt as one word but I found it http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1921-forest-bathing-reduces-cortisol-aids-mood-immune-system/ this forum has absolutely everything covered If I was a psychiatrist, all my 'pateints' would be prescribed high doses of forest (and nature 'Green' exercise quickly 'boosts mental health'Saturday, 1 May 2010 00:01 UKJust five minutes of exercise in a "green space" such as a park can boost mental health, researchers claim.In the latest analysis, UK researchers looked at evidence from 1,250 people in 10 studies and found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem.....Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said the research is yet further evidence that even a short period of green exercise can provide a low cost and drug-free therapy to help improve mental wellbeing."It's important that people experiencing depression can be given the option of a range of treatments, and we would like to see all doctors considering exercise as a treatment where appropriate."...." Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Skyler Posted March 23, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 23, 2014 I'm moving to a beautiful place in TWO months... Yayyyyy!! I'll be going to live in Burlington, Vt. It's on a large lake.. Lake Champlain, in one of the northern most of the US states. Several near by parks, with a mountain vista hanging over the water. I can't wait!! Admittedly, it's COLD, but the share many of my views, and the area is really beautiful. As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule. Requip - 3/16 ZERO Total time on 25 years. Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10) Total time on 25 years. Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section. "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin Link to comment
Wolfhound Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Thanks bubble. skyler wish i could see it by myself when reading about it i imagine the beauty... Put on trazadone for 8 weeks. Psychic akathisia started on 100 mg. Not a single doctor believed me telling me it is all anxiety in my head. Terrible suicidal urges. Got voluntary hospitalised. Acknoledged adverse reaction, put me off cold turkey. Instalated mirtazapine to block the reaction of trazadone. 5 weeks on mirtazapine.acathisia worsened, suicidal, homicidal urges. Nobody believed. Finally they stopped mirtazapine cold turkey. My heighest dose of trazadone was 200 mg, of mirtazapine 30 mg. Since the c/t, suicidal, acathisia continuing. tried promethazine for sleep. Tried atarax. Currently taking klonopin for 10 days. Good for sleep, but my condition worsening. Unable to tell if it is klonopin or a bad wave. In the former hospital i took twice gabapentin. It should be all my medication. i was offered promethazin for sleep 25 mg and also small amount of quetiapine. Both are antipsychotics, even if ptomethszin very weak. Terribly afraid. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Skyler Posted March 23, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 23, 2014 Take a gander at a few of these pics. Burlington is about 60 miles south of the Canadian border. https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+lake+champlain+burlington+vt&client=firefox-a&hs=MST&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Yx0vU6G1Icbl0QHs5oDQCQ&ved=0CC0QsAQ&biw=1227&bih=655#imgdii=_ As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule. Requip - 3/16 ZERO Total time on 25 years. Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10) Total time on 25 years. Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section. "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin Link to comment
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