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Success stories after many years of withdrawal syndrome?


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Alto is right that everyone is different and even for the same person it could be different at different stages. Our brain is way too complicated and it's almost impossible to predict for a particular case. Unfortunately this is what we are dealing with after being messed up by these meds.

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

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I think there is a time for many when they are in the thick of wd (and for some this could still be happening several years out) that you are grasping for some shred of hope that this will eventually end. You start to seek out recovery stories but don't quite find what you want. There are recovery stories everywhere and there are enough already! But you want to find someone with your exact drug or your exact length of struggle who also has this or that qualifier and THAT is impossible to find. So you dismiss what you read and moan that you are unique and recovery won't ever happen for you.

 

I've got news for you: the fat lady hasn't sung yet. I will take any and all bets that you will recover, that anyone will, I just cannot predict when. You just have to stay alive long enough for it to happen. In my case, I read all the stories (and more than once) and what they did is seep into my subconscious. At some certain point (and never during my worst withdrawal times) they would pop into my mind and I could see there might be a light at the end of the tunnel and that now I can see it. You have to be able to recognize that you are always evidencing some measure of recovery (your depression isn't as deep, you haven't thought of suicide for the last hour, you slept 10 minutes more last night) even though it may get worse again. That is the body healing and it is erratic in it's efforts but in the end it will manage to pull it all together and you will be the new and improved version of 'YOU', sadder but wiser and more resilient to life's stresses. Those things start creeping up and you finally see them and you start knowing that it will happen for you. Unfortunately you can't force it, the body has it's own wisdom and timetable. You just have to give it the tools to work with. See my post here about what I think is important (it is in the last half).

 

Everyone on this board is a recovery story waiting to happen, their thread is a journal of how they are getting there. Read them all. (Except skip the beginning of mine, I was nuttier than fruitcake when I got here...)

 

You can't know how much your post means to me.  I just got to this community and I have been looking for EXACTLY my story reflected in someone else's recovery situation.  Thank you for reminding me that I am a success story waiting to happen if I just stick with it.  

*I'm not a doctor and don't give medical advice, just personal experience
**Off all meds since Nov. 2014. Mentally & emotionally recovered; physically not
-Dual cold turkeys off TCA & Ativan in Oct 2014. Prescribed from 2011-2014

-All meds were Rxed off-label for an autoimmune illness.  It was a MISDIAGNOSIS, but I did not find out until AFTER meds caused damage.  All med tapers/cold turkeys directed by doctors 

-Nortriptyline May 2012 - Dec 2013. Cold turkey off nortrip & cold switched to desipramine

-Desipramine Jan 2014 - Oct. 29, 2014 (rapid taper/cold turkey)

-Lorazepam 1 mg per night during 2011
-Lorazepam 1 mg per month in 2012 (or less)

-Lorazepam on & off, Dec 2013 through Aug 2014. Didn't exceed 3x a week

-Lorazepam again in Oct. 2014 to help get off of desipramine. Last dose lzpam was 1 mg, Nov. 2, 2014. Immediate paradoxical reactions to benzos after stopping TCAs 

-First muscle/dystonia side effects started on nortriptyline, but docs too stupid to figure it out. On desipramine, muscle tremors & rigidity worsened

-Two weeks after I got off all meds, I developed full-blown TD.  Tardive dystonia, dyskinesia, myoclonic jerks ALL over body, ribcage wiggles, facial tics, twitching tongue & fingers, tremors/twitches of arms, legs, cognitive impairment, throat muscles semi-paralyzed & unable to swallow solid food, brain zaps, ears ring, dizzy, everything looks too far away, insomnia, numbness & electric shocks everywhere when I try to fall asleep, jerk awake from sleep with big, gasping breaths, wake with terrors & tremors, severely depressed.  NO HISTORY OF DEPRESSION, EVER. Meds CREATED it.

-Month 7: hair falling out; no vision improvement; still tardive dystonia; facial & tongue tics returned
-Month 8: back to acute, incl. Grand Mal seizure-like episodes. New mental torment, PGAD, worse insomnia
-Month 9: tardive dystonia worse, dyskinesia returned. Unable to breathe well due to dystonia in stomach, chest, throat
-Month 13: Back to acute, brain zaps back, developed eczema & stomach problems. Left leg no longer works right due to dystonia, meaning both legs now damaged
-7 years off: Huge improvements, incl. improved dystonia

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Nicely written, cw!

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Excellent cw, I just copied your post into another thread... you spoke to the situation perfectly, as you have for many others.  Thanks!

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

 

 

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If no one minds I am copying this to the 'Best of SA" thread. I actually forgot I wrote this!

 

It is particularly written for those members who are compelled to write (and sometimes over and over) that they will never recover. I have been there and I know that it is patently false. Everyone recovers, it is just a matter of degree and length of time passed. For me it appears to be a relatively short time (a little over 2 years post cold turkey) that I can say I am recovered from the worst of the autonomic nervous system dysfunction that is the dreaded 'withdrawal syndrome'. Along with it comes a very upsetting emotional component but the good news is that as the nervous system heals itself, so does the emotional system. There will always be some fine tuning needed (here is where CBT techniques might fit in nicely) and maybe some therapy specific to the issues that caused a person to seek medication to begin with but the worst is over, hopefully never to return.

 

It becomes imperative, however, that one must always be mindful of lifestyle. Gone are the days of staying up late and not getting enough sleep. Skipping meals is out. You have to eat your veggies and fruits and stop trying to exist on candy bars and diet soda and coffee (cut that crap out too or else only use sparingly AFTER you have recovered.) Easy on the carbs and become friends with high quality protein. Get some exercise every day and GET OUTSIDE INTO THE SUN DAILY! I haven't proved this to myself (I am totally chicken because I don't want to experience wd ever again) but my intuition tells me that unless we straighten up and fly right, once we have gone through wd it can happen again without having any medication in out systems. We are forever sensitized because of our medication history and poor lifestyle choices. I'll bet the farm on this and if there is anyone who wants to prove me wrong, have at it. Someone already has had this happen to them. Remember Matt Samet anyone? We would all do well to heed his story. He had a non-medication relapse in 2013 (I believe it was overuse of caffeine) and I cannot find any recent writings from him showing that he is back in the land of the living yet. So beware, all of you. And by the way, if you are in the thick of wd, if you are using caffeine in any form, and this includes decaf and chocolate, stop it right now. You have no idea what it is doing to your nervous system. Far better to go cold turkey on it immediately (and suffer a bit) than to continue to poke at a nervous system gone haywire.

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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  I haven't proved this to myself (I am totally chicken because I don't want to experience wd ever again) but my intuition tells me that unless we straighten up and fly right, once we have gone through wd it can happen again without having any medication in out systems. We are forever sensitized because of our medication history and poor lifestyle choices.

 

I've been off Paxil for almost 10 years now and I have to agree with this.  And maybe that's why I never posted a "success story" at PP, because I never felt 100% recovered.  I've always felt that my nervous system never quite bounced back and I am just more sensitive now.  I don't think I'll ever be thrown back into withdrawal but something ain't right.  Having said that, I do consider myself recovered and fully functional in life.  Just not the same person as before.  I think if that's the yardstick we use to measure recovery nobody will ever attain it.

 

Paxil 20mg 1994-2005
Tried to quit twice, finally did it on my 3rd attempt in 2005.

I went from 20mg to zero in about four months, believing at the time that it was a reasonable taper.  It wasn't.  I suffered mostly emotional symptoms: frequent episodes of "anxious depression" lasting for about 17 months before it got noticeably better.

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Words of wisdom, cw and Babs!

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Personally, I don't mind if I can never have caffeine or alcohol or anything else ever again.  If getting to keep my health intact means no more cheesecake, then I will gladly say goodbye to cheesecake!

 

I don't think it's a bad or a sad thing to say goodbye to things that work against our health.  In so much of modern society, we look at things like ice cream and cigarettes as indulgences we have the RIGHT to enjoy.  But maybe nobody has the right to poison their body.  Maybe our health is a privilege and we should treat it as such, instead of being sad about the Red Bulls we can't drink.    

 

Don't get me wrong, I MISS me some coffee and cigarettes and whiskey, but if being healthy means doing without, then I'll gladly do without.

 

I'm happy to be straightened up and to fly right!  I just hope it all works.  I hope it all pays off and that I reach full recovery.  

*I'm not a doctor and don't give medical advice, just personal experience
**Off all meds since Nov. 2014. Mentally & emotionally recovered; physically not
-Dual cold turkeys off TCA & Ativan in Oct 2014. Prescribed from 2011-2014

-All meds were Rxed off-label for an autoimmune illness.  It was a MISDIAGNOSIS, but I did not find out until AFTER meds caused damage.  All med tapers/cold turkeys directed by doctors 

-Nortriptyline May 2012 - Dec 2013. Cold turkey off nortrip & cold switched to desipramine

-Desipramine Jan 2014 - Oct. 29, 2014 (rapid taper/cold turkey)

-Lorazepam 1 mg per night during 2011
-Lorazepam 1 mg per month in 2012 (or less)

-Lorazepam on & off, Dec 2013 through Aug 2014. Didn't exceed 3x a week

-Lorazepam again in Oct. 2014 to help get off of desipramine. Last dose lzpam was 1 mg, Nov. 2, 2014. Immediate paradoxical reactions to benzos after stopping TCAs 

-First muscle/dystonia side effects started on nortriptyline, but docs too stupid to figure it out. On desipramine, muscle tremors & rigidity worsened

-Two weeks after I got off all meds, I developed full-blown TD.  Tardive dystonia, dyskinesia, myoclonic jerks ALL over body, ribcage wiggles, facial tics, twitching tongue & fingers, tremors/twitches of arms, legs, cognitive impairment, throat muscles semi-paralyzed & unable to swallow solid food, brain zaps, ears ring, dizzy, everything looks too far away, insomnia, numbness & electric shocks everywhere when I try to fall asleep, jerk awake from sleep with big, gasping breaths, wake with terrors & tremors, severely depressed.  NO HISTORY OF DEPRESSION, EVER. Meds CREATED it.

-Month 7: hair falling out; no vision improvement; still tardive dystonia; facial & tongue tics returned
-Month 8: back to acute, incl. Grand Mal seizure-like episodes. New mental torment, PGAD, worse insomnia
-Month 9: tardive dystonia worse, dyskinesia returned. Unable to breathe well due to dystonia in stomach, chest, throat
-Month 13: Back to acute, brain zaps back, developed eczema & stomach problems. Left leg no longer works right due to dystonia, meaning both legs now damaged
-7 years off: Huge improvements, incl. improved dystonia

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  • 3 weeks later...

 

 

Also, does anyone know of a person who has reinstated after being off for years and what the outcome was? I figure as a last resort (a few years from now if things haven't improved) I may as well try the drugs again, maybe I am just dependent on them now.

 

Hi andy,

 

Sorry to hear you are still suffering.  I reinstated Celexa after being off for at least a year, after having done a cold turkey.  Reinstatement didn't go well for me.

 

My situation is a bit unusual though in that I was not suffering withdrawal when I reinstated.  However, once I did that I had adverse reactions to it.  Had I not restarted the drug I wouldn't even be here.

 

I can't tell you what to do or how it would go but generally it seems in reading about this reinstatement so late in the game when you are still symptomatic is pretty risky. 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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. Remember Matt Samet anyone? We would all do well to heed his story. He had a non-medication relapse in 2013 (I believe it was overuse of caffeine) and I cannot find any recent writings from him showing that he is back in the land of the living yet.

 

Good news, Matt Samet is back posting on Mad in America again. Not sure how he's doing exactly but it seems he's okay enough to write at least. 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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Thanks for that update, US.  

*I'm not a doctor and don't give medical advice, just personal experience
**Off all meds since Nov. 2014. Mentally & emotionally recovered; physically not
-Dual cold turkeys off TCA & Ativan in Oct 2014. Prescribed from 2011-2014

-All meds were Rxed off-label for an autoimmune illness.  It was a MISDIAGNOSIS, but I did not find out until AFTER meds caused damage.  All med tapers/cold turkeys directed by doctors 

-Nortriptyline May 2012 - Dec 2013. Cold turkey off nortrip & cold switched to desipramine

-Desipramine Jan 2014 - Oct. 29, 2014 (rapid taper/cold turkey)

-Lorazepam 1 mg per night during 2011
-Lorazepam 1 mg per month in 2012 (or less)

-Lorazepam on & off, Dec 2013 through Aug 2014. Didn't exceed 3x a week

-Lorazepam again in Oct. 2014 to help get off of desipramine. Last dose lzpam was 1 mg, Nov. 2, 2014. Immediate paradoxical reactions to benzos after stopping TCAs 

-First muscle/dystonia side effects started on nortriptyline, but docs too stupid to figure it out. On desipramine, muscle tremors & rigidity worsened

-Two weeks after I got off all meds, I developed full-blown TD.  Tardive dystonia, dyskinesia, myoclonic jerks ALL over body, ribcage wiggles, facial tics, twitching tongue & fingers, tremors/twitches of arms, legs, cognitive impairment, throat muscles semi-paralyzed & unable to swallow solid food, brain zaps, ears ring, dizzy, everything looks too far away, insomnia, numbness & electric shocks everywhere when I try to fall asleep, jerk awake from sleep with big, gasping breaths, wake with terrors & tremors, severely depressed.  NO HISTORY OF DEPRESSION, EVER. Meds CREATED it.

-Month 7: hair falling out; no vision improvement; still tardive dystonia; facial & tongue tics returned
-Month 8: back to acute, incl. Grand Mal seizure-like episodes. New mental torment, PGAD, worse insomnia
-Month 9: tardive dystonia worse, dyskinesia returned. Unable to breathe well due to dystonia in stomach, chest, throat
-Month 13: Back to acute, brain zaps back, developed eczema & stomach problems. Left leg no longer works right due to dystonia, meaning both legs now damaged
-7 years off: Huge improvements, incl. improved dystonia

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Oh yes, US! I would have missed it if not for you, knowing I had just recently looked. I don't have an account there so I could not sign up for a notification like I do with some postings here.

 

Thank you (it's mesmerizing reading as usual.)

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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Hey no problem!

 

His latest piece was good, wasn't it?  I love how direct he is in his writing.

 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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  I am certainly not going to give up, not ever.  I have fought valiantly for my life and my health and you have too, stick around and wait for the rewards ok?

Wow great words. 

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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One member last year sent me this list ...i pin these kind of lists to the wall

 

Light - 17 years on various drugs  -last 6 years of them pollydrugged - 10 years off now 70% recovered
Musicman - 12 years on paxil, also on steroids for 11 years. 10 years off still bad, but akathisia resolved and other problems getting better finally
Healing - 12 years on antidepressants - 9 years off slowly getting better, mostly recovered
Squirrel - 8 years - 9 years off, mostly recovered, still has very mild DR/DP, slight dizziness from time to time, anxiety and sinus problems. Nothing major
Tryingtogetwell- 8 years off, recovered at 7 years off
Alto - 10 years free - recovered, has minor sleep issues

 

Also a member in a bad way who talked  to Shipko [Dr. Stuart Shipko] was given this encouraging info..which they shared with me .....i think its ok to share this (i dont think this is a breach of privacy..then again maybe it is...i hope not ..i'm unable to contact the person directly to get permission.....i'm sure a mod will advise me.)

 

"Your letter indicates that you are looking for hope.  There is indeed hope.  I never followed six patients for 7 years.  Rather, there were three patients who did significantly improve after about 7 years.  There were no patients followed for 7 years who did poorly.  My experience is not the only information on the subject.  I have spoken to people who tell me that they improve even after longer than 7 years.  Do not despair.  Rather, do what you can to promote good health - proper diet, exercise as tolerated, etc."

 

I think Shipko is great.

 

Here is a list put together on another site, there are people in this list taking over 5 yrs to recover. Not sure if this list is encouraging as not that many names over 5 yrs but even one or two gives hope right?

rubberduckie - 3 years
no fears - 2.5 years
areoman - 4 years
jonno - 2 years
dottie - 6 years
mightywarrier - 2.5 years
blankets 2/3 years
llhh - 3 years
marebear - 3 years
paxhell - 3 years
akenew - 3-5 years
hopeful 2.5 years
saiff - 16 months
wallflower - 2 years for 80%
lov4k9 - 18 months
banjodan - 2 years
hope -- 5 years
shea carney 3-7 years

rickyjohnson - 3 years
zoloftfree - 3-5 years
SCHNAUZERPOWER - 2 years
nolex - 3 years
expaxman - 2 years
nicoasg - 3 years
whatisnormal - 2 years
lossleader - 4.5 years
WURSTBROT - 2.5 years
EDROPHIS - 3 years
goldenbawls - 2.5/3 years
__________________

Edited by cymbaltawithdrawal5600
added emphasis to Shipko's words

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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Hi Unfoldingsky, you are not alone in having bad reactions to reinstatement/increase. I suffers millions of weirded and severe problems from increasing dose after 1 yr holding on lower dose.

 

Glad you are half recovered. Can you send me the link to your intro page?

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

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One member last year sent me this list ...i pin these kind of lists to the wall

 

Light - 17 years on various drugs  -last 6 years of them pollydrugged - 10 years off now 70% recovered

Musicman - 12 years on paxil, also on steroids for 11 years. 10 years off still bad, but akathisia resolved and other problems getting better finally

Healing - 12 years on antidepressants - 9 years off slowly getting better, mostly recovered

Squirrel - 8 years - 9 years off, mostly recovered, still has very mild DR/DP, slight dizziness from time to time, anxiety and sinus problems. Nothing major

Tryingtogetwell- 8 years off, recovered at 7 years off

Alto - 10 years free - recovered, has minor sleep issues

 

Also a member in a bad way who talked  to Shipko [Dr. Stuart Shipko] was given this encouraging info..which they shared with me .....i think its ok to share this (i dont think this is a breach of privacy..then again maybe it is...i hope not ..i'm unable to contact the person directly to get permission.....i'm sure a mod will advise me.)

 

"Your letter indicates that you are looking for hope.  There is indeed hope.  I never followed six patients for 7 years.  Rather, there were three patients who did significantly improve after about 7 years.  There were no patients followed for 7 years who did poorly.  My experience is not the only information on the subject.  I have spoken to people who tell me that they improve even after longer than 7 years.  Do not despair.  Rather, do what you can to promote good health - proper diet, exercise as tolerated, etc."

 

I think Shipko is great.

 

Here is a list put together on another site, there are people in this list taking over 5 yrs to recover. Not sure if this list is encouraging as not that many names over 5 yrs but even one or two gives hope right?

rubberduckie - 3 years

no fears - 2.5 years

areoman - 4 years

jonno - 2 years

dottie - 6 years

mightywarrier - 2.5 years

blankets 2/3 years

llhh - 3 years

marebear - 3 years

paxhell - 3 years

akenew - 3-5 years

hopeful 2.5 years

saiff - 16 months

wallflower - 2 years for 80%

lov4k9 - 18 months

banjodan - 2 years

hope -- 5 years

shea carney 3-7 years

rickyjohnson - 3 years

zoloftfree - 3-5 years

SCHNAUZERPOWER - 2 years

nolex - 3 years

expaxman - 2 years

nicoasg - 3 years

whatisnormal - 2 years

lossleader - 4.5 years

WURSTBROT - 2.5 years

EDROPHIS - 3 years

goldenbawls - 2.5/3 years

__________________

 

Have i missed something?I woud not want to come off sounding like a whiner but why in many posts people tell that recovery takes month's to years when the average recovery time seems to be 3 years with many people feeling better only after 5 years and no success stories of feeling better after lets say 6 to 15 month? Better to say that it probably takes 3 years for those who get withdrawals to recover:) 

2011 Developed anxiety and panic disorder, started out of a blue.

2011 Seroxat and Remeron (for insomnia) In 2012 tappered Remeron in 3 month without much complications.

2013 March started Seroxat withdrawal from 33mg's

I tapper 5-10% (from the dose i am at) every 3-4 weeks. Current dose 4,38 mg's have not reduced in 4 month (trying to stabilize).

My update thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7750-mrdenton-constant-flu-for-2-month-could-use-an-opinion-seroxat-taper/

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If that is your comment "inside the quote" how did you calculate that 'average'? Are you extrapolating that list to the whole of the recovery community here, at PP or planet-wide?

 

Recovery sites do not attract everybody and ours is not the only "game in town" (but it is the best, imo).

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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I sent you this. I received this email from Dr Shipko after his very discouraging post on MIA. You are welcome to post it and glad you did!

 

 

Also a member in a bad way who talked  to Shipko [Dr. Stuart Shipko] was given this encouraging info..which they shared with me .....i think its ok to share this (i dont think this is a breach of privacy..then again maybe it is...i hope not ..i'm unable to contact the person directly to get permission.....i'm sure a mod will advise me.)

 

"Your letter indicates that you are looking for hope.  There is indeed hope.  I never followed six patients for 7 years.  Rather, there were three patients who did significantly improve after about 7 years.  There were no patients followed for 7 years who did poorly.  My experience is not the only information on the subject.  I have spoken to people who tell me that they improve even after longer than 7 years.  Do not despair.  Rather, do what you can to promote good health - proper diet, exercise as tolerated, etc."

 

I think Shipko is great.

 

Here is a list put together on another site, there are people in this list taking over 5 yrs to recover. Not sure if this list is encouraging as not that many names over 5 yrs but even one or two gives hope right?

rubberduckie - 3 years

no fears - 2.5 years

areoman - 4 years

jonno - 2 yearsdottie - 6 years

mightywarrier - 2.5 years

blankets 2/3 years

llhh - 3 years

marebear - 3 years

paxhell - 3 yearsakenew - 3-5 years

hopeful 2.5 years

saiff - 16 months

wallflower - 2 years for 80%

lov4k9 - 18 months

banjodan - 2 yearshope -- 5 years

shea carney 3-7 years

rickyjohnson - 3 years

zoloftfree - 3-5 years

SCHNAUZERPOWER - 2 years

nolex - 3 years

expaxman - 2 years

nicoasg - 3 years

whatisnormal - 2 years

lossleader - 4.5 years

WURSTBROT - 2.5 years

EDROPHIS - 3 years

goldenbawls - 2.5/3 years

__________________

Was on Citalopram 20mg since Feb 2008 - switched to Paxil 20mg in August 2010

Tapered way too fast in April 2012 by skipping days. Taper completed in 6 weeks

Tried prozac 20mg for 3 days - felt spaced out, not better.

Tried 30mg Cymbalta for 2 days. SEVERE ADVERSE REACTION

Antidepressant free since 14 August 2012

Birth control on and off during this time - Last taken 18 June 2017 - Morning after pill 

Started mainly using 0.5mg Xanax beginning 2016 for severe panic attacks and anxiety due to trauma

Xanax on and off never more than 0.5mg at a time, never taking it 3 days in a row - used sparingly 

 

6 Years antidepressant free - Still in severe withdrawal with over 60 symptoms

Severe setback started May 2018 with no let up to date. Developed many new symptoms like tremors, inner vibrations, insomnia, visual distortions and dr/dp are 100x worse, i have severe sensitivity to movement, My dizziness and vertigo got worse and it now feels like im constantly rocking on a boat, my anxiety is sky high, suicidal idiation is back, i feel extremely brain damaged 

 

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Hi Unfoldingsky, you are not alone in having bad reactions to reinstatement/increase. I suffers millions of weirded and severe problems from increasing dose after 1 yr holding on lower dose.

 

Glad you are half recovered. Can you send me the link to your intro page?

 

Hi LexAnger, sorry to hear you had issues like mine too. 

 

I will get you that link to my intro if I can find it, for some reason it's difficult for me to find even...

 

There's not much there though as I abandonned it, as revisiting what I had been through was too much at the time I posted it.  I want to update it though, so will dig around and get back to you. 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/972-unfoldingskys-protracted-withdrawal-from-celexa-other-drugs/

 

search term in google:

 

survivingantidepressants.org (space) (username)

 

That's why we try to edit titles of intros so they include your username, usually first, followed by :

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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Hey thanks CW!  You are a miracle worker!  Is there a reason why it doesn't show up in the list of threads I've posted to in my profile page?  (I hope this makes sense, I so need sleep).

I tried to find it a while ago and it wasn't coming up there and so for a bit I thought y'all had deleted it. 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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Mr. Denton, in answer to your question in that quote box, there are people who do get shorter withdrawals.

 

I've known people who had mild withdrawal issues coming off a drug, say like zaps and not much else and they would clear up in a month or less.  The people I spoke to whom this happened to never sought out sites like this.

 

Also I've spoken to people who had severe adverse reactions to short term drug exposures and they tended to recover in months, not years.  One guy I recall recovered in a month even. 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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Hey thanks CW!  You are a miracle worker!  Is there a reason why it doesn't show up in the list of threads I've posted to in my profile page?  (I hope this makes sense, I so need sleep).

 

I tried to find it a while ago and it wasn't coming up there and so for a bit I thought y'all had deleted it. 

 

nope no miracle worker. Search function on this site has "limitations" (translation: it kinda sucks.) I know that in advance. Using goog works better, use search string in format listed above.

 

The 'search content' is limited to anything in past year. If your post to your thread was > 1 yr, won't show. So I automatically use goog for searching most things. There are some instances where site search is good, tho. Can't pitch baby out w/ bathwater.

 

The only time thread search for an intro fails is if their (username) has not been inserted into it, either upon first creation or mod editing.

 

We do not delete threads. If you had searched all (as of today the count is 45 pages) 45 pages of intro threads you would have:

 

found it

fallen asleep

blinked and missed it

given up in defeat

PM'd a 'tech' mod like me for help in finding it

started a new one and then I would have swooped into action and merged them. (don't do this please)

run for the cussin' thread

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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If no one minds I am copying this to the 'Best of SA" thread. I actually forgot I wrote this!

 

It is particularly written for those members who are compelled to write (and sometimes over and over) that they will never recover. I have been there and I know that it is patently false. Everyone recovers, it is just a matter of degree and length of time passed. For me it appears to be a relatively short time (a little over 2 years post cold turkey) that I can say I am recovered from the worst of the autonomic nervous system dysfunction that is the dreaded 'withdrawal syndrome'. Along with it comes a very upsetting emotional component but the good news is that as the nervous system heals itself, so does the emotional system. There will always be some fine tuning needed (here is where CBT techniques might fit in nicely) and maybe some therapy specific to the issues that caused a person to seek medication to begin with but the worst is over, hopefully never to return.

 

It becomes imperative, however, that one must always be mindful of lifestyle. Gone are the days of staying up late and not getting enough sleep. Skipping meals is out. You have to eat your veggies and fruits and stop trying to exist on candy bars and diet soda and coffee (cut that crap out too or else only use sparingly AFTER you have recovered.) Easy on the carbs and become friends with high quality protein. Get some exercise every day and GET OUTSIDE INTO THE SUN DAILY! I haven't proved this to myself (I am totally chicken because I don't want to experience wd ever again) but my intuition tells me that unless we straighten up and fly right, once we have gone through wd it can happen again without having any medication in out systems. We are forever sensitized because of our medication history and poor lifestyle choices. I'll bet the farm on this and if there is anyone who wants to prove me wrong, have at it. Someone already has had this happen to them. Remember Matt Samet anyone? We would all do well to heed his story. He had a non-medication relapse in 2013 (I believe it was overuse of caffeine) and I cannot find any recent writings from him showing that he is back in the land of the living yet. So beware, all of you. And by the way, if you are in the thick of wd, if you are using caffeine in any form, and this includes decaf and chocolate, stop it right now. You have no idea what it is doing to your nervous system. Far better to go cold turkey on it immediately (and suffer a bit) than to continue to poke at a nervous system gone haywire.

'There will always be some fine tuning needed (here is where CBT techniques might fit in nicely) and maybe some therapy specific to the issues that caused a person to seek medication to begin with but the worst is over, hopefully never to return." 

 

Some of us did not has a psych reason to start the drugs I just want to put that out there the drugs have caused all this for some of us. 

 

and this..

"Everyone recovers, it is just a matter of degree " 

To date the degree is not yet acceptable to me to the degree I would write a recovery story.  I don't call that recovery. Again I seem to be splitting hairs but I can't seem to stand it when folks seem to be minimizing... maybe I am just sore that others are going on when I feel so stuck and damaged still. 

sorry if I am being a wet blanket... I came to read your last post thought it was going to be your recovery story and I got stuck here as I often do can't see the forest for the trees. 

My five cents.

peace all

 

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 :)

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Btdt,

 

My story won't be in this forum anyway, this is a subforum of the 'Recovery Stories' main forum, where it will be, if I ever decide to write it.

 

I am holding off because I have slacked off on what I did to recover, and I feel so very unsure of myself a lot of the days. There was no secret, just that I was probably more rigid than most about sticking to certain things that I enumerated in that post, for a whole danged year. And it produced an amazing result.

 

Your situation is so different, how have you managed to stay sane with all that has happened to you? Death, illness, loss, changed living circumstances. I did not have these to contend with (yet), but you did.

 

 

maybe I am just sore that others are going on when I feel so stuck and damaged still.

 

Ok, but I am going to butt in and tell you that that kind of thinking (being 'sore') is not helping you. This is no race and you are not being left behind. Each person's recovery is different and my life is not over yet, neither is yours. Can you read the future? Do you know that you and I might change places in our circumstances in the future? Could very well happen. Try doing what I did for a whole year. See what happens. Won't be anything like me because you are you.

 

So here's your 5 cents back. The fat lady has not sung yet.

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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Thank you unfoldingsky! I think you can find your intro by clicking your name on the right upper corner then click the my content form the list there.

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

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One member last year sent me this list ...i pin these kind of lists to the wall

 

Light - 17 years on various drugs  -last 6 years of them pollydrugged - 10 years off now 70% recovered

Musicman - 12 years on paxil, also on steroids for 11 years. 10 years off still bad, but akathisia resolved and other problems getting better finally

Healing - 12 years on antidepressants - 9 years off slowly getting better, mostly recovered

Squirrel - 8 years - 9 years off, mostly recovered, still has very mild DR/DP, slight dizziness from time to time, anxiety and sinus problems. Nothing major

Tryingtogetwell- 8 years off, recovered at 7 years off

Alto - 10 years free - recovered, has minor sleep issues 

 

....

 

My user name on PP was "TryingtoGetWell" and I realize I am 8 years off, so this probably refers to me. I have no idea who gave you this information, but it is extremely misleading, though hopefully unintentionally. I do consider myself substantially recovered, but nothing significant occurred at 7 years off. Perhaps whoever gave you this information was referring to a communication when I was 7 years off, but I don't want anyone to think it took me 7 years to have any recovery! I did continue to recover after "turning the corner" at almost 4 years off, though.

 

(My symptoms and conditions were myriad, and my med history and recovery complicated. That is true of many people, most of whom have never to my knowledge posted about their full medication and withdrawal histories, much less past medical histories, which I believe can affect rate of recovery in many - though certainly not all - instances. (At least not those who I was in contact with in my more active years in withdrawal groups like PP.)

 

I will post more about this soon in the post I am drafting, tentatively called "Why People Don't Post Recovery Stories." (Important - it is NOT saying that people don't recover. Just the opposite.) I rarely proofread posts - but should!!! - and in this case will, so stay tuned...

I was "TryingToGetWell" (aka TTGW) on paxilprogress. I also was one of the original members here on Surviving Antidepressants

 

I had horrific and protracted withdrawal from paxil, but now am back to enjoying life with enthusiasm to the max, some residual physical symptoms continued but largely improve. The horror, severe derealization, anhedonia, akathisia, and so much more, are long over.

 

My signature is a temporary scribble from year 2013. I'll rewrite it when I can.

 

If you want to read it, click on http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/209-brandy-anyone/?p=110343

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Mr. Denton, in answer to your question in that quote box, there are people who do get shorter withdrawals.

 

I've known people who had mild withdrawal issues coming off a drug, say like zaps and not much else and they would clear up in a month or less.  The people I spoke to whom this happened to never sought out sites like this.

 

Also I've spoken to people who had severe adverse reactions to short term drug exposures and they tended to recover in months, not years.  One guy I recall recovered in a month even. 

Thank you, now i know that there is hope for a quicker recovery:)

2011 Developed anxiety and panic disorder, started out of a blue.

2011 Seroxat and Remeron (for insomnia) In 2012 tappered Remeron in 3 month without much complications.

2013 March started Seroxat withdrawal from 33mg's

I tapper 5-10% (from the dose i am at) every 3-4 weeks. Current dose 4,38 mg's have not reduced in 4 month (trying to stabilize).

My update thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7750-mrdenton-constant-flu-for-2-month-could-use-an-opinion-seroxat-taper/

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Perhaps whoever gave you this information was referring to a communication when I was 7 years off,

 

Brandy and anyone else who was mentioned in that particular post, it was posted 'as is' and not checked for accuracy. It can be edited on request: if there is something that needs to be changed, please PM me with the new info and I will amend it for you, OK?

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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Btdt,

 

My story won't be in this forum anyway, this is a subforum of the 'Recovery Stories' main forum, where it will be, if I ever decide to write it.

 

I am holding off because I have slacked off on what I did to recover, and I feel so very unsure of myself a lot of the days. There was no secret, just that I was probably more rigid than most about sticking to certain things that I enumerated in that post, for a whole danged year. And it produced an amazing result.

 

Your situation is so different, how have you managed to stay sane with all that has happened to you? Death, illness, loss, changed living circumstances. I did not have these to contend with (yet), but you did.

 

 

maybe I am just sore that others are going on when I feel so stuck and damaged still.

 

Ok, but I am going to butt in and tell you that that kind of thinking (being 'sore') is not helping you. This is no race and you are not being left behind. Each person's recovery is different and my life is not over yet, neither is yours. Can you read the future? Do you know that you and I might change places in our circumstances in the future? Could very well happen. Try doing what I did for a whole year. See what happens. Won't be anything like me because you are you.

 

So here's your 5 cents back. The fat lady has not sung yet.

I am not really sore at that at all.  I only said it as it was a thought... that was a place to look at I looked and no I am not.  I want you to know that I did all you did and more for more than a year and for me it did not work there is an element of luck perhaps.  The life changes I have seen with others before and they still healed in 3 years or less so it can't be all that either.  It could well be the length of time I was drugged.  18+ years.  It could be the poly drugging or the different sorts of drugs I was on to treat the side effects ... and the damage from that.  It could be the illnesses are a hangover from some of this damage. Liver for example. 

 

There are always mitigating factors in every life while this program you have stuck to has worked and I am glad it worked for you I truly am... it does not work for all of us.  I know I am not alone but I feel I am as the long term folks though they have posted here and have contacted me some in pm... are just not active on this board much.  We may be very few in number I hope we are.  It does nobody any good to have people be ill and non functioning nobody.   It may be something genetic I can't seem to get beyond I just don't know nobody does.  

 

While your right the fat lady may not have sang but the longer this goes on there may well be nobody left to care if she ever sings as so much time has been lost recovering from the loss of time weighs more each year.  I am saying the amount of time makes a difference in how this feels how it affects a persons life and how one can get on with living.  I am sure everybody knows this on some level I am just saying it out loud...one voice for me and those others out there like me. 

peace is what we want... healing would bring peace....justice would be therapeutic 

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 :)

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Light - 17 years on various drugs  -last 6 years of them pollydrugged - 10 years off now 70% recovered

 

Maybe this is my comparison as I was drugged about the same amount of time so I have a few more years to go. 

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 :)

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  • 1 year later...

Still going well - love to all

I'M A WEANER!  :D 
atavan PRN ,Paxil approx 20 yrs ago for major depression
Switched to Klonopin PRN through to current
Paxil wore out
Changed to Effexor 
Depakote added
enormous weight gain - flat affect - led to depression - dropped depakote
Dropped Effexor, changed to Paxil 
PDoc added mixed salts amphetamines for ADHD - took for 2 yrs - was ok at first but had to cut as symptoms too intense -  then the crash was too much. STOPPED
Vyvanse started in 2013 (APRIL) - more smooth than IR amphetamine tabs---Have not used vyvanse daily in full amt since May 2013 

Paxil CT withdrawal 10/2012  :wacko:  Klonopin CT WD

Switched Klonopin to Xanax prn  - too strong

WD CT from XANAX after taking for a while - it was awful but can be done if you hold on!

Back to Klonopin PRN - working very hard to avoid taking it at all. 

Effexor 37.5 started 02/2013, 75mg by 03/2013, 150mg by 05/2012 (approx)  :blush:

Effexor 150mg 3/10/2014 Microtaper -3beads  :unsure:

3/11/2014-4beads ,3/12/14 - 5, 3/13/14 -6, 3/15/14 - 7, 3/18 - 8, 3/22 - 10, 3/24 - 12, 4/6 - 13, 4/7 - 14, 4/11 - 16 - on 4/19 ran out of brand took generic. Bad move. Back on brand on 4/20 and updosed 2 beads. 5/1 - 15, 5/6 - 16, 5/9 -17, 55/10 -17, 5/15 -18, 5/21 -19, 5/24 -20, 6/3 - 21, 6/6 -23, 6/13 -24,6/19- 25, 6/21 -26, 6/25 -27

6/28 -28, 6/29 -30, 7/3 -34, 7/8 -35, 7/17 -36, 7/30 -41,7/31 -42, 8/2 -43, 8/3 -44, 8/5 -45, 8/14 -48, 8/26-50, 9/24 -53, 10/24 -55, 12/1 -57, (lost the tally sheet, thus taper info for some of it), 4/19-63, 4/26-64, 4/30-65 Switched to wt reduction - now @ -.068, 7/14 -.070, August 2015 -.074, between Sept & October 10 -.077, Nov. -.078(feeling great), -.090 as of 1/10/16, down to  -.101 since January 2016 (it is now 6/24/16), -.105 as of 8/13/16
 
 

Ladies, please don't underestimate the possibility of perimenopause. The symptoms can be similar to, may intensify & in some cases mimic protracted w/d from ssri's & benzo's. 

 

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  • 1 month later...

I'm also partially recovered - 65 to 70% if I had to quantify it. I am 19.5 months off ssri, snri and a tricyclic antidepressant I'd taken for over a decade. I cold turkeyed them all at once, simultaneously. Probably not the best action to take but I did. The first year was met with psychotic depression, Dr/dp , extreme muscle rigidity, hypersensitivity to noise/light, severe paranoid ideations, hallucinations, mainly aural. Couldn't work, could barely feed myself. I became an illiterate mute.

 

Today I'm back at work, able to read and digest nyt articles to legal material for work. My symptoms have broken up to where I am now experiencing moderate waves of depression that are shorter in length and lighter in severity at each successive session and my cognitive distortions are likewise receding into the background and becoming tolerably dissipating noise .

 

I hope we all heal as pain-free as possible.

 

Peace and love.

off cold turkey:zoloft, trileptal, stratteracurrently on:<p>latuda .05 milligrams latuda (to stabilize cns) from 20 mgs 4 months ago.

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Encouraging Gemini and good for you!! :)

Klomipramin 25-150mg 2002-2013

Sertralin - 6 weeks in 2009

Mirtazapin - 7 weeks 2013

Cipralex -  20mg Nov 2013 - Nov 2014

 

Tapered Cipralex from Nov 2014-Mars 8 2015

 

Thyroid - Low metabolism

 

Levaxin - 2010 - 25ug - 175ug

Liothyronin(T3) -  10ug - Nov 2014 - Nov 2015

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

These hopeful threads have been really important for me. Thanks to those of you who don't "disappear" completely into your recovered or partially recovered life, and come back at least periodically to share and update us on your stories of courage. To me, on really rough days like today, it feels like people throwing out lifelines to me. I appreciate it so much, and hope that I will be in a position to do the same for others someday. Much gratitude!

My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope.

You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices.

My success story |  My introduction thread

 

ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years

BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years

REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months

Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years

Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years

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