shelby Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 I have not posted in a week so here goes... Currently i have no sense of reality. I cant tell if im awake or asleep execpt for the extremem dizziness and head pain. I cant articulate anything much anymore but pain and despair. I begged my wife to take me to the hospital everyday this week. I am wearing her out. I had a major melt down yesterday where i felt that my brain was being possessed. I screamed and paced frantically all over the house, I scared the kids. I cant make any decisions even on what to eat or what to wear. I apparently said something hurtful to a family friend yesterday just trying to help. I was in the wrong but i dont even care or feel anything about it. I cant complete thoughts even in my head and my head feels like concrete. Please tell this gets better. No memory, no cognition, no hope... 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Fresh Posted May 23, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 23, 2015 Hi shelby , It sounds like you're right in the thick of it. I can tell you that I was like that too , for a few months , and the fact that you can write as much as you did is great. This is the withdrawal passing through , a bit like a hurricane without an eye. Everything is all tossed around just now , but as it settles all your regular faculties will return. Remind yourself that this is temporary . . . you ARE going to recover. Best wishes , Fresh 1987-1997 pertofran , prothiaden , Prozac 1997-2002 Zoloft 2002-2004 effexor 2004-2010 Lexapro 40mg 2010-2012Cymbalta 120mg Sept. 2012 -decreased 90mg in 6months. Care taken over by Dr Lucire in March 2013 , decreased last 30mg at 2mg per week over 3 months. July 21 , 2013- last dose of Cymbalta Protracted withdrawal syndrome kicked in badly Jan.2014 Unrelenting akathisia until May 2014. Voluntary hosp. admission. Cocktail of Seroquel, Ativan and mirtazapine and I was well enough to go home after 14 days. Stopped all hosp. meds in next few months. July 2014 felt v.depressed - couldn't stop crying. Started pristiq 50mg. Felt improvement within days and continued to improve, so stayed on 50mg for 8 months. Began taper 28 Feb. 2015. Pristiq 50mg down to 45mg. Had one month of w/d symptoms. Started CES therapy in March. No w/d symptoms down to 30mg. October 2015 , taking 25mg Pristiq. Capsules compounded with slow-release additive. March 2016 , 21mg Link to comment
justwanttobefree Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Shelby I can completely relate to everything you last posted. It is hideous. I know how unbearable it is but trust me, IT GETS BETTER. You will have a window very soon, just get through today. Diagnosed: Pure O Ocd, Severe Anxiety Disorder NOS, PMDD November 2009 - May 2013- CIPRALEX 20mg C/T off 20mg Cipralex Went into dark depression (never experienced before med) September 2013 - March 2014- PROZAC 20mg Weaned down to 10mg and held October 1st 2014 C/T off 10mg Prozac Protracted withdrawal - 8 months of the most horrific suffering imaginable June 1st 2015 - ZOLOFT 25mg June 26th 2015 - Dose increase to 50mg of Zoloft (taken at night after dinner). Slowly improving but still have severe OCD/ruminating, intense DP/DR, and brain fog. Just trying to stabilize at this point. Link to comment
shelby Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Do we really heal. I mean i am grateful for all the encouragement but the success stories are a small list and a lot of people come off the meds, get a little better and then go back on another med. Does it ever end or are we chained to these meds forever. Sorry for the depressing post. Im not doing good right now... 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
btdt Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Reading your post reminded me once again how much I hate effexor... I wanted to scream just reading that post. It makes me so angry people are still going thru this when we try to tell them nobody listens... that kills me. It does not have to be this way it just doesn't. Do we heal well it sure gets better than that post before the last one you made.. a lot better your at 7 months now time is passing and you are healing no matter how it feels. Not every one goes back on drugs I haven't it has been 7+ years. Am I perfect no I am not healed not like I was before this all started not happy about it either but I am stubborn and I am not going to go through wd again not a chance. This is a really rough spot but I am hoping that it has passed or the worst of it has already or some of it has passed. Truth is I have mini times like that now but I am thinking it may be other drugs that are to blame still I can't be sure can I as these are not normal symptoms of anything real... not that I know it this as far as I have seen has only one cause drugs. If I ever find out any different you can be sure i will be posting it here. I want to remind you of a post you made a while back where your wife and you were going for a walk and life was ok... if it is not back to that yet it will be soon. I wish you peace. WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
shelby Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 Feeling like i cant breathe. Head throbbing with choking feeling and someone sitting on my chest. Feels like im suffocating... 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
LoveandLight Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I'm so sorry Shelby for what your going through..I can relate to a lot that you write. It's ok, you won't suffocate. I had this and thought that I would but the feeling passed. It's going to be alright. 2000 - sertraline for job anxiety low confidence (17 years old) ..which turned the next 16 years into nightmare! On/off sertraline severe withdrawals every time. 2014 - felt better as reduced dose of sertraline no more inner restlessness. Doctor rushed off again. Hit severe withdrawal. Lost the little I had in life. Couldn't get stable again on 12.5mg. Was switched to prozac. Had severe reaction to prozac..came off in November 2015 at 6mg as felt more confused and damaged on it..Even more withdrawal ..rage, depression, dyphoria, near constant suicidal ideation, self harm impulses, doom, concrete block in head, unable to do much of anything with this feeling in head..went back on 6mg of sertraline to see if would alleviate anything. It didn't..reduced from December to June 2016 came off at 2.5mg sertraline as was hospitalised for the severe rage, suicidal impulses, and put on 50mg lofepramine which in 2nd week reduced all symptoms but gave insomnia which still have..psych stopped lofepramine cold turkey..no increased withdrawal symptoms new symptoms from lofepramine except persistant insomnia which has as side effect. Taking Ativan for 8 months for the severe rage self harm impulses 1-3 times a week (mostly 2 times a week) at .5mg. Two months (I'm unsure exactly when the interdose started to happen) ago interdose withdrawal seemed to happen..2 days I think after the Ativan. Nightmare that could have been avoided! Link to comment
Frustrated Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I get the chest tightness and trouble breathing. Even chest pain at times. I had all the heart tests etc.... Thought I would die but didn't. I only get it sporadically now. It will lessen but it does suck right now. Sorry. 2002-put on amitryptiline for fibromyalgia. 10mg.2004-stopped abruptly. Didn't think it helped.2006 approx.-put on Paxil for mild anxiety 20 mg.2007 upped to 40 mg. not sure why.2011- tapered from 40 to 10. went nuts and went back to 20mg2014- tapered from 20mg to 0 from April to The end of June.current meds- Metformin(type 2 diabetic) and low dose aspirin.Take multi vitamin and vit b12, vit. D and magnesium. 5 months off Paxil. Still suffering.recently added 1.2mg of Paxil to alleviate withdrawals.(Nov 30)Dropped to .9mg because having symptoms from reinstatement.(dec 23)<p>taper to .76mg-.8mg (Feb 3) approx. weight .010 to about .008-.009 on scale..6mg (march 19th.) .5mg(April 19th).4mg(April 27th).2 (June 27th) 0mg. done taper at beginning of August. Link to comment
shelby Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 Its like this constant lump in my throat and when i stnad up i get this surging feeling in my forehead and eyes like im going to blackout.... 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
shelby Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 It did pass...!! Yea! only replaced with heavy heavy, REALLYY heavy DR... (sigh) 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
Frustrated Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Ugh! Sorry! It is one thing after another for me too. Do tour beat to get through it. 2002-put on amitryptiline for fibromyalgia. 10mg.2004-stopped abruptly. Didn't think it helped.2006 approx.-put on Paxil for mild anxiety 20 mg.2007 upped to 40 mg. not sure why.2011- tapered from 40 to 10. went nuts and went back to 20mg2014- tapered from 20mg to 0 from April to The end of June.current meds- Metformin(type 2 diabetic) and low dose aspirin.Take multi vitamin and vit b12, vit. D and magnesium. 5 months off Paxil. Still suffering.recently added 1.2mg of Paxil to alleviate withdrawals.(Nov 30)Dropped to .9mg because having symptoms from reinstatement.(dec 23)<p>taper to .76mg-.8mg (Feb 3) approx. weight .010 to about .008-.009 on scale..6mg (march 19th.) .5mg(April 19th).4mg(April 27th).2 (June 27th) 0mg. done taper at beginning of August. Link to comment
shelby Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 This is crazy guys. Changing symptoms everyday. Today im so weak i can bearly move and so mentally weak i forget how to eat or find the bathroom... wth? 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
shelby Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 Can someone tell me how i can do yoga for 10 minutes, 15 minutes on the exercise bike and then drive to the post office and back, complete brain games with high scores BUT i cant fill out a form my wife gives me and im scared to take a shower with non stop dizziness and DR? 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
btdt Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 It is interesting isn't it.. the mind and its secrets ... Different parts of the mind do different things and they are not all healing at the same rate... is my guess and it is only a guess... it may need the part that is healing now to be complete before it can get the skill of form filling.. this is just one of the aspects of wd that causes people not to believe us we can do some things and do them well... I can cook now most of the time if I have a recipe and energy... for a time i could not cook did not eat either so it made some sense I could heat up broth for myself or steam veggies that was it. Since I can cook I am expected to be able to do all other things and some things befuddle me... a couple of months ago I had little energy to walk.. was like I was in 3 feet of snow walking was so difficult... and I could not recall anything ... how to get home.... once.. was lost... now that is gone.. when i tell people cause I was scared and thought it may be a sign of something worse coming down the pipe so they would have a heads up should I drop or something... so I told people then it passed and I look like a liar... It happens all the time... all the friggen time... It comes it goes it dances all around don't be freaked out if this all changes to be the other way around... can fill in forms but can't tolerate walking... that is just how it goes. It is crazy making I know but it is just the way it is. peace WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
shelby Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 Worried if i stop talking to people will forget how to communicate :-( 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
btdt Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 There are a lot of people here who had trouble communicating at some point in wd and it has come and gone for me... I wish it would just go and stay away. I generally is there for a time like all other wd symptoms and then it fades. Seems to be problems with processing I could not find words for a time and would stand looking lost and stupid. That was a great worry for me as I had always had the gift of the gab... but I lost it in wd it seems to come and go too. Some times I just don't want to talk to anyone other times it is lack of initiative .. I could not force myself to say a word if my clothes were on fire... I am stuck.. still other times it is something else... there are all sorts of communications issues in wd... varied areas of the brain I suppose but I don't really know what it is. This is what I do know in time it passes and all that worry was needless... and some times you need some body to talk to that gets you so you feel like you want to talk other times you need a subject that inspires you... still other times may as well forget it and have a nap or take a walk... these are what I call my isolation chamber times... talk fails me. WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
shelby Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 Guys i cannot do this anymore... i seriously cannot find the bathroom anymore. I barely get out of bed my head is sooooo spacey i forget even how get to this site and post this. I actually fear moving my body position in bed. I cannot make food, take a shower and need help going to the bathroom. I keep watching the same show over and over because i cannot watch anything else. I cancelled my appt with my therapist because i can't leave the house. I cant even go to the doctor if i wanted to reinstate. I feel i am becoming a vegetable, seriously. Im very scared now... 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted June 4, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 4, 2015 Shelby this is a really bad wave and it will get better. You were exercising on an exercise bike and getting out for a short drive, you probably think that is not much but it is something to be applauded, this is how things have gone for me during withdrawal and while taking effexor. I do something that any fit person would do without even thinking about, something simple like taking a shower and going to the shop, then being unable to function for days after. Your nervous system is healing and needs time to recover. This will pass and you will be able to do simple things again. When you are able to do them, give yourself a pat on the back and celebrate your achievements. Br glad for what you have done and not sad for what you haven't. You will get better, just hang in there and take each day as it comes. **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
shelby Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 Thanks mamap. Just walked around the block with my wife. Felt like I was going to faint the whole way. I think this is severe depression... 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
shelby Posted June 10, 2015 Author Share Posted June 10, 2015 This is just not getting better at all... is getting much, much worse. I cannot talk or communicate . Words escape me when i try and talk and i get lost in my own words. I even forget what i was trying to say in mid sentence when i speak. Im dizzy all the time with head pain. I try and walk but cant anymore but to the bathroom. I cant follow simple TV shows. Im afraid of takng showers. Everything freaks me out, sounds, lights, sudden movements. Its been tardive symptoms for 3 months now but its just getting more and more debilitating. Im afraid of "if you dont use it you lose it" and I'll soon be in a vegetative state. Please tell me it gets better 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
shelby Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share Posted June 14, 2015 Please help guys... its getting really bad now... cannot remember anything anymore. Constantly dazed dizzy and confused. Feeling subhuman. This is the end I know it 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Fresh Posted June 14, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 14, 2015 Hi Shelby , sorry to hear you're having such a rough time. It's not uncommon for things to get bad around 9 months after stopping - they sure did for me. I relate to everything you describe about not being able to follow tv ,afraid if the shower , afraid of everything really. It does get better , this is the withdrawal working itself out if your system. Try not to be afraid of new sensations or symptoms. None of them can hurt you or kill you , and hopefully the worst will pass quickly. Your job is to do the best you can. Keep stimulation to a minimum - sound and light. Try to rest. Try to shower each day , brush your teeth , and eat even when you don't want to. Your body needs all the nutrients it can get. When the waves are very severe , remind yourself that this will pass. Because it will. You're not damaged permanently and you CAN recover. Sending blessings , Fresh 1987-1997 pertofran , prothiaden , Prozac 1997-2002 Zoloft 2002-2004 effexor 2004-2010 Lexapro 40mg 2010-2012Cymbalta 120mg Sept. 2012 -decreased 90mg in 6months. Care taken over by Dr Lucire in March 2013 , decreased last 30mg at 2mg per week over 3 months. July 21 , 2013- last dose of Cymbalta Protracted withdrawal syndrome kicked in badly Jan.2014 Unrelenting akathisia until May 2014. Voluntary hosp. admission. Cocktail of Seroquel, Ativan and mirtazapine and I was well enough to go home after 14 days. Stopped all hosp. meds in next few months. July 2014 felt v.depressed - couldn't stop crying. Started pristiq 50mg. Felt improvement within days and continued to improve, so stayed on 50mg for 8 months. Began taper 28 Feb. 2015. Pristiq 50mg down to 45mg. Had one month of w/d symptoms. Started CES therapy in March. No w/d symptoms down to 30mg. October 2015 , taking 25mg Pristiq. Capsules compounded with slow-release additive. March 2016 , 21mg Link to comment
shelby Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share Posted June 14, 2015 Thank you fresh. I am married with 6 children and I'm trying to be a good husband and father but I'm just a body in a bed right now. My poor wife is exhausted and it kills me that I can't do more right now. I'm grateful to know that there are people out there who understand this nightmare. 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
Frustrated Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Wow I am a single mom with 3 kids and I am dying trying to care for them. God bless you fir keeping up with 6 of them. 2002-put on amitryptiline for fibromyalgia. 10mg.2004-stopped abruptly. Didn't think it helped.2006 approx.-put on Paxil for mild anxiety 20 mg.2007 upped to 40 mg. not sure why.2011- tapered from 40 to 10. went nuts and went back to 20mg2014- tapered from 20mg to 0 from April to The end of June.current meds- Metformin(type 2 diabetic) and low dose aspirin.Take multi vitamin and vit b12, vit. D and magnesium. 5 months off Paxil. Still suffering.recently added 1.2mg of Paxil to alleviate withdrawals.(Nov 30)Dropped to .9mg because having symptoms from reinstatement.(dec 23)<p>taper to .76mg-.8mg (Feb 3) approx. weight .010 to about .008-.009 on scale..6mg (march 19th.) .5mg(April 19th).4mg(April 27th).2 (June 27th) 0mg. done taper at beginning of August. Link to comment
shelby Posted June 15, 2015 Author Share Posted June 15, 2015 My wife keeps up with them :-) 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
shelby Posted June 16, 2015 Author Share Posted June 16, 2015 This is the new pattern for the past 3 weeks.Day one is like this... I wake up and my thoughts are fragmented or like stuttered speech but its my thoughts. Then is progresses to a flood of intrusive thoughts one every 10 to 20 seconds and trying to focus makes it worse and I can't control them. Then by late afternoon it peaks and I am a crazy mad man wanting to shout my head off with rage and anger that is uncontrollable. I start speaking gibberish and trashing my body around like im possesed. After this I am completely worn out before bed time.Day two the thoughts are not as fragmented or intrusive, but I am completely lethargic and can't get out of bed. Even though I this sucks I prefer this over the preceding manic day and on the manic day I completely forget Day 2. This is the repeating pattern. Like clock work. It may sound like I'm manic depressive but this pattern just started about 3 weeks ago. I'm hoping it will just level out soon. Every time I read about Effexor WD I see that it was very VERY hard for most people. I keep fighting the urge to find another AD to help this. 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
btdt Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 I think it is wonderful that you are able to keep track of symptoms so well bravo to you... I think it can only help you in your understanding and may one day help others. Carry on it is not easy but the way out is through it .. not a comment on if you should take anything or not ..your the only one who can make that call. peace WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
bluebalu86 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Hi shelby I wish you peace and healing. I know how hard it is for you. Keep doing what you're doing and surviving day by day. It will get better and you will heal, you'll see. I suffer from depression, anxiety, pure-o ocd, and panic attacks since 2004. Been on multiple different psychiatric drugs since 2006. Never had a significant WD problem before, only brain zaps for a month and then I'd be fine...............Been on Cipralex (escitalopram) 15 mg and Fluanxol (flupentixol) 1 mg since Sep 2014. Stopped taking the Cipralex after a fast 20-day taper.Took the last 5 mg Cipralex on Feb 5th, 2015. Then took Seroxat (paroxetine) 10 mg for a week, and stopped it too. Severe WD started suddenly on Feb 16th. RI 5 mg Cipralex on Feb 18th, 2015. RI worked and was relatively stable for a while................April 7 - decreased Fluanxol from 1 mg to 0.5 mg and took it at this dose for a week. - BIG MISTAKE; April 13 - WD starts creeping in; April 14 - RI full dose of Fluanxol 1 mg => severe muscle twitching and jerking when trying to relax and fall asleep, overwhelming sense of doom, dread, terror, and horror, insomnia, hoping to stabilize.Tried doing a 10% cut off Fluanxol in the end of May for a few days, but quickly updosed to full dose because the twitching returned.Experiencing waves and windows in the following months.Unsuccessful brief taper attempt of Fluanxol by 5% on November 1st. Symptoms hit the next day. Too scared to continue tapering, reinstate full dose.Severe crash in November after stupidly trying a barbiturate on November 9th. Grave mistake. Sense of unshakable inescapable internal torture, like my soul is in hell being tortured, terror/horror/dread/doom (probably akathisia?) that gets especially bad when trying to relax and fall asleep, muscles twitch, jerk and move on their own, shaking, insomnia, can't eat, confusion, disorientation, brain not working normally. Never felt so bad in my entire life. Never experiment with other meds while in WD! Praying to God I stabilize and get back to my baseline.December - things getting even worse. January - unbearable suffering Link to comment
shelby Posted June 18, 2015 Author Share Posted June 18, 2015 Thanks guys. .. not in a good place but still breathing 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 18, 2015 Administrator Share Posted June 18, 2015 Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, seehttp://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/ 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. Link to comment
HopeNeeded Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Btdt... do you drive, go to the store or have meaningful conversations? I can't do any of that right now Shelby - I just began reading your thread and decided to stop and comment, bc we have VERY similar issues... I definitely cannot drive, go anywhere, nor have meaningful conversations. Please take a look at my intro topic and let me know if you can relate to any more of the symptoms/experiences that I've had in this hell. I'm losing hope and don't know where else to turn. Have you had much improvement lately? Thanks so much. Diagnosis: Anxiety, Situational Depression March 2016: So debilitated that had to leave my home/job/life to move in with my parents. Hopeless. July 2015: Reinstated 2.5mg to 5mg Prozac - Got worse so stopped the reinstated Prozac Middle of February 2015: Prozac 20mg every other day for one week and discontinued on February 18th or 19th Beg of February 2015: Stopped Pristiq, continued on 20mg Prozac for 2 weeks End of January 2015: Use Prozac to wean off of Pristiq (Added 20mg of Prozac to the 50mg Pristiq - took both for 1 week) January 2015: Decide to stop Pristiq due to negative side effects Beg of November 2014: Switch from Zoloft to Pristiq 50mg August 2014: Reinstate Zoloft 100mg March-June 2014: Weaned off of Zoloft 100mg January 2012: Begin Zoloft 100mg (6 month period at the end of 2012 where I discontinued the Zoloft - reinstated for situational depression) 2008-May 2011: Cymbalta and Topamax for Migraines -- May 2011: Weaned off of Cymbalta and Topamax Link to comment
shelby Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 Sorry Jaclyn, Its been bad for about 3 months. We just have to keep breathing... 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
shelby Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/ http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/ I tried fish oil early on... did not do much. I'm taking 325mg of magnesium right now 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
shelby Posted July 2, 2015 Author Share Posted July 2, 2015 Went to the hospital this weekend. I went into the bathroom and my hands and left leg stopped working. I fell over and hit my head and was speaking gibberish. My wife thought I was having a stroke. They administered a clot buster and put me in the ICU. MRI, CT, Echocardiogram, Cartoid Ultra Sound, EKG, EEG, Bloodwork, all tests were NORMAL!! They sent a psych to see me in the ICU. Sooooo.... I reinstated on 25mg of zoloft. Its day 4 and I am getting the initial anxiety. I hope it stabalizes soon. I hate this crap... I did not want to do this again. I guess I failed... maybe I'll taper slower next time... 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Fresh Posted July 2, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted July 2, 2015 Oh Shelby , don't be hard on yourself - the main thing is that you feel better. You didn't fail , you just learned that your taper last year was too quick for your brain and body to accommodate. Pretty much the same time frame as mine was in 2013 , and I got hit early in 2014. Reinstated in July 2014. You may find (as i did) that you continue to improve for the next 6 to 8 months. Don't be in too much of a hurry to start tapering again. You need time to stabilize and recover. You may well be able to stabilize on a lower dose than 25mg Zoloft . . . it's up to you if you want to try taking half of that and see how you go. Just a thought. Sending a big cyber-hug , you're going to get through this. 1987-1997 pertofran , prothiaden , Prozac 1997-2002 Zoloft 2002-2004 effexor 2004-2010 Lexapro 40mg 2010-2012Cymbalta 120mg Sept. 2012 -decreased 90mg in 6months. Care taken over by Dr Lucire in March 2013 , decreased last 30mg at 2mg per week over 3 months. July 21 , 2013- last dose of Cymbalta Protracted withdrawal syndrome kicked in badly Jan.2014 Unrelenting akathisia until May 2014. Voluntary hosp. admission. Cocktail of Seroquel, Ativan and mirtazapine and I was well enough to go home after 14 days. Stopped all hosp. meds in next few months. July 2014 felt v.depressed - couldn't stop crying. Started pristiq 50mg. Felt improvement within days and continued to improve, so stayed on 50mg for 8 months. Began taper 28 Feb. 2015. Pristiq 50mg down to 45mg. Had one month of w/d symptoms. Started CES therapy in March. No w/d symptoms down to 30mg. October 2015 , taking 25mg Pristiq. Capsules compounded with slow-release additive. March 2016 , 21mg Link to comment
shelby Posted July 3, 2015 Author Share Posted July 3, 2015 Thanks Fresh... Its been day 5 and my anxiety is a little lower but the brain fog and memory are still bad as well as the DR/DP. The psych wants me to increase to 50mg next week. We'll see how it goes. 40 year old male - First panic attack in May 2012 May 2012 Atenolol (beta blocker)25mg, Ativan 2mg August 2012 Rapid taper ativan, started zoloft 25mg Dec 2012... rapid taper zoloft, January 2013 Xanax 1mg for 1 month February 2013 Klonopin 1mg April 2013 to May 2013 Rapid Taper Klonopin to 0.5mg June 10th 2013 jumped from 0.5 Kpin and Atenolol 25mg July 2013 two days of Ativan 1mg b/c of hospital visit September 2013 started Effexor 75mg (this was a mistake i think) July 2014 to October 2014 tapered off Effexor... July 2015 - Reinstated zoloft 50mg Link to comment
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