Popular Post Iggy131313 Posted January 2, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted January 2, 2013 Hi All, I have permission from this guy to post this here, This chap took 4.5 years to feel fully recovered from what was TRULY a severe w/d, he is fine now. From Lossleader: Even I recovered in the end...I used to post here years ago - I don't know if there's anyone still around who would remember me, but basically I turned up at the start of 2006 at the beginning of an almighty sertraline withdrawal (which had already been going on for a few months) and then spent the next couple of years going through the wringer. I don't need to go into the details of this, as I'm sure you all know exactly what I mean, but I had a pretty horrific time of it... there were people here who'd had it worse than me, but I think I was probably in the top 5% in terms of how difficult I found it, and how long my symptoms lasted. A really, really horrible period of my life which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Whatever you're going through right now, there's a good chance I had it too, and for a very, very long time. Seriously... it was grim.Anyway, I'm just dropping back in for two reasons. Firstly, I sort of vanished from the site once I started to feel better and I wanted to come back and say thanks properly to the folks who helped me out at the time. So thanks - this place helped me out a lot.Secondly, I can remember that when I was going through withdrawal myself, it was always good to hear from people who'd had it really bad and recovered... so here I am. I still have depression, sure. I have moderate anxiety issues and a whole cornucopia of hang-ups which make my life less than totally wonderful. But I don't think there's a single major problem in my life right now which I can point to and say "that's lingering withdrawal, right there" - and that's been the case for several years now.Now... I've been off SSRIs for seven years, so that might not sound like much of a boast. But I was convinced I'd never recover. A year after stopping the pills, I would regularly find myself thrashing around on the floor screaming and howling; two years after that I was still in hell. I'm naturally a pretty pessimistic guy (like a lot of people with depression, I guess) and sometimes it was impossible to see any light at the end of the tunnel. I began thinking that the only reason I hadn't ended it all was that I didn't have the guts. And anyone who's been there will know that it's a pretty scary place to be, mentally.Years after coming off, I still had PSSD. For someone like me, who'd always been what we in Britain call a randy git (and this hadn't been affected at all by a high dose of SSRIs) that was a big problem. My sex drive was still strong... the problem was, my mind was writing cheques my body couldn't cash. Erections were unreliable - though not completely gone - but the worst thing was the horrific premature ejaculation. It was like being a teenage virgin again... I could get started, but then seconds later... oh dear. To the guys here who are having problems even getting that far, that may sound not so bad, but trust me - it really is. Orgasms were almost totally pleasureless, of course. This went on for years. Just when my confidence needed a boost, it got the biggest kicking imaginable... and life's greatest pleasure was gone.And while all this was going on, my life itself decided to go badly wrong. I haven't even got the time to list all the disasters and general "challenging" events from that period, but let's just say that even without the withdrawal it would have been a very difficult time indeed. As it was... I still don't know how I made it through.But I did. I hung on, and eventually I got better. I'm not religious, I'm not into meditation or anything like that, I don't believe in any kind of alternative medicine and I'm even slightly dubious about the benefits of therapy (at least for myself - I'm sure it works great for others). I'm not what you'd call a positive thinker. I don't have great willpower, either (currently giving up smoking, years too late, and it's an absolute nightmare!). I found a couple of doctors who were sympathetic, but none who had anything useful to say, let alone anything useful they could do.What I'm saying is, I went through one of the longest, hardest withdrawals and post-withdrawal periods I've ever heard of; I was totally unprepared for it, very badly suited to it, and unless you count the forum, I had nothing in my life to help me through. And somehow, I managed to beat it. What does this prove? Well, it proves one thing for a start: if a loser like me can do it, so can you.The recovery was slow and painful, but I became conscious of every little improvement as it happened. I got used to the pattern: something would get better for a while, then suddenly everything would swing right back and all that recovery would vanish. But I learnt the trick - once something had recovered temporarily, it was only a matter of time before it recovered permanently. It made no difference if it came back for a while... it had already revealed its weakness, and sooner or later it was going to be gone for good. That was true in every single case.I spent a while "pampering" myself, when things were really bad. If I was incapable of doing anything that day, I did nothing. Sure, I lost a lot of time I'll never get back... but what was the alternative? Then, when I had a good day, I'd grasp it with both hands and get as much done as I could - so when things got bad again I had some kind of achievement to point to, something to remind me that it wasn't always like this, and wasn't always going to be.The PSSD was probably the last thing to go. It can last a horribly long time, I'm afraid. But once it's gone, believe me - you're so glad to be fixed, the joy drowns out any bitterness! Again it was a slow process, with lots of gradual improvements followed by depressing relapses, but after a while it was obvious that things were starting to change... and they did. Eventually, everything fell back into place. I'm 40 now, and I have a well-functioning sex life which is more affected by the fact that I was a smoker until a fortnight ago than it is by anything to do with SSRIs. I lost four or five years of my sex life, which doesn't fill me with joy. But I got it back, and it feels good, and ultimately that's what matters.These days, I'm basically just a guy with moderate depression and anxiety... more or less what I was before I ever touched an antidepressant. Right back where I started, after going through a nightmare - that's pretty depressing, right? Well, not really. I coped with full-on nightmarish withdrawal, so now I find I can cope with depression. Things are a LOT easier than they were five or six years ago, and I made it through that - so making it through this is a piece of cake by comparison. No, I don't feel great every day. Yes, I feel a bit exhausted still by everything I went through. And yes, I can see little ways in which the whole experience damaged me: I certainly can't be the hard-living guy I was in my younger days, that's for sure. But I'm capable of enjoying things now, and looking to the future with a bit of hope again. It's all behind me now, that horror... and at last, everything's up to me. I'm not at the mercy of crazy bubbling brain chemistry with a life of its own any more. It's all up to me again - and that's the most important thing in the world.And all I have to say to anyone who's currently going through long-term, heavy withdrawal symptoms: just hang on. You don't have to do anything... just hang on. So long as you don't let it beat you, in the end this stuff will just melt away. It really will. There'll be a bit of mental "tidying up" to do afterwards, as though a hurricane has passed through your house. But you'll be so glad you survived, so glad to see the blue skies again, you won't care too much about that. If it ever seems like everything's hopeless... well, it's not. It's really not. Honestly, it's simple as that.Good luck to everyone. You'll get there in the end.__________________ 14 damaged by citalopram - severe suffering for 3 years now...no improvement akathsiia, pgad, dp/dr, terror, and so SO many more daily severly disabled and lost everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy131313 Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 Alto, you may remember him, its LOSSLEADER damaged by citalopram - severe suffering for 3 years now...no improvement akathsiia, pgad, dp/dr, terror, and so SO many more daily severly disabled and lost everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted January 2, 2013 Administrator Share Posted January 2, 2013 !!!!!!!!! So happy to hear Lossleader has recovered. For many years, he was beyond gloomy. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy131313 Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 Hes a great guy and he suffered very badly, he said he saw alot of improvements before the 4.5 year mark but it was then that he felt normal again..yeah he had a terrible time....he told me to hold my nerve, he said ''hold your nerve for long enough and all this will go away, it really will'' That message from him kept me going for at least 2 weeks! 3 damaged by citalopram - severe suffering for 3 years now...no improvement akathsiia, pgad, dp/dr, terror, and so SO many more daily severly disabled and lost everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy131313 Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 In fact I will post a passge from his most recent email to me....of course you have to remember that Loss had depression before he started on ssris and still does now, but for those of us who were put on them for other reasons (like I was for a physical illness) I hope we wont have any lasting depression... As regards being healed - yeah, I think I am, although that doesn't mean I'm a bundle of joy. The point is, I'm back to being me, with all my own issues and problems, rather than a load of artificial SSRI-induced ones, and this is definitely better. I do have more anxiety than I used to (though much, MUCH less than in withdrawal - I mean, it's not even remotely in the same league as four years ago or whatever, never mind the first year off). Possibly that's a long-term effect of being on antidepressants so long, but having come through so much I'm strong enough to deal with that thought now... I mean, how I feel now is so much better than how I felt before, it's like being on a different planet. I don't really get free-floating anxiety any more, either - it's more about actual stuff in my life. This is better, obviously, because at least I can respond to it constructively, by trying to fix the stuff... I'd say the main lingering thing from w/d is mental exhaustion from years of that crap - I still get stressed out very easily, I need a lot of sleep, I feel a bit gloomy about having lost a few years, things like that. There's no point pretending that's not the case. But my God, I'm just a completely different person from the gibbering wreck I was after coming off SSRIs. Issues like this are just NOTHING compared to what you're putting up with right now. But if you put up with them long enough, they'll go away. They really will. It's just a matter of holding your nerve and waiting for the next improvement, until eventually you turn the corner and you know you're finally on the mend. 6 damaged by citalopram - severe suffering for 3 years now...no improvement akathsiia, pgad, dp/dr, terror, and so SO many more daily severly disabled and lost everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Jemima Posted January 2, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 2, 2013 Great posts, Iggy. Thank you. Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's RazorIntroduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/ Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted January 5, 2013 Administrator Share Posted January 5, 2013 Please convey to LL my regards. There are a number of old-timers here who will be happy to hear he's doing so well. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionboy Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Fair play to this fella for posting this, I'm 2.5 years in, only 2 to go! 1999 50mg citalopram / celexa for anxiety and depression. dec 2007 50mg - 40mg, march 2009 40mg - 30mg, july 2009 30mg - 20mg, aug 2009 20mg - 30mg, sept 2009 30mg - 20mg, jan 2010 20mg - 30mg, july 2010 30mg - 25mg (one 20mg and half a 10mg tablet), july 2010 - july 2013 25mg July 2013 began tapering down in 1mg increments, dissolving the tablets in water and using a syringe as suggested by Rhi. Had a few hiccups along the way as can be seen in my thread. End December 2013, now down to 11.25mg. Dec 2013 to present day still on 11.25 mg. I have hit, what Professor Healy terms, a shelf. I became extremely destabilised when I reduced from 12.25mg to 11.25mg. Only now, after some 15 months am I starting to really recover from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus basildev Posted January 11, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 11, 2013 That's very encouraging. Hope for us all. Thanks for sharing. July 2001 prescribed 20mg citalopram for depression;On and off meds from 2003-2006.February 2006 back on 20mg citalopram and stayed on it until my last attempt at tapering in September 2011.By far the worst withdrawal symptoms ever. Reinstated to 20mg citalopramOctober 2012 - found this forum!Nov 2012 to Feb 2013 did 10% taper, got doen to 11mg - was going great until stressful situation. Cortisol levels hit the roof, hideous insomnia forced me to updose to 20mg.March 2016 - close to 100% back to normal!****** I am not a medical practitioner, any advice I give comes from my own experience or reading and is only my perspective ****** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikki Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I do remember LossLeader. God Bless him. There are two things he said that resonate with me. PSSD I took that to mean Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from WD. Is that right? I have it. It is the fear of ever feeling like that again - and - having anxiety or a bit of depression, and it feels like the end of the world because it was so bad at one time. When a symptom passes, it's gone. Thanks for posting. Hugs Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted January 18, 2013 Administrator Share Posted January 18, 2013 No, LL was troubled by PSSD -- Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 1, 2013 Administrator Share Posted February 1, 2013 Bumping for newbies -- everyone should read this! 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
beans Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 It's amazing what people can fully recover from. It's helpful to know that going in, that it is worth it in the end. Celexa 20 mg 2002Benzo FREE - Tapered clonazepam 8/11 to 6/13 Began liquid Celexa taper 2/13 4/29/13 - 17 mg 11/13 - 4 mg 12/12/13 - 3.5 mg too angry > updosed 1/21/14 - 7 mg slowly to 2 mg 10/1/14 too emotional > 2 mg and holding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunerbug Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Needed to see that!! Thank you! Started Fluoxetine Jan. 2010 Tried to go off of it in Sept. 2010 Weaned too fast and was back on it by Nov. 2010 Didn't work as good the second time around. Started to wean again in Nov. 2011 and was off for good by April? 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnson Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Thanks for posting this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy131313 Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 sorry just to say again, that this is not charlys story, this is lossleader, so need another swift title change!! not critising at all, just pointing it out is all...also of course its better because both carly G and Lossleader have made full recoveries!!! damaged by citalopram - severe suffering for 3 years now...no improvement akathsiia, pgad, dp/dr, terror, and so SO many more daily severly disabled and lost everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy131313 Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 maybe a btter title would be severe zoloft protracted withdrawal - recovery - must read I should have called it that when I posted it damaged by citalopram - severe suffering for 3 years now...no improvement akathsiia, pgad, dp/dr, terror, and so SO many more daily severly disabled and lost everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Jemima Posted June 27, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 27, 2013 How's this, Iggy? Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's RazorIntroduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/ Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annelle Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Thank you so much, Iggy, for posting Loss' story! It is very encouraging and reassuring reading, and I happen to be reading it on a bad day, so it was just what I needed. I think it is so nice of him to care so much about other people trying to recover from AD withdrawal and actually make a point of telling everybody his recovery story. Although not perfect, as the states himself, it must definitely be deemed a success story. It certainly brightens my day Alopam (benzodiazepine) first prescribed 1994Akarin (citalopram) from 2002 Mirtazepine for about 2 months for insomnia in 2003 or 2004Changed from Akarin to Effexor 2005Started Nexium 2005Changed from Effexor to Akarin 2006Stopped Alopam after slow tapering 2006Changed from Akarin to Cipralex 2006Started Seroquel (quetiapine) 2006Changed from Nexium to Omeprazol 2006Started tramadol 2008Started pramipexole for restless legs syndrome 2008Stopped Seroquel after quick tapering 2009Stopped tramadol 2011Stopped Omeprazol August 2012Stopped Cipralex (escitalopram) (after an appr 6 weeks taper) on Oct 13, 2012Reinstated Cipralex 5 mg on May 18 - on May 22 went down to 2.5 mg Cipralex - June 1 down to 2 mg Cipralex, oral drops - June 26 down to 1.20 mg - July 27 updosed to 1,30 mg - Sept 14 down to 1,00 mg of own tablet liquid - Oct 20 down to 0,90 mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy131313 Posted June 27, 2013 Author Share Posted June 27, 2013 great stuff and everyone is most welcome, I know the desperation for success stories. I feel very lost damaged by citalopram - severe suffering for 3 years now...no improvement akathsiia, pgad, dp/dr, terror, and so SO many more daily severly disabled and lost everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dani Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 This is soooo inspiring! Thank you soooo much for sharing? Dec 2004 - Put on Zoloft after having a panic attack from the Birth Control Ortho Evra Patch (the doctors thought I was completely insane when I told them I think the Birth Control Patch is giving me anxiety/panic. Funny how they tell you NOW that Birth Control can indeed cause anxiety) Started at 25mg, increased to 50 mg and 100 mg in 2007. They made me too sleepy so decreased back to 50mg until 2009. Reduced to 25 mg in 2010.Oct 2010 - Decided to come off Zoloft to try and have children. Didn't know anything about tapering because apparently, my doctor didn't know about it either. WDs included heart palpitations, dizziness, tinnitus etc. Decided to go back on Zoloft within 2 weeks of stopping.January 2011 - Knowing a little more about tapering, I decided to stop taking taking Zoloft with my doctors help again. She told me to hurry and taper in 4 weeks because the tinnitus could become permanent. I thought this was too fast so I took another month to taper.March 30, 2011 - Last Zoloft pill.Had a little dizziness & sadness, but felt fine until Aug 2011 after a relative died.Since then symptoms include brain shivers, migraine headaches on right side of head, warm/hot sensations on right side of head and ears, internal vibrations, tremor, muscle twitches, strange sensations in right side of head, anxiety, nervousness, sadness, disconnected, depersonalization, numbness on left side of body at times, neck pain, muscle/rib cage pains, just don't feel like myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelt712 Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 Wow, this story truly is something to cling to- I love it. I am off of all meds as of May 20th, 2013, after 5 weeks on Zoloft and a 4 week taper. Still experiencing: moderate anhedonia & PSSD, I am otherwise mostly healed. 2.1 years off of medication. "If I walk away, don't hate me. I've got to see where the pain will take me. I found no angels...I found myself." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btdt Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I do remember LossLeader. God Bless him. There are two things he said that resonate with me.PSSD I took that to mean Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from WD. Is that right? I have it.It is the fear of ever feeling like that again - and - having anxiety or a bit of depression, and it feels like the end of the world because it was so bad at one time.When a symptom passes, it's gone.Thanks for posting.Hugs While PSSD is post ssri sexual dsyfunction...ptsd post traumatic stress disorder ... are two different things I think you can get them both from cold turkey... cause I have had them both ... according to shrinks... ptsd was the dx after I quit some previous drugs cold turkey.. each in turn severer reaction to proac quit after two wks.. lasted at least two years ... I was medicated out of it by amitriptyline... leading to zoloft...leading to paxil ... quit them all cold turkey ... and ended up on the next drug before too long after the quitting paxil ct... I got the ptsd dx. and was put on Effexor and celexa.. quit the celexa ... staying on Effexor.. ct E 5 years 7 months ago. Sexual dysfunction can run a range for women.. I am female. No feeling absolutely numb sex organs including breast. I think that stayed at least 3 years gradually improving on a hit and miss basis.. don't check to see no partner. At this point I can feel but rarely bother as when I do I have discovered Orgasm headaches... intense pain like my head will explode as soon as the orgasm starts... now I had the orgasm that did not feel much most of the time I was on Effexor but I would choose that to this as this one thing that may turn me off sex forever. Loss Leader was at pp... I was a bit confused there for a minute as I know this site was not here in 2006... I remember him. glad he is doing well. 7 years for him and Charlie both... oh my I am almost there and I am going to feel like a complete failure if I can't pull of some healing magic in the next year and a half. There were times I was sure I was dying but I did not die... I have to admit I am a bit surprised by that.. I am not done either. LL does mention he had set backs during his withdrawal he does not say what they were.. I wish he had. I have had setbacks too.. I would like to know what he has overcome... cause I wonder if this going to keep me from that magical 7 year fan fare of being healed... Just another day in paradise... I am grateful for the amount of healing I have now when I look back at the first year... I think the word is grateful... ya grateful to my body for surviving and to those who helped me along the way.. forums and in real life. I am also angry about the way my life has been affected... there is this 5.5 years sure but there are also the 18 years drugged before...all for pain in my leg which I have to this day. I am damaged I know that. Worse than the damage to my personal self is the damage to my family... to see your child suffer because of the effects a drug has had on your life is something a mother does not take lightly. My inability to be helpful to him now still bothers me. The loss of financial security at time when I am ready to retire will eat at me thru these supposed golden years... should I reach that 7 year mark and be freed like the rest. I doubt this will be over for me and pharma. I know I am weak I can't touch them but I will try to keep people off these drugs... I will try to tell them how bad they are as long as I can as long as I am alive. Sadly if the past is any indication most won't believe me and take them anyway. Now that I think about it that is not much to aspire to for an entire life time... maybe I will rethink this at the 7 year mark. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudius Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 This is a great story, and gives hope to the long termers. I am now at 70 months, so close to 6 years and still not recovered, though there is absolutely a lot of progression. I feel I have entered some plateau phase again so look forwrd to the next phase of recovery from protacted WD. I really REALLY hope that (almost) complete recovery is possible for all of us, albeit a very long term process. I will definately post my story when I feel recovered. If I will recover, I am sure anybody will. 1 10 mg Paxil/Seroxat since 2002 several attempts to quit since 2004 Quit c/t again Oktober 2007, in protracted w/d since then after 3.5 years slight improvement but still on the road after 6 years pretty much recovered but still some nasty residual sypmtons after 8.5 years working again on a 90% base and basically functioning normally again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btdt Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 This is a great story, and gives hope to the long termers. I am now at 70 months, so close to 6 years and still not recovered, though there is absolutely a lot of progression. I feel I have entered some plateau phase again so look forwrd to the next phase of recovery from protacted WD. I really REALLY hope that (almost) complete recovery is possible for all of us, albeit a very long term process. I will definately post my story when I feel recovered. If I will recover, I am sure anybody will. You are one month ahead of me how very interesting...I quit Nov 18 2007 wishing you healing... and 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
catw66 Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 I am glad I read this just now. I am so happy for him that he got to the other side of all this. I am sad though that it took as long as I did and that scares me, but it seems he remained mindful and patient and hopeful. I had a horrible day post my cymbalta cut down - cessation, and then reinstatement experiment. I truly felt sick as a dog with a major headache and it was the loneliest feeling in the world. I am 47 and I wish I was doing this when I was younger. I worry it is too late for me. By the time I am OK, I will be what? 54? But I will be 54 anyway and maybe some better life still awaits me. I don't know. At least I haven't let myself go totally down the tubes physically over all these meds, but I've Lost SO much time and I get really really down about it at times. But maybe if I have to wait a long time yet to find some true mental homeostasis as much as possible, then it's still worth it to hang in there and get through this. I went to a metro park tonight and laid down on the grass and felt the earth for a while. That was a help. I kept asking whatever power that might be at all for any help. On my drive home in the dark, I got the message that I need to come home and read the success stories. They truly are helpful at this point. Finished slow taper on 4/6/14 from 20 mg to 6 beads over period of almost a year on Cymbalta and then quit cannabis around the time I DC'd Cymbalta. Tried to go off completely 8/13 - 8/20 (didn't work) - Reinstated 10mg on 8/21/13 Off Adderall (2010 -2013) after 3.5 years since July 12th, 2013 Taking Tramadol 50 mg since 2007 for chronic pain Lamictal 450 mg (from 2007 - 2009) Lexapro (2004-2007 30 mg?) Ambien (2009-2010) Trazadone (2010-2011 for sleep) 2008-2010 -Trials of Wellbutrin, Paxil, Ritalin, Concerta, Effexor, Risperdal, Abilify, Seroquel, Trileptal Earlier history includes - long courses of Tricyclics, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Paxil. Serzone, Celexa, Remeron, Zoloft for shorter periods. Haldol, Lithium, Stelazine. Xanax, Clonipin, and Ativan have been used on and off, mostly Clonipin. Went through serious Xanax withdrawal a couple times in my life so far. Methadone (2003-2005 - psychiatrist/pain management doctor decided that was the first thing I ought to try for moderate chronic pain). MS Contin 2005-2007 (aka Morphine) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dani Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 (edited) This is soooo inspiring! Thank you soooo much for sharing!!! Edited December 18, 2015 by JanCarol clean up HTML Dec 2004 - Put on Zoloft after having a panic attack from the Birth Control Ortho Evra Patch (the doctors thought I was completely insane when I told them I think the Birth Control Patch is giving me anxiety/panic. Funny how they tell you NOW that Birth Control can indeed cause anxiety) Started at 25mg, increased to 50 mg and 100 mg in 2007. They made me too sleepy so decreased back to 50mg until 2009. Reduced to 25 mg in 2010.Oct 2010 - Decided to come off Zoloft to try and have children. Didn't know anything about tapering because apparently, my doctor didn't know about it either. WDs included heart palpitations, dizziness, tinnitus etc. Decided to go back on Zoloft within 2 weeks of stopping.January 2011 - Knowing a little more about tapering, I decided to stop taking taking Zoloft with my doctors help again. She told me to hurry and taper in 4 weeks because the tinnitus could become permanent. I thought this was too fast so I took another month to taper.March 30, 2011 - Last Zoloft pill.Had a little dizziness & sadness, but felt fine until Aug 2011 after a relative died.Since then symptoms include brain shivers, migraine headaches on right side of head, warm/hot sensations on right side of head and ears, internal vibrations, tremor, muscle twitches, strange sensations in right side of head, anxiety, nervousness, sadness, disconnected, depersonalization, numbness on left side of body at times, neck pain, muscle/rib cage pains, just don't feel like myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentor CharlieBrown Posted November 15, 2013 Mentor Share Posted November 15, 2013 I'm so glad I read this, I continue to worry about never ending symtoms. But I've read that the body regenerates most cells in 7 years. I don't know how true it really is. But there are signs of progress when I look for them. I still worry about the effect on 5ht-7 receptors that the inactivating antagonist risperidone has done to me. But I have hopes for the resilience of the body and neuro plasticity. Creating new synaptic connections as I grow. I Am Not A Medical Professional! 👨⚕️ Prescribed Various SSRI's/SNRI, Benzos and One Anti-Psychotic at 16, in 2009. Fluoxetine 10mg - 1 Month. Switch to Venlafaxine 75-150mg for 3-5 months. Switch to Sertraline 50-100mg for 6-9 months. Risperidone added. (Suicide attempt, Akathisia) Cold turkey. Eventual taper of Sertraline. Clonazepam 0.5mg 1X daily for 1 month, as I switched from Venlafaxine to Sertraline. About 3 months of Sertraline with no improvement, Risperidone was added @ 0.25mg-0.5mg for one week. Then raised to 0.75 and 1mg after another week. With 100mg Sertraline daily. Then raised to 1.5Mg after a check-up. Sudden stop of Risperidone. After suicide attempt. A self-taper, because I didn't trust doctors. Removing Sertraline XR beads from 100mg capsules, over 5-9 months. Which I would consider too hasty, in retrospect. I am recovered from all medication side effects! My success story: I have taken many prescriptions/drugs, with/without a script. Most any prescription/illicit/grey market drug type. Searching for relief from/as, anxiety/Sleep-aids. All drugs are long ago. By God's will, I will stop smoking. He's saved me more than once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellisimo Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Iam so glad to read this story!! I realise many things will change in life while going thru this but i soo want to be good in the end, i pray everyday ( even tho i dont really believe in any god) i just pray (if there is anyone out there who can hear me) that i will be recovered one day. I can for sure handle depression, up and downs and so on , but everything else hard to handle 2007 - 2013: was on citalopram (tried to quit a few times, never worked, always went back on. max dose 40mg) 2012-2013: was tapering my citalopram all down to 2,5 mg then quit.2013/aug: Took my last pill W/D hit me bad after a few weeks off my medicine. 2014/August: 12 months off (much improved) 2015/April: 20months off. ( much improved, still some symtoms comes in waves, but not so intense.) 2015/june: 22months off. FELT different than before, all shakings suddenly stopped, feel much better. a fantastic feeling! 2016/Feb : 2 years and 6 months off, END of my suffering. I feel perfectly fine and back to normal. 2018/Oct: Iam still feeling great. It is hard to believe my own story when I read back, what I went through! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoe Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Thanks for posting this again- gives hope to all of us Jan. 1994 Pamelor 2000 switched to Zoloft 2011 Zoloft pooped out- Dr. switched me directly to Lexapro15mg -had a horrible 6mths 2013 upped Lexapro to 20 mgs-pooped out June 2013 Dr. added 150 Wellbutrin to Lexapro. July 2013 Switched back to Zoloft 100mgs.Was still taking Wellbutrin. Lots of anxiety from the Wellbutrin July 2013 Started to wean Wellbutrin- off by Sept. Oct. 2013 added 400 mgs of Neurotin to the Zoloft Jan 2014 Tapered off of the Zoloft and onto Prozac 30 mgs. Also still taking 400 mgs Neurotin Feb 2014 Reduced Prozac to 13 mgs. Still taking 400 mgs Neurotin Aug. 2014 Prozac 13 mgs. Finished with Neurotin. .7 Risperadol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btdt Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 This is a great story, and gives hope to the long termers. I am now at 70 months, so close to 6 years and still not recovered, though there is absolutely a lot of progression. I feel I have entered some plateau phase again so look forwrd to the next phase of recovery from protacted WD. I really REALLY hope that (almost) complete recovery is possible for all of us, albeit a very long term process. I will definately post my story when I feel recovered. If I will recover, I am sure anybody will. You are one month ahead of me how very interesting...I quit Nov 18 2007 wishing you healing... and peace. Is my face red... yes it is... I thought I was 7 years off the drugs... and I am not it is going on 7 now... if I had not read this post I would have thought I was in my 7th year... so much for my cognitive abilities.. yep they are hit and miss but the fact that I did not see this for months is really ... makes me lose confidence in myself... but can't get stuck there too long it is not like I did not know I have issues with my mind I know this... I just can't accept it. I make a lot of mistakes some days cannot make a batch of muffins like today with destroying the kitchen ... but other days I am almost normal... for a time. I hope I am getting better tho some days if feels progressive. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMayhem Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Thank you, Silver Star. This read came for me just in time, I am off the meds for 7 months and am experiencing bouts of depression, anxiety, mood swings, and writing those checks that my body cant handle cashing. Support helps, but not everyone understands, therefore Ive lost a tremendous amount of people from my life, but then again, just as you said- things get bad (losing people) then the sun comes out and you realize that theres good at the end of the tunnel (they weren't worth keeping around anyway). Anyway, thanks for the great read- you are not alone and either are we. Bless you and Good Luck in the future.. Hugs to you.. Maggs Mayhem Pristiqe Zoloft Wellbutrin Xanax Maggie Mayhem I cant begin to tell you the dosage, milligrams or dates OF ANY KIND. One of the trophies I walked away with is the inability to remember numbers. Birthdays, Anniversaries, Length of Time, Dosage, Phone Numbers, heck, Im lucky I can tell you my age.. Pristiqe Zoloft Cymbalta Xanax Cold Turkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 14, 2014 Administrator Share Posted May 14, 2014 Hi, Maggie! Please start a topic for yourself in the Introductions forum so we can get to know you. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Thank loss leader for his update iggy please, did you used to be on pp as well? Nov 2007 - Feb 2010 prozac 20mg Feb 2010 - April 2010 prozac 40mg Cold Turkey Prozac April 2010 due to severe cramps/bleeding Severe withdrawal symptoms thereafter and protracted withdrawal continuing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted August 5, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 5, 2014 Thanks for posting this and especially for highlighting that part in red. It is nice to hear that when we experience those glorious moments of returned function of some sort & it disappears as soon as it appeared that there is a documented case/ example of that function returning for good eventually. That knowledge fells very wonderful. Thanks again! RU Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainfall Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Wonderful to read Lossleader's story and update. New here, now 2.8 years post withdrawal 200 mg Zoloft and a few other drugs. Healing is happening for me too. Windows and waves. Steadily increasing energy. Wishing all on this thread continued healing. Many thanks again. 1 1994 Prozac (became suicidal, manic, hospitalized) 1994-2008 every SSRI + wellbutrin, effexor, ativan, topamax, naltrexone, several benozo (2-5 meds daily) 2008 cold turkey klonopin: BP dropped; trip to ER; never told addictive; 3 yrs. ear ringing, dead feeling, panic, sound, light sensitivity 2009-2010 cont'd on Zoloft 200 mg + wellbutrin 300 mg; topamax 2010 AMA; no information cold turkey all meds 8 months wild energy, creativity, impulsive, crying + visions Month 8 post withdrawal began extreme fatigue, flu-liike sx, dark depair, flat and hypersensitive 2014 now 2.8 yrs post WD 50% time flu-like; despair, anhedonia. ** 3 months post WD bulimia stopped for 1st time since beginning prozac; suddenly, no obsessive thoughts of food. No Idea SSRIs were cause; have not heard others have this, but it's real: IATROGENIC BULIMIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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