antidepressantsNoMore Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Just a question to get all of you thinking, and to get feedback:Who here has experienced a change in personality during w/d? I for one: became isolated, developed a very bitter and negative personality/ being angry towards random strangers developed social anxiety/fear of others for no apparent reason lost my confidence/assertive personality that I had before w/d The w/d is almost over, and I am starting to feel like my old self is coming back. My attitude was so negative during this time period. People could sense it and I made a lot of enemies. Luckily, many of these enemies do not live close to me. I used to be a very friendly person and start conversations with random strangers and make a lot of friends. My close friends who I still talk to know nothing about this. However, this was a very strange experience. I would try to not get upset but felt such bitterness towards people even strangers. If someone looked challenging or angry themselves or thought "they were tough", I would try to start fights with them by insulting them or act intimidating. I tried to start fights with over 20 people many full grown adults older than me on many different occasions, maybe more. I never was like this before, not to this extent. I realize how *#@!@# up this was. I woke up today and finally realize this and thought I should make a thread on it. Tell your story or share your experiences with personality change during w/d? How long did it last? How severe is it? Did it get better with time? trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted March 30, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 30, 2015 http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7863-the-weirdest-thing-you-have-done-in-wd/ http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8292-ads-and-loss-of-writing-skills/ http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7492-stupid-decisionslife-impacting/ Here are a few threads that have talked about something similar to your question... and I'm sure you can find more. Plus in peoples' individual threads many, many people talk about these kinds of changes, both in withdrawal and just from taking the psych meds to begin with. Very common. Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010. Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea. Feb 15 2010: 300 mg Neurontin 200 Lamictal 10 Celexa 0.65 Xanax and 5 mg Ambien Feb 10 2014: 62 Lamictal 1.1 Celexa 0.135 Xanax 1.8 Valium Feb 10 2015: 50 Lamictal 0.875 Celexa 0.11 Xanax 1.5 Valium Feb 15 2016: 47.5 Lamictal 0.75 Celexa 0.0875 Xanax 1.42 Valium 2/12/20 12 0.045 0.007 1 May 2021 7 0.01 0.0037 1 Feb 2022 6 0!!! 0.00167 0.98 2.5 mg Ambien Oct 2022 4.5 mg Lamictal (off Celexa, off Xanax) 0.95 Valium Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antidepressantsNoMore Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7863-the-weirdest-thing-you-have-done-in-wd/ http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8292-ads-and-loss-of-writing-skills/ http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7492-stupid-decisionslife-impacting/ Here are a few threads that have talked about something similar to your question... and I'm sure you can find more. Plus in peoples' individual threads many, many people talk about these kinds of changes, both in withdrawal and just from taking the psych meds to begin with. Very common. Common but scary. Can't believe what a/d w/d did to me. Horrible experience. trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishguy4u Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Oh I agree with you, I have been off of Effexor for about 7 months, The fear and panic that I have experienced has been terrible. I didn't understand what was going on? Most Doctors don't know about this and treat it as bipolar. I found my answers on this website. I have found out more about withdrawal symptoms from the folks on here, who have gone through the same thing. I guess what happens it you begin to fear the fear and become more agoraphobic. The big task is advoidance. It is natural to want to avoid things that cause you anxiety and fear, but if you avoid things the fear wins and just makes your world smaller and smaller. I keep a log of each task and force myself to do it no matter how bad I feel. I don't let the fear win. Eventually the mind will settle down and we can look back on this as a hell of a nightmare. 2000 Started on Paxil 75 mg, for about 3 months, switch to Effexor 100MG for 6 months, up the dose to 150mg for 12 yrs. 2011 pooped out on Effexor and went cold turkey off all meds for approx 4 months, experienced brain zaps, headaches, terrible anger and rage. In Nov of 2012, after a relationship breakup, experienced horrendous anxiety. In Jan 2013 went of Vibryid 50 mg for one month and put back on Effexor 225 mg. I still experienced anxiety, and given buspar 50 mg as needed. May 2014 switched off Effexor to zoloft 100mg and increased to 150mg. Stayed on Zoloft to July 2014, taken off of zoloft because of depression( something I never had) August 2014 placed on Brintellix 10 mg ( for major Depres Dis), I was feeling more depressed. Weaned off of Brintellix for 3 or 4 days, and now I am drug free since August 24th 2014,March 2015, I have been off off Meds for 7 months and I can tell you it has not be easy, Extreme fear, anxiety and depression. I am starting to feel better. I have been told I am bipolar, becasue of mood swings. I believe I am still in withdrawal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antidepressantsNoMore Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 Oh I agree with you, I have been off of Effexor for about 7 months, The fear and panic that I have experienced has been terrible. I didn't understand what was going on? Most Doctors don't know about this and treat it as bipolar. I found my answers on this website. I have found out more about withdrawal symptoms from the folks on here, who have gone through the same thing. I guess what happens it you begin to fear the fear and become more agoraphobic. The big task is advoidance. It is natural to want to avoid things that cause you anxiety and fear, but if you avoid things the fear wins and just makes your world smaller and smaller. I keep a log of each task and force myself to do it no matter how bad I feel. I don't let the fear win. Eventually the mind will settle down and we can look back on this as a hell of a nightmare. Yeah it is crazy what these SSRI's can do to your brain and mind. W/D is a nightmare especially when you go cold turkey,like I did. I read your signature and saw some similarities in your symptoms compared to mine. I don't think I'm bi-polar but I have certainly exhibited certain symptoms of bi-polar at one time. I think my symptoms of rage and anger are due to the loss I experienced in the past 4-5 years. When you feel like you're missing out on life, it can consume you to the point of rage. I'm finally coming to the conclusion, that the past is over and moving on with my life. W/D made these symptoms so much worse to the point where I had a complete nervous break down and couldn't even function at all. The personality change is one strange occurrence that I am seeing others experiencing at well. At first, I thought I had some serious issues but I think it has a lot to due with w/d and the physical and psychological effects that it can cause. trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishguy4u Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I read your Signature and yes we do have a lot of similarities. I have a long way to go and I wish you good health on your journey, 2000 Started on Paxil 75 mg, for about 3 months, switch to Effexor 100MG for 6 months, up the dose to 150mg for 12 yrs. 2011 pooped out on Effexor and went cold turkey off all meds for approx 4 months, experienced brain zaps, headaches, terrible anger and rage. In Nov of 2012, after a relationship breakup, experienced horrendous anxiety. In Jan 2013 went of Vibryid 50 mg for one month and put back on Effexor 225 mg. I still experienced anxiety, and given buspar 50 mg as needed. May 2014 switched off Effexor to zoloft 100mg and increased to 150mg. Stayed on Zoloft to July 2014, taken off of zoloft because of depression( something I never had) August 2014 placed on Brintellix 10 mg ( for major Depres Dis), I was feeling more depressed. Weaned off of Brintellix for 3 or 4 days, and now I am drug free since August 24th 2014,March 2015, I have been off off Meds for 7 months and I can tell you it has not be easy, Extreme fear, anxiety and depression. I am starting to feel better. I have been told I am bipolar, becasue of mood swings. I believe I am still in withdrawal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akakoom Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I've taken 3 pills of paxil, 10mg. That was March 5,6,7 2015. since then I have had no cheerful personality. totally flat. I think what the SSRIs do is block the synapses of your serotonergic system, which runs throughout your brain, and cortex. This system is responsible for all the positive, enjoyable feelings in life. All the fun, joy is linked to your serotonin. Without it there's no happiness. no butterflies in your stomach. Who knows how long it lasts... It doesn't seem to influence the negative side of personality tho. Anger, depression. I think that's related to adrenalin. Not sure. Not a neurologist. Are there any neurologists in the house? March 5, 6 2015 1 10mg Paxil each day - only 2 pills total - experienced huge tingle in my head on first pill numbness in my hands and feet, skin less sensitive over all... not ticklish anymore **anhedonia, blank emotions PSSD, anorgasmia heartbeat rhythm problems "To err is human. To really foul things up requires a psychiatrist." http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8554-akakoom-lost-in-no-mans-land/ "When you are going through hell, keep going" - Winston Churchill (the only way out is through) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antidepressantsNoMore Posted April 7, 2015 Author Share Posted April 7, 2015 I've taken 3 pills of paxil, 10mg. That was March 5,6,7 2015. since then I have had no cheerful personality. totally flat. I think what the SSRIs do is block the synapses of your serotonergic system, which runs throughout your brain, and cortex. This system is responsible for all the positive, enjoyable feelings in life. All the fun, joy is linked to your serotonin. Without it there's no happiness. no butterflies in your stomach. Who knows how long it lasts... It doesn't seem to influence the negative side of personality tho. Anger, depression. I think that's related to adrenalin. Not sure. Not a neurologist. Are there any neurologists in the house? Only 3 pills? Are you sure? I've never heard of a person experiencing w/d after 3 pills. I'm not trying to argue with you. You should really talk to someone on here who has more knowledge about it than me though. trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antidepressantsNoMore Posted April 7, 2015 Author Share Posted April 7, 2015 I read your Signature and yes we do have a lot of similarities. I have a long way to go and I wish you good health on your journey, Yeah you too. I'm slowly recovering but at this point, I am really starting to feel that w/d is close to cover. It still boggles my mind that w/d can actually last years but I was so stupid when I stopped CT. trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveandLight Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Yeah. I realised the last few days that for yrs, (not sure if WD or side effects or overlap of these), that I totally lack commitment. Nothing seems to matter so it does not matter if I do go through with an arrangement or not. I do not like being this way. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
btdt Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I've taken 3 pills of paxil, 10mg. That was March 5,6,7 2015. since then I have had no cheerful personality. totally flat. I think what the SSRIs do is block the synapses of your serotonergic system, which runs throughout your brain, and cortex. This system is responsible for all the positive, enjoyable feelings in life. All the fun, joy is linked to your serotonin. Without it there's no happiness. no butterflies in your stomach. Who knows how long it lasts... It doesn't seem to influence the negative side of personality tho. Anger, depression. I think that's related to adrenalin. Not sure. Not a neurologist. Are there any neurologists in the house? This may be thought of more as a severe adverse reaction but the fallout is much the same I have seen it before. Recovery can be long sorry and sad to say. if your looking for more on personality changes take a look at the marriages thread... some married for years and years says their spouses turned into very different people after taking Antidepressants while taking the drugs... some issues of course persist into withdrawal ... trying to work thru the damage done to a life ... and a marriage ....family ...work ect is not an easy or small thing... rage would be a natural response I think for any normal person never mind people struggling with wd ...symptoms one of which I think is negativity. The deck is sure stacked against recovery in my humble opinion yet somehow people do recover their lives to some extent. 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...
btdt Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 link of stories of personality changes from another site https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V_y9LX-6WGaD4SfA4IZghBMEM3nqHdUluN2sAidGfzg/edit?pli=1 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...
btdt Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Some interesting comments in this link http://chriskresser.com/the-dark-side-of-antidepressants 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...
antidepressantsNoMore Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 I'm not married so I can't relate to any of these stories. I do think SSRI's and the w/d can change your personality though. I also know that people can change as well without a/d and that's why a lot of marriages fail. People also give up on eachother way too easy thinking that they can always find something better. trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btdt Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I'm not married so I can't relate to any of these stories. I do think SSRI's and the w/d can change your personality though. I also know that people can change as well without a/d and that's why a lot of marriages fail. People also give up on eachother way too easy thinking that they can always find something better. That goes without saying but most of these personality changes are extreme. If you read enough of the stories you will get to see the relationship it is almost as if the same thing happens over and over they are so much alike it is uncanny. The changes are extreme and almost follow a pattern .. only people with a vested interest really care to look closely at but once they look there is no denying it.... to be a drug induced fallout... and there are plenty of documented effects of drugs causing all these thing they are in the warning for the drugs... 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...
antidepressantsNoMore Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 That goes without saying but most of these personality changes are extreme. If you read enough of the stories you will get to see the relationship it is almost as if the same thing happens over and over they are so much alike it is uncanny. The changes are extreme and almost follow a pattern .. only people with a vested interest really care to look closely at but once they look there is no denying it.... to be a drug induced fallout... and there are plenty of documented effects of drugs causing all these thing they are in the warning for the drugs... I believe you. I don't have to read the articles to believe the serious and weird side effects that these things cause. I'm sure they are the reason for marriages breaking up considering how hard marriage is in general especially in modern day America. Anti-Depressants and w/d can change your personality and numb you emotionally and psychologically. It sucks. I've experienced so many weird symptoms these past years, I was beginning to think there was something severely wrong with me. Now I realize it's was most likely the SSRI w/d CT that did it. I really believe taking SSRI's especially over long periods of time re-wire the brain and the way it works. When you stop, especially CT, your brain is probably going crazy, and it does not know how to respond, so you develop all these weird symptoms (W/D), cognition issues, and weird psychological/emotional responses. I don't know or have the exact words to describe or explain how these things mess a person up, but they sure as hell do. How long have you been going through W/D? trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btdt Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 That goes without saying but most of these personality changes are extreme. If you read enough of the stories you will get to see the relationship it is almost as if the same thing happens over and over they are so much alike it is uncanny. The changes are extreme and almost follow a pattern .. only people with a vested interest really care to look closely at but once they look there is no denying it.... to be a drug induced fallout... and there are plenty of documented effects of drugs causing all these thing they are in the warning for the drugs... I believe you. I don't have to read the articles to believe the serious and weird side effects that these things cause. I'm sure they are the reason for marriages breaking up considering how hard marriage is in general especially in modern day America. Anti-Depressants and w/d can change your personality and numb you emotionally and psychologically. It sucks. I've experienced so many weird symptoms these past years, I was beginning to think there was something severely wrong with me. Now I realize it's was most likely the SSRI w/d CT that did it. I really believe taking SSRI's especially over long periods of time re-wire the brain and the way it works. When you stop, especially CT, your brain is probably going crazy, and it does not know how to respond, so you develop all these weird symptoms (W/D), cognition issues, and weird psychological/emotional responses. I don't know or have the exact words to describe or explain how these things mess a person up, but they sure as hell do. How long have you been going through W/D? It says in my small bio... Nov 17 2007 I quit all drugs cold turkey. Here I am 2015 can you say protracted... I will not go there we have a thread for protracted... One does have to wonder at what point to you stop saying protracted and start saying this is not changing? 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...
antidepressantsNoMore Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 It says in my small bio... Nov 17 2007 I quit all drugs cold turkey. Here I am 2015 can you say protracted... I will not go there we have a thread for protracted... One does have to wonder at what point to you stop saying protracted and start saying this is not changing? So how bad is the WD still? I'm sorry to hear that you're still going through this crap. trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 I can relate to Silver Star and what people are saying. I am exactly a year free from the last seroxat I took and 18 months since I started to taper. I have never felt well in myself in all this time and feel very bitter, isolated and ill at ease in my body. I have periods of such intolerance and no patience that it makes me feel I must be a bad person. I have periods of insomnia, or waking and feeling electric spasms like in the early days of wd. I am frightened for my future. My partner says I can't keep blaming things on wd. Sometimes I don't know if I even love him anymore and I just feel really desperate some days. I don't know how to face the future. This feeling of emptyness and loneliness is grinding me down. Prescribed 20mg a day of Seroxat on 2001 August 2013 decided to taper. Reduced by 10mg a week (adjusted over the week small amounts) Stopped completely in April 2014 Brain and body went haywire. Didn't realise it was withdrawal at first. Have not returned to ad's but can't get my life back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akakoom Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 I've taken 3 pills of paxil, 10mg. That was March 5,6,7 2015. since then I have had no cheerful personality. totally flat. I think what the SSRIs do is block the synapses of your serotonergic system, which runs throughout your brain, and cortex. This system is responsible for all the positive, enjoyable feelings in life. All the fun, joy is linked to your serotonin. Without it there's no happiness. no butterflies in your stomach. Who knows how long it lasts... It doesn't seem to influence the negative side of personality tho. Anger, depression. I think that's related to adrenalin. Not sure. Not a neurologist. Are there any neurologists in the house? Only 3 pills? Are you sure? I've never heard of a person experiencing w/d after 3 pills. I'm not trying to argue with you. You should really talk to someone on here who has more knowledge about it than me though. yep. anhedonia from only 3 pills of paxil. the first pill i took i felt a massive tingle all throughout my head. since then, no emotions. that was 6 weeks ago. there's just no relationship between how much you take, what you take, how it effects you, or how quickly you will recover. we are all different. it is unpredictable... which is reason enough to abolish all of these drugs, if you ask me! March 5, 6 2015 1 10mg Paxil each day - only 2 pills total - experienced huge tingle in my head on first pill numbness in my hands and feet, skin less sensitive over all... not ticklish anymore **anhedonia, blank emotions PSSD, anorgasmia heartbeat rhythm problems "To err is human. To really foul things up requires a psychiatrist." http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8554-akakoom-lost-in-no-mans-land/ "When you are going through hell, keep going" - Winston Churchill (the only way out is through) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antidepressantsNoMore Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 I've taken 3 pills of paxil, 10mg. That was March 5,6,7 2015. since then I have had no cheerful personality. totally flat. I think what the SSRIs do is block the synapses of your serotonergic system, which runs throughout your brain, and cortex. This system is responsible for all the positive, enjoyable feelings in life. All the fun, joy is linked to your serotonin. Without it there's no happiness. no butterflies in your stomach. Who knows how long it lasts... It doesn't seem to influence the negative side of personality tho. Anger, depression. I think that's related to adrenalin. Not sure. Not a neurologist. Are there any neurologists in the house? Only 3 pills? Are you sure? I've never heard of a person experiencing w/d after 3 pills. I'm not trying to argue with you. You should really talk to someone on here who has more knowledge about it than me though. yep. anhedonia from only 3 pills of paxil. the first pill i took i felt a massive tingle all throughout my head. since then, no emotions. that was 6 weeks ago. there's just no relationship between how much you take, what you take, how it effects you, or how quickly you will recover. we are all different. it is unpredictable... which is reason enough to abolish all of these drugs, if you ask me! That's horrible. trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antidepressantsNoMore Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 bump trintellix 1 mg and rexulti .5mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lys Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 Nothing from Effexor (yet). Seems more like a return to my old personality (or at least to a time when I had a personality). Gabapentin w/d was another story. Irritability, fits of intense rage, more irritability, coupled with a difficulty in expressing myself (I would use the wrong word in a sentence all the time). My husband actually figured out that it's related to me dropping my dosage; I couldn't seem to think at all.Three days after I took the last pill, I made a joke to my kid. I will never forget the look she give me: incredulity mixed with suspicion and hope. Then I realized that I couldn't remember the last time I made a joke. It scared me to death, and made me take a deeper look at Effexor, which at the time I thought it was doing something positive. Effexor XR 75 mg 2007-2009, restarted 2011 (pnd) Gabapentin 1800mg Aug 2016 - February 2017 (couldn't tolerate it, couldn't cut it) Omeprazole 2014-2015, Ranitidine 2015-Fall 2016 Tried 10% bead removal from Effexor XR for one week April 2017, very unpredictable effects Trying to cut Effexor again May 2017, lowered to Effexor IR 35.5/2 twice a day June 2 - Effexor IR 17.7 mg morning, 8.87 mg afternoon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbarannamated Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Definitely. Extreme. It is most severe in writing, such as Facebook and messaging. I'm mostly isolated and when with people, I feel better and can't imagine speaking what I've written. I've been very open about this with friends, but they don't get it. Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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