Lissanne Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I took Anafranil 25mg for 10 years for OCD, anxiety, depression. In August it was increased to 50mg by my nurse practitioner because the anxiety was returning due to my mom's breast cancer diagnosis. After a couple of days I was so sick that I had to go to the hospital with serotonin syndrome. The dr took the Anafranil away and said because it was such a low dose I wouldn't have withdrawal. I didn't know what withdrawal was anyhow. So I started Buspar a couple of days later and I have been on it since. So, after a few days I started having nightmares, seeing things in my sleep, insomnia, panic attacks, diarrhea, and body pain. I thought it was the Buspar! So, I have a few questions. It has been 2 months now, and I sleep good, am happy, my body doesn't hurt, no anxiety attacks. Is it all over? I have read a lot on here about it coming back with the SSRI and with higher dose meds. Mine was a tricyclic and a low dose. What can I expect? Thanks in advance! Jan 2005 started Anafranil 25mg Aug 2015 stopped Anafranil after increase attempt caused serotonin syndrome Aug 2015 started Buspar Currently only on Buspar 10mg 2x day Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted October 12, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 12, 2015 Welcome Lissanne, Are you still taking Buspar? Are you taking any other medications? Its impossible to know if you will get any more symptoms from stopping Anafranil. Some people are able to stop taking antidepressants fast and have few or no symptoms, other people have very bad withdrawal that lasts a long time. Sometimes, there can be a delayed withdrawal reaction of up to several months. I stopped taking Lexapro at the end of 2010 and had what I thought was a short withdrawal response. At the beginning of 2011 I seemed to be ok and thought that was the end of it. But as the year progressed I started having new withdrawal symptoms arise. If you are still taking Buspar, that may be masking withdrawal symptoms. It would be great if you would put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature. Doing this helps people understand your context, it appears below each of your posts. Here are instructions for how to do it: http://survivinganti...your-signature/ Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing. Petunia. I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes Link to comment
Nomoreheadmeds Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Welcome 'lissanne' . I wish you well Sertraline 100mg amytrip 60mg diazepam 4mg (and when needed) since late 90's.Reduced all meds over 6 wks (too short) last doses 13 wks ago.Still having withdrawals.I would have done it differently 5th august 2015 reinstated 5mg amytripiline.increased to 10mg amtrip 9th sept 2015. Link to comment
Lissanne Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 Thank you for the response. I read something last night that I saved on my ipad at home I will attach later. It was saying that the tricyclics weren't as powerful on serotonin as the SSRIs so withdrawal or rebound would not be as bad. I am hoping that is true. I am just now feeling like my old self after two months. Still not totally recovered, but sooo much better. I am so glad I found this site because it is a tremendous help. I have a strong faith in Jesus and only through His strength have I gotten this far. Jan 2005 started Anafranil 25mg Aug 2015 stopped Anafranil after increase attempt caused serotonin syndrome Aug 2015 started Buspar Currently only on Buspar 10mg 2x day Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 12, 2015 Administrator Share Posted October 12, 2015 Good to hear you're feeling a little better, Lissanne. Are you still taking Buspar? 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
Lissanne Posted October 13, 2015 Author Share Posted October 13, 2015 Next, Andrews teased apart the relapse rates by antidepressant type. His hypothesis was that the relapse rate upon drug withdrawal would increase according to the drug’s potency. For instance, SSRIs increase serotonin levels much more than tricyclics do (and thus are more potent in that regard), and Andrews reasoned that the strength of the brain’s “oppositional tolerance” response to an SSRI would be greater than it was to a tricyclic. Then, when the antidepressant is withdrawn, the “oppositional forces” that have arisen in response to the drug operate unopposed, and thus the greater the oppositional forces, the greater the risk of relapse. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mad-in-america/201106/now-antidepressant-induced-chronic-depression-has-name-tardive-dysphoria Jan 2005 started Anafranil 25mg Aug 2015 stopped Anafranil after increase attempt caused serotonin syndrome Aug 2015 started Buspar Currently only on Buspar 10mg 2x day Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted October 15, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 15, 2015 I'm glad you are feeling a bit better Lissanne, its hard to say if you are over the worst of it, but being hopeful and having a positive attitude is usually helpful. Thank you for adding your signature, it answers the question about if you are still taking Buspar. This could possibly be cushioning some withdrawal symptoms. If you ever decide to stop taking this, it will also need to be tapered, see: Tips for tapering off busipirone (Buspar) I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 17, 2015 Administrator Share Posted October 17, 2015 Not sure why you're quoting Andrews. Please note that, like most researchers, he was unable to distinguish "relapse" from withdrawal syndrome. 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
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