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Painkillers in withdrawal: aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol, acetaminophen, naproxen, codeine

lionboy

By lionboy
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Iamfine Newbie

Iamfine

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By the way I split a tooth because of bruxism, a side effect of either the Geodon or the Seroquel, not sure which one. Thanks a lot, medicine.

As requested. In the last 3 years to the best of my recollection I first dropped the max dose of Lamictal. Yes I just stopped it was doing absolutely nothing. Then I dropped Lexapro, that was even easier I had been on and off that a dozen times before. There were at least 2 odd off label attempts at anxiety that I won’t be able to remember. Then there was sweet/evil Seroquel. That was the last to go it’s been around 16 months.

Lithium, Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Celexa, Lamictal, Lexapro, Luvox, Viibryd, Brintellix, Pristiq, Zoloft, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Geodon, Abilify, Latuda, Ritalin, Adderall, Valium, Clonazepam, Alprazolam, Propanalol, Spravato

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oskcajga Newbie

oskcajga

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That stuff is really addictive.  I'd be careful, it will make all of your problems disappear.  ALL of them.

 

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I think that at higher doses it will begin to influence seritonin and norepinephrine, which is not good during withdrawal.  Once a week or so should be fine.

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brassmonkey Contributor

brassmonkey

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I've been using a mouth guard at night for years, I really helps keep the clinching/grinding under control.  I got mine at the local sporting goods store, the cheapest one they make for footballers.  They are real easy to fit.  I chewed up the first one in a matter of weeks, but then things settled down and the next one lasted several years.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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westcoast Newbie

westcoast

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If there a risk of developing a habit you can take the remainder to pharmacy I think. Osk were you thinking it can make someone manic? Because some people to react to it like it's an intense up, and others get mean and angry. But most get pain relief and feel sleepy.

2009: Cancer hospital said I had adjustment disorder because I thought they were doing it wrong. Their headshrinker prescribed Effexor, and my life set on a new course. I didn't know what was ahead, like a passenger on Disneyland's Matterhorn, smiling and waving as it climbs...clink, clink, clink.

2010: Post surgical accidental Effexor discontinuation by nurses, masked by intravenous Dilaudid. (The car is balanced at the top of the track.) I get home, pop a Vicodin, and ...

Whooosh...down, down, down, down, down...goes the trajectory of my life, up goes my mood and tendency to think everything is a good idea.
2012: After the bipolar jig was up, now a walking bag of unrelated symptoms, I went crazy on Daytrana (the Ritalin skin patch by Noven), because ADHD was a perfect fit for a bag of unrelated symptoms. I was prescribed Effexor for the nervousness of it, and things got neurological. An EEG showed enough activity to warrant an epilepsy diagnosis rather than non-epileptic ("psychogenic") seizures.

:o 2013-2014: Quit everything and got worse. I probably went through DAWS: dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome. I drank to not feel, but I felt a lot: dread, fear, regret, grief: an utter sense of total loss of everything worth breathing about, for almost two years.

I was not suicidal but I wanted to be dead, at least dead to the experience of my own brain and body.

2015: I  began to recover after adding virgin coconut oil and organic grass-fed fed butter to a cup of instant coffee in the morning.

I did it hoping for mental acuity and better memory. After ten days of that, I was much better, mood-wise. Approximately neutral.

And, I experienced drowsiness. I could sleep. Not exactly happy, I did 30 days on Wellbutrin, because it had done me no harm in the past. 

I don't have the DAWS mood or state of mind. It never feel like doing anything if it means standing up.

In fact, I don't especially like moving. I'm a brain with a beanbag body.   :unsure:

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Iamfine Newbie

Iamfine

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I took a few and tossed the rest. For the record it caused no harm, but wow, those things make you feel goooood! I can see why they are so addictive.

As requested. In the last 3 years to the best of my recollection I first dropped the max dose of Lamictal. Yes I just stopped it was doing absolutely nothing. Then I dropped Lexapro, that was even easier I had been on and off that a dozen times before. There were at least 2 odd off label attempts at anxiety that I won’t be able to remember. Then there was sweet/evil Seroquel. That was the last to go it’s been around 16 months.

Lithium, Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Celexa, Lamictal, Lexapro, Luvox, Viibryd, Brintellix, Pristiq, Zoloft, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Geodon, Abilify, Latuda, Ritalin, Adderall, Valium, Clonazepam, Alprazolam, Propanalol, Spravato

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oskcajga Newbie

oskcajga

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I took a few and tossed the rest. For the record it caused no harm, but wow, those things make you feel goooood! I can see why they are so addictive.

They sure do.  I loved the painkillers, but eventually stopped when I needed to up my dose 4X to get the same effect.  That's ultimately the problem with painkillers, you just build tolerance so quickly, that it gets out of control within a month.

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Iamfine Newbie

Iamfine

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It's too bad that they can't make an ad that will make you feel like that full time. I would be first in line.

As requested. In the last 3 years to the best of my recollection I first dropped the max dose of Lamictal. Yes I just stopped it was doing absolutely nothing. Then I dropped Lexapro, that was even easier I had been on and off that a dozen times before. There were at least 2 odd off label attempts at anxiety that I won’t be able to remember. Then there was sweet/evil Seroquel. That was the last to go it’s been around 16 months.

Lithium, Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Celexa, Lamictal, Lexapro, Luvox, Viibryd, Brintellix, Pristiq, Zoloft, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Geodon, Abilify, Latuda, Ritalin, Adderall, Valium, Clonazepam, Alprazolam, Propanalol, Spravato

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downtongirl Newbie

downtongirl

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Did a search and did not see anything titled like this so forgive me if I am creating a thread that already exists.  I was just wondering what are peoples thoughts on tylenol use during taper/withdrawal?  The tylenol would be used for osteoarthritis and sciatica?  Thanks in advance!

1995 - 2015 antidepressants and antianxiety medicine
Multiple failed attempts to quit/taper anti d/anti anxiety meds since 2008

June 17, 2016 began prozac bridge to get off of effexor xr, stopped effexor xr on June 24, 2016, could not tolerate prozac due to severe side effects so I had to stop it  Currently...300 mg ER of lithium, 1 mg of estradiol, 60 mg propranolol ER, Fish oil 2 x a day, Magnesium Glycinate,  zinc, vitamin c, vitamin d, NAC

 

 

 

 

 

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Petunia Newbie

Petunia

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Here's the link to our pain relief topic:Pain Killers in Withdrawal: aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol ...

 

Personally, I haven't taken tylenol, but have been ok with the occasional aspirin or ibuprofen, but others have different experiences, so read through the topic and please add your experiences if you try something.

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

 

 

 

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Jlynn Newbie

Jlynn

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Recently have been going through a big wave. The first one since my slow taper started. I guess it is only natural that I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what I did differently to maybe have caused this crash I am going through.

 

One of the things I just remembered this morning is a couple days before all of this started for about three days in a row I took two Alleve (naproxen) when I woke up to help with pain from a twisted knee. I didn't see anything in the forms ( I may have not searched right) about how people do on Alleve during WD and if I should stay away from it and use something else?

40 years old and have been on 20 mg of Paxil for the last 19 years. Multiple unsuccessful attempts to quit over the years.01/2015 Was tapering using liquid Paxil. MD has prescribed 1 ml = 2mg taper every two weeks or once withdrawal symptoms at that dose subside. Reduced from 20 to 10 mg using this method and at 10 mg severe withdrawal set in. 1.5 months of pure hell. Found SA, learned what was happening, and reinstated to 20 mg. After a month of severe symptoms recovered with the reinstatement. Fish oil - Multi Vitamin - Pro-biotic, amino-acid/B Vitamin supplement every day. Magnesium as needed.08/09/15 - 18 mg - 09/08/15 - 16.4 mg - 10/10/15 - 15 mg - 01/02/16 - 13.6 mg 02/15/16 - 12.0 mg - Bad symptom flare up 40 days into drop - Dizziness, panic/anxiety, overheating (esp at night), low appetite, headache, insomnia with bizarre dreams, internal shaking. 04/16/16 - 11mg - 7/17/16 - 10 mg holding.....

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btdt Newbie

btdt

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I could not tolerate alleve in early wd either it was bad enough I have not touched it since... I am tylenol #3 have been for some time now and I think it makes me stupid..more stupid.  I can't be sure of course it may be the way things are as I have had these bouts of lack of intelligence throughout wd without any T3 in the picture. It gets worse when I increase the dose I don't think it helps as much as I would like with pain and dose increases has likely made the side effects for me worse given my not happy liver. 

 

I know when I don't take it I do feel better in a different way more pain but better inside myself. 

peace

 

ps at one point in wd I took the lowest dose not but not kids dose advil every morning for brain fog and later learned it lowers cortisol for those really miserable mornings I had a long run of them I would go out every morning so I could be alone had a car then it was my escape... no car now no escape. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Prozac20 Newbie

Prozac20

Posted
Posted

Has anyone tried Tylenol PM or Motrin PM to help them sleep?

Xanax PRN ( 1/2 of .25mg approximately 2-3 a month when needed ) since May 2015

In April 2016 started birth control and in my opinion it triggered anxiety for almost a week straight and took 1/2 .25mg Xanax everyday for that week ( never had taken that many in a row before )

Saw the family MD and gave me Prozac 20 mg.

took it for 6 days and could not handle the side effects and had to stop working

Went back to the dr on the 7 day and told me to stop CT . I told him that I was scared to stop so suddenly so he gave me 10mg to take to see if the side effects decreased

Took the 10mg that night and the next day felt so much worse . After that did take anything any more except and antibiotic due to UTI

It's been almost 7 weeks and I have a lot of weakness ( comes and goes) anxiety , cortisol urges at night and worse in the morning which usually lessens throughout the day , tinnitus , heavy leg feeling , fatigue and burning skin mostly my left arm, face and neck mainly when I fee the cortisol surges .

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Buffy Newbie

Buffy

Posted
Posted

I take ibruprofen and paracetamol occassionally. It gives some relief, more than it did in the past, but still no cure.

 

Codiene knocks me out now. Even half an over the counter dose. I do have it but am hesitant to use it.

 

Many things are different now. I am concerned over every tablet and what it might do. Gavasvon and mylanta make me spew too. I've known for years that vitamin pills do not agree with me, so I wont even take them!

 

I get to a very distressed point before I will take anything to help pain.

Currently on 50mg Fluvoxamine. Reading more before the next attempt at tapering.

 

Started Lexapro 04, have been mostly on med combinations since for 12 years.

May 2015 - zeldox 80 - 100mg, fluvoxamine 200mg, dexamphetamine 10mg

Lorazepam and clonazepam on and off for over a decade. Heavily sedated with antipsychotics - mostly Zyprexa and seroquel. Many hospitalisations. Many types of therapy, last being 7 years of psychodynamic that only figured out my pain was real.

Pain meds - Lyrica 150mg palexia 100mg - discontinued eary 2016

Done ok so far but cant drop the last antidepressant without physical illness.

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rafatennis Newbie

rafatennis

Posted
Posted

I had a question about adding a pain reliever over the counter Aleve for a knee issue. I'm currently tapering Nortriptylene, I' dropped from 7mg to 4mg 5 1/2 weeks ago and am still trying to adjust with the usual overactive CNS I was advised and agree that might drop was too much , I also take 1.5 mg clonazepam at night. I looked online and did not see an interaction from Aleve with the other two meds but considering my sensitive state right now I wanted to reach out for advice, thanks

February 3rd 2021 1.5 mg Clonazepam

13.4 mg Nortriptylene

doing a water taper on the Nortriptylene but have been holding due to adverse nervous system activation

supplements 200mg Magnesium carbonate, good quality fish oil, vitamin E 400IU, B6 B12 Folate one every 2-3 days. 

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Reflex Newbie

Reflex

Posted
Posted

Hi

I have a question about taking pain killers. I had a hip replacement 2.9.16 and was prescribed codeine and paracetamol to take . This was very necessary for the first week but then became very worried about the possibility of withdrawal and the impact on the small dose of Prozac I was taking. It certainly made me very tearful and emotional.

 

I reduced the Codiene over a week and took my last dose a week ago.

 

I have only take paracetamol occasionally this week as well.

 

So in total only took codeine for about two weeks at maximum dose 4 times per day.

 

This week I have noticed some effects which could be similar to withdrawal- shivers, feeling sick and upset stomach and dizzy, loss of appetite.

 

They are no way as bad as when I came of off citalpram.

 

Do you think this is the effect of the codeine leaving my body?

 

Did I need to taper from the codeine as well after only three weeks?

 

I have stuck with the Prozac religiously and do not intend starting to taper again until I am fully well again probably not until the new year.

 

Any experience or advice would be welcome.

Thanks

Reflex

Dec 2005 prozac following period of bullying by collegue 2006 changed to Citalapram 20- increased to 40mg

April 2014 decision to come off A.D. Gp appointment swapped to seralatine (lustral)50 as a means of getting off A.D .

raised to 100. 14.7.14 5 weeks taper on doctors recommendation.28th July finished reduction. 4.8.14- 9.9.14 severe withdrawal effects. 13.10.14 reinstatement of 20mg Prozac.dec 2014 started gradual taper 10% every 3 weeks. 14.9.15 1.6 ml currently. Some minor withdrawal effects but holding firm. 10% reduction every 3 weeks. Reached .8 experienced withdrawal symptoms held for longer . 7.4.16 currently on .7ml Prozac. More difficult the lower you go. 25.7.16 holding at .57 ml for a while as period of stress and withdrawal.

2.9.16 Hip operation prescribed codeine and paracetamol for the pain. Stopped after three weeks for fear of addiction. following period of instability and withdrawal symptoms updosed to 1. Ml 28.10.16.

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Help777 Newbie

Help777

Posted
Posted

Please advise...i have an upper scope scheduled on friday for the burning ive had in my abdomen. Strict diet changes have lessened the pain but have not gotten rid of it. I am really scared about having a paradoxical reaction to the fentanyl thye are going to give me to sedate me, since my nervous system is so sensitized right now from the wd. I stopped effexor in may but am still on 1mg prozac. Also taking 200 mg lithium. Any thoughts, advice on something else i can ask the doctor about that would be safer?

Thank you.

May 12th 2016 took last bead of effexor. 8 month taper.  Bridge = prozac 5mg, 300mg Lithium

May 31st took last of prozac. Lithium 300 mg, estrogen patch 150, magnesium.

June 14th reinstated 1mg Prozac due to intolerable emotional distress. Cont with lithium 300mg, 150 magnesium, re added omega 3, cont estrogen patch. June 15-july 5th had marked improvement of emotional wd symptoms, likely due to the reinstatement. July 5th intense emotional symptoms returned.

July 15 decreased 50 mg of lithium to see if it improved low heart rate.

July 19th - increased prozac to 1.5mg.

July 22 marked improvement of emotional symptoms...again, likely due to increase of prozac. However sudden agitation developed so decreased back down to 1.25mg prozac. Realizing increasing dose is dangerous because of these adverse effects and also seeing that wave is inevitable regardless of reinstatement.

Continuing 250 lithium, 1.25mg prozac, estrogen.

Oct 31st - continued 250 lithium, 1 mg prozac, estrogen patch.

Jan 2018  - off of prozac (bridge) as of Dec 2017.  Starting to taper Lithium 250 mg.  Will do 10% per month. 

May 2018 - lithium 115mg.  Still having waves but they aren’t as bad.  However, I really struggle with emotional symptoms about 1 week after a cut. 

dec 2018- 80mg lithium.  Tapering 1 mg per week since last June.  Symptoms improving overall but still very sensitive to light, sound, social stimulation and I cry a lot.

March 2019 - 65 mg lithium.  Still tapering 1mg per week.  Jan 2021- down to 4 mg lithium (get it compounded). Reinstated 5 mg Prozac. Jan 2023- withdraw 5mg prozac over one month Feb 20th 2023- reinstated 1mg Prozac. Still taking 4 mg lithium. 

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JanCarol Contributor

JanCarol

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More information on acetominophen / paracetamol:

 

From Wikipedia:

 

Drug-induced liver damage (hepatotoxicity) results not from paracetamol itself, but from one of its metabolites, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI).[4]NAPQI decreases the liver's natural antioxidant glutathione and directly damages cells in the liver, leading to liver failure.[4]

 

They are talking about toxicity - but - use of paracetamol strips the liver of glutathione, one of those master amino acids that is so important to the endocrine and liver.

 

It is my understanding that many SSRI's, neuroleptics, anti-seizure drugs also strip the liver of glutathione.  I heard this from naturopaths, but it seems that the metabolism of paracetamol / acetominophen does rob the body of some native glutathione - an amino which is stripped from us by so many things in our lives.

If you OD on paracetamol (it is the #2 cause of OD in Australia), they infuse you with glutathione at the hospital.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/glutathione-the-mother-of_b_530494.html

 

This could explain why so many suffer side effects from taking paracetamol in withdrawal (maybe especially if your particular drug metabolises/d in the liver?).

 

It also gives me pause, every time I take one.  I have to choose - healing?  or pain relief?  Because it seems that the latter mediates the former.  

 

The same is true of anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs, aspirin) but by a different mechanism.  Inflammation is often a response to induce healing.  You bang your finger, it swells up in order to heal.  You can take an NSAID and the inflammation goes down - but then the healing response is slower.

 

The trade-off point is personal, I suppose. 

 

ALSO - if you are on any form of lithium, NSAIDs and aspirin potentiate lithium, increasing the risk of toxicity.

 

There are alternatives: turmeric.  ginger (fresh root, steeped in tea),  willow bark tea.  pycnogenel (also a light blood thinner), resveratrol (mostly for blood thinning, less for pain).  bromelain.  fish oil.  if it's structural pain - glucosamine / chondroitin / MSM.  Ice.  Heat.  Magnesium baths (my favourite).  

1

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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Miranda99 Newbie

Miranda99

Posted
Posted

This is a really interesting thread to read. I'm presently taking 8 cocodamol daily, and have found that I've had to increase from 4 tablets to 8 tablets per day as I've reduced my paxil as I think it's helping with my side effects. It's interesting how the pharmacist says the stronger drug pushes the other drug out of your system. I'm currently only on 3 mg of paxil so the cocodamol may well be the stronger drug. Years ago when I was about 15 I experimented with recreational drugs of acid and speed. I found when taken together the acid was very mild, but when taken separately the acid was strong so there may be something in this! 

*January 2013 commenced 10 mg paxil

*May 2014 0.5 mg every other day.

*May 2014 back to 20 mg paxil. 

*May 2015 halved dose paxil to 10 mg

*March 2016 halved dose to 5 mg

* Mid march 2016- 5 mg to 4 to 2mg

* Mid march 2016 - 5 mg

* December 2017 reduced to 4.5 mg

* February 2017- reduced to 4 mg, back up to 4.1mg

March 2017- reduced to 4.1 mg then 0.2mg drops until 3 mg Sep. 2017

 

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crhawk Newbie

crhawk

Posted
Posted

Hi all... Long time no "see". 

 

Taper of diazepam continues. Down to 4mg total daily. (Can't figure out how to change my sig on mobile)... 

 

I have a dilemma. I have endometriosis and have terribly painful periods, especially every other month (left side is the worst). I have other pain issues as well, but can deal. These periods literally feel like the equivalent of horrible labor pains. It's gotten worse over the last few months to the point where I'm immobile for four days, laying around crying (sometimes yelling). 

 

I have a heating pad almost constantly, have tried warm baths with Epson salts, exercising, etc. Also take fish oil regularly. 

 

Wondering about your opinions on OTC pain killers... Which seem to be the ones that are the least likely to react with those of us with sensitive nervous systems? 

 

Back in the beginning of my journey, after my haldol and subsequent ssri reaction, I had recurring very negative events/waves after taking cold medication (had Tylenol in it, but also decongestants), a pain killer I was prescribed for my back pain (oxycodone which has acetaminophen), and also possibly ibuprofen. Have never tried aleve or aspirin since this began. 

 

Now, could've just been coincidental. Could've also been the other agents in the medications. However, I haven't taken any chances and have refrained from taking any medication of any kind in two years now (including all OTC).  Although I did have an endoscopy and colonoscopy and did fine with those drugs. 

 

Options are limited... I could continue living with labor pains every month for four days, take birth control pills again (more nervous about this with the hormones, however I know from past experience, before this nightmare began, that it helps),  or try an OTC. 

 

Your thoughts? I've held out this long, but when the pain is so unbearable I wonder if I should try... Or is trying not worth it? So far I've decided it's not worth it. It's just SO BAD... and I can't miss work and I have kids to take care of... 

 

Thanks to all... 

 

 

History of Wellbutrin, Neurontin, Buspar, Paxil and others in 1990's - teenage years

Xanax .5 mg as needed 2010-2015

One injection of Haldol in ER 10/9/2015 - dystonic reaction (ongoing issues)

One 50 mg pill Zoloft 10/31/15 adverse reaction/s that are ongoing

Xanax .125 mg every 3 hours as needed, .25 mg at bedtime 1/8/16-1/21/16Xanax .25 mg every 3 hours (1.25 mg/day) 1/22/16 - 2/9/16Xanax .25 mg/5 times a day (1.25 mg/day) starting 2/10/16, then tried 6 times/day (2x.25, 4x.1875)Xanax .25 mg/6 times a day (1.5 mg/day) starting 2/19/16

Tapering off of Xanax, switching to Diazepam, starting June 29, 2016, then starting taper soon there after

Completed Xanax taper early Sept 2016, crossover to 20 mg/day Diazepam

Currently at 2 mg Diazepam/day = 1 mg bedtime, 1 mg morning

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brassmonkey Contributor

brassmonkey

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I have had no problems taking aspirin along with my paxil and since I reached "0".  I would stay away from Naproxen, we have had a number of people report problems with it. 

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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merry Newbie

merry

Posted
Posted

crhawk,

 

So sorry you have menstrual agonies on top of WD agonies!  I, too, had labor-like periods, although mine only lasted one day a month.   A few years ago I saw a "crunchy" gynocologist, who used to be a home-birth midwife, and she gave me some vitamins, which amazingly cleared everything up!  It's not perfect, but I am functional.  I forget the name of the actual vitamins, but later I started eating very large quantities of organic, leafy greens--think a bunch or a head a day--and I was able to drop the vitamins.

 

If you have access to "alternative gynocology", they might be able to help with something besides birth control to help your pain.  While I do not have endometriosis, leafy greens probably can't hurt you--I say this in full awareness of how messed-up and sensitive our WD bodies are.

 

There are also yoga routines--google "Yoga for menstrual cramps."  These might not help the worst of the pain, but probably couldn't hurt, either.

 

Wishing you relief!

January 2014 Zoloft 150 mg

May 2014 Started tapering

January 2015  Zoloft 54 mg

January 2016 18 mg

January 2017 12 mg

January 2018 7 mg CRASH! 

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  • 2 weeks later...
crhawk Newbie

crhawk

Posted
Posted

Thank you both so much! That is tremendously helpful. :)

History of Wellbutrin, Neurontin, Buspar, Paxil and others in 1990's - teenage years

Xanax .5 mg as needed 2010-2015

One injection of Haldol in ER 10/9/2015 - dystonic reaction (ongoing issues)

One 50 mg pill Zoloft 10/31/15 adverse reaction/s that are ongoing

Xanax .125 mg every 3 hours as needed, .25 mg at bedtime 1/8/16-1/21/16Xanax .25 mg every 3 hours (1.25 mg/day) 1/22/16 - 2/9/16Xanax .25 mg/5 times a day (1.25 mg/day) starting 2/10/16, then tried 6 times/day (2x.25, 4x.1875)Xanax .25 mg/6 times a day (1.5 mg/day) starting 2/19/16

Tapering off of Xanax, switching to Diazepam, starting June 29, 2016, then starting taper soon there after

Completed Xanax taper early Sept 2016, crossover to 20 mg/day Diazepam

Currently at 2 mg Diazepam/day = 1 mg bedtime, 1 mg morning

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  • 11 months later...
Chuck83 Rookie

Chuck83

Posted
Posted

Hi guys, in these month I total recover from andverse reaction to homeopathic product, but last week I HAVE another bad extreme reaction to paracetamol this time. I used two pill of 1000 mg of paracetamol in two days, for flu with a fever at 40°C that did not pass, and I have really bad adverse reaction. It seems like my eyesight has lowered, it seems I do not produce tear fluid anymore like Sjogren's syndrome, my hands and legs are super cold. In the past I used paracetamol 500mg without any problems. My PSSD seems it quite worse, evidently those who have developed this condition due to SSRI, becomes super sensitive to any drug. This reaction is really absurd, I have not been taking any psychotropic drugs for 5 years. Are there any possibilities for recovery? It's been almost a week and my hands and feet are super cold.

 

Please any advice?

2001, Amisulpride (deniban) - 3 months, I taper in some weeks

2001, Seroquel, 4 weeks - quit cold turkey, 2001. Efexxor,  one pill adverse reaction

2002. Amitryptaline (mutabon mite) - 4 months, I taper really faster in some weeks

around more 10 years drug free

4 December 2013, 7 drops of citalopram , adverse reaction

December    2013, Italian supplement called serenplus with tryptophan, 9 pills adverse reaction, quit cold turkey.

After December 2013, Im drug free.

 

 

 

 

 

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Chuck83 Rookie

Chuck83

Posted
Posted

Around the web  I didn't find any reaction similar to paracetamol, only one similar is from aspirin. Some may believe an adverse reaction to an SSRI, but it is difficult to find also doctors who believe a similar reaction to paracetamol.  I used the 1000mg tablet of paracetamol last Thursday, is one week but my hands and legs are still super freezing, it's a horrible feeling.

2001, Amisulpride (deniban) - 3 months, I taper in some weeks

2001, Seroquel, 4 weeks - quit cold turkey, 2001. Efexxor,  one pill adverse reaction

2002. Amitryptaline (mutabon mite) - 4 months, I taper really faster in some weeks

around more 10 years drug free

4 December 2013, 7 drops of citalopram , adverse reaction

December    2013, Italian supplement called serenplus with tryptophan, 9 pills adverse reaction, quit cold turkey.

After December 2013, Im drug free.

 

 

 

 

 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Painkillers in withdrawal: aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol, acetaminophen, naproxen, codeine
  • 1 year later...
Sebas Contributor

Sebas

Posted
Posted

I've experienced bad paxil interactions with NSAID such as ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac. Especially when used during tapering. Be careful. Paracetamol is the mildest painkiller I would recommend it in stead of the above mentioned. And less is more.

  • 44 years old male
  • job in business and economics
  • into sports, animals and nature
  • Started using 20 mg Paroxetine (Paxil) in 2004 for stressrelated anxiety
  • Attempted several times to stop, starting a few years after 2004
  • I found out in 2015 about paxil withdrawal symptoms and the 5-10% taper
  • Started using liquid paxil in 2015/2016
  • From 20 mg to 12 mg, I went down 5-10%, it took approximately 1.5 years
  • From 12 mg down I was forced to take smaller steps (0,2 ml/4-6 weeks)
  • Since 2018 at 11.2 mg of paxil (5.6 ml)
  • 11/2018 Switch back to 11,4 mg (5.7 ml)
  • Started brassmonkey micro-taper method end dec 2018
  • Developed severe food- and other product sensitivities (anti imflammatory, anti oxidant, food colourings, oils, herbs etc.)
  • Currently on strict diet
  • Had a covid infection twice
  • August '23-november '23 switch from paxil liquid to compounding pharmacy to original tablets and dissolving 1.2 mg in water
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Junglechicken Rookie

Junglechicken

Posted
Posted

I had to take codeine and ibuprofen combined for a muscle tear in my calf 3 weeks ago.

 

Only had to do this for a day.

 

Next day I woke up with a splitting headache, tinnitus and gut issues.

 

Powerful pain killers (e.g Naxopren), make me constipated.

 

 

Dose History: 19 Feb 2014 - Escitalopram 10mg daily June 2015 - Started taper, 5mg every other day July 2015 - 5mg every 2 days August 2015 - 5mg every 3 days September 2015 - 5mg every 4 days Sept 14th - Completed tapering, but at 7 weeks "drug free" I suffered serious WD symptoms as a consequence of "incorrect" tapering. Nov 25 2015 - Re-instated Cipralex @ 2.5mg daily. WD symptoms faded. Held at this dose and experienced "windows and waves". 12 Oct 2017 Reduced dose to 1.25mg. 13 Mar 2018 Reduced dose to 0.625mg (approx.). 16 April 2018 0mg. Windows and waves triggered by stress (IBS/reflux, headaches, sinus issues) Aug 2019 Mirena coil fitted 6 Jan 2020 MAJOR Wave hit 19 months following last dose (protracted WD).  Symptoms listed below Mar 2020 Mirena coil removal.

Therapy: Nov 15th 2016 Re-started therapy Jan 19th 2017 Started CBT Dec 2017 Started listening to Hypnotherapy CD (self-esteem). Nov 2019 Started couples therapy.

Supplements: "Bioglan" Biotic Balance Ultimate Flora 10 billion CFU, live Bacteria, Probiotic, suitable for Vegetarians, with Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium Longum.  "Pukka" Vitalise a unique blend of 30 energising botanicals.

Diet: 16 April 2018 Detox cleanse / anti-candida for 90 days. Jan 2020 Started "small plate" diet (i.e child size portions).

Exercise: Stretching, Yoga, Pilates, Spinning, Elliptical/upper body workout, walking.

Medical Test Results: 4 Jan 2017 Homeopathic Treatment starts 24 Feb 2017 Started weight loss program 24 Mar 2017 Naturopathic Treatment + anti-Candida diet started due to suspected Candida Related Complex (CRC). DETOXED for 7 weeks to "re-set" gut. April 2017 "Genova Diagnostics" Comprehensive Stool Analysis NEGATIVE; Full Blood Count (Normal) / Blood Cholesterol: 5.6 (Borderline) / Blood Sugar (Normal) / 28 Jun 2017 FSH 8.2 / 14 Nov 2017 FSH 17.7 Dec 2017 Blood Cholesterol: 3.9 (Normal) / Kidney Function (Normal) / Blood Sugar (Normal). December 2017 "Genova Diagnostics" Food panel allergy (bloodwork) analysis - a few "VERY LOW/VL" allergens; Mar 2018 "Genova Diagnostics" SIBO urine analysis: High Level of Yeast/fungal markers found in small intestine but NO SIBO.  April 2018 Thyroid (Normal) / Full Blood Count (Normal) / FSH (Normal). 16 April 2018 Started anti-Candida diet - 3 month protocol.   25 March 2020 All test results "Normal". CRP" 5 mg/L (normal range to 0-5 mg/L).

Symptoms:  Flu-like symptoms, anxiety, anhedonia, sinus headaches right-side (severe), IBS issues/reflux (severe)**, tinnitus, fatigue, inner tremor, nausea, chills/hot flushes, pounding heart, muscular issues including stiff left hip flexor, intense anger, PSSD (ongoing).  **Histhamine intolerance (suspected).

Major Life Events: 

Re-located to UK from Canada: Jan 2016

My father died: 5:05pm, Monday 5 Feb 2018 Last Lexapro dose: 16 April 2018 (its now been over a year since I quit ADs)  Moved house: Friday 23rd February 2018  "Divorced" toxic Mother: Monday 26 March 2018 Starting working again: 19 November 2018  Diagnosed with: 5th August 2021 PTSD/C-PTSD Diagnosed with: March 2022 Interstitial Cystitis (IC)/Painful bladder syndrome

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  • 6 months later...
LostInMarshes Rookie

LostInMarshes

Posted
Posted

I haven't yet read this thread, but it's a fitting place to share that I have a reaction to acetaminophen (Tylenol/paracetamol). I get very uncomfortable and drowsy, in a synthetically sickening sense. My brain doesn't function as well.  I just feel....sick...

2000: Paxil, low dose. 2001: Paxil, quickly tapered off. 2006: Zoloft, 25mg. 2007: Wellbutrin, low dose, discontinued after a week or a month. 2007-2009: Zoloft, increasing dose (up to 75mg). 2009-2011: Zoloft, failed withdrawal attempts (cold-turkey; fast tapering). 2009-2011: Trying out Cymbalta, Celexa, Prozac, Lexapro, Ambien, Ativan, and Xanax. 2012-2015: Zoloft, 100mg to 200mg. 2013: Trazadone for Zoloft-induced insomnia, 25mg to 50mg.  2015: Trileptal, dose?, withdrew; Bupropion, up to 200mg. 2016: Zoloft, 137mg, Bupropion, 150mg, Trazodone, 25mg.

05/21/16: Began Zoloft taper - 10% from 150mg - 137ish mg

06/23/16: Zoloft taper - 125mg

08/03/16: Bupropion XL taper - cut 150mg pill in crude half (mistake)

10/31: Zoloft successfully down to 100mg. Staying on 100mg for 2-3 months to let my brain rest.

11/09: Wellbutrin SR prescribed, 150mg once a day, for withdrawal.

12/11: Wellbutrin SR, twice daily - minus 18ishmg = 112.50mg

09/30/17: Off Wellbutrin SR successfully. Zoloft taper: 90ish mg (shaving it off). Trazodone: still at 50mg.

June 2018: Zoloft: 80ish (shaving off). Trazodone: 6mg. End of 2018: Off Trazodone.

01/20: Zoloft: 70ish?

08/20: Still around 80 or 70. Tapering by only 15 shaves each month.

04/2021: 50mg! 11/2022: 40ish mg

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ChessieCat Grand Master

ChessieCat

Posted
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Posted
6 hours ago, Stormstrong said:

I have a reaction to acetaminophen (Tylenol/paracetamol)

 

Have you always had this reaction or is it something that started after taking a psychiatric drug?

 

If after taking a psychiatric drug, did it happen before or after withdrawal symptoms and/or tapering?

Please DO NOT TAG me - thank you

PLEASE NOTE:  I am not a medical professional.  I provide information and make suggestions. 

  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:    (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq      on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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