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Exercise ... Do more, do less, do nothing? What worked for you?


Razzle

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AlaskenG, you must be Shane? I saw your youtube video

Prozac january 2010 to  october 2016 dose started at 10mg and went up to 80mg

welbutrin october 2014 to october 2016 dose up to 400mg

effexor october 2015 to march 2016 150mg

geodon january 2016 to july 2016 80mg

i did a rapid taper off everything in 8 months time span from march 2016 to october 2016

drug free for 2 years and 7 months

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  • Mentor

Yes, doctor said I was on such a low dose it was probably having no effect so no taper needed. He was wrong. 

 

Sorry to hear you’re still struggling. We are developing infinite patience!

50 mg Sertraline Nov 2016 to Dec 2016

100 mg Sertraline Jan - March 2017

50 mg Sertraline April - June 2017

25 mg Sertraline July 2017 - Sept 2018

12.5 mg Sertraline Oct 2018

0 mg Nov 1 2018

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Hi DaBro, I don't normally comment on peoples threads but just saw your comment on 25mg being "such a low dose."

I would encourage you to look up the serotonin occupancy study (I have posted a link below for you). If you look at Sertraline on here you will see that at 25mg you were still in fact locking down around 70% occupancy despite 25mg of Zoloft being considered a low dose by doctors. The curves that you see on these graphs highlight why we need to taper at 10% of a previous dose and not in a linear path.

 

https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.5.826

 

I am happy to hear you have had good windows and these seem to be improving which is great news! I just though the above info might help explain why you have been in Withdrawal for what looks like 18 months and not to worry as is pretty understandable with how you came off these drugs. I wish you all the best on your journey to recovery

Started Sertraline (Zoloft) September 2009. 50mg then to 100mg within a week. Floated between 150mg and 100mg for the next 6 years. 

February 2016 began tapering from 150mg

2017; 55mg-22mg; 2018; 22mg-19mg. Jan 2018 surgery on my knee and collarbone which seemed to cause a crash 3 weeks later. 12/02/18. Held for 6 months at 19mg. 12/08/18 19mg-18mg; 10/09/18 18mg-17mg; Held for another 7 months

17/04/19 began tapering at 0.5mg per 2 weeks and reached 4.5mg on 19/03/20; CRASHED after a heavy alcohol session in late Feb. Attempted to restart taper August 2020 by dropping to 4.25mg. Updosed back to 4.5mg after 3 days. 2nd attempt to restart 4 weeks later in September 2020 dropping to 4.25mg again this time updosing back to 4.5mg 4 days later. 

Last attempt to taper November 2021. 4.5mg to 4.4mg lasted 15 days then updosed back to 4.5mg due to severe apathy and cognitive issues

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hennie, I experience many of the same symptoms when I attempt exercise.  The back pain and nerve pain is so severe after exercise I eventually give up.  I’m curious, has your exercise intolerance improved since your Jan 2019 post? If so, when in your withdrawl process? If anyone with experience in this area could comment, I would be much appreciative.  I’m in my “10 month wave” and I’m feeling it but the back pain is the most frustrating. I began exercising again at the beginning of my tenth month of withdrawl not realizing this is supposed to be the worst month of withdrawl. Just looking for some hope for the future and my ability to exercise again...

Started 15mg Mirtazapine 2/2015

Began Taper 8/2018

Stopped drug 8/2019

 

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Hi Winner51,

 

I am sure you will be able to exercise in the future. It is maybe not time for it yet but hopefully time will heal things

 

I hope I would be able to say my exercise intolerance would have got a lot of better but it hasnt.  I made again progress last winter but maybe added too much exercise (tried to increase a bit powerful yoga to increase muscle training and longer walks in the woods) and finally crashed again and have decided to keep my exercise level the same- walking, little gentle yoga movements (mostly relaxation), maybe riding a bike a bit. If I notice I have done too much I keep a break. Sometimes I have exercised more than normally but I usually pay the price. Harder exercise is in my case like loaning energy from the next days. There is a certain limit and I cant do more.

 

When I increased the exercise same old symptoms came back: feel like my muscles dont recover from exercise, muscles start to feel really stiff,wake up in the middle of the night because of adrenaline surges, feeling like my body/CNS is vibrating/tingling/agitated and usually in that point I think; now its time to keep a break. I think the increasing amount of adrenaline surges and symptoms after exercise are somekind of key understanding whats going on in my body. I read this post and I think it has lot in common with how I feel. Like I said I have been battling years with symptoms that resemble a lot of CFS. I think multiple withdrawal caused some kind of autonomic nervous system issues in my case.

https://www.hfme.org/adrenalinesurgetips.htm

I have made progress but not a lot. I can be a bit more physically active in every day life and do a bit more but not much. I also sleep a bit better if I take care of myself well.

 

Best way for me to handle wd has been doing things that lower stress and helps my CNS to recover and relax. Walking helps a lot such as different exercises that combine deep breathing and movement such as yoga and in my case it is really gentle. Harder exercise does the opposite in my case now. It is not time for it yet. I am sad because I loved exercise. Luckily walking outside cheer me up and its something even though I miss going to gym, running and so on..

 

I still taper benzos and have had to keep breaks in tapering because the symptoms have been sometimes too much. I have had issues of akathisia in the past and have again noticed symptoms of it. I try to concentrate in calming off myself instead of muscle training. Things have been more difficult in the end of my taper process.

 

2005-2009 Lexapro 10-20mg & Remeron 7,5mg: cold turkey

2010 tried Venlafaxine (month),

2011-2012 Seroquel 25mg (few months)

2014 6 days Cipro(antibiotics) adverse reaction

2011-2015 Lexapro 10-20mg (tapered off during 4 months) 

2015-2016 (all these drugs during 9 months during SSRI wd,did not tolerate most of them ) : tried Remeron, Temazepam. Reinstatement of Lexapro 3 months after stopping it: fail. Akathisia, insomnia. Zyprexa10mg, Sodium Valproate, Temazepam(20mg), Oxazepam 30-45 mgs. Switching meds: Seroquel 50-100mg, Oxazepam  30-45mg , Temazepam 20mg. Then back to Zyprexa 10mg, Temazepam20mg, doctor took me off Oxazepam fast. Then Zyprexa 20mg, Temazepam 20mg, melatonin10mg ( sometimes very rarely Valium 10 mg.) Zyprexa: cold turkey because 20 mg Zyprexa made akathisia intolerable after every dose. After it insomnia, 24/7 akathisia, adverse reactions to supplements.

2016 spring daily  Valium 15mg (for akathisia)>0mg (used for 4 months and during that time slowly tapered off), tried Betablockers (shortly), Temazepam 40 mg > 25 mg (tapered in 3 months)

2016 summer Temazepam 25 mg > 20 mg, melatonin 2,5 mg

2016 november Melatonin 0,5 mg, Temazepam 20 mg.  Started tapering again.

2022 july (microtapering) 3,0 mg Temazepam Supplements: Probiotics, magnesium oil occasionally, melatonin 0,5 mg

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Still can't exercise beyond some light walking and a bit of light shooting around at bball court. Light garden work. Etc. Pushing beyond that still brings on bad akathisia, agitation, depression + anxiety, brain fog, etc. It's gotten better, but it's a slow process. Has anyone gotten it all back after years of physical suffering like that? This all started like 10 years ago with the exercise malaise because of the drugs. Sometimes it feels like there's no way I could go to the weightroom, play sports, hike or push myself hard again. Only 32 years old :(

Took Accutane in 2007 at age 19 and a severe reaction to it threw me into Psychiatry's dirty hands. Suffered through a number of c/t's, rapid tapers, drug switches, reinstatements before finally figuring out what was happening to me in 2012 after checking out of psych hospital with a prescription for Ativan and Prozac. (Went in because was unknowingly in Xanax c/t wd and dying at the time from it).

 

May 2016 - Last dose of Valium after 2 year long taper from 15mg

June 2017- Last dose of the corticosteroid Hydrocortisone after taper

July 2019- Last dose of Prozac after 2 year long taper from 30mg

 

Was on Accutane, Lexapro, Celexa, Xanax, Ativan, Prozac, Hydrocorisone, Valium, and thyroid meds when none of them were needed. Still recovering to this day and hope to be healed in the coming months, but taking it one day at a time.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Phew. Added 10 minutes of light jogging to my walk today and got immediately slammed by a wave right after. Seems to really activate me. I’ll have to not do that, though I used to love jogging. I’ll take a two week break from jogging and maybe give incline walking a go again, slowly increasing the time. 

2008: start Lexapro 10 mg which is quickly upped to 20 mg. 2008:2013 try at least four individual times to get off Lexapro, never get lower than 5mg, settle at 15 mg. 2015: again, attempt to get off Lexapro and get to 5 mg. After 6 months, feel i'm stabilizing but go back on a higher dose because of one stressful event. 2016: go to 20 mg from 15 mg due to work stresses, hit severe tolerance for the first time and become very suicidal. 2016-2017: try viibryd and cymbata in an attempt to feel better. Also add Lamictal 150 at some point. 2017: eventually land on paxil 37.5 and Lamictal 150. January 2018: cut paxil to 25. April-July 2018: reduce Lamictal in 50 mg increments till im off August. 2018: reduce paxil to 20 mg. december 2018: dropped Paxil to 18 mg, SEVERE CRASH. March updosed to 20 mg April 11: dropped to 19.4 mg due to akathsia (still experiencing akathsia symptoms from updose) April 20: 19 mg Paxil May 4: 18.7 Paxil July 5: 18.2 July 12: 17.8 Aug 19: 17.5 Aug 26: 17.3 Oct 20: 17.1 Nov 3: 16.9, 8/17/20: 16.6 after nine month hold, 8/24/20: 16.4, 8/31/20:16.2, 9/14/2020: 16.0, 9/21/20: 15.8, 9/28/20: 15.6, 10/19/20:15.4, 10/26/20: 15.2, 11/2/20: 15.1, 11/7/20: 14.8, 3/6/2-: 14.5, 3/20/20: 14.3, 4/3/20: 13.9, 4/10/2021: 13.7. 4/21/21: 13.5, 5/5/2021: 13.1, 12.2 8/12/2021 (slowly microtapered to this number. I just can’t remember the exact dates), 11.8 9/6/2021, 11.6 9/13/21, 11.2 9/27/21, 11.1 9/30/21.....11/5/21 switched to 10 mg tablet. I am holding to stabilize for the foreseeable future. 3/25/22: 9.4, 5/6/22: 9.0, 5/30/22: 8.25, 6/7/22: 8.1, 7/722: 7.65, 8/16/22: 7.39, 9/22/22: 6.91, 10/1/22: 6.78

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merged similar topics

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi all,

 

Just wondering if there can be a delayed reaction to doing to much exercise? Assumed it would be straight away or the next day but wd is nothing normal.

 

I started increasing what I was doing and after the second time felt a little bit worse so stopped and then two or three weeks later have hit a nasty wave.

 

 

20mg Lexapro 2007

10mg Lexapro 2012

Started tapering approx (October 2017) 12 months ago  from 10mg to 9mg then 8 then 7 then 6 then 5 then 4 then 3.

Held for approx 4 to 6 weeks min on each reduction.

Hit severe symptoms (started 7th Nov) after dropping to 3mg. Dropped to 3mg approx 22nd October.

Back to 4mg (7th November) and stabilising. Current symptoms started 23rd November 2018

Used diazepam (2018) 10mg 10th Nov, 5mg 11th Nov, 2.5mg 12 Nov, 2mg 13th Nov.

Used diazepam 10mg 24th Nov, 7.5 25th Nov and 5mg 26th November 2018

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I found that HR Zone training has been super helpful with keeping me from over doing it.  I am a fitness professional as well as someone who has been healing for the past 2 years.  I have been using MyZone.  If I stay in my lower HR Zones 1&2 then I tend to recover well and mitigate over working my nervous system.  Heavy lifting is super taxing on the nervous system so staying away from trying to PR any lifts is a good idea.  Start slow with more aerobic/metcon type workouts keeping the weights light and reps as well as movements in a range where you do not go out of zone 1/2.  Limit to 30 minutes 2-3 times per week and see how you respond.  A year ago I couldn't even pick up a 20# weight without feeling like I was going to pass out.  I now am able to work in my Zone 3 here and there.  I can lift again but my focus is on technique since I know going too heavy is not going to benefit me in anyway.  It takes time, patience, and the ability to work within your limitations and finding a way to keep you accountable to staying within those limitations.  Anyway, this has worked for me.  I hope it helps.

2002-2008 On and off Effexor XR 75mg 

2010 Effexor XR 75mg Trazadone 150mg

2012 Abilify 5mg and Buspar added increased Effexor XR 150mg quick taper after 6 months due to pregnancy.

2014 Reinstate Effexor XR 75mg increase to 150mg, 150mg Trazadone, Buspar, Abilify 5mg. Quick taper after about 1 year from Effexor, Abilify, and Buspar.

2018 Trazadone taper over 1 month

2018 Attempted Effexor reinstatement due to digestive distress 37.5 mg.  Failed 2xs after 4 days.  Gastro preacribed Elavil 2 weeks later.  Failed after 2 days.  3 days later full withdrawl.

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Mentor

This is a fascinating topic. I think there’s an argument to be made that ADs are a performance enhancing drug. 
 

I was a high level Crossfit athlete while medicated. In 2015, one year before getting off the drugs, I competed in the top 1% of athletes worldwide. Flash forward to 2016, off 37.5mg of Effexor XR, and I could not make it through a workout. Four years later, my capacity for high intensity fitness is nowhere where it once was. This is natural in some ways, given that once you step down it always feels like hell to get it back, but it feels like something more is going on.


My theory is that ADs numb the whole system, emotional and physical. Therefore, our tolerance for high intensity workouts actually goes up. I felt pain when I was training, sure.  But the threshold was so much higher. I could push through in ways I couldn’t almost immediately after stopping Effexor. 

I’ve run this theory by a few researchers who study muscle/exercise science. None of them know of any formal studies,  but they all agree that it makes sense. Curiouser and curiouser...

Effexor XR 37.5mg and Wellbutrin XL 150mg from age 15-30 (2001-2016). Hell withdrawal. Drug free (and happy) since 2016.

 

I am the founder Happiness Is A Skill, a weekly newsletter dedicated to helping people heal from depression by learning the skill of happiness. Join hundreds of others and subscribe here: http://learnhappy.brookesiem.com/

 

I wrote this for the The Washington Post: I spent half my life on antidepressants. Today, I'm off the medication and I feel all right.

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I do not agree.  I have had the opposite experience...it is way worse in withdrawal, however.

2002-2008 On and off Effexor XR 75mg 

2010 Effexor XR 75mg Trazadone 150mg

2012 Abilify 5mg and Buspar added increased Effexor XR 150mg quick taper after 6 months due to pregnancy.

2014 Reinstate Effexor XR 75mg increase to 150mg, 150mg Trazadone, Buspar, Abilify 5mg. Quick taper after about 1 year from Effexor, Abilify, and Buspar.

2018 Trazadone taper over 1 month

2018 Attempted Effexor reinstatement due to digestive distress 37.5 mg.  Failed 2xs after 4 days.  Gastro preacribed Elavil 2 weeks later.  Failed after 2 days.  3 days later full withdrawl.

 

 

 

 

 

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Aside from a few range of motion exercises to deal with muscle tightness and pain, I don't move unless I have to. I suffer from dizziness and temperature deregulation, which worsens with movement. When I must walk, I am very, very slow.

Mirtazapine 15mg - Start: June 2018 - Began Tapering by Skipping Pills March 2019 - CT April 29th 2019 - Restart May 8th 2019

 

Began Tapering Properly on November 27th 2019

 

2.64 December 3 2022

2.58 January 4 2023

2.52 January 21 2023

2.46 January 28 2023

2.4 February 4 2023

2.34 February 2023

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  • Moderator Emeritus

All we can do is listen to our own body.  Things can be different for it at different times as well so it's not a static thing.  We have to go with the flow and adapt as needed.

 

Edited by ChessieCat

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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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  • 1 month later...
On 6/14/2011 at 11:46 PM, Razzle said:

 

Has anyone else found benefit/determent to exercise??

 

Walking outside and walking on stairs in between low to medium phase and not above do me the best.

 

High phase walking will transmit the brain there is a danger and will only conserve the stress. Thats should be avoided or done minimally.

2010-2015 Cipramil 20-40mg. half-year break in the middle which was tough.

2015-2020 Venlafaxine 150-225 mg. Venlafaxine duloxetine cross taper details 

150 for half-year then 225 for a period than stabilized in ~187.5 (1.25 pills) for 2 years than reduced to ~168.5 (1.125 pills).

3.2020 - Duloxetine 60mg.

19.05.2020 - started to taper - 59! 20.5 - 58.5. June 2020: 57. end of June - 55.5

Summer 2020: 5.7 - 54, 9.7 - 52, 12.7 - updose to 53+, 19.7 - 52.3, 26.7 - 51.8, 4.8 51.3, 11.8 - 50.8, 15.8 - updose to 51.0, 17.8 - 50.5, 19.8 - 50.3, 19.9 - 49.3

Autumn-winter: 7.10 - 46.8, 1.12 - 45.8, 17.12 - 44.4, 30.12 - 42.4, 21.1 - 40.8. 17.2 - 40.1, end of feb - 38.6,

springmid march updose to 40.1, 28.3 - 38.6, 15.4 - 37.5, 14.5 - 36.8, end of may 37.5+ and after a week 39

Summer 2021:  mid of june again to 36.7, end of july 39.5.

11.10.2021 - 40.7 📌

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

  

On 9/9/2020 at 11:26 PM, Chineoh said:

Over Stimulation

Hi there,

 

I have had a storied history with meds (as has everyone).

 

One thing that came about when I was taking meds (both citalopram and venlafaxine) was intense fatigue caused by overstimulation.

 

Everything I did and still do causes by senses and body to burn out.

 

I can't exercise as it essentially causes my body into overload. I get a stress rash all over my body, my heart rate stays elevated for 5+ hours after exercise and it feels terrible.

 

Relaxation techniques such as meditation and guided breathing have no effect, diet doesn't do anything. I don't drink or take drugs.

 

I have tried every type of exercise imaginable (at every pace) and it still burns me out.

 

I have had my bloods checked regularly, and have no major immune disorders.

 

It is incredibly confusing and frustrating, it feels like my tolerance for physical stress is fried.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you.

 

Chineoh's signature:

2008-2013 - 10mg Citalopram prescribed after one panic attack by GP - no psych evaluation

Citalopram Stopped working (no taperiing, just a hard switch to Venlafaxine)

2013-2018 150mg Venlafaxine

Jan 2018 - Came off 150mg Venlafaxine over 2 month period (as advised by GP)

Experienced intense bouts of Depersonalisation and Derealisation due to rapid tapering. Resulted in Psychiatrist evaulation.

March 2018 - Prescribed 0.5 MG Risperidone (for sleep) and 20mg Prosac

May 2018 Came of all drugs after drug induced Akathisia

 

( mod note: moved to the most relevant topic for this post)

 

Hi Chineoh,

I have not had what you describe while on medications, nor since coming off. 

But I still think it might be due to some autonomic nervous system dysregulation.  I'll leave that for you to google.

It IS confusing and frustrating sometimes.  I'm sure hoping you've experienced some improvements, over time.  I know I sure have in many areas.  Stress in general, is still hard for me........the physical stuff I do just fine with thankfully, now.  I was off balance for awhile and wobbly........that has all improved for me.

 

Best.  I hope that helps and perhaps others will chime in.

 

Edited by manymoretodays

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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For me, exercise is the best option to relieve withdrawal symptoms. Even just taking a half-hour walk helps quite a bit. I am not at my most fit right now, so I usually do 30 minutes on the treadmill (watching my favorite show, Star Trek) and then some light weight work. The endorphins that get generated are very helpful. I try to eat as best I can and that also helps. I can tell if I eat too much junk food as my mood and energy levels are low.

 

Start small and slow. Life isn't a race. Just get your blood pumping and those endorphins should show up in 20 - 30 minutes. Endorphins are the bodies natural opiates.

Psyche Meds

Citalopram (Celexa), 40 mg since 2016. Tapered Jun - Aug 2019

Clonazepam (Klonopin), 2 mg since 2016. Tapered Jun - Aug 2017. Reinstated 0.5 mg Jan 2020. Tapered Nov 2020 - Present

Lorazepam (Ativan), 1 mg (as needed for panic attacks) since 2016. Quit May 2020.

Escitalopram (Lexapro), 20 mg Sep 2019. Quit Nov 2019

Sertraline (Zoloft), 100 mg since Nov 2019. Tapered Apr - Jun 2020

Buspirone (Buspar), 45 mg since 2016. Tapered Jul - Sep 2020

Supplements

Vitamin C, Omega-3, Magnesium, Melatonin, Lavender

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  • 2 months later...

Hi

 

When did people realise they were ready to excercise or was it a case of trial and error?

 

I've tried to do something every month since my adverse reaction 15 months ago. When I excercise I get a migraine the day after that can last 2 or 3 days. It seems to coinside with the muscle ache I get. 

 

I usually do 20 minutes a few squats, some star jumps nothing to intensive.

 

What would I do in this case and is this excercise intolerence?

 

Should I push through and continue to excercise once the headache passes?

 

Thank you

 

Citalopram 20mg september 23 2019 - 29th September 2019

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If 20 minutes is too much then reduce.  You could start with 5 minutes for a few days to a week then increase it to 10 minutes.  It might be that 15 minutes is okay but more is not.  Build up slowly and keep notes of how you feel afterwards.

 

Are you doing any walking?

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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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Thank you @ChessieCat I will do just that and start slower and monitor how I feel. 

 

Walking I have no issues with, but I am trying to loose excess fat witch I accumulated since the adverse reaction.

 

As I walk every day it is not doing anything to help with weight loss. 

 

Although I am no way overweight I am carrying far to much body fat which I need to work on reducing. 

 

 I am also working on diet low carb is proving to difficult for family life..

Citalopram 20mg september 23 2019 - 29th September 2019

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  • 3 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Walking is a tremendous help to me.  When I'm stressed, and I walk, I can feel the stress melting away.  Today I had a lot of neuro fear and anxiety.  I went for a walk, and when I got back, I felt so much calmer.  

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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I am glad to see this topic posted. In the beginning, when my anxiety was through the roof, exercise is the only thing that helped. The only thing. But I am in a depressive wave right now, my brain feels so heavy, & it is impossible at times to enjoy anything. When I exercise even a little bit, my symptoms get so much worse. I want to stimulate my neural pathways, but exercise can put me into a spiral for days. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Did you exercise anyway?

2004-2012 Lexipro 15 mg (CT'd 4 times during this period. Not sure exact dates).

Dec 2014-June 2017 Lexipro 15 mg CT WD agitation, Anhedonia from kindling while taking Feb 2018-Oct 2019 Lexipro 15mg, more severe Anhedonia while taking, CT WD depression May 2020- Sept 2020 Wellbutrin 300mg, OCD, anxiety, while taking, CT, WD anxiety, depression Dec 2020 Wellbutrin 150mg 3 days stop CT WD anxiety, depression, suicidal durations (seemed to stop once drug out system)

Dec 2020 Buspirone 10mg 2.5 weeks, extreme severe Anhedonia while taking, Anhedonia stopped once stopped buspirone, WD cycling anxiety, depression, suicidal ideations Jan 2021 Reinstated Buspirone 5mg 1 month, tapered from 5mg to 1.25mg, experienced severe Anhedonia while taking, WD anxiety, depression, hyperarousal, photophobia, headaches, hyperacusis, early waking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What sort of exercise do you do?  On your not too good days instead of doing your regular exercises, you might find going for short gentle walk might be okay.

 

On days which are not your best but a bit better you might find that doing your regular exercises but reducing the intensity and/or length of time doesn't ramp up your symptoms.  Or splitting them up and doing that throughout the day instead of in one session.

 

It's important to listen to your body and symptoms and adjust activity accordingly.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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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From the time I began to taper in August of 2018 I was unable to exercise because of withdrawl symptoms. Their intensity would be unbearable so I quit trying. In March of 2020 (7 mos off AD) I began to exercise again. I was still experiencing some worsening of symptoms but the benefits of the exercise outweighed them. I’m now 20 mos off AD and I still have WD symptoms at all times but they have vastly improved over time and my exercise doesn’t affect them at all anymore. I exercise 5 to 7 days a week typically 45 mins to an hour each day. Some days I might not feel up to it So I rest.  Many times the exercise energizes me so in most cases I attempt it even when I’m tired. Hang in there and listen to your body and eventually you will be able to resume exercise normalcy for you.

Started 15mg Mirtazapine 2/2015

Began Taper 8/2018

Stopped drug 8/2019

 

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Hello

 

I was wondering if anybody on this thread had experienced complete insomnia after even gentle physical exertion in the day? Not even exercise, just walking around outside the home.

 

And if this has resolved?

 

I'm feeling a bit of an outlier with this one as it seems unusual and extreme. It started after a particularly nasty and prolonged bout of insomnia courtesy of mirtazapine. So not sure if it's exhaustion or over-stimulation that's the problem.

 

At a bit of a loss really and now almost afraid to leave the house as I don't know when it will be triggered. Was fit and active before and moving around normally at home/cleaning/stairs/garden no problem.

 

Is there anybody who can relate?

 

Thank you!

▪︎2000 - Seroxat (25mg?) 6 months C/T

▪︎2015 - 7.5mg Zopiclone 1 month C/T

▪︎ 2016 - 2018 - Diazapam and Phenergan occasionally for sleep

▪︎2017 June to Oct - Mirtazapine 7.5mg C/T

▪︎2018 April - 2019 Oct Mirtazapine 7.5mg tapered to 1.5mg.

▪︎2019 October - Mirtazapine 1.5mg (Skipped alternate doses on doctor's advice then stopped - Insomnia.) Phenergan

▪︎2020 Jan 6th - Mirtazapine 1.5mg

▪︎2020 Jan 13th - Mirtazapine 7.5mg

▪︎2020 - Feb - May, holding 7.5mg

▪︎2020 1st June, 7.35mg. 27 June, 7.2mg. 7 July, 7.05mg. 18 July, 6.9mg. 28 July, 6.75mg. 27 Aug, 6.6mg. 7 Sep, 6.45mg. 17 Sep, 6.6mg. Crash/Hold

▪︎2022 - 4 Feb, 6.45mg. 24 Mar, 6.3mg. 13 May, 6.15mg. 13 July, 6mg. 10 Aug, 5.85mg.

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Ripley, I experienced total insomnia on many occasions and I was taking Mirtazapine as well. My sleep issues took place during tapering but mostly during months 3 through 12 of withdrawl. There were many nights I didn’t sleep even an hour.  I cannot say it was due to activity.  However, my insomnia was more severe when I exercised but all the other withdrawl symptoms were more severe when exercising too. I stopped exercising during the months mentioned above.  I am now 21 months in withdrawl and I sleep just like I did before the Mirt. I’ve been exercising for about a year now and I exercise daily for a minimum of 45 mins but most days for an hour. I walk every day and also do strength training 2 to 3 times a week. I still experience withdrawls daily but they are much less severe and I’m able to live a much more normal life.  There was a period of time for about a week in the last year of exercising I had to take a break because of nerve and muscle pain in my back.  It subsided and I resumed walking.  I would dare say my sleep issues are resolved (knock on wood).🤞🏻Hang in there! I’m proof positive things will improve for you. Most importantly listen to your body. There were times I would try exercise and I knew my body didn’t want it.  Last March when I began exercising on a regular basis I tried it and it felt right. I took it easy and let my body set my pace.  Your body will let you know what you can and cannot do.  How far along are you in the withdrawl process?

Started 15mg Mirtazapine 2/2015

Began Taper 8/2018

Stopped drug 8/2019

 

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Hi @Winner51

 

Thanks for your reply. It's very encouraging that your sleep is back to what it was before mirt. It has such a destructive effect on sleep. 

 

At the moment, I'm not really talking about exercise - just the exertion of living normally. But I'm glad your tolerance for exercise has improved. Hopefully tolerance for activity in general improves.

 

Rx

▪︎2000 - Seroxat (25mg?) 6 months C/T

▪︎2015 - 7.5mg Zopiclone 1 month C/T

▪︎ 2016 - 2018 - Diazapam and Phenergan occasionally for sleep

▪︎2017 June to Oct - Mirtazapine 7.5mg C/T

▪︎2018 April - 2019 Oct Mirtazapine 7.5mg tapered to 1.5mg.

▪︎2019 October - Mirtazapine 1.5mg (Skipped alternate doses on doctor's advice then stopped - Insomnia.) Phenergan

▪︎2020 Jan 6th - Mirtazapine 1.5mg

▪︎2020 Jan 13th - Mirtazapine 7.5mg

▪︎2020 - Feb - May, holding 7.5mg

▪︎2020 1st June, 7.35mg. 27 June, 7.2mg. 7 July, 7.05mg. 18 July, 6.9mg. 28 July, 6.75mg. 27 Aug, 6.6mg. 7 Sep, 6.45mg. 17 Sep, 6.6mg. Crash/Hold

▪︎2022 - 4 Feb, 6.45mg. 24 Mar, 6.3mg. 13 May, 6.15mg. 13 July, 6mg. 10 Aug, 5.85mg.

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I was walking a few weeks ago now I feel I can barely leave the house, have a horrible fear like feeling in my stomach that’s making me shake, no hunger barely any sleep, slept last night after being given some sleeping pills 

10 days Citalopram c/t 

7 days buspirone c/t

5 days trazodone c/t

2 weeks lorazepam c/t

started in January now off work 3 months 

Stomach issues

weakness in legs 

feeling of dread all day

cant sleep

barely eating no appetite

fever on and off

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  • 1 month later...

Hi

 

Is it still common at 20 months out to be intolerant to excersise?

 

Between this and the weight gain I think there is seriously something else going on. Most ot the threads on this forum relate to weight gain when taking the meds. But for me mine has happened after an adverse reaction to only a few doses.

 

Thanks

Citalopram 20mg september 23 2019 - 29th September 2019

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On 4/3/2021 at 7:13 AM, Winner51 said:

 I am now 21 months in withdrawl and I sleep just like I did before the Mirt. I’ve been exercising for about a year now and I exercise daily for a minimum of 45 mins but most days for an hour. I walk every day and also do strength training 2 to 3 times a week. I still experience withdrawls daily but they are much less severe and I’m able to live a much more normal life.  

@Winner51  Thank you for your update..  I had a CT of mirtazapine from Feb 2019, and still dealing with symptoms.  I seem to have narrowed it down to drastic weather changes (heat/cold/humidity) which cause a flare..  Now it appears that overexertion and excess of high FODMAP/fiber foods also can contribute to a flare.

 

In my case, most symptoms seem to occur only when I am supine/resting, and I was hoping to see if others are dealing with the same.. 

 

I did a 4 mile uphill hike in warm weather (although in shade), hydrated well, and was feeling fine all day.. But my mind couldn't just relax into sleep even though I was tired and sleepy initially, and then wide awake.. After a while, my gut starts acting up (belching, flatulence, reflux, and BMs), which seems to help calm down the system enough to catch a few winks..   This morning I had a pre-syncope type event with gut pain before and chills after with cold feet.. I haven't had such an event in months..  

 

It appears that a combination of warm weather, over-exertion, less hydration, food, and sleep can trigger a pre-syncope.. 

 

What has helped you with your exercise routine and figure out your optimum exertion?

 

 

Chronic IBS since 1990

Former smoker (1992- Jun 2017)

Prescribed mirtazapine for sleep in Aug 2017 after IBS flare-up following Nicotine cessation.

Mirtazapine 7.5mg 8/17 to 5/18

Mirtazapine 3.75mg 5/18 to 1/19

Off Mirtazapine since 2/19.

Vit B, Vit D+K2 and Magnesium Glycinate as needed.

On Ayurvedic herbs for GI issues - Guduchi since Jul 2020, Indukantham since Oct 2020

On Ashwagandha 1g since Nov 2020

 

 

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  • 7 months later...

Does exercise help?

 

I would imagine if you can tolerate it exercise helps with all this, is that the case?

 

Along with being active, if anyone has links on nervous system rebuilding and exercise that would be great.

 

Any tips or stories or links, too!

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with existing topic

Klonopin Mar 2013 - Feb 2021 - used .000 gram scale to cut pills did very slowly from 2017-2021, had no issues stopping after final dose that was sub .5mg diazepam equivalent (If anyone wants advice for tapering Klonopin with a gram scale, feel free to ask!)

tapered off zyprexa twice over 2 weeks in my 20's, had little issue with that after about 3-4 years of use both times.

Prozac 40MG for 5 years - 2016 - 2021 (Total of 13 years of consecutive use)

(Most recent after last break, been on cumulatively in my life 14 years all times combined, 3 separate on/off occasions, all successful except most recent 3/4)

Recent Issue:  Tapered gradually from 40MG down to 0MG from May 7th - Aug 18th

Felt fine through Oct 5th, slowly started getting depression, panic, and anxiety (Was original thing I was treated for)

Decided to go back on SSRI Nov 1st, reacted very bad to 20mg reinstatement, day 1 was fine, day 2 had ADR. Doctor said to drop dosage.

Took 5mg for 2 weeks, 10mg for 2 weeks, still felt physically sick, could not take 20mg for more than 3 days, looking for advice going forward (ADR)

Not happy about it, but on 1.5mg 3x ativan and temazepam 15mg for sleep

(Was sleeping 2-3 hrs nightly prior to temazepam, was first thing that broke 2-3 hr then wide awake sleep cycle)

Main symptoms: headaches from certain foods and meds, sleep is broken, anxiety and agitation is extremely high, cortisol spike sensitive, bad in morning better at night, panic attacks, concentration is awful, focus is awful, anhedonia is awful, sensitive to light and noise, especially noise, extreme depression, intense bouts of fear, every looks and feels 'scary' at times, stress tolerance extremely low, have bouts of extreme anxiety, and bouts akathesia, and bouts extreme anticipatory anxiety over basic events/tasks. Nervous system is clearly crashed.

No Prozac for 249 days.

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I exercised for the first time today since all this happened, went on a half mile walk, had a nice mood boost when I got home so that was nice.

 

I read about how mild exercise helps with neurogenesis and although it increases cortisol initially, it lowers it later in the day, which sounds good to me, I am going to keep at it!

 

Anyone else? Have not seen a post here in a while.

Klonopin Mar 2013 - Feb 2021 - used .000 gram scale to cut pills did very slowly from 2017-2021, had no issues stopping after final dose that was sub .5mg diazepam equivalent (If anyone wants advice for tapering Klonopin with a gram scale, feel free to ask!)

tapered off zyprexa twice over 2 weeks in my 20's, had little issue with that after about 3-4 years of use both times.

Prozac 40MG for 5 years - 2016 - 2021 (Total of 13 years of consecutive use)

(Most recent after last break, been on cumulatively in my life 14 years all times combined, 3 separate on/off occasions, all successful except most recent 3/4)

Recent Issue:  Tapered gradually from 40MG down to 0MG from May 7th - Aug 18th

Felt fine through Oct 5th, slowly started getting depression, panic, and anxiety (Was original thing I was treated for)

Decided to go back on SSRI Nov 1st, reacted very bad to 20mg reinstatement, day 1 was fine, day 2 had ADR. Doctor said to drop dosage.

Took 5mg for 2 weeks, 10mg for 2 weeks, still felt physically sick, could not take 20mg for more than 3 days, looking for advice going forward (ADR)

Not happy about it, but on 1.5mg 3x ativan and temazepam 15mg for sleep

(Was sleeping 2-3 hrs nightly prior to temazepam, was first thing that broke 2-3 hr then wide awake sleep cycle)

Main symptoms: headaches from certain foods and meds, sleep is broken, anxiety and agitation is extremely high, cortisol spike sensitive, bad in morning better at night, panic attacks, concentration is awful, focus is awful, anhedonia is awful, sensitive to light and noise, especially noise, extreme depression, intense bouts of fear, every looks and feels 'scary' at times, stress tolerance extremely low, have bouts of extreme anxiety, and bouts akathesia, and bouts extreme anticipatory anxiety over basic events/tasks. Nervous system is clearly crashed.

No Prozac for 249 days.

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Training

 

Hi, I recently started to do a little sport, not much, but the day after I felt like I had a massive flu or something. All my muscles hurt so much after just so little. I noticed that before, sometimes when I tried to be active. Are there others who have experienced this? It feels like my muscles aren't able to cope with sport or are not really able to recover properly. 

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

Started Venlafaxine around  2007-2008  for around 4,5-5 years 70mg

                                                   ca .2012  Taper as doctors advise 2 weeks skip a day and stop

                                                   7 -8 later months total breakdown after sruggling a lot Hospitalized

                                                   and started on Cipralex.

Taper as doctors advise: Mai 2018  from 20 to 10 mg escitalopram to zero in one Month.

 

supplements

Magnesium citrate 600 mg

Omega 3  2000 mg

vitamin D3 sometimes

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello everyone, I read all your messages because I myself am a basic sportsman (marathon, half marathon, football etc).  I stopped then resumed my treatment several times and it's been 1 month since I stopped it suddenly.  Before taking an antidepressant I was going to run 5 or 10km or even more and I felt the benefits of running because I was soothed borderline euphoric (running increases serotonin levels).  Only here, taking an antidepressant also increases the level of serotonin in the brain so I wonder if I use today will it increase my serotonin in a good way?  By that I mean is that my brain hasn't gone haywire.  In weaning period for 1 month yesterday I ran 15 minutes and I stopped mainly because it had been a while since I had run and big lack of breath and cardio.  That said when I got home after taking a shower I felt a little better I don't know if it has a link but you have to run 30 minutes to secrete endorphins so I hope that running will have the same effect as before taking a  antidepressant.  I'll let you know tell me if you still feel the beneficial effects?  I know that weaning is very hard for me, I decided to hang on because in life it's by doing things well that it attracts good things.  For me the sport those will be every day.  And even if I feel bad at first I won't let go.  I hope it will help me sleep better and set goals hoping that it improves my morale as well.  I have read some who were bad after a session but everyone is different.  This forum helps me a lot to believe in it I wish you all to heal

Hello everyone, I was on seroplex 10mg in October 2019 for over a year and then on brintellix from March to September for maybe 8 months. I made several attempts to stop abruptly then I resumed the treatment of brintellix recently for a few weeks because it was too difficult to stop.

Symptom when stopped: premature ejaculation, ejaculation with less orgasm. Severe insomnia, transient headaches, sensitivity to noise and light.

Last intake of brintellix 5mg: Saturday, September 11, 2021

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To be a little clearer and sorry for my English, I'm French.  Does taking an antidepressant mean that if you run, the action of running on the serotonin level is no longer the same?  If for example an antidepressant suppresses receptors in the brain.  It's only a guess I would really like to run to get better but I pause all these questions if my brain is fine if I'm going to succeed in increasing my serotonin level to see the benefits by doing sports but I  don't know what this poison is doing to my brain

Hello everyone, I was on seroplex 10mg in October 2019 for over a year and then on brintellix from March to September for maybe 8 months. I made several attempts to stop abruptly then I resumed the treatment of brintellix recently for a few weeks because it was too difficult to stop.

Symptom when stopped: premature ejaculation, ejaculation with less orgasm. Severe insomnia, transient headaches, sensitivity to noise and light.

Last intake of brintellix 5mg: Saturday, September 11, 2021

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@Parisien We are 100 years back to understand neuroscience . These serotonin drugs will probably be banned in future.

2017 october--2018 march->(6 month) fluoxetine 20,30 mg-->cold turkey= after 2 month semen leakage

2018 july---2018 Aug-->(24 days) fluoxetine 20 mg --> cold turkey = vivid dreams begin

2018 december 2019 Jan-->(1 month) Amitriptyline 25--> cold turkey
--------++++--horror of drugs begins. Taking one after another and cold turkey-------+++------------------
2019 May--2019 May--> (12 days) Lexapro cold turkey

2019 May--2019 august -->(3 month)Cobazam 10 mg +amitriptyline 25 mg --> clobazam cold turkey

----2019 october ---> went cold turkey amitriptyline 25 mg.

2019 october--2020 Jan -->(3 months) duloxetine cymbalta 30mg --->cold turkey

2020 jan-2020 Apr--> (3 months) paroxetine 25 mg --> Cold turkey

2020 July--2021 Jan--> (6 months) amitriptyline 50 mg ,75 mg,100 mg ,125 mg -> cold turkey

2021 jan--2021 May--> (4 months) imipramine 75 mg -->cold turkey

2021 may-2021 Aug--> (3 months) nortriptyline 25 mg --> cold turkey== still semen leakage and vivid dream

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