Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted December 31, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 31, 2015 That sounds like a good plan! I'm very glad you can do it. Feeling slightly better is a great sign! Let's see if things will feel the same with 5 mg... Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted December 31, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 31, 2015 Hi Dallas, Things seem to be going well for you. Keep up the good work. Just a thought re cold, you need to be careful of over the counter cold remedies. Also, computer games. Since I have reduced my dose, I find that I can't play Angry Birds much at all as it gets me agitated. Prior to reducing I could play it for hours (I hate to admit ). CC * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft;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 Link to comment
Dallasxd Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 Took my second does of 10 mg today, have a horrible headache right now that I can't seem to get rid of. Tomorrow I want to start taking 5 mg, I'm wondering if its too late to switch now I've taken 10 mg for 2 days now and tomorrows I wont be able to take until the afternoon cause thats the only time I can get to the store 2009 - started lexapro 10mg for anxiety/panic disorder, switched to 20 mg ~4 years later. nov 2015 - immediate stop of lexapro 20 mg - followed by switching to 50 mg pristiq next day (horrible withdrawals for 2-3 days, once pristiq entered system withdrawals went away) dec 2015 - felt worse on pristiq than I did lexapro 20mg - saw dr said I may have adhd - prescribed "test" dose of adderall for 20 days. dec 2015 - immediate stop of pristiq 50mg - followed by 10mg adderall - horrible withdrawals for 1.5 weeks jan 2016 - immediate stop of adderall - reinstate lexapro 10 mg - withdrawal symptoms gone. switched to 5 mg few days later, currently taking 5mg and hoping to be drug free within the next month. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted January 1, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 1, 2016 There are no hard and fast rules here but I would give 5 mg a try. Especially since headache might indicate 10 mg is too much. If you can't make it to the store earlier there's not much that can be done there. Taking the same dose at the same time is key for ensuring stability which enables the brain to heal. I believe you will get there soon. Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus KarenB Posted January 1, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 1, 2016 Is your med in pill form? You could cut it in half. (Sorry I can't remember what form yours is in). 2010 Fluoxetine 20mg. 2011 Escitalopram 20mg. 2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS. Effexor 150mg. 2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants. Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms). 8 month hold. 2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent). 2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well. Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea. 2023 December - Now on 5 micro-beads Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops. Symptoms begin to increase. 2024 April - Updosed to 6 microbeads - immediate increase in symptoms for 4 days. Decreased to 5 microbeads. 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.' Dr Gabor Mate. Link to comment
Dallasxd Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 Yeah its pill, so I would have to cut it in half and then cut it again? to go from 20 mg to 5 mg but I think I'm about to go pick up the 10 mg soon so I can just cut it in half, sucks cause its already 4 pm... I'm like 8 hours late for my dose today, not too happy about it but only time I could get a ride. 2009 - started lexapro 10mg for anxiety/panic disorder, switched to 20 mg ~4 years later. nov 2015 - immediate stop of lexapro 20 mg - followed by switching to 50 mg pristiq next day (horrible withdrawals for 2-3 days, once pristiq entered system withdrawals went away) dec 2015 - felt worse on pristiq than I did lexapro 20mg - saw dr said I may have adhd - prescribed "test" dose of adderall for 20 days. dec 2015 - immediate stop of pristiq 50mg - followed by 10mg adderall - horrible withdrawals for 1.5 weeks jan 2016 - immediate stop of adderall - reinstate lexapro 10 mg - withdrawal symptoms gone. switched to 5 mg few days later, currently taking 5mg and hoping to be drug free within the next month. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted January 1, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 1, 2016 Let's hope this hiccup will happen only today and won't cause more turmoil. After that you are settling into a routine... Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Dallasxd Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 Just got to the pharmacy and it's closed, Great... I just took my 10 mg dose right now at 4:08 pm. Had no choice it was either 10 mg or not take it at all cause I'm not sure how to split a pill 3 different ways to take it from 20 mg to 5 mg. from here I'm not sure what to do. I feel like I already screwed everything up. Should I still try and get to the pharmacy tomorrow and start the 5 mg? It wouldn't Be until around 12 pm. Any advice on what I should do would help a lot. Thanks. 2009 - started lexapro 10mg for anxiety/panic disorder, switched to 20 mg ~4 years later. nov 2015 - immediate stop of lexapro 20 mg - followed by switching to 50 mg pristiq next day (horrible withdrawals for 2-3 days, once pristiq entered system withdrawals went away) dec 2015 - felt worse on pristiq than I did lexapro 20mg - saw dr said I may have adhd - prescribed "test" dose of adderall for 20 days. dec 2015 - immediate stop of pristiq 50mg - followed by 10mg adderall - horrible withdrawals for 1.5 weeks jan 2016 - immediate stop of adderall - reinstate lexapro 10 mg - withdrawal symptoms gone. switched to 5 mg few days later, currently taking 5mg and hoping to be drug free within the next month. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus KarenB Posted January 2, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 2, 2016 You cut the 20mg in half, then each of those halves into half again. Each quarter will equal 5mg. You haven't screwed up - it's just bumps along the road as you find your way. Problems can feel so hard to get past at the time, but in a few days you'll be underway. I'd try to get to the pharmacy again tomorrow if you can, and get established on 5mg. Keeping cool while you're in these stressful situations is what will get you through. You can do it. Karen 2010 Fluoxetine 20mg. 2011 Escitalopram 20mg. 2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS. Effexor 150mg. 2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants. Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms). 8 month hold. 2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent). 2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well. Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea. 2023 December - Now on 5 micro-beads Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops. Symptoms begin to increase. 2024 April - Updosed to 6 microbeads - immediate increase in symptoms for 4 days. Decreased to 5 microbeads. 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.' Dr Gabor Mate. Link to comment
Sarabera Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 I haven't had much of an appetite since this happened but I'm working on my diet, I actually spend 8-10 hours a day (if not more) playing video games. I have done this as long as I can remember, so its funny you mention that. Maybe you're onto something, Idk. I have a treadmill downstairs I could use, not that up for actually going outside for a run right now though. Dallas, I had a suspicion that might be the case. Please at least take a look at the link for this excellent book: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=reset+your+child%27s+brain&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=81012505519&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4714192636574164899&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_2yyhcy5zpd_e Reset Your Child's Brain by Victoria L. Dunckley, MD--a brand new book summarizing and explaining a bunch of new research about how electronics, and especially gaming, can have all kinds of negative effects on the brain. Including (but not limited to)---- depression, OCD disorders, ADD/ADHD, irritability, arrested social developement, social anxiety, and even psychosis. I'm quite interested in this topic as my stepson does nothing but gaming and internet activities, and he is having a lot of issues. Should be required reading for just about any parent or teacher. 1975--first signs of depression 1981--started on imipramine (Tofranil) for IBS and depression 1983-1986--severe depression, rotated through several drugs, on MAOI for one year, eventually back to tricyclics 1986-1994--chronic low grade depression, on tricyclics 1994-96--severe depression, rotated through several drugs inc. Prozax, Effexor, etc.. 1996-2013--chronic low grade depression, SAD, on amitryptiline usual dose 12.5-25mg flurazepam (Dalmane) as needed for insomnia 2013--developed temazepam (Restoril) dependance for 2 months, tapered off over 1 month started bio-identical progesterone 5 mg., depression has lifted completely to this day March 2016--forced to c/t both amitryptiline and flurazepam, zolpidem not helpful reinstated small dose (.5 mg) amitryptiline due to stomach issues and tapering w/titration June 19th--jumped from amitryptiline--drug free! Link to comment
Dallasxd Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 You cut the 20mg in half, then each of those halves into half again. Each quarter will equal 5mg. You haven't screwed up - it's just bumps along the road as you find your way. Problems can feel so hard to get past at the time, but in a few days you'll be underway. I'd try to get to the pharmacy again tomorrow if you can, and get established on 5mg. Keeping cool while you're in these stressful situations is what will get you through. You can do it. Karen Thanks, if I cant get the new pills tomorrow morning I'll try and split the 20 mg four ways, I also know its important to take your dose at the same time every day to insure stability, what is the best time to take it? I haven't had much of an appetite since this happened but I'm working on my diet, I actually spend 8-10 hours a day (if not more) playing video games. I have done this as long as I can remember, so its funny you mention that. Maybe you're onto something, Idk. I have a treadmill downstairs I could use, not that up for actually going outside for a run right now though. Dallas, I had a suspicion that might be the case. Please at least take a look at the link for this excellent book: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=reset+your+child%27s+brain&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=81012505519&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4714192636574164899&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_2yyhcy5zpd_e Reset Your Child's Brain by Victoria L. Dunckley, MD--a brand new book summarizing and explaining a bunch of new research about how electronics, and especially gaming, can have all kinds of negative effects on the brain. Including (but not limited to)---- depression, OCD disorders, ADD/ADHD, irritability, arrested social developement, social anxiety, and even psychosis. I'm quite interested in this topic as my stepson does nothing but gaming and internet activities, and he is having a lot of issues. Should be required reading for just about any parent or teacher. That's crazy, never thought gaming could have those type of effects on someone. 2009 - started lexapro 10mg for anxiety/panic disorder, switched to 20 mg ~4 years later. nov 2015 - immediate stop of lexapro 20 mg - followed by switching to 50 mg pristiq next day (horrible withdrawals for 2-3 days, once pristiq entered system withdrawals went away) dec 2015 - felt worse on pristiq than I did lexapro 20mg - saw dr said I may have adhd - prescribed "test" dose of adderall for 20 days. dec 2015 - immediate stop of pristiq 50mg - followed by 10mg adderall - horrible withdrawals for 1.5 weeks jan 2016 - immediate stop of adderall - reinstate lexapro 10 mg - withdrawal symptoms gone. switched to 5 mg few days later, currently taking 5mg and hoping to be drug free within the next month. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus KarenB Posted January 2, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 2, 2016 I'd take it at the same time you took it when you were on it regularly. Also, please fill in a signature - it makes things so much easier for us to help you whenever you post. With my brain in this condition, I might easily mistake your details for somebody else's - then we'd be in a pickle . 2010 Fluoxetine 20mg. 2011 Escitalopram 20mg. 2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS. Effexor 150mg. 2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants. Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms). 8 month hold. 2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent). 2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well. Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea. 2023 December - Now on 5 micro-beads Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops. Symptoms begin to increase. 2024 April - Updosed to 6 microbeads - immediate increase in symptoms for 4 days. Decreased to 5 microbeads. 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.' Dr Gabor Mate. Link to comment
nz11 Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 "Well, 99% of my patients that I take off Lexapro or Pristiq cold turkey show no signs of withdrawals whatsoever" I really have difficulty beleving these kinds of statements. My exdoc was pretty much the same saying 'you are the only person who has had trouble' Yet 2 yrs later when i wish the neighbouring pharmacist happy retirement he quietly says 'nz11 you deserve a medal for getting off paroxetine we have many on our books who cant get off that drug' As the doc was the only doc in a 1-2 km radius i can only assume the 'our books' referred to his patients. what could be happening is the doctor thinks he doesnt have people who have wdl trouble but he has heaps of people who have relapse. Its a tabacco company word game.just like saying ...'well no these drugs are not addictive' Nothing like assuaging some cognitive dissonance by blaming the patient. Good to see some common sense is prevailing...hope you stabilize soon dallas. wow 8-10 hrs a day .. thats some video game experience you have. Dont forget to eat and sleep...and keep sa updated of course. I cant talk its now 7.42 an and i have spent nearly 3 hrs already on sa....and the day hasnt even started.....oh boy! nz11 note to myself,dont forget to eat. Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing. http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651 Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos. Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you Recovering paxil addict None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped." Dr Mosher. Me too! Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015 I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015 Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017 Link to comment
Dallasxd Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 Within 24 hours of taking the 10 mg dose nearly all my withdrawals symptoms have subsided, this morning I took 5 mg and tomorrow I am taking 5 mg again, we will see if withdrawals return. 2009 - started lexapro 10mg for anxiety/panic disorder, switched to 20 mg ~4 years later. nov 2015 - immediate stop of lexapro 20 mg - followed by switching to 50 mg pristiq next day (horrible withdrawals for 2-3 days, once pristiq entered system withdrawals went away) dec 2015 - felt worse on pristiq than I did lexapro 20mg - saw dr said I may have adhd - prescribed "test" dose of adderall for 20 days. dec 2015 - immediate stop of pristiq 50mg - followed by 10mg adderall - horrible withdrawals for 1.5 weeks jan 2016 - immediate stop of adderall - reinstate lexapro 10 mg - withdrawal symptoms gone. switched to 5 mg few days later, currently taking 5mg and hoping to be drug free within the next month. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted January 3, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 3, 2016 I hope the change of dose doesn't rock the boat. Keep us posted. (And easy on the games it seems introducing just a half an hour of walking somewhere nice to replace some of the gaming might do wonders for your brain.. Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Dallasxd Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 I hope the change of dose doesn't rock the boat. Keep us posted. (And easy on the games it seems introducing just a half an hour of walking somewhere nice to replace some of the gaming might do wonders for your brain.. I'll give it a try, thanks. 2009 - started lexapro 10mg for anxiety/panic disorder, switched to 20 mg ~4 years later. nov 2015 - immediate stop of lexapro 20 mg - followed by switching to 50 mg pristiq next day (horrible withdrawals for 2-3 days, once pristiq entered system withdrawals went away) dec 2015 - felt worse on pristiq than I did lexapro 20mg - saw dr said I may have adhd - prescribed "test" dose of adderall for 20 days. dec 2015 - immediate stop of pristiq 50mg - followed by 10mg adderall - horrible withdrawals for 1.5 weeks jan 2016 - immediate stop of adderall - reinstate lexapro 10 mg - withdrawal symptoms gone. switched to 5 mg few days later, currently taking 5mg and hoping to be drug free within the next month. Link to comment
Ignacio Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Hi Dallasxd, I am also 21 and I find I am in a similar situation to you, I have poorly managed college this past year and my mental health was really bad. Not depressed but no interest in anything whatsoever nor friends, nor family, nor hobbies, nor sex... I don´t know how you are currently doing but I wanted to tell you two things: I have found therapy to be extremely helpful, but I would recommend a therapist that focusses on who you are, what have you lived through and what are you feeling right now, I believe that those issues are the ones that help me move on on my life. I have found that the meds didn´t allow me to work on those things and numbed me. They made me less anxious and ocd but didn´t help me have a decent and responsible life. Good luck to you! 1/12: 20 mg Prozac. 6/14: Doc decides to switch me to Lexapro in may. The switch consisted in overlaping fluoxetine and half lexapro for 2 weeks, then stop fluoxetine and go on 10mg Lexapro, I was a week on 10mg lexapro and stopped as I was feeling bad then went on 3mg and taper from it .After that I learned from withdrawal and all that. 7/14: 2.5mg Lexapro for 1 year. 7/15: cold turkeyed from 2.5 mg. Link to comment
Dallasxd Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 Leaving a bit of an update: I switched to 5 mg Lexapro ~4 days ago now. (I did this by splitting a 20 mg pill 4 ways and taking one quarter, hopefully the dose is accurate enough) I haven't experienced bad withdrawals as I did previously, I had a few mild headaches yesterday (Could have been from anything) and that's about it. I am going to continue on 5 mg for awhile longer and then figure out where to go from there. The ultimate goal is to be completely off the meds within the next month or 2. I saw a psychiatrist yesterday, he wasn't much help. I tried to explain to him that I didn't feel I needed the meds anymore and that I wanted help getting off them, his response was that he thinks I should stay on them and actually go from 5 mg up to 20 mg again. I told him the pills make me feel like **** and that I haven't had issues with my anxiety in awhile and that when it does come on now I feel I can handle it on my own, he completely disregarded what I said and pushed me to increase dose, so that's the last time I will be seeing him. Aside from all that I feel I've got myself stuck, I'm sleeping till 6 pm. Waking up and not having any motivation to do much. I lay in bed and watch tv until about 11 pm. Get up and go over to my computer and mess around online/play video games until about 7 am. and then I go back to sleep. This lifestyle is causing me to feel horrible and depressed. So I am trying to change it, starting with my sleeping schedule. 2009 - started lexapro 10mg for anxiety/panic disorder, switched to 20 mg ~4 years later. nov 2015 - immediate stop of lexapro 20 mg - followed by switching to 50 mg pristiq next day (horrible withdrawals for 2-3 days, once pristiq entered system withdrawals went away) dec 2015 - felt worse on pristiq than I did lexapro 20mg - saw dr said I may have adhd - prescribed "test" dose of adderall for 20 days. dec 2015 - immediate stop of pristiq 50mg - followed by 10mg adderall - horrible withdrawals for 1.5 weeks jan 2016 - immediate stop of adderall - reinstate lexapro 10 mg - withdrawal symptoms gone. switched to 5 mg few days later, currently taking 5mg and hoping to be drug free within the next month. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus KarenB Posted January 6, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 6, 2016 Hey Dallas, Good to hear you plan to stay on that dose for a while. I'd leave it at least a month or two to get properly stable and only then think about tapering. I hope you will taper gently at that point, using the 10% method. I'd love for you to get free of these drugs, and want it to happen with the least trouble possible. Hope you have some luck moving your sleep around. Maybe you can try tweaking each end, bit by bit. I know that eating regularly helps sleep too - for instance your body gets used to breakfast at the same time each day, and starts to wake up for it. 2010 Fluoxetine 20mg. 2011 Escitalopram 20mg. 2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS. Effexor 150mg. 2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants. Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms). 8 month hold. 2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent). 2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well. Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea. 2023 December - Now on 5 micro-beads Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops. Symptoms begin to increase. 2024 April - Updosed to 6 microbeads - immediate increase in symptoms for 4 days. Decreased to 5 microbeads. 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.' Dr Gabor Mate. Link to comment
nz11 Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Dallas your last post put a big smile on my face You should be very proud of yourself for the way you handled the psychiatrist very few people can push back against these people. But you did. They probably dont like people being on less than 20 cos then they dont qualify for a prescribing bonus ..who knows. I wouldnt be too eager to take shortcuts in the taper schedule ....at 10% per month it will take 15 months to get off maybe you can get off faster but at least start slow...once humpty dumpty falls its hard to put him back together again. Hey i am so glad you are feeling better. Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing. http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651 Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos. Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you Recovering paxil addict None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped." Dr Mosher. Me too! Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015 I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015 Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017 Link to comment
Dallasxd Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 Yeah main goal is to fix the sleep and eat properly, I ordered some supplements and fish oil. Should have it sometime this week... 2009 - started lexapro 10mg for anxiety/panic disorder, switched to 20 mg ~4 years later. nov 2015 - immediate stop of lexapro 20 mg - followed by switching to 50 mg pristiq next day (horrible withdrawals for 2-3 days, once pristiq entered system withdrawals went away) dec 2015 - felt worse on pristiq than I did lexapro 20mg - saw dr said I may have adhd - prescribed "test" dose of adderall for 20 days. dec 2015 - immediate stop of pristiq 50mg - followed by 10mg adderall - horrible withdrawals for 1.5 weeks jan 2016 - immediate stop of adderall - reinstate lexapro 10 mg - withdrawal symptoms gone. switched to 5 mg few days later, currently taking 5mg and hoping to be drug free within the next month. Link to comment
AliG Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Hi Dallas. Well done. If you feel you can do it , you only need a Doctor to prescribe your medication & any Doctor can do that. I just noticed in your drug history signature, that you plan to be drug free within the next month. That is way too fast. As you get lower in dosage ,it's even more important to take it slow. Please read : http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage This topic might give you a few ideas on sleep. Tips to help sleep -- so many of us have withdrawal insomnia Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014 Psych Drug - free since May 2014 . Link to comment
Dallasxd Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 Oh okay, I'll try and follow the 10%, although it can get very difficult with small doses, but I think there is liquid form of lexapro. 2009 - started lexapro 10mg for anxiety/panic disorder, switched to 20 mg ~4 years later. nov 2015 - immediate stop of lexapro 20 mg - followed by switching to 50 mg pristiq next day (horrible withdrawals for 2-3 days, once pristiq entered system withdrawals went away) dec 2015 - felt worse on pristiq than I did lexapro 20mg - saw dr said I may have adhd - prescribed "test" dose of adderall for 20 days. dec 2015 - immediate stop of pristiq 50mg - followed by 10mg adderall - horrible withdrawals for 1.5 weeks jan 2016 - immediate stop of adderall - reinstate lexapro 10 mg - withdrawal symptoms gone. switched to 5 mg few days later, currently taking 5mg and hoping to be drug free within the next month. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted January 7, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 7, 2016 I'm happy for you that you listen to the advice offered here. You are actually very lucky that reinstatment worked so well. Especially after so many changes. You were on a quite dose of a powerful drug for 7 years. Over that time your developing brain got physically changed in response to the presence of the drug. You have to literally regrow a new brain. That takes time. That's why a slow taper is required. Please read this to better understand what is happening with your brain: Brain Remodelling If you manage to stabilise on 5 mg (down from 20 mg) that will be huge. On a much lower dose you will also have much less side effects. If I were you I would sit on this dose for several months. Then we will deal with the liquid which you can easily prepare yourself. There are much more urgent things you have to focus on in your life at the moment. I think gaming is also an addiction of sorts. Sleep cycle, becoming more connected with the real world, friends, therapy, active in education or at work... This should all be easier now when a high dose won't interfere with your functioning. Also, get a 10 mg pill as soon as possible to be able to get 5 mg more accurately. Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted January 15, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 15, 2016 How are things with you? Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
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