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I feel so alone, isolated, misunderstood, scared this will never end. I feel ashamed of this secret I can't talk to anyone about. I feel weak. What if this never ends. How will my kids ever understand. What if the people that do know judge me or treat me differently. I feel so so sad, as if i was the only person to blame for this and that no one else could possibly understand how this feels. I have reinstated a few effexor but it hasn't helped yet.

I could've written this, except for the bit about kids and effexor. Paxil was the last poison for me. Even if reinstating hasn't helped you, it still might be hurting you. The research says it causes terrible brain damage every time you go back on after quitting. Not trying to scare you, just to help. Have you tried reading Dr. Breggin's books? Or Dr. Glenmullen's?

 

I know exactly what you mean about the stigma, and that awful feeling of being poisoned by this "secret" that sits like a gargoyle at the center of your consciousness. It's horribly isolating, and I was really isolated to begin with, from an abusive and neglectful childhood. Shame often makes you feel like you're the one to blame, but even when you know that's not the case. Try not to feel guilty for that on top of everything else. Easier said than done sometimes, I know. But I think, at the least, a lot of people here probably can and do understand you this feels. You're not alone in it.

Age 13 - Prozac, 20 mg. On and off.

14 - Paxil. 2 months.

15 Effexor. 2 weeks. Toxic reaction, panic, never the same since. Back to prozac. Increased to 80 MGS! I weighed less than a 100 lbs!

18-20. Drug-free! So much of me came back, emotion, memories. But my brain was affected. Panic, no coping skills...

20-22. Hell. Cocktails + Paxil back up to 80 mgs. Hell.

Terrible, messy withdrawal in isolation, most of my 22nd year.

Now 31. Never the same since.

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Tho it seems we are all the same feeling very alone it is the nature of this beast and I think it is a normal reaction to an abnormal experience as  this experience is not what any human living before these drugs were invented would ever call normal... 

 

I know that does not help in the real way having a friend who really gets this maybe could be it is a reminder of what got us here and a hope that some day it will be gone.  

 

In the mean time there are others who know exactly what your talking about and for me that is a comfort in itself especially after years of winging it alone... it helps in some way. 

 

I think what has helped me are the types of things listed in self care... nature-  a pet if you have one or somebody else's pet if your not up to caring for one.... bathes ... relaxation videos ... yoga done in bed... and distraction. Most of this you can find under the self care section... self soothing is a good way of putting it.  That is what the call it when a child is learning to sooth themselves ... and it is a learned thing it takes some practise for adults in the state of wd just as it does for kids. 

I wish you peace

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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  • 1 month later...

You're not alone in this.

 

Even though I am happily married I still feel 'alone' - it's very disconcerting.

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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I think feeling this way is very common... and to be expected I would bet everyone who has ever been in wd could have written that post... it is the normal way we feel in wd  which is abnormal... as you can see from all of us here... I think that is why support sites like this one are a priority to many of us... less alone here and some understanding... it helps some. 

wishing you peace B

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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A song for you my friend...

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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  • 2 weeks later...

I've felt extremely irritable for the last 2-3 weeks, and it won't go away.  Other times I've felt irritable or depressed it would last a few days and then I would feel better.  But right now the depression, anger, irritable feelings are unrelenting.  I've made many changes to diet (gluten free, lots of good fats, limited sugar, no dairy), moderate exercise, enough sleep.  Nothing seems to be helping.  You can see where I'm at with my taper under my signature.  I'm also taking omega 3s, probiotics.  Thinking about adding tryptophan because I can't stand feeling like this.  Burning feet also a problem but that's tolerable, unlike this irritability and depression.  Please advise. Thank you very much.

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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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hello Help777, 

I merged your topic from the Symptoms forum to your intro because it is about your situation, and you will get more responses here.

 

By your signature, it looks like you are still tapering too fast and that is the source of your emotional troubles.  You made a 28% cut of your Effexor beads from last month, and you did a 50% cut of Prozac between February and March.  Those two hard tapers together are likely the source of your problems.  All the emotional instability you mentioned in this last post are withdrawal symptoms, common ones at that.

 

In reviewing your thread, the whole point of the Prozac bridge is to SWITCH from Effexor to Prozac, so why are also tapering the Prozac?!!  Something was missed here.  Please review the Prozac Bridge link.

 

All I can recommend here is to either hold tight for several months and practice some self-care while waiting to become stable (meaning no more tapering - it could literally take four or more months to stabilize from the amount of cutting you've done in the last few months), or up-dose one or both of your Effexor and Prozac.  

 

Meanwhile, it is very dangerous to add tryptophan while taking SSRI/SNRIs - there is a very strong risk of serotonin syndrome, a very serious condition.

 

 

Interactions between your selected drugs
Major fluoxetine  venlafaxine

Applies to: Prozac (fluoxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine)

Using FLUoxetine together with venlafaxine can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases may result in coma and even death. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms while taking the medications. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best courseicon1.png of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Major fluoxetine  tryptophan

Applies to: Prozac (fluoxetine), tryptophan

Using tryptophan together with FLUoxetine is generally not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases may result in coma and even death. You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms while taking the medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Major venlafaxine  tryptophan

Applies to: Effexor (venlafaxine), tryptophan

Using tryptophan together with venlafaxine is generally not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases may result in coma and even death. You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms while taking the medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

I will check with the other mods about up-dosing.  Otherwise, you may just have to sit tight for a good long while to wait for your system to stabilize.  

 

SG

Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac.  Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002
Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history.  Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots!
Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off.  Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep.

June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened!  Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015.

Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month.

12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 

Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18:  2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor

 

My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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  • Administrator

Please don't take tryptophan. People take that for sleep, and you don't need it, it would only confuse things more.

 

All of your symptoms, particularly the burning feet, suggest you are tapering too fast. Please taper just one drug at a time.

 

I would hold on tapering anything for now.

 

Please put ALL the drugs you take in the Drug Interactions Checker http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html
and copy and paste the results in this topic.
 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thank you, both. I desperately want to rid myself of these meds. I added the prozac to bridge and I took too long to get off the effexor that now my body has both prozac and the effexor to wean, in addition to the lthium. Again, i started kithium to help me wean the effexor and now i am in an even bigger mess. I cant believe i am taking so many meds. 2 years ago i had a full hysterectomy at age 38 because i thought i had pmdd. Now i think it was the 12 years of effexor that was messing with my moods. I feel ashamed of myself that i underwent a full hysterectomy for probably nothing. I am so depressed. My hope is gone. My kids dont deserve having a mom who is depressed so much. I am so angry. I dont even know ehat is withdrawal and what might just be a very messed up woman. I am desperate to get rid of these meds. I have created the biggest mess with all if tgese meds anf my health. I am embarrassed ashamed and alone. I cant stand being in my own skin. I dont know what to do.

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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I cant even think straight. I am afraid i truly have dementia.

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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I just want to find something that will help me feel better. Getting rid of sugar, chocolate, wine, flour. Nothing helps yet everything makes it worse. If not tryptophan then maybe theanine or tyrosine?

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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I doubt you robbed any pharmacies or operated on yourself ( but what surgeon would do that!!!) :). Our health care system is just so broken. There is no magic bullet, but some find magnesium calming. You've actually made a lot of AD adjustment, I think you will slowly settle down as you hold for awhile. You're going to have lots of different emotions at this phase...try to just let them pass through you. It helps me to think of working to get well instead of just getting off meds...it's a goal we have more control over, because going off is just long and hard. I remember too being so angry (I really wanted to buy a punching bag for my garage) and, honestly, I still wonder if my brain will last as long as my body.

 

Alto doesn't advise tryptophan because it is a precursor to serotonin and you're on two serotinergic drugs already. If you want to experiment with other supplements, start with a tiny amount. One doctor recommends the amount of powder that a single tine on a fork can hold and then titrate from there. Omega 3's and magnesium are what most people find helpful...everything else is a mixed bag.

 

When did you change your diet? It's normal for the first couple of weeks to be rough. Make sure yu drink a lot if water and eat lots of veggies.

 

Hang in there and use this little on-line journal as much as helps in processing all these feelings!

1st round Prozac 1989/90, clear depression symptoms. 2nd round Prozac started 1999 when admitted to dr. I was tired. Prozac pooped out, switch to Cymbalta 3/2006. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder due to mania 6/2006--then I was taken abruptly off Cymbalta and didn't know I had SSRI withdrawal. Lots of meds for my intractable "bipolar" symptoms.

Zyprexa started about 9/06, mostly 5mg. Tapered 4/12 through12/29/12

Wellbutrin. XL 300 mg started 1/07, tapered 1/18/13 through 7/8/13

Oxazepam mostly continuously since 6/06, 30mg since 12/12, tapered 1.17.14 through 8.26.15

11/06 Lithium 600mg twice daily, 2.2.14 400mg TID DIY liquid, 2.12.14 1150mg, 3.2.14 1100mg, 3.18.14 1075mg, 4/14 updose to 1100mg, 6.1.14 900 mg capsules 7.8.14 810mg, 8.17.14 725mg, 8.24.24 700mg...10.22.14 487.5mg, 3.9.15 475mg, 4.1.15 462.5mg 4.21.15 450mg 8.11.15 375mg, 11.28.15 362.5mg, back to 375mg four days later, 3.4.16 updose to 475 (too much going on to risk trouble)

9/4/13 Toprol-XL 25mg daily for sudden hypertension, tapered 11.12.13 through 5.3.14, last 10 days or so switched to atenolol

7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol

56 years old

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Help, did you start tapering the Prozac because you panicked at being on so many drugs?  Or were there side effects?  Now that you are on both, for the long range goal I would focus on tapering the Effexor and staying steady with the Prozac, which can be tapered later.  But first you have to decide whether you have the stamina to hold where you are for several months and let your system stabilize.  And stamina you will need.  

 

I am with Meimeiquest (great response, BTW!), that you are not the only one who has had the guilt, shame etc. about being on these meds.  I started with Prozac 20 years ago, just kept taking it without really analyzing whether it was helping, eventually switched to Wellbutrin, which did nothing, and then went on to Effexor after a doctor declared that I was a generally depressed person and should see a psychiatrist.  I followed his advice (stupidly, as I had only felt depressed about having pneumonia for a month!) and got put onto Effexor.  Just had GPs fill the scripts annually without assessing whether it was doing any good, for 12 years, and in hind-sight I realize that I had been in tolerance WD, or it never did any good, but I just kept taking the danged pills.  So, yes, I had a lot of anger, guilt, shame, anger again, anger that it will take so long to come off, etc. etc.  I realize it could have been worse; I could have gone to the docs complaining that I still wasn't happy, and I'd have been diagnosed as bi-polar and put on a mood stabilizer, or on a z-drug for the insomnia the Effexor was causing.  Either way, here I am.

 

You are NOT alone - we are all here for you.  Know that this is a safe place for you.  We are not judging you for your tapering but simply trying to help you avoid making things even messier for yourself.  Probably all of us wanted to get on with it int he beginning (me, yes) but had to accept the reality, that it would take longer than we wanted.  But ultimately, less and less drug is healthier than staying on, increasing, or switching to new ones and carrying on for years more.  

 

Hugs!

SG

Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac.  Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002
Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history.  Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots!
Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off.  Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep.

June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened!  Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015.

Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month.

12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 

Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18:  2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor

 

My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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Hey Hope - 

 

Bipolar II is a "catch all" diagnosis.  Most Bipolar II's are created by antidepressants, not born that way.

 

Adding the lithium is also considered "adjunct" to boost antidepressants.

 

IF he was really concerned that you were bipolar, he wouldn't have prescribed Prozac.  Ever.

 

Doctors are confusing that way.

 

The net effect of the lithium is that it will have a numbing, flattening effect, and can contribute to depression.  My pdoc tried to tell me that it is called for in "bipolar depression" (my big bug-a-bear is depression) and can be effective.  It took about 10 years before I was ready to  do something suicidal.

 

HOWEVER, you are on 1/3 the dose I was.  You are younger than I was.  There are benefits to lithium, as well.  Some doctors claim that it is neuroprotective against dementia (for example) as well as other brain difficulties.  You are on what a doctor would consider a "non-therapeutic dose" of lithium.  Areas which have natural lithium in the water have lower suicide rates, lower mental illness rates, etc - though - that is an even lower dose than you are on.

 

MeiMei and I (the lithium twins) feel like the lithium protects from some of the difficulties of tapering.  It doesn't prevent them, but it buffers them - holds them in storage for later.  This can be good, as it makes the descent from the antidepressant cliff gentler.

 

Please hold for around 3 months.  I know, I know, you have conflicting drugs - but you are on a sub-clinical amount of Effexor, and the "minimum therapeutic dose" of Prozac.  

 

Please do not add any tryptophan or other supplements.  If you are desperate to try something,  get your Vitamin D levels tested, and try and get at least 10-20 minutes of daylight EVERY DAY in the mid-morning (you can do this without getting a test, and it is good for resetting your melatonin, too).  

 

BUT - even if you are low in Vitamin D, please take heed to what has been said here: BE CAREFUL with new supplements.  They may make you worse.  If you are deficient in D, doctors might want to give you a 50,000 IU shot, for example.  It would be wiser to taper from 1,000 IU capsules (to see if it is safe for you) to 5,000 IU (or even 10,000 IU temporarily) per day to correct any deficiencies.  PLEASE do this with DOCTORS and LAB TESTS, as Vitamin D can be a tricky one.  It is a proto-hormone, not a true vitamin.

 

MORE IMPORTANT than any supplement, is finding your way to keeping your mood stable without drugs.   Please see Non Drug Techniques for Coping with Emotional Symptoms for a start.  Mindfulness, YouTube yoga, relaxation and Tai Chi videos - there are a million ways you can improve your mood without drugs.

 

Here's one of my favorites:

 

I hope you see the Sun today!

"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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Yes, I panicked when I realized I the Prozac and lithium were not just bridging my Effexor withdrawal but becoming more permanent. The drugs are creating havoc or the withdrawal is...I am not sure which is the bigger evil. I hate the thought of reinstating or holding still for so long because I feel they are making my moods cycle. But I'm now having days of uncontrollable crying. My 12yr old daughter told my husband that she can't live like this :(. That broke my heart. I am doing this to them. I hate myself for this. I'm sorry to vent I just don't have any other safe person besides my husband to share this with. If it weren't for my kids I would not want to live any more. There is just not joy in life. But I can't cause any more pain to my kids watching them watch me so upset and down. My husband says to fake it til I can make it. I don't think I can keep doing that. Thank you for replying to me. I will keep trying your suggestions. It's awfully hard to believe I'm not alone in feeling so awful.

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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I doubt you robbed any pharmacies or operated on yourself ( but what surgeon would do that!!!) :). Our health care system is just so broken. There is no magic bullet, but some find magnesium calming. You've actually made a lot of AD adjustment, I think you will slowly settle down as you hold for awhile. You're going to have lots of different emotions at this phase...try to just let them pass through you. It helps me to think of working to get well instead of just getting off meds...it's a goal we have more control over, because going off is just long and hard. I remember too being so angry (I really wanted to buy a punching bag for my garage) and, honestly, I still wonder if my brain will last as long as my body.

Alto doesn't advise tryptophan because it is a precursor to serotonin and you're on two serotinergic drugs already. If you want to experiment with other supplements, start with a tiny amount. One doctor recommends the amount of powder that a single tine on a fork can hold and then titrate from there. Omega 3's and magnesium are what most people find helpful...everything else is a mixed bag.

When did you change your diet? It's normal for the first couple of weeks to be rough. Make sure yu drink a lot if water and eat lots of veggies.

Hang in there and use this little on-line journal as much as helps in processing all these feelings!

Do you still have the anger? Are you continuing with the lithium?

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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I'm not angry with my doctors in the same way, not in a consuming kind of way. More a sadness that life is so hard and complicated and broken.

 

I still am very irritable with my family too much of the time. It seems to be part of detoxing for me. I think I have developed a heavy metal toxicity, probably from my amalgam fillings. A lot of my mental energy goes to trying to figure that out. One thing I am left with is a total distrust of doctors' capacity to help me.

 

I have stopped tapering lithium right now because I have a lot going on in my life and any drop of it makes me very depressed (although I recover with time) and I feel like dealing with these other problems is more critical right now than getting off this low dose. I now feel like I had health problems that were aggravated by psychiatric drugs, more than that I was put on them maliciously. I think my doctors were misguided, but trying their best. I don't know if I am right, and especially don't know if I am writing in a way that makes sense :)

1st round Prozac 1989/90, clear depression symptoms. 2nd round Prozac started 1999 when admitted to dr. I was tired. Prozac pooped out, switch to Cymbalta 3/2006. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder due to mania 6/2006--then I was taken abruptly off Cymbalta and didn't know I had SSRI withdrawal. Lots of meds for my intractable "bipolar" symptoms.

Zyprexa started about 9/06, mostly 5mg. Tapered 4/12 through12/29/12

Wellbutrin. XL 300 mg started 1/07, tapered 1/18/13 through 7/8/13

Oxazepam mostly continuously since 6/06, 30mg since 12/12, tapered 1.17.14 through 8.26.15

11/06 Lithium 600mg twice daily, 2.2.14 400mg TID DIY liquid, 2.12.14 1150mg, 3.2.14 1100mg, 3.18.14 1075mg, 4/14 updose to 1100mg, 6.1.14 900 mg capsules 7.8.14 810mg, 8.17.14 725mg, 8.24.24 700mg...10.22.14 487.5mg, 3.9.15 475mg, 4.1.15 462.5mg 4.21.15 450mg 8.11.15 375mg, 11.28.15 362.5mg, back to 375mg four days later, 3.4.16 updose to 475 (too much going on to risk trouble)

9/4/13 Toprol-XL 25mg daily for sudden hypertension, tapered 11.12.13 through 5.3.14, last 10 days or so switched to atenolol

7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol

56 years old

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How are things today Help? 

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 Now on 7 micro-beads of Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops.

 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.'  Dr Gabor Mate.

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Thank you for checking in, Karen. I reinstated a few beads of effexor, to 29. After 1 day I started to feel a liitle more stable. Then after another few days I felt 100% better. It was like night and day from the last week. I honestly went from feeling desperate, hopeless, extremely depressed with uncontrollable crying, to calm, content and even finding joy. Going from one extreme to the other scares me. I experienced that kind of dark episode when I withdrew too quickly before and also before I even started withdrawing. Could an ssri cause to happen even before withdrawing? It makes me fearful of another one. If it weren't for my kids and husband I would have wanted my life to end. These episodes are that bad. On a good day like today I can't even believe that was me that felt that way.

Apart from the emotional side of things, the burning continues in my hands, arms, legs and feet. I am also experiencing some burning type pain in my stomach that seems to get worse with overeating. Could this be a symptom of ssri withdrawal as well?

I appreciate hearing others' thoughts and any recommended pages from this site.

I am grateful for SA.

Thank you again for checking in, Karen. And to everyone here.

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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Hey Help - 

 

You said:  

 I feel ashamed of myself that i underwent a full hysterectomy for probably nothing. 

 

You are not alone.  I question whether they needed to do the hysterectomy and thyroidectomy on me.  Most of my struggles now, come from having no support organs for my adrenals.  If I had only stayed off the drugs, would I have needed these surgeries?  If I had tried something else - but - in 2007, I didn't have the resources I have now.  Even though I regret these surgeries deeply, I have to move forward, and now work with what I have left.  It's not the most uplifting answer, but at least - you are not alone.

 

You wrote:

I reinstated a few beads of effexor, to 29. After 1 day I started to feel a liitle more stable. Then after another few days I felt 100% better. It was like night and day from the last week. I honestly went from feeling desperate, hopeless, extremely depressed with uncontrollable crying, to calm, content and even finding joy. Going from one extreme to the other scares me. I experienced that kind of dark episode when I withdrew too quickly before and also before I even started withdrawing. Could an ssri cause to happen even before withdrawing? It makes me fearful of another one. If it weren't for my kids and husband I would have wanted my life to end. These episodes are that bad. On a good day like today I can't even believe that was me that felt that way. 

 

Yes, the drugs can "poop out" - or you develop tolerance to them.  This means that the same dose of the drug doesn't have the same effect.  It is one of the dangers of long term use of the drugs - what do you do when they eventually poop out?  There are no long term studies.

 

I'm thrilled to hear that adding a few beads has tempered your symptoms.  Please prepare to hold there for at least 3 months, to allow your nervous system and symptoms to settle down.

 

Then, you will be able to choose and control how & when to get off the drug.  You can figure out how many days of disruption a drop in beads will cause, and plan for it.  "Oh, the kids will be at camp, that would be a good time for a taper" or "my stress levels are much better, I can afford a taper now," OR - "geez, with the holidays and the visiting relatives, maybe I should wait to taper."  YOU will be in control, not the drug.

 

Yes, you want to get off the drug, but you want to do it safely, and with Harm Reduction - as few symptoms as possible.  Tapering helps put you in charge of the process.  And wouldn't you rather have 5 good tapering years with gentle, controlled symptoms, than 1 year of sheer Hades?

 

You will likely still have symptoms, withdrawal happens in Waves and Windows.  Just allow yourself to acknowledge:  it's only a symptom, this too shall pass.  You can do this, and it does get better!

"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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So good to hear things have stabilised somewhat.  I echo what JC said about holding for a few months. 

 

And yes antidepressants can cause depression (and anxiety).  I had awful SSRI-induced depression before I began tapering - as well as panic attacks, which I'd never had before being on antidepressants. 

 

We have a few threads on diet and digestion etc which you might find useful. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3413-digestive-problems-nausea-diarrhea-bloating-gerd/

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3173-vagus-nerve-stimulation/

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 Now on 7 micro-beads of Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops.

 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.'  Dr Gabor Mate.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi,

I turn to all of you again. I have been holding now for 2 weeks. However I am noticing that every day, sometimes 2-3 times per day i hit a wall and come crashing down with a flood of emotions, anger, extreme agitation, restlessness, crying uncontrollable. A feeling like i am going to explode or implode. It's scary, overwhelming and I cannot find anything to tame it. Stress does precipitate it. However my diet changes, supplements do not seem to help. Could it be that .i am down to so few beads of effexor (28) that it's effect is very short lived because of it's already short half life? This level of suffering is not sustainable, for me or my family. My counsellor wants me to ask my dr to admit me to hospital and withdraw me off of the rest of this in the next few weeks. I am trying to get her to realize about protracted withdrawal and how long it will take for my nervous system to regain balance. However she sees my instability calling for some kind of action. Has anyone done a fast taper after getting down to 28 beads??? Should i try this as a means to see if i can stop this madness of these episodes every handful of hours? I didn't know whether posting this here in my thread or on another topic would give me more responses, but i would be really grateful to hear some of your experiences and advice.

With many thanks.

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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Hi Help,

 

This is the right place to post.  Sorry things are so hard now.  Rushing the end of a taper is not a good idea.  This is the time when extra care is needed, and people often made smaller reductions with longer gaps between drops. 

 

I'm just looking at your signature and seeing some big drops since December of last year, and continuing every month till now.  Likely, this is what has contributed to your worsening symptoms.  Your system needs you to wait and let it catch up with the effects of all those changes.  

 

One thing I did was to split my effexor dose into equal morning and evening doses, and that did seem to help a little. 

 

I know it's really hard not to take action to fix a horrible situation, but in w/d, waiting is usually the action that is needed.  I wonder if you can send your counselor some links to this site? 

 

Hang in there Help, it's amazing what impossible situations we manage to get through.

 

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 Now on 7 micro-beads of Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops.

 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.'  Dr Gabor Mate.

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Hi,

I may try dividing the effexor, Karen. Thank you.

I just returned from my psychiatrist app't. He feels the angry, crying episodes I am having are more likely caused by the effexor and prozac as opposed to the withdrawal. He wants me to take a few weeks off of work to withdraw the remaining 9mg of effexor and 10mg of prozac. He gave me a script for Fluanxol 0.5 to help these intense emotional symptoms until I get off of the meds.

Comments, opinions, please?

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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Has anyone experienced several days or weeks in a row where they scream and cry throughout the house? I am doing that 2 or 3 times a day.

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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Hi Help.   I'm sorry that you're having such intense emotions.  They are neuro- emotions, and many experience them in withdrawal. They can be disconcerting , if you don't understand what is causing them . It is just your brain trying to achieve homeostasis, after a period of destabilization.

 

I will also echo what JC and Karen said about holding for a couple of months to let your nervous system and symptoms settle down .

Unfortunately, doctors don't know much about withdrawal , and following that advice could be extremely detrimental to your recovery.  However, taking time off work  might help at this time.

 

Here are some links that could help :

 

Neuro emotions

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?

 

Please ask more questions here, before deciding on a course of action.

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
.
         

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  • Moderator

I would stay away from the Fluanxol if al all possible.  It is an old style AP and the list of common side effects contains everything we normally deal with here and a lot more.  The risk of it causing you even more problems is very high.  10mg of Prozac can not be safely withdrawn from in "a couple of weeks" it needs to be tapered slowly to minimize the symptoms that you are already experiencing.

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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I can't thank you enough for your encouragement and information. I will lean on this even though I am in the darkest place I have ever been in my life and can't imagine a way out. I want to believe I these horrible emotions will ease.

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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  • Moderator Emeritus

They will ease ... you will heal ... just keep holding on to that.  One day you'll look back at this time and wonder at the strength you found inside you.

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 Now on 7 micro-beads of Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops.

 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.'  Dr Gabor Mate.

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I did it... I officially took a medical leave of absence from work. To lower the stress in my life so that I can get through some of this withdrawal in a less evil way with less impact on my family. I am craving calm, quiet activities that keep my nervous system at peace. Reading, meditation, walks in nature, sunshine, exercise, rest, tidying, sleep, counselling and moments with my kids and husband. I hope and pray this will make a difference. Thank you to all of you here, whose understanding is one of my biggest comforts.

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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Help.   I think that is such a wise move and one that I'm sure you will be happy you took,  in the long run. The calm , quiet activities that you speak of are exactly what your nervous system are craving.

I hope it goes well and I'm sure it will make all the difference to your recovery . You are lucky to be able to do this, right now.

Hugs,

Ali

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
.
         

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Thank you, Ali. It was a hard decision to make and I struggled with deciding when to time it, and feel guilty for co-workers that might have extra work while I am away. But I feel very thankful that I can do this. I wish it was something everyone was able to do when the going gets so tough. I am keeping my list of things to do in a visual place so that during days with lots of symptoms I will have an emergency kit of ideas to help.

I hope you are doing ok. Are your windows getting longer since you've been off of all drugs?

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. 

Link to comment

A song for you my friend...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRD51qEJ8t4

Thank you for this. That means a lot to me.

Help.

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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you are very welcome it is a wonderful song and fits so well.

I wish you peace

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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Hi Help.  Have you decided to keep tapering slowly, during this time ?  You didn't say what decision you had made after talking to your doctor. I hope you have decided to do a long hold  for a few months , during your time off work .

 

Your plan to keep visual cues handy is a great idea. By doing this it becomes automatic, and when symptoms hit you have your " go- to " strategies that you know work for you.

Are you on Magnesium and Fish Oil ?  Have you tried Magnesium baths ?  These might be some good additions to your list. Also yoga and meditation would be balancing and soothing , particularly as you have a little more time available.

Also btdt's song reminds me that music can be uplifting and beneficial, as well.  :)

Ali

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
.
         

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Hi Ali,

Thank you so much for checking in.  I had my Dr. prescribe liquid prozac so that when I'm ready to start tapering that one it will be easier to be accurate.  So, with being off work my plan was to increase the withdrawal of the effexor at a slightly faster rate.  Then, after a week or 2 of being completely off of effexor start the withdrawal of the prozac.

The last 3 days since I've switched to the liquid prozac I've had increased energy, followed by difficulty sleeping.  Last night it was very difficult to sleep at all due to feeling 'wired'.  When I was taking the 10 mg of the prozac powder I was eyeballing half of the 20 mg capsule.  I wonder if perhaps I was consuming a bit less than half of the capsule, and then when I replaced it with 10 mg of liquid prozac I was actually unintentionally increasing the dose slightly from what I was used to, explaining the activating symptoms I have?  What do you think?? I wonder if I should stay at the 10mg liquid prozac and go off at a bit of a faster rate with effexor.  I'm down to about 8 mg of effexor.

Would love to hear yours and others' thoughts on this one.

Thanks ever so much for being there.  My husband's support is incredible; patient, loving, tries to understand.  However, I have not told any other family members that I'm off - I just don't think they'd understand.  A few months ago when I faced a crisis of withdrawal symptoms I shared what I'm going through with my family but I get the sense now that they think I should be just fine by now, and that any symptoms I have continuing are representative of my own struggles/weaknesses as opposed to the withdrawal.  As a result I really don't want to share any more with them.  Therefore, my husband and SA are my lifelines in this.  I have told small amounts to my young children so that they don't ever feel to blame or think it's their fault for the way I'm feeling.  Anyways, thanks for checking in.  I would like to hear any advice/encouragement.

I hope your recovery is going okay. 

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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