rafatennis Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 Really good info Elbee, I think alot of folks going through tapering and wondering how to engage others will find this exchange very motivating! February 3rd 2021 1.5 mg Clonazepam 13.4 mg Nortriptylene doing a water taper on the Nortriptylene but have been holding due to adverse nervous system activation supplements 200mg Magnesium carbonate, good quality fish oil, vitamin E 400IU, B6 B12 Folate one every 2-3 days. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted June 25, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 25, 2019 9 minutes ago, rafatennis said: Really good info Elbee, I think alot of folks going through tapering and wondering how to engage others will find this exchange very motivating! Thanks for the positive feedback @rafatennis 👍 My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment
wantrelief Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 17 hours ago, elbee said: Thanks wantrelief. Yes, even with a "not so good" withdrawal normal we can get through this and find healing Thanks, elbee! Did you find that your "withdrawal normal" improved as you tapered off? -1/06 - 3/07 Cymbalta. Fast taper (essentially CT); withdrawal symptoms after 4 mos (didn't realize was WD) -10/07: 100 mg Zoloft; 1 mg Klonopin - tapered off Klonopin after 4 mos. Several unsuccessful slow tapers of Zoloft; went up and down in dose a lot -Spring 2013 back on 1 mg Klonopin to counter WD symptoms; switched over 5-6 mos from Zoloft to 35 mg citalopram -Two attempts at slow tapering citalopram, always increased dose due to WD; also increased Klonopin to 1.25 mg in 2014, then to 1.5 mg in 2015 -8/17-9/17: After holding one year at 20 mg, feeling withdrawal symptoms due to stress - slowly increased to 25 mg. No change in symptoms after 6 months (? tolerance ?) - decided to start citalopram taper February 2018 (still on Klonopin 1.5 mg). Supplements: fish oil; magnesium; vitamin D3; curcumin Citalopram taper: 2/2018 - 12/2019: 25 mg - 11.03 mg I 2020: 10.89 mg - 7.9 mg I 2021: 7.8 mg - 5.26 mg I 2022: 5.2 mg - 3.36 mg I 2023: 3.3 mg - 1.47 mg 2024: 1/5/24: 1.44 mg; 1/19/24: 1.40 mg; 1/26/24: 1.37 mg; 2/2/24: 1.34 mg; 2/9/24: 1.31 mg; 2/23/24: 1.28 mg; 3/1/24: 1.25 mg; 3/8/24: 1.22 mg; 3/15/24: 1.19 mg; 3/29/24: 1.17 mg; 4/5/24: 1.14 mg; 4/13/24: 1.11 mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted June 25, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 25, 2019 23 minutes ago, wantrelief said: Thanks, elbee! Did you find that your "withdrawal normal" improved as you tapered off? Yes @wantrelief . . . the general trajectory of my "WD Normal" was towards improvement. My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment
wantrelief Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 2 hours ago, elbee said: the general trajectory of my "WD Normal" was towards improvement Oh that is really good to know. My "WD normal" is pretty miserable so it is hopeful to hear that you generally felt better as you decreased. Thanks again! -1/06 - 3/07 Cymbalta. Fast taper (essentially CT); withdrawal symptoms after 4 mos (didn't realize was WD) -10/07: 100 mg Zoloft; 1 mg Klonopin - tapered off Klonopin after 4 mos. Several unsuccessful slow tapers of Zoloft; went up and down in dose a lot -Spring 2013 back on 1 mg Klonopin to counter WD symptoms; switched over 5-6 mos from Zoloft to 35 mg citalopram -Two attempts at slow tapering citalopram, always increased dose due to WD; also increased Klonopin to 1.25 mg in 2014, then to 1.5 mg in 2015 -8/17-9/17: After holding one year at 20 mg, feeling withdrawal symptoms due to stress - slowly increased to 25 mg. No change in symptoms after 6 months (? tolerance ?) - decided to start citalopram taper February 2018 (still on Klonopin 1.5 mg). Supplements: fish oil; magnesium; vitamin D3; curcumin Citalopram taper: 2/2018 - 12/2019: 25 mg - 11.03 mg I 2020: 10.89 mg - 7.9 mg I 2021: 7.8 mg - 5.26 mg I 2022: 5.2 mg - 3.36 mg I 2023: 3.3 mg - 1.47 mg 2024: 1/5/24: 1.44 mg; 1/19/24: 1.40 mg; 1/26/24: 1.37 mg; 2/2/24: 1.34 mg; 2/9/24: 1.31 mg; 2/23/24: 1.28 mg; 3/1/24: 1.25 mg; 3/8/24: 1.22 mg; 3/15/24: 1.19 mg; 3/29/24: 1.17 mg; 4/5/24: 1.14 mg; 4/13/24: 1.11 mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted August 2, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 2, 2019 (edited) Hello! I just passed the three month mark of being completely drug-free (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and the psych drugs). On July 27th I took my last ever dose of Zoloft, and on July 28th I crossed the threshold of “Withdrawal Zero” (“WD-0”). It’s been suggested to me by multiple others (and I agree) that it’s time I do a check-in here . . . thanks for the reminders! 😉 In short, I continue to grow healthier and stronger in ways that I’m coming to trust ever more deeply. More often than not these days, thinking about my experience of both being on these drugs and getting off of them feels like looking in a rear view mirror . . . THANKFULLY! I’ve said this before and I feel it’s important I say it again: I will NEVER KNOW how much of this brutally painful journey I have gone through these past few years can be attributed to (or described as) physiological healing, and how much can be attributed to (or described as) “psychological/emotional/spiritual” healing . Said another way . . . I know part of what I experienced was the direct effects of slowly reducing the amount of drugs I was putting into my body, and my brain adjusting to these physiological changes. And I also know some of what I experienced was my dealing with the underlying effects of childhood trauma that led me to take the drugs in the first place, and which the psych drugs masked/buried for almost 30 years. My guess is that both of these perspectives are two sides of the same coin, but I believe this question will, to some degree, ever remain an unknown equation in my life. What I can definitively say at this point is that deep healing has happened, and my trust in the continuing healing trajectory in my life moving forward is ever increasing. Yes, I still have ups and downs (windows and waves). Yes, I can still get triggered sometimes. Yes, my sleep is still kind of wacky and inconsistent. Yes, I still sometimes get some moderately “spacey” feelings (dp/dr-like) that can start to feel a bit scary. Yes, I still have further to go on my journey back to doing paid work again. BUT, none of these challenges I’m experiencing are at anywhere NEAR the debilitating levels they were during the most intense periods early on. I’d like to highlight one “go-to” benchmark I use in particular to evaluate my healing (though I use many). The reason I started taking the psych drugs back in 1991 was the onset of debilitating, unrelenting “panic attacks.” I’ve now been completely off all drugs for 3 months and I have not had any full-blown panic attacks (or anything even close) in this three-month drug-free period. In fact, when I would start to feel “panicky” as I was tapering, that was my signal to slow the taper or to even hold for a while. My primary goal in my taper was to not have full-blown panic attacks. And my primary practice during my taper was learning to gently and lovingly sit and work with the anxiety that would inevitably lead to panic. In ACA terminology, my practice was to awaken my “Loving Parent” and reconnect with my “Inner Child.” When I got to WD-0, I was OF COURSE concerned I would have panic attacks again (how could I not be?). But that fear was joined by hope and trust that my “practice” during the taper was part of a larger, comprehensive healing process, and that it would hold when I was drug-free. So far, this seems to very much be the case – no panic attacks at all. More often than not lately, I’ve been experiencing a shaky sense of wonder (disbelief?) when things in my life that used to make me anxious don’t send me spiraling. Or I’m amazed when I hear my own truth reflexively coming out of my mouth in ways I could never have expressed before. I’m coming to regularly surprise myself at how easily and skillfully I’m able to set healthy boundaries when I need to. I sometimes ask myself, “Am I checked out or dissociating and that’s why I’m not freaking out?” But no . . . it seems I’m genuinely able to stay “connected” with myself (my inner children) in ways I never used to be able to do, and I oftentimes feel as though there is a new foundation forming beneath my feet. In short, I increasingly feel “safer” in life as I continue learning to “stay with myself.” One last note . . . with a little more distance from the horror of this journey, I can also more clearly see the courage I found within to go against what almost everyone was telling me about the "benefits and necessities" of these psych drugs. Quite clearly, they were WRONG. I honestly don’t know how I survived the psych drug nightmare, but I do know I couldn’t have done it without the support I found at SurvivingAntidepressants.org. Thank you! ❤️🙏 Edited August 2, 2019 by elbee My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted August 2, 2019 Moderator Share Posted August 2, 2019 Hi Elbee-- congratulations on making the jump to "0". You've worked long and hard to get here. All though it will be scary at times your new life will be filled with exciting adventures and learning and I hope you enjoy it to the max. It sounds like you're off to a good start. Keep up the good work. Brass 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 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted August 2, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 2, 2019 39 minutes ago, brassmonkey said: Hi Elbee-- congratulations on making the jump to "0". You've worked long and hard to get here. All though it will be scary at times your new life will be filled with exciting adventures and learning and I hope you enjoy it to the max. It sounds like you're off to a good start. Keep up the good work. Brass Brass, thanks for your words of encouragement and continued support! My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment
nick1990 Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 Wow, Elbee. Hugest congratulations to you. Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down. November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx. 44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. Link to comment
India Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 @elbee wonderful to hear. You are a shining example of the benefits of tapering. Haven’t been able to read your whole thread. Wish I had headed advice. 1999: Paroxetine (20mg). Age 16. 2007-2008: Fluoxetine (Prozac) for 1.5 years (age 25) Citalopram 20mg 2002-2005, 2009: Escitalopram (20mg), 2 weeks, (age 26) (adverse reaction)/*Valium 5mg/Temazepam 10mg 2010: Mirtazipine (Remeron)( do not remember dosage) 2010, 5 months. 2010-2017: Citalopram (20mg) (age 27 to 34) 2016: i.1st Sept- 31st Oct Citalopram 10mg , ii.1st November 2017-30th November 2017, Citalopram 5mg iii.1st December 2017- 4th February 2018, Citalopram 0mg, iv.5th February 2018- March 2018 Citalopram 5mg (10mg every other day) 28th February- tried titration of 5mg ( some adverse effects) 2018: 1st March 2018- 1st June Citalopram 10 mg (tablet form) /started titration 8mg , then 7 mg.2018: June 15th- 10th July Citalopram 10 mg pill every other day 2018: 10th July - 13th Sept Citalopram- 0mg (CBD oil first month of 0mg, passiflora on and off) 2018 13th Sept Citalopram 2mg , approx 16th Sept 4mg , approx 25th Sept 6mg held. 2019: 11 Feb 19: 7mg (instant bad rxn) 12 Feb 19 6mg held 1 May 19 5.4mg held 5 Oct 19 5.36mg 22 Oct 19 5.29mg 30 Oct 19 5.23mg 4/NOV/19 5.18mg 12 Nov 19 5.08mg 20 Nov 19 4.77mg 7 May 22 2.31mg 17/09/2023 0.8mg (Herbal/Supplements since 1st September: Omega Fish Oil 1200mg, 663mg of EPA- 2 tablets a day, magnesium and magnesium bath salts) I did not die, and yet I lost life’s breath - Dante Link to comment
Mentor Happy2Heal Posted August 3, 2019 Mentor Share Posted August 3, 2019 what an inspiring story Elbee!! just looking at your "stats" there, alcohol free, nicotine free, caffeine free, benzo free, AD free, and after so many years on all of those various substances! So many healthy changes, it's truly encouraging to see how much a person can do to change their life around. great job!! PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME PRIVATE MESSAGES, thank you. pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until Sept, then acute WD hit!! reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106 Tapered off to zero by Oct. 2017 Doing very well. Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted August 3, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 3, 2019 Hey @nick1990 , @India and @Happy2Heal . . . thank you all for sending a few pats on the back my way . . . it feels good to be affirmed for the work I've been doing to change my life by others who are courageously changing their own 🙏 My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment
PatriciaVP Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 That's a wonderful story @elbee. Thanks so much for sharing. It really brings hope! PatriciaVP@AbleWriterSays My Intro Zoloft 150-200 mg- on and off between 1998 and 2004. Lexapro 40 mg - 2004-2013 30 mg 2013 - August 2015 20 mg August 2015- September 2015 15 mg September 2015 - October 2015 10 mg October 2015 -Nov. 1 2015. Nov. 2015 increased dose to 12.5 mg to stabilize. Dec. 28 2015 11.25 mg March 29, 2016 10 mg. August 1, 2016 9 mg. October 23, 2016 8.1 mg. Nov. 29, 2016 7.5 mg. Feb. 25, 2017 7 mg. April 9, 2017 6.5 mg. June 2017 6 mg. Aug. 2018 5.75 mg March 2019 5.5 mg Apr. 2019 5.25 mg. June 2019 5 mg Sept. 2019 4.75 mg Nov. 2019 4.5 mg Dec. 2019 4.25 April 7 2020 4mg Depakote 1000 mg 2008-2013 750 2013-Dec 2015 500 mg Dec 2015 to Feb 2, 2016. Sopped completely Feb 2 2016. Adderall 40mg 2004-Feb 29, 2016. Feb 29,2016 - reduced Adderall to 20 mg based on pdoc's recommendations. March 29, 2016 - Reduced Adderall to 15 mg. April 30 reduced Adderall to 10 mgs. May 28, 2016 reduced Adderall to 5 mgs.June 8, 2016 stopped taking Adderall due to extreme agitation. Amphetamine 20mg 2008 - 1/16. 1/16 - Stopped Amphetamine completely because pdoc did not renew script. WWW.PSYCHFREE.NET Link to comment
Mentor ShiningLight Posted August 4, 2019 Mentor Share Posted August 4, 2019 Elbee, I am so inspired by your journey! I've got a long way to go with Zoloft and won't even be starting that taper for a few years. It helps immensely to know that freedom after decades-long use can be accomplished. Now: 100 mg Zoloft am, 50 mg Trazodone. Daily drug burden decreased from 2050 in 2018 mg to 150 mg 🐢🐢 Zoloft: 1/24/23 increased to 100 mg after suicide attempt 9/17/22 cut 6 mg, 8/14/22 cut 6.5 mg, 5/7/22 cut 12.5 mg 3/20/22 cut 12.5 mg 10/26/21 cut 6 mg 10/17/21 cut 5 mg, 9/17/21 Cut 3 mg, 9/13/21 cut 4 mg, 8/29/21 Cut 2 mg 8/8/21 Cut 3 mg 7/30/21 Zoloft: Converted 25 mg to liquid. Also take 100 mg pill & 25 mg pill=150 mg total🌞 Feb 28, 2021 0 mg Gapapentin 2021 Gaba each dose 4x/day: Feb 27 7 mg (one dose only), Feb 10, 7 mg, Jan 14 10 mg 2020 Current taper schedule from Aug 30-present: drop 8 mg every 2-3 weeks. Aug 20 31 mg, Aug 18, 33 mg, July 29, 35 mg, July 23 38 mg, July 22 40 mg Jun 24 42 mg, Jun 15 44 mg, Jun 9 48 mg, May 22 50 mg, May 14 54 mg, May 7 56 mg, Apr 16 58 mg, Mar 28 60 mg, Mar 18 62 mg. Feb 26 64 mg. Feb 19, 66 mg. Jan 23, 70 mg. 2019 Dec 19, 72 mg. Nov 14 ,76 mg. Aug 8, 80 mg. Aug 6, 85 mg. Jul 26, 90 mg. Jul 11, 95 mg. Jul 16 trazodone from 100 to 50 mg. Jun 17-July 10 Slowly changed gab fr pill to liquid at same dose 100 mg 4x/d. Apr 24 Stopped klon!!! 🌞 Apr 4 Decreased gaba to 400 mg (100 mg 4x/day)-Apr 4, 2019 0.25 klon March 11 Klonopin .5 mg twice daily, varied dose til Apr 15. Started Klon fast taper 25%, short use Mar 16, 450 mg gaba 3x/day cut 600 mg--not exact!--updose after learning w/d Feb 20, 2019 1800 mg gabapentin; MD taper; off 3 days=mvt disorder & autonomic instability. July 2018 temazepam 15 mg 1-2; prn several x/wk til Jan/Feb 2019 when cold turkey, flu illness for months July 2018 started gabapentin 100 3x/day; titrated up to 1800 mg (600 3x/day) Buspar, I forget how much, 2 pills a day Jan 2017-July 2018 cold turkey. On Zoloft since maybe 2004? After trying many. *I speak from my experience. Nothing I say is medical advice. I'm not a doctor. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted August 5, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 5, 2019 @PatriciaVP great to hear that sharing about my experience is helpful for you 🙂 I know there were times in this process where thing got very dark and I really doubted I would survive. Hearing about successes others were experiencing gave me hope, and I'm grateful I'm able to "pay it forward" at times in small ways now 💕 @ShiningLight freedom from these drugs can definitely happen. I thought that because I had been on them so long (I was among the earliest people to start taking Zoloft when it came out in 1991), that I might be the "exception" to healing. It appears I am not an exception😉The detoxing path can be long and rocky and finding new ways to live has felt overwhelming at times, but I've tried to focus on taking "next best steps" as much as possible. Go gently 👍❤️ My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted April 1, 2020 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 1, 2020 No joke, today I am 6 years sober from alcohol (April 1, 2014, started drinking at age 15). I’m also 5 years free of caffeine & nicotine (smoked for 28 years), 2 years free of benzodiazepine tranquilizers (Ativan/Klonopin for 27+ years), and almost one year free of SSRIs (Zoloft for 28+ years). Most important to me, I’m now over 5 years in the Adult Children (ACA www.adultchildren.org) program working to reclaim my precious little gay boy inner child with gentleness, humor, love and respect. My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment
rafatennis Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Well said Elbee, what perseverance my friend, You have inspired and encouraged many and I can especially attest to the help you've given me in not only continuing my taper but the recovery work we've done together. To many more years of health physically and emotionally, I also owe alot to ACA, adult children of alcoholics, the pysch meds are but one piece of the discovery of recovery. You've got to feel to heal. I like to say I haven't arrived but I've left. 1 February 3rd 2021 1.5 mg Clonazepam 13.4 mg Nortriptylene doing a water taper on the Nortriptylene but have been holding due to adverse nervous system activation supplements 200mg Magnesium carbonate, good quality fish oil, vitamin E 400IU, B6 B12 Folate one every 2-3 days. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 2, 2020 Administrator Share Posted April 2, 2020 elbee! Congratulations. How are you doing, any lingering issues from going off the drugs? Because you're feeling better, I added our cheerful "here comes the sun" symbol ☼ to the title of your Intro topic, to show you're recovering. Please continue to let us know how you're doing. I hope you will add your story to our Recovery Success Stories eventually! This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted April 3, 2020 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 3, 2020 19 hours ago, Altostrata said: elbee! Congratulations. How are you doing, any lingering issues from going off the drugs? Because you're feeling better, I added our cheerful "here comes the sun" symbol ☼ to the title of your Intro topic, to show you're recovering. Please continue to let us know how you're doing. I hope you will add your story to our Recovery Success Stories eventually! Hi @Altostrata 👋 I have to say, overall I'm doing really pretty well. Yes, there are lingering issues at times, but my life now is very much easier than it was while going through the tapering process. I'm thankful that today it feels more and more like I'm looking at the brutal withdrawal experience through a rear-view mirror. At the end of this month I will reach the one-year mark of having been off Zoloft (and two years off the benzos). I'm SO GRATEFUL those drugs are no longer an active part of my life! Yes, I plan to write something for "Recovery Success Stories" after I pass the one-year milestone. More to come . . . 😉 1 My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus elbee Posted August 27, 2020 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 27, 2020 I have now written and posted my "SUCCESS STORY" on this website, 1-year (15 months, actually) after taking my last dose of the last drug! See you over there 👍😉 My suggestions are not medical advice. They are my opinions based on my own experience, strength and hope. You are in charge of your own medical / healing / recovery choices. My success story | My introduction thread ZOLOFT FREE - COMPLETELY DRUG FREE 4/28/2019! - total time on 28+ years BENZO FREE! 4/7/2018 - total time on 27+ years REMERON FREE! 12/11/2016 - total time on 15 months Caffeine & Nicotine Free 2014 / 2015 - smoked for 28 years Alcohol Free 4/1/2014 - drank for 30 years Link to comment
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