Lakelander82: Sertraline general query and tapering info

[Lakelander82]

Waves are the rocky patches, windows are the good periods. Waves indicate some sort of healing going on.  My sleep pattern is all over the place, the other night i only started sleeping at 8 in the morning, yes 8 in the morning! I dont know if the constant searching on the internet for answers thats causing the whole rumination thing and thus sleep deprivation. Sleep schedule, i go to bed about half ten, eleven oclock, but i find its the muscle tension and agitation prevents me from sleeping. 

[Lakelander82]

Alto, I replied to your last questions. Thanks 

[Lakelander82]

My nerves are so raw in the morning even after a good night’s sleep and yet by evening time I’m relatively calm again. Is this all explained by windows and waves or is it something else? 

[Altostrata]

Please re-read this topic. We have answered that question before.

[Lakelander82]

Does anybody know the reasons for this and i apologise in advance for being so crude. Why is my libido so high now and why can I ejaculate so easily since going cold turkey for two days and then reinstating on the third day a few months back?  On my slow taper i was relaxed and slightly depressed, but generally calm..now I am not depressed but my system is on maximum alert all the time. Even doing a crossword in the newspaper causes me to panic and the sweat to drip off me...even though i keep telling myself continually that I’m calm and positive.Im so panicky and indecisive all the time as well.  I really cant see my system getting back to the way it used to be its been six weeks now since i reinstated and im still very anxious and on edge all the time. Give me depression anyday.  This is a nightmare. 

[Lakelander82]

I think I was fair enough and reasonable with my questions there. 

[Altostrata]

I have no idea why your sexual response changed.

 

You went cold turkey in the middle of your taper. This causes significant upset of all systems. Please don't ask these "why" questions again. You upset the apple cart your own self.

 

What is your daily symptom pattern? Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages.

[Lakelander82]

Yes Alto, I did upset the AppleCart myself, I’ve always accepted that. I don’t know how much of this is done to my rumination.

My symptoms are an appetite that’s a fraction of what it used to be, significant weight loss, fractured sleep, on edge the whole time, sweaty palms, muscle tension, crying spells, constantly ruminating/obsessing  about the tablets/trying to find a way out of it. There is no way I can go on like this, it is showing no signs of settling down. 

 

Im not being argumentative or anything, but what’s left in the jar after I take out my throwaway is just a minuscule amount of dust, there’s no way in hell this could be having an effect on me. It’s more akin to a homeopathic remedy if I’m honest. More doctors have told me I might as well be taking nothing as what I’m taking but now, in theory it’s 12mg but after I use the syringe to remove all my throwaway it’s probably more like half that or even less. The majority of it it could just even be filler and binder. 

[Altostrata]

Lakelander, if you feel you need to go to a higher dose of citalopram, by all means confer with your doctor and choose a dosage.

 

Please keep in mind that the lowest effective dosage is the best one, leaping to a high dosage probably is not going to go well with a sensitized nervous system.

 

You clearly have a problem with excessive rumination, and that has complicated your coping with tapering.

 

It is possible you have been measuring incorrectly. If you ever try tapering again, strongly recommend you get the pharmacy liquid rather than making it yourself.

[Songbird]

13 hours ago, Lakelander82 said:

Im not being argumentative or anything, but what’s left in the jar after I take out my throwaway is just a minuscule amount of dust, there’s no way in hell this could be having an effect on me. It’s more akin to a homeopathic remedy if I’m honest. More doctors have told me I might as well be taking nothing as what I’m taking but now, in theory it’s 12mg but after I use the syringe to remove all my throwaway it’s probably more like half that or even less. The majority of it it could just even be filler and binder. 

 

Are you able to get the pharmacy liquid as Alto suggested?  Then you could perhaps try a small updose which might help to alleviate your symptoms.

[Lakelander82]

I had no alternative guys the Psychiatrist switched me to Prozac because he said what I was going to through was unbearable and that it would cover the withdrawal of the Zoloft. I don’t know whether I feel worse now or not, my sleep is better at night but I’m absolutely wired in the morning time and early part of the day. I’ve been on the Prozac a week now. Was I totally wrong to do it? I was on the verge of resisting it but I wasn’t eating, sleeping or anything. The sertraline suspension I was making could not guarantee I was getting consistent doses of 12mg, even though i was using a consistent method and Sertraline does not come in a suspension here in the UK. 

[Songbird]

Some people are able to switch successfully to Prozac, while others have difficulty.  See:  the Prozac switch or bridging with Prozac

 

What I don't understand is - why make a decision to switch, then come here a whole week later and ask us?

 

What dose of Prozac are you taking now?

[Lakelander82]

I switched to 10mg and have took that for a week and today I started 20mg. I was beyond desperate Songbird, I rid it out as long as I could. My parents said i had suffered long enough as well. I switched off my own accord Songbird because i had the feeling you all we’re  going to tell me to continue to ride it out and things definitely weren’t improving, they were deteriorating and like I said I couldn’t guarantee I was getting consistent doses of 12mg with a homemade liquid.  How long should I give it before seeing if it was successful or not??

[Songbird]

How have you been feeling since starting the Prozac?  Have any of your symptoms changed?

[Lakelander82]

I feel wired in the morning songbird, totally wired. Is it possIble I’m getting too much stimUlation from it? Should I only take the dose of Prozac that’s equivalent to 12mg of Sertraline, in other words is 10/20 mg too much?? 

[Lakelander82]

I was on 12 mg of Sertraline, I therefore shouldn’t take 4.800 mg or Fluoxetine, is this correct? My head is all over the place so it’s hard to work things out. I have a 20mg/5ml solution, should I just withdraw from this concentrated solution or dilute it? Diluting It further may increase error. Thank you.

[Lakelander82]

whats my best course of action anyone?please,please i need help.

[Lakelander82]

Am I just being ignored because I added in Prozac? I had to do something because I was desperate and couldn’t go on. Someone please respond to me, I feel absolutely terrible. Thank you 

[Altostrata]

On 6/25/2018 at 11:14 AM, Altostrata said:

Please keep in mind that the lowest effective dosage is the best one, leaping to a high dosage probably is not going to go well with a sensitized nervous system.

 

Have you conferred with your psychiatrist about taking 20mg Prozac?

 

If after taking it, you find your symptom pattern has changed, those symptoms are due to Prozac. It's very possible that 20mg is too much for you.

 

You didn't by any chance keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages?

 

[Lakelander82]

Yes he said it was the best dose for me alto.,but thatsaid alto i think i feel wired on it.What dose would recommend? My taper from sertraline has never beeneasy always felt lethargic and depressed  but generally calm enough.I havent kept notes alto sorry

[Lakelander82]

My last dose of sertraline was 12mg onwednesday of last week so over a week ago now

[Lakelander82]

Would 4.8mg be more appropriate alto

[Altostrata]

I don't know the right dosage of Prozac for you. I am hesitant to get involved when you have instructions from your doctor. He gets paid, I don't, yet I'm the one answering your questions -- that doesn't seem right to me. Does it seem right to you?

 

If 20mg Prozac seems like it's too much, a more comfortable dose is going to be somewhat lower, don't you think? Your guess is as good as mine about what that amount is. Did you enjoy 10mg?

 

You've been a member here since May 2016. We've patiently coached you in tapering, you should understand how to reduce your drugs.

 

We've repeatedly asked you to keep notes. If you post again without the notes we have requested, I will give you a warning point. If you accumulate 4 warning points, you will be banned.

[Cruizer]

Hi Lakelander, how are you travelling. I just caught up on what you have been doing. Wowsers man! I hope you are feeling a little better but i can imagine you might not be. 

You have done so much in just 2 months from dropping more than 10% to going cold turkey for a couple of days to reinstating and taking double your dose to then switching to Prozac. I said it in my earlier post a month or so ago, you need to get some consistency for a while. Now that you are on 20mg of prozac you need to stay there and stabilise for a while (like 6 months) before you think about tapering again. And as many have suggested here including me, make a daily blog on how you are feeling as an avg each day. This will help you monitor improvement. Improvement will be gradule and if your not recording your daily symptoms than you will miss seeing any improvement. 

All the best.

[Lakelander82]

Moderators ive now been on Mirtazapine 30mg for a month and im no better. My system is still highly sensitized from the sertraline withdrawal. Should i reinstate a very small amount of Sertraline ie 1-2mg even though im now on Mirtazapine and see how it goes? Im desperate for help. 

[Altostrata]

When did you start mirtazapine, for what symptoms, what effect has it had on you? What is your current symptom pattern?

 

I still don't see any daily notes. We cannot answer questions without sufficient information.

 

In your next post, I want to see a full, detailed response to these questions, including your daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. Use a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom, drug and dosage) on the right.

 

[Lakelander82]

I started Mirtazapine 15mg way back in mid June. I’ve now been on 30mg of Mirtazapine for 4 weeks. I started it for poor appetite and insomnia. I experience almost daily anxiety, the mirtazapine seems to have ramped my system up further. I’m highly agitated now at 30mg of Mirtazapine. I’m still tearful quite a bit. I have internal tremors starting again and my appetite is going again. I take my Mirtazapine at night before going to bed, it has made me sleep. I don’t notice many other symptoms after I take it initially at night. The next morning I am quite panicky and have sweaty palms. These are.my daily symptom pattern, there’s no point repeating them again everyday..they are the same everyday. 

Is there much point in reinstating a small dose of Sertraline again if it didn’t work the first time after three days? 

[ChessieCat]

This is an example of what is being requested:

 

6 a.m. Woke and vomited
8 a.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
10 a.m. Had diarrhea
10:30 a.m. Ate breakfast
11:35 a.m. Got a headache, lasted one hour
12:35 p.m. Ate lunch
4 p.m. Stomachache
5 p.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
6 p.m. Ate dinner
9:20 p.m. Headache
10:00 p.m. Took 50mg Seroquel
10:20 p.m. Headache got worse
10:30 p.m. Fell asleep
2:30 a.m. Woke, took 3mg Ambien (NOT "took 1/2 tablet Ambien")
2:45 a.m. Fell asleep
4:30 a.m. Woke with headache

[Altostrata]

If you feel worse after increasing mirtazapine from 15mg to 30mg, reduce the mirtazapine. You might find that 15mg is suitable.

 

After a month at 30mg, you may or may not get withdrawal symptoms from a reduction. Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapine)

 

Please do not expect more detailed counseling if you will not supply your daily symptom pattern.

[ChessieCat]

Hi Lakelander,

 

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[Altostrata]

Lakelander, do you have questions about titrating a liquid?