Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 2, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 2, 2019 On my new 5% drop for one week, hold a week, 5% drop for one week, hold a week tapering schedule, tomorrow was my day to drop from 1.6mg to 1.5mg, but I have more symptoms than I would like, so I'm erring on the side of caution and holding another week at 1.6mg. The posts about SERT occupancy levels are very persuasive. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus eymen23 Posted October 2, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 2, 2019 Hi Gridley, You’ve come a long way on your lexapro taper! Very inspiring for somebody like myself who’s still tapering at a higher dose. Now you are getting down to those lower doses I’m sure each drop is becoming more noticeable, there is definitely something in the SERT occupancy studies. If I’m not wrong, you use the Gemini-20 scales? Have you thought about using a liquid at some stage? I remember thinking that as I got lower and lower, it would be hard to make small reductions due to the limit in accuracy. PLEASE NOTE: I am not a medical professional. I can only provide information and make suggestions. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 3, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 3, 2019 12 hours ago, eymen23 said: Have you thought about using a liquid at some stage? This is just me, but I've never felt comfortable with the mechanics of the liquid. For some reason, I'm more comfortable with dealing with the scale and powder. Also, there's a risk in the crossover that the liquid won't agree with me. So I'm going to finish it out with the scale. It's very true that the scale has limitations at the low end, specifically it's not accurate below 4mgpw. At that point, following Brassmonkey's example, I'll likely drop 1mgpw every four weeks, eyeballing it. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
embd Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 What kind of symptoms have you been having? The usual - anxiety and insomnia? Or do you see new ones cropping up at these low doses? Erin's Intro Topic Started on 2mg Ativan and 20mg Paxil in Sept. 2016 for severe postpartum insomnia. Tapered down to 1mg Ativan then CT'd from the rest in Jan. 2017 per doctor's recommendation. Tapered off Paxil over four weeks in January-February 2017 per doctor's recommendation. Reinstated 1mg Ativan in Feb. 2017 and started 5mg Lexapro March 29, 2017 to counter WD insomnia (increased to 10mg May 3). Went off Lexapro and successfully reinstated to 20mg Paxil on June 6, 2017. Successfully tapered off Ativan between April 2017 - May 2018. Waited a month then began Paxil taper in June 2018. Trialed Seroquel, Ativan, Doxepin, and Zyprexa at a crisis stabilization unit from 10/23/19-10/30/19 due to severe insomnia. Using Zyprexa 5mg and Vistaril 25-50mg as needed for sleep in November (juggling sleep aids to avoid dependency while waiting for sleep to resolve). Paxil taper: 18mg 6/8/18; 16.2mg 7/6/18; 14.6mg 8/3/18; 13.1mg 8/31/18; 11.8mg 9/28; 10.6mg 11/23/18; 9.5mg 12/21/18; 8.55mg 1/18/19; 7.69mg 3/1/19; 6.92mg 3/29/19; 6.23mg 4/26/19; 5.61mg 6/7/19; 5.05mg 7/5/19 (severe WD symptoms all of a sudden); updosed to 5.25mg 10/27/19; updosed to 5.5mg 11/8/19 and holding. Supplements: Magnesium, Fish Oil, Turmeric Curcumin, Nac, Crave Arrest, Probiotic, Digestive Enzymes, Vitamin C, Walsh Protocol, Vitamin D-3, Niacinate, Evening Primrose Oil, Rhodiola, Stress B Complex, SAM-e, TMG, Pantothenic Acid, L-Tryptophan, Calcium, Melatonin (1.5 mg sublingual), Eden amino acids for sleep support Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 3, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 3, 2019 3 minutes ago, embd said: What kind of symptoms have you been having? The usual - anxiety and insomnia? Or do you see new ones cropping up at these low doses? No new symptoms, just the usual - anxiety and insomnia. Plus I wanted to let my crossover to a new brand Ativan settle in for another week. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Simmering Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 What new brand Ativan did you crossover to and from.? 150 Trazodone Crossed over to Valium from Klonopin Now at 20mg Valium from 40 5-16 taking 8 6 6 in pill form, reducing 1 mg every 20 days using liquid Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 7, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 7, 2019 42 minutes ago, Simmering said: What new brand Ativan did you crossover to and from.? I live in Ecuador. I crossed-over from a generic from Colombia, which was no longer available, to name-brand Ativan, made by Pfizer in Colombia. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Simmering Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 Oh, I hope that the name brand makes your taper go more smoothly. There is a lot of difference between generics. 150 Trazodone Crossed over to Valium from Klonopin Now at 20mg Valium from 40 5-16 taking 8 6 6 in pill form, reducing 1 mg every 20 days using liquid Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 19, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 19, 2019 @Simmering Thanks for dropping by, Simmering. Gridley Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Giulietta Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 Hello Gridley, Just dropping in to say hello and see how things are for you. I wonder if you have autumn or anything comparable to it - foliage maybe? Up here it has become cold and the leaves on oak trees are turning shades of gold and the leaves of favorite maples are turning into vibrant reds. I am in no haste to see them fall from the tree branches. 😉 I hope you and your wife and dogs are fine. Giuliletta Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 19, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 19, 2019 10 minutes ago, Guilietta said: I wonder if you have autumn We're right on the Equator (though 6,000 feet up) so we don't have the usual seasons, just rainy season and dry season. We've just started the rainy season, which will run to around April. Rainy season isn't like tropical monsoon season, but it rains most though not all days. Dry season is tough on the plants with much need for irrigation. I do miss the four seasons but the up side is that it's never hot and never cold and no homes have the need for heat or a/c. We're doing fine. Taking the pups for a walk down the mountain to feed a cat that has come to depend on us. Feeding the burros is up next. My wife talked to a woman in town who just bought 8 acres to start a rescue burro sanctuary. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted October 19, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 19, 2019 On 10/2/2019 at 3:50 PM, Gridley said: On my new 5% drop for one week, hold a week, 5% drop for one week, hold a week tapering schedule, tomorrow was my day to drop from 1.6mg to 1.5mg, but I have more symptoms than I would like, so I'm erring on the side of caution and holding another week at 1.6mg. The posts about SERT occupancy levels are very persuasive. Yes-- respect the SERT occupancy levels! It's ironic but at the lowest doses we get the sharpest drops. It's pretty much a straight line down at those lowest doses. I find it helpful to try to think in terms of percentage of SERT occupancy decrease rather than percentage of actual drug decrease. If your body is saying you're going too fast, then you probably need to take a break, unless there's an urgent reason why you need to get off the drug. BURROS! Sounds cute. Are they cute? Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010. Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea. Feb 15 2010: 300 mg Neurontin 200 Lamictal 10 Celexa 0.65 Xanax and 5 mg Ambien Feb 10 2014: 62 Lamictal 1.1 Celexa 0.135 Xanax 1.8 Valium Feb 10 2015: 50 Lamictal 0.875 Celexa 0.11 Xanax 1.5 Valium Feb 15 2016: 47.5 Lamictal 0.75 Celexa 0.0875 Xanax 1.42 Valium 2/12/20 12 0.045 0.007 1 May 2021 7 0.01 0.0037 1 Feb 2022 6 0!!! 0.00167 0.98 2.5 mg Ambien Oct 2022 4.5 mg Lamictal (off Celexa, off Xanax) 0.95 Valium Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 19, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 19, 2019 5 minutes ago, Rhiannon said: Are they cute? Yes, they're very cute and affectionate. They love having their snout and ears rubbed. They (we have two) gather on a promontory behind the house and bray and bray to get us to come up with broccoli and carrots. They also love dust baths, rolling around in the dust. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted October 19, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 19, 2019 39 minutes ago, Gridley said: Yes, they're very cute and affectionate. They love having their snout and ears rubbed. They (we have two) gather on a promontory behind the house and bray and bray to get us to come up with broccoli and carrots. They also love dust baths, rolling around in the dust. AWWWWWWWWW Now I have to search YouTube Burros 🙂 Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010. Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea. Feb 15 2010: 300 mg Neurontin 200 Lamictal 10 Celexa 0.65 Xanax and 5 mg Ambien Feb 10 2014: 62 Lamictal 1.1 Celexa 0.135 Xanax 1.8 Valium Feb 10 2015: 50 Lamictal 0.875 Celexa 0.11 Xanax 1.5 Valium Feb 15 2016: 47.5 Lamictal 0.75 Celexa 0.0875 Xanax 1.42 Valium 2/12/20 12 0.045 0.007 1 May 2021 7 0.01 0.0037 1 Feb 2022 6 0!!! 0.00167 0.98 2.5 mg Ambien Oct 2022 4.5 mg Lamictal (off Celexa, off Xanax) 0.95 Valium Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion. Link to comment
mdwstrx Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 Hi Gridley. Congrats on the successful tapering to date! It's inspiring those of us following behind you. I'm a bit bummed that it seems the best I can do with my tapering seems to be 5% a month. That's 8% on the BM slide followed by the two week hold. Were you doing the brassmonkey slide prior to going to your new schedule? 1997 Prozac ?mg 1991 Sertraline ?mg 2002 Escitalopram 10 mg 2018 2.5 mg - stopped by Dr./Reinstated, up-dosed to 7.5 mg 04/19 Began BM slide @7.5 mg CURRENT 0.34 mg 🌼 "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 20, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 20, 2019 2 hours ago, mdwstrx said: Hi Gridley. Congrats on the successful tapering to date! It's inspiring those of us following behind you. I'm a bit bummed that it seems the best I can do with my tapering seems to be 5% a month. That's 8% on the BM slide followed by the two week hold. Were you doing the brassmonkey slide prior to going to your new schedule? Don't be bummed. 5% month is fine, great in fact. You're down very low (congratulations to you!) so the rate you're going seems very prudent. I know you've read about the the lower you go, the slower you go, and that's very true. These drugs are so powerful and we have to cooperate with what they permit us to do. Yes, I did great on the BM slide from 20mg down but at this point (1.5mgai, 15mgow) due to the limitations of the scale and the high ratio of active ingredient to pill weight of my particular brand, the least I can decrease was 1mgpw per cut. At 4 cuts per month, that was working out to be 20% per month on the BM slide, obviously way too much (and I was feeling it), so I had to adapt. I'm hoping that my current schedule will work but I always have the longer hold option if necessary. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
mdwstrx Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Thanks for your insight and encouraging words. 4.6 mg doesn't seem very low in comparison to two things: where I was at 2.25 about a year ago when the dr. told me to jump off (foolishly) and I found SA. Prior to that, I was cutting by 50% and holding 3-6 months at each cut with almost no symptoms, and and that at this rate, 4.6 mg calcs out to another 6 years tapering. November 2025 is when I'll reach 0.1. How much were you tapering on the BM slide? 10%? 1997 Prozac ?mg 1991 Sertraline ?mg 2002 Escitalopram 10 mg 2018 2.5 mg - stopped by Dr./Reinstated, up-dosed to 7.5 mg 04/19 Began BM slide @7.5 mg CURRENT 0.34 mg 🌼 "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted October 20, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 20, 2019 8 hours ago, Gridley said: Yes, they're very cute and affectionate. They love having their snout and ears rubbed. They (we have two) gather on a promontory behind the house and bray and bray to get us to come up with broccoli and carrots. They also love dust baths, rolling around in the dust. So cute! ❤️ 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Erell Posted October 22, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 22, 2019 So maybe it's the City "Puy de dôme" or the région "La Drôme" ...Don't think that my cèpes would like a postmail travel To Ecuador 😄 2006 : 20mg Paxil+Bromazepam. 2008 : cold turkey of both. 2010 : Reinstatement 20mg Paxil + Bromazepam. 2014-June2017 : Switch from Bromazepam to Prazepam, slow taper to 0mg. 2018 to August 2019 : Paxil 20mg taper (3% every 15 days). 22 Aug 2019 updose to 10mg (was at 8.4mg). 25th Sept 2019 To April 2020 : found SA, holding at 10mg Paxil. April 2020 : Paxil 10mg to Prozac 7mg bridge. Details : topic/21457 Current Supplements : magnesium citrate + fish oil Current medication : * 7pm Diazepam : 0.85mg (15 Aug 2022) / 0.95 mg (24 April 2022) / 1mg Diazepam (since 29 Aug 2020) * 8am Prozac : 6.16mg (25 oct 2022, feel awful, slight updose) / 6.08 mg (9 oct 2022) / 6.24mg (11 July 22) / 6.44mg (22 May 22) / 6.64mg (4 Nov 21) / 6.72mg (8 oct 21) / 6.8 mg (15 Sept 21)/ 6.88mg (14 Aug 21)/ 6.92mg (23 Jun 21) I am not a professional, I don't give medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 24, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 24, 2019 My new taper schedule of a 5% drop with a 2-week hold seems to be working, with symptoms pretty stable, so I'm dropping today from 1.5mg Lexapro to 1.4mg. Shep wrote recently about what can happen when you take too many sedating drugs at the same time, that the body will fight to regain alertness, causing a paradoxical effect. I had been taking my Imipramine, one of my Ativan doses, magnesium and melatonin all at bedtime. I moved the magnesium and melatonin to whenever I wake up in the middle of the night (2:00-2:30) and this is working much better and allowing me to get another 2-3 hours of sleep. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
sunnysideup69 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Hey Gridley, thank you for all your help on my thread. Thought I'd wander over and see how you're doing? January 2008 to April 2015 Citalopram 20mg to 5mg, reducing in 50 per cent leaps. Jumped off at 5mg March 2016 used MDMA triggered setback April 2016 Citalopram 10mg October 2016 cut to 5mg, May 2017 cut to 2.5mg May 2018 used MDMA triggered setback June 2018 Citalopram 2.5mg up to 10mg, then back to 5mg July/ August 2018 7.5mg, then 10mg June 2019 updosed to 20mg Citalopram August 2019 cold switch to Venlafaxine 75mg XR Supplements; 1100mg fish oil daily; also 100mg Magnesium Glycinate. Tried Vagifem 10mcg from mid May 2021 to mid June 2021; caused depression, so stopped. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted October 24, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 24, 2019 3 hours ago, Gridley said: My new taper schedule of a 5% drop with a 2-week hold seems to be working, with symptoms pretty stable, so I'm dropping today from 1.5mg Lexapro to 1.4mg. Shep wrote recently about what can happen when you take too many sedating drugs at the same time, that the body will fight to regain alertness, causing a paradoxical effect. I had been taking my Imipramine, one of my Ativan doses, magnesium and melatonin all at bedtime. I moved the magnesium and melatonin to whenever I wake up in the middle of the night (2:00-2:30) and this is working much better and allowing me to get another 2-3 hours of sleep. Lovely! Sleep makes all the difference. I think I'll try adding magnesium when I wake up during the night. Glad to hear you're feeling stable enough to push on with the taper today. Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010. Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea. Feb 15 2010: 300 mg Neurontin 200 Lamictal 10 Celexa 0.65 Xanax and 5 mg Ambien Feb 10 2014: 62 Lamictal 1.1 Celexa 0.135 Xanax 1.8 Valium Feb 10 2015: 50 Lamictal 0.875 Celexa 0.11 Xanax 1.5 Valium Feb 15 2016: 47.5 Lamictal 0.75 Celexa 0.0875 Xanax 1.42 Valium 2/12/20 12 0.045 0.007 1 May 2021 7 0.01 0.0037 1 Feb 2022 6 0!!! 0.00167 0.98 2.5 mg Ambien Oct 2022 4.5 mg Lamictal (off Celexa, off Xanax) 0.95 Valium Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion. Link to comment
Giulietta Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 Hello Gridley! How have you been sleeping since moving the melatonin and magnesium? Overall better I hope? How many hours do you usually get a night? I want to thank you for your continued support. I know that you and all the other mods and contributors are also coping and going through your own tapers. Giulietta Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 25, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 25, 2019 37 minutes ago, Guilietta said: How have you been sleeping since moving the melatonin and magnesium? Overall better I hope? How many hours do you usually get a night? It worked for two nights in a row but not last night, probably because I knew we were facing a trip to the nearby big city for a visit to the supermarket. It's a pretty mountain journey but I am somewhat agoraphobic and like hanging out in the house. So that little bit of dread likely caused me to be unable to get back to sleep after awakening at 2.. I'm looking at my sleep record, which I keep with my daily symptom grade and daily notes. For the last several nights it reads 6, 5, 6.5, 7.5, 6, 7, 5 hours. This invariably involves one wake-up around 2-3am and if I'm lucky I get back to sleep for a couple more hours. I'm thinking about you and your upcoming crossover and wishing you well, G. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Giulietta Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 Hi Gridley, Maybe then toss out last night . My sleep is disrupted (and shortened) the night before I have to go out in the morning - particularly if it is early. Monday I see prescribing MD (!) so I will have to leave the house at 6 (a.m.). Ugh. How did the journey and visit to the market go? What do you do with your pets when you leave? Do they ride along to the big city? Like you I can be agoraphobic as well - I think I have always tended to be. I am a home body even though getting out more would do me some good. 'Planning' for the trip or 'just going' can work either way. It either minimizes risk to plan - and sometimes I get 'thinky' - which certainly causes anxiety. I knew I always had to have meds with me for mid-day dosing since a kid. 23 minutes ago, Gridley said: This invariably involves one wake-up around 2-3am and if I'm lucky I get back to sleep for a couple more hours. Same here. Waking up at 1 is preferable when that happens. The past few nights has been 4 a.m. This is definitely NOT good because I don't get back to sleep. Just posted my logs for the past few days. Now that the trip is behind you perhaps you will sleep better. Giuiietta Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 26, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 26, 2019 1 hour ago, Guilietta said: How did the journey and visit to the market go? What do you do with your pets when you leave? Do they ride along to the big city? We seem to have very similar sleep patterns. We take the dogs with us. I love having the family together. They love the trip and being with us and are generally a pleasure to travel with. Humphrey sticks his head out the window and is born to be wild. Inside the supermarket I feel pretty weird, like I don't belong there but I do manage to get my part of the shopping done. Yes, after 4pm there is little chance for me to get back to sleep. Earlier yes. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Giulietta Posted October 26, 2019 Share Posted October 26, 2019 12 hours ago, Gridley said: They love the trip and being with us and are generally a pleasure to travel with. Good for Humphrey. I bet he would like traveling in a convertible. I wonder if you can take him the market? I see a few dogs in the grocery stores up here - they are service dogs and perhaps therapy dogs. Nice companion animals (I have trouble with the word 'dog') and so well trained. Do you listen to anything that is 432 hz int he evening? I can find some good links and send to you. I posted on my thread a bead counting question - and also to BrassMonkey. Would you mind giving me your advice please? Today I was to start my first day of beads except for this... Thanks Just now, Guilietta said: @Gridley@brassmonkey Need your advice please on beads.... Hi Gridley and BrassMonkey Today is to be my first day of taking beads (.4 mg - what is 2 beads)! I am stuck because while I calculated an average of 100 beads per capsule in December - when 5% of an average 100 beads had less of an impact. However - now that I am down to 2 beads (.4 mg) of 100 beads - what impact does this have on my daily dose? If (likely with) the amount of beads varying from capsule to capsule - even from 100 to 105 to 108 (hypotehtically speaking) - would the difference of a single bead be significant? (I would think that my daily dose could vary from .4 mg to .6 to .8. in such an instance). 😕 What do I do? 🤔 Thanks Giuilietta p.s. The SERT occupancy for cymbalta is about 30% for cymbalta at (<0-5 ng/ml). Link to comment
sunnysideup69 Posted October 27, 2019 Share Posted October 27, 2019 Dear Gridley, thanks for your constant reassurance on my thread. I've now banned myself from asking questions in the morning, when anxiety is high H January 2008 to April 2015 Citalopram 20mg to 5mg, reducing in 50 per cent leaps. Jumped off at 5mg March 2016 used MDMA triggered setback April 2016 Citalopram 10mg October 2016 cut to 5mg, May 2017 cut to 2.5mg May 2018 used MDMA triggered setback June 2018 Citalopram 2.5mg up to 10mg, then back to 5mg July/ August 2018 7.5mg, then 10mg June 2019 updosed to 20mg Citalopram August 2019 cold switch to Venlafaxine 75mg XR Supplements; 1100mg fish oil daily; also 100mg Magnesium Glycinate. Tried Vagifem 10mcg from mid May 2021 to mid June 2021; caused depression, so stopped. Link to comment
Rosetta Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 Gridley, Just few note to say hi. I'm going to be without Wi-Fi for 2 months. Keep on keeping on! See you later. -R https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25 2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born) 2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg 2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction) 2016 - Stopped Xanax Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown) Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone Drug free since Feb 2017 2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 31, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 31, 2019 58 minutes ago, Rosetta said: . Keep on keeping on! See you later. -R Thanks for dropping by, R. I hope things are going okay for you. See you in two months. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted November 1, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 1, 2019 (edited) This story has a happy ending. My hearing has been worsening gradually over the last few years, due in part at least to age, but I woke up earlier this week pretty much deaf in one ear. I researched hearing loss on SA, and while I didn't find much attributing hearing loss to withdrawal per se, I did find the link below, which lists a vast number of drugs known to be ototoxic--harmful to hearing. This doesn't mean that everyone will suffer hearing harm if they take these drugs, but the danger exists for some. I found my three psychiatric drugs--an SSRI, a benzo and a Tricyclic--on the list. To my relief, the doctor today found wax buildup to be the cause of my immediate problem. But I don't doubt that my long-term use of these three ototoxic drugs has contributed to some unknown degree to my gradual hearing loss, making me all the more glad to be getting off psychiatric drugs, though, I always remind myself, slowly, slowly. Another grace note: it's unknown whether the damage done by ototoxic drugs is permanent or reversible. Putting the best face on it, which I think is always a good idea in WD, I'm going to assume reversible. Inner ear problems + Drugs that can damage ears - Symptoms .. Edited November 1, 2019 by Gridley Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted November 1, 2019 Administrator Share Posted November 1, 2019 Oh, Gridley, so glad it was just wax! Take care. 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
mustafa Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 40 minutes ago, Gridley said: This story has a happy ending. My hearing has been worsening gradually over the last few years, due in part at least to age, but I woke up earlier this week pretty much deaf in one ear. I researched hearing loss on SA, and while I didn't find much attributing hearing loss to withdrawal per se, I did find the link below, which lists a vast number of drugs known to be ototoxic--harmful to hearing. This doesn't mean that everyone will suffer hearing harm if they take these drugs, but the danger exists for some. I found my three psychiatric drugs--an SSRI, a benzo and a Tricyclic--on the list. To my relief, the doctor today found wax buildup to be the cause of my immediate problem. But I don't doubt that my long-term use of these three ototoxic drugs has contributed to some unknown degree to my gradual hearing loss, making me all the more glad to be getting off psychiatric drugs, though, I always remind myself, slowly, slowly. Another grace note: it's unknown whether the damage done by ototoxic drugs is permanent or reversible. Putting the best face on it, which I think is always a good idea in WD, I'm going to assume reversible. Inner ear problems + Drugs that can damage ears - Symptoms .. very happy for your problem's end, gridley. i wasn't on a certain drug all the period. i took many drugs many times and for no very long period but to simplify. --fluvoxamine maleate100 mg + amisulpride 200mg------started july 2012 and total taper in february 2015 ( 9 months without drugs then) --sertraline 100mg -------started november 2015 and total taper (withoud reduction slowly) in november 2016( 4 months withoud drugs then). --sertraline 100mg + quetiabine 25mg ( started in mars 2016 and for 7 months) then fluvoxamine maleate 100mg again for another 7months and after that a something like to use every drug for 14 days and for about 1.5 years. --my last drug was trintellix 10 mg ( used it in 12/2018and total taper in 4/2019). symptomts i have now ( bad concentration and problems in short and long memory+ bad depersonalization). Link to comment
Giulietta Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 58 minutes ago, Gridley said: This story has a happy ending. Hello Gridley, I am not be online now - but saw your note and want to respond. I am thrilled it was only wax. There are so many drugs that are ototoxic, including anti-biotics. SSRIs are amongst the worst offenders as you know. Following my own experience with acute tinnitus, etc. in December 2018 - which was horrific until June 2019 - and now much milder when it is present - I learned that hearing deficits from ototoxic drugs are generally reversible. When I saw the ENT in Jan or Feb with acute ear drum pain (ear drum normal) and tinnitus - his first question to me was 'are you getting off of ADs'. My audiology exam was normal. I was scared to death I was losing my hearing. So glad yours is OK. Giuilietta Link to comment
AuntieBea Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Hello Gridley, That must have been so frightening to wake up feeling nearly deaf in one ear...! I am so glad to know that the immediate problem at least was attributable to wax build up. That is a huge relief. I am happy for you. 1 hour ago, Gridley said: making me all the more glad to be getting off psychiatric drugs, though, I always remind myself, slowly, slowly. Another grace note: it's unknown whether the damage done by ototoxic drugs is permanent or reversible. Putting the best face on it, which I think is always a good idea in WD, I'm going to assume reversible. I really appreciate your attitude about this.... When the repercussions of having taken these drugs for so long begin to show up like this it’s really easy (for me anyway) to begin feeling victimized and desperate even to get off of them. But slowly, slowly is the only way, that’s for sure. Good reminder. And to “put the best face on it” in WD is also a good reminder for me...assume the best! I’m going to put that on a sticky note and put it where I’ll see it often!! All the best to you, AuntieBea 1991: Start Prozac / 1993: Stop Prozac / 1995: Restart Prozac 1997: Add Wellbutrin / 2002: CT Prozac & Wellbutrin 2004-2017: Start 10mg Celexa & 150mg Wellbutrin 2007: Add Ativan / 2009: Stop Ativan, start Klonopin & Seroquel 2012-2013: Taper off Klonopin & Seroquel Aug 2017: Start tapering 10mg Celexa & 150mg Wellbutrin Apr 2018: 6.5mg Celexa & 100mg Wellbutrin Apr 2019: 5.4mg Celexa & 100mg Wellbutrin Nov 2019: Start tapering Wellbutrin Sept 2020: 5.4mg Celexa & 50mg Wellbutrin June 5, 2021: 5.4mg Celexa & 32mg Wellbutrin Dec 2021: 5.2mg Celexa & 30mg Wellbutrin Link to comment
Longroadhome Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 On 8/21/2019 at 8:06 PM, Gridley said: Here's a symptom update, compared with 6 months ago, when I was 3.8mg Lexapro, just about twice what I'm taking now. Basically, I'm doing better. I did have an uptick in symptoms in the 3.5 to 2.5 range, but that seems to have resolved. I'm doing a good bit of mediation and putting areas of concern in the Light (prayer). pain in chest/heart - gone paresthesia - improved sleep - about the same, varies from 5 to 8 hours, broken anhedonia/apathy/no joie d'vivre - this is probably my worst symptom and is unimproved cortisol mornings - much improved,, almost gone anxiety - improved; still hits me but less hives - gone stiff, painful back of neck - was significant, now almost gone adhesion pain from gas - virtually gone backache - much improved irritability - improved ruminations - still some in early morning but I'm employing some techniques to stop it, mostly telling myself, "Think Good Thoughts" and doing so (since energy follows thought and good things are what I want to manifest) Now that I'm getting pretty low in dosage, I'm slowing down a bit with three-week holds instead of two. I'm doing a crossover from my old brand of Lorazepam, no longer available, to name-brand Ativan and will hold my taper until that's done. Hi Gridley how long did you have hives for and how did you treat it? Nov 2018 Pregabalin 2x50 mg a day to help with Paxil WD. Aug 2019 2 x 25mg a day, April 2020 45mg, May 40mg, June 35mg, July 30mg, end July 25mg, Aug 24mg, June 2021 14mg, Jan 2022 14mg (2x7mg a day), Oct 10mg, Nov 5mg, December 25th 2022 0mg 🎈 Oct 2004 - Oct 2018 Paxil 20 mg, Nov 15mg, Dec 10mg, Feb 2019 7.5mg crashed, Feb 8.5mg, Nov 8mg, March 2020 7.2mg, April 6.5mg, May 5.9mg, June 5.4mg, July 4.8mg, Dec 4.5mg, Jan 2021 4mg, Feb 3.6mg, March 3.2mg, April 2.9mg, Aug 2.7mg, Sept 2.4mg, Oct 2.2mg, Nov 2mg, Dec 1.8mg, Feb 2022 1.6mg, March 1.4mg, April 1.2mg, May 1.0mg, June 0.8mg, July 0.6mg, Aug 0.4mg, Sep 0.2mg, October 6th 2022 0mg 🎈 December 25th 2022 drug free these dates are approximate Link to comment
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