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Ang about 7 years off and thriving


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  • Mentor

ADMIN NOTE See ang's Intro topic with her earlier history here ☼ ang: help and confidence needed


 




 


Hello Altostrata and friends.            


 


I now believe I am a success story.  I am working, contributing and ENJOYING life again.  I am 58, so I am grateful that I can enjoy maybe a few more years of my life.              From the amount of drugs I was on, this is a miracle.   Took me I would say, many years.   Mistakes I made, so, so many,        ........then  in desperation ..........  I found this wonderful lifeline Surviving Antidepressants.


 


The pharma fraud, and psychiatric fraud, and $$$$ made destroying lives on these poisons, I can never forgive. 


 


I have not been able to update my own timeline, as I have been so happily busy.  I do, however, wish to write my survival story, maybe in 6 months, when I am permanent in my job, and will update with all the things I have done in the last 6 months.


 


Just wanted to say, is hard to revisit this site, remembering how ill and desperate I was.    But I will, and I will contribute when I can.      Yes, there IS a light at the end of the tunnel, for me the agony waxed and waned for a couple of years.   


 


Keep up the fight, never give in.             


 


Happy Easter Everyone.   I am so hoping you may be able to enjoy, but I know how ill I have been, and family and friends were just too much to cope with.    This easter, I cant WAIT to see my grandkids and family.   Yes the brain recovers from these poisons.              


 


Cheers


 


Ang

Edited by Altostrata
added admin note

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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Thanks so much for posting this! I'm glad you're able to do so much now. I'm looking forward to your story in the future. Please have a great time with your family and enjoy life. You deserve it after all the horrors!!

- 2010 Fluoxetine 20mg (no issues, did well)
- Mid 2012 Switched to Celexa 20mg (no issues with switch)
- 6/16 Stopped Celexa (always took med once every other day, tapered to once every three days for about a week and a half, took one a week for one week, no problems)
- 10/20/16 Started Celexa 20mg (next day had panic attacks, stopped after three days, kept having panic attacks and anxiety rest of the month)
- 10/28/16 Started Paxil 20mg (took for almost a week, had suicidal thoughts/severe derealization, tapered off to one every other day for a few days)
- 12/8/16 Buspirone 5mg twice daily (felt drowsy but kept anxiety under wraps, still taking it)
- 12/27/16 Venlafaxine XR 37.5mg (took two days, migraine first day, headache all day second day, third day had severe depression/outbursts of crying, couldn't stop most of the day, bad invasive thoughts, never took third dose because of it)
- 1/7/17 taper Buspirone 20% (miscalculation but doing well), gradually slivered off tablet throughout month to almost half each pill

- 2/3/17 taper Buspirone 2.5mg twice daily (did fine, listened to body), gradually slivered off tablet throughout month

 

* Aromatherapy 100% oils in diffuser every night *

* Morning stretching routine every day *

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Thank you for comining back here and sharing your story!

200 Zoloft; 10 mg Zyprexa; 4 mg valium as of May 2021;  Valium taper: July 16: 3.5 valium; July 30: 3 mg (paused valium taper); Aug. 23: 2.5 mg
Zyprexa: July 26: 8.75 mg; Aug. 9: 7.5 mg; Aug. 30: 7.1 mg

-------
Dec 1, 2016. 10 mg zyprexa for 1.5 month. Started taper mid-Jan. 2017. Cut 1.25 mg every 2 weeks; smaller cuts 2.5 mg down. Stopped at .6 mg. May 7, 2017: zyprexa free. 
Zoloft: Dec1, 2016, 200 mg. Started taper: Jun12, 2017: 197.5 mg; Jun19,:195 mg; July 2:185mg; July 9,:180 mg; July16,: 175; July 23: 170; July 30: 165; Aug6: 160; Aug13: 155; Aug. 20: 150; Aug.27: 146 mg; Sept3: 145 mg; Sept10:143 mg; Sept17:140 mg....Nov5: 122 mg...Dec3:112.5 mg; Jan14, 2018: 95 mg...Jan28: 90 mg; Feb21:80 mg; Mar11: 75 mg; May2:70 mg; May15: 68 mg; May28: 65 mg; Jun9: 62 mg;Jun25: 60 mg:July22: 55 mg; Aug25: 45 mg. Aug28: 50 mg...Oct 28: 38 mg; Dec.4: 30 mg; Jan8,2019: 25mg; Feb6: 23.5 mg; Apr1:17.5mg; May1:1 mg; May 5: 18;  May 18:15mg; June 16:12.5mg; Sept 10:11 mg; Sept.16:10 mg; Oct. 1: 9mg; Nov. 27: 8mg; Dec.5: 7mg; Jan.1,2020, 6 mg; Feb1: 5 mg; May 1: 2.5 mg; Jn 1: 2 mg; Jy 1: 1.5 mg

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Wonderful news and gives everyone so much hope. Happy Easter everyone

Prozac for 18years with break in 1999 for pregnancy. Started to feel unwell with numerous problems 2015 and think I was in a tolerance to drug. Started to come off May 2016 and by June 2016 wasn't able to tolerate any medications at all. Was on Lansoprazole as and when need from 2001 but haven't had to take and wldnt have been able to take since June 2016

 

GP gave sertraline 25mg 6/04/17 loss of appetite, gut pain and then following morning whole body shaking and vomiting. Stopped tablet.

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Hello Altostrata and friends.            

 

I now believe I am a success story.  I am working, contributing and ENJOYING life again.  I am 58, so I am grateful that I can enjoy maybe a few more years of my life.              From the amount of drugs I was on, this is a miracle.   Took me I would say, many years.   Mistakes I made, so, so many,        ........then  in desperation ..........  I found this wonderful lifeline Surviving Antidepressants.

 

The pharma fraud, and psychiatric fraud, and $$$$ made destroying lives on these poisons, I can never forgive. 

 

I have not been able to update my own timeline, as I have been so happily busy.  I do, however, wish to write my survival story, maybe in 6 months, when I am permanent in my job, and will update with all the things I have done in the last 6 months.

 

Just wanted to say, is hard to revisit this site, remembering how ill and desperate I was.    But I will, and I will contribute when I can.      Yes, there IS a light at the end of the tunnel, for me the agony waxed and waned for a couple of years.   

 

Keep up the fight, never give in.             

 

Happy Easter Everyone.   I am so hoping you may be able to enjoy, but I know how ill I have been, and family and friends were just too much to cope with.    This easter, I cant WAIT to see my grandkids and family.   Yes the brain recovers from these poisons.              

 

Cheers

 

Ang

are you completely drug free now

Prozac for 18years with break in 1999 for pregnancy. Started to feel unwell with numerous problems 2015 and think I was in a tolerance to drug. Started to come off May 2016 and by June 2016 wasn't able to tolerate any medications at all. Was on Lansoprazole as and when need from 2001 but haven't had to take and wldnt have been able to take since June 2016

 

GP gave sertraline 25mg 6/04/17 loss of appetite, gut pain and then following morning whole body shaking and vomiting. Stopped tablet.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Ang,

 

Congrats then........you are there/here....... :)   The job is going well I take it?

 

Hope it was and is a wonderful season of light for you now.  Of course there will be bumps and darker times.........this is life!

 

Did you get off the Seroquel then........or are you still on and off?.........the St. John's Wort?? and other stuff for your MTHFR, possible Lyme, etc.??

 

I do know how busy it can get when things get better......... and encourage you to elaborate a bit when you have some productive down time.  I think there is a outline of sorts that we "may" follow.  I haven't written up a detailed account yet either........ :wacko::)

 

It is a miracle!  Not without a lot of hard work and perseverance and help.......well, speaking for myself here.

 

So good to hear.

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

 

and manymoretodays

 

what do you mean you have a maybe a few more years of life to enjoy???!!!  Heck Ang........I'm going to be 60 in August and I am going strong and will continue to do so............lol.........G-D and universe willing.

 

And oh......okay........I see you said you are on the 6 mos. plan as well.........as far as a more detailed account, etc.  Very happy for you indeed!  And agree.......it can be tough to remember the worst, ayup..........I understand.

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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Hello Altostrata and friends.            

 

I now believe I am a success story.  I am working, contributing and ENJOYING life again.  I am 58, so I am grateful that I can enjoy maybe a few more years of my life.              From the amount of drugs I was on, this is a miracle.   Took me I would say, many years.   Mistakes I made, so, so many,        ........then  in desperation ..........  I found this wonderful lifeline Surviving Antidepressants.

 

The pharma fraud, and psychiatric fraud, and $$$$ made destroying lives on these poisons, I can never forgive. 

 

I have not been able to update my own timeline, as I have been so happily busy.  I do, however, wish to write my survival story, maybe in 6 months, when I am permanent in my job, and will update with all the things I have done in the last 6 months.

 

Just wanted to say, is hard to revisit this site, remembering how ill and desperate I was.    But I will, and I will contribute when I can.      Yes, there IS a light at the end of the tunnel, for me the agony waxed and waned for a couple of years.   

 

Keep up the fight, never give in.             

 

Happy Easter Everyone.   I am so hoping you may be able to enjoy, but I know how ill I have been, and family and friends were just too much to cope with.    This easter, I cant WAIT to see my grandkids and family.   Yes the brain recovers from these poisons.              

 

Cheers

 

Ang

 

 

Thanks ang  I'm grateful for a positive withdrawl story, good for you.

I aspire to write my own in the future ,your positivity fillls me with joy and hope for the future during a very difficult time for me .

Take care.

Alcohol free since February 2015 

1MG diazepam

4.5MG PROZAC.

 

 

 

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Ang, I have to ask you, how did you cope with the fact that it was a period of separation from those you love? Your family and grandchildren? I was actively involved until I went into acute and now prolonged W/D. Some of my family is having a very hard time with this. They just want me back. I am having a hard time with this also as I feel as though I am missing so much.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • Administrator

Well done, ang! It's been a long road and here you are. Thank you for sharing your success with your friends.

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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you did it,Ang!

 

so happy for  you and wishing you much happiness and peace for this next chapter in your life.

 

congrats!

 

 

xxx

went on Prozac 1994-99,60mg.poopout ct  back on 2001-2002,prozac weekly 2002,not working,Effexor 75 mg.?2003-mar.2004 gaining weight 8wk. taper,wellbutrin 150 mg.mar. -may 2004 ctmedfree til july 2005 back to Prozac gaining weight again,back on wellbutrin jan.2006150-300 mg.bad constipation.also was taking aygestin(hormone)perimenopausal irregular bleeding.back on Prozac around sept,?2006,hysterectomy jan30.2007(adenomyosis)off&on Prozac til 2009,citalopram about 1 mo, April 2010 no effect,Effexor again may -mar, 2011.ct,Prozac aug,-dec, 2011 &sept-nov 2012,paroxetine oct,23 2013-may 4 2014 20 mgs.tapered 6 wks.-failed RI in Oct.2014-in protracted WD.started 10 mgs. Fluoxetine May 25 2021 .Stopped fluoxetine May 2022 at 5 mgs.

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So wonderful to read!!!

zoloft 2004-08 tapered too fast(2 weeks)
Luvox 5/08 100 mg 07/10 40mg via small reductions, 08/10 39mg, 09/10 38mg, 10/10 37mg, 11/10 36mg,2/11 35mg, 5/11 34mg, 8/11 33mg, 11/11 32mg, 01/12 31mg, 03/12 30mg, 4/12 29mg, 5/12 28 mg, 8/12 27 mg, 11/12 26 mg, 1/13 25 mg, 3/13 24 mg, 4/13 23 mg,6/13 22 mg, 7/13 21 mg, 8/13 20mg, 10/13 19 mg, 11/13 18 mg, 12/13 17 mg, 1/14 16 mg, 3/14 13 mg, 9/14 10.9 mg,  1/15 10 mg, 3/15  9 mg,  5/15 8 mg. 11/15 7.12 mg.  4/16  5 mg, 6/16   4.5 mg,  9/16 4.2 mg, 1/17 3.48 mg, 2/17  3.2 mg,  4/17 2.2 mg, 5/17 2.0 mg, 6/17  1.74 mg, 7/17 1.58 mg, 9/17 1.27 mg, 11/17 1.0 mg,  1/18 0.79 mg

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Ang, I'm so happy for you!  I'm late to your Success Story, but one thing you wrote resonated with me:

 

Happy Easter Everyone.   I am so hoping you may be able to enjoy, but I know how ill I have been, and family and friends were just too much to cope with.    This easter, I cant WAIT to see my grandkids and family.   Yes the brain recovers from these poisons.

 

For many years, even on the highest level of meds, I dreaded visitors or going away from home, overwhelmed by the preparation required.  Before meds, I loved Christmas, shopping for family. After drugs, I hated Christmas and birthdays/Mother's Day/Father's Day because I simply didn't have the energy or desire to come up with gifts...I still struggle there, though it is slightly better.  I am thrilled to see that this aspect of your life improved; there is hope!  To be engaged in life as you are, I dream of it!  I am so happy for you!

 

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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  • 1 month later...
  • Mentor

hello wow, just sorting out this stuff on this suppport group...........               Not sure I am a survivor yet....   Suppose I am, off the stuff, but the never ending nightmare remains.

I am still isolated, did work for 2 months, which was heaven.

But my immune system so stuffed, a bit of mould in my house, I am doomed.               

Yes I had a WONDERFUL easter, with my family, because I was out of the mouldy house, and I was recovering.   Job ended, unexpectedly, back to the mould issues, and the issues, are worse, ie once sensitised, a whole heap worse coming back.

I have a $2000 air purifier, now, I have an ozone generator, to nuke the mould, I have a caravan on front lawn, to live in....................                             But all contaminated.  I will battle on.......   the moulds, the HLA DR genetics (mould susceptible) the MTHFR genetics, all makes sense now.

The psych drugs werent ever going to work, for me.                                   

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • Mentor

Thankyou so much to this support group for being my brain, when I had no brain....................................  however, now I have my brain back, the grief is horrific, the realisation, that pharma do this for profit, that they vaccinate kids, cause disease, cause autism, for profit.

ie one has to fight the grief, the reality of the evilness, that got us here, and cope with that, then move on./

 

I am still in the grief, realisation period...................

 

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • Mentor

www.study329.org 

and speaking to a mother who lost her 14 year old, who went to his gp for acne medication/

She found him hanging, he never was depressed, nothing, just wanted acne meds......................... his pills ,  Paxil.

http://antidepaware.co.uk                           

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • Mentor

Oh not to be negative...........................Gosh I remember the non stop panic attacks, all day, the brain going craxy, all of that, now I dont wanna get outa bed, cause someone shuffled my fully completed jigsaw puzzle in my brain last night,      I want to wake up now, with enthusiasm for life,  it will happen, but not in this mouldy house, and not while I have lyme or moulds or whatever.............. probably had them before the damn psych drugs?.................... :)                        

 

I have my brain back for that I am grateful./...........................  that is the main thing,  I NOW OWN MY BRAIN>

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • Mentor

I OWN MY OWN BRAIN.  Heaven is, not needing pills to sleep, not needing pills to wake up, not needing pills to eat, not needing pills .....................                I HAVE REGAINED MY BRAIN,  the previous problems are back, ie MTHFR, HLA - DR mould, all these problems............... NOT ONE BLOOD TEST, OR VIRUS TEST, OR BACTERIA TEST DID THEY DO>      before they give these poisons, that near killed me.......................              and pharma, they then say, not our pills, she was fine, ie she is nuts, not our pills, dont trust what she says? Well I am a pathologist, and a chemical analyst, so join with me ,  and speak OUT .

 

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • 5 months later...
  • Mentor

Hello everyone!            Found out the moulds in my home are real bad,      as you can tell, I got a bit sick after Easter 2017, as I had to move back into mouldy home.     So I ""did a runner"" as they say in Australia, and when I got real bad 8 weeks ago, left the house, and went elsewhere.  

Now back on track, and happy.  Back in home today,   to catch up on my own computer  (with log in details saved).     I will never live in this house again, after this week.    

I even dumped the final few crumbs of seroquel, 8 weeks back.          So apologies if I posted my recovery story too early, but hey, a little bump isnt a major disaster.

Loving life again. 

Thank you Altostrata, and this survival group, you saved my life.

At 58 I am so grateful, I have a few years  (hopefully a lot more) actually enjoying life again.

Best wishes everyone.      Thanks again, to this support group, my family now enjoy my company.  My kids are amazed at how well I am. My grandaughter just summed it up

"'wow nanna, you are dressed!""  ie not in grotty dressing gown.

so hey, I may have to live in a mould free caravan, no power or shower, but I am well, and that is a precious gift.  And damn it, a learning curve, NEVER trust doctors, and NEVER trust pharma companies :)

 

 

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Great to see you Ang. 

 

A "runner" eh?  :)  Love that.  And good, good that you CAN get away from the mold and into "caravan" living.  I want a "caravan".........they call them RV's here, for recreational vehicles.  I tried to run across the country this past August for a bio family visit and vacation.  Found myself unable though..........still healing.....in recovery.......learning and growing.

 

What are you thinking on the Lyme disease now?  Is it for sure?  Hoping the more acute symptoms were just the mold stuff.  I too, worried about Lyme this summer........it would have been acute though........a rash I got with one blister and what I thought might be a "target" lesion.  And...........I have deer friends frequently who come down from the mountains.  It was erythema multiforme though..........interesting, and probably just due to some remaining hypersensitivity, immune dysfunction, or other.  Who knows? 

 

Me too.......I "should" get rid of some of my collection of prescription medications at this point.  As well as some outdated supplements.  I found some in my closet from years ago.  Maybe just hang on to the last script for oxcarbazepine.

 

Freeing, isn't it Ang?  Still not a cakewalk or roses..........yet, bettah.

 

(((((((Ang)))))))

 

Love, peace, healing/in recovery, and growth at any age by golly!

 

manymoretodays

Edited by manymoretodays

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

This is from a Private message from Ang - but she want's y'all to know how well she's going since she "did a runner."  I think she has some problems using the new site software, and she asked me to share - because - it really is inspiring.

 

Those of us who have known Ang have nearly despaired - was there any hope?  

Listen to this:

 

Quote

Battling with new site, but am busy out and about, never home now  :)  I come home max one overnight, because the mould gets me badly now I am out of the place.  I truly think 80% of my problem was toxic mould.  The previous house I was in, that I couch surfed with a friend for 6 months, I wasnt real well there either.  Now I go there I can also smell mould.  My friend there, is now also chronically ill.  I told him  GET OUT, and dont look back. 

 

(trim - personal information)

 

I lost so many plants, I reckon about $50,000 dollars worth, due to 3 years being so damn sick. 

 

Anyhow, on the bright side, met lovely people on this support group, learnt HEAPS researching (sick in filthy dressing gown, typing like a true keyboard warrior!).......................                  and now I have emptied the dead pots, to remake the soil again into potting mix,

 

I dont see 10,000 dead plants, I now see 10,000 empty pots with POTENTIAL.

 

(trim - personal information)  Still a bit brain dead coming back to this house.  Son got his own place now,  wow, well done to him, at only 20 years old, bought himself a cottage.             Me?  My caravan in (trim - personal information),  or now with my new friend (trim - personal information), the guardian angel who rescued me  (ie come stay with me, until you are well).

 

Life is looking pretty good, hope yours is too!  I put your soap on the kitchen sink in Daisy,  my caravan.     

 

Have a great christmas, I will (hopefully) this year climb Bluff Knoll, with my daughter and grandkids......................

 

hugs

 

Wow!  Who is this woman, and where has she been?  

 

Caution to us all - about the psychiatric symptoms and complications of mould.  


Welcome back to living, Ang!

"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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  • 2 months later...
  • Mentor

Hello Alto,   Great to have my brain back.   Great to be out of that damn mouldy house.  Feel free to read my facebook posts.

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • Altostrata changed the title to Ang, 58, survivor
  • 3 months later...
  • Mentor

Hello everyone in Australia and elsewhere.   Just a quick follow up as I am too busy finally enjoying life again to sign in very often. Good luck and prayers to you all. Hang in there life does get great again.  

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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How long did you take to recover? 

Took prozac 40 mg for 20 years.

January 2017 started cutting down prozac by 12.5% a week. End of February 2017 completely off prozac and withdrawals began.

Currently taking Levothyroxine 75 mcg, Magnesium citrate 200mg,Sage leaf 50mg daily

Amlodipine: October 2017 , discontinued 26 Feb 2019; Candesartan:  26 Feb 2019, 4mg.

Discontinued magnesium citrate 200mg Apr 3rd 2019

Reinstated prozac:  14 Jan 2019, 1mg; 26 Jan, 1.5mg; 4 Feb, 2mg; 16 Feb, 2.5mg; 2 Mar, 3mg; 5 Mar, 2.5mg, 23 Mar, 3 mg; 6 Apr, 3.5mg, 14 Apr 4mg, 23 Apr 5mg, 10 Jul 8mg, 1 Dec 20mg, 1 Apr 2020 40mg 

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  • 1 year later...
  • Mentor

Hello, still surviving and THRIVING.  Life is good.  I thank this site for all its help, I couldnt have done it without the support of this site, , not sure about the blocking new registrations bit.  Are corrupt pharma fighting back?  All the helpers on this site are LEGENDS.  Listen to their advice, hang in there minute by minute, or as I did, SECOND BY SECOND.  I did it, you can too.  You are all so strong, you are so strong for getting through this, you will make it.

 

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Ang, great to hear from you and really glad that you are doing so well.  Thank you for coming back to let us know how you are.  I'll be dropping to 0.75mg Pristiq on Saturday!

 

Here's the announcement about new registrations:

  

On 6/12/2020 at 8:04 AM, Altostrata said:

After a great deal of thought, SurvivingAntidepressants.org will temporarily close to new members this evening.

 

We will not accept any new registrations for the time being. Current members will still be active.

 

The Benzo forum will be unstaffed; it is available for peer-to-peer support only.  It is closed to new topics.

 

For benzodiazepine tapering support, please go to Benzobuddies.org or join one of the many Facebook groups for benzo tapering and withdrawal.

 

SurvivingAntidepressants.org staff has been overwhelmed by an influx of new members and we need to attend to our own lives in this unsettled time.

 

Please do what you can to help other members and the moderators. Thank you.

 

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 11 months later...

Hello,  still on track, everything is great.   About 5 years after my final tapeing.  Now have a home, a garden,  family and friends around me.  Are you still closed to new members?  I recommend this group to others,  you have helped me so much.  

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  • 2 years later...
  • Mentor

Was absolutely worth all the horror getting off those antidepressants.   Every year just gets better and better!.   I now have my dream,  a nice partner, a 50 acre farm, and growing cutflowers.   It seems so long ago, years of torment.  I remember Alto saying if its too hard to survive an hour, survive a minute, and then another minute.  I did that, thankyou Alto, you are a legend.   I thank you all for your never ending support, during my madness and confusion, always there to help.  Grateful.  Happy.   And yes, it is possible to get through the torment, and regrow your old brain.

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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Hi Ang,

 

Great to read your story. I’m gratefully 5.5 years off of Effexor.  I look back at how hard it was and some of my snippy responses to people who were trying to help.  I wholeheartedly apologize to anyone reading this I offended. I went too quickly. The drug worked for me as far as my depression goes yet the cost was too high. I lost feelings, gained 40 pounds and was complacent beyond what I could ever imagine today. My relationship to my depression has changed. I have learned how to manage it and my life is very different in a positive and nourishing way. I am still shocked by the toxicity of Effexor and the mismanagement of care when it comes to tapering. It was awful. I truly believe that these drugs can work as Effexor did for me. I got my life back.  Did I need to continually increase the mgs and be on it for 11 years? No. I guess my point is complicated by the reality that psych meds are a complex soft science because we all respond differently. There just isn’t one size fits all. Are they over prescribed? I believe so. Am I glad I got off Effexor? YES! 

 

250 mgs of Lamactil from 2007 to present

Systematically tapered for 7 months off 225 mgs of Effexor 

OFF EFFEXOR COMPLETELY JULY 11, 2018

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I forgot to mention I am steady at 200 mgs of lamictal. I know for sure it is the right thing for me personally. 

 

250 mgs of Lamactil from 2007 to present

Systematically tapered for 7 months off 225 mgs of Effexor 

OFF EFFEXOR COMPLETELY JULY 11, 2018

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@ang

oh my word….just what my tired and worn out body and soul needed to hear.

after 4  1/2 years of efforts to taper hitting multiple waves and yes  a few glorious windows…i have felt so much despair. Thanks for fanning the flame of hope. Even a little bit of hope goes a long  way.

i am working with a tapering coach, mark horowitz, angie and am now resuming a bupropion hyberbolic sloooow taper.

i am praying for ongoing hope and minimal symptoms of course.

thanks for posting.

and of course thank you @Altostrata for being a trend setter, catalyst for healing for so many. You are a pioneer and deeply appreciated. Love your firmness, wisdom and chutzpah.

  •  Various antidepressants since 1995.Prozac,paxil,lexapro, Wellbutrin.
  •  2004-2021 lexapro 10 mg
  •  2009 added drug Wellbutrin 150mg, 2016  bupropian300 mg XL
  • 2019  start taper June bupropion 300 mg. Now resuming micro dose taper.2.3% reduction. At 51.8 mg.Hope to increase reduction. 
  • 2021 January 29 liquid lexapro done by compound pharmacist.
  • 2021 February 4 began  lexapro taper 
  • 2022 April 7 start 10 mg fluoxetine as bridge.
  • hyperbolic taper. Liquid lexapro 6.60, holding. 
  • 2022 April 27 dropped to 5 mg fluoxetine holding.
  • held all taper from March 2023- January 2024
  • working with mark Horowitz, a taper coach, and doing acupuncture and chiropractic work.
  • SUPPLEMENTS- Vit d3, B-12, Magnesium 200 mg, Ashwagandha 475mg, lithium  oratate 5 mg
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  • Moderator Emeritus

Thank you @ang for your success story.  It brightened my day.  

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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