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thecowisback: wondering why I'm giving up Prozac


thecowisback

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I practice the Ho’oponopono prayer for forgiveness. It’s a Hawaiian forgiveness prayer. Very simple and easy to sing. Not for everyone I know  but it’s really helped me.I sing to it over and over in the car/ house most days. I also go to a Ho’oponopono meditation group once a week. Guilt is a very common symptom resulting from these horrid drugs, all we can do is forgive and move on. 

Just a thought.

take care Kx

Lexapro Fast Track/ Cold Turkey

Last dose end Dec 2018 

Tapered 1/2 a daily dose a week (20mg) for  14 weeks, last dose was a 20 mg pill!!  

 3.5 times slower than Psychiatrist recommended, I felt proud of myself!! Little did I know!!!!Got too scared to reinstate because I’d left it too long.

On ADs for 20 years (Prozac approx 10 years/ Pristiq approx 3 years/ Citalipram approx 2 years/. Lexapro a approx  5 years/. Last two years 40mgs Lexapro day.

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thankyou 💛

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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  • 3 weeks later...

any positive stories from anyone who's gone back on meds? i know this is a site for coming off but i can't find any advice elsewhere. i'm still on 6mg but my anxiety and panic have gone through the roof again. i cannot stand the thought if yet another christmas feeling this bad! i need to make a decision as to whether to up the dose and hope it helps. i'm scared of my anxiety getting worse if i increase the dose but i am desperate. really desperate. 

i remember there was a chart on here that showed who was helped and who wasn't by reinstating their meds at full dose but i can't find it. 

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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  • 4 weeks later...

i was so close to taking a full 20mg capsule this morning. only the fear of maybe a few weeks of even higher anxiety stopped me and i took my usual 6mg dose instead.

i just want some relief from the constant fear and panic. it's been nearly 3 years of this crap and i'm tired tired tired of feeling so scared of every little thing.i've missed so much of my family life over that time. 

i want to say to hell with it and take the full dose and hope it works because i cannot bear to live like this any longer. i feel like i must have done something really bad in life to be going through this. i feel like i'm being punished for something. 

 

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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-Fear of everything past, present, and future.

-State of house/Housework/ DIY all overwhelming 

-Seem ok on outside screaming on inside

- Constantly asking for reassurance from family. Am I a good enough person/ parent

-Panic at night

- Disturbed sleep

- Waking anxiety.

 

Thecowisback

On 11/17/2019 at 6:14 AM, thecowisback said:

 

i don't know how to stop blaming myself for past mistakes

 

10 hours ago, thecowisback said:

i just want some relief from the constant fear and panic. i

 

This is me

day in day out for the last year. This withdrawal can be so diverse yet at times symptoms seem identical. For me the fear and anxiety are the most challenging.

I haven’t reinstated but I get so close. I’ve barely managed a year how on earth have you done 3?!

Our symptoms are so similar.

hang on in there they do say we all heal eventually. 

Take care Thinking of you 

Kx

 

Lexapro Fast Track/ Cold Turkey

Last dose end Dec 2018 

Tapered 1/2 a daily dose a week (20mg) for  14 weeks, last dose was a 20 mg pill!!  

 3.5 times slower than Psychiatrist recommended, I felt proud of myself!! Little did I know!!!!Got too scared to reinstate because I’d left it too long.

On ADs for 20 years (Prozac approx 10 years/ Pristiq approx 3 years/ Citalipram approx 2 years/. Lexapro a approx  5 years/. Last two years 40mgs Lexapro day.

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On 11/16/2019 at 7:14 PM, thecowisback said:

does anyone else have problems with guilt and shame during withdrawal?

i seem to be constantly beating myself up over things i should have done or did wrong in the past. i then start to badger my long suffering family for reassurance that i'm not a terrible person/parent. 

i don't know how to stop blaming myself for past mistakes. i never dwelt on thoughts like this before the withdrawals set in 😞

Yes, reading this, I realised I feel guilty about everything and also about not being the 'perfect' daughter. But gradually am coming to accept that I'm doing the best I can, with the information I currently have. I was quite relieved reading this, in fact, as I have quite strong neuro guilt. It's good to label it as such. 

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.

 

 

 

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sorry to hear you are going through the same thing sunnyside. 

i'm in pieces this morning. i have the meds here beside me and still want to take the 20mg. i think i'm going to have to bite the bullet and try. i don't think i can carry on in this state. nearly 3 years. i can't face a minute more. a couple of people have told me they had to go back on so i think i'm going to have to take the risk they took. 

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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So sorry you've been going through this for so long. I do understand why you feel you need to do something..... I see you've been trying to stabilise on 5mg for some months, which isn't uncommon

 It's quite a leap, 5mg to 20mg. I did a similar thing last summer, different drug, and then switched. To be honest, I think it put my progress back. 

What did you decide in the end? 

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.

 

 

 

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i chickened out and took 6mg. will decide tomorrow.😰

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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  • Mentor
10 hours ago, thecowisback said:

sorry to hear you are going through the same thing sunnyside. 

i'm in pieces this morning. i have the meds here beside me and still want to take the 20mg. i think i'm going to have to bite the bullet and try. i don't think i can carry on in this state. nearly 3 years. i can't face a minute more. a couple of people have told me they had to go back on so i think i'm going to have to take the risk they took. 


sorry to hear you are suffering so much. I don’t know what to advise you, but I’ll be thinking of you.

 = medication taken now

2007 quetiapine to March 2019 200mg

2019 quetiapine March to present 225mg 

2007 citalopram to present 40mg 
2018 March Abilify 5mg  
2019 Abilify February rapid taper over 3 weeks from 5mg to off

2019 March Clonazepam as required, taken very occasionally, then taken 0.5mg for 2 days 28th and 29th March, now phased out

2019 1st April reinstated Abilify 0.5mg / day 

2018 to 2020 Liquid B12 2g twice daily (diagnosed B12 deficiency) 

2020 July reduced quetiapine to 200mg

2022 October began taper of Abilify
 

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thankyou rich. i'm a bit calmer today but the fear is lurking in the wings ready to pounce!

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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Hi, 

I was on 20 mg. prozac for well over 20 years. 

A couple of things I found. 

Movies or games(I imagine, for I watched no movies or video games), or even novels

that were suspenseful set off that horrible anxiety for me just as if it was a real situation I was involved in personally.

 I avoided these.

In Debi Pearl’s book, Healing the Brain through neuroplasticity, she reviews the activities in every

day life in our society that actually damage our brain.

Television, movies, video games, playing on phones are some of the main offenders, and science

knows this.

I have not had any of these in my house for over 20 years and did not during withdrawal.

By God’s grace I am almost completely well after going ct in about June of 2019. 

That’s about 18 months after the horrific suffering beyond imagination began.

When Debi’s book came out it made me wonder whether it was the lack of tv, movies, etc. that

helped me to heal thus far so quickly.

Thecowisback, I know the demonically intense fear, anxiety, self-blame and shame you are having, because I have had them, too.

My hair still comes out in handfuls due to the high anxiety and cortisol. It is truly frightening.

The cycle for me has been fear or be anxious, act up, blame self and shame self over and over again. 

I have fought this cycle with scripture and plain truth aggressively for 6 months.

And I am here to tell you that it will pass because through Christ I am winning.

Your addicted mind wants to drive you back onto the drugs. 

Don’t allow it.

 I remember when you first decided to reinstate. I wanted to, and may have, suggested you not do it.

At that time I had just learned it was a possibility to reinstate in the first place, but was too afraid to

try it because I was already too far out.

But more than that, I wanted no more to do with a drug designed to punish 

a person into going back on it.

I was also aware that it would prolong the process.

I have since followed your posts and I am so sorry how it has turned out for you.

I don’t know the difference that additional 20 mg. you took makes. (You took 40mg. and I only 20)

You probably could say I am full of baloney since I was only on 20 mg.

And if you do, that’s okay.

Just know that I am thinking loving thoughts toward you

and hoping that you get set free from the horrible symptoms and this hellish drug.

Then you can truly live the life you desire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the best of my recollection.

20 mg Prozac 3-4 days per week from 1994 until May 2018.

Beginning May 15 I began to drop doses. 

I dropped 1 dose per week for the next 4 weeks.

It was not systematic at all. I don't have which days I took what.

so the week of May 13 I took 4 doses, which was pretty normal for me.

Then the week of May 20 I took 3 doses 20 mg.

The week of May 27 I took 3 doses 20 mg.

The 1st week in June l took 2 doses 20 mg.

The week of June 10, 2018 was my last dose 20 mg.

I had been on Prozac only for over 20 years.  No other medications.

 

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i ended up increasing by 1mg yesterday so now on 7mg. will have to update.my signature. i'm in a very bad place today. my anxiety is through the roof. i doibt if it's the increase doing it as prozac takes a while to kick in. 

ocd is unbearable. 

could really do with someone to talk to 😞😞😞

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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Just spent the last hour reading all 25 pages of your journey TCIB.  Devastating.  I cannot express how angry I feel that so much harm has been caused purely for the sake of profit for big pharma.  I am sure in time the AD era will be regarded in much the same way as the thalidomide one. Nonetheless, that’s of no help to us caught in the constant struggle of making it through the day.  I’m on 0.81ml a day of a 20 mg/5ml solution and the bad times outweigh the good 19:1 so dreading the future.  Need to survive for my family so will not give up but scared to death.  I wish you all the very best 

September 2004 to June 2017 - 25mg  Paroxetine )

In June 2017 decided to switch to 20mg Prozac.

Started tapering in July 2018, somewhat haphazardly (cold water solutions and dilutions) to 2mg in February 2019 experienced bad WD.

Went back to 5mg and 3.75mg mirtazapine (as and when for sleep).

 

 

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aww thankyou badway - wow, you read the whole boring tale? 

i hope you start to see some light at the end of your tunnel soon xxxxx good luck!!!!

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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OCD is still kicking my arse. The constant 'what if?' questions drive me mad. How do others with this problem cope?

 

 

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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On 11/16/2019 at 2:12 PM, Arcticjessy said:

No I meant I was non functioning before. The anxiety does get worse for a week or so. 
it’s controversial but I truly believe some people’s lives are not worth living without medication I’m one.. I spent thousands on therapy. Meds are the evil and akathesia is the devil and most drs know rod all about these meds.. but I have to make my peace with it and accept something’s you just can’t change 

 

did you go back on prozac or a different drug? how long were you off before reinstating? how long did it take to see an improvement? @Arcticjessy

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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Hi TCIB 

Have you seen the last two success stories posted recently? 

I just read them as not feeling good still at 3.5 years off CT. 

Apologies if you have read them, they have helped me this evening. 

This is such a nightmare journey. 

I saw a therapist today and she suggested I have an assessment with a shrink......I don't think so I know how that will end!

Please keep the faith and know you are not alone. 

Much love

Waves 

 

Various antipressants from 1991 to 2016, Sertraline and many switches over the years.

Last AD's taken:

Citalopram for two weeks only May 2016  to June 2016, last AD taken and CT'd.

2012 to May 2016 Duloxitine 60mg. Doctor switched to Citalopram 20mg May 2016.

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thankyou - will have a read now 😊

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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  • 3 weeks later...

i'm not improving. i feel like i'm going backwards. i'm on 8mg now and the intrusive thoughts are worse then ever. i don't know whether to stick at this dose and hope to stabilise or cut down to 7mg again. 

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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Hi.  Thanks for your note on my thread recently.  I wish you weren’t having such difficulty.  I have no idea what to suggest, but I hope someone else can  help you sort it out.  Hang in there. -  Rosetta 

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

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thankyou rosetta xxxxx

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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  • 2 months later...

this message is for thecowisback

how are you now? feeling normal? are you still on 5mg prozac?

Prozac january 2010 to  october 2016 dose started at 10mg and went up to 80mg

welbutrin october 2014 to october 2016 dose up to 400mg

effexor october 2015 to march 2016 150mg

geodon january 2016 to july 2016 80mg

i did a rapid taper off everything in 8 months time span from march 2016 to october 2016

drug free for 2 years and 7 months

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  • 6 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi thecowisback--I'm wondering how you are doing?  Do you feel like sharing?

 

My best wishes to you,

 

Arbor

 

Edited by ChessieCat
unbolded text and added spacing

Zoloft: 1995 - 2015

Prozac: 2015 - 2018 (tapered from 40mg x day on July 31 to 30mg on August 31 to 20mg on September 31 to 10mg October 31 to 0mg on  December 15, 2018

Gabapentin: 2016 to 2019  (tapered from 300mg x day to 150mg on August 31, 2019 to 75mg on September 15 to 50mg on September 31 to 25ishmg on October 15 to 0mg on December 1, 2019

Enalapril: 2010 - 2019

Lipitor: 2017 -2017

Metformin: 2000 - 2020

Liothyronine: 2007 - 2019

Levothyroxine: 2000 - 2022

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  • 1 year later...

Hi @thecowisback

 

i read your Thread and i feel with you. So much. I was on prozac for 8 jears and since 7 Months im in hell... My Family sende me to the Psychiatrie.

 

I tried to get some Support for reinstatement here but it dont worked. 

 

How do feel now? It would Help me so much to know if reinstatement worked for you.

 

Greetings from Germany 🍀🍀🍀

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2 hours ago, Swiffy said:

Hi @thecowisback

 

i read your Thread and i feel with you. So much. I was on prozac for 8 jears and since 7 Months im in hell... My Family sende me to the Psychiatrie.

 

I tried to get some Support for reinstatement here but it dont worked. 

 

How do feel now? It would Help me so much to know if reinstatement worked for you.

 

Greetings from Germany 🍀🍀🍀

They visited on october 25th and their signature is updated to say they successfully when back up, so who knows maybe that is the result.

Klonopin Mar 2013 - Feb 2021 - used .000 gram scale to cut pills did very slowly from 2017-2021, had no issues stopping after final dose that was sub .5mg diazepam equivalent (If anyone wants advice for tapering Klonopin with a gram scale, feel free to ask!)

tapered off zyprexa twice over 2 weeks in my 20's, had little issue with that after about 3-4 years of use both times.

Prozac 40MG for 5 years - 2016 - 2021 (Total of 13 years of consecutive use)

(Most recent after last break, been on cumulatively in my life 14 years all times combined, 3 separate on/off occasions, all successful except most recent 3/4)

Recent Issue:  Tapered gradually from 40MG down to 0MG from May 7th - Aug 18th

Felt fine through Oct 5th, slowly started getting depression, panic, and anxiety (Was original thing I was treated for)

Decided to go back on SSRI Nov 1st, reacted very bad to 20mg reinstatement, day 1 was fine, day 2 had ADR. Doctor said to drop dosage.

Took 5mg for 2 weeks, 10mg for 2 weeks, still felt physically sick, could not take 20mg for more than 3 days, looking for advice going forward (ADR)

Not happy about it, but on 1.5mg 3x ativan and temazepam 15mg for sleep

(Was sleeping 2-3 hrs nightly prior to temazepam, was first thing that broke 2-3 hr then wide awake sleep cycle)

Main symptoms: headaches from certain foods and meds, sleep is broken, anxiety and agitation is extremely high, cortisol spike sensitive, bad in morning better at night, panic attacks, concentration is awful, focus is awful, anhedonia is awful, sensitive to light and noise, especially noise, extreme depression, intense bouts of fear, every looks and feels 'scary' at times, stress tolerance extremely low, have bouts of extreme anxiety, and bouts akathesia, and bouts extreme anticipatory anxiety over basic events/tasks. Nervous system is clearly crashed.

No Prozac for 249 days.

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12 minutes ago, UserMan1775 said:

Sie haben sie am 25. Oktober besucht und ihre Signatur wird aktualisiert, um zu sagen, dass sie beim Sichern erfolgreich waren. Wer weiß, vielleicht ist das das Ergebnis.

Hey,

 

sorry my english is Not very good. Do you mean that her reinstatement was successfull? 

 

Is it necessary that every post from me has to be checked from the stuff before publicing????

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Apologies folks - I didn't see the posts until now.

I went from 8mg up to 20mg in 2019 as I was desperate for relief. It made a bit of difference, but not enough to be living a normal life again, so I bit the bullet and went up to my original dose of 40 mg. It made no difference for about 4 months - if anything I felt worse for a while,but suddenly it felt like someone had turned a light on and I gradually felt better and better.

I'm still on 40 mg and still have some off days, but in general life is a million times better emotionally. I'm no longer suicidal and enjoying life. I feel calm and my mind is no longer racing at 200 miles an hour with catastrophic thoughts. My kids begged me to go back on the full dose and they can see a vast improvement in me.

I have side effects which I don't like, such as tinnitus in my left ear and weight gain, but at least I'm alive and actually happy for the first time in a few years.

I feel like I wasted 3 years by trying to slog out withdrawals. I came off prozac way too quickly in the beginning and I wish now I'd reinstated immediately. If I decide to come off again I will do a long taper, but at the moment I'm just enjoying feeling calm 95% of the time because it's a feeling I'd forgotten.

Good luck to anyone going through this hell.

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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Thanks for the update. I also wish I had reinstated instead of hoping that symptoms would go away with time … 14 months off still bedridden/housebound but too scared to go back on the AD. Reading ur story makes me wonder if reinstating would save me as well. I know it’s risky and a very individual thing …. Anyways, happy to hear reinstating worked for you. God bless 

Aug. 16-17, 2020, cipralex: went CRAZY! Recovered in 24hrs

Aug.28,2020; 3.5 weeks 25mg sertraline/4.5 weeks taper

Oct. 25: Last dose (4mg)

Symptoms while on zoloft

DPDR/out of my body/soul despair/feeling dead; tinnitus/no appetite; fear, anxiety/panics

4 months OFF: soul despair, anxiety/fear, brain disconnection/ DPDR, brain feels swollen-numb/crazy/bedridden barely functioning, tinnitus, eye lid twitches; face spasms. Feeling slightly better after 10pm.

- sleep & appetite are fine

9 months OFF: hell, no windows, same symptoms as above  (only eye and face twitches have stopped) plus intense arm/shoulder pain and visual issues. Tinnitus replaced by head buzzing. 

10 months-1 year: all above plus Insomnia (out of nowhere), depression, no peace of mind (mental Akathisia); 2.5mg melatonin

14months off: sleep resumed. All rest symptoms remain. Bedridden vegetable all day. DP is relentless. 

1.5 years off: still severely disabled, not much changed except some improvement in vision.

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Hi,

 

wow, its so wonderful to hear that you are fine and i admire your courage 😍🍀🍀

 

Im wondering the whole time if i should reinstate or not, but i think i have to try it.

 

 

My big Problem ist that i'm totally sleepless since 7 Months. I have No life... Do you had this problem too?

 

 

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i had barely any sleep for 3 years. i'd wake in terror and spend the rest of the night in a panic attack. now i sleep right through unless i need a pee.

Life is just good now. i enjoy pretty much every day. i feel like i lost so much over the three years, worst of all i made life hell for my family. 

There are so many warnings about reinstating but i felt like i had no choice as it was either take the risk or take my own life. things really were that bad and the owner of this site refused to answer any more of my posts. the only advice i really got from them was make detailed notes each day which were dominating my life and making me focus more on my dilemma, and to think of puppies and kittens, which oddly didn't help when i felt as if my life was spiralling out of control and my every waking moment was filled with fear and thoughts of different ways of killing myself. 

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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On 12/13/2021 at 6:36 AM, thecowisback said:

i had barely any sleep for 3 years. i'd wake in terror and spend the rest of the night in a panic attack. now i sleep right through unless i need a pee.

Life is just good now. i enjoy pretty much every day. i feel like i lost so much over the three years, worst of all i made life hell for my family. 

There are so many warnings about reinstating but i felt like i had no choice as it was either take the risk or take my own life. things really were that bad and the owner of this site refused to answer any more of my posts. the only advice i really got from them was make detailed notes each day which were dominating my life and making me focus more on my dilemma, and to think of puppies and kittens, which oddly didn't help when i felt as if my life was spiralling out of control and my every waking moment was filled with fear and thoughts of different ways of killing myself. 

I know how hard must have been to find the courage to reinstate, but I am glad it worked and you are posting ur experience. No one really wants to go back to these drugs but for some people the suffering is so much that reinstating is the only option. I wish there was a way to predict successful reinstatement, but there isn’t. Thank you for sharing 

 

Aug. 16-17, 2020, cipralex: went CRAZY! Recovered in 24hrs

Aug.28,2020; 3.5 weeks 25mg sertraline/4.5 weeks taper

Oct. 25: Last dose (4mg)

Symptoms while on zoloft

DPDR/out of my body/soul despair/feeling dead; tinnitus/no appetite; fear, anxiety/panics

4 months OFF: soul despair, anxiety/fear, brain disconnection/ DPDR, brain feels swollen-numb/crazy/bedridden barely functioning, tinnitus, eye lid twitches; face spasms. Feeling slightly better after 10pm.

- sleep & appetite are fine

9 months OFF: hell, no windows, same symptoms as above  (only eye and face twitches have stopped) plus intense arm/shoulder pain and visual issues. Tinnitus replaced by head buzzing. 

10 months-1 year: all above plus Insomnia (out of nowhere), depression, no peace of mind (mental Akathisia); 2.5mg melatonin

14months off: sleep resumed. All rest symptoms remain. Bedridden vegetable all day. DP is relentless. 

1.5 years off: still severely disabled, not much changed except some improvement in vision.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey guys,

@thecowisback@Swiffy

I'd encourage you to search out and utilize the depression forums, and medication forums of your choice.  When discussing going back on drugs on doses that you were at before, or greater dosages.

 

  Do take a run through the Read This First forum too.  You'll see it as the top forum, from your Home Page here.

 

On 12/13/2021 at 3:06 AM, thecowisback said:

There are so many warnings about reinstating but i felt like i had no choice as it was either take the risk or take my own life. things really were that bad and the owner of this site refused to answer any more of my posts. the only advice i really got from them was make detailed notes each day which were dominating my life and making me focus more on my dilemma, and to think of puppies and kittens, which oddly didn't help when i felt as if my life was spiralling out of control and my every waking moment was filled with fear and thoughts of different ways of killing myself. 

 

And so sorry that you felt bad enough to possibly cause harm to yourself and all your loved ones(by your actions) thecowisback.

 

We are, a site specifically geared for tapering medications.  And support around WD.

Not a site for psychiatric diagnosis and remedication discussions.

 

And when spiraling and having active suicidal tendencies.....oh my,  we hope and pray that you can and will find the help you need at that time, on the ground, locally.  Of course we do!

 

Reinstatement to me, means of the very low dose variety, to mitigate WD symptoms.  I'm of the less is more variety, if any at all.

 

It seems that for some, it means going back to and then sometimes beyond, the doses they had been on.

 

If you want to talk diagnosis and medication or medication cocktails you might be better served at DepressionForums.org or PatientsLikeMe.com.

  

I'm glad you are doing better.  Glad you chose to stay alive.

And appreciate your update but..........

 

I can't help but read what I quoted as blaming or a bit insulting to another. 

It may be a challenge, but a good one, to attempt to overcome that kind of coping, if you can call it that.  I don't think that is ever an effective coping strategy.  

 

I do know that often, it sure has helped me, to just go ahead and try something, something that might be new or different, even when skeptical. 

 

Be it looking a kittens and puppies, or following through with providing information that most definitely makes giving any suggests easier.   We ask for those notes, not to make members feel worse, but to get an objective look at symptoms and drug relationships.

 

I hope you can find what you need going forward.

And again appreciate the update, not so much the other though.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited by manymoretodays
and more, added notifications, and additional on suicidal tendencies

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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14 hours ago, Swiffy said:

@thecowisback,

 

do you had worster symptoms for a while when you reinstated? Espacially your sleep...?

 

I reinstated an my sleep gets worster and i have burning sensations on my whole Body 🙈

 

Greetings 🍀😊

Hello,

 

This has happened to me, except the burning is just in my head like my scalp and brain it feels like.

 

Sleep is awful, hope it fixes.

Klonopin Mar 2013 - Feb 2021 - used .000 gram scale to cut pills did very slowly from 2017-2021, had no issues stopping after final dose that was sub .5mg diazepam equivalent (If anyone wants advice for tapering Klonopin with a gram scale, feel free to ask!)

tapered off zyprexa twice over 2 weeks in my 20's, had little issue with that after about 3-4 years of use both times.

Prozac 40MG for 5 years - 2016 - 2021 (Total of 13 years of consecutive use)

(Most recent after last break, been on cumulatively in my life 14 years all times combined, 3 separate on/off occasions, all successful except most recent 3/4)

Recent Issue:  Tapered gradually from 40MG down to 0MG from May 7th - Aug 18th

Felt fine through Oct 5th, slowly started getting depression, panic, and anxiety (Was original thing I was treated for)

Decided to go back on SSRI Nov 1st, reacted very bad to 20mg reinstatement, day 1 was fine, day 2 had ADR. Doctor said to drop dosage.

Took 5mg for 2 weeks, 10mg for 2 weeks, still felt physically sick, could not take 20mg for more than 3 days, looking for advice going forward (ADR)

Not happy about it, but on 1.5mg 3x ativan and temazepam 15mg for sleep

(Was sleeping 2-3 hrs nightly prior to temazepam, was first thing that broke 2-3 hr then wide awake sleep cycle)

Main symptoms: headaches from certain foods and meds, sleep is broken, anxiety and agitation is extremely high, cortisol spike sensitive, bad in morning better at night, panic attacks, concentration is awful, focus is awful, anhedonia is awful, sensitive to light and noise, especially noise, extreme depression, intense bouts of fear, every looks and feels 'scary' at times, stress tolerance extremely low, have bouts of extreme anxiety, and bouts akathesia, and bouts extreme anticipatory anxiety over basic events/tasks. Nervous system is clearly crashed.

No Prozac for 249 days.

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