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Weasel: Reinstatement possible? And an update


NJJ

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Weasel, 

 

Could you take a stab at updating your signature with your taper and reinstatement, approximate dates and amounts?  I can't tell from your sig where you are at right now.  Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature

 

It could also be that you are having Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization from coming off and then reinstating at a level below where your nervous system had healed to.  Are you on 10 mg now?  Since you had been taking 12.5 every other day, that was essentially 6.25 mg/day and I expect that 5 mg a day should have gotten you stable, though it could take some time to settle out.  Did you have ANY good days in that 1.5 mo?  What is your symptom pattern now?  When do you take your dose and when do the symptoms appear?  

 

Are you taking 10 mg/day?  If so, do you feel better, the same, or worse since this updose?

 

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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  • Weasel

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Thank you both for responding I tried to update my history but something is wrong with the link I reinstated 6 mg every day around May 1st I was off Zoloft since Feb too quick of a taper from my dr I have good days and no horrible wd symptoms I see from Alto's post it could take months to stabilize due to a sensitized system I was just wondering if this could be the Zoloft causing these symptoms or simply a wave Thanks

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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How are you feeling now ?  What symptoms are you having , if any ?  It might take a few months to stabilize , but that's ok . It's to be expected and if you can stay calm , it will go well.

Ali

Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014

 

                                                  Psych Drug - free since May 2014
.
         

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  • Moderator Emeritus

updated signature link: Please put your withdrawal history in signature

Or

  • click your username at the top of the page; a menu with user options appears
  • click on "My settings"; the browser navigates to the user "My Settings" page. On the left side of the page there are light blue/gray tabs for the different settings.
  • click on the "Signature" tab.
  • edit your signature
  • click on black button "Save changes"

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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I was doing very well but recently I have had increased anxiety and the symptoms I shared earlier I guess a wave can come even after a long window I just wanted to make sure what it was thanks Hun bless you

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I need a best guess I have been reinstating Zoloft for 1.5 months I also take gabapentin and lamictal I have been doing fine now suddenly the past 3 days have had headaches insomnia anxiety do you think it wd wave bad reaction to one of my meds or a reaction to my high stress life lately please advise this whole wd symptoms started 3 mos ago

Edited by scallywag
moved from Waves & Windows

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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Weasel,

 

I think it is likely any, or all 3 of the things you mentioned, causing this wave. My symptoms, especially insomnia, get extra bad under severe stress.

 

Try some self-care and positive self-talk. Often we can't connect the dots. If we could we could fix ourselves, and mostly what we need is time. Have you tried an Epsom salts bath yet? Or just a hot bath? Be gentle with yourself and try to reduce expectations. A better day will come soon.

 

Grace

  • amitriptyline from 1980-2002,
  • intermittent  use of benzos over 2 decades prior to 2002
  • 2002-2010 Klonopin 1-2 mg., ambien 10--20, mg, remeron 4 mg. and  trileptal 300 mg
  • 2011 Stopped ambien and crossed over to valium 17.5 mg. (updosing 2.5 mg. to cover ambien C/T )
  • tapered valium w/ long holds to 12.74 mg. from a high of approximately 20-30 mg/day
  • 2015-2023 tapered trileptal to 98 mg.  had to completely stop tapering due to multiple chronic, serious health issues
  • currently 2024 still on 98 mg. trileptal and 4 mg. remeron
  •   Currently on benzo hold as I have to cross-over from brand-name valium to generic diazepam.   The diazepam is way weaker and brought on severe acute w/d
  • Current dose of diazepam is 7.9 and valium is 6.6.  I had to up-dose the total valium/diazepam from 12.74 to 14.5 where I have stayed since June 2023.  I am crossing over to generic at a somewhat tolerable rate of .3mg/month after about 2 months of trial/error w/ updosing.  I am not currently tapering; will continue to cross over. 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Weasel, when your introduction thread gets to 3+ pages the mods "kinda" rely on you to keep your signature updated. In addition to drugs & dosages, recent changes (last 12 months) in dosage & change dates are very, very helpful. Current symptoms are a good thing to include in a signature, too.

 

A little straight, direct talk: How would knowing what causes the symptom make a difference for you?  Most of us here on SA are smart, curious and sensitive. This is great in many ways.  When it comes to our (+ my) own recovery, our intelligence and curiosity sometimes gets in our (+ my) way. 

 

We'll try to sort it out to minimize symptoms or resolve them. If it's a wave, ride it.  Note your symptoms and when they occur on paper.  Post that here. Let us know any patterns that you see. 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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I have been reinstating Zoloft now for 1.5 months but I am sinking into a deep depression due to the wd neuro emotions still happening I can't tell if I have not been successful on the restate or if depression is happening as well what will happen to me if I truly have depression? Do I have to have more meds? I feel hopeless right now.

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Weasel, you are putting a fair amount of attention and energy into your symptoms and it's not helping you much. Health or symptom anxiety will only add to that caused by your CNS retuning itself.  Have you ever heard a piano tuner at work? It's unpleasant to listen to: discordant, no rhythm, unpleasant, no tune, annoying. The same is true of symptoms of withdrawal. Eventually though, the piano is tuned and beautiful music is available.

 

It's a very bad hand you were dealt when the morphine you took for fibro looks to have triggered delayed withdrawal. You're now in a pattern of waves and windows. In waves, the symptoms are present; in windows you are largely symptom free. It might be useful for you to review what withdrawal syndrome is and what symptoms are often observed in w/d.

 

Introduction to anti-depressant withdrawal syndrome

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

Hi Weasel. I just wanted you to know I can relate to what you are going through. I too had a rough day, and I am overthinking wondering if this reinstating was a good idea. You have had some good days and so have I. I guess what we are experiencing is windows and waves. I don't like this very much at all. I am hoping that sometime soon the windows will be longer for both of us Hang in there and big hugs to you.

 

Marie

10/13--10/14 Ambien. Started tapering 1/14  Jumped 10/14.  Done.                                                                              

3/14        7.5 Remeron  still taking this.                              

2/14         75 Trazodone   -    Tapered by dry cutting all the way down.

1/16        4 mg Trazodone  -  Jumped. Bad mistake. Got hit with late withdrawal 6 weeks later. Reinstated.

4/16        Reinstated 1 mg, updose to 2 mg Trazodone

2/19        .04 Trazodone. Walked off.  Done.

10/3/19  Started 7.5 Mirtazapine taper cut to .073 gram weight, pill weighs .076

4/5/20    New Mirtazapine Taper - Compound Liquid 7.35 mg April '20, 7.25 mg May, 7.05 mg June, 6.99 mg June, 6.78 mg July, 6.57 mg Aug, Sept 6.35 mg, Sept 6.24 mg, Sept 6.21 mg, Oct 5.99 mg, Oct 5.90 mg, Oct 5.70 mg.

1/11/21 6.05 mg Messed up taper due to syringe change. Must remember the 1 ml syringe contains 1.5mg! 1/16/21 5.99 mg

2/21 5.75 mg, 3/21 5.6 mg, 4/7 5.45, 4/14 5.30, 5/12 5.15, 5/25/21 4.99 mg, 6/29 4.87 mg, 7/14/21 4.74 mg, 8/5 4.62 mg 8/17 4.5 mg, 8/30 4.38 mg,9/16 4.26 mg,10/9 4.14 mg, 10/23 4.05 mg, 11/6 3.96 mg,11/17 3.87mg.***Jan 22 Liquid was changed/couldn't tolerate***Changed back to pills. Feb 22/3.9 mg, 2/17/22 3.8 mg, 3/23 3.7 mg, 4/7 3.6 mg, 5/10 3.5mg,6/10/22 3.4 mg, 7/4 3.3 mg, 7/25 3.2 mg, 8/20/22 3.1 mg, 9/15 3 mg, 10/8/22 2.9 mg., 12/15 2.8 mg, 1/6/23 2.7 mg, 2/16/23 2.6 mg, 3/9 2.5 mg, 4/4 2.4 mg, 4/29/23 2.3 mg, 5/26 2.2 mg, 6/22/23 2.1 mg, 10/14 2 mg, 11/12 1.9 mg, 11/28 1.8 mg , 12/14/23 1.7, 12/31/23 1.6 mg, 1/20 1.5 mg, 2/6/24 1.4 mg, 2/12 updose 1.5 mg. Taking multi-vitamin, vit. D, cholestoff, psyllium husk, and fish oil.

 

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Hi Weasel,

 

I have my share of "scary"'depression too. They are very hard days to shake off; in fact, of all my symptoms I find it most difficult to get through the dark depression days. I literally can't do anything but wait for them to be over, and hope that the next day will be better.

 

Any day now, you will have a good day which will give you more hope and make it easier to not ruminate on your symptoms. Meanwhile, distraction of any kind is your best tactic on those days. Also positive self-talk and good self-care. I really do know how much easier this is said than done.

 

You don't need more meds to get through this...you need time. It will happen. Try to focus on acceptance, belief and hope.

 

Grace

  • amitriptyline from 1980-2002,
  • intermittent  use of benzos over 2 decades prior to 2002
  • 2002-2010 Klonopin 1-2 mg., ambien 10--20, mg, remeron 4 mg. and  trileptal 300 mg
  • 2011 Stopped ambien and crossed over to valium 17.5 mg. (updosing 2.5 mg. to cover ambien C/T )
  • tapered valium w/ long holds to 12.74 mg. from a high of approximately 20-30 mg/day
  • 2015-2023 tapered trileptal to 98 mg.  had to completely stop tapering due to multiple chronic, serious health issues
  • currently 2024 still on 98 mg. trileptal and 4 mg. remeron
  •   Currently on benzo hold as I have to cross-over from brand-name valium to generic diazepam.   The diazepam is way weaker and brought on severe acute w/d
  • Current dose of diazepam is 7.9 and valium is 6.6.  I had to up-dose the total valium/diazepam from 12.74 to 14.5 where I have stayed since June 2023.  I am crossing over to generic at a somewhat tolerable rate of .3mg/month after about 2 months of trial/error w/ updosing.  I am not currently tapering; will continue to cross over. 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Everyone has offered very wise support, weasel.  The fact that you have been having windows and waves prior to this moment would suggest that you are in a tough wave; this is not your depression returning or a sign that you need to be on meds.  You need to try to see that, although WD waves feel awful, they are a sign of your nervous system healing, sorting itself out.  Another piano analogy:  the metronome.  Your nervous system is reverberating back and forth.  As one neurotransmitter system does a touch of healing, it causes reverberations into other systems that then must change as well, and all of this creates symptoms.  But what is going on is a good thing!  I may have said it before, but it can be helpful to repeat in your mind "this is just withdrawal, and I am healing"  :-)

 

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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Bless you all for your replies! I needed reminded and supported I feel pretty good today! Praise the Lord!

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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Bless you all for your replies! I needed reminded and supported I feel pretty good today! Praise the Lord!

Good for you Weasel. I feel better today too :).

 

Marie

10/13--10/14 Ambien. Started tapering 1/14  Jumped 10/14.  Done.                                                                              

3/14        7.5 Remeron  still taking this.                              

2/14         75 Trazodone   -    Tapered by dry cutting all the way down.

1/16        4 mg Trazodone  -  Jumped. Bad mistake. Got hit with late withdrawal 6 weeks later. Reinstated.

4/16        Reinstated 1 mg, updose to 2 mg Trazodone

2/19        .04 Trazodone. Walked off.  Done.

10/3/19  Started 7.5 Mirtazapine taper cut to .073 gram weight, pill weighs .076

4/5/20    New Mirtazapine Taper - Compound Liquid 7.35 mg April '20, 7.25 mg May, 7.05 mg June, 6.99 mg June, 6.78 mg July, 6.57 mg Aug, Sept 6.35 mg, Sept 6.24 mg, Sept 6.21 mg, Oct 5.99 mg, Oct 5.90 mg, Oct 5.70 mg.

1/11/21 6.05 mg Messed up taper due to syringe change. Must remember the 1 ml syringe contains 1.5mg! 1/16/21 5.99 mg

2/21 5.75 mg, 3/21 5.6 mg, 4/7 5.45, 4/14 5.30, 5/12 5.15, 5/25/21 4.99 mg, 6/29 4.87 mg, 7/14/21 4.74 mg, 8/5 4.62 mg 8/17 4.5 mg, 8/30 4.38 mg,9/16 4.26 mg,10/9 4.14 mg, 10/23 4.05 mg, 11/6 3.96 mg,11/17 3.87mg.***Jan 22 Liquid was changed/couldn't tolerate***Changed back to pills. Feb 22/3.9 mg, 2/17/22 3.8 mg, 3/23 3.7 mg, 4/7 3.6 mg, 5/10 3.5mg,6/10/22 3.4 mg, 7/4 3.3 mg, 7/25 3.2 mg, 8/20/22 3.1 mg, 9/15 3 mg, 10/8/22 2.9 mg., 12/15 2.8 mg, 1/6/23 2.7 mg, 2/16/23 2.6 mg, 3/9 2.5 mg, 4/4 2.4 mg, 4/29/23 2.3 mg, 5/26 2.2 mg, 6/22/23 2.1 mg, 10/14 2 mg, 11/12 1.9 mg, 11/28 1.8 mg , 12/14/23 1.7, 12/31/23 1.6 mg, 1/20 1.5 mg, 2/6/24 1.4 mg, 2/12 updose 1.5 mg. Taking multi-vitamin, vit. D, cholestoff, psyllium husk, and fish oil.

 

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My emotions are up and down sometimes minutes apart. I am alone a lot my husband works and I tend to ruminate even on a good day. What activities can I do or go to that would be low stress? Suggestions would be appreciated. I try games and the computer and reading the Bible but my good day can turn bad quick I am sick of eating the same bland food everyday. I can't go see a movie or go out to eat or drive or shop I am a prisoner in my house I don't want to eat anymore I thought reinstatement would make me feel normal again thanks

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

My favourites:  Colouring in those detailed pictures, can't remember what they're called but they seem to be everywhere these days.  Cutting up fabric and moving it round to create small patchworks.  Cross-stitch.  Baking. 

2010  Fluoxetine 20mg.  2011  Escitalopram 20mg.  2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS.  Effexor 150mg. 

2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants.  Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. 

Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms).

8 month hold.

2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent).

2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well.
Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea.

2023 Now on 7 micro-beads of Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops.

 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.'  Dr Gabor Mate.

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Hey Weasel,

 

This may not be what you're looking for but sometimes, when I can't seem to do anything else because of my depression and/or fatigue, I muster up what I need to tackle a sorta mindless job...like going through papers and organizing them, cleaning out a closet, or even cleaning in general.  It serves several  purposes...it gets me moving, it gives me some vague sense of accompiishment (lack of purpose always accompanies my depression), and I actually get something done.  It keeps my mind occupied by something other than my symptoms.  I often have to "push through" pain.

 

I, too, have a penchant for coloring, crossword puzzles (free on the computer), reading, and it's entirely okay to watch mindless tv!  (i'm talking reality shows here :blush: )  Pretty much ANYTHING that takes your mind off your symptoms, even if for just minutes at a time.  Reading the Bible is great, if you can do it, but I can't concentrate enough, EVER, to do it and stay focused.  Have you tried relaxation tapes and/or hot baths?

 

Find ANYTHING you feel like eating (maybe not something w/ tons of sugar) and just eat that.  I understand about eating bland food.  Plain chicken and plain vegetables are standard fare for me.  Are you having GI symptoms? if not, don't worry too much about what you eat, but try to get some (even a little protein) and some calories.

 

Hope something in here resonated with you...

 

Grace

  • amitriptyline from 1980-2002,
  • intermittent  use of benzos over 2 decades prior to 2002
  • 2002-2010 Klonopin 1-2 mg., ambien 10--20, mg, remeron 4 mg. and  trileptal 300 mg
  • 2011 Stopped ambien and crossed over to valium 17.5 mg. (updosing 2.5 mg. to cover ambien C/T )
  • tapered valium w/ long holds to 12.74 mg. from a high of approximately 20-30 mg/day
  • 2015-2023 tapered trileptal to 98 mg.  had to completely stop tapering due to multiple chronic, serious health issues
  • currently 2024 still on 98 mg. trileptal and 4 mg. remeron
  •   Currently on benzo hold as I have to cross-over from brand-name valium to generic diazepam.   The diazepam is way weaker and brought on severe acute w/d
  • Current dose of diazepam is 7.9 and valium is 6.6.  I had to up-dose the total valium/diazepam from 12.74 to 14.5 where I have stayed since June 2023.  I am crossing over to generic at a somewhat tolerable rate of .3mg/month after about 2 months of trial/error w/ updosing.  I am not currently tapering; will continue to cross over. 

 

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Just wondering how you have been doing these past few days...

 

Grace

  • amitriptyline from 1980-2002,
  • intermittent  use of benzos over 2 decades prior to 2002
  • 2002-2010 Klonopin 1-2 mg., ambien 10--20, mg, remeron 4 mg. and  trileptal 300 mg
  • 2011 Stopped ambien and crossed over to valium 17.5 mg. (updosing 2.5 mg. to cover ambien C/T )
  • tapered valium w/ long holds to 12.74 mg. from a high of approximately 20-30 mg/day
  • 2015-2023 tapered trileptal to 98 mg.  had to completely stop tapering due to multiple chronic, serious health issues
  • currently 2024 still on 98 mg. trileptal and 4 mg. remeron
  •   Currently on benzo hold as I have to cross-over from brand-name valium to generic diazepam.   The diazepam is way weaker and brought on severe acute w/d
  • Current dose of diazepam is 7.9 and valium is 6.6.  I had to up-dose the total valium/diazepam from 12.74 to 14.5 where I have stayed since June 2023.  I am crossing over to generic at a somewhat tolerable rate of .3mg/month after about 2 months of trial/error w/ updosing.  I am not currently tapering; will continue to cross over. 

 

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Thanks Grace! I have 4 days of Windows good ones! Bless the Lord for his mercy! How are you?

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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So good to hear, weasel...there's always hope in the darkness.

 

I had 7 good days (for me) but GI issues back with a vengeance. Life goes on anyway; at a movie, literally and figuratively trying to chill

 

Keep us posted.

 

Grace

  • amitriptyline from 1980-2002,
  • intermittent  use of benzos over 2 decades prior to 2002
  • 2002-2010 Klonopin 1-2 mg., ambien 10--20, mg, remeron 4 mg. and  trileptal 300 mg
  • 2011 Stopped ambien and crossed over to valium 17.5 mg. (updosing 2.5 mg. to cover ambien C/T )
  • tapered valium w/ long holds to 12.74 mg. from a high of approximately 20-30 mg/day
  • 2015-2023 tapered trileptal to 98 mg.  had to completely stop tapering due to multiple chronic, serious health issues
  • currently 2024 still on 98 mg. trileptal and 4 mg. remeron
  •   Currently on benzo hold as I have to cross-over from brand-name valium to generic diazepam.   The diazepam is way weaker and brought on severe acute w/d
  • Current dose of diazepam is 7.9 and valium is 6.6.  I had to up-dose the total valium/diazepam from 12.74 to 14.5 where I have stayed since June 2023.  I am crossing over to generic at a somewhat tolerable rate of .3mg/month after about 2 months of trial/error w/ updosing.  I am not currently tapering; will continue to cross over. 

 

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  • 1 month later...

** moved from dental surgery topic

 

I have stabilized on 6 mg Zoloft for 3 mos I also take Gabapentin and Lamictal. I wanted to know which anesthesia would be safest for my major dental surgery. Choices are Ativan and Twilight sedation or Ativan and Nitrous Oxide. I still have some lingering WD although minimal. Any thoughts? Thanks

Edited by scallywag
moved post

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Weasel, I've moved your question about sedation during dental surgery to your introduction topic. Have you run an interactions report on the proposed combinations with your current medications?

Drugs-dot-com Drugs Interactions Checker.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment
  • 4 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Yes, Weasel, waves of symptoms still can still occur months after stabilizing on a dose.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well I had my dental surgery of 6 extractions and I feel like I have been setback from recovery . I feel dizzy disconnected, worse tinnitus. I don't know if it was the trauma of the surgery itself or the meds propofol clindamycin albuterol nitrous oxide hydrocodone my suspicion is hydrocodone I felt like how I felt in April when morphine sulfate triggered my WD I have been fighting hard over 9 months to heal I am worried I have to start over now I am very depressed

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  • 10 months later...

Hi Everyone! I pray that all of you are recovering well! I have a question. I have been reinstated on sertraline for over a yr now and have not tapered yet. I still have some lingering withdrawal symptoms. Is that normal? The good news though is that I am functioning at about 90 recovered. I wish all of you health and love!

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Weasel: Reinstatement possible? And an update
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hello Weasel,

 

nice to hear from you and hear that you are doing so well with reinstatement! Are you taking only 6 mg of Zoloft?

 

Lingering symptoms are very normal. Especially with other two drugs in the mix and their interactions and side effects.

 

There is also something we call WD normal:  

 

There is a very important survey on drug WD at the moment. We might finally get some acknowledgement for all the suffering these drugs caused us.

 

Adding your experience would be very valuable. It only takes a few minutes. They extended it because they got so many replies after Alto mobilised our members here but the more people join, the more powerful we are.

 

I even invited my friends who are not on the forum and some of them were not even aware that what was happening to them was a WD... Every vote counts.

 

https://roehamptonpsych.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6gSHZN88sOmHDlr

 

Brassmonkey described WD normal like this:

 

 

"You call it withdrawal normal, as said above when you have reached a base-line which is as good as it gets for you. Now I guess, I can start to think about that. "

 

As good as it gets for that moment.  WDnormal is a sliding scale of reference for tracking overall improvements in ones condition. As you're learning this is a very slow process and at first changes in WDnormal are very small and slow in coming. As time passes and ones body heals those changes become more pronounced and more frequent. But it can be frustratingly slow at first.

 

I'll bore you with a bit of my history so you can see how I came up with the idea of WDnrmal.  Many people find the time frames upsetting but I truly advocate going very slowly.   I'm one of the "lucky ones" in that I have only been on one drug, all be it for 23 years now, which makes things a lot easier to sort out. I originally started on Paxil for Spontaneous Outbursts of Violent Anger and it really helped.  In reality I should have been through counseling instead of being drugged, but that's an irrelevant part of the story.  After many years on the drug it wasn't working as well so I updosed.  That helped sorta but a few years later I needed to updose again.  That helped for a few months, then I started down hill.  It took a number of years and becoming totally messed up to figure out I was in severe tolerance, or what we lovingly call "poopout".

 

Just making the decision to do something about it was a terrifying experience but after 18 years of being drugged, my marriage on the rocks and about to lose everything (probably even my life) I decided to do something about it.     Again I was lucky and found a site called PaxilProgress before I made any changes. That started the entire process.  I liked the idea of the 10% taper, but made a couple of modifications to make it gentler, and started with that.

 

Nothing happened. I felt as bad as I had been.  Six weeks passed and I did my second drop. Nothing happened, except maybe I felt a bit worse.  This pattern kept up for about 18 months.  When one day it hit me, "I hadn't felt as c***** for the past several weeks".  It took another six months before I again noticed that things had improved.  During this whole time all I could do was move doggedly forward making the best of it and learning to put up with and work around the symptoms.  I really had no other choice.

 

A little after two years I had my first widow.  It lasted about fifteen minutes, and it wasn't until several hours later I realized it had happened.  That was the point that it sunk in that the process really did work.  Except for that window the rest of the time was heavy brain fog, DR, no short term memory, dizziness, all the symptoms we know and loath.  Another window opened briefly a few months later, and I noticed that I wasn't as "out of it" all the time and that I was gaining a little control over the symptoms by Acknowledging them, Accepting them and letting them Float off as I went about my life.

 

Finally after three years of tapering I felt like I was making progress. I could see that I was improved from where I had started even though I knew I was by no means better.  I also could see that I was doing better that I was just six months before.  I realized that my "base line of feeling like c***" was improving or how my WD symptoms normally felt was improving.  Hence WDnormal.

 

These last two years, it will be a total of five this fall, have brought fairly steady improvement.  I can see improvements on a month over month and sometimes week over week basis.  To the point that many people would say I'm back to normal by the way I function.  I know I'm not because I am still taking the drug and will be for the next several months. During my time on and tapering off of paxil I have learned a huge amount about myself, life and how to deal with things.  

 

I feel like I'm rambling now, but I hope this helps explain some of the process and you don't find it too disheartening because of the time frames involved

 

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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Thank you so much Bubble! I immediately completed the survey when I saw it posted!! So important! I have some bad news about me though. I was doing well however they changed the manufacturer of my Gabapentin and I have had another adverse reaction! It's not as bad as the the first one but a lot more symptoms have popped up again! Fortunately I know what it is this time! I am sad though it took me over a year to get to 90%... Bless you!!!

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have a big problem. I take Gabapentin and it is a specific one. I was told by my pharmacy they can't get it anymore. They gave me a new one made by the same manufacturer but it gave me an adverse reaction. I became emotionally blunted immediately and anxiety filled. What am I going to do? Withdrawal had left me with medication sensitivity! Any advice would help!

Zoloft 6mg gabapentin 600 mg lamictal 25 mg

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