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Lillieandrose: Drugs do not help. Was I misdiagnosed?


Lillieandrose

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I have PTSD .

I was a victim of abuse when young and then in my marraige

I was put on Zoloft , befor that lorazepam to sleep

I had a manic episode with psychosis after a traumatic event while on zoloft

i was diagnosed with bi polar disorder and have been filled will drugs since then . 

I believe that if I can stay grounded and not disassociate when I have a repeat trauma that I will heal and not need these drugs but no dr will listen and my councelor has labeled me as mentally ill.

i would like to know if any one knows a dr in the northern Virginia area that can help me get off these drugs and heal . I would like help from you to start tapering off myself.

 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Lillieandrose: Drugs do not help. Was I misdiagnosed?
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Lillieandrose, and welcome to SA,

 

I am really pleased that you have found this site before you commenced tapering.

 

The reason this site exists is because there are very few medical professionals who understand how to get a person off these drugs.  SA recommends tapering by no more than 10% of the previous dose followed by a hold of about 4 weeks to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.  This is a harm reduction/withdrawal minimisation method.  There is a wealth of information on this site and it is possible to taper these drugs without the help of a medical professional provided you are able to get a prescription.  Please see the topic below about how to talk with your doctor.

 

Any diagnosis made after you have taken a psychiatric drug is invalid.  This is even stated in the DSM.

 

We ask all members to create a drug signature which will appear whenever you make a post.  This way we can see your history at a glance.  Please update it whenever you make a change so it remains current.  Thank you.

 

This is the preferred format:  Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

  • Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
  • A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
  • Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
  • Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
  • Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
  • Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

I will provide you with some information.  This is your own Introduction topic where you can ask questions and journal your progress.  Please read these links and ask any question here in your Intro topic.

 

Before you begin tapering what you need to know

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?
 

Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline)

 

Keep Notes on Paper

Rate Symptoms Daily to Check Patterns and Progress

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Tapering Calculator - Online (this can be saved)

 

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?


What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms?

 

These helped me to understand SA's recommendations:

 

Brain Remodelling


Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Even though SA's taper method is slow and careful, you are still likely to experience discomfort at times.  Sometimes this will happen shortly after a dose reduction.  And situational stress my make your withdrawal worse.  It is important not to panic at this time and think that you need to take more of the drug.  We recommend learning and using Non-drug techniques to cope.

 

The only 2 supplements which SA recommends are Magnesium and Omega-3 Fish Oil.  Try them separately at a low dose to start.

 

Only make one change at a time, so if you make a dose reduction do not add a supplement at the same time.

 

There are many existing topics on this site.  I use google and add survivingantidepressants.org to my search.

Example:  survivingantidepressants.org vitamins

* 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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