Pedro: Long road home

[Pedro]

Hi; I’ve been off benzos and antidepressants for 10 years now, and still have symptoms. It’s a long story. In summary I was prescribed Effexor, Ativan, Xanax, Wellbutrin for stress and anxiety over a period of about a year. Did an Ashton Valium taper at one point after cold turkeying benzos. Nightmare. I remember horrible reactions to Effexor dosage increases. After I was off everything it took 4 years for all withdrawal symptoms to leave. Then in 2015 the syndrome returned after a period of high stress and other factors.

I always thought the benzos were responsible for my protracted illness, now I’m wondering if the antidepressants also played a role.

This ‘treatment’ from a psychiatrist 10 years ago damaged my brain. I’m presently functional but still suffer from severe anxiety and depression type symptoms, as well as some physical stuff. Thought I’d join and compare notes.

[Pedro]

The symptoms which I am still left with, that I never experienced before the drugs:

-Anxiety, agitation.

-Disturbing intrusive thoughts.

-Intrusive memories.

-Moderate depression.

-Cold/numb/painful feet and toes.

-Tight throat, clicking when swallowing.

- Popping in ears.

- Numb, tingling patches.

- Unable to cope with stressful situations.

 

It has improved a lot since it came back in 2015, initially it was almost as bad as a it was in the beginning.

 

Mindfulness and meditation, as well as distraction, have been a big help.

 

I’ll be 10 years off all drugs on Feb.12th. 

 

I’m wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an element of ptsd involved; I sometimes have flashbacks to the early days of withdrawal, the hallucinations etc. Hopefully things will keep improving over time.

[Gridley]

Hello, Pedro, and welcome to SA.  I am sorry you are having these difficulties.  I'm glad you've seen some improvement since 2015.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

• 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. 
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. 
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

Your symptoms are known and acknowledged as common in withdrawal from SSRI medications and other neuro-psycho-active substances. Please read:

What is withdrawal syndrome.

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  Some people have found the information and explanations at these links helpful:

One theory of anti-depressant withdrawal syndrome

How your brain responds to psychiatric drugs - aka "Brain remodeling"

Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

 

Many members dealing with withdrawal have benefitted from the techniques described in these links.  The first is helpful for anxiety.

 

The Dr. Claire Weekes Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. 

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community. I hope you'll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

[nz11]

Wow Pedro congratulations on being 10yrs drug free.

And you are still reporting improvements even at 10years.

Gee that makes my 7 years drug free look like early days! 

 

[LexAnger]

My gosh! So heartbreaken to hear your long struggling ! 

Hope 10 yr is all you have to fight for full recover!

[Pedro]

On 2018-02-07 at 1:03 PM, nz11 said:

Wow Pedro congratulations on being 10yrs drug free.

And you are still reporting improvements even at 10years.

Gee that makes my 7 years drug free look like early days! 

 

Hi, thanks. 10 years free tomorrow.  Yes, I’m seeing slow improvements. Had a partial window yesterday. I’m hoping for complete recovery; I felt recovered, with very few symptoms, from 2012 to 2015, so I know it’s possible. 

[Dalalea]

On 2/7/2018 at 5:15 AM, Pedro said:

Cold/numb/painful feet and toes.

This is a symptom that I often have. It's hard to ignore!

I'm sorry to hear you are still having some WD symptoms.

Wishing you continued improvement!

[Pedro]

Is there anyone else out there who still has symptoms at 10 years out? I felt recovered for 3 years, then a wave started in late 2015 that I’m still in. I know this happens in the benzo community, but is rare to have it happen this far out. I was poly drugged and had severe prolonged symptoms initially.