12yearzombie Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 Hey, So I am new here. I just wanted to see if people are actually getting better and their brains are healing after AD's? I am almost at a year off of AD's and Xanax . I was put on Zoloft for postpartum depression... although I wasn't depressed looking back, just anxious . I fell into the "you have a family history" crap. And 12 years later was still taking meds. I never delt with anything just took a Xanax and numbed. Currently I feel brain dead. I don't remember much, or have and opinion half of the time... my thoughts and words get all mixed up. I get embarrassed when I attempt to have a conversation. Decision making is extremely difficult lately. Some days I can smile and feel a bit of myself again ... others I cry and question if I can ever be happy. Thanks for your help in advance. I was one Zoloft 75- 150mgs for 10 years And 2 years Effexor 75mg with xanax .5mgs as needed. I decided to quit the meds 5/13/17 ( cold turkey ) after my new Doctor fired me for missing an apt. I am not currently not on any RX meds Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted May 2, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 2, 2018 Hello and welcome to SA. Yes, people are definitely getting better and healing after ADs. That is what this site is all about. : ) Are you still taking Zoloft? Please let us know what your'e currently taking by creating a signature using this link: To help us out, see these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa Link to comment
Rabe Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 Hi 12YZ, Welcome! You have found a wonderful refuge filled with support, honesty, kindness and a wealth of knowledge! You are not alone! I believe we will all get better!! Again, welcome!!! -Nardil 1976 < year, stopped. React to AD's. Klonopin .5BID 1990, 2.5mg til 2016 -Klonopin doubled Jan '16. Taper to 2.25mg May to Nov '16. Bad react to Lexapro, stop. React to Prevacid too, taper off. -November '16 Tapered .25mg Klonopin in hospital. Jan '17 started Viibryd, 20mg from Feb to June '17, -20mg to 10mg Viibryd from 3/25 to 6/10 2017, 12/15 10% Viibryd taper...back up next day -Clonazepam 2mg to 1.85mg 4/14 '17 to end November; taper to 1mg Clonazepam in hospital 9/1 tp 9/14 '17 -Feb '18 Amiloride .25mg 5/18 off Amiloride d/t react. Clonaz compounded -4/27 '18 Viibryd 9.5mg, 6/11 9.0 mg, 1/27 '19 Viibryd 8.75mg, ; Clonazepam .2mg 530pm and .7mg 1130pm, Premarin .3mg 830PM CARAFATE QID 2/27/19 to 3/5/19 -July 6'19 1/2 10mg Claritin 230pm, stopped it about July 18, started Oct 11 '19, -7/27 Viibryd 8.5, 8/29 8.25, 10/24 8.0, 12/19 7.75, Feb '20 7.50, 3/20 7.25, 5/20 7.0, 6/20 6.75, 7/20 6.5, 8/20 6.25, 10/2 20 6.0, 11/25'20 5.75, 1/9/21 5.5, 2/23 5.25 -1015 AM Viibryd, vit D 4,000IU 130, 415 Clonazepam .2mg, 815 Premarin .3mg, 1015 Clonaz .7mg, 1115 3t fish oil+D 1145 Castor Oil 650mg(4) 1230 Carafate 1/2GM,Methylated B Vit 1/week,Reacted Mag prn Link to comment
Rabe Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 Yes!!! There is light at the end of the tunnel...you will hear it here! -Nardil 1976 < year, stopped. React to AD's. Klonopin .5BID 1990, 2.5mg til 2016 -Klonopin doubled Jan '16. Taper to 2.25mg May to Nov '16. Bad react to Lexapro, stop. React to Prevacid too, taper off. -November '16 Tapered .25mg Klonopin in hospital. Jan '17 started Viibryd, 20mg from Feb to June '17, -20mg to 10mg Viibryd from 3/25 to 6/10 2017, 12/15 10% Viibryd taper...back up next day -Clonazepam 2mg to 1.85mg 4/14 '17 to end November; taper to 1mg Clonazepam in hospital 9/1 tp 9/14 '17 -Feb '18 Amiloride .25mg 5/18 off Amiloride d/t react. Clonaz compounded -4/27 '18 Viibryd 9.5mg, 6/11 9.0 mg, 1/27 '19 Viibryd 8.75mg, ; Clonazepam .2mg 530pm and .7mg 1130pm, Premarin .3mg 830PM CARAFATE QID 2/27/19 to 3/5/19 -July 6'19 1/2 10mg Claritin 230pm, stopped it about July 18, started Oct 11 '19, -7/27 Viibryd 8.5, 8/29 8.25, 10/24 8.0, 12/19 7.75, Feb '20 7.50, 3/20 7.25, 5/20 7.0, 6/20 6.75, 7/20 6.5, 8/20 6.25, 10/2 20 6.0, 11/25'20 5.75, 1/9/21 5.5, 2/23 5.25 -1015 AM Viibryd, vit D 4,000IU 130, 415 Clonazepam .2mg, 815 Premarin .3mg, 1015 Clonaz .7mg, 1115 3t fish oil+D 1145 Castor Oil 650mg(4) 1230 Carafate 1/2GM,Methylated B Vit 1/week,Reacted Mag prn Link to comment
12yearzombie Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share Posted May 3, 2018 7 hours ago, SkyBlue said: Hello and welcome to SA. Yes, people are definitely getting better and healing after ADs. That is what this site is all about. : ) Are you still taking Zoloft? Please let us know what your'e currently taking by creating a signature using this link: To help us out, see these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature Thank you. I am glad to hear it! I am no longer on any meds. I was one Zoloft 75- 150mgs for 10 years And 2 years Effexor 75mg with xanax .5mgs as needed. I decided to quit the meds 5/13/17 ( cold turkey ) after my new Doctor fired me for missing an apt. I am not currently not on any RX meds Link to comment
Miracle123 Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 Hi 12YZ, Welcome come from me too. You come the right place here to get support and gain useful knowledge.Dont worries , you will get recovery and healing if you follow a process of slow taper use a guide line here and follow up the process. Beside, you also need to prepared healthy lifestyle and some supplement as well. Please read others members stories to gain more information and knowledge to prepared yourself. Welcome!! Mid December 16 lorezapam 1mg and lexapro 5mg Early April17 updosed lorezapam 2mg, mid Apr17 taper 1.5mg, mid May17-1.25mg, early Jun17- 1mg, mid Jun17-0.75mg, mid July17-0.5mg, End July 17 reduce from 0.4mg, 0.3mg,0.2mg until 0.1mg.lorezapam free on 9 August 2017. Early Mar17 updosed to Lexapro 10mg , end Mar17 reduced 7.5mg, mid May17 reduced 0.5mg, End Aug17 reduced 2.5mg, early Sep17 -1.5mg, Mid Sept-1mg, End Sept - 0.5mg .lexapro free on 26 September 2017 Supplement- omega fish oil and magnesium citrate only. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Dan998 Posted May 3, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 3, 2018 Hi 12YZ. It's quite normal to still be struggling after a year off the meds. It takes a long while for the brain to return to its default setting, i.e drug free. The brain is such a complex organ and these drugs were never tested on a long term basis. People do recover, we have members here who have been on multiple meds for 30+ years and have made a full recovery. On 5/2/2018 at 6:42 AM, 12yearzombie said: my thoughts and words get all mixed up. I get embarrassed when I attempt to have a conversation. Decision making is extremely difficult lately. This is something that I have had difficulty with too. It does slowly gets better. The fact that you have moments where you can smile is an excellent sign that you are healing. 2001: 20mg paroxetine2003-2014: Switched between 20mg citalopram and 10mg escitalopram with several failed CT's2015: Jan/ Feb-very fast taper off citalopram; Mar/ Apr-crashed; 23 Apr-reinstated 5mg; 05 May-updosed to 10mg; 15 Jul-started taper; Aug-9.0mg; Sep-8.1mg; Oct-7.6mg; Nov-6.8mg; Dec-6.2mg2016: Jan-5.7mg; Feb-5.2mg; Mar-5.0mg; Apr-4.5mg; May-4.05mg; Jun-3.65mg; Jul-3.3mg; Aug-2.95mg; 04Sep-2.65mg; 25Sep-2.4mg; 23Oct-2.15mg; 13Nov-1.95mg; 04Dec-1.75mg; 25Dec-1.55mg.2017: 08Jan-1.4mg; 22Jan-1.25mg; 12Feb-1.1mg; 26Feb-1.0mg; 05Mar-0.9mg; 15Mar-0.8mg; 22Mar-0.7mg; 02Apr-0.6; 09Apr-0.5mg; 16Apr-0.4mg; 23Apr-0.3; 03May-0.2mg; 10May-0.1mg Finished taper 17 May 2017. Read my success story I am not a medical professional. The information I provide is not medical advice. If in doubt please consult with a qualified healthcare provider. Link to comment
12yearzombie Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share Posted May 3, 2018 @Dan998 Thank you so much for your post! This gives me hope and strength to keep moving forward. I've been worried lately that I may have done more damage by quitting cold turkey. I was one Zoloft 75- 150mgs for 10 years And 2 years Effexor 75mg with xanax .5mgs as needed. I decided to quit the meds 5/13/17 ( cold turkey ) after my new Doctor fired me for missing an apt. I am not currently not on any RX meds Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted May 3, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 3, 2018 15 hours ago, 12yearzombie said: Thank you. I am glad to hear it! I am no longer on any meds. You're welcome, and thanks for adding your signature. It's a good idea to keep notes on paper about your progress and symptoms. It might help you find patterns and notice improvements. There are many resources on this site. One really useful area of the forum is the Self-Care section that can help give ideas for dealing with symptoms: http://survivingantidepressants.org/forum/8-symptoms-and-self-care/ and Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms Healing definitely does happen, and seems to happen in a "waves and windows" pattern described here: The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization Keep letting us now how you're doing. Like other members have posted above, you are in good company here. 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now