MedusaInAkron Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 I'm new to this site and glad I found it. I'm 58 years old and have been on antidepressants for 24 years. It started with Prozac in 1994 and have been on most of them--Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor since. In 2013, I weaned myself off of Effexor, but not long my doctor prescribed Celexa because I was crying all the time. A little over a month ago, I weaned myself off of the Celexa, and I'm determined not to go back on any meds, despite the fact that I struggle with emotional dysregulation (angry outbursts, fits of weeping); at least the vertigo and brain zaps have finally quieted down. I'm doing TM twice a day (l learned at a teen in the 70s but didn't stick with it) and have begun seeing a counselor; she's starting a 24-week DBT group that I'm set to begin next week. I'm hoping I can learn to handle what life throws my way without the emotional extremes, but today was such an emotionally wretched days that I fear I'm being unrealistic. I'm overwhelmed by the many obligations of life and how they compete with my need to practice forms of self-care. I was first prescribed Prozac (20 mg) in 1994; over time, this was increased to 80 mg then reduced to 60 mg because I felt like a zombie on the higher dose. Over the years, I was prescribed Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, and Effexor, but I don't recall why my meds were switched. I saw various therapists over the years, so they and my primary care physician would prescribe this or that antidepressant. In 2013, I weaned myself off of Effexor, but not long after this I went on Celexa (20 mg) because it seemed that I was constantly crying. I let my physician know that I was not interested in a higher dose. At the end of March 2018, I weaned myself off on Celexa; my physician recommended halving the dose for one week then quitting it altogether (which shows his lack of understanding about SSRI withdrawal). To facilitate this process, I began meditating twice a day (I learned TM when I was 15 but never stuck with it) and seeing a therapist. Off the meds, I'm experiencing frequent episodes of intense rage, profound grief, and guilt over my extreme emotions and inability to tolerate stress, all of which were (to a lesser extent) problems when I was on meds, but now they are often close to unbearable. I'm about to begin a 24-week DBT skills group and hope it works for me; otherwise . . . Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Songbird Posted May 5, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 5, 2018 Welcome to SA! You will find a lot of information and support here. Please can you help us by creating a signature with your history - see this topic for more info about how to do this: http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/12364-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/ If you tapered off a full dose of Celexa in just a month, this is a very quick taper, and much faster than we recommend here. See this link for more information about tapering: http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/ For more information about antidepressant withdrawal see: http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/603-what-is-withdrawal-syndrome/ 2001–2002 paroxetine 2003 citalopram 2004-2008 paroxetine (various failed tapers) 2008 paroxetine slow taper down to 2016 Aug off paroxetine2016 citalopram May 20mg Oct 15mg … slow taper down2018 citalopram 13 Feb 4.6mg 15 Mar 4.4mg 29 Apr 4.2mg 6 Jul 4.1mg 17 Aug 4.0mg 18 Nov 3.8mg 2019 15 Mar 3.6mg 21 May 3.4mg 26 Dec 3.2mg 2020 19 Feb 3.0mg 19 Jul 2.9mg 16 Sep 2.8mg 25 Oct 2.7mg 23 Oct 2.6mg 24 Dec 2.5mg 2021 29 Aug 2.4mg 15 Nov 2.3mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted May 5, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 5, 2018 Hi, Medusa, and welcome from me, too. You mentioned your need to practice forms of self-care. If you haven't already, take a look at the techniques in these links. The Dr. Claire Weekes Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of May 2: 6.1mg Taper is 92% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 5, 2018 Administrator Share Posted May 5, 2018 Welcome, Medusa. How long did you have brain zaps? Compared to the week after you went off Celexa, how have your symptoms changed? What is your daily symptom pattern now? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
MedusaInAkron Posted May 6, 2018 Author Share Posted May 6, 2018 They were nearly constant the first four weeks, but they're mild and infrequent now. I actually consider myself very lucky that the vertigo and brain zaps only lasted that long. However, I still struggle with distress tolerance, which was an issue when I was ON the meds, so it's pretty intense now, and feeling awful about my difficulties tolerating stress only makes things worse. It's embarrassing to be 58 years old and handling things no better than a four year old. I was first prescribed Prozac (20 mg) in 1994; over time, this was increased to 80 mg then reduced to 60 mg because I felt like a zombie on the higher dose. Over the years, I was prescribed Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, and Effexor, but I don't recall why my meds were switched. I saw various therapists over the years, so they and my primary care physician would prescribe this or that antidepressant. In 2013, I weaned myself off of Effexor, but not long after this I went on Celexa (20 mg) because it seemed that I was constantly crying. I let my physician know that I was not interested in a higher dose. At the end of March 2018, I weaned myself off on Celexa; my physician recommended halving the dose for one week then quitting it altogether (which shows his lack of understanding about SSRI withdrawal). To facilitate this process, I began meditating twice a day (I learned TM when I was 15 but never stuck with it) and seeing a therapist. Off the meds, I'm experiencing frequent episodes of intense rage, profound grief, and guilt over my extreme emotions and inability to tolerate stress, all of which were (to a lesser extent) problems when I was on meds, but now they are often close to unbearable. I'm about to begin a 24-week DBT skills group and hope it works for me; otherwise . . . Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 6, 2018 Administrator Share Posted May 6, 2018 It's a good sign your withdrawal symptoms have mostly abated. Please let us know if this changes. You will have to learn stress reduction techniques. Your nervous system is vulnerable from withdrawal and if you stress it enough, you could tip back into severe symptoms. Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, seehttp://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/ http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/ A lot of people find them helpful. Try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you. To help us out, see these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Rabe Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 Hi Medusalan...welcome! So glad you found your way here..you will get much help and support! Things will get better with time. Think many of us can identify with the feeling of handling, especially stressful situations, nowhere near the way we did before. Our systems need less stress and more healing time. Take care of you! 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
MedusaInAkron Posted July 11, 2018 Author Share Posted July 11, 2018 I've been of Celexa for months now but have been having issues with anger/rage, low frustration tolerance, and crying fits. I'm not sure if this is the new normal for me or if my brain is still adjusting to life without meds after being on one antidepressant or another for 24 years--how do I tell? I was first prescribed Prozac (20 mg) in 1994; over time, this was increased to 80 mg then reduced to 60 mg because I felt like a zombie on the higher dose. Over the years, I was prescribed Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, and Effexor, but I don't recall why my meds were switched. I saw various therapists over the years, so they and my primary care physician would prescribe this or that antidepressant. In 2013, I weaned myself off of Effexor, but not long after this I went on Celexa (20 mg) because it seemed that I was constantly crying. I let my physician know that I was not interested in a higher dose. At the end of March 2018, I weaned myself off on Celexa; my physician recommended halving the dose for one week then quitting it altogether (which shows his lack of understanding about SSRI withdrawal). To facilitate this process, I began meditating twice a day (I learned TM when I was 15 but never stuck with it) and seeing a therapist. Off the meds, I'm experiencing frequent episodes of intense rage, profound grief, and guilt over my extreme emotions and inability to tolerate stress, all of which were (to a lesser extent) problems when I was on meds, but now they are often close to unbearable. I'm about to begin a 24-week DBT skills group and hope it works for me; otherwise . . . Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted July 11, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted July 11, 2018 I've merged the new Intro topic you created with your original Intro topic. Each member has only 1 Intro topic where they can ask questions about their own situation, journal their progress and connect with the community. This keeps your history in one place. Please do not create any more Intro topics. Thank you. I've ask the other mods for assistance. * 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 Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 12, 2018 Administrator Share Posted July 12, 2018 Have you tried this On 5/5/2018 at 5:56 PM, Altostrata said: You will have to learn stress reduction techniques. Your nervous system is vulnerable from withdrawal and if you stress it enough, you could tip back into severe symptoms. Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, seehttp://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/ http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/ A lot of people find them helpful. Try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you. Thanks for posting your signature. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
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