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Dejavu: can anyone tell me what's going on?


Dejavu

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hello All!

 

I hope everyone is doing well. Sorry I've not been around much. I'm still dealing with this wave, and it's proven to be a real bear. I get tiny "micro windows" here and there, but other than that, it's been very stubborn. No clear or long lasting windows like the one I enjoyed in June yet.

 

I am 8.5 months post-reinstatement; 4.5 months since I've been steady on the same reinstatement dose, and stability is still elusive. Despite that, my overall baseline has very gradually improved in these months, but I've always been concerned that I kindled myself by reinstating at too high a dose. Does that make a difference at this late date?

 

Some of my symptoms (tremor; weakness; sore muscles; heartburn; tinnitis, urinary frequency) I can positively attribute to side effects, since I always have them while on zoloft, and never while off of it. Others, like deep depression (oh, so deep - like nothing I've ever felt before), crying spells, visual issues, full-bladder sensation, instrusive thoughts and dizziness are obviously withdrawal issues. Between the two, I am not having a very good time right now.

 

I am wondering if I should continue to wait out the symptoms until I'm more stable (because of the WD symptoms), or if it's time yet to try a small reduction (in hopes of mitigating the side effects). I'm inclined to hold a bit longer, since I've only been on a steady dose for a relatively short time (only in ADWD would 4.5 months be considered "a relatively short time"!). But I keep wondering if this is as stable as I'm going to get, which admittedly, is not very stable at all. I know about "throwing out the calendar," and listening to my body, but at what point do I just get on with it? What if tapering would actually bring me some relief? 

I realize there are no hard and fast answers, but I would appreciate some experienced perspective on this. A new set of eyes never hurts.

 

My husband has been and continues to be a huge support to me - nothing short of heroic actually. Because my math skills have never been stellar and my hands now tremble, he preps my dose each night for me. He reassures me when I get despondent or battle-fatigued. He has done research on this site and others about ADWD. He has accompanied me to doc appts and has heard firsthand the garbage they spew about relapse (of a condition that he knows I never had before AD's). He cooks, cleans, pays bills, etc when I am unable, which is often. But - he believes that I would stabilize faster if I were to updose. He does not pressure me in any way. He knows the decision is mine,  and he's not an "I told you so" kind of guy, but that is nonetheless what he believes. I don't agree. I'm a known slow metabolizer of SSRIs with a sensitized nervous system. But if anyone thinks he might have a point, I'd like to know that as well. 

 

Hopefully I'll be in a position to be more active here very soon. Sending healing energy to everyone tonight!

2016 - Zoloft 50 mg for klonopin w/d

Approx. Nov 2017 - successful taper of klonopin; Approx. Jan. 2018 - rapid taper Zoloft over 2 wks - no w/d symptoms; May 2018 - Reinstate 50 mg Zoloft per doctor; Aug 2018 - Rapid taper Zoloft over 3-4 weeks - no w/d symptoms for 1 mo.; Late Oct 2018 - pdoc rx'd 5mg lexapro -took for 1 wk; Early Nov 2018 - Reinstate 25 mg Zoloft; updose to 37.5 on Nov 28, 2018; Nov 30 2018 - returned to 25mg Zoloft upon mod. advice; Dec 9 - Dec10 2018 - 12.5mg zoloft liquid+12.5mg zoloft pill; Dec 11 2018 - 25mg zoloft all liquid; Feb 14 2019 - updosed to 26.25 mg liquid; Mar 6 2019 - updosed to 26.88 mg liquid - new symptoms; Mar 13 2019 - back down to 26.25 mg per mod suggestion

Dose Changes: Dec 2 2019 - 5% to 25mg; Jan 14 2020 - 10% to 22.5 (increase in sxs all month); Mar 10-15? 2020,  accidental updose to 25mg; Mar 22 2020 - back down to 22.5mg; Apr 12 2020 - 2.5% to 21.94mg; Apr 19 2020 - 2.5% to 21.375mg (symptom increase); May 17 2020 - 2.5% to 20.625mg; May 24 2020 - 2.5% to 20.1mg - Jun 14 2020 - noticed uptick in symptoms settled 2 days later - July 10 2020 - onset of wave

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  • Mentor

Deja, that sounds so rough. Hang in there. Sending good healing energy your way. 🐢

Now: 100 mg Zoloft am, 50 mg Trazodone.  Daily drug burden decreased from 2050 in 2018 mg to 150 mg 🐢🐢

Zoloft: 1/24/23 increased to 100 mg after suicide attempt 9/17/22 cut 6 mg, 8/14/22 cut 6.5 mg, 5/7/22 cut 12.5 mg 3/20/22 cut 12.5 mg 10/26/21 cut 6 mg 10/17/21 cut 5 mg, 9/17/21 Cut 3 mg,  9/13/21 cut 4 mg, 8/29/21 Cut 2 mg 8/8/21 Cut 3 mg  7/30/21 Zoloft: Converted 25 mg to liquid. Also take 100 mg pill & 25 mg pill=150 mg total
🌞 Feb 28, 2021 0 mg Gapapentin 2021 Gaba each dose 4x/day: Feb 27 7 mg (one dose only), Feb 10, 7 mg, Jan 14 10 mg 2020 Current taper schedule from Aug 30-present: drop 8 mg every 2-3 weeks. Aug 20 31 mg, Aug 18, 33 mg, July 29, 35 mg, July 23 38 mg, July 22 40 mg Jun 24 42 mg, Jun 15 44 mg, Jun 9 48 mg, May 22 50 mg, May 14 54 mg, May 7 56 mg, Apr 16 58 mg, Mar 28 60 mg, Mar 18 62 mg. Feb 26 64 mg. Feb 19, 66 mg. Jan 23, 70 mg. 2019 Dec 19, 72 mg. Nov 14 ,76 mg. Aug 8, 80 mg. Aug 6, 85 mg. Jul 26, 90 mg. Jul 11, 95 mg.

Jul 16 trazodone from 100 to 50 mg.

Jun 17-July 10 Slowly changed gab fr pill to liquid at same dose 100 mg 4x/d.

Apr 24 Stopped klon!!! 🌞 Apr 4  Decreased gaba to 400 mg (100 mg 4x/day)-Apr 4, 2019   0.25 klon March 11  Klonopin .5 mg twice daily, varied dose til Apr 15. Started Klon fast taper 25%, short use

Mar 16, 450 mg gaba 3x/day cut 600 mg--not exact!--updose after learning w/d

Feb 20, 2019 1800 mg gabapentin; MD taper; off 3 days=mvt disorder & autonomic instability. July 2018 temazepam 15 mg 1-2; prn several x/wk til Jan/Feb 2019 when cold turkey, flu illness for months

July 2018 started gabapentin 100 3x/day; titrated up to 1800 mg (600 3x/day)

Buspar, I forget how much, 2 pills a day Jan 2017-July 2018 cold turkey. On Zoloft since maybe 2004? After trying many.

*I speak from my experience. Nothing I say is medical advice. I'm not a doctor.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Dejavu

 

I am really sorry you are still in a wave.

12 hours ago, Dejavu said:

I realize there are no hard and fast answers, but I would appreciate some experienced perspective on this. A new set of eyes never hurts.

If someone else were in this position I am pretty sure you would ask one of the top brass to take a look ( pun intended ).

We miss you and really hope you feel better soon.

 

Sassenach

Escitalopram 10mgs from mid 2007 ( can't remember exact date) to 11th Dec 2018

Fentanyl patches ( don't remember dose ) from Nov 2014 to 11 Dec 2018

Quit both cold turkey Dec 2018

Reinstated 3rd March 2019 2.5 mgs.

Updosed  8March to 5mgs and holding

25/11/19 Started taper 4.5mgs and holding

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner

If you are going through Hell, keep going. NCIS series 15, David MaCallum:rolleyes:

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Hi Deja,

 

I want to give you support without making you feel more despair.  This may not be very organized.  I'm struggling to make it flow.  

 

In my opinion, it's very common and normal to be anxious to start the taper.  I have seen people on SA struggle with that question over and over and Over!!  You feel bad and accepting it is so difficult especially if it continues for a long time.  Eventually you are so fatigued that you start to feel desperate.  I sense that in your post.  This is a time when it's easy to jump the gun and make a mistake.  It's a time to wait a bit longer to see what's down the pike.

 

I feel that updosing is a bad idea for you because you decreased after a recent updose.  I think you are thinking the same thing.  As for whether you are ready to decrease, having no experience with making that decision I'm not much help except that waiting as long as possible is usually better.  Five months is a very long time and yet for WD it's not, for stabilization it's not.  (Sorry.)

 

I'm so sorry you are feeling so bad.  I'm right there with you.  Every night is hard on me.  Despair is nearly a nightly emotion.  I understand your feelings all too well.  Please know that I'm thinking of you.

 

Brassmonkey wrote about how to know stabilization has occurred.  He said it is characterized by a consistent period of feeling bad -- withdrawal normal.  There are few ups and downs or none at all.  Any wobbles are small.  I'm using my own words, not his.  I'm sure you have read about this concept elsewhere.  I find that when I'm feeling desperate all my knowledge goes out the window.  Maybe you can find his post and read it (or read it again) to help you process your thoughts.  It might be in How Long Will This Take?  

 

As I have never tapered I'm not able to speak from my practical experience, but I go through the same process as you do.  I reach WD normal sometimes.  It doesn't last very long, and I don't have the option of resting there on a consistent dose as you will someday.  However, I do know what it feels like, and it's not a feeling of being healed.  It's pretty crummy.  If I do start to feel good then I think that is when I have gone into a mild form of mania.  

 

I'm sorry you are having side effects, too.  For what it's worth, since I quit Zoloft I have had many symptoms that could be side effects -- muscle tension for one.  I often see people wanting to reduce due to intolerable symptoms that I have.  They hope they are side effects and reducing will alleviate them.  I want to say something, but I don't.  Yet in your case I am chiming in because you post on my thread sometimes even though I CT'd and so I'm not able to be helped by the SA process of tapering.  Thank you for that.  Please be careful about trying to alleviate possible side effects because if you reduce too soon you might make things worse.  I feel that a harm reduction approach would dictate that unless side effects are severe you want to wait for stabilization to reduce.  Only you can decide if they are severe enough to take the risk.  

 

I want to encourage you to push past the point that you thought was too much for you just in case a wave is causing your symptoms that you think are side effects.  (Unless Alto or another Mod says there's a problem.)  That way you can avoid further destabilization.  I have no choice but to do this every time.  I'm sure that makes it easier for me -- having no choice.  There is no question.  I have to just wait it out.  It's shown me how much a person can take.  I wanted to share that in the hopes that it would give you strength to wait.  

 

(((Dejavu))). I do hope you can reduce soon. 

 

Rosetta

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

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Btw, Brassmonkey just wrote recently on Rabe's thread about WD normal.  He said the overall stability over a month or so is what's important and that there will be daily fluctuations all the time.  Do you feel better than a month ago is a question to ask yourself.   You may want to read his post on her thread.

-R

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

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  • Moderator Emeritus
15 hours ago, Dejavu said:

I am wondering if I should continue to wait out the symptoms until I'm more stable (because of the WD symptoms), or if it's time yet to try a small reduction (in hopes of mitigating the side effects). I'm inclined to hold a bit longer, since I've only been on a steady dose for a relatively short time (only in ADWD would 4.5 months be considered "a relatively short time"!).

 

Dejavu, I would hold a bit longer.  I know you're between a rock and a hard place with side effects if you hold and the danger of exacerbating WD symptoms in you drop, but I would trust your inclination to hold.  I would opt for more stability at this point and avoid changes.

Edited by Gridley

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 Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, 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.

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  • Moderator

Hi Dejavu-- I'm sorry to hear that you're having such a rough time right now, I was wondering why you weren't around any more.  Hopefully the worst of the wave will pass soon and things will settle down. Having such wonderful support from DH is a precious thing. Please make sure to tell him how much you appreciate it from time to time.  Watching someone you love go through such a trial is very taxing for a loved one.  I've been on both sides of it and can say for sure.

 

Patience and time, time and patience.  That's what gets us through ADWD.  If you feel inclined to hold then hold.  There is no rush to get to the end, except the desire for it all to be over with.  Once a person is sensitized it can take a frustratingly long time for things to settle.  At four and a half months, you're starting to get there but it could be a while yet.  Things could start to resolve tomorrow or it could be several months, but they will resolve and stabilize.  In the meantime try to notice the small fleeting joys through out the day, flowers in the yard (in fact by some for a vase on the table next time you're at the store) cloud formations, a good thunderstorm, your cat being silly (assuming you have a cat) any momentary thing that can being a bit of a smile to your face and don't concentrate on how bad you feel. Let those moments in and allow them to grow and they will.  In some cases acceptance needn't be submission, it can be proactive with distraction.

 

Rosetta gives excellent advice and insight throughout the entire forum, her posts are always worth paying attention to.

 

(((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

 

Brass

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Sorry to hear things got so rough again. When it is like that we forget all the times we felt better like you did back in June. It wasn't so fleeting and insignificant as it appears now.

 

On the contrary - it was your real state, showing that under all this storm of symptoms you are still there and intact. Also showing that holding is helping. You were sharing that experience and conviction with others. You will get back to that part of the healing process probably before you know it. This is now battle fatigue. Hang in there. 

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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  • Moderator Emeritus

@ShiningLight  @Rosetta @Sassenach @Gridley @brassmonkey and @bubble

 

Thank you. Thank you all so very much. You have all steeled my resolve and reminded me of what I already know to be true. Each of you contributed to helping me "change the channel" in your own way. Sometimes it truly does take a village. I will clear this hurdle and resume paying it forward as soon as I am able.

 

Shining Light, thanks for the moral support. You are a great example of how important "peer support" is. I'm so very happy you're doing well.

 

Rosetta, you have such great insight and common sense. You are so grounded. I've always wanted to visit Spain. I hope you are able to enjoy it. I just know that you're close to putting this wave behind you, and hoping that it's your last one. 

 

Sass, what can I say? You've got such a  calming effect. You feel solid; dependable. I always feel stronger with you in my corner.

 

Gridley, what a help you are to me. I try to pattern my "mod style" after yours. You always seem to intuit what people need to know. You're a natural leader.

 

Bubble, how very sweet of you to pop in to help me at this point in your own struggle. You said exactly what I needed to hear. Take care of you and that sweet baby. I'll be checking in on you periodically.

 

Oh, Tom...words fail me (which is a rarity!). If not for the education I've received from you and Alto, God only knows where I'd be now, or if I'd even be alive. And that's no exaggeration, I assure you. Because I get to stand on your shoulders, my husband still has a wife, my kids still have a mother, and I will have my life back. 

"Thank you" sounds so trite, but it's all I have. Please know that it is 100% heartfelt.

 

I've learned so much so far about acceptance, trust and humility. I've never been one to rely on or accept help from others, or even admit my weaknesses. I have always felt the need to be in control and ramrod my way through every situation.  But now, in my present condition, and at 58 years old, I'm having to completely reconfigure my life in that regard; I have no choice. Growth is always scary and uncomfortable, but always worthwhile. I am grateful to have all of your support while I stumble through it, as you have mine. You are the best people I've never met!! 

 

Deepest gratitude and respect!!

2016 - Zoloft 50 mg for klonopin w/d

Approx. Nov 2017 - successful taper of klonopin; Approx. Jan. 2018 - rapid taper Zoloft over 2 wks - no w/d symptoms; May 2018 - Reinstate 50 mg Zoloft per doctor; Aug 2018 - Rapid taper Zoloft over 3-4 weeks - no w/d symptoms for 1 mo.; Late Oct 2018 - pdoc rx'd 5mg lexapro -took for 1 wk; Early Nov 2018 - Reinstate 25 mg Zoloft; updose to 37.5 on Nov 28, 2018; Nov 30 2018 - returned to 25mg Zoloft upon mod. advice; Dec 9 - Dec10 2018 - 12.5mg zoloft liquid+12.5mg zoloft pill; Dec 11 2018 - 25mg zoloft all liquid; Feb 14 2019 - updosed to 26.25 mg liquid; Mar 6 2019 - updosed to 26.88 mg liquid - new symptoms; Mar 13 2019 - back down to 26.25 mg per mod suggestion

Dose Changes: Dec 2 2019 - 5% to 25mg; Jan 14 2020 - 10% to 22.5 (increase in sxs all month); Mar 10-15? 2020,  accidental updose to 25mg; Mar 22 2020 - back down to 22.5mg; Apr 12 2020 - 2.5% to 21.94mg; Apr 19 2020 - 2.5% to 21.375mg (symptom increase); May 17 2020 - 2.5% to 20.625mg; May 24 2020 - 2.5% to 20.1mg - Jun 14 2020 - noticed uptick in symptoms settled 2 days later - July 10 2020 - onset of wave

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  • Mentor

Deja,

 

Wow, thank you so much for reminding me about how much of a difference peer support on this site has made for me. I had been thinking about how great the support is, but you saying it in that way made me realize the very important practical and concrete ways I've been helped! I dodged a bullet with klonopin and got very useful feedback regarding med interactions and muscle tightness that resulted in a change that helped. I wouldn't have had the courage or the knowledge to attempt those maneuvers without this site. I realize also, I was fortunate with the results.

 

Regarding your current situation, it takes incredible discipline to hold when you want to make a change. Good for you. I suspect that you will be richly rewarded.

 

Overdue congrats to you on being a mod! 🥰

Now: 100 mg Zoloft am, 50 mg Trazodone.  Daily drug burden decreased from 2050 in 2018 mg to 150 mg 🐢🐢

Zoloft: 1/24/23 increased to 100 mg after suicide attempt 9/17/22 cut 6 mg, 8/14/22 cut 6.5 mg, 5/7/22 cut 12.5 mg 3/20/22 cut 12.5 mg 10/26/21 cut 6 mg 10/17/21 cut 5 mg, 9/17/21 Cut 3 mg,  9/13/21 cut 4 mg, 8/29/21 Cut 2 mg 8/8/21 Cut 3 mg  7/30/21 Zoloft: Converted 25 mg to liquid. Also take 100 mg pill & 25 mg pill=150 mg total
🌞 Feb 28, 2021 0 mg Gapapentin 2021 Gaba each dose 4x/day: Feb 27 7 mg (one dose only), Feb 10, 7 mg, Jan 14 10 mg 2020 Current taper schedule from Aug 30-present: drop 8 mg every 2-3 weeks. Aug 20 31 mg, Aug 18, 33 mg, July 29, 35 mg, July 23 38 mg, July 22 40 mg Jun 24 42 mg, Jun 15 44 mg, Jun 9 48 mg, May 22 50 mg, May 14 54 mg, May 7 56 mg, Apr 16 58 mg, Mar 28 60 mg, Mar 18 62 mg. Feb 26 64 mg. Feb 19, 66 mg. Jan 23, 70 mg. 2019 Dec 19, 72 mg. Nov 14 ,76 mg. Aug 8, 80 mg. Aug 6, 85 mg. Jul 26, 90 mg. Jul 11, 95 mg.

Jul 16 trazodone from 100 to 50 mg.

Jun 17-July 10 Slowly changed gab fr pill to liquid at same dose 100 mg 4x/d.

Apr 24 Stopped klon!!! 🌞 Apr 4  Decreased gaba to 400 mg (100 mg 4x/day)-Apr 4, 2019   0.25 klon March 11  Klonopin .5 mg twice daily, varied dose til Apr 15. Started Klon fast taper 25%, short use

Mar 16, 450 mg gaba 3x/day cut 600 mg--not exact!--updose after learning w/d

Feb 20, 2019 1800 mg gabapentin; MD taper; off 3 days=mvt disorder & autonomic instability. July 2018 temazepam 15 mg 1-2; prn several x/wk til Jan/Feb 2019 when cold turkey, flu illness for months

July 2018 started gabapentin 100 3x/day; titrated up to 1800 mg (600 3x/day)

Buspar, I forget how much, 2 pills a day Jan 2017-July 2018 cold turkey. On Zoloft since maybe 2004? After trying many.

*I speak from my experience. Nothing I say is medical advice. I'm not a doctor.

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  • Mentor

How are you holding up Deja?

Now: 100 mg Zoloft am, 50 mg Trazodone.  Daily drug burden decreased from 2050 in 2018 mg to 150 mg 🐢🐢

Zoloft: 1/24/23 increased to 100 mg after suicide attempt 9/17/22 cut 6 mg, 8/14/22 cut 6.5 mg, 5/7/22 cut 12.5 mg 3/20/22 cut 12.5 mg 10/26/21 cut 6 mg 10/17/21 cut 5 mg, 9/17/21 Cut 3 mg,  9/13/21 cut 4 mg, 8/29/21 Cut 2 mg 8/8/21 Cut 3 mg  7/30/21 Zoloft: Converted 25 mg to liquid. Also take 100 mg pill & 25 mg pill=150 mg total
🌞 Feb 28, 2021 0 mg Gapapentin 2021 Gaba each dose 4x/day: Feb 27 7 mg (one dose only), Feb 10, 7 mg, Jan 14 10 mg 2020 Current taper schedule from Aug 30-present: drop 8 mg every 2-3 weeks. Aug 20 31 mg, Aug 18, 33 mg, July 29, 35 mg, July 23 38 mg, July 22 40 mg Jun 24 42 mg, Jun 15 44 mg, Jun 9 48 mg, May 22 50 mg, May 14 54 mg, May 7 56 mg, Apr 16 58 mg, Mar 28 60 mg, Mar 18 62 mg. Feb 26 64 mg. Feb 19, 66 mg. Jan 23, 70 mg. 2019 Dec 19, 72 mg. Nov 14 ,76 mg. Aug 8, 80 mg. Aug 6, 85 mg. Jul 26, 90 mg. Jul 11, 95 mg.

Jul 16 trazodone from 100 to 50 mg.

Jun 17-July 10 Slowly changed gab fr pill to liquid at same dose 100 mg 4x/d.

Apr 24 Stopped klon!!! 🌞 Apr 4  Decreased gaba to 400 mg (100 mg 4x/day)-Apr 4, 2019   0.25 klon March 11  Klonopin .5 mg twice daily, varied dose til Apr 15. Started Klon fast taper 25%, short use

Mar 16, 450 mg gaba 3x/day cut 600 mg--not exact!--updose after learning w/d

Feb 20, 2019 1800 mg gabapentin; MD taper; off 3 days=mvt disorder & autonomic instability. July 2018 temazepam 15 mg 1-2; prn several x/wk til Jan/Feb 2019 when cold turkey, flu illness for months

July 2018 started gabapentin 100 3x/day; titrated up to 1800 mg (600 3x/day)

Buspar, I forget how much, 2 pills a day Jan 2017-July 2018 cold turkey. On Zoloft since maybe 2004? After trying many.

*I speak from my experience. Nothing I say is medical advice. I'm not a doctor.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Thanks for checking on me, Shining. I'm all right. Issues with my vision are ongoing and by far my worst symptom at present. I'm really looking forward to that one easing up for good. Everything else is for the most part manageable, but I feel that I can get more stable by holding a while longer.

 

I'm planning to hold for another 30 days and evaluate my situation at that time. If I haven't had any worsening in symptoms, I may try a 5% reduction at that time. But as with everything in withdrawal, that plan is subject to change without notice...lol!

 

How are you feeling?

2016 - Zoloft 50 mg for klonopin w/d

Approx. Nov 2017 - successful taper of klonopin; Approx. Jan. 2018 - rapid taper Zoloft over 2 wks - no w/d symptoms; May 2018 - Reinstate 50 mg Zoloft per doctor; Aug 2018 - Rapid taper Zoloft over 3-4 weeks - no w/d symptoms for 1 mo.; Late Oct 2018 - pdoc rx'd 5mg lexapro -took for 1 wk; Early Nov 2018 - Reinstate 25 mg Zoloft; updose to 37.5 on Nov 28, 2018; Nov 30 2018 - returned to 25mg Zoloft upon mod. advice; Dec 9 - Dec10 2018 - 12.5mg zoloft liquid+12.5mg zoloft pill; Dec 11 2018 - 25mg zoloft all liquid; Feb 14 2019 - updosed to 26.25 mg liquid; Mar 6 2019 - updosed to 26.88 mg liquid - new symptoms; Mar 13 2019 - back down to 26.25 mg per mod suggestion

Dose Changes: Dec 2 2019 - 5% to 25mg; Jan 14 2020 - 10% to 22.5 (increase in sxs all month); Mar 10-15? 2020,  accidental updose to 25mg; Mar 22 2020 - back down to 22.5mg; Apr 12 2020 - 2.5% to 21.94mg; Apr 19 2020 - 2.5% to 21.375mg (symptom increase); May 17 2020 - 2.5% to 20.625mg; May 24 2020 - 2.5% to 20.1mg - Jun 14 2020 - noticed uptick in symptoms settled 2 days later - July 10 2020 - onset of wave

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  • Mentor

Holding is an excellent idea.  I didn't see the issue with your vision, is it blurry vision? I'm having a taste of that. My pupils don't seem to be adjusting appropriately to light. I hope it gets better for you soon. I suspect you will see an improvement in 30 days.

 

I'm having an uptick in symptoms--double the amount of hot flashes I was having (I was having 2-3 a day, so now it's 5-6) and some signs concerning for autonomic instability so I will not be speeding up my taper as I hoped (more info on my topic). It's ok...In the grand scheme of things it's mild compared to before. I think it will settle soon. I can't complain. I'm grateful to be as stable as I've been and hope to be back at wd normal soon.

Now: 100 mg Zoloft am, 50 mg Trazodone.  Daily drug burden decreased from 2050 in 2018 mg to 150 mg 🐢🐢

Zoloft: 1/24/23 increased to 100 mg after suicide attempt 9/17/22 cut 6 mg, 8/14/22 cut 6.5 mg, 5/7/22 cut 12.5 mg 3/20/22 cut 12.5 mg 10/26/21 cut 6 mg 10/17/21 cut 5 mg, 9/17/21 Cut 3 mg,  9/13/21 cut 4 mg, 8/29/21 Cut 2 mg 8/8/21 Cut 3 mg  7/30/21 Zoloft: Converted 25 mg to liquid. Also take 100 mg pill & 25 mg pill=150 mg total
🌞 Feb 28, 2021 0 mg Gapapentin 2021 Gaba each dose 4x/day: Feb 27 7 mg (one dose only), Feb 10, 7 mg, Jan 14 10 mg 2020 Current taper schedule from Aug 30-present: drop 8 mg every 2-3 weeks. Aug 20 31 mg, Aug 18, 33 mg, July 29, 35 mg, July 23 38 mg, July 22 40 mg Jun 24 42 mg, Jun 15 44 mg, Jun 9 48 mg, May 22 50 mg, May 14 54 mg, May 7 56 mg, Apr 16 58 mg, Mar 28 60 mg, Mar 18 62 mg. Feb 26 64 mg. Feb 19, 66 mg. Jan 23, 70 mg. 2019 Dec 19, 72 mg. Nov 14 ,76 mg. Aug 8, 80 mg. Aug 6, 85 mg. Jul 26, 90 mg. Jul 11, 95 mg.

Jul 16 trazodone from 100 to 50 mg.

Jun 17-July 10 Slowly changed gab fr pill to liquid at same dose 100 mg 4x/d.

Apr 24 Stopped klon!!! 🌞 Apr 4  Decreased gaba to 400 mg (100 mg 4x/day)-Apr 4, 2019   0.25 klon March 11  Klonopin .5 mg twice daily, varied dose til Apr 15. Started Klon fast taper 25%, short use

Mar 16, 450 mg gaba 3x/day cut 600 mg--not exact!--updose after learning w/d

Feb 20, 2019 1800 mg gabapentin; MD taper; off 3 days=mvt disorder & autonomic instability. July 2018 temazepam 15 mg 1-2; prn several x/wk til Jan/Feb 2019 when cold turkey, flu illness for months

July 2018 started gabapentin 100 3x/day; titrated up to 1800 mg (600 3x/day)

Buspar, I forget how much, 2 pills a day Jan 2017-July 2018 cold turkey. On Zoloft since maybe 2004? After trying many.

*I speak from my experience. Nothing I say is medical advice. I'm not a doctor.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Dejavu, 

 

How is your last taper going?  I think I’m ready to taper again soon, I’ve held for six weeks all up so far. I’m sorry to hear about your continuing visual problems, sending hugs your way🤗

 

 

Been on APs, benzos, ADs and opiates, for chronic pain. Had Akathisia in the past that made me suicidal. Still on Seroquel. 2019:➡️ March10=7.25mg ✔️ April17=7.0✔️ June5=6.75✔️ July14=6.50✔️ Aug28=6.25✔️ Oct10=6.20  ✔️ Oct21=6.0✔️ Dec16=5.80 ✔️ 2020➡️ Jan 21=5.60 ✔️ April2=5.40 ✔️ May29=5.20 ✔️ Aug14= 5.0 ✔️Sep29=4.80✔️2021➡️ Jan31=4.60 mg✔️ April24=4.40mg✔️Jul17=4.30mg ✔️ Aug 28=4.20 ✔️ Oct 11=4.15✔️Nov1=4.10 ✔️ Nov21= 4.05✔️ Dec13= 4mg ✔️2022 ➡️ Jan8=3.95✔️ Jan31=3.90✔️ March2=3.85 ✔️ April4=3.80 ✔️ June16=3.75✔️ July26=3.70✔️ Sep2=3.65✔️ Oct21=3.60 ✔️ Dec8=3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️ March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey, @Carmie, thanks for checking in. I haven't started to taper yet and probably won't this year. Even if I stabilized tomorrow, I think I need to give my body and mind a rest for a while. I'm in no real hurry. I mean, sure, I'd like to get started, because I'm not getting any younger here, but I recognize that my system has been stressed to the max in the past few years, and I want to be in the best possible position before I begin to taper. Right now, I've been bombarded with a bout of the flu. It seems it's going around early this year. It's not pleasant, but you know, it's a funny thing: it's not that big a deal. In the past, I was the type to obsess over my symptoms whenever I was ill. But withdrawal puts everything in perspective. Now, it's "just the flu," rather than, "OMG, I feel horrible!" This is very different for me, and it reinforces my belief that when I come out the other end of this withdrawal business, I will be more resilient and healthier than ever before. It's an unexpected but welcome silver lining to this particular cloud. 

 

I'm so glad you're getting ready to make another cut. How are you doing overall?

2016 - Zoloft 50 mg for klonopin w/d

Approx. Nov 2017 - successful taper of klonopin; Approx. Jan. 2018 - rapid taper Zoloft over 2 wks - no w/d symptoms; May 2018 - Reinstate 50 mg Zoloft per doctor; Aug 2018 - Rapid taper Zoloft over 3-4 weeks - no w/d symptoms for 1 mo.; Late Oct 2018 - pdoc rx'd 5mg lexapro -took for 1 wk; Early Nov 2018 - Reinstate 25 mg Zoloft; updose to 37.5 on Nov 28, 2018; Nov 30 2018 - returned to 25mg Zoloft upon mod. advice; Dec 9 - Dec10 2018 - 12.5mg zoloft liquid+12.5mg zoloft pill; Dec 11 2018 - 25mg zoloft all liquid; Feb 14 2019 - updosed to 26.25 mg liquid; Mar 6 2019 - updosed to 26.88 mg liquid - new symptoms; Mar 13 2019 - back down to 26.25 mg per mod suggestion

Dose Changes: Dec 2 2019 - 5% to 25mg; Jan 14 2020 - 10% to 22.5 (increase in sxs all month); Mar 10-15? 2020,  accidental updose to 25mg; Mar 22 2020 - back down to 22.5mg; Apr 12 2020 - 2.5% to 21.94mg; Apr 19 2020 - 2.5% to 21.375mg (symptom increase); May 17 2020 - 2.5% to 20.625mg; May 24 2020 - 2.5% to 20.1mg - Jun 14 2020 - noticed uptick in symptoms settled 2 days later - July 10 2020 - onset of wave

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Hi Deja,

 

I have vision issues, too.  I hope you are feeling better and that your wave lifted?  You were feeling pretty crummy recently.  I think it's a good idea to let your body rest once you reach stabilization.  Very good idea.  Hang in there!

 

Rosetta

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

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  • Mentor
4 hours ago, Dejavu said:

I haven't started to taper yet and probably won't this year. Even if I stabilized tomorrow, I think I need to give my body and mind a rest for a while. I'm in no real hurry. I mean, sure, I'd like to get started, because I'm not getting any younger here, but I recognize that my system has been stressed to the max in the past few years, and I want to be in the best possible position before I begin to taper.

 

Super smart, Deja. At the end of the taper, we want a pot of gold, not an unpleasant surprise. I've been thinking a lot about this myself.

 

I hope you feel better soon from the flu!!!

Now: 100 mg Zoloft am, 50 mg Trazodone.  Daily drug burden decreased from 2050 in 2018 mg to 150 mg 🐢🐢

Zoloft: 1/24/23 increased to 100 mg after suicide attempt 9/17/22 cut 6 mg, 8/14/22 cut 6.5 mg, 5/7/22 cut 12.5 mg 3/20/22 cut 12.5 mg 10/26/21 cut 6 mg 10/17/21 cut 5 mg, 9/17/21 Cut 3 mg,  9/13/21 cut 4 mg, 8/29/21 Cut 2 mg 8/8/21 Cut 3 mg  7/30/21 Zoloft: Converted 25 mg to liquid. Also take 100 mg pill & 25 mg pill=150 mg total
🌞 Feb 28, 2021 0 mg Gapapentin 2021 Gaba each dose 4x/day: Feb 27 7 mg (one dose only), Feb 10, 7 mg, Jan 14 10 mg 2020 Current taper schedule from Aug 30-present: drop 8 mg every 2-3 weeks. Aug 20 31 mg, Aug 18, 33 mg, July 29, 35 mg, July 23 38 mg, July 22 40 mg Jun 24 42 mg, Jun 15 44 mg, Jun 9 48 mg, May 22 50 mg, May 14 54 mg, May 7 56 mg, Apr 16 58 mg, Mar 28 60 mg, Mar 18 62 mg. Feb 26 64 mg. Feb 19, 66 mg. Jan 23, 70 mg. 2019 Dec 19, 72 mg. Nov 14 ,76 mg. Aug 8, 80 mg. Aug 6, 85 mg. Jul 26, 90 mg. Jul 11, 95 mg.

Jul 16 trazodone from 100 to 50 mg.

Jun 17-July 10 Slowly changed gab fr pill to liquid at same dose 100 mg 4x/d.

Apr 24 Stopped klon!!! 🌞 Apr 4  Decreased gaba to 400 mg (100 mg 4x/day)-Apr 4, 2019   0.25 klon March 11  Klonopin .5 mg twice daily, varied dose til Apr 15. Started Klon fast taper 25%, short use

Mar 16, 450 mg gaba 3x/day cut 600 mg--not exact!--updose after learning w/d

Feb 20, 2019 1800 mg gabapentin; MD taper; off 3 days=mvt disorder & autonomic instability. July 2018 temazepam 15 mg 1-2; prn several x/wk til Jan/Feb 2019 when cold turkey, flu illness for months

July 2018 started gabapentin 100 3x/day; titrated up to 1800 mg (600 3x/day)

Buspar, I forget how much, 2 pills a day Jan 2017-July 2018 cold turkey. On Zoloft since maybe 2004? After trying many.

*I speak from my experience. Nothing I say is medical advice. I'm not a doctor.

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Dejavu,

 

Are you getting proper waves this far out or more of a consistent pattern of symptoms?

 

In huge wave at moment and to be honest it’s scary to be getting such big ones this far out. Inbetween these big ones I get ‘normal’ waves which are far easier to handle. 

 

I know now we are all different but just seeing how its tracking for you.

 

 

20mg Lexapro 2007

10mg Lexapro 2012

Started tapering approx (October 2017) 12 months ago  from 10mg to 9mg then 8 then 7 then 6 then 5 then 4 then 3.

Held for approx 4 to 6 weeks min on each reduction.

Hit severe symptoms (started 7th Nov) after dropping to 3mg. Dropped to 3mg approx 22nd October.

Back to 4mg (7th November) and stabilising. Current symptoms started 23rd November 2018

Used diazepam (2018) 10mg 10th Nov, 5mg 11th Nov, 2.5mg 12 Nov, 2mg 13th Nov.

Used diazepam 10mg 24th Nov, 7.5 25th Nov and 5mg 26th November 2018

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  • Moderator Emeritus
6 hours ago, Dejavu said:

Hey, @Carmie, thanks for checking in. I haven't started to taper yet and probably won't this year. Even if I stabilized tomorrow, I think I need to give my body and mind a rest for a while. I'm in no real hurry. I mean, sure, I'd like to get started, because I'm not getting any younger here, but I recognize that my system has been stressed to the max in the past few years, and I want to be in the best possible position before I begin to taper. Right now, I've been bombarded with a bout of the flu. It seems it's going around early this year. It's not pleasant, but you know, it's a funny thing: it's not that big a deal. In the past, I was the type to obsess over my symptoms whenever I was ill. But withdrawal puts everything in perspective. Now, it's "just the flu," rather than, "OMG, I feel horrible!" This is very different for me, and it reinforces my belief that when I come out the other end of this withdrawal business, I will be more resilient and healthier than ever before. It's an unexpected but welcome silver lining to this particular cloud. 

 

I'm so glad you're getting ready to make another cut. How are you doing overall?

 

Hi Dejavu, 

 

Wise to hear that you’re holding. I’ve done the same thing many times and given my body a break from tapering. I hope you get over the flu soon. Yes, it’s amazing that when we have other health issues, nothing seems to be as bad as withdrawals.

 

I’m just taking a day at a time, Thanks for asking. I’ve been really sick but I continue to get out and about and do things, though I spend heaps of time in bed. I can still see lots of things in my life to be grateful for though. 

 

Take care, sending hugs🤗

Been on APs, benzos, ADs and opiates, for chronic pain. Had Akathisia in the past that made me suicidal. Still on Seroquel. 2019:➡️ March10=7.25mg ✔️ April17=7.0✔️ June5=6.75✔️ July14=6.50✔️ Aug28=6.25✔️ Oct10=6.20  ✔️ Oct21=6.0✔️ Dec16=5.80 ✔️ 2020➡️ Jan 21=5.60 ✔️ April2=5.40 ✔️ May29=5.20 ✔️ Aug14= 5.0 ✔️Sep29=4.80✔️2021➡️ Jan31=4.60 mg✔️ April24=4.40mg✔️Jul17=4.30mg ✔️ Aug 28=4.20 ✔️ Oct 11=4.15✔️Nov1=4.10 ✔️ Nov21= 4.05✔️ Dec13= 4mg ✔️2022 ➡️ Jan8=3.95✔️ Jan31=3.90✔️ March2=3.85 ✔️ April4=3.80 ✔️ June16=3.75✔️ July26=3.70✔️ Sep2=3.65✔️ Oct21=3.60 ✔️ Dec8=3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️ March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi, @Rosetta  @ShiningLight and @Tom37. Thanks for checking in. I haven't been around terribly much, what with work schedules and now this stupid flu bug. The good news is that this virus has not shot me into WD hell. Not sure I even noticed any uptick in symptoms at all until today - a tiny bit of hand tremor and dizziness when I move my head up or down (which could both be flu-related) and some generalized skin tingling (which is certainly WD-related), but all is very manageable. I think that's a pretty big deal and a good indicator that I'm growing more stable.

 

My most annoying and anxiety-producing symptom is the vision issue. It is constant and stubborn. At my last eye exam, my doctor found a cataract in my left eye, but it's not ready to be removed yet. So when my vision is blurred and my eyes are dry, it's always much worse in my left eye than my right. This of course sometimes effects my equilibrium and depth perception, and doesn't help in those instances when DP rears its ugly head, which thankfully doesn't happen much anymore. Still, the vision issue is very hard to ignore. I remember that this symptom began right before my crash last November. Of course, I didn't recognize it as withdrawal at the time. I just thought I had an eye infection and I was too busy with family deaths and illnesses to look into it. So I guess the adage of "first to come, last to go" is true in my case. I've had 2 eye exams - the retina is intact and my cornea has healed, so it must be a combination of cataract and withdrawal. It's very frustrating and it does concern me, but there's nothing I can do but accept and wait.

 

Tom, I'm sorry you're having a bad patch right now. To answer your question, I just emerged from about a 2 month wave that was fairly unpleasant. It wasn't as intense as my initial crash, but it was no fun for sure. My windows are not always clearly defined; just a general easing of symptoms gradually, and improved baseline afterward. My theory on that is that many of my symptoms are actually side effects (I know the weakness and tremor are), and those probably won't begin to fade until I've tapered a decent amount. Also I get symptoms that come and go for minutes or even seconds at a time throughout the day. I hope this makes sense. It seems as though you have more a clearly defined window/wave pattern. No matter. We will both heal. I've read several people who claim they had a nasty wave right before they stabilized. Perhaps that's what is going on with you. 

2016 - Zoloft 50 mg for klonopin w/d

Approx. Nov 2017 - successful taper of klonopin; Approx. Jan. 2018 - rapid taper Zoloft over 2 wks - no w/d symptoms; May 2018 - Reinstate 50 mg Zoloft per doctor; Aug 2018 - Rapid taper Zoloft over 3-4 weeks - no w/d symptoms for 1 mo.; Late Oct 2018 - pdoc rx'd 5mg lexapro -took for 1 wk; Early Nov 2018 - Reinstate 25 mg Zoloft; updose to 37.5 on Nov 28, 2018; Nov 30 2018 - returned to 25mg Zoloft upon mod. advice; Dec 9 - Dec10 2018 - 12.5mg zoloft liquid+12.5mg zoloft pill; Dec 11 2018 - 25mg zoloft all liquid; Feb 14 2019 - updosed to 26.25 mg liquid; Mar 6 2019 - updosed to 26.88 mg liquid - new symptoms; Mar 13 2019 - back down to 26.25 mg per mod suggestion

Dose Changes: Dec 2 2019 - 5% to 25mg; Jan 14 2020 - 10% to 22.5 (increase in sxs all month); Mar 10-15? 2020,  accidental updose to 25mg; Mar 22 2020 - back down to 22.5mg; Apr 12 2020 - 2.5% to 21.94mg; Apr 19 2020 - 2.5% to 21.375mg (symptom increase); May 17 2020 - 2.5% to 20.625mg; May 24 2020 - 2.5% to 20.1mg - Jun 14 2020 - noticed uptick in symptoms settled 2 days later - July 10 2020 - onset of wave

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Thanks @Dejavu

 

I definitely seem to be a classic window and wave person with generally quite short waves (less than a week) so I’m lucky in that regard but always think that this wave could be different, that it could push me over the edge.

 

For me I had zero side effects from the drug other than interrupted sleep and the standard numbing of emotions so all symptoms I have should be just withdrawal so should go. 

 

I’m glad the virus didn’t knock you back into a wave and hopefully the eye situation gets better for you. You know your in wd when the flu is just ‘the flu’!

 

Keep looking after yourself and you will get there!

20mg Lexapro 2007

10mg Lexapro 2012

Started tapering approx (October 2017) 12 months ago  from 10mg to 9mg then 8 then 7 then 6 then 5 then 4 then 3.

Held for approx 4 to 6 weeks min on each reduction.

Hit severe symptoms (started 7th Nov) after dropping to 3mg. Dropped to 3mg approx 22nd October.

Back to 4mg (7th November) and stabilising. Current symptoms started 23rd November 2018

Used diazepam (2018) 10mg 10th Nov, 5mg 11th Nov, 2.5mg 12 Nov, 2mg 13th Nov.

Used diazepam 10mg 24th Nov, 7.5 25th Nov and 5mg 26th November 2018

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Glad to read that the flu hasn’t ramped up your withdrawals Dejavu, 

 

So happy that you’re slowly feeling more stable but I’m sorry to hear about your continual eye problems, I hope they start settling soon. Maybe it will be one of the last symptoms to go. Amazing how we all get such different symptoms. The CNS affects everything in our body and now every time I get a new symptom I just go: it’s no doubt withdrawals.

 

You said that you think that many of your symptoms are side effects too, like the tremors. When I was on high doses of Seroquel I used to get woken up every morning by tremors. As the dosages went down the morning tremors actually stopped. I still wake at times with buzzing or vibrations in my body but the tremors are gone. That’s not to say they can’t come back with withdrawals, but I think when they were severe it was from the actual meds.

 

Take care, sending hugs🤗

Been on APs, benzos, ADs and opiates, for chronic pain. Had Akathisia in the past that made me suicidal. Still on Seroquel. 2019:➡️ March10=7.25mg ✔️ April17=7.0✔️ June5=6.75✔️ July14=6.50✔️ Aug28=6.25✔️ Oct10=6.20  ✔️ Oct21=6.0✔️ Dec16=5.80 ✔️ 2020➡️ Jan 21=5.60 ✔️ April2=5.40 ✔️ May29=5.20 ✔️ Aug14= 5.0 ✔️Sep29=4.80✔️2021➡️ Jan31=4.60 mg✔️ April24=4.40mg✔️Jul17=4.30mg ✔️ Aug 28=4.20 ✔️ Oct 11=4.15✔️Nov1=4.10 ✔️ Nov21= 4.05✔️ Dec13= 4mg ✔️2022 ➡️ Jan8=3.95✔️ Jan31=3.90✔️ March2=3.85 ✔️ April4=3.80 ✔️ June16=3.75✔️ July26=3.70✔️ Sep2=3.65✔️ Oct21=3.60 ✔️ Dec8=3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️ March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi djv long time no speak

My optician told me I have a very slow blink rate this is why my eyes are dry and vision often blurry.

I now try to blink more frequently and it does help

If all else fails Optrex mist spray helps.

Good to see you are doing better

Sassenach

Escitalopram 10mgs from mid 2007 ( can't remember exact date) to 11th Dec 2018

Fentanyl patches ( don't remember dose ) from Nov 2014 to 11 Dec 2018

Quit both cold turkey Dec 2018

Reinstated 3rd March 2019 2.5 mgs.

Updosed  8March to 5mgs and holding

25/11/19 Started taper 4.5mgs and holding

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner

If you are going through Hell, keep going. NCIS series 15, David MaCallum:rolleyes:

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  • Mentor

Hi Dejavu,

 

it’s such good news to hear that you’ve emerged from your protracted wave. I hope you continue to feel better. Sorry to hear about your eye problems and flu. There’s always something, isn’t there? It seems to be the nature of life. I think Optrex could help you, as Sassenach suggested.

 

Personally, i’m trying to truly accept that there will always be something wrong in my life and give up wishing to be problem free. This is very difficult, but I’m making a little progress on this in relation to my withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Warmest wishes,

 

Rich

 = medication taken now

2007 quetiapine to March 2019 200mg

2019 quetiapine March to present 225mg 

2007 citalopram to present 40mg 
2018 March Abilify 5mg  
2019 Abilify February rapid taper over 3 weeks from 5mg to off

2019 March Clonazepam as required, taken very occasionally, then taken 0.5mg for 2 days 28th and 29th March, now phased out

2019 1st April reinstated Abilify 0.5mg / day 

2018 to 2020 Liquid B12 2g twice daily (diagnosed B12 deficiency) 

2020 July reduced quetiapine to 200mg

2022 October began taper of Abilify
 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey @Sassenach and @RichT, thanks for checking in and for the Optrex suggestion. I've got emollient drops 6x a day, gel drops before bed, a heat mask once a day and a sleep mask to keep my eyes closed at night. It doesn't seem to make too much difference. Blurry vision mostly in the left eye  - it's really odd that it's not affecting both eyes equally. My optometrist says there's a problem with my eyelids not fully closing, and hubby has confirmed that my eyes are slightly open while asleep (which understandably creeps him out...lol!). I've never had this problem before CT. I know now this was my very first withdrawal symptom, although I didn't realize it was WD at the time. And of course, since nothing in life is simple, the condition is complicated by the fact that I had overworn my contacts and damaged my corneas (left eye damage worse than right, but both healed now), and my optometrist has also found a cataract forming on my left eye which is not yet ready to be removed. The perfect storm for crappy vision. It's pretty much the last unrelenting symptom I have. Other symptoms come and go in the background, but this is fairly constant and varies only slightly in intensity. I would feel a lot more inclined to try to start tapering if I could see some progress on the visual issue. So for now, still holding.

 

Rich, I know what you mean about coming to terms with the fact that there will always be problems in life. That has been a major life adjustment for me, too. I used to believe everything had to be perfect for me to be able to function. But that's a really great way to miss out on a lot of your life. I had to learn by necessity that it's possible - and perfectly okay - to not be fully consumed by any one thing, no matter how big that thing is. My mother was seriously ill for years. Through all the anguish and worry I felt for her, I didn't feel I could handle anything else. I wanted nothing more than to check out of the rest of my life and focus completely on her. But I quickly realized that no one has that luxury. During those difficult years, grandbabies were also born. There were birthdays and anniversaries to be celebrated. I had to make a living. I had a marriage to tend to. There were good times to be had. And I needed to be present for all of it. So I forced myself to be. And it wasn't perfect - far from it, which drove me mad for the longest time. Sometimes, I was running late. My hair and nails weren't always done. At times I showed up empty-handed. I'm a perfectionist and overachiever by nature, and I felt like I was "half-assing" my life. But I gradually learned that it's far more important to be imperfectly present than to be perfectly absent. You can either huddle against the storm, or learn how to dance in the rain. I became a raindancer.

 

It doesn't come naturally to me, and it probably never will. I have to work on it all the time, especially in withdrawal. When my vision is bad, my knee-jerk reaction is to huddle under the covers. I feel vulnerable and defective going out in the world because I'm not at my best. Which is exactly why I must. I'm almost always glad I did. But it's life.

2016 - Zoloft 50 mg for klonopin w/d

Approx. Nov 2017 - successful taper of klonopin; Approx. Jan. 2018 - rapid taper Zoloft over 2 wks - no w/d symptoms; May 2018 - Reinstate 50 mg Zoloft per doctor; Aug 2018 - Rapid taper Zoloft over 3-4 weeks - no w/d symptoms for 1 mo.; Late Oct 2018 - pdoc rx'd 5mg lexapro -took for 1 wk; Early Nov 2018 - Reinstate 25 mg Zoloft; updose to 37.5 on Nov 28, 2018; Nov 30 2018 - returned to 25mg Zoloft upon mod. advice; Dec 9 - Dec10 2018 - 12.5mg zoloft liquid+12.5mg zoloft pill; Dec 11 2018 - 25mg zoloft all liquid; Feb 14 2019 - updosed to 26.25 mg liquid; Mar 6 2019 - updosed to 26.88 mg liquid - new symptoms; Mar 13 2019 - back down to 26.25 mg per mod suggestion

Dose Changes: Dec 2 2019 - 5% to 25mg; Jan 14 2020 - 10% to 22.5 (increase in sxs all month); Mar 10-15? 2020,  accidental updose to 25mg; Mar 22 2020 - back down to 22.5mg; Apr 12 2020 - 2.5% to 21.94mg; Apr 19 2020 - 2.5% to 21.375mg (symptom increase); May 17 2020 - 2.5% to 20.625mg; May 24 2020 - 2.5% to 20.1mg - Jun 14 2020 - noticed uptick in symptoms settled 2 days later - July 10 2020 - onset of wave

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  • Mentor
4 minutes ago, Dejavu said:

But I gradually learned that it's far more important to be imperfectly present than to be perfectly absent. You can either huddle against the storm, or learn how to dance in the rain. I became a raindancer.

 

 

💜💜💜 So inspiring and wonderful!

Now: 100 mg Zoloft am, 50 mg Trazodone.  Daily drug burden decreased from 2050 in 2018 mg to 150 mg 🐢🐢

Zoloft: 1/24/23 increased to 100 mg after suicide attempt 9/17/22 cut 6 mg, 8/14/22 cut 6.5 mg, 5/7/22 cut 12.5 mg 3/20/22 cut 12.5 mg 10/26/21 cut 6 mg 10/17/21 cut 5 mg, 9/17/21 Cut 3 mg,  9/13/21 cut 4 mg, 8/29/21 Cut 2 mg 8/8/21 Cut 3 mg  7/30/21 Zoloft: Converted 25 mg to liquid. Also take 100 mg pill & 25 mg pill=150 mg total
🌞 Feb 28, 2021 0 mg Gapapentin 2021 Gaba each dose 4x/day: Feb 27 7 mg (one dose only), Feb 10, 7 mg, Jan 14 10 mg 2020 Current taper schedule from Aug 30-present: drop 8 mg every 2-3 weeks. Aug 20 31 mg, Aug 18, 33 mg, July 29, 35 mg, July 23 38 mg, July 22 40 mg Jun 24 42 mg, Jun 15 44 mg, Jun 9 48 mg, May 22 50 mg, May 14 54 mg, May 7 56 mg, Apr 16 58 mg, Mar 28 60 mg, Mar 18 62 mg. Feb 26 64 mg. Feb 19, 66 mg. Jan 23, 70 mg. 2019 Dec 19, 72 mg. Nov 14 ,76 mg. Aug 8, 80 mg. Aug 6, 85 mg. Jul 26, 90 mg. Jul 11, 95 mg.

Jul 16 trazodone from 100 to 50 mg.

Jun 17-July 10 Slowly changed gab fr pill to liquid at same dose 100 mg 4x/d.

Apr 24 Stopped klon!!! 🌞 Apr 4  Decreased gaba to 400 mg (100 mg 4x/day)-Apr 4, 2019   0.25 klon March 11  Klonopin .5 mg twice daily, varied dose til Apr 15. Started Klon fast taper 25%, short use

Mar 16, 450 mg gaba 3x/day cut 600 mg--not exact!--updose after learning w/d

Feb 20, 2019 1800 mg gabapentin; MD taper; off 3 days=mvt disorder & autonomic instability. July 2018 temazepam 15 mg 1-2; prn several x/wk til Jan/Feb 2019 when cold turkey, flu illness for months

July 2018 started gabapentin 100 3x/day; titrated up to 1800 mg (600 3x/day)

Buspar, I forget how much, 2 pills a day Jan 2017-July 2018 cold turkey. On Zoloft since maybe 2004? After trying many.

*I speak from my experience. Nothing I say is medical advice. I'm not a doctor.

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Thanks for the encouragement!

 

No good your feeling the same way. Crazy how it changes so quick. Definitely wd but unlike physical symptoms emotional ones can be harder to distinguish. 

 

Hopefully it it clears up soon for you and when it does we should come out of it that little bit more healed. 

20mg Lexapro 2007

10mg Lexapro 2012

Started tapering approx (October 2017) 12 months ago  from 10mg to 9mg then 8 then 7 then 6 then 5 then 4 then 3.

Held for approx 4 to 6 weeks min on each reduction.

Hit severe symptoms (started 7th Nov) after dropping to 3mg. Dropped to 3mg approx 22nd October.

Back to 4mg (7th November) and stabilising. Current symptoms started 23rd November 2018

Used diazepam (2018) 10mg 10th Nov, 5mg 11th Nov, 2.5mg 12 Nov, 2mg 13th Nov.

Used diazepam 10mg 24th Nov, 7.5 25th Nov and 5mg 26th November 2018

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

It's been a while since I updated. Six months steady on reinstatement dose. I really believe I'm creeping up on stability. I'm still having waves, but they seem to have become much shorter in duration and less intense. One symptom that has been pretty much constant since I crashed has been dry eyes/blurry vision (in my left eye only, which is really weird, and makes balance issues, dizziness and DP worse when I get those symptoms). Even in windows, the visual problems do not usually go away, and rarely have they even slightly improved. But last night, for the first time, my vision was almost normal! This morning, not quite as good, but still much improved.

 

Something else kind of cool happened today too. Watching American football today (go, Cowboys!), I began to ruminate about departed family members and how we would all watch NFL games together. They were such important people to me, those were such wonderful times, and I miss them so terribly.  I felt and recognized the onset of an anxiety and depressive spiral, and was able to breathe through and distract from it. Yes, tears were shed, and sad moments were relived. But it was normal, proportional grief. It did not drown me or consume my day. Ten minutes later I was back to cheering my team. This is huge progress, and such an important tool for living a peaceful and happy life without running to the medicine cabinet. 

 

From a logical standpoint, I guess I've always known that I would heal from this. But for the first time, I've finally been able to *feel* that I will, if that makes any sense. Today, for perhaps the first time, I know in my heart as well as in my head that I will thrive. I can see past withdrawal. At least for today, it did not define me. I'll take it.

 

 

2016 - Zoloft 50 mg for klonopin w/d

Approx. Nov 2017 - successful taper of klonopin; Approx. Jan. 2018 - rapid taper Zoloft over 2 wks - no w/d symptoms; May 2018 - Reinstate 50 mg Zoloft per doctor; Aug 2018 - Rapid taper Zoloft over 3-4 weeks - no w/d symptoms for 1 mo.; Late Oct 2018 - pdoc rx'd 5mg lexapro -took for 1 wk; Early Nov 2018 - Reinstate 25 mg Zoloft; updose to 37.5 on Nov 28, 2018; Nov 30 2018 - returned to 25mg Zoloft upon mod. advice; Dec 9 - Dec10 2018 - 12.5mg zoloft liquid+12.5mg zoloft pill; Dec 11 2018 - 25mg zoloft all liquid; Feb 14 2019 - updosed to 26.25 mg liquid; Mar 6 2019 - updosed to 26.88 mg liquid - new symptoms; Mar 13 2019 - back down to 26.25 mg per mod suggestion

Dose Changes: Dec 2 2019 - 5% to 25mg; Jan 14 2020 - 10% to 22.5 (increase in sxs all month); Mar 10-15? 2020,  accidental updose to 25mg; Mar 22 2020 - back down to 22.5mg; Apr 12 2020 - 2.5% to 21.94mg; Apr 19 2020 - 2.5% to 21.375mg (symptom increase); May 17 2020 - 2.5% to 20.625mg; May 24 2020 - 2.5% to 20.1mg - Jun 14 2020 - noticed uptick in symptoms settled 2 days later - July 10 2020 - onset of wave

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  • Moderator Emeritus

You are doing amazing Deja! I suppose I'm a few months "ahead" of you in my process and I'm so glad to have buddies like you on here to know we are going through it together. I stabilized 8 months after my reinstatement and have been tapering at 0.5 mg per month increments, using a compounding pharmacy. I think I'm going to figure out the whole liquid thing once I get to 5 mg. 

 

You are SO close to stability (hurray!) and then it will be onto your gradual taper! Here's to doing things we never thought we could ever do again while in the throes of withdrawal.  

Apr 2018: Began 10 mg Amitriptyline (for headaches & insomnia from concussion).

Jul - Aug 2018: Fast taper to 5 mg and then 2.5 mg (too fast, hellish withdrawal at 2.5 mg). Sept 2018: Reinstated 10 mg (many symptoms improved). Oct 2018 - Apr 2019: Updosed & stabilized on 11 mg (2 waves at 3 and 5 months post-withdrawal). Apr 2019 - Apr 2020: Tapered 0.5-0.25 mg per month using compounded pills: 11 mg —> 6 mg. (2 waves at 12 and 16 months post-withdrawal.) Apr 2020 - present: Switched to a liquid taper at rate of 0.1 mg per month. Currently: 1.1 mg. No more waves. 

 

Supplements: Omega-3 fish oil, Vit B12, coenzyme Q10, Hawthorn extract (for tachycardia) Tools for insomnia/waves (as needed): Epsom salt foot soaks, 0.5 mg Melatonin, quality time, waves WILL PASS. Lifestyle: Eat real foods, mostly plants; sunlight, walking, yoga; symptom tracking on adapted Glenmullen chart.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Great news DJV.

 

Long may it continue🤞

Escitalopram 10mgs from mid 2007 ( can't remember exact date) to 11th Dec 2018

Fentanyl patches ( don't remember dose ) from Nov 2014 to 11 Dec 2018

Quit both cold turkey Dec 2018

Reinstated 3rd March 2019 2.5 mgs.

Updosed  8March to 5mgs and holding

25/11/19 Started taper 4.5mgs and holding

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner

If you are going through Hell, keep going. NCIS series 15, David MaCallum:rolleyes:

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  • Mentor

FANTASTIC!!!!! You've worked so hard for this. So happy for you!

Now: 100 mg Zoloft am, 50 mg Trazodone.  Daily drug burden decreased from 2050 in 2018 mg to 150 mg 🐢🐢

Zoloft: 1/24/23 increased to 100 mg after suicide attempt 9/17/22 cut 6 mg, 8/14/22 cut 6.5 mg, 5/7/22 cut 12.5 mg 3/20/22 cut 12.5 mg 10/26/21 cut 6 mg 10/17/21 cut 5 mg, 9/17/21 Cut 3 mg,  9/13/21 cut 4 mg, 8/29/21 Cut 2 mg 8/8/21 Cut 3 mg  7/30/21 Zoloft: Converted 25 mg to liquid. Also take 100 mg pill & 25 mg pill=150 mg total
🌞 Feb 28, 2021 0 mg Gapapentin 2021 Gaba each dose 4x/day: Feb 27 7 mg (one dose only), Feb 10, 7 mg, Jan 14 10 mg 2020 Current taper schedule from Aug 30-present: drop 8 mg every 2-3 weeks. Aug 20 31 mg, Aug 18, 33 mg, July 29, 35 mg, July 23 38 mg, July 22 40 mg Jun 24 42 mg, Jun 15 44 mg, Jun 9 48 mg, May 22 50 mg, May 14 54 mg, May 7 56 mg, Apr 16 58 mg, Mar 28 60 mg, Mar 18 62 mg. Feb 26 64 mg. Feb 19, 66 mg. Jan 23, 70 mg. 2019 Dec 19, 72 mg. Nov 14 ,76 mg. Aug 8, 80 mg. Aug 6, 85 mg. Jul 26, 90 mg. Jul 11, 95 mg.

Jul 16 trazodone from 100 to 50 mg.

Jun 17-July 10 Slowly changed gab fr pill to liquid at same dose 100 mg 4x/d.

Apr 24 Stopped klon!!! 🌞 Apr 4  Decreased gaba to 400 mg (100 mg 4x/day)-Apr 4, 2019   0.25 klon March 11  Klonopin .5 mg twice daily, varied dose til Apr 15. Started Klon fast taper 25%, short use

Mar 16, 450 mg gaba 3x/day cut 600 mg--not exact!--updose after learning w/d

Feb 20, 2019 1800 mg gabapentin; MD taper; off 3 days=mvt disorder & autonomic instability. July 2018 temazepam 15 mg 1-2; prn several x/wk til Jan/Feb 2019 when cold turkey, flu illness for months

July 2018 started gabapentin 100 3x/day; titrated up to 1800 mg (600 3x/day)

Buspar, I forget how much, 2 pills a day Jan 2017-July 2018 cold turkey. On Zoloft since maybe 2004? After trying many.

*I speak from my experience. Nothing I say is medical advice. I'm not a doctor.

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  • Mentor

What a great post to read. I'm so happy you are healing.  You really went through so much.  Thanks for sharing.

Rachel

 

I am not a health professional in any way.  I do not give medical advice.   Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a professional medical practitioner.

 

NEW INFORMATION FOR GABAPENTIN TAPER

April 29, 2022 900 mg to 800 mg (11%), May 29, 2022 800 to 700 mg (12.5%), June 20, 2022 700 to 650mg (8%), July 20, 2022 650 to 575 (12%), August 20,  575 to 500 (13%),  Sept 20, 2020 500 to 475mg (5%) Nov 7, 2022 475 to 425 (11%), Nov 21, 2022 500mg

Medications: Gabapentin, Prednisone 1.5mg a day, Cortisol Inhaler daily. 

HISTORY FOR ZOLOFT TAPER

Feb. 2016 to June 2016  - Was on 150mg Zoloft.  Put on Gabapentin at 900mg a day in 2016 due to antidepressant withdrawal. 

Quit Zoloft (Sertraline) June  2016,  reinstated 50mg of Zoloft July 2016.  From July 2016  to October 2016 went from 50 mg down 2.3 mg. I up-dosed in November 2016 to 12.5 mg. Held there until January 2017 when I started a much slower taper.

STARTING SENSIBLE  ZOLOFT TAPERING USING GUIDELINES FROM THIS SITE

Dec. 10 2016  - switched to Liquid Zoloft (Sertraline) @ 12.5 mg.   Jan. 4, 2020 1.875 mg (6.3%). Jan. 25, 2020 1.75 mgFeb. 29, 2020 1.625mg (7.10%).  Apr. 4, 2020 1.5 mg.  May 9, 2020 1.375 mg.  June 6, 2020 1.25 mg. (9.10%).  July 4, 2020 1.125 mg. (10%).  August 15, 2020 1.0 mg.  Oct 24, 2020 .875 mg.  Nov. 28, 2020 .75mgJan 16, 2021 .685mg (8.7%).  Feb 13, 2021 .62mg. March 12, 2021 .56mg.  May 1, 2021 .375mg.  May 29, 2021 .25mg. June 26, 2021 .0125mg. July 25, 2021 .065mg. August 22, 2021 .048mg.  October 2, 2021 .043mg.  October 10, 2021 .038mg.  October 23, 2021 .035mg.  October 30, 2021 .032mg.  Nov. 13, 2021 .030 mg.  Dec 4, 2021 .0285 mg.  Dec 11, 2021 .0265 mg. Dec 18, 2021 .0246 mg. Dec 25, 2021 .023mg. Jan 1, 2022. 0 mg. OFF COMPLETELY

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Great news, Dejavu.  And special kudos on working through the ruminations about your family.   

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 Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, 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.

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  • Mentor
On 9/8/2019 at 11:41 PM, Dejavu said:

This is huge progress, and such an important tool for living a peaceful and happy life without running to the medicine cabinet. 

Inspirational! Love how you moved thru the sad proportionally and didn’t allow it to consume the moments. 

  • Prozac | late 2004-mid-2005 | CT WD in a couple months, mostly emotional
  • Sertraline 50-100mg | 11/2011-3/2014, 10/2014-3/2017
  • Sertraline fast taper March 2017, 4 weeks, OFF sertraline April 1, 2017
  • Quit alcohol May 20, 2017
  • Lifestyle changes: AA, kundalini yoga

 

"If you've seen a monster, even if it's horrible, that's evidence of divinity." – Damien Echols

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Thanks for sharing Dejavu, 

 

I’m so happy for you.💚

Been on APs, benzos, ADs and opiates, for chronic pain. Had Akathisia in the past that made me suicidal. Still on Seroquel. 2019:➡️ March10=7.25mg ✔️ April17=7.0✔️ June5=6.75✔️ July14=6.50✔️ Aug28=6.25✔️ Oct10=6.20  ✔️ Oct21=6.0✔️ Dec16=5.80 ✔️ 2020➡️ Jan 21=5.60 ✔️ April2=5.40 ✔️ May29=5.20 ✔️ Aug14= 5.0 ✔️Sep29=4.80✔️2021➡️ Jan31=4.60 mg✔️ April24=4.40mg✔️Jul17=4.30mg ✔️ Aug 28=4.20 ✔️ Oct 11=4.15✔️Nov1=4.10 ✔️ Nov21= 4.05✔️ Dec13= 4mg ✔️2022 ➡️ Jan8=3.95✔️ Jan31=3.90✔️ March2=3.85 ✔️ April4=3.80 ✔️ June16=3.75✔️ July26=3.70✔️ Sep2=3.65✔️ Oct21=3.60 ✔️ Dec8=3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️ March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

And now, a wave. It hit me like a ton of bricks last night. Feeling all right one moment and then...there it was. It started gradually with some grief-related depression, which is not out of the norm for my present circumstances, but instead of getting better after a good cry, it progressed to free-floating anxiety.  I only got about 3 hours of very restless sleep with disturbing dreams. Lots of tingling and a few involuntary muscle twitches. By practicing AAF, I was finally able to drift off to sleep at 6am. The good news is that I did not awaken with a cortisol jolt or morning anxiety, which is what I feared, so at least there's that. But today, I'm slightly dizzy, I'm itchy, my muscles feel tense and achy, and my entire system just feels revved up.

 

I've gone over everything I've eaten, taken and done yesterday. There was nothing out of the ordinary, so this definitely is a bona fide wave. 

 

My frustration level is very high, and I feel a bit despondent. I was actually thinking about trying a 5% reduction in a couple of weeks, and now this. So obviously, that's not going to happen. How in the world will I know when it's safe for me to begin my taper? Will I ever get stable enough? I'm 58 years old. I've got at least a 3 year taper in front of me and I can't even get started. Hard to not view this as a life sentence at the present time. 

Edited by Dejavu

2016 - Zoloft 50 mg for klonopin w/d

Approx. Nov 2017 - successful taper of klonopin; Approx. Jan. 2018 - rapid taper Zoloft over 2 wks - no w/d symptoms; May 2018 - Reinstate 50 mg Zoloft per doctor; Aug 2018 - Rapid taper Zoloft over 3-4 weeks - no w/d symptoms for 1 mo.; Late Oct 2018 - pdoc rx'd 5mg lexapro -took for 1 wk; Early Nov 2018 - Reinstate 25 mg Zoloft; updose to 37.5 on Nov 28, 2018; Nov 30 2018 - returned to 25mg Zoloft upon mod. advice; Dec 9 - Dec10 2018 - 12.5mg zoloft liquid+12.5mg zoloft pill; Dec 11 2018 - 25mg zoloft all liquid; Feb 14 2019 - updosed to 26.25 mg liquid; Mar 6 2019 - updosed to 26.88 mg liquid - new symptoms; Mar 13 2019 - back down to 26.25 mg per mod suggestion

Dose Changes: Dec 2 2019 - 5% to 25mg; Jan 14 2020 - 10% to 22.5 (increase in sxs all month); Mar 10-15? 2020,  accidental updose to 25mg; Mar 22 2020 - back down to 22.5mg; Apr 12 2020 - 2.5% to 21.94mg; Apr 19 2020 - 2.5% to 21.375mg (symptom increase); May 17 2020 - 2.5% to 20.625mg; May 24 2020 - 2.5% to 20.1mg - Jun 14 2020 - noticed uptick in symptoms settled 2 days later - July 10 2020 - onset of wave

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