jozeff Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Hi leo, I think Hi leoh your 4 % decrease can definitely cause problems and absolutely within 3 days. I've noticed this myself. I only decrease 1,25% each week. I tried faster but felt very unpleasant. Also at higher dose. I found that rather unbelievable concerning the ser occupancy at those levels but hey, our body doesn't like. I did some taper jumps in November and that was like 11% cumulative. I noticed in December that I tapered this much and this explained why I felt very low for a month. Suicidal thoughts, depression, agitated and lots of anxiety. I quit diet Coke over a 2 week period. I drank 1.5 liter or more every evening. I also like to reduce my 5 small cups of coffee every day. You'll have to hold a couple of weeks and taper small steps. If that is going well you can go faster. Cheers Jozeff Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg Apr 2018 - Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed) Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks - August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019 citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose). 2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg 2020 03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold... 2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg / 13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg / 09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg 2022 08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 2023 hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg 2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold / 08apr 1.38 mg / 15apr 1.36 mg / 20apr 1.34 mg Link to comment
LeoD Posted January 25, 2020 Author Share Posted January 25, 2020 Hey Jozeff, you are correct as always. So you are on 12 mg, i am on 12 mg, let’s see who can taper faster!!! Kidding of course 😜 I noticed that green tea (two bags) gives me a boost similar to a cup of coffee, but the caffeine crash is not as dramatic. Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
jozeff Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Hi Leo, Both on 12 mg haha, Well you're on Lexapro which is about twice as potent as citalopram if I'm correct so be careful with a tapering race☺️ I'm on 12.3 mg to be precise. Started in april2019 at 18 mg. I'll be hitting 10 mg around April 2020 so that is horribly slow in my opinion. Really love to go faster and get it over with in 2 years or so but I just don't want to take the risk. Some days are horrible and I don't know if it's wd or just me being me. Good luck!!!! Cheers Jozeff Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg Apr 2018 - Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed) Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks - August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019 citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose). 2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg 2020 03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold... 2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg / 13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg / 09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg 2022 08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 2023 hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg 2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold / 08apr 1.38 mg / 15apr 1.36 mg / 20apr 1.34 mg Link to comment
LeoD Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 Moderators, All, please HELP!!!!!! I was feeling ok-ish over the last 2-3 weeks, even confident that i am on the right track, and then started tapering from 11.9 mg by less than 1% every 4-5 days or so (hi, Jozeff) Jan 22 11.8 mg Jan 26 11.7 mg Feb 1. 11.6 mg On Monday 3rd started feeling worse, end today Th 7th is the worst day of the whole wd experience so far! Major Chiils, sweating, anxiety, terrible brain fog but most importantly unrelenting depression, suicidal thoughts which i can not shake off, wild sadness. I do not think i can take it. Should i updose? If yes, how much??? I can’t think clearly right now, going up feels like a defeat but where i am now is intolerable. Thoughts, people??? Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
jozeff Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 How are you doing leo?? Cheers Jozeff Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg Apr 2018 - Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed) Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks - August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019 citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose). 2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg 2020 03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold... 2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg / 13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg / 09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg 2022 08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 2023 hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg 2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold / 08apr 1.38 mg / 15apr 1.36 mg / 20apr 1.34 mg Link to comment
LeoD Posted February 18, 2020 Author Share Posted February 18, 2020 A bit better compared to that terrible period I was complaining about in the last post. Even tapered to from 11.6 to 11.5 mg starting two days ago))). Thank you Joe for your wisdom and taking time to help others!! Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
LeoD Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 Update. Talked to my psychiatrist, who is a faculty and attending at Johns Hopkins (very smart and up to date on research). He does not disagree that I can be going through wd (big progress!!!). Still he thinks that since depression is there, it should be treated with more drugs. Lithium and nortriptalin are on the table ( not sure why these two now). We could also try crossing with Prozac. It is not unreasonable to continue tapering slowly. But we can try going up on Lexapro!!!. I should also consider checking myself into a hospital for a supervised 3 week taper!!!! ECT could be tried (no issues with memory loss!!!😂) as well as TMS. All in one 30 min conversation. I feel like an experimental animal destined to be sacrificed in the end of someone’s thesis defense))). Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
jozeff Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 Hi leo, How are you doing these days?? Did you try some things your psychiatrist suggested? Hope you're doing well! Jozeff Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg Apr 2018 - Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed) Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks - August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019 citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose). 2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg 2020 03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold... 2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg / 13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg / 09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg 2022 08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 2023 hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg 2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold / 08apr 1.38 mg / 15apr 1.36 mg / 20apr 1.34 mg Link to comment
Mentor Cocopuffz17 Posted April 18, 2020 Mentor Share Posted April 18, 2020 On 3/8/2020 at 9:23 AM, LeoD said: Update. Talked to my psychiatrist, who is a faculty and attending at Johns Hopkins (very smart and up to date on research). He does not disagree that I can be going through wd (big progress!!!). Still he thinks that since depression is there, it should be treated with more drugs. Lithium and nortriptalin are on the table ( not sure why these two now). We could also try crossing with Prozac. It is not unreasonable to continue tapering slowly. But we can try going up on Lexapro!!!. I should also consider checking myself into a hospital for a supervised 3 week taper!!!! ECT could be tried (no issues with memory loss!!!😂) as well as TMS. All in one 30 min conversation. I feel like an experimental animal destined to be sacrificed in the end of someone’s thesis defense))). Hey, that is good to have a supporting doc. I wonder what their theory is about how depression is caused. Do they believe in chemical imbalance theory? How are you doing? I follow The Plant Paradox lifestyle by Dr.Gundry. This lifestyle has given me my life back and I feel better than I have ever felt in my life. It has enabled me to finally get off of this medication and truly live my life. Nutrition is the key to health!!!!! 2008 to 2019 - 20 mg Paroxetine Attempted 2 CT's around the 5-6 year mark. Were absolutely terrible and reinstated. Was never explained by the doctor the seriousness of the short half life of this drug. 2017 - Attempted a tapered discontinuation of this drug and reinstated after being unsuccessful. 2019 - Feb. 12 - After a three month taper I am off of paroxetine. The 3 months were terrible, awful withdrawal feelings. I followed the doctors guidelines for the reduction of this drug and now know it was way too fast. 2019 - Oct. 12 - 8 months off paroxetine. 75% improvement since coming off the drug. Definitely have had tons of challenges along the way. Let’s go!!!! 2021 - Feb. 12 - 24 months off paroxetine. I have minor challenges now. Tinnitus/Headaches are still around but are reduced by a massive amount. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 18, 2020 Administrator Share Posted April 18, 2020 On 3/8/2020 at 8:23 AM, LeoD said: Update. Talked to my psychiatrist, who is a faculty and attending at Johns Hopkins (very smart and up to date on research). He does not disagree that I can be going through wd (big progress!!!). Still he thinks that since depression is there, it should be treated with more drugs. Lithium and nortriptalin are on the table ( not sure why these two now). We could also try crossing with Prozac. It is not unreasonable to continue tapering slowly. But we can try going up on Lexapro!!!. I should also consider checking myself into a hospital for a supervised 3 week taper!!!! ECT could be tried (no issues with memory loss!!!😂) as well as TMS. All in one 30 min conversation. I feel like an experimental animal destined to be sacrificed in the end of someone’s thesis defense))). That psychiatrist is typically confused about the nature of withdrawal. Withdrawal-induced "depression" is not a psychiatric disorder to be treated with a prescription cascade. ECT is irrelevant to withdrawal syndrome. Whatever "depression" you may have had prior to taking antidepressants does not spring back when you reduce dosage. It seems you are very sensitive to decreases in escilatopram. How did you feel after your February decrease to 11.2mg? Are you still reducing? FYI Why taper? SERT transporter occupancy studies show importance of gradual change in plasma concentration 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
LeoD Posted April 18, 2020 Author Share Posted April 18, 2020 Hi Alto, Good to hear from you. I am OK. Continuing the slow taper. At 10 mg now and waiting/ stabilizing. I found out experimentally that slow but continuous taper works best for me. I decrease by roughly 1 % per week, amounting to 3-10 % per month depending on the month. If get struck by symptoms, i wait for them to decrease, usually takes a few days. This is better for me than 5-10 per month once a month. The waves i get that way are much stronger and take longer, sometimes require an updose. Just my experience. Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
LeoD Posted April 19, 2020 Author Share Posted April 19, 2020 6 hours ago, jozeff said: Hi leo, How are you doing these days?? Did you try some things your psychiatrist suggested? Hope you're doing well! Jozeff Nope, got going to try anything anymore. Just slow tapering . Reached the 10 mg goal, stabilizing. How are you? I will send you some ideas privately Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 19, 2020 Administrator Share Posted April 19, 2020 19 hours ago, LeoD said: Hi Alto, Good to hear from you. I am OK. Continuing the slow taper. At 10 mg now and waiting/ stabilizing. I found out experimentally that slow but continuous taper works best for me. I decrease by roughly 1 % per week, amounting to 3-10 % per month depending on the month. If get struck by symptoms, i wait for them to decrease, usually takes a few days. This is better for me than 5-10 per month once a month. The waves i get that way are much stronger and take longer, sometimes require an updose. Just my experience. That seems very reasonable. If your recovery periods after a decrease start getting longer, you may want to stop tapering for a while, let your system settle down. You may be a fast metabolizer of escitalopram, it's leaving your body faster than the average half-life. If tapering gets very difficult, you may wish to switch to Prozac. I would not keep that psychiatrist on my payroll any longer. 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
jozeff Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 Hi leo, Are you still holding on 10 mg? Hope you are doing fine and that you can continue your taper. Cheers Jozeff Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg Apr 2018 - Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed) Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks - August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019 citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose). 2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg 2020 03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold... 2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg / 13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg / 09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg 2022 08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 2023 hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg 2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold / 08apr 1.38 mg / 15apr 1.36 mg / 20apr 1.34 mg Link to comment
LeoD Posted June 6, 2020 Author Share Posted June 6, 2020 53 minutes ago, jozeff said: Hi leo, Are you still holding on 10 mg? Hope you are doing fine and that you can continue your taper. Cheers Jozeff Hi Joe, I am 8.85 and stuck ))). Tapering was relatively easy last month and i may have gone too fast. Got hit by bad wd symptoms a week ago and hoping it will get better. How are you? Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 19, 2020 Administrator Share Posted June 19, 2020 Hello, Leo. What's going on? 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
LeoD Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 Hi Alto, I am experiencing severe depression, which is wd induced. It comes and goes and it it is very profound when in waves. Recently it does not seem to want to go away and it is un-relentless. It is like the most severe sadness for no reason. Brain fog. Interfering with normal functioning immensely. Any tricks we know to help overcome this? Walking, some exercise, a shower sometimes help. Other ideas? Thank you! Leo Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 19, 2020 Administrator Share Posted June 19, 2020 When did this symptom start? You just made a decrease. Did this symptom get better or worse? It looks like you've been up and down in dosage a lot, with frequent changes since September 2019. 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
LeoD Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 Starting Jan 2000 i’ve been steadily tapering by about 1-2% per week. The turn to much worse started about two weeks ago. Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 19, 2020 Administrator Share Posted June 19, 2020 I think your nervous system is saying it wants a rest from tapering. You might go back to 8.8mg, see what happens. I am wary of all the up and down in dosage. You might consider The Prozac switch or "bridging" with Prozac 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
LeoD Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 Does switching to Prozac work? I am a slow metabolizer of SSRI by Genomind testing. Also, scared of dropping Lexapro too quickly and of introducing another poison into the game. Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 19, 2020 Administrator Share Posted June 19, 2020 You appear to be having unusual difficulty tapering escitalopram. Are you taking any other drugs? Do your symptoms follow any daily pattern? Please keep daily notes of times of day you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. 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
LeoD Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 33 minutes ago, Altostrata said: You appear to be having unusual difficulty tapering escitalopram. Are you taking any other drugs? Do your symptoms follow any daily pattern? Please keep daily notes of times of day you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. I do not take any other psycoactive drugs. My symptoms do not follow any specific pattern as far as I can say. It is worse with a weather change. Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 19, 2020 Administrator Share Posted June 19, 2020 Do you take any other drugs? If so, please put ALL your drugs in the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php and copy and paste the results or a link to them in this topic. Still would like to see daily notes. 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
LeoD Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 I take weekly testosterone shots. No interaction with excitalopram according to the checker. The wd has messed up my endocrine system and some pituitary hormones in particular. Testosterone makes me less lethargic but does not seem to help with brain fog and low mood during waves. I have been having very enjoyable windows in April and May, but now there is only this nasty wave. And in a wave it seems that there is no hope... I’d really just wait it out instead of trying Prozac or up-dosing Excitalopram, if i only new a window was coming)) Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 19, 2020 Administrator Share Posted June 19, 2020 When did you start testosterone shots? Do you get them on the same day each week? Same time? What's your schedule? Has there been any change in your dosing? Please read up on the adverse effects on drugs.com 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
LeoD Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 53 minutes ago, Altostrata said: When did you start testosterone shots? Do you get them on the same day each week? Same time? What's your schedule? Has there been any change in your dosing? Please read up on the adverse effects on drugs.com Started T 9 months ago. Same day, same time. every Sunday. No change in dosing. Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 19, 2020 Administrator Share Posted June 19, 2020 What time on Sunday? Starting today through Tuesday, please keep daily notes of times of day you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. I will not be able to answer any questions until I have this information. 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
LeoD Posted June 21, 2020 Author Share Posted June 21, 2020 Ok. I am out on vacation this week so my daily checklist would not be representative of my typical day. I’ll do it next week. Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted June 21, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 21, 2020 Please ensure that you take your drugs at the normal times whilst you are away. * 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
LeoD Posted July 4, 2020 Author Share Posted July 4, 2020 Tue 06/30 Took 8.5 mg Escit at 10 pm the night before. Slept Well 7 am woke up with mild anxiety, went for a walk 8 am breakfast – smoothie, a cup of green tea. ~1g VitC, 1 mg methylcobalamine, 6000 un VitD (liquid) 8:30-10 am computer work, feeling OK 10:30 Brain fog settling in. Tired, low mood takes over, 12:00 lunch. Still brain fog and low mood 1:30 – a walk in the sun. Feeling a bit better. 5 pm. Cleaned porch. Dust and Pollen 6 pm dinner. Extremely tired. A nap 7 pm. Woke up not really refreshed 8 pm a walk, a movie 10:30 pm 8.5 mg Escit Wed 07/01 Slept Well 7 am woke up with mild anxiety, went for a walk 8 am breakfast – smoothie, a cup of green tea. ~1g VitC, 1 mg methylcobalamine, 6000 un VitD (liquid) 8:30-10 am computer work, feeling sluggish but OK 10:30 Brain fog settling in. Tired, low mood takes over 12:00 lunch Still brain fog and low mood 1:30 – a walk in the sun. Feeling a bit better. Computer work through brain fog, lack of focus, low mood 6 pm dinner. Extremely tired. A nap 7 pm. Woke up not really refreshed 10:30 8.5 mg Escit Thr 07/02 Slept Well 7 am woke up with mild anxiety, went for a walk 8 am breakfast – smoothie, a cup of green tea. ~1g VitC, 1 mg methylcobalamine, 6000 un VitD (liquid) 8:30-10 am computer work, feeling sluggish but OK 10:30 Brain fog settling in. Tired, low mood takes over 12:00 lunch – chicken broth Still brain fog and low mood, but a bit better 2:00 A bike ride 2:30-5 pm comp work 6:00 dinner, house and yard work. Still brain fog and low mood 10:30 8.5 mg Escit Fri 07/03 Slept well 8 am woke up with mild anxiety, lingered in bed until 10 am 10 am breakfast – gluten free low carb muffins, a cup of green tea. ~1g VitC, 1 mg methylcobalamine, 6000 un VitD (liquid) 10:30 am computer work, feeling very tired, pressure around head, no focus, low mood 1:00 lunch – chicken broth. Still brain fog and low mood 2:00 a bike ride. Feeling a bit better 3:00 Work, struggling 6:00 Dinner 10:30 8.5 mg Escit Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 5, 2020 Administrator Share Posted July 5, 2020 On 6/19/2020 at 7:03 AM, LeoD said: Hi Alto, I am experiencing severe depression, which is wd induced. It comes and goes and it it is very profound when in waves. Recently it does not seem to want to go away and it is un-relentless. It is like the most severe sadness for no reason. Brain fog. Interfering with normal functioning immensely. Any tricks we know to help overcome this? Walking, some exercise, a shower sometimes help. Other ideas? Thank you! Leo Your daily notes indicate brain fog in the afternoon. Is this when you feel this "depression"? What does it feel like? What is your exercise schedule? 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
LeoD Posted July 5, 2020 Author Share Posted July 5, 2020 Yes, brain fog and depression are connected, usually come at the same time but are not the same thing. Fog is inability to focus on a task, usually work related. Depression is... sadness, like you just got a very bad news. But lasts a long time. Exercise: 30-45 min fast walk in the morning and after dinner, 1-2 bike 20 min rides during the day. I used to exercise more vigorously (such as martial arts 2x a week) but stopped because it made me more tired overall. Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 5, 2020 Administrator Share Posted July 5, 2020 Do any particular thoughts precede the sadness? Have you had this throughout your taper? When did it start? 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
LeoD Posted July 5, 2020 Author Share Posted July 5, 2020 I have been paying careful attention and I do not think it is related to thoughts. I think it is biochemical in nature having to to with drug created disbalances. It started with all other wd issues when I decreased the dose to -5 mg last time i tapered. This time It is getting worse with taper, when in the waves. Taking a nap is one way to get rid of it but then it comes back in an hour or so and is worse than before the nap. Lexapro started 2006, 10 mg 2007 tapered to 0 over a month. Felt poorly, got wd but did not know 2008 Put back on L, 20 mg 2015-16 tapered to 0 over several months. Severe Discontinuation symptoms several days after. 2016: 20 mg, 2016-April 2018 slow taper to 0. 2018 April: Drug - free!!! June: Withdrawal started 🤯 July: Back on Escitalopram, 10 mg, Nov: 15 mg, 2019: Feb 15 13.75 mg, Feb 23 updose to 15 mg, Sep 6 13.75 mg, Sep 16 12.5 mg, Oct 5 11.25 mg, Oct 23 updose 12 mg 2020: Jan 13 11.5 mg Jan 16 updose 11.9 mg, Feb-Dec slowly tapered from 11.6 to 6.6 mg. 2021: Oct 5 mg 2022: Jul 3.8 mg Holding due to bad symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, depression. Bupropion trial sep- nov 2019 no relief from wd. 100, 150, 100, 75, 50, 0 mg Testosterone Aug 2019-April 2021 - injections, stopped abruptly, experienced wd from T discontinuation . Nov 2021 - current - topical. Massive wave from T re-introduction Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 5, 2020 Administrator Share Posted July 5, 2020 These symptoms started after your reduction on July 1? 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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