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@ChessieCat If reinstating is successful (making me feel a bit better), does this effectively subvert or partly reverse the damage of CT’ing? In the sense that it makes it possible for a shorter recovery time than if you just CT’d with NO subsequent reinstatement?

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

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  • DavidfromTexas

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On 7/24/2019 at 7:49 PM, Dejavu said:

 

The only two supplements SA recommends are magnesium and fish oil. Neither will be sufficient to act as a substitute for reinstatement, but I find 400mg daily magnesium very calming to my system. I use mag glycinate, which is less likely to cause stomach issues than the other types. Magnesium is better absorbed by taking it periodically throughout the day rather than in one big dose, so I do 100mg tablets 4× a day. You should start with a small dose and gradually work your way up, to see how you react, since your system is sensitized right now.

 

 

So it’s safe to take magnesium while on anti-depressants at the same time??

 

Also, how long have YOU been going through your reinstatement stabilization? And do you find you are feeling much better since reinstating? 

Whats your timeline for starting to taper?

Edited by DavidfromTexas

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment

Do you guys think that I will be able to have a normal, or at least functioning life, while I go through highs and lows that may come with reinstatement and my eventual tapering off process? 

 

This is really depressing and scaring me. It’s a lot of bad news to discover all at once. I’m feeling like I’m getting closer to breaking with the influx of all this new unpleasant information. 

Edited by DavidfromTexas

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

It's not unusual to feel overwhelmed when you first join SA.  This is as a result of various things, including feeling unwell because of withdrawal symptoms, and at the same time as feeling "off" (sometimes with brain fog) trying to learn and understand new information, and most of that is information tends to go against any information you already know or think you know and/or you have been told by the medical community (which is taught about the drugs by the pharmaceutical companies ).

 

Part of the process of getting through all of this, the beginning, the middle and the end and afterwards is learning Acceptance as well as learning and using Non-drug techniques to help get you through the tough times, much of which is also helpful for life in general.  Some people haven't learned some life skills about how to cope with life and the stressful events that can occur, so it is a good idea for them to either do online self training or find a counsellor who can teach those skills.

 

I'll make a separate post with more helpful information/links.

* 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
  • Moderator Emeritus

Understanding what is happening helps us to not get caught up with the second fear, or fear of the fear.  This happens when we experience sensations in our body and because we don't understand them we are scared of them and then start to panic.

 

This document has a diagram of the body explaining what happens in the body when we become anxious:

 

https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/AnxietySelfHelp.pdf

 

 

Audio FEMALE VOICE:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)

 

Audio MALE VOICE:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)

 

Non-drug techniques to cope

 

dealing-with-emotional-spirals

 

Dr Claire Weekes suffered from anxiety and learned and taught ways of coping.  There are videos available on YouTube.

 

Claire Weekes' Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System

 

Audio:  How to Recover from Anxiety - Dr Claire Weekes

 

 
Resources:  Centre for Clinical Interventions (PDF modules that you can work through, eg:  Depression, Distress Intolerance, Health Anxiety, Low Self-Esteem, Panic Attacks, Perfectionism, Procrastination, Social Anxiety, Worrying)
 
On 4/28/2017 at 4:03 AM, brassmonkey said:

 

AAF: Acknowledge, Accept, Float.  It's what you have to do when nothing else works, and can be a very powerful tool in coping with anxiety.  The neuroemotional anxiety many of us feel during WD is directly caused by the drugs and their chemical reactions in the brain.  Making it so there is nothing we can do about them.  They won't respond to other drugs, relaxation techniques and the like.  They do, however, react very well to being ignored.  That's the concept behind AAF.  Acknowledge, get to know the feeling involved, explore them.  Accept, These feelings are a part of you and they aren't going anywhere fast. Float, let the feeling float off as you get on with your life as best as you can.  It's a well documented fact that the more you feed in to anxiety the worse it gets.  What starts as generalized neuroemotinal anxiety can be easily blown into a full fledged panic attack just by thinking about it.

 

I often liken it to an unwanted house guest.  At first you talk to them, have conversations, communicate with them.  After a while you figure out that they aren't leaving and there is nothing you can do to get rid of them.  So you go on about your day, working around them until they get bored and leave.

 

It can take some practice, but AAF really does work.  I hope you give it a try.

 

 

* 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
1 hour ago, ChessieCat said:

It's not unusual to feel overwhelmed when you first join SA.  This is as a result of various things, including feeling unwell because of withdrawal symptoms, and at the same time as feeling "off" (sometimes with brain fog) trying to learn and understand new information, and most of that is information tends to go against any information you already know or think you know and/or you have been told by the medical community (which is taught about the drugs by the pharmaceutical companies ).

 

Part of the process of getting through all of this, the beginning, the middle and the end and afterwards is learning Acceptance as well as learning and using Non-drug techniques to help get you through the tough times, much of which is also helpful for life in general.  Some people haven't learned some life skills about how to cope with life and the stressful events that can occur, so it is a good idea for them to either do online self training or find a counsellor who can teach those skills.

 

I'll make a separate post with more helpful information/links.

 

 Is it possible to be going through emotional withdrawal with absolutely NO physical withdrawal symptoms?? All I’ve been dealing with is emotional. Would that be the neuro-emotions?

Edited by DavidfromTexas

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment

Thursday July 25th

3:00am Woke up and unable to immediately go back to sleep. Had a brief very minor spell of shakes (tremors?) that I was able to calm away within a couple minutes. 

5:00am Finally able to get back to sleep

10:00am Woke up and got out of bed, felt slightly groggy but probably because of waking up in the middle of the night

1:00pm Cried at my counseling appt (I do every time)

3:30pm Had my cyst procedure, passed out briefly during the process (this is apparently normal for me...I even get faint if I’m sitting up during a blood draw for lab tests) I almost passed out during a balloon sinuplasty last year as well. My body just doesn’t like any of those things.

6:30pm Finally had a chance to eat today, I know that’s bad but I was on the go nonstop all day and didn’t get a chance

7:00pm A headache started to appear, probably from going all day without food OR from my nasal cyst procedure today (feels like a sinus headache)

 

Been feeling kinda panicky for the latter half of the day. I think it’s because Ive been on this site too much all at once and it’s freaking me out. I think I’m going to try to stay away for a couple days. I’ll still keep my notes in the meantime and stick with the 1 mg dose. '

 

Edited by ChessieCat
resized font

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Check out the withdrawal symptoms:  Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

* 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
2 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Check out the withdrawal symptoms:  Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

I have, I just wasn’t sure if people have had the emotional symptoms before WITHOUT the physical ones too. Cuz that’s all I’ve got going on right now

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment

Quick dosage question:

 

I’ve already divided my capsules into 6 beads for 1mg doses. If I decide I need to go up to 2mg, am I able to simply take 2 of the capsules I’ve already prepared?

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Yes.

* 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
1 minute ago, ChessieCat said:

Yes.

 

Also, I’ve been looking in the forums for the directions I happened upon earlier for dividing Cymbalta beads, or maybe it was just any beads in general...

 

Anyway, the guy that posted was talking about all he materials he used and that he even bought a face mask lol. Necessary?

 

I can’t seem to find where this post was 

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

The face mask is to stop you breathing on the scales to help prevent draft from affecting the weighing.

 

using-a-digital-scale-to-measure-doses

 

* 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
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Dave. Sorry it took a while for me to get back to you. I wanted you to know I felt the exact same way you do when I first joined. Overwhelmed with the fear that my life as I knew it was over. Now I know that it is not. It has just been altered temporarily.

 

I will answer your questions about my reinstatement experience with the following very important caveat: my situation is a great deal different from yours. In the first place, I am much older than you. Secondly, I was reeling from (1) a nasty divorce, the deaths of (2) a dear friend, (3) a sister, (4) and a mother, and (5) two more family health emergencies all within a couple years' time when I stopped zoloft. Due to these external stressors, my CNS was already in a highly sensitized state to begin with.

 

I reinstated in November of 2018, before I found SA. I believe I reinstated at much too high a dose - 50% of my original dosage, or 25mg. Then, I made the further mistake of changing my reinstatement dose several times, going both up and down. These mistakes were costly, sending my nervous system into overdrive, and rendering me non-functional. Still, the reinstatement was successful, as during this time the constant depression and nasty morning cortisol spikes gradually stopped and my appetite returned (I had lost 45 pounds), though other symptoms were relentless. Finally, in March of 2019, I got a clue and decided to take the advice of the mods here, pick a dose, and stay steady on it. Since that time, I have steadily improved. I have even had times when I feel pretty darn close to 100%, although I'm still having waves too. Slowly, slowly, I am improving. Had I not reinstated at such a high dose, and had I not monkeyed around with that dose, I feel certain I would be even farther along than I am. If I can screw up as much as I did and still be healing, certainly you can.

 

I still have a ways to go to get stable, but I'm getting there, and meanwhile, I'm functional. I am self employed and am able to work. I also play music, and have been able to attend rehearsals and even have a gig coming up in September. Sometimes, it's still a bit of a struggle with anxiety/depression, dizziness, shakiness and blurred vision, but these have now become episodic rather than constant. 

 

I'm not sure when I'll start my taper. I hope to make at least one reduction this year, but my body will tell me when. I don't care how long it takes me to taper, as long as I can live my life while I do so.

 

I know you're overwhelmed right now, but you will be fine. It's hard not to feel "broken" while going through this, but the link Chessie sent you on acceptance is very important. Accepting this is very hard to do - I still struggle with it at times - but so vital to our recovery. 

 

Hang in there. Read some success stories, and ignore the horror stories, at least for now. Your journey is not their journey - everyone is different. Do try a little magnesium and/or fish oil. Try to get out in nature when you can. Meditate and/or practice yoga if that's your thing. Get a little sunshine each day. Whatever you can do to keep your system calm and avoid stress will help you heal. 

 

Sending you healing energy!!

 

DV

 

 

 

 

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

* 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

Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Dejavú. I’m just looking for some hope right now. 

 

And thank you to EVERYBODY for putting up with my incessant questions and trying your best to answer them. 

Edited by DavidfromTexas

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment

@ChessieCat If I am only taking 1 mg of Cymbalta to start my reinstating, is there a small enough corresponding dose on Prozac instead of the 10mg suggested for somebody who is on 30-40mg of Cymbalta?

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment

Does anybody happen to know of a reputable trustworthy compounding pharmacy in Los Ángeles??

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment

I am attempting to reinstate on 1mg of Cymbalta at the moment. After what period of time on reinstatement dose would you recommend trying to bridge to Prozac? 

Or would it be better to attempt reinstating straight onto an equally low dose of Prozac instead of doing Cymbalta first?

I am trying to find a workaround now that I have found out about the different beads in Cymbalta capsules supposedly being designed to dissolve at different times. Thus dividing capsules may not be the best idea. 

 

Edited by DavidfromTexas

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Here is SA's topic.  getting-custom-dosages-at-compounding-pharmacies-us-uk-canada-and-elsewhere

 

Back in March this year I contacted the pccarx because a member was having trouble finding a pharmacy who would compound Pristiq (which I have been getting done in Australia since the end of 2015) and received the following response:

 

I suggest that you contact the pccarx about your own drug query.

 

I have not provided Ranel's email address because it may change in the future if this person leaves the organisation but this is the one I used.  I suggest that you use the Subject shown below so it gets to the correct department:

 

Subject:   ATTN:  Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

 

Email address:  customerserviceexternal AT SYMBOL pccarx DOT com

 

Quote

 

Thanks so much for contacting us regarding this (getting Pristiq compounded).  There are definitely some options on compounding this product and we are happy to assist a pharmacy with the knowledge on how to do this.  We have many member pharmacies within the state of Washington that are PCCA members and would be able to assist this patient.  Do you know where in Washington State your contact is located?  If you can provide that information I can direct them to a pharmacy that is a PCCA member.  That pharmacy is welcome to contact me through our members only website or by calling customer service and I can assist them with a formulation. 

 

Thank you and have a wonderful day!

 

Ranel A. Larsen, Pharm D, RPh | Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

PCCA | 9901 South Wilcrest Dr. | Houston, TX 77099-5132

Ph: 800.331.2498    

Fax: 800.874.5760 | PCD Fax: 713-234-6009

www.pccarx.com

 

 

* 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
  • Moderator Emeritus
57 minutes ago, DavidfromTexas said:

 

GUYS. I spoke with a pharmacist at Rancho Park Compounding Pharmacy here in Los Angeles, and she said a manufacturer out of Texas called PCCA DOES MAKE POWDER/CAPSULE AND LIQUID DULOXETINE!

 

I called PCCA to confirm and they verified it, and they said there’s a lot of compounding pharmacies that do business with them as “members”. 

You can search them by going here:

 

https://pccarx.com/Resources/FindACompounder

 

She suggested going with the powder/capsule over the liquid because compounding the liquid requires more ingredients that would need to be provided, I assume making it more expensive. 

 

Also, I don’t believe a prescription is required for this particular pharmacy I found here. 

 

 

 

I've just seen this post so you have already "found" the pcca".

 

Please be aware that once your dose is compounded it may be immediate release which will probably require you to dose twice daily.

* 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
  • Moderator Emeritus

Please ask questions specific to your situation here in your Introductions topic.  This keeps your history in once place and makes it easier for the mods and members to read back through your posts if they need to get more information.

 

SA if different to many other forums.  Each member has their own Introduction topic where they can ask questions about their own situation and journal their progress.  It also forms a case study for any medical professionals visiting the site.

 

General topics on SA are for general questions/discussion.

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added a bit more

* 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
17 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

 

I've just seen this post so you have already "found" the pcca".

 

Please be aware that once your dose is compounded it may be immediate release which will probably require you to dose twice daily.

 

What do you mean when you say “found the pcca”? 

Have others found this information before and learned bad things?

 

I asked the pharmacist at a couple different participating compound pharmacies about the timing of the release of the drug, and they said that it works the same as the pellets do, the coated capsule begins to dissolve, and as it dissolves the powder begins to leak out. So if the capsule does it’s job, it should have the same timing as the pellet version, no?

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

* 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

This post is going to deal with a couple different things, among them relationships, regret, moving forward, and PE, but since I’m supposed to post things concerning myself here I am doing that. 

 

I am 30 years old now, which I realize by a lot of people’s standards is still in the “you’re still young” and “ you’ve got so much time” phase. And I admit and accept that. 

 

My issue is, I’m 30 years old, single, I lost the one serious relationship I ever had about 2 years ago now, AND Im not like other “normal” 30 year olds in that I have this added HUGE psychological issue to deal with. Oh, and broke and nothing to my name since I’m a struggling artist. A LOT seems to be against me here. 

 

She was my first love. We were together for 4/4.5 years. I met her at a time in my life when I had just moved out here to Los Ángeles virtually by myself, with nothing. (I was as stable as I’ve ever been able to be on the medication, that’s a big reason why I was able to come out here at all.) 

Pretty soon after I moved out here, I met her at work. And she quickly became my support and my home. 

My first months out here were rough. Having dealt with the mental/emotional issues for over a decade at that point, I knew that it was due to this being a big life change, which I had dealt with in the past and each time it was not easy for me to transition. But this time I was out here basically all alone. Until I found her. 

 

Thinking back on it, if we had not gotten together, I don’t know if I would have been able to get through the transition and might have ended up moving back home. 

Knowing that things ended for us, I am now so incredibly regretful for not recognizing how good I had it at the time (no psych issues AND support) and taking advantage of the support that I had when I was with her. She never saw me struggle with my psych issues.

I was stable for pretty much the entire time we were together, but I know that she would’ve done her best to be there for me because she loved me very much.

But now I’m not stable. And I don’t have the support now either. I would give ANYTHING to be able to go back and do things differently, but I know that that’s not possible. And it’s so hard to accept that. 

 

I am afraid that I will not be able to meet somebody who is going to be willing to deal with my issues—whether I’m still unstable, or if I’m stable again but have a plan to eventually try tapering off the meds. How can I have a life with somebody, and even possibly a family, and try going through that successfully without losing it all? There are plenty of topics and discussions on here about how people lost their loves, lives and their families due to their struggles with anti-depressants. 

 

The whole area of love and family and relationships is one thing I’m feeling very hopeless about...I don’t feel like there’s going to be somebody who wants to deal with that extra weight. Especially at this point in our lives. 

Not to mention the fact that when I am off the medicine, I suffer from PE. I know that one of the causes of PE is related to insufficient serotonin, and that is obviously something that plagues me. 

 

If my plan is to eventually be off the medicine after tapering the correct way, I feel like I would either have to meet this person after I’m off the medicine and adjusted to coping with life without it, OR meet them while on the medicine and stabilized (fingers crossed), OR never come off the medicine again. 

I AM afraid that after a long journey of coming off the medicine correctly, I might find out that I actually DO need it in order to function and live a happy life. 

 

I just can’t see any hope for my future right now, especially in this regard. 

Getting stable and trying to taper off the medicine is one thing, but how am I ever supposed to have the other very important life things going on my life at the same time I am managing that?

 

It just feels like the future could be so bleak for me.

Like maybe this means the end for the hopes and dreams I have for my life. 

Edited by DavidfromTexas

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

You aren't the only one experiencing this.  Have you checked out these areas of the site?

 

Finding meaning

Relationships and social life

 

 

Edited by ChessieCat

* 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

Now that I’m discovering more and more about later-life health issues and health/death statistics that are associated with anti-depressant use, I can’t help but be second guessing my initial decision to try reinstating. 

 

If somebody does not seem to have ANY physical withdrawal symptoms, but their emotions are heightened to a point that doesn’t seem normal, mainly sadness and crying, does that mean that it’s necessarily withdrawal? 

Like if somebody is dealing with acceptance and aftermath of the end of a relationship like me (even though it’s been two years, I never fully accepted that it’s over until a week or so ago), could the emotions they are going through simply be normal given the circumstances?

 

IT SEEMS LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO REINSTATE WERE DEALING WITH PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS AS WELL. I feel like physical symptoms would have shown up as well as my emotional symptoms. 

 

I am getting scared about everything now, due to the implications of possibly being on the meds for longer. I feel like my brain is just trying to cope with normal circumstances, I’ve always been an emotional person, even when stable on the meds. Right now it’s just a little bit more. I can control it with some effort, it’s just much more on the surface right now. 

Edited by DavidfromTexas

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
34 minutes ago, DavidfromTexas said:

I feel like physical symptoms would have shown up as well as my emotional symptoms. 

 

That is not the case.  In the last 12 months I've had a few episodes where my emotions have started to come back on line as my dose has reduced (I started on 100mg Pristiq, emotions started returning at about 20mg and became full on at a lower dose).  This is due to the fact that part of the way psychiatric drugs work is to numb our emotions.  My daughter is taking Zoloft I can see often see the "don't care attitude" which is caused by the drug.

 

Neuro Emotions

 

And sometimes withdrawal symptoms are delayed.  When I cold turkeyed citalopram I felt great for several months and then was bedridden for 2.5 weeks and lost 8kgs because I couldn't eat.  I had aches and pains like the flu but it wasn't the flu.  When I joined SA I found out that it was most likely withdrawal symptoms.

 

I suggest that you read Your Drug May Be Your Problem (Dr Peter Breggin) and Anatomy of an Epidemic (Robert Whitaker)

* 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

Well I wasn’t emotionally deadened while on the medication. I never had an emotionally numb feeling, I was still an emotional person.

But the way you say that psychiatric drugs work by numbing out emotions and that your emotions started “returning” as you lowered your dose makes me feel even more like what I’m experiencing right now may be normal instead of withdrawal emotions. Because I never felt numbed on the medications. And the way you describe your emotions returning sounds like it’s normal instead of being due to withdrawal. 

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment

I have a question about the antibiotics Im currently on. They were for the cyst procedure I had done on Thursday. I took them for 7 days prior and then they gave me a prescription for 5 more days after the procedure. 

 

The antibiotic is Cefdinir (Omnicef) 300mg, to be taken twice a day. Which makes each daily dose 600mg. 

 

At the end of the course I will have taken it for 12 days. Any reason to be concerned about withdrawal from THAT given my current condition? 

I’ve never had any noticeable withdrawal from antibiotics I’ve been on before, though I’m not sure how powerful they were compared to these. The ones in the past have usually been Z-packs. And I’ve only taken those a couple different instances in my life. 

 

I know it’s necessary to prevent infection, Im just trying not to compound my issues right now while I have this other big psych issue to worry about. 

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

No reason to be concerned about withdrawal from a synthetic cephalosporin, DavidfromTexas.

Thank you Dr. Google.

 

How many days into your reinstatement are you now?

And at what dose?

You can add this to your signature as well.

Notes?  Specific to the reinstatement, if you can.

 

Breathe.  In for inspiration.  Try and relax and get some time off the internet today.

I'd look at some of the stuff that Ccat put together for you on anxiety, if you haven't yet.  And breath.  In for 4, hold for 7, out for 8. 

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

Edited by manymoretodays

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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Thank you, MMT. 

 

Im wondering if immediate short term memory can be impacted by withdrawal? I’m having A LOT of trouble remembering things for tables when I’m at work, way more than I used to. Maybe it’s just all the stress I’ve had lately affecting that, or maybe I’m losing track if I have a thought about my situation pop up in between trips to tables. 

 

I’ll come back and answer all the other questions after work. 

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Yes, your memory can be affected.  brain-fog-blank-mind-comprehension-cognitive-and-memory-problems

 

My own experience might help you to understand how these drugs can affect us.

 

I was taking 100mg Pristiq and because it is only available in 50mg and 100mg doses I started taking 50mg.  Over a 2 week period my brain fog got worse and worse and even walking took my full concentration.  It was at this time that I researched and found SA.  They suggested that I increase my dose but I wanted to find out more about what they were suggesting and of course the brain fog made it difficult to take in the information I was reading.  However, a couple of days after joining SA I was unable to type.  I have been a professional typist for 40+ years so I knew something was wrong.  I decided to take extra Pristiq and after only about 4 hours I was able to type again and the brain fog was lifting.  I had a benchmark so I had proof that it was the lack of drug that caused the brain fog and inability to type.  The difference was like night and day.  I also knew that there was no way that this was wishful thinking etc.

 

There are many existing topics on SA.  To find them I like to use google and add survivingantidepressants.org to my search term.  Searching survivingantidepressants.org memory found the link provided above.

           

* 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

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  • Administrator
On 7/26/2019 at 12:18 PM, DavidfromTexas said:

I am attempting to reinstate on 1mg of Cymbalta at the moment. After what period of time on reinstatement dose would you recommend trying to bridge to Prozac? 

Or would it be better to attempt reinstating straight onto an equally low dose of Prozac instead of doing Cymbalta first?

I am trying to find a workaround now that I have found out about the different beads in Cymbalta capsules supposedly being designed to dissolve at different times. Thus dividing capsules may not be the best idea. 

 

 

Hi, David. This is an area where we don't overthink it. We have lots of people who have reinstated on an arbitrary number of beads, such as 6 beads, to see if Cymbalta reinstatement is going in the right direction.

 

If 6 beads help, that's a good thing. I'd give it a week to fully take effect. Be sure to take those beads at the same time each day, wash them down with water so they don't dissolve in your mouth or put them in an empty gelatin capsule. Cymbalta is designed to release the drug in the gut.

 

On 7/25/2019 at 7:33 PM, DavidfromTexas said:

@ChessieCat If reinstating is successful (making me feel a bit better), does this effectively subvert or partly reverse the damage of CT’ing? In the sense that it makes it possible for a shorter recovery time than if you just CT’d with NO subsequent reinstatement?

 

Yes, that is the purpose of low-dose reinstatement.

 

You can always try low-dose Prozac, such as 1mg, instead, but do not take it with Cymbalta. This topic explains how to make a low dose Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine)

 

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.

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Ok cool. 

 

@manymoretodays As far as my attempt at reinstatement, I have taken 4 doses so far. The first one was a 2mg dose (12 beads) in a clear gelatin capsule I bought from the Vitamin store. I subsequently decided I wanted to try 1 mg (6 beads) first instead, so day 2 and day 3 I took 1 mg dose in the clear gelatin capsule. THEN after fearing that the gelatin capsules I bought might not be making it through my stomach completely whole, I put the counted 1mg beads (6 beads) back into their original 20mg capsules to be sure that part of it was working the same as it used to. 

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

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 @manymoretodays

 

Overall, it seems that the days are when I get down more, I think because I’m at home some of the time with not much to do besides read more scary info from this site. Even when I HAVE had appointments or errands to take care of in the last few days, I still struggled during the day cuz I have been freaking out with all this new info I’ve discovered. My worrying/investigating and subsequent depression has switched focus from my ex-girlfriend and that lost relationship, NOW to the problems I may have caused in my brain and to my general health issues that may crop up due to my long years of anti-depressant use. 

(If I sit and really think about the love I lost it will still make me emotional and depress  me, but now it’s just not the first trouble I’m thinking about anymore. Although I am really longing for that time when I had her and her support and was stable on the meds. I had it good and had no idea how much.)

 

DAILY NOTES (I take my dose around 1am, so I am numbering my days for the rest of the day that the dose occurs on. Ex: Thursday notes above—I took my first reinstatement dose a few hours before those notes start). 

 

Friday July 26th (day 2)

10:30am Woke up, slept through the night

11:30am Started feeling a little down/ ruminating on a possibly bleak future

1:00pm Ate lunch

1:30pm Started feeling a little more upbeat once I found out about the possibility of compounding with Cymbalta powder

6:15pm Ate dinner at work 

7:45pm Started feeling a bit down, its like a deep underlying panic sensation that the future is going to be bleak and that I will never stop feeling this way. Still getting through work

1:30am I took my 1mg dose right at the end of my shift. I was able to distract my mind enough with my work that it was a little easier while I was there. Went home pretty tired.

2:30am Went to bed tired, after a snack. 

 

Saturday July 27th (day 3)

10:30am Woke up, slept through the night

11:30am Ate a banana on my way out the door

12:00pm Went to a psych appt for prescription, got me thinking about my troubles and got very emotional. 

1:30pm Ate lunch

2:00-4:00pm Did too much research and reading on the issues here

6:00pm Work, went in still a bit down, and I always dread having to do things like work when I feel so bad. Plus I hate my job. 

1:30am Took 1mg dose, still at work

2:00am Left work, feeling much more at ease than at the beginning of my shift. I am mostly able to become distracted by things at work and so I leave in a better state than how I show up 

3:45am Went to bed

 

 

FOR ME, since I really am having no physical withdrawal symptoms so far, it is REALLY hard to tell if the medicine is making a difference or if I’m just having fluctuating moods and able to get the emotions under control eventually. It would be MUCH easier to tell if the meds are working at all if I had physical symptoms. Which makes me worry I’m making a mistake doing this reinstating. But I guess, in the end, I’d rather be preventing the possibility of a worse withdrawal hitting later on.

 

I AM JUST AFRAID THAT GOING BACK ON THE DRUGS IS GOING TO CAUSE MY FUTURE TAPERING TO BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT

 

Edited by DavidfromTexas

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (approximates):

2000--2009/10. Zoloft, mid-high dosage. Alprazolam, as needed, rarely. 

2009/10--2016/17. Cymbalta, 90 mg

Early 2017--Mid-2017. Cymbalta, 60 mg

Mid-2017--Jan 2018. Cymbalta, 30--60 mg, reduced in 30 mg increments w/o physical w/d symptoms, possibly some emotional w/d symptoms. Mar 2018--Early 2019. Back on Cymbalta, fluctuating dosages from 30 to 90mg. Reduced from 60 to 30, then from 30 to 0 again, this time WITH very light physical w/d symptoms. Back to 30mg. Early 2019--April 2019. Cymbalta, 30mg. Down from 30 to 0. Physical w/d symptoms again. Back to 30mg. May 2019. Cymbalta 30 mg. Down to 20 mid-month. Started taking every other day in final week of the month. 

Jun 2019. Cymbalta 10-ish mg. Started “eyeballing” about half of the beads in the capsule. Taking every other day, then at mid-month every 4 days. 

July 2, 2019. Took last dose of “eyeballed” 5-ish mg. July 24, 2019. Took first reinstatement dose of 2mg. Dropped down to 1mg (6 beads) the very next day.

Aug 6, 2019. Up-dose to 1.33 mg. Aug 30, 2019. Up-dose to 1.5 mg. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin D3 4,000 IU/day

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