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Healing IS possible: My "success" story by Gato123


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Moderator note:  added link to Gato123's Introduction topic:

Gato123: withdrawal from Cymbalta and Prozac; Introduction topic

 

Gosh, I don't even know where to start. The short of it is, you WILL get better if you do not give up. I entered into withdrawal 14 months ago and was absolutely debilitated. Fast forward 14 months and most of my physical symptoms I was presenting are much less intense and the paralyzing anxiety and black depression I sank into are much more manageable.

 

When I was in the middle of withdrawal "hell" I truly didn't know if I believed recovery was possible and it.was.terrifying. No medical professional knew what to do to help (Note: This was if they even recognized the "discontinuation syndrome" (which the very terminology makes me so angry because it's SO misleading but that's for another post) other than recommended I reinstate the drug. I refused. All I kept thinking during this time was, "What is going to happen to me?" "When will this end?" "Will it end?" "What has chronic, long-term exposure done to my body? My brain? My Central Nervous System?" These were constant questions running through my mind for a long time. But I am here today to share my experience with you. No matter how bad you feel in the middle of it, your body IS capable of healing and WILL! I will share my experience in more detail below if you are interested to know more.

 

I am a female in my 30s. I was prescribed Wellbutrin over 17 years ago to help with the side effects of the birth control pill I was taking. In the last 17 years I've been on most of the "common" SSRI/SNRIs/benzodiazepines/sleeping pills including but not limited to: Wellbutrin, Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lorazepam, Alprazolam (Xanax), Ambien, and more. Each one brought new side effects, and in general, made me sick. I felt like I was on a roller coaster and never quite at peace. I am 14 months out and much better than where I was day 1. It is has been the hardest, most trying, exhausting experience of my life but I have survived. And YOU will too!

Edited by manymoretodays
added link to introduction topic

I don't remember the order or all the dosages but between 2002-2018 I was on...

Wellbutrin, 2002-2005 150-300mg 

Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac, Adavan, Xanax

RECENT PAST:

Cymbalta 2015 to 2017, rapid taper in Janaury-February 2017, started withdrawal February 2017

Bridged to Prozac 60 mg in late summer 2017

Taper from Prozac 60 mg to 0 in spring 2018

Entered another withdrawal starting in August 2018

 

 

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Thank you very much for sharing your story Gato123!  You were on many meds. I am surprised that you recover so quickly!

 

Could you please tell us a bit more about all the symptoms you had and the timeline they improved or dissapeared? 

 

Did you suffer nervepain? 

 

What symptoms do you still suffer from today? 

2019 2.1 mg amitriptyline ,15th july 2.1 mg, 22-7 2.09 mg, 29-7 2.08 mg, 5-8 2.09 mg , 7-8 2.1 mg . 2020 Holding at 2.1 mg

2019 125 mg lyrica, 15th july 124,5 mg, 22-7 124 mg, 29-7 123,5 mg, 4-8 124 mg 2020 holding at 124 mg

2015 january building up my medication to 450 mg lyrica and 50 mg amitriptyline for face ache after a rootcanal treatment at the dentist. 2016 february start tapering lyrica from 450 mg to 200 mg 2016 october tapered 25 mg amitriptyline to 25 mg 2017 tapered lyrica from 200 mg to 100 mg 2017 september tapered my last tablet of 25 mg amitriptyline to zero  (horrible muscle pain started) 2018 february tapered lyrica from 100 mg to 75 mg (my muscle pain got worse and I have a lot of nervepain in my arms and legs, sometimes all over musclepain and nerve pain and burning pain) 2018 may reinstated 25 mg lyrica. My current dose is 100 mg lyrica. My pain is still very bad but a little less intense, my mood improved. 2018 since 22th may updose amitriptyline.  9 beads. 2018 june updosing lyrica. 2018 16 th june 125 mg lyrica and 9 beads amitriptyline ( 2mg) Now I'm doing a long hold. I can't taper anymore. Too much pain. I hope to stabilize and improve while holding. I'm trying graded activity to get rid of my pain. 2019 1 jan. Lyrica 125 mg (holding) 2019 1 jan. Amitriptyline tapering from 9 beads to 8 beads (1 jan. 2019),  8,5 beads (5 jan 19), 9 beads (16 jan 19) tapper attempt failed

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@Gato123 this is fantastic.  Im so glad your feeling better. I am approaching month 18th since withdrawal started and 15 months off all meds. Its been absolute h***. I was wondering if you had the intrusive si, hopelessness, dread, despair, chemical feeling of wanting to die, and internal restlessness? I went through protracted benzo withdrawl 9 years ago after 30 day use but didnt know what it was at the time and after 3 years went on zoloft because they told me i had postpartum depression.  Took it for a year got off fine med free for 3 years then back on zolofr for anxiety and it didnt work the same and did not want to be on meds. Tapered per my pysch a  year later. Now im still in hell. But this is so nice to read.  Would love to hear back. 

13 months on 25 mg of sertraline.

Fast taper in march 2018, reinstated 12.5mg

Cold turkey sertraline april 17,2018

Zyprexa 5mg april 17,2018

Zyprexa taper to lamictal May 4-13 (life threatening rash)

Back on zyprexa 5mg for 10days & tapered over 5 weeks.

21 months off sertraline 

19 months off zyprexa

22 months into withdrawl 

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  • Mentor

@Gato123 Woohooo! That is awesome! Glad to see you are doing way better. It will continue to get better!!! Thank you for posting your story. It is stories like these that give me the drive to keep on with my WDs. 

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. 

 

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How did you stop the drugs?

 

Did you do a good safe taper? CT? Partial CT?

 

Well done!

May 2016 - Aug 2016 - Prozac 20mg

 

March 2017 - June 2017 - Sertraline 100mg. Horrific withdrawal 5 m onths.

 

July 2017 - Aug 2017 - Mirtazapine 15mg. Horrific.

 

August 2017 - December 2017 Fluoxetine 10mg for 2 weeks ghen Escitalopram 20mg for 12 weeks. Never felt normal since this. Or baseline.

 

March 2018 - June 2018 - Escitalopram 5mg for 12 weeks. Stopped and here i am full of symptoms i never had.

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Yes.  Well done Gato123!  And thank you for writing on up your success story of hope, and posting.

I'm going to lock on up your introduction topic now, as we do, when Success Stories are written.  And I'll add in some links in both topics to the other.

 

Again, well done, super duper, sunshine and happiness.......B)

 

Love, peace, healing and growth,

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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Such good news, @Gato123 -I am grateful for your post.

 

1990s-Zoloft, Paxil, Ambien, Welbutrin, Adderal Don't remember time frame, all discontinued

1999-Effexor  & Klonopin

2005- Effexor & Klonopin uninformed fast taper. Failed, reinstated

2010-Effexor & Klonopin very slow taper;  uninformed

2017 Effexor Nov 10mg OFF   - Sxs ok for 1- 2 months Continue Klonopin taper

2018 April   found Benzo Buddies/Benzo FB groups 

2018 June Klonopin 1.5 mg Begin Daily Liquid Microtaper (symptom based) 

2019 May Klonopin <0.6mg

 

2005-Present  Vit D

1989-Present Levothyroxine

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On 8/29/2019 at 6:12 AM, Gato123 said:

Moderator note:  added link to Gato123's Introduction topic:

Gato123: withdrawal from Cymbalta and Prozac; Introduction topic

 

Gosh, I don't even know where to start. The short of it is, you WILL get better if you do not give up. I entered into withdrawal 14 months ago and was absolutely debilitated. Fast forward 14 months and most of my physical symptoms I was presenting are much less intense and the paralyzing anxiety and black depression I sank into are much more manageable.

 

When I was in the middle of withdrawal "hell" I truly didn't know if I believed recovery was possible and it.was.terrifying. No medical professional knew what to do to help (Note: This was if they even recognized the "discontinuation syndrome" (which the very terminology makes me so angry because it's SO misleading but that's for another post) other than recommended I reinstate the drug. I refused. All I kept thinking during this time was, "What is going to happen to me?" "When will this end?" "Will it end?" "What has chronic, long-term exposure done to my body? My brain? My Central Nervous System?" These were constant questions running through my mind for a long time. But I am here today to share my experience with you. No matter how bad you feel in the middle of it, your body IS capable of healing and WILL! I will share my experience in more detail below if you are interested to know more.

 

I am a female in my 30s. I was prescribed Wellbutrin over 17 years ago to help with the side effects of the birth control pill I was taking. In the last 17 years I've been on most of the "common" SSRI/SNRIs/benzodiazepines/sleeping pills including but not limited to: Wellbutrin, Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lorazepam, Alprazolam (Xanax), Ambien, and more. Each one brought new side effects, and in general, made me sick. I felt like I was on a roller coaster and never quite at peace. I am 14 months out and much better than where I was day 1. It is has been the hardest, most trying, exhausting experience of my life but I have survived. And YOU will too!

 

You were on so many drugs.

 

Can i asked when you bridged to Prozac, were you taking any other meds or were you just the one medicine ?

 

Thanks,

Ryder.

2008-2012: Cymbalta, Zyprexa, Valium (5 days supply),

2012 - Seroquel x 4 weeks C/T. 

2014 - Seroquel x 2 Weeks C/T. Crossed to Risperidone 3mg for 6months until December.

2014 - Stopped Risperidone. Xfer > Anti-Depressant 200mg Zoloft and 6mg Clonazepam. 

2018 - 150mg Clomipromine changed Anti-depressant. Tapered Benzo to 1mg Clonazepam. 2019 - xfer to 20mg Diazepam. 

 

Currently:

Anafranil: 75mg. 17th Dec 2022 70mg. 27th Dec 22: 75mg, 14 January 23': 70mg. 16-26th January: 50mg (too fast drop no sleep). Jan 28th 2023: 70mg. 20 Feb 2023: 65mg. 11/06: 60mg 9/08: 55mg 15/08/23 : 50mg
3/03/2024: 60mg (Updose)

 

        Diazepam (V): 25th Oct 2019' 20mg. 22 Dec 19' 19mg. 04 Apr 2020' 18mg,  30 September 20' 17.5mg , 13 Nov 2020' 17mg. 01 January 2021: 16mg, 13th Aug 21' 15mg. 1st Nov' 2021 14.5mg. 1st Dec' 2021 14mg. 13 January 2022: 13.5mg, 11 Feb: 13mg.  11 April 22' 12.5mg, 12 May 22': 12mg, 6th September 2022: 11mg Valium. 9th October: 10.5mg, 25th Oct 10mg. 12 March 23: 9.5mg 2 April: 9.25mg 23 April: 9mg 12/05: 8.75 26/05: 8.5 12/09: 8.25 21/09: 8.5. 3/10: 8.25 17/10: 8mg 20th Nov Brassmonkey: (7.9.,7.8, 7.75) 5 Feb: 7.25mg. 23 Feb: 7mg 

*.      Have tried to go at faster rate than 0.5mg but is currently too fast. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 8/28/2019 at 4:38 PM, Melissa5000 said:

Thank you very much for sharing your story Gato123!  You were on many meds. I am surprised that you recover so quickly!

Hi Melissa5000, I was on a lot of different meds. Some of them were for short periods because they weren't "working" so I would be thrown on another pill. I would call my recovery incredibly intense and not necessarily that quick! I was pretty disabled for almost 8 months. After that I could start to function a bit more but it didn't take much to overwhelm me. I'll detail more of it below.

Could you please tell us a bit more about all the symptoms you had and the timeline they improved or dissapeared? 

Months 1-6 (approximately):

-super dark depression & suicidal ideation

-aggression

-crying

-ringing in ears

-really intense anxiety, worse than anything I'd ever felt, it was always worse in the mornings

-twitching (this was terrible)

-buzzing feeling throughout body, felt like a current was running through my body

-burning in hands and feet

-pitted edema in feet

-swollen joins (primarily knees)

-extreme fatigue

-spent lots of time reminiscing about the past

-felt stiff

-insomnia

-body sore and tired all over

-weight gain (despite not eating that much); Prozac used to be marketed as a diet pill years ago which I didn't know until after I stopped and immediately put on almost ten pounds. I'm not overweight, just "healthier" looking as my friends and family have commented. I used to be too thin

 

 

Months 7-11

-all the symptoms above but less aggression, crying, pitted edema, less suicidal ideation and dark depression. still lots of intense fatigue, tinnitus, anxiety (but less intense for sure), burning in hands and feet, sadness. Still overall was not functioning but at least the intensity was decreasing. 

 

Months 12-15 (present)

-in general feeling better; but find i feel really tense at time and have a hard time relaxing. 

-insomnia (pretty bad)

-tinnitus

-burning in hands and feet occasionally 

 

 

Did you suffer nervepain? 

Yes- I first experienced nerve pain in my hands and feet two years ago when I tried to first stop these drugs. I saw a neurologist and they wanted to give me gabapentin but I refused to blindly take more pills. I later learned this was a symptom of withdrawal. Did you have this?

 

What symptoms do you still suffer from today? 

Months 12-15 (present)

-in general feeling better; but find i feel really tense at time and have a hard time relaxing. 

-insomnia (pretty bad)

-tinnitus

-burning in hands and feet occasionally 

 

 

I don't remember the order or all the dosages but between 2002-2018 I was on...

Wellbutrin, 2002-2005 150-300mg 

Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac, Adavan, Xanax

RECENT PAST:

Cymbalta 2015 to 2017, rapid taper in Janaury-February 2017, started withdrawal February 2017

Bridged to Prozac 60 mg in late summer 2017

Taper from Prozac 60 mg to 0 in spring 2018

Entered another withdrawal starting in August 2018

 

 

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On 9/4/2019 at 8:45 AM, Ryder said:

 

You were on so many drugs.

 

Can i asked when you bridged to Prozac, were you taking any other meds or were you just the one medicine ?

 

Thanks,

Ryder.

Hi Ryder,

 

When I was bridged to Prozac I was just taking what I call the worst drug on the market, Cymbalta. I was not taking anything else at the time. If you have any other questions please let me know!

On 8/30/2019 at 7:46 AM, juelli said:

Such good news, @Gato123 -I am grateful for your post.

 

thank you juelli!

I don't remember the order or all the dosages but between 2002-2018 I was on...

Wellbutrin, 2002-2005 150-300mg 

Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac, Adavan, Xanax

RECENT PAST:

Cymbalta 2015 to 2017, rapid taper in Janaury-February 2017, started withdrawal February 2017

Bridged to Prozac 60 mg in late summer 2017

Taper from Prozac 60 mg to 0 in spring 2018

Entered another withdrawal starting in August 2018

 

 

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On 8/29/2019 at 2:28 AM, Leo1983 said:

How did you stop the drugs?

 

Did you do a good safe taper? CT? Partial CT?

 

Well done!

Hi Leo1983,

 

I had tried to stop Cymbalta in 2016 and very quickly entered into a really horrific withdrawal (or "Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome") which the prescriber recognized. I tried to ride it out for about 4 months and couldn't take it anymore. My prescribed recommended I 'not suffer" and "just go on" Prozac to help alleviate the withdrawal. 

I stayed on Prozac for over a year and a half. Then when I was ready to try to start coming off Prozac (which I was assured was "so easy") I started tapering over 4 months or so. I was more or less "OK" for about two months until it was as if the rug was pulled out from under me and I went back into withdrawal, this time only much worse, and I was abroad.

 

I think in my case, since I'm considered a "chronic long-term user" it is a death sentence to try to stop 17 years of drug use in a matter of months. Now that I know what I know it doesn't surprise me I went through hell.

I don't remember the order or all the dosages but between 2002-2018 I was on...

Wellbutrin, 2002-2005 150-300mg 

Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac, Adavan, Xanax

RECENT PAST:

Cymbalta 2015 to 2017, rapid taper in Janaury-February 2017, started withdrawal February 2017

Bridged to Prozac 60 mg in late summer 2017

Taper from Prozac 60 mg to 0 in spring 2018

Entered another withdrawal starting in August 2018

 

 

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On 8/28/2019 at 7:37 PM, Cocopuffz17 said:

@Gato123 Woohooo! That is awesome! Glad to see you are doing way better. It will continue to get better!!! Thank you for posting your story. It is stories like these that give me the drive to keep on with my WDs. 

@Cocopuffz17 I'm so glad-- I know I read these stories religiously when I was going through the worst of the WD. I honestly wondered how I would ever recover but 15 months later I can say I know I'm on the way. Please know whatever you are going through, no matter how horrific, will pass.

I don't remember the order or all the dosages but between 2002-2018 I was on...

Wellbutrin, 2002-2005 150-300mg 

Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac, Adavan, Xanax

RECENT PAST:

Cymbalta 2015 to 2017, rapid taper in Janaury-February 2017, started withdrawal February 2017

Bridged to Prozac 60 mg in late summer 2017

Taper from Prozac 60 mg to 0 in spring 2018

Entered another withdrawal starting in August 2018

 

 

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On 8/28/2019 at 5:22 PM, Elyssa143 said:

@Gato123 this is fantastic.  Im so glad your feeling better. I am approaching month 18th since withdrawal started and 15 months off all meds. Its been absolute h***. I was wondering if you had the intrusive si, hopelessness, dread, despair, chemical feeling of wanting to die, and internal restlessness? I went through protracted benzo withdrawl 9 years ago after 30 day use but didnt know what it was at the time and after 3 years went on zoloft because they told me i had postpartum depression.  Took it for a year got off fine med free for 3 years then back on zolofr for anxiety and it didnt work the same and did not want to be on meds. Tapered per my pysch a  year later. Now im still in hell. But this is so nice to read.  Would love to hear back. 

Hi @Elyssa143,

I'm sorry your'e still struggling! Yes, I had really intrusive SI, hopelessness, despair, chemical feeling of wanting to die and just the worst intensity of internal restlessness. It was the closest experience to hell on earth and it lasted for months and months. I was living abroad and able to do a lot of work on the computer thankfully. Otherwise I would have most definitely lost my job as I was not functioning. I am still not completely out of the woods but I am functioning at least and doing lightyears better. Some of us just take a little longer but I can tell you I had the same symptoms you're describing and they did eventually become less intense and present in daily life. 

I don't remember the order or all the dosages but between 2002-2018 I was on...

Wellbutrin, 2002-2005 150-300mg 

Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac, Adavan, Xanax

RECENT PAST:

Cymbalta 2015 to 2017, rapid taper in Janaury-February 2017, started withdrawal February 2017

Bridged to Prozac 60 mg in late summer 2017

Taper from Prozac 60 mg to 0 in spring 2018

Entered another withdrawal starting in August 2018

 

 

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@Gato123

 

This is how i am now. 

 

I had all that..... BUT i just cant write a success story. 

 

I have gone from Si housebound to doing all sorts BUT i still dont feel me. Therefore i refuse to write success. 

May 2016 - Aug 2016 - Prozac 20mg

 

March 2017 - June 2017 - Sertraline 100mg. Horrific withdrawal 5 m onths.

 

July 2017 - Aug 2017 - Mirtazapine 15mg. Horrific.

 

August 2017 - December 2017 Fluoxetine 10mg for 2 weeks ghen Escitalopram 20mg for 12 weeks. Never felt normal since this. Or baseline.

 

March 2018 - June 2018 - Escitalopram 5mg for 12 weeks. Stopped and here i am full of symptoms i never had.

 

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  • Mentor

Congratulations!!! It is wonderful to know that people on medications for a long time can recover. 💜

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

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

Jul 16 trazodone from 100 to 50 mg.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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On 9/15/2019 at 3:42 PM, Gato123 said:

I had tried to stop Cymbalta in 2016 and very quickly entered into a really horrific withdrawal (or "Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome") which the prescriber recognized. I tried to ride it out for about 4 months and couldn't take it anymore. My prescribed recommended I 'not suffer" and "just go on" Prozac to help alleviate the withdrawal. 

 

Hello Gato123. Fabulous! Fantastic! I am so happy for you and that you have recovered from these nasty drugs.

 

I am in what I think is PAWS from unwitting CT of cymbalta (Dec 2018). Bit of a story for anyone who's interested.  I am compelled to take action.

 

May I ask you a few questions about getting off cymbalta:

  • Did you try pellet counting from duloxetine before moving to prozac?
  • Why did you choose  prozac? Why was it so difficult to get off of? Was it the speed of your taper?
  • In hindsight do you wish you had used a different drug or counted duloxetine pellets?

 

Thank you - and again - huge congratulations. We all need to hear a success story!

 

Giulietta

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On 9/16/2019 at 5:35 AM, Gato123 said:

When I was bridged to Prozac I was just taking what I call the worst drug on the market, Cymbalta. I was not taking anything else at the time.

 

My goodness, Cymbalta was the first drug i was ever prescribed at 18. It felt like my brain was on fire! It took me 5 minutes to get prescribed by a GP and was told i would be fine for minor depression. God damn

2008-2012: Cymbalta, Zyprexa, Valium (5 days supply),

2012 - Seroquel x 4 weeks C/T. 

2014 - Seroquel x 2 Weeks C/T. Crossed to Risperidone 3mg for 6months until December.

2014 - Stopped Risperidone. Xfer > Anti-Depressant 200mg Zoloft and 6mg Clonazepam. 

2018 - 150mg Clomipromine changed Anti-depressant. Tapered Benzo to 1mg Clonazepam. 2019 - xfer to 20mg Diazepam. 

 

Currently:

Anafranil: 75mg. 17th Dec 2022 70mg. 27th Dec 22: 75mg, 14 January 23': 70mg. 16-26th January: 50mg (too fast drop no sleep). Jan 28th 2023: 70mg. 20 Feb 2023: 65mg. 11/06: 60mg 9/08: 55mg 15/08/23 : 50mg
3/03/2024: 60mg (Updose)

 

        Diazepam (V): 25th Oct 2019' 20mg. 22 Dec 19' 19mg. 04 Apr 2020' 18mg,  30 September 20' 17.5mg , 13 Nov 2020' 17mg. 01 January 2021: 16mg, 13th Aug 21' 15mg. 1st Nov' 2021 14.5mg. 1st Dec' 2021 14mg. 13 January 2022: 13.5mg, 11 Feb: 13mg.  11 April 22' 12.5mg, 12 May 22': 12mg, 6th September 2022: 11mg Valium. 9th October: 10.5mg, 25th Oct 10mg. 12 March 23: 9.5mg 2 April: 9.25mg 23 April: 9mg 12/05: 8.75 26/05: 8.5 12/09: 8.25 21/09: 8.5. 3/10: 8.25 17/10: 8mg 20th Nov Brassmonkey: (7.9.,7.8, 7.75) 5 Feb: 7.25mg. 23 Feb: 7mg 

*.      Have tried to go at faster rate than 0.5mg but is currently too fast. 

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 9/16/2019 at 7:16 PM, Guilietta said:

 

Hello Gato123. Fabulous! Fantastic! I am so happy for you and that you have recovered from these nasty drugs.

 

I am in what I think is PAWS from unwitting CT of cymbalta (Dec 2018). Bit of a story for anyone who's interested.  I am compelled to take action.

 

May I ask you a few questions about getting off cymbalta:

  • Did you try pellet counting from duloxetine before moving to prozac?
  • Why did you choose  prozac? Why was it so difficult to get off of? Was it the speed of your taper?
  • In hindsight do you wish you had used a different drug or counted duloxetine pellets?

 

Thank you - and again - huge congratulations. We all need to hear a success story!

 

Giulietta

Hi @Giulietta,

I didn’t know about pellet counting until after I stopped Cymbalta unfortunately. I was tapered off cymbalta very quickly and started on Prozac.  I was recommended Prozac by my provider because they said it was a commonly used “bridge” drug due to its long half life. I was so desperate after four months of hell of withdrawal I was willing to try anything. 
 

I think my withdrawal from cymbalta was horrific simply because it is known to be very hard to stop (although I didn’t know this at the time). I think it was absolute hell stopping Prozac, not because of Prozac, but because I was stopping 17 years of drug use in a matter of months. I don’t think it would have mattered what drug it was. 
 

In hindsight I wish I had never taken cymbalta. I wish I had been informed of the “cymbalta discontinuation syndrome” BEFORE I was prescribed it. I have never been the same since I took cymbalta. 
 

 

I don't remember the order or all the dosages but between 2002-2018 I was on...

Wellbutrin, 2002-2005 150-300mg 

Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac, Adavan, Xanax

RECENT PAST:

Cymbalta 2015 to 2017, rapid taper in Janaury-February 2017, started withdrawal February 2017

Bridged to Prozac 60 mg in late summer 2017

Taper from Prozac 60 mg to 0 in spring 2018

Entered another withdrawal starting in August 2018

 

 

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  • Altostrata changed the title to Healing IS possible: My "success" story by Gato123

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