cakesgimmecakes Fully Recovered - Prozac

[cakesgimmecakes]

ADMIN NOTE Here is cake's Introductions topic:

 

 

Cakesgimmecakes here. I was asked to give an update.

 

I am fully recovered from Prozac withdrawal at this point. It's been 3 years and 2.5 months EXACTLY today. 

 

The issues SSRIs left me with are things I'm still contending with, which are hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue, digestive issues.  I no longer blame any symptom I have on Prozac withdrawal. Prozac is a distant memory now, and I'm so grateful I have ME back. 

 

Things that helped me:

Magnesium

Vit D

Sun in the morning on retinas

Digestive enzymes

No sugar - you must be strict with this; it matters because the inflammation and blood sugar swings sugar causes stress out an already stressed-out central nervous system

Spirituality 

Mediation - rewire your brain to relax, it works

Avoidance of any pharmaceuticals 

Walking/running/exercise

Socializing

CBT/therapy - this is huge

Sleep when I could get it

Supplement tolerance was low for a long time. I could not take fish oil or many, many vitamins. I was unable to sleep for years. NAC helps me sleep now, and controlling blood sugar.

 

I have learned so much from my experience, and I am still angry about what happened to my life because of Big Pharma. I do not go to Western/allopathic/conventional doctors; I only seek natural remedies and holistic/naturopathic/functional doctors. Depression is truly about dysfunction elsewhere in the body. Low T3 in the thyroid, cortisol issues (read: stress), nutritional deficiences, poor communication with others/not feeling fulfilled by goals/lack of goals that truly fill the soul, no exercise, SIBO/candida/digestive woes, wonky reproductive hormones, poor sleep, toxic humans you're around, bad job. Truth: Life will never be the same after you expose your brain to these toxic chemicals. In time, I do believe society will catch on to the dangers. Pills are a quick fix for temporary issues, which excellent nutrition, sun, exercise, and therapy can take care of in most cases. We trusted our doctors and got burned. I do believe in science and that the body is designed to heal itself and the brain has incredible neuroplasticity capabilities. This is why exercise and nutrition are so important. They do make a difference. I encourage everyone to read up on the actual science behind meditation. It's not quackery. It helped because it does change the brain for the better. People recover. I'm living proof. YET, life is not perfect. I struggle with fatigue and bad moods, but my life currently is pretty stressful, and I am dealing with thyroid and adrenal issues. This is life.

 

To this day I still pray for those suffering from psych issues and psych drug withdrawal most evening. You are not alone. Keep the faith. I believe a power greater than me is more powerful than any drug, and there can be miracles.

 

HUGS XOXO

 

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by Altostrata
added admin note

[gigi63]

Beautiful!!!!  Thank you. 

[Altostrata]

cakes, you have done a remarkable job of taking care of yourself. Those health problems are difficult, but it looks like you've got them in hand.

 

Congratulations on your recovery from withdrawal.

[Elyssa143]

Wonderful.  You gave me so much inspiration and our stories seem similar. Im almost 11 months off zoloft and almost 8 months off zyprexa i was on the zoloft for 1 year. And tapered too quick tried reinstating made me worse ended up in the pysch ward and put on zyprexa for 10days and slowly tapered. Its been a long very scary year. Im big into nutrition too. I was wondering what kind of diet/lifestyle do you reccomend i eat extremely well. Also just finished tapering the naturthroid the dr put me on 8 months ago and felt was making me worse :/. Obviously have adrenal issues. I still struggle with windows and waves but much improvement. Insaw you said you had suicidal ideations which was horrible those just let up. But the severe depression hopelessness has been horrible but thay has been better better but it comes and goes. Did you have this too? Any insight or advice much appreciated thank you. Glad your doing so well!@

[GirlfromD]

Congratulations! ☺️ And thank you for your update, it really means a lot. Amazing that you got yourself back!  💕

[SDOE]

Cakes,

I found your post while trying to learn more about NAC for insomnia, my main problem.  I'm glad for your recovery and thank you for stating how you achieved it.  Some of the things I'm already doing but I believe that I need to incorporate more of your behaviors.  Even most of your insight into what you have learned or believe is extremely similar to my thinking.

Thank you for your post.

[cakesgimmecakes]

Alto and everyone who was there for me in the beginning, thank you.

 

A lifetime of lessons learned. I ID as someone who has fully recovered. I no longer believe my brain is damaged. I still have depressive episodes, but I think differently about them. I am not the same person I was before Prozac. It makes me sad, yes. Part of my recovery is letting go that the past could be different. I still contend that taking this poison was my life's biggest regret, but I don't live in that space. Acceptance has helped me push to a new level of life.

I am 4 years out as on 11/1.

 

Things that helped:

Gut biome (this is EVERYTHING - see new study that just came out about antiDs and gut bacteria............)

Gluten-free

Low-histamine foods

Sugar-free (being on a glycemic roller coaster is your ticket to hell)

Exercise (natural anxiety killer)

Fish oil (not for first year)

Magnesium (as much as you can stand)

Socializing/laughing (this is distraction/escape from your misery)

CBT (I learned not to indulge anxiety-filled thoughts)

B vitamins (not for first two years; caused anxiety and jitters and too much energy)

Sleep (I didn't sleep first two years due to sky-high cortisol)

 

ADMIN NOTE: Cakes's Intro topic is here

 

Edited September 10, 2019 by Altostrata
Added admin note

[Cocopuffz17]

Woohoo! This is awesome! You mentioned microbiome, I agree 100%. Do you happen to have the link to the study with ADs and gut health? Thank you! So pumped for you!!! 

[bhasski]

2 hours ago, cakesgimmecakes said:

Alto and everyone who was there for me in the beginning, thank you.

 

A lifetime of lessons learned. I ID as someone who has fully recovered. I no longer believe my brain is damaged. I still have depressive episodes, but I think differently about them. I am not the same person I was before Prozac. It makes me sad, yes. Part of my recovery is letting go that the past could be different. I still contend that taking this poison was my life's biggest regret, but I don't live in that space. Acceptance has helped me push to a new level of life.

I am 4 years out as on 11/1.

 

Things that helped:

Gut biome (this is EVERYTHING - see new study that just came out about antiDs and gut bacteria............)

Gluten-free

Low-histamine foods

Sugar-free (being on a glycemic roller coaster is your ticket to hell)

Exercise (natural anxiety killer)

Fish oil (not for first year)

Magnesium (as much as you can stand)

Socializing/laughing (this is distraction/escape from your misery)

CBT (I learned not to indulge anxiety-filled thoughts)

B vitamins (not for first two years; caused anxiety and jitters and too much energy)

Sleep (I didn't sleep first two years due to sky-high cortisol)

Great .. Very happy for you and hopeful for all of us.

Keep going and be cheerful.

Best wishes.

[Heal95]

Hello cakegimmecakes. 

Thank you for sharing your story and giving hope to many of us here. I’m so happy for you that you have recovered. I hope you are enjoying life and it’s all joys. 

 

When did you realise that you had recovered? Did you wake up one day and realise that the symptoms had eventually gone? 

Is your sleep back to normal/ much better? Are you able to manage overstimulation like exercise and stress? 

 

Again thank you so much for sharing your story and providing much needed hope for everyone here. Stories like this give me so much hope in healing and keep me slowly moving forward. 

God bless you ❤️

[Alua]

Congrats. Amazing. I noticed in your signature estrogen and progesterone imbalance noted. Did you ever take hrt? I am tapering off it and its much like coming off a benzo.or ssri x

[Clatterbust]

Congrats on your recovery! Did you have pssd or anhedonia? 

[Nelly]

It is great to read this, this morning. Wishing you a happy life. Thank you for sharing xx

[cakesgimmecakes]

Hello - I don't know how to reply to individual comments? I hope everyone can see this who asked me questions.

 

Thank you for the well wishes and kind remarks. I want to emphasize life is not perfect. But life is 10000000 times better now, after WD, and so much better OFF SSRIs.

 

The article on gut health and SSRIs that recently came out: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326299.php

 

When did you realise that you had recovered?

I think three years out. I realized I did not have the same anxieties I once did during WD, and I also felt more like "me" again. Prozac completely changed my personality and thoughts, and I hated hated hated it. I was this fake happy and detached from life. It was terrible.

 

Did you wake up one day and realise that the symptoms had eventually gone?

Yes. I realized I wasn't paranoid anymore. I wasn't overstimulated for absolutely no reason. I could sleep. I could FEEL again. I wasn't melancholy in an unproductive way. That's the hardest to explain. Melancholy is useful in ways because it helps to process the world within us and outside us. Melancholy is NORMAL. With these SSRIs that is blunted, so I always felt I was looking at the world through fishtank glass. I couldn't fully access my feelings. I was a fake in the world. It was really hard to deal with. So now that I'm off the drugs, I feel my brain is back to feeling melancholy, and it's useful in a way where I can write, sing, cry, scream, evaluate. I hope this makes sense.

 

Is your sleep back to normal/ much better?

Yes. I sleep now. The quality is questionable because I'm still dealing with some gut things, nutritional things, and I'm going through extreme stress right now (divorce and joblessness). But I do sleep 6-7 hours a night. I wake unrefreshed, but I don't attribute that to Prozac WD. I'm a work in progress. The work doesn't have anything to do with Prozac. That's my belief.

 

Are you able to manage overstimulation like exercise and stress?

Yes. Exercise is fine and helped me recover. Stress right now is a very big issue. But I'm managing. I believe it has nothing to do with Prozac WD. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) helped me deal with rumination and negative thinking. Anytime I start to get anxious thoughts, which are NORMAL (society likes to tell us they're not so drink, smoke, shop, pop pills to shunt it), I have learned to not indulge them. It's sort of a Buddhism approach in that you talk to yourself and explain everything's OK. I DO recall a time during WD when this seemed impossible -- that my body would never relax. But it did. It takes time, time, time.

 

Did you have pssd or anhedonia? 

Yes and yes. Sexual function fine now. I recommend testosterone. But obviously not too much. I had anhedonia BAD. And derealization BAD. Those two are the most bizarre to explain to people. You feel totally detached from yourself. I did out-of-character things when I had this. And the ability to not feel joy anymore was devastating, and it disturbed me frequently. Magnesium and exercise helps with that. 

 

I noticed in your signature estrogen and progesterone imbalance noted. Did you ever take hrt? 

I did try progesterone cream numerous times, and each time time it's been a disaster. Crazy moods, puffiness, water retention, insomnia. I steer clear. I'm trying b6 and magnesium, plus vitamin c and lowering my stress levels to see if that helps. When our progesterone is low, it's usually because of stress and age. The pathway is to favor cortisol over progesterone (they're made in the same center adrenally - aside from our ovaries). For estrogen, I'm eating flax and it's boosting it.

 

I pray for everyone here and around the world. This is an epidemic. Truly. I see it all around me, and consider myself lucky I escaped. It took time. It was important for me to evaluate, deeply, health and who I want to be. Life is not perfect. It is not always happy. I trusted doctors. I do NOT anymore. They're there to make money. The American health care system is set up for profit. Doctors do NOT care about nutrition, which is utterly insane. Truthfully, I recovered on my own, and with the help of this site and a few others. Health is about living simply -- this is my conclusion. Exercise, eating whole foods, positive mental attitude, and fulfilling work. You can add spirituality in there if you wish, but truly I think it's about communing with nature. There is no human who doesn't encounter trouble and stress and sadness. I was put on Prozac to deal with PMS. It's criminal. All I needed to do was change my diet and exercise. Instead I was handed an EXTREMELY potent brain drug that did so, so much damage. There are no shortcuts. Anyway. Enough soapboxing. I try to keep my mouth shut about SSRIs and psych and sleep drugs because everyone has their journey, and in truth, I have compassion for the reaching for something to make myself feel better, I really, really do. There's an allure to popping a pill and zoning out. I get it. But I was burned.

 

God bless.

[mirage]

Hi @cakesgimmecakes. Congratulations! It is very exciting to read a success. 

 

My story is similar to yours. I was put on Wellbutrin to help with PMS symptoms. I had bad cramping and moodiness and water retention. All things I could have dealt with and, as you mentioned, altered my diet to help. My dr recommended the med and treated it like I would be taking a simple and easy pill. I never looked into the med. I just took the script and filled it. Fast forward, 8 years to May of 2017, I had blood work done showing I was at the end of menopause and since I was no longer having PMS, I just stopped taking the med. So, in June of 2017, my journey began. I am 27 months and plugging along. I know I will get through this and I do believe we will all recover. I believe it is giving our bodies the time it needs to do the healing. 

 

God bless you for telling your story. 

 

Mirage

[Altostrata]

On 9/9/2019 at 10:27 AM, cakesgimmecakes said:

Things that helped:

Gut biome (this is EVERYTHING - see new study that just came out about antiDs and gut bacteria............)

Gluten-free

Low-histamine foods

Sugar-free (being on a glycemic roller coaster is your ticket to hell)

Exercise (natural anxiety killer)

Fish oil (not for first year)

Magnesium (as much as you can stand)

Socializing/laughing (this is distraction/escape from your misery)

CBT (I learned not to indulge anxiety-filled thoughts)

B vitamins (not for first two years; caused anxiety and jitters and too much energy)

Sleep (I didn't sleep first two years due to sky-high cortisol)

 

Great advice, cakes! Good to hear you've done so well. Thanks for returning and letting us know.

 

Request: Please update your signature with the date you went off Prozac at last and how long you had post-acute withdrawal syndrome after that.

[Sara5]

This is so encouraging, I'm printing it to remind me during the hard times!

[eboyd]

Did you use a testosterone HRT?  I am currently using one and it has made a big difference with my mood and PMS.  I was tested using saliva samples over the course of a month and it showed I had barely any.  My last blood test showed I was high now so I am reducing my dose and am considering going off completely.  Are you still on a HRT?  If not how did you feel after coming off?

[DaisyBell]

Wonderful story!

 

what Biome test did you use and what probiotics?

 

I believe so much in the gut brain axis being pivotal in well being 

[healingspiral]

we have really similar stories in terms of what helped us recover (diet/sleep/self care)

 

I'm so happy to read your story, thank you for sharing and congratulations !

[Wesofthewest]

So good to hear that you’re feeling healed. I’ve been dealing with Prozac WD as well. I was wondering, what did you do to help your gut microbiome, did you just take probiotics? After reading about that I really have the desire to do something. 

[Cocopuffz17]

11 hours ago, Wesofthewest said:

So good to hear that you’re feeling healed. I’ve been dealing with Prozac WD as well. I was wondering, what did you do to help your gut microbiome, did you just take probiotics? After reading about that I really have the desire to do something. 

Nutrition, check out The Plant Paradox by Dr.Gundry. 

[Wesofthewest]

11 hours ago, Cocopuffz17 said:

Nutrition, check out The Plant Paradox by Dr.Gundry. 

I gave that a look. Seems interesting, avoiding lectins sounds like it would be hard. I’ve bought a probiotic I’m going to take at least since I heard AD’s are bad for your gut. Thanks for the tip!

[Cocopuffz17]

9 hours ago, Wesofthewest said:

I gave that a look. Seems interesting, avoiding lectins sounds like it would be hard. I’ve bought a probiotic I’m going to take at least since I heard AD’s are bad for your gut. Thanks for the tip!

No problem. It’s easier than you think. It has completely changed my gut health and gave me my life back! Yes, ADs wreak havoc on your GI tract. I got so used to “normal” on them that I didn’t notice. But looking back now I know they caused a vast majority of my health issues. 

[Ahmed1999]

Hello Brother,

 

May I know for how long did you take Prozac?I took it for 2 months and still experiencing withdrawal 10 months later.Very happy to hear that you recovered.What advice would you give me to stay strong?And how long do you think the anxiety will last?

[cakesgimmecakes]

 

Hello,

First, know you’re not alone. Or crazy. Know you can heal and be normal again.

I’m a month shy of 5 years out. Thank God. I’m 100% back to myself prior to Prozac. Zero WD felt anymore. Took probably about 2.5 years to shake off all WD. Honestly I rarely think of that time in my life anymore.

Prozac left me with digestive issues that led to hypothyroidism and adrenal issues, then the cascade to sex hormones. This is all an ongoing battle.

 

What helped: 

God/prayer

Time
Sleep

Meditation and mindfulness 

Magnesium 

Fish oil

B vitamins 

Vit D

Iron with vit c

Exercise 

Bifidobacterium probiotics 

Checking thyroid for low free T3

Therapy/CBT

Music 

Animals

Eating absolutely no sugar, none, zeroooooo 

Eating so healthy it’s regimented 

Water 

Abstinence from pharma 

Staying far away from doctors unless naturopathic or functional 

 

[Altostrata]

Thanks for the updates, cakes.

 

How did you determine your hypothyroidism was related to withdrawal?

[cakesgimmecakes]

Hi, Alto!

After years of studying gastrointestinal information and serotonin’s role in digestion, I surmise my gut was compromised by SSRIs, and the malabsorption from SIBO (serotonin related to motility, motility related to SIBO) led to nutrient deficiencies that brought about hypothyroidism. Complicated by adrenal issues, which I acquired through more than a dozen attempts to quit Prozac and the years and years of insomnia as a result. The confluence of stress and an injured gut (and quite possibly Prozac’s fluoride component) led to hypothyroidism. It’s all interconnected, and when a GP prescribes an SSRI with wanton disrespect for the body’s complexities surrounding serotonin, the patient has no idea what kind of whack-a-mole situation he or she is stepping into.....I was the picture of health prior to Prozac, aside from PMS. My thyroid was fine. I don’t smoke, drink or eat poorly. Not Hashimoto’s. There is no other explanation I can see.

[Altostrata]

There's a domino effect of these drugs throughout your system, that's for sure. How did you heal your gut?

[cakesgimmecakes]

My gut is ongoing. But I eat no dairy, sugar, soy or gluten. I took glutamine, which in WD years ago gave me intense anxiety, but this time it was OK. Probiotics, bone broth. It’s always work. Stress is a H U G E factor in gut health, and I stressed my body exponentially when I put myself through years and years of WD and resultant insomnia. So I work on stress. 
 

Magnesium is quite helpful. 

[DaBro]

Hi cakesgimmecakes. I’m 23 months out from a fast taper and have had a tough time in months 12 onwards with symptoms. My symptoms have changed over time. First was bad nausea and fatigue, then came emotional stability issues, then came gastric issues, then sweating and shaking/spasms. I’m currently in a Bell’s palsy and diet sensitivity phase but I’m also working for the first time in a year, so feel there is improvement. My only constant has been Insomnia 😞 Like you I had none of these symptoms before WD so know they’re from Zoloft. 

 

Do you recall any changes in symptoms during your WD journey? I’m aware that perhaps all our journeys are unique, but thought I’d ask. 

[Istm]

Hi Cakes, your story gives me so much hope, thanks so much for sharing. I wanted to ask, how are you managing your hypothyroidism? I never had thyroid issues before and now I’m hypo. I don’t know if this would resolve after withdrawal so I want to treat it. Thanks a lot. xx

[PsychologicalSafe15]

@cakesgimmecakes which B vitamins did you take for energy ? Because there are lots of B vitmains like B6, B12 ...

I am very fortunate to find  you. Prozac also affected my gut, I suffered high fatigue after stopping it  and vivid dreams and semen leakage .

[PsychologicalSafe15]

@cakesgimmecakes In this world if there is a sufferer who survived 20 years discomfort there cant be any other person other than you.
You were going through withdrawal and doctor didn't tell you further not to take it instead they prescribed you again again . And it led you 15 years to do so.

Same happened to me but thank GOD I only took for 3 years several drugs before realizing that only way is through withdrawal / suffering.

HOw can doctor be irresponsible ? not knowing even about withdrawal and further prescribing drug.

[PsychologicalSafe15]

@cakesgimmecakes How can you say fully recovered if you have gut issues , hypothyroidism , fatigue , digestion issues ? Aren't these the main issues ?


Did your stomach distention dissapeare ? same is here with me bloating and stomach distention. Just waiting when they subside . I am always bloating and gases in my stomach.

[Cocopuffz17]

12 hours ago, PsychologicalSafe15 said:

HOw can doctor be irresponsible ? not knowing even about withdrawal and further prescribing drug.

a)They believe fully in their education and anything that challenges it is a lie since they paid big money for it. 
 

b) They get paid to prescribe. The more meds you are on the better for their pocket book.

 

There is too much evidence that shows these drugs are destroying peoples lives. They can’t continue to lie about it. The truth will continue to get out there.