Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

ciasim: citalopram up and down in short time - severe withdrawal symptoms


ciasim

Recommended Posts

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi @ciasim  . I've read through your posts and I can tell you're suffering, but you will recover from this even if it doesn't feel like it now. Unfortunately I don't know enough to give advice regarding the medication. I would avoid making any changes until mods give you advice on how to proceed. 

 

You seem to feel a lot of worry. Maybe when you start worrying you can distract yourself by watching something, reading, listening to something with headphones etc? 

A big part for many during withdrawal is to work on handling worries and find a way to accept the situation. It can be difficult but is often necessary to get through it.

Do you do any sort of relaxation techniques or meditations?

 


 

2011-2015: Escitalopram (Cipralex) 20 mg, Voxra 300 mg (quit Voxra in late 2015, no issues)

2016: Started tapering Escitalopram 5 mg at a time, every fourth week

July 24th, 2016: Escitalopram 5 mg

April 2nd, 2017: Quit last dosage (WD worsened a lot)

Ca 6 last months of 2017: Taking Diazepam 15-25 mg irregularly, less than once a month

Ca Dec 2017: Out of Diazepam, i.e free from all prescribed drugs

Now: Still drug free

Supplements: Irregular intake of Omega-3, magnesium, vitamin D.

Link to comment

Thanks , I tend to worry much. 

I have little patience in relaxation, even if I know it could be beneficial. 

How are you doing? 

 

Do you really think I can recover with these strange symptoms and going on to meds? 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
7 minutes ago, ciasim said:

Thanks , I tend to worry much. 

I have little patience in relaxation, even if I know it could be beneficial. 

How are you doing? 

 

Do you really think I can recover with these strange symptoms and going on to meds? 

I'm doing well today, thank you.

 

Yes I'm convinced you can recover. I understand that you feel doubtful though. I think most of us do when in the middle of it.
 

Have you tried deep breathing? One I like to do is to breathe in through my nose down into my stomach 5 seconds, hold it for 5 seconds, and then breathe out through my mouth 5 seconds. Easy to remember and do at any time. Can recommend. Even if it doesn't take away our symptoms, it can help to maybe stay in the moment and calm us down.

2011-2015: Escitalopram (Cipralex) 20 mg, Voxra 300 mg (quit Voxra in late 2015, no issues)

2016: Started tapering Escitalopram 5 mg at a time, every fourth week

July 24th, 2016: Escitalopram 5 mg

April 2nd, 2017: Quit last dosage (WD worsened a lot)

Ca 6 last months of 2017: Taking Diazepam 15-25 mg irregularly, less than once a month

Ca Dec 2017: Out of Diazepam, i.e free from all prescribed drugs

Now: Still drug free

Supplements: Irregular intake of Omega-3, magnesium, vitamin D.

Link to comment

5 pm  symptoms same as above. If I sit down or lie down I can distract from the awful symptoms

 

6 pm try to make a meal,  my body feels like stuck to electrical chord, as driven by something else. Very distressing. Brain feels upside down.  Very worried about whether to stay or not to stay on quetapin 

 

 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment

@Sunnyday 

How is your withdrawal journey? 

Would be interesting to hear it. Tried to find it here but couldn't.

 

And - have you heard  of people like me - being put on another med during withdrawals and they became better? 

I feel so scared and helpless 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
11 minutes ago, ciasim said:

@Sunnyday 

How is your withdrawal journey? 

Would be interesting to hear it. Tried to find it here but couldn't.

 

And - have you heard  of people like me - being put on another med during withdrawals and they became better? 

I feel so scared and helpless 

If you click on my name to get to my profile you can find my thread. I quit escitalopram in 2017. Today I'm almost completely recovered, but the reason I got on this site in the first place was because I was scared that the symptoms would never go away. But people on here told me it would go away and they were right.

 

It's hard to say because people have very different reactions. Some seem to get worse, some a little better. I was also very unsure if I should go back to my previous dose to feel better, but I decided to stick it out. I can't say what you should do though in that regard.

I understand you're scared, that's why in my opinion it's very important to find ways to calm yourself down even if it feels impossible. Have you had some moment of relief today?

2011-2015: Escitalopram (Cipralex) 20 mg, Voxra 300 mg (quit Voxra in late 2015, no issues)

2016: Started tapering Escitalopram 5 mg at a time, every fourth week

July 24th, 2016: Escitalopram 5 mg

April 2nd, 2017: Quit last dosage (WD worsened a lot)

Ca 6 last months of 2017: Taking Diazepam 15-25 mg irregularly, less than once a month

Ca Dec 2017: Out of Diazepam, i.e free from all prescribed drugs

Now: Still drug free

Supplements: Irregular intake of Omega-3, magnesium, vitamin D.

Link to comment
1 hour ago, ciasim said:

5 pm  symptoms same as above. If I sit down or lie down I can distract from the awful symptoms

 

6 pm try to make a meal,  my body feels like stuck to electrical chord, as driven by something else. Very distressing. Brain feels upside down.  Very worried about whether to stay or not to stay on quetapin 

 

 

 

9 pm  same as above, I am so afraid of never heal. I am suicidal. Living hell. My mouth shivers  also involuntary. 

 

10 pm same as above 

 

11 pm take quetiapine 300 mg slow release- I hate it,  feels like I am pouring poison in my body

 

Moderators 

What shall I do? 

Is it really safe to continue with quetapin? I can't say for sure, but my experience is that all symptoms have become worse since started 20 days ago. 

I cant drive , can hardly walk anywhere,  I am disoriented and not disoriented at the same time, legs feel like they walk by themselves. Derealisation. It's awful. 

 

 

I can't live like this and I cant afford to become worse. 

I feel my life is ruined.

 

Please help 

Have you heard any having these symptoms before? 

 

The only thing I think quetiapine is doing for me is maybe keeping anxiety down. ( not worry apparantly) 

 

Please help 

 

 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Ciaism, have you had a chance to read the link that Manymoretodays left for you on tapering quetiapine?

 

Here it is again:

 

Tips for tapering off Seroquel(quetiapine)

 

5 hours ago, ciasim said:

Yes one 300 mg quetapin slow release 

 

Scroll down the page on the link to you get to the part titled: Tapering the extended-release form (Seroquel XR)

 

Will your doctor prescribe you the regular formula of quetiapine? Or are you able to get a smaller pill size (the XR formula comes in 50 mg and the regular release formula comes in 25 mg)? 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment

Thanks shep. 

I have taken a look at the instructions .

You ask me if my doctor can give me ordinary quetiapine? I might not be impossible but wouldn't that be the wrong way to do it? Exchanging slow release to normal release? I might get hold of the smaller dosage of extended release. 

 

And shep Does this mean your suggesting to taper quetapin?

 

I have gone in and out in quite a few medicines the last months. So hard to know what's best... 

 

When I went up in citalopram from 10 mg to 15 mg in September , I got adverse effect,  then went down to 12,5 and hell  broke loose - extreme agitation, restlessness, extreme anxiety, akathisia. derealisation,  songs playing in my head, and then hypomania and rapid cyling suicidal ideation. Was put back on citalopram ( after me insisting instead of venlafaxine) and it was extremely

extremely rough. They added

mitrazapine. I was severly depressed but had some 

windows here and there during this period.  

got adverse effect - extreme stomach pain and was taken of mitrazapine after two weeks.

Citalopram was raised to 20 mg from 15 mg, but after 10 days doctors said I wasn't Improving enough and more or less forced me to change to  sertraline by cross taper. They zeroed my citalopram that I have taken for 8 years in 2,5 weeks.

 

On sertraline I got withdrawals from citalopram, I was up to 100 mg sertraline quite fast. Unfortunately I there after took only 50 mg for 11 days because of new label on pills.

 

Been like this the last 2 month - as you see- very bumpy 

 

100 mg sertraline 10 days

Plus 75 mg quetiapine daily 

50 mg sertraline 11 days 

Hereaftee emerged a milder version of today's symptoms

100 mg sertraline 5 days 

50 mg sertraline 4 days

300 mg quetiapine slow release introduced since 20 days

75 mg since 15 days 

All symptoms amplified a couple of days after 300 mg quetiapine was introduced and the sertraline was put from 50mg to 75  

 

Been taken ativan 1 mg or  0,5 mg daily in almost two weeks. They hinder thoughts of helplessness and and active suicidal plans. I have been

been given diazepam,  would it be wiser to take these to wean of the ativan? Or should I stop benzo altogether, hoping I have not become dependent ?

 

Thank you 

 

What to do with quetapin?

Keep of taper? 

 

 

 

What is your experience? If you moderators could discuss from  your experience I would be truly grateful. 

 

 

Quote

 

Tips for tapering off Seroquel(quetiapine)

 

 

Scroll down the page on the link to you get to the part titled: Tapering the extended-release form (Seroquel XR)

 

Will your doctor prescribe you the regular formula of quetiapine? Or are you able to get a smaller pill size (the XR formula comes in 50 mg and the regular release formula comes in 25 mg)? 

 

 

 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment

8am wake up. Not anxious. But worried about my situation and dreadful of going up and experience all symptoms again. 

Lay in bed and torment myself with grief, regret and my incapacity to deal with this. 

11.00 not anxious but get up and immediately get the outzoned feeling, derealisarion a bit less. The legs walking by them self - feelin still there but not as intense as yesterday. Take 75 mg sertraline. 

12.00 force my self to do some housework, feel anxious and outzoned all the time,  a little bit derealisation. The leg walking themself thing is there but not as intense as yesterday evening. 

13.00 force my self to go for a walk. Derealisation, feeling 

outspaced and a feeling or legs walking by them self. Distressing. But not panicking 

15.00 eat a sandwich. Feel detached and outzoned. A bit anxious. A bit dizzy

 

16.00 anxious, a bit derealisation. Outzoned. Low tinnitus. 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
28 minutes ago, ciasim said:

8am wake up. Not anxious. But worried about my situation and dreadful of going up and experience all symptoms again. 

Lay in bed and torment myself with grief, regret and my incapacity to deal with this. 

11.00 not anxious but get up and immediately get the outzoned feeling, derealisarion a bit less. The legs walking by them self - feelin still there but not as intense as yesterday. Take 75 mg sertraline. 

12.00 force my self to do some housework, feel anxious and outzoned all the time,  a little bit derealisation. The leg walking themself thing is there but not as intense as yesterday evening. 

13.00 force my self to go for a walk. Derealisation, feeling 

outspaced and a feeling or legs walking by them self. Distressing. But not panicking 

15.00 eat a sandwich. Feel detached and outzoned. A bit anxious. A bit dizzy

 

16.00 anxious, a bit derealisation. Outzoned. Low tinnitus. 

Good of you to take walks despite the discomfort. I think that's probably healthy. Nice to hear also that some of it is a bit less intense than yesterday.

Hope you're managing at the moment.

 

Take care.

2011-2015: Escitalopram (Cipralex) 20 mg, Voxra 300 mg (quit Voxra in late 2015, no issues)

2016: Started tapering Escitalopram 5 mg at a time, every fourth week

July 24th, 2016: Escitalopram 5 mg

April 2nd, 2017: Quit last dosage (WD worsened a lot)

Ca 6 last months of 2017: Taking Diazepam 15-25 mg irregularly, less than once a month

Ca Dec 2017: Out of Diazepam, i.e free from all prescribed drugs

Now: Still drug free

Supplements: Irregular intake of Omega-3, magnesium, vitamin D.

Link to comment

Thank you. 

Some chemical ( medicine induced) anxiety showed up about an hour ago.

Annoying but bearable. 

 

Moderators : can I ask how I should proceed with benzo intake? 

 

I have taken 1 -0,5 ativan daily for about 14 days, I am running out- took 0,5 mg yesterday and only have one left.

After this I wont be able to get hold of any ativan. I do have a prescription of diazepam 5mg,  but hesitant whether to start them or just keep my self of benzos entirety? 

 

Moderators 

How do you think I should proceed? 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment

Moderators - is there hope for me to stabilize? I just see people not stabilizing and most success stories has been people on only one drug? Not as me , put on a drug I withdrawal? 

 

Have you ever seen people going on and of drugs, being put on another med during withdrawals and being able to stabilize? 

I feel like a really bad case? 

Please be honest 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
42 minutes ago, ciasim said:

Moderators - is there hope for me to stabilize? I just see people not stabilizing and most success stories has been people on only one drug? Not as me , put on a drug I withdrawal? 

 

Have you ever seen people going on and of drugs, being put on another med during withdrawals and being able to stabilize? 

I feel like a really bad case? 

Please be honest 

I'm sure plenty of people have been put on different combination of meds both before and during withdrawal. I can imagine especially during withdrawal because we first go to the doctors for help, and they often prescribe more medication. They did that in my case, but I did not take them often enough to get issues from the benzo for example. 

If you look around I'm sure you can find some. I found Kiaza for example who has been on several different medications but is now a success story. 

 

Hopefully mods can get back to you soon about what to do.

2011-2015: Escitalopram (Cipralex) 20 mg, Voxra 300 mg (quit Voxra in late 2015, no issues)

2016: Started tapering Escitalopram 5 mg at a time, every fourth week

July 24th, 2016: Escitalopram 5 mg

April 2nd, 2017: Quit last dosage (WD worsened a lot)

Ca 6 last months of 2017: Taking Diazepam 15-25 mg irregularly, less than once a month

Ca Dec 2017: Out of Diazepam, i.e free from all prescribed drugs

Now: Still drug free

Supplements: Irregular intake of Omega-3, magnesium, vitamin D.

Link to comment

Thank you ❤

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
1 hour ago, ciasim said:

Moderators - is there hope for me to stabilize? I just see people not stabilizing and most success stories has been people on only one drug? Not as me , put on a drug I withdrawal? 

 

Have you ever seen people going on and of drugs, being put on another med during withdrawals and being able to stabilize? 

I feel like a really bad case? 

Please be honest 

 

Yes ciasim,  there is a lot of hope for you to stabilize and then go on to taper again.  A lot is dependent upon your ability to self manage, and beginning to use non-drug calming and coping techniques.

As well as helping us out, by providing information, around your drugs and symptoms.

 

As far as the Ativan to Valium question goes?

2 hours ago, ciasim said:

I have taken 1 -0,5 ativan daily for about 14 days, I am running out- took 0,5 mg yesterday and only have one left.

After this I wont be able to get hold of any ativan. I do have a prescription of diazepam 5mg,  but hesitant whether to start them or just keep my self of benzos entirety

Again, this is going to be your decision, based on information.  I cannot tell you exactly what to do.  And.....

I know that Shep addressed this already:

 

I think, if I were you, I might hold off on starting the Valium.  As with just 2 weeks of Ativan, you may not have become dependent.  And as your notes have not been very inclusive, a full 24 hours, at a time posted, with all drugs taken, and then symptoms before and after, it is also very hard to know how each medication affects you.

 

You ARE sounding much less desperate now, and so I wonder if you were not having the intended effect of calming from the Ativan.  I don't really know.  Are you planning on taking Ativan today?

 

Can you get your notes organized into one post, that includes the full 24 hours?  This will be really helpful to us, in making suggestions, going forward.  Just post the whole 24 hours in one post.  Thank you.

 

 I'm finding bits and pieces of them to date, interspersed with lot's of good support and comments from members.  Which is good too.

 

So you are out of hospital now and at home?  Any good support there or elsewhere right now?

 

That's my peep.

 

Best,

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

daily drug and symptom notes review:  Keep daily notes of drug schedule and symptoms

 

 

 

Edited by manymoretodays
drug and symptom notes review

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

 

Link to comment
  • Administrator

First of all, ciasim, I've requested you post 24 hours of drug schedule and symptom notes at a time, ALL IN ONE POST. I cannot follow partial day postings.

 

If you'd like my help, please read my questions carefully and answer them completely. Read the links the staff works so hard to give you, for your information.

 

We've also reminded you to take the same drugs at the same times each day. This is essential to understanding your symptom pattern.

 

Your occasional use of Ativan has obscured your symptom pattern considerably. If you feel better, it is from Ativan? Or is it from quetiapine? If you feel worse, is it rebound from Ativan? Or are you having an adverse reaction to sertraline? We can't tell what's happening.

 

Bad thoughts are only bad thoughts. If you tell your doctors you want a drug to fix bad thoughts, they will give you drugs that make you disoriented and dizzy. You have control over your thoughts, they are not forced on you. If you don't like them, you must learn techniques to manage them.

 

Putting yourself into a panic is also confusing to anyone who wants to find out your symptom pattern. You are having a bad drug reaction. You need to report what's happening without exaggeration or making it into a catastrophe. We have many people here who have come on multiple drugs in bad shape, figured it out, and are much better.

 

You need to calm yourself down. Please read the links manymoretodays gave you.

 

 

On 3/4/2020 at 2:30 AM, ciasim said:

....

 

Increased quetapin from 75 mg to 300 mg 17 days ago,  doctors advice.

 

....

 

Does the quetiapine help or not? Do you have any 75mg tablets left?

 

On 3/6/2020 at 7:04 AM, ciasim said:

One question: benzos seem to be the only thing keeping me alive and not act on suicidal thoughts

....

 

What does this mean?

 

On 3/7/2020 at 4:53 AM, Shep said:

 

You may or may not be dependent on Ativan after 2 weeks. If you do switch over to diazepam, please note that 5 mg diazepam is equal to .5 mg Ativan

 

You may want to go back to the .5 mg Ativan dose you were on a week ago, which is 5 mg diazepam and see how you feel. 

 

Question - how many Ativan tablets to you have? It's best to crossover gradually from Ativan to diazepam. 

 

....

 

How many Ativan tablets do you have, of what dosage? Is your doctor willing to prescribe more benzodiazepine?

 

Oxazepam has no advantages over Ativan.

 

On 3/7/2020 at 9:54 AM, ciasim said:

 

It is not like a involuntary movement, it is a feeling of my legs being pushed forward when walking. As a glitch in coordination and perception. As if my legs are under the control of a remote control,  hard to describe but verry distressing. It doesn't show from outside. 

 

 

Yes one 300 mg quetapin slow release 

 

9 am wake up. Not anxious but worried and scared. Don't want to go up and face the frightening leg-thing and disorientation. Feel some kind of detachment to my own thoughts and as if my head is spinning. 

Lay in bed, scares and anxious. Don't know how I will be able to cope. Endless worry about whether the quetapin is making things worse and should be tapered or ir it's best to stay put 

 

11.00 take 75 mg sertraline ( a little bit later today)  Feelings of legs moving by themselves. Feel amped up,  as if I am connected to an electrical cord. Very distressing. 

Today everything is worse. I have derealisation and a feeling of the brain being tilted to the left. Feel disoriented even though I find my way. 

 

13.00 same thing as above. Extremely distressing. As if my body is out if control. Powered by a remote control. 

 

This continues all afternoon. 

 

15.00 take 0,5 ativab in order to lessen thoughts of despair 

Dosent take away symptoms,  but lessen feelings of doom and hopelessness

 

To be continued...

 

What times of day are these leg movements most troublesome? Are your legs wobbly?

 

How did you feel after taking 0.5mg Ativan? Did you take quetiapine at night? How did you feel after that? You see, these partial day notes are not much help.

 

2 hours ago, ciasim said:

8am wake up. Not anxious. But worried about my situation and dreadful of going up and experience all symptoms again. 

Lay in bed and torment myself with grief, regret and my incapacity to deal with this. 

11.00 not anxious but get up and immediately get the outzoned feeling, derealisarion a bit less. The legs walking by them self - feelin still there but not as intense as yesterday. Take 75 mg sertraline. 

12.00 force my self to do some housework, feel anxious and outzoned all the time,  a little bit derealisation. The leg walking themself thing is there but not as intense as yesterday evening. 

13.00 force my self to go for a walk. Derealisation, feeling 

outspaced and a feeling or legs walking by them self. Distressing. But not panicking 

15.00 eat a sandwich. Feel detached and outzoned. A bit anxious. A bit dizzy

 

16.00 anxious, a bit derealisation. Outzoned. Low tinnitus. 

 

Although this does not seem like a bad day AND YOU ONLY POSTED PART OF IT, which is very frustrating, it seems you might be stabilizing.

 

We need to see more daily notes, with drug schedule and dosages, posted 24 HOURS AT A TIME in one post, over several days to figure out what's happening. Every time you make a drug change, it delays being able to make a plan because your symptom pattern becomes confused.

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment
12 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

First of all, ciasim, I've requested you post 24 hours of drug schedule and symptom notes at a time, ALL IN ONE POST. I cannot follow partial day postings.

 

If you'd like my help, please read my questions carefully and answer them completely. Read the links the staff works so hard to give you, for your information.

 

We've also reminded you to take the same drugs at the same times each day. This is essential to understanding your symptom pattern.

 

Your occasional use of Ativan has obscured your symptom pattern considerably. If you feel better, it is from Ativan? Or is it from quetiapine? If you feel worse, is it rebound from Ativan? Or are you having an adverse reaction to sertraline? We can't tell what's happening.

 

Bad thoughts are only bad thoughts. If you tell your doctors you want a drug to fix bad thoughts, they will give you drugs that make you disoriented and dizzy. You have control over your thoughts, they are not forced on you. If you don't like them, you must learn techniques to manage them.

 

Putting yourself into a panic is also confusing to anyone who wants to find out your symptom pattern. You are having a bad drug reaction. You need to report what's happening without exaggeration or making it into a catastrophe. We have many people here who have come on multiple drugs in bad shape, figured it out, and are much better.

 

You need to calm yourself down. Please read the links manymoretodays gave you.

 

 

 

Does the quetiapine help or not? Do you have any 75mg tablets left?

 

 

What does this mean?

 

 

How many Ativan tablets do you have, of what dosage? Is your doctor willing to prescribe more benzodiazepine?

 

Oxazepam has no advantages over Ativan.

 

 

What times of day are these leg movements most troublesome? Are your legs wobbly?

 

How did you feel after taking 0.5mg Ativan? Did you take quetiapine at night? How did you feel after that? You see, these partial day notes are not much help.

 

 

Although this does not seem like a bad day AND YOU ONLY POSTED PART OF IT, which is very frustrating, it seems you might be stabilizing.

 

We need to see more daily notes, with drug schedule and dosages, posted 24 HOURS AT A TIME in one post, over several days to figure out what's happening. Every time you make a drug change, it delays being able to make a plan because your symptom pattern becomes confused.

 

Thanks alostrata

 

Here  is notes from the last 24 hours 

 

Yesterday 

8am wake up. Not anxious but feel distant from my own thoughts and brain feels upside down in a weird way 

 

11.00 go up take shower, go out with my husband everything is spinning and I feel disoriented and as if I am put on a electrical chord. Derealisation and zoned out. Body feels knotted up, like there is a tense knot inside me. Amped up. 

 

14.00 same thing 

 

15.00 take 0,5 ativan 

Calms thoughts down,  symptoms same 

 

5 pm  symptoms same as above. If I sit down or lie down I can distract from the symptoms

 

6 pm try to make a meal,  my body feels like stuck to electrical chord, as driven by something else. Very distressing. Brain feels upside down.  Very worried about whether to stay or not to stay on quetapin 

 

20.00 pm feels like legs being pushed from behind. Derealisation and feeling of being stuck to electrical chord is worse. Feel amped up and electrified. That feeling makes it hard for me to think I will ever stabilize. Feel like a irreversible knot Inside. 

 

21.00 same thing as above feel distressed 

 

22.00 take quetiapin 

Same as above 

 

23.00 quetapin makes me sleepy. Fall asleep , glad to dissapear for a while. 

 

 

7 am wake up,  not anxious but worried . Torment my self with grief and agony

 

11.00 go up. Leg walking by them selves feeling less.  Derealisation

 

12.00 take a walk.  Derealisation and outzoned, outspaced.  Leg thing less than yesterday. 

 

13.00 eat, derealisation and a little bit electrical feeling. Brain feels tilted. 

 

15.00 same as above,  chemical anxiety creeps in

 

17.00 same as above, derealisation chemical  anxiousness in stomach 

 

18.00 anxiety less but  feel the same but things with legs being pushed forward gets worse 

 

19.00 same as above . Outzoned , electrical chord feeling,  legs same as above. Feel electrified. 

 

20.00 same as above. I cant live like this,  feel electrified and "amped " up 

 

21.00 same as above. Symptoms seems to get worse as the day goes by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

If you're having too much difficulty I can try to help you over pm @ciasim, but It's good if you can answer all the questions from Alto and the mods when you have energy for it. That's the only way they will be able to help you.

Great that you put together the full 24 hours as well. 

2011-2015: Escitalopram (Cipralex) 20 mg, Voxra 300 mg (quit Voxra in late 2015, no issues)

2016: Started tapering Escitalopram 5 mg at a time, every fourth week

July 24th, 2016: Escitalopram 5 mg

April 2nd, 2017: Quit last dosage (WD worsened a lot)

Ca 6 last months of 2017: Taking Diazepam 15-25 mg irregularly, less than once a month

Ca Dec 2017: Out of Diazepam, i.e free from all prescribed drugs

Now: Still drug free

Supplements: Irregular intake of Omega-3, magnesium, vitamin D.

Link to comment
  • Administrator

Thank you, @Sunnyday

 

ciasim, did you take sertraline, Ativan, and quetiapine each of those days? If so, at what times and dosages? How did you feel before and after you took each drug?

 

1 hour ago, ciasim said:

Torment my self with grief and agony

 

If you want to do this, you can continue it. If you don't want to do this, you can stop it. Strongly advise you to learn to "change the channel" when you start to enhance your symptoms with self-blame.

 

Also read

 

Shame, guilt, regret, and self-criticism

 

Neuro-emotions

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system

 

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

Ways to cope with daily anxiety

 

Dealing With Emotional Spirals

 

Health anxiety, hypochondria, and obsession with symptoms

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment
1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

Thank you, @Sunnyday

 

ciasim, did you take sertraline, Ativan, and quetiapine each of those days? If so, at what times and dosages? How did you feel before and after you took each drug?

 

I took 75 mg sertraline 11 am yesterday, 75mg 11 am today  and quetapine 300mg   both days around 10 pm. Ativan 0,5 mg 3 pm yesterday,  no ativan today. 

 

I feel best physically and emotionally when I wake up in the morning. Even though I worry in the morning,  it is not a medicine induced worry, it is "my own" worry. Even though I feel awful ( derealisation and electrical current in body and leg-thing) it seems to be less until around 4 pm, then it seems to ramped up and get worse as the hours go by after 4 pm

 

After I take quetapin I usually go to bed in about 1 hour and I don't feel much different than before taking it. Same feelings as above. I have no trouble falling a sleep ( quetiapine makes me sleep like a dead person for about 7 hours) 

 

After taking ativan yesterday I felt no difference symptom wise  , but less worried. 

 

 

My biggest concern is the the feeling of being wired to an electrical current all day which seem to get worse as hours go by. I cant live like this and I am really concerned about how the best way is to proceed in order to lessen it. 

This condition appeared and has become more and more intense ever since quetapin 300 mg was introduced about 3 weeks ago. I can of course not be sure it's the quetiapine causing it , since I have been very unstable in sertraline dosage until the same week as quetapine 300 mg was introduced. 

 

I can't live like this and I am very concerned  😞

 

Have you heard of these symptoms before? 

I can't get worse 

 

 

Quote

 

 

If you want to do this, you can continue it. If you don't want to do this, you can stop it. Strongly advise you to learn to "change the channel" when you start to enhance your symptoms with self-blame.

 

Also read

 

Shame, guilt, regret, and self-criticism

 

Neuro-emotions

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system

 

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

Ways to cope with daily anxiety

 

Dealing With Emotional Spirals

 

Health anxiety, hypochondria, and obsession with symptoms

 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Administrator

Of course we've heard of your symptoms, this site has 13,000 members who've experienced similar.

 

Please include the times you take sertraline, Ativan, and quetiapine, with their dosages, in your daily notes. The reason I ask for this is so I can follow what's going on, or I cannot help you.

 

Your daily notes should show information I need to know, such as

- how you feel before and after you take your drugs

- are the electrical feelings worse at any time of day?

- are they better or worse after you take sertraline?

 

Please take your drugs at the same times and dosages every day.

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
14 hours ago, ciasim said:

22.00 take quetiapin 

Same as above 

 

23.00 quetapin makes me sleepy. Fall asleep , glad to dissapear for a while. 

 

Please include the dose in your notes. I'm going to assume this is the 300 mg dose of quetiapine. 

 

When you were on 75 mg of quetiapine, how was your sleep? Did you sleep all night on the lower dose? 

 

 

Link to comment
5 minutes ago, Shep said:

 

Please include the dose in your notes. I'm going to assume this is the 300 mg dose of quetiapine. 

Yes it was, sorry will write dosage 

 

When you were on 75 mg of quetiapine, how was your sleep? Did you sleep all night on the lower dose? 

yes, I did. 

Thank you 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment

Shep I am feeling desperate, 

I think that I have made so many changes ( or doctors actually) that I will never recover. 

Please help 

 

What is your take on quetiapine? Everything got worse since I was put on 300 mg 3 weeks ago. 

I feel so sad and helpless. 

 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
17 hours ago, ciasim said:

I took 75 mg sertraline 11 am yesterday, 75mg 11 am today  and quetapine 300mg   both days around 10 pm. Ativan 0,5 mg 3 pm yesterday,  no ativan today. 

 

I feel best physically and emotionally when I wake up in the morning. Even though I worry in the morning,  it is not a medicine induced worry, it is "my own" worry. Even though I feel awful ( derealisation and electrical current in body and leg-thing) it seems to be less until around 4 pm, then it seems to ramped up and get worse as the hours go by after 4 pm

 

After I take quetapin I usually go to bed in about 1 hour and I don't feel much different than before taking it. Same feelings as above. I have no trouble falling a sleep ( quetiapine makes me sleep like a dead person for about 7 hours) 

 

Hi ciasim,

17 hours ago, was the 8th of March,  and then when you say yesterday ^, the 7th of March.

......And so we'd like to see your daily notes posted like this:

(which you have done partials of, please don't let your panic and desperation preclude you from posting decently, I know it's tough, but with 3 drugs going now, and sometimes additional stuff,  this will give us the best information, clearly) And you don't have to do them in color, as I did(that's just me, and how I often post, and sometimes to make things stand out)

 

March 7

6 am  ? sleeping, "slept like dead person for 7 hours", any other symptoms here, what symptoms?

8 am  symptoms??  If present with symptoms, brief description of.

10 am  "   "

11 am  sertraline 75 mg

12 pm ? any symptoms now, brief description, don't forget to note eating and when

1 pm  any symptoms, brief description

time and symptoms before Ativan?

3 pm  Ativan 0.5 mg

more times and any symptoms?

10 pm quetiapine 300 mg

11 pm go to bed

 

March 8

times, symptoms-brief descriptions of

11 am sertraline 75 mg

10 pm quetiapine 300 mg

more times needed in between and before 11 am sertraline, note symptoms, especially before and after you take your drugs, and try, try to post 24 hours, in just one post, like this

 

I hope this ^ helps

 

5 hours ago, Shep said:

When you were on 75 mg of quetiapine, how was your sleep? Did you sleep all night on the lower dose? 

4 hours ago, ciasim said:

Shep I am feeling desperate, 

I think that I have made so many changes ( or doctors actually) that I will never recover. 

Please help 

 

What is your take on quetiapine? Everything got worse since I was put on 300 mg 3 weeks ago. 

I feel so sad and helpless. 

 

 

ciasim,  You have the capacity to recover!  We are all trying to help.

I'm not Shep, but I don't like many of the AP's/neuroleptics/tranquilizing type drugs.  And especially at the higher doses.  Because they have all sorts of side effects and adverse effects.  You might do just as well on a lower dosage ciasim.  And we might go ahead and suggest that soon.  Meantime, answer questions directly, post notes!!!!

 

Thankyou.

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

 

Link to comment
40 minutes ago, manymoretodays said:

 

Hi ciasim,

17 hours ago, was the 8th of March,  and then when you say yesterday ^, the 7th of March.

......And so we'd like to see your daily notes posted like this:

(which you have done partials of, please don't let your panic and desperation preclude you from posting decently, I know it's tough, but with 3 drugs going now, and sometimes additional stuff,  this will give us the best information, clearly) And you don't have to do them in color, as I did(that's just me, and how I often post, and sometimes to make things stand out)

 

March 7

6 am  ? sleeping, "slept like dead person for 7 hours", any other symptoms here, what symptoms?

8 am  symptoms??  If present with symptoms, brief description of.

10 am  "   "

11 am  sertraline 75 mg

12 pm ? any symptoms now, brief description, don't forget to note eating and when

1 pm  any symptoms, brief description

time and symptoms before Ativan?

3 pm  Ativan 0.5 mg

more times and any symptoms?

10 pm quetiapine 300 mg

11 pm go to bed

 

March 8

times, symptoms-brief descriptions of

11 am sertraline 75 mg

10 pm quetiapine 300 mg

more times needed in between and before 11 am sertraline, note symptoms, especially before and after you take your drugs, and try, try to post 24 hours, in just one post, like this

 

I hope this ^ helps

 

 

ciasim,  You have the capacity to recover!  We are all trying to help.

I'm not Shep, but I don't like many of the AP's/neuroleptics/tranquilizing type drugs.  And especially at the higher doses.  Because they have all sorts of side effects and adverse effects.  You might do just as well on a lower dosage ciasim.  And we might go ahead and suggest that soon.  Meantime, answer questions directly, post notes!!!!

 

Thankyou.

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

 

Thank you. 

I slept well on 75mg quetiapine

 

I will come back with schedule 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment

Moderators,  sorry for being so desperate but it seems like symptoms are ramping up.  I cannot be sure but everything went downhill when I started quetapin 300mg.

And then there is the extreme hard question- should I stay on it in order to not destabilize? Or is it time to go of? 

I m really struggling,  feel suicidal everyday. My husband took me to the ER tonight because of me not coping. 

 

I post today's symptoms here. I know you want me to collect 24 hours.  I will do that. Just feel so desperate. 

 

8.00 am wake up, calm but sad and despairing. Feel like I want to die. Lay in bed until 11.

11 am sertralìn 75 mg
Derealisation, depersonalization
Zoned out. Leg thing and electrical feeling almost nothing.

12.00 took a walk. Derealisation continues. A little bit leg walking by them self feeling but nothing compared to yesterday evening

1pm derealisation continues

A little bit leg walking by them self feeling but nothing compared to yesterday evening

2 pm still derealisation
A little bit leg walking by them self feeling but nothing compared to yesterday evening

3 pm derealisation, burning ,tingling feeling in face. Derealisation distressing

4 pm talk another walk cause I cant stand my thoughts. High degree of derealisation the whole walk. Dizzy and disoriented. Feeling of not being able to walk a straight line.

5pm derealisation, dizzy, problems walking straight. Legs walking being pushed from behind feeling is showing up

6 pm
derealisation, dizzy, problems walking straight. Legs walking being pushed from behind feeling is showing up
Some chemical anxiety creeping in. Also involuntary mouth shivering. Tingling in feet

7 pm feeling of walking on a boat appears. Bad derealisation
. Legs walking being pushed from behind feeling is bad. Tonight all symptom is amped up.





 daily notes should show information I need to know, such as

- how you feel before and after you take your drugs

 

Symptoms seem to ramp up in late afternoon and then become worse in the evening.

-


 

 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment

Hey ciasim,
I'm not a moderator so I can't give you any tips about your medication!

But reading through your introduction topic, it's really no wonder that you're suffering so much and I feel so incredibly sorry for you, and what the docs did to you!

You have made so many changes in your meds the last months, your brain has no time to adjust and heal itself! Sadly there isn't a simple and fast cure. I don't know if changing anything in your quetiapine dosage may help you, but a mod might help you better.

ciasim, however you might continue with your meds, sadly you will experience symptoms for a while. There isn't much you can do about this right now.

I myself am in a horrible state for a few months now after changing from Escitalopram to Prozac. Doctors had no clue what they were doing. Since then it's not living, it's surviving. But you have to look in the future and try to imagine what it feels like. You will get better, I promise you. But it takes time! I didn't have a single window for 4 months now, but I keep hanging on, because that's sadly the only thing we can do. But in the end we all heal. And you will, too!!

 

Listen to what the mods tell you, they know what they're doing!
All the best to you!
 

Panic attacks starting june 2015
Got dependent on tavor (lorazepam).
Started tapering with Diazepam in october 2016 Ending April 2017. benzo free since then!
Developed major depression sept 2017, was prescribed 20mg of escitalopramTried to quit ssri in april 2018 (2 weeks taper, way too fast). July 1st 2018 tried to reinstate with 10mg and feeling much worse. Reduced dosage to 5mg On july 13th 2018. I felt a bit better but not well at all. September 2018 I reduced to 4mgs, then started tapering as soon as i got a bit better.

- 2mgs of escitalopram in the beginning of July 2019, holding for 9 weeks, experienced horrible symptoms. Turned myself into a psychiatric hospital on september 20th. last dose of escitalopram 2mg on september 23rd.

- september 24th: switched to 10mgs Fluoxetine

- oktober 18th: added Olanzapine 5mg

- November 12th: surgery with major anesthesia

 

Supplements: 3g EPA+DHA, 600mg Curcumin, sometimes 60ug Vit. D

 

Currently 10MG FLUOXETINE AND 5MG OLANZAPINE and trying to stabilize.

Link to comment

Thank yo u Gaebbi,  your answer means a lot. How is your story? Are you still on prozac? 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment

Moderators: went to ER unwillingly, I have suicidal thoughts and my husband saw no other choice.

Here the doctor suggested to drop quetapine from 300 mg to 150 mg.

 

What is your view on that? Have been on them for about 23 days. 

I cant afford to become worse, but still it is a nasty drug.

Please, advice needed. 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment

Hey ciasim :)

yes, I‘m still on prozac, I have to get stable before any other tapering attempt. I, too, made many mistakes by changing dosages, meds etc, that‘s why I‘m in such a mess now. The last 7-8 months were pure hell, and if i just listened to the mods, my suffering would more than likely be much less. But sadly it‘s too late now and I have to ride it out.

 

like I said, I‘m not allowed to give you any advide on your meds. I do think though that most of your problems are because of the dose-jumping of sertraline and you just need time to stabilize. Those SSRI-withdrawal induced symptoms can be hell. I made it through benzo withdrawal and it was nothing compared to what i have to go through now because of the SSRIs. Those are extremely powerful drugs and leave extremely powerful symptoms after dosage changes.

 

Do you still take the Ativan daily? I‘m more concerned of this, because you still might not be dependent on it yet. Benzo withdrawal is another monster you don‘t want to fight!

 

I hope a mod answers your questions soon! Please don‘t change anything in your dosage until you get an answer :)

 

ciasim, I understand your suicide thoughts. You‘re extremely desperate and I can‘t blame you for it - it must be absolute hell for you right now. But trust me, those withdrawal symptoms are just a small „bump“ in the road of live, and someday you will be healed and don‘t think about those horrible symptoms!

you can get through this! Feel hugged!

Panic attacks starting june 2015
Got dependent on tavor (lorazepam).
Started tapering with Diazepam in october 2016 Ending April 2017. benzo free since then!
Developed major depression sept 2017, was prescribed 20mg of escitalopramTried to quit ssri in april 2018 (2 weeks taper, way too fast). July 1st 2018 tried to reinstate with 10mg and feeling much worse. Reduced dosage to 5mg On july 13th 2018. I felt a bit better but not well at all. September 2018 I reduced to 4mgs, then started tapering as soon as i got a bit better.

- 2mgs of escitalopram in the beginning of July 2019, holding for 9 weeks, experienced horrible symptoms. Turned myself into a psychiatric hospital on september 20th. last dose of escitalopram 2mg on september 23rd.

- september 24th: switched to 10mgs Fluoxetine

- oktober 18th: added Olanzapine 5mg

- November 12th: surgery with major anesthesia

 

Supplements: 3g EPA+DHA, 600mg Curcumin, sometimes 60ug Vit. D

 

Currently 10MG FLUOXETINE AND 5MG OLANZAPINE and trying to stabilize.

Link to comment

Hi Ciasim,

I can relate with you, Few Months/weeks ago I was in a very bad place too.  Ups and downs in dosage, and my doc that tried adding multiple drugs on me. My CNS was a real mess!
I was suffering constantly to a point that I wasn’t able to believe the moderators when they were reassuring me. I was hopeless. 
But I understood one thing, I had to give stability to my body, to my CNS.

So I did.

I’m not healed at all, I have still some bad symptoms, but I can see now some improvements.These improvements started to come after numerous weeks of stability. Not overnight. 

I send you my best thoughts. Hold on, we can all heal, you can heal too, but it takes time and stability. You can do it. 

2008-Today: various ADs, benzos and seroquel , initially for Anxiety Related Insomnia. (Absolutely no other mental issues than simple Insomnia!).

Numerous W/D and C/T of those meds. During those years, my GP diagnosed me with GAD, Depression, etc... It was all W/D related, I know now!

Fall of 2019, after too fast attempt to taper Mirtazapine, put myself in full blown W/D.
February 2020, found SA and staying on 45mg Mirtazapine, waiting for stabilization.

February 2021, I stupidly used some Ativan prn to cope with Mirtazapine W/D symptoms (By far worst mistake of all my life!!).

Became accidentally and rapidly addicted (within 2-3 weeks). Started taper immediately.

Actual medication: Mirtazapine: 40,0mg - holding-
Ativan Taper: Started at 0,29mg march 2021, 03-28 0.28mg/ 04-08 0.27mg/ 04-26 0.25mg/ (...) 10-29 0.18mg/ 04-05-22 0.17mg/ 08-25-22 0.16mg/ 09-15-22 0.15mg/ 10-22-22 0.14mg/…/ 01-12-2023 0.11mg /07-02-2024 switch to 1mg Valium /

14-02-2024 0,9mg Valium.

Supplements: Omega-3, Probiotic.

Link to comment

Moderators 

Sorry for being so needy. 😔

The ER doctor suggested that I go down to 150 mg quetiapine (slow release) to ease of "symptoms"

He gave me one tablet since only have 300 mg at home and I took it tonight. 

How bad is that? I know the main goal  for now stabilize- but I also feel quetapin is a drug I really don't like ( I was more or less forced to take it for 23 days ago) and I haven't been on for so long 

How exactly bad is this move? 😞

As I said, took 150 mg tonight and has been given a prescription of that dose to continue with.  I can take 300 mg if I want. 

 

Please be firm but go gentle on me 😳, I am very stressed and can see that going down might be destabilizing my cns even more - but I also feel it's a drug that I really don't like and everything got 10 times worse since they put me on it 23 days ago. 

 

How much of a bad decision is it to go for 150 mg quetiapine instead of 300 mg? 

Really worried

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram  Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019  15mg

Citalopram 15 Oct 2019  - 17 nov 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram  nov 2019 - 28 nov 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (celexa) 28 nov - 12 dec 2019 20 mg 

switched  to sertraline 12 dec - 30 dec 

Quetapin 75 mg 20 December - 

Sertraline 30 dec -  upp to 100 mg⁹

Sertraline 100 mg 4 weeks serrtraline 50 mg 11 days Sertraline  75 mg since 14 feb

Quetapin  300 mg ER since 11 feb

Ativan 1 mg daily since 23 February - 1 March 

Quetapine ER down from 300 to 150mg March 9

Oxazepam 10 mg  March 11, March 15 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
23 minutes ago, ciasim said:

The ER doctor suggested that I go down to 150 mg quetiapine (slow release) to ease of "symptoms"

He gave me one tablet since only have 300 mg at home and I took it tonight. 

 

ciasim,

I think this sounds great!  And you did fine, to take the 150 mg tonight.  If I were you, I'd fill the prescription too.

 

Keep the notes coming, you did a good posting of some today.

And stay really consistent with the times that you take all of your drugs/meds please.  Don't make any other drug changes right now.

As you have just been on the higher dose for less than a month now, of quetiapine, you may do just fine with this change!

I'm really happy about it.

 

No worries.  Glad you posted this update!

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited by manymoretodays
bolding, elaboration

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

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
17 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

I'm not Shep, but I don't like many of the AP's/neuroleptics/tranquilizing type drugs.  And especially at the higher doses.  Because they have all sorts of side effects and adverse effects.  You might do just as well on a lower dosage ciasim. 

 

Yes, this is so true. 

 

9 hours ago, ciasim said:

As I said, took 150 mg tonight and has been given a prescription of that dose to continue with. 

 

Are you able to get a prescription at the 25 mg dose? You may want to talk to your doctor about that. This will help get you back down to the 75 mg dose you were previously on three weeks ago. 

 

Since you were able to sleep on the 75 mg dose, what do you think about tapering down to that dose?

 

Please let us know how you're doing on the 150 mg dose over the next couple of days. And then we can help you set up a game plan of what to do next. 

 

 

Link to comment

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy