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


ciasim

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Shep, you don't think it will upset my cns even more badly by changing to 150mg? 

Moderators,  I am stressed about the decision,  can you give me an informed opinion from your experience?  Been on 300 mg for 22 days. 

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 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
10 minutes ago, ciasim said:

Shep, you don't think it will upset my cns even more badly by changing to 150mg? 

Moderators,  I am stressed about the decision,  can you give me an informed opinion from your experience?  Been on 300 mg for 22 days. 

 

How much quetiapine did you take last night? I thought you already dropped down to 150 mg. 

 

Please continue with your daily notes. 

 

 

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Hi shep,  thanks for answering. 

 

I took 150 mg last night, that's correct..

 

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 

 

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3 minutes ago, Shep said:

How was your sleep? How are you feeling? 

It took a bit longer to fall asleep, maybe 1.30  but most probably because of worry. 

This is how I am feeling and felt since I woke up: 

 

8.00 wake up, not anxious but worried. Have a light chemical pain in my chest.
Lay in bed until 9.30
9.30 psychiatric mobile team comes home because of er visit yesterday. They are sympathetic but don't understand withdrawals. Derealisation constant during conversation. Ears ringing. A feeling of electrical chord in body when I move is there. Involuntary mouth shivering.

10.45 take 75 mg sertraline.

 

 

 

 

 

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 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
2 minutes ago, ciasim said:

It took a bit longer to fall asleep, maybe 1.30  but most probably because of worry. 

 

You may want to try a guided meditation before sleep. This one is good for worry and intrusive thoughts:

 

Guided Meditation Deep sleep | anxiety and insomnia relief | relaxation before bedtime video (21 minutes)

 

If you don't like that one, there are thousands more out there on YouTube to explore. 

 

Try to spend some time with guided meditations, gentle music, coloring, working a jigsaw puzzle, or other quiet activities to distract your mind before bed. This will help ease you into sleep without worry. 

 

Thanks for your notes for this morning, but please also post 24 hours at a time. 

 

Let us know how you're doing over the next couple of days with this reduction. 

 

 

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Thanks Shep. I Will try the guided  meditation now actually. 

 

@Altostratado you think it's an unwise decision to change to 150 mg instead of 300 mg quetiapine in order to stabilize? 

What is your advice / experience? 

Took 150 mg yesterday night. Got an prescription. Can take 300 mg if needed. Don't want to make hasty decisions. I feel like my cns is in chaos. Been on queatpine 300 mg 23 days. All symptoms amplified ( from  2 to 10 ) and derealisation came. 

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 

 

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Hi there, been reading your thread. Here's another guided relaxation to get you started ...enjoy :) This one knocked me out within ten minutes, hope it works for you.

 

 

 

January 2008 to April 2015 Citalopram 20mg to 5mg, reducing in 50 per cent leaps. Jumped off at 5mg

March 2016 used MDMA triggered setback

April 2016 Citalopram 10mg October 2016 cut to 5mg, May 2017 cut to 2.5mg

May 2018 used MDMA triggered setback

June 2018 Citalopram 2.5mg up to 10mg, then back to 5mg

July/ August 2018 7.5mg, then 10mg

June 2019 updosed to 20mg Citalopram

August 2019 cold switch to Venlafaxine 75mg XR

Supplements; 1100mg fish oil daily; also 100mg Magnesium Glycinate. Tried Vagifem 10mcg from mid May 2021 to mid June 2021; caused depression, so stopped.

 

 

 

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Thanks for the meditation, it was really good.

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 

 

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I am NOT a mod or a Doctor, but in 5 years of reading everyone's stories, it sound like you became worse because the dose was too high at 300.

It may take a few days at 150 to get the level lowered in your system, but I think it is a good decision.

Then, after you get feeling better, later down as time passes, you can work on lowering it to maybe 100. 

 Starting ds 2 (12.5 CR'S) = 25 MG PAXIL CR 1/21/15: 1 Pill + 10mg liquid (2 weeks) 2/4: 1 Pill + 9mg Lq (3 weeks) 2/25: 1 Pill + 8 mg lq (1 week) 3/4: 1 Pill + 6 mg lq (2 weeks) 3/18/15 1 Pill + 4 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/1/15 1 Pill + 3 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/14/15 1 Pill + 2 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/29/15 1Pill + 1 mg lq (16 days) 5/15/15 1 12.5 mg Pill ONLY (9 days) 5/24/15 12 mgs liquid (8 days) 6/1/15 11mg lq (12 days) 6/13/15 10 mg.  12/3/15 Drop from 8mg to 7.6 (24 days to) 12/27/15 7.2mgs 8/4/16 6.8mgs,  11/1/16 6.4mgs, 2/5/17 6 mgs  4/3/17 5.6mgs, 4/24/17 5.2mg, 6/13/17 4.8mgs, 9/20/17 4.4mgS, 11/23/17 4 mgs, 1/1/18 3.6 mgs, 2/15/18 3.2 mgs. 4/13/18 2.8mgs, 5/11/18 2.4mgs, 6/10/18 2.0 mgs, 8/4/18 1.6mgs,  9/27/18 1.2mgs, 12/24/18 0.8mg, 3/24/19 0.64 mg,(syringe change issue date?) 4/22/19 0.60 mg, 5/24/19 0.60 mg, 7/7/19 0.52 mgs, 8/4/19 0.44mgs, 11/4/19 0.36mgs, 2/1/20 0.28mgs, 3/1/20 0.24mgs (crash April 6) Compound started 6/28/21: 0.24mgs, 8/29/21: 0.22mgs, 10/31/21: 0.20mgs, 1/03/22: 0.18mgs, 3/5/22: 0.16mgs, 5/5/22: 0.14mgs.

 

Original Wellbutrin Dose: 6 months from 9/14 to 3/2015, 300 XL 3/15/15: Half to 150 XL ( severe symptoms started on day 12) 4/16/15: 125mg   for 20 days to: 5/6/15:   100mg  for  15 days to: 5/21/15    75mg  for  10 days to: 6/1/15:  56.25mg      13 days to: 6/13/15: 37.25mg    7 days to: 6/20/15  28.12mg   14 days to: 7/4/15  18.75mg, 7 days to: 7/11/15; RAISE BACK TO: 28.12 to 8/14/15: 18.75mg  20 days to :9/3/15 : 12.5mg, 8/4/16 9mg 1/9/17: 8.5mg 2/8/17 8mg, 3/9/17: 7.6  4/9/17  7.2  5/27/17 6.4 6/24/17 5.8, 8/1/17 5.0, 8/29/17 4.2mgs, 10/2/17 3.5mgs, 12/28/17 2.5mgs, 2/27/18 1.7mgs,  4/19/18 0.8 mgs, LAST DOSE: 6/11/18:  3 YEARS, 2 MONTHS, 27 DAYS...

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Thanks colonial 

Appreciate your response 

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 

 

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@Altostrata sorry for repeating myself, but could you please respond to my question about lowering the dose of quetiapine from 300mg to 150 mg. I know it is a large jump.😞 been on it for 23 days 

 

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 

 

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  • Administrator
21 hours ago, ciasim said:

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. 

 

You are experiencing drug side effects and you are worrying about this. Your thoughts are just thoughts. You need to manage them. If they are bad thoughts, you need to push them away. You will get through the bad drug effects, but it will take time and you must stay calm.

 

Your thoughts did not make you go to the ER, you let yourself be overwhelmed by them and your worrying. You need to take responsibility for this.

 

When you go to the hospital asking for help with your thoughts, they don't have anything else to offer but more drugs. It's likely you will come out on more drugs, not fewer drugs. This time, you were lucky, you met a smart doctor who thought you might be taking too much quetiapine.

 

18 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

 

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.

...

 

8 hours ago, Shep said:

...

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. 

 

manymoretodays and Shep both answered your questions about reducing to 150mg quetiapine. We need to see what happens now that you've reduced the dosage.

 

We need to see 24 hours of drug schedule and symptom notes at a time.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thanks @Altostrata

Have you heard of people having severe desorientation derealisation and coordination problems, the electrical chord feeling that has been on and of multiple meds for a short time become better? 

I am really sad and disheartened. 

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 

 

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  • Administrator
On 3/8/2020 at 5:13 PM, Altostrata said:

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

 

 

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

 

Yes, but have people became better? 

Seems to me its mostly those how have been on one med that recovers? 

Can you heal  even though you been severky kindled? 

Sorry for being so needy.  Very disheartened. 

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 

 

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  • Administrator

There would be no purpose to running this site if people never recovered. Will you recover? Probably. Can anyone predict when that will be? No.

 

From what you've posted so far, you will need to apply yourself to learning coping skill so you can manage your symptoms. Only you can do this, peer counselors on the Web cannot do this for you. Such skills will enable you to live a better life if you decide to go drug-free. See

 

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

 

Shame, guilt, regret, and self-criticism

 

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.

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Thanks I  know I have a lot to learn in that department.

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 

 

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Don't worry ciasim! Our brains are phenomenal, they can heal from almost anything! There are people with serious brain injury, who have to relearn how to walk or eat. And they recover! Sadly it will take a while, but if you take your meds regularly to the same time and don't change anything, you will notice progress after some time! Nobody can predict how long it will take, but you have to think in terms of months, not days or even weeks.

I was suffering horribly for 3 months, until I saw some progress starting a month ago. Still far from being healed. But I'm trusting in my brains ability to heal, and you should, too :)

Like Alto said, you have to learn some non-drug coping. I find that going in the woods and just walk for some time helps calming me a bit, and I see that that's also a strategy of you. It's a good one, keep it!

Try not to fall in negative thoughts, because the only thing they do is slow down your recovery.

Try to think something like "When I'm through this I will be a much stronger and happier person" or "I'm feeling so bad because healing is happening. That's a good thing!"
And that's true. Your symptoms mean that your nervous system is healing!

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.

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  • Moderator Emeritus
On 3/8/2020 at 1:08 PM, ciasim said:

I just see people not stabilizing and most success stories has been people on only one drug?

 

There are many success story from those who dealt with polypharmacy. Here are just a few:

 

Happy2Heal my Victory statement

 

Aria's recovery

 

JanCarol - undiagnosed! Off all "bipolar" drugs!

 

Rockingchaircat Day 600

 

 

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Thanks Shep. 

I am extremely worried that lowering quetapine with half was a hasty decision. 

What is your take on that? 

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 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
13 minutes ago, ciasim said:

What is your take on that? 

 

Please post your daily drug and symptoms journal, 24 hours at a time. 

 

Without that, we're just playing guessing games. 

 

 

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@Altostrata@shep

 

8.00 wake up, not anxious but worried. Have a chemical pain in my chest.
Lay in bed until 9.30
9.30 psychiatric mobile team comes home because of er visit yesterday. They are sympathetic but don't understand withdrawals. (I have no use of them at all, they just tell me to take ativan, diazepam and what else - no way)
Derealisation constant during conversation. Ears ringing. A feeling of electrical chord in body when I move. Involuntary mouth shivering.

11.00 take 75 mg sertraline.
Involuntary mouth shivering more intense than previous days. Ears ringing. Tingling in feet. Derealisation, not its worst but not good either. My body is shivering slightly, havnt felt this before.


11.30 take on capsule of magnesium lie extension 500 mg

12.00 tinglong burning sensation in hands and feet. I have that every now and the since about a week ago. Ears ringing. Listen to 1 hour guided meditation provided by fellow fellow antidepressantsurvivant member. It calms me down.

13.00 continue to read a book I started, its hard. A lot of things in the book reminds me of the life I had and makes me feel grief because I think I will never have that again. I also feel that my existence, my daily life home alone is unsustainable - I cant spend my days in grief and despair. Fingers and back of hands tingling, burning sensation. I lie in sofa, if I go up symptoms ramp up and gets uninevetable. Symptoms when walking from sofa to kitchen: derealisation, and feeling of spine being tied up tonelectrical chord. Scale: 5 out of 10. I feel unreal and detached. As half human half robot. I just want to escape myself.


14.00 phone call with sister. When lying down and talking symptoms are less bothering. Tingling in feet. That's my least problem.

15.00 go up, derealisation, feeling
of spine being tied up to electrical chord. Scale: 5 out of 10. I feel unreal and detached. As half human half robot. I just want to escape myself.

16.00 same as above. Lay down in sofa play phone game to distract. Tingling in feet, hands a little bit burning. Ears ringing. Find it hard to accept my condition. Fear of leaving the sofa, I hate being up and time after time realize my condition. Heavy feeling in chest. Mouth shivering slightly 4/10.

17.00 stay in sofa. Same symptoms as above. Need to visit the bathroom but I avoid it, hate the feeling when I go up walking. Have a lingering feeling of being close to a panic attack, but I I have it yndern

18.00 have go go go pharmacy, my husband have to gp with me, cant drive can hardly orient in shopping mall. derealisation 8/10, disoriented 7/10. A buzzing electrical feeling in body 6/10
Its awful.Feel despair. Thinking this will be my life forward, it's not worth living

19. Same as above so I lay in sofa. While in sofa symptoms are bearable. Tingling in feet , a little tinnitus and derealisation. Everything is better when I stay still. Feel grief and despair.

20.00 heat up some food. Derealisation 7/10, electrical chord feeling 6/10. Hurry back to sofa, hard to cope when standing or moving

21.00 have a mental breakdown because of my situation. I am so terribly sad. Havnt moved from coach. Don't want to move.

22.15 take 150 mg quetiapine ( second day on halfed dosage)

23.00 symptoms a little bit less when going to bed, derealisation 4/10, electric feeling 5/10 which makes me scared it was a hasty desicion to lower the quetiapine dose yesterday


Match 11

06.00 wake up. Not anxious. Body feels ok. But very worried

09.30 go up, derealisation 5/10, feeling of legs walking by them selves 4/10
Take a shower. Feel miserable and think about how lowering the dose of quetiapine by half must be a bad decision

10.30 eat a sandwich, lay in sofa. Ears ringing 4/10. Feet tingling 4/10. Feeling a bit spaced out and empty brained. Worried and scared.

11.00 take 75 mg sertraline
Derealisation 5/10 . Leg thing 4/10

12.00
Derealisation 5/10 . Leg thing 4/10
Worry a lot. Tinnitus 3/10 try do do 1 hour meditation but couldn't focus. To anxious about lowering the dose of quetiapine. Cant stop thinking about it. Driving me crazy

13.00 Derealisation 5/10 . Leg thing 4/10. Tingling in feet and tinnitus 3/10
Worry a lot since my symptoms seem less severe now and that it was a haatu decision to go down to 150 mg quetiapine

14.00 take a walk, derealisation 5/10 leg walking by them self feeling 4/10. Disoriented 2/10
Tinnitus 4/10
Extremly worried about the the decision to lower quetapin

15.00
Derealisation 4/10. leg walking by them self feeling 5/10.
Tinnitus 5/10. Feet tingling 3/10
Extremly anxious about the decision to lower quetiapine

16.00 mouth shivering 3/10 derealisation 5/10. Tingling burning in face 4/10
I am having death angst and had all day worrying about whether going down on queatpine will destabilize my cns further. That I shoukd stay put as most people in withdrawal groups say? I have felt less symptoms today ( not good at al, but a little bit more manageable) It has become unmanageable so after much hesitation I took 10 mg oxazepam. I know it's not good but my worrying is killing me. I walk around moaning in death angst. I have been trying all day to avoid it but I cant cope
It probably won't help either, I know you cant medicate away natural feelings. Im sorry for being weak.

17.00 still extremly anxious and worried. Starting to Think that maybe going of quetiapine has caused more anxiety?
Feels like I am about to have a panic attack

18.00 very anxious and worried. Mouth shivering 5/10. The Derealisation and leg thing is lower maybe 4 /10. This makes me question the decision to lower quetiapine even more


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 

 

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 I have an additional question, where can I see members medical history? There used to be a resume in the end of people's postings? 

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 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
1 hour ago, ciasim said:

 I have an additional question, where can I see members medical history? There used to be a resume in the end of people's postings? 

Thank you 

Hi ciasim. If you mean the signature, people choose to put their medical history there just like yours. If you look under my post you should be able to see my medical history in mine for example. Some look different to others. If you can't find it there they have most likely disclosed it in their introduction topics which you can find if you click on their names to come to their profile>See their activity>Topics.

 

I know most things take a lot of energy when in this situation so well done on keeping at it with the journal 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.

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  • Administrator
3 hours ago, ciasim said:

21.00 have a mental breakdown because of my situation. I am so terribly sad. Havnt moved from coach. Don't want to move.

 

3 hours ago, ciasim said:

16.00 mouth shivering 3/10 derealisation 5/10. Tingling burning in face 4/10
I am having death angst and had all day worrying about whether going down on queatpine will destabilize my cns further. That I shoukd stay put as most people in withdrawal groups say? I have felt less symptoms today ( not good at al, but a little bit more manageable) It has become unmanageable so after much hesitation I took 10 mg oxazepam. I know it's not good but my worrying is killing me. I walk around moaning in death angst. I have been trying all day to avoid it but I cant cope
It probably won't help either, I know you cant medicate away natural feelings. Im sorry for being weak.

17.00 still extremly anxious and worried. Starting to Think that maybe going of quetiapine has caused more anxiety?
Feels like I am about to have a panic attack

 

These thoughts are under your control, ciasim. You can change the channel or ignore them if you want. You may need to change your habit of diving deeper into scary thoughts, it's not helping you.

 

If you go to the hospital for these thoughts -- which you can learn to manage -- they will give you more drugs, because they is all they can do for bad thoughts.

 

How was your sleep? That's the reason you're taking quetiapine, and you didn't even mention it.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

 

 

These thoughts are under your control, ciasim. You can change the channel or ignore them if you want. You may need to change your habit of diving deeper into scary thoughts, it's not helping you.

 

Thanks for answering my post. 

 

 

I know. Trying really hard to change the channel. I have since long had a tendency to overthinking and worry,  sure dosent help in this situation. 

Quote

If you go to the hospital for these thoughts -- which you can learn to manage -- they will give you more drugs, because they is all they can do for bad thoughts.

I am aware of that. I want do stay as far  from the hospital as possible.  They have already destroyed me enough. The other day didnt want to go, but my husband more or less forced me, since he didnt know how to handle the situation. I understand him, it's a hard situation for him as well and unfortunately he doesn't buy into withdrawals complexity. 

 

 

Quote

 

How was your sleep? That's the reason you're taking quetiapine, and you didn't even mention it.

 

It is not actually not the reason I am taken it. Must be an misunderstanding. I was originally put on 75 mg for 3 weeks in January for "anxiety" ( I was traumatized  in withdrawal and gaslighted by doctors when I tried to tell them)  

 

Because of the deliberating symptoms of both celexa and sertraline withdrawal that started around 23 of January ( feeling of not being able to walk straight, feeling outspaced and a little bit of legs walking by them selves ( low grade) I got suicidal because I couldn't recognize myself or function. 

I was then more or less forced to be hospitalized again and they put me on 300 mg quetiapine directly, even though I was extremely negative to it. But i was worn out after 2 months in psychiatric ward after celexa had turned against me ( have never even been close to psychiatric care before, have been highly functional,  working full time, studying and having an active life. It was my general gp who put me on citalopram 2011.  About a year ago it started to turn against me with suicidal thoughts ( never had before) and after a bad updose I was put in a psychiatric ward. 

 

Long answer short: I was put on queatpine 300 mg for being " severly depressed" ( which is not true, I was desperate because of my awful situation) .  That was about 23 days ago. 

 

I slept ok last night, woke up a little bit earlier than usual ( 6.00 instead of 7.30 ) but no big deal. 

 

@Altostratayou don't feel that its a hasty decision to half the doze of quetapine in the light of survivingantidepressants motto of going slow and steady? Being consistent? Not destabilize cns further? So scared I have taken a immature decision. 

 

 

 

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 

 

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1 hour ago, Sunnyday said:

Hi ciasim. If you mean the signature, people choose to put their medical history there just like yours. If you look under my post you should be able to see my medical history in mine for example.

It's funny but I cant see it? 

1 hour ago, Sunnyday said:

 

 

Some look different to others. If you can't find it there they have most likely disclosed it in their introduction topics which you can find if you click on their names to come to their profile>See their activity>Topics.

 

I know most things take a lot of energy when in this situation so well done on keeping at it with the journal as well.

 

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

I want to post the following hours of today @AltostrataI know you want all 24 hours collected. I will do that from now on. 

I just believe it is important to reflect on my symptoms tonight since recently halfing the dosage of quetiapine. Hope you don't mind 

 

March 11 

19.00 feeling calmer..probably due to oxazepam. Symptoms continue to be less severe than previous days. Derealisation 4/10. Legs walking by them self thin 4/10.

20.00 Symptoms continue to be less severe than previous days. Derealisation 4/10. Legs walking by them self thing 4/10. Desorientation 2/10

21.00
Symptoms continue to be less severe than previous days. Derealisation 4/10. Legs walking by them self thing 4/10. Desorientation 2/10

22.00 take 150 mg quetiapine
Symptoms continue to be less severe than previous days. Derealisation 4/10. Legs walking by them self thing 4/10. Desorientation 3/10
I don't know if taking the lorazepam earlier had made me less anxious about my symptoms and therefore makes them less noticable. I don't think so. But cant now for sure. However This makes me really question the decision to half the quetiapine dose - cause I cant have any more destabilization of my CNS if I am starting to improve 😳

One thing that also could affect the experience of less severe symptoms could  be the fact that I have stayed in the coach most parts of the evening. Compared to yesterday's visit at pharmacy it is a whole different environment. When walking outside symptoms of derealisation. Desorientation and been hooked to electrical chord is much more harder to ignore.

 

 


23.00 Symptoms continue to be less severe than previous days. Derealisation 4/10. Legs walking by them self thing 4/10. Desorientation 2/10

24.00 20.00 Symptoms continue to be less severe Derealisation 4/10. Legs walking by them self thing 4/10. Electric spine feeling 4/10. Desorientation 2/10

1 am go to bed. When lying In bed I  notice a new symptom that I have not felt before, : my hands are trembling when not lying flat on the bed. Never had this before.

 

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 

 

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  • Administrator
3 hours ago, ciasim said:

I slept ok last night, woke up a little bit earlier than usual ( 6.00 instead of 7.30 ) but no big deal. 

 

@Altostratayou don't feel that its a hasty decision to half the doze of quetapine in the light of survivingantidepressants motto of going slow and steady? Being consistent? Not destabilize cns further? So scared I have taken a immature decision. 

 

No, you have been taking 300mg quetiapine only a short time. If you are taking a drug more than a month, we recommend tapering more slowly.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Mentor

Hi @ciasim

I am sorry that you are struggling.

I have too, been in this situation, that my physiatrist wanted me to go on quetapin, about 10 years ago when I had my acute withdrawals symptoms after very fast taper from Paxil. 
I did not end up taking them, as prescribed ( 3 times a day) but I took one 15 mg if I could not sleep, had very bad insomnia at the time due to withdrawals, which looks like you are using them now for. 
Personally I think it is a very good idea for you to have gone down to 150mg.  And you also seem to sleep on them, even though you minimised the dose. So that is great news. 
This is a journey for all of us, and in the end it all comes down to you and how you deal with it. 
Our minds will get us halfway, use it to get you through hard times. 
We all suffer at some point, but in the end I believe we can all heal

Believe in yourself 

You can do it, one day at a time

Take care
 

 

 


1999-2020  20 mg Paxil

Bridged with Fluoxetine to help me get off Paxil.

2022 Fluoxetine 15 mg 12/12 14mg 27/12  13mg jan 12mg feb 11mg mars 10mg, 9 mg 8,5 mg 7.6mg 7.0 mg 6,3 mg 5,6 mg 5,0 mg 4,5 mg 4,0 mg 3.6mg 3,2 mg 2,9 mg 2,6 mg 2,3 mg 2,0 mg 1.8 mg

 


I am not a medical professional nor is this a medical advice. I only talk from my own experience.

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  • Moderator Emeritus
15 hours ago, ciasim said:

It has become unmanageable so after much hesitation I took 10 mg oxazepam.

 

Please update your signature to reflect when you take oxazepam (or any other periodic drug). And include the date you stopped taking Ativan. 

 

A direct link to your signature is here:

 

Account Settings - Create or Update Your Signature

 

Is this the first time you've taken oxazepam? Please let us know your complete benzo history. 

 

 

 

 

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59 minutes ago, Shep said:

 

Please update your signature to reflect when you take oxazepam (or any other periodic drug). And include the date you stopped taking Ativan. 

I have included the period of taking Ativan 

A direct link to your signature is here:

 

Account Settings - Create or Update Your Signature

 

Is this the first time you've taken oxazepam? Please let us know your complete benzo history. 

I have taken 5 mg oxazepam daily in the middle of December for about 1 week. 

Ativan 0,5 - 1 mg 1,5- 2 weeks mid February to early March . The oxazepam I took yesterday was the first since mid December. 

 

 

59 minutes ago, Shep said:

 

 

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 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
41 minutes ago, ciasim said:

I have taken 5 mg oxazepam daily in the middle of December for about 1 week. 

Ativan 0,5 - 1 mg 1,5- 2 weeks mid February to early March . The oxazepam I took yesterday was the first since mid December. 

 

Thanks for the additional information.

 

Do you feel like you can handle your worry and anxiety without resorting to a benzo? 

 

It's very hard to know how you're doing with a rapid reduction of the antipsychotic when you're using other drugs. 

 

If not, you'll need to decide if you wish to deal with a benzo or with an antipsychotic because I fear you're going to develop a dependency on the benzo while you're trying to decrease the antipsychotic. 

 

If you can, when you start to worry, go play a video game, listen to music, take a walk, watch a favorite TV program, etc. Anything to change the channel immediately so you don't go into an emotional spiral. 

 

 

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1 hour ago, Shep said:

 

Thanks for the additional information.

 

Do you feel like you can handle your worry and anxiety without resorting to a benzo? 

I hope so. Yesterday apparently not 😔

But that is my goal, to stay away from benzos as much as possible. 

Quote

It's very hard to know how you're doing with a rapid reduction of the antipsychotic when you're using other drugs. 

 

If not, you'll need to decide if you wish to deal with a benzo or with an antipsychotic because I fear you're going to develop a dependency on the benzo while you're trying to decrease the antipsychotic. 

I understand, I will do by best to avoid benzoz. Keeps fingers crossed coming of quetiapine won't be so hard. 

 

If you can, when you start to worry, go play a video game, listen to music, take a walk, watch a favorite TV program, etc. Anything to change the channel immediately so you don't go into an emotional spiral.  Your right. I  will try to change channel more immediately today.

 

 

Thanks for being here and being supportive. Have you seen people become kindled by their original SSRI and then been thrown new meds , gone of them and then recovered? Fees like I ( doctors and pharma) have really played ping pong with my cns the last 5 months.  Feel dumb not realizing when it's time to try to toughen it out and to seek help. Doctors have been nothing of help. 

 

10 Citalopram 9 years, I hindsight probably kindled and poop out. Gone on and of for about 4 times. Increased to 15 mg  September 2019 because of suicidal thoughts and really depressed mood. Got an adverse reaction. Went back to 12.5 after 3 weeks. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome:  extreme restlessness, earworms, extrem anxiety. adrenalin surges, akathisia, manic like symptoms. Hospitalized , put on mitrazapine and back on citalopram, up to 20.Went of mitrazapine after 2 weeks. Were crosstapered to 100 mg sertraline, got 75 mg quetiapine. Was sent home, mistakenly took 50 mg of sertraline for 11 days 😔, suicidal because of strange symptoms ( not walking straight,  feeling outspaced all the time). Back to psychiatric ward, put on 300 mg quetiapine and since then 75m sertraline.

 

Is there really hope for me with all these changes?  And now halfing quetiapine as well? 

 

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 

 

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  • Mentor

Is there really hope for me with all thesechanges?  And now halfing quetiapine as well? 

 

YES there is hope, have faith and believe in yourself. 
I will have you in my prayers 
 

 


1999-2020  20 mg Paxil

Bridged with Fluoxetine to help me get off Paxil.

2022 Fluoxetine 15 mg 12/12 14mg 27/12  13mg jan 12mg feb 11mg mars 10mg, 9 mg 8,5 mg 7.6mg 7.0 mg 6,3 mg 5,6 mg 5,0 mg 4,5 mg 4,0 mg 3.6mg 3,2 mg 2,9 mg 2,6 mg 2,3 mg 2,0 mg 1.8 mg

 


I am not a medical professional nor is this a medical advice. I only talk from my own experience.

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