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

coldturkmama Recovered after Paxil cold turkey


coldturkmama

Recommended Posts

@coldturkmamawhat symptoms do you have now?

Celexa 10 mg started (for panic attack) and quickly stopped. From Jan 2001 to September 2001 stopped cold turkey.

Celexa 10mg taken for short period of time in 2010; could not take for a long period of time due to side effects, thus only taken for about 2 months. Went through withdrawal symptoms, and protracted symptoms for at least 1.5 years.

Restarted Celexa 10 mg in 2013 to 2016 off and on. (never could tolerate anything above 10mg) to due work related stress, and not because of anxiety or depression. Never could consistently take a pill daily for weeks at a time, due to side effects. 

Restarted in 2019 off and on again for a year, than in October 2020, cold turkey stopped. Did not know about this website, never was told how to stop or to taper since "I was not taking a high dose", suffered insomnia, elevated blood pressure, anxiety, stress, but not any real devastating symptoms. 

Have not swallowed a micro dust of Citalopram since October 2020, and it's October 2021 now.

Started trazodone 25mg in April 5th, 2021 for insomnia, horrible choice, recommended by doctor, couldn't tolerate side effects, tapered, every other day for a month starting on April 24th, than every 2 days for 1 months in May as recommended by doctor, until last 25 mg pill swallowed on June 07,2021. What a mistake! 

No SSRI's or SSNI's or any psycho medications have been ingested by me since June 07,2021. And life has been hell, especially after the Trazodone was introduced. 

March 17th, 18th, 2022. I took a cough suppressant that contained Dextromethrophan. Took a total of 20 mg over 2 days, to suppress cough. Caused a major exacerbation of previous symptoms. Have suffered 2 Panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, anxiety which had been well controlled for at least 3 months. And also worsen my Withdrawal induced Tinnitus.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/13/2022 at 11:20 AM, TrazodoneShouldBeIllegal18 said:

@coldturkmamawhat symptoms do you have now?


its hard to say if I have any real lasting symptoms from the withdrawal and what is just regular anxiety.

I feel like I have overcome 99% of the withdrawal. I have some issues sometimes with getting my words out but I think that’s just normal stuff, distraction lol 

 

the very last issue I had that hasn’t come back in 6 or so months was the fake UTI Symptoms. It was painful last time and I was worried it was a real uti but it went away as usual. 😑 Haven’t had a flare of that in a while! 

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Wonderful to hear, CTM!

 

3/21/19 started Bupropion XL 150 mg

3/21/19 started Risperidone 2mg

7/7/19 start Abilify half dose 5 mg. discontinue Risperidone

7/9/19 full dose Abilify 10 mg

7/29/19 discontinued Abilify due to panicky side effects

8/2/19 Began Latuda 20 mg

8/5/19 discontinued Latuda due to similar side effects 

8/10/19 discontinued Bupropion after realizing it was causing the insomnia

From 8/10/19 no drugs whatsoever

Currently taking vitamin C, D, E, a probiotic and fish oil. 
Message me here if you want: 
https://www.facebook.com/morra.lal.3/  I've been getting a lot of fake friend requests, so please send a message before friend requesting me, thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hello Coldturkmama ☺️

 

I wanted to ask, ist you also know That Deep black anxiety After going ct? 
 

Its so much better, but I have this chemical anxitiey still … (I am 27 month out) 

 

Thank you so much! 
 

Hope youre doing well! 
 

Love, Kara ♥️

2011-2019 Prozac (6month Taper) 
May 2020 Amitryptiline Adverse reaction to three doses (2mg) !!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 9/16/2022 at 3:13 PM, Kara2302 said:

Hello Coldturkmama ☺️

 

I wanted to ask, ist you also know That Deep black anxiety After going ct? 
 

Its so much better, but I have this chemical anxitiey still … (I am 27 month out) 

 

Thank you so much! 
 

Hope youre doing well! 
 

Love, Kara ♥️


after cold Turkey my regular anxiety looked like a little kitten compared to the terrible black hole of chemical withdrawal anxiety. 
i understand for sure!

 

 

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I check in here often in case someone has messaged me but it’s so funny because at one time, this place kept me sane. It kept me going. I can’t thank the creators of this page enough for having this informative space for those of us who were in the thick of it. 
 

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you so much for your answer! 
 

I had Phobia against People, also my Family 😢😢 happily thats over … I had fear against trees and other normal things … so terrible 😔😖 

 

Its def better! But still not gone 😩 

 

Wishing you all the best! 💐

2011-2019 Prozac (6month Taper) 
May 2020 Amitryptiline Adverse reaction to three doses (2mg) !!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

hello @coldturkmama,

do you remember how it felt when you realized that you recovered? I´m asking because you and I had the same medication, though I only took 40mg Paxil for "only" about 1 year. That quick taper I did ended me up in a massive withdrawal which is still not over for me.

It´s better but dizziness, brainfog, white noise / tinitus, zero alcohol tolerance, mood swings and some more symptoms are still there and very frequent. Haven´t felt sober since 2015, its like being on drugs all the time...even after all these years.

 

Was this feeling suddenly over for you or was it a slow process. Some say they woke up and all symptoms were gone.

In about 4 month I am 6 years off and I still cannot believe what damage I still feel of this drug...

 

Hugs,

Maggie 

Started Paxil on January 2016 with 40mg

June 2016 - 30 mg, July 2016 - 20 mg, August 2016 - 20 mg, September 2016 - 15 mg, October 2016 - 10mg, November 2016 - 5mg, January 2017 - 3,75mg, 22/01/2017 2,5mg, 06/02/2017 0 mg

 

Symptoms I still have:

Dizziness (more in waves less in windows)

Brainfog & Derealization (constantly)

Muscle spasm

Hot and cold flashes with sweating (mostly in the evening)

Nightmares with hallucinations (not that frequent anymore)

Moodswings (from happy and optimistic to depressed and sad within a minute)

Joint pain

Symptoms that are gone:Anxiety & Panic, Insomnia, Deep phases of depression, Brainzaps

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/8/2022 at 8:15 AM, MaggieSmalls said:

hello @coldturkmama,

do you remember how it felt when you realized that you recovered? I´m asking because you and I had the same medication, though I only took 40mg Paxil for "only" about 1 year. That quick taper I did ended me up in a massive withdrawal which is still not over for me.

It´s better but dizziness, brainfog, white noise / tinitus, zero alcohol tolerance, mood swings and some more symptoms are still there and very frequent. Haven´t felt sober since 2015, its like being on drugs all the time...even after all these years.

 

Was this feeling suddenly over for you or was it a slow process. Some say they woke up and all symptoms were gone.

In about 4 month I am 6 years off and I still cannot believe what damage I still feel of this drug...

 

Hugs,

Maggie 


hi! Sorry for the delay in replying. I had written out a reply and then it wouldn’t save lol

 

anyway, it was all pretty slowww and felt like two steps forward and one back. It was hard and definitely not over all at once. From week to week things could be very different and sometimes hour to hour my symptoms seemed to switch up on me.

when I finally lost the brand of pressure across my head, I was so excited as that was such a hard thing to deal with. 
finally when I realized I hadn’t had a fake UTI in a long long time, I started to consider that maybe I was over the withdrawal,

especially since everything else was so much better but it was also years later.

at 9 years out now, I sometimes have slight little glimpses of what it did to me, almost a flashback of symptoms but it doesn’t last long. 
I have regular anxiety issues but nothing like withdrawal.

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thanks for your reply @coldturkmama,

it´s so good to hear that eventually things have improved for you.

What you describe is how I feel as well. For years now its one step forward, 2 steps back and whenever I think it´s getting better, I get pushed into another wave.

 

It feels a lot like my body is repairing the damage of Paxil in circles if that makes sense. One month I have lots of mental problems, the other month the physical pain is much more frequent and I feel very happy and relaxed. 

 

Besides withdrawal itself it is really hard to find understanding outside of SA so thanks again I appreciate your reply a lot.

 

Started Paxil on January 2016 with 40mg

June 2016 - 30 mg, July 2016 - 20 mg, August 2016 - 20 mg, September 2016 - 15 mg, October 2016 - 10mg, November 2016 - 5mg, January 2017 - 3,75mg, 22/01/2017 2,5mg, 06/02/2017 0 mg

 

Symptoms I still have:

Dizziness (more in waves less in windows)

Brainfog & Derealization (constantly)

Muscle spasm

Hot and cold flashes with sweating (mostly in the evening)

Nightmares with hallucinations (not that frequent anymore)

Moodswings (from happy and optimistic to depressed and sad within a minute)

Joint pain

Symptoms that are gone:Anxiety & Panic, Insomnia, Deep phases of depression, Brainzaps

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, it’s all very hard. Just know that there are things you can do to help heal your body. I went on healthy keto, I took high quality fish oil, I prayed, I learned to sit with the uncomfortable feelings. I took exercise as medicine. You will get there! 

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi @coldturkmama

I am a Mom of 3 too and 9 months off cold turkey after short period of time but multi drugs. It’s been a hell . Long list of symptoms. Some got better But my main symptom is acute insomnia. It got better. But I still have many nights sleepless. I am able to sleep every other night but for 3-4 hr maybe 5 if lucky- but not straight. In acute stage - first 6 months I had 3-4 nights in raw of zero sleep. Stages of different difficulties . Because of it I have so hard time to function to be mom. All symptoms are much worst after sleepless night.  Can you tell me how your insomnia progressed ? How many hours you were able to sleep by 1 year? You mentioned 3.5 year as improvement for you? What that means? How did you manage so long ?  For me none supplements work . I am very sensitive to everything. Please share your wisdom how did you survive this so long ? Thank you 

·      Oct. 26/21-  9 tablets of Xanax 0.25mg

·      Nov.1/21-Nov.5 /21- 3 tablets of Ambient 10mg . After that 3 more tablets in March- April 2021. Only getting 2 hr sleep and very sick next day.

·      Nov.9/2021- Nov 11/21 Trazadone 50mg. 2 days ; Nov.10/21-Hydroxyzine 25mg 1 day; Nov.13/21 –Nov.14 Seroquel 5mg-only 2 days

·      Nov13/21- Dec.23/21 – Lorazepam 2mg at night. Start tapering 1mg, Dec.30/21 0.5mg cut . Jan.13/2022 last day of .5mg. Zero. Due to severe insomnia Feb22/22-March. 17/2022 used 8 tablets of  1 mg every 3-4 days.

·      Dec.7/21-Jan4/22- Zoloft 25mg. After 4 weeks  37mg for two more weeks and Jan.20/22 CT zero

·      Dec.30/21-Jan24/22 Mirtazapine 15 mg Only last two days 7.5 and Jan 24./22 CT zero. It was used to support taper of Lorazepam.

Supplements Magnesium 200-400mg per night and sometimes vit. C

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Hopemom3 said:

Hi @coldturkmama

I am a Mom of 3 too and 9 months off cold turkey after short period of time but multi drugs. It’s been a hell . Long list of symptoms. Some got better But my main symptom is acute insomnia. It got better. But I still have many nights sleepless. I am able to sleep every other night but for 3-4 hr maybe 5 if lucky- but not straight. In acute stage - first 6 months I had 3-4 nights in raw of zero sleep. Stages of different difficulties . Because of it I have so hard time to function to be mom. All symptoms are much worst after sleepless night.  Can you tell me how your insomnia progressed ? How many hours you were able to sleep by 1 year? You mentioned 3.5 year as improvement for you? What that means? How did you manage so long ?  For me none supplements work . I am very sensitive to everything. Please share your wisdom how did you survive this so long ? Thank you 


hi,

 

everyone is different, so just because it took a long time for me doesn’t mean it will take as long for you. 
I was quite afraid to try anything to help me until I was desperate and tried small dose of cbd oil with low thc.  It doesn’t work immediately and it was over time my slee improved.

I also went on a healthy sugar free diet, keto, and I did intermittent fasting along with walking daily. I heard exercise and healthy fats are so good for the brain.

it was hard but God got me through it all. 
I found comfort talking to people who had gotten better and Read a lot of stories here in SA. 

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Coldturkmama, what brand of fish oil?

2009-2018, Paxil 40 mg. Tapered-0mg in 6 weeks.

October 2020-May 2021

Zoloft, 25mg, 50mg, then 100mg. Tapered 25mg a week then 0mg less than a month. 

July 2021-  Zoloft reinstated  25mg 1 week , 50 mg 1 week later, 100mg 2 weeks later.

March 2022- began taper from 100mg, 10%/ 4 weeks. Got to 75mg around July 2022. Bad fatigue, body pain, OCD thoughts, intrusive fears/thoughts, occasional nightmares, memory loss, tongue tied, more frequent headaches, fear of losing everything, bipolar like behavior, paranoia that everyone is watching and judging me, unprovoked anger/rage, occasional flu like symptoms, dizziness, hair loss becoming the norm in the last few months.

Still in treatment for Lyme Disease and  Bartonella 4 years later as well as for Mycotoxins, EBV, MCAS with no resolution or positive responses to treatment protocols.

May 2023-August 2023 75mg-62.5mg.

August 2023-Current 50mg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hi, thank you for posting this, your story really gives me hope. Just wanna ask did you have derealization?

2021/2 - 2021/5: Xanax 1mg, zopiclone 3.75mg; 2021/5 - 2021/8: Xanax 1mg, zopiclone 3.75mg, venlafaxine 225mg; 2021/8 - 2021/11: Clonazapem 2mg, venlafaxine 225mg, rexulti 2mg, mirtazapine 30mg, zopiclone 3.75mg; 2021/11 - 2021/12: Clonazapem 2mg, venlafaxine 225mg, rexulti 2mg

Crashed, mirtazapine WD(didn't know at that time)

2022/1 - 2022/3: Clonazapem 2mg, venlafaxine 225mg, bupropion 300mg; 2022/4 - 2022/5:Clonazapem 1mg, venlafaxine 187.5mg, trazodone 100mg

2022/5 - 2022/8/15: Clonazepam 0.5mg(wean off), trazodone 100mg, lexapro 20mg(cross taper), rexulti 3mg

Crashed, suspect to be benzo WD

2022/8/16 - 2022/9/7: Clonazepam  0.5mg, venlafaxine 150mg(side effect this time), rexulti 3mg, trazodone 100mg, seroquel 25mg; 2022/9/8 - 2022/10/1: Clonazepam 1mg, trintellix 20mg(cross taper), rexulti 3mg, trazodone 50mg, seroquel 25mg; 2022/10/2 - 2022/11/8: Clonazepam 1mg, trintellix 10mg, trazodone 25mg

Crashed since 10/9

2022/11/9 - 2022/11/15: Clonazepam 1mg, trintellix 5mg; 2022/11/16 - 2022/12/2: Clonazepam 1mg, trintellix 5mg, dayvigo 5mg; 2022/12/3 - 2022/12/21: Clonazapem 1mg, trintellix 5mg, dayvigo 2.5mg

Fly back to China from Canada, 13hrs jet lag triggered severe wave til today.

2022/12/22 - 2023/3/21: Clonazepam 1mg, trintellix 5mg, dayvigo 5mg

2023/3/21 - now: Clonazepam 1mg, trintellix 10mg, dayvigo 5mg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hello @coldturkmama,

First of all, thank you so much for sharing your story!
I saw in one of your posts that you mentioned a very hard three-month wave.
Would you be willing, if you remember, to tell me roughly at what stage it happened to you? Did it feel like acute?

Thirty months after a paxil ct, after some improvements, here I am in an intense wave for the last three months, feeling like I'm back in the acute phase, back to the hardest part of this ordeal.

It is often said that it is not good to compare ourselves, but sometimes it is what keeps us going.
If your memories are there, and if it doesn't trigger you to think back to that awful three-month wave, I'd be happy to read you.
It's hard to remind my brain that coming back to acute for three months after 30 months doesn't mean I can't get better and that my progress is gone forever.
Take care dear coldturkmama!

 

Edited by Erell

2006 : 20mg Paxil+Bromazepam. 2008 : cold turkey of both. 2010 : Reinstatement 20mg Paxil + Bromazepam.

2014-June2017 : Switch from Bromazepam to Prazepam, slow taper to 0mg.

2018 to August 2019 : Paxil 20mg taper (3% every 15 days). 22 Aug 2019 updose to 10mg (was at 8.4mg).

25th Sept 2019 To April 2020 : found SA, holding at 10mg Paxil. 

April 2020 : Paxil 10mg to Prozac 7mg bridge. Details topic/21457

 

Current Supplements : magnesium citrate + fish oil

Current medication :

* 7pm Diazepam  : 0.85mg (15 Aug 2022) / 0.95 mg (24 April 2022) / 1mg Diazepam (since 29 Aug 2020)

* 8am Prozac : 6.16mg (25 oct 2022, feel awful, slight updose) / 6.08 mg (9 oct 2022) / 6.24mg (11 July 22) / 6.44mg (22 May 22) / 6.64mg (4 Nov 21) / 6.72mg (8 oct 21) / 6.8 mg (15 Sept 21)6.88mg (14 Aug 21)/ 6.92mg (23 Jun 21)

 

I am not a professional, I don't give medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, Erell said:

Hello @coldturkmama,

First of all, thank you so much for sharing your story!
I saw in one of your posts that you mentioned a very hard three-month wave.
Would you be willing, if you remember, to tell me roughly at what stage it happened to you? Did it feel like acute?

Thirty months after a paxil ct, after some improvements, here I am in an intense wave for the last three months, feeling like I'm back in the acute phase, back to the hardest part of this ordeal.

It is often said that it is not good to compare ourselves, but sometimes it is what keeps us going.
If your memories are there, and if it doesn't trigger you to think back to that awful three-month wave, I'd be happy to read you.
It's hard to remind my brain that coming back to acute for three months after 30 months doesn't mean I can't get better and that my progress is gone forever.
Take care dear coldturkmama!

 

I can’t remember exactly what the timeline was but I know it had to have been at least 3 or 3.5 years out. I had a super intense wave that seemed to last quite a while but as I recall, it seemed like I turned a corner after that. Of course my ordeal wasn’t over yet but it was better slowly. 

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Thank you coldturkmama, it is very kind of you to answer. Take care ❤️

2006 : 20mg Paxil+Bromazepam. 2008 : cold turkey of both. 2010 : Reinstatement 20mg Paxil + Bromazepam.

2014-June2017 : Switch from Bromazepam to Prazepam, slow taper to 0mg.

2018 to August 2019 : Paxil 20mg taper (3% every 15 days). 22 Aug 2019 updose to 10mg (was at 8.4mg).

25th Sept 2019 To April 2020 : found SA, holding at 10mg Paxil. 

April 2020 : Paxil 10mg to Prozac 7mg bridge. Details topic/21457

 

Current Supplements : magnesium citrate + fish oil

Current medication :

* 7pm Diazepam  : 0.85mg (15 Aug 2022) / 0.95 mg (24 April 2022) / 1mg Diazepam (since 29 Aug 2020)

* 8am Prozac : 6.16mg (25 oct 2022, feel awful, slight updose) / 6.08 mg (9 oct 2022) / 6.24mg (11 July 22) / 6.44mg (22 May 22) / 6.64mg (4 Nov 21) / 6.72mg (8 oct 21) / 6.8 mg (15 Sept 21)6.88mg (14 Aug 21)/ 6.92mg (23 Jun 21)

 

I am not a professional, I don't give medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi @coldturkmama,

 

you answered above about a 3 month wave. I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy vast improvement over the last 6-12 months (I’m approaching 4 years) with lots of long windows split apart by week long waves, and for the most part able to function, but I’ve now been suffering an intense wave for the last 3-4 weeks which I think has been induced by an unexpected and an enforced need to search to find new living arrangements and it’s intensity and duration has really caught me off guard. I’d genuinely felt like I was ready to start putting this all behind me… then BAM..  Did you ever suffer a setback like this, when your reasonably far out, and have had a good chunk when it felt as though life was really stabilising and moving in the right direction? 

Thanks.

OCT 2016 -  I quit Sertraline 50 mg CT after a family bereavement  had turned my life upside down ..  as a result it felt the drug was totally ineffective. 

MAY 2017-  After what had been an appalling 6 months (which i thought was horrific grief but now realise it is likely withdrawal is the more likely culprit)  I reinstated Sertraline at 50 mg before raising the dose to 100 mg due to not feeling any effect (again this is something that makes sense now). In time i had started to feel normal again and presumed it was because I had worked my way through my prolonged grief.  

FEB 2019 -  Life was now back on track and decided it was time to try and rid myself of the shameful daily pill pop that is AD's. I quit Sertraline Via a fast taper... but may aswell have been a CT.

JUN 2019 -  I found SA . .. realised i was withdrawing .. and had inadvertently made multiple mistakes along the way.

NOV 2019 - I'm roughly 8-9 months into withdrawal & STRUGGLING

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Kimboslice said:

Hi @coldturkmama,

 

you answered above about a 3 month wave. I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy vast improvement over the last 6-12 months (I’m approaching 4 years) with lots of long windows split apart by week long waves, and for the most part able to function, but I’ve now been suffering an intense wave for the last 3-4 weeks which I think has been induced by an unexpected and an enforced need to search to find new living arrangements and it’s intensity and duration has really caught me off guard. I’d genuinely felt like I was ready to start putting this all behind me… then BAM..  Did you ever suffer a setback like this, when your reasonably far out, and have had a good chunk when it felt as though life was really stabilising and moving in the right direction? 

Thanks.


i had a lot of high stress situations that probably did set me back. My nanny and father both had health issues, ambulance called, operations to go through etc. my Grandmother’s happened at around the 18 month mark of my withdrawal and I remember it was really hard to get through it all since she was a huge source of comfort for me and my prayer partner etc 

I’m sorry you’re going through some hard times while dealing with withdrawal. You’ll get through this.

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@coldturkmama hi im 21 months out from an adverse reaction . at 20 months this crazy wave came in and has not let up , Did you have a late wave that was heavy and strong after being almost healed , i have not done anything different or taken anything , the only thing i can think of was i ate carmel corn for a couple of nights , but i had already indroduced sugar back in slowly over this year..... thank you for being here ❤️ also i was very stressed out around the time it started , i never had a wave this long its like im back in acute 

2021:  started celexa 10mg feb 2nd 

feb 25th took my last 10g; feb 26th 5mg; feb 27th 5mg; feb 28th 2021 cold turkey 

currently taking mag

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, Phoenixmama said:

@coldturkmama hi im 21 months out from an adverse reaction . at 20 months this crazy wave came in and has not let up , Did you have a late wave that was heavy and strong after being almost healed , i have not done anything different or taken anything , the only thing i can think of was i ate carmel corn for a couple of nights , but i had already indroduced sugar back in slowly over this year..... thank you for being here ❤️ also i was very stressed out around the time it started , i never had a wave this long its like im back in acute 

Yes I recall a really long wave hitting me. I’m pretty sure it lasted 3 months or so. It was not fun but I probably had some micro windows in there where I found some relief during it. Try to relax in to it and ride it out because it will let up in time. 

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ok cool , thank you for replying , it caught me off guard and i have been going bonkers... ❤️

2021:  started celexa 10mg feb 2nd 

feb 25th took my last 10g; feb 26th 5mg; feb 27th 5mg; feb 28th 2021 cold turkey 

currently taking mag

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, Phoenixmama said:

ok cool , thank you for replying , it caught me off guard and i have been going bonkers... ❤️


i understand, it’s so frustrating.

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For me I’m so frustrated because I’m not sure if it’s stilll wd or is the new me , because this cycling through symptoms started slow and just got worse , right before it started I was 80% my self with light waves for some time… so made me think I was healed then the new me emerged , specially because it’s lasting so long I haven’t had a window in over a month and I use to always get windows even in acute …. Oh well if it’s wd I’ll just have to start over . It just sucks because it’s Christmas time and I can’t even go to the store no motivation and I have fear 😭😭😭

2021:  started celexa 10mg feb 2nd 

feb 25th took my last 10g; feb 26th 5mg; feb 27th 5mg; feb 28th 2021 cold turkey 

currently taking mag

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/17/2022 at 1:12 PM, Phoenixmama said:

For me I’m so frustrated because I’m not sure if it’s stilll wd or is the new me , because this cycling through symptoms started slow and just got worse , right before it started I was 80% my self with light waves for some time… so made me think I was healed then the new me emerged , specially because it’s lasting so long I haven’t had a window in over a month and I use to always get windows even in acute …. Oh well if it’s wd I’ll just have to start over . It just sucks because it’s Christmas time and I can’t even go to the store no motivation and I have fear 😭😭😭


 

I think It’s probably a wave BUT I’d highly recommend using the tools found in the book The Anxious Truth or his free podcasts. I used his methods based on Dr Claire Weekes’ work and it helped me sooo much and I think that led to more healing. 

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello @coldturkmama I wanted to ask you if you had premature ejaculation and a shrunken penis when you stopped the antidepressant and therefore during withdrawal?  If so, is this solved for you?  And is the brain fog getting any better?  Did sport help you over time and how often.  Be well

Hello everyone, I was on seroplex 10mg in October 2019 for over a year and then on brintellix from March to September for maybe 8 months. I made several attempts to stop abruptly then I resumed the treatment of brintellix recently for a few weeks because it was too difficult to stop.

Symptom when stopped: premature ejaculation, ejaculation with less orgasm. Severe insomnia, transient headaches, sensitivity to noise and light.

Last intake of brintellix 5mg: Saturday, September 11, 2021

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Parisien said:

Hello @coldturkmama I wanted to ask you if you had premature ejaculation and a shrunken penis when you stopped the antidepressant and therefore during withdrawal?  If so, is this solved for you?  And is the brain fog getting any better?  Did sport help you over time and how often.  Be well

Mama means mom. I’m a woman so I can’t speak to those issues.

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hello @coldturkmama

you mentionned often pressure on your head like wearing a helmet too tight. 
English isn’t my native language and it’s difficult to explain what i feel like. Could it be what I feel like too… 

i will try…it’s not a headache, I feel irritable that come and goes and it seems that all the nerves on my scalp are sensitive or inflamed…

i don’t know what it could be. 

1999-2002 Seropram 20mg, 2002-2004 Paxil 10mg; 2004-2012 Paxil 20mg, 2012-2013 Effexor 75mg, 2013-2018 Paxil 20mg, 2018-2019 Effexor 75mg, 2019-2021 Paxil 20mg, 2021-present Lexapro 5mg

10-2022 Lexapro 4,5mg + Fish oil + Magnesium, 06-25-2022 Lexapro 4mg + fish oil + Magnesium, 07-23-2022 Lexapro 3.5mg + fish oil + magnesium 

08-23-2022 Lexapro 3.2mg + fish oil + magnesium 

10-13-2022 Lexapro 3mg + fish oil + magnesium

01-01-2023 Lexapro 2,9mg + fish oil + magnesium (insomnia + night anxiety + anxiety) 

01-20-2023 Lexapro 3mg + fish oil + magnesium 

02-11-2023 Lexapro 5mg (no fish oil - no magnesium)

 

Had to take one prazepam (10mg) in night January22nd 2023 

Had to take one prarepam (10mg) in night February 10th 2023

Prazepam if needed in case of panic attack

     
Link to comment
Share on other sites

43 minutes ago, Nicolas45140 said:

Hello @coldturkmama

you mentionned often pressure on your head like wearing a helmet too tight. 
English isn’t my native language and it’s difficult to explain what i feel like. Could it be what I feel like too… 

i will try…it’s not a headache, I feel irritable that come and goes and it seems that all the nerves on my scalp are sensitive or inflamed…

i don’t know what it could be. 


that sounds a little different from what I had but I have heard of people feeling that way. 

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello @coldturkmama! I’m so happy you’re feeling better! How’s life going now? Happy New Year. 
 

it sounds like you experienced some akathisa like symptoms at the start- couldn’t sit still, anxiety, tired but wired, throbbing pain, etc. would you say this was something you experienced? 
 

at any point did you have burning/electric current/buzzing feelings in your body or head? I guess these could sort of be related to brain zaps but like a more subtle, but constant background kind of electric thing. 
 

im struggling with some of this atm and holding with hope!! You’re a strong lady and you give me inspiration! 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

Hello @coldturkmama! I’m so happy you’re feeling better! How’s life going now? Happy New Year. 
 

it sounds like you experienced some akathisa like symptoms at the start- couldn’t sit still, anxiety, tired but wired, throbbing pain, etc. would you say this was something you experienced? 
 

at any point did you have burning/electric current/buzzing feelings in your body or head? I guess these could sort of be related to brain zaps but like a more subtle, but constant background kind of electric thing. 
 

im struggling with some of this atm and holding with hope!! You’re a strong lady and you give me inspiration! 


hi! Yes I believe I did have akathasia at the start but didn’t know the word for it. I hadn’t heard of it until it was over. I’m glad that didn’t last super long for me, although that inner restlessness did hang on.

 

I had brain and body zaps, the electric current feelings at times. The brain zaps were definitely way worse.

 

these days I just have regular anxiety, and some agoraphobic tendencies but I’ve worked on it all quite a bit and feel like I’m doing good, especially given everything I had to go through to get here. Healing comes in stages. I hope you feel better soon!!

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Do you take any supplements?

Year 2010 to 2020 remeron, Buspar, atenelol, Ativan as needed (once a week)  remeron  stopped working (pooped out)

oct 2020 started amitryptyline took it 3 months 

Dec started wellbutrin, Stopped it 3 months later 

Started Paxil again for 3 months

took vibryd for 1 month, Stopped it in 5 days 

Started sam e 100mgs 3x a day, Tyrosine 1000mgs 3 x a dayfor 6 months 

August 2020 - Off all antidepressants 

16 th of Feb, 2023  started taperingsam e  the 100mg  2 x a day of sam e. I stopped taking the  afternoon one. And started every other day then every r day.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

So sorry I didn’t see this sooner.

in the beginning I didn’t take anything much, my nervous system was a mess.

I eventually tried some supplements that were recommended by my naturopath doctor, spirulina and an adrenal support.

after a few months of those I tried b12 and purchased a high quality fish oil because I’d read about the benefits to the brain.

I don’t know what helped or hindered to be honest.

 

now I’m almost 9 years out of that mess and I can take any supplements with no problem but I don’t take any medication unless absolutely necessary.

 

I had to have my gallbladder out 3 years ago and I was thrown back in to a wave for at least a week or so.

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you remember how long it took for your intrusive thoughts to go away?? I am 15 months out & still have them. This is the most concerning symptom for me @coldturkmama

April 2022- Only 1 celxa pill 10mg

had an adverse reaction & never took anymore again 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, peaceandlove said:

Do you remember how long it took for your intrusive thoughts to go away?? I am 15 months out & still have them. This is the most concerning symptom for me @coldturkmama


longer than that unfortunately.

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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