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DataGuy: post withdrawal odyssey


DataGuy

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Dear @DataGuy--Very much appreciate getting your updates.  Good news about your cat, though it seems to point to the destructive aspects of the smoke--which I hope has improved for you as well.  Even though I wasn't on clonazepam, I feel the meds I did take ended up, either from the beginning or by the end, neurotoxic--in fact systemically toxic.  Astounding how long it takes to recover.  Your descriptions of a distracted, overwhelmable nervous system sound like my own (and so many of us).  I send you hugs and best wishes, Arbor

Zoloft: 1995 - 2015

Prozac: 2015 - 2018 (tapered from 40mg x day on July 31 to 30mg on August 31 to 20mg on September 31 to 10mg October 31 to 0mg on  December 15, 2018

Gabapentin: 2016 to 2019  (tapered from 300mg x day to 150mg on August 31, 2019 to 75mg on September 15 to 50mg on September 31 to 25ishmg on October 15 to 0mg on December 1, 2019

Enalapril: 2010 - 2019

Lipitor: 2017 -2017

Metformin: 2000 - 2020

Liothyronine: 2007 - 2019

Levothyroxine: 2000 - 2022

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi @DataGuy

 

Thanks for the information about your fasting and your experience with keto. I can relate to the self-control issues, while I also know that I feel better when I fast, I have trouble actually doing it when I'm feeling particularly awful. You mentioned trying fasting with a carb-heavy diet. I have not tried this, but I might try it. I have found carbs to be worse on my mood overall but I also tend to crave carbs and sugar, so I've cut down but not totally eliminated them (again, a self-control issue). 

 

I also struggle with impulse control and getting things done on my to do list. I'm lucky to not deal with muscle and joint weakness, though, so I'm lucky not to be limited in that sense. I hope these improve for you! 

 

Still rooting for you, and all the best :) These are rough times. 

 

 

2005 - Zoloft, 200 mg for childhood anxiety (starting at age 11)

Summer 2015 - Switched to Prozac, 40 mg  

June 2019 - Tapered to 10 mg Prozac, no adverse effects. Held for 1 year. 

June 2020 - Discontinued Prozac. Horrible withdrawal. Did not realize it was withdrawal at first. 

Nov 2020 - Reinstated Prozac 2.5 mg. Still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. 

May 2021 - Prozac 2.0 mg. Still experiencing symptoms - some symptoms have improved, but situational factors have worsened.

August 12 2021 - Prozac 2.25 mg. Partial reinstatement as symptoms had worsened

June 17 2022 - Prozac 2.0 mg; Sept 13 2022 - Prozac 1.75 mg; Nov 1 2022 - Prozac 1.5 mg; Feb 1 2023 - Prozac 1.25 mg; Apr 1 2023 - Prozac 1.0 mg; June 15, 2023 - Prozac 0.75 mg; Aug 15, 2023 - Prozac 0.5 mg

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On 6/12/2020 at 3:30 AM, DataGuy said:

I tend to sleep sitting up initially, as this helps my stomach. Still have plenty of gastritis from the withdrawal which will sometimes wake me up.

This hit close to home, how did you get used to that? Because I need it. 

- 2014 - 2018 >> 3 years of chaotic 4 pack prescriptions by 10 different doctors

- 2018 >> cold turkey withdrawal (because they refused to tell me how to go off the meds and I screwed up)

- 2018 - 2020 >> withdrawal effects for 3-ish years, slight recovery after the long fight

- 09/2020? or so >> was put back on Seroxat, lowest dosage but don't remember how much [will update when possible]

- 11?2020 >> Seroxat replaced with Amitriplatine and getting stuck with 10 MG dosage, getting seizures if I go off

- 01/2021 >> Amytriptaline reduced to 5 MG

- 23/01/2021 >> Amytriptaline quit CT, severe withdrawal for a week but went down after

- 23/02/2021 Diagnosed with Occipital Nerve infection because of the withdrawals mess

- 02/2021 - Diazepam 5mg per day

- 06/2021 - 100mg Pregabalin

- 07/2021 - 25mg Topiramate

August:

80mg Pregabalin, Split into 4 doses per day 

Diazepam every 12 hours (1mg at 6 AM and 2mg at 6 PM)

50mg topiramate

September/October 2021 attempt to stabilize:

10 MG Diazepam 

50 MG Pregabalin 

75 MG Topiramate 

Oct 15th 2021: 

Pregabalin (calculated this time,it's the dose I thought it was 80): 26.6 MG split into 4 doses at 6:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 12:00 AM

- Diazepam : 10 MG at 6:00 PM

- Topiramate : 100 MG at 6:00 AM (5th day, was 75) 

March 2023:

- 9 MG Diazepam
- 100 MG Topiramate
- 0.5 MG Codeine Phosphate (every 4 hours)  

July 2023

9mg diazepam

125mg topiramate

0.83mg zolmitryptan every 4 hours

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi, @DataGuy, I read through your thread. I'm sorry I didn't do it earlier so I could know what you've been through. I thank you for supporting me on my thread more so.

I see you struggle with a lot - unfortunately, I do not have much advice to offer. But I started meditation in February 2021, trying to do it everyday for 30 minutes lying down concentrating on my breath. I cann't say it has changed my life but I have noticed it has probably slowed me down in a sense that I take a pause and contemplate before reacting to a situation - whatever situation - be it a small fight with my wife, work related problem (my job is quite hectic), to a political or economical news ( I do not follow them though but sometimes they come into the picture) etc. It not always happen though. They say meditation is a practice and one should not expect anything from it but I hope it will help me when I am drug-free to control my emotions and with a sleep. So please keep meditating I think.

Diets - I have tried a lot of them, have lost 50 kg / 30 kg / 20 kg and gained all of them back and some more. I have never had any success with keto/paleo/IF/OMAD/vegetarian - they are unsustainable for me in the long term. Currently taking it slow with counting calories/everything in moderation. That's what works for me to lose weight. So if you struggle with any of them maybe do not do them.

I root for you, DG, and keep updating your thread.

October 2019 - March 2020 - Trazadone 150 mg

October 2019 - March 2020 - Halcion (triazolamum) 0.25 mg - for sleep

October 2019 - March 2020 - Neurontin (gabapentinum) 300  mg

October 2019 - March 2020 - Lamictal ??

October 2019 - March 2021 - Fluanxol 1 mg

June 2020 - April 2021 - escitalopram 10 mg

March 2020 - April 2021 - Lorafen (lorazepam) 2.5 mg

29.11.2021 - quit coffee CT.

March 2020 - 100 mg Quetiapine, 16.06.2021 90 mg, 16.07.2021 85.5 mg, 13.08.2021 77.5 mg, 10.09.2021 69.3 mg, 08.10.2021 65.8 mg, 29.10.2021 62.5 mg, 13.11.2021 59.4 mg, 06.12.2021

57.9 mg, 13.12.2021 56.5 mg, 20.12.2021 55.0 mg, 27.12.2021 53.5 mg, 03.01.2022 52.1 mg, 10.01.2022 50.8 mg, 17.01.2022 49.5 mg, 24.01.2022 48.3 mg, 31.01.2022 47.1 mg, 07.02.2022 45.5 mg, 14.02.2022 44.0 mg, 21.02.2022 42.9 mg, 28.02.2022 41.5 mg, 07.03.2022 40.0 mg, 14.03.2022 39.0 mg, 21.03.2022 37.0 mg, 04.04.2022 33.3 mg, 25.04.2022 30.0 mg, 15.05.2022 27.0 mg, 03.06.2022 24.3 mg, 24.06.2022 22.0 mg, 13.07.2022 19.8 mg, 01.08.2022 17.0 mg, 15.08.2022 15.3 mg, 01.09.2022 13.8 mg, 15.09.2022 11.5 mg, 01.10.2022 10.0 mg, 15.10.2022 8.0 mg, 01.11.2022 7.0 mg, 22.11.2022 5.5 mg, 11.12.2022 4.0 mg, 16.12.2022 0 mg !

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi @DataGuy Wondering how you're doing?  How is your fasting going?  I'll check-in on my intro to give an update on my own fasting--inspired by your willingness to try it.  Also, I'm just finishing Gotzsche's, Medicines and Organized Crime.  More eye-opening than even a born-again cynic like myself would have anticipated.

Hope you're doing ok

Arbor

Zoloft: 1995 - 2015

Prozac: 2015 - 2018 (tapered from 40mg x day on July 31 to 30mg on August 31 to 20mg on September 31 to 10mg October 31 to 0mg on  December 15, 2018

Gabapentin: 2016 to 2019  (tapered from 300mg x day to 150mg on August 31, 2019 to 75mg on September 15 to 50mg on September 31 to 25ishmg on October 15 to 0mg on December 1, 2019

Enalapril: 2010 - 2019

Lipitor: 2017 -2017

Metformin: 2000 - 2020

Liothyronine: 2007 - 2019

Levothyroxine: 2000 - 2022

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  • Moderator

Hi @arbor,

 

Thanks so much for asking how I am doing. I had meant to update earlier when I was doing well. I slept much better for a few weeks, but then I fell off the rails with sleep (and then with fasting) and am trying to get back on now. I woke up in a foul mood this morning. I will come back to update once I am out of this little wave (hopefully soon) lest I advocate genocide or something by accident 😇 

 

Glad you are doing more reading than me! Gotzsche is an excellent person. His writing and communication skills are not the best, but he is in the top 1% of the top 1% of all humans in the character category : )

 

Vinay Prasad's first book is great and so is Medical Nihilism. I cannot recommend those enough because I think they would have lifelong benefits. The latter is a bit tougher as far as reading goes. In terms of great writing, David Healy is hard to beat. I remember reading Let Them Eat Prozac and it was one of the first non-fiction books I read that was heavily sourced, but I nonetheless found thrilling. Healy really makes the subject come to life, and he is indisputably an expert. 

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi @DataGuy-

 

Thank you for this:

On 8/11/2021 at 7:00 AM, DataGuy said:

lest I advocate genocide or something by accident 😇

 

These foul waves are unreal.  I can't imagine trying to explain them to people who've not been in w/d.  I had managed to fast 23 hours for a couple of days and was feeling uplifted though my sleep was even worse.  Then after the third day of fasting, I stopped sleeping altogether.  My sleep hasn't recovered.  I was fasting to see if I could improve my sleep since after the vaccine, it hasn't returned to the ragged-but-better level it was at before.  Anyway, I've given up longer fasting for now and will see about returning later to intermittent.

 

Thanks for directing me to David Healy.  He's also somebody I can share with other people who want to know more about what we're dealing with.

Glad you're there!

Arbor

 

Zoloft: 1995 - 2015

Prozac: 2015 - 2018 (tapered from 40mg x day on July 31 to 30mg on August 31 to 20mg on September 31 to 10mg October 31 to 0mg on  December 15, 2018

Gabapentin: 2016 to 2019  (tapered from 300mg x day to 150mg on August 31, 2019 to 75mg on September 15 to 50mg on September 31 to 25ishmg on October 15 to 0mg on December 1, 2019

Enalapril: 2010 - 2019

Lipitor: 2017 -2017

Metformin: 2000 - 2020

Liothyronine: 2007 - 2019

Levothyroxine: 2000 - 2022

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  • Moderator

Oh no, sorry to hear that @arbor. I'm not sure I have ever managed to fast for 23 hours. I tend to get a bit faint and weak by that point. Sorry it made things worse : (

 

I remember my early days of withdrawal where it seemed like anything I did made things worse. Any food changes seemed to cause a lot of problems. Any changes at all, really. Even just eating the usual stuff would cause me fairly unbelievable stomach problems. They were quite epic. In the immediate aftermath of withdrawal, and for quite some time afterward, I couldn't really feel hunger. I remember one night I went to bed feeling ok, maybe even exceptionally so, relative to what was normal, but found that I couldn't sleep. I could lie there in relative comfort, but I could not seem to fall asleep, which was very puzzling to me, since stomach problems were usually what *kept* me from sleeping. At some point I gave up and went downstairs, figuring I may as well eat breakfast. After I ate breakfast I got drowsy and fell asleep. The reason I couldn't sleep was because I was starving. Except I couldn't feel it. My stomach problems were such that the only time I felt ok was when I fasted. In an effort to get my stomach as comfortable as I possibly could for sleep, I managed to stop myself from falling asleep entirely.

 

I think when we are doing badly there is a tendency to try and overmanage things. Tweak this or that, add something new, take something away we think might be disturbing us. I found when that happened to me, where it seemed nothing I did worked - or even made things worse - it did me a bit of good to sort of relax and give up trying to control things. Sometimes even doing something I would normally consider harmful - like eating some food which typically caused me trouble - didn't turn out so bad and even did me good. It can be very stressful when you are trying to desperately manage things and it seems to be failing no matter how careful you are. I think it's important to realize it's not necessarily your fault that things are going badly. Sometimes waves and windows just happen. It took me quite a long time to accept this, since I didn't really believe in that concept at first. I reasoned that there was always something which would upset the nervous system and cause a wave, if we could just identify it and control it. But I think sometimes it is best to accept that we can't control everything that might upset our CNS, and trying to do so can itself be a bit too much for our overstressed system.

 

I don't know if this is what is happening, but my impression of you, @arbor, is that you are very conscientious and disciplined. These are great traits, which everyone values in you, but I just wonder if they are being stretched to the extreme? A bit of paranoia is good for you. An excess of paranoia, or an absence of it, can get you in trouble : )

Edited by DataGuy

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi @DataGuy--I appreciate this message.  It helps me get out of my desperation and into greater perspective.  Truth is, I haven't been able to handle much at all, and have had to cut back again with work.  It's very challenging to keep up here, knowing how many people are suffering.  Last week I found I could barely write sentences, or remember words in conversation.  I was forgetting appointments.  I have never seen myself as particularly disciplined, but now that you point it out, maybe I'm exerting more than I thought I had, and certainly the tendency won't help me.  I can sense the paranoia creeping into my motivations...

Thank you for this:

3 hours ago, DataGuy said:

I think sometimes it is best to accept that we can't control everything that might upset our CNS, and trying to do so can itself be a bit too much for our overstressed system.

Sigh, I already feel a little better--😬🥴🙂

Sending you an all encompassing window🌈🍀🎈

Arbor

Zoloft: 1995 - 2015

Prozac: 2015 - 2018 (tapered from 40mg x day on July 31 to 30mg on August 31 to 20mg on September 31 to 10mg October 31 to 0mg on  December 15, 2018

Gabapentin: 2016 to 2019  (tapered from 300mg x day to 150mg on August 31, 2019 to 75mg on September 15 to 50mg on September 31 to 25ishmg on October 15 to 0mg on December 1, 2019

Enalapril: 2010 - 2019

Lipitor: 2017 -2017

Metformin: 2000 - 2020

Liothyronine: 2007 - 2019

Levothyroxine: 2000 - 2022

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  • Moderator

Yes, hope you feel better soon, @arbor. When I get like that I have trouble accomplishing much of anything. I would not worry about helping out on the site. Just do what you are comfortable with. You need to take care of yourself first and get back to feeling a bit better. I most definitely have times when my thinking seems very slowed and trying to help people would be unthinkable. 

 

Also: did not mean to say you were paranoid, just that many traits, both harmful and beneficial, are good in moderation, but can be damaging at extremes. I see you as conscientious and disciplined : )

 

16 hours ago, arbor said:

Sigh, I already feel a little better--😬🥴🙂

Sending you an all encompassing window🌈🍀🎈

Arbor

 

Thank you. I am hoping another window is opening up as we speak. We'll see!

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator

Just traveling a bit so sorry if I do not respond to questions on people's intro topics. Will get to them eventually : )

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • 2 months later...

Hi @DataGuy

I was going to ask you how you are in the post on my thread, but thought it was high time I "visit" you here. Hope you are ok?

These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I have learned, not medical advice.

 

Drug history

2002-2019 Citalopram/Escitalopram, Lamictal
2019 April Escitalopram, quit at 10mg (withdrawal), Oct Escitalopram 10mg reinstated, quit after a few days (adverse reaction)

2019 Oct Lamictal cut from 200mg to 100mg
2019 Dec Lithium 83x2 mg

2020 Aug-Nov Lamictal tapered to 50 mg

2020 Nov 24 Lithium taper started, 30 Jan off Lithium

2021 15. March-31. May Lamictal tapered to 32.5 mg (holding)

2022 10. Jan started taking 25mg+5mg+2mg+0.5 liquid, 22. Jan went back to taking 25mg+5mg+half 5mg

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  • Moderator

Yes, I am doing ok, thanks @Kiasofia. At this point my life is mostly a cycle of getting very, very tired and then recovering. I got home from work this evening intending to watch some baseball but instead ate dinner and fell asleep at something like 7pm. Woke a little before midnight and went for a walk, now just biding my time until I become drowsy again and get a bit more sleep. Will be happy when I am able to sleep a steady 6+ hours per night. Currently it is around 4-5 and a bit hard to be stable with that. But doing much better than earlier in wd. Important lesson is don't taper too quick!

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I sure can relate to the cycles of drowsiness and broken sleep.  I look forward to you being done with that, too, Dataguy💜

Arbor

Zoloft: 1995 - 2015

Prozac: 2015 - 2018 (tapered from 40mg x day on July 31 to 30mg on August 31 to 20mg on September 31 to 10mg October 31 to 0mg on  December 15, 2018

Gabapentin: 2016 to 2019  (tapered from 300mg x day to 150mg on August 31, 2019 to 75mg on September 15 to 50mg on September 31 to 25ishmg on October 15 to 0mg on December 1, 2019

Enalapril: 2010 - 2019

Lipitor: 2017 -2017

Metformin: 2000 - 2020

Liothyronine: 2007 - 2019

Levothyroxine: 2000 - 2022

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • Moderator

Quick update: I am narrowing down new apartments. Been very busy juggling work, viewing apartments and trying to stay afloat with other regular chores. I have slept a bit better the last couple nights, thankfully, 4.5-5 hours. I am honestly not sure what the exact cause of my lack of sleep is. Could be a number of things: excessive noise here, the smoke, the constant construction, pollution?, or another candidate is the second dose of the vaccine, which I realized I got right before this unusual wave of insomnia. I didn't think anything of it before because I had no noticeable reaction to it. Anyway, the best I can do is start eliminating possible causes and try to get back to functionality. Honestly, I don't think I have done well in this place since my acute withdrawal, where I became much more sensitive to a number of different things, so it will be good to get out to a quieter area. Hope everyone is doing well and I will try to be back in a few weeks to start pulling my weight : )

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Sounds like you've been accomplishing a lot @DataGuy.  I'm glad your sleep has improved.  It's such a big issue--

 

Zoloft: 1995 - 2015

Prozac: 2015 - 2018 (tapered from 40mg x day on July 31 to 30mg on August 31 to 20mg on September 31 to 10mg October 31 to 0mg on  December 15, 2018

Gabapentin: 2016 to 2019  (tapered from 300mg x day to 150mg on August 31, 2019 to 75mg on September 15 to 50mg on September 31 to 25ishmg on October 15 to 0mg on December 1, 2019

Enalapril: 2010 - 2019

Lipitor: 2017 -2017

Metformin: 2000 - 2020

Liothyronine: 2007 - 2019

Levothyroxine: 2000 - 2022

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  • 4 months later...

Hey @DataGuy since you've been a great support for me, since the last two years. I wanted to thank you on your Introduction and I am also really interested on how you are doing since you last post in November 2021. Hope you are doing better and your sleep improved! best wishes Jonathan

2012 -2019 Citalopram 10 -25 mg, always tried to quit, got off it for like 1 to 3 months

 

Started tapering about March 2020 beginning at 150 mg Effexor XR

2020 October: 62,5 t0 56,25 mg Effexor XR

2020  December 56,25 to 51 mg Effexor XR

2021 February 51 mg to 50 mg Effexor XR

2021 March (25th) 50 mg to 46 mg Effexor XR2021 May (17th) 46 to 44,2 Mg Effexor XR

2021 07.06.21 Effexor XR 44,2 mg --> 42,37 mg l 09.07.21 l 30.07.2021 42,37 --> 40,11 mg Effexor XR 06.09.2021 40,11 -> 39,066 mg 18.10.2021 Effexor XR 40,11 --> 37,5 mg 11.11.2021 37,5 --> 36,48 mg Effexor XR

02.12.2021 36,48 mg --> 35,437 Effexor XR 23.12.2021 35,43 --> 34, 65 mg Effexor XR 13.01.22 34,65 --> 34,39 Effexor XR 07.02.22 34,65 --> 34,389 mg 21.02.22 34,389 --> 33,613 mg 01.03.22  33,361 --> 33,352 07.03.22 33,352 --> 32,83 mg 20.06.22 32,83 --> 32,56 01.07.22 32,56 --> 32,3 mg 13.07.22: 32,047 mg 23.07.22: 31,78 mg 01.08.22: 31,52 mg 10.08.22 31,26 mg 28.08.22 31 mg 06.02.2023 30,74 mg 13.03.23 Updose 32 mg 20.03.2023 Updose 37,5 mg 20.05.2023 Updose 50 mg

Current Meds: Effexor XR 50 mg, Sertraline 25 mg, Mirtazapine  15 mg

Supplements: Zinc, Fish Oil, Mushroomcomplex

 

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  • Moderator

Thanks @Jonathan93, I will try to update soon. My sleep has been pretty similar, but I have been functional enough. Have just been a bit busy lately, trying to catch up on stuff that accumulated while I was trying to find a new place to live : )

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

@DataGuy

I would like to express my appreciation for your many excellent contributions here on SA. I regularly come across your posts and always feel buoyed and better informed after reading them.

Thank you for the generous, thoughtful support you offer others. Thank you for the honesty and courage with which you share your own experiences in your thread. 

Your writing and presence are helpful to me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

 

How are you feeling these days? 

 

Thinking of you and wishing you well,

with gratitude,

A.

1996-2018 - misc. polypharmacy, incl. SSRIs, SNRIs, neuroleptics, lithium, benzos, stimulants, antihistamines, etc. (approx. 30+ drugs)

2012-2018 - 10mg lexapro/escitalopram (20mg?)    Jan. 2018 - 10mg -> 5mg, then from 5mg -> 2.5mg, then 0mg  -->  July 2018 - 0mg

2017(?)-2020 - vyvanse/lisdexamfetamine 60-70mg    2020-2021 - 70mg down to 0mg  -->  July 2021 - 0mg

March-April 2021 - vortioxetine 5-10mg (approx. 7 weeks total; CT)  -->  April 28th, 2021 - 0mg

supplements: magnesium powder (dissolved in water) as needed throughout the day; 1 tsp fish oil w/ morning meal; 2mg melatonin 

August 1, 2022 - 1 mg melatonin

 

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.  - Karle Wilson Baker

love and justice are not two. without inner change, there can be no outer change; without collective change, no change matters.  - Rev. angel Kyodo williams

Holding multiple truths. Knowing that everyone has their own accurate view of the way things are.  - text on homemade banner at Afiya house

 

I am not a medical professional; this is not medical advice. 

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  • Moderator

Hi @Ariel,

 

Thanks so much for the nice compliment. You have been very helpful yourself, I see : ). I read the introduction post to your thread and I can really identify with your experience of wd syndrome. My cognitive function is very unreliable and seems to wax and wane with waves. Often during waves I accumulate unanswered messages and intend to respond to them but end up mostly just staring at my computer. During those times I find it both difficult to write and difficult to begin the process of writing. Sometimes it is because it is difficult to sit down and concentrate, other times it is just anhedonia and avolition taking over. I think the pandemic has been particularly troublesome, because I thought of myself as doing fairly well before it started and then it severed a bunch of social connections. But I'm confident I can get back to a better baseline. It's just going to be a process restarting activities and relationships I had prior to the lockdowns. 

 

As far as symptoms go, I don't have too much to update. No big change on sleep or stomach issues, my two biggest problems. Still have waves and windows where I will sleep a bit better (5 hours or so per night) or a bit worse. Generally when it is a bit worse I will have stretches where I wake up after 4 hours of sleep no matter what I do. It becomes very exhausting. So I think my existence is still best characterized by getting very tired and then recovering. But I do have some very good days during those windows, and I'm looking forward to making the most of them this summer with some friends. 

 

Thanks everyone else for checking in @Jonathan93, @arbor, @Kiasofia and @EveningMuffin. Will be sure to let you know if there are any major developments 😉

 

 

Edited by DataGuy

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • 2 months later...

Hi @DataGuy

Thinking of you and sending healing vibes <3

1996-2018 - misc. polypharmacy, incl. SSRIs, SNRIs, neuroleptics, lithium, benzos, stimulants, antihistamines, etc. (approx. 30+ drugs)

2012-2018 - 10mg lexapro/escitalopram (20mg?)    Jan. 2018 - 10mg -> 5mg, then from 5mg -> 2.5mg, then 0mg  -->  July 2018 - 0mg

2017(?)-2020 - vyvanse/lisdexamfetamine 60-70mg    2020-2021 - 70mg down to 0mg  -->  July 2021 - 0mg

March-April 2021 - vortioxetine 5-10mg (approx. 7 weeks total; CT)  -->  April 28th, 2021 - 0mg

supplements: magnesium powder (dissolved in water) as needed throughout the day; 1 tsp fish oil w/ morning meal; 2mg melatonin 

August 1, 2022 - 1 mg melatonin

 

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.  - Karle Wilson Baker

love and justice are not two. without inner change, there can be no outer change; without collective change, no change matters.  - Rev. angel Kyodo williams

Holding multiple truths. Knowing that everyone has their own accurate view of the way things are.  - text on homemade banner at Afiya house

 

I am not a medical professional; this is not medical advice. 

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  • Moderator

Thanks @Ariel. Hope you are doing well. Just trying to live life a bit. During wd syndrome there has been a lot of tasks and work that have accumulated which I have put off until I felt a bit better (much of it administrative junk). Am just trying to work through that. During the pandemic I definitely developed a strong aversion to spending large amounts of time on the computer, which unfortunately makes for a very poor moderator. I will be happy when things fully return to normal and this is all behind us. 

 

This entire wd debacle has convinced me that one of the greatest dangers to human health is charlatan scientists. We are now in a situation where the drinking water is not safe to drink anywhere on earth because it is polluted with PFAS, which was made possible by some self-declared "expert" claiming that levels much higher than were safe represented an "acceptable risk", based on insufficient evidence. It's a hard lesson to learn, but allowing paid industry experts to make decisions like this for the public has been incredibly destructive. 

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • 1 year later...
  • Moderator
Posted (edited)

It's been quite a while since your last update, how are you getting on @DataGuy? Any improvements in sleep and the stomach trouble?

 

Hope things have eased a little as time passes, even if only a couple percent.

Edited by Erimus

Active Monday-Friday UK time

 

MEDICATION:

1) Sertraline:

50mg - Oct 2020, 100mg - Dec 2020, 50mg - April 2021, 75mg - May 2021, 50mg - Sep 2021; Failed taper attempt (50 -> 49) - Jan 2024; Second attempt to start taper - 17 Feb 2024

Current dose: 48.9mg (Feb 2024)

2) Mirtazapine:

15mg  - Nov 2020

SUPPLEMENTS:

Cod liver oil

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator

Hi @Erimus, thank you for asking. I wish I could report that things were better, but I'm not sure they are. Have definitely had some worsening of symptoms and have been spending plenty of time trying to figure out why. My current theory is that I have been breathing secondhand smoke from my neighbor downstairs (who is a habitual smoker), which has messed up my nervous system. This is particularly annoying, since I moved from my last place to get away from a similar situation. Not a particularly encouraging update, I know, but it's my unfortunate reality here. 

 

The main positive thing to report is that I've talked to my neighbor and he said he did not want to mess up my health or anything by smoking. He seems to be a genuinely decent guy, so I'm hoping he sticks with that. In the meantime I'm still assessing my options. It's not exactly a comfortable situation, but moving again would be very expensive and maybe not even feasible. 

 

Another positive is that when I have visited family or friends for extended periods, my sleep and other symptoms have improved the longer I stay there, so I definitely think there is something to my theory about smoke here causing an uptick in symptoms. I was quite worried that I would be set back for years by it, so the improvement over a period of a few days away is a positive sign. Just need to find a more long term solution to make the situation more tenable. I'm sure that is more than you wanted to hear, @Erimus! But you asked for it : )

 

I hope you have had some improvements yourself. Sounds like it has been a rough ride. 

Remeron - 2004-2005 (bad withdrawal)

Clonazepam - 2005-2018 (jumped around March)

Olanzapine - 2014- late 2017

Domperidone - 2008-2018

Many drugs in between including Lexapro, other benzos and z-drugs.

Still suffering post-withdrawal from Clonazepam (Klonopin), Olanzapine and Domperidone. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
5 hours ago, DataGuy said:

the improvement over a period of a few days away is a positive sign

Hi @DataGuy--I agree, that's definitely a good sign.  But what a drag to have another smoker near you!  I hope this gets resolved soon.  Probably not good for your cat either.

Glad to know how you're doing,

Arbor

Zoloft: 1995 - 2015

Prozac: 2015 - 2018 (tapered from 40mg x day on July 31 to 30mg on August 31 to 20mg on September 31 to 10mg October 31 to 0mg on  December 15, 2018

Gabapentin: 2016 to 2019  (tapered from 300mg x day to 150mg on August 31, 2019 to 75mg on September 15 to 50mg on September 31 to 25ishmg on October 15 to 0mg on December 1, 2019

Enalapril: 2010 - 2019

Lipitor: 2017 -2017

Metformin: 2000 - 2020

Liothyronine: 2007 - 2019

Levothyroxine: 2000 - 2022

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