johnnyj: Zoloft

[Erell]

1 hour ago, johnnyj said:

It's been 4 weeks since I have been ff Zoloft but continue to take Lamotrigine and attivan. I am having some  Zoloft withdrawal, I took it for 3 1/2 months. What experience have others had as far as length of time it takes (approx) for symtoms to ease up after taking it this long?

 

Hello Johnnyj, 

 

while testimonies show that, given enough time, people tend to get better, nobody can give you a timeframe.

We would love to, but there are too many unknown and factors : 

 

Everybody's journey toward healing is very individual.  Even if we see many similarities and patterns, none of cases are exactly the same.

And every CNS, every bodies are different : no one can predict how your CNS will work, do his repair work, how many time it will take.

 

 

I'm sorry, I know this is not the answers you would like to read, and I honestly would love to be able to be more precise.

But we just simply don't know, we can't predict the future.

 

But we do know that people get better as time passes  

 

Take care ☀️

Edited September 11, 2020 by Erell

[johnnyj]

thank you for replying, I am so new on the site and am having so much difficulty as no antidepressants are working anymore for me. I am looking for answers that cant be answered.

[johnnyj]

I have been off zoloft for 4 weeks and am still taking  lamotrigine and attivan . Any advice as to when I should start to taper off the lamotrigine? 

 

 

[Altostrata]

On 9/10/2020 at 6:18 AM, johnnyj said:

again I am not sure if I answered any of the 2 questions from the 7th. I answered you last about how i felt when I tapered off effexor. I take 110 of lamotrigine and 3 mg of attivan. 60mg of lamotrigine and 1 mg attivan at night, 50 lamotrigine and 1 mg attivan in morning 1 mg attivan at noon.

I definitely don't feel any better after lamotrigine, that I can tell. I usually feel sick in the morning. The evening attivan helps me sleep, the morning pill gets me over the morning blues, the mid day pill calms me down so I can get through the rest of the day. I definitely relay on the attivan to cope with the depression as well as the anxiety.  Having dropped the zoloft almost 4 weeks ago has helped take part of the edge off  I would say I feel 10-30% better depending on the day. I have a long way to go. When I was on any given drug over the past 2 years I found that the mornings were terrible as I already mentioned yestereday, afternoons were sometimes a little better and I was given a bit of a reprieve in the evenings,  I always looked forward to evening. Now I dont get the break in the evening.

 

I hope I am not bothering you with my life as I know you and all the other members have been through the same or worse times. Because I am new to the site I find it helpful to hear fro you.

 

Thanks

Bonnie

 

 

Do you feel sick before or after you take lamotrigine?

 

Lamotrigine may be causing some of your symptoms. Please keep daily notes of times of day you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. This can show if your symptoms are adverse effects from one of your drugs.

[johnnyj]

I have been taking the lamotrigine since Dec/2019, from the time I started taking I have always felt sick. I also was at 200mg and now am at 110Mg. I feel that keeping daily notes at this point in time wouldn't be helpful. I feel nauseous most days and the depression never goes, I have 24/7, except when I am asleep. I appreciate do appreciate your suggestion.

[Altostrata]

Feeling queasy can be an adverse effect of too much lamotrigine.

 

If you don't want to post daily notes, we won't be able to help you. Sorry.

[ChessieCat]

On 9/15/2020 at 3:40 AM, Altostrata said:

Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. This can show if your symptoms are adverse effects from one of your drugs.

 

A reminder of what has been requested.

[johnnyj]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

all the information about tapering is great, I haven't had an antidepressant work for me for 2 years, I tryed 8 different drugs after effexor stopped working after 18 yrs. My point is you discuss that if the tapering gets too difficult maybe go back up a little on the drug you are tapering off of, what if you have no drug to count on for relief and have difficult days everyday? 

 

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[savinggrace]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

You need to find someone to prescribe enough for you to taper with. It seems like many doctors would agree with this if you present a reasonable plan. . Are you trying to taper both Ativan and lamotrigine?  If so, that is too much. You even run the risk of seizures. Both of these drugs lower seizure threshold. Don’t wait too long to act on this. 
 

Grace

 

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[johnnyj]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

sorry but I'm not understanding what you mean by prescribe me enough for me to taper with. What would they prescribe as I havent had a drug work for me in 2 years. I am just going to start to taper off the lamotrigine by 10% this week eventhough i feel terrible everyday which I am assuming going off the zoloft to quickly and just the fact that I have depression just as everyone else on the site is causing me to feel this way.  Sorry if I sound angry, its not at you!!

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[savinggrace]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

I am sorry. I misunderstood. I thought you meant you had no lamotrigine to taper with. If you do, then you can taper with that. I don’t think you’ll find anyone here suggesting an additional drug to help you taper. There is no magic bullet unfortunately. If 10% is too aggressive, make smaller cuts. Believe me, I understand the difficulty. I am barely tapering, since I got my drug load down by 50% but I never even considered adding in another drug to make it easier because it won’t. Then I would just have another drug to taper. 

I understand if my tapering history looks unimpressive. Unfortunately I have had to choose between managing the damage my long history with these drugs, and the conditions they have caused and tapering. A little bit at a time is better than nothing.  I still chip away when I can. I cannot manage withdrawal symptoms and the disease the drugs cause so I do the best I can. 
 

I know this is a hard reality to accept, but there just is no drug to help you taper that won’t land you with a bigger problem. 
 

Perhaps someone else will disagree.  
 

Grace

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[johnnyj]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

Thanks Grace for your response. I agree with you that it wouldnt be smart to start a new drug. I never found one that worked after taking effexor for 18 years anyway. I guess that I tapered off to quickly from the zoloft but of course listened to my dr. who doesnt have any knowledge about tapering slowly. 

 

Thanks

we will talk again

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[johnnyj]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

9 hours ago, savinggrace said:

I am sorry. I misunderstood. I thought you meant you had no lamotrigine to taper with. If you do, then you can taper with that. I don’t think you’ll find anyone here suggesting an additional drug to help you taper. There is no magic bullet unfortunately. If 10% is too aggressive, make smaller cuts. Believe me, I understand the difficulty. I am barely tapering, since I got my drug load down by 50% but I never even considered adding in another drug to make it easier because it won’t. Then I would just have another drug to taper. 
 

I understand if my tapering history looks unimpressive. Unfortunately I have had to choose between managing the damage my long history with these drugs, and the conditions they have caused and tapering. A little bit at a time is better than nothing.  I still chip away when I can. I cannot manage withdrawal symptoms and the disease the drugs cause so I do the best I can. 
 

I know this is a hard reality to accept, but there just is no drug to help you taper that won’t land you with a bigger problem. 
 

Perhaps someone else will disagree.  
 

Grace

 

how do you feel now that you are off some of the drugs?

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[savinggrace]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

Johnny,

Have you considered holding for a bit to get more stable? Your history shows an awful lot of changes in a short period of time. Also, Ativan makes it all more difficult. I believe that is why my taper has been so difficult. Benzos really de-stabilize. 

 

Holding until stable did not work for me as I never could get to a place that I felt good holding. I just hold until I feel “manageably bad”. That is the best I can do. My quality of life is very poor, and has been for a long time. Back at the start of all the tapering I was able to make regular cuts at regular intervals. Not any more. I let my body/brain tell me when to cut. No calendars involved. 

 

I am so sorry. I feel like I can actually feel your pain. I think acceptance and resignation is what has kept me afloat. I have had to make a ton of adaptations to my lifestyle but I have been determined not to be bedridden. I don’t want to mid-lead you though. A good day for me is a very sick day for most. 
 

I’ll be here if you want/need to run more thoughts by me. Again, I am truly sympathetic to what has happened to you. 
 

Grace

 

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[johnnyj]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

since your quality is poor have you ever thought of going back on an antidepressant?

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[savinggrace]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

Oh, like you, I "cycled my way" through almost all of the antidepressants that you went through.  The only time an antidepressant worked for me was way back when I started in 1981.  I was on an old school tri-cyclic antidepressant for a couple decades before it just stopped working.  In the meantime, I believe it began a lot of health problems for me that I have never really been able to turn around.

 

Hindsight is 20/20.  My husband and I sooooo wish that had I known then, what we have know for the past couple decades, we would have made major lifestyle changes and gotten me off the drugs Instead of trusting the doctors and becoming dependent and sicker on them.

 

I am dealing with some serious long-term, chronic health problems now as a result.  "Too sick to go through withdrawal" is really the case for me.  I kind of just get through one day at a time and try to be grateful for the small things.  I am really hanging on for dear life, to be honest.  I don't add anything to this toxic mix, not even a tylenol or aspirin.  I try to find natural ways to handle everything that comes up.  Any and all drugs and supplements interact with my drugs and de-stabilize me very quickly.

 

I am sure I am probably at the extreme end of sensitivity.  I am very honest and open so others, like me, feel like they aren't the only ones.  It is easy to feel like a failure when I compare myself to others here, but I know how hard I have, and continue to try, and that we all have different environmental and genetic differences that affect our ability to taper.

 

Acceptance of that has been key for me.  Trying to fix it, any other way than chipping away at the pills, a crumb at a time, just doesn't work for me and hasn't for a long time.

 

By the way, don't under-estimate your lamictal taper.  You have made a significant cut in a pretty short time.

 

Grace

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[johnnyj]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

I'm sorry that your life is so difficult. I am able to function most days, I can cry at the drop of a hat. I have tapered more with the lamictal , down to 100mg and just got it compounded to 90mg which I am going to start today.  I dont know how to change my dosage so it still says 110mg on this site. I feel so depressed everyday and have since the effexor stopped working, so I have felt like its groundhog day everyday. I'm hoping with time (now that I'm off the antidepressants)that the depression will go away or at least lesson. I'm scared to go off the attivan, it is my life saver right now and I have been on it to some degree for 45 years.  My physical health is good, which I am thankful for.

 

When I went off effexor after 18 yrs. I tapered off it in about 4-5 weeks(I was following dr's orders) I was on 150mg. I went through hell and if I knew then what I know now I would have taken about 6 months or more to get off it. Makes me very angry.

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[johnnyj]

How do I edit my medication list

Edited October 20, 2020 by DataGuy

[savinggrace]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

You are very fortunate that the drugs have not harmed you physically. They have destroyed my body, but I have to keep taking them. I get way too unstable to be able to handle what has happened to my physical and mental health. 

I,  too, can cry at the drop of a hat. It is pain, digestive issues, insomnia and in the last few years, anxiety, that dominate my life. 

 

If you go to the home page there is a link on how to change your signature to reflect dosage changes. I will see if I can find it and send you a link. 
 

Did you know that many psychiatrists use lamictal to get patients off other psych drugs?  It. has some effect on GABA, I believe. 

 

Can I ask why you want to get off the lamictal right now? Maybe your brain needs to stabilize more. It might be the lack of homeostasis making you so sick.
 

Sorry if I am beating a dead horse but you have been through a lot. Zoloft and Effexor both made me so sick. I lasted a couple weeks on Zoloft and 6 weeks on Effexor. I was a wreck after both. 

 

Hope I am not upsetting you. Just trying to make sure you have considered all your options before you make more cuts. 
 

Grace

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[savinggrace]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

(from the home page; under ”read this first”
 

How to add or edit your signature

1. Click on this link to open the correct page in User Settings:
   Create Your Signature in "Account Settings". 
   2017-June 12 update: link works on desktop, tablet and mobile phone versions
    
2. Enter your signature in the space provided.
3. When you are done, Click on the big black Save button at the bottom.
    

If the link isn't working, follow these steps:

1. Click on the small downward arrow next to your name in the top right corner of any page.
2. Select Account Settings from the list.
3. On the left of the Account Settings page, click on the Signature tab. You will be able to add or edit your signature.
4. Click on the big black Save button at the bottom when you are done.

 

FOR READABILITY, SHORT LINES ARE BEST.

 

(The history you entered when you registered can be read only by you and the administration team. If you wish, you can copy it to your public signature.)

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[DataGuy]

Hi @johnnyj,

 

You just need to go to this link to edit your medication history.

[ChessieCat]

Question sent to my by PM

 

7 hours ago, johnnyj said:

I am sure this is not where I should be posting but I am new and really dont know how to get around this site. I have read your story and would like to ask you a question. I am not trying to taper off drugs because I decided I wanted to get off them, mine quit working. I have been trying to find a new drug for 2 years to no avail. it was then that I decided that I feel terrible trying new drugs(one of the reasons was the way my dr put me on a drug and if it didnt help in a month, i would go off it very quickly and move on to the next drug)and I feel bad off drugs.  I have been off my last drug zoloft for 2 months but didnt taper by 10% as I didnt know that was how I should have done it, I was on 75 dropped to 50 and then 25 in a matter of weeks. I have suffered everyday for 2 years and now that I'm off the zoloft still suffer everyday. I dont have a drug that can give me some relief by taking a small amount if the tapering has been going to fast and I feel bad. any suggestions?

 

In answer to your question which you PMed me about (quoted above), we need to see daily notes (3 consecutive days to start) as requested by Altostrata, who is SA's owner, 3 weeks ago.

 

Because you have only been off Zoloft for 2 months a tiny reinstatement might help to relieve the withdrawal symptoms.  If you don't have any you will need to see a doctor to get a prescription.  You might request a liquid Zoloft if it is available which will make it easier to get a small dose.  You could provide the doctor with the information provided in Post #1 of this topic: 

 

how-to-talk-to-a-doctor-about-tapering-and-withdrawal-what-to-expect

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft)

 

Please also note that SA is a site for reducing/getting off psychiatric drugs.  If you are trying to find a drug that works for you then you might find a different website suits you better:  patientslikeme.com or depressionforums.org

 

On 9/30/2020 at 12:28 PM, Altostrata said:

If you don't want to post daily notes, we won't be able to help you. Sorry.

 

Please let us know what you decide.

[johnnyj]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

Grace you are actually being very helpful. I am thinking the same thing about tapering anymore, if I just hold at 100mg and wait until I hopefully feel better after getting off the zoloft it might be a better idea! It has been 2 months so I will go day by day and decide when to taper to 90mg.  I feel so bad that your health is not good, drugs are so dangerous.

 

 

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[johnnyj]

I'm confused, if the Zoloft never worked for me how would going back on a small dosage be helpful? I felt terrible on the zoloft .

[savinggrace]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

Oh, Johnny, I am glad you are giving yourself a break and holding longer. I really believe that that is exactly what you need. Try to not even think about when to taper next. Just believe you are giving your brain time to heal. There is a good analogy someone here wrote once that I will try and find for you to read. It really helped me accept that for some of us we need to go really slow...and you may not have to...but you need to feel better first. 

Grace

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[johnnyj]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

I have enjoyed getting to know you today, my name is really Bonnie. So if I dont post everyday on this site will I still be able to talk to people? the top person on this site Al something?? told me I have to make a decision or they cant help me.

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[savinggrace]

moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic

 

Hi Bonnie,

I will get back to you tomorrow. I am going to find your thread and read it first. 
 

Thank you for being gracious about my feedback. It’s hard to give tough advice. 
 

Grace

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[ChessieCat]

NOTE TO MODS:

 

16 new posts have been added.  I've added "moved from taking multiple psych drugs topic " to the top of each post to make it easy to see which are the new one.

 

These posts are a discussion between Johnnyj and savinggrace which are better posted here to keep Johnnyj's history etc in one place.

[ChessieCat]

58 minutes ago, johnnyj said:

 

told me I have to make a decision or they cant help me.

 

 

On 30 September you were asked to provide daily symptoms notes so that you situation can be assessed.  These notes have been requested for a reason.  Please see this post which explains why we need the notes.

 

This is the context of Alto's comment about not being able to help you:

 

On 9/30/2020 at 12:28 PM, Altostrata said:

 

Feeling queasy can be an adverse effect of too much lamotrigine.

 

If you don't want to post daily notes, we won't be able to help you. Sorry.

 

[ChessieCat]

2 hours ago, johnnyj said:

I'm confused, if the Zoloft never worked for me how would going back on a small dosage be helpful? I felt terrible on the zoloft .

 

2 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

a tiny reinstatement might help to relieve the withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Did you check out this topic?  Post #1 explains about reinstatement.  Please read it.

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

But as Alto stated some of what you are experiencing may be from taking too much lamotrigine.

 

We need the daily notes to try to work out what is going on.

 

 

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by ChessieCat

[Altostrata]

@johnnyj, we need to know more about your situation before we can suggest anything. 

 

Those daily notes would help.

 

If you've been on and off psychiatric drugs, it's very possible you have some kind of withdrawal syndrome, which is why nothing seems to "help".

 

We can't figure that out without more information from you, such as those daily notes and your recent drug history.

 

Put all your questions, daily notes, and your drug history here, in this topic. Please don't post anywhere else until you understand where you are in this Web site.

[johnnyj]

I have been on and off antidepressants for 2 years, prior had taken effexor  successfully for 18 yrs. then it stopped working. All the drugs after that period on my page were drugs that the dr. prescribed, again as you can see I went on and off in very short periods.

So for 2 years between the short withdrawal period from effexor and all the other drugs i have felt terrible. I now have been off Zoloft(the last drug prescribed)for 67 days and still wake up feeling terrible, depressed, sick, and anxious .  I am down to taking 100mg limotrigine(since Sept 15) and 3 mg attivan. It has been suggested that I take a small amount of Zoloft but I feel that would be going backwards as it made me feel bad. I understand what the thought behind it is but maybe its better to wait it out and hope I feel better soon. I had been thinking of going down to 90mgs of lamotrigine but have had second thoughts until I start to feel better. What opinons do you have?

 

[Altostrata]

Thanks for that good drug history in your signature.

 

Since April 2019, you have had 9 drug changes. Have you been taking Ativan all along?

 

What are your current troublesome symptoms?

 

We need to see your daily notes, posted at least 24 hours at a time, in this form:

 

Quote

6 a.m. Woke with anxiety
8 a.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
10 a.m. Stomach is upset
10:30 a.m. Ate breakfast
11:35 a.m. Got a headache, lasted one hour
12:35 p.m. Ate lunch
4 p.m. Feel a bit better
5 p.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
6 p.m. Ate dinner
9:20 p.m. Headache
10:00 p.m. Took 50mg Seroquel
10:20 p.m. Feeling dizzy
10:30 p.m. Fell asleep
2:30 a.m. Woke, took 3mg Ambien (NOT "took 1/2 tablet Ambien")
2:45 a.m. Fell asleep
4:30 a.m. Woke but got back to sleep

6 a.m. Woke with anxiety (but less than yesterday)

 

[ChessieCat]

I've moved you post to the relevant topic:  recommended-doctors-therapists-and-clinics

 

I suggest that you check out the topic from the start to see what information has already been provided. 

 

You could also post your question here:  canada-members-please-check-in-here

 

 

Please note that there are not many medical professionals who understand psychiatric drug withdrawal/tapering/adverse reactions, which is why this site exists and is so busy with lots of members.  There is a lot of excellent information and support here at SA.  All you need is a doctor who will write the prescription/s you need.  

 

However, you have twice been asked to provide daily symptoms notes and have failed to do so as yet.  Without these it makes it very difficult for the mods to assist you.  Please see this post which explains what is required and how providing these can help us to assess your situation.  Keep Notes on Paper

[DataGuy]

@johnnyj sent me this message and I said I would post it on her thread:

 

"Just wanted to check in as I dont really look on the site alot, I find it to be (more) depressing to read some of the stories. I'm still feeling terrible , we are now at 3 months. I was hoping I would have a few good days by now. My biggest problem right now is I have lost my appetite and I wake up at 3;00 every morning and cant get back to sleep. Any suggestions

 

Thanks"

[DataGuy]

@johnnyj,

 

Last time you messaged me I suggested that you stop tapering Lamotrigine and hold the dosage. Here is what I wrote: "I think I saw you said you had been tapering lamictal? If all of your days are bad days and you're having bad withdrawal symptoms, you should really avoid tapering anything until you start to feel a bit better. I am going to link you to your introduction topic. You should ask all questions related to your personal situation there so that anyone can answer them. If you are only messaging me, then only I can answer, because no one else can see your post. But I'm often a bit busy and may not get back to you in good time. Here is the link to your thread: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/23358-johnnyj-zoloft/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-506039"

 

Did you try pausing and holding the lamotrigine? If not, I would do that and see if you symptoms improve at all. When symptoms are very bad, you should avoid tapering anything and hold all medications. I think we had earlier suggested you might reinstate Zoloft, but not sure that would help much, since it never really helped when you were taking it. You need to reread your thread and answer some of the questions that were requested by moderators. This will make it easier to help you. Hope you feel better soon.