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Bruci: withdrawing from SSRIs after 35 years


Bruci

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Sounds like you're doing tolerably, @Bruci That's good to hear.

 

Most likely, those waves of "depression" are withdrawal effects. You'll have to surf the waves.

 

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

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hitting a very bad patch of suicidality. I’ve updosed to 10 mg and waiting for relief. Small amounts of ativan help.

 

I consulted a shrink and he recommended stopping citalopram CT and going on Abilify 15 mg plus Depakote plus Seroquel 25 mg for sleep.

 

Cant do it. No way. Thoughts of possible akathisia, emotional numbness, and more withdrawal down the road are just too much.

 

Part of this is situational. I am living in Greece with someone who is likely undiagnosed BPD, so every day is  full of conflict. She has a son who is oppositionally defiant  which increases the stress.


I might have to leave for my sake. I must get off psychiatric drugs and this is not the environment to do it. It’s like a war zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1980s: First diagnosed with depression. Treated with a tricyclic. 1988: Switched to Prozac 20 mg.  1990s to 2010: On and off Prozac. Increased dose led to side effects. 2011: Put on Zyprexa. 2011: Work burnout and breakdown. Hospitalized for suicidal depression. Switched to Seroquel. Switched to Celexa 40 mg and lithium 300 mg. 2019: Stopped Seroquel. 

2020 July: Decreased Celexa to 30 mg in attempt to alleviate sexual dysfunction. Worked somewhat.

2020 August: Decreased Celexa to 20 mg. Sexual function improved but w/d effects started. 

2020 September: Maintaining Celexa at 20 mg. Experiencing w/d effects - fatigue, dysphoria, mood instability

2020 September 13: Increased Celexa to 30 mg due to w/d effects. Still on lithium 300 mg/day.

2020 October 3: Reduced Celexa to 27 mg. Started taper. 10% per month as recommended.

2020 October 18: Reduced to 24 mg.

2020 December 4: Reduced to 21 mg.

2020 December 23: Reduced to 20 mg (spacing out taper intervals due to persistent w/d effects)

2021 September 23: Several reductions over the past 9 months to 7.0 mg. Stressful life circumstances led me to feeling very depressed with suicidal feelings, so upped to the dose to 10 mg until I feel better. 

 

 

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  • 7 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi @Bruci  How are things going?

Sending you healing 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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