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I feel like I just can’t cope today


Jlee

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Today is day 61 of being off of Sertraline. I will admit I tapered way to quickly and did not reinstate. Today I feel like I just can’t cope and there is no way out of this despair. I’m not suicidal, but the depression I feel is crushing. I am completely exhausted and feel I will never get out of this black hole. this has been a 2 1/2 year process coming off of two other medications. Up until this point, I thought I had been managing the ups and downs fairly well.  I am sleeping about 4 hours a night and then waking up with panic and nausea. Will this ever go away?  I am just so tired of feeling sick and grasping at anything to make me feel better.  I guess I’m just looking for support. Someone to tell me to get out of my fetal position and continue on. 

15 mg Mirtazapine 2000-2020

50 mg Tramadol twice daily 2009-2020

50 mg Sertraline 2019-2020

taper completed August 8th

 

supplements: Brainchild liquid vitamin and minerals, fish oil, liposomal glutathione, liposomal vitamin C

meditation twice daily

energy medicine techniques including EFT , and Logosynthesis 

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I am pretty much new to SA so I'm not going to offer any real advice. But I do feel your pain and frustration and I hope you start to feel better soon. It was about 90 days before I started feeling better. 

 

 

Paxil  07/1997 - 10/1998 Quit CT  

Neurontin, topamax, trazadone,  ssri AD (don't remember which one) 12/1998 - 06/1999 CT everything

Eflexor Xanax  04/2000 -08/2000 CT  ***01/2008-05/2013 on/off lexapro, lamictalseroquelsaphris, pristiq  Start/Stop CT at intervals 

Zoloft 200 mg 07/2013  WD 04/3/20 - 04/8/20 Quit

Seroquel 800 mg 07/2013 2013 *400 mg 07/2019  *** WD 04/15/2020 - 06/19/20 Quit

Ambien 10 mg 07/2013  WD 5 mg 04/29/2020, 2.5 mg 12/24/20, 1.66 mg 01/21/2021, 1.25 mg 02/16/2021 *** 02/22/2021 Quit

Xanax  2 mg prn 07/2013 - 04/23/20 Quit CT

Lamictal 150 mg 07/2013 WD 05/06/20 -06/11/2020 Quit

Propranolol 03/21/2020 - 04/20/2020 Quit CT

Hydroxyzine  12/14/2020 - 12/27/20 Quit

Allegra 24 hr 01/11/21 Flonase Nasal Spray 01/11/21

Magnesium Glycinate 100mg x3 daily D3 5000iu daily 

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Hi Lucy I’m new to this sight too. That is encouraging that you started to feel better on day 90. I see you take magnesium. Do you think it helped you and I see there are two different kinds. Which one do you take?

15 mg Mirtazapine 2000-2020

50 mg Tramadol twice daily 2009-2020

50 mg Sertraline 2019-2020

taper completed August 8th

 

supplements: Brainchild liquid vitamin and minerals, fish oil, liposomal glutathione, liposomal vitamin C

meditation twice daily

energy medicine techniques including EFT , and Logosynthesis 

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Hi Jlee,

 

I am new too. I am in my 10th week of coming off a medication. There are a lot of experianced and good people here who will really truly understand your fight. You can do this.

July 19th 2017—July 2018: 10 mg Escitalopram

August 2018— June 2020: 5 mg Escitalopram

 

Tapering started: June 2020—1st of August. Lowest dose was 5 mg (5 mg every second day for a couple of weeks, then 5 mg twice a week for a couple of weeks, and lastly 5 mg once a week until I stopped)

 

Drug free: August 1st, 2020

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate 2x200 mg and Omega3 – 2x1000 mg.

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  • Moderator Emeritus
26 minutes ago, Jlee said:

I see there are two different kinds.

There are many different types.  I take magnesium glycinate, which is said to be good in terms of absorption and calming properties.

  

 

 

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

SA strongly encourages members to learn and use Non-drug techniques to cope  to help get through the tough times.

 

Some days can be tougher than others and all we can do is to try to get through moment by moment as best we can.  Something that I found helpful was:  it is just a feeling and feelings change.

 

It can help to learn to Acceptance

 

You might also find it helpful to have a list of things that you can do at the times you feel like you do so that you don't have to think about it but have them ready.  Emergency or Soothe Box: First Aid for Distress and Compassionate Kit Bag

 

 

Edited by ChessieCat

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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I take Magnesium Glycinate and yes I believe it is helping. 

Paxil  07/1997 - 10/1998 Quit CT  

Neurontin, topamax, trazadone,  ssri AD (don't remember which one) 12/1998 - 06/1999 CT everything

Eflexor Xanax  04/2000 -08/2000 CT  ***01/2008-05/2013 on/off lexapro, lamictalseroquelsaphris, pristiq  Start/Stop CT at intervals 

Zoloft 200 mg 07/2013  WD 04/3/20 - 04/8/20 Quit

Seroquel 800 mg 07/2013 2013 *400 mg 07/2019  *** WD 04/15/2020 - 06/19/20 Quit

Ambien 10 mg 07/2013  WD 5 mg 04/29/2020, 2.5 mg 12/24/20, 1.66 mg 01/21/2021, 1.25 mg 02/16/2021 *** 02/22/2021 Quit

Xanax  2 mg prn 07/2013 - 04/23/20 Quit CT

Lamictal 150 mg 07/2013 WD 05/06/20 -06/11/2020 Quit

Propranolol 03/21/2020 - 04/20/2020 Quit CT

Hydroxyzine  12/14/2020 - 12/27/20 Quit

Allegra 24 hr 01/11/21 Flonase Nasal Spray 01/11/21

Magnesium Glycinate 100mg x3 daily D3 5000iu daily 

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I went and purchased some magnesium glysinate yesterday and took some last night. Would I be harming my healing healing process if I took clonazepam when I am extremely desperate to get some sleep. My Dr. prescribed it but I feel like I need a lot and I am afraid to create another problem. Also if magnesium is going to help how long does it usually take to notice the effects. Also are all fish oils the same?  Can someone recommend a good brand. Just feeling overwhelmed. 

15 mg Mirtazapine 2000-2020

50 mg Tramadol twice daily 2009-2020

50 mg Sertraline 2019-2020

taper completed August 8th

 

supplements: Brainchild liquid vitamin and minerals, fish oil, liposomal glutathione, liposomal vitamin C

meditation twice daily

energy medicine techniques including EFT , and Logosynthesis 

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I also think 3 months is a good place to look for a first turning point since I had my first window at that point (after Sertraline CT). I know it’s not the same for everyone but I think I’ve noticed a few patterns from reading so many posts here, and I’m seeing a lot of 3 month, 6 month and one year breakthroughs or turning points. I did end up going back into another phase of withdrawal after a few days, but it wasn’t nearly as intense as it had been before that. I think I remember the worst of my symptoms as far as quantity and intensity being between the 4 to ten week mark. I’m at 4.5 months off and am hoping things improve even more in the next few months. I really hope you get a good window and relaxation of symptoms (or better yet, full recovery!) within the next month too!

400mg SAM-e from ~Feb 10, 2018 to somewhere around July, 2018
25 mg Sertraline from January 2020 to mid April 2020

Cold turkey mid April 2020

Re-instated 25 mg Sertraline from early May 2020 for next three weeks then cold turkey again.

Currently on no meds or supplements.

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5 minutes ago, SandCastle said:

intensity being between the 4 to ten week mark.

 
In my case this was so true. It is all fresh to me. I just begun my 11th week with two ok days.

July 19th 2017—July 2018: 10 mg Escitalopram

August 2018— June 2020: 5 mg Escitalopram

 

Tapering started: June 2020—1st of August. Lowest dose was 5 mg (5 mg every second day for a couple of weeks, then 5 mg twice a week for a couple of weeks, and lastly 5 mg once a week until I stopped)

 

Drug free: August 1st, 2020

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate 2x200 mg and Omega3 – 2x1000 mg.

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@Jlee Personally I would stay away from the Clonazepam. As nice as it sounds to get a good nights rest, Clonazepam and any other Benzo's are highly addictive (took me only 4 weeks and I was hooked and now suffering from serious withdrawal) and cause some of the worst withdrawals if and when you ever decide to get off of them. 

 

It's tough right now, but please don't create another problem by taking any sort of benzo's for sleep. 

 

Hope it helps and good luck! 

Sept 2019 - Started Olanzapine (5mg) / Risperidone (1mg) / Sertraline (100mg) / Xanax (0.5mg when needed)

 

August 2020 - Prescribed Buspirone (10mg)

 

August 15th 2020 - Prescribed Rexulti (1mg) & Clonazepam (2mg)

 

Sept 15th 2020 - Quit Cold Turkey the Olanzapine, Risperidone & Clonazepam 

 

*Feeling horrible

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