Razmuk Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 (edited) I have now been off all medication for 3 years 1 month 6 days..... I got off of benzos first then tapered off of Risperdal and finished the taper on September 12th 2017. It has been a long hard road but I would like to report that I am almost back to normal. I think if I quit smoking cigarettes I will be 100% and completely back on track in life. While I was on medication I had anxiety and paranoia so bad I couldn't leave the house or talk to anyone and ended up on disabilities from it in my mid 20s. Now I am on track to become a Youth Minister at a large church and have 0 problems talking to people or public speaking. I actually initiate conversations and go out of my way to talk to people now and help people out whenever I can. The biggest key to my recovery was God. He put me on this path and let me know it was for a reason even though I didn't believe it at all and thought I was going to snap and end up back on medications MANY times during the first couple of years. When I first came off the medications I slept like 2 hours a night most nights for months on end and had to learn to reframe distressing thoughts and feelings as a temporary nuisance for long term gains. I also went from 240 pounds to 145 pounds in a matter of less than 3 months which shut down my gall bladder that I had to have removed. I became gluten and lactose intolerant due to all this and have had to completely change my habits but I don't miss my old habits at all. If you want to survive don't stick to the same things you have been doing day in and day out. Pay close attention to your sleeping habits and what you eat or do to see if anything is causing issues. DO NOT use any supplements of any kind and be VERY careful about using literally anything that can have a mental effect on you even exercise. I can still go into mild waves if I overdo it by doing too much work or exercising too much. My only lingering symptoms are massive fatigue and nerve pain that comes and goes but I know all my triggers now and sometimes do them anyway and just accept the consequences. But even those symptoms are becoming less and less and there is hope they will vanish one day. I hope this message helps anyone out there who thinks all hope is lost, because there is a light at the end of the tunnel as long as you stay diligent about just accepting that there is nothing that can speed up the process and just do what you can to make it day by day. Link to Razmuk's Introduction Topic: Razmuk: getting rid of Risperdal Edited October 24, 2020 by manymoretodays link to Introduction Topic added 7 Been on 3mg Risperdal for 13 years due to drug induced psychosis from meth Was on 0.5 mg Klonopin for 6 years as needed until May 2016 for anxiety Quit the Klonopin in May 2016 too fast and went into withdrawal hell for 9 months Started reducing Risperdal by 0.25 mg a month in December 2016 Ran into problems after hitting 2 mg and getting rid of the morning dose so decided to slow taper down Waited 10 weeks to reduce dose again 6/30/2017 at 1.75 mg 7/30/2017 at 1.60 mg 9/11/2017 at 0 mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus manymoretodays Posted October 24, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 24, 2020 Congratulations Razmuk. And well done! Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks. Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988. In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm. Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time). 5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014) 12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs. My last psycho med ever! Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to 2016 Dec 16, medication free!! Longer signature post here, with current supplements. Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016. And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed. Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022. Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜 None of my posts are intended as medical advice. Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider. My success story: Blue skies ahead, clear sailing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 24, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 24, 2020 @Razmuk I'm very happy for you, Razmuk. You're an inspiration. 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 April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armorall Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Excellent news, best wishes to you! 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 More sharing options...
Kimboslice Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Really pleased for ya. Sounds like you’ve been on a hell of a journey. At what point did you start finding it easier to interact with others and become a functioning member of society again? cheers. 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 More sharing options...
Mentor Cocopuffz17 Posted October 28, 2020 Mentor Share Posted October 28, 2020 Great read! Glad to hear of the success you are having! I follow The Plant Paradox lifestyle by Dr.Gundry. This lifestyle has given me my life back and I feel better than I have ever felt in my life. It has enabled me to finally get off of this medication and truly live my life. Nutrition is the key to health!!!!! 2008 to 2019 - 20 mg Paroxetine Attempted 2 CT's around the 5-6 year mark. Were absolutely terrible and reinstated. Was never explained by the doctor the seriousness of the short half life of this drug. 2017 - Attempted a tapered discontinuation of this drug and reinstated after being unsuccessful. 2019 - Feb. 12 - After a three month taper I am off of paroxetine. The 3 months were terrible, awful withdrawal feelings. I followed the doctors guidelines for the reduction of this drug and now know it was way too fast. 2019 - Oct. 12 - 8 months off paroxetine. 75% improvement since coming off the drug. Definitely have had tons of challenges along the way. Let’s go!!!! 2021 - Feb. 12 - 24 months off paroxetine. I have minor challenges now. Tinnitus/Headaches are still around but are reduced by a massive amount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Glosmom Posted October 29, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 29, 2020 Wonderful news! Thank you for coming back to share your story @Razmuk! 2016 - Oct -Daughter started Risperdal (for steroid induced psychosis that never went away after stopping prednisone) Nov - dose increases stopped at 1.5mg in Dec 2017 - Jan- weaned from 1.5 to 1.0 in 2 weeks then 1.0 to .5 in two weeks and then off. Feb. 3 weeks of increased psychosis, pacing, insomnia, other awful symptoms so late Feb - Back on 1.5 mg Risperdal. May - decrease to 1.25mg, two weeks later 1.0mg - symptoms started again. June - held steady at 1.25mg for 6 weeks and switched to liquid (3 ml syringe). July - started 10% taper every 3 weeks, October - .8 mg, December - .7 mg . 2018 -Jan- 0.65 mg, Feb- 0.59, Mar-0.50, late April - .40mg, July- .36 mg, Aug - switched from 3 mL syringe to 1 mL syringe for more accuracy (her dad and i were not sure we were giving her the same dose when in between the 'dashes' on the 3 mL syringe.) Aug -.30 mg (3mL syr)/.44 mg (1 mL syr) difference due to med in the tip of both syringes). Sept- .28 mg (3mL syr)/.42 mg (1 mL syr). Oct - .16 mg (3 mL syr)/.30 mg (1 mL syr). Nov.- .06mg (3mL syr)/.20 mg (1mLsyr). Dec. - tip only/unmeasurable (3mL syr)/.10 mg (1mLsyr) 2019- Jan -.06 mg (1 mL syr), Feb- .025 mg (1 mL syr), Feb 27, 2019 - jumped to zero!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus arbor Posted October 30, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 30, 2020 Thank you so very much for sharing this, Razmuk. It gives me hope. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PH1 Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 Wow, that is great Razmuk! Praise God. Thank you for sharing your story of healing. 2010: Escitalopram (Lexapro) 10 mg. Mirtazapine (Remeron) 15 mg. 2011: Tapered Mirtazapine: 5 month successful taper. Then tapered Lexapro: 4 month successful taper May 2011 to August 2017: No medications, full recovery September 6, 2017: started Mirtazapine (Remeron) 15 mg - due to severe sudden insomnia (I believe caused by statin use) November 16, 2017: started Escitalopram (Lexapro) 10 mg January 1, 2018 to October 30. 2020 -- 34 month taper off of Mirtazapine 15 mg to 0.00 mg June 16, 2018: Started slow taper of 10 mg Escitalopram (Lexapro) Current (mgai): 0.23 mg Escitalopram Supplements: Fish Oil, Curcumin, bio active B vitamins, zinc, magnesium glycinate, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, saffron, citrus bergamot, ashwagandha "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyson Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 Great story and encouraging for everyone. My son is on less than 1.5mg Risperdal. you jumped to 0 from 1.6mg. that is scary to me. How did you handle it? any advice you want add is appreciated. thanks Hi, This is Tyson. I'm not sure if I'm doing this in the right place. But I'm doing this cause I thought I don't have a file here. I was trying to get some help from members with my son's withdrawal, but it's been lost somewhere. So, I thought maybe I should put my intro. and then that might help. My son started Respiradol 3mg took that for three month and dropped it. Then Abilify 5mg for six month and due to his restlesnes, stopped by his doc. then got ordered to take zyprexa 15mg. He took zyprexa for five years but lowering with the help of doc and compounding pharmacy. he is now on 1.25mg. but things are getting tough. no nutrition guide or supplements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kush Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 Happy to hear about your recovery @razmuk Even i can recover from it sooner or latter Started on august 2012 Until feb 2017 no data of prescribition available Feb 2017. Resperidone 2mg August 2018 1mg resperidone June 2019. 0.75 mg resperidone March 2020 0.5 mg resperidone August 2020 0.75mg resperidone December 2020 0.5 mg resperidone Currently may 2021 0.5mg resperidone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razmuk Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 Sorry I haven't returned to this in a couple of years.... The road was long and hard and gave me mild PTSD thinking about it but I am now to a point the whole ordeal is just a footnote of life and doesn't really bother me anymore. To answer the question of how I handled it.....prayer and distraction. I became a super hypochondriac and until I learned to just accept that I was going to suffer for awhile, I had trouble coping. But now in the past year I have become a youth minister, I am about to become an ordained minister, I worked 3 church camps as a counselor, 1 youth retreat as a small group leader, 1 men's retreat, gave my testimony on live national radio, got my life and health insurance license, and overall the future is very bright. I don't say any of this to brag but to say no matter how bad things are right now it isn't the end. It is a chance to start over. God has never met a lost cause and that includes each and every one of us, some who may not be able to see any light right now. I pray that you all make it to the other side. It is a very long road but with perseverance and patience you all can do it. I never knew what loving life was until God revealed what was killing me. God bless you all. 5 Been on 3mg Risperdal for 13 years due to drug induced psychosis from meth Was on 0.5 mg Klonopin for 6 years as needed until May 2016 for anxiety Quit the Klonopin in May 2016 too fast and went into withdrawal hell for 9 months Started reducing Risperdal by 0.25 mg a month in December 2016 Ran into problems after hitting 2 mg and getting rid of the morning dose so decided to slow taper down Waited 10 weeks to reduce dose again 6/30/2017 at 1.75 mg 7/30/2017 at 1.60 mg 9/11/2017 at 0 mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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