embalado: withdrawal struggles

[embalalabo]

Hi there,

I’ve been trying to withdraw from SSRIs for about 3 years in and off without success.

2015- I was started on Zoloft 100mg after a prolonged depressive episode (possibly PND). 
I tried to come off them about 18months later ago. Withdrew too quickly and ended up being put back on Prozac - up to 40mg by January 2020). 
I have tried tapering once before and then started again in February 2020 (5 years after starting SSRIs). 

Reduced to 20mg for 4 months before 10mg for another month and withdrawing completely in August. Started on CBD oil a week later. 
I was fine for about 6 weeks but am now really struggling. Feeling depressed, anxious ++, nauseous, can’t sleep.
Really here to look for support.

Should I go back on something and taper slower or shall I persevere given that I’m 11weeks clear...?! 
 

So happy to have found somewhere to help realise I’m not the only one struggling to come off antidepressants. It was never right for me and other therapies have helped more than anything else. 
 

🙂 
 

 

Edited October 30, 2020 by Gridley

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, embalabo.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.  A list format is best.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

A question: when you were taking the 40mg Prozac, how were you feeling?  What were your symptoms?

 

Your taper of Prozac was very fast and as a result you are now experiencing withdrawal from Prozac.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

When we take psychiatric medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

These explain the healing process really well.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug, in your case, Prozac, is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome.  The only alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis.  Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take many months or longer.  

 

Reinstatement isn't a guarantee of diminished symptoms for everyone but it's the best tactic available.  At 11 weeks out, you're still in the time period where reinstatement predictably works, up to 3 months after last dose.  We usually suggest a much smaller reinstatement dose than your last dose.  These drugs are strong, your system has become sensitized and If you take too high a dosage it may be too much for your brain and can cause you become more unstable.  If you do reinstate,  once you've stabilized, which can take several months,  you can begin a 10% per month taper down to zero.  

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Please read:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. -- at least the first page of the topic

 

If you want to reinstate, please let us know and we can suggest a reinstatement dosage.  Please don't reinstate without letting us suggest a dosage.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Get supplements that are single ingredient (not mixed with other types of supplements).

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can complete your drug signature, answer my question, ask your own questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.