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Melany: Stopped Prozac 66 days ago.


Melany

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  • Moderator

It is hard to say for sure. But you should realize that you stopped Prozac at a way too high level. The danger for WD is then very high. And this starts very often 2-4 months after quitting. 

 

As said, it is hard to say. But the way you are feeling lately (and also today after reinstating), could be a result of stopping 2 1/2 month ago at this too high dosage.

 

And yes, re-instating can be felt. Let's wait what others say about it (moderators). But I think you are on the right track with re-instatement. Maybe it a good idea to build it up in a few days. So take tomorrow 0,2mg and one or two days later 0,3mg. Then one or 2 days later 0,4. And stay there to stabilize.

 

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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Can I have a moderator s oppinion please?

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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How long can a wave be? How do I know its a wave and not Wd? I reinstated my prozac because I was afraid of the humpty dumpty fall but not feeling well but worse.

I was getting the same as tsranga. 70% of the day filled with anxiety and ruminations and the evenings were ok. Having this for 3 weeks.

I also took a huge dose of hormones and had a traumatic event just before this.

I don t know whether to take the next dose tomorrow or not. Please help!

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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Reinstated yesterday with 0.4 mg after 2 and a half months off but it was damn intense. Rethinking the reinstatement now. Maybe I should have waited and maybe it was just a wave.If it s a normal thing I am going through, I can tough it up but If its not and my nervous system is about to snap, I will carry on with the prozac .  Can I have some oppinions on my introduction topic please?

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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  • Moderator

How are you doing today Melany? 

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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I am here. Don t know if to take another dose or not. Thanks for checking up on me.

I know no one can help me here. No one can know if my nervous system can handle the wd or not.  I might also be hypersentive to medication, I had 30 tms sessions and it does that to you. Don t reccomend it!

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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  • Moderator

It is not completely sure to say what would be the best for you right now. But looking what you have been taken and changing for meds since 2019, it is pretty sure that your nervous system has been quite destabilized. Furthermore the too fast stopping of the Prozac at such a high SERT level.... The TMS I have no experience with, but I believe yours on that.

 

Taking everything into account, I really advise to continue with reinstating the Prozac. The risk of making things worse when not reinstating might be higher for the longer term, then when not reinstating. People who reinstate in time (and you still are in time), usually heal much faster than those who do not. 

 

As said yesterday, why don't you build it up with 0,2mg for 2 days and then up via 0,3 to 0,4mg? In the meanwhile you can wait/ask for further advice from a moderator. There cannot much harm be done with this reinstating, especially taking into account that you took Prozac recently on a still high SERT level. Given the long half life of Prozac, we can definitely call it recently...

 

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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I had 0.2 and was  so depressed and slept all day. Also angry and moody. Its like I trade ruminations and panic atacks to depression and instability. I had extreme anger and mood swings all the time I took it thats why coming of it felt so good.

I m not myself when taking it that s why I hesitate and try to be tough. On high doses I had hives akathisia alopecia 20kg weight gain and so on. I had every reason to stop it but kept going .

I am trying now  but feels wrong. It might not be the right medication for me  but the others were worse. Also I am 35, wanted to have a baby next year. 

Maybe I should switch to anticonvulsants after all. Are those hard to come of?

 

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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  • Moderator
56 minutes ago, Melany said:

I had 0.2 and was  so depressed and slept all day. Also angry and moody. Its like I trade ruminations and panic atacks to depression and instability. I had extreme anger and mood swings all the time I took it thats why coming of it felt so good.

I m not myself when taking it that s why I hesitate and try to be tough. On high doses I had hives akathisia alopecia 20kg weight gain and so on. I had every reason to stop it but kept going .

I am trying now  but feels wrong. It might not be the right medication for me  but the others were worse. Also I am 35, wanted to have a baby next year. 

Maybe I should switch to anticonvulsants after all. Are those hard to come of?

 

 

Sorry to hear how you are feeling. Your nervous system is probably highly upset because all the meds you took and changed, all the changes in dosages and stopping too fast as I wrote before. 

 

Do not expect everything to settle in a short time... Adding another medication usually does not help... Might make things worse.

 

I advice to read back your thread in total. I get the impression that you are moving around in circles and that you are looking for a quick and easy fix... There is no such thing unfortunately...

 

I am in WD now for 3 1/2 years after having had 3 earlier WD periods where doctors convinced me to start on these drugs again. This time I will succeed! It takes time and it can be very hard. But going too fast will make it harder and will often take much more time in the end.

 

In my opinion there are 2 possible choices; 

 

1) reinstating what you are doing now and stabilizing your nervous system

2) not reinstating and hoping that your nervous system stabilizes. 

 

In my opinion reinstating probably will give less risks for a long term healing period with possibly lots of suffering, than not reinstating. I am not saying that reinstating will not give suffering as well (but probably less). Getting off this kind of medication can be difficult with lots of changes in how we feel.

 

Ask a mod for a second opinion, by sending a post starting with @ and then the name of the mod. In that way they will probably see you question sooner.

 

You will not get advise on this website for taking other medication. This site is meant to help people to get off medication.

 

The question you should ask yourself:     Do you really need medication?

 

There are no wonderdrugs to heal the pain and problems you have. Certainly not without lots of side effects, which we do not want. Doctors want us to believe that these drugs can be very helpful. Lots of the members here have fallen in that trap... 

 

There is a lot of research that SSRI's are not doing much more positive than a placebo. But the side effects and WD problems can be very extreme!

 

With the knowledge and experience I have nowadays, I never would have started this kind of medication... 

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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Thank you go2zero! Isn t about the easy fix. It s about the fact that I wasn t ok on prozac either, it s not giving me any relief.  The doctor was supposed to add other medication to deal with the mood swings and anger that this one gave me. The others got me suicidal, more anxious or in the ER with serotinin syndrome. Had  to settle to one. 

I wasn t this bad, my depression was far away before reinstating. I don t understand why it s doing this now.

 

 

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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I am so much worse, can t stop crying and have suicidal thoughts. Please help me @ChessieCat @getofflex@Cocopuffz17@Erell@Altostrata@brassmonkey@Gridley@Hanna72@Rhiannon.

Why is this so much worse?  How can it make me this bad when it s supposed to do the opppsite?

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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I am sorry ur struggling so much. I am suffering a lot as well after just few weeks on low dose of Zoloft. I am 4&1/2 months off and considering reinstating or switching to low Prozac dose but I hesitate worrying it might make me worst. How long have you reinstated for? How are u feeling now? May God help you.

Aug. 16-17, 2020, cipralex: went CRAZY! Recovered in 24hrs

Aug.28,2020; 3.5 weeks 25mg sertraline/4.5 weeks taper

Oct. 25: Last dose (4mg)

Symptoms while on zoloft

DPDR/out of my body/soul despair/feeling dead; tinnitus/no appetite; fear, anxiety/panics

4 months OFF: soul despair, anxiety/fear, brain disconnection/ DPDR, brain feels swollen-numb/crazy/bedridden barely functioning, tinnitus, eye lid twitches; face spasms. Feeling slightly better after 10pm.

- sleep & appetite are fine

9 months OFF: hell, no windows, same symptoms as above  (only eye and face twitches have stopped) plus intense arm/shoulder pain and visual issues. Tinnitus replaced by head buzzing. 

10 months-1 year: all above plus Insomnia (out of nowhere), depression, no peace of mind (mental Akathisia); 2.5mg melatonin

14months off: sleep resumed. All rest symptoms remain. Bedridden vegetable all day. DP is relentless. 

1.5 years off: still severely disabled, not much changed except some improvement in vision.

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  • Moderator Emeritus
1 hour ago, Melany said:

 

I wasn t this bad, my depression was far away before reinstating.

Our general rule is that if you are worse after reinstating, you should stop the reinstatement immediately.

 

Please update your signature to show the date you reinstated and, if you decide to stop the reinstatement, the date you stopped.  Use this link.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

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.

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@Gridleythank you for helping me. What is happening with me?:(( Has this happened before? My husband cant watch me all night I am taking a sleeping pill. 

@JesusSavemefromWDit s been good for other people, I m sure you ll find plenty here that bridged with it. Don t want to discourage anyone, we all react different. May God help you to and may others here help you. Do an introductory post if you haven t already.  My heart is with you.

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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Can I bridge with something else? I forgot how bad I was on it. Can t take this anger and depression anymore.

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

 

On 11/18/2011 at 6:23 AM, Altostrata said:

Citalopram (Celexa )and its sibling escilatopram (Lexapro) have half-lives of about 35 hours, a relatively long half-life among SSRIs, and are other candidates for a bridging strategy. They also come in a liquid form.

 

Re-quoting the above from the Prozac Bridge topic where Melany has posted the above quote with the following question (quotes will not quote):

 

15 minutes ago, Melany said:

Anyone was extremely angry on prozac? I was never ok on it, was just keeping my panic atacks away. Now I am on prozac WD and I wish to bridge with the above if you consider them a good candidate. Is that ok?

 

And my response there:

 

2 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

@Melany

 

According to your drug signature you have already tried Cipralex which is escitalopram (Lexapro).

 

* 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 m sorry, you are right. What do I do please? 

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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Last night I had something I experienced in the first week after quiting prozac.

Was not akathisia cause I know what that is. My hands curled up at my chest and my neck contracted and went one way and my knees to my chest. Before that, i had crossing gestures with my hands. Mentally wAs like an intense akathisia but much worse  like my brain got plugged in. It s an awfull feeling like you have imense pressure inside you. Jaw contracts also and I hum.

Had that when I stopped benzos and prozac for a few days only.

I don t understand why it does that? Why it s reacting like WD when reinstated? @getofflex@Gridley

 

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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From my notes, I am the worst in the evenings around 8  till midnight. I took my dose at 3 4 pm, then I have to sleep cause getting so low and sad. I have nightmares, always had on it that why I was taking it during daytime. The morning after I am better. My ruminations are the same, I just ruminate on this topic now, my anxiety is 20 % lower but stayed indoors where I feel safe( so can t measure it) , my morning anxiety is better, my depression incresead by 50%, and anger went of the roof. Was so angry all the time while I was on it. Now I know it was the prozac. 

When was on it I could understand those people that placed bombs, imagine that. And trust me  I m the nicest and kindest person ever. How this medication switched me to the opposite tells you how powerfull they can be.

My plan is to pause for 2 3 days? Is that enough to tell? How can I measure if getting better? Another acute Wd can happen now after only 2 days? If I get better means I should stop?

Can I still reinstate if it get s worse?  

It s so hard to tell whether its the reinstatement or the Wd getting worse suddenly. I will ask that in the proper topic.

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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  • Moderator

Sorry to read how you are doing. I hope one or more moderators can give you clear answers. However I am not sure if they will be able to tell whether it is sudden worsening WD or because of the reinstatement. Both are possible in my opinion. As I wrote before, WD often sets in 2-4 months after stopping. It happened to me 3 times... You can find a lot of the same experiences on this website. You are not alone there!

 

I would not suggest to take other medication than Prozac to reinstate. You used quite a lot of the possible alternatives, making your CNS more sensitized to these kind of meds... Changing to another drug might make things worse!

 

Unfortunately WD needs time to settle. Give it time!

 

Waiting some days or a week without taking anything won't hurt you. It will take some time also to wash out the tiny bit of Prozac you took during 2 days, because of the long half life. So maybe it is just the best to wait and see what happens the coming week.

 

Do you know how to meditate? That can help a lot! Accept all feelings of anger and depression. Look at them as an observer, without identifying with the feelings. You are not those feelings.

 

Do the same with your ruminating thoughts. Look at them as clouds passing by. Do not give them them attention! Just see them coming and going as an observer. 

 

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

@Melany according to your drug signature you took 0.4 one day, then dropped to 0.2 the next day.  Were your symptoms better, worse, or the same after you reinstated to 0.4?  If worse, is this why you dropped to 0.2 the next day? If not, what was your reason for dropping to 0.2? 

Edited by getofflex

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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Worse that's why I dropped. Thought I could build it up bit by bit. So far, I am a bit better, like before reistaiting . Might be the yesterday dose or the fact that 24 h has passed.

 

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

OK thanks for the clarification.  I'm glad you are feeling a bit better.  If it were me, I would stick with the dose I am on now (0.2).  It is usually helpful to keep things the same, so that our nervous system can stabilize.  Feeling angry, down and sad, and anxious are all part of withdrawal from these drugs.  This link goes into it more:  

 

Neuro Emotions

 

Ruminations are tough.  I have this too, and still deal with it.  This link has a good technique for how to cope with that. 

 

Ruminations and Emotional Spirals

 

Have you checked out the non drug ways of coping?  These might help a lot.  They don't take away the suffering of withdrawal, but they can possibly help you feel more at peace with it.  Keep us posted with how you are doing, and we can take things a day at a time.  Here is a link for non drug coping skills: 

 

Non Drug Coping Skills

 

Hang in there.  I know this is very hard from my own experience.  I believe you will heal with time and patience.  

 

 

Edited by getofflex

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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  • Administrator

Good advice, @getofflex

 

Melany, if I were you, I'd continue to take 0.2mg at the same time each day. Stay as calm as possible to observe the effects. Please let us know how you're doing.

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I did not take my dose yesterday, saw your messages to late. I felt back to normal. Today it seems fine.

My guess is either my brain rejected it or I m having side effects (increased anger depression) from it but now feeling good because if it. It would explain why all my treatment with is was awfull  and why I was feeling great the further away I got from the dose , when I was taking it once every 3 days. After taking it I was going crazy again.

I feel like I m putting the pieces together now. I am sure now that this was not the medication for me and looking back at my symptoms before prozac tells me I am 100% right. It was doing something but adding more problems. I stayed with it knowing it was easy to come off it.

It just makes my depression and anger worse. I thought those were mine but I guess not, not at that level anyway.

I will discuss it with my doctor.

I will pause for 2 more days and see how it goes, please don t be mad at me. 

Thank you for the resources!

I will write how I am doing daily.

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

 

10 hours ago, Melany said:

I did not take my dose yesterday, saw your messages to late. I felt back to normal. Today it seems fine.

My guess is either my brain rejected it or I m having side effects (increased anger depression) from it but now feeling good because if it. It would explain why all my treatment with is was awfull  and why I was feeling great the further away I got from the dose , when I was taking it once every 3 days. After taking it I was going crazy again.

I feel like I m putting the pieces together now. I am sure now that this was not the medication for me and looking back at my symptoms before prozac tells me I am 100% right. It was doing something but adding more problems. I stayed with it knowing it was easy to come off it.

It just makes my depression and anger worse. I thought those were mine but I guess not, not at that level anyway.

I will discuss it with my doctor.

I will pause for 2 more days and see how it goes, please don t be mad at me. 

Thank you for the resources!

I will write how I am doing daily.

@Melany, these drugs do not work like taking an over the counter pain killer such as Ibuprofen. They actually remodel our brains, and our brains are dependent upon them.  If you skip a dose, chances are it could destabilize your brain and cause more unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.  Often these symptoms could take several days or even weeks to show up. 

 

Never Skip Doses to Taper

 

Here are some links that explain how these drugs work.  I suggest you please read them carefully to understand why consistency is important.  Consistency means taking the same dose at the same time each day, until we stabilize.  Stabilize means we have minimal to no withdrawal symptoms for a reasonable period of time.  

 

How Psych Drugs Change our Brain

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Why taper by 10% of my Dosage

 

If you feel good it unfortunately it may not mean your withdrawal is all over.  It could very well be a window.  This explains more about that:

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Recovery

Edited by getofflex

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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@getofflex I understand but it was that bad! I thought I was supposed to stop if I get worse. And it depends what stabilize means. If you follow my topic I did say I was never stable on it. I just forgot how bad It was....:( 

I got progressively better and better when reducing the dose while on treatment. I am 100% sure I need antidepressants but not this one, now it s very clear to me.

If it's a window isn t that a good sign, thought that is the healing process? I thought I was going for the fall and never come back. 

 

Do I need to taper still if took it for only 2 days?

I do understand now why I should not skip If I reinstate and begin to taper   but I thought this is not the case when reinstatement went so bad. I do know that I did wrong the first time

My  logic was like this:1. to see if reistatement made me worse, in that case stay away from this medication  2.if not start all over the reinstatement of prozac and suffer all the way with depression and anger 3.bridge with Citalopram  or any other antidepressant as a last resort.

 

Please correct me if wrong, I am fairly new to this. I'm sorry if it sounds stupid or rude.

I imagine it is pretty  hard to talk to someone that doesn.t have a clue and I appreciate every second you guys spend here helping me.

I just listened to how my body reacted and what my familly said that I was way worse on it.

I made an appointment with my doctor, I am worried as well that I did not take the right path....but I am sure prozac is out now. It was not supposed to make me feel like that.

Had any members with reactions like these after reinstatement?

 

I am trying to go through the forum as fast as my mental health allows me to. 

I am lacking the possitive and fun aspects in life so If I spend 5 to10 h here reading about mental health.. I can feel that:(.

We all know how it is to be exposed to so much negativity that is why I Thank you all again!

 

I am still waiting for your answer, not arguing with you:)

 

 

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Your drug signature states that you have tried many other drugs.

 

Q:  What was the reason you were only on them for a short time?

 

It might be that your body does not tolerate ANY psychiatric drugs.  One of the Mentors posted this to another member who has had adverse reactions.  The post is formatted a bit differently to most posts.  The text in darker font are quotes, then below that in grey font Colonial has written her own thoughts:

 

jesussavemefromwd-only-35-weeks-sertraline-enough-to-destroy-me

* 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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@ChessieCat  Let me explain.

I have a lot of affections and diseases, painful to live with but not dangerous. Probably caused by my anxiety. I ve spent years on antibiotics and in hospitals.

I've had many hard traumas in my life also but was functional. We also don't have a real life, we work a lot.

My husband had a depression and was hard on me for 2 years cause he refused therapy and medication. Right after,2 years ago exactly,  from a wrong medical procedure I stayed in horrible pains for 3 months, that s when I quit smoking. I abused with pain medication(nothing addictive). After quitting smoking( my only pleasure) I began feeling anxiety, then more, then more.

After that came a harsh depression.

 

My first medication was Coaxil( sorry forgot it) * that didn t do anything.

Second was wellbutrin* it increased my anxiety so high that my doctor stopped it. When I say anxiety I mean full on panic atacks when on the highest dose on benzos.

Helped me with my mood though, my dopamine levels. It was the first choice since quitting smoking started this.

Effexor was next,first small dose I got serotonin syndrome from it, was taken to ER then to a psychiatric hospital.

Mirtazapine was given to me there but I couldn t sleep at all, was like sleepwalking and when I was eventually falling to sleep I had terrible but terrible nightmares.

Sertraline was tried in hospital  for a week but couldn t get pass the increased anxiety so they removed it. I was out of the hospital with cipralex.

Cipralex was removed when I was forgetting everything, I had no more memory. You were talking to me and I was forgetting everything . Could not function like that, get out or be on my own. Was extra cheerful also, like retarded.

Then I asked for Prozac and stayed with it. I had to settle to one. It iwas  keeping my anxiety away, some of it not all.

I had side effects with all but I can take it. I stayed on prozac with akathisia which was hell.

 

Prozac is helping me  but it also turns me into a maniac killer, I am emotionally instable and depressed.

I can feel it helping the days after taking it, which is what I assume it happends  now, but not way on days when I am taking it. The further I go away , the better I feel ( for  3 4 days before Wd starts).

I'll go ahead and read it now.

 

 

 

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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@ChessieCatI read most of the topic, can;t read much before getting anxious sorry. Read all day and it;s getting very hard to understand.

I feel for him, his ruminating like I am. I deal with depersonalization and dissociation also and those were not present at first. But they may be also the worsening of my condition.

Don't know how he was first months after stopping it. I had an horrible week or 2 then windows and waves but ok overall. Small waves, felt like getting better. Then I got another small trauma and started ruminating.* now I see his timeline was the same as mine:(. He was better for 2 and a half months.

So you are saying that he had an adverse reaction rather than WD. 

I believe some Wd I do have since I was bothered by anxiety before coming here, took 2 doses and  2 days later now better.  Also I did have common Wd  symptoms like diarea  for 2 months and so on.

But what do we do about the fact that is poisoning us also? I will quote @Colonial  @DaBro @Gridleyhere, maybe they can help me.

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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Might be Cipralex that started it? I think it might have looking back...:(

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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On 3/12/2021 at 4:09 PM, Melany said:

I also took a huge dose of hormones and had a traumatic event just before this.

 

What date was this that you took the hormones?

 

Yes, someone said if you feel worse after reinstating to stop it.

However, it looks like You only took it for 2 days so it is hard to say if it was the 2 smaller dosages, which if could be or coincidence.

Seeing as how you seem to have bad effects while being on Prozac, it could be from the 2 dosages.

It does seem as if you have bad reactions while being ON psychiatric medications.

 

 

9 hours ago, Melany said:

I am 100% sure I need antidepressants but not this one, now it s very clear to me.

 

I do not think anyone "Needs" an anti depressant.

In your case you have tried so many and have had such a hard time I do not think you will find one that is of help to you.

I would not suggest you attempt any new medications.

If you and your doctor do decide to try another you should not be surprised if your condition becomes worse.

 

6 hours ago, Melany said:

 

Prozac is helping me  but it also turns me into a maniac killer, I am emotionally instable and depressed.

 

Then it is not helping you.

At this point it's very hard to say what symptoms your experiencing is from which drug adverse reaction, WD or a quite normal reaction to traumatic events.

But as someone mentioned, taking Prozac on and off will do more harm than good, it's not like aspirin.

If you think that the 2 dosages really made you much worse than I would stay off it.

It is obvious you react negatively to it when on it.

Navigating both withdrawal and adverse reactions at the same time is tricky and you have had so many meds since June of 2019 it's no possible to know if the WD you are in isn't also from one of those drugs as well.

 

WD is bad, but staying on a drug you are having a reaction to can be just as detrimental.  You symptoms can still be from reactions to the other drugs as well. I'm not convinced staying on a small amount of Prozac that made you worse is the answer, considering the amount of drugs you have cycled through very recently it's not a cut and dry case of WD from one drug. 

 

That being said, only you can decide which is worse, the WD you could be having, or being on a small amount.

In one place you thought you were getting worse,(Sunday) so you stopped it, then today  you thought you were better.

 

But if you do stay on it, it must be consistent, not a few days here or there.

 

 

 

 Starting ds 2 (12.5 CR'S) = 25 MG PAXIL CR 1/21/15: 1 Pill + 10mg liquid (2 weeks) 2/4: 1 Pill + 9mg Lq (3 weeks) 2/25: 1 Pill + 8 mg lq (1 week) 3/4: 1 Pill + 6 mg lq (2 weeks) 3/18/15 1 Pill + 4 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/1/15 1 Pill + 3 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/14/15 1 Pill + 2 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/29/15 1Pill + 1 mg lq (16 days) 5/15/15 1 12.5 mg Pill ONLY (9 days) 5/24/15 12 mgs liquid (8 days) 6/1/15 11mg lq (12 days) 6/13/15 10 mg.  12/3/15 Drop from 8mg to 7.6 (24 days to) 12/27/15 7.2mgs 8/4/16 6.8mgs,  11/1/16 6.4mgs, 2/5/17 6 mgs  4/3/17 5.6mgs, 4/24/17 5.2mg, 6/13/17 4.8mgs, 9/20/17 4.4mgS, 11/23/17 4 mgs, 1/1/18 3.6 mgs, 2/15/18 3.2 mgs. 4/13/18 2.8mgs, 5/11/18 2.4mgs, 6/10/18 2.0 mgs, 8/4/18 1.6mgs,  9/27/18 1.2mgs, 12/24/18 0.8mg, 3/24/19 0.64 mg,(syringe change issue date?) 4/22/19 0.60 mg, 5/24/19 0.60 mg, 7/7/19 0.52 mgs, 8/4/19 0.44mgs, 11/4/19 0.36mgs, 2/1/20 0.28mgs, 3/1/20 0.24mgs (crash April 6) Compound started 6/28/21: 0.24mgs, 8/29/21: 0.22mgs, 10/31/21: 0.20mgs, 1/03/22: 0.18mgs, 3/5/22: 0.16mgs, 5/5/22: 0.14mgs.

 

Original Wellbutrin Dose: 6 months from 9/14 to 3/2015, 300 XL 3/15/15: Half to 150 XL ( severe symptoms started on day 12) 4/16/15: 125mg   for 20 days to: 5/6/15:   100mg  for  15 days to: 5/21/15    75mg  for  10 days to: 6/1/15:  56.25mg      13 days to: 6/13/15: 37.25mg    7 days to: 6/20/15  28.12mg   14 days to: 7/4/15  18.75mg, 7 days to: 7/11/15; RAISE BACK TO: 28.12 to 8/14/15: 18.75mg  20 days to :9/3/15 : 12.5mg, 8/4/16 9mg 1/9/17: 8.5mg 2/8/17 8mg, 3/9/17: 7.6  4/9/17  7.2  5/27/17 6.4 6/24/17 5.8, 8/1/17 5.0, 8/29/17 4.2mgs, 10/2/17 3.5mgs, 12/28/17 2.5mgs, 2/27/18 1.7mgs,  4/19/18 0.8 mgs, LAST DOSE: 6/11/18:  3 YEARS, 2 MONTHS, 27 DAYS...

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  • Mentor

@Melany I am not an admin so will leave advice to others. For me, I lived ‘normally’ and drug free for 45 years, perhaps with a little more anxiety than most, but otherwise fine. 

 

A couple of life changing events tipped me over the edge and I ended up on Zoloft. 

 

I had side effects of tinnitus, fatigue and emotional numbness and so came off after 2 years, then WD started. 

 

This and other fb sites helped me distinguish between historical me, anxious me, drugged me and WD me. My goal of returning to my original health meant traveling the long road through WD and recognising that WD symptoms are from WD only. 

 

I do not believe any of us need these drugs. Robert Whitaker presents data that says the ‘recovery’ rates from mental health issues are higher in people who don’t take SSRI or Benzos than those who do, by a large margin. 

 

For me playing the long game of WD was the only option for me. 

 

https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/18-film-content/general/665-the-hidden-epidemic-full-robert-whitaker-interview

50 mg Sertraline Nov 2016 to Dec 2016

100 mg Sertraline Jan - March 2017

50 mg Sertraline April - June 2017

25 mg Sertraline July 2017 - Sept 2018

12.5 mg Sertraline Oct 2018

0 mg Nov 1 2018

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@Colonial I took it the hormones on the 25th of february and that is the same day the small trauma showed up. A day or two after I was in hard ruminations. Could not get passed it, was like trying to push something in and not having room and things kept spilling outside. So I had to deal with traumas in the back to make some room.

* I might be better because I stopped prozac or that my menstruation ended and that is usually the time I was getting windows. (Damn hormones!!)

* I am in Wd for sure, the initial anxiety before taking the prozac disipated right after taking the prozac.

* It could also be that the first doses had a huge impact and over time, at this small dose, things might be getting better.

* I  agree with you that I have adverse reactions from them. Never had such a bad reaction no matter the time of the month.

* The imense anger is 100% from prozac. I have an anger but not on that level, it makes you sick, you can feel that pressure in your body. Thst is the first thing my doctor noticed when coming off drugs without his approval.

* I might have improved once I dealt with the issues I was dealing with.

 

So it's a matter of choice.

1. Staying with panic atacks and ruminations off Prozac, but ruminations leading me to depression at some point and possibly getting worse.

2. The instable me with deep depression ,anger, depresonalization and all with Prozac. Hoping that my body will get used to that again and not give adverse reactions on such small dosages.

So a matter of dealing with WD or dealing with Adverse Reactions.

 

The only worry I have is that I will end up in  a place where nothing helps and my nervous system collapses, that fall of the wall I read about here.

If it wasn t for that I would fight and play the WD game but that thought scares the hell out of me.

 

JesussavemefromWd regrets not reinstating in time..so Reinstatement is somehow  safe on the long run.

I also tried 5htp half a year ago, vomit explosion for 2 days so stopped. I will Update my signature.

 

I am okish now, depends how much time I spend thinking about these things. But I am very fragile, I can feel that...

 

 

I will think about it and take a decision.

If I go for the WD road, there is no turning back no matter how bad I get right?

Do you get the chance to turn back one month in? If it still doesn;t improve? Or I have to continue like that for years?

 

Plaese everyone help him, write to him. I still have time. Write so his ruminations get better. He's ruminating seraching for the right answer when the right answer for us does not exist:(

 

 

 

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

@melany have you tried any of the non drug coping skills?  I believe there is a link in a prior post. Whatever choice you make, it is suggested that you stick with that and give it time to work.  This explains more:   Keep in Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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I tried and still try some of them .yoga, pranayama, bioresonance, therapy,mantras, I go to tons of workshops on spiritual and personal development .

When it comes to pressure(anxuety) the tank will eventually crack.

Behaviourly actions are so hard to do but I will try  .

In this article say to keep going if You dont have a bad reaction. If i try for a month is that ok? I can still go back?

JUNE 2019 Tried Coaxil ,wellbutrin, cipralex, mirtazapine, effexor, sertraline, benzoS for 5 months.November 2019 started prozac 30 mg, took till May 2020 and started tapering 5 mg at a time till reached 2.5mg once every 2 3 days.January 2020 stopped benzos (tapered for 2 months).27 December 2020 stopped Prozac, 2 bad weeks.January and  february was feeling well.I am taking 2 mg of lorazepam /year.Tried 5Htp 100mg Febr 2020 for a copule of days, vomited non stop. Stopped right away.No supplements, possibly allergic to excipients now. 30 mg of Ulipristil acetate on 25th of febr.

Reinstated 0.4 mg of prozac 12 march  , had 0.2mg 13 march. Stopped reinstatement, feeling better.

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