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Greatful: Is this withdrawal or too many med changes at once?


Greatful

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  • Mentor

I started to taper off Prozac 20mg 5/2020.  I got down to 3mg 11/2020.  I became depressed. Under the care of my Doctor Psychiatrist, From 12/2020 to 5/2021 I have started and stopped 5 different meds and increase and decrease Lamictal.  My brain is a mess.  I have had every thing from Brain zapping, brain numbing, paranoia, headaches, insomnia, muscle weakness, unexplainable fear, intrusive thought that have turned into ocd, left side of my face and eye hurt on and off, unable think clearly, slow speech, anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, nausea, weight loss, I can't even name it all. 

On 5mg Lexapro 37.5mg lamictal, and 25mg of trazadone

 

Started Lexapro 4/3/2021 Slow titration,, my brain is very, very drug sensitive, 4/14  7.5mg. side effects so bad, and anger, anxiety through the roof, doctor encouraged my to go up 4/30  10mg. Could not take the side effects dropped 4/10  7.5mg.  Doctor said he does know if he can help me. Told me to stop Lexapro, and go on a med holiday .  4/16 Lexapro 5mg.  Holding,. don't know what to do?  Do I hold here for awhile.  Doctor is no help. He thinks I can stop Lexapro with in 2 weeks.  Since I dropped down lexapro 5mg and started L theanine and Magnesium glycinate, things are slightly better.

I found a new doctor but can not get in until the end of June.

Since I am so close to no drugs I would like to see if I can continue my goal of being drug free.  

 

Med history

1995? Prozac 20mg not help anxiety

? Paxil  Caused anger stop

Serzone  More depressed

1998 St Johns wart stop

1998 Prozac 20mg

1998 trazadone 50mg took for a few months stop

2000  lexapro  20mg.

2015 taper off Lexapro, fast taper a few month  crash

tried to reinstate  Lexapro  did not work

Tried Effexor, did not work stop

Oct 2015 Hospital 1 week  Seroquel xr 50mg   Viibryd 20mg.  Did not even get up to 20mg.  So drugged, I could not hardly work 30 minutes after taking so dizzy.  Stopped at home

12/2016 Abilify, couldn't tolerate stop

12/16 Wellbutrin  couldn't tolerate stop

12/16 Stopped Seroquel xr 50mg.  To nauseated and couldn't eat.  Heartburn Don't remember tapering

1/2016 Prozac 20mg.  slight improvement

5/2016 Lamictal 200mg. 

 

5/2020  through 11/2020 taper  Prozac  down to 3mg.  depression and anxiety insomnia

12/2/2020 Zoloft 12.5mg 12/13  25mg.   12/24  37.5mg  12/28  50mg.  Bad side effects Felt like brain sitting on eclectic fence 4 day tapper  stop

1/5/2021 up lamictal from 200mg to 300mg.  1/13  lamictal 400mg.  Brain started ruminating and obsessing 1/17 lamictal 300mg.  1/22 lamictal 200mg

1/22/2021  Seroquel 50mg for sleep  Became paranoid. nausea headaches 1/29  stopped

1/29/2021 Trazadone 50mg      4/25  25mg

2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5

2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/16  stopped

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr   3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects to much,  arm and leg muscles became very week, nausea headaches 4/23/2021 panicked and stopped.  doc not return my call  Brain went crazy, paranoia ( should have learned, not to try it again) 

4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg   4/30 10mg       5/10  7.5mg   5/16  5mg

 

 

Now:  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone   L theanine 200mg   Magnesium glycinate 100mg  Omega 3 2000mg  Turmeric  1500mg 

.5 mg melatonin

 

Edited by Gridley

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Welcome to SA, Greatful.  We are a site for helping members taper off psychiatric drugs and deal with withdrawal from these drugs.

 

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.  You can simply copy the information in your post starting with the last paragraph "5/20 through 11/20..."  Please add your original dose of Prozac.  Use this link:

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

The symptoms you describe in your first paragraph are typical psychiatric drug withdrawal symptoms, which result from going off a psychiatric drug too fast.  Your system is also destabilized by going on and off so many drugs. So the answer to the question posed in your title is "both."  I recommend that you make no further changes at this point, that you do not add any more drugs.  and that you hold where you are (no changes in drugs or dosages) for at least three months to allow your system to stabilize and recuperate.  I would not recommend that you stop Lexapro and go on a "drug holiday."  If you abruptly stop the Lexapro you put yourself at risk of suffering further withdrawal symptoms.  A person is subject to withdrawal symptoms, the length and severity of which can't be predicted, after being on an antidepressant for one month.

 

After 3 months, if you are feeling stable, you can begin to slowly taper the Lexapro while making no changes to the Lamictal or Trazodone.  We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every 4 weeks.  

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The following link is specifically about tapering Lexapro, including how to get the non-standard doses you'll need for your 10% Lexapro taper.  Lexapro comes in a prescription liquid, and this method is easy and accurate for a taper.  If you choose this method, let us know because you will need to gradually transition to the liquid from the tablet form.  Other methods described in the link include weighing tablets with a digital scale, making your own liquid and using a compounding pharmacy.  

 

Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro)

 

We recommend tapering only one drug at a time; otherwise, if problems arise, you won't know the cause.  Activating drugs (such as SSRI's like Lexapro) should be tapered first, leaving sedating drugs (such as Lamictal and Trazodone) to be tapered later.  This is to help preserve sleep.  

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

So that you have a better understanding of what you're experiencing, here is some information on withdrawal and the healing process.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.  You're already on the magnesium, and glycinateia a good form.  

 

 

 

Add in the omega 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, ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Gridley

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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  • Gridley changed the title to Greatful: Is this withdrawal or to many med changes at once
  • Mentor

I'm okay with not making any med changes like you suggested.  My concern is all the different things going on.  I had such a hard time with the side effects going on the Lexapro. Most of these symptoms were present before Lexapro.  I started on Sat. morning, by Sun night I was so drugged my head was wobbling, I could hardly talk,  I was stoned  I was so out of it, anxiety, depression, brain numbing, zapping, sore spots on the brain.  all these feeling in the brain would move around,  sometimes on the top of the brain, than the back of brain, paranoia, feeling fear and not know why, the left side of my face numb and sore. Left eye hurts off and on. Like I said  I had most of this before Lexapro (what I guess was from all the other drugs) but was intensified when I started Lexapro.    Can the start of Lexapro and the withdrawal from the other ones cause all this.  I'm worried the Lexapro is still causing some of the problems.  I'm still depressed.  This last week it let up for a few days and I felt some hope.  Friday comes and I feel the depression and hopelessness come back in, and the waves of fear and panic like I'm drowning or being sucked under water, dizzy, numb brain which makes it hard to think.  When you say stabilize, is that waiting for all the symptoms clear up or lessen.  The depression is the hardest, the negative thought and feeing's.  Think about death.  Are these the symptom's of a wave that you guys talk about.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
34 minutes ago, Greatful said:

Are these the symptom's of a wave that you guys talk about.

During the healing process, a wave is a period of worse symptoms followed by what we call a window, when you feel better, as described in the link about windows and waves in my initial response to you.  You're having ups and downs, so this could be classified as a wave.

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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  • Mentor

I forgot to put xanax in my list of drugs.  I take 1/2 of a .25mg every night with trazadone and melatonin.  I have been taking xanax daily since last summer when I started tapering Prozac.  I am very drug sensitive I usually can get by with 1/2  .25mg.  I was taking around 3 or 4 a day.  Since I started Magnesium glycinate and L theanine I have been able to drop down to just at night. (about a week now).   

I bought a scale to accurately get the right dosing everyday.  I have been braking them in half, my Trazadone  25mg,  Lamictal 37.5mg and xanax . ( not always even) I am hoping that this will help with my stabilization.   This withdrawal from all the different med in the last  5 months and  acclimating to the Lexapro is very scary and lonely. Anxiety, panic, and depression can be very trying.  What does am cortisol surge mean?   My brain feels like it is going to explode at times, the numbing and tingling is going to drive me nuts.   The left side of my face is numb and sore.  I get left eye pressure and a sore eye, some blurriness .  I noticed today my right one is starting to feel pressure and soreness.  The crazy thing is it will come and go.  Light some times, then they are really sore.  My ears are starting to feel pressure on and off.  I am worrying  if the Lexapro is making things worse.  I want to tapper off now.  What I really need is support.  SA has been a big help.  It is comforting to get some answer on what is going on with me.  My Doctor does not get it.  I'm learning a lot. I read the threads and not sure how to start a dialog with other members.( I am very tech. challenged but learning). Any help to point me in the right direction would be much appreciated.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
17 minutes ago, Greatful said:

I forgot to put xanax in my list of drugs.  I take 1/2 of a .25mg every night with trazadone and melatonin. 

Please include this in your drug signature.  Here's the link to make the addition:

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

Here's explanation of morning cortisol surges:

 

Early-morning waking - managing the morning cortisol spike ...

 

I know your symptoms are difficult and scary.  They will get better.  Time is the great healer.

 

19 minutes ago, Greatful said:

I read the threads and not sure how to start a dialog with other members.

 

I'm tech-challenged too but you will get the hang of it.  One good way to start a dialog is to read the recent posts of members, particularly in the Introductions and updates forum but also in the other forums.  If you read something you relate to, or see someone you want to encourage, or have a question, post your thoughts.  There are two ways to make sure the member sees the post:

 

1.  You can highlight the section of their post on which you want to comment.  Then a rectangle with "quote selection" will appear.  Click on that and the member will be notified that you posted on his/her thread.  Or if it's a short post or you want to comment on the whole post, at the lower left of every post is a + sign and the word "quote."  Click on that and they'll be notified.

 

2.  Or you can se the @ followed by the member's name (no space between).  A rectangle will appear.  Click on that and then write your post.  The member will be notified that you posted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

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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  • Mentor

 

1 hour ago, Gridley said:

I already messed up.  Hit a key and end up here.  Anyway, a tough morning Depression and anxiety up.  Mornings are usually the hardest for me.     I was wondering if you could explain to me what  SERT means in layman's terms.  I have  a appointment with my therapist this afternoon and I would like to talk to her about everything I am learning.  It is hard right now do to Covid, we only meet tele Health, so that means I can give her any print outs. 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

@Greatful

 

You asked for an explanation of SERT in layman's terms.  

 

SERT means how many of your serotonin neurotransmitters (message senders) have been made to stop functioning by the SSRI antidepressant drug, in your case Lexapro.  

 

I think of it as parts of your brain that have been captured by the enemy (the drug) and been put out of commission.

 

There is a high rate of receptor occupancy at low doses of the drug.  That is to say, even on low doses of the drug, it is still having a major effect on the brain.  This is the reason for a very slow taper at low doses of the drug to allow your brain to adapt to your neurotransmitters gradually "coming back to life." 
 
 This link has more information: 

 

Edited by Gridley

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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  • Mentor

Please I need some reassurance and encouragement.  I am in a really big spiral.  My depression has been rough the last few days, dark for awhile than lifts to almost gone than returns.    My head feels like it is going to explode..  The pressure, tingling, buzzing and numbing in my brain is going to drive me nuts. My brain feels like it is in a panic,  maybe the nerves are all shorting out. I have been looking at other peoples symptoms, it seems most of what I read is they experience tingling and numbness in their hands and feet. Lucky me I get it all in my brain.

 

I know I started and stopped several med in the last 6 months and started Lexapro (bad side affects,  I wonder now if I am having a bad reaction to it) Can this really be withdrawals and going to 10mg and back down to5mg. on the Lexapro? I really want off this drug.  I can't wait until I can tapper off.  It's been 2 months since I quit Seroquel.  I don't have to reinstate do I? I have seen some glimmers of hope but they don't lasts long. 

 

I also dropped down to .125 of the xanax 1 time a day (at night.) When I started the Magnesium Glycinate and L theanine it helped a lot with the anxiety.( about a week now)   I was taking on average 2 to 4 tablets  .125mg a day.  Very drug sensitive.  That was enough to take the edge off.  Now I'm wondering if I should go up on the xanax again.  Do you think I'm having some wd from it?  I have been taking for about 7 months.  

 

I bough a scale from amazon, I'm trying to be more exact with the xanax and trazadone.  I was just braking them in half, not to careful with even brakes.  Do you think I'm adjusting to any changes form that.  I know starting to chase my tail.  It seems like we do this when we feel desperate and panicked, trying to find away out. I have reading and learning from other members.  I started to meditate and daily journal.  Doing some cbt from David Burns Feeling good Handbook. Learning how to recognize cognitive distortions.  I have a great Therapist who is on board to help me get through this.  I have a wonderful supportive husband, ( I know I am wearing him out).  A couple of my daughters that are there for me. I am hoping to learn as much as I can from SA.   Even with all that sometimes you feel scared and alone.    

Thank You for reading  

 

 

My  symptoms:

brain buzzing

brain tingling

brain feeling numb in spots moves around

headaches

sore and numb left side of face, eye and ear.  Sometimes it is on the right side, mostly left.

some muscle weakness

when anxiety is up ,   nausea 

Depression 

anxiety

restless sleep wake up on and off  anxiety starts around  5am

fatigue off and on

sound sensitivity

light sensitivity 

fear

paranoia 

panic

dizzy

 

 

 

 

 

  

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Mentor

 Here it is almost 3 in the morning.  I thought I should clarify,  all my symptoms I mentioned are not new.  Some have just been a little worse in the last few days.  So I started to try and figure out why the anxiety is up, not sleeping as well, more restless sleep, and the depression,  could it be the drop in xanax,  weighing the drugs etc.  Which brings me to my next question.  I am finding my tablets for Trazadone and the Lamictal vary slightly in weight.  How exact do you have to be.  I bought Gem 20 (jewelry scale) from Amazon. I better try and go back to sleep.  We will see how the morning is.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Mentor

@Gridley  I would really appreciate some advice.  I know this is a holiday weekend, when you can please get back to me I have an appt with my Doctor tomorrow ( the one how told me to take a med holiday) he is expecting me to be done with Lexapro.  I took your advice and stayed on the 5mg.  It has been a rough road (as you can tell by my plea for help the other day.  I know we all grasp for quick answers and I want to thank all you moderators for the patience you show us that are struggling to get well.  I also noticed that my little bump in the road is around the same time I went from cutting 10mg tablets to 5mg tablets, they are from 2 different manufactures.  I have always been sensitive to different generic manufactures.  Anyway, do you have any thought on the brand name being a better choice? Should I ask for name brand Lexapro.(not sure if insurance will pay.  My therapist claims the doctor can strongly request). My other choice is try and stick with the 5mg manufacture that I am on now.  I seem to b stabling a little.  The only thing is I have run into the past is chasing down manufactures because the pharmacy can not get the one I needed at the time,  they claim there is none available, or their wholesaler has gone with a different manufacture. 

 

Thank You 

Greatful 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
3 hours ago, Greatful said:

2 different manufactures.  I have always been sensitive to different generic manufactures.  Anyway, do you have any thought on the brand name being a better choice? 

To the best of my knowledge, there is no cross-the-board "best" generic.  Some people do better on one, some on another.  Some people are more tolerant of differences than others.  Regarding whether brand name Lexapro is better than generics, there are different views.  Generics manufactured in the U.S. are held to certain manufacturing standards, but there are going to be some variances, among the different generics and also between generics and brand name.  Whether those variances are going to affect you is unknown.  You know your body better than anyone, and if you know yourself to be sensitive to these differences, that's a big factor to consider in terms of consistence as you move forward.

 

Here are some pros and cons for you to weigh:

 

A disadvantage of switching to brand Lexapro is that it is another change and, if possible, it's best to minimize changes.  (Of course, as you note, there is the possibility or even probability of your generic being changed and possibly more than once). There's the question of expense and insurance coverage. Another consideration: switching (from generic to brand or from generic to generic) should be done gradually.  For now and your future reference, here is our recommended crossover schedule:

 

3/4 dose old, 1/4 dose new for 3 to 7 days

1/2, 1/2 for 3 to 7 days

1/4 dose old, 3/4 dose new for 3 to 7 days

all new thereafter

 

Don't taper while in the crossover period (only one change at a time).

 

As to advantages of changing to brand Lexapro, you'll be assured of always getting the same drug without being subject to the vagaries of availability.  There's also the psychological aspect.  Some tests have indicated that much, if not virtually all, of the effect of antidepressant drugs is placebo, and this aspect isn't to be underestimated.  I remember when I was on brand name Tofranil and suddenly could only get generic Imipramine.  I was very concerned and was sure I could tell a difference between the brand and the generic.  Was there a physical difference?  Or was it "only" psychological?  No way to know.  Both are real.

 

Edited by Gridley

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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  • Mentor

@GridleyThank for the info.  I will have to think in it.  I may have to see if the pharmacy still has the manufacture from the one I am using now.  He only gave me 14 day supply because I was suppose to be done....I will not have tablets left to crossover properly.  Which is always going to be the problem, you only get 1 month supply at a time.  I really hate being so sensitive. 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
35 minutes ago, Greatful said:

Which is always going to be the problem, you only get 1 month supply at a time.  I really hate being so sensitive. 

I understand.  Just do the best you can with whatever inventory you have or can get.

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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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Mentor

@Gridley  Update:

It has been 11 weeks since I ct Seroquel and started Lexapro.

I started weighing my Trazadone and Xanax and Lamictal  I was just braking them in half.  I see now that I was not getting the same dose every day.

Trazadone 25mg

Lamictal  37.5

Xanax .125mg at night.  I stated in a earlier comment that I quit taking xanax during the day.  About a week later I started to notice I was feeling sick and nauseas around 4pm.  So I started braking off a piece (around 1/2 of a .125mg) at around 4-5pm.  That seems to have helped.  I am so glad that I was very conservative when I started taking it about 8 months ago.  Usually no more than 5mg split up throughout the day.  My pdoc was recommending I could take more.  I guess my body was conditioned to take even that small amount.   Scary....

 

Melatonin .5mg.  I was waking up with depression in the morning and feeling sluggish. I remember reading that a uncommon side effect of Melatonin is short term depression.  Not sure what they mean by sort term depression?  So on Monday I started to brake off to brake off some, not sure the exact amount.  I have been waking up feeling a little better. (maybe just a wave)  I did not sleep as well the first couple of nights.  Who know what is what. 

 

I have been feeling a little stronger, my anxiety and depression are way down. (Maybe just in a wave this  week) My brain sensations are still a problem, and I get over stimulated easily.  I work for a school, in food service, so I am off for the summer.  My brain would often feel like it was going to explode or I would have a lot of buzzing, tingling and squeezing sensations when I would get home. The disconnected thinking is really frustrating.  Shopping and being around people also is to simulating.  

 

I have been trying to meditate 2 times a day. Now that school is out I will be walking almost everyday. Starting around 2 miles a day.  Learning acceptance is hard and that thoughts are just that THOUGHTS.

 

I am anxious for some reassurance.  I am reading  Your Drug Might Be Your Problem    BY Peter Breggin  and David Cohen.   They imply that some people  may have irreversible change from taking these drugs.  I worry since I have been on a antidepressant for over 20 year that I will have done damage to my brain........I don't even know if I ever needed meds.  I was put on it meds in my early 30 because of having waves of panic over a situation.  I have always been in a fight or flight mode from around age 11 or 12 yrs old do to a unstable home life which cause constant fear.  I wonder if I would have gotten therapy things would have turned out differently.  

 

Here is my inpatients... When I started Lexapro I had such bad side effects.  I am so scared the brain sensations are mostly from the drug...

It makes me want off this drug.   I also know that some of the craziness can be a from going off the Seroquel  ct., all the withdrawals from going  on off the other drugs (maybe withdrawal from the Prozac also) and big decreases with the Lamictal.

 

You advise I wait 3 months . That would bring around July 1st. If I do start a taper around than, what do you recommend for a starting  point.  It has be a nightmare for the since last Fall. I am afraid of going back to that nightmare.  As much as I want off, I do not want to go to backwards in withdrawal from where I am at right now.  I also think that I should use the Brassmonkey slide.

 

 I have an appt. with a new pdoc on June 29th.  As of right now it will be a video appt.  I will not be able give her any printed out information.  I do not want to go in there with guns blazing.  I am so angry with my present pdoc.  I want to go in with the hope that her and I will be able to work together.  What information do you think would be the best to have ready. 

 

Also my therapist is very much interested in some literature that she can look at. Fact based. She is curious if my diagnosis, first depression and anxiety,  meds were not making everything better.  I know now I was suffering from withdrawal when I was hospitalized in Oct 2015.  I had tried to go off Lexapro that summer. A lot of med changes, while in the hospital and than when I got home, ended back on Prozac,  since I would have energetic times through all the years I was on antidepressants   I should add Lamictal for mood stabilizer,  changed it to biplor 2. She is wondering if the meds may have caused  the hypomania..   I told her about SA and Withdrawal Project Form.  I think it is  called " withdrawal.innercompose.org "   She is really behind me and it seem to me  she wants to learn.... Can you help me with this also

Thanks Greatful

 

.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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49 minutes ago, Greatful said:

I have been trying to meditate 2 times a day. Now that school is out I will be walking almost everyday. Starting around 2 miles a day.  Learning acceptance is hard and that thoughts are just that THOUGHTS.

Hi Greatful,

Stopping by to give you some support. It’s great you’re meditating and walking, these should definitely help you. I don’t know where I’d be without meditation, I recommend a daily practice, even if you can only do it once a day.

52 minutes ago, Greatful said:

I am anxious for some reassurance.  I am reading  Your Drug Might Be Your Problem    BY Peter Breggin  and David Cohen.   They imply that some people  may have irreversible change from taking these drugs.  I worry since I have been on a antidepressant for over 20 year that I will have done damage to my brain........I don't even know if I ever needed meds.  I was put on it meds in my early 30 because of having waves of panic over a situation.  I have always been in a fight or flight mode from around age 11 or 12 yrs old do to a unstable home life which cause constant fear.  I wonder if I would have gotten therapy things would have turned out differently.  

Yes, you are going to be okay, just give it some time and listen to the moderator’s advice on tapering, they know what they’re doing!! I too have been on medication for 20 years for anxiety and panic from trauma. This experience gave me an opportunity to really work on myself and learn how to heal my trauma and accept my emotions. Don’t waste time wondering what could have happened, the past is the past. Focus on right now and how you can improve your situation. Learn non drug coping skills. Be kind and patient with yourself. 

Sending you healing vibes 💓

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Moderator Emeritus
2 hours ago, Greatful said:

They imply that some people  may have irreversible change from taking these drugs.  I worry since I have been on a antidepressant for over 20 year that I will have done damage to my brain

It has been our experience on this site that we all recover from these drugs.  Anecdotally, I've been on an antidepressant (Imipramine) for over 35 years and my brain is fine.

 

2 hours ago, Greatful said:

If I do start a taper around than, what do you recommend for a starting  point.  It has be a nightmare for the since last Fall. I am afraid of going back to that nightmare.  As much as I want off, I do not want to go to backwards in withdrawal from where I am at right now.  I also think that I should use the Brassmonkey slide.

 

We recommend tapering activating drugs (such as SSRI's like Lexapro) first, leaving sedating drugs in place to help with sleep to be tapered later.  So I'd start with the Lexapro.  I tapered Lexapro using the Brassmonkey slide and recommend that method.

 

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

The link is specifically about tapering Lexapro, including how to get the small non-standard doses needed for a taper.  Prescription Lexapro liquid is a convenient and easy way to taper Lexapro.  If you choose that method, we recommend a crossover period from the tablet to the liquid to acclimate your system to the liquid.  The crossover schedule is in my May 31 post to you.  The link also contains information about other tapering methods, including weighing tablet powder with a digital scale.

 

Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro)

 

2 hours ago, Greatful said:

What information do you think would be the best to have ready.

 

The U.K. is ahead of the U.S. in terms of acknowledging withdrawal, and their official psychiatric organization, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, totally reversed their previous position on withdrawal in 2019 to admit that withdrawal can be both severe and long-lasting.  Here are two links you can provide:

 

 

And here's an article with leaders in the RCP explaining why they wrote that. 

 

 
Our link on the 10% every four weeks taper (which is a bit faster than the Brassmonkey slide) lists several experts who recommend the 10% taper.  Here's the link:
 
 
2 hours ago, Greatful said:

She is wondering if the meds may have caused  the hypomania.

Hypomania is a common side effect of antidepressants and antidepressant withdrawal.  Google Survivingantidepressants.org hypomania and read through the posts.  See also number 21 of this list of common antidepressant withdrawal symptoms written by psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Glenmullan

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

Here's his bio if your doctor wants to check his credentials.

 

Joseph Glenmullen | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Gridley

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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  • Mentor

@GridleyThank you again for getting back to me and for all your support.  I will look things over,  I have a few week until I need to make any decisions.   

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Mentor

@Mia1Thanks so much for your encouragement.  It sure came a the right time.  I  received my copy of medical history from the  pdoc. I had to sigh a release for my records to be sent to my new pdoc.  I wanted a copy for myself.  I read through them, I am not sure if it was a good idea.

It seems I was never fully happy on the meds.  I can't believe how many times the doctor thought I wasn't using the xanax enough to control the anxiety.  I can read all their notes on the office visits.   I am really scared, I don't know how I will do off the meds or how I will make it through the tapering.   I'll I remember through the years is feeling drugged or anxious, sad.  I tried to go off a few times by myself and crashed. 

I thought all my symptom were coming back when I would crash after I tried to stop on my own.  The anxiety was a constant wave after wave through my body all day long, then the dark depression.  The funny thing is I never was that depressed before meds. Slow and steady to by pass that............

 

Yes I do agree that it will take acceptance, patients, positive attitude, support from my husband, family, educating myself and support from everyone here on SA.  I will also be working with my therapist personal issues. 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Mentor

I guess my 5 days of a nice window with less anxiety and depression is now closing.  Depression is returning.  I read most people talk about low mood or sadness, I'm thinking it is their way of saying depression.  Is the word depression a label and that is why sadness and low mood are used? I hate the hopelessness and despair that I feel with it.  I am trying to be okay with it and not fight it. It is hard not to go down the self defeating thinking. I did go for a walk, planted a Hosta and watered some plants. I enjoy sitting on my front porch outside and listening to the bird sing and the wind through the trees.  I have to move forward and keep going.  Tomorrow will be better.....

 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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How are you feeling today?

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Mentor

@Gridley  @Mia1@WordsinOrbit Doing some research on some of my meds.  I read the article  "What is happening to your brain"   By the women recovering from Benzo WD

 

I think Lamictal effects the gaba  neurotransmitter in a similar  way

 

Lamictal also binds and weakly inhibits several other signaling receptors in the brain, including those to which dopamine and serotonin normally bind. By inhibiting these receptors, signaling in the brain is “tuned down,” or reduced, which can also decrease seizure activity

Why would they me give a ssri to increase serotonin and then give Lamictal that can inhibit serotonin?  Do the doctors know what they are doing.....
 

Lamotrigine enhances the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter that attenuates neuronal electrical activity associated with paroxysms.

 

 researchers have found that lamotrigine also inhibits release of the neurotransmitter glutamate.

 

GABA is inihibitory.  If a nerve releases GABA - it is to Inhibit function - this could be to "slow it down" or it could be to "limit the sensory input" so that we can process it.  In the same way, GABA might be released to help "steady" your hand while doing something like painting a very detailed painting.  GABA "shores up" movements to make them more fluid.   That's just in a nutshell. Of COURSE it does a lot more than this, but the idea is that GABA is present in the ENTIRE CNS and ALWAYS working to balance every sensation, movement, etc.

This statement is from the article  "What is happening to your brain"

 

So that means my gaba and my glutamate are trying to get it more balanced again after fast tapering to a low dose, no wonder I have anxiety, depression and disconnected thinking.  Can my brain be more confused.  Oh wait we also have the Lexapro to increase serotonin and the Lamictal is inhibiting it.  We might as well throw in a dash of xanax  and a dash of Trazadone.   

 

This make sense now, when I was on 200mg of Lamictal I was losing my memory.  I had a real hard time doing paper work that had anything  to do with numbers.  It was a problem at work.  My brain felt slow.  It was hard for me to think a  thought all the way though.  My mind would not go there.  I had a hard time thinking of words.  Since I dropped down to 37.5mg. Sometimes when I would taper down, within 24 hrs I would feel a loosening feeling in the front of my brain.  Like a knot loosening.  I noticed a big difference at work,  I can do paper work.

 

So when I feel all the different sensations that move around my brain( it's been going on for months) I will tell myself my brain is healing in that area.  Man this WD is painful and disheartening at times.  Please tell me there is a light at the end of the tunnel.......😪

 

It may also explain why my brain feels like it's in a blender that gets mixed every so often.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Mentor

@Mia1 Thanks for checking in.  It helps.  I am having a rough morning.  My husband left to go out of town for work.  It's only until late Wednesday night.  He works from home so I am use to him being here.  The days are long enough when you feel crappy, but when I'm alone it seems worse.

I'm going to for a walk, make myself move. Then have something to eat and meditate.  

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

Link to comment
4 hours ago, Greatful said:

So when I feel all the different sensations that move around my brain( it's been going on for months) I will tell myself my brain is healing in that area.  Man this WD is painful and disheartening at times.  Please tell me there is a light at the end of the tunnel.......😪

That’s a perfect thing to tell yourself because it’s true!! You are getting better every day. Yes, it can feel painful at times but from what you told me you really are putting in amazing work. And when that doesn’t seem to be working sometimes the best thing to do is nothing, get out of our own way and let our bodies heal. 

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Mentor

@Mia1  Do ever experience anger that turns to rage.  Today has been a range of emotions.  Depression, hopelessness, tearful, panic  anger turn to rage now back to sadness.  Something must be going on my head feels like it is going to roll right off of my head.  I had intense anxiety the last few days. Now I feel fatigue.  Please let this day be over.  These waves magnify your neg feelings about yourself. I feel so worthless.  I know I am babbling like a baby.  I don't want to spiral down that hole.  My husband is not home to listen so I hope you don't mind my tantrum.  My poor husband doesn't know how to help some days.  He tries but it is nice to express to someone who knows what this pain feels like.  

I think of you Mia1 and it reminds me to not fight it and try let it be........Thank you for being there.  As I am having a sobbing melt down as I am typing this. 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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I do experience quite an array of intense emotions, especially anger and anxiety as a result of withdrawal. The key is to recognize what is going on and not feed the emotions so they turn to rage and panic. I know it can seem hard at first but keep meditating and shifting your focus back to the present moment. This helps get you out of your head and your symptoms won’t be as intense. Just keep practicing mindfulness every day and it will get easier to do.

Please feel free to express yourself to me anytime, it can seem scary and endless in the beginning, I really do understand. You are doing an amazing job and putting so much work into this. I happen to think you’re amazing and I just met you!!

Please remember that YOU are really in control and YOU choose what you focus on, even when it doesn’t feel like it. I think the mindfulness work is really going to help you. Yes, don’t resist but don’t focus on it either. The river doesn’t doesn’t worry when or how it’s going to go downstream.

 In the beginning when I was barely functional I ordered a paint by numbers on Amazon. It was pretty complex and took a lot of time and focus. It really helped when I had difficulty focusing on anything but my symptoms. Do you think that’s something you might like?

I’m sending you big hugs 🤗❤️

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Mentor

@AltostrataHi I would like some advice.  As you can see I tried to get off of Prozac last summer, crashed in Nov. I didn't know it was WD. With the pdoc we went off and on meds for 5 months and did big tapers on Lamictal.  I ended up on Lexapro, 5mg ( I was told to try up to 10mg but my brain and anxiety went nuts) and it exaggerated WD.  my brain is still a a scrambled mess. Pdoc told me to stop, but by this time I was on it a month.  I joined SA and was advise to stabilize.  I had the pharmacogenomic test done by Genesight.  Lexapro is in the red category. 

 

CYP2C19 ultra rapid metabolizer  CYP2D6  normal  and CYP3A4 normal I also have:

 

SLC6A4 Intermediate Response G/G This individual is homozygous variant for the G allele of the -1438G>A polymorphism for the Serotonin Receptor Type 2A. They carry two copies of the G allele. This genotype has been associated with an increased risk of adverse drug reactions with certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. L/S This patient is heterozygous for the short/long promoter polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene. The short promoter allele is reported to decrease expression of the serotonin transporter compared to the homozygous long promoter allele. The patient may have a moderately decreased likelihood of response to certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors due to the presence of the short form of the gene. 


 

HTR2A Increased Sensitivity SLC6A4 Intermediate Response G/G This individual is homozygous variant for the G allele of the -1438G>A polymorphism for the Serotonin Receptor Type 2A. They carry two copies of the G allele. This genotype has been associated with an increased risk of adverse drug reactions with certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

 

I'm not sure if it is helping with WD.  Should I keep waiting to stabilize more?  I worry that I am in WD and having a adverse reaction to Lexapro? Is that possible. 

Thanks for any input you can give me...  I'm a mess........

Greatful 

 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Mentor

@sideraleI felt like it was better for me to tag you in my thread.  I didn't want to go on about me and fill up you thread.

Like I said it is encouraging  to see you in a window.  I have been struggling these last few days.  Last week I had a few days  anxiety and depression way down,  I felt some of the old me, then the wave hit. Do you get depression?  Sat. Sun. depressed and high anxiety.  Mon. depression, anxiety horrible mood swings,  the anger scared me.  Yesterday sad, anxiety and very tired.  This morning I am tired, nauseated, weak, shaky and sad.  I find it strange how my high noise sensitivity will abate (I really enjoyed sitting on my front deck last week and listening to the birds and the wind in the trees). Then, yesterday I couldn't be out side much, I felt to sensitized.  I needed very little noise. 

I feel trapped. ( so proud and amazed at your courage not to reinstate,  not that I would blame you if you did.  Somedays it feels like you would do anything to stop the pain. This is a very painful journey)  When I am so miserable I start to worry that maybe I am mentality sick, but my symptoms tell me it's WD.  My head has been buzzing and doing crazy things since I started  too fast a taper off of Prozac last summer.  If my pdoc Knew what he was doing maybe I wouldn't be in this mess.  You can read through my little story.   So I have to ride it out.  I can't add anything to my poor brain. 

 

What is your secret to get through the day or should I say sometimes the minute, when you hit a low.  I have to remind myself that I am going through a drug withdrawal and there is nothing to be ashamed of.  You know the crying and the melt downs.  Mostly why this is so hard.

I have been meditating, journaling, going for a walk most days.  The days get long,  I don't have energy or will to do anything.  Watching TV can be to stimulating. I don't want to visit with family or friends.  It takes to much to carry on a conversation.  My brain feels like it can't keep up.  I have had a few good heart wrenching  cry's.  When things start to gets out of control it is hard to practice acceptance and to let the intrusive thought pass through.  The sadness can be overwhelming.  How can this keep going on.......

 Sorry, I probably not making much sense,  my brain is numb an not thinking right

 

 

Today I have a appt. with my therapist,  she is on board to help me .  I have a lot of self healing to do.  When you hit rock bottom, your willing to tell your deep dark pain.  I hate that we have to do our meetings through video.  I really need to have  human contact.  Oh well at least I can see her on my computer.  

 

Thanks for reading 

 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Administrator

How do you feel on 5mg Lexapro? What time of day do you take it? Do you feel better or worse after you take it?

 

In the last 2 weeks, how often have you taken Xanax? Has there been a period when you took it every day, or more than once a day?

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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  • Mentor

Thanks so much for getting back to me.  I can't even imagine the amount of time you put in to help us.  So Thank You

 

How do I feel on Lexapro?  

 When I took it in the morning, about 4 hrs later I would feel really sick and nauseated. I take it at 5pm now, so I am going to bed around  the 4 hrs.  

It is hard to tell how much is withdrawal from Prozac and all the start, stop of the meds  in the last 6 months and or a reaction from the Lexapro. 

 

 My reaction when I started Lexapro  was pretty intense.  Drugged, slurred speech, dizzy, brain buzzing, electricity running all around my brain like it was plugged into a light socket and nausea.  The higher I went up  in the dose the more my brain felt buzzing, panicky and intense and I was getting more intense anxiety and anger.  I still feel a undertone of that.  My brain is in a constant buzzing mess and or spikes being driven in at different spots. It goes on all day.  

 

I have been taking xanax pretty much daily for the last 6 months.  I was taking  around .125mg about 4 to 5 times a day. No set schedule. So around .5mg a day.  I am very drug sensitive. 

I have cut down to .125mg at bed time and 1/2 of a .125mg at 5pm with my Lex.  I tried to go without all day only taking it at night about 2 weeks ago, but after about 5 days I noticed I was getting a sick feeling in my stomach around 3:30pm to  4:00pm not feeling good so I started

back to taking 1/2 of .125mg when I take my Lexapro at 5pm.  Sometimes it seems to help????

 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Mentor

@Mia1@KittenLePurr I am in a very dark place right now.  I feel over whelmed.  I am scared, can I make it through this.  I read some of the other threads and see so much pain and that they have endured it for years.  I don't know how they kept moving forward. I know not everyone struggles with wd for years.  Please tell me that they have windows that gives them brakes.  That they are not in constant pain.  

 

 I know that I have a lot of work I need to do on myself, face my past, the pain and retrain my brain and learn healthy coping skills.   I am realizing now,  that my thoughts and coping skills were developed through the eyes of a frightened and desperate child  Very distorted. The meds all those years dulled the pain so I could struggle through life.  Now with the wd and being on a small dose of meds the ability to cope is hard.  It feels like everything is coming to a head.  How do I manage the wd that makes all your neuro emotions way worse and even distorting your fears even more. I am so use to running from them.  I don't want to run anymore.   It is sad how things can seem so real in your mind.  I don't want to live like that scared little girl who is trying to be so perfect.    What is I think is perfect maybe a distortion in my mind.

 

I had a few days a week ago were I felt stronger, depression, anxiety were way down and I had more common sense.  last Saturday the wave came in and I have been all over the map with wd since.  I really want to heal and become a whole person without meds.  I don't  think it would happen on meds because they only helped me to push it all down deep and cover it up.  At least that's what they did.  Now being so vulnerable has forced some of the pain to the top.     

 

I do have a therapist that will help me.  It is getting through each  long day.  What little thing can I tell myself to get through the distorted thinking,   that I will get a window and things will make more sense in my mind.  I want a new life, rid of the pain, fear and distorted thoughts and be free to finally enjoy my life with my husband, children, and grandchildren.   I have pushed them away for so many years ,  I never felt worthy of there love.  The meds made me angry and  even more withdrawn and I started to isolate from them, family and friends. If I can get the meds out of my system and let myself feel  with real emotions I feel I am on the right path. 

 

Both of you women are so strong.  You seem to be able to handle your wd and personal trauma with confidence.  Can I be jealous.

Or maybe I can reach down deep and Pray to find the strength  to trust in God, that he will help me through this

 

I don't want to feel alone

Sorry I am talking so negative.  But don't we all need a save place to release our pain.  My husband is there for me in everyway he can be. I worry sometimes that he is getting over whelmed and tired out. 

 Sometimes women need other women to talk to.  Especially when you girls know wd and emotional trauma.  Besides  women generally  express with more emotion and less logic.  If that makes any sense...... 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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1 hour ago, Greatful said:

I am in a very dark place right now.  I feel over whelmed.  I am scared, can I make it through this.  I read some of the other threads and see so much pain and that they have endured it for years.  I don't know how they kept moving forward. I know not everyone struggles with wd for years.  Please tell me that they have windows that gives them brakes.  That they are not in constant pain.  

I’m really sorry you’re struggling so much and in pain. I understand how scary this can seem. I talk about acceptance so much because once you truly get there everything that was a problem before becomes manageable. Symptoms that seemed intolerable now become okay. You learn that, just like life, you have to take w/d one day at a time and know that everything is going to work out, because it will. You are okay but YOU need to believe it. I can’t tell you how to get there but maybe a path towards acceptance looks like connecting with the meaning behind why this is happening, maybe what you need to learn from it and what needs to be healed. Connect with your higher power, there’s no greater safety than that. This can be a profound spiritual journey if you allow it. 

I would not recommend being on the site too much reading other people’s stories when you are in fear. A LOT of people on this site are in the same exact position and it will do nothing but increase your fear. If you have connected positively with a couple people I would stick with that and the topics like self care until you find yourself in a better space. Connect with nature, family, friends or perhaps just yourself.  What you focus on creates your reality so focus on the positive!

1 hour ago, Greatful said:

How do I manage the wd that makes all your neuro emotions way worse and even distorting your fears even more. I am so use to running from them.  I don't want to run anymore.   It is sad how things can seem so real in your mind.  I don't want to live like that scared little girl who is trying to be so perfect.    What is I think is perfect maybe a distortion in my mind.

You allow the thoughts and feelings to come without resistance or engaging them. It’s like how you let thoughts come and go during meditation. They can’t stay unless you empower them and even if you do they still won’t stay forever. This will seem scary at first because you’re not used to it but with practice it will get easier. I would suggest practicing mindfulness during the day if you’re not already to help you stay in the moment and be mindful of your thoughts. These are all skills that you must develop with a daily practice. It gets easier with time. Remember, thoughts are just thoughts and feelings are just feelings. Everything is neutral, we assign the good or bad value.

And you don’t have to be perfect!! Just do the best you can and accept the rest.

1 hour ago, Greatful said:

I do have a therapist that will help me.  It is getting through each  long day.  What little thing can I tell myself to get through the distorted thinking,   that I will get a window and things will make more sense in my mind.  I want a new life, rid of the pain, fear and distorted thoughts and be free to finally enjoy my life with my husband, children, and grandchildren.   I have pushed them away for so many years ,  I never felt worthy of there love.  The meds made me angry and  even more withdrawn and I started to isolate from them, family and friends. If I can get the meds out of my system and let myself feel  with real emotions I feel I am on the right path. 

I’m happy you are working with a therapist who is helping you. Be mindful what you are telling yourself, words are powerful. I suggested in a previous post that perhaps you would benefit from some sort of art project. If this is not your thing find something you really like to do like gardening or knitting, some project to get your focus off your symptoms and get you engaged. I think it’s important to have some kind of structure to your day and plan a lot of things that you enjoy. 

That’s a powerful statement, you never felt worthy of their love. Self love is a big issue for a lot of people. Be kind to yourself and find the things you really like about yourself. Write one thing down about yourself everyday that you’re proud of, even if it’s just getting out of bed. Start a gratitude journal if you don’t already have one. These help to retrain your brain to focus on the positive aspects of yourself and life. You really are worthy and absolutely enough in this present moment, you just have to realize it. 

1 hour ago, Greatful said:

Or maybe I can reach down deep and Pray to find the strength  to trust in God, that he will help me through this

Keep asking for help, you will get it. Look at the people in your life who are helping and supporting you, God put them there. You are never alone. And like I said before I am no more strong or confident than you, I just realized it first. You can do this, keep putting in the work and accept your life exactly as it is RIGHT NOW. It’s all a gift and everything happens for us, not to us.

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Mentor

@Mia1  Thank you for the words of encouragement.  I will keep reading you postings to me to help remind me of all advice.  When my brain is so scrambled and numb I have a hard time remembering things.  So it is good re-read things to help keep it in your mind....

 

My day went okay.  As well as can be at this time.  I am trying not be hard on myself, neg self talk...My niece is having a wedding shower today and I just couldn't go,  I have to remind myself that I need to take care of myself and when I am ready I will start getting back into life..

 

I did go for a walk, Made lunch for me and my husband,  went to home depot with my husband...My brain was about to explode on the way home from the store. To much stimulation. Now the whole left side of my face is sore and numb, and my left eye is sore.... I want to be able do the things I use to.   I try remind myself that this is not something that I can make go away, I am going through a drug withdrawal... Patience and self care do not come easy for me.  I will have to work on that or my recovery will be slower.....

Thanks again

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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  • Administrator

Your Ativan use may be causing some of your problems.

 

Please keep daily notes of times of day you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. This can show if your symptoms are caused by one or another of your drugs.

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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How are you doing Greatful? 

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Mentor

@Mia1Thanks for checking up on me....Here I am 58 yrs old 6 children and 10 grandchildren and I still want to be thought of. ☺️My days have been rough in the morning,  almost  flu like,  feeling weak, fatigue, nausea, down and a different anxiety from normal.. 

It has lightened up in the evening.  One day at a time.....

 

I did finally go out to my daughters (and her husband) house today with my husband,  it was hard,  but it was nice to get out of the house.  She has a 2 month old daughter and I have only seen her a few times.  She also has a 2 yr old son who gets so excited to see nana and papa.  My head was quite buzzy and Tingley by the time I got home.  It can be hard to carry on a conversation when your brain is not working right.   

 

I tagged you on Kittenlepurr thread.   I have to say girl I want your courage and strength. 

 

How are you doing? 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, 0.1mg

Lamictal  taper   from July 2022 to Oct 2022  0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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