CasuallyMagical Posted August 27, 2021 Share Posted August 27, 2021 Hello wonderful people. I’m going through withdrawals from 18 months on SSRIs, recently 9 months on 10 mg fluoxetine, after stopping cold turkey. I understand trying several drugs has increased my CNS sensitivity and made cessation worse then previous drugs. I had tried fluoxetine thirteen or so years ago briefly after a “friend” gave me their fluoxetine the loss of another companion. I stopped after a few weeks when I broke out into panic sweets I never had before and some random brain zaps. Fast forwarding to 2021, I completely stopped fluoxetine after ten days or two weeks of skipping a day of ‘meds’ on June 1st went cold turkey. It took three weeks before experiencing the withdrawals symptoms. I first felt the urge to answer the door but knowing I hadn’t actually heard anything but kept thinking that I had. That passed in two days then a day or two of extreme irritability. Then flu like symptoms kicked in on the 22nd of June. Followed by a 36 hour straight anxiety attack. I was very pale and mild fever, but mostly weak. I started sweating mildew smelling sweat from my neck and back only at night. This continued in waves and windows etc. As flu like symptoms diminished, they exchanged for fear and anxiety, excessive worry and depression like I have never experienced. …“This is not my depression.” On the drug I had paradoxical effects as well as off of. I experienced mania, racing thoughts, and a complete switch from patience and thoughtfulness to a being a complete @-hole. The entire time on/off until recently I have had severe acid reflux, occasional hyperarousal, and strange sexual side effects. I can’t touch caffeine anymore after being a three cups a day drinker. Did I forget the daily crying spells, nausea, dizziness, ‘flash’ rashes and often a strong inability to focus? I actually don’t mind the crying spells since I am indeed actually going through hard times despite the withdrawals. I started feeling better until about a week ago, august 20th began a new low point. I think I entered a new phase of withdrawal. I started getting tingling and numbness in my hands mostly. The flu symptoms are less but anxiety has new caveats such as waking up abruptly, not being able to sleep at night then sleeping in the daylight hours. The weird sweating is mostly gone. I get a strange metallic taste sometimes and jaw clenching is almost daily. The depression is not as bad, so hopefully my brain is adjusting. What is getting unbearable is the fatigue and tinnitus. The tinnitus started a few days into August and has slowly gotten worse. I thought I could go back to work but two days of work exhausted me so that I basically went into another low point. I am forever done with antidepressants. I would rather eat glass then take another antidepressant ever again. The way I see it is yes I stopped too quickly, but it was having a dangerous paradoxical effect, all antidepressants I have taken have in some form or another, especially fluoxetine. These days of my life are wasted on the withdrawals symptoms, and I often consider if I could trade making symptoms worse if it would speed up this process so that I could be within a range of starting normal life again. I stopped a stronger dose of duloxetine after a year in 2019 with much less consequences than now. I think I do have a higher sensitivity to fluoxetine as well as the Lexapro and paroxetine I had taken starting late 2020 to probably July 2021(I can’t recall exact details atm). Anybody else report sensitivity to one drug in particular? How likely/often is this change permanent? Does the ototoxicity and tinnitus symptoms ever stop? This is hell, I feel so bad for the others who experiences are far worse than my own. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Moderator Go2zero Posted August 27, 2021 Moderator Share Posted August 27, 2021 Welcome to this support site. Before we can answer your questions, please give us more information first. Good that you came here. There is a lot of knowledge to be found and shared here. Also the members can support each other here. Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on? It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase. Please read the link below for instructions. This will allow us to give you the best guidance. Be very specific about the dosage and meds changes over the last 12-24 months please! After having this info, we can react more in detail. https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/18343-please-summarize-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/ So sorry to read what you are going through. All symptoms you describe are typical withdrawal symptoms from anti depressants. We see very often that the more often people start and stop AD's the more sensitive they get to changes... Here is already some important info: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/82-the-windows-and-waves-pattern-of-stabilization/ https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/759-tips-for-tapering-off-prozac-fluoxetine/ 1993 Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006 No medication 2006 Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin 2016 Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems. April 2017 – March 2019 Lexapro 0,6 mg April 2017 - August 2018 Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step. March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..) Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg October 2019 Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg March 2020 Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin until total off Prozac. February 2020 – November 2020 Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. Jan 2021 : Prozac down to: 0,55> 0,53>0,51mg, Feb 0,47mg , Mar 0,42mg, Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg Long hold of 172 days until March 2022 January 20, 2022: Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14 Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11 Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 , June 0,07 , July 0,06, 0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009 Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007, 0,006, 0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb 0,0007. 0,0005, 0,0003, 0,0001, Feb 23, 2024: 0,00000 Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30 Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one. Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted September 14, 2021 Author Share Posted September 14, 2021 At 100 days from my last 10mg dose, why are some symptoms going away and gastrointestinal symptoms and tinnitus worsening? Is this common? 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Moderator Go2zero Posted September 14, 2021 Moderator Share Posted September 14, 2021 Thank you for making your signature. This gives us important information. The fact that you experience more withdrawal symptoms now compared to other times you stopped, has probably to do with the fact that you have been using, switching and stopping many AD's in history. The more often we do this, the more sensitized our nervous system may get. So it does not have to do with the prozac itself, but more with all the changes in history. 2 hours ago, CasuallyMagical said: At 100 days from my last 10mg dose, why are some symptoms going away and gastrointestinal symptoms and tinnitus worsening? Is this common? Symptoms come and go. That is common... This happens in the pattern of waves and windows (see my first post). It can never be said what symptoms will come or go next or how long they last. In the end they will go as part of the healing. No one can say how long this will take. We all react different. https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/23081-are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take/?tab=comments#comment-492493 When one tapered too fast or went CT there is a possibility to TRY and decrease withdrawal symptom by reinstating a very low dose of the med. Normally we advice this when one stopped not more than 1 month ago. After this month the success rate becomes less. But prozac has a very long half life and it takes up to 3 months to wash out from the body. So if you want you could try. It is not without risk, but maybe worthwhile trying when WD symptoms are heavy. Please read this first: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/?tab=comments#comment-33809 If you want to do this, I would advise to start with 1 mg prozac and see if that helps. Give it at least on week to see what it does. The easiest way it to ask you doctor for liquid prozac. That works easiest for taking such low dosages. Alternative is making your own liquid from prozac pills. https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/2693-how-to-make-a-liquid-from-tablets-or-capsules/ https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1596-using-a-scale-to-weigh-and-measure-doses/ 1993 Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006 No medication 2006 Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin 2016 Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems. April 2017 – March 2019 Lexapro 0,6 mg April 2017 - August 2018 Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step. March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..) Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg October 2019 Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg March 2020 Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin until total off Prozac. February 2020 – November 2020 Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. Jan 2021 : Prozac down to: 0,55> 0,53>0,51mg, Feb 0,47mg , Mar 0,42mg, Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg Long hold of 172 days until March 2022 January 20, 2022: Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14 Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11 Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 , June 0,07 , July 0,06, 0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009 Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007, 0,006, 0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb 0,0007. 0,0005, 0,0003, 0,0001, Feb 23, 2024: 0,00000 Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30 Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one. Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted September 15, 2021 Author Share Posted September 15, 2021 I was on Lexapro for a 8 months before fluoxetine. I understand it purely effects Serotonin receptors unlike fluoxetine can also alter norepinephrine. Would a .5-1mg (or equivalent strength) dose of lexapro help ease the transition? Fluoxetine had some frightening side effects to my personality. Lexapro had too many strange bodily side effects so I thought I’d give fluoxetine a chance. I might need to tough it out but I frequently and without warning have very low to no energy. I have been water fasting four days now and oddly have more energy(not by much but fasting is helping). 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Moderator Go2zero Posted September 15, 2021 Moderator Share Posted September 15, 2021 6 hours ago, CasuallyMagical said: I was on Lexapro for a 8 months before fluoxetine. Your signature shows that you were on paroxetine as well before fluoxetine. And 5 months before that on lexapro? Please tell in detail with dosage and dates what you have used before. Please also put it in your signature. On 8/27/2021 at 8:02 PM, CasuallyMagical said: I think I do have a higher sensitivity to fluoxetine as well as the Lexapro and paroxetine I had taken starting late 2020 to probably July 2021(I can’t recall exact details atm). I understand you had sensitivity to lexapro as well. What is you plan and where do you want help with? Do you want to stop these meds? Are you looking for an alternative med? Do you want to reinstate a very low dose to try and stop withdrawal symptoms? Reintatement with a very low dose might be tricky. You are quite late for reinstatement. Normally we say within 1 month after stopping. If you would reinstate, I would say with Prozac. Since that was the med you have been using in the last year. Reinstating with an other med would be more tricky and unlogic. Furthermore you say that most meds (also lexapro) gave you negative reactions. https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/?tab=comments#comment-33809 If you would choose to reinstate, I think it would be best to start with 1 mg prozac and see what that does. You would need to give it at least 1 - 2 weeks. A good way would be to do that with liquid prozac since that is much more accurate to dose then weighing small dosages of pills or capsules. If you cannot get liquid prozac you could make your own from pills or capsules. If you need advise with that, please let us know. 1993 Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006 No medication 2006 Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin 2016 Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems. April 2017 – March 2019 Lexapro 0,6 mg April 2017 - August 2018 Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step. March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..) Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg October 2019 Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg March 2020 Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin until total off Prozac. February 2020 – November 2020 Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. Jan 2021 : Prozac down to: 0,55> 0,53>0,51mg, Feb 0,47mg , Mar 0,42mg, Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg Long hold of 172 days until March 2022 January 20, 2022: Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14 Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11 Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 , June 0,07 , July 0,06, 0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009 Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007, 0,006, 0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb 0,0007. 0,0005, 0,0003, 0,0001, Feb 23, 2024: 0,00000 Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30 Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one. Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted September 18, 2021 Author Share Posted September 18, 2021 Good I guess, because Im not interested in more drugs. My fear is towards my tingling and numbness in my hands, tinnitus, severe acid reflux, but mostly the exhaustion. I’m starting to get my mood and some energy back and things showing slight signs that my body is healing. I got a job a few weeks ago and two days of work exhausted me to my core and I was in bed for three days. Is this the rest of my life, the damage is done? Isn’t 110 day long enough to recover from 10mg Prozac? 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted September 22, 2021 Author Share Posted September 22, 2021 On 9/15/2021 at 6:17 AM, Go2zero said: Your signature shows that you were on paroxetine as well before fluoxetine. And 5 months before that on lexapro? Please tell in detail with dosage and dates what you have used before. Please also put it in your signature. 6 almost 7 months on lexapro before a 5-6 week period with paroxetine, then fluoxetine 10mg for almost nine months. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted November 5, 2021 Author Share Posted November 5, 2021 Dear SA diary, I am healing but extremely slowly. It’s November 5th. This is 157 days after my last dose. I felt “well” enough to consume an energy drink last week. Then last weekend alcohol. Bad idea. Had a half calf coffee today. Another bad idea, gave me bruxism. I’m struggling with severe tinnitus. It’s unrelenting except the fact my right ear will get worse and will draw the attention away from my left ear. The heart burn is better but not gone. I had gotten constipated and it lead to diverticulitis and guess what? The prescription of Flagyl is a well known ototoxic drug. My tinnitus has intensified yet again. I have slightly less paresthesia, much less crying bouts, and some energy. The depression symptoms have mostly lifted, thank god. Morning anxiety is still there but noticeably better. 1 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted November 6, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 6, 2021 4 hours ago, CasuallyMagical said: This is 157 days after my last dose. I felt “well” enough to consume an energy drink last week. Then last weekend alcohol. Bad idea. Had a half calf coffee today. Another bad idea, gave me bruxism. This is not unusual. In the journey of recovering after a CT 6 months is not a very long time. Even people who carefully taper their drug to a very small jump off dose may need to restrict what they consume and do for several years after they get off their drug. See: Cold Turkey and Too-Fast Tapers It Doesn’t end at “0” * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 I TRULY wish I new about this website beforehand. You all have been so helpful, for that I’m grateful. I am now realizing while on Prozac, I had mild symptoms of akesthesia and also while eating had bitten my tongue badly several times. I learned about vitamin D and magnesium deficiency. I got my blood tested in September and was very low in both. I have dormant Lyme disease as well. I was also reminded of the benefits of fish oils and the evils of highly oxidizing fats. I read horrible stories that make me realize my primary care doctor was right in making sure I was only on the lowest dose. With great caution I consider, in several months, since I missed my reinstatement window, if tinnitus and other symptoms are still at intolerable levels effecting my life. I will reinstate 2.5-5mg of Lexapro and slow taper off that. After consultation with my doctor of course. However, Dr.Peter Breggin on YouTube made a very strong case against taking these drugs. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 6 months have passed, magnesium taurate and magnesium glycinate help, and not the cheap magnesium that leads to diarrhea. Vitamin D is good and fish oils might just be a pricy placebo. this is new, my finger tips started hurting like splinters. Heartburn is not good but better, I get rollercoaster body sensations but my gate seems better. Brain fog was lifted for two weeks but it came back hard this week. Glad I found Dr.Breggin on YouTube, he explained how out of control American psychiatric care has gotten. Why is SA so hard to find on a google search! I keep wishing I had this knowledge sooner. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 (edited) I need advice about reinstatement and compounding SSRI I stopped fluoxetine June 1st after a two week taper. My CNS became shocked and I went into mania 20 days later. 205 days later the many awful symptoms have lessened but are still very present. my issue is I have a new job coming up as an entry level software developer at a good company. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I got the job despite not having a bachelors degree only associate’s degree. This opportunity is to important to pass on, or fail at. … currently I have daily brain buzzing, fatigue, severe tinnitus, and brain fog, my brain feels like a brick. I am 205 days since my last dose of fluoxetine. I am afraid of ever going on it again due to paradoxical effect. I am only slightly less afraid of Lexapro because it was slightly less troubling and sort of “worked”, we all know how that goes. Does anyone (hopefully with similar experience as my own) think the following is a good idea? I want to reinstate Lexapro at much less than a ‘therapeutic ‘ dose with the hope that it will help me get my concentration/energy/hearing back well enough to keep this job. The dose would be 2mg daily until I feel the drug then a taper over 6-9 months. Literally just enough drug to get passed these withdrawals symptoms(iatrogenic injuries?). will reinstatement and a proper taper possibly help get rid of this tinnitus problem? I have had tinnitus resolve in a month or so before. It’s not healing this time. am I just messing with my CNS more? Paresthesia in my hands gets worse some days/weeks, then heals some, then gets worse, then heals some, then gets much worse, then heals some etc. The buzzing in my head is new to this month, I’ve had brain zaps when quitting SSRIs before. No brain zaps this time just buzzing. I get dizzy now, that is new to this month. I am suddenly back to sleeping like 12 hours a day. In the last two months I have had diverticulitis and a kidney stone, which I am convinced are mostly from SSRI withdrawals. OR can I tough it out? I’m a 35 year old male who is lonely and been through a lot of hardship in the last five years. However, I can separate those woes from what awful feels these drugs have caused. But the physical symptoms are real. I’m afraid I stopped healing at the pace I was healing. My family and doctor doesn’t understand the choice I have to make. To clarify I won’t reinstate unless absolutely necessary. Please, any input I will take into consideration. Edited December 24, 2021 by ChessieCat added topic title before merging with intro topic 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted December 24, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 24, 2021 (edited) Please note that I am not making any suggestions about whether you should reintroduce a drug or which drug to start if you decide to do this. I am just providing information. Please read Post #1 of this topic: about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms Post #1 of Tips for Tapering topics linked below explain how to get non standard doses of the drug. Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro) NOTE: Lexapro is a very strong drug. This is explained in the topic. If you are thinking about reintroducing Lexapro, you might consider changing to citalopram which is a gentler cousin of escitalopram (Lexapro). Tips for tapering off citalopram (Celexa) And in case you decide to return to Prozac: Tips for tapering off fluoxetine (Prozac) Getting a drug compounded may not be necessary. See the Post #1 of the Tips for Tapering topics. getting-compound-custom-dosages-at-compounding-pharmacies-us-uk-canada-and-elsewhere Edited December 24, 2021 by ChessieCat * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted December 24, 2021 Administrator Share Posted December 24, 2021 Hello, you were on Prozac longer. Why do you want to reinstate Lexapro? 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. Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted December 24, 2021 Author Share Posted December 24, 2021 5 hours ago, Altostrata said: Hello, you were on Prozac longer. Why do you want to reinstate Lexapro? Hi Altostrata, Prozac did not agree with me, it “worked” for six weeks after six weeks of it kicking in or whatever and I kept taking it despite knowing it was eventually changing my personality in a very negative way. I stopped Lexapro thinking that I should make sure I’m on the “right” drug. Lexapro was mentally tolerable. physically, side effects where strong and annoying . To me, lexapro is the lesser of evils. Prozac has slight SNRI capabilities as well. I would like to leave that out of the equation. Celexa is weaker but less specific chemically. I would like to avoid adding any new variables/pathways of potential change or damage to my brain. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted December 26, 2021 Administrator Share Posted December 26, 2021 On 12/24/2021 at 1:11 AM, CasuallyMagical said: Prozac did not agree with me How did Prozac not agree with you? 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. Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted December 27, 2021 Author Share Posted December 27, 2021 On 12/26/2021 at 12:25 AM, Altostrata said: How did Prozac not agree with you? It had a paradoxical effect on me after several weeks. Scary enough to only taper it for two weeks, that I do not want to touch it ever again. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted December 29, 2021 Author Share Posted December 29, 2021 On 12/26/2021 at 12:25 AM, Altostrata said: How did Prozac not agree with you? Hi @Altostrata more specifically Prozac worked after a few weeks. It was 6 weeks of 'Hey I think this is working with less side effects than previous drugs' , followed by a slow change in my personality similar to the unfortunate myth of a frog being boiled alive. I eventually started yelling at my Mom and feeling manic from mild akathisia. I knew something was very wrong. Turned to weed to settle down or just laugh. I haven't touched weed since a month before coming off of Prozac. I don't really like it but SSRI's made me think otherwise. I read the reinstatement posts( i.e. having a chance of making things worse for myself). If I reinstate an SSRI 7 months after symptoms has anybody ever reinstated at the dose they should be at, had they tapered properly? Then continued to taper normally? I'm really hoping the wave I just got passed was something to do with 6 months of the drug being out of my system. Seems to be some evidence of people experiencing a 6 month crash after Prozac withdrawals start. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted December 30, 2021 Administrator Share Posted December 30, 2021 On 12/29/2021 at 9:17 AM, CasuallyMagical said: It was 6 weeks of 'Hey I think this is working with less side effects than previous drugs' , followed by a slow change in my personality similar to the unfortunate myth of a frog being boiled alive. I eventually started yelling at my Mom and feeling manic from mild akathisia. Prozac ramps up over a month or so. Yours is a good description of this, as the effect of the drug got stronger and stronger. Those are adverse effects from Prozac. 10mg was too high a dose for you. It's entirely possible 0.5mg or 1mg would be sufficient to reduce your withdrawal syndrome. 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. Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted December 31, 2021 Author Share Posted December 31, 2021 I read the Prozac SERT chart posted by a moderator. … I’m scared to reinstate but equally afraid to lose my job. SchrodingerAlive, a member I relate to, says something like the path to healing is convoluted. I agree. I had a really difficult December after a relatively good progress in November. These symptoms keeps changing then old symptoms come back. Some people will suddenly get worse. Some have gotten my symptoms in somewhat a reverse order. yesterday I felt good to the point where I was suspicious of why I felt good and that a wave must be near. Today not great, but, that distinct stinky body odor from SSRIs came back but not from the usual places; neck and back. It was in my armpits. It smells like mildew and chemicals, not regular BO. That drug must still be in my body! I just found out it can stick to adipose tissue. I have been doing OMAD diet last three days, maybe that triggered the release of a small amount of Prozac stored in my fat? also to anyone that might ever read this that is suffering from tinnitus. I took a total of 6 doses of .4 mg FloMax an alpha blocker for passing kidney stones since December 12th. It has increased my tinnitus 3 fold. I’m hoping the stone is passed since pain is gone now but I never felt it pass. Images show 5mm size. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted January 1, 2022 Administrator Share Posted January 1, 2022 If you are having windows and feel you can cope with whatever withdrawal symptoms you have, you may be able to get by without reinstatement. It's not mandatory. Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/ https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/ You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you. Please let us know how you’re doing. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 Checking in. I have not reinstated. I have a job as an entry level software developer. I stopped being surprised by new symptoms. My brain is less foggy each month but varies by the day. I’m not doing any drugs accept occasionally having some alcohol on a Friday or Saturday. I always regret it, even three drinks leaves me with a terrible hangover. I drink half-caff coffee several days a week. It’s a catch-22. I feel sleepy without it and can easily get severe anxiety with just a few sips. I have paresthesia in my hands I’m sure will be there the rest of my life, at this point, and so will the tinnitus. I have jaw clenching that was in month one and two after cessation that has returned 24/7 the last 6-8 weeks. When I’m not clenching my jaw I can just feel a very odd sensation in my jaw muscles. I have muscle pain in my neck and back that feels like a new type of pain I have never had before, pure aches of deep pain, stabbing pain. sad about the state of the world and my own loneliness. Americans are free to make movies or talk about the atrocities of the world, but the reality is society has been set up to make it immensely difficult to enact any real change. Things are getting a little better though. I feel stronger, have some stamina, and enjoy some of the things that used to bring me joy a little more now. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Phoenixmama Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 I have a question about when you had a kidney stone., did it ever pass? I have one 4mm I took Flomax and had to stop at the 2nd dose because it made me really dizzy almost passing out and , so now I’m on my 3rd after coming from the er and finding out I have a stone which is out of the kidney in the tube , my question is , did you take Flomax? Did it cause your wd to flare up with waves and how long did it take for you to pass it 2021: started celexa 10mg feb 2nd feb 25th took my last 10g; feb 26th 5mg; feb 27th 5mg; feb 28th 2021 cold turkey currently taking mag Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 14, 2022 Administrator Share Posted June 14, 2022 Hello, @CasuallyMagical, how are you doing? Just noticed this On 3/19/2022 at 5:12 PM, CasuallyMagical said: I’m not doing any drugs accept occasionally having some alcohol on a Friday or Saturday. I always regret it, even three drinks leaves me with a terrible hangover. Alcohol can make withdrawal syndrome a lot worse. Very possible you have been setting yourself back every time you have a drink. The reaction to caffeine shows that you are still very sensitive from going off fluoxetine. 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. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted June 14, 2022 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 14, 2022 alcohol-and-beer and On 7/6/2020 at 5:50 AM, brassmonkey said: Drinking alcohol is a major factor in excellent recoveries getting derailed. We just had a case of a member who has been drug free for several years with an excellent recovery underway. They had a couple of drinks over the weekend and tripped off their symptoms all over again. Luckily, it cleared in a few days, but that is not always the case. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted June 14, 2022 Author Share Posted June 14, 2022 On 6/12/2022 at 9:32 PM, Phoenixmama said: I have a question about when you had a kidney stone., did it ever pass? I have one 4mm I took Flomax and had to stop at the 2nd dose because it made me really dizzy almost passing out and , so now I’m on my 3rd after coming from the er and finding out I have a stone which is out of the kidney in the tube , my question is , did you take Flomax? Did it cause your wd to flare up with waves and how long did it take for you to pass it FloMax is very helpful in passing my 3.5mm stone. FloMax is also ototoxic and made my tinnitus worse for several days. Drink lots of water and take an ibuprofen early in the am. Good luck and feel better soon. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted June 14, 2022 Author Share Posted June 14, 2022 1 hour ago, Altostrata said: Hello, @CasuallyMagical, how are you doing? Just noticed this Alcohol can make withdrawal syndrome a lot worse. Very possible you have been setting yourself back every time you have a drink. The reaction to caffeine shows that you are still very sensitive from going off fluoxetine. I’m dealing with paresthesia, tinnitus, social anxiety and lack of love. I have a full time job and I literally saw the most beautiful woman today at the gym I joined last month. So things could be much worse. Getting closer to where I started before all these I had taken these drugs, but not home yet. I agree the depression from alcohol and the dehydration it causes, causes symptoms of anxiety and depression too. that said I think I did it to see if it would “reset” anything Serotonin related. I had an idea since it’s impossible to sue these generic pharmaceutical companies, that we all band together and “tort” sue the FDA. Just an idea. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted June 14, 2022 Author Share Posted June 14, 2022 1 hour ago, ChessieCat said: alcohol-and-beer and I agree, bad idea. I limit myself as much as possible. Drinking alcohol taxes our recovering SNS. I can feel it the next day when my limbs are tingling from alcohol withdrawal. That OR I get severe symptoms of depression for 5-10 hours the next day, as soon as I can hydrated again, it’s not really tied to the hangover. I did however, drink 16 shots of orange vodka last October because I just wanted something other than the SSRI withdrawals. I have done dumber things but not many. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
CasuallyMagical Posted June 14, 2022 Author Share Posted June 14, 2022 358 days from my first SSRI withdrawals. Will write an update soon. It gets a lil better every month. 2011 bupropion 2011-2013 Ritalin then mostly adderall March 2017 - August 2017 sertraline 50mg September 2017 - January 2019 Duloxetine 20mg February 2020 - July 2020 Lexapro 10mg August 2020 - mid September 2020 paroxetine mid September 2020 - mid May 2021 10mg fluoxetine Mid May - June 1st 10mg fluoxetine every other day June 1st cold turkey Link to comment
Ariel Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 @CasuallyMagical 2 hours ago, CasuallyMagical said: 358 days from my first SSRI withdrawals. Will write an update soon. It gets a lil better every month. You are getting through it, slowly but surely! Happy to hear you are noticing improvements along the way. I look forward to reading your update when the time comes. Btw, I have found it very helpful to eliminate alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. Makes such a difference in the day-to-day experience of recovery, and I trust it's beneficial in the long run, too. I see that you're aware of this, just wanted to back you up on it. In solidarity and support, A. 1 1996-2018 - misc. polypharmacy, incl. SSRIs, SNRIs, neuroleptics, lithium, benzos, stimulants, antihistamines, etc. (approx. 30+ drugs) 2012-2018 - 10mg lexapro/escitalopram (20mg?) Jan. 2018 - 10mg -> 5mg, then from 5mg -> 2.5mg, then 0mg --> July 2018 - 0mg 2017(?)-2020 - vyvanse/lisdexamfetamine 60-70mg 2020-2021 - 70mg down to 0mg --> July 2021 - 0mg March-April 2021 - vortioxetine 5-10mg (approx. 7 weeks total; CT) --> April 28th, 2021 - 0mg supplements: magnesium powder (dissolved in water) as needed throughout the day; 1 tsp fish oil w/ morning meal; 2mg melatonin August 1, 2022 - 1 mg melatonin Courage is fear that has said its prayers. - Karle Wilson Baker love and justice are not two. without inner change, there can be no outer change; without collective change, no change matters. - Rev. angel Kyodo williams Holding multiple truths. Knowing that everyone has their own accurate view of the way things are. - text on homemade banner at Afiya house I am not a medical professional; this is not medical advice. Link to comment
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