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Conner: help


Conner

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  • Mentor

Hey @Conner  Where do I start.  First we are all different.  What Withdrawal stable means to us.  What we can handle in WD.  Looks like you did a fair amount of drug hopping, (standard around here lol) so your pretty unstable .Ct'd your benzo.   I would hang to the 10mg and get myself switch over to liquid  and sit for a little while then entertain the idea of tapering.  I sooooo know how hard it is to wait.  I want of these drugs soooo bad myself.

 

Maybe make a tentative plan..

1- finish the switch from pill to liquid. 

2- see how that goes and if you need time to adjust

3- then make your plan for tapering. 

The waiting is hard but time does march on.

In the meantime find ways to motivate you and what will keep you focused on your end plan.  

I will go through waves of what works for me at the time

 

1-sometimes I like to read, listen to podcast or watch interviews on about these drugs.

Look up Robert Whitaker, mad in America and Medicating Normal on you tube 

     I find that it reinforces my drive to keep going. 

2- reaching out to support others.

3-ask myself what can I today.. ie shower, cook, water plants,  anything.

4-meditate

5-distract

 

Check out 

Baylissa Fredericks website https://mccare.org/

Inner compass intuitive https://www.theinnercompass.org/

 

Hang in there and remember you are not alone🌞

 

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  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day 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, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   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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Thanks so much! I haven’t even tapered and my restless is so bad it’s causing sleep issues. I do everything to combat it. When I’m sleeping okay the Wd is okay for me. When I’m not sleeping all hell breaks lose. I’m probably at about 6 hours a night. I was doing good at around 7.5 for many months @Grateful

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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  • Mentor

@Conner

I know we are all different but I would have to say you are getting fairly good sleep. Don't get me wrong in thinking that I am trivializing  your sleep issue and how you feel with lack of it.  It should go back to more once things settle down.

  

What do you do to help you at night?  I use white noise on my phone?  This might be a time to reduce any stimulation a few hours  before bed, i.e TV, exercise.  Find what work for you to decompress.  sit outside,

read, sometime I like to lay on the couch under may weighted blanket, do some meditation breathing, or vagus breathing,  lay there and sink into doing nothing an let your mind wander without judging what you think and feel. Do you meditate?  I have to admit I am horrible about avoiding screen time on anything device 😒

 

Do you ever get out of your head and let yourself feel the sensations going on in your body? 

Here is a body scan meditation https://youtu.be/obYJRmgrqOU

 

 

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  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day 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, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   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

Connor, when tagging Greatful please make sure that you use the right one.  There is another member called Grateful. 😊

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Mentor
On 6/29/2022 at 1:29 PM, Conner said:

Is the transfer from pills to liquid suppose to be this bad? @ChessieCat

When I did the crossover I did not hold after change. Unfortunately I had a wave for a few months. I held for about 5 months before tapering again just to be good and ready.
 I highly suggest after cross over hold a month see how you feel and hold another if you need to.
 

Try to be as stable as you can before taper. This will help to stay as functional as possible.   It’s different for everyone. If I can’t focus to work or having obsessive type anxiety or ruminating thoughts I will not taper. Basically if I can’t work. Or if the grumpy old man is getting too bad at home🤪.
 

 There is a discussion on here about being stable enough to taper. “What is stable”. Cc or greatful probably know rt where it’s at. 

 

I like the syringes you got. I would also advise to get some 1 ml syringes so you can get an accurate dose. Sometimes you have to use 2 syringes. 
I found some good 1 ml syringes they have 0.01 increments on Amazon. But I can’t find the stupid link to paste here. They are made by bstean 25 pack with caps for $7.29. Description is cause I can’t get link on here🤪🫤

2000-2013 Paxil - 1 year fast taper

2013-2018 merry go round
zoloft, cymbalta, lamictal, Prozac.

 Nov. 2018 lexapro 15 mgs, Dec. 2019 to Mar. 2020 taper to 10mg. Jul 2020 to October 2020 taper to 8.5 ml.
Oct 2020 reinstated to 9 ml.
Apr 2021 to Jul  taper to 7ml. Oct 2021 to Jan 2022 taper to 5.9ml, Mar 5 2022 5.8 ml, Mar 12 5.7ml, Mar 20 5.6ml, Mar 27 5.5ml, April 23 5.4ml, April 30 5.3ml, May 7 5.2ml,  Jul 9 2022 5.4ml, 

Klonopin prn, Allegra 180 for 3 seasons, aspirin 81 mg, plavix , nitroglycerin 0.4 mg prn, 2k mg  turmeric Qunol, 4- Trader Joe’s omega 3 -2400 mg, Pepcid 20mg,  Prilosec 40 mg, Tylenol arthritis 4 tablets daily, 350mg calm magnesium citrate, melatonin 2.5- 5mg as needed to sleep. Saline spray as needed. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
On 6/14/2022 at 11:32 AM, ChessieCat said:

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Stability

 

WDnormal

 

And Brassmonkey talks more about it here:

 

tao-of-the-brassmonkey

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Thanks @Heath. I guess I’m a little confused. Can I stick to a 5mg pill and 5mg liquid? Basically I’ll start tapering with 5mg pill then jump to 4.7mg liquid then do the same but go down to a 3.7mg liquid with the 5mg pill etc. I think im super sensitive to these meds. This is the worst sleep I’ve had in a long time with the restless leg. I take in 500mg magnesium every night too

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
2 minutes ago, Conner said:

 Can I stick to a 5mg pill and 5mg liquid?

 

I answered this question here:

 

  

On 6/30/2022 at 9:57 AM, ChessieCat said:

Yes you can do split forms of a drug (tablet + liquid).  The main thing is to be able to get your dose as accurate as possible.

 

You might consider getting 5mg tablets so that when you taper you take 5mg tablet + liquid to get the dose you need.

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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I think I’m dealing with a poop out since September when this all started. Do people just stick it out? I do not want to try another med. I’m about to be engaged soon and start a new journey in life. This is not how it’s suppose to be @ChessieCat

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Your current drug signature has too much information for us to easily be able to see your drug history; that is drugs, dates and doses (without all the extra details).

 

The information you have provided is helpful but not what we need.

 

I have pasted the current signature below.  I suggest that you create a post with this information before you create your new signature.

 

What we need is:

 

drug name:  date, dose; date, dose; date dose

drug name:  date, dose; date, dose; date dose

drug name:  date, dose; date, dose; date dose

 

Been on SSRI’s since 2011

From 2011 to sept 2021 I was on 10mg of lexapro. Had a panic attack. Upped to 15mg. Lasted for 10 days and did a rapid taper weekly and got put on Effexor Oct 1st, 2021. That lasted 5 days. October 6th I switched to Zoloft 25mg. 7 days later bumped it to 50mg. I lasted maybe a month on this. I was miserable from the start of all these drugs. Nov 11th I tried a a low dose of pristiq while tapering off Zoloft. At day 11 I was fed up. My psychiatrist told me to stop taking everything and take Xanax as needed.  8 days later On Nov 22nd, 2021 I ended up in the ER that night with bad withdrawals. I saw a new psychiatrist that morning and reinstated 5mg of lexapro. 7 days later I bumped it to 10mg. Started taking .25mg of Xanax in the morning and .25 at night on Nov 23rd, 2021. I did that until Dec 20th, 2021. Switched over to klonopin 0.25mg. Stopped Jan 16th. Cut doses throughout to stop taking it. At some point in December I bumped my lexapro to 15mg then to 20mg. The 20mg didn’t last but 4 days. I believe it was early Feb 2022 I got back down to 10mg and have remained there ever since. I have developed PPPD through all this and currently in rehabilitation. My mental state is better but I am still miserable on the inside with depression and suicidal ideation. I don’t feel good.  I am functioning. Working out, eating clean, back at work but I just feel SO OFF. I don’t know if it’s the PPPD that is making me feel off. I just want my normal self back. 

Current dosage - 10mg lexapro

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Once you redo your drug signature it will be much easier for the staff to assess your situation.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Mentor
3 hours ago, Conner said:

Can I stick to a 5mg pill and 5mg liquid?

I agree with Cc answer and I want to add that I myself will be one or the other to keep things simple. My preference 

 

Speaking of simple 

I have read a little back over you intro.

I want to highly suggest holding same dose same brand same time every day until symptoms get better than they are. In which Altostrata and CC have also suggested.
the facts- You are still experiencing symptoms (sleep and restless legs). You have gotten better since December by holding.  
so since you are getting better by holding that’s what I would do. Going faster can make symptoms worse. There is no rush unless medical emergency.  Take it slow or you can risk being miserable throughout your taper and after. I am no dr or moderator. My statement is from my research and experience only. 

2000-2013 Paxil - 1 year fast taper

2013-2018 merry go round
zoloft, cymbalta, lamictal, Prozac.

 Nov. 2018 lexapro 15 mgs, Dec. 2019 to Mar. 2020 taper to 10mg. Jul 2020 to October 2020 taper to 8.5 ml.
Oct 2020 reinstated to 9 ml.
Apr 2021 to Jul  taper to 7ml. Oct 2021 to Jan 2022 taper to 5.9ml, Mar 5 2022 5.8 ml, Mar 12 5.7ml, Mar 20 5.6ml, Mar 27 5.5ml, April 23 5.4ml, April 30 5.3ml, May 7 5.2ml,  Jul 9 2022 5.4ml, 

Klonopin prn, Allegra 180 for 3 seasons, aspirin 81 mg, plavix , nitroglycerin 0.4 mg prn, 2k mg  turmeric Qunol, 4- Trader Joe’s omega 3 -2400 mg, Pepcid 20mg,  Prilosec 40 mg, Tylenol arthritis 4 tablets daily, 350mg calm magnesium citrate, melatonin 2.5- 5mg as needed to sleep. Saline spray as needed. 

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  • Mentor

@Conner  If you can tolerate the switch I would recommend the liquid.  It makes it so much more accurate for dosing, especially at at lower dosing and small cuts.

 

Hang in there, you'll get this figured out.  Patience and time😊

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  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day 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, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   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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Just updated it. Does that look better? @ChessieCat

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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14 hours ago, Heath said:

I agree with Cc answer and I want to add that I myself will be one or the other to keep things simple. My preference 

 

Speaking of simple 

I have read a little back over you intro.

I want to highly suggest holding same dose same brand same time every day until symptoms get better than they are. In which Altostrata and CC have also suggested.
the facts- You are still experiencing symptoms (sleep and restless legs). You have gotten better since December by holding.  
so since you are getting better by holding that’s what I would do. Going faster can make symptoms worse. There is no rush unless medical emergency.  Take it slow or you can risk being miserable throughout your taper and after. I am no dr or moderator. My statement is from my research and experience only. 

Thanks for your help. Restless leg started about 2 weeks ago. I’m unsure why. Some people say it has something to do with your dopamine receptors 

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

Link to comment
  • Mentor

@ConnerTotally agree with greatful, prescription liquid is best way to taper! My opinion. Makes it simple. This mess is stressful as it is. Don’t need no more complicated in my life. 

2000-2013 Paxil - 1 year fast taper

2013-2018 merry go round
zoloft, cymbalta, lamictal, Prozac.

 Nov. 2018 lexapro 15 mgs, Dec. 2019 to Mar. 2020 taper to 10mg. Jul 2020 to October 2020 taper to 8.5 ml.
Oct 2020 reinstated to 9 ml.
Apr 2021 to Jul  taper to 7ml. Oct 2021 to Jan 2022 taper to 5.9ml, Mar 5 2022 5.8 ml, Mar 12 5.7ml, Mar 20 5.6ml, Mar 27 5.5ml, April 23 5.4ml, April 30 5.3ml, May 7 5.2ml,  Jul 9 2022 5.4ml, 

Klonopin prn, Allegra 180 for 3 seasons, aspirin 81 mg, plavix , nitroglycerin 0.4 mg prn, 2k mg  turmeric Qunol, 4- Trader Joe’s omega 3 -2400 mg, Pepcid 20mg,  Prilosec 40 mg, Tylenol arthritis 4 tablets daily, 350mg calm magnesium citrate, melatonin 2.5- 5mg as needed to sleep. Saline spray as needed. 

Link to comment

Hey @ChessieCat just making sure my signature is looking okay now so I can see how I need to proceed with everything. I start the 5mg pill and 5mg liquid last Tuesday. Currently symptoms: 

 

-itching crawling skin

-restless leg every night 

-suicidal ideation 

-low mood

-no pleasure in things I use to enjoy 

-pppd 

-overstimulated easily (getting a little better overtime)

-floaty feeling 

-fear this is my new life 

-sensitive to light (getting better)

-sensitive to noises 

-ear popping 

-averaging 6 hours of sleep a night which I’ll take but it was way better recently 

 

Positives: I am functioning and working but miserable. I’ll add, I’m 35 and never had depression before September. I’ve been doing everything to fix it so it must be the lexapro. I have a good family, relationships, workout, healthy eating etc, cold showers. Has to be the med 

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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  • Mentor

@Conner

Is this a uptick from your normal WD?  You can expect some uptick.  Hopefully wait it out and things will smooth out.

Staying on the 5mg liquid and 5mg pill is okay for as long as it takes to even out or you feel comfortabl to make any changes.

Remember there is no quick fix🙃 Or maybe there is lol, doing nothing😁

Dig down deep Conner, you can do 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  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day 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, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   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

You are such a wonderful person @Greatful. Yeah an uptick I’d say with the no interest in much, itching/crawling skin (something I don’t experience a lot), restless leg. I guess I’m getting irritable bc I’m ready to test for a drop at 9.6mg. It’s definitely not a good idea with the Wd symptoms 

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

Link to comment
  • Mentor

@Conner

How are you doing?  I can relate to having impatience and wanting to get off these drugs. Somehow let the day go by and know that soon you will be able to make a drop. I know how hard it is not to look down the road and feel overwhelmed by the time frame.  But the time will go by regardless on or off the drugs. 

So focus on today☺️ 

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  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day 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, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   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

Thanks for checking in! @Greatful. I’m doing okay today. Working and just had lunch with a friend. I was very itchy yesterday. I had rehab this morning for my PPPD. My PT said she can get me to 90% recovery eventually. It’s definitely a marathon. The PPPD keeps me down bc I’m unsure if this is forever and I can truly heal from it. The medical community has failed me causing this PPPD. Here is some of the article below on PPPD. I really don’t know anyone else that really has this in the community and some have healed and some haven’t. Maybe it isnt PPPD and just damage from the meds 

 

Neurologic condition in which there is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and how the brain and body sends and/or receives signals, rather than a structural disease process. (rarediseases.org)


              What is PPPD?
● PPPD is a chronic functional vestibular disorder characterized by persistent non-spinning vertigo exacerbated by upright posture, motion and visual stimuli. (Staab et al, 2017)
● 15-20% of referrals for vestibular symptoms (Staab et al 2017)
○ Most common among young adults
○ Second most common to older adults (behind
BPPV)
● 25% of people after initial vestibular insult will develop PPPD
    
    
 

how are you feeling? I’m holding until @ChessieCatreviews my signature 

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

Link to comment
  • Mentor

@Conner

so you were ok with lexapro 10 mg for 8 years? If that’s the case then your symptoms are most likely from swapping and tapering different meds. Your cns is mad and doesn’t like all that changing.

I have most definitely been there a few times actually 4 or 5 times. Just my experience is each of those times it took about 3 months to start feeling better and about 6 months back to my normal self. And you will be also. just hold on. 
 

I am like most other men also if it’s something wrong or broke I try to fix it. I am gonna fix it🤨🙄. And I did that the first 3 or 4 times of these hellish times. It only makes it worse chasing drs, solutions, etc. After you make sure X symptom is not a medical emergency then the only solution is to do nothing and self help. 

It took me a while to accept that the way I can fix it is self help and doing nothing else about it . And continue working and life . Yea it’s tough ! 
 

the fastest way back to your normalcy is hold steady and try to keep stress as low as possible. 
 

when we do nothing we are actually doing something- brain is steadily healing faster. 
 

I had popping sensitive ears last week for a few days also and it went away👍

 

 

2000-2013 Paxil - 1 year fast taper

2013-2018 merry go round
zoloft, cymbalta, lamictal, Prozac.

 Nov. 2018 lexapro 15 mgs, Dec. 2019 to Mar. 2020 taper to 10mg. Jul 2020 to October 2020 taper to 8.5 ml.
Oct 2020 reinstated to 9 ml.
Apr 2021 to Jul  taper to 7ml. Oct 2021 to Jan 2022 taper to 5.9ml, Mar 5 2022 5.8 ml, Mar 12 5.7ml, Mar 20 5.6ml, Mar 27 5.5ml, April 23 5.4ml, April 30 5.3ml, May 7 5.2ml,  Jul 9 2022 5.4ml, 

Klonopin prn, Allegra 180 for 3 seasons, aspirin 81 mg, plavix , nitroglycerin 0.4 mg prn, 2k mg  turmeric Qunol, 4- Trader Joe’s omega 3 -2400 mg, Pepcid 20mg,  Prilosec 40 mg, Tylenol arthritis 4 tablets daily, 350mg calm magnesium citrate, melatonin 2.5- 5mg as needed to sleep. Saline spray as needed. 

Link to comment
  • Mentor

@ConnerI’m fixing to head back to work. Iam curious about this vertigo dizziness because I have had vertigo, dizziness and brain fog with lexapro.
I will try and read about it tonight when I can.
Is it constant with you I mean every minute or come and go? 
when did symptoms start with this? 
you may have already stated all this in intro. 

 

I had the bad itching and hives in a fast taper once and went to er. Dr gave me Benadryl. And he said sometimes we have to take a vacation from antidepressants 🤷‍♂️. 😂. I couldn’t wear shirt sleeves for a while. Try some ice or cool packs. 

2000-2013 Paxil - 1 year fast taper

2013-2018 merry go round
zoloft, cymbalta, lamictal, Prozac.

 Nov. 2018 lexapro 15 mgs, Dec. 2019 to Mar. 2020 taper to 10mg. Jul 2020 to October 2020 taper to 8.5 ml.
Oct 2020 reinstated to 9 ml.
Apr 2021 to Jul  taper to 7ml. Oct 2021 to Jan 2022 taper to 5.9ml, Mar 5 2022 5.8 ml, Mar 12 5.7ml, Mar 20 5.6ml, Mar 27 5.5ml, April 23 5.4ml, April 30 5.3ml, May 7 5.2ml,  Jul 9 2022 5.4ml, 

Klonopin prn, Allegra 180 for 3 seasons, aspirin 81 mg, plavix , nitroglycerin 0.4 mg prn, 2k mg  turmeric Qunol, 4- Trader Joe’s omega 3 -2400 mg, Pepcid 20mg,  Prilosec 40 mg, Tylenol arthritis 4 tablets daily, 350mg calm magnesium citrate, melatonin 2.5- 5mg as needed to sleep. Saline spray as needed. 

Link to comment
1 hour ago, Heath said:

@ConnerI’m fixing to head back to work. Iam curious about this vertigo dizziness because I have had vertigo, dizziness and brain fog with lexapro.
I will try and read about it tonight when I can.
Is it constant with you I mean every minute or come and go? 
when did symptoms start with this? 
you may have already stated all this in intro. 

 

I had the bad itching and hives in a fast taper once and went to er. Dr gave me Benadryl. And he said sometimes we have to take a vacation from antidepressants 🤷‍♂️. 😂. I couldn’t wear shirt sleeves for a while. Try some ice or cool packs. 

Thanks for reaching out. Such a caring community here. It’s hard to describe but here is an article below on it. I’ve had so much go on mentally and physically since last December I want to say this started when I was coming off the benzo but it could be from the antidepressant changes/cross tapers/ CT etc. My PT says my brain is fine but it’s the processor in it that is messed up right now. It’s like if I do something too quickly I get overstimulated and get dizzy/floating. If I am sitting still or in bed it’s like my head is rocking back and fourth. It’s everyday 24/7. It can rev up or go to a minimum depending on what I am doing 

 

https://www.neuropt.org/docs/default-source/vsig-physician-fact-sheets/persistent-postural-perceptual-dizziness.pdf?sfvrsn=889c5c43_2

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

Link to comment
1 hour ago, Heath said:

@Conner

so you were ok with lexapro 10 mg for 8 years? If that’s the case then your symptoms are most likely from swapping and tapering different meds. Your cns is mad and doesn’t like all that changing.

I have most definitely been there a few times actually 4 or 5 times. Just my experience is each of those times it took about 3 months to start feeling better and about 6 months back to my normal self. And you will be also. just hold on. 
 

I am like most other men also if it’s something wrong or broke I try to fix it. I am gonna fix it🤨🙄. And I did that the first 3 or 4 times of these hellish times. It only makes it worse chasing drs, solutions, etc. After you make sure X symptom is not a medical emergency then the only solution is to do nothing and self help. 

It took me a while to accept that the way I can fix it is self help and doing nothing else about it . And continue working and life . Yea it’s tough ! 
 

the fastest way back to your normalcy is hold steady and try to keep stress as low as possible. 
 

when we do nothing we are actually doing something- brain is steadily healing faster. 
 

I had popping sensitive ears last week for a few days also and it went away👍

 

 

Yup, been on lexapro since 2011 then had a panic attack on it in sept 2021 and all hell broke lose after a merry go round of different meds. I’d feel a lot better if I didn’t have this PPPD stuff. Definitely didn’t have this before meds or before the merry go round of meds. I’m wondering if this PPPD is just “withdrawal” symptoms. It took a very long time to even get a diagnosis. Some people I’m sure don’t 

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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  • Mentor

@Conner  My guess it's from the meds and all the changes in your brain,  messing with the benzo, drug hopping and tapering.  I go through dizzy spells too.

 

If you haven't read, this I think it is  must read.

http://What is happening in your brain

 

Here is some information on dizziness and discontinuing a ssri from pub med. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20144124/

 

there is a thread on SA for dizziness from members as far back as 2011 to March of this year.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/7997-dizziness-vertigo-light-headedness-rocking-or-swaying-sensations/page/11/

 

🌞

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  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day 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, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   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

@Conner The brain fog, dizziness, vertigo started with me about 6 months after crossing over to lexapro. Getting up too fast , looking up at something or it’s like I had side blinders on. Hard to explain but weird. 
It has gotten better every year as I lower my dose. That first summer 2019 of lexapro was scary for me. It was bad. Not every minute but bad. A lot of symptoms that I chased  was caused by this _-_-. 
 

If it started with you after changing dose or meds, then that’s high probability the cause- withdrawals or side effects or adjusting. Whatever your brain didn’t like it. And yep the merry go round- I know it well. I quit listening to the da dr. 
 

I’m not saying all drs are bad but if you start noticing when you go see them with a complaint they will label you with something. Especially if they don’t know.  And these labels do affect our healing. 
 

read through my intro there might be something in there to bring insight to you. Like greatful said this is very common in wd. 
 

FYI if you are searching something like a symptom etc. on SA then you can use search engine like google - type in example - vertigo surviving antidepressants and hit enter. 

2000-2013 Paxil - 1 year fast taper

2013-2018 merry go round
zoloft, cymbalta, lamictal, Prozac.

 Nov. 2018 lexapro 15 mgs, Dec. 2019 to Mar. 2020 taper to 10mg. Jul 2020 to October 2020 taper to 8.5 ml.
Oct 2020 reinstated to 9 ml.
Apr 2021 to Jul  taper to 7ml. Oct 2021 to Jan 2022 taper to 5.9ml, Mar 5 2022 5.8 ml, Mar 12 5.7ml, Mar 20 5.6ml, Mar 27 5.5ml, April 23 5.4ml, April 30 5.3ml, May 7 5.2ml,  Jul 9 2022 5.4ml, 

Klonopin prn, Allegra 180 for 3 seasons, aspirin 81 mg, plavix , nitroglycerin 0.4 mg prn, 2k mg  turmeric Qunol, 4- Trader Joe’s omega 3 -2400 mg, Pepcid 20mg,  Prilosec 40 mg, Tylenol arthritis 4 tablets daily, 350mg calm magnesium citrate, melatonin 2.5- 5mg as needed to sleep. Saline spray as needed. 

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  • Mentor
5 hours ago, Conner said:

Such a caring community here.

Totally agree! I wish that I could have found SA years ago! 

2000-2013 Paxil - 1 year fast taper

2013-2018 merry go round
zoloft, cymbalta, lamictal, Prozac.

 Nov. 2018 lexapro 15 mgs, Dec. 2019 to Mar. 2020 taper to 10mg. Jul 2020 to October 2020 taper to 8.5 ml.
Oct 2020 reinstated to 9 ml.
Apr 2021 to Jul  taper to 7ml. Oct 2021 to Jan 2022 taper to 5.9ml, Mar 5 2022 5.8 ml, Mar 12 5.7ml, Mar 20 5.6ml, Mar 27 5.5ml, April 23 5.4ml, April 30 5.3ml, May 7 5.2ml,  Jul 9 2022 5.4ml, 

Klonopin prn, Allegra 180 for 3 seasons, aspirin 81 mg, plavix , nitroglycerin 0.4 mg prn, 2k mg  turmeric Qunol, 4- Trader Joe’s omega 3 -2400 mg, Pepcid 20mg,  Prilosec 40 mg, Tylenol arthritis 4 tablets daily, 350mg calm magnesium citrate, melatonin 2.5- 5mg as needed to sleep. Saline spray as needed. 

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15 hours ago, Heath said:

@Conner The brain fog, dizziness, vertigo started with me about 6 months after crossing over to lexapro. Getting up too fast , looking up at something or it’s like I had side blinders on. Hard to explain but weird. 
It has gotten better every year as I lower my dose. That first summer 2019 of lexapro was scary for me. It was bad. Not every minute but bad. A lot of symptoms that I chased  was caused by this _-_-. 
 

If it started with you after changing dose or meds, then that’s high probability the cause- withdrawals or side effects or adjusting. Whatever your brain didn’t like it. And yep the merry go round- I know it well. I quit listening to the da dr. 
 

I’m not saying all drs are bad but if you start noticing when you go see them with a complaint they will label you with something. Especially if they don’t know.  And these labels do affect our healing. 
 

read through my intro there might be something in there to bring insight to you. Like greatful said this is very common in wd. 
 

FYI if you are searching something like a symptom etc. on SA then you can use search engine like google - type in example - vertigo surviving antidepressants and hit enter. 

Maybe that is what I have going on. Did you get overstimulated easily when moving your head side to side, looking up, down, crowded places, grocery stores etc? I’m just hoping it goes away. My PT says I can get to 90% recovered with her. I don’t like that. I want 100! Agreed on the doctors. I told them I had a lot of brain fog and felt off. “Increase your dosage”. After them basically killing me I said hell no! 

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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Hey @ChessieCat. Were you able to review everything? Does my signature look ok? Thank you 

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Thank you, yes the drug signature now provides the information we need.

 

On 7/2/2022 at 11:17 AM, Conner said:

I think I’m dealing with a poop out since September when this all started.

 

This might be the case.  The general pattern of poop out is that you gradually start to feel worse whilst making no changes to the dose.  In my case I didn't notice any gradual worsening (but it might have been happening) but when I experienced several moderate life stressors in a short period of time I ended up having a break down at my daughter's wedding reception.  It was as if I wasn't taking the drug (citalopram) at all.  When I cold turkeyed it I felt better than I had done in a long time but a few months later I experienced delayed withdrawal and was bedridden for 2.5 weeks.  When I came to SA I realised that it was poop out.  When in poop out, generally what happens is that after making a reduction you can feel improvement and then gradually start to feel worse again, which is the opposite of regular tapering WD which generally happens soon after a reduction and then gradually improves.

 

When the drug reaches tolerance, if the dose is increased generally you will feel better but then after a while the same thing happens.

 

I can see some possible causes for the issues that you are currently experiencing.  You have made a lot of drug and dose changes in a short period of time.  The escitalopram may have reached tolerance, but you have ended up back on it now but because of the drug and dose changes it will be hard to know if the escitalopram is "working" or it is still "pooped out".

 

You also made large increase/s and decreases in the escitalopram when you started back on it.

 

Q:  How did you feel after you reduced the escitalopram dose from 15mg to 10mg back in February?

 

Q:  Do you feel better or worse now compared to how you felt in the month after reducing in February?

 

Q:  How is your sleep?

 

I don't have any definitive answers, but because of all the changes I think the better option, even if the escitalopram is pooped out, might be to hold for a few months and let things even out a bit.  Once you do that it might be easier to tell how the escitalopram is affecting you.

 

I think it would be a good idea for you to keep a personal journal of your symptoms; some members rates them.  We might need to see this if things get worse and it might help the staff to work out what to do.

 

There is an example in this post:

 

Keep Notes on Paper

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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On 7/10/2022 at 9:17 AM, ChessieCat said:

Thank you, yes the drug signature now provides the information we need.

 

 

This might be the case.  The general pattern of poop out is that you gradually start to feel worse whilst making no changes to the dose.  In my case I didn't notice any gradual worsening (but it might have been happening) but when I experienced several moderate life stressors in a short period of time I ended up having a break down at my daughter's wedding reception.  It was as if I wasn't taking the drug (citalopram) at all.  When I cold turkeyed it I felt better than I had done in a long time but a few months later I experienced delayed withdrawal and was bedridden for 2.5 weeks.  When I came to SA I realised that it was poop out.  When in poop out, generally what happens is that after making a reduction you can feel improvement and then gradually start to feel worse again, which is the opposite of regular tapering WD which generally happens soon after a reduction and then gradually improves.

 

When the drug reaches tolerance, if the dose is increased generally you will feel better but then after a while the same thing happens.

 

I can see some possible causes for the issues that you are currently experiencing.  You have made a lot of drug and dose changes in a short period of time.  The escitalopram may have reached tolerance, but you have ended up back on it now but because of the drug and dose changes it will be hard to know if the escitalopram is "working" or it is still "pooped out".

 

You also made large increase/s and decreases in the escitalopram when you started back on it.

 

Q:  How did you feel after you reduced the escitalopram dose from 15mg to 10mg back in February?

 

Q:  Do you feel better or worse now compared to how you felt in the month after reducing in February?

 

Q:  How is your sleep?

 

I don't have any definitive answers, but because of all the changes I think the better option, even if the escitalopram is pooped out, might be to hold for a few months and let things even out a bit.  Once you do that it might be easier to tell how the escitalopram is affecting you.

 

I think it would be a good idea for you to keep a personal journal of your symptoms; some members rates them.  We might need to see this if things get worse and it might help the staff to work out what to do.

 

There is an example in this post:

 

Keep Notes on Paper

 

I can relate a lot with your story. Back in September 2021 I was on 10mg, living life, running half marathons. I thought I was okay. Everything came crashing down. I realized work was extremely stressful, my grandpa just died, I bought a new house, was spending money on the new house, wasn’t sleeping as much bc I was waking up so early to go run. I was “grinding” as they call it. Everything came crashing down with a panic attack the night of my grandpas funeral. After that it’s like the med wasn’t working. I was a nervous wreck every single day. That’s when the merry go round started

 

Q:  How did you feel after you reduced the escitalopram dose from 15mg to 10mg back in February? I started to get better. Not great but better. 15mg-20mg was way too intense. I felt as if my brain was constantly frying 

 

Q:  Do you feel better or worse now compared to how you felt in the month after reducing in February? Night and day better. I wasn’t functioning much in February bc I couldn’t think straight and the depression was pretty severe 

 

Q:  How is your sleep? Sleep has been good the past 3-4 days. I can’t complain here as I am getting at my worse 6 hours a night. Slept 7-8 the past few nights 

 

It makes me think that a lot of people don’t get diagnosed with PPPD but could it be the withdrawal instead? Here is info on it. I feel like pppd has a lot of the same WD. Ex. Stimuli, floaty feeling, dizziness, concentration, light sensitivity, moving head side to side and get dizzy/floaty. Seems like PPPD and WD are the same. I could be wrong. I never had this before I went on the merry go round. 

 

“Neurologic condition in which there is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and how the brain and body sends and/or receives signals, rather than a structural disease process. PPPD is a chronic functional vestibular disorder characterized by persistent non-spinning vertigo exacerbated by upright posture, motion and visual stimuli.”
 

Dizziness/unsteadiness > 3 months or more. Present for most of day
● Symptoms present/exacerbated by three factors: 1) Upright posture, 2) active or passive motion, and 3) exposure to moving visual stimuli or complex visual patterns.
● The disorder is triggered by an acute event.
● Symptoms cause significant distress or functional impairment.
● Symptoms are not better accounted for by another disease or disorder.

 

@ChessieCat

Edited by ChessieCat
Resized font

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
17 hours ago, Conner said:

Q:  How did you feel after you reduced the escitalopram dose from 15mg to 10mg back in February? I started to get better. Not great but better. 15mg-20mg was way too intense. I felt as if my brain was constantly frying 

 

Q:  Do you feel better or worse now compared to how you felt in the month after reducing in February? Night and day better. I wasn’t functioning much in February bc I couldn’t think straight and the depression was pretty severe 

 

Q:  How is your sleep? Sleep has been good the past 3-4 days. I can’t complain here as I am getting at my worse 6 hours a night. Slept 7-8 the past few nights 

 

Regardless of what you have, it sounds like you are doing a lot better than you were.

 

We like to have answers to our questions but sometimes there is no answer and we have to look at the improvements and let go of getting a diagnosis and accept that regardless of the label, that we are recovering.

 

It is important to get checked out if there is a concern that there might be a non WD cause for any issues, but if nothing is found then it may be better to just accept that there is no answer.  This reduces the stress on our system.

 

Please note that I am not posting this with regards to detoxing but it is about how stress affects the body:

 

STRESS

 

Quote from the video:

 

any time that you have a stress response you're  going to decrease repair so basically you can  
defend yourself or you can repair stuff but you can't do both at the same time

 

This is a video about liver detox but the part that I would like to you to watch, and this is where the link begins, is the explanation about stress and the body:

 

Sten Ekberg:  #1 Absolute Best FATTY LIVER DETOX

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Thanks @ChessieCat. I will hold for a while to see where my symptoms go. I am definitely ready to a small cut. Maybe to 9.8 but may just be a good idea to hold. I guess my body will tell me when I am ready. 

36/M, started 10mg escitalopram June 2011

Sept 20th 2021 - increased 10mg to 15mg.
Oct 1st 2021 -November 16th 2021 drug merry go round. Effexor, Zoloft, pristiq.
Nov 22nd 2021 - lexapro 5mg

nov 29th, 2021 - lexapro 10mg

Dec 29th, 2021 - lexapro 15mg

Jan 20th, 2022 - lexapro 20mg

Jan 25th,2022 - lexapro 15mg,Feb 15th,2022 - lexapro 10mg ,Nov 22nd, 2021 - Dec 20th, 2021 -Xanax .25 X2 a day,Dec 20th, 2021 - Jan 16th, 2022 Klonopin .25 daily

2022

,-June 25 - 7.5mg pill, 2.5mg liquid ,-June 28 - 5mg pill, 5mg liquid ,-July 18th - 9.8mg (5mg pill, 4.8mg liquid),-Aug 1 - 9.6mg (5mg pill, 4.6 liquid) ,-Aug 16 - All liquid (9.6MG) ,-Sept 18th - 9.4MG,-Oct 18th - 9.2MG. -Nov 21st - 9MG 2023, April 17th - 8.8MG, May 15th - 8.6MG, June 19th - 8.4MG, Aug 1 - 8.2Mg, Sept 2, 8mg, Oct 9th 7.8mg, Nov 6, 7.6mg, Dec 8th, 7.4mg, Jan 23, 7.2mg magnesium, fish oil

 

 

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Hello Conner. I am a fellow sufferer trying so hard to taper from Effexor. I have found ChessieCat's advice to be so valuable and you can certainly depend on the guidance. I am curious about some of ChessieCat's comments: "When in poop out, generally what happens is that after making a reduction you can feel improvement and then gradually start to feel worse again, which is the opposite of regular tapering WD which generally happens soon after a reduction and then gradually improves." I think that's what happened to me after 20 years on Effexor. I just don't know what to do about it.  I wish you all the best in your journey.

Prozac 10mg 1990-1999    -1999-2018 Effexor XR 75 mg capsules

-2018 Dr direct switched me from Effexor 75XR to Cymbalta 20mg XR and 20 mg Metoprolol following irregular heartbeat incident  -Late 2019 began worsening anxiety/ depression symptoms     -2020 Dr direct switched  back to 75 mg Effex XR   Symptoms worsened   -2021 Changed Dr and began therapy for GAD and worsening physical symptoms   -2022 Found this forum and began slow taper by removing beads -    6/7 - 6/10 Effexor 73.2mg  6/11-6/14  Effexor 72.9mg   nightmares, tinnitus, anxiety;  6/15- Effexor XR 72.6mg  6/16 - 6/20 Effexor XR 72.8   nausea, heart palpitations, anxiety, tinnitus 6/22-7/4 hold Effexor XR 72.9-73.1     7/5-7/11  Effexor XR 72.62  7/12 - 7/15  Effexor 72.6  bad symptoms 

7/16-7/17 Effexor XR upped to 72.9  7/18 Effexor XR 72.9  most symptoms gone  hold at 72.9 - 73.0   8/26 - 9/6  Trying to keep dosage under 73. Holding around 72.9 sometime 72.86 due to bead count  Having symptoms most days.

9/6-9/23    Holding at about 72.9-73. Still very ill. No improvement.

9/23 - 11/23  Still keeping dose around 72.9-73

11-23-Jan 14   Held until one week ago. Dropped to 72.75-72.81  terrible WD

1/14- present   Worse WD symptoms. Back to 73.10. Cannot seem to stabilize. 

2/2 - present Holding at about 73 hoping to stabilize  

3/19 - present Dropped to aprox 92.9-92.88. (vary from day to day.) Holding 

Take only Clarinex 5mg for allergies and the Effexor 73 XR. I cannot take any supplements. No caffeine, sugar, soy, gluten, dairy.

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
5 hours ago, rmce72a said:

Hello Conner. I am a fellow sufferer trying so hard to taper from Effexor. I have found ChessieCat's advice to be so valuable and you can certainly depend on the guidance. I am curious about some of ChessieCat's comments: "When in poop out, generally what happens is that after making a reduction you can feel improvement and then gradually start to feel worse again, which is the opposite of regular tapering WD which generally happens soon after a reduction and then gradually improves." I think that's what happened to me after 20 years on Effexor. I just don't know what to do about it.  I wish you all the best in your journey.

 

Brassmonkey had to taper out of poop out and did it successfully.

 

Brassmonkey has posted this reply in rmce's Introduction topic:

 

  

 

2 hours ago, brassmonkey said:

The main sign or poopout is that the drug seems to have stopped working and you ger WD type symptoms while taking your full dose. After 20 years it is quite likely that it has pooped out. Once this has happened there are two options, increase your dose which may help but the drug will poopout again fairly soon. Or you can reduce the dosage.

 

Reducing the dosage is handled just like any other taper. It's just that you might not see any results for quite some time. I was in severe poopout when I started to taper, and it took two and a half years before I really noticed any progress. But it did happen, I just had to keep the faith that it would.

 

I would highly recommend using the Brassmonkey Slide Method if you decide to reduce. We have been having great success with members reporting very mild symptoms from the reductions. But again, you may not see much change for quite a while.

 

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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