Lzieb Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 (edited) mod note: Lzieb's introduction topic here (additional topic by Lzieb: Lzieb's son: Withdrawing my 11 year old son from fluoxetine ) I just want to share my story to everyone who has had an ADR and is looking for hope. 2 years and 3 months ago I had an immediate ADR to Zoloft. Like many of you reading this, I was terrified I wouldn't heal and swore I must be the worst. My injury and suffering was profound...something I didn't know was possible to experience. I was literally in the worst place I've ever been but by God's grace I've recovered. I started climbing out of that pit at 6 months and then by 10 months, I really had turned a corner. By 12 months life had begun to return to normal and since then has only improved. At this point I'd say while I'm not 100% who I was prior to injury (minor memory and occasional dr/dp), I am doing well, life has moved forward and this is behind me. If I didn't heal the last minor things, I'd be ok. I know if you are reading this, it seems really dark and hopeless and maybe you're afraid...but I promise you it's not hopeless. Time is our friend...slowly our brain returns to homeostasis. We get there so just hold on and don't give up. I want you to know I've personally been in contact with many ADR survivors who have recovered. I know of doctors who have treated hundreds over the course of their practice...we get there and you will too. So don't give up! Press on everyday and just get to the night. Every morning gets you closer to having this behind you. Some tips and truths that helped me: - Eat well. I ate food that was healthy and good for my brain. - Rest as best you can (insomnia is difficult but your body can rest some without moving even if you're not sleeping) - Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, more psyche drugs, ..let you body heal itself. Be very careful with supplements too! Stick to the magnesium and fish oil. - Be careful on how often you are on forums...especially if you can't filter. Remember many people on forums only post while suffering - Adrs are similar but not exact to WDs. We really don't cycle through totally different symptoms. Often the symptoms we have, we keep and feel them to a greater and less degree during the healing process - Some people who speak about having an ADR, may also have a history of other psyche meds so be careful assuming you are similar even if they took the same medication as you for the same amount of time. Everyone here is different - Recovered adrs are out there...it's just we stop posting and don't update once life gets back to normal...also this is traumatic so not everyone returns to share their updates - Be mindful who you listen to...protect your subconscious - Everyone heals on their own timeline. - Your body will do whatever it needs to recover. - Distraction and being busy is your friend. Serving others gets your focus off yourself. Also, doing a gratitude journal really helped me. - Find safe people to help you and be gentle/kind to yourself. This experience is very hard. - It gets easier...You will get there! ****If I can heal, you can heal!!!**** Thank you to everyone on SA that helped me. Thank you to the moderators who answered all my questions. I am so thankful for everyone of you. You helped me tremendously. I thank Jesus for giving me another chance and healing me. He is able! Please feel free to contact me if you need encouragement. I would love to help if I can! A Survivor of ADR, Lzieb Edited June 11, 2022 by manymoretodays ADR in title spelled out Adverse Reaction, added "for" to 6 days, added links to Lzieb's Introduction as well as the one started on her son 9 LZie, Zoloft 25 mg, 3/31/20-4/6/20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus manymoretodays Posted June 11, 2022 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 11, 2022 Hi Lzieb and thank you so much for coming back to help by reporting your success! I went ahead and linked to your Introduction topic and the one you started on your son too, at the top of your post above. I wasn't sure if you would remember how to find them after all this time. I'll close your Introduction topic now, as is custom. And feel free to update on your topic around your son. Sure sounds like a wonderful recovery to me. Best, Love, peace, healing, and growth, mmt 1 Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks. Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988. In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm. Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time). 5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014) 12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs. My last psycho med ever! Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to 2016 Dec 16, medication free!! Longer signature post here, with current supplements. Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016. And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed. Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022. Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜 None of my posts are intended as medical advice. Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider. My success story: Blue skies ahead, clear sailing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariel Posted June 11, 2022 Share Posted June 11, 2022 @Lzieb Congratulations, Lzieb! Way to go! Thank you so much for coming back to share your success story. It is profoundly appreciated. Wishing you all the very best <3 A. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilly998 Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 @Lziebthank god for ur recovery🥰 .. i am glad that u returned and give us hope it really cheers us up Congratulations ❤️ Sep 2019 Escitalopram 5 mg Mar 2020 Escitalopram 40mg May 2020 Escitalopram 35 mg+25mg Clompiramine Sep 2020 Escitalopram 20mg +25mg Clompiramine Dec 2020 Escitalopram 15mg+ 25 mg Clompiramine Jan 2021 Escitalopram 10 mg + 25 mgClompiramine Feb 2021 Escitalopram 5mg +25 mgClompiramine Mar 2021 50 mg Clompiramine for few days Mar 2021 25 mg Clompiramine Apr 2021 0 mg Clompiramine " this step without consulting the Dr" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knosretep Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 Congratulations on your healing @Lzieb Thank you for coming back here to remind and inspire the rest of us. Wishing you continued healing and happiness! 2013 - Jan 4, 2021 - Sertraline 50mg Jan 2021 - Venlafaxine 75mg (1/4) Feb 2021 : Mar 2021 - Venlafaxine 75mg April 2021 - Venlafaxine 75mg, Amitriptyline 2mg (4/20), Clonazepam 2mg May 2021 - Venlafaxine 75mg (5/16 - 0mg), Amitriptyline (5/1 - 1mg, 5/16 - 0mg), Clonazepam 2mg Aug 2021 - Sertraline 25mg (re 8/20), Clonazepam 2mg Sep 2021 - Sertraline 50mg (up 9/3), Clonazepam (9/29 - 1mg), Diazepam (9/29 - 2.5mg) Oct 2021 - Sertraline 50mg, Clonazepam (10/14 - 0.9mg, 10/24 - 1mg), Diazepam (10/6 - 1.25mg, 10/14 - 0mg), Trazodone (10/03 - 50mg, 10/17 - 25mg, 10/21 - 12.5mg), Mirtazapine (10/17 - 15mg) Nov 2021 : Current - Sertraline 50mg, Clonazepam (4/22 - 0.975mg, 5/22 - 0.9125mg, co 6/22 - 0.25mg, co 8/22 - 0.5mg, co 1/23 - 0.25mg), Diazepam (co 6/22 - 12mg, 7/22 - 11mg, co 8/22 - 5mg, 9/22 - 4mg, 10/22 - 3mg, 11/22 - 2mg, 12/22 - 1mg, co 1/23 - 5mg, 2/23 - 4.5mg, 3/23 - 3.5mg, 4/23 - 3mg), Trazodone 12.5mg, Mirtazapine 15mg Supplements: 1/2 Multivitamin, Fish Oil 2000mg, Probiotic, Magnesium Chelate 280mg, Vit C 500mg, . Melatonin 5mg/3mgXR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addielady01 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 I saw on another post that you have OCD. I too have OCD and took Zoloft for a short term (27 days) and experienced worsened OCD while on it and then off of it. Was your OCD affected? If so, did it improve? Sertraline 25mg x 3 days March 11-13th, 2022 Upped to 50 mg as previously instructed by my dr office March 14 experienced worsening of the side effects I was already experiencing and dropped back down to 25 mg the next day March 15-27th Decided to taper off after taking it 17 days due to continued side effects dropped to 12.5 mg x 5 days then dropped to 6.25 mg x 5 days last dose April 6, 2022 Total days on Zoloft = 27 * Previous medication history: Xanax PRN in 2008 never took it on a regular basis and had no withdrawal * Very sensitive to medications * Currently taking fish oil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus getofflex Posted July 2, 2022 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted July 2, 2022 @Lziebcongratulations on your marvelous success recovering from the ADR to Zoloft! You will give a lot of hope to many people with this story. Please do not private message me. Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you. ***Please note this is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one. Lexapro Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg; started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20 0.18 mg; Jul 16 0.17 mg, Aug 23 0.16 mg, Oct 7 0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005, Jul 8, 0.00. Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!! Woohoo!!! other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now