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Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker


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I am having some fairly serious problems with heart palpitations. After doing some research, I've increased my magnesium to 300mg per day, in 3 divided doses.I'm sensitive to magnesium, I've very gradually increased my dosage from 75mg at a time.It seems taurine might be good for palpitations, too, so perhaps magnesium taurate might be the best form for this symptom. I have some on order, will report back.

I am not sure if this is at all helpful and tho I did the research on taurine before I took any... I can`t recall it now.  I became interested in taurine for head aches as the health food store (where I leave all my money and promptly put the bottle in the cupboard never to be touched again as I react to everything) suggested it as a treatment for migraines. 

It was not a miracle for migraines but I did notice taurine had a calming effect turned down my nervous system a notch or two... and if perfect for taking the edge off when you have had a bit too much coffee. 

I am not sure if it may be helpful for heart rate or not, but it did slow things down for me I have had heart palpitations and now that you have given me this idea I will try the taurine next time it happens and let you know the effect if any.  

PS when I take taurine or any other medication other than antibiotics I take only a very small amount... taurine for me starts at one sixth and I work my way up... generally I get the calming effect at a quarter or half... but I have also taken the entire capsule with no ill effects.... that in no way means I trust it... as I have had plenty of supplements bite me after I had learned to trust them.  Translation after a few days or a few wks taking a supplement the effects change like I can only tolerate for a certain time.  

I think this is because I sit here and search for a word that will not come...

 

ok will try to explain it... 

the effect of taking a supplement has started a process in the body... the body changes how it behaves due to the supplement... because of this change you need less or can tolerate less....

 

rebound may be the word `) my cue to sleep.

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Thanks, btdt.

 

After a little research, I found mag taurate doesn't supplement taurine effectively, and I switched to the better-absorbed mag glycinate for magnesium supplementation.

 

Have not tried taurine yet.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 1 month later...

 

I am having some fairly serious problems with heart palpitations. After doing some research, I've increased my magnesium to 300mg per day, in 3 divided doses.I'm sensitive to magnesium, I've very gradually increased my dosage from 75mg at a time.It seems taurine might be good for palpitations, too, so perhaps magnesium taurate might be the best form for this symptom. I have some on order, will report back.

I am not sure if this is at all helpful and tho I did the research on taurine before I took any... I can`t recall it now.  I became interested in taurine for head aches as the health food store (where I leave all my money and promptly put the bottle in the cupboard never to be touched again as I react to everything) suggested it as a treatment for migraines. 

It was not a miracle for migraines but I did notice taurine had a calming effect turned down my nervous system a notch or two... and if perfect for taking the edge off when you have had a bit too much coffee. 

I am not sure if it may be helpful for heart rate or not, but it did slow things down for me I have had heart palpitations and now that you have given me this idea I will try the taurine next time it happens and let you know the effect if any.  

PS when I take taurine or any other medication other than antibiotics I take only a very small amount... taurine for me starts at one sixth and I work my way up... generally I get the calming effect at a quarter or half... but I have also taken the entire capsule with no ill effects.... that in no way means I trust it... as I have had plenty of supplements bite me after I had learned to trust them.  Translation after a few days or a few wks taking a supplement the effects change like I can only tolerate for a certain time.  

I think this is because I sit here and search for a word that will not come...

 

ok will try to explain it... 

the effect of taking a supplement has started a process in the body... the body changes how it behaves due to the supplement... because of this change you need less or can tolerate less....

 

rebound may be the word `) my cue to sleep.

 

 

Thanks, btdt.

 

After a little research, I found mag taurate doesn't supplement taurine effectively, and I switched to the better-absorbed mag glycinate for magnesium supplementation.

 

Have not tried taurine yet.

I am now using your old technique of adding half a 500mg capsule to water... and sipping it very slowly as I don't want too much just enough.  Works on the recent recurring heart palpitations too.  When I first start it I find it give me a surge of heat... like a hot flash but many things do and it may be just me.  Or long long long lasting recurring menopause symptoms.  I should look it up again and will do that when my brain is back to digesting information just now it balks and stalls makes me frustrated and even more anxious so it is not worth the bother. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Magnesium's effects on me are potent. 25mg produces a drunk-like, slouching state of stupor/listlessness sometimes accompanied by muscle cramping. I wonder if it would be beneficial to use very small doses to reacquire a tolerance.

I see this was posted in 2011 (which is a bit while ago) and I haven't read all the posts here but just looked at the box of my magnesium. natural wealth supplement , water soluble (produces an orange tasting fizzy drink), says magnesium carbonate 375 mg (!), plus vitamins B1, B6  and C (because it is primarily for cardiac health).

 

I haven't noticed correlation between taking that magnesium and my anxiety levels so am I taking the wrong kind? my stomach feels fine and I don't have any side effects either. But how to explain this discrepany between the dosages you mention and the one I'm taking???

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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If you feel fine after taking that supplement, don't worry about it.

 

You may wish to gradually add more magnesium in the citrate or glycinate form, perhaps 25mg at a time.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

If you feel fine after taking that supplement, don't worry about it.

 

You may wish to gradually add more magnesium in the citrate or glycinate form, perhaps 25mg at a time.

I can't say I noticed it has any effect on my anxiety levels so once I've used up this package, I'll buy the citrate or glycinate form and try taking it in more doses throught the day as somebody suggested here. 

 

but as you so wisely wrote somewhere else, it could be I'm overdoing it with supplements so can't really tell what is working and what is not. I took down some notes while reading the posts and will assess my use of Omega 3 (check the dosage of EPA and DHA, add vitamin E) and magnesium. Vitamin 12 has been on my shopping list as well but after what I have read here, I'm not sure if I should start taking that as well...

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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Some people find the B vitamins, including B12, to be too activating. However, if you are not having a problem with your current supplement, I would continue to take it. B vitamins are helpful to healing, if you can tolerate them.

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

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  • 1 month later...

Has anyone had any negative reactions to Magnesium Glycinate? A few years ago I went through a severe bout of insomnia and soon afterward I developed very bad hypnic jerks every single night. They were very strong and relentless, every single time I was about to fall asleep I violently jerked awake. I finally resorted to taking very small doses of xanax to be able to get any sleep at all. I also began taking Magnesium Glycinate which helped to relax my muscles and helped the jerks...at first. Thankfully, I was able to stop the Xanax. The jerks very slowly improved but never went away, and some nights they would return in their relentlessness.

 

I spoke to another person in WD who said Magnesium Glycinate made her worse but I never thought that could be the case with me. Well long story short, when I was in a good window of no jerks I decided to stop the Magnesium as I had been having stomach upset. I had also recently had my Magnesium levels tested and they were on the highest side of the normal range. So I stopped the Magnesium and my jerkless window seemed to go on and on, whereas they would usually return. So I didn't restart the Magnesium once my stomach improved. Before I stopped the Magnesium my jerks had improved by about 65%, once I stopped they improved by at least 90%. Before I stopped I had gradually worked my way up to taking 300mg a night.

 

I am also deficient in Vitamin D, but seem very sensitive to those supplements and I have read that if you have side effects from Vitamin D it is most likely due to a Magnesium Deficiency. I would really like to start taking Magnesium again, and the only form my stomach can tolerate is Glycinate. However, I am also wary of my jerks getting worse, as I still do get them, just not as severe at they were. Ok, well, so much for long story short lol. Am I the only one who seemed to bie sensitive to Magnesium Glycinate? My theory is that it relaxed me TOO much and that signaled my body to jerk awake. From what I have read hypnic jerks can be caused by your body misinterpreting your sudden relaxation as falling or dying so it alerts you to wake up. I have also read that hypnic jerks have been thought to have something to do miscommunication involving not only dopamine receptors, but glycine receptors as well and I wondered if it was the glycine that was problematic. At this time I was also taking Iron Bisglycinate so it could have been that the two together was too much glycine for my system.

 

Any thoughts?

a.k.a JMarie

Paxil since Mar.1998

2006-2007:40-20mg
2009: 20mg to 14mg 2010: 14mg to 10.5mg 2011: 10.5 to 7.6mg  2012: 7.5 to 6.8mg

2013: 6.7-6.3mg 2014: 6.2mg-5.8mg 2015: 5.7 to 5.15mg 2016: 5.1-4.6mg

1/19/17: 4.5mg 3/17/17: 4.4mg

6/15/17: 4.35mg 8/10/17: 4.3mg

1/29/18: 4.1mg 5/07/18: 4.0mg

7/31/18: 3.9mg

 

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I would take a lower dose of magnesium, maybe 50mg or 100mg.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 3 weeks later...

i tried mag citrate yesterday and only this morning i realized how it helped. i wasnt expecting anything because i was already taking cal/mag/zinc formula so its not placebo. i now recall i had more motivation to research and to have a walk yesterday. my depression/anhedonia/demotivation symptoms improved. and this morning i woke up at 3am with the usual morning cortisol anxiety and i put like 100mg mag citrate in water and again i wasnt expecting much but i didnt even notice that the anxiety/RLS was relieved! in just a few minutes. this is wonderful! im really glad i found this forum. i hope you all are doing well in your recovery.. love and compassion..

Dec 2012 tried 10 mg Lexapro caused panic attack 

                 titrated 5 mg, and finally settling at 2.5 mg for some time

Jan-May 2013 on and off carelessly experimented on doses from 1.5 mg to as high as 12.5 mg 

June 2013 had extreme anxiety/panic attacks/paranoia when I ran out of samples.

July 7 2013 - August 10 2013 went back to 2.5 mg to relieve the anxiety and it worked until i felt restless and agitated

August 11 2013 AD-free and substituted with 5-HTP and it seemed to work together with GABA after I read "The Mood Cure" by Julia Ross 

dec 20, 2013 switched to 5mg Valium from 0.25mg-0.5mg xanax daily and felt better

dec31 3.75mg V

 

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  • 1 month later...

I found this from livestrong.com:

 

Fish Oil and Magnesium Interactions

As fish oil lowers your triglycerides and begins to clear out your arteries, your blood pressure will decrease. As magnesium takes effect, your arteries will relax and open up, also decreasing your blood pressure. It is possible that combining the two supplements can lower your blood pressure too much. This can produce dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, tiredness and even mental confusion if not enough blood reaches your brain. For this reason, ask your physician about the possibilities of interactions between fish oil and magnesium supplements before you use them together. Combine them only with your doctor’s permission.

 

Any thoughts? Many of us take these both.

08 Cipralex 10mg for about 6 months. 11-12 Cipralex 20mg. Unsuccesful WD. 12-13 Zoloft 100mg with Diazepam 10-20mg as needed for anxiety.
Fall 13 Tapering Zoloft 100->50->25->12,5->0 in 2,5 months and CT Diazepam. 12/24/13 RI Zoloft 12,5mg
.

1/21/14 11mg

3/18/14 9,9mg

2/18/14 8mg

4/22/14 7,6mg

5/5/14 7,2mg

5/12/14 -> cutting 0,5mg per week, holding when necessary.

8/18/14 -> cutting 0,25mg per week holding when necessary.

10/20/2014 -> cutting 0,1mg per week, holding when necessary.
12/28/2014 Jump!

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No one has ever reported that effect here.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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MB, by combining fish oil and mag, do u mean in a day or taken at the same time?

Thnx

1989-2004 low doze Xanax nightly.

2004 w/d in hospital c/t with 3 other meds, (trazadone, phenobarbital, risperdal)

Tapered off those meds in 7 months.

2010- bad anxiety so tried Valium and klonopin, back to hospital, came home on nothing, got much better.

12-23-2013- hospital for anxiety, depression,insomnia...used low dose lamictal 12 days with mitrazapine.

Came home on 15 mg mitrazapine, down to c. 10 mg mitrazapine in c. 3weeks, 7.5 mg in 32 days..

Tapered off mitrazapine March 6, 2014.

Took .75 mg April 20 and 1.05 mg April 21st.

Ended taper March 6, 2014.

Take supplements tho not all daily: fish oil, Vit. C., Vit. D, cal/mag, little multi, mag at night,

Been taking homeopathic remedy since June, 2014 via a Homeopathic M.D. (Trained in psychiatry)1-12, 2018 put on 60 mg cymbalta; 150 lyrica for anxiety and 50 mg trazadone. Tapered of trazadone after 3 months on it and tapered off of lyrica in about 9 months. As of March, 2019, only on 60 mg cymbalta.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I figured I would give the magnesium a try last night. The lowest dose I could find was 250 mg. I broke it in half so I took apprx. 125mg. This magnesium is mag oxide. At work I had several bouts of muscle twitching in my back. For me muscle twitching has never been an issue. I also had several scary painful spikes of pain in my left chest; also very unusual. Also at the end of the day I had visual issues in my left eye. Not so strange for me.

I looked at my multi vitamin I take twice daily and I saw that it actually has 125mg of mag oxide in each tablet?

Does any of this sound out of line enough to cause these issues? I will not be taking any mag tonight.

1993 diagnosed with GAD (general anxiety disorder)

Started Xanax (XR) 3-5 yrs??

Switched to Effexor 15 yrs??

Stopped Effexor / Started Xanax as needed never abused

Two weeks cold turkey taper with SSRI bridge

Reinstated SSRI July 2012 for 5 weeks.

Discontinuation Syndrome Bad!!!!!

Drug Free and Struggling!!!

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Mag oxide is not very well absorbed. My guess is your symptoms are due to something else.

 

If you can't get mag glycinate, get mag citrate. If you can't get either, try a bath in Epsom salts (mag sulfate).

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 4 weeks later...
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I did an experiment with magnesium bath.

 

Magnesium chloride crystals - 1 cup - 20 min soak - was almost sedating, very relaxing, very calming, very "all is well with the world."  It is excellent to know I have that tool up my sleeve.  (for the heck of it, I found Magnesium Chloride at a new age massage place less than 1k from where I live!  So remember to look in spas and alternative wellness huts!  It is top quality, and they have a gel, too.)

 

Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salts) - 1 cup - 20 min soak - was mildly relaxing, felt good on the muscles, but didn't feel like it affected emotion much at all.  I was glad I took the bath, but it didn't feel nearly like the "secret weapon" the magnesium chloride is.  I think the effects of the Epsom Salts were not as long acting, either.

 

Currently having to rotate between magnesium maleate (found it at a bodybuilding supplement shop) and magnesium citrate (found at a health food store, but can get too loose in the bowel) until my magnesium orotate comes in.  I take 2 x 200 mg, morning and evening.  I had been taking oxide for headaches with little to no effect - I have had fewer headaches upon starting the citrate and maleate.  No change in emotional output or anxiety - unless I would take a mag chloride bath!

 

Thank you all so much for the magnesium education.  It is so important in so many ways, and anything that helps withdrawal . . . . 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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I did read the first page.  :unsure: 

I read that a couple people like taking it at night to relax. I just read the second page too. I don't see anything about how long it takes to kick in...though one person said it did alot for them in a short time. The last 3 previous days this week I have felt really crappy....even worse than normal. Today I felt significantly better. Could 25mg of mag citrate work that fast? It could be that I stopped taking Maca which is supposed to boost energy. I took it for 2 or 3 days a few days ago. I read today that it can be a stimulant and interrupt sleep. Maybe that is why I felt worse. It could be that it's out of my system now.

 

Anyway, took 50mg of mag citrate in water today.

 

thanks

On Effexor since February 2003; Mar/2012 - dropped from 150mg to 131mg; Apr/2012 - 112.5mg; Jul.2/2012 - 94mg;
Oct.21/2012 - 75mg - first started noticing withdrawal symptoms; Nov.16/2012 - 56mg; Dec.11/2012- 37.5mg; Jan.5/2013 - 19mg; Jan.22/2013 - 22.5mg (withdrawal too strong); Jan.23/2013 - 37.5mg (MUCH worse; very sick)
Jan.24/2013 - 30mg; May 26/2013 - 27mg (started 10% method - too much)

Dec.25/2013 - 27.3mg (no relief after 7 month hold; slow updose)

Mar.6/2014 - 37.5mg (3.5 year hold, no improvement);

Nov.2/2017 - 2.5% drop/36.6mg; Nov.30/2017 - 4% drop/35.1mg; Dec.28/2017 - 6% drop/33mg; Jan.25,/2018 - 8% drop/30.4mg; Feb.22/2018 - Held at 30.4mg; Mar. 22/2018 - 10% drop/27.4mg; Apr.19/2018 - 10% drop/24.7mg; May 17/2018 - 5%/23.5mg; Nov.21/2018 - 1.7% drop/23.1mg; Dec.19/2018 - 1.7%/22.7mg; Jan.23/2019 - 2.6%/22.1mg; Feb.27/2019 - 3.6% drop/21.3mg..holding...considering slow updose back to full dose

 

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You could probably take 50mg at least 3 times a day.

 

Yes, it could be the maca was stimulating.

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

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So the Magnesium Chloride gel, I've been using it a lot too, and giving it to hubby for his aches and pains.  He likes it better than "medicinal" topical (i.e., eucalyptus, tiger balm, menthol, arnica based creams) because it has no odor.  The bottle says that if I put it all over my body, it will give me 300mg of absorbed magnesium.  But I just use it on the hurty parts (like my knee, and on my face when I have a headache) and sometimes when I'm feeling stretched I have hubby rub it on my spine, from neck to tailbone - very soothing!  Rubbing it on my face for headaches is good, better than any other topical I've tried, like tiger balm or lavender.  If only I could rub it on my own spine!  I was thinking that as I climbed into bed last night.

 

The brand is Secret Squirrel, I think it is out of Tasmania (for all us Aussie sorts).  Ironic, since there are no squirrels in Australia!  But anyhow, when compared to Epsom Salts, it's only slightly more expensive: Magnesium Chloride $16.50/kilo compared to (cheapest I could find here) Epsom Salts $13.33/kilo.  Epsom Salts here is not the cheap bargain it is in the USA!  I may stock up next time I go!  I'm wondering if there's a chemical supply place where I can buy it by 10 kilo lots or something....

 

But after finding the Secret Squirrel Mag Chloride, I'm less enchanted with the Epsom Salts.  Secret Squirrel also has an oil, which my local place is always out of (popular product), that I look forward to trying.

 

If you read this guy:  http://george-eby-research.com/html/depression-anxiety.html and while I don't buy everything he says (like cats and schizophrenia), he has a lot of excellent things to say about what blocks magnesium, what aids magnesium, and the myriads of conditions that magnesium can improve.  His opinion about "mental illness" is it's industrial food, dietary, and a huge gap of understanding due to greed in the medical industry.  On that, I can agree.  He's got a bit of Mad Pride going, so even when I don't agree, his views are worth considering.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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Thanks for all those magnesium tips, JC. Good to hear it works so well for you.

 

Epsom salts are mag sulfate, you might be able to find it more cheaply under that name.

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

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The magnesium experiment is not going well so far. After I applied the gel full body, I had some reactions. I felt a tingling sensation on my skin immediately afterwards. An hour later I felt really tired and went for a nap (which isn't unusual for me but I think the mag contributed to it). Several hours later I developed a headache that lasted well into the next day. I didn't take any mag the next day on Sunday and felt pretty good on Monday. I started at lower amounts of mag citrate and just put the gel on my chest. I was fine the next day. Then I upped the mag citrate to two doses of 75mg and put gel on my chest and belly and felt fine again. Next day I took approx 110mg of mag citrate in the morning and a 150mg capsule of mag citrate before bed and I put the gel on my whole upper body. I woke up to pee in the morning with the weirdest sensation in both ears. They were super sensitive. They were buzzing, not like tinnitus....a really weird, uncomfortable sensation. I woke up a few hours later and the ears were ok, but now I feel super tired and feel unwell.

 

For the mag citrate capsules, I updosed over a week from 25mg to a full 150mg capsule last night. No stomach issues.

 

I know mag takes a bit to get used to but I'm pretty discouraged. I'm not sure if I will try it anymore...

On Effexor since February 2003; Mar/2012 - dropped from 150mg to 131mg; Apr/2012 - 112.5mg; Jul.2/2012 - 94mg;
Oct.21/2012 - 75mg - first started noticing withdrawal symptoms; Nov.16/2012 - 56mg; Dec.11/2012- 37.5mg; Jan.5/2013 - 19mg; Jan.22/2013 - 22.5mg (withdrawal too strong); Jan.23/2013 - 37.5mg (MUCH worse; very sick)
Jan.24/2013 - 30mg; May 26/2013 - 27mg (started 10% method - too much)

Dec.25/2013 - 27.3mg (no relief after 7 month hold; slow updose)

Mar.6/2014 - 37.5mg (3.5 year hold, no improvement);

Nov.2/2017 - 2.5% drop/36.6mg; Nov.30/2017 - 4% drop/35.1mg; Dec.28/2017 - 6% drop/33mg; Jan.25,/2018 - 8% drop/30.4mg; Feb.22/2018 - Held at 30.4mg; Mar. 22/2018 - 10% drop/27.4mg; Apr.19/2018 - 10% drop/24.7mg; May 17/2018 - 5%/23.5mg; Nov.21/2018 - 1.7% drop/23.1mg; Dec.19/2018 - 1.7%/22.7mg; Jan.23/2019 - 2.6%/22.1mg; Feb.27/2019 - 3.6% drop/21.3mg..holding...considering slow updose back to full dose

 

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You took too much, internally and on the skin. Take less.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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I have been wondering about a particular magnesium product as it's touted constantly on another website as being the very best one to get, and many of the members apparently agree with that.

The product is Doctors Best High Absorption 100% chelated magnesium. Without being a chemist or anything of the sort, my understanding is that the magnesium is bound to two amino acids, lysine and glycine, which makes the absorption process "more certain" as the magnesium is pulled through the intestinal tract and absorbed along with the two proteins.

So with RDA for magnesium being about 400 mgs for adults, each tablet supplies 200 mgs, so two tablets supplies the 400 mgs.

My question and concern arise from the fact that each 200 mg is derived from 2,000 mg of elemental magnesium, so with each tablet of 200 mg being absorbed comes 1,800 mgs of elemental magnesium that must be processed out of the system. And 200 mg is 50% of the RDA.

Somehow, to me, 1,800 mg of unusable magnesium (or 3,600 mgs if taking the RDA) seems like a huge amount for the body to eliminate under the best of circumstances in terms of health.

Am I missing something here in terms of the risk/benefit ratio?

Marie

On Xanax 10 years for anxiety, 2 mgs, night only. Attempted my own taper w/o understanding the dependency issues.

 

Researched and then understood the need for longer half life med. Doctor crossed me from X to klonopin 4 times in 6 months. Last time on X, she up dosed me to 3 mgs X.

 

On last cross attempt, ended up in ER with profound w/d sx from X. Got new doctor. Final cross to K, structured, slow was completed 6/5/12-12/5/12.

 

Attempting liquid micro taper from K. Difficulty with micro cuts; significant w/d sx requiring several weeks of holding after each cut. Also concerned if it's possible to use pill/liquid combo for dosing.

 

Hope I Meet Other Benzo Taperers Here! I have tried ADs in past. Could not tolerate them, gave up trying, none for over 12 years.

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As I understand it, the chelates, ex. magnesium glycinate, are better absorbed. I think it's because they're bound to amino acids, but don't quote me on that. The products that utilize the Albion process for chelation are the most reliable in quality.

 

As for that particular product, they're tooting their own horn, obviously.

 

Much of the elemental magnesium is not absorbed.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thanks, Alto.

 

That was quick on your part. I literally went to my computer to correct my names spelling and there your answer was.

 

I don't think the elemental magnesium is absorbed either.

 

I just wondered if all that extra magnesium is possibly "dangerous" for some people to process out.

 

It's just about 5 times more elemental magnesium than any other magnesium product generally has to be eliminated after any absorption takes place.

 

Marie

On Xanax 10 years for anxiety, 2 mgs, night only. Attempted my own taper w/o understanding the dependency issues.

 

Researched and then understood the need for longer half life med. Doctor crossed me from X to klonopin 4 times in 6 months. Last time on X, she up dosed me to 3 mgs X.

 

On last cross attempt, ended up in ER with profound w/d sx from X. Got new doctor. Final cross to K, structured, slow was completed 6/5/12-12/5/12.

 

Attempting liquid micro taper from K. Difficulty with micro cuts; significant w/d sx requiring several weeks of holding after each cut. Also concerned if it's possible to use pill/liquid combo for dosing.

 

Hope I Meet Other Benzo Taperers Here! I have tried ADs in past. Could not tolerate them, gave up trying, none for over 12 years.

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I haven't seen any reports of problems.

 

Remember, we evolved to eat a certain amount of dirt ...uh...I mean minerals... with our food. Our bodies do a good job of excreting stuff we can't digest.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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I have been wondering about a particular magnesium product as it's touted constantly on another website as being the very best one to get, and many of the members apparently agree with that.

 

The product is Doctors Best High Absorption 100% chelated magnesium. Without being a chemist or anything of the sort, my understanding is that the magnesium is bound to two amino acids, lysine and glycine, which makes the absorption process "more certain" as the magnesium is pulled through the intestinal tract and absorbed along with the two proteins.

 

So with RDA for magnesium being about 400 mgs for adults, each tablet supplies 200 mgs, so two tablets supplies the 400 mgs.

 

My question and concern arise from the fact that each 200 mg is derived from 2,000 mg of elemental magnesium, so with each tablet of 200 mg being absorbed comes 1,800 mgs of elemental magnesium that must be processed out of the system. And 200 mg is 50% of the RDA.

 

Somehow, to me, 1,800 mg of unusable magnesium (or 3,600 mgs if taking the RDA) seems like a huge amount for the body to eliminate under the best of circumstances in terms of health.

 

Am I missing something here in terms of the risk/benefit ratio?

 

Marie

 

Actually, you have to take four caplets of Doctor's Best chelated magnesium to get the 400 mg. "Daily Value", two doses of two caplets a day.  I just bought the product because I've had trouble with every other kind I've tried.  I've been trying to get past 100 mg. of magnesium and make it to the DV level for over a year, but I just can't do it.  In fact, I think the dosage I've been taking has actually kept me at a sort of sub-clinical level of illness. When I realized what was going on I quit taking magnesium and I'm feeling better and better.  I'm going to try one more time with the Doctor's Best brand, and if I can only handle one or two hundred mg., so be it.  If I can't handle it at all, I'll just have to do my best to get magnesium from food.

 

I don't mean to turn anyone off to trying magnesium.  Lots of people find it quite beneficial. I often have odd reactions to medications and supplements, so don't decide whether or not to take it based on my experience.  I mean, how many people get suicidally depressed on tetracycline?  Well, I do.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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Jemima

 

There are certain drugs that make me lose my mind and that is Cipro and Levaquin.  The only magnesium product that ever helped me was magnesium citrate which was in a powder which i mixed with ice tea.  It did stop anxiety but I was always running to the bathroom.

 

I have spent tons of money on supplements and I think (for me) Vit c is good, so is fish oil or flaxseed oil.  i can tolerate a multi by Kal.  There is such sensitivity after taking AD's.....so you aren't alone.....

Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/

 

Paxil 1997-2004

Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available

at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries

Lexapro 40mgs

Lexapro taper (2years)

Imipramine

Imipramine and Celexa

Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each

45mgs. Serzone  50mgs. Imipramine

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Well, I may be another one of those folks who can't tolerate magnesium.   I had decided to increase it to help with my blood pressure and sleep.   Perhaps I increased too quickly as in the morning I took a cal/mag that had 250mg mag and at noon, a mag that had 200mg.

 

The benefits were I was more functional, including being able to drive places safely with full alertness and it seemed to be helping my blood pressure and junk food cravings..   I also felt my memory was better.

 

But last night, after waking up after an hour of sleep, I felt like I was on a caffeine high even though I had consumed my lowest amount in months in the morning.   I had a horrible time getting back to sleep.

 

I am beyond frustrated to the point of tears.

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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For the longest time, I could tolerate only 50mg magnesium at a time (back then, it was magnesium citrate).

 

If you take mag with calcium, the calcium cancels out the calming effects of the mag.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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Even though I took the mag/glycinate at lunch separate from the morning stuff,  I still cancelled out the calming effects?

 

I probably need to start slow also.  

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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The cal/mag supplements cancels out the calming effect of the mag.

 

You might just have suffered a blip that wasn't the mag's fault.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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This is interesting. I seem to be pretty sensitive to fish oil (makes my jittery and hyper), but I can take 350mg of magnesium a day ( in two doses, powdered drink form) with no bad side effects. I guess it just goes to show that everyone's different.

Have taken Celexa 10mg for six years. Tried to taper two years ago but failed. I have taken 25mg hydrocholorothiazide for two years for slightly high blood pressure. Not sure if it's related to SSRI use. I don't have a family history of hypertension, am a healthy weight, walk all 

day at my job, and work out (powerlifting and kettlebells). 

 

I tapered by 10% (always indexed to original dose; big mistake!) for ten months starting in March 2014, crashed hard at 1/2 milligrams, have updosed to 5mg and am trying to hold there. 

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Hi Bobcat,

 

And so far, I seem to have no problems with fish oil but if I take a small amount of magnesium as I didn today with 50mg, I react to it with heart palpatations.  And I took it by itself.

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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Magnesium doesn't work for me. Small doses does nothing. Higher doses makes me sick. I tried 25mg a day up to 300mg in one dose and everything in between.

On Effexor since February 2003; Mar/2012 - dropped from 150mg to 131mg; Apr/2012 - 112.5mg; Jul.2/2012 - 94mg;
Oct.21/2012 - 75mg - first started noticing withdrawal symptoms; Nov.16/2012 - 56mg; Dec.11/2012- 37.5mg; Jan.5/2013 - 19mg; Jan.22/2013 - 22.5mg (withdrawal too strong); Jan.23/2013 - 37.5mg (MUCH worse; very sick)
Jan.24/2013 - 30mg; May 26/2013 - 27mg (started 10% method - too much)

Dec.25/2013 - 27.3mg (no relief after 7 month hold; slow updose)

Mar.6/2014 - 37.5mg (3.5 year hold, no improvement);

Nov.2/2017 - 2.5% drop/36.6mg; Nov.30/2017 - 4% drop/35.1mg; Dec.28/2017 - 6% drop/33mg; Jan.25,/2018 - 8% drop/30.4mg; Feb.22/2018 - Held at 30.4mg; Mar. 22/2018 - 10% drop/27.4mg; Apr.19/2018 - 10% drop/24.7mg; May 17/2018 - 5%/23.5mg; Nov.21/2018 - 1.7% drop/23.1mg; Dec.19/2018 - 1.7%/22.7mg; Jan.23/2019 - 2.6%/22.1mg; Feb.27/2019 - 3.6% drop/21.3mg..holding...considering slow updose back to full dose

 

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For those of you who take a calcium channel blocker blood pressure medication, I want to let it be known that the combination of that and the Daily Value (and less) of magnesiium prolonged my recovery from antidepressants.  While it didn't seem to cause any harm at first, as I got better an undefineable something was still wrong--I  was chronically tired and no matter how much sleep I got, I never felt rested.

 

As in everything, this may not be true for anyone but myself.  I just wanted people to know that this combination of two calcium channel blockers may have unpleasant effects.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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