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Journalist looking for Australian stories of antidepressant withdrawal

BethMag

By BethMag
in Events, actions, controversies

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BethMag Contributor

BethMag

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Posted

Hello,

 

I'm a freelance journalist in Australia looking to do a story on the negative effects of long term antidepressant use and withdrawal. I'm looking particularly at where we are at in Australia - what is being done to inform and support patients, and is it enough? I have read widely on this topic and I'm aware that there has been some media coverage in the past. My intention is to shed light on the current state of play in Australia, and the people advocating for change. At the moment I'm intending to pitch to the ABC (my former employee) and the Guardian. I'm looking for case studies of Australians who have experienced a difficult withdrawal after long term use of an antidepressant. You could go on the record or be anonymous, and I will treat your story with sensitivity and respect. If you are interested in talking to me please send me a DM. Thank you very much.

 

Beth

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Altostrata Grand Master

Altostrata

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Thanks, Beth. Removed your e-mail address for your privacy.

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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Thorin Veteran

Thorin

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@BethMagi’d be happy to talk to you. I’m based in Victoria.

Age 16 (1995 - 2000) -Paroxetine
Age 21 (2000-2004) - Effexor 37.5mg
Age 24 (2004-2012) - Lexapro (70mg), Xanax minimum 2mg Xanax a day
About 32 (2012-2017?) - Every mood stabiliser under the sun (not at the same time) and minimum 2mg Xanax a day; occasional amisulpride 
About 35 (2017-current) - Lurasidone 80 mg, quickly titrated down to 40mg, Pristiq (50 mg), minimum of 2mg Xanax a day
About 41 (2020) Switched from Xanax to clonazepam and started tapering at 0.125 mg each reduction, tapered off Pristiq with a cross taper at the end, low dose of dextroamphetamine.
Age 42 (2021) Tried to taper off Lurasidone three times. Quick taper from 40mg to 0 mg over a couple of months the first time. Reinstated at 20mg. Tried twice more to taper from 20 mg to 0 mg dropping by 5 mg each reduction (about every 2 weeks).
Age 42-43 (April 2022) 20mg-18mg; May 18mg-16mg; June 16-14mg; September 14-12mg; September 12-14mg reinstated. February 2023 - hiccup with brand change, Back to Apotek brand and switch to homemade suspension.

Age 44 (August 2023 -restarted clonazepam taper). Start dose 0.375mg. 1/9/2023 - 0.365mg; 1/10/2023 - 0.324mg; 1/11/2023 - 0.264mg; 1/12/2023 - 0.25 mg (holding)

Health regimen: walks, hot/cold showers, ice baths, breathwork, mostly healthy diet, therapy...... Open to ideas! Supplements: Milk Kefir, Mag, Omega 3, CBD/THC.

 

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Altostrata Grand Master

Altostrata

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@Thorin please send a pm, as requested.

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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Psvt Newbie

Psvt

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Message sent. 

1

Zoloft: Sometime early in 2014 Three days only. Torture!

Lexapro: Early 2015- Mid 2015 10mg

Lexapro: Mid 2015-March 2017 20mg

Tapered too fast, Withdrawal started through April-June 2017. Told by Doctor that it was rebound anxiety and have now developed MDD

Pristiq: July 2017-October 2017 50mg (total 56 days)

Lexapro: October 2017-October 2017 10mg (6 days)

Lexapro: October 2017-October 2017 20mg (5 days)

COLD TURKEY>>>>>>>>>>>>October 11,2017

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Gussy Contributor

Gussy

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Hi Beth.

Good on you for looking into this area that needs much exposure. I sent you a msg but realise you probably already have enough and other's stories may be more worthwhile than mine. I do wish you luck with the abc, I think i remember a David Healy talk a while back where he mentioned the abc not wanting to run this kind of thing.

1

Gussy

On effexor for at least 11 years. Last few years going through ivf treatment dose has ranged from 150-200mg. Mainly 150 though. Tapered from about 175mg mid jan 2017 to zero mid april 2017. 2&1/2 months of straight hell. Getting there now though.

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morgana Contributor

morgana

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Hi @BethMag, i live in Cairns, North Qld, Australia, i was on an anti depressant from 1996 to 2017 if you want to chat i am happy to let you know what my experience was...cheers morgana

 

1

Cipramil  40mg  1996 to Oct 2017 stopped cold turkey

Only on Zyprexa from now on :   10mg solid form 1998 to Oct 2017

7.5mg solid form  Oct 2017 to Oct 2019 5mg solid form  Oct 2019 to Apr 2020

3.75mg solid form Apr 2020 to May 2020 2.5mg solid form  May 2020 to Feb 2021 2.5mg solid 3/4 and 1/4 liquid w/ 5mls water 6th Feb 2021 to 2nd Apr 2021 2.5mg 1/2 solid and 1/2 liquid w/10mls water 3rd Apr to 26th Jun 2021

 2.5mg dissolved in 25mls of water from 27th Jun 2021 to 22nd Oct 2021 2.5mg 1/2 solid, 1/2 dissolved in 10mls of water from 23rd Oct 21 to 7th Feb 2022 water titrating from 7th Feb 2022 to 13 Aug 2022:  2.2425mg

 

 

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Ryder Contributor

Ryder

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Hi Beth, 

I live in Sydney Australia. I was given an anti-depressant in 2008 for Anxiety. I ended up on anti-psychotics from 2012-2014 and quit those cold turkey whilst being treated in the public health system - Sydney's early prevention psychosis clinic. I am not sure if you want me to provide this account as you wrote you were interested in covering anti-depressants. 

 

Thanks for what your doing, 

Ryder. 

1

2008-2012: Cymbalta, Zyprexa, Valium (5 days supply),

2012 - Seroquil x 4 weeks C/T. 

2014 - Seroquil x 2 Weeks C/T. Crossed to Risperidone 3mg for 6months until December.

2014 - Stopped Risperidone cross tapered to Anti-Depressant 200mg Zoloft and 6mg Clonazepam. 

2018 - 150mg Clomipromine changed Anti-depressant. Tapered Benzo to 1mg Clonazepam. 2019 - xfer to 20mg Diazepam. 

Currently:

Anafranil: 75mg. 17th Dec 2022 70mg. 27th Dec 22: 75mg, 14 January 23': 70mg. 16-26th January: 50mg (too fast drop no sleep). Jan 28th 2023: 70mg. 20 Feb 2023: 65mg. 11/06: 60mg 9/08: 55mg 15/08: 50mg.

        Diazepam (V): 25th Oct 2019' 20mg. 22 Dec 19' 19mg. 04 Apr 2020' 18mg,  30 September 20' 17.5mg , 13 Nov 2020' 17mg. 01 January 2021: 16mg, 13th Aug 21' 15mg. 1st Nov' 2021 14.5mg. 1st Dec' 2021 14mg. 13 January 2022: 13.5mg, 11 Feb: 13mg.  11 April 22' 12.5mg, 12 May 22': 12mg, 6th September 2022: 11mg Valium. 9th October: 10.5mg, 25th Oct 10mg. 12 March 23: 9.5mg 2 April: 9.25mg 23 April: 9mg 12/05: 8.75 26/05: 8.5 12/09: 8.25 21/09: 8.5. 3/10: 8.25 17/10: 8mg.

        20th Nov Brassmonkey: (8mg 7.9mg,) 

*.      Have tried to go at faster rate than 0.5mg but is currently too fast. 

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