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Finn

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I'm going to reinstate a few mgs. Now is hardly a good time to torture myself with bizarre symptoms that throw off my ability to think and function properly...

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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Those few mgs may not have been the best idea...I took it for two days, and these past two days, I've had a bad headache, been feeling aggressive, dizzy. This scares me.

 

What do I do? Nothing seems to be helping, and i feel out of control

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment

I did not taper so I can`t help much with that but I do know the rest of it like the back on my hand and what I would do in your situation would be to find all the things in my tool box that bring me to safety and sound reasoning and do them all.. 

deep relaxation 

warm bath 

bed

food that makes you feel well

hit of magnesium maybe or taurine... just a bit if or mix it in water and sip it... 

whatever else is in your tool box...

 

some other things I use

tapping EFT can be found online 

heat - heating pad usually helps me

walking some place peaceful in nature 

 

I hope things get better soon and I have had all this in withdrawal there are patches of it then it passes then it comes back a bit shorter or less bothersome each time then it stops... peace to you take good care. 

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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I'm five weeks out now, and I'm pretty close to overwhelmed by obsessive thoughts, irritability and general hostility. After I tried reinstating, the irritability started, but it could just be a coincidence and it would have happened anyway. It's like nothing can calm me either.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm five weeks out now, and I'm pretty close to overwhelmed by obsessive thoughts, irritability and general hostility. After I tried reinstating, the irritability started, but it could just be a coincidence and it would have happened anyway. It's like nothing can calm me either.

 

Did you continue with the reinstatement?  I'm assuming it was Prozac, how many mg did you reinstate?  It can take several weeks, sometimes longer for a reinstatement to work, until you start to feel better.  How were you feeling before March 3rd when you dropped from 3mg to 0mg?

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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I'm five weeks out now, and I'm pretty close to overwhelmed by obsessive thoughts, irritability and general hostility. After I tried reinstating, the irritability started, but it could just be a coincidence and it would have happened anyway. It's like nothing can calm me either.

I hope somebody here can help you to over come this asap I know from reading only that it can take some time for things to work once a path is decided on I hope it is not too long but if it is know your not the first person to get thru this others have and you can get thru it too.  I hope you come back soon and answer the questions so people who know can advise you.

I wish you peace. 

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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Did you continue with the reinstatement?

 

 

I didn't. I was feeling aggressive and out of control, which really scared me. When I reinstated, it was Prozac, and it was maybe 2mg, but this was for two days because I didn't feel any better. Before I made the final reduction, I think I was...stable, as in neither good nor bad. I don't remember, but I must have been alright enough to attempt it or bad enough not to care if I made it worse. I'm been there a few times too.

 

For what it is worth, I have been feeling somewhat better the past two days--calmer maybe. While I was feeling worse, I was feeling a lot of resentment and anger toward a person, and I've since sort of exploded at them (not proud...), which may have been an emotional release. But I've also been focusing on taking supplements, which could have helped.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Its good you didn't continue with the prozac if it had that effect, I understand completely because that's exactly how I felt when I tried a small amount when already in withdrawal.

 

It sounds like you have had a small window, feeling calmer is good.  I'm sure you will keep improving with time.  I noticed you are not taking magnesium, most people find that its helpful, it can be calming.  You may have tried it already, but if not, here is some information:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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I was taking magnesium but not on a regular basis. I've started taking it every day now though.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment

Sort of back in the lack of interest/ feeling for stuff around me phase again. It's annoying because I want to get excited and such, but it isn't necessarily too awful either.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment

Me too but it may be grief hard to tell 

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 :)

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

Me too but it may be grief hard to tell 

 

As always sending love and support to you.

 

Ah...update again: I was feeling calmer, but now it is back to constant irritability, impatience and general hostility--not to mention a complete lack of focus. I can be paying attention but not really focusing. My mind feels blank and flat. Then and worst of all, almost unbearable are the obsessive thoughts. I drive my car and I constantly worry that I am going to hit someone/thing or have hit something. At work I am constantly afraid and checking to see if I am doing unsafe or unhygienic. This is awful because it is extremely difficult to function through. I had obsessive thoughts before I ever took any drug. In fact it was these thoughts that made me take the first drug in the first place. So maybe this isn't withdrawal or if it is, my mind has become so screwed up, it can't right itself. I may need to either go back to my doctor or find a new one, but at this point, that seems like failure. But at a certain point, I need to try to live again, and a blank, unfocused demeanor and obsessive thoughts will get in the way.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment

I see how it would be hard to sort if you had this before the drugs... I did not have OCD Before the drugs I did have it when I was drugged and I had it 100 times worse in withdrawal then when I was on the drugs.  

I think you need to reach out to some taper people on this to get more feedback if you not hearing from enough here to help sort it send some feelers out in way of pm to some people who you feel are like you on here.  You can link this page in you pm so they can read more about your specifics.  

Thank you for the love and support it is appreciated. Peace to you Finn

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 :)

Link to comment

I may always have had OCD, but what's the solution then? Go back on drugs--well, a different drug? I've thought about it because for one, I am still emotionally blunted. While on drugs, I'm unable to feel anything including anxiety, but off, I feel like I'm constantly anxious AND numb, which might sound like an impossible contradiction but it's not. Like I'm thinking maybe I should start another med and just stay at a really low dose?

 

Also, these past few days, I've been having intense stomach pain so I'm a mess.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment

I may always have had OCD, but what's the solution then? Go back on drugs--well, a different drug? I've thought about it because for one, I am still emotionally blunted. While on drugs, I'm unable to feel anything including anxiety, but off, I feel like I'm constantly anxious AND numb, which might sound like an impossible contradiction but it's not. Like I'm thinking maybe I should start another med and just stay at a really low dose?

 

Also, these past few days, I've been having intense stomach pain so I'm a mess.

Taking a look at non drug alternatives to OCD would be the first place I would start while keeping in mind that withdrawal brings OCD to others who never had a problem with it prior to being drugged. 

I am curious but maybe ask and answer this for yourself share or not as you like were there any other drugs you took before you experienced the OCD prior to SSRI withdrawal?  

 

Maybe take a look at the drugs that can cause psychiatric symptoms too as one of them may have kick started the process originally really all kinds of drugs you would never expect... can cause psychiatric symptoms .. I have taken a few in withdrawal and have paid in spades ... if I did not already know what a drug induced psych symptoms felt like I would not have looked up the drugs I had taken specifically seeking ... xxxxx induced psychiatric effects... 

I suggest you take a look at that too if you recall what you had taken or take a look at the list of drugs that cause these effect it may jog you memory there is a post about it on here... 

Before you decide what path to take next do some very serious research. 

Peace to you Finn

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 :)

Link to comment

You might want to check out books by Jeffrey Schwartz on Amazon. He started with an OCD specialty. I read The Mind and the Brain. Sometimes the reviews and "what others bought" yield even better ideas. I am currently looking into orthomolecular psychiatry, which is centered in the west suburbs of Chicago. Mensahmedical.com, resources section. And you can google Walsh Institute. Good luck!

1st round Prozac 1989/90, clear depression symptoms. 2nd round Prozac started 1999 when admitted to dr. I was tired. Prozac pooped out, switch to Cymbalta 3/2006. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder due to mania 6/2006--then I was taken abruptly off Cymbalta and didn't know I had SSRI withdrawal. Lots of meds for my intractable "bipolar" symptoms.

Zyprexa started about 9/06, mostly 5mg. Tapered 4/12 through12/29/12

Wellbutrin. XL 300 mg started 1/07, tapered 1/18/13 through 7/8/13

Oxazepam mostly continuously since 6/06, 30mg since 12/12, tapered 1.17.14 through 8.26.15

11/06 Lithium 600mg twice daily, 2.2.14 400mg TID DIY liquid, 2.12.14 1150mg, 3.2.14 1100mg, 3.18.14 1075mg, 4/14 updose to 1100mg, 6.1.14 900 mg capsules 7.8.14 810mg, 8.17.14 725mg, 8.24.24 700mg...10.22.14 487.5mg, 3.9.15 475mg, 4.1.15 462.5mg 4.21.15 450mg 8.11.15 375mg, 11.28.15 362.5mg, back to 375mg four days later, 3.4.16 updose to 475 (too much going on to risk trouble)

9/4/13 Toprol-XL 25mg daily for sudden hypertension, tapered 11.12.13 through 5.3.14, last 10 days or so switched to atenolol

7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol

56 years old

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I may always have had OCD, but what's the solution then? Go back on drugs--well, a different drug? I've thought about it because for one, I am still emotionally blunted. While on drugs, I'm unable to feel anything including anxiety, but off, I feel like I'm constantly anxious AND numb, which might sound like an impossible contradiction but it's not.

 

Because you still have some emotional blunting, along with the increased anxiety and a return of OCD, I would suspect that this could be withdrawal symptoms from dropping off 3mg Prozac 2 months ago.  We usually recommend tapering to a lower dose before stopping.

 

You could consider trying a small reinstatement and then a slow taper to a much lower dose, although at 2 months off, it may not work.  Perhaps 1mg might help.  Alternatively, you could just give it more time.

 

I agree with btdt and Meimei about looking for healthier alternatives to deal with your original OCD like symptoms.  Drugs don't cure anything, they just mask symptoms and cause side effects and other serious health risks long term.

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

Link to comment
  • 4 weeks later...

It's been three months now, and I am starting to feel again and feel somewhat like myself. Even the OCD isn't as nagging. It is there but like background noise as opposed to dominating my mind, at least for now. This past week I've had terrible non-stop headaches, though. Now I had headaches like this for over a year straight, but that was because of taking and then reducing Effexor. Since then, the constant headaches mostly went away so I have no explanation for why my head hurts so much now. I'm probably going to go to my regular doctor and see if they can identify any cause for headaches.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment

headaches were a big problem for me when i first quit zoloft. i had them severely for months and months. they subsided and recently came back, then subsided again. this last time it seemed to correlate with brain activity and things shifting around, which i take as trying to get back to where it needs to be. i was about to go to the doctor about mine but they ended up calming down before i got around to it. :) my obsessive thoughts severity go in waves as well which makes me think they are withdrawal related and will get better over time.

good luck!

on 37.5 - 50mg zoloft/sertraline for GAD from 3/1996 to 4/2013 (17 years) 

too fast taper from 1/13-4/13

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Hello Finn

Im glad to hear to  you are doing better.  

Ive been tapering off Effexor since early 2013.  Now that you are off everything what would you do different?

THere are other people who are on this drug and and info that can help will be much appreciated.

Started Effexor August 2012 Sept'12-150mg=extreme anxiety Oct'12 cut half-75mg severe wds

Feb 2013 68.5mg. Mar'13- 65mg. Apr'13-59mg. May'13-57mg. June '13-52mg Aug'13 49.75mg.

Sep'13-48.75. Nov'13-47mg Dec'13-45..5mg

May 2014 42mg. Jun'14 40mg (depressive mood started). Aug'14 -40mg/ started brintellix 2.5mg

Oct '14 -39 Nov'14 36.89 Dec'14 34.45

Jan 2015- 31 Feb'15 29mg. Mar'15 26.72. Apr'15 24.48. May'15 22.31mg. Jun'15 20.30mg

Aug'15-18.89. Oct'15 16.96. Nov/16- 16.10. Dec/15- 15mg

Jan 2016-14.22. May'16 11.45. Aug'16-9.60. Sep/16- 8.88mg. Oct/16- 8.39mg. Nov/16- 8.13. Dec/16- 7.89

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Yeah...things I would do differently...I'd say just go very slowly if you are very sensitive to removing (or adding if you ever need to reinstate if you went to fast) dose, go slowly and leave time between drops for things to settle. I know I went too quickly, and it made the headaches worse. I didn't handle my tapering well toward the end. I dropped from a relatively high dose, which caused problems. I'd recommend being very careful toward the end.

 

I did go to a primary care doc about the headaches though--they just called them tension headaches, which wasn't very helpful. I didn't mention the drug withdrawal thing since I try to not mention any psychiatric history too much. This doctor is going to look over the report from that mri I had 6 months ago and gave me a referral to a headache specialist. The past week I have had pretty near constant headaches. It could be a bad wave of withdrawal, maybe? I was feeling emotionally pretty food last week, but this past few days, its been much more rough. There are some stresses in my life  currently which might be triggering mood swings, irritability. I just feel like my mind is very hyped up.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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I hope you feel better soon.

I know about the headaches...Although I haven't had them as bad anymore since making the switch to effexor Xr.

Started Effexor August 2012 Sept'12-150mg=extreme anxiety Oct'12 cut half-75mg severe wds

Feb 2013 68.5mg. Mar'13- 65mg. Apr'13-59mg. May'13-57mg. June '13-52mg Aug'13 49.75mg.

Sep'13-48.75. Nov'13-47mg Dec'13-45..5mg

May 2014 42mg. Jun'14 40mg (depressive mood started). Aug'14 -40mg/ started brintellix 2.5mg

Oct '14 -39 Nov'14 36.89 Dec'14 34.45

Jan 2015- 31 Feb'15 29mg. Mar'15 26.72. Apr'15 24.48. May'15 22.31mg. Jun'15 20.30mg

Aug'15-18.89. Oct'15 16.96. Nov/16- 16.10. Dec/15- 15mg

Jan 2016-14.22. May'16 11.45. Aug'16-9.60. Sep/16- 8.88mg. Oct/16- 8.39mg. Nov/16- 8.13. Dec/16- 7.89

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Yeah...things I would do differently...I'd say just go very slowly if you are very sensitive to removing (or adding if you ever need to reinstate if you went to fast) dose, go slowly and leave time between drops for things to settle. I know I went too quickly, and it made the headaches worse. I didn't handle my tapering well toward the end. I dropped from a relatively high dose, which caused problems. I'd recommend being very careful toward the end.

 

I did go to a primary care doc about the headaches though--they just called them tension headaches, which wasn't very helpful. I didn't mention the drug withdrawal thing since I try to not mention any psychiatric history too much. This doctor is going to look over the report from that mri I had 6 months ago and gave me a referral to a headache specialist. The past week I have had pretty near constant headaches. It could be a bad wave of withdrawal, maybe? I was feeling emotionally pretty food last week, but this past few days, its been much more rough. There are some stresses in my life  currently which might be triggering mood swings, irritability. I just feel like my mind is very hyped up.

Headaches UGH 

constant plight on my life....

cold packs on the neck ...deep cold rub... sometimes believe it or not electrolytes... 

deep relaxation...confusing the system with hot on the low back cold on the neck shoulders... 

when all else fails... codeine ... when that fails gravol to know me out... 

sick to live like this and will say I have mirgraines and have bigger pain drugs but the scare me to death so I rarely take them would rather not. 

peace 

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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  • 6 months later...

Hell...long time no hear from me. Things sort of turned out badly...

 

In July, I went back on medication due to OCD and irritability/ inability to deal with intense emotions. I felt like I had to. I didn't feel safe in regards to what I might do while in that state of mind. About six weeks after I started on Zoloft again (never more than 50mg, hoping a low dose wouldn't make me numb/ flat again), I quit the job at the grocery store and started graduate school, which was what I wanted and was hopeful would set me back on the right course in my life. Aside from being anxious about screwing up my life again, I was mostly fine for the first two months of school--fine academically and socially. I wasn't depressed, but I wasn't experiencing the range of emotions I wanted--mostly I wanted to cry, and I couldn't. So, I stopped taking Zoloft around the first week of October, which led first to hypomanic that prevented me from wanting to focus to study so I got behind from that. Then after maybe a week and a half of intense happiness, I really crashed due to stress and not being able to deal. I was then very depressed and anxious, which completely prevented me from functioning. At this point, in an attempt to help what was throwing off my ability to be a student, which was important to me, I started taking Zoloft again.

 

At this same, I went to the psychiatrist on campus who diagnosed me as having bipolar (which to be fair, if anyone qualifies for bpII, it is me) and started me on Lamictal, which I have been taking since then, starting at 25mg and now at 75mg. I was taking it with Zoloft at 50mg because since in the past it has helped the depression, I was afraid to stop it mainly because all I wanted was to be able to finish the semester. After about six weeks of taking the two medications together, I started to feel better, better enough to basically catch up with school work. Oh I should say in the weeks between starting the medication and feeling somewhat better, I had self-harmed, there was a death in my family and inter-personal drama between my classmates and me, which all complicated things. But about two weeks into feeling better, I crashed again. I hadn't been able to sleep through the night for nearly a month, probably because I was taking Lamictal at night, and I was struggling to concentrate. I was also very emotionally exhausted due to everything that happened. After our last class of the semester in a state of extreme tiredness and frustrated, I badly cut myself and took an overdose of Xanax. In response to this reaction, I basically removed myself from the situation at school, so I didn't finish the course work for any of the classes (I have since finished one course though), which means I got incompletes or failing grades. Medication-wise, I right now trying to get off Zoloft because I can only think the combination of it and Lamictal triggered me to be a danger to myself. I don't know about Lamictal. I might stick on it alone for a while to see what it does. I'm convinced anti-depressants hurt me, but I'm not yet sure Lamictal won't help. I'm also not sure what I'm going to do about school. I'm very, very tired of explaining my mental health situation to people. It feels like I'm defending myself against people who don't take my terrible predicament seriously...

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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Oh! And I forgot to mention that during my last appointment with the psychiatrist at my university, we argued, and he threatened to have me put into the hospital if I didn't agree to take Seroquel because he thinks I'm unstable and blah, blah, blah. They even called me a week after the appointment to check to see if I was taking it. I lied both times, so I feel like I'm on the run from psychiatry, but I'm also terribly confused about what I should be doing and what is best for me!

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Oh Finn,I am so sorry that things went so bad for you. Quitting the prozac at 3mg was far too soon and

I'm sure you realise that now. While suffering withdrawal you started taking zoloft and it seems to me that 

while you were still sensitive and in withdrawal the dose was far too high and caused more problems. When

you quit the zoloft and had hypomania that would have been withdrawal too. We see it all the time here, people

quit meds and feel fantastic, better than they have ever been, with  withdrawal hypomania followed by a crash

then being labelled with bi-polar. I am concerned that your psychiatrist is threatening to have you admitted to

the hospital if you don't take the seroquel, he obviously doesn't have a clue about the meds he is giving you

and their side effects! 

 

You have had a lot of changes this year, you quit effexor, started then quit prozac too soon, then on zoloft, 

off zoloft, back on zoloft and on lamictal too, that is a awful lot of changes and your nervous system is 

struggling to cope.  I think that maybe you should just hold for a while to allow your body to adjust and settle

down again before starting to taper. You need stability right now and starting another taper will rock the boat

even more.  I do think you are right to be wary of  adding another drug to the cocktail, it's good that you could

see that it might cause problems.  

 

I'm glad you came back and we can help you to taper safely. I hope you stabilise soon but until then, hang on tight

and know that this will not last forever, things will change but you need to maintain stability. Take the doses at the

same time every day, eat as healthily as you can and get gentle exercise. 

 

I'm sorry to hear about the death in the family and the stress at uni. Grief is a natural process and we need to go

through it to move on. It is painful but natural.  You need to develop ways to deal with emotional problems as they 

come along.  Take a look at this thread here. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/

Do you have a counsellor at uni you can talk to? Or one that isn't tied to uni as they may report back to the psychiatrist? 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Oh, my nervous system has to be in complete shambles from all the medication changes, additions and reductions alone, but I also had other stressors. I can feel the mess my body is. I get overwhelmed easily, have little patience and end up irritable, etc! 

 

I don't actually even remember when I quit the Prozac. So much happened in the past three months, I don't really remember what happened in the rest of the year--like the only thing I remember from the first half of the semester is that things we stressful but bearable. If it weren't in my signature, I wouldn't have a clue when I stopped Prozac...May. Hmmm, I thought it was earlier in the year. I remember after stopping it, I had bad headaches nearly every day that finally went away when I went back on Zoloft. That all seems like an eternity ago...

 

Well, the psychiatrist also told me to stop taking Zoloft without tapering. When I saw him after the week I was really bad, I told him I wanted to stop Zoloft and would do it regardless of what he said, he told me to just stop taking it, abruptly (which I didn't because I know better! ...a lot better from experience). He also didn't think Lamictal could be causing my sleep disturbances...wait for it, it's my mood disorder! Potentially I might not have to see him again. I'm not sure if come the beginning of next semester, his nurse will call me and force me to set up an appointment. If not, I could always not call them and never got there again. There is also the possibility that that particular doctor won't be the psychiatrist next semester. He wasn't health services permanent psychiatrist. I think she left suddenly, and they got him as a part-time replacement. If I did see him again, I'd be honest, I think. He can have me hospitalized, but if I'm obviously okay, what is the worst that can happen? Well, the weekend before that appointment, my own mother had called the police on me because she didn't hear from me for an hour after I told her I didn't feel safe alone (this was the day after I took the overdose of Xanax and somewhat badly cut my arm). They took me to a hospital but didn't admit me, letting me leave with my mom. This incident was what sparked me not finishing the semester. 

 

I have a psychiatrist back in the suburbs where my mom lives and I am now who wasn't sold on the bipolar diagnosis and understands that I react badly to medication. She's given me antidepressants for recurrent depression and OCD, so she thinks I should be on those for good, not anything else. I sort of want to see her to see what she thinks of this whole mess. Plus, I want her to give me a lower dose tablet of Zoloft to help me taper.

 

On December 11, I started taking 25mg of Zoloft from 50mg. That was about two and a half weeks ago. About half a week ago, I started taking 25mg every other day (I know...). I asked for the 25mg Zoloft tablets so I can those every day. I really just want off Zoloft.

 

I literally don't know what is helping and what is hurting me anymore. I don't know who to trust. I don't know what I'm going to do about school, where needless to say, I'm in a great deal of trouble academically...Everything's a mess!

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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I'm at half a 25mg tablet of Zoloft now. I called my psychiatrist here and asked for the smaller dose tablet. At the same time, I'm going to be forced based off the fact that I have 100mg pills to go up in dosage of Lamictal. I literally have no clue if Lamictal is doing anything at all. I'm still depressed for goodness sake!

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Finn,

I"m sorry to hear about everything you've been through lately.  I don't have anything to add to what MammaP suggested, so I will just quote what I think is most relevant:

 

I think that maybe you should just hold for a while to allow your body to adjust and settle

down again before starting to taper. You need stability right now and starting another taper will rock the boat

even more. ...

 

.... Take the doses at the same time every day, eat as healthily as you can and get gentle exercise. 

 

You need to develop ways to deal with emotional problems as they 

come along.  Take a look at this thread here. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/

Do you have a counselor.....

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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I'm definitely listening to this advise. I'm going to hold on the current doses--it's 25mg Zoloft and 100mg Lamictal. I'm seeing a therapist as well and will continue to so I'm hoping I'll find some helpful counselling. I can't promise I'll have a healthy diet (cuz of the whole student thing), but I plan on getting more exercise this semester, maybe taking up yoga, and I will also be certain to get enough sleep consistently and avoid overwhelming, stressful situations and people who ask too much of/ pester me. I hope I try hard enough/ in the right ways...

 

There were some discussions that going back to school might be too stressful and grad school/ a future career in academia might be unhealthy for me, but I don't know...I guess I'm trying again, even though I am terrified, you know.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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  • 2 weeks later...

Yeah...I was okay for like two weeks, but these past few days, my head has been hurting a lot, and now I'm irritable and having trouble concentrating. I'm not sure it is from going down on Zoloft around three weeks ago or being forced to go up on Lamictal two weeks ago. I want to stop Lamictal. I don't know what it is doing, and I'm worried it is messing with my mind. I don't have any of the lower dose pills though...

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment

I got the 25mg Lamictal pills so I can go back to 75mg again. Except only now, I feel really awful mentally and physically. 

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

Link to comment

I am sorry your feeling rough I have no advice as taper is not something I have done.. just wanted to say hello and hope your doing better soon 

I wish you peace

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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  • 3 years later...
  • Administrator

How are you doing, Finn?

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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