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Protracted Withdrawal or PAWS (post-acute withdrawal syndrome)


squirrel

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Thank you, Btdt. Your answer is very thorough and thoughtful.

 

My situation is a bit unusual as I am truly fighting for myself and have had disabling health problems for 20 years. I have no children and my husband has expressed that his life would be easier without me. I made the mistake of staying in a bad marriage for many years and am now financially dependent. We lost a house and most of our finances in the housing crash in 2008, so our financial situation is not good. I have friends, but none nearby, all on the other coast. I really have noplace else to go other than live with my husband at this point. He works at home, so we are together 24/7. His work is an MD and medical management of prescription drugs, so I hear him discussing these meds all day. I try to get out of our 2 room house, but am not well enough most of the time. It's a constant reminder. He's also very drugged.

 

I'm not saying I'm giving up or at the point of quitting, but going thru a very difficult period with no escape from my situation in sight. I've talked about this ad nauseum in the Toxic Family thread.

 

You've been through so much... more than me... and I appreciate your input. So many people have come on forum and moved on in the 2+ years ive been here. I realize not everyone has moved on or back to drug free lives, but I find myself assuming that at times. I had a very unhappy situation for years and then a few good years after which I "tapered" off of Pristiq and really screwed myself up (before I found this forum). Truthfully, if I could put my house of cards back together, I would, but I can't because I react paradoxically to those now.

 

Prior to withdrawal, I spent 10 years doing anything I could to stay occupied: volunteer work, church groups, my horses and pets, partial hospitalization programs, etc. I feel like ive "tried it all" and feel incredibly defeated, especially being so isolated and my primary "support" being quite the opposite. I had already lost 10 years of my life to disability prior to withdrawal. In early wd when I was fueled by anxiety, I did escape my situation and drove across the country. I came back home to place my horses and crashed in exhaustion, never able to leave again. Leaving my animals was very difficult.

 

Thank you again, Btdt.

Your welcome. 

It is hard to watch other people leave or get better and get on with a life when you can't yet but it may come yet it is getting thru this spot and finding your way.  I too have difficult time thinking of a new or any direction for my life.  I lost my home too... that is disorienting in itself and being dependent is not who I am it is a hard pill to swallow.  I keep thinking one day I will do something extreme... extremely brilliant and just step up and walk away from this life... I do think that at times it is very small and very far away I dare not bring it into focus yet for fear of jinxing it.  I still do not know what it would be that I would do... or how it would look but it is there buried and simmering. 

I know I am capable of extremes... I have found it in myself in the past and have been very goal oriented this last decade it has escaped me... but I refuse to rule it out completely.  Things change all the time in peoples lives and why can't they change for the better... no reason I can see.  It has happened before it could happen again. 

I too was in a long term healing situation before pills I get that ... I will get back to this I am interrupted... just now.

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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Barb, for what little it's worth, your posts on here have been invaluable to me.  Like you I live with someone in a medical field and because of this have had some challenges that go over and above simply surviving the drug situation.  From what I have read above it sounds like a huge part of your problem is simply isolation--and no wonder, given the situation you are in.  Having to hear about drugs all the time is something I've had to go through for years, though lately it's been dialed down a lot as the person in question has come over time to realize there was something to what I was reporting.  But the first, oh, three years or more were incredibly difficult, so difficult I honestly still can't believe I even survived.  I never really understood how isolated I was until I told a few people whom I sought for different kinds of help, and had it pointed out to me that a huge part of the challenges I was facing could simply be summed up with a lack of relevant community.  Of course that's an issue with most of us since we all seem to be scattered away from others who have been harmed by drugs; but it's so much worse if the people around you actively participate in the system that made you ill and especially if they don't see the damage done to you.  Nonetheless, it can be survived. No one can say what's around the corner either, so you never know how your situation could change for the better. 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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to continue I thought I was in a long term healing situation after I had a car accident when I was in college...lol I thought that was long term.. I thought six months was a life time in those days and in those days of fast moving climbing the ladder loss of six months can mean a lot... now losing years ... is a lot too.. maybe too much.  I know what it feels like to think this will not end and at this point I do not truly believe in complete healing sorry to put a damper on anything but after all this time it feels like a lie for me to say it so I will not say it... I will say improvement may come

I have had improvements.  I hope to have more improvement.

Do I think I am going to heal completely no I don't... I think it would be wonderful but too much has happened I am never going back to what I was. 

I know that. I don't like it but I know it. 

Since there is not one @$#%$#$%  thing i can do about it... but take it ... and try to make my life something I want to live some of the time at least.. that is what I try to do. 

Yes feeling powerless is a downer and I know how heavy it weighs but this is what is offered today I get thru today hoping tomorrow I am less powerless less messed up and less ill.  I have too much respect for the people trying to heal to lie to you and I don't think it helps anything. 

I expect having a medical drugged person in you house it a problem... it would be for me too.  Since this all started and everybody who knows me knows where I stand on drugs in general I have watched almost everyone I love fall to one drug or another to their in some cases almost complete demise.  I watch them melt as I get some what better... they likely think me mad and so be it nobody believes me.  When I try to warn them about pain killers or sleeping pills countless other drugs... they don't hear me .  

There are many other drugs killing and maiming people and I think back to the day Obama was elected and that one brief flicker in time when I watched in CNN that they were going to clean house at the FDA... yep I am Canadian but I know the power of the USA as a world leader... and I know had that happened it would have been a major step in the right direction. 

 

I also know from my friends in the USA that a lot of people I knew from sites like this gave up on the internet and went to work in politics to change things where it counts... and they almost did ..maybe or they got one line on CNN... they did try.  That much I know.  Sadly it falls on sick people to make changes and those least able to do the work carry the load cause really who else would believe it.  

 

I once thought those who would believe it would be the spouses of those damaged and put a lot of energy into a those spouses trying to educate them... as they still had intact brains and were not under the thumbs of self doubt and continued psych harassment... I thought that was a good avenue to explore... but that site has been shut down.. and shut up.  A thought though is you ever think of being an accidental activist... forced activism.. does not sound like any fund does it.  It isn't but who else is going to do it?  

I don't know maybe if I had other options I too could walk off into the sunset and be happy.  Maybe we all could if we had the options... some times I feel like I am constantly being pushed between a rock and a hard place with this issue and often want to walk ... often.  Then I see a depression hurts commercial on tv and go slightly insane.  

I offer you this... as I know it is true. 

 

seems like it was made by a young person... so there is hope in the next generation maybe... 

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...

Looked at the video again there is nothing on there that is not felt when stopping Effexor... I have heard they are cousins. 

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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Btdt,

 

Due to my cognitive issues, I haven't thoroughly read this thread so forgive me if anything I say is not relevant or missing the point.   Anyway, I have been off of meds 4 years as June 10 was my four years anniversary of taking my last dose.  I tapered off of 4 meds slowly nearly 4 years.

 

One mysterious issue that I developed near the end of my taper that hasn't let up is feeling extremely drugged in the afternoon after eating.  And it can be from just eating a hard boiled egg.

 

PCP couldn't find anything wrong although when I have eating high carb foods, blood sugar spikes big time.   Who knows?

 

I suspect being on the drugs started insulin resistance issues that the non responsive apnea made worse.   But it could also be due to other problems.

 

I also feel being on the drugs worsened a mild case of apnea to the point of severe although I would need a sleep study to confirm that which I haven't yet done for various reasons.   And they probably messed up my sleep cycle to the point were it is very difficult for me to get any type of normal sleep.

 

Tried sleep meds and they were a disaster.

 

Tired of feeling like I am living in a holding pattern which everyone understands.

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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Btdt,

 

Due to my cognitive issues, I haven't thoroughly read this thread so forgive me if anything I say is not relevant or missing the point.   Anyway, I have been off of meds 4 years as June 10 was my four years anniversary of taking my last dose.  I tapered off of 4 meds slowly nearly 4 years.

 

One mysterious issue that I developed near the end of my taper that hasn't let up is feeling extremely drugged in the afternoon after eating.  And it can be from just eating a hard boiled egg.

 

PCP couldn't find anything wrong although when I have eating high carb foods, blood sugar spikes big time.   Who knows?

 

I suspect being on the drugs started insulin resistance issues that the non responsive apnea made worse.   But it could also be due to other problems.

 

I also feel being on the drugs worsened a mild case of apnea to the point of severe although I would need a sleep study to confirm that which I haven't yet done for various reasons.   And they probably messed up my sleep cycle to the point were it is very difficult for me to get any type of normal sleep.

 

Tried sleep meds and they were a disaster.

 

Tired of feeling like I am living in a holding pattern which everyone understands.

Due to something I am just learning now and my own experience with Taurine I am wondering if it may be helpful to you..not suggesting it not that bold never will be... I am not a doctor. 

I will say this search and read about taurine here and if you think it is a good chance try it at a small amount... 

What I and others have taken here is the now brand 500mg... I started it for migraine prevention and all that I learned about it from taking was quite accidental. I did some more looking and posted on this today how it affects the pancreas and brain... 

when I started it I was in a migraine fest... I am not sure it helped with that hard to say 

Then I maybe did not take enough to really know as I am so hypersensitive I am scared of a reaction it took a long long time for me to work up the full dose of 500mg I started at 1/6th of a capsule.  

Something suggested here 

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/pinealstory2.htm

I read this years ago and after a few reactions I learned it was a good idea for me to start very low... 

What I will suggest is start low and wait to see how it will affect 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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  • 2 months later...

My face is red I just figured out due to another post on here started by Iggy that I am not 7 years off I am SIX and yes it is embarassing but more important that I tell the truth than to save face as this process is an exercise in truth for me.  So whatever else comes I need it to be truthful at least.  Sorry if I bummed a lot of people out who were hoping to be done this by 7 years as that was my next great hope which I thought I had missed... wow this is a brain trip... it will take some time to get my head around this. 

I am having some problems thinking not sure why... but they are there. It is not new either it has been with me throughout this process comes and goes like all other things.

If it were not for a post made by another person who quit one month ahead of me who said she was at 6 years off I would not have caught on... then again I made 4 mistakes this morning trying to make muffins I use to make almost with my eyes closed and I was following a recipe. Not sure what it all means just know it is a drag to figure this out now... after making a thread with this title maybe we can change the title to 6 years or maybe we should just leave it so other who make the same mistake will see they are not alone.. if anyone should I am not suggesting this is common. 

Oh fitting I passed my 7 year off drugs last month on Nov 18 and did not even notice may have been sick... so how fitting I started a thread about it last year... still here thought I should mark the occasion...out of respect for myself and my process... to date. 

7 years 1 month and 1 day since I last too drugs. that is a long long time. 

peace all

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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My face is red I just figured out due to another post on here started by Iggy that I am not 7 years off I am SIX and yes it is embarassing but more important that I tell the truth than to save face as this process is an exercise in truth for me.  So whatever else comes I need it to be truthful at least.  Sorry if I bummed a lot of people out who were hoping to be done this by 7 years as that was my next great hope which I thought I had missed... wow this is a brain trip... it will take some time to get my head around this. 

I am having some problems thinking not sure why... but they are there. It is not new either it has been with me throughout this process comes and goes like all other things.

If it were not for a post made by another person who quit one month ahead of me who said she was at 6 years off I would not have caught on... then again I made 4 mistakes this morning trying to make muffins I use to make almost with my eyes closed and I was following a recipe. Not sure what it all means just know it is a drag to figure this out now... after making a thread with this title maybe we can change the title to 6 years or maybe we should just leave it so other who make the same mistake will see they are not alone.. if anyone should I am not suggesting this is common. 

Oh fitting I passed my 7 year off drugs last month on Nov 18 and did not even notice may have been sick... so how fitting I started a thread about it last year... still here thought I should mark the occasion...out of respect for myself and my process... to date. 

7 years 1 month and 1 day since I last too drugs. that is a long long time. 

peace all

 

hey, well done for surviving :) I'm 13 months out from celexa, I was wondering what symptoms you have left now? mainly physical or psychological?? Mine are 95% psychological. Sorry if you've said somewhere recently I struggle reading a lot because of symptoms.

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I was just typing to a friend of mine it is hard to get perspective on this as recently(as in moments ago in another post) I have had one illness after the other which has clouded my view of things withdrawal related however If God willing and good health sticks with me for a bit I will answer this question when I gain my sea legs in my daily life and can actually get to the functional issues of living as I was before illness.

I am surprised there are no responses from the other long term people I know are here... where is everybody I hope they have not disappeared :( tho I guess there is not a lot of attention being paid to long term issues. I think I will seek some of them out and see how they are. 

 

 

Good luck with you withdrawal.

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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  • 4 months later...

Btdt,

 

Due to my cognitive issues, I haven't thoroughly read this thread so forgive me if anything I say is not relevant or missing the point.   Anyway, I have been off of meds 4 years as June 10 was my four years anniversary of taking my last dose.  I tapered off of 4 meds slowly nearly 4 years.

 

One mysterious issue that I developed near the end of my taper that hasn't let up is feeling extremely drugged in the afternoon after eating.  And it can be from just eating a hard boiled egg.

 

PCP couldn't find anything wrong although when I have eating high carb foods, blood sugar spikes big time.   Who knows?

 

I suspect being on the drugs started insulin resistance issues that the non responsive apnea made worse.   But it could also be due to other problems.

 

I also feel being on the drugs worsened a mild case of apnea to the point of severe although I would need a sleep study to confirm that which I haven't yet done for various reasons.   And they probably messed up my sleep cycle to the point were it is very difficult for me to get any type of normal sleep.

 

Tried sleep meds and they were a disaster.

 

Tired of feeling like I am living in a holding pattern which everyone understands.

I know this was a long time ago but I was reading this today as it was the rhabdomyolysis link I could find on SA and that was on my mind today. As the way my mind works I am easily distracted especially when reading my own history it messes me up so much as I get sent back there and some major fear steps in I recall some things I felt then that I have not found words to express ever... dread fear despair don't cut it.  Going again and again for help and never being helped or understood... if I could draw an analogy it would be like showing up a hosp with an axe in your head and having them put a huge band aid over the axed and head both and sending me home. It gets worse and I go back only to be given some minor treatment for the "newest" symptom and sent away again. It keeps happening as more and more symptoms come all the while dealing with the reactions to the new "treatment" the underlying issue waxes and wains gets better ever so slowly ...some of it... not all.   Life brings other things... and it snowballs at time at a rate that is overwhelming then settles then snowballs... and all the while the self "knows" something it cannot express to any ears that will hear... as all the ears in the world have been cut off.  It is a very lonely place and when I am there... in that self place I think of the old saying your born a lone you come alone you die alone... it is that place I have gone to a lot since this started.... sorry that I guess is my "captured page"  on my thoughts reading thru some of my own history.... sorry I got lost in it yet again but putting it into some form of language puts me a bit closer to "understanding"  this trip.  I have to grasp it when it comes as it rarely comes in any sensible form.

 

 

Now after that side trip I will say I have this still... food still reacts on me tho not every single time I eat.  I think I have knowing at first now unconsciously adapted to this ... some things I just never eat... some things I eat in moderation and I think not eating too much is a big part of this at times I can't do food at all and will take food vacations just because I can't stomach it. 

It has lessened at one point I had this every time I took a bite of any food it is not so bad now but it took years of attempts to get where I am... I don't push anything if I feel ill with food I will stop eating... I will actually spit out anything that suddenly does not agree with me... it happens I can have 3 bites of something and spit out the 4th... a lot of time this feeling is followed by vomiting but not always. 

 

As for the breathing... as you may know I had breathing issues really bad for awhile at the start of all this I can't recall now if I was on drugs then or just came off...but I know I had air hunger and other hit and miss can't breath can breath issue it was not minute to minute ... but it came and went... when it went it did not go completely.  

I don't know if you read about my sister passing last year but I think her going was part of a paxil reaction ... a pervious try on paxil put her in hosp with breathing issues a visiting nurse who could not sort her pills added it back in... yes I do blame myself in some respect as I was not well enough to be there to help her sort this... I knew she was in trouble I just could not get there as I was sick too... most of last year I was sick and the year before that too. 

 

Having the history I do and having experienced the feeling of drowning ... that is what I told them in emerg when they tried to make me lay down I said if I lay down I drown... I can't breath at all for years now I sleep sitting up hit and miss now but for a long long long time...years on end I slept sitting up... they got me breathing then better but not perfectly.  I said on here before I was told on one trip to emerg I had COPD... that was a resperitologist... I know that is sp wrong but we pick our battles that is not one of them just now... I told him no I don't ... COPD does not come on suddenly it is a gradual process for me I could breath one day and not the next....almost that fast. Or so it seemed to me. 

 

If you look at the symptoms of rhabdomyolysis....

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rhabdomyolysis-symptoms-causes-treatments?page=2#2

I looked at that link just now and don't see it but I was looking at it for other reasons .. and have been reading about it before I came here today I know it is there some place I did a search on breathing and that r word... as I get tired easily it is too much to both with sp...

 

Do your recall when they criteria for SS was ...you have to be almost dead to get a dx... then they came out with the "Hunter" scale for dx it.  I think it is the same with this and we will see the same some day... and new criteria... yes I have taken liberties and some of this for sure my own spectulation... likely as the energy to my brain is failing now I can't decide if it is totally or not.

This is the problem I have with  all things.. brain fails and any sort of figuring things out just shuts down... I so HATE IT! 

I hope some others may take a look at this with a sound functional brain. 

 

My sister ended up in hosp after a visiting nurse took her pills the pharmacist who added paxil back to her blister pack... yes she had lots of drugs... she was older older people have tons of drugs these days ... she could not breath was in ICU on a c pak thing ... they took that off as she complained.. I was not there yet... when I got there they had taken her off most drugs including paxil.. I looked at the list ... mentioned it... but it was too late.. they were moving her to the dying room... where she stayed with no iv as they said she would drown.. I said so it is that or starve to death... I know I am a bad actor... 

Either way she is on my mind this first mothers day without her and her children in in my heart... tho I am too far away to see them on this first mothers day without her... I pray for her and for all the other mothers passed especially the ones who should still be here. 

I hope this was of some use...

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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hi BTDT,

 

for me , we do not have rhabdomyolysis, mitochondria, multiple sclerosis, parkinson...all this are "natural" diseases, scientific papers...of real diseases...

we have more disorders in nerves, hormones, some acute, some mild, nothing function perfekt, each function has some disorder, for me sleeping, walking, standing, speaking, writing, toilet, muscles, skin, left arm, breathing, mental, fear system and the list goes on...to be short , here what is perfekt as before paxil: nada. 

the body trying to improve here and there, and some become worse while other seem better...

on this we can catch a real disease on a weak body, infection etc...

What do people who have more years than we both and not young feel and try to describe what they have?  they say they are as not good "plugged", this summarize the disorder, and i can say that my sleep is not good plugged since years etc... 

what can be done maybe, but i am not sure it is efficient and give big results , is try to re-learn body to better eat, sleep, walk, be calm etc...without supplements(who will disturb a little with a deluge of a substance)

maybe i am wrong, this is my actual notice

for anxiety 

12 years paxil - cold turkey 1,5 month - switch celexa 1 year taper; total 13 years on brain meds 

67 years old - 9 years  med free

 

in protracted withdrawal

rigidity standing and walking, dryness gougerot-szoegren, sleep deteriorate,

function as have a lack of nerves, improving have been very little 

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

I have been searching the internet to try and find people who have experienced symptoms as long as I have without any success.I know there are a few on this board.

 

It would be good to know how many protracted members we do have. From what I understand, if you have been medication free for 18 months and still have symptoms, then its considered to be protracted withdrawal syndrome. I've also heard one year and two years drug free.

 

Well, I've been off lexapro 4 years and completely drug free just over 2 years and still have significant symptoms, although they have improved somewhat over the last year.

 

Anyone else?

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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3 years in November apart from the 5 weeks in April this year when the doctor said it was a relapse and i gave in and then she told me to just stop because of the sideeffects , do you think these 5 weeks of zoloft set me back much ?

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3 years off. No significant improvements. The list of 67 symptoms at my 2 year mark has gone down to 60. Its such tiny improvements that i dont even notice it.

Im scared im stuck in this hell for many more years to come :'(

Was on Citalopram 20mg since Feb 2008 - switched to Paxil 20mg in August 2010

Tapered way too fast in April 2012 by skipping days. Taper completed in 6 weeks

Tried prozac 20mg for 3 days - felt spaced out, not better.

Tried 30mg Cymbalta for 2 days. SEVERE ADVERSE REACTION

Antidepressant free since 14 August 2012

Birth control on and off during this time - Last taken 18 June 2017 - Morning after pill 

Started mainly using 0.5mg Xanax beginning 2016 for severe panic attacks and anxiety due to trauma

Xanax on and off never more than 0.5mg at a time, never taking it 3 days in a row - used sparingly 

 

6 Years antidepressant free - Still in severe withdrawal with over 60 symptoms

Severe setback started May 2018 with no let up to date. Developed many new symptoms like tremors, inner vibrations, insomnia, visual distortions and dr/dp are 100x worse, i have severe sensitivity to movement, My dizziness and vertigo got worse and it now feels like im constantly rocking on a boat, my anxiety is sky high, suicidal idiation is back, i feel extremely brain damaged 

 

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15.5  months off from a cold turkey , improving incredibly slowly , stil having debilitating physical and mental symptoms , still bed bound !

On and off prozac from 2010 -2014 .

Several failed fast tapers and reinstatements .

Cold turkey : March  2014 .

-----------------------------------------

took lysanxia 40 mg a day for almost a year
november -14- 2018 weaned to 30 mg
november -26- 2018 weaned to 20 mg
symptoms that got better : fatigue
current symptoms : severe anxiety
one rescue dose (10 mg ) december -15 -2018
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Sorry to hear your still bedbound have you been like that from day 1 off the AD ?

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no actually ,  it all started  with the 8th month wave ,

no significant improvements since then .

On and off prozac from 2010 -2014 .

Several failed fast tapers and reinstatements .

Cold turkey : March  2014 .

-----------------------------------------

took lysanxia 40 mg a day for almost a year
november -14- 2018 weaned to 30 mg
november -26- 2018 weaned to 20 mg
symptoms that got better : fatigue
current symptoms : severe anxiety
one rescue dose (10 mg ) december -15 -2018
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before the 8 th month I was always having an impaired memory and congnition , severe DR/DP , loss of feelings , depression , OCD and anxiety which are the cause of  several fast tapers and reinstatements but phyiscally nothing really intense .

On and off prozac from 2010 -2014 .

Several failed fast tapers and reinstatements .

Cold turkey : March  2014 .

-----------------------------------------

took lysanxia 40 mg a day for almost a year
november -14- 2018 weaned to 30 mg
november -26- 2018 weaned to 20 mg
symptoms that got better : fatigue
current symptoms : severe anxiety
one rescue dose (10 mg ) december -15 -2018
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Ok I will just say its been only 5 weeks off and I still am on low dose of lorazepam so not sure if my symptoms would be worse if not on the benzo.''

 

but I have many symptoms that I had before I came off and a few have become exaggerated since.

 

so I am not even considering coming off the lorazepam until I see where the Zoloft comes back to bite me in my arse.

2006-2012 50mgs zoloft
skipped doses every other day for a year and started having anxiety again in March 2012
back on at 50mgs Dec 2013
started taper from benzos April 2014 per Heather Ashton method (c/o from kpin to diazepam)
March 2015 started 1.25mg lorazepam
Tapered off Zoloft in May off in 4 weeks...5 weeks later crashing AGAIN. Dr wanted to start Gabapentin tried it 7 days
Symptoms :burning eyes, anxiety, pounding heart, dizzy, strange head feeling, internal shaking, Overall UNWELL
Taking lorazepam 1.25mg daily

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  • 1 month later...

I am still on my meds- actually doubled my dose 3 mos ago- reinstated back in January and I still feel wd - mixed with my normal depression- so 8 mos after a failed taper and double my does and I am still feeling protracted wd symptoms - I'll never get off this medication

 

*Currently at 8.2-8.5 mg of my 10mg pill of Paxil (they actually weigh 12.5mg) 

january 2023 I began reducing my med again. I was a 9mg weight for years, I went to 8.9 in January, went to 8.6mg in February, and in March 2023 I went down to 8.5-8.2 mg ( my scale varies, so I stick within that .3 range because of that) 

*No other supplements or vitamins 

*Taper schedule in the pdf 

Blank.pdf

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-5vShtJtwAOGA30OxIP87steLmMdFzD29F0fzAPD564

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I am 19 months off in a couple of days I will be 20 months off. I am still in extreme wd with very minuscule improvements of my long list of symptoms.

Celexa 20mg 2008-2012 for Social Anxiety

Failed attempt to stop reinstated

1 year taper skipping doses

Celexa free 12/2013

1/2014-5/2014 took 5 htp every other day

Failed Reinstatement 5mg of Celexa on 12/2014 for 5 days only

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Hi, the link in Razzle's post isn't working.  Anywhere else I can find it?  Or does anyone have a hard copy they can copy and paste here?  Thanks

 Starting ds 2 (12.5 CR'S) = 25 MG PAXIL CR 1/21/15: 1 Pill + 10mg liquid (2 weeks) 2/4: 1 Pill + 9mg Lq (3 weeks) 2/25: 1 Pill + 8 mg lq (1 week) 3/4: 1 Pill + 6 mg lq (2 weeks) 3/18/15 1 Pill + 4 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/1/15 1 Pill + 3 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/14/15 1 Pill + 2 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/29/15 1Pill + 1 mg lq (16 days) 5/15/15 1 12.5 mg Pill ONLY (9 days) 5/24/15 12 mgs liquid (8 days) 6/1/15 11mg lq (12 days) 6/13/15 10 mg.  12/3/15 Drop from 8mg to 7.6 (24 days to) 12/27/15 7.2mgs 8/4/16 6.8mgs,  11/1/16 6.4mgs, 2/5/17 6 mgs  4/3/17 5.6mgs, 4/24/17 5.2mg, 6/13/17 4.8mgs, 9/20/17 4.4mgS, 11/23/17 4 mgs, 1/1/18 3.6 mgs, 2/15/18 3.2 mgs. 4/13/18 2.8mgs, 5/11/18 2.4mgs, 6/10/18 2.0 mgs, 8/4/18 1.6mgs,  9/27/18 1.2mgs, 12/24/18 0.8mg, 3/24/19 0.64 mg,(syringe change issue date?) 4/22/19 0.60 mg, 5/24/19 0.60 mg, 7/7/19 0.52 mgs, 8/4/19 0.44mgs, 11/4/19 0.36mgs, 2/1/20 0.28mgs, 3/1/20 0.24mgs (crash April 6) Compound started 6/28/21: 0.24mgs, 8/29/21: 0.22mgs, 10/31/21: 0.20mgs, 1/03/22: 0.18mgs, 3/5/22: 0.16mgs, 5/5/22: 0.14mgs.

 

Original Wellbutrin Dose: 6 months from 9/14 to 3/2015, 300 XL 3/15/15: Half to 150 XL ( severe symptoms started on day 12) 4/16/15: 125mg   for 20 days to: 5/6/15:   100mg  for  15 days to: 5/21/15    75mg  for  10 days to: 6/1/15:  56.25mg      13 days to: 6/13/15: 37.25mg    7 days to: 6/20/15  28.12mg   14 days to: 7/4/15  18.75mg, 7 days to: 7/11/15; RAISE BACK TO: 28.12 to 8/14/15: 18.75mg  20 days to :9/3/15 : 12.5mg, 8/4/16 9mg 1/9/17: 8.5mg 2/8/17 8mg, 3/9/17: 7.6  4/9/17  7.2  5/27/17 6.4 6/24/17 5.8, 8/1/17 5.0, 8/29/17 4.2mgs, 10/2/17 3.5mgs, 12/28/17 2.5mgs, 2/27/18 1.7mgs,  4/19/18 0.8 mgs, LAST DOSE: 6/11/18:  3 YEARS, 2 MONTHS, 27 DAYS...

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  • Member

I am afraid this is not fixable on our end as clicking the link this morning returns a page with this information:

 

Error: The server you are trying to reach is temporarily unavailable.

 

Here is a link to her faculty profile page:

 

Kari J. Buck, Ph.D.

 

which contains info about her work (odd that that osu.edu server was not unavailable too...)

 

Use google for searches to get the information you want. That's what I did.....

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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  • 1 month later...

How many people go into protracted paws? 
In benzo's most people are cured by 2 years. But I read a lot of protracted people on here, so does antidepressants cause longer suffering? What is the time line?

Several ssri's, antipsychotics, opiads and benzo's since 2003.

Flurazepam: rapid taper after 6 weeks usage in beginning of march 2015

Trazodone: rapid taper from 50ms to 0mgs end of july 2015

Current medication:12 mgs seroquel (from 25mgs)

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3 years still in acute so i am really interested to know aswell

Was on Citalopram 20mg since Feb 2008 - switched to Paxil 20mg in August 2010

Tapered way too fast in April 2012 by skipping days. Taper completed in 6 weeks

Tried prozac 20mg for 3 days - felt spaced out, not better.

Tried 30mg Cymbalta for 2 days. SEVERE ADVERSE REACTION

Antidepressant free since 14 August 2012

Birth control on and off during this time - Last taken 18 June 2017 - Morning after pill 

Started mainly using 0.5mg Xanax beginning 2016 for severe panic attacks and anxiety due to trauma

Xanax on and off never more than 0.5mg at a time, never taking it 3 days in a row - used sparingly 

 

6 Years antidepressant free - Still in severe withdrawal with over 60 symptoms

Severe setback started May 2018 with no let up to date. Developed many new symptoms like tremors, inner vibrations, insomnia, visual distortions and dr/dp are 100x worse, i have severe sensitivity to movement, My dizziness and vertigo got worse and it now feels like im constantly rocking on a boat, my anxiety is sky high, suicidal idiation is back, i feel extremely brain damaged 

 

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3 years still in acute so i am really interested to know aswell

how long were you taking drugs?

Summer 2013: started on Prozac for OCD

Fall 2013: started Lexapro due to Prozac zombie effects

 

Stopped Lexapro because of lack of empathy/emotion,anxiety,lack of concentration etc.

Fall 2014: switched to zoloft 

 

February 2015: started effexor quit C/D after 2 weeks.

April 2015: was on zoloft for a month again to try and wean a bit more slowly. DID not work.

May 2015: dumped all of my medications

July 2015: Struggling day to day with withdrawal symptoms but hopeful that I'll be better at the end of august for the next school year.

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  • Administrator

I'm sorry, there's no time limit on post-acute withdrawal syndrome. Recovery can take months or years.

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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  • Administrator

Merged similar topics. Also see Addiction Recovery and Antidepressant Recovery

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 years. Im 26 years old

Was on Citalopram 20mg since Feb 2008 - switched to Paxil 20mg in August 2010

Tapered way too fast in April 2012 by skipping days. Taper completed in 6 weeks

Tried prozac 20mg for 3 days - felt spaced out, not better.

Tried 30mg Cymbalta for 2 days. SEVERE ADVERSE REACTION

Antidepressant free since 14 August 2012

Birth control on and off during this time - Last taken 18 June 2017 - Morning after pill 

Started mainly using 0.5mg Xanax beginning 2016 for severe panic attacks and anxiety due to trauma

Xanax on and off never more than 0.5mg at a time, never taking it 3 days in a row - used sparingly 

 

6 Years antidepressant free - Still in severe withdrawal with over 60 symptoms

Severe setback started May 2018 with no let up to date. Developed many new symptoms like tremors, inner vibrations, insomnia, visual distortions and dr/dp are 100x worse, i have severe sensitivity to movement, My dizziness and vertigo got worse and it now feels like im constantly rocking on a boat, my anxiety is sky high, suicidal idiation is back, i feel extremely brain damaged 

 

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  • 2 months later...

I would like to see how many of us suffer more than 5 years. I've been in tolerance withdrawal and withdrawal for so long (I only realise this now, because i've on and off pills for 12 years now and did many cold turkeys) and scared of this taking another decade. 
It would be interesting to see how many long timers are on this forum
 

Several ssri's, antipsychotics, opiads and benzo's since 2003.

Flurazepam: rapid taper after 6 weeks usage in beginning of march 2015

Trazodone: rapid taper from 50ms to 0mgs end of july 2015

Current medication:12 mgs seroquel (from 25mgs)

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Don't know if I count or not as my problem could be due to pap therapy intolerance but I have been unable to get more than about three to 4 hours sleep for several years initially which includes difficulty falling back asleep.   I do feel though that being in psych meds has destroyed my sleep cycle so who knows?

 

Sorry you have suffered so long.

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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  • Moderator Emeritus

I've been going through this since I quit lexapro too fast at the end of 2010, so its been 5 years for me. I asked a similar question in another thread a while back and got some responses from other long termers, here is a link to the post and responses:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/509-protracted-withdrawal-symptoms-why/?p=165196  *topics merged

Edited by Petunia
updated

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 about 4 1/2 years off and still have significant problems.

December 2010: 10mg Citalopram

April 2011: 5mg for 2 weeks then cold turkey withdrawal - Extremely bad depression / no emotions

June 2011: Reinstated 10mg - After 3 weeks started getting impulsive suicidal thoughts

July 2011: Cold turkey - Withdrawal hell begins...

 

January 2021: Reinstated 0.1mg Citalopram as last resort

February 2021: 0.2mg Citalopram for 2 days had bad foggy head so went back down to 0.1mg

Upon reducing I experienced low mood, suicidal thoughts, burning up, low appetite, very bad insomnia, mild diarrhoea

22 Feb 2021: Stopped all Citalopram after panic / depression attack and crying similar to when I reinstated back in June 2011.

 

4 April 2022: Reinstated 0.1mg Citalopram - Anxiety + foggy head

5 April 2022: Stopped Citalopram - More lasting damage...

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Maybe this should be a different thread but if you knew in advance that you would have significant problems after several years, would you still have made the same decision to get of of psych meds?  I am not sure I would have to be honest although I was kind of in a dammed if you do and dammed if you don't position.

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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I was only on an SSRI for about 5 months. I didn't have any problems while on it. If I were to go back now I would stay on it and try an extremely slow taper once I was ready to stop. I guess it's hard to say what would happen then though as I know people develop problems while on the drugs as well. Although it does seem like stopping them is the most dangerous part. I thought I was doing the right thing by trying to come off the drug quickly (i.e less time in my system = less damage). Of course that is not the case. Now I think it is foolish for anyone to try and rush to come off these drugs. It makes much more sense to try and remain symptom free even if that means taking the drugs for a long period of time.

December 2010: 10mg Citalopram

April 2011: 5mg for 2 weeks then cold turkey withdrawal - Extremely bad depression / no emotions

June 2011: Reinstated 10mg - After 3 weeks started getting impulsive suicidal thoughts

July 2011: Cold turkey - Withdrawal hell begins...

 

January 2021: Reinstated 0.1mg Citalopram as last resort

February 2021: 0.2mg Citalopram for 2 days had bad foggy head so went back down to 0.1mg

Upon reducing I experienced low mood, suicidal thoughts, burning up, low appetite, very bad insomnia, mild diarrhoea

22 Feb 2021: Stopped all Citalopram after panic / depression attack and crying similar to when I reinstated back in June 2011.

 

4 April 2022: Reinstated 0.1mg Citalopram - Anxiety + foggy head

5 April 2022: Stopped Citalopram - More lasting damage...

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