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Immediate adverse reactions to an antidepressant or within a few doses? How long for recovery?


Altostrata

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ADMIN NOTE We have a group of people here who have had a fairly immediate severe adverse reaction to SSRIs, often within a few doses (see "immediate adr" tags). These are people who are so sensitive to drugs, usually antidepressants, they have a severe adverse drug reaction (ADR) to drug after one dose or only a few. This also occurs after single doses of LSD or MDMA (also serotonergics).

 

They experience the drug effect as too strong, with symptoms of activation and perhaps desperate and violent thoughts -- the drugs are simply not suited to their neurologies or metabolism. This is because of variability in individual reaction to drugs. It is not a psychiatric or neurological disorder.

 

Though these people don't take the drug long enough to be at risk for withdrawal, they have symptoms identical to withdrawal symptoms after they cease the drug.

 

Serotonin toxicity is probably the closest medical description. Recovery from these iatrogenic conditions is simply not studied. 

 

While ruling out real medical issues is always a good idea, discussing a psychiatric drug-induced iatrogenic condition with various specialists probably isn't going to yield any remedies other than experiments with other psychotropics, as few doctors know anything about diagnosing psychiatric drug adverse reactions and even fewer know anything about treating them.

 

If you have had this reaction to a serotonergic, you probably should avoid serotonergic drugs.

 

We presume that the drug has shaken the nervous system and that is why it is producing these symptoms of instability, as it does in withdrawal syndrome. Like people with withdrawal syndrome, those who had immediate ADRs (or serotonin toxicity) may experience The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization and may have become hypersensitive to other psychotropic drugs and even supplements and foods.

 

The recovery process is the same as for withdrawal syndrome: Very slow, gradual, frustrating with waves and windows over months -- as long as you don't upset your nervous system again.

 

Other antidepressants, alcohol, even antibiotics and other drugs can cause further upset in this vulnerable period.

 

From what we've observed, as long as they take care of themselves, the immediate ADR folks recover sooner than people with true withdrawal syndrome -- still, it could take many months. You will need to be patient and learn self-soothing techniques to allow your nervous system to settle down and to heal.

 

Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

It's prudent to try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

 

Definition of Adverse Reaction to a Medication or Drug - Verywell Health

 

 
Sep 24, 2018 - An adverse reaction is an unwanted or unexpected negative reaction to a medication or treatment that is used in an approved manner.

 


 

 

 

 

There is a group in Auckland, New Zealand, of 12 such individuals. How rare is this supposedly rare reaction, really?

Edited by Altostrata
updated

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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Wheeeeew. I feel like I got off easy with only fifteen months (so far) of withdrawal syndrome from Lexapro. (I don't want to discourage anyone here. I have problems to deal with that are difficult to distinguish from withdrawal, such as adjusting to retirement which sometimes makes me feel very sad. Aside from being easily upset [which may have been a personality factor all along], my withdrawal symptoms are all but gone.)

 

Sometimes I've wondered if I should have gone back on Lexapro and tapered more slowly, but I think I might have ended up even worse off because as the damage from Lipitor healed, the Lexapro made me crazier and crazier. I definitely had akathesia from both Pristiq and Lexapro and it seemed to get worse as I rapidly tapered off.

 

I wish I knew how to email this man and thank him for speaking out.

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

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


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

 

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

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

 

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  • 8 months later...

I am interested in anyone personal accounts or knowledge of anyone who experienced a negative experience from taking an ssri with their symptoms persisting and not down to general nervous system instability from tapering or withdrawal.

 

Basically, If you experienced initial negative symptoms as a result of taking ssri's, (as opposed to experiencing them through tapering or withdrawal) Could any correlations be drawn of effecting the length/severity of withdrawal of these symptoms?

 

Edited by Altostrata
merged related topics

2013-July 1st Citalopram 20mg ()

2013-August 19th ended Citalopram cold turkey

med free.  (Took them for 7 weeks)

 

When I was a child, I spoke as a child,

I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

But when I became a man,

I put my childish things away.

 

- 1 Corinthians 13:11

 

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Interesting....I know some people can take an antidepressant and immediately feel better. 

 

For me, I have the bad start up anxiety. In fact it was in the first week of taking prozac that I had, what I believe to be, my first panic attack.

Started Fluoxetine Jan. 2010

Tried to go off of it in Sept. 2010

Weaned too fast and was back on it by Nov. 2010

Didn't work as good the second time around.

Started to wean again in Nov. 2011 and was off for good by April? 2012

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People who have immediate adverse reactions to serotonergics often have severe symptoms for quite a while -- symptoms very much like withdrawal syndrome -- and take a long time to recover.

 

If they've been kept on the drugs for a long time, often with the aid of a benzo, their nervous systems are quite distressed.

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

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

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Was this the case with you Alto?

2013-July 1st Citalopram 20mg ()

2013-August 19th ended Citalopram cold turkey

med free.  (Took them for 7 weeks)

 

When I was a child, I spoke as a child,

I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

But when I became a man,

I put my childish things away.

 

- 1 Corinthians 13:11

 

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With me personally the immediate adverse reaction to Citalopram manifested itself as brain fog resulting in cognitive difficulties-which persists now but to a much lesser extent as before  

2013-July 1st Citalopram 20mg ()

2013-August 19th ended Citalopram cold turkey

med free.  (Took them for 7 weeks)

 

When I was a child, I spoke as a child,

I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

But when I became a man,

I put my childish things away.

 

- 1 Corinthians 13:11

 

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I personally adversely reacted to Zoloft back about 7 months ago- anhedonic within 13 days. I'm still affected by it, not nearly as much [i have some sort of libido now, I care more, I have moments of genuine like and crushes for people, moments of feeling mild love/attraction], but immediate adverse reactions tend to, on average, take years to recover. Somewhere within the mid-to higher end of the 1-7 year range. This is coming from anecdotal reports.

I am off of all meds as of May 20th, 2013, after 5 weeks on Zoloft and a 4 week taper. Still experiencing: moderate anhedonia & PSSD, I am otherwise mostly healed. 

 

2.1 years off of medication. 

 

"If I walk away, don't hate me. I've got to see where the pain will take me.

 

I found no angels...I found myself."

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wow...not sure why I never put this **** together...

 

the first SSRI I ever took was Prozac...and it shot me through the roof with insane PANIC...in fact much like what we deal with in withdrawal...stayed on it no more than 48 hours...

 

anyway...later trials of SSRIs were accompanied with massive doses of benzos...

Everything Matters: Beyond Meds 

https://beyondmeds.com/

withdrawn from a cocktail of 6 psychiatric drugs that included every class of psych drug.
 

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theelt712, I would highly doubt It would take you that long to recover fully purely down to the fact you have age on your side. 

2013-July 1st Citalopram 20mg ()

2013-August 19th ended Citalopram cold turkey

med free.  (Took them for 7 weeks)

 

When I was a child, I spoke as a child,

I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

But when I became a man,

I put my childish things away.

 

- 1 Corinthians 13:11

 

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I had extreme anxiety and my first panic attack when put on Celexa, 40mg.  It took me three days to figure out what might be causing the panic.  Once Celexa occured to me, I immediately stopped it.  The next day the panic was gone.  Upon talking with my doctor about it, I learned that that can sometimes be a manifestation of serotonin syndrome.  I had no withdrawal symptoms going from 40mg to 0mg in a single day, but keep in mind that I was only on the pill for three days, and everyone's body reacts differently. 

insomnia, anxiety, depression- since childhood

lyme disease, dysautonomia, chiari malformation- dx 4/1997

nortriptyline- 75mg since childhood

clonazepam- 3mg since 4/1997

trazodone-100mg since 4/2013, now tapering

rotating antibiotics and antimalarials for lyme disease

midodrine- 10mg for dysautonomia

repeated skull surgeries for chiari malformation

 

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Wisernow, please see your new Intro topic http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/5325-wisernow-lexapro-withdrawal-treated-with-paxil/

 

Ellen, 40mg Celexa is excessive for a starting dose. No wonder you had an immediate adverse reaction.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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I didn't think Zoloft (or any SS/NRIs) were effecting me positively or negatively for a few years. I *coincidentally* discovered that i clench and grind my teeth (bruxism) shortly after beginning Zoloft. Developed SEVERE TMJ, neck and head pain that required extensive PT, orthodontia, and many drugs, including Klonopin for bruxism and, eventually, opiates for the pain.

 

I learned (about 5 years later) that SSRIs cause bruxism and were likely part of the cause of my pain and permanent disability. I'm off of the SS/NRIs after 15+ years, but still on Klonopin that was used for bruxism caused by SSRIs. May have been partially responsible for the connective tissue neck injury that was attributed to work injury.

 

It's hard to untangle it all now, but the bruxism definitely began after initiation of Zoloft.

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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  • 1 year later...

Did anyone find any scientific literature for those immediate adverse reactions?

 

  • Peter Breggin mentions the here.  "Severe Adverse Effects After One or Two Doses"
  • David Healy mentions them here under "Catastrophic effects" - Link does not work

 

But I couldn't find any scientific papers or case reports on the subject.

Edited by ChessieCat
Added note re link not working

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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  • 1 month later...

Hopefully someone on this forum finds this information useful. I had a bad reaction to Zoloft after 3 tablets, ( 25mg ). I have experienced wd symptoms from Zoloft. I am on the mend.

DRUG HISTORY:

 

November 2013- Zoloft, ( Bad reaction).

January 2014 - March 2014 Seroquel.( Quit Cold Turkey).

January2014- Mirtazapine, I was taking 15mg at one stage, reduced to 7.5mg, Pgad reactions to Mirtazapine. Doctor kept increasing it to 37.5mg, until July 2014. No improvement, experiencing panic attacks, on 37.5 mg. I had enough by October 2014. Began tapering.

October 2014- Started tapering Mirtazapine from 37.5mg.

September 2015- Down to 4mg of Mirtazapine. Crashed.

September 16th- Up dosed to 5mg. Held this dose for almost 5 months. Stabilised.

February 2016- Began tapering again. From 5mg to 4.5mg of Mirtazapine. (Rocking the boat, again)! Lol. :(

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  • 3 weeks later...

I had a very bad reaction to Paxil. I was on it for about 3 months and my psychiatrist at the time kept upping my dose. I was in the hospital on the psych ward and was yelling obscenities at the nurses. After I got out of the hospital I was staying with my parents and just stood in their bathroom and screemed due to the fact I was experiencing brain zaps for the first time. I had no idea what was happening to me. They proceeded to take me home and leave me alone while going through this. I came off them cold-turkey as I just didn't want to continue going through this for an extended period of time. Due to this I can never have a SSRI again as they just sent me wacko.

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Ouch... sorry you had to go through so much! Did the doctors in the hospital recognize that it was an adverse reaction? How long did it take you to get better after the CT?

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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  • 3 months later...

There are at least two success stories for adverse effects that I found and posted in the link you can find in my siganture.  I remember reading a LOT more of these anecdotal reports on the now defunct website paxilprogress.org.

 

 

It might feel lonely to have an adverse reaction, but we're not alone out there.

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Antidepressantfacts documented the catastrophic reaction with timeline: 

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

 

There's also a guy who wrote a book about his 20year recovery from an adverse reaction to Prozac

http://zappedbyprozac.com/overview.html

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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Yep, that's what they mean when they write in the leaflet "The discontinuation symptoms are usually mild and short lived but in rare cases can last 2-3 months or more"

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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The most frustrating part of my experience with this condition is that it can be exacerbated and made like 3X worse than the original condition by the use of alcohol, drugs, or supplements.  I can imagine that something like something as common as general anesthesia for surgery would do the same thing.

 

I didn't read too many stories of exacerbation on the internet, so I try to share my own experience with this lesser acknowledged fact as much as I can with people - maybe I'll convince them to stay on the straight and narrow and not experiment with drugs for relief.

 

One might wonder:  why would anyone dare experiment with drugs?  Well - when everyone around you is doing that sort of thing, it's hard not to try drinking alchol or doing some mild recreational substances with them.  Not everyone who has this condition has the lifestyle luxury of a middle aged person who lives in a nice house and has occasional social engagements with their church going-middle/upper middle class buddies.  Some of us are struggling to make ends meet, in competitive environments where lots of young college aged people hang out and do what college aged-people do - stay up late, drink a lot, do some recreational substances, and get back at it the next day. 

 

That was also back when I was in serious denial of the severity of the symptoms - I was like "nahhhh I'm still functional mostly, I'm no where near as bad as those poor blokes on the internet" - well unfortunately as I discovered even a mild case of adverse reaction/withdrawal can be MADE into a VERY SERIOUS one overnight with a careless or unfortunate exposure to the incorrect substance. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I would say I'm recovering, but at glacial speed. It's very individual though. I haven't read a recovery story of anyone with a catastrophic reaction anywhere so far.

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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  • 3 weeks later...

I would say I'm recovering, but at glacial speed. It's very individual though. I haven't read a recovery story of anyone with a catastrophic reaction anywhere so far.

I would like to know what an adverse reaction is. When I started Lexapro 15 years ago, I only got tired. Since I have had to reinstate, and the other times I attempted, I have gotten headaches, dizziness, brain fog, increased anxiety..... and this current time insomnia. But I also am in protracted WD, so I have had those symptoms for weeks including prior to reinstatement. Its tough to tell which one I'm experiencing. After 12 days of reinstatement, I feel a little less anxiety but feel like someone hit me in the head with a shovel, not to mention the 4 hours of sleep I have had on average since mid December. Sorry for venting, just hoping this reinstatement takes or its back to the drawing board.         

Lexapro: started in 2002 at 10 mgs.

Ambien: started as a as needed sleep aid in 2010.

Quit Lexapro cold turkey in June 20015 due to contributing to low sodium issues.

Restarted Lexapro in late November for a week (only 5 mgs) but quit due to dizziness side effects. Side effects worsened for 3 weeks until

12/24/15: Protracted WD hit, experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia lack of full concentration and social challenges.

Reinstated Lexapro on 1/1/16 at 5 mgs. Increased per Dr to 7.5 MG. Tapered off Lexapro in March 2016.

Started 50MG of Seroquel in late January 2016 for bedtime to help in eliminate Ambien. Tapered off both Seroquel and Ambien in March 2016.

2/14/16: Prescribed both Remeron (15 MG) and Temazapam (15 MG) for sleep. Also use Klonopin and Ambien again in place of Temazapam to avoid addiction. However I did take Temazapam 60 straight days

6/15/16: Stopped use of all benzo's and now use Belsomra 1-2 times a week. Still on 15 MG of Remeron

10/11/16: Off all psych medications

 

After kindling, trying to regain my strength suffering from severe mental and physical fatigue.

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From what I've experienced and heard from others I would say this:

An adverse reaction makes you immediately feel like you've poisoned yourself. People may experience akathisia, incredible anxiety, sweating, shaking, burning in the brain, urinary retention or incontinence, twitches, in my case I started bleeding heavily. These reactions occur already after very few doses of the medication. Many of the symptoms persist after stopping the medication. Withdrawal symptoms are added to the symptoms of the adverse reactions. 

 

I've heard from people being deadly ill for years after taking only 1 pill of lexapro / sertraline / prozac / effexor. 

 

I'm not sure if these reactions are all forms of serotonin syndrome or if it's a different neurotoxic syndrome that hasn't been described in the literature. I guess the line is fluid between side effects, withdrawal symptoms and catastrophic adverse reactions, so it's hard to say in your case.

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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I would say I'm recovering, but at glacial speed. It's very individual though. I haven't read a recovery story of anyone with a catastrophic reaction anywhere so far.

I would like to know what an adverse reaction is. When I started Lexapro 15 years ago, I only got tired. Since I have had to reinstate, and the other times I attempted, I have gotten headaches, dizziness, brain fog, increased anxiety..... and this current time insomnia. But I also am in protracted WD, so I have had those symptoms for weeks including prior to reinstatement. Its tough to tell which one I'm experiencing. After 12 days of reinstatement, I feel a little less anxiety but feel like someone hit me in the head with a shovel, not to mention the 4 hours of sleep I have had on average since mid December. Sorry for venting, just hoping this reinstatement takes or its back to the drawing board.         

 

 

I am personally against reinstatements under certain circumstances.  I think a reinstatement makes sense when someone has WAY too rapid of a taper, or just goes cold turkey - in that case a reinstatement is definitely warranted and very important (if the person catches it in time).  But there's a time frame for which reinstatements can help, and after which they can actually make things a great deal worse.  I don't think anyone here or anywhere has any idea what that time frame actually is - and therefore, reinstatements are generally recommended to be exceedingly small doses to avoid severe akathesia reactions or kindling reactions etc.

 

When I reinstated prozac, I developed severe neurotoxic symptoms and after 1 month I was in like 3X worse shape than I was before.  If I had not reinstated, I'd probably be living a full life again with a good job and a good career.

 

I think once people realize that the effects of these medications are actually TOXIC and not a simple "drug withdrawal" - this information may help change the ways that they approach subsequent actions.

 

I honestly wish someone had pointed out to me that I had likely suffered from an acute neuroxiticy and that from now and on my nervous system may not functional normally for a very long time.  Instead, I was told that it was just "withdrawal" just like alcohol or cocaine.  This stupidity, and in some ways denial of the seriousness of this "withdrawal" condition actually lead to me trivialize the whole thing and eventually made things much much worse.

 

I also think that when people see toxic, and neuropathy, etc, etc, written they jump to conclusions that it's a perminant condition.  This is foolishness.  People recover from neurotoxic reactions all the time, whether it be from psych meds or fulxies, or chemotherapthy, etc - people recover all the time - but it takes a long time, and requires a big alteration in lifestyle and career, etc.    It's a long process that requires a great deal of attention and care - but recovery does happen (if one stays off drugs and doesn't imbibe in other CNS altering chemicals, etc).

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oskcajga, we have many people here who've done well with reinstating a small amount months after going off. You cannot generalize from your own one-person-sample experience. There are many unknowns about withdrawal, and we always advise people to be cautious.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thanks, Altostrata. It's debatable if that's the case with me. I guess we will see in a few weeks it I improve. I don't have the unbearable anxiety I had from 12/24-1/1 but it's still there but a little less. Plus the insomnia and concentration challenges.

Lexapro: started in 2002 at 10 mgs.

Ambien: started as a as needed sleep aid in 2010.

Quit Lexapro cold turkey in June 20015 due to contributing to low sodium issues.

Restarted Lexapro in late November for a week (only 5 mgs) but quit due to dizziness side effects. Side effects worsened for 3 weeks until

12/24/15: Protracted WD hit, experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia lack of full concentration and social challenges.

Reinstated Lexapro on 1/1/16 at 5 mgs. Increased per Dr to 7.5 MG. Tapered off Lexapro in March 2016.

Started 50MG of Seroquel in late January 2016 for bedtime to help in eliminate Ambien. Tapered off both Seroquel and Ambien in March 2016.

2/14/16: Prescribed both Remeron (15 MG) and Temazapam (15 MG) for sleep. Also use Klonopin and Ambien again in place of Temazapam to avoid addiction. However I did take Temazapam 60 straight days

6/15/16: Stopped use of all benzo's and now use Belsomra 1-2 times a week. Still on 15 MG of Remeron

10/11/16: Off all psych medications

 

After kindling, trying to regain my strength suffering from severe mental and physical fatigue.

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Christian, we need to discuss this in more detail in your Intro topic, because your recent history is there.

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

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

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  • 3 weeks later...

I understand that it's easy for medicine to disregard SSRI WD to a relapse or GAD condition. But it's a lot harder to ignore an adverse reaction. When I had mine after taking a 10 MG updose during my first reinstatement my head almost exploded. I took another the next day cause I read headaches are a common symptom. I didn't take another pill after that. the next day I crashed through my garage backing out I was so disoriented. Cost me $600 for my car and garage door. it reduced in intensity (plus more symptoms added) but now my 12 year old sons are smarter than me. I'm not kidding.

Lexapro: started in 2002 at 10 mgs.

Ambien: started as a as needed sleep aid in 2010.

Quit Lexapro cold turkey in June 20015 due to contributing to low sodium issues.

Restarted Lexapro in late November for a week (only 5 mgs) but quit due to dizziness side effects. Side effects worsened for 3 weeks until

12/24/15: Protracted WD hit, experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia lack of full concentration and social challenges.

Reinstated Lexapro on 1/1/16 at 5 mgs. Increased per Dr to 7.5 MG. Tapered off Lexapro in March 2016.

Started 50MG of Seroquel in late January 2016 for bedtime to help in eliminate Ambien. Tapered off both Seroquel and Ambien in March 2016.

2/14/16: Prescribed both Remeron (15 MG) and Temazapam (15 MG) for sleep. Also use Klonopin and Ambien again in place of Temazapam to avoid addiction. However I did take Temazapam 60 straight days

6/15/16: Stopped use of all benzo's and now use Belsomra 1-2 times a week. Still on 15 MG of Remeron

10/11/16: Off all psych medications

 

After kindling, trying to regain my strength suffering from severe mental and physical fatigue.

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Just wanting to add my experience to the mix -

3 Pristiq tablets & 2 Ativan caused a massive adverse reaction. I went from a very happy (almost to the point of smug) mother who, at times, got sad and worried about her son's developmental delay to a psycho.

 

Immediately before I took the first dose (which a counsellor bullied me into after spending 15 minutes with me) I was having a laugh scooter racing with my children in the garden. Within an hour or so of the first Pristiq pill my heart was racing and I felt like my teeth were falling out. It continued - that evening I hallucinated that I had cut my breasts off and was standing in pools of blood. I dared not go near my children, I dared not do any sewing or craft (which I love), I dared not prepare food - all because of the knives and scissor. I was convinced I was a dangerous person - always had been. I became very agrophobic. I had very little recollection, at that time, of the real, gentle, laid back, me. I began seriously considering suicide as the only way to protect my children. My husband watch the decline in absolute horror.

 

Anyway, I stopped talk th the pills on the third day and the withdrawals will have been long going on for two years next week. The worst of it was in the first 5-6 months and again at about 18 months when I had a reaction to antibiotics.

 

While I am not quite fully recovered - I'm in a little wave now - I am a lot better. The waves are a drag, a real bummer, but they aren't all absorbing like they were. There are a majority of good times in each day even in a wave and you start to recognise the pattern and relax into them. Sometimes one throws you a loop by taking a different course but generally, when I get the twitching, sticky feeling in my left eye and neck pain, I realise that was what the jittery, anxiety, derealisation and dizziness was all about. I am also generally experiencing a lot of the peri-menopausal symptoms that some people have observed, even though I'm a bit young for that.

 

I don't have any recommendations other than time and being kind to yourself. It's a traumatic experience, which very few people understand. I'm available on PM if anyone wants to chat.

March 2003 took two sartroline tablets after a traumatic incident and had a reaction so stopped.  I am not sure now whether what I had for the next 18 months was WD after the reaction or the emotional fallout from the traumatic event.  Some of it was very similar to WD in hindsight.  

 

February 2014 - Took five pristiq (50mg) tablets and three Ativan and had a severe reaction.
Extreme withdrawal symptoms for three weeks compounded by visit to naturopath -

One week later took 900mg St John's Wort x 3 daily for six weeks - more negative effects and suspected serotonin syndrome - before tapering over three weeks. Last tablet late May 2014.

Waves and windows cycle of recovery with longer windows and manageable waves.

May 2015 - already in a mild wave, following a usual pattern, I took clarithromicin and amoxicillin for two weeks for a sinus infection which I also seem to have had quite a reaction to.

 

February 2016 - Feeling much better.  I still have waves and windows but they are manageable.  I'm largely enjoying life again.

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This thread scares me,as I had an adverse reaction to prozac.

The talk of years to recover ,drives my anxiety through the roof.

I've seen improvements in my symptoms and sleep, but then I read because I'm only 2 months out ,my symptoms will worsen at 6 months.

It's driving me crazy.

Opiates 18 months 2010 to 2012

Prozac 12 months 2012 to 2013

Prozac 7 doses of prozac late November 2015.

Adverse reaction on the 7th dose.

Stopped cold turkey on the last week in November 2015.

Immediately suffering from acute w/d.

Severe insomnia, anxiety, burning head.

Doctor prescribed propranolol for anxiety, adrenaline rushes.

 

Propranolol 10mg 4× a day.

Nearly 3 months after reaction, new symptoms include,

Awful insomnia,burning head.waves of depression and suicide ideation.

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Not necessarily Roxyrich. The first couple of months were by far and away the worst. Have you read about waves and windows? It's a pattern of recovery that seems the norm in these situations. https://npanth.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/waves-and-windows-in-ssri-withdrawal/

 

I have long periods of being entirely back to myself. The waves are a drag but not intense. Sometimes I don't realise that's what they are until afterwards. Which probably means that I forget about them in between.

 

Like this one - I have a new puppy who I adore. I have been fussing over him for weeks, treating him like a third child. This is week I've felt disconnected from him - like I don't recognise him - and couldn't understand it. Then I started feeling dizzy and slightly more anxious (but not debilitatingly so - just niggles) about other things, then I got the runs, slight neck ache and sticky feeling in my eye. It was only when the physical symptoms hit I had a lightbulb moment, realising it was another wave.

 

I've been at work though, planning a holiday, seeing my friends and enjoying it. I just feel tired now.

 

The first few months were almost unbearable. The rest is just disconcerting.

 

I would probably be completely out of the woods now if I hadn't floxed myself too.

March 2003 took two sartroline tablets after a traumatic incident and had a reaction so stopped.  I am not sure now whether what I had for the next 18 months was WD after the reaction or the emotional fallout from the traumatic event.  Some of it was very similar to WD in hindsight.  

 

February 2014 - Took five pristiq (50mg) tablets and three Ativan and had a severe reaction.
Extreme withdrawal symptoms for three weeks compounded by visit to naturopath -

One week later took 900mg St John's Wort x 3 daily for six weeks - more negative effects and suspected serotonin syndrome - before tapering over three weeks. Last tablet late May 2014.

Waves and windows cycle of recovery with longer windows and manageable waves.

May 2015 - already in a mild wave, following a usual pattern, I took clarithromicin and amoxicillin for two weeks for a sinus infection which I also seem to have had quite a reaction to.

 

February 2016 - Feeling much better.  I still have waves and windows but they are manageable.  I'm largely enjoying life again.

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What I was trying to say is that -

- Severe adverse reactions can and do happen.

- Withdrawal and protracted withdrawal can happen after only a very few pills.

 

So, don't let anyone belittle your experience saying that it can't be withdrawal after a short time and don't beat yourself up, second-guessing what it is, if you are still having some symptoms after a year or more.

March 2003 took two sartroline tablets after a traumatic incident and had a reaction so stopped.  I am not sure now whether what I had for the next 18 months was WD after the reaction or the emotional fallout from the traumatic event.  Some of it was very similar to WD in hindsight.  

 

February 2014 - Took five pristiq (50mg) tablets and three Ativan and had a severe reaction.
Extreme withdrawal symptoms for three weeks compounded by visit to naturopath -

One week later took 900mg St John's Wort x 3 daily for six weeks - more negative effects and suspected serotonin syndrome - before tapering over three weeks. Last tablet late May 2014.

Waves and windows cycle of recovery with longer windows and manageable waves.

May 2015 - already in a mild wave, following a usual pattern, I took clarithromicin and amoxicillin for two weeks for a sinus infection which I also seem to have had quite a reaction to.

 

February 2016 - Feeling much better.  I still have waves and windows but they are manageable.  I'm largely enjoying life again.

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