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


Altostrata

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I hope we all recover from these adverse reaction, @UnfoldingSkyUnfoldingSky at your worse how bad was it

January -February celexa 40mg for 11 days. Adverse reaction cold turkey

April-May Zoloft for 30 days cold turkey. 

No further meds since then

Symptoms 

No appetite

Dpdr

Vision impairment 

Cognitive impairment

Severe memory lost

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@Lostinwonderland

yes I wish all of us a much better 2021 free of WD symptoms...we were misinformed and got into horrible poisons prescribed by legal drug dealers..... (pharmaceutical companies and misinformed, careless doctors). How are u feeling these days? What’s ur worst symptom and has it lessen at all?

Aug. 16-17, 2020, cipralex: went CRAZY! Recovered in 24hrs

Aug.28,2020; 3.5 weeks 25mg sertraline/4.5 weeks taper

Oct. 25: Last dose (4mg)

Symptoms while on zoloft

DPDR/out of my body/soul despair/feeling dead; tinnitus/no appetite; fear, anxiety/panics

4 months OFF: soul despair, anxiety/fear, brain disconnection/ DPDR, brain feels swollen-numb/crazy/bedridden barely functioning, tinnitus, eye lid twitches; face spasms. Feeling slightly better after 10pm.

- sleep & appetite are fine

9 months OFF: hell, no windows, same symptoms as above  (only eye and face twitches have stopped) plus intense arm/shoulder pain and visual issues. Tinnitus replaced by head buzzing. 

10 months-1 year: all above plus Insomnia (out of nowhere), depression, no peace of mind (mental Akathisia); 2.5mg melatonin

14months off: sleep resumed. All rest symptoms remain. Bedridden vegetable all day. DP is relentless. 

1.5 years off: still severely disabled, not much changed except some improvement in vision.

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All these SRIs.SSRI are brain poisons. I have been hospitalized several times for single day dosages. I have tried them all. Paxil, Cymbalta, Wellbutrin and some opioids that are nSSRIs. All with devastating effects.

My last visit to the ER I was put on Klonopin because the antidepressants cause hypervigilance. and Insomnia.

I do take an opioid for severe OA and spinal stenosis. SRIs, SSRI, nSRIs and tricyclics are a dangerous mix. I was on Fentanyl Transdermal patch and prescribed  Amitriptyline for neuropathy.  The prescribing doctor was fired and so was his nurse.

 

It has taken me about 15 months to get somewhat back to normal but I do have some cognitive damage.

Stay away from all of them. I have a medical alert medical dog tag, DO NOT GIVE Seronogenic drugs.

Tim Mason

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@MadMason

hi Tim! I am so sorry you suffered but I am also so happy to hear you have gained some normality back. Way to go about finding the courage to work on firing the responsible doctor and nurse. I am pretty bad at the moment (10 weeks off sertraline) but if I recover I ll do two things

1. publish an official research article on how debilitating and life threatening can short term use of antidepressants be.  This is easy for me as I am a researcher-neuroscientist (don’t prescribe these drugs 😊)

2. Take my case to court. I ll fight the pharmaceutical company not my doctor because it is true that doctors are misled by what the companies are told. Doctors however also have their share in this crime for two reasons a. They don’t read enough to stay informed with current literature ... so many research articles scream about AD side effects , and b. Doctors don’t listen to the patients symptoms and dismiss them as symptoms of an underlying disease and just send the patient home with more drugs ..... 

hope u keep improving.....

 

Aug. 16-17, 2020, cipralex: went CRAZY! Recovered in 24hrs

Aug.28,2020; 3.5 weeks 25mg sertraline/4.5 weeks taper

Oct. 25: Last dose (4mg)

Symptoms while on zoloft

DPDR/out of my body/soul despair/feeling dead; tinnitus/no appetite; fear, anxiety/panics

4 months OFF: soul despair, anxiety/fear, brain disconnection/ DPDR, brain feels swollen-numb/crazy/bedridden barely functioning, tinnitus, eye lid twitches; face spasms. Feeling slightly better after 10pm.

- sleep & appetite are fine

9 months OFF: hell, no windows, same symptoms as above  (only eye and face twitches have stopped) plus intense arm/shoulder pain and visual issues. Tinnitus replaced by head buzzing. 

10 months-1 year: all above plus Insomnia (out of nowhere), depression, no peace of mind (mental Akathisia); 2.5mg melatonin

14months off: sleep resumed. All rest symptoms remain. Bedridden vegetable all day. DP is relentless. 

1.5 years off: still severely disabled, not much changed except some improvement in vision.

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The doc did not look at my current drug list and prescribed Amitriptyline and me on Fentanyl.

check it out at www.drugs.com Interactions.

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Yes I did see it, u are correct. What I was trying to say is that in your case it was totally doctor’s fault, he neglected to check drug interactions. In my case it is my doctor believing what pharmaceutical companies has published 

Aug. 16-17, 2020, cipralex: went CRAZY! Recovered in 24hrs

Aug.28,2020; 3.5 weeks 25mg sertraline/4.5 weeks taper

Oct. 25: Last dose (4mg)

Symptoms while on zoloft

DPDR/out of my body/soul despair/feeling dead; tinnitus/no appetite; fear, anxiety/panics

4 months OFF: soul despair, anxiety/fear, brain disconnection/ DPDR, brain feels swollen-numb/crazy/bedridden barely functioning, tinnitus, eye lid twitches; face spasms. Feeling slightly better after 10pm.

- sleep & appetite are fine

9 months OFF: hell, no windows, same symptoms as above  (only eye and face twitches have stopped) plus intense arm/shoulder pain and visual issues. Tinnitus replaced by head buzzing. 

10 months-1 year: all above plus Insomnia (out of nowhere), depression, no peace of mind (mental Akathisia); 2.5mg melatonin

14months off: sleep resumed. All rest symptoms remain. Bedridden vegetable all day. DP is relentless. 

1.5 years off: still severely disabled, not much changed except some improvement in vision.

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8 hours ago, Lostinwonderland said:

I hope we all recover from these adverse reaction, @UnfoldingSkyUnfoldingSky at your worse how bad was it

 

The worst part I think was having akathisia. Thankfully that ended  a long time ago and never returned. 

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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  • 1 month later...

7 weeks ago I took a single 30 milligram dose of duloxetine(cymbalta) and started with extreme muscle fatigue, and insomnia for 4 weeks and now it’s evolved to neck Dystonia like pulling, eye twitch, that is very small, swallowing issues and now breathing difficulty. I’m at a loss of how this could happen and if anyone has any similar experience or advice? Neurologist says it’s impossible.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi there ElenaF, @ElenaF

I just found your post, and then moved to a topic, which I think you'll be interested in.

And then, I'll also go ahead and give you the prompt to start an Introduction topic too, if you do decide you'd like to hang around.

 

Thank you. 

Any improvement at all since 4 weeks ago?

And then, are you on any other medications now?

 

Oh, and best,

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

 

 

Edited by manymoretodays

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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23 hours ago, ElenaF said:

7 weeks ago I took a single 30 milligram dose of duloxetine(cymbalta) and started with extreme muscle fatigue, and insomnia for 4 weeks and now it’s evolved to neck Dystonia like pulling, eye twitch, that is very small, swallowing issues and now breathing difficulty. I’m at a loss of how this could happen and if anyone has any similar experience or advice? Neurologist says it’s impossible.

Are u still suffering from the symptoms or they ve gotten better? 
What does ur neurologist say? That it is just a big coincidence that the day u got Effexor u developed multifocal dystonia, or that all these symptoms are just in your mind cause u don’t like the idea of starting an antidepressant? My advice to you would be to Change neurologist or ask your psychiatrist who prescribed Effexor , maybe he has a better understanding of immediate adverse reactions to ADs (although I doubt it) and of course don’t take another pill unless your life depends on it! 

Aug. 16-17, 2020, cipralex: went CRAZY! Recovered in 24hrs

Aug.28,2020; 3.5 weeks 25mg sertraline/4.5 weeks taper

Oct. 25: Last dose (4mg)

Symptoms while on zoloft

DPDR/out of my body/soul despair/feeling dead; tinnitus/no appetite; fear, anxiety/panics

4 months OFF: soul despair, anxiety/fear, brain disconnection/ DPDR, brain feels swollen-numb/crazy/bedridden barely functioning, tinnitus, eye lid twitches; face spasms. Feeling slightly better after 10pm.

- sleep & appetite are fine

9 months OFF: hell, no windows, same symptoms as above  (only eye and face twitches have stopped) plus intense arm/shoulder pain and visual issues. Tinnitus replaced by head buzzing. 

10 months-1 year: all above plus Insomnia (out of nowhere), depression, no peace of mind (mental Akathisia); 2.5mg melatonin

14months off: sleep resumed. All rest symptoms remain. Bedridden vegetable all day. DP is relentless. 

1.5 years off: still severely disabled, not much changed except some improvement in vision.

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  • 6 months later...

I know its a different class, but having been off the lexapro ct for 2 months,  then starting buspar, I had a very bad reaction and am still not recovered. Should of listened, the muscle aches almost brought me to my knees, then reduced to legs, lower arms,

now reduced to numb, slightly itchy, slightly aching wrists, ankles,  fingers and toes. Seems to be slowly getting better, but it scared me so much I'm afraid to say it is for fear that it isn't.  Never felt anything like it in my life this far. It's been over the span of a month since it began,  now 3 since I stopped lexapro.  What a not fun trip this has been.  I definitely think the reaction might of been also from being sensitive,  since I'd recently stopped the lexapro. 

- 10 mg lexparo 1.5 years

- ativan for panic 0.5 , never more than once daily and not everyday for 4 years.

-cold turkeyed in June 5 of 2021.

 

Buspar a few days and had severe muscle pain. July 26, 27, then 30 of 2021.

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

No-one believe me that iam not in my normal way from just three days taking the ssri..untill now the fourth months.. My parents took e to doctors they say iam depressed and mt dad took the same med and he said look iam good.. Why some people experience bad affects and other a not?  And the doctors just cannot believe me that usage for four days can cause that they believe that when I quit then symptoms go with it.. Is there is something wrong with me and why cannot they believe this?  And what should I do if they wanted me to take another med I need advice

15 June ,buspar 5mg 9pm

16 June, cipralex 10mg , buspar 5mg

17 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

18 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

19 June zero dose

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  • Administrator

@arielS please read this topic from the beginning.

 

We don't know why some people have severe adverse reactions within a few doses of an antidepressant or other psychiatric drug.

 

These drugs are not miracle cures. Generally, in antidepressant clinical trials for regulatory approval, more than a quarter of the subjects drop out because of adverse effects. They may represent a large population of people who cannot tolerate the drugs.

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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@Altostrata

Thank you.. Iam glad to be here. 💕

15 June ,buspar 5mg 9pm

16 June, cipralex 10mg , buspar 5mg

17 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

18 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

19 June zero dose

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  • 5 weeks later...
On 9/28/2021 at 4:26 AM, Altostrata said:

@arielS please read this topic from the beginning.

 

We don't know why some people have severe adverse reactions within a few doses of an antidepressant or other psychiatric drug.

 

These drugs are not miracle cures. Generally, in antidepressant clinical trials for regulatory approval, more than a quarter of the subjects drop out because of adverse effects. They may represent a large population of people who cannot tolerate the drugs.

 

Do you have any links to sources verifying that quarter of trial subjects dropping out  please? 

 

And thanks for directing me to this thread @Altostrata.    People can read my intro story, I had an adverse reaction to Remeron. It's been a bit over 3months since i stopped the 7th tablet, I have already had various improvements but still some ongoing issues. 

Remeron 15mg for 1 day in July '21,  then 7.5mg for 6days ending 30 July 21.   Immediate ADR. Went to ER several times, including ICU stay. Dealing with headaches, headpressure, tinnitus, hyperacusis, arm weakness, panic attack like feelings ever since.

No more drugs since, just vitamins Magnesium L-Threonate & Glycinate, fish oil , curcumin , ubiquinol, acetyl L Carnitine and alpha-lipoid acid, vitamin d3, vitamin k2 as mk7, and an overall men’s multi-vit.  Though I'm mainly just using magnesium since 2022. 

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@RemeronHell

Hello.. Iam 5 months off now..  Everything is still the same dp, vision problems, physical pain, amhedonic and no sexual desire.. Etc but there is a little improvements like in the first I had severe insomnia I could not sleep then I beacame able to sleep but wake after 3 hours then I became to sleep 8 or 9 hours but with a terrible dreams full of anxiety and wake up anxious.. Now I can sleep if I do not think about something maybe I wake up.but I think there is an improvement ..I hope this he'll goes soon they all say that things seems to improve after the sixth month

15 June ,buspar 5mg 9pm

16 June, cipralex 10mg , buspar 5mg

17 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

18 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

19 June zero dose

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On 3/18/2013 at 1:34 AM, Altostrata said:

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

Any info about this?  Thanks.  

Remeron 15mg for 1 day in July '21,  then 7.5mg for 6days ending 30 July 21.   Immediate ADR. Went to ER several times, including ICU stay. Dealing with headaches, headpressure, tinnitus, hyperacusis, arm weakness, panic attack like feelings ever since.

No more drugs since, just vitamins Magnesium L-Threonate & Glycinate, fish oil , curcumin , ubiquinol, acetyl L Carnitine and alpha-lipoid acid, vitamin d3, vitamin k2 as mk7, and an overall men’s multi-vit.  Though I'm mainly just using magnesium since 2022. 

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  • 1 month later...

Hello... It's 6 months off now... Months seems to be years, no insomnia now but my sleeping is not good in quality and the dreams is still here... I started taking magnesium glycinate for 4 days I think... I got low blood pressure and I cry after I take it.. I don't know if it's a bad reaction or not... Yes my ear tinnitus seems improved... My dp is still severe,  no emotions,  no time calculating,  ditached from everything,  severe brain fog and no functioning.... Iam still waiting... I cannot do even little things .. Will I return to my old personality ? Still aggressive and just thinking in sharp way.. Thank. You 

15 June ,buspar 5mg 9pm

16 June, cipralex 10mg , buspar 5mg

17 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

18 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

19 June zero dose

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On 11/10/2021 at 2:32 AM, RemeronHell said:

Any info about this?  Thanks.  

I was wondering about that too

Aug. 16-17, 2020, cipralex: went CRAZY! Recovered in 24hrs

Aug.28,2020; 3.5 weeks 25mg sertraline/4.5 weeks taper

Oct. 25: Last dose (4mg)

Symptoms while on zoloft

DPDR/out of my body/soul despair/feeling dead; tinnitus/no appetite; fear, anxiety/panics

4 months OFF: soul despair, anxiety/fear, brain disconnection/ DPDR, brain feels swollen-numb/crazy/bedridden barely functioning, tinnitus, eye lid twitches; face spasms. Feeling slightly better after 10pm.

- sleep & appetite are fine

9 months OFF: hell, no windows, same symptoms as above  (only eye and face twitches have stopped) plus intense arm/shoulder pain and visual issues. Tinnitus replaced by head buzzing. 

10 months-1 year: all above plus Insomnia (out of nowhere), depression, no peace of mind (mental Akathisia); 2.5mg melatonin

14months off: sleep resumed. All rest symptoms remain. Bedridden vegetable all day. DP is relentless. 

1.5 years off: still severely disabled, not much changed except some improvement in vision.

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I would think 1 dose should be metabolized in 6 days with a half life of 27-32 hours.

I was forced to prove that I could not take those medicines my new doctors by receiving an Rx and trying it. I knew better but did the fancying dancing anyway. I was currently on valium for several years off and on with no issues. I eventually got my valium back but took away again when the CDC pulled the cord on concomitant prescribing. My Emory doc saw I was in mental distress from high dose fentanyl and prescribed me klonopin and told me to get a behavioral health specialist to write it so I could keep it.

I agree, my brain is permanently damaged from long term fentanyl patch use. 

Always get a phychichrist and not a psychologist, A psychologist has prescription writing privileges and a psychologist does not. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

@Altostrataare there ADR recovery stories? 

ProzacNovember 2019: 10MG start

January 2021: up to 60MG 

march 2021: Valium everyday 2MG twice a day for a month or after that take as needed 

April 2021-May: taper to 0MG

June 2021: Zoloft 7 days and ween off. 
August 2021: escitalopram 5MG-10MG

August 2021: Propanol 10MG-20MG as needed 

September 2021: weened off escitalopram over a week.

October 30th: Citalopram 20MG 

November 10th: stopped - 10MG 2 days. 
November 14th: Prozac 20MG

November 18th: stop C/T 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Yes there are.  This is the search results in the Success Stories:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?&q=adverse reaction

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hey all, just wanted to add my story here so that hopefully anyone with a similar experience can give me some insight and perspective.

 

My introduction post: 

Basically, I went on Fluoxetine 10mg a little over a month ago for anxiety, trouble sleeping and stress due to work and my practicum. The first 30 days were uncomfortable, and there were some signs that I wasn't tolerating the drug all that well. For instance, the first few doses gave me bad anxiety/tension/dysphoria that would last a few hours. This eventually got better after a few doses and stopped happening. My sleep became lighter and I started having nighttime awakenings of dysphoria/anxiety. This didn't really get better over time but I just powered through it. There were a couple of instances also where I felt like I as going to have a panic attack, in both a movie theater and a friend's place. Again, just chocked it up to being something manageable and moved on.

 

On day 31, 10 hours after taking my dose, I slipped into such a deep state of depression that I became suicidal. I stopped taking the meds cold turkey but after a couple of days was feeling more akathisia and anxiety, so I tried a half dose and ten hours later I was back to being suicidally depressed. It's since been 7 days since taking anything. The first 5 days I seemed to get marginally better each day. Friday morning I was feeling so much more like myself and pretty good. But Saturday afternoon the deep depression descended on me and I was once more so deeply depressed and suicidal I could barely hold on to hope.

 

Today I've been depressed and anxious most of the day but not suicidal. I'm terrified it's gonna come back though. I'm really confused about whether or not I'm experiencing something  withdrawal related or iatrogenically related to the adverse effect, and I'm not sure any medical professional can tell me. I'm trying to get a sense of my prognosis, which I know is a common thing for all of us to try to do. I can tolerate a lot of things, and I have a good support network around me, but those suicidal depression waves are so intolerable. I don't know if I can handle another one.

 

Any thoughts, experiences or perspectives are welcome. I'm doing my best to be proactive about my recovery and my introduction topic chronicles my experience in great detail.

1998- Fluoxetine

2012- One dose of Escitalopram causes suicidal ideation. Started Venlafaxine. Successfully discontinued using a Fluoxetine bridge.

December 2021- 4 days of 5-HTP. Had some severe dysphoric symptoms trying to discontinue. Started Fluoxetine 10mg. Provided with five 1mg doses of Ativan as well.

January 6th- Continued to take Fluoxetine 10mg. Experienced deepened depression and suicidal ideation.

January 9th- 5mg dose. Experiencing deepened depression and suicidal ideation.

January 10th- Quit Fluoxerine CT

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  • 3 weeks later...

I think this effect may have something to do with CNS sensitisation, as something similiar is seen with some people who taper when they try to updose after too much of a drop, but in this case CNS is already overly sensitised before even starting the drug, which generates ADR after some doses. I think that was what happened in my case when I've started taking venlafaxine, and same happened after I got Covid which according to science literature also sensitises CNS. But that is just my guess and sadly we may never know. I've also read one article which stated that very high dose benzodiazepines can create dependency after one dose only, so I think that mechanism here is the same as in withdrawal, because for overly sensitised CNS standard dose would be veeeery high, even worse with being a poor metaboliser as an addition.

 

 

Duloxetine 2016/17 - 30/60mg/30mg, c/t, light WD.

Sertraline June 2019 50mg ADR

Clorazepate June 2019 20-15-10mg for 3 weeks then sparsely until 2022, 2 times per month max and very low dose (5mg)

Clorazepate Jan2022 10mg 5 days 2,5mg 2 days then off

Venlafaxine June 2019 75mg ADR, 17,5mg, titrated to 37,5mg

Venlafaxine Jan 2022 Covid, hard ADR on 37,5mg, reduced to 20mg ADR, tried ct, crash,

Venlafaxine 22Jan22 reinstated 9,4mg, too low/ 01Feb22- 12mg/ 12Feb- 11,25mg/ 16Feb- 11mg/ 20Feb- 10,8mg/ 24Feb22-10,575mg/ 16Mar22- 10,46mg/ 26Mar22- 10,35mg/ 26Apr22- 10mg/ 01Oct- 9,9mg/ 13Nov- 9,7mg

01Jan24-7,5mg

MAR24

Due to another sudden intolerance had to fast taper venlafaxine to 1,14mg 

Seems like all of this time I was in benzo withdrawal, because when I took it now in desperation to help it made me feel worse, tried reinstatement first 1mg, then 0,05mg both made me feel worse.

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  • 1 month later...
On 2/4/2016 at 7:16 AM, Farout said:

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.

Are you still here? 

Immediate adverse reaction 

lexapro 5mg 3x 1/27/22, 1/28/22, 1/30/22 

Buspirone 7mg 1x 1/27/22 

last dose 1/30/2022

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On 3/30/2022 at 5:04 PM, StarShopping87 said:

Are you still here? 

Yes, but not very often.

 

Here is my success story 

 

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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23 hours ago, Farout said:

Yes, but not very often.

 

Here is my success story 

 

Thank you. I’m 2 months in and terrified. Your story gives me soo much hope. I am also a mother and feel like my whole life has been ripped away. I feel so much guilt and pain. Praying for a miracle at this point. 

Immediate adverse reaction 

lexapro 5mg 3x 1/27/22, 1/28/22, 1/30/22 

Buspirone 7mg 1x 1/27/22 

last dose 1/30/2022

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I remember that feeling.  What you are going through is truly awful.  Sit tight. It gets better.

 

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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Just now, Farout said:

I remember that feeling.  What you are going through is truly awful.  Sit tight. It gets better.

 

Thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻 

Immediate adverse reaction 

lexapro 5mg 3x 1/27/22, 1/28/22, 1/30/22 

Buspirone 7mg 1x 1/27/22 

last dose 1/30/2022

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@rebeccaannxo

My main problem was dpdr and their is some imbalances yes,  my vision is still blurry,  but maybe not like before as I still have dpdr too,  try to get some sea kelp or bentonite Clay,  I think it will help slightly the balance things come back to e if I cry and was in a crying spell.. But I think it slightly improved I really cannot separate it. ☹️ sorry for you 

15 June ,buspar 5mg 9pm

16 June, cipralex 10mg , buspar 5mg

17 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

18 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

19 June zero dose

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@rebeccaannxo

Iam gonna be 10 months off after a week. 

15 June ,buspar 5mg 9pm

16 June, cipralex 10mg , buspar 5mg

17 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

18 June, cipralex 10mg, buspar 5mg

19 June zero dose

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

 

Some recovering stories:

 

7 hours ago, getofflex said:

Here is a story of another person who had an immediate adverse reaction, and she is recovering very well.  Still has issues, but much better.  

 

Alena: Adverse Reaction After 1 Zoloft Pill

 

7 hours ago, StarShopping87 said:

I’m actually talking to her now! We’ve been in contact maybe a week or two! So happy to hear she is improving. I have started talking to some ladies off of fb as well, one is 95% healed after 6 doses of Zoloft, she is 2 years and 1 month out. Another girl had 4 doses of lexapro and is continuing to improve, I believe she is 1 year out. She actually knows 2 people that have healed from adr (one healed in 6 months after 1 pill). I guess we are out there just hard to find. There is a girl on Baylissa’s website she interviewed named Penny. She gives me a lot of hope considering we have a lot in common as far as our living situation. She is a mom of 4 and went through adr with a 6 month old baby. She recovered and went on to have her 5th baby!! Very inspirational. She didn’t turn around until 12-18months. Thank you for thinking of me and tagging Alena! I need all the positivity and hope I can get right now. 

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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On 1/13/2016 at 11:25 AM, oskcajga said:

 

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).

Are you still around? Have you healed? 

Immediate adverse reaction 

lexapro 5mg 3x 1/27/22, 1/28/22, 1/30/22 

Buspirone 7mg 1x 1/27/22 

last dose 1/30/2022

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On 1/2/2021 at 12:53 AM, UnfoldingSky said:

 

The worst part I think was having akathisia. Thankfully that ended  a long time ago and never returned. 

How are you feeling now? Hoping for a positive update as I am almost 3 months in 

Immediate adverse reaction 

lexapro 5mg 3x 1/27/22, 1/28/22, 1/30/22 

Buspirone 7mg 1x 1/27/22 

last dose 1/30/2022

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10 hours ago, StarShopping87 said:

How are you feeling now? Hoping for a positive update as I am almost 3 months in 

 

I've improved a lot, thank you for asking.  I can't seem to find my intro thread but if you can, I posted a detailed update last year I believe.  I no longer have akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, dissociation, derealization & depersonalization, memory has improved, cognition as well.  Lots of other improvements too but I can't recall them all at the moment.  It does get 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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24 minutes ago, UnfoldingSky said:

 

I've improved a lot, thank you for asking.  I can't seem to find my intro thread but if you can, I posted a detailed update last year I believe.  I no longer have akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, dissociation, derealization & depersonalization, memory has improved, cognition as well.  Lots of other improvements too but I can't recall them all at the moment.  It does get better!  

I found the update!! So glad to hear you’re feeling better! I had a severe immediate reaction so this definitely gives me hope of healing. 

Immediate adverse reaction 

lexapro 5mg 3x 1/27/22, 1/28/22, 1/30/22 

Buspirone 7mg 1x 1/27/22 

last dose 1/30/2022

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