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JackalSmacker Through the woods?


JackalSmacker

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Daily symptoms are pretty much the same day to day, with the only real difference being the intensity. Some mornings the anxiety/dread is crippling, others it is pretty mild; some afternoons I can hardly type a sentence due to brain fog/dizziness, others I can throw together a story (I'm a journalist) with just a bit of effort. Once again my main concern is that I haven't really ever seemed to reach a point where I'm comfortable and I can't tell if this will ever happen as long as I'm on medication. But I guess at this point, after close to a year of tapering, I should just stick it out and go down slowly. Sorry for the whining, but this, as we all know too well, is extremely frustrating.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

In retrospect, how did the switch to Prozac go? Did these symptoms start after that?

 

Sorry if I've asked you before, are you taking fish oil and magnesium?

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/
 

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 take magnesium taurate but no fish oil at the moment. There is some New Chapter stuff at the GNC I almost bought today and will probably do so in the near future. It's hard to say, in retrospect, how the switch went because every day is such a confusing blur. I keep waiting to gain a foothold at some point but it just feels like a hopeless free fall. I know that keeping a positive attitude and holding your head up is really the only way to go, but it gets damn hard after so many weeks and months of eating right, exercising, getting plenty of sleep, etc. and nothing really changes. I see now why some people tend to rush off these medications: they want something - anything - to maybe change how they're feeling.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

Trader Joe's has good fish oil -- get the red label omega-3s.

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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  • 3 weeks later...

Things don't seem to be improving much. I'm taking a fish oil from Honest Co. and eating well and working out and yet still am experiencing pretty rampant anxiety/depression. Feels like I'm slowly losing my mind here. Would going back to like 25 mg of sertraline be the way to go? I know how the waves/windows thing works but this has lately seemed like one monstrous tidal wave. Anyone had any experience with going back to their former med and then reducing from there?

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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Like 25 mg of setraline and then a 10% reduction schedule from there?

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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Also, any thought on maybe using name brand prozac or zoloft in the future? Just read several articles about people having complete relapses after being switched to a generic antidepressant.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

Going back on the former drug is a total unknown. Your guess is as good as any.

 

Some, not all, people are sensitive to the differences in brands. The people who are affected by this generally are on one brand, Zoloft for example, then try another with bad results. If you are concerned about this, stick to one name brand or generic brand.

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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Ok, well I am going to see my doc on Monday so I will discuss these things with her. I've also been considering giving Deplin a try again. I think I took it very shortly several years ago but don't seem to remember noticing much difference. Could be worth another try. My sister recently took the MTHFR mutation test and came back positive so there's a chance I've got the same issue.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

Please see our topics on Deplin and MTHFR. Even folate can be activating.

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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Yep, nice and slow is definitely the way to go. I just wanted to see if I could pull off the initial bigger drops without any substantial suffering. Now that I'm down to half my original dose I will proceed very cautiously. I'd hate to have taken 12 steps forward only to have to take 24 back. As far as the "intoxication anosognosia" goes, even using the word judgement is not quite accurate because when I did those things there was no real weighing of consequences or internal debate - I just wanted to do something and did it. Guess it was more of a compulsion, like scatching a bug bite, than an ethical or moral decision. Now that my brain isn't being buoyed by chemicals I'm a lot more aware of my thoughts and actions. Some of that might just be maturity, but I definitely think there's a drug component to it.

Hi there JS I can identify with your state of mind while drugged and the compulsions ect.  I just wanted to say hello as I have been there too.. quit my job and started stripping on Effexor.  I have now read your entire thread but came back to this post to say hello. 

I hope your doc has something interesting and helpful to say to you on Monday. I wish you peace. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Ok, well I am going to see my doc on Monday so I will discuss these things with her. I've also been considering giving Deplin a try again. I think I took it very shortly several years ago but don't seem to remember noticing much difference. Could be worth another try. My sister recently took the MTHFR mutation test and came back positive so there's a chance I've got the same issue.

So what does the doc say? 

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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Doc wrote me a scrip for l-methylfolate and I'm getting it filled on Saturday. It's not Deplin, but it's the exact same formulation made by a company called Virtus. It ain't cheap, either: a one-month supply of the 15mg tablets is around $80. But I'll give it a whirl and see what shakes out. Worst case scenario it does squat and I dump the stuff after a few weeks. I've started a mildly intensive workout plan (jogging, bodyweight exercises) lately and that seems to be helping out quite a bit. Will update next week after I try out the new stuff.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

Google l-methylfolate and see all the less expensive choices you have.

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've been kind of obsessively researching my options and I have several concerns. One is that the non-prescription brands, because they do not contain Metafolin, will not be as effective (read: bioavailable) and while the substance might be just what I need I won't know because I'm not getting enough of the stuff. The other consideration is that from all I've read most people do not have an kind of significant reaction under 7.5 mg and that would mean taking ALOT of the cheaper brand's pills, thus pretty much canceling out the savings. But to be honest I think the underlying issue is that mental stigma where if something is "prescription strength" then it must be the best. I have read good things about the stuff from Metabolic Maintenance, though, so maybe I'll go that route. The pharmacy won't have my prescription ready until Monday so my research will have to wait until then...

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

l-methylfolate is the same in Metafolin and anything else that contains l-methylfolate. It is the most bioactive form of folate.

 

As for a "significant reaction" -- what exactly do you expect? Please see our discussions about Deplin and l-methylfolate.

 

The studies on using l-methylfolate in psychiatry were paid for the the manufacturer of Deplin to promote their product.

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 don't know, a miracle? A few people in my family take it and say it really makes a difference for them. I guess I'm hoping for that magic "it was like a switch flipped in my brain" kind of result. Just one of those stones I feel like I need to turn over on my never-ending quest to feel "normal" again.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

If you happen to be a person who is deficient in folate, which can run in families, taking l-methylfolate might make you feel better. Then there's the placebo effect.

 

I have never heard of l-methylfolate compensating for withdrawal syndrome. But folate is important for nerve health.

 

If you have trouble metabolizing folate, you don't need the dosage in Deplin. You probably can feel better with a lot less.

 

l-methylfolate can also be activating. Pick your poison.

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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Well put. Guess I'll see what happens. I've been feeling a lot better this past week and want to see if this ameliorates things even further.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • 2 weeks later...

I kind of gave up on the methyfolate as it didn't really seem to be doing much for me. I noticed a tad more energy, but not necessarily in a good way. Haven't touched the stuff in a while so I'm at a loss as to why I'm now having INSANE anxiety. I'm jolted awake every night at 4 a.m. with a bolt of adrenaline and I just lie there and grit my teeth until it's time to go to work, where I can't really even get anything done because I'm basically mentally and physically paralyzed. This is how I felt before even going on medication so I don't know if it's the prozac that's not working (or not agreeing with me) or if my low dosage finally caught up with me. Whatever the case I'm miserable and desperate, as my quality of life right now is almost zero. Strongly considering going back to zoloft at 25 mg to see if this helps at all. Any thoughts?

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Moderator Emeritus

This could still be a reaction to the folate. Our bodies are incredibly complex, more than we can even imagine or conceive. Once you start looking at how biochemistry works it's very sobering. You tweak one thing and it affects a hundred things downstream, all of which affect other things, which feed back into the first things again. It's immense. And it sounds like you were taking pretty high dose folate. So that's one thing, you might think about giving it more time.

 

As far as going back on Zoloft, well, it's anybody's guess, but my own guess is that given your history it's not going to give you the results you're hoping for, because once the nervous system is screwed up and destabilized, changing things can have really unexpected effects. And usually it doesn't fix things and then you're just even more unstable. But sometimes it works for people. It sounds to me like 25 mg would be a big jump up from what you're on now though, could you think about a lower dose?

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Yes, I suppose I could always go with 12.5 mg and see what happens. But like you said, Rhi, I'm just so hesitant to try anything anymore because even the smallest change/addition can really throw a wrench in the gears. Even the thought of switching ADs gives me anxiety, frankly, but then again apparently so does NOT changing them. What a crazy damn game this is.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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I took niacin during a time like that. In the end, I think it was helping with gut inflammation. It does so many things it is hard to say. I first used the extended-release version that you can get anywhere, 50 to 100mg, which is a portion of a capsule. If it helps, you will know within an hour. Also, if it helps, it is worth exploring why you need it. If you even want to dare changing things up while sick...

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

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

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

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

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

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

7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol

56 years old

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I took niacin for a little bit a few months ago, but it was the instant release, flushing kind. I seemed to remember it helping somewhat but the best thing about it was when I purposely took too much one night when I knew there was going to be full moon. I told my nephews that if you go outside during a full moon that it's possible to get burned, since it's really bright. Of course they said "yeah right" and "whatever" but once I felt myself starting to flush I started taking my shirt off and walked out the door, saying, "Ok, we'll just see about this." Fifteen minutes later I came in, whole body violently red, and their jaws hit the floor. Great prank, if I do say so.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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And you say you have no quality of life :)

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

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

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

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

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

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

7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol

56 years old

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It sure is a crazy game your words I so agree with.  It is very important to make changes one at a time with a very long rest between. Reactions to vit drugs ect can't be determined if too many things are taken at the same time.  Even with a good long time in between initiating a trial of something new interactions between what your body is use to and the new item may show up. 

 

Time is the only thing to help at this point so you can get a handle on what is up.  I am not a taper person and not an advocate of prozac cross over due to my own personal experience using prozac as the first Ad I ever took and reacted to.  All my personal point of view.  

 

I will give you this tidbit from my reading of antidepressant books over the years... when the drug trials of prozac were started people were given a drug to calm them down as I recall it a benzo as the prozac was causing anxiety.  That may be a hint for you or maybe not... and as always look it up yourself and read about it. 

wishing 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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Thanks, btdt. The fact that Prozac is considered to the more activating of the SSRIs did and still does concern me. Now that I look back on my switch over to it I can recall feeling very agitated when I first started taking it and that feeling seems to have persisted somewhat. Question for you, Rhi: I seem to remember Alto saying that Prozac is more than twice as strong as Zoloft, so wouldn't 10 mg of it more or less equal to 25 mg Zoloft? I also read that lexapro is really good for panic/anxiety, so maybe a really low dose of that might be an option.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

Prozac is NOT the most activating of the SSRIs. They can all be activating, Lexapro probably the most likely. The SNRIs are also activating.

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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So in the event that I choose to go back to another AD, at an equivalent dose, would you all recommend the Zoloft (which I am familiar with but seemed to poop out on me) or something like lexapro? I know that people here advocate going with the devil you know best - in this case Zoloft - but something new might just what I need. Right now I'm tempted to just take 5 mg of prozac with 12.5 mg of Zoloft for a week and see how I feel.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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I would look at the why taper by 10% thread and see how much Prozac it takes for most people to have 80% receptor occupancy. If you think SSRIs prompted you to your little pharmacy adventure, I would be really, really careful about a big bump. But maybe that's just my perspective...just a supplement got me throwing things at my husband earlier this year. When our brains are sensitized, chemicals can be quite unpredictable.

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

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

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

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

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

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

7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol

56 years old

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  • Administrator

Could be your nervous system is missing the Zoloft. A tiny tad might be enough to patch it up.

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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So in the event that I choose to go back to another AD, at an equivalent dose, would you all recommend the Zoloft (which I am familiar with but seemed to poop out on me) or something like lexapro? I know that people here advocate going with the devil you know best - in this case Zoloft - but something new might just what I need. Right now I'm tempted to just take 5 mg of prozac with 12.5 mg of Zoloft for a week and see how I feel.

JS the truth of the matter is nobody can say how any drug will react on your brain at this point.(nobody here and no doctor either)   There are some who have watched a lot of withdrawal stories and can guess but that is all it really is.  

I truly don't know and would only recommend a taper from the drug your body already knows as that is what I have seen work for people as I went cold turkey and don't personally know the ins and out of taper. 

However from what I have read the more drugs your brain has to accommodate the greater chance of a protracted or difficult withdrawal... please don't call me on this report it is from the effexor activist which is now gone. It did have scientific backing and I have already tried to find it again since topix is gone and I can't find it.  I know it sounds unreasonable... but it is true.

 

If that paper is correct and the more drugs you take the higher you chance for protracted withdrawal it would be wise to consider limiting the use of many different types of Ad medications.  IF it is correct.

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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Don't know much about other ssir, but definitely not lexapro. It gave me lots very wearied symptoms most other ssir don't.

Also, agree with reinstating with the last one you stopped, which is Zoloft.

 

Please search 'goldieloc' in member for his experience with reinstating. I myself had a bad experiencing increasing dose, not even reinstating. What I learned confirms the warning about the harm of reinstating.

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

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  • Administrator

There are no guarantees on any of these options. I'm sorry about that, it's the way it is.

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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  • 2 weeks later...

Too bad, because guarantees would be a godsend at this point. Just imagine someone (doctor, friend, whatever) assessing your situation and say by doing such and such you are GOING to feel this way, no question. Man, that would be wonderful. Anyway, assuming I go back to the zoloft would you all recommend dropping to 5 mg prozac and adding 12.5 mg zoloft for a couple of weeks before going up to 25 mg of zoloft only?

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

I understand overlap is more gentle than a cold switch. Please read the Prozac switch topic.

 

If this is your plan, why not try adding a small amount of Zoloft to the 10mg Prozac and see if that helps before making a switch?

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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