Moderator Emeritus basildev Posted May 22, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 22, 2013 I totally get that Strawbs. I agree, it's not worth losing your livelihood over. I've taken 2 weeks off to try to get over this latest hump. Only you can make the decision as to whether it's worth continuing along your journey. But I'm so glad you didn't go right back up to full dose. I'm really glad you're feeling better. xxx July 2001 prescribed 20mg citalopram for depression;On and off meds from 2003-2006.February 2006 back on 20mg citalopram and stayed on it until my last attempt at tapering in September 2011.By far the worst withdrawal symptoms ever. Reinstated to 20mg citalopramOctober 2012 - found this forum!Nov 2012 to Feb 2013 did 10% taper, got doen to 11mg - was going great until stressful situation. Cortisol levels hit the roof, hideous insomnia forced me to updose to 20mg.March 2016 - close to 100% back to normal!****** I am not a medical practitioner, any advice I give comes from my own experience or reading and is only my perspective ****** Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Jemima Posted May 22, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 22, 2013 It's probably best if you just stay put at your current dose for now, but don't worry yourself over any decisions for the future regarding whether or not to taper off completely. I think you'll eventually want to do that, but for now, you're pretty well worn out from the struggle. A prolonged rest at this dose may make it easier for you in the long run. Glad to hear that you're doing better. 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 RazorIntroduction: 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. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus strawberry17 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 10, 2013 It's probably about time I updated this and tied it up. At the beginning of July I went back on 50mg Sertraline (Zoloft). It was a horrible decision to make but once I'd made it I actually felt like a huge weight had lifted off me, I couldn't take the 24/7 feeling of deep dread and anxiety and insomnia and the effect it was having on my life, and on my family. My husband was sooo worried about me and couldn't get on with work because he felt he had to keep coming home and checking up on me. I had some time off work and had to go for an occupational health appointment. Maybe if my circumstances were different and I could take to my bed/sofa for a few years and opt out of life I could've done it and come out the other side, but I'm not sure I'd want to do that anyway. Two months on, I feel well and "normal" again and dare I say it, happy. There are no easy answers, no black or white, right or wrong when it comes to these drugs and whether to come off them or not. I wish the correct information was out there in doctors surgeries about tapering off properly though. Keep up the brilliant work here Alto and all the mods. *** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/ Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007. Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido. Link to comment
flower Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 I am so happy for you ...We need peace. C/T Celexa and Trazadone on Jan.29th 2014 Prescribed 1mg of Klonopin every 6 hours on Jan.29th Began tapering Klonopin April 18th..stretching time between doses...at first one hour for 2 weeks then a half hour for app.10 days then another half hour 10days later. Presently at .25 three times a day..6 2 and 10pm. Trying to stabilize. Also still taking gabapentin 300mgs 2xs a day.. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus tezza Posted September 10, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 10, 2013 Strawberry, I'm glad you're feeling well. You listened to your body and did what you needed to do. Please continue to drop in and let us know you're ok! Hugs and love! http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1644-tezza-risperdal-withdrawal/ Seroquel and Mirtazipine Link to comment
Barbarannamated Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Strawberry, It's great that you are feeling better and have reclaimed your life! A heartfelt THANK YOU for letting us know. It's invaluable to me to have this knowledge because, when people disappear, I tend to assume they're doing well with taper or off drugs (and I, by comparison, am doing badly). May I ask why you chose Zoloft and did you have hypersensitivity to any? All the best to you, Strawberry! 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). Link to comment
compsports Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Strawberry, You have to do what you feel is necessary to live a full productive happy life. If that means taking a med, so be it. To be honest, if I felt there was a med or supplment that would give me decent sleep on the pap machine to improve my functioning, I would take it in a heartbeat. So far, I haven't found anything. I wish you nothing but the best. CS Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010 Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006 Finished taper on June 10, 2010 Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016 Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia Link to comment
Barbarannamated Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 I feel the same way, CS. 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). Link to comment
Nikki Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 It's probably about time I updated this and tied it up. At the beginning of July I went back on 50mg Sertraline (Zoloft). It was a horrible decision to make but once I'd made it I actually felt like a huge weight had lifted off me, I couldn't take the 24/7 feeling of deep dread and anxiety and insomnia and the effect it was having on my life, and on my family. My husband was sooo worried about me and couldn't get on with work because he felt he had to keep coming home and checking up on me. I had some time off work and had to go for an occupational health appointment. Maybe if my circumstances were different and I could take to my bed/sofa for a few years and opt out of life I could've done it and come out the other side, but I'm not sure I'd want to do that anyway. Two months on, I feel well and "normal" again and dare I say it, happy. There are no easy answers, no black or white, right or wrong when it comes to these drugs and whether to come off them or not. I wish the correct information was out there in doctors surgeries about tapering off properly though. Keep up the brilliant work here Alto and all the mods. Strawberry like the others I am very happy for you that you are feeling better and back to a "normal" life and actually feeling happy. Thank you for keeping in touch with me and Flower on FB......Lots of Hugs from across the Atlantic Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment
Meimeiquest Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Thank you. Strawberry! I think feeling confident in your treatment, whatever it is, is a great outcome. And it is good to know reinstatement can be successful sometimes. Wishing you the very best! 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 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus strawberry17 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 10, 2013 Strawberry,It's great that you are feeling better and have reclaimed your life! A heartfelt THANK YOU for letting us know. It's invaluable to me to have this knowledge because, when people disappear, I tend to assume they're doing well with taper or off drugs (and I, by comparison, am doing badly).May I ask why you chose Zoloft and did you have hypersensitivity to any?All the best to you, Strawberry! Barbara I went to Zoloft because it was the drug I was put on originally years ago and had a good response to, it was a shot in the dark based on past experience though. I wish it had turned out differently, I would love to have said I successfully tapered off, still wish I could, can't see it happening now though. Thank you for all your good wishes *** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/ Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007. Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted September 10, 2013 Administrator Share Posted September 10, 2013 strawb, we all do what we have to do to take care of ourselves. No blame attaches to you for having to go back on Zoloft. I'm glad it worked for you. Did you try 25mg first or did you go right to 50mg? Did it help right away? You might write David Healy and recount your experience. He's collecting such case histories. It's been such a delight knowing you, please stay in touch. 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. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus strawberry17 Posted September 11, 2013 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 11, 2013 strawb, we all do what we have to do to take care of ourselves. No blame attaches to you for having to go back on Zoloft. I'm glad it worked for you. Did you try 25mg first or did you go right to 50mg? Did it help right away? You might write David Healy and recount your experience. He's collecting such case histories. It's been such a delight knowing you, please stay in touch. Alto I did a week at 25mg (half a tablet) then onto 50mg, I didn't get an instant result as I had done in the past, when I've reinstated in the past I've been somewhat "high" and euphoric to start with, but I did feel significantly better than I had been, I'd say I felt a definite shift for the positive at about 6 weeks. As for Dr Healy, I've been advised to contact him in the past but I never get anything back, no acknowledgment, nothing, so I don't feel inclined to try again. *** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/ Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007. Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus basildev Posted September 11, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 11, 2013 Hi Strawbs, I'm happy you've found some peace and happiness. These drugs are a bugger to get off. It just goes to show you how addictive they really are. You have to choose a quality of life. xxx July 2001 prescribed 20mg citalopram for depression;On and off meds from 2003-2006.February 2006 back on 20mg citalopram and stayed on it until my last attempt at tapering in September 2011.By far the worst withdrawal symptoms ever. Reinstated to 20mg citalopramOctober 2012 - found this forum!Nov 2012 to Feb 2013 did 10% taper, got doen to 11mg - was going great until stressful situation. Cortisol levels hit the roof, hideous insomnia forced me to updose to 20mg.March 2016 - close to 100% back to normal!****** I am not a medical practitioner, any advice I give comes from my own experience or reading and is only my perspective ****** Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted September 11, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 11, 2013 Thank you for the update, I always worry when people just disappear from their own thread. I'm glad you have found some quality of life. Thank you for all your support here and wishing you the best. I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes Link to comment
flower Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 It's probably about time I updated this and tied it up. At the beginning of July I went back on 50mg Sertraline (Zoloft). It was a horrible decision to make but once I'd made it I actually felt like a huge weight had lifted off me, I couldn't take the 24/7 feeling of deep dread and anxiety and insomnia and the effect it was having on my life, and on my family. My husband was sooo worried about me and couldn't get on with work because he felt he had to keep coming home and checking up on me. I had some time off work and had to go for an occupational health appointment. Maybe if my circumstances were different and I could take to my bed/sofa for a few years and opt out of life I could've done it and come out the other side, but I'm not sure I'd want to do that anyway. Two months on, I feel well and "normal" again and dare I say it, happy. There are no easy answers, no black or white, right or wrong when it comes to these drugs and whether to come off them or not. I wish the correct information was out there in doctors surgeries about tapering off properly though. Keep up the brilliant work here Alto and all the mods. Strawberry like the others I am very happy for you that you are feeling better and back to a "normal" life and actually feeling happy. Thank you for keeping in touch with me and Flower on FB......Lots of Hugs from across the Atlantic yes strawberry....peace be with you. I wish I could find the same. C/T Celexa and Trazadone on Jan.29th 2014 Prescribed 1mg of Klonopin every 6 hours on Jan.29th Began tapering Klonopin April 18th..stretching time between doses...at first one hour for 2 weeks then a half hour for app.10 days then another half hour 10days later. Presently at .25 three times a day..6 2 and 10pm. Trying to stabilize. Also still taking gabapentin 300mgs 2xs a day.. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 3, 2016 Administrator Share Posted March 3, 2016 Hi, strawberry -- how are you doing now? 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. Link to comment
alenka9 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Dear Strawberry, I'm really sorry that your Prozac taper did not work out. Do you have any idea why this has happened? Are you still in contact with dr. Healy? How is your Zoloft taper going on? Would you perhaps be prepared to tell me more about it? Perhaps in a chat on FB SA? I need to make a decision next week about switching to Prozac. Wishing you all the best Alenka On venlafaxine since 2001. Three cold turkey WD attempts unsuccessful. In 2012 I slowly tapered from 75mg. Less than a year after taking the last grain I developed extreme anxiety and pseudo dementia. After all clear neuro tests in 2013 I was put on Effexor 150mg. Instant improvement. In 2014 I tested positive for chronic mercury poisoning. I'm chelating using Andy Cutler's protocol, www.noamalgam.com. Tapering Venlafaxine Actavis 150mg: Mar 10%, May 10%, Jun (eyeballing) 3 quarters of capsule, Sep slighlty over half of capsule. End Oct exactly half capsule. Feeling great when chelating and being very hopeful that this time I will succeed! My intro & updates Link to comment
Newbeginning Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 I was hoping to read an update of Strawberry's story. I saw she was online just a few days ago, but has not updated her thread since 2013. I too started with Sertraline 200mg and then was put on Effexor and Prozac. After 2.5 years, I'm not done tapering, and for the last year I have not really been able to reduce much without. I was wondering if maybe reinstating a low dose of Sertraline could help me get rid of both Prozac and Effexor so I can have some quality of life. It's been 4 years of struggles that have severely affected my functioning. I hope you're doing well Strawberry. If you read this and would be ok with me asking you some questions about your experience, I'd be grateful SSRIs 3-4 times in the last 14 years; would take them for 6-8 months and then taper off under dr supervision with no problems. Med history prior to 2015: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6012-newbeginning-my-withdrawal-story/?p=267313#entry267313 04/2015: Prozac decreased to 15mg over last 3 months; effexor held steady at 8mg; current effexor XR: 20 beads of a 75mg capsule per day (about 8mg) 06/2015: Prozac: 10mg; effexor XR: 19 beads (about 7.5mg); 07/2015: Prozac: 8.5mg; effexor 18 beads; 08/2015: Prozac: 7.5mg; effexor: 17 beads End of August: withdrawal: depressive symptoms, crying spells. Realized I was measuring prozac dose wrong for the last 2 months. Reinstated Prozac 8.5mg; Kept effexor at 17 beads. Stabilized in 5 weeks. 10/2015: Prozac: 8.5mg; effexor: 17 beads; 11/2015: Prozac: 1.9ml (7.5mg); effexor: 16 beads; 12/2015: Prozac: 1.6ml; effexor xr: 16 beads. Withdrawal: neuroemotions 01/2016: prozac: 1.6ml; effexor xr: reinstated 17 beads, withdrawal improved; 02/2016: Prozac 1.5ml; Effexor: 17 beads; 03/2016: Prozac 1.3ml(5mg); Effexor: 17 beads (7mg)-withdrawal (flu-like malaise, lightheaded, drowsy) started end of March. April 15: reinstated Prozac 1.5ml. Stabilized. 2 weeks ok. End of April: Withdrawal (neuroemotions). Eventually stabilized in April-May. Apathy improved. 3 month hold until August. August 2016: apathy came back; October 2016: updosed to Prozac 1.6ml. Bad reaction: anxiety, depression. End of October: went down Prozac 1.5ml. Stabilized over several weeks. Dec 9: tried macca for energy: anxiety/depression. Improved over several weeks, but not completely resolved. Dec 31: cut Effexor 5% to 16 beads. After 9 days: withdrawal anxiety, depression; tried updosing to 17 beads Feb 7 but anxiety got worse; went down to 16 beads May 2017: Anxiety improved; severe depression continues; September 2017: finally stabilized!!!!!! 09/07/2017-12/31/2017: hold Stable on Effexor 6mg and Prozac 6mg until around 2019-2020. Side effects (fatigue, anhedonia) continued, but had some long lasting windows thanks to therapy. Windows lasting 5-6 months each year followed by relapses. 2019: bad reaction to melatonin 3 mg. Withdrawal after taking it 2 months. When I tried to stop it developed severe insomnia that lasted 6 months even after I reinstated melatonin. Only slept again because I took hydroxyzine 5 mg 3 times a week for few months. Stopped hydroxyzine with no issues. Sleep normalized. 2020-2021: Holding on Prozac 6mg, Effexor 6mg, Tapered melatonin 1 drop every 2-4 weeks down to 1.5mg. Had to hold because further cuts were causing severe drowsiness. 2021: Insomnia returned due to caffeine use for few months (only started after months of use). I also had a concussion at this time. 2023: took hydroxyzine 5-100mg for one month (kept increasing dose every 3 days because I developed tolerance). Tapered for 1 week. After 1 month: withdrawal neuroemotions. Reinstated 5mg 2 months after stopping. Gradually increased to 25mg, stabilized, but withdrawal came back after 10 days. Kept increasing dose and withdrawal returning. Currently at 40mg. Not sure how to stabilize. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 24, 2018 Administrator Share Posted May 24, 2018 Dear Strawberry, how are you doing now? 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. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus strawberry17 Posted May 31, 2018 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 31, 2018 I'm sorry I hadn't realised that a few people had asked how I was getting on. I did update my blog about a year ago but didn't think about coming back here to update. Nearly five years ago I had to give up my 5 year taper from liquid Prozac, once I got below 1ml I was getting no relief from insomnia, and extreme dread and anxiety, no windows of recovery at all to speak of. In the end I made the very difficult decision to give up and go back to the full dose of Sertraline. I can't remember now why Sertraline and not Prozac. Within a few weeks I started to feel a lot better and get back to some kind of normality. Some time later, maybe a year or so I again got fed up of the emotional numbness and total loss of libido. I switched to liquid sertraline (Zoloft) instead of tablets and tapered down to about 3ml. I then switched it to liquid Prozac because it's easier for pharmacies to get hold of than liquid Sertraline in the UK. Since then every day I have taken a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac. This is enough to stop me going into a catastrophic withdrawal/anxiety and not so much that I feel totally numb. I have my proper emotions in place. I decided life was too short and to live with this compromise. Sometimes I wonder what if...had I persevered would I have got off Prozac in the end. Mostly nowadays I don't think about it, and life is pretty good. I hope / wish everyone here could find a solution to this issue. I occasionally still get e mails from people who read my blog and in the same desperate situation. *** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/ Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007. Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido. Link to comment
Barbarannamated Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Strawberry, Thank you so much for your encouraging update! I wish you continued peace. 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). Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Carmie Posted January 25, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 25, 2019 Hi Strawberry, How are you doing?💚 Seroquel. 2019:➡️ From 7.25mg to 5.80mg✔️ 2020➡️From 5.60 to 4.80✔️ 2021➡️From 4.60 to 4.0✔️ 2022➡️From 3.95 to 3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️ 2024➡️Jan15=3.20✔️ Feb19=3.15✔️ March26=3.10✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus strawberry17 Posted January 26, 2019 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 26, 2019 Hi Thank you for asking, so nice that someone found my old thread. Generally I'm doing pretty well still, I'm still on 3ml liquid Prozac every day. I do suffer with some anxiety but I think that is part and parcel of who I am as a person. Physically I am very well. The dose of 3ml is still a good compromise for me i.e. no severe withdrawals and also no emotional numbness and libido loss. I find mornings a bit tough, as I do feel very flat and a bit anxious in the early mornings, and also I've just started a job that requires me to start early, I did wonder whether switching to another drug, same dose, might give me a bit of oomph back in the morning, but on balance probably better the devil I know than messing about with drugs and doses again. Strawberry *** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/ Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007. Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted January 26, 2019 Administrator Share Posted January 26, 2019 Hello, Strawberry, good to hear from you again. I'd stick with the devil you know....if it makes you tired, maybe decrease it a little? Please update your signature with this latest round of Prozac. 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. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted January 26, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 26, 2019 Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature * 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 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Carmie Posted January 27, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 27, 2019 Hi strawberry, Like Alto said, I think it’s best to stay on the medication you’re already on, rather than swapping. When you swap meds it’s like you are cold turkeying one of them, and then you have to deal with the symptoms the new one will cause. If you wanted to you could taper down a bit more, you could do a really slow taper of about 2.5% a month for a while and get down a bit lower. See if that makes the morning symptoms a bit better. Glad you’re doing pretty okay at the moment though, sending hugs🤗 Seroquel. 2019:➡️ From 7.25mg to 5.80mg✔️ 2020➡️From 5.60 to 4.80✔️ 2021➡️From 4.60 to 4.0✔️ 2022➡️From 3.95 to 3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️ 2024➡️Jan15=3.20✔️ Feb19=3.15✔️ March26=3.10✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor. Link to comment
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