NewBeginning: my withdrawal story

[Newbeginning]

Did you accidentally skip a dose? Are any of your drugs beyond expiration date?

 

I didn't skip doses, and when I have done it in the past (a few times in 3 years tapering), I did not get withdrawal from it. My Effexor expired in July. I asked the psych nurse and she said they really didn't expire for several months-even years.

 

Do you think the 2 month after the expiration could be the issue? I do seem to be getting worse over time. Should I try getting fresh Effexor?

 

Thank Alto. I'm really struggling right now.

[bubble]

I would definitely get 'fresh' Effexor. It might have lost its potency.

[Newbeginning]

I'm going to try that. I'm praying it is that. I just keep hearing people who are tapering saying they take their med 6 months after expiration and it doesn't affect them. It could be the manufacturer of mine or my own sensitivity--although in other ways I'm really not as sensitive as other people.

 

Thank you Bubble.

[Henosis]

Sorry, but it is incredibly unlikely "expiration" has anything to do with it. Most medications (those not needing to be refrigerated, active proteins, etc) will only lose an infinitesimally small amount of potency in the first few months...

 

"The best evidence of acceptable potency of the medications beyond their expiration date is provided by the Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) undertaken by the FDA for the Department of Defense. The aim of the SLEP program was to reduce medication costs for the military. SLEP has found that 88% of 122 different drugs stored under ideal conditions should have their expiration dates extended more than 1 year, with an average extension of 66 months, and a maximum extension of 278 months."

 

 

I'm going to try that. I'm praying it is that. I just keep hearing people who are tapering saying they take their med 6 months after expiration and it doesn't affect them. It could be the manufacturer of mine or my own sensitivity--although in other ways I'm really not as sensitive as other people.

 

Thank you Bubble.

[Newbeginning]

 

Sorry, but it is incredibly unlikely "expiration" has anything to do with it. Most medications (those not needing to be refrigerated, active proteins, etc) will only lose an infinitesimally small amount of potency in the first few months...

 

"The best evidence of acceptable potency of the medications beyond their expiration date is provided by the Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) undertaken by the FDA for the Department of Defense. The aim of the SLEP program was to reduce medication costs for the military. SLEP has found that 88% of 122 different drugs stored under ideal conditions should have their expiration dates extended more than 1 year, with an average extension of 66 months, and a maximum extension of 278 months."

 

 

I'm going to try that. I'm praying it is that. I just keep hearing people who are tapering saying they take their med 6 months after expiration and it doesn't affect them. It could be the manufacturer of mine or my own sensitivity--although in other ways I'm really not as sensitive as other people.

 

Thank you Bubble.

 

 

Thats what I've read too, but its worth a try...It could be Effexor is in the 12% or that I'm sensitive to very small changes in potency that most people wouldn't notice.

[Altostrata]

Heat and light will also degrade drugs. Is it hot where you live?

[Newbeginning]

Heat and light will also degrade drugs. Is it hot where you live?

 

It is, but the meds are in an air conditioned apartment all the time. Today I seem to be doing a little better. Quit boron 10 days ago and Mag glycinate 3 days ago. If I continue to improve, I'm guessing it was the Mag glycinate. The boron and the mag glycinate are the only major changes in my routine I had in the last month, which is when the withdrawal symptoms started.

 

I'm praying it is that. I will still restock my Effexor cause I don't want to find out through withdrawal if I react to the expired meds! I'd rather prevent that by getting "fresh" Effexor every year.

 

I will wait a couple of weeks to find out if it's the Mag first.

[Newbeginning]

So it's been 8 days Magnesium free. I saw some improvement after 3 days, but now I'm stuck again. Will try the non-expired Effexor and see how I do this week.

[Newbeginning]

I have a question: Is it advisable to increase my dose a little bit after 4 months of holding? I was thinking of doing that to try to stabilize.

 

Would that make it harder to taper once I'm stable?

[ChessieCat]

I've asked the other mods for their thoughts.

[JanCarol]

Hey, New - 

 

You are at the pointy end of the taper, which requires more patience than ever before.

 

I'm wondering why you quit the Mag glycinate?

 

It may be that magnesium is essential.  Some people do better on mag citrate, and maybe it was the boron you were reacting to?  I know they are co-factors, but magnesium is so important if you can tolerate it - even if you have to give up the co-factor.

 

As always, start on 1/4 dose (some even say, only what fits on the tine of a fork!) and titrate up.

 

Also are you on fish oil?   Please see:  

Magnesium and Omega-3 fish oil

 

I would consider getting these up to minimum before considering an updose.  It is difficult to tell here, what your symptoms are that are causing you to want to updose.

 

Additionally, what are you replacing the drugs with?  What's in your toolkit for survival, distraction, and accepting your symptoms?

 

Is this uncomfortable? Tolerable?  Intolerable?  Or a crisis?  Only you know for certain.

 

After 4 months, your brain is fully adapted to the dose you are on.  Please, help us with details about your symptoms before we can make any suggestions.

[Newbeginning]

Hi Jan Carol,

 

I had been holding for 4 months and was stable. I was even having a window and feeling better than I had in a long time. 2 months ago, I started having new symptoms: fatigue, appetite changes, acne, constipation. Then they got worse over time and I had crippling fatigue, anxiety, depression. I got to where I was not able to function again.

 

I started looking at my notes and found around the time issues started I had started Boron and Magnesium Glycinate. I thought it could be Boron so I stopped it, but I didn't see any changes in 2 weeks. I then thought it could be Magnesium, so I stopped it a week ago. After 3 days of stopping it, anxiety and fatigue improved some, but I was still dysfunctional. I have not improved anymore.

 

I have tried fish oil before for months, but it did nothing for me, unfortunately. I started Magnesium at 120mg. Seemed ok so I increased to 240mg after 1 month. I don't know if the Mag caused my current symptoms, but it didn't help me in any way either.

 

There have been no other changes in my routine, and I'm at a loss as to why I'm having what feels like withdrawal when I had been stable for 4 months...

[Newbeginning]

I am so lost. Everything I have tried to stabilize has not worked:

 

• 2 weeks after quitting all supplements (Boron, Magnesium Glycinate): no improvement
• 5 days after taking non-expired Effexor (had been taking expired Effexor for 2 months. It had just expired 2 months ago): no improvement

I know it's not from a cut in dose because I had been on the same dose (and 100% stable) for 4 months.

 

Nothing has changed in my lifestyle and no new stressors.

 

One moderator suggested it could be tolerance and said a little cut in my dose might help. Another moderator said tolerance is not an issue when tapering and cutting when unstable would make me worse.

 

Should I increase a bit even after 4 months, or decrease? I've been feeling bad for 2 months now. I'm very depressed, very tired, and feel like I can't do anything. My brain feels foggy. I can't function.

 

Any advice would be so appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[ravijaua]

Sounds like a wave. It will pass.

[Newbeginning]

Sounds like a wave. It will pass.

 

But I didn't change the dose. And it's been 2 months

[bubble]

Are things getting worse as time is passing?

 

I'm actually in a bit of a similar situation. I had been holding for 9 months. I had been improving and my main symptom was/is sleeping problems which made everything else worse. After that improvement and 9 months into the hold my sleep started deteriorating further.

 

Then Shep drew my attention to the combination of drugs I take and their interplay. In particular how I significantly reduced one drug (benzo) and thus changed their balance. Namely, antidepressants get activating once the benzo is reduced.

 

That's why I reduced antidepressant last week although I'm nowhere near as stable as I was hoping to be and far from my previous WD normal. I was horribly afraid that reducing while still so symptomatic will make me even worse but so far nothing bad has happened. I'm not sure but maybe I feel a bit better.

 

I'm not writing this to say you should do the same but just sharing my experience. I'm also at a loss at what to do in situations like ours when we start getting worse while holding.

 

We discussed that in your case there was a surgery and then supplements were suspicious. Now I'm also thinking whether the fact that there are also 2 drugs at play has some impact on your situation.

 

I don't have a suggestion but I hope we will work something out together.

[JanCarol]

Hey New:

I have tried fish oil before for months, but it did nothing for me, unfortunately

 

You can't always "feel" the fish oil benefit.  It's not psychoactive in any way.  It just nourishes your neurons and myelin sheaths and feeds the brain so that things run more smoothly, and reduces the inflammation which often accompanies withdrawal.  If it's not hurting you, it's probably helping.  Additionally, benefits seem to kick in at around 6000 IU of "basic" fish oil - most people think that 1-2 capsules is enough, when really, the best benefits happen between 6000-10,000 IU.  (usually 4-6 capsules, depending on size)

 

Mods are discussing if you might benefit from a cut - we are reluctant to suggest an increase.  Since you reinstated the Prozac - did that help at all?  Did it do anything?  Additionally, we are discussing which drug would be best to cut, or whether it would be best to hold through it.  Sometimes - 4 months seems like forever, but in withdrawal land, it's not very long at all.

 

Either way, it will be a risk of a few weeks of more intense symptoms, to see if we can settle you for the long term.

[Newbeginning]

Are things getting worse as time is passing?

 

I'm actually in a bit of a similar situation. I had been holding for 9 months. I had been improving and my main symptom was/is sleeping problems which made everything else worse. After that improvement and 9 months into the hold my sleep started deteriorating further.

 

Then Shep drew my attention to the combination of drugs I take and their interplay. In particular how I significantly reduced one drug (benzo) and thus changed their balance. Namely, antidepressants get activating once the benzo is reduced.

 

That's why I reduced antidepressant last week although I'm nowhere near as stable as I was hoping to be and far from my previous WD normal. I was horribly afraid that reducing while still so symptomatic will make me even worse but so far nothing bad has happened. I'm not sure but maybe I feel a bit better.

 

I'm not writing this to say you should do the same but just sharing my experience. I'm also at a loss at what to do in situations like ours when we start getting worse while holding.

 

We discussed that in your case there was a surgery and then supplements were suspicious. Now I'm also thinking whether the fact that there are also 2 drugs at play has some impact on your situation.

 

I don't have a suggestion but I hope we will work something out together.

 

Hi Bubble,

 

I don't think I'm getting worse. I felt a little better after cutting the Mag glycinate, but then got stuck in this state again. Same thing happened when I started the non-expired Effexor. I thought I was fine again for 2 days, but then reversed to this state. Maybe placebo.

 

I do see how the 2 drugs balancing each other could be an issue when you're tapering a benzo and an antidepressant, but not too sure it can be the same with 2 antidepressants. Besides, I actually have not changed my dose of either med much since the end of last year. I don't see how a 10% decrease in Prozac would all of a sudden cause issues with Effexor.

 

Something I noticed in my signature is that I did get withdrawal on the dose of Prozac I'm on, although it went away over time. I'm wondering if maybe I needed to go a little higher to stabilize completely. I know increasing is a big risk right now, so...

 

I hope you will start feeling better after the decrease. I'll be watching your progress.

 

It's very demoralizing to get worse after holding so long, isn't it?

[Newbeginning]

Hey New:

I have tried fish oil before for months, but it did nothing for me, unfortunately

 

You can't always "feel" the fish oil benefit.  It's not psychoactive in any way.  It just nourishes your neurons and myelin sheaths and feeds the brain so that things run more smoothly, and reduces the inflammation which often accompanies withdrawal.  If it's not hurting you, it's probably helping.  Additionally, benefits seem to kick in at around 6000 IU of "basic" fish oil - most people think that 1-2 capsules is enough, when really, the best benefits happen between 6000-10,000 IU.  (usually 4-6 capsules, depending on size)

 

Mods are discussing if you might benefit from a cut - we are reluctant to suggest an increase.  Since you reinstated the Prozac - did that help at all?  Did it do anything?  Additionally, we are discussing which drug would be best to cut, or whether it would be best to hold through it.  Sometimes - 4 months seems like forever, but in withdrawal land, it's not very long at all.

 

Either way, it will be a risk of a few weeks of more intense symptoms, to see if we can settle you for the long term.

 

Hi JanCarol,

 

I was taking a high dose of fish oil. A tablespoon of Carlsons liquid had like 3 grams of fish oil. In capsules that is like 10 capsules at least, depending on brand.

 

I have not ruled out starting a different brand because I understand fish oil is good for us. Just didn't want to start new supplements while I was trying the magnesium and seeing how increasing the dose of that would affect me. And now with the instability I have, not sure I should add something new?

 

I reinstated Prozac in April to 1.5ml. Felt better 2 weeks, then had withdrawal, and it eventually settled. I didn't update my notes after April because I was holding. During the hold I started eating better and trying to be more active, and I felt better than I had in years for at least 3 months,until this started.

 

Thanks for all the thought you and the other mods are giving this. You don't know how much I appreciate your help. I'm very depressed about all this.

[JanCarol]

Hey, New,

 

My concern is that the pattern may be thus:

 

increase - it's better - symptoms return - increase again, get better but after a month or two - symptoms return.

 

Does this seem accurate?

 

If this is the case, then maybe down is the direction to go, instead of up.  Both drugs are at SSRI levels.  Effexor is SSRI at lower levels, and can be bridged to Prozac with more success than other drugs.  What happens (scary, I know, but you are in an experimental zone) when you drop an Effexor bead?  Hold on the Prozac, but drop an Effexor bead?

 

If it were me, I would like to see your fish oil levels back up first, but it's your body, your choice.  It's interesting that you felt the mag glycinate was a factor.  I have heard of people who react to the glycine in mag glycinate - and these people do better on mag citrate.

 

What did your gut say to you, when you read my suggestion about cutting a bead?  Did it contract in fear?  Or did it release, and consider the possibility?  Your intuition is as strong a guide as you are going to get in this journey.

 

It does get better.  You're doing really well, being careful - you can get through this!

 

I hope you see the sun today!

[Newbeginning]

Hey, New,

 

My concern is that the pattern may be thus:

 

increase - it's better - symptoms return - increase again, get better but after a month or two - symptoms return.

 

Does this seem accurate?

 

If this is the case, then maybe down is the direction to go, instead of up.  Both drugs are at SSRI levels.  Effexor is SSRI at lower levels, and can be bridged to Prozac with more success than other drugs.  What happens (scary, I know, but you are in an experimental zone) when you drop an Effexor bead?  Hold on the Prozac, but drop an Effexor bead?

 

If it were me, I would like to see your fish oil levels back up first, but it's your body, your choice.  It's interesting that you felt the mag glycinate was a factor.  I have heard of people who react to the glycine in mag glycinate - and these people do better on mag citrate.

 

What did your gut say to you, when you read my suggestion about cutting a bead?  Did it contract in fear?  Or did it release, and consider the possibility?  Your intuition is as strong a guide as you are going to get in this journey.

 

It does get better.  You're doing really well, being careful - you can get through this!

 

I hope you see the sun today!

 

Yes, I see what you're saying. In the past, I have gotten better with small increases when I got worse after cutting too much. I never needed to keep increasing. Increases always stabilized me, but it was always after a cut destabilized me.

 

The exception is last time I reinstated. I had cut too much, reinstated, stabilized for 2 weeks, then had some withdrawal for 2 weeks, then stabilized again for 2.5 months, only to get withdrawal again. All along I was on the same dose though.

 

Do you think it's possible at all that I developed tolerance to my current dose?

 

Cutting Effexor makes me nervous for many reasons: My dose is much lower than Prozac at 7mg (10% of my initial dose); I can no longer just decrease by 1 bead because 1 bead now is more than 10% of my dose, and would need to start a liquid or work with a compounding pharmacy to keep tapering; my last few attempts to cut 1 bead of Effexor gave me withdrawal.

 

I will definitely restart on the fish oil. I'm just scared of adding anything new now (it would be a different brand than what I tried before). Do you think I could try and just stop it if it makes me worse?

 

I love what you said about intuition. My intuition told me it was the boron, but it seems it was wrong lol. Then it told me it might be tolerance developed from holding or perhaps a result of needing a higher dose to completely stabilize when I updosed months ago. Not sure I can trust it much.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. It helps so much to know I'm not alone in this!

[Altostrata]

Do your symptoms follow any daily pattern?

 

Are you perhaps female and in your late 40s?

 

Are you still taking Effexor XR beads with Prozac?

[Newbeginning]

Do your symptoms follow any daily pattern?

 

Are you perhaps female and in your late 40s?

 

Are you still taking Effexor XR beads with Prozac?

 

Hi Alto,

 

Symptoms are always worse first thing in the morning and are least severe late at night. I also seem to do worse after a "productive" day. Not a day where I overwork or overexercise or push too much. Just a day when I feel better and do more. Seems to always be followed by a day that I feel worse.

 

I'll be 40 in 2 weeks and have no family history of early menopause. No issues with my period either. My sex hormones (per mainstream medicine standards) are within range. So is my thyroid.

 

Yes, I take Effexor every day (7mg equivalent). I never stopped it. Just holding on that dose since late 2015 so I can taper Prozac.

 

Thanks Alto!

[JanCarol]

Hey NB - I'm not quite caught up - but this stood out for me (since I'm struggling with my Gut this week, too):

 

 

It started with abdominal cramps that lasted several weeks and would not go away after I got my period. Then after a month of that the tiredness, cravings, and pimples started.

 

 

This sounds like it might be a food sensitivity to wheat, gluten and/or dairy (common culprits).  Including the pimples and cravings, and blood sugar issues.  It's something to consider.

 

It may be hormonal, there are many of us who went through withdrawal at the same time as peri-menopause, and that's a tangled ball o'yarn.  

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/10740-female-hormone-issues-perimenopause-menopause-wd-or-something-else/

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8142-pms-and-menstrual-cycle-issues-during-withdrawal/

 

I'm also reading a lot about blood sugar and cortisol - spiking your blood sugar can really throw you out of whack, too.

 

I'll keep reading, but I wanted to interject these possibilities, to see if they help.

[Newbeginning]

Hey NB - I'm not quite caught up - but this stood out for me (since I'm struggling with my Gut this week, too):

 

 

It started with abdominal cramps that lasted several weeks and would not go away after I got my period. Then after a month of that the tiredness, cravings, and pimples started.

 

 

This sounds like it might be a food sensitivity to wheat, gluten and/or dairy (common culprits).  Including the pimples and cravings, and blood sugar issues.  It's something to consider.

 

It may be hormonal, there are many of us who went through withdrawal at the same time as peri-menopause, and that's a tangled ball o'yarn.  

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/10740-female-hormone-issues-perimenopause-menopause-wd-or-something-else/

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8142-pms-and-menstrual-cycle-issues-during-withdrawal/

 

I'm also reading a lot about blood sugar and cortisol - spiking your blood sugar can really throw you out of whack, too.

 

I'll keep reading, but I wanted to interject these possibilities, to see if they help.

 

Thanks JanCarol!   The cramps went away. They lasted a whole month. I had another episode of cramps last year that lasted like 2 months, but that was not followed by other symptoms. Got checked by dr and they found nothing.

 

I don't think I'm in perimenopause, but I did consider the symptoms could be hormonal. I will try to convince the dr to check my hormones. The main thing bothering me now is fatigue. I was dealing with it before, but it was not this bad. I just got my period and waiting to see how I feel after that's over.

 

Can food sensitivities not affect us for years and then just start?

 

I do have high blood sugar (not diabetes) from all the weight gain from antidepressants. I had lost weight in the months I was holding and feeling better. Have not checked blood sugar again, but hoping it has improved, since I started eating healthier and being more active months ago.

 

Thanks for the suggestions! I will read the perimenopause thread. Really hoping it's not that though

[bubble]

Hello again.

 

I find similarities in what we are going through so always read what others write to you hoping there will be something I can apply. I'm 39 (and a half) and also hope I'm not in perimenopause but think there is definitely something wrong with my hormones. There is a definite spike in my symptoms  around 10 days before the period and their abating afterwards. I had my hormones checked years ago and I had an increase in androstenedione but luckily that endrocrinologist wasn't into medicated me and said that my clinical picture is not so severe. I was reluctant to have my hormones tested because I'm not sure taking hormones is a good thing...

 

I see fatigue as debilitating as can be as a welcome symptom: after all the upheaval and energy use that anxiety caused our body and brain are recharging (and healing).

 

JanCarol will know more but it is definitely a possibility that we become sensitive to foods we weren't to before, especially in WD, as with everything. I'm struggling with bad cravings, again particularly uncontrollable before the period. I'm trying to watch my diet but most of the time just don't have the energy. I eat healthy but don't have the energy for different dietary regimes...

 

If there has been a change in symptoms (especially for the better) it might mean you are still healing on the doses you are taking and that you are moving in the direction of again becoming stable enough to taper.  

[JanCarol]

Hey NB - 

 

Fish oil:  

Do you think I could try and just stop it if it makes me worse?

 

Yes.

 

Can food sensitivities not affect us for years and then just start?

 

Yes.  And in withdrawal, all bets are off.  You might become sensitive to the colour yellow or the sound of a violin, and have to avoid them at all costs.  WIthdrawal is weird, the symptoms shift and change, wax and wane.  

 

95% of your body's serotonin is in your gut.  Your gut connects to your brain via a complicated pathway called the vagus nerve, and that doesn't even count the endocrine (adrenal, thyroid, pituitary, ovary) channels that get affected, too.

 

The more I read, the more I believe that these are just late rattlings from earlier adjustments.  Delayed reactions to some severe shifts you had - some of which were a year ago!

 

If you can, if it were me, I'd try and hold and live through it.  It may be another year.  You were having windows, and that gives me great hope - that tells me you are healing.

 

Symptoms tell me you are healing, too - systems are "down" for repair.  

 

I'll give you a quote from Brassmonkey, adapted from Claire Weekes about Acceptance:

AAF:

 

One very effective technique to use is referred to as AAF. Acknowledge, Accept, Float. 

 

First the situation/symptoms need to be Acknowledged.  Through no fault of your own you are now very sick and there are going to be a lot of very unpleasant symptoms to deal with, and like any major illness getting better will now be your primary focus.  Mentally explore the situation, feelings or lack there of, symptoms etc. and get to know them.

 

Secondly you have to truly accept that is happening.  The symptoms and feeling or lack there of are going to happen no matter what you say about it, there is nothing you can do about them or the situation.

 

Lastly, let the symptoms and unpleasantness float off as you go on about your life as best as you can, believing that it will get better in time.

 

Sometimes the best solution to symptoms is to wait them out.  Everything you've described is not unusual - a bit long and late - but not unusual for "classic withdrawal" - and like I said, in withdrawal all bets are off.  It may just take time, and patience.

[Newbeginning]

I wanted to update and see if anyone had some suggestions. I held my dose until the end of October. At that point I was very depressed about being stuck with apathy/fatigue and completely non functioning.

 

Someone suggested a small increase of Prozac to get over possible tolerance. I know after 4 months on the same dose, an increase was a gamble. Other people suggested a cut, but that felt scarier to me. Increases had always helped me stabilized in the past, and more than once got me stable after 2+ months on the same dose.

 

Around October 27 I increased the dose of Prozac about 7%. I had new symptoms like headaches. I waited to see if they would subside. Then anxiety started. I could only tolerate it for 3 weeks. After that I went back to my previous dose. Anxiety resolved over a couple of weeks and I went back to the state of extreme apathy I was in before.

 

A month went by after going back to previous dose. I was still anxiety free. Then PMS brought anxiety and after PMS was over anxiety went away. Then I tried a low dose of Maca few days later (took maca just 4 days) and anxiety came back. I thought it was a reaction to Maca and stopped it 4 days ago.

 

The problem is I'm still having bad anxiety and starting to worry it might not have been caused by the Maca.

 

I'm lost and very desperate. I'm in grad school and need to get a part time job some time next year to be able to stay in the US. Otherwise I lose everything I've worked for the last 5 years of my life. I fought to complete my PhD while tapering and suffering the effects of a drug injury. I got far and I'm almost done.

 

When the wave hit 3 months ago, I tried to hold. When I realized I was running out of time and had lost 30% of the time I had to finish my degree and find a job, I panicked. The anxiety might have been made worse by that, but now its taken a life of its own.

 

Could all these new symptoms in the last 3 months be a result of being too long on the same Effexor dose (have not changed dose in almost a year). Would decreasing Effexor help? I was thinking of doing 1 bead, which would be like 5.8% of my dose. I can't do less than a bead unless I use a compounding pharmacy.

 

Any thoughts would be so appreciated. I'm really struggling

[Newbeginning]

Has anyone tried Glutathione injections? Someone told me that they helped her with withdrawal symptoms (depression, anxiety, night sweats, energy) from a quick benzo taper.

[scallywag]

NB: Glutathione topic in Symptoms forum

[Newbeginning]

NB: Glutathione topic in Symptoms forum

 

Thanks! In your opinion, should I do a cut now or wait until this new anxiety settles?

[scallywag]

I don't know anything about glutathione -- whether it has a stimulating or calming effect. Even if it's known for one, people with a sensitized CNS (central nervous system) sometimes experience a paradoxical or opposite effect.

 

Before adding anything I would wait until dose and symptoms have been stable for at least 2 weeks.

[Newbeginning]

I don't know anything about glutathione -- whether it has a stimulating or calming effect. Even if it's known for one, people with a sensitized CNS (central nervous system) sometimes experience a paradoxical or opposite effect.

 

Before adding anything I would wait until dose and symptoms have been stable for at least 2 weeks.

 

Thanks Scally. I didn't mean the Glutathione. I was wondering if I should do a cut of my med.

 

I had been stable for 4 months. Then symptoms started out of nowhere (nothing had changed). I waited 2 months, but it didn't get better. I did an updose of 7% Prozac. Got worse (had anxiety). After 3 weeks, went back down in dose. Anxiety settled over 2-3 weeks. I was ok for 2 more weeks, but then was hit with another wave of anxiety. I had tried Maca this week and I'm not sure if that caused the anxiety. I stopped the maca after 4 days, but the anxiety has continued for a week after that (still ongoing but better).

 

I don't know if a cut on my med would help with the new symptoms I got hit with 4 months ago. I know it's recommended to hold when unstable, but I had been on a long hold when this wave started. Is it possible that my body may not do well with long holds, and a cut would help even if I'm unstable right now?

[scallywag]

Wait at least 2-3 weeks after the last day you supplemented with maca. Make no other additions, discontinuations or dose changes of medications or supplements. Take your medications and supplements at the same time every day. Keep track of your symptoms on paper.

 

Then early in the new year with information about your symptoms, you'll have data/information that will point to a likely next step.

[Newbeginning]

Wait at least 2-3 weeks after the last day you supplemented with maca. Make no other additions, discontinuations or dose changes of medications or supplements. Take your medications and supplements at the same time every day. Keep track of your symptoms on paper.

 

Then early in the new year with information about your symptoms, you'll have data/information that will point to a likely next step.

 

Thanks Scally. I will do that. It makes sense to wait since I am getting slowly better (at least from the anxiety). Do you think long holds can affect some of us negatively?

[Newbeginning]

I'm in desperate need for help. I did a 5% cut on New Year. I had no new symptoms the first week. I was in fact a little better in anxiety/depression. On day 9 and 10 I felt extremely tired and slept all day.

 

I'm on day 11-12 and have extreme anxiety and depression. Doing really bad.

 

I had not cut Effexor for a whole year because I was tapering Prozac. When I was tapering Effexor a year ago, I was tolerating 10% cuts with no withdrawal.

 

I'm basically on the same dose of Prozac I was a year ago too because everytime I tried decreasing I got unbearable withdrawal. 

 

I held both meds for 5 months last year from May to August and was stable and doing better, but after 5 months anhedonia returned. I waited a few months and it didn't go away. Tried a 7% updose of Prozac and only got anxiety. After 3 weeks, went down again i9n Prozac. Anxiety improved, but came back when I tried Macca. Improved but not completely. I waited a month. Then did the 5% Effexor cut.

 

I'm lost. I'm desperate. Think about dieing everyday in a constant state of panic.

 

Please help me!