MisterSaunders Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I'm tapering. Slowly. I'm tapering because I believe that ssris have induced an alcohol problem. They have certainly induced 40Lbs of pure unadulterated fat. I stopped drinking a month or so ago because I thought I was developing a serious problem, and after reading up, thought it could be due to my Zoloft. Since stopping drinking and tapering down just a little, I am craving chocolate, and that second pill! These cravings are creating a self perpetuating cycle of anxiety; I'm worried that I have done long term irreversible damage to my brain through alcohol and I will be a lifelong addict, which at 22 is causing me to be anxious. Similarly, I can't control my chocolate cravings, and I'm getting fatter (two years ago I had an 8 pack. Just saying.) this increased anxiety is causing me to want to take the SSRI at full dose. I also quit smoking 6 weeks ago, so I don't even have that to turn to! GAHHHHHH. 2 years on Zoloft 100mg for Obsessive thoughts, anxiety and depression 2 Months on Effexor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NervousKitten Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 This doesn't sound like a fun set of circumstances. Have you tried talking to someone in AA or an addiction specialist? From what I understand through my participation in related 12-step program, sugar cravings are part of alcohol withdrawal. My own experience with Zoloft made it very easy to drink as I often didn't have hangovers. Since my withdrawal from Zoloft though, I can't tolerate any sort of alcohol. I end up sleeping very poorly, even with only a half a glass of wine. Good luck in your recovery! 1999 Prozac with occasional Xanax 2002 Effexor Xr with occasional Valium 2010 Off Effexor (slow taper) 2010 Prozac rx to help with Effexor withdrawal. Activating, so stopped. 2011 Zoloft rx 2013 Zoloft stops working after a few increases, decide to stop taking it 2013 October last Zoloft dose after a 6-9 month taper 2014 January, April, May, June ER inducing anxiety attacks 2014 June Ativan prescribed as needed. Last taken Nov 2014, but still have pills just in case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted July 3, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted July 3, 2014 Craving chocolate and sweets is a very common side effect of quitting smoking, its got something to do with blood sugar levels. Eating small, healthy snacks throughout the day can help until your body adjusts. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterSaunders Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 This doesn't sound like a fun set of circumstances. Have you tried talking to someone in AA or an addiction specialist? From what I understand through my participation in related 12-step program, sugar cravings are part of alcohol withdrawal. My own experience with Zoloft made it very easy to drink as I often didn't have hangovers. Since my withdrawal from Zoloft though, I can't tolerate any sort of alcohol. I end up sleeping very poorly, even with only a half a glass of wine. Good luck in your recovery! Thanks for that I don't really want to go to AA. Alcoholic or not, I don't like the sound of it. In the past, when I have been off my medication my cravings have subsided. I'm going to taper off completely, and if my cravings still persist after this, then I will seek help from a specialist. Until then, I'll wait it out with gritted teeth. 2 years on Zoloft 100mg for Obsessive thoughts, anxiety and depression 2 Months on Effexor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewMe Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 I am not an alcoholic but have other addictions. AA is wondferful for recovery including the mindset to help taper off any med I'M A WEANER! atavan PRN ,Paxil approx 20 yrs ago for major depression Switched to Klonopin PRN through to current Paxil wore out Changed to Effexor Depakote added enormous weight gain - flat affect - led to depression - dropped depakote Dropped Effexor, changed to Paxil PDoc added mixed salts amphetamines for ADHD - took for 2 yrs - was ok at first but had to cut as symptoms too intense - then the crash was too much. STOPPED Vyvanse started in 2013 (APRIL) - more smooth than IR amphetamine tabs---Have not used vyvanse daily in full amt since May 2013 Paxil CT withdrawal 10/2012 Klonopin CT WD Switched Klonopin to Xanax prn - too strong WD CT from XANAX after taking for a while - it was awful but can be done if you hold on! Back to Klonopin PRN - working very hard to avoid taking it at all. Effexor 37.5 started 02/2013, 75mg by 03/2013, 150mg by 05/2012 (approx) Effexor 150mg 3/10/2014 Microtaper -3beads 3/11/2014-4beads ,3/12/14 - 5, 3/13/14 -6, 3/15/14 - 7, 3/18 - 8, 3/22 - 10, 3/24 - 12, 4/6 - 13, 4/7 - 14, 4/11 - 16 - on 4/19 ran out of brand took generic. Bad move. Back on brand on 4/20 and updosed 2 beads. 5/1 - 15, 5/6 - 16, 5/9 -17, 55/10 -17, 5/15 -18, 5/21 -19, 5/24 -20, 6/3 - 21, 6/6 -23, 6/13 -24,6/19- 25, 6/21 -26, 6/25 -27 6/28 -28, 6/29 -30, 7/3 -34, 7/8 -35, 7/17 -36, 7/30 -41,7/31 -42, 8/2 -43, 8/3 -44, 8/5 -45, 8/14 -48, 8/26-50, 9/24 -53, 10/24 -55, 12/1 -57, (lost the tally sheet, thus taper info for some of it), 4/19-63, 4/26-64, 4/30-65 Switched to wt reduction - now @ -.068, 7/14 -.070, August 2015 -.074, between Sept & October 10 -.077, Nov. -.078(feeling great), -.090 as of 1/10/16, down to -.101 since January 2016 (it is now 6/24/16), -.105 as of 8/13/16 Ladies, please don't underestimate the possibility of perimenopause. The symptoms can be similar to, may intensify & in some cases mimic protracted w/d from ssri's & benzo's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernFreeze Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 I a'm an alcoholic and i reckon the effexor contributed to this but i am not willing to take the chance to find out by having another drink when i'm totally off it. I have been sober for three years now and quit smoking about 2 years ago. Seeing how much worse some people were than me and seeing old men who just couldn't get it together bawling there eyes out opened up my eyes and shocked me, but once i got use to that AA and the 12 steps thing didn't do much for me. 10 years on various anti-depressants 5 years Effexor xr tappered of 150mg in 6 months nothing for two weeks Reinstated 15 beads for 50 days Tappered off then clean 2-3months gradually went back up to 13 mg 3 years bridged fluoxetine 10mg 2 week tapper 1 year clean reinstated 5ml dispersed fluroxatine for 6months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Addax Posted July 9, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted July 9, 2014 First, congratulations on 6 weeks off cigarettes! There have been some relatively recent research findings that indicate a pretty strong relationship between alcohol cravings and sugar cravings. Both boost dopamine levels, and sugar has the added good feeling effect by increasing serotonin. SSRIs have been associated with both alcohol and Carbohydrate (sugar) cravings. Here are two discussion on SA that get into this: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2147-alcohol-craving-on-ssris/ http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1667-cravings-advice-sought/?pid=20641 If you crave alcohol and have been drinking more of it since being on SSRIs, whether you consider yourself addicted or not, if you stop drinking it would make sense that you might start craving more sugar or sweetened foods. Who knows, it may even work the other way too. People have also shown similar reactions to suddenly stopping their sugar intake (if they eat a lot of it) and cessation of alcohol... This includes an increase in anxiety. Why do we consider carbs and sugary foods comfort foods?! I haven't had issues with alcohol cravings, but I can honestly say I metabolize alcohol much differently on 9mg of Prozac than I did at 60, 40, and even 20 mg. At those higher doses I'd be pretty much drunk after a single glass of wine. Now I may be a bit more chatty after one glass, because I drink so infrequently and my tolerance is low, but that's it... My experience of alcohol has changed considerably. I didn't really pay attention to the sugar thing so far as cravings, so that one is hard for me to comment on... But I THINK I now find it much easier to limit myself to one...or two... Cupcakes than I had when on the higher doses. Note that I wrote "easier" and not "easy" . I know I can't eat carbs for breakfast, at least not w/o an accompanying source of protein. Otherwise I experience a blood sugar crash in a couple hours that will make me VERY tired and increase my feelings of anxiety... I also now realize this crash was also affecting an increase in Akathisia in the past. Interestingly, Eating sugar in the evening doesn't effect me the same way at all. Which makes sense given the relationship between cortisol and sugar metabolism and how it fits with the higher levels of cortisol we experience in the mornings. Also, I've found If I abstain from sugar for even just one day, cravings seem to subside. They return as soon as I consume something sugary though, but I'm aware of that if I find my mouth poised over a cookie. But with all that, I don't abstain from dessert entirely. I'm just cautious about when I do eat sweet stuff. It might be worth taking note of your alcohol and sugar/carb cravings (and desire to take more of the SSRI).... Just a thought. 1988-2012: Prozac @ 60mg (with a few stops and starts) Fall 2012: Returned to 40mg after discontinuing and horrid withdrawal Fall 2013: 40mg Fluoxetine, added 150mg Wellbutrin to treat fatigue Winter 2014: Attempting to taper both (too fast) April 2014: 9mg Fluoxetine + 37.5 Wellbutrin Summer 2014: 8 mg Fluoxetine + 0 Wellbutrin (way too fast a drop) Late summer/Early Fall 2014: Debilitating Withdrawal symptoms Fall 2014 - Wellbutrin successfully kicked to the curb but… Oct- Dec 2014: Panicked reinstatement of Fluoxetine ->30mg - held for 5yrs Jan 2021: taper to 20mg Fluoxetine then tapering by 1mg every 2-3 months Fall 2022 - held at 10mg->December 2022: 9mg->Feb 2023: 8mg ->March 2023: brassmonkey slide begins: 7.8mg -> 7.6 -> 7.4->2 week hold (April)->7.2->7mg->6.8->2 week hold->6.6-> 1-month hold ->(June)-6.5->4-week hold-> (July)-6.4 (discontinued brassmonkey slide and slowed taper)-> (Aug)-6.2->(Sept)-6.0->(Oct)-5.9->(Nov)-5.8->(Dec)-5.7->wave!->(Jan)-5.8->(Feb)-6mg and holding. My 2014 withdrawal experience: https://rxisk.org/antidepressant-withdrawal-a-prozac-story/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meimeiquest Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 I listened to several interviews in The Anxiety Summit" and someone suggested putting a bit of creatine under the tongue to stop cravings. I haven't tried it. Another suggested putting creatinine in a spoonful of heavy cream or coconut cream and eating it. Another recommended a book entitled "The Addicted Brain" which has info about nutritional supplements and interventions. Haven't tried any of this. Good luck! 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewMe Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I a'm an alcoholic and i reckon the effexor contributed to this but i am not willing to take the chance to find out by having another drink when i'm totally off it. I have been sober for three years now and quit smoking about 2 years ago. Seeing how much worse some people were than me and seeing old men who just couldn't get it together bawling there eyes out opened up my eyes and shocked me, but once i got use to that AA and the 12 steps thing didn't do much for me. That's too bad! My mom is coming off cymbalta and klonopin at age 85 - first mtg. It has been a life changer. I see so many supportive and kind people at our mtgs - it has been a blessing I'M A WEANER! atavan PRN ,Paxil approx 20 yrs ago for major depression Switched to Klonopin PRN through to current Paxil wore out Changed to Effexor Depakote added enormous weight gain - flat affect - led to depression - dropped depakote Dropped Effexor, changed to Paxil PDoc added mixed salts amphetamines for ADHD - took for 2 yrs - was ok at first but had to cut as symptoms too intense - then the crash was too much. STOPPED Vyvanse started in 2013 (APRIL) - more smooth than IR amphetamine tabs---Have not used vyvanse daily in full amt since May 2013 Paxil CT withdrawal 10/2012 Klonopin CT WD Switched Klonopin to Xanax prn - too strong WD CT from XANAX after taking for a while - it was awful but can be done if you hold on! Back to Klonopin PRN - working very hard to avoid taking it at all. Effexor 37.5 started 02/2013, 75mg by 03/2013, 150mg by 05/2012 (approx) Effexor 150mg 3/10/2014 Microtaper -3beads 3/11/2014-4beads ,3/12/14 - 5, 3/13/14 -6, 3/15/14 - 7, 3/18 - 8, 3/22 - 10, 3/24 - 12, 4/6 - 13, 4/7 - 14, 4/11 - 16 - on 4/19 ran out of brand took generic. Bad move. Back on brand on 4/20 and updosed 2 beads. 5/1 - 15, 5/6 - 16, 5/9 -17, 55/10 -17, 5/15 -18, 5/21 -19, 5/24 -20, 6/3 - 21, 6/6 -23, 6/13 -24,6/19- 25, 6/21 -26, 6/25 -27 6/28 -28, 6/29 -30, 7/3 -34, 7/8 -35, 7/17 -36, 7/30 -41,7/31 -42, 8/2 -43, 8/3 -44, 8/5 -45, 8/14 -48, 8/26-50, 9/24 -53, 10/24 -55, 12/1 -57, (lost the tally sheet, thus taper info for some of it), 4/19-63, 4/26-64, 4/30-65 Switched to wt reduction - now @ -.068, 7/14 -.070, August 2015 -.074, between Sept & October 10 -.077, Nov. -.078(feeling great), -.090 as of 1/10/16, down to -.101 since January 2016 (it is now 6/24/16), -.105 as of 8/13/16 Ladies, please don't underestimate the possibility of perimenopause. The symptoms can be similar to, may intensify & in some cases mimic protracted w/d from ssri's & benzo's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernFreeze Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 i'ts ok i have been sober for three years now so i'm doing ok without it. After about 7 meetings i decided that it wasn't for me. I have my reasons but don't to point them out to dissuade anybody from going, or cause any conflict. 10 years on various anti-depressants 5 years Effexor xr tappered of 150mg in 6 months nothing for two weeks Reinstated 15 beads for 50 days Tappered off then clean 2-3months gradually went back up to 13 mg 3 years bridged fluoxetine 10mg 2 week tapper 1 year clean reinstated 5ml dispersed fluroxatine for 6months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterSaunders Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 I've tapered quite well over the last month. I've reduced from 100mg to 40mg... My cravings for sugar and alcohol are significantly diminished. It isn't related to the pancreas, IMO, or any purely physical craving. It's all about serotonin and dopamine. Chemicals. I'm riding it out really well... I don't intend on drinking any time soon. At least until I have been completely free of anti depressants for a number of months - I'll allow myself a short experimental rope, and be vigilant to signs of addiction, but to be honest I have to find out the truth about my "addictions". Since reducing my dose even this much, I have picked up exercising, abstained from alcohol and kept a healthy diet in place; all without a great deal of effort. This was impossible prior to tapering, so at some point I will test my "alcohol problem," but not until I am stable. Until then, exercise, art, writing, and all manner of pleasurable things 2 years on Zoloft 100mg for Obsessive thoughts, anxiety and depression 2 Months on Effexor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernFreeze Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 when your well, why would you even need alcohol? 10 years on various anti-depressants 5 years Effexor xr tappered of 150mg in 6 months nothing for two weeks Reinstated 15 beads for 50 days Tappered off then clean 2-3months gradually went back up to 13 mg 3 years bridged fluoxetine 10mg 2 week tapper 1 year clean reinstated 5ml dispersed fluroxatine for 6months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterSaunders Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 It's not a matter of needing alcohol. It's a matter of do I have to focus intently on lifelong abstinence, or can I have a glass of champagne on New Year's Eve. I don't need alcohol now. I've never needed alcohol. It's not that big of a deal when I look at it, but I don't know for sure if I genuinely struggle with my intake or if it's a side effect. At 22 years old id like to find that out before committing to anything. 2 years on Zoloft 100mg for Obsessive thoughts, anxiety and depression 2 Months on Effexor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernFreeze Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 It's not a matter of needing alcohol. It's a matter of do I have to focus intently on lifelong abstinence, or can I have a glass of champagne on New Year's Eve. I don't need alcohol now. I've never needed alcohol. It's not that big of a deal when I look at it, but I don't know for sure if I genuinely struggle with my intake or if it's a side effect. At 22 years old id like to find that out before committing to anything. fair enough, didn't realize your age i just asked that because i said to my wife once i would maybe try a drink in twenty years or something, then she asked why? why would you bother the risk what would you gain even if you weren't like you used to be what would you get out of it? and i had no valid answer really. I couldn't think of an answer that would justify any good outcome apart from maybe feeling good for a few hours. of cause your situation is entirely different. 10 years on various anti-depressants 5 years Effexor xr tappered of 150mg in 6 months nothing for two weeks Reinstated 15 beads for 50 days Tappered off then clean 2-3months gradually went back up to 13 mg 3 years bridged fluoxetine 10mg 2 week tapper 1 year clean reinstated 5ml dispersed fluroxatine for 6months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterSaunders Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share Posted July 12, 2014 It's not a matter of needing alcohol. It's a matter of do I have to focus intently on lifelong abstinence, or can I have a glass of champagne on New Year's Eve. I don't need alcohol now. I've never needed alcohol. It's not that big of a deal when I look at it, but I don't know for sure if I genuinely struggle with my intake or if it's a side effect. At 22 years old id like to find that out before committing to anything. fair enough, didn't realize your age i just asked that because i said to my wife once i would maybe try a drink in twenty years or something, then she asked why? why would you bother the risk what would you gain even if you weren't like you used to be what would you get out of it? and i had no valid answer really. I couldn't think of an answer that would justify any good outcome apart from maybe feeling good for a few hours. of cause your situation is entirely different. It's interesting - it may not be entirely different, and I am prepared for that. Lifelong abstinence isn't a nice thought at the minute, because I can't really commit to it - if I wholeheartedly committed to it, I would need to validate the notion in my own head that I needed to. As it is, I'm going to have 3-6 months off all substances (including anti depressants and caffeine). Then I'll reassess the situation - it may be that I really don't want to drink, or it may be that drinking makes me anxious or depressed again. I'm prepared to look at it with a clear head and make rational choices. In my heart of hearts though, I know that Zoloft has caused a lot of this - some of the stuff I have done over the 2 years that I have been on it is nothing short of wrecklessness, and it's also completely out of character. 2 years on Zoloft 100mg for Obsessive thoughts, anxiety and depression 2 Months on Effexor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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