silverkid Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 (edited) Silverkid's success story is here Silverkid's Success Story Hello Fellow Survivors, I was diagnosed with bipolar three and a half years ago when I was 27. It was during the first semester of a law degree I had just started. I was on various combinations of antidepressants, anti-psychotics, and mood stabilisers. Within six months of beginning meds, I was completely unable to function, and had put on 20 kg. Over the next six months I attempted to go back to school part time, but my brain was so disabled, I ended up withdrawing from the course, and by then I had put on yet another 20 kg. After being commenced on Lexapro (Escitalopram), I developed a horrible agitated depression, or mixed state, and attempted suicide. That was the beginning of the end of my relationship with my partner. After that didn't work, I was commenced on Pristiq (the new Effexor), just as evil as Lexapro, this drug has been the most difficult to come off. I DID get off it though, by switching to Prozac. I have tapered the Prozac down to 1 x 20 mg tablet a day. I did try coming off it cold turkey, but after a week, I developed the vertigo/electric shock sensations, and awful body aches, as well as somnolence, sleeping for 19, 20 hours a day. So I am back on it, and hoping to change to liquid so I can taper off it slowly. My life today holds no resemblance to my life prior to meds. before meds, I was happily partnered, working, studying, I was sociable, and fun to be around. And I wasn't overweight! True I had mild ups and downs and some anxiety, but I was ME. I am now single (my partner had an affair and left me last year), I live alone, in a government subsidised apartment. I'm on the disability pension, no job.I am isolated from friends and family. I think it has become a habit more than anything. Things that never used to phase me now almost paralyse me. The smallest of tasks - house chores, shopping - seem almost impossible. I feel as if I have lost my identity. I've managed to go back to school, and am in my final year of nursing now, barely coping with simply getting assignments in on time, despite having no other responsibilities... I am wondering if anyone else here is in a similar position? I haven't given up hope. I hope one day I will be back to my old self. Has anyone been through this? Thanks for having me, Silverkid Edited January 5, 2019 by ChessieCat added poster's name to Intro topic heading Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 30, 2011 Administrator Share Posted June 30, 2011 Welcome, silverkid. Many of us have been through similar experiences. It's possible that although Prozac enabled you to come off Pristiq without serious withdrawal symptoms, you are still suffering brain fog from that, or the cumulative effect of all the different medications you've been switched on and off of. It certainly sounds like your nervous system has become sensitized to psych drugs. Many of us have this sensitivity. Brain fog does resolve. It takes time for neurogenesis and rewiring in your nervous system. You can recover from all of this. You will find yourself again. You may wish to stay at one constant Prozac dose for a bit to let your system settle, then very slowly decrease with the liquid as you've planned. Thank you for joining our community. You have a lot to offer others. 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
silverkid Posted July 2, 2011 Author Share Posted July 2, 2011 Thanks for your advice Altostrata, I think that is very wise. I think I will give myself another couple of months or so just on the flat dose of Prozac so I can adjust and then go on the liquid and do the 10% reduction every 2 weeks... I have 12 more months at university and then I'm back at work (hopefully), so I am hoping to be off everything by then. I've been seeing a psychologist for the last 12 months - actually I go to the university psychology clinic and see an intern, it's only $10 a session. If I was to give advice to anyone about this, I would say, if you can afford it, get into therapy. It's helped me build a lot of skills, and the support is good. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 2, 2011 Administrator Share Posted July 2, 2011 Absolutely! There are studies showing therapy works better on depression than medication, without the side effects. 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
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 22, 2015 Administrator Share Posted February 22, 2015 Silverkid's success story is here Silverkid's Success Story 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 5, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 5, 2019 For anyone reading this topic, I have been tapering Pristiq using compounded capsules with slow release formula. tips-for-tapering-off-pristiq-desvenlafaxine * 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
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