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☼ jaywill Memory Issues and Weird Headaches , seeing colourful swirls

Jaywill

By Jaywill
in Introductions and updates

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Jaywill Newbie

Jaywill

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Hi I'm Janice ( Jaywill) from Paxil Progress and decided to keep it simple and stay the same here as I may forget my name these days  :blink: . On a serious note I am very thankful to have been rerouted to this site, after finding out that Paxil Progress closed down as this has helped me through the hardest of days. I am 28 months off Paxil after being on it for 12 years. I am going through one heck of a wave right now that has me concerned as it has really affected my memory. I was hospitalized in October for a week with withdrawal issues ( Dr's don't quite know what is going on ) and have an endocrinologist appt in Jan that I have been waiting months for. Currently I am experiencing weird migraines, that start with a rainbow swirl, leaving me unable to see for about half an hour, followed by a headache. My speech has improved, I don't slur as much but I find myself not able to think or get lost driving etc. I am a teacher and I think the overload is just too much on my nervous system so I have decided to go part time after Christmas so i can really start to heal. Am seeing a naturopath and Bowen therapy and they really have improved my quality of life. Sometimes I feel like I am starting to come out the other side then something else completely crazy pops up. Well thats just a little about me. Have a great day!

12 year on Paxil 20mg. Dropped to 5mg a few years before weaning, Was on 5mg weaned over a few months and then went off Aug 15, 2012. Severe withdrawal started Nov 2012 and have been slowly recovering. Have had all physical symptoms especially muscle, immune and food sensitivities!

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Frustrated Newbie

Frustrated

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Hi and welcome. I was kairbear on PP. I have been off Paxil for Five and a half months although I reinstated 1.2 mg two weeks ago to try and alleviate symptoms. i am sorry you continue to have problems after being off so long. I don't have wise advice as I have not suffered the types of migraines you describe but I wanted to make sure you were welcomed.

2002-put on amitryptiline for fibromyalgia. 10mg.2004-stopped abruptly. Didn't think it helped.2006 approx.-put on Paxil for mild anxiety 20 mg.2007 upped to 40 mg. not sure why.2011- tapered from 40 to 10. went nuts and went back to 20mg2014- tapered from 20mg to 0 from April to The end of June.current meds- Metformin(type 2 diabetic) and low dose aspirin.Take multi vitamin and vit b12, vit. D and magnesium. 5 months off Paxil. Still suffering.recently added 1.2mg of Paxil to alleviate withdrawals.(Nov 30)Dropped to .9mg because having symptoms from reinstatement.(dec 23)<p>taper to .76mg-.8mg (Feb 3) approx. weight .010 to about .008-.009 on scale.
.6mg (march 19th.) .5mg(April 19th)
.4mg(April 27th)
.2 (June 27th)

0mg.  done taper at beginning of August.

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ten0275 Rookie

ten0275

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Janice, hello. Really interesting that you mention this today, as I experienced one of these symptoms for the first time this morning. I was reading a story to my son and quite suddenly, there were these kind of shiny blind spots in my field of vision. I had to dodge these spots to see the words. This was followed by about 15 minutes of colorful swirls. It was fairly unsettling, but I held on until the end of The Three Little Pigs and it dissipated. After the dissipation of the visual phenomena, I suffered a mild headache, also short in duration, and that was the end of it. So either my preschooler spiked my tea, or I had a new symptom today. I'm nearing the end of a long remeron taper, but still experience new symptoms, or even brief reoccurrences of symptoms past.

Teaching is intense.

Hang in there.

Dave

1996 - .5mg Ativan as needed, 7.5mg Remeron daily2008 - .5mg Xanax, Ativan discontinued, Remeron continued2012 - .5mg Xanax, .25mg Ativan 3x daily, Remeron continued2/2012 - Jumped from Remeron, continued .5mg Xanax .25mg Ativan 3x daily4/2012 - Began rapid taper of .5mg Xanax .25mg Ativan 3x daily6/2012 - Jumped from Xanax and Ativan, voluntary hospitalization followed7/2012 - 2nd voluntary hospitalization, reinstated Remeron, bumped to 30mg, also given risperidone.8/2012 - discontinued risperidone, tried gabapentin, dicontinued gabapentin, Remeron 30mg continued10/2012 to current - tapered Remeron 10% every 4 to 6 weeks (sometimes more time) using liquid compound12/2014 - 2mg Remeron 1/16/2015 - 1.9mg Remeron 8/1/2015 -1.6mg Remeron - 03/1/2016 - 1.5mg Remeron - 1/2/2017 1.3mg - 5/7/2017 1.2mg - 5/13/2017 - syringe size change - 6/8/2017 - 1.1mg - 7/10/2017 - 1mg - 9/1/2017 - 0.9mg - 10/22/2017 - 0.8mg - 11/22/2017 - 0.7mg - 2/2/2018 - 0.6mg - 3/13/2018 - new compound pharmacy - 5/20/2018 - 0.5mg - 8/31/2018 - 0.4mg - 11/16/2018 - 0.3mg - 12/24/2018 - 0.2mg - 4/1/2019 - 0.1mg - 5/1/2019 - .05mg - 0mg achieved 2019-06-15. 🤞

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ten0275 Rookie

ten0275

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Ps. I have read that "auras " of the variety we describe are standard features of migraines. I've just never had them before.

1996 - .5mg Ativan as needed, 7.5mg Remeron daily2008 - .5mg Xanax, Ativan discontinued, Remeron continued2012 - .5mg Xanax, .25mg Ativan 3x daily, Remeron continued2/2012 - Jumped from Remeron, continued .5mg Xanax .25mg Ativan 3x daily4/2012 - Began rapid taper of .5mg Xanax .25mg Ativan 3x daily6/2012 - Jumped from Xanax and Ativan, voluntary hospitalization followed7/2012 - 2nd voluntary hospitalization, reinstated Remeron, bumped to 30mg, also given risperidone.8/2012 - discontinued risperidone, tried gabapentin, dicontinued gabapentin, Remeron 30mg continued10/2012 to current - tapered Remeron 10% every 4 to 6 weeks (sometimes more time) using liquid compound12/2014 - 2mg Remeron 1/16/2015 - 1.9mg Remeron 8/1/2015 -1.6mg Remeron - 03/1/2016 - 1.5mg Remeron - 1/2/2017 1.3mg - 5/7/2017 1.2mg - 5/13/2017 - syringe size change - 6/8/2017 - 1.1mg - 7/10/2017 - 1mg - 9/1/2017 - 0.9mg - 10/22/2017 - 0.8mg - 11/22/2017 - 0.7mg - 2/2/2018 - 0.6mg - 3/13/2018 - new compound pharmacy - 5/20/2018 - 0.5mg - 8/31/2018 - 0.4mg - 11/16/2018 - 0.3mg - 12/24/2018 - 0.2mg - 4/1/2019 - 0.1mg - 5/1/2019 - .05mg - 0mg achieved 2019-06-15. 🤞

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Altostrata Grand Master

Altostrata

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Welcome, jaywill.

 

You might be interested in the Migraines topic in the Symptoms and Self-Care forum

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Ever Newbie

Ever

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Welcome Jaywill.  I'm from pp also.  Glad you found your way here :)

Put on Prothiaden for severe depression in 1989.  Recovered.   Prescribed Paxil for another bout of depression around 2000.   Have been trying to taper ever since but always crash about 2 months after getting to zero.   Because of the crashes, for years I thought that there was something wrong with me.   Then found that the crashes were simply withdrawal.   Now following a maximum of a 10% reduction every month or so and ready to slow down any time I feel any symptoms whatsoever.  Feeling good:).

7th Jan 15 - 3.6mg

28th Jan 15 - 3.2mg

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btdt Newbie

btdt

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I get the swirls and yellow blobs in front of my eyes as well as a variety of floating moving balls of various colors .... things zig zag white lines like lightening  is usually a sign of a major head ache coming soon if not immediately head for cover.  

 

Often other than the major headache warning the others are part of a major dp or dr feeling that will pass in time ... may be a short or a vary long time,  they seems to come in a series then pass.   They are ongoing. 

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

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

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

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

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  • 5 months later...
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Fresh Newbie

Fresh

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Hi jaywill ,    how are you doing these days?     I read your post on another thread about sensitivity to scents , and i can

totally relate , have been bothered by this on and off for many years.   

 

Hope you're having a good day ,  Fresh

1987-1997 pertofran , prothiaden , Prozac 1997-2002 Zoloft 2002-2004 effexor 2004-2010 Lexapro 40mg

2010-2012Cymbalta 120mg

Sept. 2012 -decreased 90mg in 6months. Care taken over by Dr Lucire in March 2013 , decreased last 30mg at 2mg per week over 3 months. July 21 , 2013- last dose of Cymbalta

Protracted withdrawal syndrome kicked in badly Jan.2014 Unrelenting akathisia until May 2014. Voluntary hosp. admission. Cocktail of Seroquel, Ativan and mirtazapine and I was well enough to go home after 14 days. Stopped all hosp. meds in next few months.

July 2014 felt v.depressed - couldn't stop crying. Started pristiq 50mg. Felt improvement within days and continued to improve, so stayed on 50mg for 8 months.

Began taper 28 Feb. 2015. Pristiq 50mg down to 45mg. Had one month of w/d symptoms. Started CES therapy in March. No w/d symptoms down to 30mg.

October 2015 , taking 25mg Pristiq. Capsules compounded with slow-release additive.

March 2016 , 21mg

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Jaywill Newbie

Jaywill

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I just hit my 3 year off date on Aug 15 and have been doing alot better. On most days I feel well enough to be fully engaged in a " normal" life without feeling like I am going to die. About 6 days ago I was having a really hard time lifting my left arm and it felt like I had a needle or after you are immunized. That night I started to get some chills etc but didn't think much of it. The next night I was looking in the mirror and noticed a spider bite on my upper arm . Since then , the bite is almost gone and not very swollen but I feel awful. I have that fibromyalgia feeling like everything is sore, my stomach and every muscle hurts and I am really cold again. Im not too worried about the spider bite as I think the worst of that is over but could this incident have caused a set back in my healing? 

12 year on Paxil 20mg. Dropped to 5mg a few years before weaning, Was on 5mg weaned over a few months and then went off Aug 15, 2012. Severe withdrawal started Nov 2012 and have been slowly recovering. Have had all physical symptoms especially muscle, immune and food sensitivities!

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Skyler Newbie

Skyler

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I just hit my 3 year off date on Aug 15 and have been doing alot better. On most days I feel well enough to be fully engaged in a " normal" life without feeling like I am going to die. About 6 days ago I was having a really hard time lifting my left arm and it felt like I had a needle or after you are immunized. That night I started to get some chills etc but didn't think much of it. The next night I was looking in the mirror and noticed a spider bite on my upper arm . Since then , the bite is almost gone and not very swollen but I feel awful. I have that fibromyalgia feeling like everything is sore, my stomach and every muscle hurts and I am really cold again. Im not too worried about the spider bite as I think the worst of that is over but could this incident have caused a set back in my healing? 

 

I merged this post with your blog/intro thread which will get more traffic. This post is relevant to your personal journey and should be posted there so we can better keep track of your journey.  Thanks

As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule.

 

Requip - 3/16 ZERO  Total time on 25 years.

 

Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.

BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10)  Total time on 25 years.

 

Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section.  "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin

 

 

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Altostrata Grand Master

Altostrata

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HI, jaywill. Are you sure it's a spider bite? I would check out a possible Lyme-related tick bite.

 

It could be a reaction from your hypersensitive nervous system, but I'd do what I could to rule out the tick bite.

 

Other than that, I'm very happy to hear you're doing better. I added our cheerful "here comes the sun" symbol

☼

to the title of your Intro topic, to show you're recovering.

Please continue to let us know how you're doing. I hope you will add your story to our Recovery Success Stories eventually!

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Jaywill Newbie

Jaywill

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*topic moved from symptoms forum

 

It never ceases to amaze me that I get through one horror just to enter another. I am 3 years off, I have had stomach pain and nausea from the start. Recently the pain in my sternum and back was awful. The dr thinks I have an ulcer. They sent me for an abdominal ultrasound but I didn't hear back so everything must of looked ok. They sent me for a full blood workup including a breath test for H Pylori ( a type of bacteria that causes ulcers). The breath test came back negative but my platelet count was low on my blood. It wasn't super low but it was out of range. All my other blood tests came back ok. Anyone else have something like this? I am working with a naturopath to heal my gut and ulcer . Just need a bit of reassurance because this is the first time during withdrawal that I feel it is something more serious and I have had almost every physical symptom. Thanks

12 year on Paxil 20mg. Dropped to 5mg a few years before weaning, Was on 5mg weaned over a few months and then went off Aug 15, 2012. Severe withdrawal started Nov 2012 and have been slowly recovering. Have had all physical symptoms especially muscle, immune and food sensitivities!

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Petunia Newbie

Petunia

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Hi Jaywill, how are you doing now?

 

I moved the above topic to your own intro thread because its an update to your personal situation, you can use this thread as your ongoing journal to track progress, write about symptoms, ask questions and communicate with the community, add to it whenever you want.

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

 

 

 

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Jaywill Newbie

Jaywill

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I have been feeling quite well for a little while as I am approaching 4 years off in August. Lately I am experiencing crazy anxiety again where this hasn't been a problem for awhile. I feel this inner turmoil to the point that I am losing weight again and I was skinny to start as I have histamine issues and food sensitivities. Anyone else have their anxiety return like that especially around 3 or 4 in the morning

12 year on Paxil 20mg. Dropped to 5mg a few years before weaning, Was on 5mg weaned over a few months and then went off Aug 15, 2012. Severe withdrawal started Nov 2012 and have been slowly recovering. Have had all physical symptoms especially muscle, immune and food sensitivities!

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Jaywill Newbie

Jaywill

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Anyone else out there feel like they are scared of life or developed PTSD from withdrawal? I am almost 4 years off and after all the terrifying food sensitivities, physical symptoms etc I am scared of life and I never used to be. I feel anxious to go out alone in case I have a reaction. I feel scared to go outside in case a bee bites me and I react. I have chemical sensitivities so I am scared to be around unknown people. Weird thing is I am doing quite well in withdrawal and now this came on since I have been getting better. If you have experienced this is there a particular type of therapy that can help?

12 year on Paxil 20mg. Dropped to 5mg a few years before weaning, Was on 5mg weaned over a few months and then went off Aug 15, 2012. Severe withdrawal started Nov 2012 and have been slowly recovering. Have had all physical symptoms especially muscle, immune and food sensitivities!

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scallywag Newbie

scallywag

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Janice, I've moved your posts from independent topics in the Symptoms forum to your introduction.

 

Please remember to search the forum before starting a new topic.  Google works well -- just include
"survivingantidepressants" and "+topic" with your symptom search term. You'll get a list of topics that have the symptom in the topic title.

I'm sorry that distressing symptoms have started again for you.  Here are links to relevant topics.
 
Weight changes are not uncommon.  Weight gain and loss, appetite changes
 
The anxiety generally and between 3 and 4 am is almost certainly related to a cortisol surge/spike.
 
Waking with panic or anxiety - managing cortisol spikes
 

Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD
 

 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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Jaywill Newbie

Jaywill

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Thanks scallywag so much for doing this for me it helped alot! Alot of great information out there.

12 year on Paxil 20mg. Dropped to 5mg a few years before weaning, Was on 5mg weaned over a few months and then went off Aug 15, 2012. Severe withdrawal started Nov 2012 and have been slowly recovering. Have had all physical symptoms especially muscle, immune and food sensitivities!

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