lionboy Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 I dearly hope to write my success story one day. I know that, more than anything, it is what people want to read when they are in the worst parts of withdrawal. Thanks again Alto. 1999 50mg citalopram / celexa for anxiety and depression. dec 2007 50mg - 40mg, march 2009 40mg - 30mg, july 2009 30mg - 20mg, aug 2009 20mg - 30mg, sept 2009 30mg - 20mg, jan 2010 20mg - 30mg, july 2010 30mg - 25mg (one 20mg and half a 10mg tablet), july 2010 - july 2013 25mg July 2013 began tapering down in 1mg increments, dissolving the tablets in water and using a syringe as suggested by Rhi. Had a few hiccups along the way as can be seen in my thread. End December 2013, now down to 11.25mg. Dec 2013 to present day still on 11.25 mg. I have hit, what Professor Healy terms, a shelf. I became extremely destabilised when I reduced from 12.25mg to 11.25mg. Only now, after some 15 months am I starting to really recover from it. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 13, 2015 Administrator Share Posted March 13, 2015 I'm sure you will. Please update your signature in the meantime. 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
lionboy Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 Sorry what do you mean "update your signature" ? 1999 50mg citalopram / celexa for anxiety and depression. dec 2007 50mg - 40mg, march 2009 40mg - 30mg, july 2009 30mg - 20mg, aug 2009 20mg - 30mg, sept 2009 30mg - 20mg, jan 2010 20mg - 30mg, july 2010 30mg - 25mg (one 20mg and half a 10mg tablet), july 2010 - july 2013 25mg July 2013 began tapering down in 1mg increments, dissolving the tablets in water and using a syringe as suggested by Rhi. Had a few hiccups along the way as can be seen in my thread. End December 2013, now down to 11.25mg. Dec 2013 to present day still on 11.25 mg. I have hit, what Professor Healy terms, a shelf. I became extremely destabilised when I reduced from 12.25mg to 11.25mg. Only now, after some 15 months am I starting to really recover from it. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted March 14, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 14, 2015 Your signature shows Dec 2013 that you were on 11.25mg Its now March 2015. Are you still tapering? 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
lionboy Posted March 16, 2015 Author Share Posted March 16, 2015 Hi Petunia I have been on 11.25mg since December 2013. I have added to my signature, to make that clear at a glance. 1999 50mg citalopram / celexa for anxiety and depression. dec 2007 50mg - 40mg, march 2009 40mg - 30mg, july 2009 30mg - 20mg, aug 2009 20mg - 30mg, sept 2009 30mg - 20mg, jan 2010 20mg - 30mg, july 2010 30mg - 25mg (one 20mg and half a 10mg tablet), july 2010 - july 2013 25mg July 2013 began tapering down in 1mg increments, dissolving the tablets in water and using a syringe as suggested by Rhi. Had a few hiccups along the way as can be seen in my thread. End December 2013, now down to 11.25mg. Dec 2013 to present day still on 11.25 mg. I have hit, what Professor Healy terms, a shelf. I became extremely destabilised when I reduced from 12.25mg to 11.25mg. Only now, after some 15 months am I starting to really recover from it. Link to comment
lionboy Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 Hi Everyone Since I last updated in January I have continued to improve. The waves have seemingly become shorter and less severe and the windows longer and better. Since the beginning of March I have gradually started to do more and more with my kids. Taking them swimming, to play football at the park etc. I returned to work mid April. I am clearly getting better now, however I would still consider myself in withdrawal as my symptoms still seem to go up and down somewhat. The bad waves have only really seemed to last a day or part of a day over the last month or so. The last really bad wave I can remember was at the beginning of April and that only lasted about 5 days and was not debilitating. Over the last 11 days I have seemed to slip right back into a state that I have not experienced for many many months. It started like a bad wave and just got progressively worse really. I have now spent most of the last four days in bed. This could be a wave however it doesn't seem right somehow. I'm seriously wondering now if this is side effects returning, meaning it's time for another reduction. It has been 17 months since my last 1mg reduction. Back then I was reducing by 1mg every 14 or so days. The pattern became well established, reduce by 1mg and feel a bit destabilised for a day or two, followed by 10 or 12 days of feeling pretty good before the side effects returned and I then reduced again. It was working like clockwork until I hit this shelf. Maybe it's time to go again ? After 17 months of this shelf / destabilisation period etc I was expecting a longer more defined period of stabilisation before the side effects came back, however I don't really have any sound basis for that expectation. Be interested to hear any opinions from others ? 1999 50mg citalopram / celexa for anxiety and depression. dec 2007 50mg - 40mg, march 2009 40mg - 30mg, july 2009 30mg - 20mg, aug 2009 20mg - 30mg, sept 2009 30mg - 20mg, jan 2010 20mg - 30mg, july 2010 30mg - 25mg (one 20mg and half a 10mg tablet), july 2010 - july 2013 25mg July 2013 began tapering down in 1mg increments, dissolving the tablets in water and using a syringe as suggested by Rhi. Had a few hiccups along the way as can be seen in my thread. End December 2013, now down to 11.25mg. Dec 2013 to present day still on 11.25 mg. I have hit, what Professor Healy terms, a shelf. I became extremely destabilised when I reduced from 12.25mg to 11.25mg. Only now, after some 15 months am I starting to really recover from it. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted May 30, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 30, 2015 What symptoms are you having lionboy? Are you still having this wave? Can you think of anything which might have triggered it? 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
DLB Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 All I can say is that it seems a reduction is looong overdue and tolerance may be catching up with you. Time to go down in my view. Good luck with anything you do though. Paxil start September 2003 due to Fluoroquinolone adverse reaction that I wish doc. knew what it was. 10mg. most of the time with a few short runs of 20mg. FAST tapered 3 times and finally hit poop out or a reaction to nsaid's in Nov.2013. Started a 10% taper Jan. 2014 and have been ok until Sept 14 and went through a short hell. Now plodding through and looking for the light with unrelenting insomnia and pain, fog, loss of interests....<p>12/20/14 - .8mg. 1/01/15 - .75 mg. 1/15/15 - .42 mg. better sleep now, hope it continues... 2/11-15 - .25 mg. doing really good!! 2 weeks feel 85% of old me! 3/17/15 .14 mg. Knee pain bad! 4/07/15 .05 mg. this is so small now that I am estimating and just licking it off palm small as a "." 4/13/15 NOTHING !!!! Took my last little micro dose on 4/12/15. Link to comment
lionboy Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Hi guys Just to up date. I am doing ok and still holding at 11.25mg. The episode in May passed like a typical wave and I've since had another wave lasting approx 4 weeks which again has now passed. Both times I tried a reduction to see if it was time and on both occasions it became clear after a few days that it was in fact a wave. I really now need some advice on diazepam withdrawal. Skyler and Rhi helped me on this before and any advice now would be most welcome. My disc in my back starting playing up a few weeks ago and went into spasm. The doctor prescribed diazepam and dihydrocodeine. I know the risks but was in agony. I have now taken diazepam for the last 22 days at an overall average of 35mg per day. (Some days more, some less). Following this profile of usage can I just stop ? Or do I need to taper ? And if so what should a taper look like ? If I do get withdrawal, what symptoms will I likely encounter and how long does w/d take to kick in ? Any advice more than welcome ! 1999 50mg citalopram / celexa for anxiety and depression. dec 2007 50mg - 40mg, march 2009 40mg - 30mg, july 2009 30mg - 20mg, aug 2009 20mg - 30mg, sept 2009 30mg - 20mg, jan 2010 20mg - 30mg, july 2010 30mg - 25mg (one 20mg and half a 10mg tablet), july 2010 - july 2013 25mg July 2013 began tapering down in 1mg increments, dissolving the tablets in water and using a syringe as suggested by Rhi. Had a few hiccups along the way as can be seen in my thread. End December 2013, now down to 11.25mg. Dec 2013 to present day still on 11.25 mg. I have hit, what Professor Healy terms, a shelf. I became extremely destabilised when I reduced from 12.25mg to 11.25mg. Only now, after some 15 months am I starting to really recover from it. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 4, 2015 Administrator Share Posted October 4, 2015 Good to hear from you, lionboy. Benzo questions go here http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/29-members-only-benzo-tapering-discussion/ 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
India Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 @lionboy no update since 2015. I wonder if that means full healing? Another success story? 1999: Paroxetine (20mg). Age 16. 2007-2008: Fluoxetine (Prozac) for 1.5 years (age 25) Citalopram 20mg 2002-2005, 2009: Escitalopram (20mg), 2 weeks, (age 26) (adverse reaction)/*Valium 5mg/Temazepam 10mg 2010: Mirtazipine (Remeron)( do not remember dosage) 2010, 5 months. 2010-2017: Citalopram (20mg) (age 27 to 34) 2016: i.1st Sept- 31st Oct Citalopram 10mg , ii.1st November 2017-30th November 2017, Citalopram 5mg iii.1st December 2017- 4th February 2018, Citalopram 0mg, iv.5th February 2018- March 2018 Citalopram 5mg (10mg every other day) 28th February- tried titration of 5mg ( some adverse effects) 2018: 1st March 2018- 1st June Citalopram 10 mg (tablet form) /started titration 8mg , then 7 mg.2018: June 15th- 10th July Citalopram 10 mg pill every other day 2018: 10th July - 13th Sept Citalopram- 0mg (CBD oil first month of 0mg, passiflora on and off) 2018 13th Sept Citalopram 2mg , approx 16th Sept 4mg , approx 25th Sept 6mg held. 2019: 11 Feb 19: 7mg (instant bad rxn) 12 Feb 19 6mg held 1 May 19 5.4mg held 5 Oct 19 5.36mg 22 Oct 19 5.29mg 30 Oct 19 5.23mg 4/NOV/19 5.18mg 12 Nov 19 5.08mg 20 Nov 19 4.77mg 7 May 22 2.31mg 17/09/2023 0.8mg (Herbal/Supplements since 1st September: Omega Fish Oil 1200mg, 663mg of EPA- 2 tablets a day, magnesium and magnesium bath salts) I did not die, and yet I lost life’s breath - Dante Link to comment
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