LucyJed: Persistent and intense anxiety after 2.5 months of Luvox and Paxil

[LucyJed]

I tapered off of Paxil and the Luvox successfully. It took me several months.

Now I am having intense anxiety and waking up at 4am with panic attacks and sweating.

I'd like to know if others have experienced this and if it goes away.

Also, my system is so sensitive after 20 years of ssris that I can't take anything. Even

N most supplements make me worse. Only taking mag and fish oil now.

[clearday]

Sounds like very typical withdrawal. There is often a delayed response. 

 

Intense anxiety, sleep disturbances, and sweating -  I had that, and so have many others here.

 

I got hit with that 4 months after stopping Prozac years ago. It lasted two months. I then spent a couple years in protracted WD, not as intense.

 

More recently, I got hit with that wave 7 months after stopping Lexapro, It lasted two months, and went away, now I sleep fine since then. But now I am in protracted withdrawal. Slow but sure healing over much time. Windows and waves pattern of recovery.

 

Sound like you got hit two and half months after stopping. Very common.

 

Your protracted withdrawal will proceed on its own schedule from here, everyone is different.

 

Depending on how fast your taper was - it may have been too fast - you may want to reinstate on a small amount of the last SSRI you were on last if your withdrawal symptoms become too difficult.

 

Perhaps a moderator will suggest reinstatement to you, and at what dose and what med. 

 

How fast was your taper?

[LucyJed]

Thanks for the reply clearday. Anything help out with the anxiety? Also, are you symptom free at this point?

[clearday]

No, I am not -

 

After the two month wave of typical dysautonomia (sweating, heart palpitations, racing heart etc), my nervous system settled down.

 

But then at 10 months out, my head started ringing. I have pressure in my ears and head, left side body and scalp numbness. Very common SSRI WD symptoms.

 

I've been dealing with that for 8 months now. It's difficult.

 

But I am healing, there is "morphing" of symptoms, some come and go. The numbness is long gone. Many of the head symptoms improved, some got worse.

 

But overall life is tolerable. For me, nights are the worst. 

 

Your symptoms will be yours, hard to say right now what you will be dealing with.

 

About recovery:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/82-the-windows-and-waves-pattern-of-recovery/

 

Reinstating on a low dose of SSRI may help with anxiety. Some use small amount of benzos for sleep. But since you're on lithium, I won't recommend any drugs for you, perhaps a moderator can.

 

About tapering:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

[LucyJed]

I'm sorry your still not free of the AD curse. The last 3 years have been hell for me with severe depression, anxiety and insomnia so I can relate. Funny thing is that I thought the symptoms were me and now I realize it was all the meds the Drs were giving me. I cannot tolerate any ADs anymore so reinstatement is not an option.

I can fall asleep at night but wake every morning at 4am with the panic attacks in a soaked bed. I'm trying acupuncture now which gives some relief. Also, eating clean with protein and vega only. Taking magnesium. But thinking about dropping the Omega 3. Marble it's causing some anxiety.

I know it's a personal thing but did your anxiety retreat after a while anything help ?? I'm desperate because my work and family are at stake ...

[clearday]

Yes, we were all mistakenly told that our WD symptoms were something else. Looking back, we now see clearly it was WD from these powerful drugs.

 

I never really had a problem with anxiety, but the initial wave of insomnia etc retreated for me after 2 months.

 

For some, once the anxiety fades, it is replaced by more of a brain fog/apathy. And while that is no picnic, it is more tolerable than the anxiety.

 

I have no recommendation to help with the anxiety - perhaps someone else has a recommendation.

[LoveandLight]

So sorry I know how terrible the anxiety can be..I don't really have suggestions..except for sleep hypnosis (youtube), and distraction but really it is just waiting it out..xx

[Altostrata]

Welcome, LucyJed.

 

How did you go off the drugs and how long have you been completely off them?

 

You are having typical signs of withdrawal syndrome.

 

See

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

[LucyJed]

I first went off the Paxil 20% reduction for 5 weeks. Then the Dr said I was relapsing so started with Luvox. Ramped it up to 60mg over 4 week period. Anxiety got worse and worse. Finally decided to get off. Lowered by 20% over 5 weeks. Ssri free as of April 11. But intense anxiety with morning panic attacks and I'm generally worn out and brain fogged . Lost 20 lbs in 6 weeks. I guess that's the bright side...

[LucyJed]

Also, all Ssri type drugs including 5HTP and Triptophan have a paradoxical effect in that they creat more anxiety in me. In addition any Benzo type medicine gives me a terrible headache and depression. I feel like the 4 different Docs I went to treated me like a lab rat. 12 different drugs over a 3 year period....hell on earth

[Altostrata]

Do you have any Paxil left?

 

I think you have withdrawal syndrome from the Paxil.

 

Even a very small amount, such as 1mg, might help.

 

Are you still taking lithium? Did you ever have your liver checked?

[Iamfine]

Your story sounds like many others I have read here. How did you taper the Luvox? The reason I ask is that I am currently tapering Luvox myself. I may have gone way too fast at first but I have decided to slow my taper after reading this site. The drug never worked anyway just made me feel worse, I can't wait to be shed of it.

[Iamfine]

Sorry, I see you already answered my question. That's about how I tapered at first but I'm slowing now to try to avoid as much suffering as I can. Have you considered light exercise for your anxiety? It works for me.

[LoveandLight]

Go for a walk if you can and sit in nature. I do remember now that this helped a little. Running water if you can be near that also xx

[LucyJed]

Alto, I only took the Paxil for 9 months and weaned off it very slowly - 10 % increments .... Then on Luvox from November to April.. Why Do you think that the Paxil could be driving this anxiety and not the Luvox. Also if I could get back on to reinstate 1mg Paxil I'm not sure my body would like it and if it did what's the end game here. When do I get free?

 

Do you think I could just keep white knuckling it and the symptoms will go away without reinstating.

[Altostrata]

When the doctor said you were "relapsing," what did it feel like?

 

Did the Luvox make you feel better?

[LucyJed]

I wasn't really relapsing because the Paxil only made me feel better for a couple weeks. I have been suffering from intense depressive and anxious symptoms for about 4 years with little relief . I guess this can be attributed to the 18 years of Zoloft that finally quit working, and the symptoms were actually withdrawal symptoms.

Then nothing ever worked again. No SSRI or SNRI. dr thought I might be bipolar even though no bp symptoms. Gave me all the bp meds. No good...

 

The Luvox made me feel better for about 3 months then back to anxiety and depression symptoms ... then didn't work at all and made anxiety worse.

 

Now I'm in bad shape, 2 months off ssri. Dr doesn't no what to do. Just wait it out I guess..... Really losing it

[Petunia]

Then the Dr said I was relapsing so started with Luvox. Ramped it up to 60mg over 4 week period. Anxiety got worse and worse. Finally decided to get off. Lowered by 20% over 5 weeks. Ssri free as of April 11.

 

Does this mean you stopped taking 60mg Luvox over a period of 5 weeks?

 

The Luvox made me feel better for about 3 months then back to anxiety and depression symptoms ... then didn't work at all and made anxiety worse.

 

 

It sounds like the Luvox made you feel better for a while? Maybe 60mg was too much for you.

 

 

Perhaps reinstating a small amount of Luvox would help, then when you have stabilized, a proper, slow taper from it.

 

See:  About reinstating and stabilizing to stop withdrawal symptoms

 

Are you still taking 300mg Lithium?

[Fresh]

Hi LucyJed , welcome to the site.

 

After 20 years on ssri's , I'd seriously consider reinstating. I tapered too fast in 2013 , and from the beginning if 2014 was housebound for 5 months with raging akathisia (see Fresh's Fractured Fairytale).

The sooner you reinstate after stopping the better chance you have to get well quickly. After you're stable again you can taper more slowly in a less debilitating manner.

 

Best wishes , Fresh

[LucyJed]

I can't reinstate because the Luvox and Paxil actually made me feel worse. Terrible anxiety and insomnia and agitation. Felt like swallowing poison. I'm 11 weeks Ssri free but extremely low energy, ins

[LucyJed]

Also extreme bouts of anxiety and agitation that wear my body out. Going to psychiatrist today

[Altostrata]

LucyJed, please read

What is withdrawal syndrome?
 
About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

This happens quite frequently: Withdrawal syndrome makes your nervous system hyper-sensitive to psychiatric drugs. But sometimes a very low dose can help -- such as 1mg Paxil. You would stabilize for a while, then taper off by tiny amounts.

 

Please be cautious with any psychiatric prescriptions, psychiatrists don't understand withdrawal syndrome and hyper-sensitivity and will prescribe excessively high doses of drugs, which frequently make people worse.

[LucyJed]

The last 5 days I had very little anxiety and slept better. Almost started thinking my WD hell was over. But today.... Wham. Very intense hard core physical anxiety. Chest pains and throat is tight. Feel sick

I guess this is the pattern

How long does it go on? What's next?

[Altostrata]

See The Windows and Waves Pattern of Recovery

 

Please read the links we give you. They contain important information.

[LucyJed]

It's been over 3 months since my taper. I still have horrible sleep issues ( wak

[LucyJed]

Waking at 430am with panic attack. Also, anxiety that is persistant but seems to fade in the evening

Acupuncture seems to help temporarily.

Is this the same for others ?

[Altostrata]

See these topics: Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems

[LucyJed]

Thanks Alto

I'm having severe anxiety and insomnia. Feeling very hopeless. Spouse doesn't understand and is very down, saying I need to snap out of it. Drs suggest it's common anxiety and depression. But obviously can't take anything as all psych drugs make symptoms worse

Feeling very hopeless like this wil never end....

[KT38]

Hi LucyJed! I stopped around the same time you did in April (see my signature).  I am still having intense anxiety and now extreme agitation. I was hoping this would have lessened by now, but it has not.  I have internal vibrating sometimes and I often think the internal agitation is some type of akathisia.  It is so intense I don't know what to do with myself and any tiny little stress is way too much for my brain to handle and have to shut down. 

[KT38]

This is all part if withdrawal.  I know how frustrating it is that Drs and family and friends don't understand what you are going through.  I am right there with you.  I found a new psychiatrist who said I might start to see some improvement around the 6-8 month mark.  I read a lot of stories that around 12 months is where people start to see some change, but again it's all different with everyone.  Just don't let yourself get down about no one understanding or about taking these drugs, etc.... Stay occupied and look for positive people to talk to.  I can't drive or really go anywhere I am so out of my mind, but I know one day I will. I know how terrible this is for you.

[LucyJed]

Thank you KT for the support. This is so difficult because I must continue to work and also care for my young son. It's more difficult because my thinking is so negative, everything is bad... I try to hide it but it's tough. Like you, I have constant anxiety, agitation and body twitches. Also my brain is very hot at times. I constantly think that this will never get better but sometimes before nef I have a brief window and think maybe I will be ok.

I often only sleep for 2 or 3 hours and then wake with the electric current going through my body. I also will sweat through my sheets. I am so run down and stressed and nervous that any conflict or stress puts me in a tail spin. I used to be very confident and relaxed, blow tired and weak. It's disheartening.

Who had been through this hell and can talk about how it goes away and life is back to normal. I got on the SSRI in the first place for a mild situational depression - now I'm 100 times worse and am in a real bind.

How to carry on?? I take magnesium. Meditate, excercise and eat low carb - these help some...

[LucyJed]

Sorry about repetition. Can a monitor edit the extra replies?

[Altostrata]

Done.

 

You are having severe withdrawal syndrome. Please read the links we've given you  and consider reinstating a very small amount of an SSRI, perhaps even Prozac. It's easier to taper than Paxil.

[LucyJed]

Thanks Alto

I've been reading the links on the site and yes the symptoms are precisely associated with withdrawl. Also I'm amazed at how all the docs and all can be so clueless.

With regards to reinstatment, my nervous system cannot Tolerate ANY SSRIs at all. I've run the gambit on about all including Prozac and Zoloft (which I took for 18 years before it failed). Any particle of a SSRI will make me extraordinarily agitated and anxious.

Part of the problem is that even when I was first given Zoloft 20 years ago I could barely tolerate it at first. The psychiatrist kept staying to keep taking it even though it was painful until after 3 or 4 weeks it began to work. Them it worked well for a long time. But of course I developed all the bad symptoms associated with SSRI use. Ie weight gain and neurological disorders.

When the Zoloft failed, of course the Drs tried everything - Pristic, vybrid, prozac, lexapro, cymbalta, Paxil and finally Luvox... With a couple Zoloft reinstatements thrown in there. Not only did none of them work, but my nervous system could not TOLERATE any of them.

At that point in the game I was looking for a magic pill to work like the Zolift had. But my body rejected everything. It was then that one shrink decided I was Bipolar 2 even though I have no BP symptoms. Then he gave me: Abilfy, Lamictal and later Serzone and Trileptal. I could not tolerate any of these. They all made me horribly worse. To add more stress, I'm a human lab rat taking these hard core drugs while being married to a spouse who does not understand, raising a child and working a hard core advertising sales job with a very stressful boss... I was also using heavy Benzos at the time to cope. Klonopin, Xanax and Later Ativan. Until they all went paradoxical on me and didn't work.

 

I'm now off everything except Lithium for 3.5 months. I'd like to stop the Lithium but want to wait until I stabilize with the SSRI withdrawl - I guess???

Anyway, that's why I can't reinstate, because the withdrawl symptoms I'm experiencing are not as horribly intense as putting another drug in my system. I even tried Tryptophan and St Johns Wort and they made we terribly anxious.

My mother is also very very sensitive to all medicines as well and she can't take any ADs.

So I guess I'm stuck here right? Waiting to get Better... Windows and waves. Pain and hope. Fighting off the negative thoughts, praying for some salvation and peace.

[LucyJed]

Alto, after understanding that the 2 month taper I did on the Luvox was way too short, and that reinstatement just makes me worse. Am I just destined to ride this protracted withdrawal out for a long time and my body will slowly heal?

[Altostrata]

LucyJed, what are the dosages you've attempted in your reinstatements? Did you ever take less than 5mg?