greenpulse Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Hello there everyone I stopped Prozac at 20mg in January. Slow deteriation since reducing to 20; a slow disappearance of myself. It has been horrifying and its just torture now. Thank you for this forum!! Ive only just found it and how welcome! My symptoms are described here exactly so now I can worry less that ive become a monster,(it IS the drug and its not me!!) and have more hope that it will clear at some point. Regret utterly the day I went against my own feelings and started taking Prozac Thankyou everyone for sharing your stories and best wishes. (Goodness! this doesnt feel real) Began Prozac oct 2013 increasing up to 60mg for 5 months before beginning reduction in jumps of 20, stopped at 20mg in Jan 2015 ( total 14 months) Antipsychotic for 1 month 2011 Sertraline for 3 months in 2009 Prozac up to 60 for 6 months 2005 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted June 28, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 28, 2015 Welcome to SA Greenpulse. I'm sorry you had to go through this AD purgatory but also glad you found us. When I first came here I had the same reaction as you and so many painful experiences finally started making sense. Also I found people who understood and went through the same. I'm sure you will find a lot of good suggestions for managing your dymptoms in Symptoms and self-care section. It would be very helpful to add your short drug history in your signature as the rest of us have. After 4 months it would be too late to try and reinstate... What are your symptoms now? I look forward to reading more about you. You will find a lot of friendly support here. Once again welcome. Bubble Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
greenpulse Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 Hi Bubble Thank you for the welcome! My withdrawal issues are 99 percent phsychological. Lots of intolerance and irritability. Apathy. Lack of postive emotions like love, compassion. I feel like im wired different to before meds. The prism through which I experience the world and myself; my thoughts and emotions is different and horrible I might add! Everything is scrambled and distorted, much dulled. Cant think very well and memory bad too. Whats really disturbing is an unpleasant kind of ego presence that is completely new and alien. I guess I feel like im possessed! My inner self sense, my soul seems gone. Began Prozac oct 2013 increasing up to 60mg for 5 months before beginning reduction in jumps of 20, stopped at 20mg in Jan 2015 ( total 14 months) Antipsychotic for 1 month 2011 Sertraline for 3 months in 2009 Prozac up to 60 for 6 months 2005 Link to comment
greenpulse Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 (Im gonna go out for a walk before dark!) Began Prozac oct 2013 increasing up to 60mg for 5 months before beginning reduction in jumps of 20, stopped at 20mg in Jan 2015 ( total 14 months) Antipsychotic for 1 month 2011 Sertraline for 3 months in 2009 Prozac up to 60 for 6 months 2005 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted June 29, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 29, 2015 Going for a walk is great. It's my favourite. Thank you for adding your signature. You were on Prozac for a relativey short period of time but rather high dose. What you are experiencing now are common withdrawal symptoms that happen in what I call the second stage of withdrawal when physical symptoms go away but dose even more unpleasant kick in... Knowing that it is withdrawal related might help to bear with them while waiting to abate which might take tiem unfortunately. There are lots of great strategies on what can aid this process in our Symptoms and self-care section. Taking magnesium and omega 3 helps most people. I would particularly recommend this thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/ and also this: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2873-anhedonia-apathy-demotivation/This inner deadness that you write about is actually known as anhedonia and many of us have experienced it. Do you have any periods however short when you feel a kind of relief and diminishing of symptoms? Recovery happens in what we call windos and waves pattern: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/82-the-windows-and-waves-pattern-of-recovery/ Journaling and getting in touch with the very supportive community here was also very helpful to me. See you around Bubble Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
greenpulse Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 Unable to think properly to write just much now but wanted to say thanks for the links I have had small clearings/ windows. Sometimes feels its getting worse at this point. Brain shutting down. And there is the odd fleeting fleeting moment. Im very concerned about the intolerance and, negative reactions to people (in my head- not acting negatively) Neuroemotions? I dont know. Its not like me. This is very bad for self esteem. What a disaster! I think yes to yoga . I dont have much physical w/d to get in the way. Thanks again! Began Prozac oct 2013 increasing up to 60mg for 5 months before beginning reduction in jumps of 20, stopped at 20mg in Jan 2015 ( total 14 months) Antipsychotic for 1 month 2011 Sertraline for 3 months in 2009 Prozac up to 60 for 6 months 2005 Link to comment
greenpulse Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 It is very supportive! Ill go out for an evening walk now and buy a new book to journal in! Thank you Began Prozac oct 2013 increasing up to 60mg for 5 months before beginning reduction in jumps of 20, stopped at 20mg in Jan 2015 ( total 14 months) Antipsychotic for 1 month 2011 Sertraline for 3 months in 2009 Prozac up to 60 for 6 months 2005 Link to comment
greenpulse Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Had a significant window two weeks ago. Felt like myself for a day or so. It was proceeded by a couple of days of a lot walking(desperate escape to hostel in another city for break) (feels hard to walk-feels like muscles sucking on dry sponge energy not there sort of stiff uncomfortable) I wonder if the excercise precipitated the window. I woke up in the hostel and the D/R was not there. I felt quite normal. That day I was able to feel some of the emotions I used to. I was so relieved. Ive since tumbled back into state as bad as before. Began Prozac oct 2013 increasing up to 60mg for 5 months before beginning reduction in jumps of 20, stopped at 20mg in Jan 2015 ( total 14 months) Antipsychotic for 1 month 2011 Sertraline for 3 months in 2009 Prozac up to 60 for 6 months 2005 Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 14, 2015 Administrator Share Posted July 14, 2015 Walking is very good for the nervous system. You may wish to do it regularly. 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
greenpulse Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 85% better i think phew!! there is nothing negative left (things like intense agitation, irritation, anger, upset, anhedonia) but i feel as if i am still missing some capacities and emotions. no response to music. i have regained much since at one point having lost it all except a kind of anger- at that point i couldnt feel that feeling of my self/ cant explain. still have some numbness type sensations in brain. (i wonder a little if my brain has had to make new circuits? am i not the same as before?) very big phew!!! wishing all big phews!! Began Prozac oct 2013 increasing up to 60mg for 5 months before beginning reduction in jumps of 20, stopped at 20mg in Jan 2015 ( total 14 months) Antipsychotic for 1 month 2011 Sertraline for 3 months in 2009 Prozac up to 60 for 6 months 2005 Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 31, 2015 Administrator Share Posted October 31, 2015 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. Link to comment
greenpulse Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 Thank you very much! i was just writing another message to say that this site was extremely helpful in getting me through! Thank you so very much for running it and supporting myself and others! Began Prozac oct 2013 increasing up to 60mg for 5 months before beginning reduction in jumps of 20, stopped at 20mg in Jan 2015 ( total 14 months) Antipsychotic for 1 month 2011 Sertraline for 3 months in 2009 Prozac up to 60 for 6 months 2005 Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 31, 2015 Administrator Share Posted October 31, 2015 And thank YOU for letting us know how you're doing. That is so helpful. 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
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