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☼ Happy2Heal: Hope I'm doing this right


Happy2Heal

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  • Mentor

as usual I spoke too soon ROFL

I'm having a "wavy" day, apparently I am still very sensitive to increased stress.

 

I got an urgent call about the vet who euthanized my pet rat 2 weeks ago, she has been diagnosed with the very RARE rat bite fever. I didn't know that my boy bit her. He was in a lot of pain and could only be handled with thick leather gloves, and I'd offered those gloves to the vet to use, but she declined.

He bit me twice that day, and so far I am fine, but after reading the symptoms of rat bite fever, I got nervous that I might be getting it (I've had a headache but it depends on what site you read, that may or may not be a symptom)
 

the illness is easily treated with IV antibiotics, but untreated, it can progress to something pretty painful with some bad complications, including death. Oh joy!

it's also hard to diagnose, if you don't know to look for it.
The vet was, shockingly, misdiagnosed with a different illness that is uncommon in adults!! and was being treated with the wrong antibiotics! they did a blood culture that just came back yesterday, that she's got rat bite fever, and so they needed to contact me to tell me to watch for symptoms and see a dr right away if I develop any.

it's very rare and I'm probably fine and going to be fine, but it is anxiety provoking to say the least.

 

today, I've got that annoying ringing in my ears again. I haven't had that in a LONG time.

  plus just an overall feeling of unease.

didn't sleep much last night and can't seem to concentrate on anything today. Ick!

just want to go to sleep and wake up back where I was a few days ago, feeling good!!! :)

 

it will happen, I know, but these crappy days remind me that I'm still going thru WD and still need to manage my stress levels etc

I think I did too much exercise yesterday too- I ran for a few blocks, something I haven't done in decades and didn't even know I could do.

plus a lot of very fast walking and two exercise classes.

 

I guess that was too much for one day.

 

I have things I need to do today but I just can't seem to get myself motivated to do them. Haven't even felt up to making something to eat.

:/

 

hope everyone else is doing well.

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
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  • Mentor

it's days like this, that I think about going back on an AD and going back to my blissful little self absorbed cloud, because NOW I am so aware of other's suffering,

and even not just suffering, but day to day struggles,

and it upsets me.

I seem to absorb it in a way I wish I didn't. Like I'm a sponge, soaking up other ppls misery along with my own.

 

I don't like this. It leaves me feeling powerless, and hopeless in a way. I want to DO something to fix things, I've always been a problem solving type of person, and there's nothing I can do, for them- and apparently not a whole lot I can do for myself, except let time pass.

 

frustrating, very frustrating!!

 

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment

Hi H2H,

 

I can relate to this completely . I think is that we are just sensitive human beings in general . I get jealous when I see people go through life relaxed and on their own frequency not minding surroundings and not responding to life with much emotion . Care free I guess ? I am so sensitive . When I walk into a room I can even feel the mood / energy and it can through me off so much . Just like sponge and I cannot block it. I guess we just have to learn to accept it as part of life and the way we are .

 

Edited by ChessieCat
removed quote after member name change

04/10 Luvox 25 mg PM, Nortriptyline 1 mg PM

03/08/19: Buspar 2.5 mg AM, 5 mg PM

01/01/19: Xanax 0.125 AM 5 times a week. Occasionally, 0.125 twice a day AM & noon

12/18 Armour Thyroid 60 mg (for hypothyroidism) 

 

Supplements: B Complex, B12 (adeno), multi-vitamin, D, Adrenal Cortex, iron

  • Lexapro 20 mg 2007 - 2013 with various attempts to stop
  • 2013 found a new Dr and started trying other meds: Prozac, Notryptoline, Effexor, Buspar, Gabapentin, Paxil, Nardil
  • Lexapro 15 mg 2015 - 04/2016
  • Vibryiid 10 - 15mg 05/16-06/16 
  • NO MEDS 07/16 - 10/31/16
  • Reinstated 10/31/16 at 2.5 mg lexapro, increased to 5 mg   
  • 1/13/17 switched to Luvox 50 mg before bed
  • 1/20/17 Luvox 37.5 mg PM
  • 12/18 Luvox 10 mg PM, Nortriptyline 2 mg (started Nortriptyline 06/17 at 10 mg)
Link to comment
  • Mentor

 

Hi Catnapt,

 

I can relate to this completely . I think is that we are just sensitive human beings in general . I get jealous when I see people go through life relaxed and on their own frequency not minding surroundings and not responding to life with much emotion . Care free I guess ? I am so sensitive . When I walk into a room I can even feel the mood / energy and it can through me off so much . Just like sponge and I cannot block it. I guess we just have to learn to accept it as part of life and the way we are .

 

oh sorry it happens to you too.

I think, for me, at least, this is a bit more than just being sensitive, I don't know.

 

 

yes it would be nice to be care free!! I don't know if I will ever be able to relax that much again. I hope so, though

 

I was sorting through some papers this morning and came across my symptom list for this past Dec and was shocked that I was doing that poorly!

I really don't have anything to complain about now, in comparison.

But of course, we don't usually compare how we feel today to the worst that we've felt;  instead we think about how we felt at our best, or at least when things were better, and wish that we felt THAT way instead.

It's hard to feel grateful sometimes but it does help to change my perspective and then, my mood.

 

I should pop over to your thread Blondie, I haven't kept up and wonder how you are doing

 

OH I slept last night!! not sure for how long, but it was good sleep, mostly.

I added some glycine, half of a 1000mg capsule.  of course, after 3 nights of no sleep, there's a chance I would have fallen asleep anyway -but I seem to have slept better than usual, so maybe it was the gylcine

 

I will try it again tonight and see what happens.

 

 

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment

That is good news about your sleep H2H.  I am not familiar with gylcine either.  But if it is not harmful and it does the trick it is great!  I recall sleep is one of you big issues and I do hope it will continue to improve.  I remember from reading your earlier posts about no sleep and waking up every few hours and it seems that now it is somewhat better, right?  

 

I am glad you are continuing to improve.  And you are right about comparing how we feel now to our best versus worst.  I never thought about it that way.  To be honest I am even scarred to go back and read my earlier posts.  Good thing is we are doing better and there will be bumps and hurdles but eventually we will find out way 

 

Are you sleeping with your windows open nowadays?  I love this 70s weather.  I have my window open and hear the birds in the morning makes me feel good 

 

Oh and about ringing in the ears.  I think it gets aggravated by stress at least for me.  Last week I was hope a couple of days and I remember sitting and reading and I was like oh wow my ears ringing is very mild almost unnoticed.  But then back to work, stress levels are up and ringing came back.  

 

Edited by ChessieCat
changed member name

04/10 Luvox 25 mg PM, Nortriptyline 1 mg PM

03/08/19: Buspar 2.5 mg AM, 5 mg PM

01/01/19: Xanax 0.125 AM 5 times a week. Occasionally, 0.125 twice a day AM & noon

12/18 Armour Thyroid 60 mg (for hypothyroidism) 

 

Supplements: B Complex, B12 (adeno), multi-vitamin, D, Adrenal Cortex, iron

  • Lexapro 20 mg 2007 - 2013 with various attempts to stop
  • 2013 found a new Dr and started trying other meds: Prozac, Notryptoline, Effexor, Buspar, Gabapentin, Paxil, Nardil
  • Lexapro 15 mg 2015 - 04/2016
  • Vibryiid 10 - 15mg 05/16-06/16 
  • NO MEDS 07/16 - 10/31/16
  • Reinstated 10/31/16 at 2.5 mg lexapro, increased to 5 mg   
  • 1/13/17 switched to Luvox 50 mg before bed
  • 1/20/17 Luvox 37.5 mg PM
  • 12/18 Luvox 10 mg PM, Nortriptyline 2 mg (started Nortriptyline 06/17 at 10 mg)
Link to comment
  • Mentor

glycine is an amino acid I believe, there's a thread about it here somewhere LOL I am having trouble finding things lately

Alto tried it and it seems to have helped her with sleep too.

You have to be careful not to take too much or it can cause the opposite. That seems to be true of a lot of the things that might help with sleep.

yes insomnia has been my worst symptom, although now i call it disturbed sleep because it upsets me to think of it any other way. My sleep is very disturbed, but any time I can get 4 or 5 good hours per night, even if I wake up a lot, I feel like I'm making progress.

I dont usually keep track of how long I sleep but I can often figure it out by the noises in the neighborhood, or what might be on TV , etc.

~~~~~~~

oh yeh, I am often afraid to go back and read thru my thread as well. It is scary to see how bad things were, and then you wonder if they might get that way again. It was good that I did it today, though because right now, I need to remember that things were worse, so that I don't continue to try to push the envelope on tapering.

 

I am so tempted to keep sliding down a tiny bit each week, but I've had the ringing in my ears back again, too and you're right, its def stress related!! my vision issues are the same, very much related to stress.

 

we're gonna get thru this. one day at a time, or one night at a time, or one minute at a time.

I hope you feel more rested tomorrow!! and better yet, I hope you have the day off, I guess in some places, the day after Easter is a holiday. ( at least where my Canadian friend lives it is lol)

 

Edited by ChessieCat
removed quote after member name change

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment
  • Mentor

finally found something that really helps me sleep: glycine

 

have been taking 500mgs at night and added a morning 500mg dose to see if it would quell the morning anxiety and it has, at least somewhat

 

is there a recommended dose for ppl in WD or is it just trial and error? I read that too much can cause anxiety, so I know I need to be careful

 

FWIW the bottle says to take 1 to 3 capsules per day and they are 1000mg capsules (I empty out half into water to take it)

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment
  • Mentor

feeling a bit stronger emotionally each day

 

won't taper again til May 15th, from 0.21 to 0.20

 

Might even decide to hold a bit longer; not sure I want to rock the boat now

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment
  • Moderator

feeling a bit stronger emotionally each day

 

won't taper again til May 15th, from 0.21 to 0.20

 

Might even decide to hold a bit longer; not sure I want to rock the boat now

Great Job! Glad you're feeling a bit stronger. :)

PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. 

 Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist.

 Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form)

---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil.

Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper.

19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020)

I am not a medical professional.

The suggestions I make are based on personal experience.

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  • Mentor

over did things a bit yesterday, got the ringing in my ears again and some visual issues.

 

it's hard to continue to keep my activities scaled back to avoid symptoms, when I'm feeling better, I kind of want to make up for lost time

:/

 

rainy day today, so it's a good day to take it easy. Do a Mindfulness class in the afternoon, and maybe sit and crochet a bit. :)

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment
  • Mentor

absolutely no motivation to do anything today :/

 

haven't been sleeping too well, I get super tired early, like around 8pm, and have been falling asleep for an hour, like last night, it was from 9 to 10 pm, then fell asleep again from around 11 to midnight but basically awake the rest of the night

 

guess these would be waves, eh?

:P

 

I have to remind myself that previous waves were much worse. that's not really making me feel a whole lot better right this moment, however.

 

what can I say? I think we all get a bit "greedy", if you will, for things to get good and STAY good.

 

oh well, this will all be over someday, right?

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment

It's great that you found a supplement that works for your sleep and are continuing to see improvements with your symptoms. Is the glycine still working for you  re : sleep ?  I'm not sure of the dose for glycine but this discussion may help : 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2779-glycine-for-sleep/

Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014

 

                                                  Psych Drug - free since May 2014
.
         

Link to comment

Hi H2H -

 

Sorry you are having issues with sleep . But it could be just some waves . This is not a permanent thing and will pass for sure . Stay patient and accepting this will pass . I tend to get gready too when I feel good I expect so much more and then when things go down the hill I get disappointed but I need to remember that nothing is permanent and this will pass.

 

You will feel better soon I can feel it !

B

 

Edited by ChessieCat
changed member name

04/10 Luvox 25 mg PM, Nortriptyline 1 mg PM

03/08/19: Buspar 2.5 mg AM, 5 mg PM

01/01/19: Xanax 0.125 AM 5 times a week. Occasionally, 0.125 twice a day AM & noon

12/18 Armour Thyroid 60 mg (for hypothyroidism) 

 

Supplements: B Complex, B12 (adeno), multi-vitamin, D, Adrenal Cortex, iron

  • Lexapro 20 mg 2007 - 2013 with various attempts to stop
  • 2013 found a new Dr and started trying other meds: Prozac, Notryptoline, Effexor, Buspar, Gabapentin, Paxil, Nardil
  • Lexapro 15 mg 2015 - 04/2016
  • Vibryiid 10 - 15mg 05/16-06/16 
  • NO MEDS 07/16 - 10/31/16
  • Reinstated 10/31/16 at 2.5 mg lexapro, increased to 5 mg   
  • 1/13/17 switched to Luvox 50 mg before bed
  • 1/20/17 Luvox 37.5 mg PM
  • 12/18 Luvox 10 mg PM, Nortriptyline 2 mg (started Nortriptyline 06/17 at 10 mg)
Link to comment
  • Mentor

It's great that you found a supplement that works for your sleep and are continuing to see improvements with your symptoms. Is the glycine still working for you  re : sleep ?  I'm not sure of the dose for glycine but this discussion may help : 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2779-glycine-for-sleep/

 

The glycine def seems to make me feel more relaxed, so the sleep I do get feels like it's deeper or more refreshing.

I don't know for sure that it helps me sleep, esp now that I've had some sleepless nights while taking it :P

 

I did up the dose, I started at 500mgs at night only, added 500mgs in the morning because it helps a lot with early morning anxiety

Then I forgot that 500mgs is half a capsule and took an entire capsule one night (1000mgs) and felt even more relaxed, so I added another full capsule in the morning.

 

thanks for that link!! I did read that discussion but had forgotten a few things, such as glycine helping you feel cooler (it's been kind of raw here, and chilly at night, and I've had to turn the heat on, which is odd. Usually I get very hot overnight, and have to sleep in a light nightshirt, but the past few nights I've needed a heavy blanket and full pjs)

 

I also forgot that people were taking as much as 3 grams- I'm guessing that's 3 of the 1000mg tablets?

so perhaps I could try taking 2 full capsules tonight to see if that helps.

 

I didn't get much done today, too tired. I did actually fall asleep for about a half hour!! that has not happened, I think, in almost a year, that I've been able to nap during the day. it wasn't long but it was sweet!

 

I try not to stress about it, but I sure do hope tonight is better.

today was a crappy crappy day!!

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment
  • Mentor

Hi Catnapt -

 

Sorry you are having issues with sleep . But it could be just some waves . This is not a permanent thing and will pass for sure . Stay patient and accepting this will pass . I tend to get gready too when I feel good I expect so much more and then when things go down the hill I get disappointed but I need to remember that nothing is permanent and this will pass.

 

You will feel better soon I can feel it !

B

 

hi Blondie,

thanks for your input, yeh probably waves :P

oh joy!

I don't usually worry that the bad times are permanent, but if they last more than a few days, I worry that maybe I'm doing something "wrong"- such as missing a dose of some supplement, or eating too close to bedtime, or ....? or who knows what!!

I tend to think that if I"m not doing well, it's my FAULT somehow.

 

when it's probably just an unavoidable wave, as you said.

 

yeh it will pass!!

maybe my brain is healing some spots that really need it, and I'll be feeling even better when this wave is over.

One can only hope, eh?

;-)

 

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment
  • Mentor

I tried taking 2 of the 1000mg capsules of glycine last night and finally got some sleep. fell asleep around er, 9 or 9:30pm or so?  woke up several times, as is common for me, but I got back to sleep much easier and faster than before, that was nice. :)

 

 

was woken up at 4am with is this odd internal shaking- this is I think the 3rd time this has happened.

luckily I've seen others mention it, so I know it's a WD symptom but boy, is it weird!

 

been awake since 4am  but not feeling too bad as I got more sleep than I normally do, lol

hey, any improvement is a happy thing for me

:)

 

I'm liking how the glycine seems to help. I just hope that it does not go "paradoxical" on me, like so many other things have

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment

My wife called all around. We couldn't find glycine, but she finally found a place with theanine. She's out getting that now. Hopefully I will get some relief.

 

I'm glad the glycine is working for you. I'll probably give it a try at some point, but I'll have to order it from Amazon.

Main thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/14472-shakeyjerr-say-hello/

History: Prozac & Lithium from 1999 to 2003. Ended up back on after 4 months because taking a beta-blocker caused immediate depression (just 2 doses - turned out I didn't even need it; I had no other withdrawal symptoms - I might have ended up med and withdrawal-free otherwise :(). - Switched to Effexor (75mg 3/day) and Seroquel (50mg 3/day) in 2010. - Did a self-taper during 2016. - Developed Discontinuation Syndrome 02/17.

Supplements: Magnesium-Glycinate 400mg split into 4 100mg doses throughout the day. Vitamin C 500mg - once per day. Fish Oil 1360 mg (950 mg Active Omega-3) - twice per day.

I'm not a doctor. I use the internet, experience, and trial & error. Seek medical advice if necessary.

Link to comment
  • Mentor

My wife called all around. We couldn't find glycine, but she finally found a place with theanine. She's out getting that now. Hopefully I will get some relief.

 

I'm glad the glycine is working for you. I'll probably give it a try at some point, but I'll have to order it from Amazon.

I hope you find something that helps. Just the distraction of looking for something can help you get thru the roughest patches.

I sent you a link in a PM that may help. I find it helps a lot when things are really bad.

 

You're going to get thru this. It sucks but it won't last forever, ok?

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment

I tried Theanine yesterday and today. They only had the 200mg at GNC. It kind of made me agitated for a short while, and I don;t feel like I got a good bounce, not even like when I just drink decaf black tea, which has at most around 20mg of theanine (but that was starting not to work to calm me down). So I think I have to maybe try tomorrow opening the theanine capsule and spreading it out in my tea over the course of the day.

 

If that doesn't help, then it's goodbye theanine.

 

Right now I'm in day 4 of this extreme anxiety jag. I am at work today. God I hope I make it through the day!

 

Thanks for all of your help, H2h! It helps keep me going!

 

SJ

 

Edited by ChessieCat
changed member name

Main thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/14472-shakeyjerr-say-hello/

History: Prozac & Lithium from 1999 to 2003. Ended up back on after 4 months because taking a beta-blocker caused immediate depression (just 2 doses - turned out I didn't even need it; I had no other withdrawal symptoms - I might have ended up med and withdrawal-free otherwise :(). - Switched to Effexor (75mg 3/day) and Seroquel (50mg 3/day) in 2010. - Did a self-taper during 2016. - Developed Discontinuation Syndrome 02/17.

Supplements: Magnesium-Glycinate 400mg split into 4 100mg doses throughout the day. Vitamin C 500mg - once per day. Fish Oil 1360 mg (950 mg Active Omega-3) - twice per day.

I'm not a doctor. I use the internet, experience, and trial & error. Seek medical advice if necessary.

Link to comment
  • Mentor

I tried Theanine yesterday and today. They only had the 200mg at GNC. It kind of made me agitated for a short while, and I don;t feel like I got a good bounce, not even like when I just drink decaf black tea, which has at most around 20mg of theanine (but that was starting not to work to calm me down). So I think I have to maybe try tomorrow opening the theanine capsule and spreading it out in my tea over the course of the day.

 

If that doesn't help, then it's goodbye theanine.

 

Right now I'm in day 4 of this extreme anxiety jag. I am at work today. God I hope I make it through the day!

 

Thanks for all of your help, catnapt! It helps keep me going!

 

SJ

 

 

yeh Theanine did something to me, I can't even describe, but I don't think it was a good thing.  :/

I guess it's an individual thing.

 

Do you do slow deep breathing? that give you a few moments relief from the anxiety, AND the more often you do it, the longer the effects last, so that eventually, you will be able to get 20 mins or even more, of calm, out of just a short session of deep breathing.

 

there's several different techniques but the easiest one to remember is the square breathing. This can be done anywhere, at any time (unless you're in the middle of a conversation, that is, unless the person is willing to wait. I've actually asked someone to wait while I breathe and calm myself down before we continue our conversation. Some people are ok with it, esp if you explain you're going thru a rough time or have a lot of anxiety/stress building up. who can't relate to that, right? ;-)

 

here's how to do square breathing:

 

Square breathing produces amazing positive results whenever you are feeling anxious, nervous, excited or fearful and you would like to calm your self.

  • Breathe in to a count of four.
  • Hold to a count of four.
  • Breathe out to a count of four.
  • Again hold to a count of four.

Then repeat the same process over until you reach a calm state.

It’s simple, easy and very effective.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

this works even if you can only do it  a couple of times, but as I said, the more often you do it, the better.

It also serves as a great distraction.

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment
  • Mentor

short update:

so far, the glycine has been great, esp the two I take at night now.

I am taking one in the morning and on most days, that makes the morning a lot nicer.

 

But today had some mild to moderate anxiety before noon, that seemed to magically disappear at noon. weird LOL

Now I"m not sure if I should increase the morning glycine or maybe only take it at night, and take all 3 capsules at night.

I still wake up at 4 am and cant' get back to sleep. That's when I take another glycine capsule.

 

However, I am going to bed earlier each night, it seems LOL so I think I am actually getting more sleep. The earlier sleep, from before midnight, is my deepest and best sleep, it seems. after that, it's not as good, I wake up a lot more and cant get back to sleep as easily.

 

Last night I am pretty sure I fell asleep by 9 pm and slept pretty well til after midnight, got up once to go to the bathroom and fell right back to sleep til around 4 am!

so wow, that's around 7 hrs sleep!

 

one down side to sleeping longer is that I am sleeping long enough to have REM sleep, and have had some trauma related nightmares. The one I had last night was pretty disturbing. Hmm, maybe that's where the morning anxiety came from??

 

I hope that anyone reading this is doing well and that you know that you are healing, and whatever you may be going thru right now, whatever difficult symptoms, they will pass.

things are going to get better.

 

:)

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment

 

I tried Theanine yesterday and today. They only had the 200mg at GNC. It kind of made me agitated for a short while, and I don;t feel like I got a good bounce, not even like when I just drink decaf black tea, which has at most around 20mg of theanine (but that was starting not to work to calm me down). So I think I have to maybe try tomorrow opening the theanine capsule and spreading it out in my tea over the course of the day.

 

If that doesn't help, then it's goodbye theanine.

 

Right now I'm in day 4 of this extreme anxiety jag. I am at work today. God I hope I make it through the day!

 

Thanks for all of your help, catnapt! It helps keep me going!

 

SJ

 

 

yeh Theanine did something to me, I can't even describe, but I don't think it was a good thing.  :/

I guess it's an individual thing.

 

Do you do slow deep breathing? that give you a few moments relief from the anxiety, AND the more often you do it, the longer the effects last, so that eventually, you will be able to get 20 mins or even more, of calm, out of just a short session of deep breathing.

 

there's several different techniques but the easiest one to remember is the square breathing. This can be done anywhere, at any time (unless you're in the middle of a conversation, that is, unless the person is willing to wait. I've actually asked someone to wait while I breathe and calm myself down before we continue our conversation. Some people are ok with it, esp if you explain you're going thru a rough time or have a lot of anxiety/stress building up. who can't relate to that, right? ;-)

 

here's how to do square breathing:

 

Square breathing produces amazing positive results whenever you are feeling anxious, nervous, excited or fearful and you would like to calm your self.

  • Breathe in to a count of four.
  • Hold to a count of four.
  • Breathe out to a count of four.
  • Again hold to a count of four.

Then repeat the same process over until you reach a calm state.

It’s simple, easy and very effective.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

this works even if you can only do it  a couple of times, but as I said, the more often you do it, the better.

It also serves as a great distraction.

 

 

 

I do deep breathing - when I remember to breath...!

 

I'll try this technique.

 

SJ

Main thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/14472-shakeyjerr-say-hello/

History: Prozac & Lithium from 1999 to 2003. Ended up back on after 4 months because taking a beta-blocker caused immediate depression (just 2 doses - turned out I didn't even need it; I had no other withdrawal symptoms - I might have ended up med and withdrawal-free otherwise :(). - Switched to Effexor (75mg 3/day) and Seroquel (50mg 3/day) in 2010. - Did a self-taper during 2016. - Developed Discontinuation Syndrome 02/17.

Supplements: Magnesium-Glycinate 400mg split into 4 100mg doses throughout the day. Vitamin C 500mg - once per day. Fish Oil 1360 mg (950 mg Active Omega-3) - twice per day.

I'm not a doctor. I use the internet, experience, and trial & error. Seek medical advice if necessary.

Link to comment
  • Mentor

 

I do deep breathing - when I remember to breath...!

 

I'll try this technique.

 

SJ

 

 

yeh that's my problem too, remembering to breathe!! LOL

 

It makes a huge difference.

You think it won't, how could something so simple really help? but it does.

 

not saying it will take away all the anxiety but it should at least give you some moments that are more bearable.

 

 

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment
  • Mentor

hmm, 7 hrs of sleep last night and no morning anxiety, didn't even take any gylcine this morning.

 

still having mini waves, mind you, but doing so much better

 

this keeping thing steady and stable seems to be working out well.

makes me think I'll just stay at 0.21mgs for... forever.

 

I need to sort out  if the issues I'm having are from the HUGE changes I've made in my life in the past 3/4 of a year, or if they are wd/drug related.

it's really hard to know.

 

 

starting therapy tomorrow for PTSD, please wish me luck!

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment

Awesome! Sounds like you might have hit a sweet spot.

 

sj

Main thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/14472-shakeyjerr-say-hello/

History: Prozac & Lithium from 1999 to 2003. Ended up back on after 4 months because taking a beta-blocker caused immediate depression (just 2 doses - turned out I didn't even need it; I had no other withdrawal symptoms - I might have ended up med and withdrawal-free otherwise :(). - Switched to Effexor (75mg 3/day) and Seroquel (50mg 3/day) in 2010. - Did a self-taper during 2016. - Developed Discontinuation Syndrome 02/17.

Supplements: Magnesium-Glycinate 400mg split into 4 100mg doses throughout the day. Vitamin C 500mg - once per day. Fish Oil 1360 mg (950 mg Active Omega-3) - twice per day.

I'm not a doctor. I use the internet, experience, and trial & error. Seek medical advice if necessary.

Link to comment
  • Mentor

Awesome! Sounds like you might have hit a sweet spot.

 

sj

 

 

I hope so!!

 

although I must say, since reinstating a small dose back in late October, I have steadily gotten better and better. I went from over 40 severe symptoms to just a very few that are fairly mild.

 

the insomnia was the thing that's held on the longest and now I am able to sleep 5 to even 7 hrs sometimes at night.

it's great!

I sleep long enough to dream. I think my brain will heal better now that I am dreaming, I always heard that REM sleep is important, although I can't recall what exactly it's important for. I want to say it's got something to do with memory but er, I can't remember HAHAHA

 

I'll have to look it up.

 

how you doin SJ?

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment

Wow! 7 hrs sleep!  Good for you.  I hope it continues to improve.

 

All the best.

PAST

Gabapentin:  about 6 months in 2015, 300-900 mg, cold turkeyed Sept 2015 (at same time dc'd Klonopin)

Klonopin: June 2014- Sept 2015; 1mg tapered over 6 mths, dc'd at 0.25mg, withdrawal hellish (perhaps because of concurrent dc of gabapentin)

Mirtazepine: Jumped off at 2.4 mg. (stable in 8 months).

Seroquel:  June 14 - July 24, 2016, 25 mg alternate nights; smaller doses for shorter periods. Total use about 3 months 

Lamictal: March 19, 2018 - 1 mg; March 23 - 1.25 mg; April 6 - 2mg. Discontinued at 2 mgJuly 1, 2018 due to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

 

CURRENT

Supplements: Vit D, turmeric

Naturethroid: 65 mcg for hypothyroidism

Trazodone: Oct 2015 - June 2016; 75 mg tapered over 2 mths, intense w/d after 3 weeks. Reinstatement: 07/25/16 - 25 mg; updosed 08/03/16 - 50 mg;  10/01/16-  62mg; 03/24/17 dropped to 50 mg (stable in 2.5 months)

                           Current psych meds: Trazodone 50 mg

Link to comment
  • Mentor

Wow! 7 hrs sleep!  Good for you.  I hope it continues to improve.

 

All the best.

thanks! me too! :)

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
Link to comment

Hi H2H,

 

Just read your update and wowzie it is amazing about sleep! You so deserve it . I remember reading awhile back your posts and how tough it was on you with no sleep and all you hoped for just a steady solid hours of sleep and finally you caught a break! Patience acceptance and hard work paid off for sure. Very happy for you :) continuing healing to you you are one strong woman !

 

That's is great about therapy. Wishing you luck ! I had a few therapists earlier on and some were not so good and some were great and I just loved the fact that I can be heard and understood . It felt good to let it go off my chest and having someone to listen . I did get some good suggestions as well . Keep us posted

 

B

 

Edited by ChessieCat
changed member name

04/10 Luvox 25 mg PM, Nortriptyline 1 mg PM

03/08/19: Buspar 2.5 mg AM, 5 mg PM

01/01/19: Xanax 0.125 AM 5 times a week. Occasionally, 0.125 twice a day AM & noon

12/18 Armour Thyroid 60 mg (for hypothyroidism) 

 

Supplements: B Complex, B12 (adeno), multi-vitamin, D, Adrenal Cortex, iron

  • Lexapro 20 mg 2007 - 2013 with various attempts to stop
  • 2013 found a new Dr and started trying other meds: Prozac, Notryptoline, Effexor, Buspar, Gabapentin, Paxil, Nardil
  • Lexapro 15 mg 2015 - 04/2016
  • Vibryiid 10 - 15mg 05/16-06/16 
  • NO MEDS 07/16 - 10/31/16
  • Reinstated 10/31/16 at 2.5 mg lexapro, increased to 5 mg   
  • 1/13/17 switched to Luvox 50 mg before bed
  • 1/20/17 Luvox 37.5 mg PM
  • 12/18 Luvox 10 mg PM, Nortriptyline 2 mg (started Nortriptyline 06/17 at 10 mg)
Link to comment

 

Awesome! Sounds like you might have hit a sweet spot.

sj

 

 

I hope so!!

although I must say, since reinstating a small dose back in late October, I have steadily gotten better and better. I went from over 40 severe symptoms to just a very few that are fairly mild.

 

the insomnia was the thing that's held on the longest and now I am able to sleep 5 to even 7 hrs sometimes at night.

it's great!

I sleep long enough to dream. I think my brain will heal better now that I am dreaming, I always heard that REM sleep is important, although I can't recall what exactly it's important for. I want to say it's got something to do with memory but er, I can't remember HAHAHA

 

I'll have to look it up

 

how you doin SJ?

Another rough anxiety day. I'm hoping to stop at the vitamin store tomorrow and get magnesium glycinate, see if switching to that from the mag citrate helps any. Plus, a friend of my wife's swears by a homeopathic remedy called Ignatia (please see warning in following post). It gets great reviews on Amazon. But the cost per dose can run pretty high, so I don't see it as a daily long term solution, just an emergency fix.

Edited by ChessieCat
Added note

Main thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/14472-shakeyjerr-say-hello/

History: Prozac & Lithium from 1999 to 2003. Ended up back on after 4 months because taking a beta-blocker caused immediate depression (just 2 doses - turned out I didn't even need it; I had no other withdrawal symptoms - I might have ended up med and withdrawal-free otherwise :(). - Switched to Effexor (75mg 3/day) and Seroquel (50mg 3/day) in 2010. - Did a self-taper during 2016. - Developed Discontinuation Syndrome 02/17.

Supplements: Magnesium-Glycinate 400mg split into 4 100mg doses throughout the day. Vitamin C 500mg - once per day. Fish Oil 1360 mg (950 mg Active Omega-3) - twice per day.

I'm not a doctor. I use the internet, experience, and trial & error. Seek medical advice if necessary.

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  • Moderator

Stop ShakeyJerr, do not buy that supplement with out doing a lot of research.  Please refer to my intro thread for my latest post.  (number 1079)

 

We just had a member use the supplement Nux vomica (see the paragraph quoted below) and had a very nasty reaction to it.  For people with a "normal" nervous system (such as your wife's friend) homeopathic levels of these ingredients may be relatively safe.  But for people like ourselves with highly sensitized systems they can lead to tragic results.  Even though there is a minuscule amount of the ingredient used it is still the main item used in making rat poison and is very dangerous. The ingredient you're looking at is twice as powerful as the one that harmed one of our members.

 

"It belongs to the family Loganaceae, which also produces the remedies Nux vomica, Gelsemium and Spigelia. The fruit of Ignatia amaris is a corticated berry, about ten cms in diameter, which contains numerous seeds in the middle of its yellow pulp. It has a high alkaloid content, more than 60 per cent consisting of strychnine, which is about twice as much as is found in Nux vomica."

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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I was feeling aprhensive about taking it. I was letting my desparation and my wife's connection with this person (and her success with it) sway my judgement. My wife is now kind of angry with me (she does, after all want me to get better and she unfortunately does not understand that I am very sensitive to what goes into my body now). I'm going to have to deal with her anger and frustration. Good thing I just read your serieson taming emotional spirals!

 

So, magnesium glycinate it is, then!

 

SJ

Main thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/14472-shakeyjerr-say-hello/

History: Prozac & Lithium from 1999 to 2003. Ended up back on after 4 months because taking a beta-blocker caused immediate depression (just 2 doses - turned out I didn't even need it; I had no other withdrawal symptoms - I might have ended up med and withdrawal-free otherwise :(). - Switched to Effexor (75mg 3/day) and Seroquel (50mg 3/day) in 2010. - Did a self-taper during 2016. - Developed Discontinuation Syndrome 02/17.

Supplements: Magnesium-Glycinate 400mg split into 4 100mg doses throughout the day. Vitamin C 500mg - once per day. Fish Oil 1360 mg (950 mg Active Omega-3) - twice per day.

I'm not a doctor. I use the internet, experience, and trial & error. Seek medical advice if necessary.

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I was feeling aprhensive about taking it. I was letting my desparation and my wife's connection with this person (and her success with it) sway my judgement. My wife is now kind of angry with me (she does, after all want me to get better and she unfortunately does not understand that I am very sensitive to what goes into my body now). I'm going to have to deal with her anger and frustration. Good thing I just read your serieson taming emotional spirals!

 

So, magnesium glycinate it is, then!

 

SJ

 

 

I hope the magnesium helps you. I was taking magnesium before I went into WD so I can't say for sure how it helps but it definitely seems to help most people.

Epsom salt baths are another way to get an extra boost of magnesium, it's absorbed thru your skin so I think it works pretty fast.

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
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  • Mentor

Hi Catnapt,

 

Just read your update and wowzie it is amazing about sleep! You so deserve it . I remember reading awhile back your posts and how tough it was on you with no sleep and all you hoped for just a steady solid hours of sleep and finally you caught a break! Patience acceptance and hard work paid off for sure. Very happy for you :) continuing healing to you you are one strong woman !

 

That's is great about therapy. Wishing you luck ! I had a few therapists earlier on and some were not so good and some were great and I just loved the fact that I can be heard and understood . It felt good to let it go off my chest and having someone to listen . I did get some good suggestions as well . Keep us posted

 

B

 

thanks Blondie, I'm pretty happy for myself too lol.

 it's been several nights in a row, now, that I've slept up to 7 hrs! and I haven't even needed to take the glycine in the morning because I don't have much anxiety when I wake up, either!!  it feels like a miracle. I'm gonna hate it when I have that inevitable wave, but I'll get thru it. ;-)

 

I hear ya on the therapists.  I've had mostly awful therapists and a couple of good ones. I am praying this lady is one of the good ones!! she seemed nice on the phone.  got my fingers, toes and eyes crossed, hahaha

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
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  • Mentor

Wow! 7 hrs sleep!  Good for you.  I hope it continues to improve.

 

All the best.

thanks

so far, so good!!

:)

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
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  • Moderator

 

Hi Catnapt,

Just read your update and wowzie it is amazing about sleep! You so deserve it . I remember reading awhile back your posts and how tough it was on you with no sleep and all you hoped for just a steady solid hours of sleep and finally you caught a break! Patience acceptance and hard work paid off for sure. Very happy for you :) continuing healing to you you are one strong woman !

That's is great about therapy. Wishing you luck ! I had a few therapists earlier on and some were not so good and some were great and I just loved the fact that I can be heard and understood . It felt good to let it go off my chest and having someone to listen . I did get some good suggestions as well . Keep us posted

B

 

thanks Blondie, I'm pretty happy for myself too lol.

it's been several nights in a row, now, that I've slept up to 7 hrs! and I haven't even needed to take the glycine in the morning because I don't have much anxiety when I wake up, either!! it feels like a miracle. I'm gonna hate it when I have that inevitable wave, but I'll get thru it. ;-)

 

I hear ya on the therapists. I've had mostly awful therapists and a couple of good ones. I am praying this lady is one of the good ones!! she seemed nice on the phone. got my fingers, toes and eyes crossed, hahaha

Awesome you slept! Keeping my fingers crossed on the therapist????????

PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. 

 Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist.

 Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form)

---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil.

Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper.

19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020)

I am not a medical professional.

The suggestions I make are based on personal experience.

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