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Cipramillion ☼ Cipralex


Cipramillion

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On 12.6.2017 at 2:53 PM, Happy2Heal said:

 

 

thanks Cip, hugs to you too.

my current dose of lexapro is 0.18mgs

 

one thing I will not do is go up in the dose, I tried that back in the fall and it only made things worse.

so I'll hold for now and try to see if that smooths out the remaining WD symptoms. I'd love to be able to sleep more (now still only getting 3 to 5 broken hours per night) and I'd like less daytime anxiety, and I think I have some mild depression...? not sure. just not feeling too great, but not really bad either.

I have no motivation to do things and no interest in my old hobbies. Sometimes I get racing thoughts, other times, I can't concentrate. It's an odd mix of symptoms, all fairly mild, but annoying in that there seems to be no break from them.

 

It's a ton better than severe symptoms with no break but it's draining, you know?

:/

 

Wow! 0.18 mg. You sure have come a long way. You are almost there now!

 

The insomnia used to be my worst symptom too. That and the akathisia. My sleep has improved a lot with time and reduction in dose. The weird dreams are still there, but less intense. I used to sleep 1-2 hours a night for months. It was hell! Im sure you will recover and sleep better in time. Just be patient and take good care of yourself. Healing is happening every day, and you will get there! 

<p>Sept 2015: 5 mg Cipralex for 3 weeks. Lots of side effects. Reduced to 2.5 mg for 2 weeks. Experiencing withdrawal and side effects still after dose reduction. Quit after almost 4 weeks on 2.5 mg because of adverse effects. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms still. Reinstating 1mg after 3 weeks. Reduced to 0.50 after 2 days due to sensitive reaction (dysautonomia) and trip to ER. January 2016: After 14 months of tapering from 0.5 mg im now down to 0.08mg. Planing on one more drop before 4-8 weeks healing, then jump to zero. 14.03.17: Lexapro free!

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  • Cipramillion

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  • LexAnger

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  • AmyK

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  • Rain

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  • Mentor
6 hours ago, Cipramillion said:

The insomnia used to be my worst symptom too. That and the akathisia. My sleep has improved a lot with time and reduction in dose. The weird dreams are still there, but less intense. I used to sleep 1-2 hours a night for months. It was hell! Im sure you will recover and sleep better in time. Just be patient and take good care of yourself. Healing is happening every day, and you will get there! 

 

thank you so much for your input


I know everyone is different but I can't help but ask, about when did your sleep improve?
did it happen gradually?

I would love to just go to bed and wake up a good 7 or 8 hrs later!!
I can't believe that when I was on the drug, I fell asleep so easily that I was using "sleep247" for a password. I seriously could fall asleep any time, if I just sat still long enough (like 10 mins or so)


I used to complain about that, Now I would give anything for just ONE of those kind of days!

 

just can't please me, I'm afraid. :P

 

  • 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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Hey my friend! It's nice to see you are doing a lot better! 

 

Hope you enjoy your time! 

2006 October Zoloft 50mg for anxiety.

2013 March Lexapro 10mg for 18 months to 2015 September.

2015 September increased to 20mg for 7 weeks but getting worse. 3rd November dropped back to 10mg

2016 11th November taper to 9mg

2017 3rd March Taper to 8.8mg, then Fast taper start: 10th-8.6mg, 12th-8.2mg, 17th-8.0mg, 22rd-7.7mg, 27th-7.4mg.

April 2nd- 6.9mg (WD start), 19th-6.5mg. Failed one day Cymbalta trial, took back Lexapro, much worse Akathisia torture. Keep holding. 

May 22nd- 6.3mg, June 10th- 5.7mg, Nov- 4.4mg, Dec- 4.3mg,

2018 Jan- 4.1mg 

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On 16.6.2017 at 0:25 PM, FSL said:

Hi, Cipramillion!
 

I quickly read through your thread and I'm really happy for you. It's encouraging knowing that it's possible to get rid of this nasty drug. I'm on a low dose but still a very long way to go for me.

Please keep us posted as the weeks and months pass. 

 

All the best!

FSL

 

Thank you, FSL!

 

What dose are you on?

 

Just hang in there, there is a light at the end of the WD-tunnel!

 

Best wishes! 

<p>Sept 2015: 5 mg Cipralex for 3 weeks. Lots of side effects. Reduced to 2.5 mg for 2 weeks. Experiencing withdrawal and side effects still after dose reduction. Quit after almost 4 weeks on 2.5 mg because of adverse effects. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms still. Reinstating 1mg after 3 weeks. Reduced to 0.50 after 2 days due to sensitive reaction (dysautonomia) and trip to ER. January 2016: After 14 months of tapering from 0.5 mg im now down to 0.08mg. Planing on one more drop before 4-8 weeks healing, then jump to zero. 14.03.17: Lexapro free!

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13 hours ago, Rain said:

Hey my friend! It's nice to see you are doing a lot better! 

 

Hope you enjoy your time! 

 

Hi, Rain!

 

Nice to hear from you again!  

 

How are you doing yourself these days? 

 

 

<p>Sept 2015: 5 mg Cipralex for 3 weeks. Lots of side effects. Reduced to 2.5 mg for 2 weeks. Experiencing withdrawal and side effects still after dose reduction. Quit after almost 4 weeks on 2.5 mg because of adverse effects. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms still. Reinstating 1mg after 3 weeks. Reduced to 0.50 after 2 days due to sensitive reaction (dysautonomia) and trip to ER. January 2016: After 14 months of tapering from 0.5 mg im now down to 0.08mg. Planing on one more drop before 4-8 weeks healing, then jump to zero. 14.03.17: Lexapro free!

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19 hours ago, Cipramillion said:

 

Hi, Rain!

 

Nice to hear from you again!  

 

How are you doing yourself these days? 

 

 

I am still in up and down, but the akathisia is a lot better! I am now having WD, which contains lots of physical symptoms such as nausea, anxiety, dizzy, fatigue, etc... 

2006 October Zoloft 50mg for anxiety.

2013 March Lexapro 10mg for 18 months to 2015 September.

2015 September increased to 20mg for 7 weeks but getting worse. 3rd November dropped back to 10mg

2016 11th November taper to 9mg

2017 3rd March Taper to 8.8mg, then Fast taper start: 10th-8.6mg, 12th-8.2mg, 17th-8.0mg, 22rd-7.7mg, 27th-7.4mg.

April 2nd- 6.9mg (WD start), 19th-6.5mg. Failed one day Cymbalta trial, took back Lexapro, much worse Akathisia torture. Keep holding. 

May 22nd- 6.3mg, June 10th- 5.7mg, Nov- 4.4mg, Dec- 4.3mg,

2018 Jan- 4.1mg 

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  • 1 month later...

Just checking on you Cipromillion. Hope you are doing well!

lex

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

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  • 3 weeks later...

Time for another update. 5 months off Lexapro as i write this. 

 

Im happy to say that i have improved even further since my last update. Im living a more or less normal life now. My capacity at work is 100% and im more resilient when it comes to stress. My emotions are less numb and im starting to recognize more and more of my old self coming back again. I can enjoy life much more than before! I would say that i actually feel happy for the first time in many months! My sleep is back to normal and the fatigue is dramatically reduced. Still got waves, but mostly mild and they usually will pass in a day or two, at least when it comes to the worst symptoms. Some mornings i can wake up with mild anxiety, but not something i cant handle at this point. usually last just a short time. To be honest, i never thought life could feel this good again. WD does a pretty good job at keeping our brain in a constant alarm state, and has such a nasty hold on our expectation. But we can heal. I know this now, as my experience dont lie. Never stop believing things can get better!

 

Sending lots of love and warm thoughts to all of you brave warriors out there. Keep up the good work and stay strong, friends. 

 

On 24.7.2017 at 7:23 AM, LexAnger said:

Just checking on you Cipromillion. Hope you are doing well!

lex

 

Thank you so much for checking in on me, and im sorry for the late reply. Been a few busy weeks. Im thinking of you, friend. Hope you are doing well. 

 

Hugs!

 

 

<p>Sept 2015: 5 mg Cipralex for 3 weeks. Lots of side effects. Reduced to 2.5 mg for 2 weeks. Experiencing withdrawal and side effects still after dose reduction. Quit after almost 4 weeks on 2.5 mg because of adverse effects. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms still. Reinstating 1mg after 3 weeks. Reduced to 0.50 after 2 days due to sensitive reaction (dysautonomia) and trip to ER. January 2016: After 14 months of tapering from 0.5 mg im now down to 0.08mg. Planing on one more drop before 4-8 weeks healing, then jump to zero. 14.03.17: Lexapro free!

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Can't be happier to hear your great update!

its so true how these drugs altered so many core things that define a human being! This is so encouraging to all of us who are still fighting and wondering desparetely if the brain will ever heal in full. Thank you for the hope you give us!

 

love how you feel and live life now after this incredible experience! You deserve all the great things that life can offer!

 

big hugs!!

lex

 

 

 

 

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

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Cipramillion, your journey gives me so much hope and comfort. 

It's wonderful that you feel almost "normal". I am so happy for you! 

Well done! 

Love and hugs back, Amy

Current dose: 0! Free!  Quit June 2017.

2017: Last dose zoloft: 17 June 0,00065 mg 18 May 0, 001 mg 14 May 0,002 mg 9 May 0,003 mg 28 April 0,006 mg 19 April 0,009 mg 8 April 0,013 mg 25 March 0,019 mg 22 March 0,039 mg 18 March 0,052 mg 16 March 0,079 mg 4 March 0,086 1 March 0,099 mg 22 February 0,11 mg 15 February 0,13 mg 6 February 0,145 mg 24 January 0,15 mg 19 January 0,19 mg 10 January 0,20 mg 3 January

2016: 0,98 to 0,22 mg; 2015: 2,35 to 1,01 mg; 2014: 4,9 to 2,5 mg; 2013: 9,1 to 5,1 mg; 2012: 15,7 to 9,7 mg; 2011: Started on 25 mg - then 50 mg- dropped to 25- to 12.5 mg - back to 25 mg - after 18.75 mg started tiny tapering to 16.6 mg

Started on 25 mg Zoloft in March 2011 due to stressrelated tinnitus that gave me panicattacks. Had a terrible reaction to Zoloft from start, but was told to "hold on". After four months I was stuck. Therefore the long taper. Crazy, I know... Super sensitive to drops and have dropped by 4-6 % from the previous dose.

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  • 1 month later...

Cipramillion. Just want to stop by and sa hi. :) I hope you are still doing good and enjoying life. 

All the best, Amy

Current dose: 0! Free!  Quit June 2017.

2017: Last dose zoloft: 17 June 0,00065 mg 18 May 0, 001 mg 14 May 0,002 mg 9 May 0,003 mg 28 April 0,006 mg 19 April 0,009 mg 8 April 0,013 mg 25 March 0,019 mg 22 March 0,039 mg 18 March 0,052 mg 16 March 0,079 mg 4 March 0,086 1 March 0,099 mg 22 February 0,11 mg 15 February 0,13 mg 6 February 0,145 mg 24 January 0,15 mg 19 January 0,19 mg 10 January 0,20 mg 3 January

2016: 0,98 to 0,22 mg; 2015: 2,35 to 1,01 mg; 2014: 4,9 to 2,5 mg; 2013: 9,1 to 5,1 mg; 2012: 15,7 to 9,7 mg; 2011: Started on 25 mg - then 50 mg- dropped to 25- to 12.5 mg - back to 25 mg - after 18.75 mg started tiny tapering to 16.6 mg

Started on 25 mg Zoloft in March 2011 due to stressrelated tinnitus that gave me panicattacks. Had a terrible reaction to Zoloft from start, but was told to "hold on". After four months I was stuck. Therefore the long taper. Crazy, I know... Super sensitive to drops and have dropped by 4-6 % from the previous dose.

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  • 8 months later...
On 8/11/2017 at 1:45 PM, Cipramillion said:

Time for another update. 5 months off Lexapro as i write this. 

 

Im happy to say that i have improved even further since my last update. Im living a more or less normal life now. My capacity at work is 100% and im more resilient when it comes to stress. My emotions are less numb and im starting to recognize more and more of my old self coming back again. I can enjoy life much more than before! I would say that i actually feel happy for the first time in many months! My sleep is back to normal and the fatigue is dramatically reduced. Still got waves, but mostly mild and they usually will pass in a day or two, at least when it comes to the worst symptoms. Some mornings i can wake up with mild anxiety, but not something i cant handle at this point. usually last just a short time. To be honest, i never thought life could feel this good again. WD does a pretty good job at keeping our brain in a constant alarm state, and has such a nasty hold on our expectation. But we can heal. I know this now, as my experience dont lie. Never stop believing things can get better!

 

Sending lots of love and warm thoughts to all of you brave warriors out there. Keep up the good work and stay strong, friends. 

 

 

Thank you so much for checking in on me, and im sorry for the late reply. Been a few busy weeks. Im thinking of you, friend. Hope you are doing well. 

 

Hugs!

 

 

Happy to know your recovery Cipramillion.

How is your sleep now?

How many hours are you able to sleep without dreams disturbing?

Are you still facing dreams?

 

 

Cold turkeyed risperidone (1m.g)and trihexyphenidyl combination drug out of ignorance,In August 2016 after one month use.

Withdrawal symptoms settled at dreamful,disturbing sleep.

Thus introduced to olanzapine for sleep.Started using olanzapine out of ignorance.

Tapering olanzapine 10 m.g from February 2017.

May 2018 :Still suffering dreams,Still tapering olanzapine at 0.625.100ml water+2.5 mg olanzapine. June 2018 22.5ml=0.57mg.July 2018 20ml,August 2018-17.5ml,September 2018-15ml,October 2018 10 ml,December 2018 7 ml, BrassMonkey slide method so far at lower doses.2 nd December cold turkeyed , only to reach minure doses as reinstatement to cutshort endless tapering process.4rth December started 1ml.

Almost no symptoms and sleep is better,So started 0.5 ml from 17-12-2018.

"0"from31-12-18.Re birth happened from 10- 2020,as rejuvenation took whole2019.Completely recovered now.

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  • 7 months later...
  • Mentor

Cipramillion, how are you doing?

 



welcome to the New Year! 

 

I hope all is well with you! 

:)

 

 


 

 

 

  • 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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  • 4 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Cipramillion - you've been off for 2 years now?  How are you going?

Are you ready to do a success story thread?

I hope you see the sun today!
 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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