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☼ O2bhappy: 9 months off Prozac - does it get any better?


O2bhappy

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SG -

 

Thank you for the thoughts and hugs to my dog and me. It has really been a difficult time. I am blessed to still have her in my life, but it is difficult to see her without a leg. She is managing well. I think it is more difficult for me. I am hoping over time that I adjust to this new normal.

 

I do feel this is more difficult because I am in withdrawal.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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osotough-

 

Thanks for the info. I have never heard of queasy drops. I am trying to eat smaller meals throughout the day. I am also not drinking as much liquid because that seemed to make me feel more nauseous.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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  • Moderator

Hi O2b-- I'm glad you're feeling better and that the pup is doing well.  Dogs have an amazing capacity for recovery and acceptance. In the past I have recommended people watch videos of three legged dogs playing fetch on Youtube to learn about dealing with adversity. Truly inspirational.

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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brassmonkey -

 

She has been an inspiration to me. I think about all the complaining I have done because I don't feel well and then I look at my dog and think about everything she has been through and she is just as happy as anything. I can certainly learn a few things from her. Like I said I believe this is much harder on me then it is on her.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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I have noticed that I have been very anxious. I feel like the internal shaking I have is causing me to be anxious. I am not thinking or stressing about anything, besides the withdrawal symptoms. I noticed when I go out and do anything my anxiety gets worse. I am not experiencing panic attacks, it's constant anxiety. I am beginning to avoid the places that make my anxiety worse which I know is not a good thing. What would cause my anxiety and internal shaking to become worse in a store? Is this part of withdrawal?

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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Yes.  Most of us have had these anxious feelings , at some point. They do get better, in time.

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
.
         

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  • Moderator Emeritus

i can't remember who it was who wrote that he or she could look at a coffee mug and feel anxiety  ;-)  I've had those weird body waves of anxiety, too, definitely related to withdrawal.  Helps to take a few deep breaths and say to yourself, "there goes WD again, but it will pass."

 

SG

Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac.  Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002
Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history.  Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots!
Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off.  Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep.

June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened!  Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015.

Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month.

12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 

Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18:  2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor

 

My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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AliG -

 

Thank you for letting me know that this is part of withdrawal. I am glad to hear that it gets better with time.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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SG -

 

I can relate to looking at a coffee mug and feeling anxious. I stopped drinking caffeine because it makes my shaking worse. I will tell myself that this is WD and it will pass.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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Another thing that I have noticed is that when I am outside on a sunny day it seems so much brighter to me then when I was on Prozac. Is this from coming off Prozac? Is it part of withdrawal? I wear dark sunglasses and find myself squinting.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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I can definitely relate to the anxiety coming out of nowhere with no seeming reason, I've been getting it a lot too lately. I find if I step back from it and just observe the feeling, it helps my brain to recognise it's not real anxiety - sorry if that doesn't make sense, it's the only way I can think to explain it. Once I can say yes that's not related to anything it's just withdrawal, it tends to go. Still comes back at times throughout the day but it's starting to go away more quickly now, and the process of observing the anxiety and then dismissing it is becoming more subconscious in a way. I don't know if dismissing it is the right word or not, maybe more accepting it instead of fighting against it. I think it's the same as Dr Claire Weekes' 'face and float' which has been really helpful to me and is explained here: http://programs.centacare.org.au/pace/2014/01/15/learning-to-face-and-float/

You can find a lot of her videos on YouTube if you search for Claire Weekes. 

 

And yes to the sun seeming brighter, all summer I've been drawing the curtains in the house. I've found the sun seems to stimulate me too much and I can't then relax; I guess that makes sense with a sensitised nervous system. 

 

I checked last year's diary and I took my last fluoxetine capsule on 29th August 2015, 2 days after you took your last one. I think treating ourselves will definitely be in order on the anniversary day :)

 

Glad to hear your dog is doing so well too.

2002 - Prescribed fluoxetine 20mg for mild situational depression and anxiety. Over the years also briefly swapped about on citalopram, sertraline and venlafaxine during poop out. 2012 - Cold turkeyed fluoxetine. Within 3 months was suffering from aggression, anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia. GP put me back on tablets as I was 'relapsing'. I didn't know anything about WD then. Jul 15 - Wanted to quit fluoxetine again so tapered off (skipping doses) over 6 weeks under advice of GP. Aug 15 - Last fluoxetine dose end of August 2015. Dec 15 - Had my first real crash after discontinuing. Found this site. Aug-Dec 16 - Signed off work because of a herniated disc & severe sciatica. Prescribed diazepam (took for 6 days and got WD symptoms on stopping; nausea, morning cortisol spikes, anxiety, anger) and codeine which I was on for 4 mths. Can confirm - opiate WD is nasty but nowhere near as bad or prolonged as SSRI WD!
Withdrawal symptoms have included: extreme anger and irritability, lethargy, depression and weepiness, anxiety, stomach upsets, loss of appetite, excessive sweating, muscle and back pain, insomnia, cortisol surges, akathisia, inability to cope with stress.
Things that help: herbal tinctures (rose, lemon balm, chamomile and skullcap), seaweed baths & epsom salt baths, fish oil and magnesium.

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  • 2 weeks later...

keepinghope -

 

I understand observing the anxiety. I am working with my therapist on Acceptance and Commitment therapy. We talk about observing and accepting feelings and thoughts that I am having. Some days it is more difficult to accept the anxiety. Thanks for providing me with the link to Claire Weekes. I have watched one of her videos. I will have to go back and watch more. I will let you know if I am successful in observing my anxiety.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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Sunday was my one year anniversary of stopping Prozac. I feel like I should be happy and celebrating the achievement of not going back on another SSRi but it is difficult to celebrate when you are still dealing with withdrawal. I have improved over the year, which I have to keep reminding myself.

 

I still have numerous symptoms but the one that is really bothering me now is the anxiety. I feel like the internal shaking I have is causing my body to feel very anxious. I started taking Prozac for panic attacks and I am starting to feel panicky. Thankfully I haven't had any panic attacks. I find myself being nervous about going to the store, but once I get there I am okay. I am constantly comparing myself to other people. I look at them and think how lucky they are to just walk in a store and not deal with the anxiety of being in the store. I know I don't know what they could be dealing with but I am still comparing. I also look at people enjoying their lives and I sit here scared to do things. Maybe I am jealous of people living their lives while I live with fear and anxiety. I was never like this before. Is this part of withdrawal? Any suggestions on how to stop comparing?

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary!  You should be proud of yourself!  I can relate to being jealous of how other people seem to go about their days so easily and laugh so easily...I feel that way too.  I am sorry you are still dealing with anxiety....do you take any supplements to help with that?

 

Also, if you would not mind could you list the symptoms that you feel have gotten better over the past year?  I am trying to recover from being off prozac too and am just at day 33...I have such a long way to go and sometimes think this will be a life long recovery process.

1995 - 2015 antidepressants and antianxiety medicine
Multiple failed attempts to quit/taper anti d/anti anxiety meds since 2008

June 17, 2016 began prozac bridge to get off of effexor xr, stopped effexor xr on June 24, 2016, could not tolerate prozac due to severe side effects so I had to stop it  Currently...300 mg ER of lithium, 1 mg of estradiol, 60 mg propranolol ER, Fish oil 2 x a day, Magnesium Glycinate,  zinc, vitamin c, vitamin d, NAC

 

 

 

 

 

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downtongirl -

 

I do not take any supplements. I use to take a multivitamin and omega 3 but my stomach could not tolerate it. I might try again in a few months. The interesting thing about comparing myself is that I never use to do it before Prozac or even on Prozac. I think it is because I have felt bad for so long that I see everyone else as enjoying their lives and having fun.

 

My symptoms that have gotten better...I no longer have tremors, the pressure behind my eyes is better, the ringing in my ear is gone, my nausea is finally improving, my appetite is better (I still cannot eat a lot), my constant crying is much better (I still cry easily but not like before). I am sure I am leaving things out but that gives you an idea that things do improve.

 

One thing I did notice is at the third month of being off Prozac I took a turn for the worse. I read that is very common with Prozac withdrawal because of the long half life. Ever since then I have had the window and waves of withdrawal.

 

Symptoms I am currently dealing with is anxiety, internal shaking, and olfactory hallucination. I also get some weird sensations in my head/brain. I tell myself that is my brain healing itself. I also have hot flashes and night sweats, but that could be related to menopause.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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I used to feel like you after too fast taper. Crying all the time and very sensitive to any bad news and heart broken. I wish i could feel that way again... i had bad reaction to reinstatement (only 1mg) and my heart turned into stone and felt like my emotions was trapped like genie in the bottle, for a long time i couldn't cry or laught. Now I can cry but not that deep cry only sobbing. I'm sure the crying you have is healing and purifying you. Read the story of Laura Delano she was flooded with (sad)emotions after stopping all her medications(14 years on) after only six months taper.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG_tA52D-rE

Citalopram 40mg from 2003-2015

Jan 2015 started tapering first dropped to 35mgFeb 30mg, March 25mgApril 20mg, May 17,5mg, June 15mgJuly 12,5mg, Aug 12,5mg,

Sep 0mg for 5 days because of stomac flu and after I raised to 7,5mg. All the symptoms of acute WD shaking, diarrhea, vomiting, barely could walk ect. Still didn't realize that it wasn't only stomac flu but I was also going through WD.

Oct 2,5mg and crashed again badly and quickly raised to 4mg. It was then when I knew my symptoms were due to WD.

Then in November after a month holding on 4mg raised to 5mg due to muscle weakness and had a VERY BAD reaction to reinstatement: akathisia(lasted for one or two weeks), insomnia, anhedonia... Drop quicly back to 4mg, Dec 3mg

Jan 2016 2,6mg( in the middle of Jan after I had been on 2,6mg for a week I tried to updose to 2,8mg and immediately had bad reaction to it: akathisia for a day, andehonia got worse. The next day dropped back to 2,6mg), Feb 2,4mg( a new symptom PGAD lasted 24/7 for 2 months after that on and off), March 2,4mg, April 2,3mg, May 2,2mg, June 2,1mg, July 2,0mg( Pgad almost nonexisting, sleeping pretty good, still some anhedonia but there has been a lot of gradual progress), Aug 1,97mg-1,89mg, Sep 1,88mg-1,49mg, Oct 1,48mg- 1,70mg,

Nov 0,65mg- current dose 0,5mg

 

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I used to feel like you after too fast taper. Crying all the time and very sensitive to any bad news and heart broken. I wish i could feel that way again... i had bad reaction to reinstatement (only 1mg) and my heart turned into stone and felt like my emotions was trapped like genie in the bottle, for a long time i couldn't cry or laught. Now I can cry but not that deep cry only sobbing. I'm sure the crying you have is healing and purifying you. Read the story of Laura Delano she was flooded with (sad)emotions after stopping all her medications(14 years on) after only six months taper.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG_tA52D-rE

And Laura has survived http://recoveringfrompsychiatry.com/

Citalopram 40mg from 2003-2015

Jan 2015 started tapering first dropped to 35mgFeb 30mg, March 25mgApril 20mg, May 17,5mg, June 15mgJuly 12,5mg, Aug 12,5mg,

Sep 0mg for 5 days because of stomac flu and after I raised to 7,5mg. All the symptoms of acute WD shaking, diarrhea, vomiting, barely could walk ect. Still didn't realize that it wasn't only stomac flu but I was also going through WD.

Oct 2,5mg and crashed again badly and quickly raised to 4mg. It was then when I knew my symptoms were due to WD.

Then in November after a month holding on 4mg raised to 5mg due to muscle weakness and had a VERY BAD reaction to reinstatement: akathisia(lasted for one or two weeks), insomnia, anhedonia... Drop quicly back to 4mg, Dec 3mg

Jan 2016 2,6mg( in the middle of Jan after I had been on 2,6mg for a week I tried to updose to 2,8mg and immediately had bad reaction to it: akathisia for a day, andehonia got worse. The next day dropped back to 2,6mg), Feb 2,4mg( a new symptom PGAD lasted 24/7 for 2 months after that on and off), March 2,4mg, April 2,3mg, May 2,2mg, June 2,1mg, July 2,0mg( Pgad almost nonexisting, sleeping pretty good, still some anhedonia but there has been a lot of gradual progress), Aug 1,97mg-1,89mg, Sep 1,88mg-1,49mg, Oct 1,48mg- 1,70mg,

Nov 0,65mg- current dose 0,5mg

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

reachingfortheatars -

 

Thank you for sharing Laura's story. I am going to have to read it.

 

I am not sure if the crying has been healing, but I guess that is a good way to look at it. It is hard to feel on the verge of crying every moment.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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I am back to feeling very sad and anxious. The sadness started up again when I found another lump on my dog. The vet isn't certain if it is the cancer returning or not. My dog is now on pain medicine and an anti-inflammatory. She seems to be doing better, but I am still very scared and worried. I don't want to leave her because I want to spend as much time as possible with her.

 

I have also noticed my anxiety has gotten much worse. Probably because of the stress with my dog. It am trying to mediate but it really hasn't help. I find myself not wanting to do anything because of the anxiety. It is consist. I am sure it would help if I had more going on in my life. All I think about is how I feel and my dog, not a very good thing when I have a family. I should be taking care of them and not be so focused on me but it is hard. Maybe if I was busy things would be better.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I will reach my 13th month being off Prozac in two days. I find myself really struggling with the constant crying and overwhelming sadness I am feeling. I cannot find that happy median. I am either very sad and depressed or very angry. I don't feel like I am dealing with my emotions very well. I am finding I am having a hard time connecting with my family. I feel distant from them. I think that is causing me to feel more sad and hurt. I don't know how to make it better.

 

I have also been feeling very guilty about all the things I didn't do or that I let go while being on Prozac. It is a constant reminder of what that medicine did to me. I regret taking it, especially for so many years. I have no motivation to do the things that need to get done and those things I let go while being on Prozac. How can I motivate to do things I need to do when I can't even motivate to do the things I want to do.

 

I am wondering and assuming this could be a wave that I am in. I just want to be the old me, but I know the old me was someone who was drugged. I miss my happy self. The person who was outgoing and witting. How would anyone want to be around me when I don't want to be around myself.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Often people experience a wave somewhere around the 1 year mark after the last dose. A few members have posted about in this thread:

 

Is it possible to get symptoms a year after stopping SSRI?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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  • Moderator Emeritus

This is definitely wave-speak, O2B.  And as scallywag wrote, we have seen the pattern here on SA that people fall into waves around this time.  It's a matter of being kind to yourself and reminding yourself that this is the wave talking/thinking, and it will pass.  Cold turkey quits go like this, unfortunately.  

 

When in this frame of mind, it is easy to feel that this is it forever; the idea of sitting with these feelings for the next month or even week can be soul crushingly hard (not that that is how long the wave will last, just that you may fear it will).   So it can be helpful to recite a mantra at these times, something like "this is withdrawal, but it's a sign of healing and I can take one day at a time."  When I was in waves, I had such bad anxiety about the coming summer heat (disproportionate fear, really) but I did find it helpful to say to myself "I will do the best I can to take one day at a time."  Just try it. Say that to yourself 50 times or more.  Say it like you are happy about it.  It is possible to yank the mind into a better place doing so.

 

You will get through this wave, and the next one...It is all part of ongoing healing.

 

SG

Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac.  Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002
Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history.  Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots!
Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off.  Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep.

June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened!  Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015.

Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month.

12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 

Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18:  2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor

 

My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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Scallywag -

 

Thanks for sharing the thread. I hate for any of us to still be dealing with this a year later.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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SG -

 

It is hard to remind yourself that this is the w/d speaking when you are in the middle of a wave. I wish I didn't cold turkey coming off Prozac but I had not choice. My body could not handle the change from one generic to the next and I figured this was my body telling me to get off the stuff.

 

I know I have gotten through waves before but this one seems bad, but I guess they are all bad. I am having a hard time not getting stuck with these thoughts I am having. I know my body is healing but I am having scary feelings that it won't get any better. I haven't had these thoughts in months. I like your idea of having a mantra. I have told myself before that what I am experiencing is withdrawal and my body is healing, I am finding that hard to say while in this wave.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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O2bhappy...sorry you are still struggling....I have been off of prozac for 8 weeks and I am starting to get some nausea....no vomiting yet...and I am getting internal vibrations and the energized feeling you describe like you have drank too much caffeine....it scares me and I have panic disorder and it makes me feel like I am loosing control....do you think this is akathisia?  If so have you tried propranolol?

1995 - 2015 antidepressants and antianxiety medicine
Multiple failed attempts to quit/taper anti d/anti anxiety meds since 2008

June 17, 2016 began prozac bridge to get off of effexor xr, stopped effexor xr on June 24, 2016, could not tolerate prozac due to severe side effects so I had to stop it  Currently...300 mg ER of lithium, 1 mg of estradiol, 60 mg propranolol ER, Fish oil 2 x a day, Magnesium Glycinate,  zinc, vitamin c, vitamin d, NAC

 

 

 

 

 

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downtongirl -

 

Maybe the internal shaking is akathisia, but I am not certain. I have had it for over a year. I have noticed that any caffeine makes it worse. I have not taken any medicine for it. It does cause me to be very anxious. I also suffer from panic attacks.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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Does it cause you to be restless and have to move around?

1995 - 2015 antidepressants and antianxiety medicine
Multiple failed attempts to quit/taper anti d/anti anxiety meds since 2008

June 17, 2016 began prozac bridge to get off of effexor xr, stopped effexor xr on June 24, 2016, could not tolerate prozac due to severe side effects so I had to stop it  Currently...300 mg ER of lithium, 1 mg of estradiol, 60 mg propranolol ER, Fish oil 2 x a day, Magnesium Glycinate,  zinc, vitamin c, vitamin d, NAC

 

 

 

 

 

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downtongirl -

 

Know it doesn't. It feels like I have had way too much caffeine. When Prozac stopped working for me I developed restless leg syndrome, and I was constantly moving my legs. Come to think of it I did have a time period in March/April where I felt that I couldn't sit still and I needed to walk around or bounce my leg. That is when my doctor lowered my thyroid medicine.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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O2bhappy- I'm almost 3 years off cold turkey from Prozac, I took it for a many years.

 

I remember the strange smells very well, I would suddenly get a smell that mentally took me back somewhere but I had no idea where, it wasn't a bad smell just totally indescribable. I also saw ent but that was more for the vertigo and constant tinitus, the smell has gone but the tinitus never left.

10 months of venlaflaxine cold turkey. Prozac 20 mg for 13 years, the last 5 years taken every other day. Cold Turkey.

Hellish terror. Deep melancholic depression, chronic insomnia, swing between akathesia and chronic fatigue. Vertigo, headaches neck pain and inner tremor. Taking magnesium and vit c. Just bought seriphos not tried yet.

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I have tinnitus too but have had that since I started lowering my klonopin dosage in 2013.  I am having this head in a fog, thinking in slow motions, etc. and it is so frustrating....it is accompanied with slight dizziness and unsteadiness....I am able to drive and don't fall down but I stagger sometime....do ya'll experience this?

1995 - 2015 antidepressants and antianxiety medicine
Multiple failed attempts to quit/taper anti d/anti anxiety meds since 2008

June 17, 2016 began prozac bridge to get off of effexor xr, stopped effexor xr on June 24, 2016, could not tolerate prozac due to severe side effects so I had to stop it  Currently...300 mg ER of lithium, 1 mg of estradiol, 60 mg propranolol ER, Fish oil 2 x a day, Magnesium Glycinate,  zinc, vitamin c, vitamin d, NAC

 

 

 

 

 

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Arcticjessy -

 

I still have the smell issue. It isn't as bad as it was months ago, but I still have it everyday. Sometimes I notice it more during stressful times. I have not come across many people coming off Prozac dealing with an olfactory hallucination.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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downtongirl -

 

" I am having this head in a fog, thinking in slow motions, etc. and it is so frustrating....it is accompanied with slight dizziness and unsteadiness"

 

I can relate to those feelings. I had the hardest time concentrating and my head felt like it was in a fog. You are very correct. It is frustrating. I can remember driving and feeling like my head was riding in the back seat. It took everything I had to focus enough to drive. I couldn't remember things and still cannot. I have to write myself reminders otherwise I forget things.

 

I also had the unsteadiness. I felt like I would fall over for no reason. I would trip over the smallest thing.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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I have noticed that I have had a lot of anger recently. It is not like something happens during the day to make me angry. I wake up this way and it last all day. At times it feels like rage. I hate this feeling. Anyone else have this? Is it withdrawal? Any suggestion on how to control the anger. I have never been an angry person so this feeling is very upsetting to me.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Here's a link to SA's topic:  Irritability, Anger, Rage

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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ChessieCat -

 

Thank you for sharing the link with me. I could really relate to a lot of it. It certainly sounds like anger is common in withdrawal. It's awful to feel anger/rage one moment and then feel like you could start crying the next. I hate that others are suffering with these symptoms but it is comforting knowing I am not alone.

Discontinued Fluoxetine cold turkey after taking it for 12 years. Stopped taking Fluoxetine in August 2015.

My current withdrawal symptoms: Itchy skin, smell hallucination, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety. 

Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I haven't felt rage, but I have had times of very bad irritability.  My poor cat cops it.  But no animals have been harmed ;)  I usually get annoyed with her, tell her off (she's deaf) and grab her (gently mind - she's 18 this month) and put her on the floor.  Probably a little rougher than when I'm not feeling irritable.  It like when kids drive you mad.  They keep at you and you are ignoring it and then all of a sudden you realise what is happening and then go "for goodness' sake leave me alone!"  But I love her dearly!!!

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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