3003: Current issues forcing me too lower my dosage of Luvox

[3003]

I'm 40 years old and have been on ssri's since around 21-22 for ocd depression and anxiety

Background:

First med I was on was luvox 125. "Cured" me 99.8 percent of ocd.

I was on it 14 years and had a break through. Rather then go up doctor wanted to try Prozac. I was put on 60mg of prozac

Prozac "cured" me of ocd 99.8%

June of last I wanted to try quiting.. I went down every 2 months to end up at 20mg Prozac.

I had a breakthrough in Feb. I then went back up to 60mg of Prozac. This aggravitated my ocd and I started to have my first issue with eye pain. I was titrating off Prozac and eyes started to feel better.

After 9 weeks at 60mg my eyes were burning. First eye Dr said try a different drug. I went to zoloft 120mg severe eye pain was experienced. I went lower on zoloft and eye pain got better.Went to luvox 75mg I had I pain also . Went lower and have less pain.

3 regular opthamologists
1 retinal specialist
1 glaucoma specialist
1 dry eye specialist
1 neuro opthamologist

Currently I'm on 43.75 of luvox and need some help.

My eye pain has forced me to go lower on meds and searched for a site where others who have lowered there meds have experienced similar issues with strange feelings and everything else that goes with it.

I have read a great deal on this board the last few days.

My question is I can only assume my body was used to higher doses of ssri'so that's why I'm experiencing these strange feelings and thoughts.

I have thoughts happy thoughts from childhood that seem to have been almost blocked by my ssri usage for all these years.

It's like a flood of childhood memory's have come back. I have vivid dreams now. I have bad disassociation. No interest in sex . Feel detached have anxiety in the morning and at 5pm. At night I almost feel normal.

My ocd and bad thoughts have not returned.

Is what I'm experiencing withdrawl?or am I getting used to this lower dosage?

I tried 37.5 mg but couldn't take the flood of thoughts. That's why I went up a little bit more and that's where I am now.

I take .25 or .50 xanax a day. I tried stopping but can't. I can go max 3 days without .25 or .50 of xanax . Which I use once a day.

Edited October 22, 2016 by scallywag
tags

[3003]

Sorry I forgort to mention I was on 50 MG luvox and went down 6.25 or less a week. I ended at 25 and 1/2

 

I was never good on any of these low dosages but I feel like I described on this low dosage

[scallywag]

3003 -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

Thank you for completing a signature. You mentioned several Luvox dosages in your post: 75, 43.75, 37.5.
 

A request: Would you take a minute to jot down a list of dates (month & year) you returned to Luvox, and the dates that you changed doses, then edit your signature so that we have a quick overview below all your posts?
 

You've probably already looked at the topic on eye pain. I'll post the link here for quick reference:
Eye twitching, eye pain
 
I suspect that your eye pain was an adverse effect of the SSRIs and your subsequent symptoms are a result of the medication changes and dose changes. A few links that might shine some light on this for you:
What is withdrawal syndrome
How your brain responds to psychiatric drugs - aka "Brain remodeling"
Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

Please read these topics about reducing your dosage,
Why taper by 10% of my dosage?
Tips for tapering off Luvox (fluvoxamine)

 

I hope you'll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but am glad that you found us.

[3003]

None of the eye pain was due to fast changes. It's the reason I have been making changing. Yes slight twitching but the pain is the main reason why I have so many questions.

 

Feb 11 breakthrough happened.. I went back up on Prozac to 60mg and burNing in both eyes started . I was Prozac 60mg for 9 weeks . Early March I went to zoloft and had severe eye pain. Now on this dosage of Luvox I have pain also. I have only tried different drugs because of the pain but not because each on doesn't work.

[scallywag]

What do you mean when you say breakthrough?

 

Please provide actual dates, e.g. April 2014 or mid-July 2016, to your signature rather than using timelines such as "2 months"

[3003]

Everytime I try to add more to the signature it says I don't have room. I also just updated it and saved only to find out it didn't save.

 

By Breakthrough I had some anxiety in the morning that I hadn't had for years also the disassociation had started.

[3003]

It also seems once I post I can't edit it

[3003]

I can't add more then 12 lines

 

Luvox 14 years

Prozac 5 years---Zoloft 120 3 months

June 14 100mg zoloft 10mg prozac

June 19 125 zoloft

July 10 125 zoloft

July 13 100 zoloft

August 12 100 zoloft 25mg luvox

August 15 75 zoloft 50 luvox

Mid August 50 zoloft 50 luvox

Late August 75mg luvox 25 zoloft

Sept 10 50 luvox

Sept 22 43.75 luvox

Oct 1 37.5 luvox

Oct 13. 43.75 luvox

 

Xanax as needed .25-.50 a day

 

5000 vitamin d

Ubiquinil 100mg

Vitamin b complex

Inositol 8-10 grams

Nac--- quit increases anxiety

Flaxseed oil 2x a day

Calm at night (magnesium)

[scallywag]

You can edit a post in the first 60 minutes after it was first submitted/posted.

 

All members who joined after a certain date have a 12 line limit to their signature.

 

Some people find B vitamins over-stimulating, thereby aggravating anxiety. You might consider discontinuing the supplement.

 

A possible solution that you could copy-paste to your signature:

Luvox 1997-2011 for OCD, 2016 reintroduction.
Prozac 2011 - 2016: June 2015 started taper Feb. 2016 updose from 20 mg to 60 mg, taper to 10 mg by June then discontinue to 0 after adding Zoloft 100 mg.
2016 changes:
PROZAC - ZOLOFT CROSSOVER: June 14 100mg zoloft 10mg prozac; June 19 125 zoloft dropped prozac; July 13 100 zoloft;
ZOLOFT - LUVOX CROSSOVER: August 12 100 zoloft 25mg luvox; August 15 75 zoloft 50 luvox; Mid August 50 zoloft 50 luvox; Late August 75mg luvox 25 zoloft;
LUVOX ONLY: Sep 10 50 mg Luvox; Sep 22 43.75 mg, Oct 1 37.5 mg; Oct 13 43.75 mg
***CURRENT*** 43.75 mg luvox; Xanax as needed .25-.50 a day
Supplements: 5000 vitamin d, Ubiquinil 100mg, Inositol 8-10 g, Flaxseed oil 2x a day, Calm at night (magnesium), B-complex
 

[3003]

Thank you it worked perfectly

[3003]

Any suggestions?

[scallywag]

fdads

• Run a drug interactions report. Cut and paste the report in this thread, your intro.
  Drugs-dot-com Drugs Interactions Checker.  
• Hold at 43.75 mg Luvox for a month. Make no changes with Xanax
• Read up on tapering methods and ask questions while you're holding:

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off Luvox (fluvoxamine)

 

How to cut up tablets with a pill splitter

 

Using a digital scale to measure doses

 

Making a liquid from a tablet or capsules
 

Then after a month or when your symptoms have stabilized, start with a

• 10% reduction to 39.375 mg or 40 mg
  -- or --
• 5% reduction to 41.563 or 41.5 mg.

[3003]

Run the report checker on which drugs? Luvox and Xanax?

[scallywag]

Check for interactions between whatever drugs you take regularly -- prescription, over-the-counter, "recreational" -- for any condition.

[3003]

I don't even drink beer or any alcohol anymore since Feburary when I started having slight anxiety. I don't drink coffee and try to stay away from chocolate and I don't smoke Marijuana or cigarettes.

[3003]

Scallwag

 

Where on this forum can I see what others describe in similiar situations? I mean as it is now I'm not tappering but holding.

 

I don't have my initial ocd. But I do feel like ****.also anxiety And experience disassociation and a slew of other things I mentioned initially

 

Is my body trying to stabilize? Can I stabilize? Will my anxiety get less and less?

 

Did I mess up in Feb when I tried to reinstate 60mg Prozac when I had been on 20mg?

 

I had no ocd symptoms prior until I started going up on Prozac and experienced dozens of panic attacks on Prozac when I tried to reinatate.

 

I had a knee jerk reaction and the day I had felt anxiety in the morning in Feb I started 60mg prozac

[3003]

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1339-0,3732-0,2273-12874,1093-10681,1128-9754,646-5790,133-54

[scallywag]

Interactions between your selected drugs

Moderate alprazolam fluvoxamine

Applies to: Xanax (alprazolam), Luvox (fluvoxamine)

Using ALPRAZolam together with fluvoxaMINE may increase the effects of ALPRAZolam. Contact your doctor if you experience extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling light-headed, or fainting. If your doctor does prescribe these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment or special test to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

 

No other interactions were found between your selected drugs.

Note: this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult with your doctor or pharmacist.

Therapeutic duplication warnings

No therapeutic duplications were found for your selected drugs.

 

Other drugs and diseases that your selected drugs interact with

• CoQ10 (ubiquinone) interacts with 3 other drugs.
• Luvox (fluvoxamine) interacts with more than 500 other drugs and 9 diseases.
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) interacts with more than 50 other drugs.
• Xanax (alprazolam) interacts with more than 400 other drugs and 9 diseases.

Interactions between your selected drugs and food

Moderate alprazolam food

Applies to: Xanax (alprazolam)

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with ALPRAZolam and lead to potentially dangerous side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor. Do not drink alcohol while taking ALPRAZolam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. You may feel more drowsy, dizzy, or tired if you take ALPRAZolam with alcohol. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Moderate fluvoxamine food

Applies to: Luvox (fluvoxamine)

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of fluvoxaMINE such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with fluvoxaMINE. Do not use more than the recommended dose of fluvoxaMINE, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

[scallywag]

I can't predict what route you'll take through recovery, how and when your symptoms will wax and wane.
 
To find others who have tapered or are tapering the same medications, you can click on the tags at the top of your intro page and you'll get  a list of topics with that tag. They will mostly be introduction topics.
 
To find discussions about a symptom, use google. For example if you want to find discussions about OCD use these search terms:
site:survivingantidepressants.org OCD
 
In all likelihood, the symptoms are the result of your CNS (central nervous system) adapting to the changes in dosage. When we start a neuroactive medication the CNS seeks homeostasis or equilibrium so it (CNS) makes changes to adapt to the presence of the drug. When the drug is stopped, the CNS has to "un-adapt" itself. Have a look at the information at these links to understand our best explanation about what is happening in withdrawal:
How your brain responds to psychiatric drugs - aka "Brain remodeling"
Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants
 

[3003]

The damn anxiety hits me like a clock work everyday. Usually between 2-5pm

 

I have searched this site and found some nice charts with Sert curves for ssri's.. is there any charts for luvox?

[3003]

Is it possible my anxiety is due to me taking my luvox at night and not 2 times a day?

 

How would I take my luvox 2 times a day? I take it all at night.

 

Also if my anxiety starts between 2-5 what good would taking my med 2 times a day do?

[3003]

Do you think my other major issue is that I was trying to many different dosages?

 

Right now I'm more worried about me becoming stable again. I will worry about the taper but this freaking anxiety is aweful.. I hate having to take .5 Zanax everday.

 

I also tried skipping b complex and really has had no impact either way.

 

What's even worse is I have no bad thoughts/obsessions.. I started treatment years ago I guess I would have been able to take a lower dosage then what I was always prescribed.

 

My aim is to find a happy medium even if I need to stay on a low dosage of medication. The fact is I do have Ocd.

 

My symptoms are total lack of motivation and slight anxiety in the morning and anxiety that gets worse from 2-5pm

 

Me moving dosages so frequently was due to me trying to see how much each step up and down in dosage effected my eyes.

 

Regarding the links you gave me are these posts by a psychiatrist who's on our team?

I'm basically asking for the credibility of these theorys

[scallywag]

Changes in dosage over a short period of time *can* destabilize the CNS (central nervous system) for some people. You *may* be one of them.

 

Your thought about finding a dose (doses) on which you stabilize is a good idea. Tapering can wait until you've got a wide, deep, solid foundation.

[3003]

Scallywag

 

Thank you for the quick response.. I find comfort In the links you provided but the question I have is are these posts by a psychiatrist who's on our team?

 

I'm basically asking for the credibility of these theorys

 

I'm referring to the brain remodeling in particular.

[3003]

I'm currently taking .5 Xanax a day. I know I should not tackle that issue at this time but can .5 xanax a day be contributing to my pain I have in my eyes?

[scallywag]

Eye pain can be an adverse effect of medication and also a withdrawal effect. What has your physician or psychiatrist advised about this?

 

This is a peer information site; people who post are people who are doing a DIY taper of their psych meds. There is a small number doctors and psychiatrists who are friendly to our site and work with patients tapering or in withdrawal from psych meds. In fact, one member reports that s/he came to this site at a doctor's specific suggestion.

 

If you're looking for credibility, there is very little in the field of psychiatric medication.  Serotonin deficiency, the whole premise of MAOIs, tricyclic, and SSRIs as antidepressants, is flimsy and is largely discredited.

 

We work with the premise that the symptoms during withdrawal are the result of a destabilized CNS (central nervous system).  Many doctors see withdrawal symptoms as the return of a medical condition or the occurrence of a new medical condition. They never consider the ramifications of removing of substance that has affected the CNS for months, years or decades.

 

Nobody knows how these drugs work.  If you look at FDA prescribing information for virtually any psych med, you'll almost certainly see a statement such as:  "The mechanism of action for [drug] is unknown." or "The mechanism of action of [drug] is presumed to be linked to ..." I haven't come across a definitive statement ... yet. Could happen, but I'm doubtful.

Please read the topics I linked above, particularly the one explaining the reasons for tapering 10% of dosage. There are references and links to published work of medical professionals who recommend slow tapers that take considerably longer than uninformed doctors recommend. There are also scientific, peer-reviewed studies summarized and linked in the Journals forum.

 

Most physicians and psychiatrists are woefully under-informed about the occurrence of extended and difficult withdrawal from these medications. Most medical education about pharmaceuticals comes from the manufacturers. Most research about the effectiveness and risks of the medications is done by the pharmaceutical manufacturers. As organizations with the primary goal of making a profit, pharmaceutical manufacturers have strong disincentives to find negative impacts of their products.

 

The history of psychopharmacology is both fascinating and revolting. If you're interested, read Mad In America by Robert Whitaker.

[3003]

Eye pain can be an adverse effect of medication and also a withdrawal effect. What has your physician or psychiatrist advised about this?.

I haven't stopped telling my psychiatrist every session I have an eye issue that changes with each different med and dosage. He continually says it's not the meds. I don't know what to say to him at this point. 120mg Zoloft caused the worsted of the pain. He told me I'm on such a low dosage what I'm experiencing isn't possible.

 

He also told me that I never had these issues in the past so it isn't possible the meds are causing this.

 

The guy pisses me off ever time I see him now.

 

He has no answers for me. I thought my choice of going back to luvox would have worked considering it has the least antichorgenic effects of all ssri.

 

But I was proven wrong because the pain is still there.

 

Ive been to a few eye doctors. Sarcasm there

 

3 opthamologists--- local eye doctors

1 retinal specialist

1 glaucoma specialist

1 opthamologist neurologist

1 dry eye specialist

 

I still have no answers to what is causing the eye pain.

 

I have had every eye test that exists...I think...

 

They are all are from Columbia Medical Center in nyc..

 

No closer to an answer.

 

The dry eye doctor gave me a few tests.. I don't have dry eyes typical test. She gave me a bottle steriod drops.. I guess we'll see this Tuesda if after this steriod cycle that it's made things better.. temporarily .

 

Lotemax steriod eye drops

 

1 week 2 drops a day

1 week 1 drop a day

1 week every other day

 

Any suggestions on what kind of doctor to look for next?

[3003]

And in terms of credibility... I trust the people that have been on the meds and are giving first hand experiences...that's why I love this site.

 

My previous question was just about the theories from the links you posted.

 

Thank you for your continued help..

[3003]

I have a nice mg scale to measure my luvox but has anyone used the liquid method with luvox and had success?

Edited November 11, 2016 by scallywag
moved from topic started in Tapering

[scallywag]

To find others who are tapering or have tapered the same medication as you, please click on one of the tags at the top of this page, Luvox or fluvoxamine.

 

You can also search the site using google, just include site:survivingantidepressants.org as a search term with Luvox.

[3003]

Also if I wanted to cross over to Prozac what would my schedule look like?

 

I'm thinking of going from the 47.5 luvox to perhaps 20 mg Prozac? From my reading 20 mg Prozac is equal to 50 luvox?

[3003]

If you look at my original post you can see I'm currently having eye pain.

 

My psychiatrist doesn't believe me that it exists. I need to find a new doctor.

 

I know that since I have Ocd I will be on meds maybe forever but I want to go much lower. Which will improver this eye pain.

 

I need to find a doctor that I can talk to about trying different meds in the interim. The eye pain I have is unbearable. I need a doctor that willing to listen. My current doctor said "I'm afraid your ocd is back" you must increase your dosage significantly. He also doesn't acknowledge the way I feel on a lower dosage of medication. I need someone that's on my side

 

Maybe there's a psychiatrist out there that will believe me and is knowledgeable in different meds.

 

With Prozac I had burning eyes at 60mg but 20 I think it wasn't noticable.. but that was during the taper from Prozac to zoloft.

[3003]

I just need a medication that I can be Comfortable on with no pain while tapering.

[scallywag]

Switching medications can be risky. It is safer to "dance with the one that brung ya." You could test reducing Luvox dose more rapidly -- 10% every 3 weeks for another 2 reductions.

Another approach is what brassmonkey, a moderator at SA, developed for his taper off Paxil. We call it the "brassmonkey slide"
First, calculate 10% of your current dose = 4.4 mg. Divide by 4 = 1.1 mg. Reductions as follows:

1. Week 1: Drop 1.1 mg from 43.75 to 42.65
2. Week 2: Drop 1.1 mg from 42.65 to 41.55
3. Week 3: Drop 1.1 mg from 41.55 to 40.45
4. Week 4: Drop 1.1 mg from 40.45 to 39.35
5. Week 5: stay at 39.35 mg
6. Week 6: stay at 39.35 mg, calculate next round of reductions.

This approach may be better for you because you'll be reducing dose weekly for 4 weeks and possibly decreasing eye pain. Let us know what you think.

 

If you want to switch to Prozac, you'll  to consult a knowledgeable psychiatrist who has experience with patients making this change. Many personal care physicians, and some psychiatrists as you've discovered are not up to speed on this.
Prozac switch or bridge

[3003]

I think I will have issues with the 1mg reductions.. the section on luvox taper is not that accurate. Luvox is a tablet not capsule. Maybe the capsule is for CR. Also it doesn't disolve well after some reading.

 

I also don't want to rush .. I'm still trying to figure out how to weight my med when I go from 10 percent of 43.75. My scale and The higher model have a variance of +/-3 mg

[3003]

30 days steady at this dosage and I feel like crap.. not sure when I will see some light?. I want to be stable and feel better before I taper.

 

Minor ocd/ obsessions during the day. I'm able to brush them off currently .