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Bobo32: Paxil use the cause PSSD?


Bobo32

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Bobo, 

 

I feel your pain. I am at 6 months  off Lexapro and have EXACTLY the same symptoms! the tinnitus waxes and wanes. I notice it is worse when my anxiety is the highest. My sleep has been disturbed too.I have been only able to sleep 3-5 hours per night since December. Lexapro is a powerful SSRI. My Pdoc said it is the strongest of the SSRIs. 

1994-2015: Many trials of SSRIs for anxiety and depersonalization coupled to the anxiety. 

2013 to 04-2016: Clonazepam .5 three times a day. Slowly tapered on 04-2016. Withdrawal was hell for 6 months them stabilized. 

2013 to 2014: Celexa 20mg 

2014- to 01-2016: 20mg Prozac

01-2016 to 11-15-2016: 10mg Lexapro. Did a 2 month taper to zero on 11-15-2016. the last 5mg were water titration. 

12-25-2016 Started having sleeping issues. By 01-01-2017 sleep disappeared for 4 days. Was hospitalized for three days.

01-01-17 to 01-10-2017 Trial of 37.5mg for three days than 75mg Effexor. Created major anxiety so I stopped it. 

01-16-2017 to 01-26-2017 Trial of Brintellix 10mg. Stopped due to aggravating sleep issue and anxiety.

02-10-2017 to 02-17-2017 Reinstated 5mg of Lexapro. Usual startup anxiety and foggy head. Started getting tinnitus. Stopped the Lexapro thinking that caused the tinnitus.  

 

 

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I also have a sense of inner restlessness. Could it be akathisia caused by all the drugs I used ?

Yes it could be, unfortunately. How are you feeling now? Edited by scallywag
merged topic "Is it withdrawal? Anxiety symptoms."

Aug-Dec 2015 Prozac 20mg / Dec 2015-Feb 2016 Prozac 15mg / Feb 2016-May2016 Prozac 20mg

May 2016-June 2016 15mg

June 2016-August 2016 10mg

October 2016-January 2017 15mg, alternating agitation/akathisia sets in --> cold turkey

January 2017 Clonazepam .5mg 

February 2017 Clonazepam 1mg (for a week) then .5mg morning and .25mg evening for about a month. Came down to .25mg morning and evening. 

May 1, 2017 Clonazepam .25mg morning and .125mg evening. // May 20, 2017 Clonazepam .25mg morning and .0625 evening (.3125 total).

early June .28125 // early mid june .25mg // mid june .21875 // late june .1875 // early july .15625 // early mid july .125 

mid july .09375mg // late july .0625 //early August 2017 down to .03125mg once a day, hopped off in mid August

reinstated at .0625mg late August // Oct 16 - updose to .07mg and switch to oral Rosemont solution

Nov 17 2017 reinstate Prozac .5mg // Nov 21 2017 prozac 1.6mg // Dec 18 2017  3mg prozac / fast taper off the reinstatement -- probably completely off early Oct 2018

June 2019 begin tapering off .07mg Clonazepam, Finish taper December 2019

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Bobo,

 

I feel your pain. I am at 6 months off Lexapro and have EXACTLY the same symptoms! the tinnitus waxes and wanes. I notice it is worse when my anxiety is the highest. My sleep has been disturbed too.I have been only able to sleep 3-5 hours per night since December. Lexapro is a powerful SSRI. My Pdoc said it is the strongest of the SSRIs.

You have soft/cold glans too? How long have you been on lexapro?

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Bobo32,

I moved your new topic/post here into your own intro thread. This is the best place to ask these kinds of questions.

 

It sounds like you have protracted withdrawal from stopping your medications much too fast.

 

Reinstatement of a small amount of the drug can often work well to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. According to medical knowledge, reinstatement is the only way to alleviate withdrawal. Reinstatement is best done immediately upon appearance of symptoms. The more time that passes, the less likely it is to work. Once you have stabilized on a low dose of the drug, then a slower, safer taper can be started. Here is some information about reinstatement to help you decide if its something you would like to try:  About reinstating and stabilizing to stop withdrawal symptoms

 

From your signature, it looks like the last drug you took was lexapro. What dose were you taking? How often were you taking xanax, and what dose? It would be helpful if you would add a little more detail to your signature. We need to be able to see information about dosages, dates and how you tapered medications over the last 2 years.

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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Hi Bobo32,

I moved your new topic/post here into your own intro thread. This is the best place to ask these kinds of questions.

 

It sounds like you have protracted withdrawal from stopping your medications much too fast.

 

Reinstatement of a small amount of the drug can often work well to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. According to medical knowledge, reinstatement is the only way to alleviate withdrawal. Reinstatement is best done immediately upon appearance of symptoms. The more time that passes, the less likely it is to work. Once you have stabilized on a low dose of the drug, then a slower, safer taper can be started. Here is some information about reinstatement to help you decide if its something you would like to try: About reinstating and stabilizing to stop withdrawal symptoms

 

From your signature, it looks like the last drug you took was lexapro. What dose were you taking? How often were you taking xanax, and what dose? It would be helpful if you would add a little more detail to your signature. We need to be able to see information about dosages, dates and how you tapered medications over the last 2 years.

I was taking paxil during november 2016 20mg then lexapro 5 mg demember till end of february

Xanax 5mg december until end of January 2017

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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Would reinstatement alleviate symptoms like brain fog, tinnitus and soft glans syndrome ?

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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Starting from December 2015 I started a drug journey which included 3 months of Zoloft, then drug holday then June July august 2016 zyprexa then November Paxil 20 mg and December January February lexapro 5mg with xanax 5 mg 3 times a day during December and January

Starting from march 2017 quit everything now I'm med free almost 3 months

My symptoms soft glans syndrome and low libido

Tinnitus

Brain fog

Very bad emotional state in general

Please experienced members and moderators, can anyone tell me what I can do to alleviate these symptoms? Should I keep drug free and see it through?or should I reinitiate despite being 3 months into withdrawal?

Thanks all

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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I feel your panic, hurt and guilt. I wish I've never touched these poisons.  As for your sexual problems, the fact that you started having them after being on an SSRI (Paxil) very much means it's PSSD (Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction) not porn addiction. There's another user who took an SSRI for only few months. When he quit, he like you didn't get any withdrawal symptoms but only experienced weird sexual problems which refused to go away years later.  You'll find alot of similar stories in "PSSD forum". May I ask how is your sex drive now after quitting drugs the second time? It looks like it progressed to being worse. non existent maybe? 

 

According to this article, soft glans is a symptom of PSSD. https://rxisk.org/post-ssri-sexual-dysfunction-pssd/

Also search google "Soft glans PSSD". 

 

 

 

2009-2014= Paxil CR 12.5mg increased to 25 then 50mg. // Late 2014= reduced to 25mg then switched to regular Paxil 20mg.

July 2015= 10mg // Aug 2015= 5mg // Sep 26, 2015= Paxil free // Oct 2015= minimal WD- glimpse of pre-Paxil self // Nov 2015= WD hit HARD. Increased anxiety, irritability, depression, extreme confusion, concentration problems, intolerance to stress. // Dec 2015= reinstated 5mg // Jan 2016= switched to Prozac 20mg every other day. // Feb 2016= Prozac 20mg every third day // Mar 2016= Prozac free // April 2016= WD symptoms started gradually (anger, anxiety, memory problems). Started taking Lamictal 25mg.  

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I have the exact same withdrawal symptoms you have (only I don't have soft glans I'm a female). What we're going thru is called "Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). 

https://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/post-acute-withdrawal.htm

http://www.recoveryfirst.org/treatment-for-post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome/

https://www.discoveryplace.info/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome-paws

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-acute-withdrawal_syndrome

 

Cognitive impairment ( non native english speaker who had successfully completed journalism degree in english now writes like a freaking pre schooler), depersonalization, derealization, total sexual dysfunction (no genital sensation no libido no nothing), impaired social skills(add to that my original diagnosis which is social anxiety), anhedonia, anxiety, and anger. Also, some loss of coordination, negative obsessive thoughts, and stress sensitivity. Slow tapering doesn't mean you won't get WD symptoms but they will be a lot less severe and thus a bit manageable. 

 

Whether all this means permanent brain damage or not I don't know. Several months off antidepressants and I'm still suffering very badly. I have read that there's recovery it varies from person to person. There are people who said their sex drive improved but never returned to 100% like it was pre-drug. 

 

For some, reinstatement works, for others it may alleviate some symptoms and make other ones worse (happened to me) or all the symptoms worse. When I reinstated Paxil (5mg) after only a month off, all WD symptoms instantly resolved. However, when I reinstated after about 5 months off, it only resolved serotonin related functions like anxiety and mood while making dopamine related functions like cognition, dp/dr, motivation, energy, and sex a lot worse. I tried other SSRIs like Prozac, Trintellix they all acted the same but paxil was the worst. Thats for me, it may work for you. I think it's better you reinstate at a very low dose 1 or 2 mg. See how it goes. 

 

P.S some people don't go through PAWs the first time they take an AD. However, they do the second time around. My sister took Lexapro for about a year and had no problem getting off. I don't know if she experienced sexual problems. Of course she won't tell me. She's back on Lexapro 2 years later and now has trouble getting off of it. 

2009-2014= Paxil CR 12.5mg increased to 25 then 50mg. // Late 2014= reduced to 25mg then switched to regular Paxil 20mg.

July 2015= 10mg // Aug 2015= 5mg // Sep 26, 2015= Paxil free // Oct 2015= minimal WD- glimpse of pre-Paxil self // Nov 2015= WD hit HARD. Increased anxiety, irritability, depression, extreme confusion, concentration problems, intolerance to stress. // Dec 2015= reinstated 5mg // Jan 2016= switched to Prozac 20mg every other day. // Feb 2016= Prozac 20mg every third day // Mar 2016= Prozac free // April 2016= WD symptoms started gradually (anger, anxiety, memory problems). Started taking Lamictal 25mg.  

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I think my symptoms come from the two drugs I took last year, zyprexa gave me cognitive problems brain fog and disorientation and anxiety while lexapro gave me soft glans and tinnitus

I'm 7 months off zyprexa and 3 months off lexapro. I don't know what to do how long it takes to feel relief

Although I must say, my symptoms are much better than at the beginning of withdrawal but still bothersome

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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Hello everyone, I'm 3 months in withdrawal. My symptoms improved a lot except for pssd and tinnitus. My highest dose was 5 my lexapro and 3x5mg xanax for 3mo and 6weeks respectively

Should I reinitiate to improve those symptoms or is it better to stay drug free ?

Thanks all

Edited by scallywag
moved from "About reinstating ..." topic

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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It's definitely up to you! I reinstated to stabilize again after a quick taper. I'm back on 5mg of cipralex it's taken away my serious WD symptoms. If you do start very slow like 2.5mg see how you feel and go from there your brian is Changing!!

Edited by scallywag
moved from "About reinstating ..." topic

20 mg cipralex for 6 years, did a two months taper roughly 5mg at a time. Then 2 months drug free. Then needed to reinstate 5mg cipralex for one week now. Also take omega 3,Vit c, b12, glucosamine as supplements.

 

-so I've reinstate 5mg cipralex since may.19 till current.

 

-No other drugs being taken

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  • 1 month later...

any ilprovements?

did you ever experience soft glans syndrome?

anyone know how to alleviate this symptom?

thanks

Edited by scallywag
split and merged from AppleofSodom's intro topic

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Bobo, I'm sorry that you're suffering so greatly as a result of having taken psychiatric medications and of having tapered rapidly off them.  There isn't much known about PSSD and its treatment.  The only solutions we have for you are to be patient and to find other things to focus on than your sexual function.  

 

You'll have better luck connecting with other men dealing with the same situation on groups and sites such as:

 

PSSDforum http://www.pssdforum.com/

 

Yahoo group SSRIsex (log in to http://Yahoo.com to join)

 

Various pages on Rxisk.org

Edited by scallywag

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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Hello everyone,

 

Currently I'm almost 5 months in withdrawal after a year and a half of polydrugging. I feel much better although some symptoms bother me a lot.

 

1. Brain fog 

2. Tinnitus

3. PSSD

 

The drugs I incremenate the most are although I think they all cause all kinds of symptoms during taper and withdrawal

1. Zyprexa which I think is responsible for the brain fog

2. Xanax I think caused Tinnitus

3. Lexapro the PSSD

 

I tried all sorts of supplements but nothing really helped with those persistent symptoms.

 

I would like to ask experienced members here if they could give me an advice; knowing that i'm 5 months out and improved a lot. Should I reinstate at low doses to have relief from those symptoms? Or sticking to withdrawal would be a better bet for me to heal in time?

 

Thanks in advance

Edited by scallywag
merged new topic from Symptoms, "what should I do about persistent symptoms"

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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On 2016-02-06 at 1:16 PM, Altostrata said:

"Therapeutic doses" means the dosages found in clinical studies to reduce symptoms of "depression." These tend to be the tablet dosages available, e.g. 10mg, 20mg, 30mg Paxil.
 
(Whether the dosages actually do reduce symptoms of "depression" has produced a huge volume of literature critical of psychiatric drug development.)
 
Although you'll see many references to "therapeutic doses" in journal articles, they are a hypothetical construct, the drug companies' best guesses at what will "work" for the largest number of people. In fact, these are very strong drugs and probably commonly dosed too high, resulting in excess SERT occupancy.
 
These drugs are psychoactives. Some people feel an effect at very low dosages. SERT occupancy is only one factor in causing the neurological changes leading to these effects.
 
If you have been on a drug such as Paxil for a long time, it has caused changes in your nervous system far beyond SERT occupancy. It has changed the inter-relationship of all your hormonal systems, the functioning of your digestive system, your sleep pattern, etc. When you get down to a low dose, which may mean partial SERT occupancy, the rest of your body has to adjust. It is this adjustment that causes withdrawal symptoms.
 
In addition, paroxetine in particular is a very difficult drug to quit, perhaps the worst of all the antidepressants. This is probably because of its effects beyond SERT. For example, it is the SSRI that is the most anti-cholinergic, directly affecting an entire autonomic system.

 

See “It’s Anticholinergic” – What Does That Mean? http://pro.psychcentral.com/its-anticholinergic-what-does-that-mean/002836.html#

 

hey Alto,

In the case one has not taken the drug for a short time in my case i took zyprexa 5 mg for 3 months and still had a very bad reaction during CT withdrawal, now 5 months out I still have cognitive problems.

In this case since the drug was only taken for a short time can we still talk about withdrawal? Or is it more accurate to talk about brain injury?

If the latter is more accurate, then do you think that brain healing is possible ? Can it reverse thedamage done by the drug?

Can one completely heal and be like I used to be pre zyprexa?

Also, Is what I'm experiencing common to all psychoactive substances? Or is AP injury more profound than that of ADs?

Thanks alot

Edited by scallywag
split from "Why taper paper" topic in Tapering forum

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Bobo,I've merged the topic you started in the Symptoms forum with your introduction topic.

Please ask questions about your situation in this topic -- your introduction and updates topic. Please do not start new topics for questions about your symptoms or medications.

 

Before starting a new topic in the Symptoms forum, please search for an existing topic first by using either

  • the site search tool,
    -- or --
  • a web search engine, e.g. google or bing, adding site:survivingantidepressants.org as a keyword to get pages on this site at the top of the search results.

 

 

 

 

Edited by scallywag

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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Any antipsychotic recovery stories ?

i feel à lot of cognitive decline following use of zyprexa. I really need to know if people actually recovered from this. 

Thank you

Edited by scallywag
post moved from Success Stories topic

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Bobo -- I moved your post from a thread in the Success Stories forum to your introduction topic so that you will see my reply sooner.

 

Here's a link to a topic in Success Stories Anti-psychotic survivors -- Interested in you success stories. You've posted in that topic before.  There have been no new posts since your last one.

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

Link to comment

hi everyone,

my symptoms after 5 months without the drugs are mild except that I have this persisting PSSD. 

Should I counsider reinstatement at this point? or should I keep pushing?

Thanks

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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A question , do you think that the drug that gave you PSSD will treat it when you start again ? 

I won't  suggest to reinstate only thinking for PSSD as you said your other symptoms are mild.

Also have in mind that drug reacts differently on broken nervous system, and people have gone through rough times on reinstatement. 

 

It would be wise if its getting unbearable coz of withdrawal to think of it.

It  will also get  better with time as with other symptoms. 

 

 

08/13 - 01/14
Olanzapine, petril MD (Clonazepam ), Dicorate ER (divalproex). Soza 10 (Zolpidem)

02/14 - 05/14
Flunil ​20mg , Divaa OD 250 mg(divalproex), Amisulpride 50mg (1-0-2), zolfresh 5 mg , Quetiapine
05/14 - 08/14 Venlafaxine 75 xr ( 1-0-1), zapiz 0.25
10/14 Zaptra 12.5mg , Oxetol xr 150mg (0-0-1)
11/14 - 08/15
Paris CR 25 (paroxetine) , Oxetol xr 600 mg (0-0-1), nitrest 5mg , Quetiapine for a month.
09/15-11 Venlafaxine XR 75 ( 1-0-1), Mirtazipine 15, Respiredal 0.5, Lamitor 25, zillion 10.
12/15-02/16 Off Meds (C.T)

03/16-Mid April Sertraline, Aripropazole, Quetiapine, Etizolam.

After that : CT and on OTC supplements (Roadback), now on Ayurveda
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4 hours ago, bhasski said:

A question , do you think that the drug that gave you PSSD will treat it when you start again ? 

I won't  suggest to reinstate only thinking for PSSD as you said your other symptoms are mild.

Also have in mind that drug reacts differently on broken nervous system, and people have gone through rough times on reinstatement. 

 

It would be wise if its getting unbearable coz of withdrawal to think of it.

It  will also get  better with time as with other symptoms. 

 

 

Hey thanks,

i agree with you it wont help me to take the drug again better hold and hope for recovery 

problem is i have horrible brain fog and cognitive difficulties i wonder if its not withdrawal but rather permanent damage following zyprexa use 

im really scared its maybe not ssri withdrawal but something more scarry. I hope it's not 

 

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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  • Moderator Emeritus

It's most likely withdrawal related.

 

I experienced extremely cog fog for 3 weeks when I reduced my dose from 100mg to 50mg.  After 3 weeks I was not able to type.  Now that might sound strange, but I am a professional typist (high speed and high accuracy) and to not be able to type provided proof that something was not right.  I updosed and after about 4 hours the cog fog reduced and I was able to type again.

 

Now I am not suggesting reinstatement.  Just trying to help you to understand what happened to me and how these drugs can affect us and that what you are experiencing is most likely from the withdrawal and not some other problem.

 

Worry causes stress and stress slows healing.

* 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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Bob ,

I am also going through these issues and I also don't know which drug caused which.. 

I have been on many , of which Paxil n trileptal  i stayed longest.

As per sexual issues, it has gotten better physically a little, but  emotionally i suffer a lot.

I feel strong anger and irritation most of the time which doesn't allow me to see things as saw earlier. 

 

 

08/13 - 01/14
Olanzapine, petril MD (Clonazepam ), Dicorate ER (divalproex). Soza 10 (Zolpidem)

02/14 - 05/14
Flunil ​20mg , Divaa OD 250 mg(divalproex), Amisulpride 50mg (1-0-2), zolfresh 5 mg , Quetiapine
05/14 - 08/14 Venlafaxine 75 xr ( 1-0-1), zapiz 0.25
10/14 Zaptra 12.5mg , Oxetol xr 150mg (0-0-1)
11/14 - 08/15
Paris CR 25 (paroxetine) , Oxetol xr 600 mg (0-0-1), nitrest 5mg , Quetiapine for a month.
09/15-11 Venlafaxine XR 75 ( 1-0-1), Mirtazipine 15, Respiredal 0.5, Lamitor 25, zillion 10.
12/15-02/16 Off Meds (C.T)

03/16-Mid April Sertraline, Aripropazole, Quetiapine, Etizolam.

After that : CT and on OTC supplements (Roadback), now on Ayurveda
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10 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

It's most likely withdrawal related.

 

I experienced extremely cog fog for 3 weeks when I reduced my dose from 100mg to 50mg.  After 3 weeks I was not able to type.  Now that might sound strange, but I am a professional typist (high speed and high accuracy) and to not be able to type provided proof that something was not right.  I updosed and after about 4 hours the cog fog reduced and I was able to type again.

 

Now I am not suggesting reinstatement.  Just trying to help you to understand what happened to me and how these drugs can affect us and that what you are experiencing is most likely from the withdrawal and not some other problem.

 

Worry causes stress and stress slows healing.

Thanks chessie 

i hope too this withdrawal related and not damage 

is it normal to experience cog fog 5 months in withdrawal ? In your case you said it was 3 weeks down dosing I can understand that but 5 months is long and scarry 

are you completely off the drugs now ?

do you still have any fog ?

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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Yes, it's normal. Read other people's experiences. Cognitive fog is one of post-acute withdrawal symptoms. 

2009-2014= Paxil CR 12.5mg increased to 25 then 50mg. // Late 2014= reduced to 25mg then switched to regular Paxil 20mg.

July 2015= 10mg // Aug 2015= 5mg // Sep 26, 2015= Paxil free // Oct 2015= minimal WD- glimpse of pre-Paxil self // Nov 2015= WD hit HARD. Increased anxiety, irritability, depression, extreme confusion, concentration problems, intolerance to stress. // Dec 2015= reinstated 5mg // Jan 2016= switched to Prozac 20mg every other day. // Feb 2016= Prozac 20mg every third day // Mar 2016= Prozac free // April 2016= WD symptoms started gradually (anger, anxiety, memory problems). Started taking Lamictal 25mg.  

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8 minutes ago, bintuae said:

Yes, it's normal. Read other people's experiences. Cognitive fog is one of post-acute withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Okay. Thanks

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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Here is the link to SA's topic which is 6 pages long!!!  brain-fog-blank-mind-comprehension-cognitive-and-memory-problems

 

* 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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  • 4 weeks later...
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I feel really bad brain fog and cognitive issues since I took zyprexa. Could this be due to the anticholinergic effectif this drug?

could this be reversible ?

thank you

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

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  • 4 years later...

Hi @Bobo32how have you been ? It’s been a long time, did you reinstated at the end or just let withdrawal continue ?

 

2013-2021 Lexapro 20mg

10-21 started lexapro tapering

3-22 lexapro free
5-22 started to get paresthesia all over body mainly in legs , numbness, tingling, stinging sensations 

6-22 neurologist started me on Lyrica 25mg twice a day to see if it helps with the paresthesia, got a nerve conduction test which was negative

6-22 neurologist suggested quitting lyrica as it isnt seem to be helping, and reinstating 5mg lexapro to see if it helps with the symptoms, thinking of starting lower at 2.5mg

6-13-22 stopped lyrica by doctor order (only took it 4 days )

6-14-22 reinstated 2.5mg lexapro

6-15-22 neurologist added 10mg amitriptyline to try and help with paresthesia sensory symptoms

6-22-22 updose to 5mg lexapro (bad reaction, paresthesia got worse, back to 2.5mg next day)

6-27-22 went to see a new internal doctor, per symptoms (lack of appetite that had been going on for almost a month, the paresthesia, and gi problems), told me to suspend everything i was taking and take new low dose combination drug (Adepsique) 5mg amitriptyline/ 1.5mg Diazepam / 1mg Perphenazine and 40mg Propranolol for daytime sinus tachycardia

 

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