Piapil

[Piapil]

Initially I was diagnosed way back in 1977 when I made my first acquaintance with our mental health care system. A very bad acquaintance which sadly lasted for 40 years. I have childhood trauma which never has been touched upon. In that time all sorts of terrible drugs have been shoved down my throat by all sorts of terrible psychiatrists.

 

Recently I tapered off the AD cipralex ( Escitalopram) over 2 months, from 10mg to zero. I am still on anti-psychotic , tapered from 30mg to 6mg in 7 years.

 

The AD withdrawal symptoms are so bad. Crying a lot of the time, depressed, nausea , all sorts of pains in the body, including my feet. I guess I am experiencing waves , no windows lately. Everything is just bad. Anger, irritability,no appetite. It's really so awful.

 

I have gained confidence, though, that it will all end some day, by reading these posts.I guess I'll just have to persevere.

 

I am not going back on any drugs. I refuse. I don't even consult my doctor bc they are all just drug pushers and I don't want to listen to their crap.

 

I've bought some cannabis oil I'll start on soon. It won't harm I'm sure.

 

I take a lot of supplements, including fish oil, turmeric, glucosamine, calcium and c, d and b vitaminer. I've taken supplements for years. I have a pretty staple healthy diet, don't weight too much and generally get a lot of exexcise by walking and commuting. I don't work anymore ( for years)

 

I will have to consult a specialist when I come off the last anti-psychotic dose. Bc that has proven difficult the last few mgs. I will wait until I'm well over the AD withdrawal.

 

I am healthy physically but have little or no network or family for support.

 

Am very much a loner. And that is probably the main issue, not depression or anything else. But loneliness .

 

I quit the AD bc they didn't help much,they made me angry, irrational, depressed and suicidal. AD is not the solution to loneliness.

Edited February 25, 2017 by scallywag
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[Blondiee1915]

Just stoping by to say hello. This site has a lot of information and everyone is very helpful with suggestions and support. I saw that you withdrew lexapro and I can say I can relate . I am still in the process and it is terrible. I also identify with loneliness. I do not have a big family nor friends group. I also can say that before lexapro I was very sociable and had a lot of friends and I do think lexapro made me kind of withdrawn indifferent tired and not caring . Hang in there it will be okay

[scallywag]

Piapil -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

I'm sorry to read that you are having difficult symptoms after discontinuing Cipralex. These symptoms are very common after a rapid taper. Cipralex (escitalopram) is a very powerful medication and taking only 2 months to decrease from 10 mg to 0 mg is too fast for many people.

I know that you've said that you WON'T go back on any drugs. I hope that you are open to investigating the idea of low-dose reinstatement. Some people find that their symptoms reduce if they take a very small dose of the medication they discontinued. A very small dose of escitalopram would be 1 mg or less. These reinstatements are most predictable when done within 3 months of the last dose. Others choose to live with the symptoms for as along as they last, which can be many months. It's up to you.

Please do not take the cannabis oil. You are taking an anti-psychotic medication. Some of our members who have combined the 2 have regretted it.

When was your last dose of Cipralex? If you don't remember the actual date, an approximate one is fine.

How many mg was your last dose of Cipralex?

Please add that information to your signature so that we can get an overview at a glance below every one of your posts.

 

What supplements are you taking?  Sometimes we take supplements that contribute to our symptoms rather than help.

 

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.


 

[Piapil]

Hi scallywag. Could you please link to some posts where people have difficulty combining cannabis and anti-psychotics?

Thanks for your advice. I prefer not to go back on the drug, not even a tiny dose. I'll see this through, no matter what. I think that any drug that affects you this way in coming off certainly isn't worth anything but quitting it completely . It is genuine poison.

My supplements are

Omega 3,6,9

Glucosamine

Turmeric

Arctic root

C,D3, and B vitamins plus a multi vitamin.

Ginger

I am also a vegan.

Hi blondie thanks for your welcome.

[Piapil]

I didn't know lexapro was the same.

I'm afraid I can't do this on my own anymore. It's too painful both physically and mentally. I will be reinstating by tomorrow. I don't have any medication in the house. I am calling my GP tomorrow if I don't go to the hospital today. There are no lifeline supports answering at the moment.

[Piapil]

When I see how many different drugs people here are/have been on simultaneously I wonder. And when I read how difficult it it's to come off the crap I wonder too. Why do we do this to ourselves ? Both say yes to all the drugs and then want to come off them ? I will not be following these pages bc there is too much pain in coming off the drugs and the success stories are limited. I become quite ill reading these posts.

[joy2730]

^{Hi  Just to let you know I am trying to get off citalopram too with a history of early sexual abuse in life and lots of trouble.  I have not been particularly successful but remain hopeful.}

 

^{I have only ever reinstated by large amounts which I have regretted, probably good to do a small one and see how you feel.  I too am a lonely person,,  a lot of people on this board are because there histories and struggles have taken up all their time and energy.}

 

^{Keep posting.}

 

^Joy

[Piapil]

Hi joy2730 thanks. In fact , after I wrote the previous 2 comments I had a great many hours of windows. I have,reassesed my "need" for reinstating. I spoke to a help line and she was a doctor and very adamant supporter of SSRI 's. She refused to speak further with me. That threw me.

Unkucky.

Yes lots of bagage we have spent time trying to survive with.

It's so sad. Even my kids keep their distance, as tho it is my fault everything. I mean they did have fathers along the way. But they get no blame. I've been hospitalised often.

I am very lonely and my social skills are lacking. I'm afraid I'm way too honest.

It's such a long time since I jad fun.

I am.going to beat these withdrawal.symptoms. I promise you.

????

[scallywag]

Hi scallywag. Could you please link to some posts where people have difficulty combining cannabis and anti-psychotics?

 

Please use a search engine, such as google or bing or duck duck go, to locate the content. Including site:survivingantidepressants.org as a search term will put links to this site at the top of the search results.

[Piapil]

Thanks scallywag. I did have a look. I discovered I have a lactose intolerance so after cutting dairy products out of my diet I feel much better.

I am not sure which vitamins and supplements are good or less good? B12-vitamin? I take that because I am a vegan. Also I take arctic root instead of an anti-depressant.

Nevertheless the WDS hit me seriously recently. Had no idea what was going on but have become wiser after reading these pages. Thank you everyone. I'll have to weather it. Windows and waves.

[scallywag]

The supplements that seem to help the most people in withdrawal with the fewest negative reaction are omega 3 fatty acids and magnesium

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil).

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker.

 

If you want to try these, start with ONE at a low dose (½ or ¼ of what's recommended on the container) and work your way up.

 

Start any new supplement on its own and don't make changes in other supplements or medications at the same time. If you get a negative reaction, you want to know what's causing it.

 

B12 can be stimulating but is very important for vegans. If you notice that you're getting "wired" or having other symptoms of stimulation, consider reducing your B12 dose a bit.

[Piapil]

Thanks scallywag I've been on omega 3,6,9 for years and does me good, especially my arthritic pains, B12 or rather a B- combine I have taken for a month or so bc I'm vegan. I have just ordered vitamin E, no harm methinks. I am also making magnesium spray atm as I was recommended this by someone who is off all drugs now. I am tapering anti-psychotics atm too. I think I'm over the worst AD withdrawal symptoms which were totally frightening. I hope I'm over them. Now fatigue but I have also had a bad flu which now has left me fatigued. I take drops of cannabis oil 3% which are very beneficial for me. Gives me peace of mind.

I wish to be rid of the anti-psychotics Zuchlopenixol asap.have tapered from 30mg to 6mg in 7 years. Am currently on 5mg..

[scallywag]

You may want to look at increasing the omega 3; EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid) are notable for the effects on the brain and CNS (central nervous system). Most people don't need supplementation with Omega 6 -- grain (wheat, barley, oats, etc.) and seed (sunflower, safflower, etc.) products are commonly eaten foodstuffs that provide at least as much Omega 6 as we need.
 
Tapering more than one medication at the same time risks setting off withdrawal symptoms. please be cautious:
3KIS: Keep it slow. Keep it simple. Keep it stable.
Taking multiple drugs? Which to taper first.

[Junglechicken]

Just stoping by to say hello. This site has a lot of information and everyone is very helpful with suggestions and support. I saw that you withdrew lexapro and I can say I can relate . I am still in the process and it is terrible. I also identify with loneliness. I do not have a big family nor friends group. I also can say that before lexapro I was very sociable and had a lot of friends and I do think lexapro made me kind of withdrawn indifferent tired and not caring . Hang in there it will be okay

 

This I can relate to Blondiee1915, in particular "I do not have a big family nor friends group. I also can say that before lexapro I was very sociable and had a lot of friends and I do think lexapro made me kind of withdrawn indifferent tired and not caring".

[Piapil]

Hi I am really sorry to tell about my tapering and withdrawal. In the end it was successful and I am  thankful I am off the anti-depressants. But it was extremely hard. I had no support  apart from this site. I simply had no confidence in the professionals, doctors etc as they are too supportive of  anti-depressants in my country. I tapered off way to fast. I  had only shards in the end but it was still way too fast. I took 4  mths from 10mg Ciipralex- from October to January. I am afraid I experienced psychosis and had a suicide attempt. I have been prone to psychosis in stressful situations bc of a traumatic childhood but hadn't had a psychosis for years. During my adult life I have been prescribed a variety of drugs- anti-psychotic without  being  treated  for my trauma and each time I came off the drugs, I experienced psychosis from the stress. I have often quit the drugs from one day to the next, which you definitely shouldn't but doctors and psychiatrists kept denying my side-effects and told me that I was chronically ill and it wasn't the drugs which were causing depression and stress  but my " illness"- bollocks. I'm afraid 2 of my best friends  experienced acute withdrawal symptoms from their anti-depressants as they quit suddenly. They both committed suicide. I am really sorry to tell you this. It was in 2003 and 2013 and neither them nor I were aware of the dangers of these drugs at the time. 

I am prescribed anti-psychotics which I still take- a small dose. I have tried to wean off several times but when I get to a lower dose the withdrawal symptoms are so acute that I don't dare continue and end up back on the same dose again- 8mg Zuchlopenixtol- it is banned in the US and UK- a first generation put on the market in 1962. Now I have weaned down to a  low dose ( initially 30mg) I am pretty free of side-effects so I will most likely continue , at least until I can afford professional withdrawal support. 

About the anti-depressant Cipralex- Escitalopram -- it is so important- vital you wean very very slowly.

Now into 6 month off I am fine. No daily suicide plans like before. Much more in touch with my feelings and my body. I am not exactly gleeful :-) and have now and again considered going back on them but I always stop myself. I know it is my current life situation that no drug would help- well they'd only confuse me and make me indecisive and well.. drugged with all the side-effects and once you are off them you tend to forget all the negative effects. 

Luckily I survived my suicide attempt. But there is way too little support out there for coming off the drugs. 

please take care out there.

[nz11]

Piapil yes I totally agree their is just no support what so ever in getting off these drugs and coping with wdl.

Glad you are doing okay at 6 mnhs off lex.

 

Piapil your voice and experience in withdrawal is important have you completed the withdrawal survey yet?