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newtonsmom2000 Introducing myself


newtonsmom2000

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4 and 1/2 yrs. after I took my first reduced dose of Effexor XR, I am anti-depressant free.  It can be done.  If you've got raised eyebrows over the length of time it took, there's a good reason for it.  If I hadn't gotten in a hurry in the beginning, I'm certain it wouldn't have taken so long.  I had to get to know my body and there were a lot of glitches in the process.  When I finally gave into taking it easy, exercising patience, keeping my eyes on the end-game, cleaned up my diet, things went so much more smoothly.

 

I just realized that I have earned a degree in How To Get Off Effexor- I should print myself a diploma.  Yea!!! 

 

Between Scarlett O'Hara (Gone with The Wind- "For tomorrow is another day") and Donna Sommer (I will Survive), I made it.

 

Thanks to this forum, to Alto for starting it and for all those who pass through looking for hope.  It can be done.  Not a single one of my docs along the way had any faith I would succeed.  I asked my current doc if she remembered she told me she had no confidence I could do this.  That was 3 years ago when I was at 7.5 mgs.  Her response- she was sure I'd not make, it but she was wrong.  No big deal.  NO BIG DEAL???  

 

I still have a benzo to get out of my life.  I'm in the process of getting my body stable so that I won't be faced with adrenal setbacks like I had with Effexor.  It has been a weird lesson for me to come to terms with the understanding I had physical problems that docs threw drugs at and refused to find out why I was having them.  But, I know now and I am looking forward to a bright and happier future.  I will be so relieved to be off the benzo- but this experience taught me to be patient, listen to my body, take care of myself mentally and physically.

 

If I have any parting words, this would be them.  Even though most who know me think I am gregarious and social, underneath I am an introvert.  This is not a good way to live.  We need each other and isolation is a huge battle I struggle with, every day- because it's easier.  The only real joy in life comes from being part of other's lives, not to get my needs met, but to be of service to them.  Life is out there and I'm not going to find it staring at some screen.  

 

So on that note, I'm signing off and going out for some fun!!!

 

Newton's Mom ( I never explained who Newton was- he was a precious kitten, rescued by some school children that had a lot of problems, deformed eyes and several diseases that were debilitating.  He was chatty and friendly.  Every day when my husband would come home, he would meet him at the door, walk into the bedroom closet while my husband changed clothes and they would have this long conversation.  He was so dear.  He lived a pretty good life but died young, at about age 7.  I can still see him jumping for joy in the rain when he got out one day.  He's my vision of joy and hope.  Thanks Newty for your encouragement during a hard time in my life).

 

Edited by ChessieCat
removed link

Effexor free 12/17/16 doing well from a protracted withdrawal lasting 4.5 years

Clonazepam .75 mg

8/2017 Clonazepam .675  too big a jump! Big backlash!

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Newtonsmom,

 

Thank you for returning to give an update.  It is really appreciated by this community.

 

And congratulations to you for doing the hard yards, hanging in there and getting of Effexor.  A job well done.  And good luck with getting off the benzo.

* 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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Wow,mfabulous success story!

So happy for you and very impressed with your endurance, faith and patience!

 

Thanks so much for giving back hope to the rest of the community!

 

The summary in your last update to your main thread is excellent too. Great info and lessons learned for everyone.

 

Best wishes to a ssri free life and best luck to your taper of clonozapam.

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Thanks! When I began my journey, I needed assurance others had made it and were doing well. I hope that I can offer that same assurance to others. You've made a brave choice to get off these drugs. It is possible to survive antidepressants! Thanks for your kind words.

Effexor free 12/17/16 doing well from a protracted withdrawal lasting 4.5 years

Clonazepam .75 mg

8/2017 Clonazepam .675  too big a jump! Big backlash!

 

 

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Inspired to read your withdrawal schedule..slow and steady indeed. When I come to taper the sertraline this is the kind of plan I have in mind...perhaps even 5% cuts.

I am nearly 20 months benzo free from a rapid taper and other prescription drugs olanazapine, trazadone, quetiapine, pregabalin as required! so it's going to take time for my brain to adjust and stabilise.

Were you able to live some kind of life throughout your taper?

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Hi, Whitewash!

 

I updated the last few reductions I made.

 

You asked if I was able to have some kind of life throughout my taper- yes.  Did everything go smoothly all the time? NO!!!  Getting to know my body was hard; getting in touch with the things that produced anxiety in my life was a big challenge.  If you read my intro, you'll see I went through a whole lot of life altering changes in the middle of tapering off this drug.  On top of that, I found myself in a new community with no friends for the majority of the time because we had just moved and I suffered a pretty serious injury to my pelvis that took about 18 months to heal.  The one saving grace was we were now near our daughter and her children.  The second year, she needed me to care for them on a couple of the days she worked.  Kids are great for keeping you sane and your mind off yourself.

 

 

I am also a member of Benzo Buddies and I was over there trying to figure out how I was going to handle my benzo reduction when the time came.  I discovered the blog/intro story of this woman named Flip, I think.  She is a compelling writer and her story reached into the depths of my soul.  There were 5 pages of her entries as she got off her benzo.  It took several days for me to read how she began in the dumper and came out on the other side a totally different, thankful, confident lovely woman.  Her story moved me to tears.  

 

Here's what I discovered about Flip- she found that she was a happier human being when she was connected and giving of herself.  She understood her real self was way more attractive and compelling than being a fake.  She committed herself to a goal of finishing school and getting her degree and being of service to others.  She went from being a recluse, myopically focused on her problems, to a full and vibrant life of service. (I loved it, too, because she referred to her husband as Mr. Flip).  Wish I had the link for anyone who would like to read her story.

 

I don't recall that I mentioned in my history that I lived through withdrawal from Fentynal.  I had a pinched nerve (pelvis again) and hardly slept for over 6 weeks when I agreed to use the stuff.  It wasn't a good thing.  When it didn't seem to be working, the doc switched me to a new drug on a Thursday.  Never change a drug over the weekend!!!!  The new drug was so bad, I couldn't tolerate taking it and went into opioid withdrawal.  That was 3 months of a hell I never want to know again.  This happened about 6 years before I began my taper off Effexor.  My clinical nutritionist told me that it was just being understood that it could take up to 3 years for my brain to recover from that episode.

 

You've been through a whole lot and you have a lot of drugs that are impacting your body.  I learned somewhere along the way to take things as they come.  There is so little in this life over which I have control. :blink:  I do what I can and leave the rest up to God.  You will make it.  One thing that has really helped me is to look back and find out so much of what seemed so overwhelming and consuming at some points was insignificant later.  I discovered I've had a great life, even with all the problems.  I try to look for the unmentioned beauty, the things we take for granted, and point it out to others.  To me, that makes life fun.  Sometimes it will be wildflowers, other times, an act of kindness.

 

Have courage.  You are already brave and outstanding because you are here and have decided living a healthy life is important to you.  

 

Newtons Mom 

Effexor free 12/17/16 doing well from a protracted withdrawal lasting 4.5 years

Clonazepam .75 mg

8/2017 Clonazepam .675  too big a jump! Big backlash!

 

 

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Thank you for sharing your story! 

200 Zoloft; 10 mg Zyprexa; 4 mg valium as of May 2021;  Valium taper: July 16: 3.5 valium; July 30: 3 mg (paused valium taper); Aug. 23: 2.5 mg
Zyprexa: July 26: 8.75 mg; Aug. 9: 7.5 mg; Aug. 30: 7.1 mg

-------
Dec 1, 2016. 10 mg zyprexa for 1.5 month. Started taper mid-Jan. 2017. Cut 1.25 mg every 2 weeks; smaller cuts 2.5 mg down. Stopped at .6 mg. May 7, 2017: zyprexa free. 
Zoloft: Dec1, 2016, 200 mg. Started taper: Jun12, 2017: 197.5 mg; Jun19,:195 mg; July 2:185mg; July 9,:180 mg; July16,: 175; July 23: 170; July 30: 165; Aug6: 160; Aug13: 155; Aug. 20: 150; Aug.27: 146 mg; Sept3: 145 mg; Sept10:143 mg; Sept17:140 mg....Nov5: 122 mg...Dec3:112.5 mg; Jan14, 2018: 95 mg...Jan28: 90 mg; Feb21:80 mg; Mar11: 75 mg; May2:70 mg; May15: 68 mg; May28: 65 mg; Jun9: 62 mg;Jun25: 60 mg:July22: 55 mg; Aug25: 45 mg. Aug28: 50 mg...Oct 28: 38 mg; Dec.4: 30 mg; Jan8,2019: 25mg; Feb6: 23.5 mg; Apr1:17.5mg; May1:1 mg; May 5: 18;  May 18:15mg; June 16:12.5mg; Sept 10:11 mg; Sept.16:10 mg; Oct. 1: 9mg; Nov. 27: 8mg; Dec.5: 7mg; Jan.1,2020, 6 mg; Feb1: 5 mg; May 1: 2.5 mg; Jn 1: 2 mg; Jy 1: 1.5 mg

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Hi newtonsmom. Thanks for coming back and posting your success story. How great for you!

 

I like when you say "When I finally gave into taking it easy, exercising patience, keeping my eyes on the end-game, cleaned up my diet, things went so much more smoothly" I find this is key and what I've been doing lately. It seems to work for me too.

 

Marie

10/13--10/14 Ambien. Started tapering 1/14  Jumped 10/14.  Done.                                                                              

3/14        7.5 Remeron  still taking this.                              

2/14         75 Trazodone   -    Tapered by dry cutting all the way down.

1/16        4 mg Trazodone  -  Jumped. Bad mistake. Got hit with late withdrawal 6 weeks later. Reinstated.

4/16        Reinstated 1 mg, updose to 2 mg Trazodone

2/19        .04 Trazodone. Walked off.  Done.

10/3/19  Started 7.5 Mirtazapine taper cut to .073 gram weight, pill weighs .076

4/5/20    New Mirtazapine Taper - Compound Liquid 7.35 mg April '20, 7.25 mg May, 7.05 mg June, 6.99 mg June, 6.78 mg July, 6.57 mg Aug, Sept 6.35 mg, Sept 6.24 mg, Sept 6.21 mg, Oct 5.99 mg, Oct 5.90 mg, Oct 5.70 mg.

1/11/21 6.05 mg Messed up taper due to syringe change. Must remember the 1 ml syringe contains 1.5mg! 1/16/21 5.99 mg

2/21 5.75 mg, 3/21 5.6 mg, 4/7 5.45, 4/14 5.30, 5/12 5.15, 5/25/21 4.99 mg, 6/29 4.87 mg, 7/14/21 4.74 mg, 8/5 4.62 mg 8/17 4.5 mg, 8/30 4.38 mg,9/16 4.26 mg,10/9 4.14 mg, 10/23 4.05 mg, 11/6 3.96 mg,11/17 3.87mg.***Jan 22 Liquid was changed/couldn't tolerate***Changed back to pills. Feb 22/3.9 mg, 2/17/22 3.8 mg, 3/23 3.7 mg, 4/7 3.6 mg, 5/10 3.5mg,6/10/22 3.4 mg, 7/4 3.3 mg, 7/25 3.2 mg, 8/20/22 3.1 mg, 9/15 3 mg, 10/8/22 2.9 mg., 12/15 2.8 mg, 1/6/23 2.7 mg, 2/16/23 2.6 mg, 3/9 2.5 mg, 4/4 2.4 mg, 4/29/23 2.3 mg, 5/26 2.2 mg, 6/22/23 2.1 mg, 10/14 2 mg, 11/12 1.9 mg, 11/28 1.8 mg , 12/14/23 1.7, 12/31/23 1.6 mg, 1/20 1.5 mg, 2/6/24 1.4 mg, 2/12 updose 1.5 mg. Taking multi-vitamin, vit. D, cholestoff, psyllium husk, and fish oil.

 

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  • Administrator

Congratulations, newtonsmom!

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Administrator

Congratulations to newtonsmom, she has written her success story for going off Effexor here newtonsmom2000 I survived Effexor XR

 

As is our custom, I am closing this topic, as newtonsmom moves on to her next chapter. Please congratulate her in the Success Stories forum.

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Congratulations Newtontons Mum!

Your story is very encouraging and inspiring.

It is really nice of you to come back and post an update.

Wishing you all the best, Hopefull. :)

DRUG HISTORY:

 

November 2013- Zoloft, ( Bad reaction).

January 2014 - March 2014 Seroquel.( Quit Cold Turkey).

January2014- Mirtazapine, I was taking 15mg at one stage, reduced to 7.5mg, Pgad reactions to Mirtazapine. Doctor kept increasing it to 37.5mg, until July 2014. No improvement, experiencing panic attacks, on 37.5 mg. I had enough by October 2014. Began tapering.

October 2014- Started tapering Mirtazapine from 37.5mg.

September 2015- Down to 4mg of Mirtazapine. Crashed.

September 16th- Up dosed to 5mg. Held this dose for almost 5 months. Stabilised.

February 2016- Began tapering again. From 5mg to 4.5mg of Mirtazapine. (Rocking the boat, again)! Lol. :(

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Congratulations on beating effexor NM. My doctors didn't think I could get off effecor either, they always look at me with a shocked expression!  :P

 

Newton sounds adorable and I am gkad you have those precious memories of him  :wub:

 

Keep us posted how the benzo taper goes, you will sail through it with your patience and ability to listen to your body. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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  • Mentor

congratulations Newton's mom, it was a long road but you made it with patience and endurance. I hope to be able to do the same getting off lexapro

 

I'm so touched by your story of Newton. I, too, had a very special cat, and in fact, referred to myself as Snoopy's mom for some time. Snoopy was supposed to be a foster cat, but when I saw the shape he was in, and realized the shelter had no money to treat him, I adopted him. He was almost blind, and almost deaf, had diabetes and kidney failure... but he lived every single day to the fullest and found joy in the simplest of things. We didn't have a lot of time together, but the time we did have was very precious.

 

Thank you so much for sharing your story and giving those of us on the "other side" some hope!!

 

wishing you only the best as you go forward

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
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  • Mentor

I know it's corny but I wanted to share the little poem I wrote when for my cat Snoopy.

 

it's called "What I learned from an old shelter cat"

Keep your heart open

for when love comes you way.

Live in the moment.
Cherish every day.

 

Time moves only forward

and flies by so fast!

so don't carry the burdens

and wounds of the past.

 

Be bold and be brave

and you'll have no regrets.
But most of all,

take all the naps you can get.

 

 

(Snoopy always looked so comfortable when he was napping, he truly relished his naps. I used to look at him and think, now there's a cat who naps like he means it LOL)

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
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  • 1 year later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi there,

 

The staff at SA are wondering how you are.  We'd love to hear how you are doing now.   Would you mind dropping by and giving an update?

 

Thanks.

CC

* 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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I don't post often as Altostrata closed my intro page when I succeeded in finishing my effexor taper.  I am currently tapering off of clonazepam.  I had a rough go of it when I miscalculated my first reduction.  I have a post in the benzo withdrawal thread which I post from since my intro was closed.  I much prefer this site to Benzo Buddies.  I expect it could take me a very long time to wean off clonazepam.  I reduced down from 1 mg to .75 mgs in all the wrong ways when I was having to reinstate my effexor.   I kept it at that level until I was completely off the AD.  Because of the pressure a physician was putting on me, I began tapering off clonazepam sooner than I would have liked, which contributed to the mess up I made in calculating how I would begin tapering.  Along with that, the pharmacy I was using at the time changed brands of drugs and didn't inform me.  I ended up experiencing some very bad symptoms and incurring an injury.  I have since found a doctor to work with me and is very understanding of my need to be precise as to how this taper is handled. 

 

Newtons Mom

Effexor free 12/17/16 doing well from a protracted withdrawal lasting 4.5 years

Clonazepam .75 mg

8/2017 Clonazepam .675  too big a jump! Big backlash!

 

 

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  • Administrator

Is your benzo tapering going well now, newtons? Please also update your benzo topic.

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Moderator Emeritus
2 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Please also update your benzo topic.

 

Link:  newtonsmom-how-to-safely-spread-dose-throughout-the-day

 

* 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 unlocked this topic
  • Moderator Emeritus

Sorry to hear that you've had difficulties with the benzo.

 

We'd love to have another Success Story when you are off clonazepam as well.

 

Hoping things go well for you.

* 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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Thanks Alto and Chessie for asking.  I came to terms with knowing my system is turning back on as I  wean off the clonazepam.  I think it is much easier if I don't have expectations of no symptoms- at least for me. 

 

I've had ups and downs.  When I did the cut that was too large(about and 18% cut over a couple of months) I became very irritable, almost got into a road rage incident and became very testy in a retail store.  I managed to keep myself together, but I won't lie- it scared the **** out of me!!!  I don't ever want that to happen again!   I had vertigo and fell over while my big toe was bent.  That is an injury that I may never heal, even after a year of physical therapy.  I had 2 doctors and my therapist tell me this is one of the worst injuries you can get because there is very little anyone can do to help it heal.  The one method that most people use didn't work for me.

 

After 2 doctors tried to get me to switch to a liquid compound, I gave in because I knew I couldn't manage accurately the reductions in dose.  I settled on a plan of reducing my dose by 2.5% every 8 weeks.   So far I've had minor symptoms that are not unfamiliar from the effexor taper, such as cortisol dysregulation.  I am concerned as I get to lower doses how I will handle stress.  I have drastically changed my diet and thyroid meds.   I am taking more proactive steps to have good sleep habits so that my brain can heal.

 

I am so grateful for this site.  I look back at how I managed my effexor taper in the beginning.  If I had come here before I got into trouble, it might not have taken 4.5 years.  The encouragement given to me helped me keep my sanity.  I never really said much about this but during that period my husband retired, we moved to a new city to be near family, and so many things went south with my health because I thought doctors knew what they were doing.  It is heartbreaking to me to know a friend that is an MD that says they have become nothing more than a drug pusher.  I had to learn that even the doctors that say they are integrative or functional often don't know jack. 

 

I will go in and update my signature, my benzo thread and add something to my intro page.  We are in the middle of a family crisis that could go south tomorrow, so I don't know for certain when I will get it done.  Thank you for contacting me.

Effexor free 12/17/16 doing well from a protracted withdrawal lasting 4.5 years

Clonazepam .75 mg

8/2017 Clonazepam .675  too big a jump! Big backlash!

 

 

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Sounds like you've learned to juggle, newtons. How did you change your thyroid drugs?

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

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18 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Sounds like you've learned to juggle, newtons. How did you change your thyroid drugs?

Hi Alto, this will have to be quick, but I wanted to answer your question.

I kept telling my doctor there was something wrong with my thyroid medication.  I was using ERFA, the Canadian form of NDT.  I finally learned to ask for the correct tests .  I was very concerned when my revT3 levels were very high for me.  I happened to be a part of a forum on Facebook that started a sub group for people with thyroid problems.  I met a very knowledgeable woman who looked at my labs.  In the middle of that, the doctor (a functional/integrative MD) refused to address my medication issues or listen to me.  My knowledgeable friend (I checked out everything she was telling me) urged me to get some T3 added to my current meds.  The doctor refused.  My friend suggested I try lowering my current dose for a short period- days to a few weeks, to see if I felt any differently.

 

I made a minor decrease and all I can say is I felt like I had awakened from the dead.  That was enough indication I needed to find a new doctor and take action!  I took a chance again and reduced my dosage further.  Again, not as big a change but I felt remarkably better!  My friend suggested I just stop my NDT for a maybe up to 3 weeks to allow the revT3 to clear.  I was terrified at the thought.  I found a doctor that was willing to prescribe 5 mcg T3.  I started taking them.  Eventually, I felt comfortable enough to stop the NDT and have never gone back.  The best way I can think to describe how this felt was this: I felt like I was in a cave, in total darkness, a beam of light breaks through and then suddenly I am standing in the sunlight and feel alive!  I take T3 only now (~ 60mcg).

 

Since I've been slowly getting my mental capacity back I was able to piece together how I ended up with thyroid problems in the first place.  I am a polio survivor.  Throughout most of my life, no one has hesitated to stick me into or under radiation producing machines.  By the time I was in my 40's my thyroid just quit.  My sister, also a polio survivor, had hers removed in her late 20's because it had grown so large.  She had the type of polio that effected her throat and upper respiratory function.  Surprisingly, neither one of us has ever had cancer.

 

Taking T3 has been a challenge while I am weaning off the clonazepam.  It's been difficult to increase my dose (I am under a physician's care after kissing a few frogs) because it is very hard to know what is producing symptoms.  Plus, my adrenal system is touchy. 

 

I highly recommend the book that really helped me: The Paleo Thyroid Solution by Elle Russ.  She refers the reader to Paul Robinson who has written excellent books on using T3 only and also wrote a general book, The Thyroid Patients Manual.  Paul had quite a story of how he came to cope with Hashimoto's and get correct treatment.  His thyroid dysfunction turned his life upside down.  I don't know how he escaped being relegated to using psych meds.  Elle Russ' story details 10 years of terrible frustration  encountered just trying to get a doctor to listen to her.  This doesn't just happen to people with psych med issues.

 

Hope this helps.  And thank you for all you do.  If I can be of any further help, let me know.

Effexor free 12/17/16 doing well from a protracted withdrawal lasting 4.5 years

Clonazepam .75 mg

8/2017 Clonazepam .675  too big a jump! Big backlash!

 

 

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I detailed a bit of my journey in the above posts.

 

Alto is very correct when she says I've learned how to juggle. 

 

I monitor my diet, my sleep habits are improving (I just started leaving my cell phone in the kitchen at night so I am not tempted to turn it on) and in general I am better.  I had a pretty heavy family situation thrown my way a few days ago.  My sister was near death.  It's so incredible that she has survived and looks like she's going to recover.  I was just about to make a dose change and held off until I knew she was better.  So I will begin that new dose today.

 

Just like with the Effexor, I have moments after I make a change.  I find myself weepy, irritable, and feeling like I need to go eat worms 'cause nobody loves me.  So far, finger's crossed, I am still able to sleep.  As soon as I can, I will update my signature with how I did the effexor taper and how am doing the clonazepam taper.

 

One thing that has surprised me is how dastardly these drugs are in impacting my mood.  I'm kind of a black and white person- I'm on or off.  When my mood gets dark, it's dark.  Since I've weaned down this drug, I've been finding that I don't go to such extremes, currently.  I'm not holding myself or anyone to expectations until I've been off this drug for a while.  And that will take years, most likely.

Effexor free 12/17/16 doing well from a protracted withdrawal lasting 4.5 years

Clonazepam .75 mg

8/2017 Clonazepam .675  too big a jump! Big backlash!

 

 

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Thanks, newtons. We see a lot of people here who are on thyroid drugs.

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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20 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Thanks, newtons. We see a lot of people here who are on thyroid drugs.

I'm not surprised! If doctor's weren't so quick to pass out the psych meds, I suspect there would be a lot of consideration of the impact of a malfunctioning thyroid. 

 

Along with that, there are so many connections with the impact of processed food that contribute to both problems.  A patient's best hope is to learn all they can.  You can't know everything, but you can teach your doctor.  My current doctor is allowing me to contribute information as so few doctors know how to prescribe and manage patients taking T3.

 

Informed self-care is the way to go.  BTW, I found my doctor through a compounding pharmacist.  We had to try a few before we found one we knew would work with him.  So far so good!

Effexor free 12/17/16 doing well from a protracted withdrawal lasting 4.5 years

Clonazepam .75 mg

8/2017 Clonazepam .675  too big a jump! Big backlash!

 

 

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  • Administrator

Good job, newtons!

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

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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