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Frances72 my mums success story


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Hello everyone, its been a long time since I have been active in this group. I really wanted to share an update with you about my mum. It will be quick because its late. 

 

Its been 3 years since mum took her last antidepressant meds after a 7 month taper (not professionally supported, she did this intuitively). After living in our country weekender for the past two years, my mum is now living in her own home back in her own long term community. Mum lives 700 meters from dad :) (so funny! They do very well as friends living separately!) and very close to her two sisters and sister in law. Mum will be 66 in October. My mum is a super women! She is doing so well and is very connected to life and family. Connection is everything and I always felt mum's disconnection when she was medicated. Mum continues to look after herself by eating well, gardening, cooking, socialising. Mum's just (finally!!!) joined a yoga group and is starting back with her patchwork. 

 

Mum's weight is still very skinny but she looks fine, sleeps very well and has lots of energy. This can get mum down but I'm sure that when mum finally settles (she only moved in two months ago) she will start to put on some weight. Mum is often looking after grand children and mostly thrives, though she can get tired :)   Keep going people, its so worth it! Nourish yourselves in every way you can. Learn how to eat if you don't already understand traditional cooking. Reduce your exposure to wifi radiation, make sure everything is turned off at night. Do not spend time in close proximity of a wifi router etc. 

 

My mum's made it. She has a strong life force and is so connected to family after such disconnection. Love, empathy, support, information, nutrition, being outdoors, healthy home environment especially the bedroom are key.

 

Wishing everyone all the very best! Love Frances XXX

Edited by Altostrata
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* January 2015 I'm supporting my mum age 63 through withdrawal. She has moved in with me and my family, cannot be alone or look after herself. Suicidal episodes, exhausted but unable to sit still, severe anxiety on an off, chronic diarrhoea and digestive issues, fear and gloom, very thin.

*1996 (?) Zoloft (minimum dose) for 15 years, minus 2 to 3 separate years that were attempted unsuccessful WDrawal.

*2010 Lexapro minimum dose for the past 4 years.

*Reduced Lexapro Oct 2013 (minimum dose) by skipping days over a 7 month period. Last med taken end of April 2014, 9 months ago. NO other meds. Initial diet was GAPS eased into a mostly Weston A Price Foundation diet. Supplement with wild fish oil, coconut oil, St Mary's thistle, 5 ml whisky/30 ml water (in emergencies), kefir, gelatine drinks and probiotics.

Aug 3 2015 update. Doing much better, still thin and poor appetite. Discovered decay in an old root canal filling. Removal in one week. Root canals are dangerous as they support pathogenic bacteria some of which are attracted to the brain. 

UPDATE May 2016 Mum's been living on her own in our country home since August 2015! This is huge considering its a big old house on a bush property with no close neighbours. Mum is doing very well, enjoying food and friends. She is now making plans to buy a home back in her own home community near her friends and family. Mum continues to pay attention to eating good wholesome foods and connecting with loved ones. Mum continues fortnightly psychotherapy with a private female therapist who doesn't support drug use. 

 

 

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Hello Frances. Congratulations to your Mum and all of you for having her back. What a lovely story and it provokes questions in me. I would like to ask what meds was your Mum on and for how long? What discontinuation symptoms did she overcome? What was the timespan of he recovery, more specifically??? Thank you and best wishes for you all. I love success stories!!!!

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  • Moderator

Thank you Frances for such a wonderful update.  I'm so excited for your mothers success.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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such a beautiful story! Congratulations to your mum and to you!!!

2005-2006: Cipralex 5 mg

2009-2010: Cipralex 5 mg

2012-2015: Cipralex 5mg, 10mg 

tapered 10mg-7.5mg-5mg-2,5-0 (I always waited for a few weeks on the current dosage until I felt stable. Steps were too big I realized too late)

Completely drug free since August 2015

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 I would like to ask what meds was your Mum on and for how long? What discontinuation symptoms did she overcome? What was the timespan of he recovery, more specifically??? 

 

Dear Triplem 15, 

my mum was put on strong relaxants several times before age 40 for a period of months. At age 40 mum was given a diagnosis of anxiety and depression (what crap! She was a stress out mother of 4 with a husband who was rarely home and some metal case over the road scaring her at night). After mum withdrew from her strong Murulax (can't spell it, a bento) she stabilised finally some 9 months later on Zoloft. 17 years later she tried to come off these and had a massive crash. This would have been withdrawals but she was told it was a worsening of her previous conditioning. I can't stand mum's old doctor, he's got sociopathic qualities.. She was put on lexapro. There was over 20 years on antidepressants with several months spread through her life on the stronger benzos. 3 Years ago mum just started reducing by skipping doses. One day here, one day there and increasing unit she finally stopped 7 months later (this last dose was close to exactly 3 years ago). After reading Dr Breggins, I see now that the way she reduced was dangerous. Very dangerous. 

 

The symptoms mum suffered; There were the brain zaps, she was manic while reducing and she had an obsessive addition while on meds that spiralled completely out of control during this 7 months time and into the next faze after meds for the months leading up to her massive crash. There was a roller-coaster of emotions and some confusion which we put to her leaving dad. Her weight kept falling and several months after mum's last dose she was very thin, like 48 kg, yellowish, thick yellow young, suffering diarrhoea, anxious panic episodes, depressed and needing me desperately to be with her. At this point I picked mum up and moved her in with my family. I was by mum's side most of the next 6 months. I pulled Nina (8) out of school and took us to our country weekender. Every day for over 6 weeks mum had suicidal episodes that lasted about 30 minutes. She would power walk around the property, I'd make mum take her shoes off so she was earthed. I had to make all mum's food (all liquid style like kefir smoothies, bone broth/gelatin rich soups etc) or she would forget to eat (this went on for many months, maybe one year). Her brain didn't tell her she was hungry and she was incredible thin. Never on empty stomach, when mum was suicidal and out of control I'd give her 5 ml whisky in about 60 ml water to sip and this helped calm her down. After power walking our large property barefoot mum often slept two hours in the after noon. For over a year is was hard for mum to sit still even when she was exhausted. In the first 6 months mum had a lot of digestion problems despite a great diet (Full Gaps diet style and of course WAFP) but this improved greatly with slippery elm powder. She described a horrible burning sensation in her though and it was often difficult to chew and swallow food. Mum experienced a lot of doom and gloom in the first year. Mum was her best around me, my confidence and support helped her so much. When mum was around fear she fell apart and worsened. One thing though, my mum constantly slept pretty well. Sometimes mum's night sleep was a bit less but she'd make up for it with afternoon sleeps. Mum continues to sleep very well and I'm sure her diet low in stimulants like cocoa, caffeine, sugar additives etc and high in gelatine and her use of magnesium oil helps. Our weekender helped mums recovery. When mum decided to stay on alone and live there her recovery increases so much more because she had to do things for herself. She had to get wood, make a fire, shop, cook, clean etc. The endless physical activities, especially the gardening were incredibly therapeutic because mum struggles to sit still. Mum's pace finally settled and dropped back about a year ago. This is so huge, I can't remember everything and its too traumatic to ask mum to remember at this stage. I took notes but don't want to read them just yet.      I don't want to put people off attempting to come of meds. During all this time recovering my mum experienced connection, love and feelings she'd not felt in almost a lifetime. She laughed deeply and enjoyed family the way one should as apposed to being dulled down only interested in space and her addiction. I could feel her life force and her being back from the start. These wonderful feelings kept my mum going. I just wish I'd found the right information and support group early on. I was alone, only my husband supported me. I had family at me to get mum to a doc and I refused because I knew they'd admit her to a psych hospital. Thanks Goddess our country home was one hour from the nearest relatives! Eventually I found Breggins book, a sympathetic naturopath, a doctor who didn't prescribe drugs and knew the dangers of psychotropic drugs, and a psychotherapist who was the woman who recommended Breggin's book. This is how the families confidence eventually grew to the point of being supportive of what we were doing. I met mum in the city yesterday (Melbourne). She caught the train and tram to meat me at Ikea (massive furniture shop) to look for a dinning table. We walked and looked for two hours. Then we had lunch in a really nutritious and groovy cafe before she caught the tram and train back home. She is so independent, fit and confident for 65! 

* January 2015 I'm supporting my mum age 63 through withdrawal. She has moved in with me and my family, cannot be alone or look after herself. Suicidal episodes, exhausted but unable to sit still, severe anxiety on an off, chronic diarrhoea and digestive issues, fear and gloom, very thin.

*1996 (?) Zoloft (minimum dose) for 15 years, minus 2 to 3 separate years that were attempted unsuccessful WDrawal.

*2010 Lexapro minimum dose for the past 4 years.

*Reduced Lexapro Oct 2013 (minimum dose) by skipping days over a 7 month period. Last med taken end of April 2014, 9 months ago. NO other meds. Initial diet was GAPS eased into a mostly Weston A Price Foundation diet. Supplement with wild fish oil, coconut oil, St Mary's thistle, 5 ml whisky/30 ml water (in emergencies), kefir, gelatine drinks and probiotics.

Aug 3 2015 update. Doing much better, still thin and poor appetite. Discovered decay in an old root canal filling. Removal in one week. Root canals are dangerous as they support pathogenic bacteria some of which are attracted to the brain. 

UPDATE May 2016 Mum's been living on her own in our country home since August 2015! This is huge considering its a big old house on a bush property with no close neighbours. Mum is doing very well, enjoying food and friends. She is now making plans to buy a home back in her own home community near her friends and family. Mum continues to pay attention to eating good wholesome foods and connecting with loved ones. Mum continues fortnightly psychotherapy with a private female therapist who doesn't support drug use. 

 

 

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Thank you Brassmonkey and Pepita XX success stories are crucial. 

* January 2015 I'm supporting my mum age 63 through withdrawal. She has moved in with me and my family, cannot be alone or look after herself. Suicidal episodes, exhausted but unable to sit still, severe anxiety on an off, chronic diarrhoea and digestive issues, fear and gloom, very thin.

*1996 (?) Zoloft (minimum dose) for 15 years, minus 2 to 3 separate years that were attempted unsuccessful WDrawal.

*2010 Lexapro minimum dose for the past 4 years.

*Reduced Lexapro Oct 2013 (minimum dose) by skipping days over a 7 month period. Last med taken end of April 2014, 9 months ago. NO other meds. Initial diet was GAPS eased into a mostly Weston A Price Foundation diet. Supplement with wild fish oil, coconut oil, St Mary's thistle, 5 ml whisky/30 ml water (in emergencies), kefir, gelatine drinks and probiotics.

Aug 3 2015 update. Doing much better, still thin and poor appetite. Discovered decay in an old root canal filling. Removal in one week. Root canals are dangerous as they support pathogenic bacteria some of which are attracted to the brain. 

UPDATE May 2016 Mum's been living on her own in our country home since August 2015! This is huge considering its a big old house on a bush property with no close neighbours. Mum is doing very well, enjoying food and friends. She is now making plans to buy a home back in her own home community near her friends and family. Mum continues to pay attention to eating good wholesome foods and connecting with loved ones. Mum continues fortnightly psychotherapy with a private female therapist who doesn't support drug use. 

 

 

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Thank you Frances. Thank you for your story but thank you for supporting your Mum. You are a true angel and Godsend to her. She is free and alive, fully alive and healing because somehow you knew down inside, this is what she needed. Yes, her spirit is strong. Seems like her deep desire for freedom and life and love and your deep love and compassion and commitment were absolutely perfect and what was needed. What a beautiful story. Frances, even though she is now freely out and about, she must have initially and for a time, living in your weekend home, spent a great time away from people, I mean, as she was healing and staying on alone? The reason I ask is because I notice I find myself much more pulled in. Reserved and much prefer quiet at this time in my own recovery. I live a much more quiet life at this time.

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Hello Triplem15

 

My mum did have a lot of time alone. Not in the first year, mum could not be lone in the first year at all. Mum had a lot of time alone over the last two years but she craved family (mum's family are also her best friends who include her two sisters and two sister-in-laws). It helped her that she was so busy gardening every day. This was incredibly therapeutic. She also looked forward to every second weekend for us to come up. She would cook us dinner and have everything ready for when we arrived, usually early Friday evening. In the start, there were times when mum would feel down and lonely so she packed a bag, jumped on the train to Sunbury where dad and her family were. She would see everyone and often stay a night or two at Dad's house. Mum eventually became close to one of my friends in Castlemaine, this woman is very special with many healing gifts, and helped my mum to think and see more positively.

My mums real need for family came after she was completely off her meds. 

One thing mum told me is during all those years, she tried 4 or 5 times to come off, unsuccessful but everytime she was put back on meds (this includes going on them to begin with) she had disturbing suicidal thoughts that lasted some weeks. Thoughts like driving into a tree or on coming car or jumping off of something. 

You can still have your quiet time in the company of others. Don't be completely alone, we need people around us to heal. Your close people in your life need to know what you are going through. Wishing you all the best! You have what it takes to get better, slowly. Cook all your food from scratch, avoid stimulants and additives. xx

* January 2015 I'm supporting my mum age 63 through withdrawal. She has moved in with me and my family, cannot be alone or look after herself. Suicidal episodes, exhausted but unable to sit still, severe anxiety on an off, chronic diarrhoea and digestive issues, fear and gloom, very thin.

*1996 (?) Zoloft (minimum dose) for 15 years, minus 2 to 3 separate years that were attempted unsuccessful WDrawal.

*2010 Lexapro minimum dose for the past 4 years.

*Reduced Lexapro Oct 2013 (minimum dose) by skipping days over a 7 month period. Last med taken end of April 2014, 9 months ago. NO other meds. Initial diet was GAPS eased into a mostly Weston A Price Foundation diet. Supplement with wild fish oil, coconut oil, St Mary's thistle, 5 ml whisky/30 ml water (in emergencies), kefir, gelatine drinks and probiotics.

Aug 3 2015 update. Doing much better, still thin and poor appetite. Discovered decay in an old root canal filling. Removal in one week. Root canals are dangerous as they support pathogenic bacteria some of which are attracted to the brain. 

UPDATE May 2016 Mum's been living on her own in our country home since August 2015! This is huge considering its a big old house on a bush property with no close neighbours. Mum is doing very well, enjoying food and friends. She is now making plans to buy a home back in her own home community near her friends and family. Mum continues to pay attention to eating good wholesome foods and connecting with loved ones. Mum continues fortnightly psychotherapy with a private female therapist who doesn't support drug use. 

 

 

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Frances i dont know you but you are an amazing person. Your mum is so lucky to have you. Im so glad you have each other and have your mum back. What an amazing story of love, perseverance, patience, belief and hope. Amazing, amazing, amazing. Thanks so much for sharing. And i see you wrote that fear is our biggest obstacle, thats it in a nutshell.

<p>Various benzos 4 months for insomnia prior to Effexor 37.5mg may 2014 for two weeks, Mirtazapine 30mg june 2014 - feb 2015.Pristiq 50 mg Feb 2015. six weeks later attempted coming off with a six week taper. ten days off and it got ugly. Tapering now using compounded pristiq with slow release agent. 37.5 mg 3 weeks, 30 mg 6 weeks, 25mg 4.5 weeks, 20mg for 6 weeks, 17.5 mgs 7 weeks, 20 mg 8 weeks, 19 mg 3 weeks, 18 mg 3 weeks, 17 mg 3 weeks, 16 mg 3 weeks, 15mg 2 weeks, 14mg 2 weeks, 13 mgs 2 weeks, 12 mgs 6 weeks, 11mg 3 weeks, 10.5mg 2 weeks, 10 mg 3.5 weeks. 9mg 4 weeks. Jumped at 8mg currently 16 months free

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I understand and thank you Frances. Again, beautiful and an encouragement beyond. Thank you. It is always so awesome to see that healing does come, sloooooooow but it comes!!!!!!

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thank you for your beautiful words triplem15 and Alua xxx

* January 2015 I'm supporting my mum age 63 through withdrawal. She has moved in with me and my family, cannot be alone or look after herself. Suicidal episodes, exhausted but unable to sit still, severe anxiety on an off, chronic diarrhoea and digestive issues, fear and gloom, very thin.

*1996 (?) Zoloft (minimum dose) for 15 years, minus 2 to 3 separate years that were attempted unsuccessful WDrawal.

*2010 Lexapro minimum dose for the past 4 years.

*Reduced Lexapro Oct 2013 (minimum dose) by skipping days over a 7 month period. Last med taken end of April 2014, 9 months ago. NO other meds. Initial diet was GAPS eased into a mostly Weston A Price Foundation diet. Supplement with wild fish oil, coconut oil, St Mary's thistle, 5 ml whisky/30 ml water (in emergencies), kefir, gelatine drinks and probiotics.

Aug 3 2015 update. Doing much better, still thin and poor appetite. Discovered decay in an old root canal filling. Removal in one week. Root canals are dangerous as they support pathogenic bacteria some of which are attracted to the brain. 

UPDATE May 2016 Mum's been living on her own in our country home since August 2015! This is huge considering its a big old house on a bush property with no close neighbours. Mum is doing very well, enjoying food and friends. She is now making plans to buy a home back in her own home community near her friends and family. Mum continues to pay attention to eating good wholesome foods and connecting with loved ones. Mum continues fortnightly psychotherapy with a private female therapist who doesn't support drug use. 

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Awesome for you and your mum!

zoloft 2004-08 tapered too fast(2 weeks)
Luvox 5/08 100 mg 07/10 40mg via small reductions, 08/10 39mg, 09/10 38mg, 10/10 37mg, 11/10 36mg,2/11 35mg, 5/11 34mg, 8/11 33mg, 11/11 32mg, 01/12 31mg, 03/12 30mg, 4/12 29mg, 5/12 28 mg, 8/12 27 mg, 11/12 26 mg, 1/13 25 mg, 3/13 24 mg, 4/13 23 mg,6/13 22 mg, 7/13 21 mg, 8/13 20mg, 10/13 19 mg, 11/13 18 mg, 12/13 17 mg, 1/14 16 mg, 3/14 13 mg, 9/14 10.9 mg,  1/15 10 mg, 3/15  9 mg,  5/15 8 mg. 11/15 7.12 mg.  4/16  5 mg, 6/16   4.5 mg,  9/16 4.2 mg, 1/17 3.48 mg, 2/17  3.2 mg,  4/17 2.2 mg, 5/17 2.0 mg, 6/17  1.74 mg, 7/17 1.58 mg, 9/17 1.27 mg, 11/17 1.0 mg,  1/18 0.79 mg

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How lovely is that! You sound wonderful and so does your mum. ❤️

Prescribed Venlafaxine 150mg ..........

 19 Feb 2019 stopped Venlafaxine 150mg cold turkey. 06 March 2019 restarted Ven 125mg. 04 April 2019 9 mini pills. 02 May 2019 8 mini pills. 01July 2019 7 mini pills. 18 Aug 2019 6 mini pills. 24 Sept 2019 5.50 mini pills. 11 October 2019 5 mini pills. 5th May 2020 Reinstated Ven 125 mg XR 9 pills.

9th Nov 2020 Update Started splitting dose to twice per day

02/02/2021 can’t stabilise without symptoms. 
03/02/21 9 mini pills @ 10am 

Updated.... July 2021 108mg, Sept 2021 107mg, 

tapering steps to be updated

current dose 14 July 2023 80mg

23.07.23 75mg half way ! 

 

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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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  • Altostrata changed the title to Frances72 my mums success story

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