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How were you referred to this site?


Altostrata

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  • Administrator

I'm curious about how the rest of the world views SurvivingAntidepressants.org.

 

When people register, they sometimes say they were referred to this site by a therapist, doctor, nurse, or friend.

 

Did this happen to you? How were you referred to this site, and what did your referrer say about it?

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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hello Alto, I found this site on another site that referenced this. It was the ex pharma pusher lady turned whistle blower? And because stopped in 2012 which I am so grateful (that while I was going through thee worst health crisis ever, because stopping the meds) you suggested I read and taper. THANK YOU! I did and now I am at 6 months off. My world has been a bit rocky as I have had to make external changes to mitigate the internal. So I moved from isolation to a nearby city with warmer temperature. I am adding more exercise as my anxiety has increased and it helps alot. I have a yoga relaxation class twice a week and I do breathing and yoga everyday when I awake and when I am about to retire for the night. You can tell by my spotty contact with this site, that I am managing but it is like I am in a little raft in a huge ocean just biding my time till I see land in sight.

I am so grateful to you and yes pay paled ya as well. Much love to ya occupyingmyhealthcare.

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I found this site when I was without sleep for days at a time in the beginning of my cold turkey off meds. I believe I had googled "withdrawal symptoms". I found a story by someone named "Whatever" and it has been a life line to me ever since. The reason I prefer this site over others I've found is because it is geared to just that: Surviving Antidepressants. Many other sites focus on those who are ON meds dealing with depression so I tend to feel like the odd (wo)man out. Thank you for all of your hard work and this site!

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I found this site thanks to a link on another site. I don't think that where I live doctors even know that Internet exists, let alone prolonged withdrawal syndrome...

From 2001 to 2010, I took almost continuosly a host of different SSRIs , including Prozac, Celexa and Paxil, plus various benzodiazepines and Bupropion for a limited period of time.

 

From July 2010 to April 2012 >> Duloxetine, dose ranging from 60mg to 120mg.

 

From August 2012 to September 2012 >> reinstated 30 mg of Duloxetine

 

From September 2012 until present days >> Valproic Acid/Sodium Valproate, dose ranging from 300mg to 1000mg. Now I'm on 400mg. I've also taken Amisulpride (50mg) for 9 days and Abilify (10ml) only once.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I think I entered something like "Lexapro withdrawal symptoms" in Google and found this forum either first or among the first listed. When I checked it out, I knew it was the right place.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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Twitter and Facebook.. I don't remember which was first. At first I was interested mostly out of curiosity.. ADs have never been a problem as I can't take them :blink:, but then I did not know where to go for help getting off Lyrica.. and there/here you were!

As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule.

 

Requip - 3/16 ZERO  Total time on 25 years.

 

Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.

BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10)  Total time on 25 years.

 

Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section.  "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin

 

 

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Hello,

 

This is my first post on this site. It feels good here. I have never taken ADs, but I have taken other psychoactive meds, most importantly long term Ativan (lorazepam) "therapy". 9 years at mostly 6 mg/day in a single dose guaranteed to produce interdose withdrawal (w/d) symptoms. I didn't know what they were, but I did know that I was going crazy. Last summer I finally realized that my symptoms (sx) matched benzo w/d and the worsening PM sx were caused by low bd levels and disappeared as soon as I took my dose...which then led to other acute problems.

 

Anyway, I bit the bullet and (with the help of Benzo Buddies) started changing my doses gradually until I was taking 2 mg 3X day by November. That change alone had major + effects on my cognitive, mood, and physical sx. I did a lot of research about bd w/d, tapering, GABA receptor down regulation, etc., and started a taper once I was stable on my meds. Milk didn't work so well for me, so I'm using a wet/dry taper based on Ativan's solubility in ethyl alcohol. My doc had promised to Rx liquid A but reneged on her word, so I make the solution myself. I have a degree in science and 20+ years in labs. I'm cutting at 0.017 mg/day (0.3% of starting dose), dealing with the > sx with periodic holds, and hoping to stay at this cut rate if I can. Anybody here with benzo experience?

 

I found this site because someone I respect very much at BB said "you oughtta check out Surviving Antidepessants, there's a person on that site named AltoStratus who really knows their stuff and is humble and compassionate...they could probably give you some good taper advice". Yup, that's what she said. Except she used gender-specific pronouns. :D

 

Jerome

72 years old, no history of AD meds. Single dose of Ativan ramped up to 6-8 mg/day (!) for 7 years, initial Rx for insomnia. Summer of 2012 I learned about IW sx and began the change to 3X day dosing, finishing in October. Big improvement in sx. I also take opiate pain meds.

Finally got under way with a hybrid [wet/dry] daily cut taper in Dec. 2012, at 0.0125 mg/day reduction. I was able to taper down from 8 mg/d to 4 mg/d in 2 years at that rate, interrupted by several medical adventures (heart block, wrist fracture, endocrine problem). I'm currently [9/2021] stable at 4 mg/d and plan to start a micro-taper at an initial reduction rate of 0.035 mg/d. Now (10/2023) at 1.75 mg/day, I'm getting what I think are some w/d sx. so maybe hold for a while.

 

My taper method, which has gone through several iterations, is linked here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/5037-jeromes-wetdry-taper-revised/?hl=jerome. At the moment, I'm not using a solution, but rather dealing with dry 0.5 mg tablets.

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Hi, Jerome.

 

Thanks for that kind note.

 

This site is primarily about withdrawal from non-benzo psychiatric drugs. I don't claim benzo tapering expertise, but we have some members here who are tapering benzos and can share info with you. See this 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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Hello, Altostrata:

I'll spell your name correctly from now on. You are not a cloud bank...I've subscribed to the benzo thread and will create a sig line and take care of other 'start up' business ASASP--as soon as sympoms permit. :P I'm barely arrived and already I like this place.

 

Thank you very much. I'll try to put in as much as I take out.

 

Jerome

72 years old, no history of AD meds. Single dose of Ativan ramped up to 6-8 mg/day (!) for 7 years, initial Rx for insomnia. Summer of 2012 I learned about IW sx and began the change to 3X day dosing, finishing in October. Big improvement in sx. I also take opiate pain meds.

Finally got under way with a hybrid [wet/dry] daily cut taper in Dec. 2012, at 0.0125 mg/day reduction. I was able to taper down from 8 mg/d to 4 mg/d in 2 years at that rate, interrupted by several medical adventures (heart block, wrist fracture, endocrine problem). I'm currently [9/2021] stable at 4 mg/d and plan to start a micro-taper at an initial reduction rate of 0.035 mg/d. Now (10/2023) at 1.75 mg/day, I'm getting what I think are some w/d sx. so maybe hold for a while.

 

My taper method, which has gone through several iterations, is linked here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/5037-jeromes-wetdry-taper-revised/?hl=jerome. At the moment, I'm not using a solution, but rather dealing with dry 0.5 mg tablets.

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  • Administrator

I am not a cloud bank, but my pseudonym is derived from one.

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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  • 1 month later...

I was referred here from the FB group for withdrawal. I was on Prozac for approximately 5 years then switched to Paxil. I took Paxil for about 4 years at 20 mg daily, then upped to 40 mg. Then my world blew up completely. It had been slowly eroding since about 3 months on the Paxil.

Prozac ~ 5 years

Paxil 20 mg ~ 4 years

Paxil 40 mg ~ 6 months

Tapered to 0mg in ~ 4 weeks

Withdrawals ~ 6 weeks today March 22, 2013

Better each week...

Also at various times have been on Wellbutrin, along with my Prozac and Paxil.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello Altostrata,

 

I found this site by googling withdrawal symptoms and found a thread from a member and have been hooked since. I have also shared this site with a few friends, my therapist, and my psychiatrist. I'm just trying to get people to understand that this isn't all in our heads. I don't think I could've made it this far without the help and support I found here! Thank you for creating this place for us Altostrata!!

Celexa 40mg from 2004-Oct. 2012. Had to stop cold turkey due to Serotonin Syndrome. Tried to reinstate 3 weeks after ct, but had an allergic reaction to it.

 

Amitriptyline 25 mg from 11/07/12-11/30/12. Stopped due to inability to stay awake and made anxiety worse.

 

Lexapro started at 5mg and slowly increased to 15mg Dec. 8 2012-Feb. 15th 2013. Had to stop cold turkey due to Serotonin Toxicity.

 

Lamictal 5mg 3/2/13 to try to stabilize my nerves. Seems to be helping with the brain zaps, emotional rollercoaster, and DP/DR.

 

Find a reason to smile everyday :-)

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The Mad in America site. I check there regularly for their news and blog updates.

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

I googled efexor withdrawal and a topix forum came up.

They sent me here to find out reasons to slow taper.

I'm glad they sent me here.

**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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  • 2 months later...

I googled AD withdrawal and found an article in Psychology Today that referenced this site and the tremendous work Altostrata has done to support those trying to handle withdrawal and in getting the medical profession to recognize w/d as a real issue and not something that is "in the heads" of those suffering with it.

 

Much respect and admiration for everything Alto has done.

2000 - Paxil Cr 12.5mg

2005 - Tapered. Reinstated at 25 mg. Back to 12.5

6/13 - Quit Paxil C/T.  Start 5 mg Klonopin.

7/13 - 4 weeks Paxil free.  1-1/2 weeks Klonopin free.

7/13 - Reinstated 2.0 mg of Paxil Liquid

8/14 - Decreased to 1.8 then 1.6

9/14 - Back to 1.8

9/7/14 - Back to 2.0

2/2/15 - Decreasing 10% per month currently at 1.44 mg

 

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I had just placed an online order for for some possibly questionable supplements to 'cure' depression. Was g00gling something about my decision and it was mentioned on this site. I started scarfing up all the information I could and I'm still here, it's my support lifeline for dealing with the bewildering world of antidepressant withdrawal and learning to life a life without antidepressants. My sig explains what happened to me.

 

(gosh, alto has a fb page???)

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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I found this site while searching for ways to withdraw from Pristiq specifically.  There is a lot of good information here for me - I'm not alone!  The best site I have found on this subject.  Thank you everyone for your comments.

Have been on Paxil, Lexapro, and now Pristiq.

Have had no success at getting off of Pristiq.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Same as others. I typed Lexapro withdrawal but added 2013 and found this site. I saw many that were older but this seems the most relevant and up to date. I read one post and said-BINGO, I found exactly what I was looking for.

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  • 3 months later...

I was on the "effexor withdrawal topix" site a person there named Damaged told me about this site. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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An interesting path led me here...I had a colon cleanse, and on their website they listed Dr. Breggin's book which opened my eyes. I didn't realize there was information on how to taper! So through some internet surfing, I just recently discovered this site and was so excited to find such great info about tapering! Because I did it blindly with Klonopin and Wellbutrin, and too fast, and couldn't manage getting off the doxepin. My psychiatrist has been of no help, but I see there is a ton of great resources and support here and I'm so glad I won't have to do this all on my own like I've done before.

1998-2002 Zoloft and Doxepin 

2007-2016 Klonopin (discontinued 2013), Wellbutrin, Doxepin, Prozac (2016)

As of 1/1/2017

  • Wellbutrin, 300mg
  • Doxepin 85mg
  • Prozac 20mg

9/2017 Doxepin dropped to 75mg

1/2018 Prozac dropped to 10mg (5ml of a 20mg solution)

9/2018-12/2018 Prozac taper, .2ml every 2 weeks

2/2019 Prozac at .6ml (2.4mg I think)

 

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I was referred to this site by a person in a facebook group, with whom I had been talking privately about some health issues.

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I googled and found the site.

MDD First episode 1993                   imipramine - good - off after 15 months

MDD                       2002                   Prozac - bad; Zoloft - good - off after 13 months

MDD/A                    2005                   Zoloft - on

MDD/A                    2006                   Zoloft - pooped out; Lexapro - bad; Cymbalta - good

MDD/A                    2007                   Cymbalta + Lamictal + Abilify (poor) + Lorazepam

MDD/A                    2008 - 2011        Cymbalta + Lamictal +Seroquel + Lorazepam

MDD/A remission   2011 - 2013         120 mg Cymbalta + 200 mg Lamictal

MDD/A remission   2014                     tapered to 60 mg Cymbalta + 150 mg Lamictal by June.

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  • 4 months later...

A support group for Effexor Withdrawal on Facebook recommended your site. And I'm really happy I found you!

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I've been here awhile, and since I've been here I've since found AltoStrata in other areas of the web where I search and research, staunchly defending the reality of the pain that drug and post-drug sufferers go through, and questioning the powers that may be about use of these and other destructive drugs and methods, including involuntary commitment, court ordered drugs, etc.

 

But the first time I found AltoStrata was on a thread in MIA (Mad In America).  Before I knew the "who's who" of MIA, I was reading the comments to a thread - usually more interesting than the thread itself.  

 

And Alto had made some strong comments about the damage of the drugs, and linked to SA to show HOW MANY CASE STUDIES are here regarding damage to people because of these drugs.  I jumped the link, and here I am!  And I'm certainly glad I did, even though my withdrawal is less about antidepressants, I've found warm, smart, wise, compassionate support here.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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  • Administrator

Thanks, JanCarol, for those kind and encouraging words.

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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As I tapered from Lexapro (http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6272-realitycheck-i-thought-coming-off-a-low-dose-of-lexapro-would-be-no-big-deal/?p=86771) and began to feel sick, and then finished the taper and started to feel both sick AND insane, I started to do some research on the Web.  The best I found was a book on Amazon called The Antidepressant Solution: A Step-by-Step Guide to Safely Overcoming Antidepressant Withdrawal, Dependence, and "Addiction" by Joseph Glenmullen, a Harvard psychiatrist.  It's not new, written in 2005 and mostly talks about Paxil, but it was still pretty helpful, lays out a taper plan (too late, I hadn't followed it) and he busts open the duplicitous world of Big Pharma in a way I found satisfying (but scary.)

 

I was determined to stay OFF As my symptoms persisted and worsened for over two weeks, my search for answers got more focused.  There are a lot of snake-oil salesmen out there selling supplements they say will help with the taper, but I knew that wasn't the answer.  I even thought about emailing everyone I knew and asking if they knew anyone who had gotten off meds and seeing if they would start an email correspondence with me.  One day I was searching for "SSRI discontinuation" or "antidepressant withdrawal" or whatever, for the hundredth time, and this time the site came up in the search.  I knew as soon as I got here that this is what I had been looking for.  Yes, I wish I'd found it before I started tapering, but I probably wouldn't have followed the 10% per month advice because I knew that I was different and I could get off faster than that.  I thought that a month was really slow.  My primary doctor said that anything under 10 mg wouldn't cause a problem to discontinue.  So really, a month seemed like a very long, safe taper.  But when the problems started, that's when the pain was great enough to search for answers.  I am very, very happy to have found this community.  I feel like this is going to get me to the next level of recovery.  Thank you for providing this service.

On and off SSRI and SNRI meds since 1996

1996-2001: Prozac, then Effexor (discontinued 2001)

2008-2010: Cymbalta (discontinued 2010 for pregnancy attempts)

5/2011: Started Lexapro 10 mg for anxiety/panic. Adjusted dose down to 7.5 mg and did great.

3/2014: Life is good, I am stable... time to get off the meds again -- should be no big deal, right? Such a low dose...

Lexapro taper: One month to come down from 7.5 mg by 33% decreases... 7.5 mg to 5 mg, then 5 mg to 2.5 mg, then 2.5 mg every other day (bad idea), experienced nausea and GI upset that I thought was a stomach bug... then

4/14/14: discontinued Lexapro and began several weeks of confusion, panic, nausea, dizziness, joint pain, hoarseness, etc.

5/1/14: reinstated Lexapro at 1 mg or as close to that as I can get, with 5 mg tablets and a pill splitter.  Felt improved by the next day, not great, but improved.

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  • 3 months later...

I'm new here but I hope people will share their story with me if their lives have changed because of a drug called Pristiq. I have my story, but I desperately need to share it with someone else who is now or has experienced the nightmare that Pristiq has left behind.

 

I still trust my doctor but not this time. I refuse to listen to anyone who has been giving me pills to fix my problems even though I know she meant well. I still take Wellbutrin, Prozac, and Nuvigil. But I cannot accept the risk right now of stopping them until I learn more about what they are doing to me now and what will happen to me when I have had enough with ingesting these poisons. My Doctor means well, and I believe that, but she cannot help me because she doesn't know what I am going through now. People may think I am naive for not getting angry at my doctor for this, but I honestly don't care. I need your help not your opinions. The things everyone has been saying about what I had ignored for many years has become reality for me, I am terrified of the future and fear losing everything that matters the most to me because I longer the person I was, but instead something people no longer recognize. I won't hijack this thread with a bunch of politics, that is for another place and time. I will say this however. Something is wrong. And it goes way beyond anything my doctor has control of or even aware of.

 

But you asked how I found this place? I Google searched something about Pristiq withdrawl and decided to take a chance. I hope I will feel safe here. Thank you and God bless everyone.

Pristiq has poisoned my mind, body, and soul.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I found out about this site from someone recommending it to me in a post in a secret facebook page for people trying to taper off of their benzos, anti depressants and various psych and meds for other health conditions ie epilepsy, bad back etc.

I found this site that I had been on was far too religious for my liking as I am either an Agnostic or an Athiest, plus I heard other people from similar site complaining that the Christian site was too dangerous in their methods for tapering meds.

I think I also found out about surviving antidepressants .org from a facebook page called 'Cymbalta Hurts Worse' which was a support page for people tapering off the anti-depressant called Cymbalta. I currently tend to bounce back and forth between Cymbalta Hurts Worse fb page and this site because I find them to be more precise and more specific to tapering of anti-depressants.

1998-2003   Highest legal dose of Prozac

2003:2008   Zyprexa, Flupenthyxol, Seroquel, Lovan, Cymbalta (60mg)

2010-2014   Cymbalta (60mg) Solian/Amisulpride (400-800mg)

2014-2015   Cymbalta (60mg) Solian/Amisulpride (400mg)

 

History of withdrawals: Over the years I have gone days without all of my medication [in the first years of medication ('98-2005) therefore causing suicidal thoughts. 

 

Throughout my history above, I have had constant and recently intermittent thoughts of suicide ie 'Suicidal Ideation'.

 

For 18 years I have constantly and countlessly made attempts at going cold turkey and missing 2-7days without medication.
 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/user/3420-altruist/

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I did a google search on how to come off zyprexa,

I would like to thank Altostrata and the admins for all their hard work and support ,this is a great resource and community

2012 put on Citalopram and diazepam for 3 months for "depression" after filling in a 3 minute form at the doctors, had a massive reaction with panic attacks and extreme anxiety,never suffered panic attacks or anxiety before citalopram.Told to quit cold turkey which led to two hospital admissions during 2012/2013

December for 6 months Seroquel dosage adjusted up and down 50mg ,150mg ,100mg, caused severe tinnitus ,told to quit cold turkey

2013 January for 12 months Lorazapam given to me like sweets,told to quit cold turkey

2013 May Zoloft for 6 months ,told to quit cold turkey, reinstated 50mg tapered 2nd time over a month (to fast but I survived)messed up my sleep

Zyprexa April 2103 5mg until august 2014 ,dropped by doctor down to 2.5mg for one month went well but sleep was very poor for 3 weeks

End of 2015 I had to reinstate back up to 5mg due to constant insomnia that wouldnt go away Started a slow taper and found an understanding doctor who listened to me while I reduced
May 2016 drug free, sleeping and doing well in life again, it can be done http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/12078-finally-off-zyprexa/

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I've been trying to spread the word about the SSRI-love connection and stumbled upon a thread about it here in the forum. The thread about marriages I think.

 

OT: I think this effect is probably one of the most underrecognized and yet tragic effect of SSRIs. Akathisia would be my next choice. The good news is that the emotional numbing effect is becoming more well-known. Maybe people will start to put 2 and 2 together?

April / 2016: Cipralex 10 mg, Mirtazapine 30 mg, Lyrica 600 mg, Diazepam 20 mg, Bystolic 5 mg

2018: Lots of polypharmacy which is undocumented here. Started and stopped several drugs and changed doses of existing ones

August / 2018: Back on track! Cipralex 15 mg, Mirtazapine 7.5 mg, Diazepam 15 mg

September 2018: Cipralex 15 mg -> 12.5 mg

October 2018: Cipralex 12.5 mg -> 10 mg, Mirtazapine 7.5 mg -> 3.75 mg -> Stopped, Diazepam 15 mg

November 2019: Cipralex 5 mg, Diazepam 10 mg

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I found the site while was searching on google for the truth about the antidepressants side effects and withdrawal!

Thanks for giving us a hope!!

2008-2010 seroxat 40mg for panic attacks

2010-2012 seroxat 20mg 

2012 stopped seroxat(cold turkey) because of feeling perfect but after 2 months the panic attacks and other symptoms started again

Reinstated seroxat on 60mg but no effect (depression induced,low mood,and many other side effects)

Effexor 300mg for 1 month didn't work

2013-2014 Anafranil 100mg (tricyclic) 5-6 months feeling good but after that not feeling very good

Add maprotiline 50mg (tetracyclic) some improvement but i stopped maprotiline because i didn't want to be on cocktail

2014 Generalized anxiety disorder stopped and reinstated anafranil 150mg

2015 April  meds free

 

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I found it on my own through a web search.  I was googling phrases like "TCA discontinuation syndrome" and "antidepressant withdrawal" after a pharmacist at an ER diagnosed me.

*I'm not a doctor and don't give medical advice, just personal experience
**Off all meds since Nov. 2014. Mentally & emotionally recovered; physically not
-Dual cold turkeys off TCA & Ativan in Oct 2014. Prescribed from 2011-2014

-All meds were Rxed off-label for an autoimmune illness.  It was a MISDIAGNOSIS, but I did not find out until AFTER meds caused damage.  All med tapers/cold turkeys directed by doctors 

-Nortriptyline May 2012 - Dec 2013. Cold turkey off nortrip & cold switched to desipramine

-Desipramine Jan 2014 - Oct. 29, 2014 (rapid taper/cold turkey)

-Lorazepam 1 mg per night during 2011
-Lorazepam 1 mg per month in 2012 (or less)

-Lorazepam on & off, Dec 2013 through Aug 2014. Didn't exceed 3x a week

-Lorazepam again in Oct. 2014 to help get off of desipramine. Last dose lzpam was 1 mg, Nov. 2, 2014. Immediate paradoxical reactions to benzos after stopping TCAs 

-First muscle/dystonia side effects started on nortriptyline, but docs too stupid to figure it out. On desipramine, muscle tremors & rigidity worsened

-Two weeks after I got off all meds, I developed full-blown TD.  Tardive dystonia, dyskinesia, myoclonic jerks ALL over body, ribcage wiggles, facial tics, twitching tongue & fingers, tremors/twitches of arms, legs, cognitive impairment, throat muscles semi-paralyzed & unable to swallow solid food, brain zaps, ears ring, dizzy, everything looks too far away, insomnia, numbness & electric shocks everywhere when I try to fall asleep, jerk awake from sleep with big, gasping breaths, wake with terrors & tremors, severely depressed.  NO HISTORY OF DEPRESSION, EVER. Meds CREATED it.

-Month 7: hair falling out; no vision improvement; still tardive dystonia; facial & tongue tics returned
-Month 8: back to acute, incl. Grand Mal seizure-like episodes. New mental torment, PGAD, worse insomnia
-Month 9: tardive dystonia worse, dyskinesia returned. Unable to breathe well due to dystonia in stomach, chest, throat
-Month 13: Back to acute, brain zaps back, developed eczema & stomach problems. Left leg no longer works right due to dystonia, meaning both legs now damaged
-7 years off: Huge improvements, incl. improved dystonia

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I'm especially grateful, since I was unable to join the Point of Return web community because I decided not to do their supplement program, due to fear of putting anything in my body.  I ordered the supplements, but ultimately decided not to take them.  Since their program is supplement-based, I was unable to participate in the rest of the program, which is understandable.  I was so relieved to find another online community here, though!

*I'm not a doctor and don't give medical advice, just personal experience
**Off all meds since Nov. 2014. Mentally & emotionally recovered; physically not
-Dual cold turkeys off TCA & Ativan in Oct 2014. Prescribed from 2011-2014

-All meds were Rxed off-label for an autoimmune illness.  It was a MISDIAGNOSIS, but I did not find out until AFTER meds caused damage.  All med tapers/cold turkeys directed by doctors 

-Nortriptyline May 2012 - Dec 2013. Cold turkey off nortrip & cold switched to desipramine

-Desipramine Jan 2014 - Oct. 29, 2014 (rapid taper/cold turkey)

-Lorazepam 1 mg per night during 2011
-Lorazepam 1 mg per month in 2012 (or less)

-Lorazepam on & off, Dec 2013 through Aug 2014. Didn't exceed 3x a week

-Lorazepam again in Oct. 2014 to help get off of desipramine. Last dose lzpam was 1 mg, Nov. 2, 2014. Immediate paradoxical reactions to benzos after stopping TCAs 

-First muscle/dystonia side effects started on nortriptyline, but docs too stupid to figure it out. On desipramine, muscle tremors & rigidity worsened

-Two weeks after I got off all meds, I developed full-blown TD.  Tardive dystonia, dyskinesia, myoclonic jerks ALL over body, ribcage wiggles, facial tics, twitching tongue & fingers, tremors/twitches of arms, legs, cognitive impairment, throat muscles semi-paralyzed & unable to swallow solid food, brain zaps, ears ring, dizzy, everything looks too far away, insomnia, numbness & electric shocks everywhere when I try to fall asleep, jerk awake from sleep with big, gasping breaths, wake with terrors & tremors, severely depressed.  NO HISTORY OF DEPRESSION, EVER. Meds CREATED it.

-Month 7: hair falling out; no vision improvement; still tardive dystonia; facial & tongue tics returned
-Month 8: back to acute, incl. Grand Mal seizure-like episodes. New mental torment, PGAD, worse insomnia
-Month 9: tardive dystonia worse, dyskinesia returned. Unable to breathe well due to dystonia in stomach, chest, throat
-Month 13: Back to acute, brain zaps back, developed eczema & stomach problems. Left leg no longer works right due to dystonia, meaning both legs now damaged
-7 years off: Huge improvements, incl. improved dystonia

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Thanks, WI. I got here the same way except mine was TRB Health.

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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I found it myself when I was trying to get answers to my strange symptoms and did not get much help at A&E. After visit there I googled it, I think I was searching for serotonin syndrome or paresthesia. Don't remember exactly. I got accepted straight away and my questions were answered in a very supportive manner...

Next day I took the decision about decrease (just to remind people, I had an adverse response to escitalopram, so I had to cut it faster).

Thank you.

- 12.03.2021- doxepin- 50mg

- 6.11.2020- 75mg

- 16.10.2020- 100mg

- 30.09.2020- doxepin- 125mg

- May 2020, omeprazole 40mg switched to esomeprazole 20mg

- 2012 re-started Doxepin 75mg, evening. Increased to 150mg

- 2012, Atenolol 25mg, twice a day

- 2016, Low dose of HRT in evening, Sandrena and Utrogestan 

- Long term of Nasal spray Otrivine

- 2012, PPI Omeprazole 40mg-evening

24.10.2014- Started ESCITALOPRAM-first 5mg and then 10mg; due to the adverse symptoms reduced on 5.01.2015- Escitalopram- 2.5mg 22.07.2016- re-started reduction by 1% at a time. Completed tappering on  19.03.2020 😇

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