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Tips to help sleep: so many of us have that awful withdrawal insomnia


Altostrata

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  • Moderator Emeritus

This sleep video is great to try.  This lady will bore you to sleep though she is quite loving! 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLzR7gLQmw

1987-1997 pertofran , prothiaden , Prozac 1997-2002 Zoloft 2002-2004 effexor 2004-2010 Lexapro 40mg

2010-2012Cymbalta 120mg

Sept. 2012 -decreased 90mg in 6months. Care taken over by Dr Lucire in March 2013 , decreased last 30mg at 2mg per week over 3 months. July 21 , 2013- last dose of Cymbalta

Protracted withdrawal syndrome kicked in badly Jan.2014 Unrelenting akathisia until May 2014. Voluntary hosp. admission. Cocktail of Seroquel, Ativan and mirtazapine and I was well enough to go home after 14 days. Stopped all hosp. meds in next few months.

July 2014 felt v.depressed - couldn't stop crying. Started pristiq 50mg. Felt improvement within days and continued to improve, so stayed on 50mg for 8 months.

Began taper 28 Feb. 2015. Pristiq 50mg down to 45mg. Had one month of w/d symptoms. Started CES therapy in March. No w/d symptoms down to 30mg.

October 2015 , taking 25mg Pristiq. Capsules compounded with slow-release additive.

March 2016 , 21mg

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  • 2 weeks later...

 

Sleep seems to be such an important factor to getting through this ordeal. There appears to be a link between sleep and withdrawal symptoms. If you search online for ‘sleep deprivation’ you will notice that the symptoms are very similar. I’m not sure which causes which. Perhaps it’s a chicken and egg situation. Is insomnia just another withdrawal symptom? Or, is sleep deprivation the key that unlocks the door to hell and releases all the other withdrawal demons? I have no idea, and probably neither does anyone else.
 
What I do know is that if I can string together a few nights of decent sleep I feel so much more functional, less anxious and more energetic. And, on the flipside, if I have a few nights of poor sleep, things will turn very bad very quickly. In fact, during every one of my failed CT attempts it was the acute insomnia and the accompanying deterioration of my mind and body that finally forced me to reinstate. 
 
It does seem very common for us SSRI refugees to suffer from insomnia. Virtually all of us have had difficulty getting to or staying asleep. I would be interested to know others experiences with sleep and their symptoms, especially how it affects windows and waves. Do you sleep more during windows? Do you sleep less during waves? 

 

Dan,

 

This an excellent description of my struggle with insomnia and withdrawal. No sleep - bad wave. When I can sleep I feel good and I can experience joy. Not sleeping is awfully downward spiral. I honestly have not figured this out. The past couple of months I was sleeping well. I was falling asleep normally. Now insomnia is back and I'm a mess.

 

Yes. I felt good and I probably cut too much because I felt good. I thought there was a change and I could handle cutting back on meds. Now I am being punished once again for trying to withdraw from medication. I feel so sick. Sometimes I feel hopeless.

 

Thanks for putting this ordeal into words for me.

 

Leahy

2001-2007 Rem 90 mg, xanax 2 mg synthroid 112mcg - 2007-2014 Rem 60 mg xanax 3-4 mg

2015   Feb Rem 45 mg xanax 2 mg, March Rem 30 xanax 2, April  Rem 22.5, May Rem 30  xanax .25x4 hrs, June Rem 26 xanax 2-3, July Rem 22.5 xanax 2, Aug Rem 15 xanax 2, Sept Rem 22 xanax 2, Oct Rem 18 mg xanax .25 mg /4 hrs, Nov Rem 23 mg xanax .5mg, Dec Rem 24 xanax 2 

2016  Jan Rem 20 xanax 2,  Feb Rem 18 mg xanax 1.5, Feb Rem 14 12 mg xanax 1 mg, March Rem 10 9 mg xanax 1-2 mg Rem 7.3 8 xanax 1-2, April Rem 10 12 mg xanax 2 mg, May Rem 11 xanax 1 .75mg Nov Rem 10mg Xanax 2mg 2017 May Rem 10.25 Xanax 1 mg, November Xanax 1mg

 

 

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8 years 4 months post cold turkey Effexor and whatever else I was taking at the time to treat effexor side effects and pooped out effects.... 

 

I still have times where my sleep is just not going to happen it dances around a lot like Invisible Useless I also have times where I sleep I just go to bed and sleep and almost take it for granted...almost but not really cause I am generally making up for days I did not sleep well properly or for any amount of time to count. 

 

I also have broken sleep I can sleep 2 hours here and 2 hours there... and I did wait for years to get 4 hours sleep in a row... but do have times where I can sleep 4-6 hours at a stretch for a wk or a month those are the best of time .. those are the times you will see me post something and think I am kind of smart then there are the other days where I look like an imbecile- no sleep or not enough... I know cause I see those posts when I have had some sleep.

 

Now I try to spare you all and not post when I can't sleep but I do slip at times

peace all

sweet dreams  

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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Thanks, BTDT. I slept last night - all night. I wonder sometimes is it because I was so tired after a week of not sleeping much. I hope I sales again tonight and this is a new trend. Yea - good luck with that, Leahy!

2001-2007 Rem 90 mg, xanax 2 mg synthroid 112mcg - 2007-2014 Rem 60 mg xanax 3-4 mg

2015   Feb Rem 45 mg xanax 2 mg, March Rem 30 xanax 2, April  Rem 22.5, May Rem 30  xanax .25x4 hrs, June Rem 26 xanax 2-3, July Rem 22.5 xanax 2, Aug Rem 15 xanax 2, Sept Rem 22 xanax 2, Oct Rem 18 mg xanax .25 mg /4 hrs, Nov Rem 23 mg xanax .5mg, Dec Rem 24 xanax 2 

2016  Jan Rem 20 xanax 2,  Feb Rem 18 mg xanax 1.5, Feb Rem 14 12 mg xanax 1 mg, March Rem 10 9 mg xanax 1-2 mg Rem 7.3 8 xanax 1-2, April Rem 10 12 mg xanax 2 mg, May Rem 11 xanax 1 .75mg Nov Rem 10mg Xanax 2mg 2017 May Rem 10.25 Xanax 1 mg, November Xanax 1mg

 

 

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before tapering i slept very well 9 hours per night

since 7 years off meds, i sleep 3/4 hours per day, always bad nightmares, i sleep from 6 am morning  to 10 morning, sleeping night is finished since 7 years, no progress, seem permanent, and as i have prostate problems, i awake every hour or 40 minutes to pee a little

if i want to sleep night, i cannot, no sleep

and as i have back pains, often have to sleep sitting, or else chest forarms spine very severe pains

for anxiety 

12 years paxil - cold turkey 1,5 month - switch celexa 1 year taper; total 13 years on brain meds 

67 years old - 9 years  med free

 

in protracted withdrawal

rigidity standing and walking, dryness gougerot-szoegren, sleep deteriorate,

function as have a lack of nerves, improving have been very little 

 

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Here is my two cents on sleeping in total darkness: 

 

I recently put up blackout curtains because of migraines. I used blackout curtain liner from the fabric store and duct tape. (What can I say? I was desperate.) I also removed all electronic devices, except my husband's CPAP machine and my sunrise alarm clock. For those I covered the displays with heavy black felt.

 

I managed to get complete darkness in the room. As in eyes open, eyes closed, no difference.

 

At first, I felt like I had more trouble sleeping because I kept opening my eyes to check it out. Plus for a couple of nights I woke up in the middle of the night, when usually I don't. BUT in the morning I felt more refreshed, and was easily able to get out of bed. I also had a lot more energy during the day than I usually do.

 

The odd thing is that I didn't think I had a sleep problem because I always fell asleep quickly and slept for a long time.  But I was also always tired and it was hard to get up in the morning.

 

It has made such a difference in my life that I feel I have to proselytize!  ;)

 

I am slowly making blackout curtains, but it is bit trickier to get the total darkness because the curtains are a few inches away from the window. I have some tricks in mind, though, to make it functional and beautiful!

 

Complete darkness is the important bit.

1980-84?: tricyclic antidepressant? unknown dosage, gradually quit by forgetting to take it

2011: Cipralex 10 mg increased to 20 mg after two months, Zyprexa 2.5 mg increased to 5 mg after one month

2012: Cipralex 20 mg, Zyprexa reduced to 2.5 mg, then stopped (withdrawal symptoms attributed to depression), Abilify 2 mg, then increased to 5 mg 

2013: Cipralex 20 mg, Wellbutrin 150 mg, Abilify decreased to 2 mg and then stopped

2014: Cipralex reduced to 10 mg (no taper and withdrawal symptoms), Wellbutrin 150 mg

2015-16: Cipralex 10 mg, Wellbutrin 150 mg

Started tapering Cipralex on March 31, 2016: 9 mg; April 27: 8.25 mg, May 25: 7.25 mg

Off Cipralex late fall 2016 after a slow taper.

Off Wellbutrin late winter/early spring 2017 after a taper.

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Do people think this broken sleep thing will resolve in time or are we stuck with this like for the balance of our earthly existence.

(Didn't want to use the 'p' word).

 

I would like to hear from a long term user who is now 10+ yrs drug free say.

 

I can cope with anything as long as it doesnt have akathisia attached to it...so Im pretty patient as i know things could be worse....and believe you me they were...but at 5.5 yrs drug free it would be nice to see an improvement.

 

Plus when i wake up at 3 or 4am in the morning i seem to want to get up and eat something has anyone else felt like this?

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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Have you read of GiaK/Monica's sleep adventures? Last I knew she was sleeping about seven hours, but that has been awhile. It might be helpful for you to check your blood sugar when you go to bed, when you wake up early and when you wake up normally (if that ever happens). From what I understand, reactive hypoglycemia about three a.m. Is pretty common. It causes cortisol to rise, and you know what that does....

1st round Prozac 1989/90, clear depression symptoms. 2nd round Prozac started 1999 when admitted to dr. I was tired. Prozac pooped out, switch to Cymbalta 3/2006. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder due to mania 6/2006--then I was taken abruptly off Cymbalta and didn't know I had SSRI withdrawal. Lots of meds for my intractable "bipolar" symptoms.

Zyprexa started about 9/06, mostly 5mg. Tapered 4/12 through12/29/12

Wellbutrin. XL 300 mg started 1/07, tapered 1/18/13 through 7/8/13

Oxazepam mostly continuously since 6/06, 30mg since 12/12, tapered 1.17.14 through 8.26.15

11/06 Lithium 600mg twice daily, 2.2.14 400mg TID DIY liquid, 2.12.14 1150mg, 3.2.14 1100mg, 3.18.14 1075mg, 4/14 updose to 1100mg, 6.1.14 900 mg capsules 7.8.14 810mg, 8.17.14 725mg, 8.24.24 700mg...10.22.14 487.5mg, 3.9.15 475mg, 4.1.15 462.5mg 4.21.15 450mg 8.11.15 375mg, 11.28.15 362.5mg, back to 375mg four days later, 3.4.16 updose to 475 (too much going on to risk trouble)

9/4/13 Toprol-XL 25mg daily for sudden hypertension, tapered 11.12.13 through 5.3.14, last 10 days or so switched to atenolol

7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol

56 years old

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Thanks Meimei i'll have a read.

 

Later...

I think i found it ...

http://beyondmeds.com/2013/02/05/help-for-insomnia/

 

and later still....

 edit window still open so shall post this which i found in Giak's site

 

 

"So tired of never sleeping close to enough. Sleep does slowly come back. For a long, long time (years) it was 0-3 hrs a night, now it’s generally 4-6…I do expect it to continue to improve…that is why it’s good to communicate with those who’ve gone before us in this healing process. I know many others who’ve regained their sleep completely."

 

This is encouraging.

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Re-learning how to sleep is much harder than I thought after 30 years. Many of my symptoms are already getting better, but sleep is still elusive. 

 

I started taking melatonin three nights ago at .5 mg, like it's recommended in the melatonin thread.

 

Now I'm dealing with early awakening, around 2 am. I PMd Alto and she said there are several other supplements that could help for early awakening - glycine, taurine, and magnesium.

 

She also said I could try .25 mg extra melatonin if I awaken prior to 2 am (but no later than that) and to post on this insomnia thread.

 

So I'll post my questions here: 

 

1. Is it better to go a few weeks or even months working with one supplement before adding anything else?

 

I have no background in supplements and I'm finding them to be confusing and expensive, so I thought maybe I'd work with the melatonin timing and dose, letting it get as high as 2 mg and no more due to my compromised CNS. Since you have to give any changes 3 or 4 days, I'm thinking that it will get very confusing to add in additional supplements, as they will need additional days use to gage effectiveness. 

 

2. Does anyone have any insight into the best way to gage when it's a good time to add in another supplement? Or which one such as glycine, taurine, and magnesium to add? I'm able to fall asleep with melatonin, but not able to stay asleep. 

 

Thanks to anyone who can help me with this. It may be all individual trial and error, but I thought I'd ask. 

 

 

 

 

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I am working on this very same thing, Shep. I can't say what helps yet. But I am trying the things you mention. I always take magnesium.

 

Since you are isolating melatonin, I am wondering how you feel the next day after taking melatonin? Do you feel more rested or better rested?

 

Sometimes melatonin helps me, sometimes it doesn't. I feel hungover most of the time - the feeling go not getting good sleep. It's hard to tell what helps because I feel sick from not sleeping no matter what else I do.

 

I've added taurine again and did not use melatonin last night and slept pretty well...

 

I'm not saying this is the case that taurine works better for me than melatonin. So far this is a one night experience.

 

L

2001-2007 Rem 90 mg, xanax 2 mg synthroid 112mcg - 2007-2014 Rem 60 mg xanax 3-4 mg

2015   Feb Rem 45 mg xanax 2 mg, March Rem 30 xanax 2, April  Rem 22.5, May Rem 30  xanax .25x4 hrs, June Rem 26 xanax 2-3, July Rem 22.5 xanax 2, Aug Rem 15 xanax 2, Sept Rem 22 xanax 2, Oct Rem 18 mg xanax .25 mg /4 hrs, Nov Rem 23 mg xanax .5mg, Dec Rem 24 xanax 2 

2016  Jan Rem 20 xanax 2,  Feb Rem 18 mg xanax 1.5, Feb Rem 14 12 mg xanax 1 mg, March Rem 10 9 mg xanax 1-2 mg Rem 7.3 8 xanax 1-2, April Rem 10 12 mg xanax 2 mg, May Rem 11 xanax 1 .75mg Nov Rem 10mg Xanax 2mg 2017 May Rem 10.25 Xanax 1 mg, November Xanax 1mg

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi, leahy.  I'm happy to hear you had a good night's sleep with taurine. 

 

I'm feeling really tired, but I'm not sure it's the melatonin. It's just my third night, so I guess I do need to give it more time.

 

I fear the tiredness may be a bit of depression, so I'm being very mindful of this.

 

I hope the taurine continues to work for you, as sleep is so important. 

 

 

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Recent addition to this club that I don't want to be a member of. Was sleeping fine after a 2 year taper off klonopin followed with a taper from 100 Zoloft at end of 2014 to 25 now. Had a few glitches in restarting my taper after a 4 month hold and I've just been hit with awful insomnia. I'm on my 4th consecutive night of no sleep. Every time I start to nod off I get a combination of a muscle twitch (could be stomach, foot, arm, etc.) and a wave of anxiety that wakes me again. This is very challenging and has come out of the blue. I'm hoping that once the taper glitches even out I can restabilize and this issue goes back where it came from but I know that I'm also adding second fear to the mix as I am afraid of not sleeping each night.

 

A few more nights like this and I'm afraid I will lose it.

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm sorry you're in the insomnia club, Andy, but it sounds like you're psyching yourself out.

 

Sleep will come. I just posted on your Intro with a link to one of the mindfulness threads because that's what I used to help with the "fear" part of insomnia.

 

Insomnia is one of the worst symptoms of withdrawal because it makes all of the other symptoms so much worse. It's a "haunted" type of symptom because it really can mess with your head. 

 

I'm "haunted" that I won't be able to work, to function, to survive. But that's never happened and I've had really bad insomnia for 2 years now. It's slowly getting better and yours probably won't be as bad because you've been a lot smarter than I was and you've done a slow taper.  I'm still struggling, but I do know that giving into the fear makes it that much worse. 

 

Give yourself time to stabilize from those "glitches" and incorporate as much self-care as possible. I've been on this site and on benzos sites and I've seen a LOT of people go through long stretches of insomnia and make it through just fine. 

 

Hang in there. 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Here's an interesting article on the benefits of mindfulness for sleep disturbances in antidepressant use.  Not sure if it's been posted but fairly compelling.

 

http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/332755

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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How long did your insomnia last? I am implementing these suggestions, but just wondering how long the intense insomnia lasted for others?

Thanks for sharing.

May 12th 2016 took last bead of effexor. 8 month taper.  Bridge = prozac 5mg, 300mg Lithium

May 31st took last of prozac. Lithium 300 mg, estrogen patch 150, magnesium.

June 14th reinstated 1mg Prozac due to intolerable emotional distress. Cont with lithium 300mg, 150 magnesium, re added omega 3, cont estrogen patch. June 15-july 5th had marked improvement of emotional wd symptoms, likely due to the reinstatement. July 5th intense emotional symptoms returned.

July 15 decreased 50 mg of lithium to see if it improved low heart rate.

July 19th - increased prozac to 1.5mg.

July 22 marked improvement of emotional symptoms...again, likely due to increase of prozac. However sudden agitation developed so decreased back down to 1.25mg prozac. Realizing increasing dose is dangerous because of these adverse effects and also seeing that wave is inevitable regardless of reinstatement.

Continuing 250 lithium, 1.25mg prozac, estrogen.

Oct 31st - continued 250 lithium, 1 mg prozac, estrogen patch.

Jan 2018  - off of prozac (bridge) as of Dec 2017.  Starting to taper Lithium 250 mg.  Will do 10% per month. 

May 2018 - lithium 115mg.  Still having waves but they aren’t as bad.  However, I really struggle with emotional symptoms about 1 week after a cut. 

dec 2018- 80mg lithium.  Tapering 1 mg per week since last June.  Symptoms improving overall but still very sensitive to light, sound, social stimulation and I cry a lot.

March 2019 - 65 mg lithium.  Still tapering 1mg per week.  Jan 2021- down to 4 mg lithium (get it compounded). Reinstated 5 mg Prozac. Jan 2023- withdraw 5mg prozac over one month Feb 20th 2023- reinstated 1mg Prozac. Still taking 4 mg lithium. 

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I've been doing a slow taper since 2011 @5% every 6-12 weeks and for that year insomnia was occasional

2012 was a 2.5% taper every 6-12 weeks and was occasional

2013 was a 2.5% taper every 6 - 12 weeks and was once a week

2014 was a 2.5% taper every 6 - 12 weeks and was once a week occasionally twice

2015 was a 2.5% taper every 6-16 weeks and was almost twice a week

2016 was a 2.5% taper every 8 weeks and is now regularly 3 times a week and occasionally 4 times

 

Each year gets worse for insomnia.

 

I can be awake anything from 1 to 4 hours.

 

My sleeping pattern for several years now has been that it takes 2 hours to get to sleep and I wake up every 2 hours.  When it gets to around 1 or 2am it gets harder to get back to sleep and when I wake at 3 or 4am it is often impossible. 

 

I average about 6 hours sleep on a good night and 4 on the bad nights.

 

This current drop averaged 3 nights each week but week 3 of the drop saw 5 nights of insomnia and week 4 of the drop I had 4 nights of insomnia.

1995-2007      20mg Aropax/Paxil for pain.  Years of up and down doses

2008                Endep, Lexapro and then Esipram (hell!) CT (oh dear!)

2009                20mg Aropax.  Tried skipping doses for a year (more hell!)

                        2010                10mg.  10% taper.  Lasted 4 months. Crashed again

2011                5% taper. 9mg-7mg (hell got even worse!)

2012                2.5% taper.  6.6mg – 5.6mg (worser still & unbearable)

2013                5% taper.  Big mistake.  5.5mg – 4.6mg  (even worserer)

2014                2.5% taper.  4.9mg – 4.5mg;    2015 2.5% taper 4.4 - 4.0mg

2016                2.5% taper.  3.9mg  Feb 3.8   Mar 3.7  May 3.6   Jul 3.5

2017                2.5% taper.  Jan 3.4;   Mar 3.35;  Apr 3.3; Oct 3; Dec 2.9;

2018                2.5% taper. Jan 2.8; Mar 2.7; Mar: 2.75; Jun 2.7; Aug 2.6; Oct 2.5; Nov 2.4; Dec 2.3

2019                Jan 2.2; Feb 2.1;

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Grandma D,

 

After I finished tapering in 2010, my sleep seemed to get worse.   Whether it was due to dealing with pap therapy intolerance or the effect of the psych meds, it is hard to say.  Probably a combination of both.

 

When I posted on David Healy's board that I felt like these meds had caused narcoleptic like issues, he told me that was a valid description.

 

I just feel being on these meds long term does something to the sleep cycle.

 

Good luck with your issues.

 

CS

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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Hi CS,

So sorry to hear of your sleep issues.  As you can see mine have been getting worse each year.  I hope this trend doesn't continue as I still have quite a way to go before I get off.

 

I see you did a 4 year taper.  What percentage and how often did you taper?

 

Now you have been finished for 4 years and still having sleep problems!  This is awful. 

 

What does narcopleptic issues mean?

 

What is your insomnia like?  How often?  What sort of hours are you awake?  How much sleep do you get?

 

Do you see any improvement in that 4 years? 

 

Do you hope to see any change, what are the prospects in that?

1995-2007      20mg Aropax/Paxil for pain.  Years of up and down doses

2008                Endep, Lexapro and then Esipram (hell!) CT (oh dear!)

2009                20mg Aropax.  Tried skipping doses for a year (more hell!)

                        2010                10mg.  10% taper.  Lasted 4 months. Crashed again

2011                5% taper. 9mg-7mg (hell got even worse!)

2012                2.5% taper.  6.6mg – 5.6mg (worser still & unbearable)

2013                5% taper.  Big mistake.  5.5mg – 4.6mg  (even worserer)

2014                2.5% taper.  4.9mg – 4.5mg;    2015 2.5% taper 4.4 - 4.0mg

2016                2.5% taper.  3.9mg  Feb 3.8   Mar 3.7  May 3.6   Jul 3.5

2017                2.5% taper.  Jan 3.4;   Mar 3.35;  Apr 3.3; Oct 3; Dec 2.9;

2018                2.5% taper. Jan 2.8; Mar 2.7; Mar: 2.75; Jun 2.7; Aug 2.6; Oct 2.5; Nov 2.4; Dec 2.3

2019                Jan 2.2; Feb 2.1;

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Hi CS,

So sorry to hear of your sleep issues.  As you can see mine have been getting worse each year.  I hope this trend doesn't continue as I still have quite a way to go before I get off.

 

I see you did a 4 year taper.  What percentage and how often did you taper?

 

Now you have been finished for 4 years and still having sleep problems!  This is awful. 

 

What does narcopleptic issues mean?

 

What is your insomnia like?  How often?  What sort of hours are you awake?  How much sleep do you get?

 

Do you see any improvement in that 4 years? 

 

Do you hope to see any change, what are the prospects in that?

I forgot to ask whether you have any other w/d symptoms still, or just the isomnia?

1995-2007      20mg Aropax/Paxil for pain.  Years of up and down doses

2008                Endep, Lexapro and then Esipram (hell!) CT (oh dear!)

2009                20mg Aropax.  Tried skipping doses for a year (more hell!)

                        2010                10mg.  10% taper.  Lasted 4 months. Crashed again

2011                5% taper. 9mg-7mg (hell got even worse!)

2012                2.5% taper.  6.6mg – 5.6mg (worser still & unbearable)

2013                5% taper.  Big mistake.  5.5mg – 4.6mg  (even worserer)

2014                2.5% taper.  4.9mg – 4.5mg;    2015 2.5% taper 4.4 - 4.0mg

2016                2.5% taper.  3.9mg  Feb 3.8   Mar 3.7  May 3.6   Jul 3.5

2017                2.5% taper.  Jan 3.4;   Mar 3.35;  Apr 3.3; Oct 3; Dec 2.9;

2018                2.5% taper. Jan 2.8; Mar 2.7; Mar: 2.75; Jun 2.7; Aug 2.6; Oct 2.5; Nov 2.4; Dec 2.3

2019                Jan 2.2; Feb 2.1;

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8 years 6 months back into insomnia 

 

I no longer take much notice of it 

 

I try to do what I have to do 

 

often dragging myself around like a dead weight 

 

no real life can be had on the days sleep is gone 

 

I no longer worry about it too much 

 

I guess I have adapted to not sleeping 

 

After years of sleeping every 4th day and then getting a solid 1-3 hrs a night I found I could fake being human enough to keep those closest to me from worry.  That was not enough sleep to actually live a life I survived by developing other strategies to improve my experience of down time.  First don't worry about it as it did not help so why bother... rest as much as possible when you can't sleep via deep relaxation I used videos and head phones with ocean sounds as I could not get there by myself. I just could not.  

 

Melatonin I tried in recent months was a huge mistake for me which threw off my limited sleep since that tail spin I have not fully recovered I took .5 mg and I will not be trying it again.  I became quite strange to myself for days after taking it.  Magnesium I can tolerate now in ground up bits ... tiny amounts.  It sometimes helps me rest and even sleep now it has taken this many years to make peace with tiny doses of mag. Epson salt baths are still the best sleep enhancer I have found but I don't like how my skin feels when I do these baths... hate it actually.  I will bow down and do them when I really need to the chlorine in the water bothers me so I would rather shower now as I have a shower filter... filling the tub from the shower has been tried it is not a worthwhile option .  

 

Maybe in more time... 

peace all 

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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I have not been able to fall asleep for an entire month. Can someone please give me a recommendation as tonwhat can help? I have tried valerian, benadryl, forte's calm, melatonin, hot baths none of it worked. I had to go to the er and they gave me ambien it wirked well for the first day and then stopped working. Altostrata can you tell me what worked for you and how long this persisted? It is so painful to be without sleep it makes the anxiety so much worse

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  • Administrator

Please read this topic, there are dozens of suggestions.

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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8 years 6 months back into insomnia 

Do you mean that it went away for a while?  If so, how long?

I no longer take much notice of it 

Easier said than done, but this is they key.  I spent years getting annoyed, frustrated and angry about it, which didn't help.

I try to do what I have to do 

I agree we should still try and do things we need to do

often dragging myself around like a dead weight 

It is awful feeling tired, but I tell myself at least it doesn't hurt (I've had a lot of physical pain)

no real life can be had on the days sleep is gone 

Maybe not, but what is "real life"?  I am learning to just sit outside in the sun, learning to relax and telling myself to enjoy it!

 don't worry about it as it did not help so why bother... rest as much as possible when you can't sleep via deep relaxation I used videos and head phones with ocean sounds as I could not get there by myself. I just could not.  

Good advice.  I am learning to lie down instead of pushing myself and surprised that sometimes (not long after getting up) I have dropped off for 5-15mins.

Melatonin I tried in recent months was a huge mistake for me which threw off my limited sleep since that tail spin I have not fully recovered I took .5 mg and I will not be trying it again.  I became quite strange to myself for days after taking it.

I almost got a script for this, but I already had all the side effects, so decided against it.  I have since read that it increases the serotonin, so that doesn't help when you are trying to reduce it!

 Magnesium I can tolerate now in ground up bits ... tiny amounts.  It sometimes helps me rest and even sleep now it has taken this many years to make peace with tiny doses of mag.

I have taken many years to try and take magnesium too.   I couldn't say it helped me sleep any better.  I was grinding 1/4 a tablet in 2L of water and drinking it over 2 days.

Epson salt baths are still the best sleep enhancer I have found but I don't like how my skin feels when I do these baths... hate it actually.  I will bow down and do them when I really need to the chlorine in the water bothers me so I would rather shower now as I have a shower filter... filling the tub from the shower has been tried it is not a worthwhile option .  

I found you can have too much epsom salts in the bath.  I must try it again.  1 cup caused me problems, so I tried 1/2 cup and I think I need to try 1/4 next time.

Maybe in more time... 

I sure hope sleep will improve for all of us, including you - you certainly had it a lot worse

peace all

Peace to you also

1995-2007      20mg Aropax/Paxil for pain.  Years of up and down doses

2008                Endep, Lexapro and then Esipram (hell!) CT (oh dear!)

2009                20mg Aropax.  Tried skipping doses for a year (more hell!)

                        2010                10mg.  10% taper.  Lasted 4 months. Crashed again

2011                5% taper. 9mg-7mg (hell got even worse!)

2012                2.5% taper.  6.6mg – 5.6mg (worser still & unbearable)

2013                5% taper.  Big mistake.  5.5mg – 4.6mg  (even worserer)

2014                2.5% taper.  4.9mg – 4.5mg;    2015 2.5% taper 4.4 - 4.0mg

2016                2.5% taper.  3.9mg  Feb 3.8   Mar 3.7  May 3.6   Jul 3.5

2017                2.5% taper.  Jan 3.4;   Mar 3.35;  Apr 3.3; Oct 3; Dec 2.9;

2018                2.5% taper. Jan 2.8; Mar 2.7; Mar: 2.75; Jun 2.7; Aug 2.6; Oct 2.5; Nov 2.4; Dec 2.3

2019                Jan 2.2; Feb 2.1;

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Hi CS,

So sorry to hear of your sleep issues.  As you can see mine have been getting worse each year.  I hope this trend doesn't continue as I still have quite a way to go before I get off.

 

I see you did a 4 year taper.  What percentage and how often did you taper?

 

Now you have been finished for 4 years and still having sleep problems!  This is awful. 

 

What does narcopleptic issues mean?

 

What is your insomnia like?  How often?  What sort of hours are you awake?  How much sleep do you get?

 

Do you see any improvement in that 4 years? 

 

Do you hope to see any change, what are the prospects in that?

Grandma D,

 

Before I respond, keep in mind that my sleep apnea could be complicating the picture.

 

Anyway, narcoleptic like issues mean I can fall asleep any time during the day due to feeling like I consumed alot of ambiens even when I didn't.   This started about a year before I finished tapering and has only gotten worse.    

 

Waiting to see if a dental device for sleep apnea that I am expecting in 7 to 10 days helps with sleep which hopefully would prevent the sleep attacks.   If not, I am not sure what my next move will be.

 

I have both hypersomnia and insomnia.  If I avoid the sleep attacks, I only sleep about three to four hours at night on the machine.  If I don't, the total hours can be split into about 6 to 7.   But the quality of sleep is horrible.

 

Regarding taper, I started it at 10% of current dose and ended up at a 5% rate.  I did cold turkey Wellbutrin without any problem.

 

I don't think I have any other withdrawal issues.  

 

Yeah, I hope to have improvement but I seriously doubt it will be with the pap machine.  If the dental appliance doesn't work, the surgery for sleep apnea would be the next step.

 

Of course, my chances of getting doctors to adequately sort out these issues is as great as my winning the lottery.

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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Thanks for your reply, I wish you all the best and hope you find an answer as there is nothing so basic and necessary as a decent nights sleep.

1995-2007      20mg Aropax/Paxil for pain.  Years of up and down doses

2008                Endep, Lexapro and then Esipram (hell!) CT (oh dear!)

2009                20mg Aropax.  Tried skipping doses for a year (more hell!)

                        2010                10mg.  10% taper.  Lasted 4 months. Crashed again

2011                5% taper. 9mg-7mg (hell got even worse!)

2012                2.5% taper.  6.6mg – 5.6mg (worser still & unbearable)

2013                5% taper.  Big mistake.  5.5mg – 4.6mg  (even worserer)

2014                2.5% taper.  4.9mg – 4.5mg;    2015 2.5% taper 4.4 - 4.0mg

2016                2.5% taper.  3.9mg  Feb 3.8   Mar 3.7  May 3.6   Jul 3.5

2017                2.5% taper.  Jan 3.4;   Mar 3.35;  Apr 3.3; Oct 3; Dec 2.9;

2018                2.5% taper. Jan 2.8; Mar 2.7; Mar: 2.75; Jun 2.7; Aug 2.6; Oct 2.5; Nov 2.4; Dec 2.3

2019                Jan 2.2; Feb 2.1;

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Thanks for your reply, I wish you all the best and hope you find an answer as there is nothing so basic and necessary as a decent nights sleep.

Thanks, I hope you find answers too.

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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Well I have read so many good reports about blacking out the bedroom, but never opted to do this as I did not think it was my problem.  I do wake with palpitions, rapid pulse and anxiety and at times fear around the time they say the cortisone kicks in.  It is usually difficult if not impossible to get back to sleep.

 

However, I also wake at 1am with the same symptoms and can be up for 1- 3 hours, so I didn't think it was a problem with the light, so never bothered with blackout.

 

Hubby has just decided to install some shutters that are for keeping out the heat in summer and cold in winter.  They also block out about 99% of the light, so it has been interesting to see the results.

 

The first night was no different, but there was light coming in through the hall and ensuite.  next night I shut those doors and as usual it took 2 hours to fall asleep and I slept for 2 hours but THEN I SLEPT FOR 3 HOURS!  That's a first!  Then I slept another 2 hours!  That meant 7 hours, so I was very pleased!

 

The next time was pretty similar, so I thought this is working!  However, last night after 2 hours of trying to get to sleep, I woke after 1 hour then 2 hours and was up for 3 hours.  By this time, is when I normally find it impossible to get back to sleep because it is close to getting light.  This is when I have discovered the benefit of blockout, because with the room very dark, I was able to get back to sleep for another 2 hours.

 

I suspect its greatest benefit for me is going to be this area of waking around 4am and now with blockout being able to get back to sleep instead of being awake too soon.

1995-2007      20mg Aropax/Paxil for pain.  Years of up and down doses

2008                Endep, Lexapro and then Esipram (hell!) CT (oh dear!)

2009                20mg Aropax.  Tried skipping doses for a year (more hell!)

                        2010                10mg.  10% taper.  Lasted 4 months. Crashed again

2011                5% taper. 9mg-7mg (hell got even worse!)

2012                2.5% taper.  6.6mg – 5.6mg (worser still & unbearable)

2013                5% taper.  Big mistake.  5.5mg – 4.6mg  (even worserer)

2014                2.5% taper.  4.9mg – 4.5mg;    2015 2.5% taper 4.4 - 4.0mg

2016                2.5% taper.  3.9mg  Feb 3.8   Mar 3.7  May 3.6   Jul 3.5

2017                2.5% taper.  Jan 3.4;   Mar 3.35;  Apr 3.3; Oct 3; Dec 2.9;

2018                2.5% taper. Jan 2.8; Mar 2.7; Mar: 2.75; Jun 2.7; Aug 2.6; Oct 2.5; Nov 2.4; Dec 2.3

2019                Jan 2.2; Feb 2.1;

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I didn't have trouble sleeping before I'm afraid that my normal sleep patterns or my nervous system has become sensitive or deteriorated from an antipsychotic (invega sustenna injectable) which I've taken for 3 to 4 months and I have restlessness/trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. I feel or have felt activated or aroused while on the medication (even though I'm not that drug anymore). I can't sleep-in or even take a nap, what is going on? I got akathisia from it. I have found that I can only get to sleep with an Ambien and i don't even feel well rested on that,

 

I want to be able to get to sleep without an Ambien at night. Please HELP. My prolactin levels are a somewhat elevated to 183.9 does it have abything to do with that, if that means anything???

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Sorry Flowerpot to hear you have very similar sleep issues as me.  It takes me 2 hours to fall asleep so I just accept that now.  I know mine is from withdrawal, but I am not familiar with the injection you had, perhaps someone else can you with this.

1995-2007      20mg Aropax/Paxil for pain.  Years of up and down doses

2008                Endep, Lexapro and then Esipram (hell!) CT (oh dear!)

2009                20mg Aropax.  Tried skipping doses for a year (more hell!)

                        2010                10mg.  10% taper.  Lasted 4 months. Crashed again

2011                5% taper. 9mg-7mg (hell got even worse!)

2012                2.5% taper.  6.6mg – 5.6mg (worser still & unbearable)

2013                5% taper.  Big mistake.  5.5mg – 4.6mg  (even worserer)

2014                2.5% taper.  4.9mg – 4.5mg;    2015 2.5% taper 4.4 - 4.0mg

2016                2.5% taper.  3.9mg  Feb 3.8   Mar 3.7  May 3.6   Jul 3.5

2017                2.5% taper.  Jan 3.4;   Mar 3.35;  Apr 3.3; Oct 3; Dec 2.9;

2018                2.5% taper. Jan 2.8; Mar 2.7; Mar: 2.75; Jun 2.7; Aug 2.6; Oct 2.5; Nov 2.4; Dec 2.3

2019                Jan 2.2; Feb 2.1;

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In the last week I have been able to get 7 hours sleep instead of 5-6, which is a result of the blackout blind, meaning when I am up from 4am and go back to bed when it is light, I can get another hour or 2 sleep.

1995-2007      20mg Aropax/Paxil for pain.  Years of up and down doses

2008                Endep, Lexapro and then Esipram (hell!) CT (oh dear!)

2009                20mg Aropax.  Tried skipping doses for a year (more hell!)

                        2010                10mg.  10% taper.  Lasted 4 months. Crashed again

2011                5% taper. 9mg-7mg (hell got even worse!)

2012                2.5% taper.  6.6mg – 5.6mg (worser still & unbearable)

2013                5% taper.  Big mistake.  5.5mg – 4.6mg  (even worserer)

2014                2.5% taper.  4.9mg – 4.5mg;    2015 2.5% taper 4.4 - 4.0mg

2016                2.5% taper.  3.9mg  Feb 3.8   Mar 3.7  May 3.6   Jul 3.5

2017                2.5% taper.  Jan 3.4;   Mar 3.35;  Apr 3.3; Oct 3; Dec 2.9;

2018                2.5% taper. Jan 2.8; Mar 2.7; Mar: 2.75; Jun 2.7; Aug 2.6; Oct 2.5; Nov 2.4; Dec 2.3

2019                Jan 2.2; Feb 2.1;

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Binaural beats may help. Try lemon balm extract, it helped me.

Maybe exercise during the afternoon and early evening, so that you are tired more to go to sleep at night?

Past AD Experiences : (Fluvoxamine 3 years, D/C'd @ age 15).

Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it

~Terry Pratchett~

 

WITHDRAWAL REGIMEN/STORY

Originally for OCD, the luvox took about 6 months to taper off.

Withdrawal supplements; lemon balm, Vitamin B3, black water/fulvic acid, high-protein diet to restore neurotransmitters, aniracetam to counter memory issues, deprenyl for persisting anhedonia.

Regimen still maintained til this day. Lemon balm, generally as capsules, however, as I suffer chronic Insomnia, I often use essential oil or as aromatherapy before bed , in combination with magnesium and lysine on bad nights.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Propranolol or clonidine or cyproheptadine, along with melatonin and 0.5mg of lamotrigine have helped me sleep 7 hours per night.

 

Also, dosing 4mg of cyproheptadine and 0.15mg of clonidine will make me sleep in the middle of the day as well.

 

I hope this will help people out.

 

Also, I use all other recommendations posted here.

December 2015 One month Prozac at 10mg/day and every other day for MILD Anxiety ( What the hell??? No prior illness of any sort.)

Horrible side effects. Finally Cold Turkey.
May 2016 - Lamotrigine 0.5mg. Going up slowly. Sleep back to 8-9 hours normal (complete insomnia after Prozac).
June 2016 - 2 weeks 2.5mg Diazepam for Akathisia. Then lowered to 0.6mg/day.

Also Propranolol, Clonidine, occasional antihistamine, magnesium, B6 - for akathisia.

Experiencing severe protracted withdrawal. Symptoms got worse and changed each month. 

Last symptom remaining - Severe Akathisia since May with (mostly) waves and (some) windows. (When worse: pacing, can't concentrate or even speak, difficulty eating, driving, getting out of the house, horrible pain, restlessness, headache, exhaustion)

 

 

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I want to try taurine tonight after an Epsom salt bath . For those who have tried it can you tell me the recommended dose is ? I don't know the amount doses it comes in . Thanks in advance

Xanax PRN ( 1/2 of .25mg approximately 2-3 a month when needed ) since May 2015

In April 2016 started birth control and in my opinion it triggered anxiety for almost a week straight and took 1/2 .25mg Xanax everyday for that week ( never had taken that many in a row before )

Saw the family MD and gave me Prozac 20 mg.

took it for 6 days and could not handle the side effects and had to stop working

Went back to the dr on the 7 day and told me to stop CT . I told him that I was scared to stop so suddenly so he gave me 10mg to take to see if the side effects decreased

Took the 10mg that night and the next day felt so much worse . After that did take anything any more except and antibiotic due to UTI

It's been almost 7 weeks and I have a lot of weakness ( comes and goes) anxiety , cortisol urges at night and worse in the morning which usually lessens throughout the day , tinnitus , heavy leg feeling , fatigue and burning skin mostly my left arm, face and neck mainly when I fee the cortisol surges .

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

For those suffering with sleep issues, there will be a free online summit from August 8-15.

 

Here is the link:  http://sleepsuccesssummit.com/

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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For those suffering with sleep issues, there will be a free online summit from August 8-15.

 

Here is the link:  http://sleepsuccesssummit.com/

 

Best,

 

Andy

 

Interesting.... I will take a look. Thanks for sharing Andy.

1997 - 2001 Seroxat 10mg

2001 - 2013 Escitalopram 10mg

Gradual taper from 10mg to 5mg over 2.5 years (between 2011 - 2013)

Last taper from 5mg to 0 under advice from doctor done in 1 month (too damn fast!) - included missing out days.

Have been drug free since Oct 2013.  - Yep 5 years drugs free

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