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JackalSmacker Through the woods?


JackalSmacker

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Greetings forum members! Long-time lurker, first-time poster. Have been ingesting 100 mg of setraline off and on (mostly on) since 2001, when I had such gut-wrenching anxiety that I could hardly eat or sleep. But within two weeks of going on zoloft I went from a frazzled ball on the floor to a full-on party animal. I drank, smoked and snorted pretty much everything I could get my hands on. I even broke into a pharmacy and robbed it late one night with a friend after we'd done too much cocaine, taking away bottles and bottles of valium, xanax, vicodin and for some reason - because I had ZERO sexual side effects at this time - viagra.

 

We didn't knock the place over out of need or craving or anything like that, but just for fun. Anway, looking back I'm 99% certain that the zoloft shifted me into a manic overdrive that I stayed in for about four years. The drug seemed to make me crave intoxication of any sort (even LSD!) and allowed me to indulge with very minimal consequences, i.e. hangovers, fatigue, etc. Oh, and I was working out (running, lifting weights) three times a week and was in great phsyical shape.

 

Needless to say, I loved it. Then, in about 2005, I noticed I was no longer up but not really down - I had reached that infamous SSRI plateau. Then I didn't get a prescription refilled one day and just stopped taking the stuff all together. Went through around two weeks of the usual stuff and then was slammed with the whole slew of symptoms that made me go on the stuff in the first place. Took a few months for me to stabilze but just never felt quite like I did that first go round.

 

Since then I noticed a gradual but steady decline in my cognition and sexual function. Nothing too extreme at first, but like the frog that doesn't know he's being boiled I just kept taking the stuff to avoid withdrawals as my both my brain and genitals became increasingly anesthetized. I finally decided that it was either go up on the medication and suffer through increased side effects with the hope of regaining that old spark, or coming off it altogether. I went with the latter. The idea of being on 400 mg of setraline 10 years from now did not sit well with me.

 

So on Nov. 9 I went down to 75 mg per day and held there for two months. One odd thing I noticed is that while I had the usual nausea, dizziness, fatigue, etc., I had no brain zaps. Not a one! In the past when I missed a day or two it was like a bug zapper going off in my head, but this time it's been eerily quiet up there. My theory is that I probably burned up all of my neurons from years of both legal and illegal drug use so there's nothing to zap. Ha!

 

Anway, on Jan. 1, as part of a New Year's pledge, I stepped down to 50 mg per day. Withdrawal symptoms popped up again but so did something else - I started getting morning erections again! I've even started having a lot more sexual thoughts that sometime result in spontaneous erections, which is kind of a new and funny feeling.

 

I've still got lingering dizziness/vertigo, brain fog and some fatigue, but I'm hoping that will improve with time. I plan to stay on 50 mg for at least a few months and will probably go down by another 12.5 mg when the time comes. I know that's more than a lot of you would recommend, but I'd like to try tapering down using tablets before switching over to liquid dosages. Bottom line is that it still feels like a slog most of the time, but the little glimmers of creativity, clarity and sexuality are a wonderful incentive that keep me going day to day. I plan on checking in here from time to time to document my progress and also to share stories/info with anyone that is interested.

Edited by Altostrata
added paragraph breaks for readability

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Greetings Jackalsmacker (what a name!).  It sounds like you've had a long and bizarre ride.  Hopefully you're taking things a little easier now that you're in withdrawal territory.  I experimented with drugs throughout my anti-depressant run, even some after withdrawal started.  As to how this has affected us and whether or not our path is at all different than the one walked by non-abusers, I'm not really sure.  I suspect that recovery looks the same, but we're in worse shape than we would have been had we abstained.  A lot of people report cravings for various kinds of intoxication while on anti-depressants.  I developed strange almost physical cravings for alcohol while on Effexor.  Needless to say my life was heavily impacted, as it sounds like yours has been.  

Your rate is not quite what we recommend, but the most important thing is that you monitor your body and adjust your plan throughout.  Please keep us updated, we're always interested in people's experiences with withdrawal.

 

The title of your thread reminds me of the beginning of the Inferno, when Dante wakes to find himself astray in a dark wood.  Let's hope you're luckier than that poor pilgrim was, and that you don't have to pierce the full depths of hell in order to see the light again!  It seems that some of us do.

3 Years 150 mgs Effexor

2 month taper down to zero

3 terrible weeks at zero

Back up to 75 mgs

2 months at 75

6 or so months back to regular dose of 150 - was able to restabilize fine.

3 month taper back to zero

1 HORRENDOUS week at zero

2 days back up to 37.5

3 days back up to 75

One week at 150 - unable to stabilize.

Back down to 75 mgs

At 75 mgs (half original dose) and suffering withdrawal symptoms since October 2012.

 

"It is a radical cure for all pessimism to become ill, to remain ill for a good while, and then grow well for a still longer period." - Nietzsche

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Thanks, Narcissus. Yeah, I drank before the zoloft but the craving for alcohol and other drugs was insane once it really kicked in. But I have drastically reduced my intake of substances over the past few years and really only drink now. I'll take the occasional vicodin for a headache or something, but that's about it. I am really trying to give my body/brain a chance to reach homeostasis. One other pesky symptom I forgot to mention is tinnitus - a low-level hiss or ringing that I only really notice when it's really quiet. With any luck that one will go away with time!

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Moderator Emeritus

 

 

I am really trying to give my body/brain a chance to reach homeostasis. 

 

This is what it's all about I think.  Best of luck.

3 Years 150 mgs Effexor

2 month taper down to zero

3 terrible weeks at zero

Back up to 75 mgs

2 months at 75

6 or so months back to regular dose of 150 - was able to restabilize fine.

3 month taper back to zero

1 HORRENDOUS week at zero

2 days back up to 37.5

3 days back up to 75

One week at 150 - unable to stabilize.

Back down to 75 mgs

At 75 mgs (half original dose) and suffering withdrawal symptoms since October 2012.

 

"It is a radical cure for all pessimism to become ill, to remain ill for a good while, and then grow well for a still longer period." - Nietzsche

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You know, I got manic on Cymbalta, but it wasn't nearly.that much fun. Maybe I need a redo :). Welcome!

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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  • Administrator

Welcome, JackalSmacker.

 

Yes, you're doing the right thing by holding right now and letting your nervous system get used to the changes.

 

Our topic for tapering Zoloft http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1441-tips-for-tapering-off-zoloft-sertraline/

 

You're lucky you seem to tolerate the reductions you've made so far. Please don't tempt fate with more large decreases. Once your nervous system falls off the wall, it's very difficult to put it together again.

 

For some people, antidepressants cause disinhibition. David Healy is collecting such cases at http://rxisk.org

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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Ha, well "disinhibition" is one way to put. I was on Cloud 13 but have slowly drifted back down to more terrestrial climes. I will definitely continue to hold at 50 mg for quite some time and, like I said earlier, switch over to liquid dosages to get any lower. Either that or I might try the Prozac Bridge and see how that works out. But since anxiety seems to be my biggest foe, the purported activating properties of Prozac might unhinge me, thus ruining the soft landing I'm aiming for. Anway, thanks for the warm welcome, guys. Looking forward to future updates. Onward, through the fog!

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Moderator Emeritus

 Onward, through the fog!

We'll keep the light on for 'ya.  :)   Welcome aboard.

 

RU

Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone

1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox.

b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b]

2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax

November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b

Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax

My mantra " go slow & with the flow "

3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day)

4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day.

10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro.

1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms.

1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. :) 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

JS, I went pretty crazy on psych drugs myself.  In fact it's taken me a while to learn to trust my judgment again. Peter Breggin's book Medication Madness was helpful for me. He has a paper online somewhere that talks about "intoxication anosognosia" which is the technical term for it. Not just disinhibition, but remarkably poor judgment.

 

I can't emphasize enough what Alto said--please be cautious with withdrawal. We say that because of the huge, massive suffering we have seen people go through because they pushed it too hard and went too fast.  Far, far better to start slow then work your speed up gradually to tolerance.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Yep, nice and slow is definitely the way to go. I just wanted to see if I could pull off the initial bigger drops without any substantial suffering. Now that I'm down to half my original dose I will proceed very cautiously. I'd hate to have taken 12 steps forward only to have to take 24 back. As far as the "intoxication anosognosia" goes, even using the word judgement is not quite accurate because when I did those things there was no real weighing of consequences or internal debate - I just wanted to do something and did it. Guess it was more of a compulsion, like scatching a bug bite, than an ethical or moral decision. Now that my brain isn't being buoyed by chemicals I'm a lot more aware of my thoughts and actions. Some of that might just be maturity, but I definitely think there's a drug component to it.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi there,

 

I hope you don't mind me jumping in on your thread.  I work for David Healy, who is looking at SSRI's and alcohol cravings (among other things!) We are trying to compile data that shows age, gender and type of SSRI/antidepressant prescribed whilst experiencing alcohol cravings, including the specific brand.  It's also very useful to know what drinking habits were like prior to antidepressant use and if the drug was stopped did the cravings for alcohol vanish or decrease?

 

If you would like to contribute your own information to this data, we would be most grateful.  All data will be anonymised, you would not be idetifiable at all.

 

We would be grateful for any assistance,

 

Kind regards

 

Carys Hogan

 

Researcher

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  • Administrator

Hello, caryshogan. Good to see you here

 

You can post broader appeals by starting topics in our Controversies, events, actions forum here http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/23-controversies-events-actions/

 

These are also broadcast through Twitter and Facebook.

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...

Anyone still starting, going through or finishing up a Prozac switch? I've been on 50 mg of sertraline, half my original dose, since January 1 of this year and despite doing pretty good have kind of hit a wall lately. Nothing too excruciating, but I basically feel like I've missed a dose pretty much all day even when I've been taking it regularly - dizziness, head zaps, whooshing, tingly lips, anxiety, etc. I have a bottle of 20mg fluoxetine and am seriously considering taking one today just to see if it has any effect whatsoever. My main fear, however, is that since I went on the sertraline because of extreme anxiety in the first place, it might not be good to take something that is as activating as Prozac is reputed to be. But then again how much harm could a few doses do, right? Anyway, just curious to see if anyone out there stopped their sertraline (or any other SSRI/SSNRI) withdrawals this way.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

JS, I moved your post here. This is going to be a more complex discussion.

 

Do not jump to 20mg fluoxetine, it's likely to be too high a dose.

 

You read the Prozac bridge topic, correct? The technique for cross-tapering is described there. It's best if you do it with a doctor's help.

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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Sorry, but I do not see a link. 

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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Oh, never mind…like "here" here. Not to worry - I am totally doing this with my doctor's supervision; she's the one that prescribed the fluoxetine. Anyway, I agree that 20 mg is too high so I just split one capsule using the liquid method and drank 10 mg down with some OJ. That was a few hours ago and in addition to my daily 50 mg of sertraline. Haven't noticed much in the way of reduced withdrawal symptoms, but my pupils did become pretty dilated! Guess I just figured it was time to stop reading every scrap of information I could find on the web and get on with it. I will probably maintain the 10/50 mg combo for a few more days and then go to 20/25 and then just 20 mg of fluoxetine. That sound reasonable? 

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

I would not go to 20mg fluoxetine, that's too high.

 

The Prozac bridge topic suggests an overlap of a few days. Then I would halve the sertraline for a few days, and then go off.

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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So I've read the bridge protocol a few times but one thing puzzles me: If I go from 50 mg of sertraline to just 10 mg of fluoxetine won't I be making a pretty huge - like 50% - jump? Seems pretty severe, if I'm getting my conversion correct.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

It's hard to estimate equivalencies. You might try 10mg Prozac first. If it works, you'll have less to taper later.

 

Also, the lower dose will lessen the risk of excessive serotonergic stimulation during the overlap period.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

If you find that you can't stabilize on 10mg of Prozac because you are getting some withdrawal symptoms, its possible to slowly updose later and sometimes that will work.  But I agree with Alto, that trying to cross over to the lowest possible dose is better.  No one knows how any of these drugs are going to effect individuals, we are all so different.  Why take 20mg if its possible you will feel ok on 10mg?

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I just want to mention that it appears to be pretty common for people who are doing okay with initial withdrawal after a CT or big reduction to get hit with an increase in symptoms three to six months out.  So common that I was thinking we might be hearing something like this from you around now.

 

You've tapered pretty aggressively and you may just be getting the usual bump up in withdrawal symptoms. It's possible that if you can continue to hold at your current dose they will smooth out eventually and you can continue to taper directly off your current med without having to do a crossover to Prozac. Crossovers can be sort of iffy--I imagine that's all discussed in the topic thread. 

 

You could maybe even try a small updose, say to 55 mg, and see if that eases any of the worsening you're having.

 

Just, as Alto says elsewhere, usually better the devil you know...

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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  • 1 month later...

Wow, maybe that's what's going on. I kind of gave up on the bridging thing because it seemed like it was not really helping and I just wanted to give my body some more time to acclimate. But I'm right round the four-month mark since my last drop and things are still a bit dicey. Not as many phsyical symptoms, per se, but still have the cognitive difficulties, which in turn produce the anxiety. Guess I'll just stick it out for a few more months?

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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Yep, that's pretty normal. Less of the physical symptoms, more of the anxiety and neuro-emotion stuff. That will probably go on for a while. 

 

The biggest danger at this point is that you will reach for another drug to fix what you're going through when it gets its worst. Unfortunately that tactic just leads to, well, more drugs, and eventually usually a cocktail of them. It doesn't lead anywhere good. Better to do whatever it takes to ride it out.

 

When you settle down and want to taper again, do it slowly and carefully, no more of this wild ride "I'll be the magical exception and things will be okay for me because, I don't know why because, but just because, because I'm me and I'm special" business. (Sadly I know that one well personally. It led to me losing 20 years of my life to these drugs.)

 

I highly recommend you get your hands on a copy of Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker, if you haven't yet.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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I have absolutely ZERO intention of starting any other drug treatments. I only considered the prozac switch to 1) combat what I think is setraline poop-out and 2) to make withdrawal smoother and easier. I figured if I could feel better AND get off SSRIs in a more comfortable manner, then why not? I think a lot of people - myself included - underestimate just how much time and care our brains (and bodies) need to revert back to a pre-drug state. Yes we are amazing creatures that heal ourselves after even the most traumatic events, but 10-plus years of taking a substance is going to make an impact. Unless of course after a certain point there is no real difference between the ratio of time-on-a-substance versus time-to-recover, meaning that if your brain has been completely rewired it doesn't matter if you've been taking something for six months or six years; the changes have been made and it's going to take the same amount of time to revert to an original state in either case.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

Wow, maybe that's what's going on. I kind of gave up on the bridging thing because it seemed like it was not really helping and I just wanted to give my body some more time to acclimate. But I'm right round the four-month mark since my last drop and things are still a bit dicey. Not as many phsyical symptoms, per se, but still have the cognitive difficulties, which in turn produce the anxiety. Guess I'll just stick it out for a few more months?

 

JS, how long did you try overlapping Prozac and Zoloft? How did you go off the combo?

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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I didn't really give the prozac/zoloft overlap a good enough try, honestly. Maybe a day or two. Taking something new - even if it's just a natural supplement or something - tends to give me anxiety about possibly getting anxiety, if you know what I mean. I did take 10 mg of prozac today, though, and another 25 mg of sertraline, so I'll try and stick with this regimen for the next week or so and see how it goes. Like I said earlier, it would be great to get a bit of a boost from the prozac while also being able to wean off in a less turbulent manner.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

You may not feel anything from the Prozac. That's not what a bridge does.

 

But -- if you don't feel confident, don't experiment with it. You'd have to drop the Zoloft shortly, consider that.

 

This is something you need to commit to doing.

 

Please re-read http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1463-the-prozac-switch-or-bridging-with-prozac/

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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Day two of the 10 mg prozac/25 mg zoloft and I feel pretty good. Head is clearer and have more energy, but I've also been exercising more lately so maybe that has something to do with it. I will finish out this week and then probably drop the zoloft sometime next week, although I'm wondering if I shouldn't maybe halve the 25 mg tablets for a few days, just to ease things down a bit smoother.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

Halving or even quartering the Zoloft to go off gradually -- good idea. The Prozac will take about 4 days to reach steady-state.

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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Day four and I'm feeling even better. Had that low-level flu feeling up until today, but that seems to have dissapated. No real physical symptoms now other than considerable lightheadedness (which has been around for years; one reason I'm trying to go off medication) and some slight derealization (another reason to quit). Energy levels is good, little to no anxiety and I'm pretty optimistic about this cross-taper. I'll continue to take the 25 mg zoloft until next Tuesday, when I'll drop it down to 12.5 for a week and then nada.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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Well except for the 10 mg of prozac, that is. I plan on tapering that stuff VERY carefully and VERY slowly.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

Excellent! Very good to hear how well this is going for you.

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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Welp, still feeling pretty good, all things considered. Dizziness has improved a bit and energy is still good. Going to drop down to 12.5 mg of zoloft today and hope that goes well. Called my doc today and had her phone in a scrip for 10 mg prozac capsules, that way I don't have to break open the 20s and measure it out anymore.

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

If you're down to 12.5mg Zoloft, 5mg Prozac would probably be enough.

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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Really, because that seems counterintuitive to me - going down on BOTH meds when I'm kind of just trying to level out on decreasing the zoloft by so much and so rapidly. Shouldn't I start decreasing the prozac only after I'm nice and stable on just taking it?

Started zoloft 100 mg in 2001

Went off cold turkey in 2005, reinstated several months later

Reduced to 75 mg on Nov. 9, 2013

Reduced to 50 mg on Jan. 1, 2014

Reduced to 25 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on April 29, 2014

Reduced to 12.5 mg zoloft + 10 mg prozac on May 6, 2014

Reduced to 10 mg prozac on May 14, 2014

Went to 5 mg prozac + 12.5 mg zoloft on Nov. 10, 2014

Went to 25 mg zoloft on Nov. 17, 2014

Went to 50 mg zoloft on Jan. 8, 2015

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  • Administrator

Milligram for milligram, Prozac is more than twice the strength of Zoloft.

 

By substituting 10mg Prozac for 12.5mg Zoloft, you've increased your SSRI dosage. A more accurate substitution would have been 5mg Prozac.

 

However, if you feel fine with 10mg Prozac, perhaps that's all for the best.

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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