Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

Zibius: pins and needles symptom of withdrawal ?


zibius

Recommended Posts

Hi, I have been taking mirtazapine for 6 months (Cymbalta and cipralex before that) but 2 months ago I decided to stop Antidepressants.

 

I have been working my way slowly from 30 mg a day to 27 at a rate of 1 mg/month but it as been a struggle. A lot of symptoms like dizziness, nausea and now asthenia and paresthesia .

 

My question is: Is it normal for those symptoms to show up 2 weeks after a dose reduction and will they go away if I stay at the same dose long enough.

 

They are really freaking me out...

 

2016 Back to cipralex 10 mg

2018 March From 10 mg to 5 mg cipralex

2018 april 15, stopped 5 mg cipralex

2018 May 16 Hypersensitive skin as withdrawal

2018 May 19 to 23 took 5 mg cipralex but skin was more painful so stopped cipralex

2018 May 30, skin is feeling better

2018 June 28, very stressful event

2018 July 3, Skin is more painful

2018 July 8, started .5 mg cipralex 

2018 July 12 skin is even worst

Supplements Omega 3, Magnesium

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hello Zibius and welcome to SA!

 

I have moved your topic from tapering section to Introductions and updates to be your introductory post. You will get more advice and support here.

 

Thank you also for providing us with your drug history. It seems you have understood the basics of tapering to go slow and hold. But what I see as additional problem in your situation is what was happening before and all those changes over the past year: cold turkey, changing 2 drugs, introducing the third.

 

Others will know more but skin sensations look like a serious side effect which would explain why your doctor discontinued it. Its very likely that you are experiencing withdrawal from one of these drugs that you were taking before for a longer period of time and stopped taking abruptly.

 

The problem is also that you didn't wait long enough to try to stabilise on a new drug (Remeron) before starting to taper it. 

 

I was studying your signature but I'm either getting something wrong or there is a bit of error: if you started tapering in March that's at least 3 months ago if not 4 but not 2 :)

 

So when exactly did you start taking Remeron? In January? And then started tapering 2 months later? How did you feel after all those changing at the beginning of this year? I'm asking that because I suspect that the symptoms you are having now are the result of your current taper but rather something that happened before.

 

I'm sure others will be here with their comments soon.

 

best,

bubble 

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

Link to comment

I will have to double check my dates with my pharmacy, I guess I lost track with all those changes.

 

But I'm pretty sure I started Remeron in December 2013 and it's in April 2014 that I decided to quit.

 

But you are right, I should have started the tapering when on Cymbalta or cipralex.

 

But what do I now. Keep tapering Remeron and bite the bullet.

2016 Back to cipralex 10 mg

2018 March From 10 mg to 5 mg cipralex

2018 april 15, stopped 5 mg cipralex

2018 May 16 Hypersensitive skin as withdrawal

2018 May 19 to 23 took 5 mg cipralex but skin was more painful so stopped cipralex

2018 May 30, skin is feeling better

2018 June 28, very stressful event

2018 July 3, Skin is more painful

2018 July 8, started .5 mg cipralex 

2018 July 12 skin is even worst

Supplements Omega 3, Magnesium

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

I agree with Bubble, you're probably suffering from a combination of post acute withdrawal from the other meds and the switches, plus current withdrawal from Remeron.

 

I suggest that you hold where you are for a while--don't make any further cuts until your symptoms settle down. During that time you can read through our materials on tapering, if you haven't already. Your rate of taper doesn't seem too fast, I think you're just still destabilized from the earlier stuff.

 

Your body is the best expert on when it's time to stop and hold a taper for a while and when it's okay to make another cut.  My guess is that if you take some time to stabilize now (and give your nervous system lots of other gentle support) your symptoms will settle down, and then you can continue your slow taper.

 

Welcome to the forum, we're glad you've found us. 

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.

Link to comment

You think that even if I made the switch to Remeron 6 months ago I could still get side effects from that switch ?

 

I never imagined the effect would last that long. Guess I'm still learning. 

 

So I should maybe taper 1 mg / 2 months instead. And keep a close eye on my sympthoms.

 

I'm trying to buy a mg scale so I can have a precise dosage.

 

Now I know why forum like this one exist. New symptom can show up and we always think the worst.

 

I taught I had diabetes because of the asthenia/paresthesia and thinking that it was not the tapering since I was going slow enough.

 

And just to add some tidbits of info. I had a EMG and the Neurologist mentioned that I had a very conductive nervous system. So no problem there but that I would react quickly to anything that can tax it.

 

Sorry for the long post but i'm realising alot of stuff this week...

 

It really help to have guidance from others

2016 Back to cipralex 10 mg

2018 March From 10 mg to 5 mg cipralex

2018 april 15, stopped 5 mg cipralex

2018 May 16 Hypersensitive skin as withdrawal

2018 May 19 to 23 took 5 mg cipralex but skin was more painful so stopped cipralex

2018 May 30, skin is feeling better

2018 June 28, very stressful event

2018 July 3, Skin is more painful

2018 July 8, started .5 mg cipralex 

2018 July 12 skin is even worst

Supplements Omega 3, Magnesium

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

It's not just the switch to Remeron, it's the cold turkey off of Cymbalta a year ago, then switching to Cipralex at a low dose. Some people are more sensitive than others are to changes in meds, and me and Bubble suspect these abrupt changes might have started the beginning of your problems. So now you are more sensitive to the Remeron taper.

 

If you are concerned about diabetes and neuropathy, you can get a medical workup to rule that out. I think you probably just need to stop tapering and hold your taper for a while, then in the future don't try to taper by a calendar schedule, just listen to your body and let it set the pace for you.

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.

Link to comment

It's not just the switch to Remeron, it's the cold turkey off of Cymbalta a year ago, then switching to Cipralex at a low dose. Some people are more sensitive than others are to changes in meds, and me and Bubble suspect these abrupt changes might have started the beginning of your problems. So now you are more sensitive to the Remeron taper.

 

If you are concerned about diabetes and neuropathy, you can get a medical workup to rule that out. I think you probably just need to stop tapering and hold your taper for a while, then in the future don't try to taper by a calendar schedule, just listen to your body and let it set the pace for you.

 

The only problem I have with tapering is that the symptoms do not show up the day after the decrease but several days. But I agree, I will go by my symptoms not a calendar.

2016 Back to cipralex 10 mg

2018 March From 10 mg to 5 mg cipralex

2018 april 15, stopped 5 mg cipralex

2018 May 16 Hypersensitive skin as withdrawal

2018 May 19 to 23 took 5 mg cipralex but skin was more painful so stopped cipralex

2018 May 30, skin is feeling better

2018 June 28, very stressful event

2018 July 3, Skin is more painful

2018 July 8, started .5 mg cipralex 

2018 July 12 skin is even worst

Supplements Omega 3, Magnesium

Link to comment

Hello Zibius and welcome to SA!

 

I have moved your topic from tapering section to Introductions and updates to be your introductory post. You will get more advice and support here.

 

Thank you also for providing us with your drug history. It seems you have understood the basics of tapering to go slow and hold. But what I see as additional problem in your situation is what was happening before and all those changes over the past year: cold turkey, changing 2 drugs, introducing the third.

 

Others will know more but skin sensations look like a serious side effect which would explain why your doctor discontinued it. Its very likely that you are experiencing withdrawal from one of these drugs that you were taking before for a longer period of time and stopped taking abruptly.

 

The problem is also that you didn't wait long enough to try to stabilise on a new drug (Remeron) before starting to taper it. 

 

I was studying your signature but I'm either getting something wrong or there is a bit of error: if you started tapering in March that's at least 3 months ago if not 4 but not 2 :)

 

So when exactly did you start taking Remeron? In January? And then started tapering 2 months later? How did you feel after all those changing at the beginning of this year? I'm asking that because I suspect that the symptoms you are having now are the result of your current taper but rather something that happened before.

 

I'm sure others will be here with their comments soon.

 

best,

bubble 

Hi bubble,

 

So you and Rhi think I'm might still having some effect from switching from 3 different antidepressant in the last year. If that is the case, it must not help that I'm trying to cut back on my remeron. I never felt good since January and that might be why.

 

I will keep slowly cutting back and keeping a close watch on my withdrawal symptoms

 

Do you know of a good list of withdrawal symptoms. I have some pins and needles and weird sensations mostly in my left harm and leg..

2016 Back to cipralex 10 mg

2018 March From 10 mg to 5 mg cipralex

2018 april 15, stopped 5 mg cipralex

2018 May 16 Hypersensitive skin as withdrawal

2018 May 19 to 23 took 5 mg cipralex but skin was more painful so stopped cipralex

2018 May 30, skin is feeling better

2018 June 28, very stressful event

2018 July 3, Skin is more painful

2018 July 8, started .5 mg cipralex 

2018 July 12 skin is even worst

Supplements Omega 3, Magnesium

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Zibius, you will find many withdrawal symptoms are discussed here.http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/8-symptoms-and-self-care/

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

 

 

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

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

2002  effexor. 

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

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

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

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

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Zibius,

 

MammaP was faster :)

 

You are thinking right. Here is a more direct thread where you will find an exhaustive list of withdrawal symptoms who actually come in all sorts of forms.

 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/603-what-is-withdrawal-syndrome/

 

yes, keep it as slow as you can. We are all telling ourselves that. It's not easy. Good luck and keep us posted. I do medical check ups for my symptoms to make sure it's nothing physiological but don't get surprised when all my results come back ok. So you might do the same. But most likely as CNS stabilises through a consistent dose and keeping meds steady and stable these symptoms will go away. It takes a lot of time and patience but it happens.

 

keep us posted.

 

best,

 

bubble

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

Link to comment

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy