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Coorgman Paxil, Mentat, and now back to SSRI after 7 Years?


Coorgman

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After a brief trial of Prozac & Luvox , Paxil at 40 mg worked for my OCD in 2005 as a 16 year old. By 2007 40mg had pooped out on me and after a terrible trial of clomipramine , 60 mg Paxil worked for me. It's then I read Brain Lock , which totally changed my OCD game for the better . It was also around this time that I developed a reading difficulty( which continues till today) which I believed were caused by all the meds and I went from 60 - 0 in bout 2 months. It was only 3 months later that I found Paxilprogress and understood the gravity of my foolishness. Being an Indian, I tried my hand at a Herbal Ayurvedic product Himalaya's 'Mentat' and it worked great ! Gave me the focus and stress reduction and learning power required to swim though withdrawal. So I took it from 2009 to 2012 .Stopping it wasn't easy and slowly my focus, memory was in the dumps and I started getting Depressed. OCD was controllable but did add to the overall stress .By early 2014 I started getting in deep trouble . I tried my hand at doing some brain games at Lumosity and that resulted in terrible 'detached' kind of feelings and later extreme brain fatigue. The biggest shock was that I cant seem to go back Mentat or any of those herbs (Bacopa, Ashwangandha) without developing overwhelming mental fatigue, even in small doses. It seems that there seems to be no choice but to go back to my doc ( after 6 years) and trying an SSRI . My productivity , motivation , pleasure , focus is all a big 0 for the last 6 months.

                            It seems that I have strength to give 1 month of trial to try ANYTHING other than Paxil . preferably Zoloft . Should I be requesting that to the doc? I have done 3 years with only Fish oil , and intend to do that again. Paxil seems to be the worst If I want to do that.

Paxil 40 mg 2005 -2007 for OCD

Poopout in 07 . 60mg works..

Great progress with CBT

60- 0 in 2 months .Last dose Jan 2009

Withdrawal

Mentat (Herbal) 2009 -2012

2012-15 - Fish Oil Only

In trouble now with motivation , focus and depression and OCD 

Cant seem to go back on herbs .Causes terrible mental fatigue.

Tried Inositol , 5-htp , A- Tyrosine, sam-e , theanine ,Krill oil, etc etc etc 

2015 - Back to SSRI ?? Coming soon

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Hi Coorgman, and welcome to SA! A moderator will be along shortly to advise you so please be patient.

 

My personal opinion in answer to your question about trying another SSRI is an overwhelming NO. Please read the Self Care forum for information as to holistic measures that can help you. I also recommend Baylissa Frederick's books which are inexpensive and can be purchased online. None of these are "quick fixes" but will spare you dreadful future withdrawals from these awful drugs when they either poop out or cause side effects you can no longer tolerate - and they will.

 

The key is to put the time and effort in now to feel better without them. I know that may seem impossible, but you can do it if you get the right support and believe in yourself. There is no miracle drug.

 

Again, welcome to SA, you will find lots of good info in the forums as well as support and encouragement. Hang in there and keep believing in drug free healing and recovery!

2005-2009, Lexapro 10 - 20 mg, CT WD w/severe depression and anxiety:  2010-2015, Paxil, 30 - 40 mg, tapered off at 10 mg/week, moderate anxiety and depression:  2010-2015, Clonozapam 0.25 mg, as needed for anxiety and sleep:  1/10/2015, Zoloft 25 mg, tried to increase to 50 and 75, but nausea and dizziness:  2/13/2015, Paxil 5 mg, added back after 2 weeks at zero to reduce WD:  2/28/2015, Paxil 10 mg, increased from 5 mg to reduce WD, HOLDING:  3/04/2015, Zoloft discontinued (reduced to ~12.5 mg on 2/19, ~6.25 mg on 2/26, then zero):  4/26/2015, Paxil starting 10% taper (no scale so was inadvertently at 20% taper, yikes!):  4/30/2015, Paxil 10 mg, reinstated (WD disappeared between August 2015 and May 2016)

5/02/2016, Started 10% taper, reinstated to 10 mg on 5/11/16:  4/29/2017, Last dose of Paxil (working with holistic psychiatrist, lots of supplements to aid WD):  Primary symptoms: apathy, demotivation, anhedonia, fatigue, stress intolerance, moderate social anxiety

7/1/2018 Finally feeling like myself again, success!!! Praise God! Even with the stress of relocating recently, I am feeling pretty good most of the time now. Granted, I eat healthy, I exercise, I don't drink caffeine or alcohol and I try hard find a healthy balance of quiet and social times. Hang in there and keep the faith, you can do it too!

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  • Administrator

Welcome, Coorgman.

 

Prestorb's suggestions are what I would have given.

 

We can't tell you a simple pill will fix all your problems. Please consider where such promises have led you.

 

There are non-drug therapies, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, to manage obsessive thoughts. You might look into those.

 

It could be your inability to concentrate is due to withdrawal or other drug-related reaction. If so, it will very slowly recover over time.

 

FYI, Ingredients in Mentat: http://www.himalayawellness.com/products/pharmaceuticals/mentat.htmhttp://www.himalayawellness.com/products/pharmaceuticals/mentat.htm

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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Thanks for the replies , guys. This is exactly the thought process I had for the last one year. Always believed I would slowly get better . But the tremendous stress and pain of the last year has made it  ridiculous to have a idealistic view of the situation. I have tried every possible supplement , in addition to trying the herbs that once helped me . This has been going on for the last 1 and half years. All cognitive techniques I'am aware of , I have tried. My heart doesn't want to go back but my mind knows that I would like to take some action while I still have some strength left. What I only want to do is use something to develop my strength back for atleast 6 months. 

                                                                    Anyone have any theories on why Bacopa gives me the opposite reaction now? Gives me overwhelming mental fatigue. Took it in for three years (In Mentat)with brilliant results. In 2009 when I tried it I was 4 months into Paxil withdrawal , and gave me no side issues at all. Was on it for three years . Now its Unbearable to take ???!! 

 

Alto , thanks for the link but seems to be directing to the main page

Here's the US marketed product Mindcare (same as Mentat)

http://himalayausa.com/products/formulas/mindcare

Paxil 40 mg 2005 -2007 for OCD

Poopout in 07 . 60mg works..

Great progress with CBT

60- 0 in 2 months .Last dose Jan 2009

Withdrawal

Mentat (Herbal) 2009 -2012

2012-15 - Fish Oil Only

In trouble now with motivation , focus and depression and OCD 

Cant seem to go back on herbs .Causes terrible mental fatigue.

Tried Inositol , 5-htp , A- Tyrosine, sam-e , theanine ,Krill oil, etc etc etc 

2015 - Back to SSRI ?? Coming soon

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  • Administrator

People can have bad reactions or paradoxical reactions to those herbs, same as psychiatric drugs.

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...

Update - Zoloft was a complete disaster. I'am going back to Bacopa and Mentat . I finally managed to tolerate the mental fatigue , by adding krill oil for the first week. I'am in my third week now, and that is the most positive development in 2 years now. 

Paxil 40 mg 2005 -2007 for OCD

Poopout in 07 . 60mg works..

Great progress with CBT

60- 0 in 2 months .Last dose Jan 2009

Withdrawal

Mentat (Herbal) 2009 -2012

2012-15 - Fish Oil Only

In trouble now with motivation , focus and depression and OCD 

Cant seem to go back on herbs .Causes terrible mental fatigue.

Tried Inositol , 5-htp , A- Tyrosine, sam-e , theanine ,Krill oil, etc etc etc 

2015 - Back to SSRI ?? Coming soon

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My experience with trying Zoloft was similar, hang in there!

2005-2009, Lexapro 10 - 20 mg, CT WD w/severe depression and anxiety:  2010-2015, Paxil, 30 - 40 mg, tapered off at 10 mg/week, moderate anxiety and depression:  2010-2015, Clonozapam 0.25 mg, as needed for anxiety and sleep:  1/10/2015, Zoloft 25 mg, tried to increase to 50 and 75, but nausea and dizziness:  2/13/2015, Paxil 5 mg, added back after 2 weeks at zero to reduce WD:  2/28/2015, Paxil 10 mg, increased from 5 mg to reduce WD, HOLDING:  3/04/2015, Zoloft discontinued (reduced to ~12.5 mg on 2/19, ~6.25 mg on 2/26, then zero):  4/26/2015, Paxil starting 10% taper (no scale so was inadvertently at 20% taper, yikes!):  4/30/2015, Paxil 10 mg, reinstated (WD disappeared between August 2015 and May 2016)

5/02/2016, Started 10% taper, reinstated to 10 mg on 5/11/16:  4/29/2017, Last dose of Paxil (working with holistic psychiatrist, lots of supplements to aid WD):  Primary symptoms: apathy, demotivation, anhedonia, fatigue, stress intolerance, moderate social anxiety

7/1/2018 Finally feeling like myself again, success!!! Praise God! Even with the stress of relocating recently, I am feeling pretty good most of the time now. Granted, I eat healthy, I exercise, I don't drink caffeine or alcohol and I try hard find a healthy balance of quiet and social times. Hang in there and keep the faith, you can do it too!

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