joannatm Posted April 1, 2016 Author Share Posted April 1, 2016 Let's hope it does as feel like going back on them today and not felt like that in months x May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
LucyJed Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 I know how you feel. But evidently windows are signs of healing and you've had many. For years I wanted to get off the ADs even when they were working. Then they quit on me and my nervous system went into melt down. The end game for ADs is tough Hanging in there is the only option for me . LJ 18 years on Zoloft then it quit working and started giving me anxiety. Nothing else has worked for me at all prescribed: pristiq, lexapro , Abilify with zoloft, Remeron, Lithium, Vybriid, Prozac, lamactil, Celexa, Paxil and Luvox TAPERS Zoloft - switched to Paxil after 2 week taper - big mistake Paxil - 10% Reduction over 20 weeks. Started Luvox on week 18 Luvox - too fast of taper directed by PDoc- 25% reduction over 6 weeks because of short time on- 4 months, never worked -tapered off everything except Lithium 300mg by April 11, 2015 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted April 2, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 2, 2016 The fact that they do this to us in withdrawal is one of the many reasons I want off them! As LJ said, you've had windows and you will come out of this wave and have another. How long have you been in this wave? And what are your symptoms? SG Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002 Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots! Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep. June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015. Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month. 12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 2, 2016 Author Share Posted April 2, 2016 Since Monday. Yesterday and last night anxiety sweats no sleep negative racing thoughts. Don't want yo get out of bed. Just like I was when going on ad. Worse I've been for months. X May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 Well over a week a mess again, three days no sleep and seriously anxious sweating racing thoughts movements. What has happened ?! All gone pear-shaped x May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 Husband had booked snd paid for me to join gym again as I was massive gym person before my son was born. Bless him he trying so hard to put smile back on my face x May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted April 4, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 4, 2016 I'm so sorry you are in a nasty wave, Joanna. You jumped off from a fairly high point which produces these windows and waves. A friend who is 22 months out said she had waves at 11 and 15 months, but there were real windows in between. She said it always got really bad right before it broke and got better! Today it is hard to believe how far she has come, she sounds so good on the phone compared to when I met her a year ago!! You will get through this one. It's a tough one, but you WILL get through it. Hugs! SG Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002 Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots! Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep. June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015. Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month. 12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 Thank you so much for your support. Having quite bad time of it. Yesterday was a window and I made it to gym and did spinning bit today bad day. Anxious tired negative thoughts again. I'll get there like we all will. Xx May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted April 7, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 7, 2016 Spinning may have been a too-aggressive workout, yesterday. I'm toying with the idea of joining a gym again, but worried about triggering WD if I get overzealous! It's been known to happen to folks. Yoga? You'll have another window - just be kind to yourself today :-) SG Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002 Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots! Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep. June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015. Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month. 12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 A year half ago I used to gym all the time then gave up. I'm hoping it will help. Not as keen on yoga. Be gutted if can't fo it any more. So pleased with myself yesterday joining gym x May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 Do any of our hear from Olivia or kt38? How they getting on? Hope you all doing OK. Xx May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 8, 2016 Author Share Posted April 8, 2016 Sorry me again. Just thinking and looking back do you think this is wd as I had that feeling a few weeks back in a bubble before that feelings gone before that i hated my husband wanted to leave for no reason and got angry but thats gone and now that feeling gone and I'm now having difficulty sleeping with hot sweats and anxiety all night as the next phase of wd.last time I felt this crap was when I was trying to adjust to sertraline and had six weeks of it. Awful. Feel real awful now. Some advice May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted April 8, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 8, 2016 This is definitely protracted withdrawal, including the questioning of whether it's withdrawal :-) Are you taking the supplements, magnesium and fish oil? One member was having very bad night cortisol surges and added taurine , which helped. It must be taken with magnesium for optimum effect. I remember having such horrid sweats in PW that I had sweat running down my body, soaked the sheets top and bottom! You might want to revisit these topics: READ THIS Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems I find it helpful sometimes to think of my WD self as a child that needs my help, so what can I do to nurture her while she's feeling bad? Lots of good stuff in the Symptoms & Self Care forum! SG Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002 Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots! Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep. June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015. Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month. 12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 9, 2016 Author Share Posted April 9, 2016 I keep trying to tell myself it's wd and think of the now and what wonderful family I have. It's so difficult. I just started taking magnesium so hoping it kicks in. I'll re read support too. Thank u so much. Xx May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
nz11 Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 i can assure you this is withdrawal and it can go on for a long time. I like SG's analogy of a child who needs help. I hope the magnesium helps and kick in too. 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 Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 11, 2016 Author Share Posted April 11, 2016 Thank you so much for advice. I've seemed to have calmed down but still slightly anxious. Xxx May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
KT38 Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Hi! It's me :-) I am still bad. If someone says "hi" or smiles my brain attacks and I go into a massive rage....I turn into the Hulk. Every chemical in my body morphs. This has been happening since getting off the SSRIs and am so scared this will be permanent. I still can't drive more than 5 miles and can't be alone long. BUT BUT BUT.....let me tell you...........I went on a 4 day Disney vacation with my family (we live 1 hr away) and I just went on my daughter's Kindergarten field trip. My husband does have to go with me everywhere, but I did it. I had some horrible horrible brain chemical attacks during these times and I feel like my body is an electrical force....stuff NO person should ever feel in their life. I just wish this would just go away. I hate myself for trying these meds, I totally messed my brain and body up!!!!! I am not a believer in "push yourself and try to do stuff" because this is not some regular anxiety or anything....this is something very chemically bad. I would not have a panic attack, instead I would turn into the Hulk or not understand my surroundings and drive off the rd or something because of that. This must be brain damage. I am 12 months off the SSRIs and if I can't puch myself yet, that is fine. It's just that everyone around me expects me to be my normal self again.....100% awesome, happy, and quick witted and brave. Dec 2014 I tried Zoloft 25mg for one week (adverse reaction - extreme anxiety and felt like I was on an amphetamine). Dr. said to quit cold turkey, so I not only quit Zoloft but also 2 weeks of Xanax .25mg -- extreme dizziness, hyperarousal and anxiety began! On Jan. 29, 2015 my psychiatrist put me on new stuff and this is how my next 2 months and 7 days looked like (I was having the same bad reactions to all of these):Effexor XR 37.5mg (3 days) - throwing up, heart palpations, night tremors/convulsions or something where whole body shakes for a second, Prozac 10mg (15 days), Prozac 20mg (7 days) - internal restlessness, electric current through body/brain (not zaps), agitation, intense fear and could no longer nap at this point (still can't today because of this), Lexapro 5mg (4 days) - same as Prozac, a horror show...extreme internal agitation, Lexapro 7.5mg (2 days), Lexapro 10mg (16 days), Zoloft 12.5mg (3 days)...she said try it again since my blood relative does well on it, Zoloft 25mg (7 days) - same as before and getting worse!! Zoloft 50mg (6 days), Zoloft 25mg (4 days and then came off cold turkey on April 8, 2015). I used Xanax .25mg about 7 times per month through all of this until June 30, 2015 (my last benzo dose). Extreme anxiety, nervous system traumatized, mental akathisia, anger triggered by nothing but the brain totally going off on its own, feeling of a pressurized electric current going through me like my brain and body are trying to explode, stress reaction x10000 to everything, waking in terror lasting all day, fear, very sensitive, brain can't keep up, don't know what to do with myself, feeling like everything is going too fast and I can't keep up, helium head, deep depression like something is ripping out my soul, out of my mind, can hardly drive or be alone, cognitive issues, simple tasks are so complex and straining, feel disturbed because the brain can't process anything right even though your brain tries so hard and it makes you go mad, episodes of deep anguish with a sick toxic poison feeling (like you have some unknown virus). Link to comment
joannatm Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 Ho kt38 It is so difficult and if you not gone or going through this type anxiety.they just don't understand especially when it's been a year. I've had some really good days but still feel it lingering in background then when pmt kicks in I feel it brewing like today. It def gets worse around pmt for me. Xxxx big hugs May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
joannatm Posted May 19, 2016 Author Share Posted May 19, 2016 Thought I would log in to say how things going. I've been having much longer windows and very small waves which last few hours then go over the last month. I'm hoping this is the start and gradually disappear. I still worry every morning though waking up slight anxious hot sweats then after few hours disappears. Not so much negative thoughts. Now and then pop into my head. The most annoying part and it is just annoying I get that feeling I'm in a bubble looking out. If I pinch myself I will wake up feeling. I look at my life and feel is this real why am I here. But that feeling happens now and then every day. Hopefully onwards upwards but don't like to get hopes up too much like I have done as I come crashing down when it happens. Do hope you guys feeling better as not heard from anyone so I'm fingers crossed that a good sign. Jo x May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted May 19, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 19, 2016 Jo, so happy to hear this! You give us all hope! Thank you for letting us know how you are doing. I often wonder how it would have gone for me had I known I was in protracted withdrawal and had trudged forward without reinstating. If I had known, and had the support of this site to get through it, I'd have been nearly two years out by now. Instead, I am still tapering and will be for quite awhile longer. At least that is going well, no major blips. Just find that I am still emotionally numb and lacking compassion at the moment. You are 13 months out!!! So excited for you! You are doing great. It can be a bumpy road, yet, so just keep your chin up and know it will pass. Enjoy those windows! SG Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002 Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots! Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep. June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015. Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month. 12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
joannatm Posted May 21, 2016 Author Share Posted May 21, 2016 Thank you so much. I'm still not there but feel so much better than 2 months ago even. It's a slow process. You'll get there and so worth tampering slowly not like I done. How much you on now and how long? I'm still unemotional at times and then feelings come back now and then. At mo feel in that bubble. X May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted May 21, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 21, 2016 I am 66% of my reinstatement dose of 37.5 mg Effexor, and 32% of my highest Remeron dose, both under the so-called minimum therapeutic dosage. What a joke that is, since for the Effexor, if you go by the research paper that measured occupancy of receptors at various dosages, my receptors are still occupied at about 75%! SG Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002 Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots! Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep. June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015. Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month. 12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
joannatm Posted May 22, 2016 Author Share Posted May 22, 2016 But you doing it the sensible way. You'll get there and will be worth it. You hear from the others? X May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
joannatm Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Well there's me thinking I out of woods or nearing when bang last three days horrendous thoughts not sleeping again it happened end period and I feeling terrible more so I think cause it holidays and been feeling so great lately. Why oh why I got my hopes up things change. X May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted May 31, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 31, 2016 Sorry your window closed, Girl! Shake it off - you'll get another one :-) I know, easier said than done. Maybe the next one will come real soon. One day at a time, one minute at a time. You can do this ;-) SG Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002 Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots! Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep. June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015. Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month. 12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
joannatm Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Nightmare hey. Knew shouldn't have got hopes up too high. How's you doing? Do you hear from kt38 st all? Jo x May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
dowdaller Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Hi joannatm, I have read most of your thread and it mirrors my own experiences, I am 9 months off effexor. I get waves and windows in the same day sometimes. Everyday is different your story gives me some hope and at least I know someone else is going through the same crap. I am off all meds 16 months I had been on olanzapine, Effexor zanex and assorted sleeping meds for approx 2 years. Weaned off 375 mg effexor over two years, I had previously come off xanax, rivotrill and olazapine. Reinstated 75mg of effexor on the 22/12/16 Link to comment
joannatm Posted June 1, 2016 Author Share Posted June 1, 2016 It's so frustrating too. Get your hopes up things are changing and then BANG it hits u again. It's the negative and anxiety that hits me the most. What gets u the most? Do you find there are triggers? Xx May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
dowdaller Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 It's so frustrating too. Get your hopes up things are changing and then BANG it hits u again. It's the negative and anxiety that hits me the most. What gets u the most? Do you find there are triggers? Xx Any stressful stuff, I haven't planed for, if my kids are sick unexpected bills, if my mood is low, this kinda stuff sends me into a spin. I have a lot of potentially stressful stuff coming down the track. I'm just holding it together, I just think i have been through worse, and I will have to go through worse again, so I just suck it up. Keep going forward "rocky style" I am off all meds 16 months I had been on olanzapine, Effexor zanex and assorted sleeping meds for approx 2 years. Weaned off 375 mg effexor over two years, I had previously come off xanax, rivotrill and olazapine. Reinstated 75mg of effexor on the 22/12/16 Link to comment
joannatm Posted June 1, 2016 Author Share Posted June 1, 2016 Exactly the same. Keep going. Does get better x May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
dowdaller Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 Exactly the same. Keep going. Does get better x I hope so (only joking) no I have had some really good days off the meds not too many on them, nice chatting, hope you have a good day. I am off all meds 16 months I had been on olanzapine, Effexor zanex and assorted sleeping meds for approx 2 years. Weaned off 375 mg effexor over two years, I had previously come off xanax, rivotrill and olazapine. Reinstated 75mg of effexor on the 22/12/16 Link to comment
joannatm Posted June 1, 2016 Author Share Posted June 1, 2016 Does anyone else get really bad end and few days after pmt. Gutted xx May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
joannatm Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 Yesterday good day. Today bad day tired and can't relax.x May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
joannatm Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Rough week of a window but getting there slowly x May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
joannatm Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 Two weeks long wave but had 1 day in whole time felt super fine. Sometimes think i bipolar with these different moods negative thoughts terrible anxiety sweats or maybe peri menopausal. X May 2003 prozac for six months after having first child. Came off taper slow. No withdrawals. December 2009 10mg citalopram after second child. January 2010 up to 20mg kinda helped. Not much. July 2010 taper off within a month. Side affects of tiredness tears. Doctor said I depressed still. Oct 2010 Went back doctor they put me on sertraline 20mg and went to cbt therapy. Doctor kept upping it as wasn't feeling better to 200mg. December 2014 felt better started to reduce by 4 tablets to 3 then to 2 then 1 and half. Four five weeks gap between. Stopped at 25mg in April 2015.7 months no meds. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus KarenB Posted June 13, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 13, 2016 People often mistake w/d symptoms for bipolar. They are very similar, but thankfully w/d symptoms will eventually end and you'll feel more yourself again. 2010 Fluoxetine 20mg. 2011 Escitalopram 20mg. 2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS. Effexor 150mg. 2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants. Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms). 8 month hold. 2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent). 2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well. Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea. 2023 December - Now on 5 micro-beads Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops. Symptoms begin to increase. 2024 April - Updosed to 6 microbeads - immediate increase in symptoms for 4 days. Decreased to 5 microbeads. 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.' Dr Gabor Mate. Link to comment
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