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

Lakelander82: Sertraline general query and tapering info


Lakelander82

Recommended Posts

  • Moderator Emeritus

Lakelander, if your symptoms continue next week at the same level, "5",  that is stability. You've got a baseline now against which to compare future withdrawal reactions. Important note: read SquirrellyGirl's post below about making changes

 

On related issue, would you add your reinstatement date and dose and any future changes to your signature? It makes a big difference in the moderators being able to respond completely.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment
  • Replies 354
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Lakelander82

    181

  • Altostrata

    32

  • scallywag

    25

  • ChessieCat

    17

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Lakelander82, 

 

Can you give me a quick review about how long you were off sert before you reinstated 25 mg?  I'm feeling squeamish about you starting to taper so soon.  What is your symptom pattern each day?  How is your sleep?  What symptoms make your overall rating a 5/10?

 

If your symptoms are due to still not being stable, then tapering is going to throw you into worse withdrawal.  It's hard to be patient, I know.  I began tapering too soon after reinstatement, like a month later, and it was a few rocky months before I backed off and went slower.

 

From this topic:  About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

  • Once you feel withdrawal symptoms are reduced after reinstatement, give your nervous system time to stabilize before attempting dosage reduction. Think in terms of months, not days.

What makes you feel the sert is pooping out?

 

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

I never reinstated the 25mg, I halfed my dose from 50 to 25 for roughly about 6 days and have been back on the full dose of 50 mg for nearly three weeks now.

 

My trouble is I'm, never fully 100% even at the 50 mg. i suffer a lot of muscle tension and have palpitations from time to time. I could wait from now to doomsday on the 50 mg and I would never be 100 per cent stable maybe not even 80 percent stable. Everyday is different, I could be a 7 one day, a 4 the next. This pattern will continue on the 50mg. It's hard conveying to people that even with keeping my dose steady, I'm still not fully functional. The question is how long do you wait? If your med has pooped out or is beginning to poop out, what other options do you have? Surely you have to taper? I'm eager to kick on, balls to the wall and whatever comes, comes!

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment

Oh and to answer your sleep question - I have no problem sleeping, I could sleep the clock round. I have trouble waking up in the morning. I sometimes have a little trouble getting to sleep but once I'm out, I'm out until morning time.

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

I would still recommend at least a full month, preferably longer, after reinstatement, but ultimately it is your decision, so if you feel you are stable enough, you could always try a 5% cut and see how that goes.  If things go sideways fast, you'll know your nervous system wasn't ready for that challenge.  If you feel no difference, then two weeks later do another 5%.  Ultimately, you must listen to your body.

 

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

I started my 10% taper today, zero mg here I come!!!!! YEEEEHAAAAA!!! :-D

 

I didn't bank on the suspension of the drug tasting so bad though, it's impossible to describe other than an extremely stale/foul taste!

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Lakelander, there's a reason a certain saying exists: "It's a bitter pill to swallow." ;)

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

LOL, scally!

 

It's bad enough when the drug is what is bitter, but I am using the OraPlus suspension vehicle for my mirtazapine liquid, and boy does that stuff taste bad!  Does the job to keep the insoluble Mirt suspended, but nasty!  I began hunting around for another product that might go over better but couldn't decide on anything.   Lakelander, are you familiar with others, being a pharmacist and all?

 

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

Lakelander, just wanted to let you know that I'm reading your story with much interest and also seeing some similarities in our thinking, even though we suffer from different issues. Your story touched me.
I wish you healing and hang in there. 

All my life: Occasional panic attacks. 2003: Burnout  2004: intrusion (OCD'ish) / anxiety. Therapies: acupuncture, Chinese herbs, hypnotherapy --> symptoms were manageable (did return once in a while), depression lifted.
2007 - Relapse, started with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Therapist recommended Fevarin (fluvoxamine) 150 mg. Recovery after 3 months and remained stable. Mild side effects.
2009 - Tapered fluvoxamine. No withdrawal symptoms. 2010 - Relapse, same Pure O thought and anxiety.  Started taking 100 mg of fluvoxamine but after 9 weeks no change in symptoms. Did not have any effect on Pure O thought. Switched to Lexapro (escitalopram) 20 mg.  Drug started working within 3 weeks. Mild side effects. Slowly over the years tapered to 5 mg.
2015: Lots of personal issues and setbacks, occasional panic attack. 2016: April started skipping doses; 5mg escitalopram every other day (in hindsight a bad idea)
May: Major relapse, anxiety and intrusion returned. Depression. Increased from 2,5 mg 15 mg in two weeks. Side effects: neuro-emotions
June: Escitalopram has no effect on the frequency of the intrusion...after 4 weeks my general doctor advised me to do a fast taper to 5mg. Withdrawal effects (2/3 weeks): neuro-emotions, lack of focus, crying spells, fatigue, muscle twitches in legs, cortisol spikes just before waking up July: Stable on 5 mg. Depression and intrusion lifted during holiday (lots of sunshine, long walks and relaxing) August: Drop down to 2,5 mg. Withdrawal effects (tinnitus, headagues) are noticeable, but still mild in comparison to the big drop earlier.
22th August: stopped escitalopram completely. Cortisol spikes just before waking up, still OCD (only temporary improvements), WD-depression and WD-neuro emotions.
Update 6 dec: no medication, any withdrawal symptoms not noticable. Taking supplements for intrusive thoughts and overall well being: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) omega 3 fish oils, zinc, vitamin d, magnesium l-threonate, ginko biloba

 

Link to comment

From memory Squirellygirl, Ketrol (liquefied Tragacanth) is a good suspending agent - as to the taste, I don't exactly know tbh. It may taste slightly sweet like Lactulose - It's been 4 years since I practiced Pharmacy, so my memory has faded a bit!

 

Would you care to expand on the similarities between us Susanne?

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

Quick update- I'm three weeks into my first reduction of 45mg (down from 50mg), Saturday week will see me start my second reduction of 40.5mg. Generally I'm ok, have a few wobbly moments so not sure if it's the windows and waves starting early. I'm aware it will probably get tougher (who knows it might not), but I have staying power and I will last the course.

 

Amazed at how much even a 10 % reduction has on my libido though! :-D

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

That's great news on all fronts, Lakelander!  No reason that the symptoms should get any worse as long as you stick to the 10%.  

 

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

Today wasn't a good day at all. Events in Nice really wound me up today so much so that I felt panicky and very on edge all day. I've a connection with France because my brother's wife is French and my little nephew is French/Irish so they travel quite regularly to the South of France.

 

Really was shocked and saddened for those victims of that horrendous attack. Felt like nowhere was safe in the world anymore and that there's so much evil in the world today. Felt like my old symptoms pre meds were just returning the day and that tapering is just a waste of time that won't work.

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Lakelander, when we have close connections who could have been affected the news is always tougher to hear.  I hope you've tuned out the news for a day or so. If not consider it and please do things that are calming or bring you joy.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

*topic moved from symptoms forum

 

Palpitations/Heart Flutters

From time to time I experience missed/skipped beats along with my heart noticeably beating hard in my chest. Hard but not fast - I'm Aerobically very fit so my resting pulse is in the 40s-50s. Quite often these symptoms are accompanied by gastrointestinal disturbances and I find if I can let a good burp/belch it often relieves it.

It's this physiological anxiety that I can't fathom at times - you're thoughts aren't racing/cycling (ie your psychologically relaxed) yet physiologically your all over the place with your heart ready to jump out of your chest. Some times it's the opposite and the Mind is racing and the body is relaxed and sometimes it's both mind and body together that are haywire.

I'm going into my second 10% reduction next Saturday (40.5 mg down from 50mg) and I want to believe these are all withdrawal effects but a large part of me says this is just the original anxiety that I had prior to meds returning. In which case I keep questioning the logic on here re withdrawal effects and tapering and think to myself maybe I'm just better on the drugs for lifetime.

Edited by Petunia
added note and topic title

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Lakelander,

I moved the topic you started in the symptoms forum to your introduction thread here because it was related to your own situation specifically. Please use this thread to track progress, write about symptoms, ask questions and communicate with the community, add to it whenever you want. Please bookmark it or follow it so you can find it again.

 

Here is the link to our heart irregularities thread, these are common withdrawal symptoms:  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1868-irregular-heartbeats-palpitations-tachycardia-bradycardia/

 

If you are having withdrawal symptoms, then it means you are tapering too fast and need to slow down. The 10% per month protocol is just a guide and a good place to start. Some people can taper faster, but others need to go slower, if you are having withdrawal symptoms which don't settle down after you have made a cut, then that's a good indication you need to taper by a lower percentage and possibly give it longer between cuts. Don't make another cut if you are still having symptoms, give it a few more weeks.

 

These topics may be helpful: 

 

Micro-taper instead of 10% or 5% decreases

 

The slowness of slow tapers

 

 


I'm going into my second 10% reduction next Saturday (40.5 mg down from 50mg) and I want to believe these are all withdrawal effects but a large part of me says this is just the original anxiety that I had prior to meds returning. In which case I keep questioning the logic on here re withdrawal effects and tapering and think to myself maybe I'm just better on the drugs for lifetime.

 

If you are having symptoms different from those you experienced before taking medication, then they are most likely withdrawal related and wont be permanent.

 

Its possible you are having withdrawal symptoms and the return of your original anxiety, if it wasn't resolved by other means. Have you had any counseling to address it?

 

Antidepressants don't cure anything, they only mask symptoms, that's if they work at all. They also come with side effects and long term health consequences, so you have to ask yourself what's most important to you and weigh up the pros and cons of staying on them or safely coming off and finding healthier ways of dealing with stress and anxiety. You must have had a reason for wanting to taper off.

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

 

 

 

Link to comment

Starting my second reduction tomorrow, I don't anticipate any problems. My palpitations resolved themselves, I was just rattled and annoyed by the atrocity in Nice. Amazing what a good nights sleep does for you. Also abstaining from excessive use of technological devices ie smartphones/tablets does wonders for you, my theory is that these devices keep us hyper stimulated and don't allow us to switch off which in turn manifests as a bad night's sleep.

 

In theory has my nervous system/brain done any healing in that one months reduction or is it too early and much too high a dose for that to occur?

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

In theory, it's possible. In practice, there's no way to know.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

When you look at the occupancy charts in the Why taper paper, the occupancy rate plateaus at higher dosages and is only maybe 12% or so higher than at the so-called minimum effective dose.  Occupancy can never be 100% (we'd probably die if it were!).  When we have been on the drugs a long time, and they poop out, the doctor always wants to raise the dosage, and for some that helps, so it makes me wonder what is going on - are our nerves like the Bulgarian weight lifter's biceps pushing back against these drugs at those high levels?  There must be some healing going on as you reduce even from there, because the nervous system has got to have some serotonin transmitting messages across the neuronal gap.  Nobody yet knows for sure, but I'm betting there IS healing taking place.

 

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

I'm going into my second 10% reduction next Saturday (40.5 mg down from 50mg) and I want to believe these are all withdrawal effects but a large part of me says this is just the original anxiety that I had prior to meds returning. In which case I keep questioning the logic on here re withdrawal effects and tapering and think to myself maybe I'm just better on the drugs for lifetime.

 

Consider this:

Difficulty in stopping psychiatric drugs can lead misinformed or unscrupulous health professionals to tell patients that they need to take their drugs for the rest of their lives when they really need to taper and withdraw from them in a careful manner.   Breggin 2014.

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

Felt bloody good on the first day of 40.5 mg. Had a pretty quiet day, had a deep muscle massage, finished painting my garden fence and watched some live sport (Gaelic football and Rugby league). Was tempted to go out on the lash (Irish slang for a night's drinking) but thought better of it. Can't wait for the months to tick by so I can go lower and lower on this crap.

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Sounds like a nice day, lakelander. I'm glad that a lower dose hasn't affected you.  Wishing you more of that. :D

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

I've been switched from Dr Reddys Sertraline to a brand called Aurobindo. In theory there should be no difference in the brands and I did check the ingredients and they are virtually identical. I did notice however that the latter brand dispersed much much quicker in water and there was a lot less particulate matter floating round in the jar, especially after I withdrew my 40.5 ml dose. I'm worried this change has screwed things up for me in terms of my dosage reduction. Usually if you phone the chemist and ask for the same brand of drug, the reply is that they just get what they're given by the supplier. Really fecked me off as I'm just seeking consistency.

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment

L.L. That sounds like it could possibly be a good thing in terms of dispersing easily with less particles but do you feel that it has affected you symptom - wise?  If you felt that it was impacting you negatively could you perhaps return it for your original brand ? Consistency is so important. I'm not sure of your system , though.

What , if any symptoms are you having and have they changed as a result of this ?  Please keep notes during this time , so as to possibly establish a pattern in regard to this.

Ali

Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014

 

                                                  Psych Drug - free since May 2014
.
         

Link to comment

Only started the new brand today so too early to notice any new effects. Probably me just being a raving neurotic, as I said both contains near enough the exact same excipients, although it's impossible to say if there's any disparity in the the proportions of these ingredients as relative quantities are not stipulated in the PILs.

The new one does seem to dissolve that bit better and has less drug suspended in the water so if there is any change in dosage it would mean an slightly increased dosage not decreased. My tapering technique is exactly the same though.

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment

No takers for this over on the Using an oral syringe thread so I'll give it a go here -

 

I'm flummoxed by something. Today as usual I took my usual 40.5 mg dose. I dissolved my 50 mg tablet in 50ml of water (dissolved it first in about 5-10mls of that water then added the rest). I withdrew my 40.5ml dose and so in theory there should be 9.5mls left in the jar but to my surprise there was barely 3mls left. I'm very precise with my method so I'm totally bewildered as to the discrepancy. Can anyone enlighten me?

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment

Do any of you give credence to the term Tardive Dysphoria, whereby long term Antidepressant use produces Treatment resistant Depression? This Is something that worried me most about SSRI use.

 

I'm really struggling as to the rationale for the use of SSRIs in the first place - if they are used to ameliorate Depression but make things worse in the long run, why use them in the first place? What other strategies have we to combat Depression apart from Meds? I know mindfulness is the whole buzz at the min but it won't work for everybody. I know aerobic exercise is of great benefit and by cutting my dose in half my logic was that my running, swimming etc would fill in the gap by producing the extra serotonin my brain needed. Unfortunately, it didn't work out this way. This site had shown me that there's no way of circumventing the slow taper.

Hey lakelander,

 

I was talking about this in my own intro post, as I stumbled on the term while researching my own issues. 

 

The idea behind healing, at least with regard to neurological issues, is the fundamental assumption of neuroplasticity. The brain will attempt to re-establish pruned dendrites that have atrophied in the presence of SSRI. The thing is that the depressed brain on SSRIs doesn't look like a non-depressed brain, so it's not like there is a realistic expectation for a return to something that never existed. 

 

I'm feeling a bit nihilistic today so excuse me if that sounds somewhat dark.

1999 - Wellbutrin 150 mg ~ 4 months - cold turkey withdrawal (adverse reaction)
2001-2002 - Lexapro 10mg, lorazepam 1mg - cold turkey withdrawal induced a 2 week subacute seizure cluster
2002-2006 - Clonazepam 1mg, Prozac 40mg
2007 - Added Abilify (adverse reaction - hand tremors) 
2007-2008 slow wean off everything
2014 - Zoloft/Sertraline 50mg, increased to 200mg over the course of a year. 
2015 - Added Atarax 50mg
2016 - Added Gabapentin/Neurontin 1200 mg

June 2016: Rapid Gabapentin wean, rapid sertraline taper 200 - 100 mg

Current meds: 100mg/day of sertraline, 50mg atarax. 0.25mg klonazepam as needed (usually every other day or two)

Link to comment

Thanks for your contribution Otter but I'm looking for an answer to my more immediate practical query.

 

With that said, I find you're middle paragraph very ambiguous and confusing - you say the brain will try to return to some sort of equilibrium via the process of neuroplasticity then you say there is no realistic expectation of "returning to something that never existed". Could you clarify?

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

No takers for this over on the Using an oral syringe thread so I'll give it a go here -

 

I'm flummoxed by something. Today as usual I took my usual 40.5 mg dose. I dissolved my 50 mg tablet in 50ml of water (dissolved it first in about 5-10mls of that water then added the rest). I withdrew my 40.5ml dose and so in theory there should be 9.5mls left in the jar but to my surprise there was barely 3mls left. I'm very precise with my method so I'm totally bewildered as to the discrepancy. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

Just brainstorming here a bit:  It is possible that on this occasion you did mismeasure.  We are human and not perfect, after all.  Or could it be that that this has been happening all along, but this is the first time you have noticed it?  If it happens again, my suggestion would be to remeasure your dose.

 

Provided that you keep all implements the same and do the same thing each time so you get the same dose, it should be okay.  You could also do a test measuring out just using water and see if what remains is the balance of the quantity you measured out.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment

No I measured out exactly 50 mls of water and withdrew exactly 40.5 mls of solution - my method is bang on each time. Some would probably say what's left in the jar is irrelevant. I've tested what's left in the jar on a number of occasions - it's usually 7- 8 mls worth, still not the 9.5mls worth but a good bit better than 3mls! The disparity really irked me this morning as I'm a bit of a perfectionist!

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment

Thanks for your contribution Otter but I'm looking for an answer to my more immediate practical query.

 

With that said, I find you're middle paragraph very ambiguous and confusing - you say the brain will try to return to some sort of equilibrium via the process of neuroplasticity then you say there is no realistic expectation of "returning to something that never existed". Could you clarify?

Someone suffering from chemical imbalances due to their physiology cannot morph their brain into having the physiology of a non-depressed brain. Therefore, it's not really a realistic expectation for a depressed individual to take or taper off antidepressans and suddenly have a non-depressed brain. 

 

This is probably why talk therapy + medication is so much more effective than medication alone - you literally train your brain how to reframe perceptions  so that they are less difficult to process and don't lead to the same sense of learned helplessness that you see in someone with paralyzing depression.

1999 - Wellbutrin 150 mg ~ 4 months - cold turkey withdrawal (adverse reaction)
2001-2002 - Lexapro 10mg, lorazepam 1mg - cold turkey withdrawal induced a 2 week subacute seizure cluster
2002-2006 - Clonazepam 1mg, Prozac 40mg
2007 - Added Abilify (adverse reaction - hand tremors) 
2007-2008 slow wean off everything
2014 - Zoloft/Sertraline 50mg, increased to 200mg over the course of a year. 
2015 - Added Atarax 50mg
2016 - Added Gabapentin/Neurontin 1200 mg

June 2016: Rapid Gabapentin wean, rapid sertraline taper 200 - 100 mg

Current meds: 100mg/day of sertraline, 50mg atarax. 0.25mg klonazepam as needed (usually every other day or two)

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Lakelander, I wish I had an answer to your query about the missing 3 ml. I get brain/thinking "itches" about similar issues.

 

The most important thing for your taper is whether the difference between the amount you expect to be left and what is actually left is consistently a little more than 3 ml. Minimal variation or homoskedasticity is what you need. (I haven't used that word or concept for months; your thread and this question provided the opportunity. Thanks! :D )

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

 

Thanks for your contribution Otter but I'm looking for an answer to my more immediate practical query.

With that said, I find you're middle paragraph very ambiguous and confusing - you say the brain will try to return to some sort of equilibrium via the process of neuroplasticity then you say there is no realistic expectation of "returning to something that never existed". Could you clarify?

 

Someone suffering from chemical imbalances due to their physiology cannot morph their brain into having the physiology of a non-depressed brain. Therefore, it's not really a realistic expectation for a depressed individual to take or taper off antidepressans and suddenly have a non-depressed brain. 

This is probably why talk therapy + medication is so much more effective than medication alone - you literally train your brain how to reframe perceptions  so that they are less difficult to process and don't lead to the same sense of learned helplessness that you see in someone with paralyzing depression.

 

That's your opinion Otter and very much at odds with the opinions expressed by the moderators of this site. For a starters the chemical imbalance theory of Depression has never been proved conclusively. The thesis of this website is that tapering slowly allows the brain to undergo a process of remodelling/ healing and thus return to a normal state of functioning.

 

Is it possible you're just being overly pessimistic about the whole thing?

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

No I measured out exactly 50 mls of water and withdrew exactly 40.5 mls of solution - my method is bang on each time. Some would probably say what's left in the jar is irrelevant. I've tested what's left in the jar on a number of occasions - it's usually 7- 8 mls worth, still not the 9.5mls worth but a good bit better than 3mls! The disparity really irked me this morning as I'm a bit of a perfectionist!

 

 

It would bug me no end too.  I'm a perfectionist as well so I understand completely.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment

Anybody here have a problem with hypersomnia? I sleep and sleep and sleep. This morning I lay to 11.45 am from 1am last night. I would wake up maybe 5 times in that period, for literally a minute each time then back to sleep. Even when I wake totally I don't feel refreshed. I was never a morning person, even at School and University - in University I would skip most early morning lectures and just get a mate to pick up the handouts for me! How I got through a Masters Degree I will never know!

May 2007 - October 2007 Citalopram 20 mg od. 1st Antidepressant ever taken. No problem with fast taper and no withdrawal effects. No antidepressants for over 5 years.

 

January 2013 started Citalopram 20mg.

March 2014 Switched to Sertraline 50 mg od.

23rd June 2016 started taper 45mg

23.07.16 40.5mg 23.08.16 36.45mg 27.09.16 34.65mg 24.10.16 32.90mg 28.11.16 31.26mg 04.01.17 32mg 25.02.17 31mg 22.03.17 30mg 14.04.17 29mg 09.05.17 28mg 07.06.17 27mg 08.06.17 26mg 13.07.17 25mg 07.08.17 24mg 24.08.17 23mg 13.09.17 22mg 12.10.17 21mg 10.11.17 20mg 04.12.17 19mg 01.01.18 17mg 25.01.18 15mg 22.02.18 13.5mg 25.03.18 12.15mg 

Link to comment

Lakelander. I don't think there are too many here with your problem .  A lot of us here are insomniacs. Everyone reacts differently to the drugs but I also think we each have our individual  bio -sleep patterns. It sounds like yours was perhaps pre- drugs . Have you had a sleep study done? Perhaps you have sleep apnea . Just a thought.  :)  Perhaps worth checking out , if you haven't already .

Ali

Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014

 

                                                  Psych Drug - free since May 2014
.
         

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