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Immediate adverse reactions to an antidepressant or within a few doses? How long for recovery?


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This thread scares me,as I had an adverse reaction to prozac.

The talk of years to recover ,drives my anxiety through the roof.

I've seen improvements in my symptoms and sleep, but then I read because I'm only 2 months out ,my symptoms will worsen at 6 months.

It's driving me crazy.

There is a no way of knowing this. Read some of the good stories. There are many folks that have our symptoms for a couple of months and then they lessen. I have reached out to several folks that no longer update their threads and its because most are doing better. Think that way but I know its hard to. I am guilty of being scared too. We all are. But just remember that once folks get better they move on with their lives and are no longer on this site.            

Lexapro: started in 2002 at 10 mgs.

Ambien: started as a as needed sleep aid in 2010.

Quit Lexapro cold turkey in June 20015 due to contributing to low sodium issues.

Restarted Lexapro in late November for a week (only 5 mgs) but quit due to dizziness side effects. Side effects worsened for 3 weeks until

12/24/15: Protracted WD hit, experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia lack of full concentration and social challenges.

Reinstated Lexapro on 1/1/16 at 5 mgs. Increased per Dr to 7.5 MG. Tapered off Lexapro in March 2016.

Started 50MG of Seroquel in late January 2016 for bedtime to help in eliminate Ambien. Tapered off both Seroquel and Ambien in March 2016.

2/14/16: Prescribed both Remeron (15 MG) and Temazapam (15 MG) for sleep. Also use Klonopin and Ambien again in place of Temazapam to avoid addiction. However I did take Temazapam 60 straight days

6/15/16: Stopped use of all benzo's and now use Belsomra 1-2 times a week. Still on 15 MG of Remeron

10/11/16: Off all psych medications

 

After kindling, trying to regain my strength suffering from severe mental and physical fatigue.

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This thread scares me,as I had an adverse reaction to prozac.

The talk of years to recover ,drives my anxiety through the roof.

I've seen improvements in my symptoms and sleep, but then I read because I'm only 2 months out ,my symptoms will worsen at 6 months.

It's driving me crazy.

BTW, that is great symptoms are improving. Which ones besides sleep? 

Lexapro: started in 2002 at 10 mgs.

Ambien: started as a as needed sleep aid in 2010.

Quit Lexapro cold turkey in June 20015 due to contributing to low sodium issues.

Restarted Lexapro in late November for a week (only 5 mgs) but quit due to dizziness side effects. Side effects worsened for 3 weeks until

12/24/15: Protracted WD hit, experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia lack of full concentration and social challenges.

Reinstated Lexapro on 1/1/16 at 5 mgs. Increased per Dr to 7.5 MG. Tapered off Lexapro in March 2016.

Started 50MG of Seroquel in late January 2016 for bedtime to help in eliminate Ambien. Tapered off both Seroquel and Ambien in March 2016.

2/14/16: Prescribed both Remeron (15 MG) and Temazapam (15 MG) for sleep. Also use Klonopin and Ambien again in place of Temazapam to avoid addiction. However I did take Temazapam 60 straight days

6/15/16: Stopped use of all benzo's and now use Belsomra 1-2 times a week. Still on 15 MG of Remeron

10/11/16: Off all psych medications

 

After kindling, trying to regain my strength suffering from severe mental and physical fatigue.

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Thanks Christian and farout .

It's those dammed intrusive thoughts, they go round in circles in my head.

I know what you say is true, but I sometimes struggle to stay calm.

I guess like most people who are on this site, I'm looking for reassurance that I can heal.

Opiates 18 months 2010 to 2012

Prozac 12 months 2012 to 2013

Prozac 7 doses of prozac late November 2015.

Adverse reaction on the 7th dose.

Stopped cold turkey on the last week in November 2015.

Immediately suffering from acute w/d.

Severe insomnia, anxiety, burning head.

Doctor prescribed propranolol for anxiety, adrenaline rushes.

 

Propranolol 10mg 4× a day.

Nearly 3 months after reaction, new symptoms include,

Awful insomnia,burning head.waves of depression and suicide ideation.

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wow...not sure why I never put this **** together...

 

the first SSRI I ever took was Prozac...and it shot me through the roof with insane PANIC...in fact much like the **** we deal with in withdrawal...stayed on it no more than 48 hours...

 

anyway...later trials of SSRIs were accompanied with massive doses of benzos...

ME TOO!

First bad reaction was severe and long lasting.  I have never taken any psych drug when I was not in a withdrawal situation it went from one to the other always chasing the dragon trying to get well every drug I took I was told to stay on it other than the first one which was given no thought at all as I was told the prozac I was given was a new type of ant inflammatory for pain... it was given no credence by me because I told other docs I seen exactly that I could not recall the name just told them I had an been on an anti inflammatory drug... which of course cannot make one have psych symptoms.  After the initial fallout from prozac that lasted for me at least 2 years when I was put on another Ad ... I could sleep but still had reactions to every single Ad I ever took.  I was constantly told the reactions would lessen when my body adjusted to the medication which would take 8 wks... at the end of the 8 wks if I was not on another drug by then to treat the side effects I was too far gone in my thinking to complain actually confusion was a big part of the adverse reactions always along with a host of other symptoms. 

 

All those years gone... reminds me of a song.

 

And now the best years have come and gone

You took me by surprise

I didn't realize that you were laughing

 

You took away everything I had

You put the hurt on me

by the 

guess who 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Thanks Christian and farout .

It's those dammed intrusive thoughts, they go round in circles in my head.

I know what you say is true, but I sometimes struggle to stay calm.

I guess like most people who are on this site, I'm looking for reassurance that I can heal.

Everybody can get better than they are... in time.  Intrusive thoughts is one well serviced by a book called the power of now ... it helped me get a handle on thoughts... before that I would say to myself oh effexor thought and ignore it.. in time it gets old and boring ... funny the things we can get use to and deal with if we have to. 

power of now is worth a look... 

I wish you peace

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Thanks farout and Christian ,btdt.

I guess I've just got to ride it out.I also need to be careful what I read,I tend to think the worst,when I compare people's stories to mine.

Bad idea, I know.

Unfortunately ,reading books is a little hard at the moment. Concentration is a bit off.

For some reason,ok here.

Opiates 18 months 2010 to 2012

Prozac 12 months 2012 to 2013

Prozac 7 doses of prozac late November 2015.

Adverse reaction on the 7th dose.

Stopped cold turkey on the last week in November 2015.

Immediately suffering from acute w/d.

Severe insomnia, anxiety, burning head.

Doctor prescribed propranolol for anxiety, adrenaline rushes.

 

Propranolol 10mg 4× a day.

Nearly 3 months after reaction, new symptoms include,

Awful insomnia,burning head.waves of depression and suicide ideation.

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Have you tried those colouring books? Painting? Anything to distract basically. I really think there is something in art therapy. Once I got myself through the extreme harm OCD stuff I did counted cross stitch every evening (which was my bad time - when my brain got too tired to hold itself straight). It might seem a bit girly but all that focussed counting and busy hands really helped.

 

I've woken up this morning totally back to fine. It's like popping out the other side of a tunnel. One other 'good' (ho ho) thing about my waves now is that I don't ruminate over them. I don't spend hours trying to figure out what bought them on and avoiding things for fear of a trigger. I just feel relieved that one is over and carry on with life.

March 2003 took two sartroline tablets after a traumatic incident and had a reaction so stopped.  I am not sure now whether what I had for the next 18 months was WD after the reaction or the emotional fallout from the traumatic event.  Some of it was very similar to WD in hindsight.  

 

February 2014 - Took five pristiq (50mg) tablets and three Ativan and had a severe reaction.
Extreme withdrawal symptoms for three weeks compounded by visit to naturopath -

One week later took 900mg St John's Wort x 3 daily for six weeks - more negative effects and suspected serotonin syndrome - before tapering over three weeks. Last tablet late May 2014.

Waves and windows cycle of recovery with longer windows and manageable waves.

May 2015 - already in a mild wave, following a usual pattern, I took clarithromicin and amoxicillin for two weeks for a sinus infection which I also seem to have had quite a reaction to.

 

February 2016 - Feeling much better.  I still have waves and windows but they are manageable.  I'm largely enjoying life again.

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Unfortunately, I'm not that farout.pardon the pun.

I'm suffering on average every other day.

So I know what's coming, and I dread it .

I tend to have a really bad day,followed by a decent nights sleep, then I have a good day, and that night is awful, so setting up the next bad day.

Every bad day is different. One day it's anxiety, then it's depression and today total fatigue. That's why the fear takes hold ,because I know what's coming.

I'm praying for more than one night's sleep.

Opiates 18 months 2010 to 2012

Prozac 12 months 2012 to 2013

Prozac 7 doses of prozac late November 2015.

Adverse reaction on the 7th dose.

Stopped cold turkey on the last week in November 2015.

Immediately suffering from acute w/d.

Severe insomnia, anxiety, burning head.

Doctor prescribed propranolol for anxiety, adrenaline rushes.

 

Propranolol 10mg 4× a day.

Nearly 3 months after reaction, new symptoms include,

Awful insomnia,burning head.waves of depression and suicide ideation.

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Hi farout, I've been wondering how much better are you than in the beginning.

Because uk your reaction, sounds a bit like mine.

Opiates 18 months 2010 to 2012

Prozac 12 months 2012 to 2013

Prozac 7 doses of prozac late November 2015.

Adverse reaction on the 7th dose.

Stopped cold turkey on the last week in November 2015.

Immediately suffering from acute w/d.

Severe insomnia, anxiety, burning head.

Doctor prescribed propranolol for anxiety, adrenaline rushes.

 

Propranolol 10mg 4× a day.

Nearly 3 months after reaction, new symptoms include,

Awful insomnia,burning head.waves of depression and suicide ideation.

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So, so, SO much better!

 

I'm still recovering but the windows are long (sometimes months) and I'm completely back to my old self in them. The waves are still coming but manageable - niggly anxiety, dizziness and a bit of depersonalisation. It can be a day here or a week there, but not all through the days, just the odd blip.

 

I'm not tortured by obsessive thoughts anymore and I'm sleeping well.

 

Back in the early days it was so extreme. Every day was living hell. I honestly take my hat off to anyone going through it.

 

It's not perfect now but it's manageable. I can trace the healing and will get even better over time. I have every faith in a full recovery.

March 2003 took two sartroline tablets after a traumatic incident and had a reaction so stopped.  I am not sure now whether what I had for the next 18 months was WD after the reaction or the emotional fallout from the traumatic event.  Some of it was very similar to WD in hindsight.  

 

February 2014 - Took five pristiq (50mg) tablets and three Ativan and had a severe reaction.
Extreme withdrawal symptoms for three weeks compounded by visit to naturopath -

One week later took 900mg St John's Wort x 3 daily for six weeks - more negative effects and suspected serotonin syndrome - before tapering over three weeks. Last tablet late May 2014.

Waves and windows cycle of recovery with longer windows and manageable waves.

May 2015 - already in a mild wave, following a usual pattern, I took clarithromicin and amoxicillin for two weeks for a sinus infection which I also seem to have had quite a reaction to.

 

February 2016 - Feeling much better.  I still have waves and windows but they are manageable.  I'm largely enjoying life again.

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How are you doing now Cookie?

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).

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  • 1 month later...

Hi Farout, I've read your story and am curious to know if you took any supplements, used chiropractor care, or anything to help with your recovery. Your situation sounds a lot like mine and I'm about a month in. I had a bad reaction to Zoloft after taking it 11 days. I've been off of it for 4 weeks. I do have a very low dose of Xanax that I take when I have difficult waves and feel like I'm going to freak out and hurt myself or kids. I don't like taking it, but something has to calm me down. I'm a teacher and can't just stay home from work...my dr told me it would take 3-4 weeks for me to recover, and I haven't. I really hope this mess doesn't last 18 months...I can't even imagine. My husband is very supportive and I'm in counseling to help as well.

mFrustrated

 

Celexa- 2 days (February 2016)

Paxil- 5 days (February 2016)

Zoloft- 11 days (February 2016)

BuSpar-2 days (June 2016)

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  • 4 weeks later...

I had two severe reactions to bactrium and Zofran while on zoloft twelve months ago and am still recovering. The Zofran and zoloft should never have had been prescribed together as they are both seritonergic drugs. As Alto stated before about people having reactions, it is indeed exactly like symptoms of withdrawal and the same with recovery. There's days and weeks I feel completely back to myself and other times I struggle to get off couch.

[*]At 15 years was put on 50mg of Zoloft for generalized anxiety and panic disorder.

[*]2006 Tried to withdrawal from 50mg . Doctor told me I would have no trouble. I tampered over about a month (50mg-0) which left me with severe and debilitating withdrawal symptoms. Doctors put my dose up to 75mg mistaking my withdrawal symptoms as a relapse. Stayed on Zoloft 75mg since 2006.

March 2015- adverse reaction between Zoloft (75mg) an antibiotic and anti nausea drug resulting in debilitating symptoms/recovery identical to withdrawal. Have not altered or changed dose since 2006.

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I had a bad reaction to Sertraline 25MG - maybe not a severe reaction, but certainly a severe withdrawal.  I took it for 3 days December 17-19 2015.  While taking it, I had insomnia and each night hit with the most extreme panic attacks I've had.  I stopped taking it after that.  A few days after I was hit with awful anxiety (nerve, limbs were on fire), couldn't sleep, thought my heart would explode at any minute, and panic.  I was an absolute mess - I could barely get out of bed.  I should have been in the hospital.  This lasted a few weeks.  I slowly leveled out to where I could sleep, function day to day - not well, but could at least get tasks done.  However, I had this overwhelming chemical block in my brain of depression I suppose - everywhere I looked - seeing ppl doing fun stuff, or just living "free" I was zapped with the block that I could never do that and my life was doomed with struggle.  A few weeks ago a window opened up where I felt pretty good and those negative feelings passed.  However last week, I was hit with a crippling depression - no hope, rumination of some bad decisions of made in the past - that are severely haunting me, can't sleep, feel wired, but so tired.  I initially decided to take the Zoloft for a mild case of panic disorder that flared up with a move out of state away from my family and friends.  Other than that I was very optimistic, social, positive person.  I've never felt worse than I do now.  My doctor and family don't believe the medication could be causing this -  I don't know what to do.  I had a 9 month run on Lexapro 2 yrs ago that I had little problems with (I should have taken that in the first place rather than the Zoloft - big mistake).  Would introducing that now have any adverse effects?  

Lexapro 10MG - 9 months ending April 2014

Sertraline - 25 MG - December 17-19 2015 - Adverse Reaction - Still tremendously feeling the effects

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Hey Greg,

 

Sorry to hear you have had such trouble. Probably best if you start a thread about yourself in the introductions so people can give you more advice. Sounds to me that you have had a adverse reaction.

[*]At 15 years was put on 50mg of Zoloft for generalized anxiety and panic disorder.

[*]2006 Tried to withdrawal from 50mg . Doctor told me I would have no trouble. I tampered over about a month (50mg-0) which left me with severe and debilitating withdrawal symptoms. Doctors put my dose up to 75mg mistaking my withdrawal symptoms as a relapse. Stayed on Zoloft 75mg since 2006.

March 2015- adverse reaction between Zoloft (75mg) an antibiotic and anti nausea drug resulting in debilitating symptoms/recovery identical to withdrawal. Have not altered or changed dose since 2006.

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NNJ - Thanks for the reply and suggestion.  I posted over there a little earlier today.  I'm hoping I can get some feedback and positive words.   

Lexapro 10MG - 9 months ending April 2014

Sertraline - 25 MG - December 17-19 2015 - Adverse Reaction - Still tremendously feeling the effects

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  • 3 months later...

I had an adverse reaction to one 10mg dose of citalopram starting on Dec.17 2009.My full story is posted in this site. I had never previously taken any of these types of drugs before this reaction happened. Just thought it would help through some of the premenopausal issues I was having. Nothing to severe. Thought these drugs were safe to try. But turned out they were not. Still in recover after a setback caused by trying some supplements and a chiro treatment. Not smart on my part. Found this post just searching one day on web so I thpught I would comment. Any questions you might have would be happy to answer.

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I could not find your story. Do you have an intro thread ?

Lexapro: started in 2002 at 10 mgs.

Ambien: started as a as needed sleep aid in 2010.

Quit Lexapro cold turkey in June 20015 due to contributing to low sodium issues.

Restarted Lexapro in late November for a week (only 5 mgs) but quit due to dizziness side effects. Side effects worsened for 3 weeks until

12/24/15: Protracted WD hit, experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia lack of full concentration and social challenges.

Reinstated Lexapro on 1/1/16 at 5 mgs. Increased per Dr to 7.5 MG. Tapered off Lexapro in March 2016.

Started 50MG of Seroquel in late January 2016 for bedtime to help in eliminate Ambien. Tapered off both Seroquel and Ambien in March 2016.

2/14/16: Prescribed both Remeron (15 MG) and Temazapam (15 MG) for sleep. Also use Klonopin and Ambien again in place of Temazapam to avoid addiction. However I did take Temazapam 60 straight days

6/15/16: Stopped use of all benzo's and now use Belsomra 1-2 times a week. Still on 15 MG of Remeron

10/11/16: Off all psych medications

 

After kindling, trying to regain my strength suffering from severe mental and physical fatigue.

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kronymom, do you think you had mental akathisia? I, too, had severe reactions to SSRIs.  When it started to get better how did you know you were getting better?

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).

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I've been in recovery for a long while now due to that setback that I mention. Two and a half years from that point to now. I just notice over time that all the issues slowly resolve as time goes on. It does take weeks, months and years. I have had most of the symptoms you list. I had never touched any of these types of drugs before ever. But when these became available to pre-menopausal women that opened up the door for more women to get hurt. And one was me. I still can't believe trying one pill did all this stuff to me. And screwed up my brain and CNS probably for good.

 

As far as mental akathisia I think I had some but that would have been way back in 2010 when the worst of that hit me. I'm still learning what some of this stuff is called as I didn't know at the time. I think I did have some when I put myself into that setback but it wasn't as bad as the first go round. Still bad enough though.

 

I had some weird issues with my tendons in my wrist swelling and being very sensitive to movement would pop easy. That was in recovering from the relapse. So many weird things it's hard to remember them all.

 

I still have nerve pains at times in my toes and muscle pains in upper thighs and arms. They can still hurt pretty well to.

 

I just have to be very careful with everything I eat and don't take any OTC drugs or supplements of any kind can't do it.

 

I didn't fully realize how serious this whole thing was until I had put my self backwards with trying some things that my nerves couldn't handle and then I vowed to never take anything again unless I have absolutely no choice, because I know what will happen when I do. Right back into hard withdrawal again. Been through it twice now don't want it again ever.

 

Hope I answered your question okay. Always happy to help. Take care.

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  • 5 weeks later...

People who have immediate adverse reactions to serotonergics often have severe symptoms for quite a while -- symptoms very much like withdrawal syndrome -- and take a long time to recover.

 

If they've been kept on the drugs for a long time, often with the aid of a benzo, their nervous systems are quite distressed.

 

Alto, do you know anyone who has healed after immediate adverse reaction? 

Citalopram 40mg from 2003-2015

Jan 2015 started tapering first dropped to 35mgFeb 30mg, March 25mgApril 20mg, May 17,5mg, June 15mgJuly 12,5mg, Aug 12,5mg,

Sep 0mg for 5 days because of stomac flu and after I raised to 7,5mg. All the symptoms of acute WD shaking, diarrhea, vomiting, barely could walk ect. Still didn't realize that it wasn't only stomac flu but I was also going through WD.

Oct 2,5mg and crashed again badly and quickly raised to 4mg. It was then when I knew my symptoms were due to WD.

Then in November after a month holding on 4mg raised to 5mg due to muscle weakness and had a VERY BAD reaction to reinstatement: akathisia(lasted for one or two weeks), insomnia, anhedonia... Drop quicly back to 4mg, Dec 3mg

Jan 2016 2,6mg( in the middle of Jan after I had been on 2,6mg for a week I tried to updose to 2,8mg and immediately had bad reaction to it: akathisia for a day, andehonia got worse. The next day dropped back to 2,6mg), Feb 2,4mg( a new symptom PGAD lasted 24/7 for 2 months after that on and off), March 2,4mg, April 2,3mg, May 2,2mg, June 2,1mg, July 2,0mg( Pgad almost nonexisting, sleeping pretty good, still some anhedonia but there has been a lot of gradual progress), Aug 1,97mg-1,89mg, Sep 1,88mg-1,49mg, Oct 1,48mg- 1,70mg,

Nov 0,65mg- current dose 0,5mg

 

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My head burned immediately after taking Escitalopram, probably within 30-50 minutes. Healing will take a good while.

Labetalol since 2007, 100 mg twice a day

Amlodipine since 2015, 5mg once a day

 

Escitalopram from July 11th thru 16th of 2016

10mg, once a day. Stopped cold turkey, adverse reaction

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I had an adverse reaction to one 10mg dose of citalopram starting on Dec.17 2009.My full story is posted in this site. I had never previously taken any of these types of drugs before this reaction happened. Just thought it would help through some of the premenopausal issues I was having. Nothing to severe. Thought these drugs were safe to try. But turned out they were not. Still in recover after a setback caused by trying some supplements and a chiro treatment. Not smart on my part. Found this post just searching one day on web so I thpught I would comment. Any questions you might have would be happy to answer.

I am curious as to the setback from chiro.... I thought the same thing that something was released that my bones were holding onto... something toxic that really messed me up.   curious...

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • 1 month later...

I am 44 years old. I have never really had any anxiety or depression issues. But earlier this year, I had my first panic attack completely out of the blue. I ended up in the ER because i was sure I was having a heart attack. Of course everything checked out fine, and I was my normal self afterwards. A few months later, I had another. I went to every doctor imaginable to rule out any physical problems, but I'm healthy as can be. So we realized they were in fact panic attacks. Looking back, I had had episodes where I probably worried more than I should about silly things, but nothing that really affected my day-to-day life. My doctor prescribed 20mg of Prozac to treat the generalized anxiety and hopefully prevent more panic attacks.

 

Two days after taking it, I just felt kind of sick. Just achy and sort of blah. I just figured I was coming down with something. Four days after taking it, I had a full-blown, horrible panic attack. My doc warned me that might happen, so also prescribed me some Xanax. I took one and it helped until the panic attack stopped. By day 5, I felt horrible. I was violently vomiting, shaking, felt very feverish (but had no fever), very agitated, everything hurt. I never felt that sick in my entire life. I eventually put 2 and 2 together and realized it was the Prozac. I contacted my doc who told me to stop taking it (I had taken a total of 6). I was hoping to feel better right away, but that didn't happen because it stays in your system for so long.

 

I ended up in Urgent Car twice and the Emergency Room twice. I have never been that sick in my entire life. They all agreed it was a bad reaction to the Prozac and I would just need to let it run it's course. I was taking Xanax to help counteract the symptoms, but that only did so much. My doc eventually switched me to Klonopin as it works the same way as Xanax but lasts longer. After about two weeks of this hell, I started feeling better. It was 3 weeks before I felt normal again. I missed 3 weeks of work. I literally spent 2 weeks in bed shaking, dry heaving, and crying. I lost 14 pounds. All of this from taking 6 pills. For the record, I was not taking any other medications, so there were no drug interactions involved. 

 

I am now in therapy partly to address the underlying anxiety, but also because I am literally traumatized by this whole experience. I have also started receiving acupuncture treatments, which also help. I discovered that my thyroid is a little off, which may explain some of the anxiety and am addressing that as well. 

 

I just wanted to share my experience because these drugs are so heavily prescribed that I think a lot of people (like me) think nothing of taking them. But the side effects can be very, very severe. When you have 4 doctors (2 Urgent Care and 2 Emergency Room) and a number of nurses tell you that they see this all the time, that says to me that these side effects are not uncommon. 

 

I know these drugs help a lot of people. But I would encourage folks to try other alternatives before jumping into medications. Diet, exercise, meditation, supplements, therapy, etc. can all help immensely. I would definitely say try those things first. 

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Hi Catwoman, I had terrible side effects that are still ongoing and have cptsd because of it now. My life is pretty much in ruins. We never think these drugs can be so damaging, my gp certainly never highlighted the issue of what could happen and I had never even heard of mindfullness or knew excerise could help with anxiety. Doctors certainly need to advise this before anything else. And AD'S should be only be handed out as a last resort.

Started Fluoxetine 40mg In 2010

Switched to citalopram 2011.Fluoxetine made me very drowsy.

Came off citalopram 2014 over 2 weeks tapering as advised by GP. Mild WD symptoms, brain zaps.

Almost 2 years med free, happy and less anxiety.

June 2016 start 20mg citalopram for anxiety, experince akathisa, intrusive harming thoughts, hallucinations, hypermania, negative ruminations, insomnia, no appetite, dioreah, racing thoughts/mind chatter.

Droped to 10mg for 1 week after 10 days on 20mg, then 1 week at 15mg by alternating doses then 1 week at 20mg before dropping to 10mg again for 1 week then 5 days at 5mg. Quick taper due to reaction.

Started .5mg lorozepam/ 2.5mg diazepam every other day from week 2 on cit sometimes daily for about 2 weeks stopped CT as was put on 25mg quetiapine.

Stopped cit 01/8/16. Stopped quetiapine 3/8/16

Taking fish oil

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This thread is the scariest thing I've read on this whole site. I had an adverse reaction to Escitalopram (extreme insomnia, panic attacks, blurry vision, akathisia, extreme anxiety). The doctor added Valdoxan and Oxazepam and a month later I was switched to Effexor which I stayed on for 9 months. Effexor caused derealisation and hypomania.

 

The thought that the recovery might take 20 years takes away the last glimmer of hope I had.

History:

Escitalopram 10mg Nov - Jan 2016 (switched to Effexor XR)

Effexor XR 37,5mg Jan - Feb 2016; 75mg Feb - April 2016; 37,5mg for one week in April, 75mg April-July 2016 (started tapering, took my last beads on Sept 11.)

The fluctuations happened because my GP mistakingly prescribed me the wrong dosage.

Oxazepam 2x10mg Dec 2015 - Jan 2016 (basically CT but no apparent symptoms); June 2016 - Feb 2017 (c/o to Valium)

 

Current:

Valdoxan 25mg Dec 2015 - Sept 2016. 12.4mg (Sept - Nov '16) -> 11.86mg (Nov '16) -> 10.75mg (Dec '16) -> 9.75mg (Jan '17) -> 8mg (March '17) -> 7mg (April '17) -> 4.5mg (May '17) -> 4mg (Jan '18) -> updosed to 4.5mg in the end of January

Valium (liquid form) 8.5mg Feb 2017. 7.6mg (June '17) -> 7.2mg (June '17) -> 6.8mg (July '17) -> 6.4 (Sept '17) -> 6.2 (March '18) -> 6 (April 7 '18) -> 5.8 (April 17 '18) -> 5.6 (April 26 '18) -> 5.4 (July 16 '18) -> 5.2 (March '20) -> 5 (March '20)

What to take away from all this: if you feel extremely sick only after a few doses of an AD, please tell your doctor and just stop. Adding medications is no bueno.

 

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Fuerza, so sorry to hear what you have gone through. Sounds very familiar to me :(. I don't think everybody will take 20 years to recover. I'm on a different site with many people with these immediate, catastrophic reactions. Most are at least significantly improved at the 4 year mark. 

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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2 weeks of this was unbearable, 4 years seems like an eternity. :(

History:

Escitalopram 10mg Nov - Jan 2016 (switched to Effexor XR)

Effexor XR 37,5mg Jan - Feb 2016; 75mg Feb - April 2016; 37,5mg for one week in April, 75mg April-July 2016 (started tapering, took my last beads on Sept 11.)

The fluctuations happened because my GP mistakingly prescribed me the wrong dosage.

Oxazepam 2x10mg Dec 2015 - Jan 2016 (basically CT but no apparent symptoms); June 2016 - Feb 2017 (c/o to Valium)

 

Current:

Valdoxan 25mg Dec 2015 - Sept 2016. 12.4mg (Sept - Nov '16) -> 11.86mg (Nov '16) -> 10.75mg (Dec '16) -> 9.75mg (Jan '17) -> 8mg (March '17) -> 7mg (April '17) -> 4.5mg (May '17) -> 4mg (Jan '18) -> updosed to 4.5mg in the end of January

Valium (liquid form) 8.5mg Feb 2017. 7.6mg (June '17) -> 7.2mg (June '17) -> 6.8mg (July '17) -> 6.4 (Sept '17) -> 6.2 (March '18) -> 6 (April 7 '18) -> 5.8 (April 17 '18) -> 5.6 (April 26 '18) -> 5.4 (July 16 '18) -> 5.2 (March '20) -> 5 (March '20)

What to take away from all this: if you feel extremely sick only after a few doses of an AD, please tell your doctor and just stop. Adding medications is no bueno.

 

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Hang in there. Maybe you're one of the lucky ones who get better fast. When I first had my adverse reaction I kept hanging on thinking "Maybe I'll be better in a couple of months". This is the way to get by. Try not to think about how many years it may or may not take. There's no way to know for sure. For me it has been 18 months I'm somewhat better, although I still have lots of symptoms. 

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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Thanks for the support. The brain zaps stopped 2 weeks after the withdrawal. My physical symptoms right now are tinnitus, insomnia, shortness of breath and loss of appetite. The physical symptoms (except for insomnia) don't even bother me anymore. I just wish the mental symptoms would ease up a bit.

History:

Escitalopram 10mg Nov - Jan 2016 (switched to Effexor XR)

Effexor XR 37,5mg Jan - Feb 2016; 75mg Feb - April 2016; 37,5mg for one week in April, 75mg April-July 2016 (started tapering, took my last beads on Sept 11.)

The fluctuations happened because my GP mistakingly prescribed me the wrong dosage.

Oxazepam 2x10mg Dec 2015 - Jan 2016 (basically CT but no apparent symptoms); June 2016 - Feb 2017 (c/o to Valium)

 

Current:

Valdoxan 25mg Dec 2015 - Sept 2016. 12.4mg (Sept - Nov '16) -> 11.86mg (Nov '16) -> 10.75mg (Dec '16) -> 9.75mg (Jan '17) -> 8mg (March '17) -> 7mg (April '17) -> 4.5mg (May '17) -> 4mg (Jan '18) -> updosed to 4.5mg in the end of January

Valium (liquid form) 8.5mg Feb 2017. 7.6mg (June '17) -> 7.2mg (June '17) -> 6.8mg (July '17) -> 6.4 (Sept '17) -> 6.2 (March '18) -> 6 (April 7 '18) -> 5.8 (April 17 '18) -> 5.6 (April 26 '18) -> 5.4 (July 16 '18) -> 5.2 (March '20) -> 5 (March '20)

What to take away from all this: if you feel extremely sick only after a few doses of an AD, please tell your doctor and just stop. Adding medications is no bueno.

 

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Wow, I think you'll be ok.  I still have brain zaps. For me the mental symptoms lasted for about a year and then they became a bit better. I wonder about your Oxazepam though. I know benzos can cause all kinds of mental symptoms, so if that happens it will be hard to differentiate the symptoms of the adverse reaction from benzo side effects. 

Feb 2015 Took venlafaxine for 5 days only... experienced withdrawal that made me completely non-functional

Mar 2015 took under 1mg of Sertraline for 10 days in an attempt to combat Venlafaxine withdrawal. Got adverse reactions. 

After stopping Sertraline, withdrawal got much worse. New, horrific symptoms. 

June 2015 Still non-functional but slowly getting better. Still brain zaps, migraines, sweating, heart racing, depression, crying spells

September 2015: 24/7 brain zaps, twitches in the face, no concentration, bad memory, language skills deteriorating. 

 

Profile feed: http://goo.gl/3g2GRn

 

Sign this petition for a blackbox warning on Prozac in Ireland:

https://www.change.org/p/leo-varadakar-hpra-the-lack-of-a-blackbox-warning-on-prozac-in-ireland-and-its-use-by-the-hse-in-under-18-s?recruiter=63289046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-no_msg

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I've been wondering about that too, but I'm afraid I'm not able to function without it in my current situation. Even a slow taper is out of the question at the moment, because I just finished a very fast Effexor XR taper and foolishly cut my Valdoxan dosage in half. I'm planning to hold everything until I feel stabilised.

 

I'm so sorry that you're feeling this way. I found that fish oil gave me a relief from the brain zaps. I don't take it daily anymore, but I've replaced all the meat in my diet with fatty red fish or fish roe. I actually remember that I had crazy cravings for fish roe when I went on the antidepressants and it seemed to help with the symptoms a bit.

History:

Escitalopram 10mg Nov - Jan 2016 (switched to Effexor XR)

Effexor XR 37,5mg Jan - Feb 2016; 75mg Feb - April 2016; 37,5mg for one week in April, 75mg April-July 2016 (started tapering, took my last beads on Sept 11.)

The fluctuations happened because my GP mistakingly prescribed me the wrong dosage.

Oxazepam 2x10mg Dec 2015 - Jan 2016 (basically CT but no apparent symptoms); June 2016 - Feb 2017 (c/o to Valium)

 

Current:

Valdoxan 25mg Dec 2015 - Sept 2016. 12.4mg (Sept - Nov '16) -> 11.86mg (Nov '16) -> 10.75mg (Dec '16) -> 9.75mg (Jan '17) -> 8mg (March '17) -> 7mg (April '17) -> 4.5mg (May '17) -> 4mg (Jan '18) -> updosed to 4.5mg in the end of January

Valium (liquid form) 8.5mg Feb 2017. 7.6mg (June '17) -> 7.2mg (June '17) -> 6.8mg (July '17) -> 6.4 (Sept '17) -> 6.2 (March '18) -> 6 (April 7 '18) -> 5.8 (April 17 '18) -> 5.6 (April 26 '18) -> 5.4 (July 16 '18) -> 5.2 (March '20) -> 5 (March '20)

What to take away from all this: if you feel extremely sick only after a few doses of an AD, please tell your doctor and just stop. Adding medications is no bueno.

 

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I'm totally new here so I'm still learning the ropes, I think I posted my own initial explanation by itself but I'm not sure where it is.. I have been working so much and so tired and in pain.. But anyway I had a horrid reaction to celexa last fall, and I thought I was crazy that I am still sick until I found this site. I really want to talk to anyone on here that understands, so that I might have some how and that I might share what progress I have made researching every minute I get free for almost exactly a year ago since my life was completely changed.. So if anyone wants to reach out, I'd love to finally not feel like I'm battling this alone, no doctor I've found gets it or has heard of such extreme long term issues.. But they are real and hopefully I just have to keep looking. I'm tired as in writing this as i am so much of the time, which I hate, so if I'm not doing the best job I apologize. But ya, I want to get involved and I do have some info that might be a big help to some also.. Ty!

Celexa adverse reaction one year ago, never really recovered. My life pretty much stopped. So many symptoms. Not sure how much to include here, but horror filled depression, terrible anxiety, physically wrecked. Try constantly to figure out what to eat, supplements etc. Kratom is the only thing that has kept me working, but with the recent dea nonsense I can't count on it forever

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Here is the link to your intro topic:  quirkdiggler-ssri-adverse-reaction-upon-few-days-dose

* 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

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  • 2 months later...

I found this link of others who have had adverse reactions after trying to reinstate. They recovered eventually. I have been reading it when I need hope during this nightmare. I hope others can find comfort in it as well.

 

http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/13607-adverse-reaction-to-prozac-still-recovering/

2011-2014: 25-50mg Zoloft then CT via doctors advice. Some mild physical sx but fully functioning, unaware that withdrawal was a thing. Dr didn’t know why I was chronically dizzy with brain fog & advised to try Zoloft again.

2016: severe adverse reactions to Zoloft (1 dose), Paxil (3 weeks), celexa (2 weeks), buspar (1 dose), lamictal (4 doses). Ativan 12 times within a month. Also tried Xanax & klonopin a couple times. Each reaction became more severe. Kindled. Became disabled from these meds.

Drug free 12-16-2016
Month 1-20: +5% healing every month
Month 21- present: setback to acute from amoxicillin antibiotic (1 dose)
Month 32- 11 months into setback from antibiotic. Seems I was floxed by amoxicillin somehow. Horrific.

 

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