joy2730 Posted February 28, 2016 Author Share Posted February 28, 2016 Doing much better today, irritability has reduced and I feel fine, so I am still on target to stay on 17 mg Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Same as yesterday really doing well but haven't exercised yet today and I do think that helps Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 Today all is really good feeling good and slept well.no irritability so on target now to stay at 17 mg Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 2, 2016 Author Share Posted March 2, 2016 today very relaxed and calm, slept really well, feeling clear headed my irritability has vanished so I am considering my recent episode of irritability to be withdrawal and a WAVE and I am now in a WINDOW. At this juncture I would normally drop the dose again but this has been a mistake of mine in the past TRYING TOO HARD. I had a catch up appointment with my GP when on a/l last week, to be polite and discuss my NHS England complaint with her. She was so willing to listen. I described exactly how I was having to reduce the citalopram, crushing, mixing, oral syringe etc and very slow taper. She said she knew there were problems with these drugs for some people but by prescribing them they are just giving what they have available to offer. I told her in no uncertain terms how being on all psychiatric drugs I had ever taken had blunted my thought processes and caused so many side effects. As my diagnosis was once bipolar we also discussed that if the diagnosis was inaccurate it was unfortunate but that all psychiatric diagnoses were unsound in many respects, and that if it was accurate then sadly I may get ill again in the future At long last this woman was taking me seriously and treating me with respect, for doing that I now respect her more. I have to admit that in my life I have had multiple episodes of severe mental ill health, and how much is drug side effects and how much illness would be difficult to tease out. I strongly suspect both. IF I CAN DO THIS WITHDRAWAL SO CAN ALL OF YOU BUT WE MUST NOT BE AFRAID OF SAYING THAT THE DRUGS MAY HELP IF USED APPROPRIATELY AT TIMES? Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
AliG Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 IF I CAN DO THIS WITHDRAWAL SO CAN ALL OF YOU BUT WE MUST NOT BE AFRAID OF SAYING THAT THE DRUGS MAY HELP IF USED APPROPRIATELY AT TIMES? Not sure if I understand , or agree. What do you mean , exactly ? I strongly suspect your diagnosis was inaccurate from the beginning. Most of your symptoms were possibly drug side -effects . It's hard to say . Everyone is different . I'm sure you will stay well , as long as you stay off the drugs. There are very few circumstances where drugs will improve things overall and in the long run . Good luck with your continued tapering. You seem to be doing very well. 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
joy2730 Posted March 3, 2016 Author Share Posted March 3, 2016 Very good day today just a bit of a hot flush Just replied to a private message hope I did it correctly as I am not too sure if I have to someone in london Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 4, 2016 Author Share Posted March 4, 2016 Very good today good sleep last night clear thinking day feeling content and calm I am not having any brain zaps this time instead every now and then I have the equivalent zaps in my left foot Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 5, 2016 Author Share Posted March 5, 2016 Really good day today cognition vastly improved I have just done some study work and found it much easier than when I was on the higher dose A small drop in dosage but a big difference Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted March 6, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 6, 2016 That is so wonderful, to be able to see the improvement like that! I am hoping someday that the cognitive stuff will get better. Sometimes I fantasize about going back to school (at 50 - WHAT?) but with the way my brain is now, there's no point in wasting the money since nothing seems to stick! I'm happy for you! I hope it just keeps getting better, and thanks for sharing the good stuff! 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
joy2730 Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 I went back to school at 54 to study Health and Social Care and am now 57, do not write yourself off SquireelGirl, I am planning another 10 years of work and I think this studying has helped me come off citalopram and other drugs as I been able to monitor cognitive improvement. Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 Another good day today but last night I was awake at 2am following 4 hrs sleep and then light sleep and vivid dreams and nightmare Feeling fine though and not tired today so sticking with 17 mg citalopram Occasional jabs of nerves on my left foot Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted March 7, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 7, 2016 I went back to school at 54 to study Health and Social Care and am now 57, do not write yourself off SquireelGirl, I am planning another 10 years of work and I think this studying has helped me come off citalopram and other drugs as I been able to monitor cognitive improvement. That is very encouraging, Joy! I hope I can figure it out. I would like to find some way to help people in our shoes and learn more about the withdrawal/recovery process. Thank you! 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
joy2730 Posted March 7, 2016 Author Share Posted March 7, 2016 A little nausea and hotness and tingling under right foot but feeling fine To squirrelgirl all the time I studied I worked full time too despite withdrawl from various drugs which I think has been a great distraction so press ahead for the future Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 8, 2016 Author Share Posted March 8, 2016 Another good day after a good night's sleep went swimming tonight o fond even a small as amount of exercise helps On target still Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 Slept really deeply following my swim last night When I took myself off diazepam years ago exercise really helped then Feeling good mood brilliant Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Doing well today slept brill last night one fly in the ointment I am sure I am suffering paradoxical weight gain but I suppose it will resolve Does anyone else recognise this but last time I got down to lower dosages the weight fell off Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 10, 2016 Administrator Share Posted March 10, 2016 Are you only taking citalopram now? How much? When was the last time you reduced it? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Hi Yes I am only taking citalopram now and it is approx. 2 weeks since I last reduced. Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 10, 2016 Administrator Share Posted March 10, 2016 How much are you taking? Please update your signature. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
nick1990 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Loving seeing your success coming off citalopram. Keep.it up ! Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down. November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx. 44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 I am now taking 17 mg and intend to hold for at least another two weeks Another good day today went for a run night and slept really well last night My brain is so much more alert Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Doing well still a few aches and pains but that could be anything Mood is good no sign of anxiety or depression Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 12, 2016 Administrator Share Posted March 12, 2016 Very good to hear. Please let us know how you're doing. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 Today I was fed up of feeling fat and concerned that the odd pound extra might creep on so reduce to 16mg I wanted to go to 15 but felt I was so sensitised to the med that I didn't dare. Anyway brill day at work and socialising I feel more present Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 I had a thought last night that as many people loose weight when starting an antidepressant then I t would make sense that there could be the opposite on withdrawal and have a weight gain Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 16 mg today and feeling great weight has stabilised thank goodness and appetite has reduced that was frightening slept well Had a hot sweaty flush last night Posting daily so we can get an accurate picture Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 15, 2016 Author Share Posted March 15, 2016 Good news ok on 16 mg citalopram only side effect of reducing is some hot sweaty spells I had a hot night but slept Best news of all my weight has stopped gaining and feels like it is going down a bit and I had a Sunday lunch out 2 days ago so maybe I have turned a corner on that one going swimming tonight if my rota allows Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
AliG Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Keep it up , Joy . You are doing really well . Are you intending to hold for a good while ? It might be wise , given how well you are feeling at the moment. 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
joy2730 Posted March 15, 2016 Author Share Posted March 15, 2016 Yes I intending to hold at 16 mg for at least a month until all new symptoms have had time to show up and resolve Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 Another good night Noticeably more hot on an evening and night and my skin feels a bit more crawly but I have had both before and they pass Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 Loving the extra concentration being on even a smaller dose and the extra physical energy as well as mental energy THIS IS SO WORTH DOING Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
nick1990 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Awesome joy! Keep us updated Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down. November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx. 44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. Link to comment
FunkyBaboon Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Hey joy, I'm glad you're doing well! I read the first two pages so I am up to speed on the start of your journey. I then jumped to page 7 and missed the rest so not sure what happened in the middle ☺ It would be great if you could update your signature to give a synopsis of what happened during 2015.. Keep up the good work! A convenient link to my introduction post 2003 Paroxetine (20mg I think) daily for 5 months due to extreme anxiety before final exams and stopped cold turkey. From 2003 onwards I have suffered with extreme anxiety, akathisia, severe muscle tension & digestive problems whenever off I'm off anti-depressants. 2007 Clonazepam (unsure of dose) - took approximately 100 tablets to try and self medicate for anxiety. 2007-09 Amitryptyline 10mg - was advised to take this "as and when needed" for anxiety. April/May 2011 Diazepam 2mg - 2 week course followed by complete inability to sleep upon finishing so started Citalopram 40mg and I was able to sleep again. Mid 2012 Diazepam 10mg - took approximately 100 tablets. Mid 2012 Started Citalopram taper - 5mg reductions every month or two, severe withdrawal symptoms throughout taper. Apr 2013 Completely off Citalopram and continued to have severe withdrawal. Oct 2013 Completely fell to pieces mentally and alongside had a whole host of debilitating physical symptoms too. I went to the doctors who performed whole batteries of tests but had no idea what was wrong with me. They tried me on Sertraline and Amitryptyline to which I had terrible reactions which made symptoms worse. Eventually got put on Nortryptyline 25mg, which I tolerated and over 3 months withdrawal symptoms started to abate. Mid 2014 discovered survivingantidepressants.org and hallelujah! I knew what was wrong with me - slow taper FTW! Late 2014 & 2015 Reduced Nortryptyline 22.5mg & 20mg respectively in November & December of 2014. In 2015 Tapered Nortryptyline from 20mg to 10 mg in 2mg increments. Withdrawal symptoms with each dose reduction are debilitating but in a much different way to Citalopram. Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 17, 2016 Author Share Posted March 17, 2016 Thanks for the last reply I am away from m y desk top computer and home with work a lot and haven't found out how to update signature on mobile Briefly I have given up diazepam sodium vaporate lithium and dothiepin over last few years after decades of use citalopram is last to go in 2015 got near giving up but hit by physical and mental symptoms and as working resumed 20 mg I used to take 30 mg now doing micro dosages and v slowly down to 16 Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
FunkyBaboon Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Hey joy, Glad you're on a super slow taper now. I also learned the hard way that you can't rush the taper otherwise you end up in a worse place! If you are using mobile and want to switch to the desktop version of the site there is a "Full Version" button down at the bottom. Once you click this you should be able to access the same features that you can from your desktop computer. There are a couple of things missing from the mobile view that really bug me, these are:- * follow this topic button * my content button in the user account drop down A convenient link to my introduction post 2003 Paroxetine (20mg I think) daily for 5 months due to extreme anxiety before final exams and stopped cold turkey. From 2003 onwards I have suffered with extreme anxiety, akathisia, severe muscle tension & digestive problems whenever off I'm off anti-depressants. 2007 Clonazepam (unsure of dose) - took approximately 100 tablets to try and self medicate for anxiety. 2007-09 Amitryptyline 10mg - was advised to take this "as and when needed" for anxiety. April/May 2011 Diazepam 2mg - 2 week course followed by complete inability to sleep upon finishing so started Citalopram 40mg and I was able to sleep again. Mid 2012 Diazepam 10mg - took approximately 100 tablets. Mid 2012 Started Citalopram taper - 5mg reductions every month or two, severe withdrawal symptoms throughout taper. Apr 2013 Completely off Citalopram and continued to have severe withdrawal. Oct 2013 Completely fell to pieces mentally and alongside had a whole host of debilitating physical symptoms too. I went to the doctors who performed whole batteries of tests but had no idea what was wrong with me. They tried me on Sertraline and Amitryptyline to which I had terrible reactions which made symptoms worse. Eventually got put on Nortryptyline 25mg, which I tolerated and over 3 months withdrawal symptoms started to abate. Mid 2014 discovered survivingantidepressants.org and hallelujah! I knew what was wrong with me - slow taper FTW! Late 2014 & 2015 Reduced Nortryptyline 22.5mg & 20mg respectively in November & December of 2014. In 2015 Tapered Nortryptyline from 20mg to 10 mg in 2mg increments. Withdrawal symptoms with each dose reduction are debilitating but in a much different way to Citalopram. Link to comment
joy2730 Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 Still doing really well slight headache but fine sleep good and no Nytol hotness has settled down enjoying life Jan 2023 to July 2023 250mg quetiapine Tapered off quetiapine again over 2 months - now weight problem Link to comment
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