SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 I am having a rough time right now as my perceptual space shrinkage has increased and this leads to a whole brain increase in chaos. I am so so grateful for all the good counsel and encouragements. I need them badly as I truly do not know of anyone else with this bizarre of a syndrome. But I know that you have seen the worst cases and so I will try to hold onto that hope. Alto, just to clarify, because I had understood otherwise, does Dr Shipko do a super slow taper do you know? 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted January 1, 2015 Administrator Share Posted January 1, 2015 Dr. Shipko will support tapering at whatever rate you wish. 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
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Thank you. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 No, not really -- I had read about this syndrome but mine is a loss of space visually tho does not affect my actual interpretation of where things are. In other words, when I reach for something my brain does compute the right distance. Its more of an LSD or marijuana experience. I used to use Benedryl for sleep before the Afrin exposure but don't now nor have I for 20 months. When I c/t from Valium 33 years ago, I went into a 2D visual and never came out of that. I just learned to live with it. This is like an extreme of that in a way and yet not really because things not only look closer, they look taller. So so hard to explain. Even the ground has come up to almost eye level and the ceilings have lowered. And I have NO idea what is driving this. I could understand if it just snapped into a loss of space, but it just gradually gets worse and worse. My brain does adjust after a couple of days and puts those things that are now closer, into the background so that I'm less aware of the closeness. But this is why I felt that I couldn't wait any longer to taper. Also, the background music on the TV is at the level of sound as the main sound. I read that GABA is responsible for sorting that out, sorting out background noise...Just can't figure out. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Yes. I believe that SSRI's do affect the same receptor sites as LSD. But my visual abnormalities are not the same in that I don't see halos or things do not appear smaller or larger just closer. Can I ask that the scary stuff not be sent to me? I am in terror. I dont know what is happening inside my brain but I have to believe that given enough time, it will resolve. I have not taken anything that I know of that would cause irreversible damage to that extent. I fight suicidal thots continually. I am not able to step outside myself to rationally analyze this bizarre thing. I need reassurance that I can recover from this. Anything else is unbearable. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
Member cymbaltawithdrawal5600 Posted January 1, 2015 Member Share Posted January 1, 2015 You mentioned it several times so I thought you were concerned with finding an explanation. I did not mean to be so insensitive. I will remove those posts, OK? What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878 July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site. Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey. Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 You're right. I did ask. You don't need to remove them. I am not experiencing an LSD injury. I really don't think there is anything out there that would explain . I haven't seen a doctor because I know I would get -0- information. I would be dx'd as having some sort of emotional problem. Happened when I was in the psych hospital by the dumb doctor who put me on the Doxepin. I think possibly if I were to go to UCLA that they might be able to at least take a stab at it but only if they understood benzo/SSRI damage to the brain. Otherwise it would just be a uneducated guess for all their knowledge. I do thank you for trying to take a stab at this. I do believe this is all tied into the benzo/SSRI/oxymetaoline damage. I have to believe that in time, by brain will find a way to reverse this. If not, I have no life I can live. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
Meimeiquest Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I just feel so sorry for you. I will say that when I was at Mensah they said they have observed thousands going off drugs and they have never seen someone with permanent brain damage from psychotropics. That doesn't mean it couldn't happen, but I think you are doing the right thing to trust that everything will work out very, very gradually with a sloooow taper. 1st round Prozac 1989/90, clear depression symptoms. 2nd round Prozac started 1999 when admitted to dr. I was tired. Prozac pooped out, switch to Cymbalta 3/2006. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder due to mania 6/2006--then I was taken abruptly off Cymbalta and didn't know I had SSRI withdrawal. Lots of meds for my intractable "bipolar" symptoms. Zyprexa started about 9/06, mostly 5mg. Tapered 4/12 through12/29/12 Wellbutrin. XL 300 mg started 1/07, tapered 1/18/13 through 7/8/13 Oxazepam mostly continuously since 6/06, 30mg since 12/12, tapered 1.17.14 through 8.26.15 11/06 Lithium 600mg twice daily, 2.2.14 400mg TID DIY liquid, 2.12.14 1150mg, 3.2.14 1100mg, 3.18.14 1075mg, 4/14 updose to 1100mg, 6.1.14 900 mg capsules 7.8.14 810mg, 8.17.14 725mg, 8.24.24 700mg...10.22.14 487.5mg, 3.9.15 475mg, 4.1.15 462.5mg 4.21.15 450mg 8.11.15 375mg, 11.28.15 362.5mg, back to 375mg four days later, 3.4.16 updose to 475 (too much going on to risk trouble) 9/4/13 Toprol-XL 25mg daily for sudden hypertension, tapered 11.12.13 through 5.3.14, last 10 days or so switched to atenolol 7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol 56 years old Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 I am getting so much worse. I feel that I am losing all sanity. My husband is here with me all day and all night but I don't think he realizes the extent of my brain function loss. I know I can't go to a hospital. I can't seem to make anyone understand that I am continuing to lose more and more reality and space. I feel as tho I will disappear soon. I used a nasal spray and it took my brain away ... How will I ever recover from this? I have bad akathisia today too which is as always, making me suicidal. I have no hope today at all. I just had to write this down. I feel I won't be able to soon. I was a person once. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
Frustrated Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Oh dear! I am so sorry you feel so horribly. I cannot offer up any words that will change your circumstance but I pray all the time for healing and I will include you in my prayers. 2002-put on amitryptiline for fibromyalgia. 10mg.2004-stopped abruptly. Didn't think it helped.2006 approx.-put on Paxil for mild anxiety 20 mg.2007 upped to 40 mg. not sure why.2011- tapered from 40 to 10. went nuts and went back to 20mg2014- tapered from 20mg to 0 from April to The end of June.current meds- Metformin(type 2 diabetic) and low dose aspirin.Take multi vitamin and vit b12, vit. D and magnesium. 5 months off Paxil. Still suffering.recently added 1.2mg of Paxil to alleviate withdrawals.(Nov 30)Dropped to .9mg because having symptoms from reinstatement.(dec 23)<p>taper to .76mg-.8mg (Feb 3) approx. weight .010 to about .008-.009 on scale..6mg (march 19th.) .5mg(April 19th).4mg(April 27th).2 (June 27th) 0mg. done taper at beginning of August. Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Oh dear! I am so sorry you feel so horribly. I cannot offer up any words that will change your circumstance but I pray all the time for healing and I will include you in my prayers. Oh thank you so much for your prayers. I pray for healing all the time too and I do believe that God hears. I will be praying for you too. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
LoveandLight Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 So sorry you feel so bad, I truly am. But I'm so glad you've found here and the lovely people here. We can help each other through this. Hug xx 2000 - sertraline for job anxiety low confidence (17 years old) ..which turned the next 16 years into nightmare! On/off sertraline severe withdrawals every time. 2014 - felt better as reduced dose of sertraline no more inner restlessness. Doctor rushed off again. Hit severe withdrawal. Lost the little I had in life. Couldn't get stable again on 12.5mg. Was switched to prozac. Had severe reaction to prozac..came off in November 2015 at 6mg as felt more confused and damaged on it..Even more withdrawal ..rage, depression, dyphoria, near constant suicidal ideation, self harm impulses, doom, concrete block in head, unable to do much of anything with this feeling in head..went back on 6mg of sertraline to see if would alleviate anything. It didn't..reduced from December to June 2016 came off at 2.5mg sertraline as was hospitalised for the severe rage, suicidal impulses, and put on 50mg lofepramine which in 2nd week reduced all symptoms but gave insomnia which still have..psych stopped lofepramine cold turkey..no increased withdrawal symptoms new symptoms from lofepramine except persistant insomnia which has as side effect. Taking Ativan for 8 months for the severe rage self harm impulses 1-3 times a week (mostly 2 times a week) at .5mg. Two months (I'm unsure exactly when the interdose started to happen) ago interdose withdrawal seemed to happen..2 days I think after the Ativan. Nightmare that could have been avoided! Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 I just feel so sorry for you. I will say that when I was at Mensah they said they have observed thousands going off drugs and they have never seen someone with permanent brain damage from psychotropics. That doesn't mean it couldn't happen, but I think you are doing the right thing to trust that everything will work out very, very gradually with a sloooow taper. I do have persistent brain dysfunction from my initial c/t w/d in 1981. But I healed from that to 85% and was happy to have a life back again. This is from an exposure to a chemical that should never have entered my brain. So even though there is no evidence that I know of that it would cause permanent brain damage, because of my previous brain damage, I don't know how it affected my CNS. I know of no one else with my symptoms. I can only guess what's going on. Thank you so so much for your encouragement. xo 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 So sorry you feel so bad, I truly am. But I'm so glad you've found here and the lovely people here. We can help each other through this. Hug xx All I can do right now is to hang onto the wonderfully kind people here. I am not myself. I was always the one to encourage. I am so grateful for willingness to share my pain. Thank you for your hugs. So badly needed. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
LoveandLight Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Glad your hanging on..although I know hanging on is so painful xx 2000 - sertraline for job anxiety low confidence (17 years old) ..which turned the next 16 years into nightmare! On/off sertraline severe withdrawals every time. 2014 - felt better as reduced dose of sertraline no more inner restlessness. Doctor rushed off again. Hit severe withdrawal. Lost the little I had in life. Couldn't get stable again on 12.5mg. Was switched to prozac. Had severe reaction to prozac..came off in November 2015 at 6mg as felt more confused and damaged on it..Even more withdrawal ..rage, depression, dyphoria, near constant suicidal ideation, self harm impulses, doom, concrete block in head, unable to do much of anything with this feeling in head..went back on 6mg of sertraline to see if would alleviate anything. It didn't..reduced from December to June 2016 came off at 2.5mg sertraline as was hospitalised for the severe rage, suicidal impulses, and put on 50mg lofepramine which in 2nd week reduced all symptoms but gave insomnia which still have..psych stopped lofepramine cold turkey..no increased withdrawal symptoms new symptoms from lofepramine except persistant insomnia which has as side effect. Taking Ativan for 8 months for the severe rage self harm impulses 1-3 times a week (mostly 2 times a week) at .5mg. Two months (I'm unsure exactly when the interdose started to happen) ago interdose withdrawal seemed to happen..2 days I think after the Ativan. Nightmare that could have been avoided! Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Its so much harder to hang on when you are in an altered state of reality. This has been getting worse too. But I did have some lifting of at least the worst of it last Fall. And I am able to think much better than I did last year. Also, the PGAD seems to have come and gone. I know I'm having an up tick from moving the Doxepin to liquid and back again. I read a post by "Muddle" from last year -- She described so completely what the suicidal mind is. But its this horrible unreality that takes me to a place I cannot endure. It feels as tho I am in a constant dream state---very very intense dream. I've had dr/dp for a loooooooooong time and am quite used to a certain amount of disorientation. This is a whole other experience . Does anyone else have this really deeply? The complete loss of connection to the world and to oneself? How are you doing Joannad? 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted January 1, 2015 Moderator Share Posted January 1, 2015 Hi SelmaLady-- I'm so sorry to hear that you're getting hit by such a bad wave. DR/DP is just the pits, I went through a lot of it. At it's worst all I could do was hang on minute to minute, hour by hour, but it did eventually fade and is behind me now. Same will happen for you. ((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))) 20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013. Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks. The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better. Final Dose 0.016mg. Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017 "It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general." Stephen Hawking Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Hi SelmaLady-- I'm so sorry to hear that you're getting hit by such a bad wave. DR/DP is just the pits, I went through a lot of it. At it's worst all I could do was hang on minute to minute, hour by hour, but it did eventually fade and is behind me now. Same will happen for you. ((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))) Thank you so much for your comforting words. It's a relief to know that others know what I'm experiencing. Sadly tho, I will never completely recover from it as I have had it without change for 33 years since my first c/t w/d. But I got used to 2D perception--just became part of the "normal" and never impeded me from joy. This is a whole different thing---imagine taking DR/DP and ramping up to the nth degree. I know that you understand minute to minute. Are you now completely off the Paxil? At what point did you get the DR/DP? I am encouraged that you have a 20 year history with an SSRI as I am 24 years on Zoloft. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
chicken Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 ((Chicken)) Yes. We do need God's intervention and healing. I lean completely on Jesus to get me through each moment. I have to trust that He knows His plans for me. I will surely keep you in my prayers also. When you talked to Shipko, what did he say? I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with your drugs except for the Zyprexa which I think is an antipsychotic? It seemed risky to pull the Remeron like that but blessedly, it worked for you. You got akathisia when you stopped the Remeron? You said at lowest dose--how long did you taper it and who decided it was the lowest dose? Seems like your system just didn't work with Remeron anyway. Looks like you have been tapering the Tranzene and Zyprexa and are now on the Pamelor only--- How are you doing? Selma, When I talked to Shipko he had no knowledge of the drug (Remeron) at the time. He told me of the risks of getting off of it but also told me it was not good to stay on them either. I felt stuck. I got the impression that I shouldn't come off but shouldn't stay on either. I got akethesia/Anxiety/Insomnia as a withdrawal symptom from stopping at 3.75 mg. I tapered about a year before stopping at that dose. I didn't know I should have gone lower because with all other meds I had stopped at low doses with no problems. I had to reinstate Remeron but the same day I reinstated the ER doc prescribed me Cipro, a floroquinolone antibiotic, for a UTI. I really believe Cipro did something to the Remeron. I was never able to stabilize again at any dose. It lasted for about 3 months until I got suicidal and had to go back in the hospital. I've been stable since the switch to the new meds. My biggest scare now is the Pamelor. I don't know how that will go but I plan to taper it much more slowly than my other meds. I plan to start the 10% method and see how that goes. I've never had problems tapering benzos or antipsychotics, just ADs. I don't know if I should call it akathesia or anxiety. I really don't know the difference since people seem to interchange the two. I've had extreme anxiety that lasted months before ever ingesting a drug. Overall all I do think the drugs made it worse though. My best advice is to not take antibotics, if possible, while on or withdrawing an AD or benzo. I had a cold this past week and my friend gave me an OTC cold med. I didn't take it and just suffered it through. I got over it without the OTC meds. I was to scared to take them as I didn't want to mess myself up with some kind of reaction. I told my friend that I may die some day because I'm gong to refuse a much needed medication because I'm so scared of all meds now. Anyway, he thinks I should take anything a doc gives. He trust docs all the way. That's because he's never gone through withdrawal. He should be wary because his late wife died as an indirect result of interactions of chantix (smoking cessation drug) and some fibromyalgia drugs. I've been praying for you and thanks for praying for me. Prozac 1999-2009 quit semi cold turkey. 2012 Placed on Seroquel 25 mg, Tranxene (Clorezepate) 3.75 mg 3x a day, Remeron 30 mg for anxiety/akathesia. Weaned off Seroquel and Tranxene .to Remeron 15 Mg. In May 2014 tried quitting Remeron at its lowest dose. Had severe withdrawals.Reinstated Remeron at 30 mg by doctor. August 5 2014 entered hospital. Doctor pulled the Remeron and bridged it to Pamelor (Nortriptyline) 40mg and Zyprexa 2.5mg.After removing the Remeron all my bad symptoms went away and I am stable. 9/11/14 - 7.5 mg tranxene, 40mg Pamelor, Zyprexa 2.5mg 12/29/14 - 20mg Pamelor, 1/6/15, 7/31/15 3.5mg, 8/10/15 3.2 mg, 9/15/15 2.2mg, 10/15/15 1.8mg (Feb 2016 - 1.4mg Pamelor only - OFF OF TRANXENE AND ZYPREXA SINCE DEC 2014 BENZO FREE Since 2014. Nortrityline (Pamelor) .8mg Aug 2016 March 2017 DRUG FREE Link to comment
chicken Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 One more thing, I think you mentioned benedryl. I had horrible paradoxical reactions to it while going through anxiety. I will not take it again either. I really helped years ago when I had some kind of itch from an allergic reaction. It's possible that benedryl make work for me now that my CNS has calmed down but I don't want to risk it. Prozac 1999-2009 quit semi cold turkey. 2012 Placed on Seroquel 25 mg, Tranxene (Clorezepate) 3.75 mg 3x a day, Remeron 30 mg for anxiety/akathesia. Weaned off Seroquel and Tranxene .to Remeron 15 Mg. In May 2014 tried quitting Remeron at its lowest dose. Had severe withdrawals.Reinstated Remeron at 30 mg by doctor. August 5 2014 entered hospital. Doctor pulled the Remeron and bridged it to Pamelor (Nortriptyline) 40mg and Zyprexa 2.5mg.After removing the Remeron all my bad symptoms went away and I am stable. 9/11/14 - 7.5 mg tranxene, 40mg Pamelor, Zyprexa 2.5mg 12/29/14 - 20mg Pamelor, 1/6/15, 7/31/15 3.5mg, 8/10/15 3.2 mg, 9/15/15 2.2mg, 10/15/15 1.8mg (Feb 2016 - 1.4mg Pamelor only - OFF OF TRANXENE AND ZYPREXA SINCE DEC 2014 BENZO FREE Since 2014. Nortrityline (Pamelor) .8mg Aug 2016 March 2017 DRUG FREE Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 In am so sorry that you have been so mistreated by the medical world. I have worked for doctors and I don't trust many. They are for the most part, blinded by the glossy photos in the PDR and take whatever is written there as absolute truth. Very very dangerous people, doctors can be... Yeah, I had the same impression of Shipko---no right path to take at all. I'm sorry that you got that from him but it helps me to know that I am not the only one who saw contradictions. I'm amazed though at how many people have spoken to or corresponded with him! Good that you got yourself on a proper taper of drugs and are now well on your way to being free of them. Since Pamelor is a TCA, I think there might be less of problem with the end of the taper. I see that it uses a liver detox pathway that I believe I have compromised function in. The same pathway as Doxepin and i'm assuming, most TCA's. I'm having a horrible time on the Doxepin --- So grateful for your prayers. ((HUG)) 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 SelmaLady, I would not taper Zoloft even at 1% while you're tapering doxepin. It confuses the adverse reactions picture too much. As you reduce the doxepin, the drug-drug interaction with Zoloft should decrease. Dr. Shipko helps people go off drugs once they understand the outcome is not guaranteed and may lead to a long recovery from withdrawal. Yes, I can see that. I'm disappointed because I wanted to just get OFF, as most do. But I know that I get this chance to do it right and I need to accept a long walk through this mess. Right now I will be holding off on the Zoloft and will continue to taper the Doxepin at 2% to start because I am in such a bad place from the attempt to convert it over to a liquid taper. I don't know that I will ever see stability--I haven't stabilized at all in a year. So do I just keep going on? So hard when you're starting from a place of utter chaos. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
chicken Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Does your doxepin come in capsules? If so, it will be easier to make it into a liquid to taper. My pamelor comes in capsules. I broke one apart and tested it to see how it dissolves in water. Looks like it dissolves pretty well. I know pamelor comes in a liquid form, so doxepin may also. Zoloft also comes in a liquid form. If you can get your doc to write you a script for the liquid, it will be a whole lot easier to measure. Prozac 1999-2009 quit semi cold turkey. 2012 Placed on Seroquel 25 mg, Tranxene (Clorezepate) 3.75 mg 3x a day, Remeron 30 mg for anxiety/akathesia. Weaned off Seroquel and Tranxene .to Remeron 15 Mg. In May 2014 tried quitting Remeron at its lowest dose. Had severe withdrawals.Reinstated Remeron at 30 mg by doctor. August 5 2014 entered hospital. Doctor pulled the Remeron and bridged it to Pamelor (Nortriptyline) 40mg and Zyprexa 2.5mg.After removing the Remeron all my bad symptoms went away and I am stable. 9/11/14 - 7.5 mg tranxene, 40mg Pamelor, Zyprexa 2.5mg 12/29/14 - 20mg Pamelor, 1/6/15, 7/31/15 3.5mg, 8/10/15 3.2 mg, 9/15/15 2.2mg, 10/15/15 1.8mg (Feb 2016 - 1.4mg Pamelor only - OFF OF TRANXENE AND ZYPREXA SINCE DEC 2014 BENZO FREE Since 2014. Nortrityline (Pamelor) .8mg Aug 2016 March 2017 DRUG FREE Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted January 2, 2015 Moderator Share Posted January 2, 2015 DP hasn't been too much of a problem, but I had the DR really bad for the couple of years I was in poopout, before I knew what was going on. It carried over for about a year and a half into my taper. Then it showed up from time to time until it has pretty much faded out of the picture. I am currently on 2.4mg of paxil which will take probably another 9 moths to taper off of. Learning to live in a DR world is quite a feat, not many seem to be able to handle it. Then to have it ramp up like that would be totally disheartening. Hopefully it will settle back down again. 20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013. Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks. The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better. Final Dose 0.016mg. Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017 "It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general." Stephen Hawking Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Does your doxepin come in capsules? If so, it will be easier to make it into a liquid to taper. My pamelor comes in capsules. I broke one apart and tested it to see how it dissolves in water. Looks like it dissolves pretty well. I know pamelor comes in a liquid form, so doxepin may also. Zoloft also comes in a liquid form. If you can get your doc to write you a script for the liquid, it will be a whole lot easier to measure. Yep. The Doxepin comes in capsules. And my husband had begun to taper me over to a water taper 10% at a time (he was a scale) but when I hit 70% water mix and 30% capsule/powder, I got really bad---return of akathisia, increased brain chaos including the bizarre perceptual space shrinking and DP to the point of feeling that I was on Mars, literally. So we stopped there. About that time too, just before Christmas, I got a huge box in the mail from my youngest daughter who lives in Charlotte NC. Before this happened, I traveled maybe 3 times a year to spend several weeks with her and my grandkids. I loved going there. Because I was there so much, I had pretty much a full wardrobe in her guest closet and that allowed me to fly with just a carry on. When I opened this huge box, believing it to be a super Christmas present, there were all my clothes with no comment at all. I still haven't heard anything from her about it. She did sent me a chatty email a few days ago with no mention as to why she decided to just rid herself of my things. When I saw what it was I became h-y-s-terical. For hours. My neuro chemistry is such that I have long sobbing spells of grief anyway. I spent the rest of the say sobbing . Of course, this sent my system even further into agony. So my husband and I decided to gradually go back to a dry taper tho I'm back to 50/50 and will stay there for awhile anyway. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 DP hasn't been too much of a problem, but I had the DR really bad for the couple of years I was in poopout, before I knew what was going on. It carried over for about a year and a half into my taper. Then it showed up from time to time until it has pretty much faded out of the picture. I am currently on 2.4mg of paxil which will take probably another 9 moths to taper off of. Learning to live in a DR world is quite a feat, not many seem to be able to handle it. Then to have it ramp up like that would be totally disheartening. Hopefully it will settle back down again. Its encouraging to be to see that your got BETTER as you tapered your SSRI. I'm hoping for the same. Right now I have to taper the Doxepin because I believe that is intensifying what appears to be a bad serotonin overload. Doxepin also increases 3 other chems in the brain so best to begin there. Hopefully, I can begin a super slow taper of the Zoloft in about 3-4 mths. So you are doing better as you go? That must be so encouraging for you. So glad for you. Can you describe your DR? 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
luv2knit Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 SelmaLady, I have not read your entire thread--just bits and pieces--but I am so sorry for everything you are going through. Please know that I will keep you in my prayers. Thank you for stopping by my thread! Zoloft 100 mg. daily for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since Oct. 1994 / Synthroid 88 mcg. daily / Supplements: Neptune Krill Oil-1,000 mg. twice daily/Astaxanthin 10 mg. twice daily/Ubiquinol 100 mg. twice daily (These 3 have allowed me to discontinue (approved by doctor) bp meds I was on. Calcium Citrate 500 mg. daily/Vitamin D3 2,400 iu daily/K2 (MK7) 100 mcg daily (osteopenia and fam. hist. of severe osteoporosis). Stress B Complex (1/2 dose)/Quercetin (for allergies/asthma)/Magnesium (400 mg. oral glycinate and about 50 mg. magnesium chloride spray oil a day, divided throughout day). Tapered Zoloft about 6 wks. Totally off since the end of July (25-29, 2014). 3 wks. vertigo at end of taper, then 3-4 wks. OK, followed by withdrawal symptoms increasing in severity (nausea, gastric disturbances, loss of appetite, insomnia, restlessness, jitters, anxiety, agitation--jumping out of my skin--possible akathisia?) Seem to have paradoxical reactions to everything new, even Vitamin C. Severity of akathisia comes and goes, but is constant to some degree. Hard to leave house, and cannot be home alone. (Retired) Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 (((luv2knit))) 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
Wildflower0214 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Hey there, Just stopping by to let you know I am sorry for you. Very very sorry. Praying for you. Xo 2005-Zoloft bad reaction.....2006-Lexepro......2012-Upped Lexepro.......2013-Upped Lexepro......2/2014- Attempted Taper Lexepro...2/2014- Updosed Lexepro.......3/2014-Ativan.....5/2014- CT switch from Lexpro to Effexor..... 5/2014-7/2014-Tapered Ativan from 1mg to .25mg.....6/2014-Bad reaction to Effexor........7/2014- Rapid taper Effexor every other day......7/5/2014- Off Effexor.......7/2014-12/2014 - Ativan .25mg.......12/25/2014 -Taper Ativan by 4% due to paradoxical reaction .24mg...11/18/2015-Taper Ativan 1% CURRENTLY ON: .2376mg Ativan taken in 6 .0396mg doses. Link to comment
NoMeaning25 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Everything you describe, I have. The LSD type feeling, ground appearing closer etc etc I have ALL of it 24/7 in a very severe form. What does concern me is that your DR/DP never went away and youve had it for over 20 years. I am in a panic state because of this. Could you please explain more? Did you ever get "breaks" from it? Do you think it lasted that long for you because you ere on other drugs at the same time? You mentioned everything was 2D and it stayed like that. Would you call that a low grade DR/DP or was it very bad with visual distortions Was on Citalopram 20mg since Feb 2008 - switched to Paxil 20mg in August 2010 Tapered way too fast in April 2012 by skipping days. Taper completed in 6 weeks Tried prozac 20mg for 3 days - felt spaced out, not better. Tried 30mg Cymbalta for 2 days. SEVERE ADVERSE REACTION Antidepressant free since 14 August 2012 Birth control on and off during this time - Last taken 18 June 2017 - Morning after pill Started mainly using 0.5mg Xanax beginning 2016 for severe panic attacks and anxiety due to trauma Xanax on and off never more than 0.5mg at a time, never taking it 3 days in a row - used sparingly 6 Years antidepressant free - Still in severe withdrawal with over 60 symptoms Severe setback started May 2018 with no let up to date. Developed many new symptoms like tremors, inner vibrations, insomnia, visual distortions and dr/dp are 100x worse, i have severe sensitivity to movement, My dizziness and vertigo got worse and it now feels like im constantly rocking on a boat, my anxiety is sky high, suicidal idiation is back, i feel extremely brain damaged Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Hey there, Just stopping by to let you know I am sorry for you. Very very sorry. Praying for you. Xo ((JDM)) So good to read that you are praying. I am praying. When I pace with my husband, we pray for so many that are suffering from this horrible injury to our brain. I have people from my church that, after all this time, nearly 2 years since this started, either send a card or call to tell us that they are still praying for us. I don't know if I were out living a "normal" life that I would be as faithful. God bless all who pray! 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Everything you describe, I have. The LSD type feeling, ground appearing closer etc etc I have ALL of it 24/7 in a very severe form. What does concern me is that your DR/DP never went away and youve had it for over 20 years. I am in a panic state because of this. Could you please explain more? Did you ever get "breaks" from it? Do you think it lasted that long for you because you ere on other drugs at the same time? You mentioned everything was 2D and it stayed like that. Would you call that a low grade DR/DP or was it very bad with visual distortions I am always hesitant to post that fact that I retained a very light DR/DP because I know that when you're in the really intense throws of it, the idea that it would never go away is beyond terrifying. First of all, I was in the worst case scenario of Valium w/d---I have heard of others being nearly as bad, but I do believe there is none worse than I was. The DR/DP was so thick that it was tho I were locked in a closet with just a tiny peep hole to see out of. I began to get better at 3 1/2 years where everything just started getting lighter. The DR/DP eventually became minimal---just a flat visual affect and a loss of the sense of being in my own body. It in NO WAY handicapped me or took away a excellent quality of life. I worked as an Office Manager for a group of doctors. I traveled several times to Europe, I experienced the joy of the birth of grandchildren, etc. This that I am in is so far beyond that that is not even comparable. I do wonder if the Zoloft I was taking kept me from completing my recovery but I really don't think so. I think that because of the complete brain shock that I went through, I retained those glitches. You say the ground appears closer---do the walls also look closer? Mine continues to worsen and I have no idea what is going on or when it will stop. We can know tho that the brain does want to regain normal functioning and will continue to work on doing that. All during the years after my first c/t w/d I continued to get better and better---and the glitches that I did have did not bother me at all. Please don't be terrified as I am the only one I know whose DR/DP remained, however light it was. I see that you at about 2 1/2 years into recovery? At 3 1/2 is where I saw a shift in the intensity and I know of others that have experienced that too. We just can't really compare our recoveries because we are all so uniquely different. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
NoMeaning25 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Thank you so much for clarifying! I am happy that you did get better and i am sure you will get better this time, too! I am 28.5 months off all drugs and i am very very severe, i have not seen any improvements yet. I have a list of over 60 symptoms and the DR/DP, Brain Fog, Dizziness and visual distortions are very severe. Going with no improvements for so long is so hard. I really hope you feel better soon. Was on Citalopram 20mg since Feb 2008 - switched to Paxil 20mg in August 2010 Tapered way too fast in April 2012 by skipping days. Taper completed in 6 weeks Tried prozac 20mg for 3 days - felt spaced out, not better. Tried 30mg Cymbalta for 2 days. SEVERE ADVERSE REACTION Antidepressant free since 14 August 2012 Birth control on and off during this time - Last taken 18 June 2017 - Morning after pill Started mainly using 0.5mg Xanax beginning 2016 for severe panic attacks and anxiety due to trauma Xanax on and off never more than 0.5mg at a time, never taking it 3 days in a row - used sparingly 6 Years antidepressant free - Still in severe withdrawal with over 60 symptoms Severe setback started May 2018 with no let up to date. Developed many new symptoms like tremors, inner vibrations, insomnia, visual distortions and dr/dp are 100x worse, i have severe sensitivity to movement, My dizziness and vertigo got worse and it now feels like im constantly rocking on a boat, my anxiety is sky high, suicidal idiation is back, i feel extremely brain damaged Link to comment
NoMeaning25 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Oh and yes, everything looks closer, even my arms/legs and i dont look like me when i look at myself in the mirror Was on Citalopram 20mg since Feb 2008 - switched to Paxil 20mg in August 2010 Tapered way too fast in April 2012 by skipping days. Taper completed in 6 weeks Tried prozac 20mg for 3 days - felt spaced out, not better. Tried 30mg Cymbalta for 2 days. SEVERE ADVERSE REACTION Antidepressant free since 14 August 2012 Birth control on and off during this time - Last taken 18 June 2017 - Morning after pill Started mainly using 0.5mg Xanax beginning 2016 for severe panic attacks and anxiety due to trauma Xanax on and off never more than 0.5mg at a time, never taking it 3 days in a row - used sparingly 6 Years antidepressant free - Still in severe withdrawal with over 60 symptoms Severe setback started May 2018 with no let up to date. Developed many new symptoms like tremors, inner vibrations, insomnia, visual distortions and dr/dp are 100x worse, i have severe sensitivity to movement, My dizziness and vertigo got worse and it now feels like im constantly rocking on a boat, my anxiety is sky high, suicidal idiation is back, i feel extremely brain damaged Link to comment
SelmaLady Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 This WILL absolutely get better. Thank you so very much for your encouragements too. I have gotten better in the past and I have to hope that means that my brain does know the way back. 1971-81 Valium 5mg c/t PAWS 1992- through now Zoloft 25mg 2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off 2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS 2013 O/D Val 230mg 2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg 3/15/16 Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper 3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 - Decreasing incrementally. DISCONTINUED 10/9/16 Doxepin 48.9 Zoloft 24.3 Clonidine 01.10 Continuing micro taper on Doxepin. 11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg Zoloft 24.3mg Clonidine 1.30mg 5/4/17 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 24mg Clonidine 1.20mg Micro taper of Doxepin , Clonidine 01/13/19 Doxepin 45mg Zoloft 21mg Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19 12/21/21 Doxepin 20 mg ? Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml 12/2121 Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. ) 26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0- Link to comment
Muddles Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I get this too - like 5minutes ago I put my cup down and I nearly broke it because I thought the table was further away than what it was. Also get the LSD feeling - I hate that. I'm sorry you are suffering so terribly....I've read your posts and really feel for you. It will get better in time though. 2008 - Doctors appointment with stress induced anxiety led to Citalopram prescription. Severe adverse reaction Mirtazapine prescribed - adverse reaction but told to stay on. Poop out - December 2013 15mg Currently on 13.5mg, April 12mg May 10th - 11mg June 10th - 10mg July 8th - 9mg September - 0mg Link to comment
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