Coming Off Antidepressants: Reasons & Withdrawal | AmandaMuse
Vložit
- čas přidán 20. 07. 2022
- My First 3 Months on Antidepressants: • My First 3 Months on A...
Coming Off Antidepressants: Reasons & Withdrawal | AmandaMuse
After nearly 1 year on antidepressants, it was time to stop. Here's my story and how I weaned off my medication. Thanks for watching xo Amanda
Tip Jar: www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=AN...
Subscribe to AmandaMuse by clicking here: czcams.com/users/AmandaMus...
Help translate my videos into more languages czcams.com/users/timedtext_cs_...
Things mentioned in this video:
My First 3 Months on Antidepressants: • My First 3 Months on A...
Friendo Brand by AmandaMuse: www.hellofriendo.com
Follow AmandaMuse on:
------------
-Instagram: / amandamuse
-TikTok / museamanda
-Podcast: "Friendo" link.chtbl.com/friendo
-CZcams: / amandamuse
-Blog www.amandamuse.com
-Twitter: / museamanda
-Facebook: / museamanda
View Amanda's most loved items: www.amazon.com/shop/amandamuse
#ssri #antidepressants #amandamuse - Jak na to + styl
The best thing about coming off meds is feeling again. The worst thing about coming off meds is feeling again.
Truth.
I hear you ,it's been horrendous
what do you mean feeling again is a bad and good thing ?
@@rania5602yes. We begin to feel all the good that we were numb too before. And also all the bad.
How true!
I weened off of my SSRI's, starting Jan 27, 2024...Now at day 14. Your video hit so close to home I cannot even tell you. Between the brain zaps, mood swings and 'other' issues---it's been a living nightmare. Currently at that stage where EVERYTHING triggers me--NO Hallmark commercials for this guy!! I NEVER want to go thru this again. Again--thanks for taking the time Amanda, it TRULY made a huge difference for me as I've been wondering just what in the sam hell is going on with me lately---NOW I know.
It can be absolutely brutal to wean...I totally get it. 2 weeks down, you've got this!
you need to be more passion . it takes a lot of time to become to yourself . this is like a heal .
I’m a pretty fit person and I was a personal trainer for a long time. Zoloft made me feel absolute zero interest in working out and physical exertion was actually super hard and more tiring. I never ended up gaining weight but I was definitely more interested in savory foods like Mac n cheese and chips that I never cared for before. Hearing her experience is super validating.
Omg same, working out for me used to be my thing, now it’s a huge chore :( my doctor just sent me a lower dose to try and wean off so hopefully my workout drive comes back, did yours?
Eu também engordei bastante com o uso do zoloft
Did you wean off?
Lexapro significantly helped me with anxiety and panic attacks. I started at 10 mg and was on that for several years. Then went down to 5mg and sat there for several years. Now I am down at 2.5mg a day and plan to be for at least a year, and then will alternate that and nothing for several months before stepping down to nothing. Slow is fine. And taking the time and see at each step how you are managing is so important. I will say that at this incredibly slow pace I have had zero side effects. Never had a brain zap once.
This is my plan too
Wow this is great to read. How long have you been taking lexapro?
Thanks for sharing, how was it going on at the start?
Do a hyperbolic taper! 2.5 is NOT a low dose. Skipping days is not recommended.
I’m currently going through antidepressant withdrawal and I watched this video a few times as it is really validating my struggle because I feel absolutely I’m horrible and out of mind going through this - I want to make a video on this topic myself to help other people. Thank you so much for sharing! And I know this nausea, lack of appetite and heart palpitations will end ❤
How are you doing now?? Still going through it?
How are you double now? Xx
Propranolol is medication from GOD!!! It helps take away like 30 to 50% of physical withdrawal symptoms. Especially the HEART PALPITATIONS ❤️
What I don't understand is why people get on these antidepressants and then want to get off of it? If you had anxiety and depression in the beginning surely it will not go away when you stop taking them. Your brain has been altered to do what that pill tells it to do to your transmitters and when you stop taking them your brain tries to readjust itself back to the way it was. Your body and mind suffers in the process. You’ll have side effects that can last weeks, months and years ,and with some people they never go away. The doctors give us this poison and then we’re left alone to deal with the horror. All they can offer us is an increase in dosage, another brand or instances where they seem to have no idea what we’re talking about when we tell them what we’re experiencing. The cycle of trying to find help from another source continues.
I needed this comment so much!
Thank you! It's great to know that your symptoms are not unique and you're not alone in this unusual feelings. I'm in the beginning of coming off with nausea and brain zaps, I feel like my weight is not more than 20kg and that it's easy for me to be gone with the wind literally
People don’t realize how debilitating health anxiety can be. It’s almost a joke.
I was a little bit of a hypochondriac and then covid hit and I spent the first entire year of 2020 terrified I was going to get sick and die. It’s constant fear. Eventually moved to thinking I have some sort of cancer all the time. I was constantly checking my self in the mirror. Literally as soon as I rolled out of the bed somedays, I’d go straight to the bathroom and start looking in the mirror trying to find something wrong
This type of behavior eventually leads to depression. You start thinking “Why can’t I just be normal. Why am I terrified all of the time?!” It makes you angry too
I got to where I didn’t want to even get out of the bed in the mornings because I knew my day was going to be filled with fear and panic about the possibility something was wrong with me and so was missing it
Through a low dose of sertraline (I was on 50mg for a few months then went to 25mg for a little over a year now), getting on TRT (I had extremely low testosterone levels) and a closer relationship with God, I have been able to manage the anxiety and go on with life. I still have the occasional anxiety but it is nothing like it was and I am able to pray and relax and it goes away.
SSRI have helped but yea I’m ready to come off of it
What an amazing video. Thank you for sharing, I’m going through truly agonizing withdrawals as I write this comment. I feel validated. ❤
Thanks so much for this in my first week of coming off my anti depressants, my anxiety is also health based as so the brain zaps really took me by surprise you description of them are exactly what am experiencing so good to hear I am not the only one having these❤
Your videos have been so helpful! I am going through the exact same process! Since titration, my desire to strength train and work out has re-emerged. Thank you❤. Totally validating
Thank you for giving us a full picture on this journey with your medication. I’m debating if I should take the meds and your video is so helpful.
I'm so relieved to find this. Im withdrawing from 2 SSRIs. Stopped on 3/24. I've been on them, or others since post-natal depression in 1999. So, a long time.
The zaps are terrible, crying about anything and everything...
Thanks so much
Thank you for making this, Amanda. This is really helpful.
words cannot descrie how thankful i am to you. You explained everything i was going through and i felt so lost. i didnt knew what brain zaps were and they scared me to hell. I went to my therapist and she just told me to start taking a bigger dose even when i told her my medication dont work on me anymore. I felt so lost and tought there were no escape. Thank you so much. I am going through exact same like you were and this video i could safely saved my life. thank you once again
Just hearing you state my withdrawal s helps me feel so supported. I’m in week 3 and boy it hit
Being one's real vulnerable and sensitive self and giving oneself the permission to feel all emotions (both good and bad), having a critical mind, and knowing that's all part of the human experience (and we are all together in this), so similar and at the same time so different in many ways (not having to be like everyone else) being HUMAN and YOU in other words - that is a real revolution - but very few people/doctors will talk you into that
Thank you so much for your openness and vulnerability. You are very real and very helpful, relatable. Helps me realise im not alone!
Day 3 saw your first video to 3 months amazing settled my nerves and anxiety but this has raised them a little . 🙏
Thank you for making this video. It often feels like your journey with antidepressants can be so lonely and no one understands... but it feels so nice having validation that someone else has experienced the same shitty side effects I have (both on and coming off)! The head spins coming off made me feel like I was going crazy and what made it worse was i didnt expect it cause my doctor didnt warn me that even if i weaned myself off correctly I could still get BAD side effects
Yes I agree with you. My doctor didn’t even give me advise on tapering. She just said to go off it slowly. Nothing nothing...can’t believe it
Awesome!!! 👍👍🥰🥰 Really thankful for sharing your experience, I believe this could help me in my steps on getting a loved one out of antidepressants soonest. I've gained so much from this presentation. Forward ever!!! Cheers
Wow! Thanks for sharing! I'm coming off and struggling extremely. Literally every word you say here, even about who you are as a person, I'm like, this is me!
Glad it was helpful! You've got this, it's really tough but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Your symptoms on it are exactly how I feel.. I had some issues getting my prescription yesterday and now today where I am thinking that I should really start this journey. I am doing a lot better than last year. Thank you for making feel better about this and the heads up about the process of weaning off. I do want to go cold turkey but will do this.
This is my first day on 5 m .. I enjoy your video and makes me feel happy and less scared of the side effects
Your explanation of the cycle of antidepressants is the most comprehensive and truest I've ever seen. If I could have made a video myself to explain to people exactly what happens,this would be it. And I've taken SSRI'S for 30 yrs. The origins of anxiety, panic and depression,stress,the relief from taking antidepressants by having your emotions compressed,the eventual side effects with no energy,weight gain etc and lessened motivation,sex drive. Then the desicion to come off and the withdrawal symptoms. The initial feeling of euphoria as the floodgates of emotions return, energy and sex drive return. The only part that's missing is the return of original symptoms of anxiety and depression months after discontinued use,worse than it was before,causing you to run back to the doctor begging to go back on them. That's what I experienced over 30 years, leading to the cycle of antidepressants. On,off,on,off. Though they are not technically addictive,lots of people,including myself develop a dependency.Again I am withdrawing off another antidepressant,but this time I know that the return of symptoms is due to withdrawal and not the return of my original anxiety,and now it is finally admitted to the public that a chemical imbalance and a lack of serotonin is not how antidepressants work. I am now concentrating on mindfulness, meditation,breathing and neuroplasticity, rewiring the anxious brain to rid myself of antidepressant use and the cycle of antidepressants.
Are you better now and did you successfully wean yourself off
@@nili3529 After a 3 month withdrawal period,I have been off antidepressants for 10 weeks. I did spend 8 months off prior to this stint,but I was relying on CBD oil and 5-htp. I will not be relying on pills or supplements now as it just reinforces my dependence on having to take something to feel better. In my experience there is no pill or supplement that truly gets rid of anxiety,they just mask the problem and take the edge off temporarily. The true way to combat anxiety is in the reply,but it takes commitment and working on,not pill popping.
@@celticwarrior5646 that’s great. I’m sure you will learn to deal with your anxiety too
How are u doing
@@nativechique7589 Hi, taking it day by day. It is now known that antidepressants can create a dependency with its effects lasting months after stopping,and symptoms returning worse than before. That could explain why I have never lasted more than 6 months antidepressant free over a 30 year period. It has now been 3 months and I consider myself like an ex alcoholic that has to take it day by day,and manage and accept my own anxieties drug free. There is no going back. ❤️ Take care.
thank you for making this. I just started an SSRI as well for generalized anxiety disorder and OCD and it answered a lot of questions I had. Knowing that it is totally OK to ween off of them when they stop working was really helpful.
I’m so glad to hear this. We hear so much about people being on them (which is great!) but the weaning process is still unknown to many.
@AmandaMuse the ween process is unknown to the Doctors
When I started SSRI's last year, I found your video about your first 3 months on meds. Now that I am in the process of coming off it, I found this video of yours. Both of those made me feel so much better! I feel like my resons to even start SSRI's were very similar to yours, the dosage and timeline is pretty much the same and I have almost identical side effects as well so .. thank you for sharing all of this and making it a bit less weird and lonely journey 🙏
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I am working up the courage to taper off of Lexapro and the way you talked about your experience coming off of it helped me view the fear of FEELING all the feelings again in a different way.❤
How long have u taking lexapro? I take only 5mg 1 times i cant take the side effect now i want to stop... should i worry about side effects??
I love being clean of all psychiatric drugs!! 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you for sharing your story!!
Amazing videos that reflect my struggles. Antidepressants worked for me for years and now am switching to an SNRI for pain. This take courage 😊
This is so relatable. I have been on an SNRI for YEARS for fibromyalgia and I am just now tapering off. I am feeling nervous about it. Hearing your experience has helped me.
If it helps I was on pristiq for 12 years ( an snri) and tapered with very little issue. Not every story is a horror story. Taper slowly. Slow and steady
@@MrCjchamp I’m about to start slowly tapering off 150mg Pristiq and am terrified so I appreciate this message ❤️
I was on 10mg escitalopram for 4 years and I was tapering at 5mg for over 2 months...I got brain zaps throughout my medication if I even changed the time I took my dose. I constantly felt imbalanced or nauseous. I wont deny it definitely helped with some of my mood swings and anger issues, but I felt trapped with this medication. I accidently went off for 3 days and I went insane quite literally. I needed those damn drugs back in my system or I felt like I would die. I'm struggling physically without them now that my tapering is over...but I'm so thankful to see your video as well as how many others have gone through the same thing. I sometimes wish I never went on them to be honest...I just wonder if I did more damage to myself than good if that makes sense.
I am weaning of Lexapro... After you take 5 mg for 2 months then try and pick one day a week, let's say Thursday not taking the depressant. Let say for 2 weeks. Than pick another day, let's say Monday so now 2 days without taking a depressant ....and so on. Hope this helps us.
@FranTangles read into the 10% method. You need to taper off consistently, 10% each. The gist is: from the current dose, you take out 10% for 1 month. For example: I took 60mg duloxetine -> so I lower the dose by 6 percent to 54mg, by taking out doses.
Not taking your antidepressants once or twice a week doesn't make sense, because you go through sudden withdrawal for always 1-2 days at a time before going back. It is not useful in tapering off.
@@FranTangles If this works for you, awesome. But i don't recommend others doing this without speaking to your doctor. Discontinuation symptoms will be worse after 3 days because of the half life of the tablets.
Yeh just don't do this 😅
Your valuable exprience helped me alot😍 Mom,you are a lifesaver!❤
Psilocybin mushrooms and psychedelics, as a whole, have shown substantial promise as beneficial agents that can truly aid individuals grappling with mental health difficulties.
I totally agree! Psilocybin mushrooms and psychedelics in general have shown great potential in helping people with mental health issues. It's truly remarkable how effective they can be in treating depression and anxiety.
I can say dr.melvinshrooms is the man for you.
dr.melvinshrooms has pure psychedelics products-:
Yeah. He is dr.melvinshrooms
Yeah,
he also offers anonymous delivery if that's a concern for you.
Oh wow! I'm so happy I found your video, my experience is almost identical and I'm on the stage where I'm about to start weaning off escitalopram, thank you for your very detailed explanation, I know each body is different, but it's so relieving to hear your experience and how much I can relate. Thank you Amanda, really!
I'm so glad it's helpful. Wishing you all the best.
How long were on on it? Did it help? Why are you getting off of it? Thanks in advance
@@AmandaMusedid you experience weird head sensations pressure at temples when coming off ?
Great video, ive been taking escitalopram for 3 years and last week i decided to quit full cold turkey. Im currently sitting with some very unpleasant brain zaps, and i really needed to hear these things from someone else. Now i feel like i am able to push through these upcomming days of going cold turkey from antidepressants. Thank you!
So nice to not feel alone! I’ve always been a thin person, but after being on sertraline for roughly 16 months, I definitely notice that I constantly think about food and I’ve gained about one pant size. Size 00-0 to more 0-2 now, which I know is not “big,” but it’s really messing with my mental health as someone with dysmorphia/ disordered eating struggles. I’ve also noticed that I just don’t have the motivation to work out anymore like I used to. Increased appetite + decreased motivation to workout = bad combo. I am beginning to wean off. I was only on 25 mg the whole time, but now splitting the pill in half. Plan is to be very slow about it - do 1/2 pill for at least the next 4-6 months. Great video!
Boy that's my life everyday and I'm not on meds. So what's wrong with me??
This was so beautifully done, Amanda! My experience with SSRIs seems to mimic yours. I’m about a year in and have really started to notice the numbed out feeling. I have always been a very high highs, very low lows type of person, so while the level of stress that can bring has subsided, so has the joy of the human experience. I am in the process of weaning now and it’s encouraging to hear the good and the bad as well as the “light at the end of the tunnel” sort of message this conveys. If possible, I would love to see a video from you specific to the non-medication ways you look after your mental health. I think it would be incredibly helpful to have and reference when needed! Thank you for the light you put into the world! 💛
Thank you for sharing! This is a great idea for a video. I’m going to start working on this.
Always such relatable and helpful content. ❤️❤️
Glad you think so!
I appreciate you sharing! I remember seeing your video about starting them last year. I actually just started taking Sertraline and came specifically to re-watch your antidepressants video. It's great to see the follow up. I hope this tool works for me to get out of the rut. It's good to know what to expect when I am ready to go off.
Wishing you success on your journey.
Nicely worded explaination. Thank you
Thank you so much for this! Absolutely love your energy ❤
Awww I love listing to your story I too am suffering form depression and trouble trying to get out of it. Yes your correct workouts help.
I just love you Amanda! You are a blessing really. I stumbled on your video on weaning your baby, as I tried to start yesterday night and my baby was not having it. I and my baby were at a tug of war till I saw ur video, I laffed, and breastfed my baby back to sleep knowing I wasn't alone. Especially seeing that you cosleep too..... Seeing your 9 years time video this morning, I jumped at it cos I just wanted to see the changes that may have occurred in that sweet angelic lady I just met...... You are just as graceful I just love your person!
Thank you so much!
Currently considering going off Luvox, which I have been for the past 6 months. Certainly found this video very insightful. Thanks a bunch!!!
So so glad you decided against benzos. Withdrawal is HELL. First-hand experience here. Your video is very informative and relatable! Thanks for helping others become more informed. I love how you say that they helped until they stopped helping. So very true! There's definitely a place for antidepressants and also a time to discontinue them for many people.
Oh yes! I think more folks need to hear that it’s not necessarily a forever thing to be on meds. Thank you for sharing.
How did you come of benzo😊?
Also Slow taper?
@@andersbunemann7169 taper and addition of Sertraline. It took me a while tho. Time is the biggest thing . I'd also recommend cardiovascular exercise.
Antidepressants can derange your insulin metabolism. Your withdrawal symptoms were relatively short-lived because your'e lucky, not because of acupressure beads in your ears. Good to hear you're feeling so much better.
Also withdrawal probably easier if on meds less than a year. For people on meds for years, need to withdraw with a very very slow taper, possibly over a year or more
I second that Dawn said - I was on meds for almost 1 year, so coming off of them was easier than someone who has been taking them for years.
PERFECT! What a beautiful and amazing video and a 30-minute piece of content! wow.
Thank you for putting in the time, effort, and patience into every single word that came out of your mouth, you are so brave dear @AmandaMuse
Keep going - you're doing great! =)
This is extremely helpful. I stopped mine that helped for a few years. Life is better and i want to give it a try! Thank you so much
You can do it!
This video is so validating. Thank you so much. ❤️
I finally broke down and saw my doctor recently. I knew something had to change and so I am just starting this RX journey and found this video to be very informative. It can be scary but still glad there are options and hope to get to a better place soon.
❤️ hope you're doing well.
I'm trying to wean down my escitalopram, but not off of it, because it has been so helpful for me. I've been on bupropion too, to help manage some (sexual) side effects, but it hadn't entirely worked, so hopefully working my way to a lower dose will be a better balance for me.
I'm gonna stay on bupropion, but if I have mainly anxiety symptoms and it turns out to be anxiety and not escitalopram causing my side effects, and I start getting more frequent/secret panic attacks again I'm gonna try to talk to my doctor again.
What you said in this video is so accurate. I am also going off these now and I experienced the weight gain and what not, just like you. Thank you for this video and this information.
Wishing you all the best.
I really needed to see this to make me realise I’m not alone in this journey!❤ I’ve wanted to stop taking these for soooo long, but I struggle the withdrawals are insane I need to start slowly down on them !
Definitely speak to your doctor about a tapering plan, it’s hard but it’s worth it.
@@AmandaMuse most drs I’ve seen say to stop them cold turkey, which is so not good everyone knows you can’t just do that as the side effects are so bad,
I have been told by one dr to half my pill to slowly cut down on them I can’t wait to start to feel again, and just in general I’m ready
10% a month using drops.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing all of this. I'm experiencing the brain zaps 100% (on day 4 of nothing in my system after the tapering process) so this makes me feel heard! I completely agree with feeling things on such a high level right now, extra emotional. But I know this is a process and you have helped to reiterate that.
Hey,i just took it for 12 days and i am quitting it due to orgasm issues,will these issues be permanent?
I only take 5mg for 1 day and now i stop should i worry??
@@flynngavin4410 no, nothing will happen,i took for 2 weeks,then stopped, nothing happened
@@HassanShahid915_ really???
@@HassanShahid915_ with lexapro?? Thank you thank thank you!!!!! You just calm me down good sir thank you so much!!
Great video! I’m currently weaning off of citalopram. I was on it for 14 months because I had extreme anxiety, fear and sadness from living and caregiving my elderly mother. I realized that I was storing all my negative emotions in my body and they locked in there, even though I wasn’t triggered as easily. I couldn’t even release my stuck-in-the-body sadness by watching a movie and crying because only a few drops came out. 😢 so I’m getting off of it with the help of my nurse. I’m having bad headaches and waves of irritability. And my body is very tired. I want to feel my feelings again. I don’t caregive or live with mother anymore, so that stress is gone. ❤ I’m going to start swimming outside this weekend. That’s what makes me super happy and helps release stuck emotions.
How are you doing now? I’m trying to help my ex gf get off of them
@@joebejarano2094I’m on half dosage. Only 5mg but I’m finding that I have to take a lot of cbd to stay calm because I’m going through my deceased mother’s things now.
Best feeling ever is to start to feel like yourself again coming off of Zolof. I Can sneeze, I Can eat, I can sleep, I can feel my body and not feel numb all the time in my head and body. I relate to all your symptoms the brain zaps are the worst
I want to go off sertraline but my Dr said no. It's only been a year and the Dr put me on it because my husband died of colon cancer. I was sad about him dying but I couldn't cry because of the drug. This isn't fair. I need to cry and get it out. God gave us tears for a reason. I just wanted to know how to taper off.
As a retired nurse your doctor can’t tell you what you have to take! It’s your body and your choice. You have the right to refuse any medication or treatment. To wean off depends on the dose you’re on. I’m not a doctor so this isn’t giving you any medical advice. When I did it I was on 75mg. daily. I decreased by 25mg. every 4 weeks. My doctor recommended every 4 to 6 weeks, I choose 4 weeks. I had been on it for over 15 years. After each decrease about 3 days after I went through 3 to 4 days of symptoms ie:anxiety, nausea, chills, insomnia, brain zaps, intense anger, crying, etc. After the last dose and nothing else was being added to my system it took about 6 weeks for it calm down. Your brain has to learn how to make serotonin again red x , I I’m a Christian women and when I say anger I mean anger! I cursed everyone out all day long then cried along with all the other symptoms. I just hit the 6 weeks and I’m not doing too bad. Finding the balance is hard. I still have anger, but when it’s appropriate. lol. But self control works. Learning about yourself and why you made the mistakes and decisions in the past helped me to understand how to go forward without the medication. For me prayer is how I get through it and past my triggers. Instead of blaming myself for everything and all of self loathing I had when I started the medication, I’ve learned a lot. The last week I was so bad I almost went to 1/2 dose, but I wasn’t to start over. Best wishes on on stopping
I'm tapering off zoloft as of today. I miss my old self. I noticed the "numb" and zombie like feeling recently. That's what made me decide to taper off. Thank you for this video!
Hi I just started my half dose this week and I am struggling with it already, I’d love to hear how you are doing after one month? We need more support groups for this kind of thing
What about weightgain while on zoloft
@@keransohail9590 I gained almost 30 pounds. So yep!
@lucywright3312 sorry I didn't see this. I've gotten off zoloft, went to prozac. I'm now off ssris. Feel SO MUCH better. Finally got my adhd diagnosis, on the proper adhd meds and my life has changed so much within the last few months.
I agree. I wish more people would be open about this!
Today Is my first day trying to ween down. This video is the best video I could have found that motivated me to do so. The numb feeling is horrible. I want to feel again!
I appreciate your video. I am in the process of coming off SSRI'S after 15 years under the supervision of my Dr. 2 weeks in and I can actually feel again. I was watching some sweet animal videos on CZcams lately and I actually felt an emotional response. It was so cute I welled up tears (in a good way) I'm starting to feel a little more human again.
Congratulations on getting off the meds! I’m 11 days Paxil free and I’m feeling so much better! I was on it for 10 months. I quit cold turkey because it seemed like my body was rejecting the medication and I got a panic attack half an hour after taking it so I stopped it completely out of fear of getting another panic attack if I take it again. The first 5-6 days was horrible. I was even getting vertigo in the first week which is a side effect. But I kept myself busy with work and my hobbies. Now I don’t feel any withdrawal symptoms except a little bit of vertigo that lasts a couple seconds but it’s starting to go away day by day. I thought the symptoms were going to last a long time but it’s almost gone and I’m glad because taking medications is the last thing that I would want to do take to heal myself when we have fruits and vegetables as our natural medicine
That's so great! i'm happy for you! i was on 3-4 different kinds of antidepressants for almost a year and a half on and off. i also stopped recently (Aug 6.) i'm experiencing really bad insomnia. the first week i stopped drinking the meds, i couldnt't sleep a wink for about 2 weeks! it gradually got better tho. i've been sleeping 4-6 hours a day now. i still don't get sleepy or tired, but i'm glad i can sleep now.
i know u're not supposed to stop cold turkey but i just HAD to because it affected my eating. it made me feel really bloated so i wasn't eating much. now that i'm off then, i've been getting my appetite back.
reading comments like yours make me feel less lonely. i'm sorry you went through this, but i'm happy you're better. 💖
I’m glad you’re better now! I’m 41 days Paxil free and I feel like myself again. Hope you’re doing alright and keep up with staying off the meds
Thanks for sharing and being vulnerable 💕
Always!
Wow!!! You hit the nail on the head. I’ve been on Zoloft for about 15 plus years for clinical depression, anxiety and PTSD. I decided a few months ago I wanted to start tapering off and about 3 weeks ago I started with not taking anything and about 3 days in at zero dosage it hit the fan! I’m a bit better tonight, but it’s like someone opened the floodgates to 20 years of emotions, hurt, pain, and a whole lot of anger! More things than I could handle alone, I’ve been trying to talk to my sister and it helps some. I’m know it will pass , but again WOW!!! The things I thought I had put behind me, had let go of, even being so angry made me angry. And then there are all of the things, crying, nausea, dizziness, the brain zaps, etc. I’m generally a very easy going, laid back, loving, caring person. Right now I can’t stand me. I was starting to think I was losing my mind. Thank you so very much for this video! One difference is now I have an appetite whereas on the medication I had no appetite, slept a lot,no energy to do anything. But I also have severe arthritis and fibromyalgia so my movement is very limited. And now I have a lot of insomnia. Thank you again for the video. 💜
Sincerely, thank you so much for sharing.
I appreciate you sharing your journey; it's really valuable for others in similar circumstances. I've been on Paxil at 37.5mg for about 7 months, which led to several issues. Now, my doctors have recommended a tapering approach, gradually reducing to 25mg, then to 12.5mg, while introducing 10mg of vortioxetine at the same time.
I'm looking forward to being free from antidepressants. Initially, I was quite apprehensive after reading various online accounts about long-lasting side effects. Your story, however, has offered me a glimmer of hope and encouragement to discontinue these medications.
The reason why you felt little symptoms dropping half the first two weeks is Dose effects are important; using citalopram as an example, halving the dose from 60 mg to 30 mg reduces the pharmacological activity at the SERT transporter only by a couple of percentage points.
Dose reductions at the bottom end of the dose range have a much larger effect, and this is where care is needed.
Tapering should be parabolic not linear
Thanks for sharing. Your last video really inspired me to try actually starting meds after being prescribed years ago but never started. But this video has me worried again about the withdrawals. Seeing many people say that just want to feel like their old selves is interesting especially since that seems initially like what made them feel they needed the meds to begin with. I would love to see an update from this video from you.
I think looking at meds as a temporary solution to help you get up to a level where you can try life without them is perhaps a good perspective. I definitely need to do another video. Coming soon xo.
Thank you for this video, you have no idea how much it helps to know you’re not alone.. ❤️ I was on Antidepressants for over two years and I finally decided it was time to come off. On May 21st, 2023 I came off cold turkey. I’m day 26 without medication. I’m still struggling, especially with anxiety. I’m so overwhelmed and I’m feeling so many emotions that I’ve been numb to for over two years. I’m reminding myself that it’s going to take some time to heal & have my serotonin produce normally again. Some days I want to run back but hearing other peoples stories and struggles reminds me that this is normal and I’m not alone. It gives me hope & motivation. So again, thank you for sharing your journey, it definitely helps others. And congratulations to you on you’re journey! 💕 anyone reading this just know you are not alone, we are capable & this to shall pass. May God bless you all & his peace abound in you.
Thanks for sharing. I'm currently going through withdrawal symptoms, anxiety and panic attacks are the worst. I actually ended up in the emergency room twice thinking I was dying 😢
Oof cold turkey is really tough, I hope you're starting to feel better. Wishing you all the best on your weaning journey.
@@AmandaMuse thank you! 💛
Why did you stop cold turkey?
@@judymahabir899 I’m just now seeing this, I hope you are doing better & all is well 🤍 it’s definitely a hard journey!
Thank you so much for sharing your story 🫂✨
i feel so grateful i found your video. i quit my med completely one week ago and the physical withdrawal symptoms have been taking the best of me. it bothers me a lot and i wish i didnt had em. aaand as i dont know any person that has quit those meds i didnt have anyone witb experience to talk to. thank you ❤
It’s rough for a bit…can’t deny that but, but I’m here on the other side and am doing so well. Wishing the same for you!
Your video was super helpful. 🙏
Off of Effexor after being on Anti depressants for over 27 years… omg. Did not know what to expect 😅 it is definitely not for the weak of heart. Crying, major irritability, anger impatience and quick temper! Boy hoping it’ll get a little easier but detox is a really major trauma in itself. Did not know enough to put 2 & 2 together until,I found websites like this. WhT a help. Thank u. I feel a little better now just knowing that this is my body, brain and emotions DETOXING off of all,of this RX
It took me 6 months to taper off. Terrible withdrawal.
I started generic Prozac around the same time you started, like August 2021. It was supposed to be just about a temporary thing until I could get my finances together. Well, two years later and they still aren’t under control. So it’s a little disheartening that I probably have about another year before things will actually be stable.
But thanks for posting this video. I feel a little less “broken” knowing someone else was able to thread the needle like you’ve done. 👍🏻
Thank you thank you THANK YOU for sharing your experience! I have been on Cipralex (escitalopram) for 12 and a half years, and am currently tapering off. I tried to come off of them a bit faster about 6 months ago and had the worst symptoms I'd ever felt (intense brain zaps, headaches, depersonalization, nightmares) and had to go back on it again. I was only on 10mg as well and really struggled with the drop from 5mgs to 0mg. I'm tapering much slower this time, and will be doing 2.5mg as my last dose (for about 3 weeks before fully dropping to 0mg) - in order to try and avoid the symptoms. But seeing this video has given me hope that I CAN and WILL come off of these and that I can survive whatever symptoms end up showing up again lol. Thank you for this 💖
Wishing you all the best! I’m fairly certain the length of time on medication can impact the weaning process. Keep me posted on how it works for you 💕
All of a sudden I started to get agitated and was going to call my dr right up to go back on antidepressants when I came across your video. Made me rethink that I still may be having withdrawal symptoms. Covid hit me in the midst of the withdrawal process and I thought all my problems were related to that.
At 19:51 your explanation of the graph of off/on SSRIs is exactly how I’ve described it. I can’t get super sad/mad but also can’t be super happy/excited. Im on week 3 of probably my 4th time trying to get off this crap.
Well after watching this I really feel like I’ve screwed up my whole life taking antidepressants since I was about 20 yrs. old. Ugh. I really think I did not have a good support system, etc. In all of these years of taking them I go through periods of thinking I can reduce the amount slowly and do xyz to stop taking them. I was never successful because I would always end up in a major depressive episode after about 6 months of tapering off them. I am glad you had good perspective and good reasoning, judgement when you began and tapered off it. I am very interested in hearing about someone’s journey that has taken them for a longer amount of time and been successful getting off them. It would be inspiring to know if it is possible.
I've messed up my whole life taking rjfm from not feeling, now I'm off them the trauma is so great from the realisation of what I've done I'm in shock and trauma every day. I split up with my children's dad when baby was 2 months old,then had to go back to work when he was 4 months old so I could keep house,the pain of hanging my children over to his mum so I could work instead of me looking after my own children is vile. I kept making impulsive decisions for 10 years, ruining friendships, relationships, left me job. Nearly losing my children Now. I should never have gone on them . Now I've nearly lost everything coming off them again. You need a supportive family who can take over and keep you safe if you do chose to come off them. I think I have to go back on them just so I don't feel this and lose my children. Good luck ❤️
Thanks for sharing Amanda!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m just starting my antidepressant journey due to anxiety and panic attacks. I also have health anxiety. I worry about coming off of them but I’m trying to not think about that since I’m just starting out.
Thank you! This video helped me a lot!!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Many are deficient in vitamin D (which is really a hormone), which is associated with depression and anxiety. It's important to take vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 with a fat for proper absorption.
Nice assessment of your experience. Hopefully for Hubby, your libido will come back full strength. Lord knows, the late 40’s aren’t too far away. Better get it all while the gettin is good!
Super helpful! Thank you - I’m 4 days in coming off xx
I’m also on day 4 of 0mg. Wishing you luck 😊
Thank you for sharing it. ❤ it's helpful to me.
you’re so pretty and the only person i see that can really rock that haircut! and your smile ❤❤❤
Thank you so much!
Hi guys! Thank you so much for the video Amanda, it was really helpful for me, also thank you for all of the helpful comments, it really helps when people who have similar experiences help each other.
I have a situation which I would appreciate some advice with. I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 15 and have been on Sertraline for the last 7 years. For a while I have been on 150mg a day and have kept this amount consistent.
However, a few things have happened recently. My family have been through a lot of trauma and our lives were uprooted for a while, so lately I haven’t had much advice on my medication and have felt a little alone about what the best thing to do is. As well as this, when I went to visit family for Christmas, I went down with a bad fever and because of feeling quite ill and not 100%, I forgot to bring my pills back with me. I only realised this when I got back home, and the doctors I was registered with said they couldn’t send an emergency supply to me, and when my family tried to send me my pills it didn’t get delivered and I’ve only just found out they went to the local post office. All of this has caused quite a few problems for me.
As a result of all of this, I’ve now unwillingly been off sertraline cold turkey for just under a week and don’t know what to do. I’m experiencing quite severe symptoms such as full-body and head jolts, nausea, anxiety, being light headed, feeling shaky and restless, feeling dizzy and faint, panic attacks, loosing my appetite, fever symptoms like shaking, a little bit of mania (not feeling in control of my emotions), at one point struggling to focus and concentrate on my speech, feeling overwhelmed and not being grounded and calm.
I’ve done some research, and know you can get severe symptoms when coming off SSRI’s cold turkey (as well as coming off it gradually), but you can also get more symptoms and trigger yourself by going back on medication after coming off them.
Hence, I don’t know what to do and am feeling quite scared and trapped about the whole situation, as these symptoms could potentially last up to a few weeks, but going back on medication could cause even more side effects.
I didn’t want any of this to happen, and coming off cold turkey was out of my control, but I have to deal with this situation I’m in now the best I can.
In light of this, I would really appreciate any advice or tips that may help me during this time. Does anyone have any knowledge or past experience that could potentially make what I’m going through easier?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and help in any way you can.
I hope everyone’s process of coming off SSRI’s is going well!
Rhi :))
I am facing this
I left medicine in December now i am feel more more worse i am also thinking to take medicine again because my symptoms come back and they are severe my back of head i mean brain soo much weird even can’t explain sometime i dont under is it withdrawal or something else but i am try to tolerate…
Thank you for this video ❤
I've been on Lexapro/Escitalopram since 2005. Started out on 5 mg, then 10, and now 20 mg. A couple years ago I tried weaning myself off. I thought I was doing good by cutting my dose down every couple of weeks until I got hit by a major panic attack - end of the world type. Of course I tried doing this in the middle of Covid and didn't use any vitamins or supplements like other videos have said to do. I tried quitting cold turkey once also and dealt with the brain zaps and couldn't handle the emotional overload.
I too fight for motivation on a daily - vitamins, minerals, nitric oxide boosters, coffee, etc...
I intend to try to wean off again, but this time while taking 5 htp and the vitamins and minerals to help my body create the serotonin that it needs.
Congrats to those that have succeeded and good luck to those on the journey to get off antidepressants.
Thank you for sharing this positive video I am going through everythings that you going through I just want to come off my an depression .
Wow, thank you for sharing 🙏🏾
Amanda, your video is lovely and I’m glad you are speaking about this. However, I am a health care provider and AND any drug that causes withdrawal means that it is addictive or your body becomes dependent. Plus don’t sugar coat it like the manufacturers do. And most providers don’t know because they’ve never taken the drug themselves! I’m finding this out with beta blockers too. Don’t ever miss a dose, it could cause a heart attack! MDs don’t tell you that, because they don’t know that. My PMHNP failed to mention this when she prescribed them for me because my ADHD meds gave me palpitations. I have come off of the ADHD meds. Tapering off of Zoloft. Then need to taper off beta blockers. Providers need to stop handing these out like candy because they are not to be taken lightly. I’m glad they helped you and I’m glad you were able to eventually get your body off of them. 😊
I tried to wean off of beta- blocker and went into SVT
I quit Paxil and Adderall in late August after using them for 25+ years and now I'm back to being the spiritual me that I seemed to have lost a long long time ago. Now I've quit pot ganja for the past 30 days as well and I can actually truly meditate for the first time in years and feel so much better and good. Quit the meds for 30 days as a meds breaks but continued and feel awesome. Should have done it years ago. It wasn't easy quitting them but this is the new me and I feel its a positive change for the better.
No no. Do not ever go cold turkey please. I have tried that. It was day 5 and I started feeling severe symptoms. Brain zaps, extreme feeling of loneliness and depression, feeling sad for the mistakes that I did and feeling sad for some family members etc (weird and so unpleasant feelings briefly). Now we made a quitting plan with a close relative and I am sticking to it.
I don’t know why you would stop cold turkey. You could get seizures
Yep, headache, nausea, weird appetite stuff, brain zaps for sure. But I’m committed to getting off and dealing with this naturally. THANK YOU for detailing this out
In my case I’m not sure that the pills are or have been helping. I did not know much about depression or the causes in my case when I went on them, and I have learned SO much since then that I’m hoping I can manage without them
Currently tapering off Sertraline that I’ve been on for 18 months. Was on 100mg now 50mg and can already feel a lot of symptoms so coming down further is gonna be a heavy process but one I’m anxiously excited about trying. Hearing your experiences was so validating though in every stage so thank you for sharing ❤
how are you doing?
How are you now? How slow you reducing?
10% a month.
9 months later and I’m off sertraline and on duloxetine instead. So far it’s working amazingly for me. Sertraline withdrawal is no joke but so worth it :)
What are the ear things you mentioned? What do they do and where do you get them if I wanted to?? I just found this video and I’m definitely going to go back and watch all of your videos. Thanks❤
I’m going through extreme nausea at the moment but I’m hoping to see the light soon lol. I even had pregnancy tests that’s how bad it’s been! And I tapered off so slowly. I’m just about to hit 2 weeks off of it. Im wondering if anyone experienced extreme fatigue? I slept for 17 hours twi days after with zero in my system, but that’s when the nausea began. Im still experiencing very bad fatigue. I can relate with the hunger loss wow. Thank you for your video as it’s comforting. Lots of love and take care!
Thanks so much for sharing, been debating for a while and honestly doubt that all the struggles, side effects are going to piss me off more than anxiety does. Your videos really gave me some good insight. I wonder if it can help me temporarily to get my life back on track without being overwhelmed, and then be able to have the tools to do it myself, Really trying to bring meditation back also. Thanks so much!
It's a journey to come off the meds, but now that I'm on the other side, I'm glad I did it. Best of luck to you!
Thank you so much for this video! I’m very similar to you in so many ways.
I’m on day 1 after 5 days of Wellbutrin hell. It’s worse than adderall for me! I felt so anxious and scared it started to make me lose all appetite and could only focus on being anxious.
Now I don’t feel my heart popping out of my chest and I can actually take a calm deep breath.
I’ve also turned to prayer and meditation to help my brain. I know I’m healing and it might not be with hardcore meds.
I still have to take trazedone for sleep and Ativan to stay asleep. I know once the spring comes I can start to get out of the meds hoping the sun can regulate my sleep
Thank you for your video!
I'm coming off Lexapro. It's been 2 weeks.
I still have low motivation to move and it's hard to move. I gained 7-8 kilos and can't get rid of it yet but I hope I will manage to lose that weight. But I noticed I don't experience that hunger anymore.
I'm more into going out to museums and beaches, the things I love but I didn't enjoy on Lexapro.
I have had severe headaches after I changed from 10mg to 5 mg but I didn't have many issues after I jumped from 5mg to 2.5.
I hope I'll be my old self soon
Thank you for sharing your story, I’m happy to hear that we are on the same medication. Mine of course a higher dose. I have been on mine since I was 15 in high school, I am now almost 23. I have decided to stop taking mine because I feel like I no longer need it, with the help of Jesus I believe I can do it. I have struggled so hard in the past to stop taking it, but now I feel that with my faith in Jesus anything is possible and I’m trying again. I do not want to take this medication my whole life, I have hit my point where I do feel numb and have no sex drive and feel like I don’t need a medication to make me happy. Thank you so much.
Wishing you all the best
I had to come across this today, I'm so so tired, will this horrible feeling ever stop. Being pregnant with no appetite and nausea from both pregnancy and withdrawal is just so tiring. I'm going to listen to this over and over again.
I have been feeling so alone! I greatly appreciate running across your comment.
I've been diagnosed wirh hyperthyroidism that comes with severe anxiety and panic. April 2021, I took my first tablet of antidepressant. Now, I still do. It's more than a year since then. One time, I forgot to take a tablet and I had really bad headache, dizziness, and just bad gut. I was just in bed and almost couldn't function. It was terrible. And that, I knew, it'll be a bumpy ride if ever my doctor finally decides to stop it.
Good luck to me. My next checkup is on the 23rd of September. Part of me is happy to cut this expense which can get really expensive in my country, but I'm not ready for the withdrawal.
It’s really hard but I found knowing it was going to be hard was really helpful to keep going. Best of luck to you!