Oh, I withdrew from Prozac and Lithium all at one time. I started to eliminate the Lithium first by about half. The doctor wanted a blood test, which came in as "extremely low." That is when I jumped off all together, firing the psychiatrist, and dumping all the drugs, cold turkey, at once. I was dopy for about a week, then started feeling "normal" again. I would not suggest anyone who has been on them for a long time, like over 2 years, to do anything like that. Your method sounds better than mine. I also began taking quite a list of over the counter vitamins and co-factors, which I will slowly cut down on as well.
Animalier “ withdraw does not consider someone an addict, withdrawal is only one criteria of the many in the DSM for addiction. Most importantly does it disrupt psychosocial functionality, are you stressing about it. “ Dr carl hart
I have been on zoloft for just over 10 years. Marriage breakdown, Loss of my mother, retiring from a stressful work environment. Started on 100mg of Zoloft and went up to 150mg, 125gm and Now going down to 100 slowly over the last 3 months. Occasional brain zaps and lots of headaches lately. I am determined to wean off Zoloft completely and reward myself with a healthy diet, regular exercise, mindfulness, Yoga and meditation.
I successfully tapered from 8 years of Cymbalta 60mg. It took me about 15 months to complete the taper. This was the hardest thing I've ever done. In fact, I'd rather have my kids all over again (pregnancy, delivery, and recovery). One thing I'd like to pass along is be prepared for family or friends to raise a fuss once you start feeling emotions again. They are used to you being numb and a bit of a pushover. You will need to follow Tip #6 and get that support or therapy lined up because stuff like this will eventually happen.
Tapering off cymbalta myself right now. It does help my anxiety but it makes me so goddamn tired. To the point where I don't want to get out of bed I mean it's that bad it's ridiculous I have to fight to keep my eyes open. I've heard horror stories about the drug but then again I recently went through Prozac withdrawal in the last few months and they say that that one is the least severe withdrawal symptoms let me tell you for me it was b******* I had panic attacks I had a racing heartbeat I had everything so I don't trust this scientific evidence. Currently on my third day of tapering taking the drug every other day for a week and then next week I'm going to take it every 3 days and then hopefully I'll be done with it and I'll be fine but it hasn't helped me at all it's just laid me up in bed. How are you doing and how did you do the withdrawal do you have any tips? I'm definitely going to start eating better. In fact it's quite odd ever since being on cymbalta I crave junk food all the time and I never eat junk food it has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks for not asking me to like and subscribe- I really appreciate seeing a real human now and then on CZcams whose motivations are not egotistically or monetarily based!
Omg, same here. I was on 150mg of effexor for 7 years (worst 7 years of my life). I'm now on day 3 of detoxing and the only problem I'm having so far is the dizziness. How are you feeling now that it's been a month?
FYI, my symptoms are much much better. I'm doing pretty good and don't feel the side effects anymore. To all you out there keep on hanging on, it will get better.
I've read through many of the comments before making mine . I'm a 54 yr old woman who has/had been on Paxil (30 mg) for 10 or so yrs . Like many here , I've tried to get off them before but returned due to side effects . NOT THIS TIME ! I have been off "cold turkey" for about 2 months . Through reading the comments and watching the vid , I didn't realize that some of what I'm going through is withdrawing . ei: cold/hot , losing balance , feeling weak or "fluish" , nausea , dizzy . I did know the "zaps""zings" were from stopping the pills . For me the zaps / zings are the worst of the withdraw . In the head and down the right arm/ hand for me . I was put on these God awful meds for PMS problems which were severe for 10 days a month . Rage , homicidal/suicidal thoughts / feelings . Due to allot of tragedies in my life , may have been a factor too . I do not know but after starting them , I went through menopause and within 4 yrs (at 48) stopped having my period . That,s young to finish menopause . I've decided to get off them for one , am tired of feeling "dead" inside . For me there has been a whole change in WHO I am since taking Paxil . I used to have a great sense of humour . I was creative ei: writing poetry , art . This Nazi med took "me" away . I had no motivation to do ANYTHING . Numb but at the same time felt all this pain inside that never stopped . Numb I say because I couldn't .. COULDN'T ever cry and THINK . My father died last yr . My mother-in-law died 2 months later . 2 cousins have died in the past yr also and not ONE TEAR could I shed ! Since stopping this Nazi pill , I ball like a baby at the simplest things like a sad song and ... it feels GREAT !!! I am no Dr . I'm only giving MY testimony here . I will fight through these withdrawal symptoms because I want ME back . I want to laugh , love , LIVE again . I've had much tragedy in my life too which may have played a part in my anger / depression . These are " outside forces" that can be dealt with WITHOUT meds . God Bless you all in your journey back to YOU ! Prayers for you and hopefully prayers for me .
Thanks, Summer, for this wonderful, informative video on wd from SSRI's. I totally agree on doing the taper very slowly and around your life. I tapered from Lexapro over an 8 month period with very few symptoms, until 3 weeks after I came off it entirely. That was 5 months ago and I would not recommend going off an SSRI in fall or winter. I would have waited until spring when I can be outside in the sunshine to help with the winter blahs. I have had a really rough winter with many symptoms, and that was after tapering very slowly. Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing. I'm on 100mg Zoloft. Started over 3 years ago on 50mg for anxiety and mild depression, then eventually increased dose due to increased depression. My PCP prescribed it for me. I've been thinking about getting off my medication for a few months now as I feel like it helps me, but I also feel like I've become numb and lost motivation to do things. I'm not sad, just a lazy unmotivated sloth now. And obese. Plus I want kids someday and I'd rather not be on medication if I can help it. I'm so scared I'm going to "turn into" the person I was before. I get anxiety thinking about getting anxiety once I'm off the medicine, lol. I think I need to find a psychologist to work with me so I can learn how to help myself deal with the issues that put me on the medication in the first place. I don't want to be on this the rest of my life.
You are a very smart woman. Thanks for all the good advice you give! You definitely know what you are talking about. I did just like you did and reduced the dosage very slowly. Took me 42 weeks before the last pill. Nevertheless it took me 2 years before I could feel like my true self again. I was on Celexa for 12 years. I think that most of us - and I mean it! - don’t need antidepressants. Let’s resolve our problems by taking them seriously enough to figure out the proper solutions.
Lisette Bordeleau , it feels great to hear you say that. Six years ago, I saw a psychiatrist because I had not been able to sleep for about 3 days. And the doctor prescribed me this medicine along with another narcotics. I have been hooked to it though I take the half of 7.5 mg.
I’ve been on citalopram for 15 years and really want to come off due to sexual side effects. I tried switching to Wellbutrin by tapering down the dose and starting Wellbutrin but was a disaster. I think I felt the side effects of Wellbutrin PLUS citalopram withdrawals. I’ve been on 40 mg mostly but there have been times in my life when I took 20 for extended periods and did well. Im thinking of trying to be on 20 mg now as I’m switching back from Wellbutrin and had already gone down to 10 of citalopram. Any words of advice??
can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 I dont wanna regret in future
Thank you so much for this video. I've been reducing now for the last four months slowly by tiny amounts and that works for me. Like you said when you do reduce you know what to expect after been doing a while with experiencing certain days symptoms. Reduce but time your time.
Thank you Summer, I went off antidepressants rapidly and felt the original symptoms come back. Possibly this was part of withdrawal and I found myself back onthe same path. I will try again with your help! Much Gratitude!
Thanks for the video. informative. Weaning off SSRI did make me feel unconfortable, but not horrible. Did and still do have some brain zap, nausea, odd feeling in my body, fatigue. Have been of completeling for 2 weeks now
Recommend no more than a 2-5% taper every 2-4 weeks. This is EXTREMELY important. Many times, withdrawal is delayed so you may be doing large cuts and feel great, actually better than ever but just be blindsided with severe, debilitating withdrawal weeks or months later and at that point it's often too late to reinstate so it's a waiting game. Please be aware most doctors follow old tapering guidelines and the majority going through withdrawal did follow their doctors tapering advice. Healthcare practitioners; in fact, most people-- are operating from entirely the wrong paradigm, or way of thinking, about these meds. They're thinking of them like aspirin--as something that has an effect when it's in your system, and then when it gets out of your system the effect goes away. That's not what happens with medications that alter neurotransmitter function, we are learning. What happens when you change the chemistry of the brain is, the brain adjusts its chemistry and structure to try to return to homeostasis, or biochemical and functional balance. It tries to restabilize the chemistry. For example: SSRI antidepressants work as "serotonin reuptake inhibitors." That is, they cause serotonin to remain in the space between neurons, rather than being taken back up into the cells to be re-used, like it would be in a normal healthy nondrugged brain. So the brain, which wants to re-establish normal signaling and function, adapts to the higher level of serotonin between neurons (in the "synapse", the space between neurons where signals get passed along. It does this by removing serotonin receptors, so that the signal is reduced and changed to something closer to normal. It also decreases the amount of serotonin it produces overall. To do that, genes have to be turned on and off; new proteins have to be made; whole cascades of chemical reactions have to be changed, which means turning on and off OTHER genes; cells are destroyed, new cells are made; in other words, a complex physiologic remodeling takes place. This takes place over time. The brain does not grow and change rapidly. This is a vast oversimplification of the amount of adaptation that takes place in the brain when we change its normal chemistry, but that's the principle." "When we stop taking the drug, we have a brain that has designed itself so that it works in the presence of the drug; now it can't work properly without the drug because it's designed itself so that the drug is part of its chemistry and structure. It's like a plant that has grown on a trellis; you can't just yank out the trellis and expect the plant to be okay. When the drug is removed, the remodeling process has to take place in reverse. SO--it's not a matter of just getting the drug out of your system and moving on. If it were that simple, none of us would be here. It's a matter of, as I describe it, having to grow a new brain. I believe this growing-a-new-brain happens throughout the taper process if the taper is slow enough. (If it's too fast, then there's not a lot of time for actually rebalancing things, and basically the brain is just pedaling fast trying to keep us alive.) It also continues to happen, probably for longer than the symptoms actually last, throughout the time of recovery after we are completely off the drug, which is why recovery takes so long."
Thank you for your explanation! I have been on Lexapro 20 mg for 15 (?) years, have tried tapering off in the past & failed. Plan to begin my taper again soon. Besides making it a very slow process, do you have suggestions for herbal/supplements/vitamins to helps with the process? TIA
Thanks for the great info and suggestions. I was trying cold turkey, but realize this is not possible for me. Will be trying the 25% reduction method. Thanks again.
I'm currently tapering from Seroquel, after finding out that my cholesterol levels have continue to skyrocket well above 300. I've been on 150 mg since May, but am tapering quickly, as I don't want my levels to go any higher. Plus, I've had issues with my heart rate going up to 180 during my runs, despite going at a MUCH slower pace (although my EKG is normal). I started my taper about a week before Christmas (started with trying 100mg) and now onto 25mg of drug. So far, taper is going well....no negative side effects that I'm aware of, but I did have a "brain zap" on Christmas Day. It didn't hurt, but it caused me to feel sorta "blah" for a bit until my brain felt "normal" again. It was like a flip switched really quick in the right side of my head, and that side of my head felt "lighter" for a bit (super hard to explain), and I may have had a very very slight headache that lasted maybe a minute or two two, but that went away pretty quickly on it's own. At this point, I have some close friends (both off and online) who are aware that I'm tapering, along with my therapist. Hopefully, this will be a smooth (or at least, a fairly smooth) transition off of the medication, and that cholesterol levels will drop to normal, and my heart rate will stop going so high on my runs, so that I can run at a much more decent pace.
Hi. I'm going to try again to get off trintellix. I've been on antidepressants since I was 21, im 62 now. I used the antidepressants but I was also on street drugs and alcohol. So when I was not on antidepressants, I was self medicating with street drugs and alcohol. I've been on many different types of medications so I'm not a newbie to these drugs. I've tried this before with disastrous results. The reason I want to discontinue the drugs is many. 1 reason is the cost of trintellex, ($400 a month). The 2nd reason is my rebellious nature. There's really no need to go down that rabbit hole, let's just say, I'm pissed being trapped by medication and big pharama. Thank you for providing your information. it really helps when you know you're going into battle that others have made it it to victory. So... wish me luck fellow warriors. ;)
Back when I was in the army they had me on Citalopram (Celexa) 40mg. It was prescribed by a physician's assistant working under the supervision of a doctor. I had never met with the PA before and I never met the MD who signed off on the prescription. I was also not assigned a therapist or given any kind of support structure. My command was very prejudice against antidepressants, this pressures a "young me" to stop cold turkey after about 8 weeks on the medication. Discontinuation Syndrome.
I've been taking antibiotics anxiety medication since I was 14. I'm 33 now. I came from an overbearing mother that didn't know that her Anger and abandonment created depression and rage issues within me. So instead of her getting help or quitting her stupid stressful job, I was the one with the problem. I used to have such a creative mind and believe that my lack of clarity has a lot to do with my meds. Sadly I've been through withdrawal for short periods of time, and know that right now is not the time. When I've accomplished my most important goals and feel like I'm in a safe place and have people to support my decision, then I know that I can start the arduous journey of Withdraw of my meds. ❤❤❤❤
I quit zoloft cold turkey in 2009. All I remember is intense itching. Head to toe itching that seemed to be under the skin, so I could not relieve it in any way.
Thank u Summer for an informative and useful video. I am planning to taper off 6 months on Venlafaxine /Efflexor. Your tips are very helpful. All the best!
Margie, Avoid tapering off abruptly. Reduce medication to the lowest power and then inform the physician how you feel. To prevent any relapse do the following===Reduce negative thoughts. Its quite simple. Your breath is directly related to your mind [brain] causing negative thoughts-anxiety For a relaxed life sit on a chair, back erect, hands on lap with palms upwards, eyes closed, be still and observe your natural incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for around 10-15 minutes or more. Let thoughts come. Slowly negative thoughts will reduce and relax the mind. Whenever you are free during the day or night before sleep sit or lie down still for a few minutes and observe your breath. Being still reduces negative thoughts. Feel the stillness flow within you. Make it a daily habit. Do the above meditation daily to have a good life. Best wishes and prayers. Shyaaam Sir. -Counsellor.
thanks for the video. I want to start and try getting off paxil. Paxil has seemed to work for about 2 years then within the last 6months or so I have been really tired, no motivation, and slightly depressed and sleeping all the time. Hopefully once I come off the paxil all of these symptoms will go away.
My own story off paxil is for sure the strangest out there: I wasn't planning to quit paxil, but I (for other reasons) got hospitalized with an ambulance to emergency care, where I first was on a coma for 4 days, after I woke up I was on very strong drugs for the next about 9 days. So basically after 13 days at hospital, I got back to this world and realized "wait a minute, where are my paxils, I haven't took them at all for 13 days". I was on 30mg a day, had been on it for +3 years and basically went off cold turkey, didn't experience a single zap / withdrawal. And again, I wasn't even planning to quit it in the first place.
Currently attempting to wean myself off of 30mg of Cymbalta I've been taking for the past 16mths... initially went 3 days w/o it 'by accident' & experienced extreme vertigo. Now I am doing every other day ( with doctors permission) just on Mon, Wed, and Fri... And after I will attempt to take my dose every 2 days instead of every other day. It's a scary process, but I am determined, confident & encouraged by others who have already tapered off completely. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and no, it's not a train.
Thank you for this - thought I would pass along 3 natural ingredients pertaining to Brain Cell Restoration; 1. L-Threonate ; 2. MCT (Coconut oil extract; 3. Mannose (AloenVerdi Extract) Please look into how these promote Brain Cell Recovery & Restoration.
I know this is a few yr old video, but hope you get this message.Thanks for the vid! So I was on 10mg Lexapro for about two months and just recently upped my dose (docs choice) to 20mg, the highest dose, should I not stay on this high of a dose too long to help when I do wish to quit?
grate vid! All I needed to here was the nail filing and I knew you were for real lol.(not a laughing matter but uno, been there too) I was on paroxetine for 12 years, got ½way down from my sustained dose and could not go any further due to sides(24hr/day panic attacks) Any way once again grate vid. thank you. :)
Hi, I just got off Zyprexa like 2 weeks and a half ago...As my doctor advised. But I felt headaches, and loss of concentration. My sleep pattern is getting back slowly but hopefully I will get better by time. I have my next appointment next month. I will tell him all the symptoms I experienced. I guess my system is getting out of the zyprexa feeling. I was on it for three years! But my doctor reduced the dosage every year. I hope my mental health will get back. Wish you all the best!
I had an idiot doctor who cut me off of effexor cold turkey...I felt like I was getting off of heroine...cold chills, shakes...dizziness, nausea, and god awful headaches :( I found better doctors and I am now on zoloft. Im doing so much better. Thank you for these vids!
I am really thankful to you that u shared your experience .it is said that" experience is another univesity".i have my own experience of withdrawal sideeffcts of amytripline. It took me 3 months to completely quit.really it was not easy!!
I was on Paxil for a while & decided to stop taking it. Worst withdrawal ever!! Brain zaps, vision issues, very vivid nightmares, just felt hungover & horrible. I had to taper down too, & in the end was taking actually slivers of the drug. Even after tapering down to virtually dust I still experienced the withdrawal symptoms for several months. I cannot function well without some type of antidepressant, but I'd rather commit myself to a loonie bin than go near Paxil again!
Ive been on paxil for 3 yrs with several attempts to get off the drug to no avail. I swtched to cymbalta after and have jusr recently quit. So far so good, I decided to start smokin marijuana with a vaporizer. It has been the best way for me so far.
Cheers! I would be dead without Marijuana. Its gotten me through some very dark parts of my life. ;) life isn't so bad.... do some weed and enjoy life, right?
I've been completely off of Paxil now for about 3 months after many many years of taking them. I'm just now starting to have a hard time with withdrawal symptoms. Stomach problems are the main one. The only thing that calms my gut is IBGard and still not completely. Not much of an appetite. The thing that I've noticed lately is horrible itching while trying to sleep. I just fall asleep and then the itching wakes me back up. This goes on all night. I'm also sad a lot and lethargic. I've considered going back on them. Is there any light at the end of this tunnel?
there are simple things about nutrition that ppl are not taking in consideration or take them seriously. So taking magnesium 400 an vitamins B (b complex) is very very important as well as omega 3 supplement. vitamin d too. ppl can be cured even with vitamin b3 (niacin) please do research for that... so yeah they do help a lot its very simple very cheap an most of all its very effective.
Paxil - 10 mg - had alot of horrible side effects - main one effecting me was insomnia ( nightmare, i don't know how i 'functioned' ) and having mania episodes and paranoia! ( never been that horrible) Doc said to stop taking it - did'nt even tapper me down - over 11 days later i still feel i have side effects lingering ( maybe withdrawal?) ( not insomnia - luckily ) Getting alot of adrenaline rushes for no reason, waking up in a freak out ( possibly night terrors or panic attack - im really not sure )
These doctors are so quick to prescribe these, I am 6 months off Zoloft, was on them 3 years and never again! but I'm still having a difficult time. can't sleep feeling anxious and depressed!
Thanks for this. I shouldve went back to my psych but because pf the virus i am hesitant. I just stopped taking meds after 6 months of taking it. I also tried gradually on my last month of taking it. I had withdrawals after 1-2 weeks but mild. Then after a month, this month it was worse. I feel like im having a flu, i always get dizzy and just throw up, headaches and sometimes upset stocmach. My panic attacks went back but mild, i have multiple brain zaps, and vivid nightmares.
If you get head zaps or other bad withdrawal symptoms, take fluoxetine (Prozac) while decreasing Paxil to get rid of those symptoms. Just make sure you're not taking both Paxil and Prozac for more than a few weeks.
I took 20mg of citalopram (I think Celexa in the states, but have been living in Europe) for about 8 months for anxiety and depression, and have recently made the decision the stop. My doctor told me to begin by splitting my pill in half to 10mg and take that for 2 weeks and then split again to 5mg for 2 and then just stop. I have a bit of doubt regarding doctor's actual knowledge regarding these pills they give out, especially in terms of weaning off of them. Can anyone with experience tell me if the above sounds like too speedy of a reduction? I'm on my first week of just 10 and have started feeling a bit off. I know that is to be expected so trying to keep myself open and relaxed. Thanks for any info!
This is all super helpful info! I've been on and off Zoloft for 5 years. I've tried to taper off but withdrawal has always been so hard. Just wondering, did you ever have problems with withdrawal symptoms coming back a few months AFTER being completely off the SSRIs? This is what tends to happen to me (horrible anxiety attacks) and forces me back on them because going through those as i'm sure you know, is pure hell and there comes a point where i'll do anything to stop them!
Something similar happened to me! I went on Zoloft and it GAVE me panic attacks, and now I have been off it for 2 weeks and they are still happening! Just realized this comment is nine years old, wow...I hope you are doing well :)
I did cold turkey off 300mg 6 months ago. Don’t let the hype freak you out. It’s very doable. It’s a pain in the arse for sure, the brain zaps lasted for about 5-6 weeks. At the 2 month point I started on cbd oil. Still taking the oil. Life is good. You can do it. Believe in yourself.
@@metalhead6111 it was very calming. I don’t have anything now and I feel fine. It turns out I had very toxic manipulative people around me. I don’t anymore and I’ve been able to cultivate self confidence through work and looking after myself. That’s all it took, remove toxic people and start cultivating good things in your life. YOU CAN
did you went cold turkey with it without consulting the doctor? i just wanna know coz i wanna quit mine and its expensive to get an appointment for my doctor lol.
@@decialaz Yeah thats right, i didnt consult the doctor. If you are able to have a quiet week or 10 days without the need to turn up to work or any other responsibilities, that would be ideal. At the time i was at home because of covid so i thought it was a good opportunity to get it done. Just chill out and watch movies. It's been about 18 months or more without anything. I stopped with the cbd oil also. I still have some days where I think about getting back on them, but I havent. They don't solve anything for me. If I'm taking care of myself and my responsibilities, I feel good. I also stopped drinking and using any type of drugs over 2 years ago, thats helps a lot. YOU CAN do it!
Day 5 and I am so dizzy I cant walk very far. This is rough.. EDIT for context: Gradually reduced escitalopram from 2mlg to 1 to 0 over the course of 3 weeks.
is there any point to stopping?i been on cipralex for a couple months and i would be afraid stop.if someone has a problem with a depressive disorder it dosent just dissappear.
I am on paxil cr 25 mg. Because it is cr I couldn't cut it. And next below this is 12.5 mg. I was thinking if I could take 12.5 and 25 mg for alternative days for a while. Is it a good idea?.
After 18-19 months on Zoloft 50 mg I made a smooth switch to Lexapro 10 mg for about 6 months and I would miss a lot of days on it and just feel irritable. I'm tired of having to take this stuff kills emotions,sex drive and isn't healthy so I decided 5 days ago to quit cold turkey. I just have a bit of headache and feel frustrated a bit but it isn't bad like paxil. I tried paxil for 3 days and quit and had very bad headache for 2-3 days. I might just call my GP and get 5 mg Lexapro take it for 3 weeks, than cut it in half for another 3 weeks or just quit. 18 months Zoloft 50 mg to 7 months Lexapro 10 mg smooth switch. Paxil 3 days on it quit a lot of side effects. If a person does take an ssri zoloft,lexapro at low-standard dose weren't that bad.
I am on 30 MG of paroxitine/paxil, I have tried 3 times and cracked up. I'm starting tomorrow im going to tapper slowly starting with taking off 2mg until my body gets used to it. I guess I'll take it from there. I'm scared I was so ill before the brain zapz where hell the thoughts and bouts of anger where frightening I couldn't function at all just layed around ill. Any help and support I will really appreciate it. I have been on paxil for 10 years almost. Please any help
I was on antidepressants for the past 10 years, and I've tried many times to come off of them. I've been officially Cipralex-free for about 3 weeks now after a LONG taper process. It's been very very difficult with the chemical completely out of my system. My entire body feels tense all the time, and I've been shivering and shaking. I've been trying to conceal it at work, but it gets very tiring and I'm exhausted by the end of the day. I've been on 5HTP and VITB for the past few days and I can't tell if it's working. Just looking for some encouragement as this process if by far the hardest thing I've done from a psychological and physical standpoint. At what point does it start to feel ok again? How long for you did it take?
Hello dear. I am currently taking Cipralex 10mg I have been taking them for 10 months and i have gained belly fat which lead to another kind of depression 🤣how ironic I don’t know if it is the pill that caused my belly to grow because i am scared to see myself in the mirror I am down to 5mg now and i take the pill every other day until i stop completely. However, i am super edgy and angry all the time I even shout at my one year old and want to hit him hard but I don’t. But i hate myself for it
I'm 19 and suffer from really bad anxiety and depression. My doctor has put me on 10mg / day Citalopram and issued me 2 weeks off work. Looking at the reviews etc and the struggles to get off I have to say I am scared as hell! I put off taking it yesterday but today I took my first pill. I am shattered! But have been told to expect at least a week of feeling cr** before I will get 'better'. Any advice on taking tablets ? I know it different for each person but I am really nervous and the journey I am about to take.
I have a habit of not taking my pills everyday. Is that dangerous?I do it because I thought that this would help my body not always count on it. I have been taking 50 mg for 10 years on and off. I tried quitting twice and both times were not good. I want to try it again because I want to heal my body. I am in school and trying to work so I am so unsure of when to start.
The paxil progress support group doesn’t exist anymore and it makes me really sad, I was looking forward so much to relating to someone through this. I have been on Paxil for 8 years and went from 20-10 through the last couple years out of inconsistent taking and wanting to taper. Then for the last 8 months was taking 10 mg but forgetting to take it sometimes resulting in going 2-3-4 days without taking it until I was reminded with brain zaps. Finally decided to just not take it this last time around and it has been 16 days and was doing totally fine other than some insomnia and sleeping warmer and headaches. I have noticed more anxiety lately, especially this morning. But slowly getting easier I think/hope. I feel like I have developed enough tools and skills through therapy to manage my anxiety on my own. Just want to get past the withdrawals stage. Hate feeling off and overthinking and anxious. Just cool to see other people comment on here too about similar things
I have been on Prozac 20mg for 7 weeks. It has ruined my life. My doc refuses to take me off the drug basically saying "it's just me." I took Celexa for 7 years and never felt the way Prozac has made me feel. I stopped taking the Prozac for just 2 days now. Can the withdrawal be any worse than how the drug itself made me feel? I'm hoping with only 7 weeks at a fairly low dose, I will not go through hell. I still take a non-SSRI, Wellbutrin, and I'm counting on it to help some. ?? I don't expect replies. I just needed to tell someone, anyone this nightmare. I have NO support system. Thanks
I am so proud of each and every one of you!! We’re gonna make it!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I cannot believe how the psychatrist tells the patients that SSRIs are not addictive. If you have to withdraw, it is addictive.
Oh, I withdrew from Prozac and Lithium all at one time. I started to eliminate the Lithium first by about half. The doctor wanted a blood test, which came in as "extremely low." That is when I jumped off all together, firing the psychiatrist, and dumping all the drugs, cold turkey, at once. I was dopy for about a week, then started feeling "normal" again. I would not suggest anyone who has been on them for a long time, like over 2 years, to do anything like that. Your method sounds better than mine. I also began taking quite a list of over the counter vitamins and co-factors, which I will slowly cut down on as well.
what's wrong with you? Are you 7 years old? Oh maybe you are on one of these drugs that cause "lack of empathy" and "no emotions."
Animalier “ withdraw does not consider someone an addict, withdrawal is only one criteria of the many in the DSM for addiction. Most importantly does it disrupt psychosocial functionality, are you stressing about it. “ Dr carl hart
Omoiyari23 you’re totally wrong.
My GP told me this 😡 now trying to withdraw from 50 mg . Went from 20 to 10 and sweating, anxiety so back to 20
I have been on zoloft for just over 10 years. Marriage breakdown, Loss of my mother, retiring from a stressful work environment. Started on 100mg of Zoloft and went up to 150mg, 125gm and Now going down to 100 slowly over the last 3 months. Occasional brain zaps and lots of headaches lately. I am determined to wean off Zoloft completely and reward myself with a healthy diet, regular exercise, mindfulness, Yoga and meditation.
Good for you. Keep going. Similar story here! Yoga is tough but very fun
I was on Zoloft for 6 years at 100mgs. Im about 3 weeks cold turkey right now. How long did it take for the withdrawls to leave?
How did it work for you George Silva and Miro Graystone?
George Silva hope you're feeling better. How long did it take until you were through the withdrawals.
Miro Graystone try taking Kratom. It helped me I’ve struggle with severe social anxiety
I successfully tapered from 8 years of Cymbalta 60mg. It took me about 15 months to complete the taper. This was the hardest thing I've ever done. In fact, I'd rather have my kids all over again (pregnancy, delivery, and recovery).
One thing I'd like to pass along is be prepared for family or friends to raise a fuss once you start feeling emotions again. They are used to you being numb and a bit of a pushover. You will need to follow Tip #6 and get that support or therapy lined up because stuff like this will eventually happen.
You can be proud of yourself. God bless you
God Bless! That's great!
What were your withdrawals? And did tappering off of them slowly reduced the withdrawals?
Tapering off cymbalta myself right now. It does help my anxiety but it makes me so goddamn tired. To the point where I don't want to get out of bed I mean it's that bad it's ridiculous I have to fight to keep my eyes open. I've heard horror stories about the drug but then again I recently went through Prozac withdrawal in the last few months and they say that that one is the least severe withdrawal symptoms let me tell you for me it was b******* I had panic attacks I had a racing heartbeat I had everything so I don't trust this scientific evidence. Currently on my third day of tapering taking the drug every other day for a week and then next week I'm going to take it every 3 days and then hopefully I'll be done with it and I'll be fine but it hasn't helped me at all it's just laid me up in bed. How are you doing and how did you do the withdrawal do you have any tips? I'm definitely going to start eating better. In fact it's quite odd ever since being on cymbalta I crave junk food all the time and I never eat junk food it has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks for not asking me to like and subscribe- I really appreciate seeing a real human now and then on CZcams whose motivations are not egotistically or monetarily based!
Thank you so much for making this video. The lists are a GREAT idea.
9 years on an SSRI, and I weaned off quite fast. The dizziness is insane. I'm keeping my eye on the prize though.
Omg, same here. I was on 150mg of effexor for 7 years (worst 7 years of my life). I'm now on day 3 of detoxing and the only problem I'm having so far is the dizziness.
How are you feeling now that it's been a month?
Never turned back ! I'm done with SSRI's! Push through the dizziness. It Does get better
***** oh wow, 2 yrs, praying mine doesn't last that long. Best wishes to you.
+Angela Offer keep going
FYI, my symptoms are much much better. I'm doing pretty good and don't feel the side effects anymore. To all you out there keep on hanging on, it will get better.
Very candid and helpful. Thank-you. Nice to get good info from someone articulate and cute.
I've read through many of the comments before making mine . I'm a 54 yr old woman who has/had been on Paxil (30 mg) for 10 or so yrs . Like many here , I've tried to get off them before but returned due to side effects . NOT THIS TIME ! I have been off "cold turkey" for about 2 months . Through reading the comments and watching the vid , I didn't realize that some of what I'm going through is withdrawing . ei: cold/hot , losing balance , feeling weak or "fluish" , nausea , dizzy . I did know the "zaps""zings" were from stopping the pills . For me the zaps / zings are the worst of the withdraw . In the head and down the right arm/ hand for me .
I was put on these God awful meds for PMS problems which were severe for 10 days a month . Rage , homicidal/suicidal thoughts / feelings . Due to allot of tragedies in my life , may have been a factor too . I do not know but after starting them , I went through menopause and within 4 yrs (at 48) stopped having my period . That,s young to finish menopause .
I've decided to get off them for one , am tired of feeling "dead" inside .
For me there has been a whole change in WHO I am since taking Paxil . I used to have a great sense of humour . I was creative ei: writing poetry , art . This Nazi med took "me" away .
I had no motivation to do ANYTHING .
Numb but at the same time felt all this pain inside that never stopped . Numb I say because I couldn't .. COULDN'T ever cry and THINK .
My father died last yr . My mother-in-law died 2 months later . 2 cousins have died in the past yr also and not ONE TEAR could I shed !
Since stopping this Nazi pill , I ball like a baby at the simplest things like a sad song and ... it feels GREAT !!!
I am no Dr . I'm only giving MY testimony here .
I will fight through these withdrawal symptoms because I want ME back .
I want to laugh , love , LIVE again .
I've had much tragedy in my life too which may have played a part in my anger / depression . These are " outside forces" that can be dealt with WITHOUT meds .
God Bless you all in your journey back to YOU ! Prayers for you and hopefully prayers for me .
Hello how are you doing now please tell me how long did the withdrawal leave
great video,,,,positive, informative and hopeful.
Thank You for sharing yours experience and advices :)
Thanks, Summer, for this wonderful, informative video on wd from SSRI's. I totally agree on doing the taper very slowly and around your life. I tapered from Lexapro over an 8 month period with very few symptoms, until 3 weeks after I came off it entirely. That was 5 months ago and I would not recommend going off an SSRI in fall or winter. I would have waited until spring when I can be outside in the sunshine to help with the winter blahs. I have had a really rough winter with many symptoms, and that was after tapering very slowly. Thanks again.
Thank you much for the tips. God bless
Thanks for sharing. I'm on 100mg Zoloft. Started over 3 years ago on 50mg for anxiety and mild depression, then eventually increased dose due to increased depression. My PCP prescribed it for me. I've been thinking about getting off my medication for a few months now as I feel like it helps me, but I also feel like I've become numb and lost motivation to do things. I'm not sad, just a lazy unmotivated sloth now. And obese. Plus I want kids someday and I'd rather not be on medication if I can help it. I'm so scared I'm going to "turn into" the person I was before. I get anxiety thinking about getting anxiety once I'm off the medicine, lol. I think I need to find a psychologist to work with me so I can learn how to help myself deal with the issues that put me on the medication in the first place. I don't want to be on this the rest of my life.
great advice, thank you.
You are a very smart woman. Thanks for all the good advice you give! You definitely know what you are talking about.
I did just like you did and reduced the dosage very slowly. Took me 42 weeks before the last pill. Nevertheless it took me 2 years before I could feel like my true self again. I was on Celexa for 12 years. I think that most of us - and I mean it! - don’t need antidepressants. Let’s resolve our problems by taking them seriously enough to figure out the proper solutions.
Lisette Bordeleau , it feels great to hear you say that. Six years ago, I saw a psychiatrist because I had not been able to sleep for about 3 days. And the doctor prescribed me this medicine along with another narcotics. I have been hooked to it though I take the half of 7.5 mg.
I’ve been on citalopram for 15 years and really want to come off due to sexual side effects. I tried switching to Wellbutrin by tapering down the dose and starting Wellbutrin but was a disaster. I think I felt the side effects of Wellbutrin PLUS citalopram withdrawals. I’ve been on 40 mg mostly but there have been times in my life when I took 20 for extended periods and did well. Im thinking of trying to be on 20 mg now as I’m switching back from Wellbutrin and had already gone down to 10 of citalopram. Any words of advice??
can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 I dont wanna regret in future
Thank you for this inspiring and very informative video.
Videos like this are very important. Thanks....
Great video! Thank you.
Thanks for making this video, you have some very helpful information.
The Nedley Depression/Anxiety Recovery Program really helped me. Also EFT (tapping)--those two were life changing!
that video help me a lot, didn't know what to expect
thanks for your contribution. I really wanna quit these bad boys and you mentioning The Antidepressant Solution really help. God bless you.
Thanks for the information !!!
Thank you for this video.
Thank you so much for this video. I've been reducing now for the last four months slowly by tiny amounts and that works for me. Like you said when you do reduce you know what to expect after been doing a while with experiencing certain days symptoms. Reduce but time your time.
Seeing You gives me hope. :) Thank You.
Thank you Summer, I went off antidepressants rapidly and felt the original symptoms come back. Possibly this was part of withdrawal and I found myself back onthe same path. I will try again with your help! Much Gratitude!
how is it now, i feel the same
Great video, thanks for the info.
God bless you.. thanks alot !!
Great video. Surviving Antidepressants recommends no more than a 10% dose reduction every four weeks. Everything else she says is great.
Thanks for the video. informative. Weaning off SSRI did make me feel unconfortable, but not horrible. Did and still do have some brain zap, nausea, odd feeling in my body, fatigue. Have been of completeling for 2 weeks now
Recommend no more than a 2-5% taper every 2-4 weeks. This is EXTREMELY important. Many times, withdrawal is delayed so you may be doing large cuts and feel great, actually better than ever but just be blindsided with severe, debilitating withdrawal weeks or months later and at that point it's often too late to reinstate so it's a waiting game. Please be aware most doctors follow old tapering guidelines and the majority going through withdrawal did follow their doctors tapering advice.
Healthcare practitioners; in fact, most people-- are operating from entirely the wrong paradigm, or way of thinking, about these meds. They're thinking of them like aspirin--as something that has an effect when it's in your system, and then when it gets out of your system the effect goes away.
That's not what happens with medications that alter neurotransmitter function, we are learning. What happens when you change the chemistry of the brain is, the brain adjusts its chemistry and structure to try to return to homeostasis, or biochemical and functional balance. It tries to restabilize the chemistry. For example: SSRI antidepressants work as "serotonin reuptake inhibitors." That is, they cause serotonin to remain in the space between neurons, rather than being taken back up into the cells to be re-used, like it would be in a normal healthy nondrugged brain. So the brain, which wants to re-establish normal signaling and function, adapts to the higher level of serotonin between neurons (in the "synapse", the space between neurons where signals get passed along.
It does this by removing serotonin receptors, so that the signal is reduced and changed to something closer to normal. It also decreases the amount of serotonin it produces overall. To do that, genes have to be turned on and off; new proteins have to be made; whole cascades of chemical reactions have to be changed, which means turning on and off OTHER genes; cells are destroyed, new cells are made; in other words, a complex physiologic remodeling takes place. This takes place over time. The brain does not grow and change rapidly. This is a vast oversimplification of the amount of adaptation that takes place in the brain when we change its normal chemistry, but that's the principle."
"When we stop taking the drug, we have a brain that has designed itself so that it works in the presence of the drug; now it can't work properly without the drug because it's designed itself so that the drug is part of its chemistry and structure. It's like a plant that has grown on a trellis; you can't just yank out the trellis and expect the plant to be okay. When the drug is removed, the remodeling process has to take place in reverse. SO--it's not a matter of just getting the drug out of your system and moving on. If it were that simple, none of us would be here. It's a matter of, as I describe it, having to grow a new brain. I believe this growing-a-new-brain happens throughout the taper process if the taper is slow enough. (If it's too fast, then there's not a lot of time for actually rebalancing things, and basically the brain is just pedaling fast trying to keep us alive.) It also continues to happen, probably for longer than the symptoms actually last, throughout the time of recovery after we are completely off the drug, which is why recovery takes so long."
Thank you for your explanation! I have been on Lexapro 20 mg for 15 (?) years, have tried tapering off in the past & failed. Plan to begin my taper again soon. Besides making it a very slow process, do you have suggestions for herbal/supplements/vitamins to helps with the process? TIA
@@lindalarkin3864
My response to you l was deleted by CZcams censorship sorry.
people like you put it in our heads.
Thanks for the great info and suggestions. I was trying cold turkey, but realize this is not possible for me. Will be trying the 25% reduction method. Thanks again.
you are right.smart girl
Very helpful.
I'm currently tapering from Seroquel, after finding out that my cholesterol levels have continue to skyrocket well above 300. I've been on 150 mg since May, but am tapering quickly, as I don't want my levels to go any higher. Plus, I've had issues with my heart rate going up to 180 during my runs, despite going at a MUCH slower pace (although my EKG is normal). I started my taper about a week before Christmas (started with trying 100mg) and now onto 25mg of drug. So far, taper is going well....no negative side effects that I'm aware of, but I did have a "brain zap" on Christmas Day. It didn't hurt, but it caused me to feel sorta "blah" for a bit until my brain felt "normal" again. It was like a flip switched really quick in the right side of my head, and that side of my head felt "lighter" for a bit (super hard to explain), and I may have had a very very slight headache that lasted maybe a minute or two two, but that went away pretty quickly on it's own.
At this point, I have some close friends (both off and online) who are aware that I'm tapering, along with my therapist. Hopefully, this will be a smooth (or at least, a fairly smooth) transition off of the medication, and that cholesterol levels will drop to normal, and my heart rate will stop going so high on my runs, so that I can run at a much more decent pace.
Hi. I'm going to try again to get off trintellix. I've been on antidepressants since I was 21, im 62 now. I used the antidepressants but I was also on street drugs and alcohol. So when I was not on antidepressants, I was self medicating with street drugs and alcohol. I've been on many different types of medications so I'm not a newbie to these drugs. I've tried this before with disastrous results. The reason I want to discontinue the drugs is many. 1 reason is the cost of trintellex, ($400 a month). The 2nd reason is my rebellious nature. There's really no need to go down that rabbit hole, let's just say, I'm pissed being trapped by medication and big pharama. Thank you for providing your information. it really helps when you know you're going into battle that others have made it it to victory. So... wish me luck fellow warriors. ;)
Back when I was in the army they had me on Citalopram (Celexa) 40mg. It was prescribed by a physician's assistant working under the supervision of a doctor. I had never met with the PA before and I never met the MD who signed off on the prescription. I was also not assigned a therapist or given any kind of support structure. My command was very prejudice against antidepressants, this pressures a "young me" to stop cold turkey after about 8 weeks on the medication. Discontinuation Syndrome.
I've been taking antibiotics anxiety medication since I was 14. I'm 33 now. I came from an overbearing mother that didn't know that her Anger and abandonment created depression and rage issues within me. So instead of her getting help or quitting her stupid stressful job, I was the one with the problem. I used to have such a creative mind and believe that my lack of clarity has a lot to do with my meds. Sadly I've been through withdrawal for short periods of time, and know that right now is not the time.
When I've accomplished my most important goals and feel like I'm in a safe place and have people to support my decision, then I know that I can start the arduous journey of Withdraw of my meds. ❤❤❤❤
Great advice
Great Video I know have a better understanding of what to expect during the withdrawl I hate Paxil.
I used St. John's wort daily and took Prozac every 2-3 days until it ran out. That was a year ago. I still use St. John's wort daily.
I came off Paxil on accident. I go hurt and as in the hospital. It’s been 4 months and I love life now
I quit zoloft cold turkey in 2009. All I remember is intense itching. Head to toe itching that seemed to be under the skin, so I could not relieve it in any way.
OMG. I made the same mistakes when trying to quit. Thanks for your tips.
You are so welcome!
@@healthlinementalhealth best off stopping all bi polar meds they just are not worth it, safer to be on methaddone
Thank you!
Thank u Summer for an informative and useful video. I am planning to taper off 6 months on Venlafaxine /Efflexor. Your tips are very helpful. All the best!
Margie, Avoid tapering off abruptly. Reduce medication to the lowest power and then inform the physician how you feel. To prevent any relapse do the following===Reduce negative thoughts. Its quite simple. Your breath is directly related to your mind [brain] causing negative thoughts-anxiety For a relaxed life sit on a chair, back erect, hands on lap with palms upwards, eyes closed, be still and observe your natural incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for around 10-15 minutes or more. Let thoughts come. Slowly negative thoughts will reduce and relax the mind. Whenever you are free during the day or night before sleep sit or lie down still for a few minutes and observe your breath. Being still reduces negative thoughts. Feel the stillness flow within you. Make it a daily habit. Do the above meditation daily to have a good life. Best wishes and prayers. Shyaaam Sir. -Counsellor.
thanks for the video. I want to start and try getting off paxil. Paxil has seemed to work for about 2 years then within the last 6months or so I have been really tired, no motivation, and slightly depressed and sleeping all the time. Hopefully once I come off the paxil all of these symptoms will go away.
I went cold turkey on Xanax and trintellix. I’m still having withdrawal symptoms but I’m not going back!!!!
My own story off paxil is for sure the strangest out there:
I wasn't planning to quit paxil, but I (for other reasons) got hospitalized with an ambulance to emergency care, where I first was on a coma for 4 days, after I woke up I was on very strong drugs for the next about 9 days. So basically after 13 days at hospital, I got back to this world and realized "wait a minute, where are my paxils, I haven't took them at all for 13 days".
I was on 30mg a day, had been on it for +3 years and basically went off cold turkey, didn't experience a single zap / withdrawal. And again, I wasn't even planning to quit it in the first place.
Lolll! that was convenient I guess. Good 4 you!
thank you very much
Currently attempting to wean myself off of 30mg of Cymbalta I've been taking for the past 16mths... initially went 3 days w/o it 'by accident' & experienced extreme vertigo. Now I am doing every other day ( with doctors permission) just on Mon, Wed, and Fri... And after I will attempt to take my dose every 2 days instead of every other day. It's a scary process, but I am determined, confident & encouraged by others who have already tapered off completely. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and no, it's not a train.
Thank you for this - thought I would pass along 3 natural ingredients pertaining to Brain Cell Restoration; 1. L-Threonate ; 2. MCT (Coconut oil extract; 3. Mannose (AloenVerdi Extract) Please look into how these promote Brain Cell Recovery & Restoration.
I know this is a few yr old video, but hope you get this message.Thanks for the vid! So I was on 10mg Lexapro for about two months and just recently upped my dose (docs choice) to 20mg, the highest dose, should I not stay on this high of a dose too long to help when I do wish to quit?
grate vid! All I needed to here was the nail filing and I knew you were for real lol.(not a laughing matter but uno, been there too) I was on paroxetine for 12 years, got ½way down from my sustained dose and could not go any further due to sides(24hr/day panic attacks) Any way once again grate vid. thank you. :)
hear*
Hi,
I just got off Zyprexa like 2 weeks and a half ago...As my doctor advised. But I felt headaches, and loss of concentration. My sleep pattern is getting back slowly but hopefully I will get better by time. I have my next appointment next month. I will tell him all the symptoms I experienced. I guess my system is getting out of the zyprexa feeling. I was on it for three years! But my doctor reduced the dosage every year. I hope my mental health will get back. Wish you all the best!
I had an idiot doctor who cut me off of effexor cold turkey...I felt like I was getting off of heroine...cold chills, shakes...dizziness, nausea, and god awful headaches :( I found better doctors and I am now on zoloft. Im doing so much better. Thank you for these vids!
Has anyone used Sam E when you got down to the lower doses of Zoloft to help with the with drawl symptoms
I am really thankful to you that u shared your experience .it is said that" experience is another univesity".i have my own experience of withdrawal sideeffcts of amytripline. It took me 3 months to completely quit.really it was not easy!!
I was on Paxil for a while & decided to stop taking it. Worst withdrawal ever!! Brain zaps, vision issues, very vivid nightmares, just felt hungover & horrible. I had to taper down too, & in the end was taking actually slivers of the drug. Even after tapering down to virtually dust I still experienced the withdrawal symptoms for several months. I cannot function well without some type of antidepressant, but I'd rather commit myself to a loonie bin than go near Paxil again!
Ive been on paxil for 3 yrs with several attempts to get off the drug to no avail. I swtched to cymbalta after and have jusr recently quit. So far so good, I decided to start smokin marijuana with a vaporizer. It has been the best way for me so far.
Cheers! I would be dead without Marijuana. Its gotten me through some very dark parts of my life. ;) life isn't so bad.... do some weed and enjoy life, right?
I've been completely off of Paxil now for about 3 months after many many years of taking them. I'm just now starting to have a hard time with withdrawal symptoms. Stomach problems are the main one. The only thing that calms my gut is IBGard and still not completely. Not much of an appetite. The thing that I've noticed lately is horrible itching while trying to sleep. I just fall asleep and then the itching wakes me back up. This goes on all night. I'm also sad a lot and lethargic. I've considered going back on them. Is there any light at the end of this tunnel?
there are simple things about nutrition that ppl are not taking in consideration or take them seriously. So taking magnesium 400 an vitamins B (b complex) is very very important as well as omega 3 supplement. vitamin d too. ppl can be cured even with vitamin b3 (niacin) please do research for that... so yeah they do help a lot its very simple very cheap an most of all its very effective.
Currently considering doing this
Nail filer! THANK YOU!
Paxil - 10 mg - had alot of horrible side effects - main one effecting me was insomnia ( nightmare, i don't know how i 'functioned' ) and having mania episodes and paranoia! ( never been that horrible)
Doc said to stop taking it - did'nt even tapper me down - over 11 days later i still feel i have side effects lingering ( maybe withdrawal?) ( not insomnia - luckily )
Getting alot of adrenaline rushes for no reason, waking up in a freak out ( possibly night terrors or panic attack - im really not sure )
Did you feel more depressed in some of these last months when you were on a very small part of the tablet? Before you got completely off.
These doctors are so quick to prescribe these, I am 6 months off Zoloft, was on them 3 years and never again! but I'm still having a difficult time. can't sleep feeling anxious and depressed!
Thanks for this. I shouldve went back to my psych but because pf the virus i am hesitant.
I just stopped taking meds after 6 months of taking it. I also tried gradually on my last month of taking it.
I had withdrawals after 1-2 weeks but mild.
Then after a month, this month it was worse. I feel like im having a flu, i always get dizzy and just throw up, headaches and sometimes upset stocmach. My panic attacks went back but mild, i have multiple brain zaps, and vivid nightmares.
I just want to know that how many days you were in medication before get off
If you get head zaps or other bad withdrawal symptoms, take fluoxetine (Prozac) while decreasing Paxil to get rid of those symptoms. Just make sure you're not taking both Paxil and Prozac for more than a few weeks.
Im tapering off Zoloft . Had bad side effects for first six weeks. Had bad day today with.anxiety. Never had this with Prozac
I took 20mg of citalopram (I think Celexa in the states, but have been living in Europe) for about 8 months for anxiety and depression, and have recently made the decision the stop. My doctor told me to begin by splitting my pill in half to 10mg and take that for 2 weeks and then split again to 5mg for 2 and then just stop. I have a bit of doubt regarding doctor's actual knowledge regarding these pills they give out, especially in terms of weaning off of them. Can anyone with experience tell me if the above sounds like too speedy of a reduction? I'm on my first week of just 10 and have started feeling a bit off. I know that is to be expected so trying to keep myself open and relaxed. Thanks for any info!
This is all super helpful info! I've been on and off Zoloft for 5 years. I've tried to taper off but withdrawal has always been so hard. Just wondering, did you ever have problems with withdrawal symptoms coming back a few months AFTER being completely off the SSRIs? This is what tends to happen to me (horrible anxiety attacks) and forces me back on them because going through those as i'm sure you know, is pure hell and there comes a point where i'll do anything to stop them!
Something similar happened to me! I went on Zoloft and it GAVE me panic attacks, and now I have been off it for 2 weeks and they are still happening! Just realized this comment is nine years old, wow...I hope you are doing well :)
I am on cold turkey right now is it normal sometimes your skin feels like it's hot but with no fever and trouble sleeping plus shortness of breath
Do you still have any symptoms even though you're completely off Paxil? Any brain zaps at all?
How are you feeling now? I am thinking off coming off prstiq and doing my homework before doing so..
I went cold turkey a week and a half ago and I haven’t had any symptoms. I was taking lexapro. SRI’s shouldn’t the first choice in my opinion.
Thank you.
Thank you
I came off Paxill 20 mg and had no side effects about one year ago .
I did cold turkey off 300mg 6 months ago. Don’t let the hype freak you out. It’s very doable. It’s a pain in the arse for sure, the brain zaps lasted for about 5-6 weeks. At the 2 month point I started on cbd oil. Still taking the oil. Life is good. You can do it. Believe in yourself.
What did the CBD oil do for you?
@@metalhead6111 it was very calming. I don’t have anything now and I feel fine. It turns out I had very toxic manipulative people around me. I don’t anymore and I’ve been able to cultivate self confidence through work and looking after myself. That’s all it took, remove toxic people and start cultivating good things in your life. YOU CAN
did you went cold turkey with it without consulting the doctor? i just wanna know coz i wanna quit mine and its expensive to get an appointment for my doctor lol.
@@decialaz Yeah thats right, i didnt consult the doctor. If you are able to have a quiet week or 10 days without the need to turn up to work or any other responsibilities, that would be ideal. At the time i was at home because of covid so i thought it was a good opportunity to get it done. Just chill out and watch movies. It's been about 18 months or more without anything. I stopped with the cbd oil also. I still have some days where I think about getting back on them, but I havent. They don't solve anything for me. If I'm taking care of myself and my responsibilities, I feel good. I also stopped drinking and using any type of drugs over 2 years ago, thats helps a lot. YOU CAN do it!
@@Peecup thanks alot! I'm starting to feel normal again tapering off my pills . Stay safe!! God bless you xx
You can try benadryl for brain zaps but it can make you sleepy. Claritan is another option which doesn't cause sleepyness
Good points but the reason why some of us may have had to take SSRI's cause nothing else worked, so how is it going to work if it didnt work before?
Day 5 and I am so dizzy I cant walk very far. This is rough..
EDIT for context: Gradually reduced escitalopram from 2mlg to 1 to 0 over the course of 3 weeks.
I'm about to go off cymbalta cold turkey as I have no other choice :(. 60mg over 6 yrs now. Any suggestions?
is there any point to stopping?i been on cipralex for a couple months and i would be afraid stop.if someone has a problem with a depressive disorder it dosent just dissappear.
I am on paxil cr 25 mg. Because it is cr I couldn't cut it. And next below this is 12.5 mg.
I was thinking if I could take 12.5 and 25 mg for alternative days for a while. Is it a good idea?.
Great video, any info is helpful during withdrawal. If you can talk more about the side effects during your withdrawal it would be great...
After 18-19 months on Zoloft 50 mg I made a smooth switch to Lexapro 10 mg for about 6 months and I would miss a lot of days on it and just feel irritable. I'm tired of having to take this stuff kills emotions,sex drive and isn't healthy so I decided 5 days ago to quit cold turkey. I just have a bit of headache and feel frustrated a bit but it isn't bad like paxil. I tried paxil for 3 days and quit and had very bad headache for 2-3 days. I might just call my GP and get 5 mg Lexapro take it for 3 weeks, than cut it in half for another 3 weeks or just quit.
18 months Zoloft 50 mg to 7 months Lexapro 10 mg smooth switch.
Paxil 3 days on it quit a lot of side effects.
If a person does take an ssri zoloft,lexapro at low-standard dose weren't that bad.
Hmm I need to get that book
I am on 30 MG of paroxitine/paxil, I have tried 3 times and cracked up. I'm starting tomorrow im going to tapper slowly starting with taking off 2mg until my body gets used to it. I guess I'll take it from there. I'm scared I was so ill before the brain zapz where hell the thoughts and bouts of anger where frightening I couldn't function at all just layed around ill. Any help and support I will really appreciate it. I have been on paxil for 10 years almost. Please any help
I was on antidepressants for the past 10 years, and I've tried many times to come off of them. I've been officially Cipralex-free for about 3 weeks now after a LONG taper process. It's been very very difficult with the chemical completely out of my system. My entire body feels tense all the time, and I've been shivering and shaking. I've been trying to conceal it at work, but it gets very tiring and I'm exhausted by the end of the day. I've been on 5HTP and VITB for the past few days and I can't tell if it's working. Just looking for some encouragement as this process if by far the hardest thing I've done from a psychological and physical standpoint. At what point does it start to feel ok again? How long for you did it take?
Hello dear. I am currently taking Cipralex 10mg
I have been taking them for 10 months and i have gained belly fat which lead to another kind of depression 🤣how ironic
I don’t know if it is the pill that caused my belly to grow because i am scared to see myself in the mirror
I am down to 5mg now and i take the pill every other day until i stop completely. However, i am super edgy and angry all the time I even shout at my one year old and want to hit him hard but I don’t. But i hate myself for it
How are you doing now Amy? Hope all is well
I'm 19 and suffer from really bad anxiety and depression. My doctor has put me on 10mg / day Citalopram and issued me 2 weeks off work. Looking at the reviews etc and the struggles to get off I have to say I am scared as hell! I put off taking it yesterday but today I took my first pill. I am shattered! But have been told to expect at least a week of feeling cr** before I will get 'better'. Any advice on taking tablets ? I know it different for each person but I am really nervous and the journey I am about to take.
I'm cold turkey off paxell for 14 days I've been doing better than before but nightmare s and shocks and insomnia is getting worse is this normal?
I just found out my wife quit cold turkey lexapro two weeks ago what do I do
I have a habit of not taking my pills everyday. Is that dangerous?I do it because I thought that this would help my body not always count on it. I have been taking 50 mg for 10 years on and off. I tried quitting twice and both times were not good. I want to try it again because I want to heal my body. I am in school and trying to work so I am so unsure of when to start.
The paxil progress support group doesn’t exist anymore and it makes me really sad, I was looking forward so much to relating to someone through this. I have been on Paxil for 8 years and went from 20-10 through the last couple years out of inconsistent taking and wanting to taper. Then for the last 8 months was taking 10 mg but forgetting to take it sometimes resulting in going 2-3-4 days without taking it until I was reminded with brain zaps. Finally decided to just not take it this last time around and it has been 16 days and was doing totally fine other than some insomnia and sleeping warmer and headaches. I have noticed more anxiety lately, especially this morning. But slowly getting easier I think/hope. I feel like I have developed enough tools and skills through therapy to manage my anxiety on my own. Just want to get past the withdrawals stage. Hate feeling off and overthinking and anxious. Just cool to see other people comment on here too about similar things
I have been on Prozac 20mg for 7 weeks. It has ruined my life. My doc refuses to take me off the drug basically saying "it's just me." I took Celexa for 7 years and never felt the way Prozac has made me feel. I stopped taking the Prozac for just 2 days now. Can the withdrawal be any worse than how the drug itself made me feel? I'm hoping with only 7 weeks at a fairly low dose, I will not go through hell. I still take a non-SSRI, Wellbutrin, and I'm counting on it to help some. ?? I don't expect replies. I just needed to tell someone, anyone this nightmare. I have NO support system. Thanks
I take paroxtine for nearly 6 to 7 month I quit with my doctor slowly but I have withdrawl symptoms like brain zap and all what can I do