Ed
Newbie
Posts: 15
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« on: March 19, 2011, 05:54:41 AM » |
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Hi Guys,
I'm looking for tips. Has anyone out there taken anti-depressant/anxiety meds and gone through the withdrawal sucessfully? When my daughter was born two and a half years ago, my anxiety and stress was out of control. I was having panic attacks multiple times a day. To get things under control, my doctor prescribed me Paxil while I began CBT. Later on, I switched from Paxil to Remeron/Mirtazapine.
Well, things are great now and I'm trying for the third time to get off this medication. My daughter is at a great age. Everyday is alot of fun. I've been taking a crumb of a pill (3.75mg) every other day for awhile and now i'm down to 3.75mg twice a week. My doc says that at this dose I shouldn't be feeling anything, but everytime I finally cut myself loose, I get stomach cramps and bad bloating which lead me to not sleep which then gets the anxiety back up - and then I get back on my small dose and the symptoms subside and so it continues.
Has anyone else been through this? If so, I'd like to know your success stories.
Thanks.
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coloradodaddyX2
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« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2011, 07:30:58 AM » |
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I too was on an anti-d for a while. They had me on Zoloft. I experienced some side effects, even after a gentle weaning. Those were light-headed, dizzy, stomach ache, and almost an out-of-body detached feeling. Strange, to be sure, but it only lasted a few weeks, and then it went away. Most medication, when taken for a while like that will have some side effects when you quit, even gradually, but it will get better. Just takes a bit of time. Hope that helps!
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Ed
Newbie
Posts: 15
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« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2011, 11:08:32 AM » |
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Thanks coloradodaddyX2. I get that strange out of body feeling too. I'm going to give it a few weeks this time.
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rssooner
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« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2011, 05:52:55 AM » |
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i have taken A.D. on a couple of occasions and they have always been EXTREMELY difficult to wean off of for me. I did like you in that i kept cutting down the dose but then i just had suck it up and go through it. it was not fun but did finally go away. i wish there i had better news for you
rssooner
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Stymie
Newbie
Posts: 21
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« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2011, 04:00:26 AM » |
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I agree, in my experience (cilatropram) the weening off is not pleasant but the symptoms subside and go away eventually. That out-of-body experience I think is called "depersonalization". I got it with my anxiety/depression (a common symptom), so cant really ascribe it to the ADs, but I've heard it can be caused by ADs themselves. Nothing that will harm you, just your brain playing tricks on you, and it will subside as well.
Only other suggestion is to keep tapering even further i.e. cut that crumb of a pill in half once more etc. etc. My lowest dose at the point of stopping was 2.5 mg / day, which I see is already more than you are at :>) I'm sure that whenever you stop fully it will get better, just takes time, and maybe some other strategies to deal with the sleeplessness and/or any new hints of anxiety (I'm a huge proponent of mindfulness meditation but there are other ways like exercise etc.). Remember you are happy now and you will get over any minor hiccups.
Glad to hear things are going well for you.
Good luck!
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Ed
Newbie
Posts: 15
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« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2011, 08:32:25 PM » |
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Thanks for the replies Guys. I'm glad to hear you guys made it. Well, tonight I stop taking my med. I've tapered for long enough. I'm down to 1/8 of a 15mg pill twice a week. My doc keeps telling me there's no harm in taking the med at a low dose...but my whole point is that if I don't think I need it, why take it at all?
Anyways, my doc says withdrawal symptoms can last for 8 weeks...so here we go! Wish me luck.
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Stymie
Newbie
Posts: 21
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« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2011, 01:04:24 AM » |
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Good luck and do keep us posted. By the way, that must be one helluva a sharp knife you are using to cut a 15mg pill into eights!  |
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Ed
Newbie
Posts: 15
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« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2011, 04:29:48 PM » |
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LOL - the 1/8s of a pill were so small I wondered if they did anything  Anyways, so far, my gastrointestinal stuff is a mess. Lots of bloating (sorry if that's too much info) - but I'm taking it all in stride. My best friend seems to be yogurt. For some reason, it calms everything down. My anxiety has been up and down. I have itchy fits every now and then. I try and meditate through them. My mediation classes and deep breathing are paying off now. I had a heart palp that freaked me out the other day...but so far so good. |
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rssooner
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« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2011, 07:01:24 PM » |
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Ed,
Just another side to this to think about...if you find yourself not feeling right after stopping...there is NOTHING wrong with being on the medication. It is not a sign of weakness. Keep the bottom line in mind and thats to be the best father you can be and if that's by taking a pill a day than i would say that is a very small sacrifice.
good luck.
rssooner
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Ed
Newbie
Posts: 15
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« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2011, 03:16:00 PM » |
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OK guys, its almost been 8 weeks. I've gone through some crazy gastro intestinal stuff and the worst cold of my life. I still get moments of fatigue, confusion/brain fog, and a feeling of being detached. But, the anxiety is under control...the meditation keeps me grounded and in control. It would just be great if I could have my concentration back. Everyday it gets better so I'm keeping my hopes up.
Did anyone else still have withdrawal symptoms after 8 weeks?
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