5 months gradual increase in withdrawal
Posted , 4 users are following.
Of all the reviews I've read, most people seem to have experienced intense withdrawal symptoms almost immediately after ceasing or tapering. I stopped using sertraline rather stupidly back in July via the cold turkey method and truth be told, I felt great. Zero side effects. Very slowly, I noticed a gradual increase in anxiety and nausea become aggressive. September, October, November, December, month on month the withdrawal has become atrocious. Flu symptoms, irate, quick temperature fluctuation, horrendous nausea. Whereas most medical sites stipulate that withdrawal symptoms will likely subside after 2-3 months, I'm going on month 6 and finding zero relief. Anyone else experienced gradual increase in withdrawal? Not a chance another of those pills will pass my lips. 3 years was more than enough!
0 likes, 17 replies
betsy0603 ian07120
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Yes, I was a victim of protracted withdrawal after going off Effexor rather quickly, post 12 years of use. I also was not hit with WD symptoms up front, but gradually I started having the brain fog and severe sweats that are hallmarks. Problem was, I blamed those on menopause! It wasn't until 5 months out and beyond that I got hit with the most severe anxiety, depression and insomnia the likes of which I had never in my life experienced!! I didn't realize it was withdrawal and neither did the five plus healthcare providers I saw and told I had gone off it that summer! It went on for 10 months before I ended up reinstating. I am now doing a very slow taper, and it will likely take me a couple of years to get off Effexor and Remeron, which I was put on before the Effexor reinstatement - didn't work.
And you are right that the docs and literature don't acknowledge protracted withdrawal and call it relapse. But how does that explain the folks who went on these drugs for pain, not emotional issues? They also get anxiety and depression in withdrawal!
So sorry you have landed in this situation. You might want to join the surviving antidepressents forum (do a search) and tell your story. There's a huge amount of info on that site and the mods are all very experienced and helpful.
Go to the 10% taper method link in this thread; it will take you to SA
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/depression-resources-298570
ian07120 betsy0603
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betsy0603 ian07120
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Though at five months out a small reinstatement is iffy, it might be worth a try to see if you get symptom relief if. But I'm talking a TINY amount. Though it may not seem like it, your nervous system has done some healing, trying to return to balance without the drug. So, taking a "therapeutic" (ie. 40 mg) dose at this point would be way too much! You might try 5 mg.
Oddly, protracted withdrawal can be more severe and last longer by going off too quickly, though people think the faster they get off the faster withdrawal will be over. Just not true.
Anyway, if you join SA they can help you figure out your best move. My biggest worry about forging ahead is that sometimes people get stuck in a withdrawal wave that is very severe and months long, and suicidal ideation comes on because of the relentlessness. People are very at risk at these times, and sadly we have seen people give up. It is a true tragedy what coming off these drugs does to people, and the psychiatric community won't acknowledge it. At the same time, it is disgusting that people feel they have to stay on these drugs forever because coming off is seemingly impossible. At least with the micro-tapering method, it is possible to come off and have a softer landing.
I wish you peace and healing!
ian07120 betsy0603
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betsy0603 ian07120
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I do think those supplements can help some people with depression as an alternative to meds, but only 1/3 or so of depressions are caused by low serotonin, or shall we say that 1/3 of people with depression were found to have low serotonin...they just don't know what causes depression as yet.
Ultimately, I think CBT type exercises that break circuits of dysfunctional thinking patterns and rewire healthier thought processes is the way to go!
allison03169 betsy0603
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betsy0603 allison03169
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I've seen some ultra-sensitive types who have had to slow it way down to 1-2% and still have troubles DURING their tapers, let alone coming off. It just goes to show how much damage these drugs do to us. I'm resigned to the fact that I will have to do it soooo slowly it will take a couple of years, maybe more, but I will NOT resign myself to being on the drugs the rest of my life,
the only other alternative :-(
I do think there will still be post taper withdrawal with even a slow taper but that the idea is that it won't be as bad as it could have been.
And those that say they didn't have any trouble coming off..I'm dubious. I've seen several of those on this forum, but guess what? They ended up back on the drug. Why? They "relapsed." Well, I'm willing to bet they had the delayed withdrawal and just didn't recognize it as such.
Many people have an initial month or two where they actually feel great, before withdrawal sets in. I've read this described actually as a manic phase, which is in fact a withdrawal symptom in its own right. Just happens that it isn't unpleasant :-)
allison03169 betsy0603
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betsy0603 allison03169
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I'm glad you have the awareness, Allison! It is so powerful to know what is happening and to find ways to distract yourself and nurture yourself through the worst of it. There are the few cases where people just stayed caught in the waves, but I think most of them had been polydrugged or switched around between drugs and their nervous systems became incredibly sensitized, "confused." Even still, healing happens! Have you found Monica's story at Beyond Meds? She is about the worst case and has still come so far and has the right attitude. Also, Baylissa Fredericks of Beyond Meds. She wrote an excellent self-help book for withdrawal called Road to Recovery.
I have seen lives lost at the hands of withdrawal, couldn't take it anymore, so I feel very passionate about helping others recognize this problem!
And yes, the more you research, the more overwhelming it becomes!
allison03169 ian07120
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betsy0603 allison03169
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They don't tell you about this part when they hand out the pills :-( If people knew before taking them, I bet many would never have started!
ian07120 allison03169
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allison03169 ian07120
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allison03169 ian07120
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ian07120 allison03169
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