Advice please re SSRI's while tapering!!

[[...]]

It's been a slow & very painful journey but I'm now down to 11mg Diazepam from very high dose Oxazepam & rapid w/d - (see my profile!!). I've been really unwell, unable to work or function normally for almost 3 years but hanging in till this poison is out of my system!!

 

Need advice or any thoughts please, as yesterday PDr prescribed Loxalate 5mg per day - an SSRI for my chronic depression.

 

I'm so fearful of taking anything after this Benzo nightmare that I would really appreciate some feedback.

Thanks & blessings,

Mmoo

[[Jo...]]

I dont know about the specific SSRI you have been prescribed. 

 

I had to stop the Effexor I was on, in order to quit the Benzo.  I did this by crossing over to Paxil and tapering.  I stopped with minimal side effects after a long time of use.  The SSRI was too stimulating. 

 

I am of the mind that I want nothing to do with any psychiatric drugs ever again when this is over with.  I think the bulk of my issues have been caused by these drugs, not helped. 

 

This is strictly my opinion, formed from alot of reading, and personal experience.  I am not a Dr. of any kind.  But thats what you asked for. 

 

 

[[Ca...]]

Mmoo, sorry, not my area at all, i never stayed on them long at all...

Im fairly sure i saw some old threads that had been reignited on here in the last day or so...

Someone will know more...

Stay strong, u have come a ways...!!

Another Booo to rehab/detox clinics...

 

Edit: -sorry, had a look, couldnt find... u might get lucky with a search, while u wait...?

[[Th...]]

I've tried many AD in my day  . Some like Wellbutrin have a slight stimulating effect which was great when I was not on Benzos. I had to switch to Zoloft because it does not have the same effect. At this point I have this feeling I'm at tolerance for Zoloft as well. I really don't want to be on it but now I'm stuck because it's a bad idea to wean off 2 drugs at once. I'd ask yourself how bad you need it. Is it the blues due to the withdrawal or is it intense where you have trouble living or want to hurt yourself. I was in a bad place and a possible danger to myself this last time I was prescribed it. The initial time I just had the blahs and that time I wish I never went on them. This is just my experience and I have no knowledge of the drug you were prescribed. Wish I could help more.

[[be...]]

I found ALL SRRis caused me great and unbearable anxiety. Wellbutrin being the worst. I suppose I am allergic to them by my trazodone seems to help me.

[[ti...]]

I find SSRIs too have too many side effects, even pre taper.  Just stopped the Prozac that was prescribed for menopause cause it gave me the jitters and anxiety

Have you tried anything like mirtazapine?  Its an AD but its one I HAVE found useful

[[bl...]]

All the Benzo groups in the UK would advise against adding any psychoactive drugs during a taper or even altering the dose. SSRIs and especially SNRIs can be very stimukating, I don't see how it would help.

[[Tr...]]

Be careful. I'd say you'll probably feel better on it after 2 weeks, but the ramp up can be anxiety provoking. They advise you to start at a very low dose and slowly increase, after a week or 2.

 

I was stuck in a bad Klonopin feedback loop and had to go on Zoloft to get better. Starting my Zoloft dosage was horrible. I had two weeks of bad sleep, then too much sleep, fatigue, anxiety, etc. I lived through it though and got better, then tapered off the Klonopin. I was much happier afterwards and it got me through a really dark time in my life, enough to where I am now stable and comfortably medication free. But I needed the SSRI to get to this point, for sure.

[[be...]]

Actually, Remeron isn't an SSRi. Many people here have found it useful. This is what it is:

 

A noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant.

[[bu...]]

Actually, Remeron isn't an SSRi. Many people here have found it useful. This is what it is:

 

A noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant.

 

  :thumbsup:

[[...]]

Thanks for the feedback.

PDr has prescribed Loxalate (Escitalopram 10mg)- 5mg p/d.

 

Never suffered depression before so pretty guttered how low & unwell I'm feeling but not suicidal thank God!

 

I'm doing a very slow taper of 0.5mg Valium every 3 weeks - so have a way to go before zero.

This Benzo journey has almost killed me & I'm absolutely terrified of taking anything else let alone a drug that's remotely similar.

 

At the time I hit tolerance in April 2014 I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder & recently told I need a total reverse shoulder replacement. I'm in a lot of pain & can barely dress myself etc etc. I take 900mg p/d of non prescription Paracetamol for the pain. Not very effective but too afraid to take anything stronger. Thought of having operation terrifies me as they're insisting on a Benzo anaesthetic! Really struggling & feeling so anxious & hopeless.

 

Think I'll wait & not take these SSRI's - just too risky. Feel I just won't cope with another thing.

 

I'm so grateful for the support from BB as I'm so very lonely & isolated. If anyone has any more thoughts or wants to write to me I'd really appreciate it.

 

Blessings,

Mmoo

[[...]]

Thanks for the feedback.

PDr has prescribed Loxalate (Escitalopram 10mg)- 5mg p/d.

 

Never suffered depression before so pretty guttered how low & unwell I'm feeling but not suicidal thank God!

 

I'm doing a very slow taper of 0.5mg Valium every 3 weeks - so have a way to go before zero.

This Benzo journey has almost killed me & im absolutely terrified of taking anything else let alone a drug that's remotely similar.

 

At the time I hit tolerance in April 2014 I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder & recently told I need a total reverse shoulder replacement. I'm in a lot of pain & can barely dress myself etc etc. I take 900mg p/d of non prescription Paracetamol for the pain. Not very effective but too afraid to take anything stronger. Thought of having operation terrifies me as they're insisting on a Benzo anaesthetic! Really struggling & feeling so anxious & hopeless.

 

Think I'll wait & not take these SSRI's - just too risky. Feel I just wont cope with another thing.

 

I'm so grateful for the support from BB - I'm so very lonely & isolated. If anyone has any other thoughts or just a word of encouragement- I would very much appreciate it.

 

Blessings,

Mmoo

[[...]]

Sorry - didn't realise I posted last message twice!

Mmoo

[[Ca...]]

Lol, -i messed up a post earlier too, must b the day for it... a small thing...

I mentioned i never stayed on any AD's long, before... most were a few days to a few weeks, depending on how bad they made me feel... -there could have been a number of reasons for this... -Probably that i didnt have depression, but was just dealing with the bike accident stuff...

 

But later on i asked for escitalopram, as a friend, a nurse, said it gave her energy like a high... I tried to stick to it for 6 months as i was doing a different taper on another med and felt real sick... It was the worst 6 months of depression ever for me... but it could well have been an interaction, so dont be put off by me... about 2weeks in, i woke in terror and it never realy faded much... but my Dr warned me starting it could sometimes b a bit rough... I hope not for you...

 

Sorry to hear about your shoulder also... pls be carefull of any strong codeine or opiates... they will probably make u feel much better for a while, but at a big price... But if u do have to take them, just be carefull, real carefull... and that will help lots in the end...

 

Remember to check and adjust your taper sizes and speed as u get lower, if needed... (i need to micro taper now. The pills are too small to cut any more) -use ur symptoms as a guide... all will be well...

 

Pm me about non taper/medical stuff anytime, thats fine...

 

Take care...

 

 

[[Th...]]

Thanks for the feedback.

PDr has prescribed Loxalate (Escitalopram 10mg)- 5mg p/d.

 

Never suffered depression before so pretty guttered how low & unwell I'm feeling but not suicidal thank God!

 

I'm doing a very slow taper of 0.5mg Valium every 3 weeks - so have a way to go before zero.

This Benzo journey has almost killed me & I'm absolutely terrified of taking anything else let alone a drug that's remotely similar.

 

At the time I hit tolerance in April 2014 I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder & recently told I need a total reverse shoulder replacement. I'm in a lot of pain & can barely dress myself etc etc. I take 900mg p/d of non prescription Paracetamol for the pain. Not very effective but too afraid to take anything stronger. Thought of having operation terrifies me as they're insisting on a Benzo anaesthetic! Really struggling & feeling so anxious & hopeless.

 

Think I'll wait & not take these SSRI's - just too risky. Feel I just won't cope with another thing.

 

I'm so grateful for the support from BB as I'm so very lonely & isolated. If anyone has any more thoughts or wants to write to me I'd really appreciate it.

 

Blessings,

Mmoo

 

This is a great website! It's been a god send, especially for those scary lonely times. I know how you are feeling being isolated; I am as well. That in and of itself is depressing for us. Going through this tough journey is oh so very scary, but when I come on and read others posts I know I'm really not alone in this.

 

I only had one close friend near me, friend for 20 years since high school and she has been avoiding me for awhile. We both planned to get pregnant around the same time and I did and she didn't. My daughter is 3 now and she is still trying and they gave her the news she will never have children. She never calls me now. I only have my parents as for family and they are dysfunctional and cause problems, and they also don't believe I'm sick, so not much support there. I'm married but my husband works a lot. I feel so lonely some days it's unbearable. I get this creepy feeling when no one is around, I hate being left alone with myself.

 

I'm glad to hear your depression is not severe enough that you want to hurt yourself, but even if you did I think many on these boards have had those thoughts cross their minds. It's those times I have to force myself to read the success stories. I don't visit them often because honestly I get jealous  . They are a good tool though when you feel like you will never get better. Depression seems to be a major side effect for most of us and if you didn't have it before Benzos it may very well disappear as you heal. You are smart for taking it slow. If you can tough it out it's one less drug to come off of. I go crazy when I try to calculate how long this process will take, and I wind up trying to pick up the pace and pay the price. Try not to think about it too much, even though I know it's hard. You can PM me to chat but please don't feel bad if I don't respond right away, I'm not very unpredictable on when I'm online. 

[[be...]]

Sorry - didn't realise I posted last message twice!

Mmoo

 

:laugh: Been there, done that. I just removed one of the posts.

[[be...]]

SSRIs are literally poison to me. I can't tolerate them at all but unless you're truly clinically depressed why even bother? Remeron is different and I take only 15 mg for sleep. It works like a charm. It's the weight gain which I needed at first but has now become annoying. I'm forever thinking of stopping it but maybe less treats is a better idea. One drug at a time although many don't have problems getting off of it. B

[[be...]]

SSRIs are literally poison to me. I can't tolerate them at all but unless you're truly clinically depressed why even bother? Remeron is different and I take only 15 mg for sleep. It works like a charm. It's the weight gain which I needed at first but has now become annoying. I'm forever thinking of stopping it but maybe less treats is a better idea. One drug at a time although many don't have problems getting off of it. B

 

Same here. I simply cannot take SSRis. My Trazodone helps a lot but I eat like a pig. Too many candy bars! Me blimp.................

[[...]]

Hi again guys,

As I said in my last post I've decided not to take the  SSRI's PDr prescriped a week ago. Just not well enough & terrified of taking another pill!

 

I had a scary light bulb moment when 2 days ago I started reading through the 'Other Meds Posts' here.

 

Now believe my depression, escalated & debilitating sxs over the last 3 months are due to being given FLUOROQUINOLONE Antibiotics in early Oct 2016 for HPolori bacteria causing bleeding stomach ulcers. I was given large doses of Ciproflocin, Nexium, Rifabutin & Denol (Bismuth) - all taken daily together over a period of 2 weeks. In March 2016 I was also given a Nexium Pack Antibiotics for this condition but they didn't eradicate the problem.

 

Latest blood tests have revealed a number of my liver & kidney enzyme levels have risen dramatically & I need to see Gastro Specialist again in March.

 

So again, after the Benzo nightmare of being trusting & uninformed of drug complications I ignorantly trusted the Dr & took these Antibiotics. I wasn't aware of the possibility of the devastating effects of taking FLUOROQUINOLONE & their interaction with Benzos. Gastro Dr has been thoroughly informed of my ongoing health issues with the Benzo taper so WHY wasn't I warned.

 

Feel hopeless! Soooo frustrating- why wasn't I told of ANY possible side effects & then given a choice whether to take these powerful Antibiotics??

 

I'm in a pretty bad way - can't sleep, debilitating muscle & skeletal pain, uncontrollable anxiety, unbelievable GI issues, burning skin, agrophobia, DR, DP, chronic fatigue & more!!

 

Sad part is that family & Drs think I'm imagining all this as it's been 2 & a half years & I SHOULD be better & back to 'normal' by now.

 

Can anyone on BB give me some more info &/or support? It would be greatly appreciated.

 

Many blessings.

Mmoo 💕

[[be...]]

Hi:

 

Sorry you got floxed. But there is a sticky thread about those ABs, should be here on other medications, that warns ppl not to take them. Even the CDC put out a notice about them and benzos. They are very bad news for us......

 

Here's the first part. Next comes the list of them.

 

A WORD OF CAUTION REGARDING FLUOROQUINOLONE ANTIBIOTICS

 

Studies have found that Fluoroquinolone antibiotics can have adverse effects on people that are dependant on Benzodiazapines.  Fluoroquinolones have been found to competitively displace benzodiazepines from benzodiazepine receptors which can precipitate acute withdrawal. A study confirmed that fluoroquinolone CNS toxicity can be serious, occuring more frequently in benzodiazepine dependent subjects and concluded that fluoroquinolone antibiotics should be contraindicated in patients who are dependent on or in benzodiazepine withdrawal. A person with an already compromised GABA system (for example, one going through benzodiazepine withdrawal) is likely to be at an even greater risk of severe adverse reactions.

 

It should be noted that not everyone who is withdrawing from a benzodiazepine would have problems with this class of antibiotic. No one should ever disregard their doctor’s advice. We encourage you to speak with your doctor anytime you have a question about any prescription medication.

[[...]]

Thanks so much for your  reply.

 

I've done some more research on these AB's & so devastated with what I'm discovering.

 

Don't think there's any way out of this nightmare. I did have some hope of recovery & healing after being very diligent with my Benzo withdrawal & I was in it for the long haul. But now not sure if this pain will ever end!!

 

Can't stop crying!!

 

Xxx

 

 

[[be...]]

Give it some time. I think you will stabilize at some point. I always bring a sheet with me to the doctor's with that list. But they still don't have a clue.