Withdrawal symptoms - help please

Hi geisha - welcome to the forum!

We have a number of members who are coming off various medications - look for the posts by Juno and by tasha to read what is going on with them.

It's really great that you have felt strong enough to do this, and that you are feeling positive in spite of the symptoms. The symptoms will all pass, sooner or later, and you can just set yourself to come through them. If any of them are particularly worrying to you, do consult your doctor.

Have you looked at the Depression Learning Path? Lots of really useful info!

Kathleen

Hi Geisha,

You are definately not alone. I very recently came off of Serzone and Wellbutrin after 8 years of using a variety of antidepressants. My withdrawal effects were quite severe but its officially been 10 without anything and I feel like some of the palpitations and the more dreadful symptoms are being diluted by time. Question: did you taper gradually or stop suddenly? Often, the shocks are a result of stopping suddenly. Type SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome into google and you will see a list of symptoms that result from stopping antidepressants. If you did indeed taper than just take comfort in the fact that this too shall pass and it's just your body's way of balancing itself out. These drugs are not unlike heroine and other drugs because they are addictive and do cause mild to severe withdrawal effects. With most antidepressants, it takes 3-8 weeks to 'kick in' once you start them, so sometimes it takes just as long to experience the true withdrawal from them, which is what you are feeling right now. I would speak to a naturopath about what you can do in order to begin a slow and steady detox. Often, people who come off of these drugs will experience several weeks where they feel fine, then will have another sudden 'episode' of withdrawal. This is because the drug is still in your liver and your liver will periodically flush itself. The best solution is a slow detox however it has to be slow and has to be monitored (aka the 2 day super detox you can find on the net will flush everything into your bloodstream and the toxins will create serious withdrawal). Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Tasha

Hi Geisha

I too have recently come off cipralex. I've been off them for 2 weeks and 3 days and the head shocks are beginning to subside. I never thought I would ever feel normal again but normality is slowly returning.

XX

Hi Lizzymint,

Welcome to the forum.

It's lovely to hear a success story, I'm pleased to hear that that things are improving. Tell us more about how you succeeded in being free of cipralex.

Hi Mike,

Well, I have been on and off anti-depressants for ~ 4 years. I was first put on seroxat and battled with that until I went to the doctor in tears 3 years later who put me onto cipralex as it has fewer side effects when withdrawing. That was in December and I have slowly weaned down from 20mg then to 10 mg then to 5mg and then I stopped.

The withdrawal symptoms for me have been feeling very low, tired, unmotivated, head shocks and headaches. I have persevered and I freely admit it has been a battle but I was determined to come off them.

I figured that anti-depressants weren't for me as they do work and have saved me but I just think they 'mask' the depression in a way and I was afraid that when I stopped the tablets my depression would return.

So far, so good. I feel ok (not 100%) but I am coping and living each day at a time. I am reading a book called Depression The way out of your prison by Dorothy Rowe which is really helpful. It is great to read a book where you feel like the author knows what you are experiencing. If my depression does return I shall do my best not to turn to the anti depressants.

I hope this has helped and let you know that there is a light at the end of the murky darkness.

XX

Hi Lizzymint!

I think Dorothy Rowe has written some very good stuff, and am glad to hear you are using her book. She has written another excellent book on depression called Breaking the Bonds - I really recommend it!

When you've finished the one you are reading, would you post about what you found most helpful?

Great to hear of your success so far!

Kathleen