Episode 2 Claire talks about antidepressant withdrawal, tapering and ssri discontinuation syndrome
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
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This week, we talk to Claire who shares her powerful story of being prescribed antidepressants at the age of 16 and her experiences of trying to withdraw. She describes how she tapered gradually over 2 years but went on to experience SSRI discontinuation syndrome.
In this episode we discuss:
How Claire was prescribed an antidepressant at a very early age. How she was told lies about a chemical imbalance to justify treatment and that she would need the drugs for life.
That there was nothing by way of follow up after the antidepressant was prescribed unless Claire initiated a conversation with her doctors.
That several antidepressants stopped working, forcing Claire to change medications.
That several attempts to withdraw ended in failure because she was advised to withdraw too quickly and that reinstating a full dose was the only solution.
That Claire felt trapped and like a prisoner, thinking she was stuck on the drugs for life and was she ever going to be able to get off them.
That a very slow taper over two years was the only way for Claire to be able to tolerate the significant, widespread and very unpleasant physical and psychological effects of withdrawal.
That Claire had to fight with doctors to get a liquid version of her medication which was the only way she could taper slowly.
Claire's experience of SSRI discontinuation syndrome.
That Facebook communities provided vital support to fill the gaping hole in mainstream medicines understanding and knowledge of prescribed drug dependance and withdrawal.
Being told by doctors that Claire's experiences were not real and that she should be "over it in a few weeks"
That mainstream medicine makes incorrect and dangerous assumptions about the length and severity of antidepressant withdrawal.
Shownotes: www.jfmoore.co....
To give me your feedback please email me on feedback@jfmoore.co.uk
© James Moore 2017
Someone I know was diagnosed with "acute anxiety" from a long term domestic abuse situation. Shas been on Tofrinil, Zoloft, Paxil, Welbutrin, Remeron, Xanax, Lithium, Clonopin, Trileptal, Seroquel, Elavil, Tegretol, Lexapro, Celexa, Effexor (she continually fainted on this one)... and I suppose a few others. About 30 years. When I listen to your channel I realize she never needed all of this!!! Once she got out of that marriage, everything changed to better.
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
I would get better to
So true about the mental withdrawal problems. The physical stuff is easy but the mental part afterwards is so much worse. All of a sudden all your depression and anxiety is back but now you have to deal with a total loss of identity. After that, you still have to handle the suicidal thoughts.
People don't understand that shit
I am struggling more with the physical symptoms of PAWS than the mental ones. The antidepressants themselves caused all my physical problems. I still do have anxiety, but I believe it is caused by the physical symptons that I feel will never go away.
The suicidal ideation is the bodies way of self destructing something thats broken. But isn't it amazing the small spark that keeps you going. That life is so difficult to extinguish even when it seems so futile. It's a battle beyond any understanding that if you make it through you will surely lived one hell of a life knowing what slot would never have seen.
@@johnmyers9300 still not out of it but yes life is much better and I know a breakthrough will happen!
Thank you for this. I am 5 weeks into this after tapering. On the SSRI for 27 years. Depression/anxiety following major breakdown. Terrific hard ride, in the dark, in a storm, no bridle or saddle.
Claire thank you. It has to be so hard to do this. Woman to woman? I am older than you. A great grandmother in fact. I can hear your powerful mother's heart in your voice. Your children are very blessed already.
"Discontinuation Syndrome"? Aghh! The twit that coined this phrase needs to spend some time in this experience! This is full on withdrawal and needs to be defined clearly. Like Claire, I struggle with suicidal impules. Good thing I KNOW I am a terrible running shot. jeez! My advice is to prepare with thoughtful self care.
Nan Ray how r u now
@@sangeetalambh6389 thank you for asking. I am better now as I am learning to deal with it. I should say too, that I had a bad fall, breaking my nose eyesockets, giving myself a concussion and slight brain bleed. This complicated things. One thing I am doing that is helpful is to go on a Ketogenic Diet. It has calmed and resolved many of my symptoms of the withdrawal and injuries.
@@nanray8415 I m facing DP like emptyness did u feel depersonalization in ur withdrawal please ans I m 139 days sober now
@@nanray8415 I m facing DP like emptyness did u feel depersonalization in ur withdrawal please ans I m 139 days sober now
Withdrawal sucks. I hate the feeling. I try to fight it. But it doesn't goes away
Glad to know that she had support in this journey. Im alone. Not even my family knew that im struggling with depression. A few friends knew but they cannot be with me always. I had bad side effects when i started taking the pills and now i'm dealing with the withdrawal alone.
That's me now...8 months of going through this basically alone. I've joined groups but when your home alone with your pain its mega.
I'm in the same boat as you. If you want someone to talk to let me know
@@teahines4542 I'm also alone & suffering. If you want someone to talk to let me know
@@montesa9136 Me too I'm here
@@teahines4542 Hope you are better, I'm here And alone
Thank you for publishing this!
Thank you so much for listening
So this was 3 years ago...I wonder how you both are doing. What helps me somewhat in withdrawal is timelines.
Well done Claire ❤
This is very disturbing. I am tapering. I am prescribed paroxetine, and have been for about 20 years. My highest dose was 40 mg. I am now at 10 mg, but it has taken me 2 years. I am 64 years old, I live alone, and I work full time. That is why I am tapering so gradually. And yes, my primary care provider is involved. Claire’s story scares me.
Hi Paula, thank you for commenting. It’s important to remember that we all have different experiences, Claire had bad advice and so had a few failed tapering attempts before she found a tapering speed that worked for her. Not everyone experiences a difficult time after tapering, some do, many don’t. I know that Claire has made a brilliant recovery and is very glad to be off the drugs and she has put withdrawal well behind her. The purpose of sharing stories is to show what a wide range of experiences there is. I wish you well with the remainder of your taper.
how are you now?
Great talk. I am ending a 3 year withdrawals from antidepressants. I had very severe reactions even with changes and never had any positive results. And if I am recommended this type of medication again I will at minimum doing the genetic testing.
Subscribing.
I have tapered off lexapro recently after about 15yrs on it. I have found cbd oil helps (64mg per dose) with the anxiety & sleep issues. I also do non sleep deep relaxation meditation & bible meditation daily. I have just ordered Saffron capsules to try.
Yes, headaches, anxiety, sleep issues, "brain zaps", dizziness, "unsettled", have happened but with what Im doing so far is helping. Hoping the Saffron will be the icing on the cake.
THANK YOU JAMES and CLAIRE. I AM CURRENTLY WITHDRAWING FRON 3 ANTIDEPRESSANTS. AND I AM VERY ILL(fluctuating between "okay and what the h...?"). MOST OF ALL, I AM VERY SHOCKED THAT THE DOCTOR WHO PRESCRIBED THE MEDS., SHE HAS NEVER CALLED TO EVEN CHECK ON MED, KNOWING I AM IN WITHDRAWS!
How are you now ? I have been on Zoloft for six months and Tapering for four months. I'm down to the last. 5 mg and want to know why it's so hard . Zoloft has been brutal. I'm even thinking of switching to Prozac to taper from there , any advice ? The withdrawal is brutal and the anxiety is coming back .
J S how r u now
Thank you for this podcast. I am currently tapering off of mirtazapine at 2.5% a week. I still get horrible dizziness and insomnia every time I cut.
I feel terrible for Claire. I am terrified that I will experience protracted withdrawal after the end of this.
I went through the same with Mirtazapine, my body went back to normal after around a month or so 😊
I’ll be glad to help you anyway I can I to coming off antidepressants I too was described heavy duty medication that made my situation from
Tolerable to unbearable call Boo the psychiatrist treating me as basically guinea pig it’s been a long two years this video has definitely inspired me if I can be of help to anyone please email me at Gary. A. Simone at Gmail. Capt don’t hesitate we have to get the word out Bev patients need for disclosure what these meds can-do and how they can’Do much harm in my case a tremendous amount of harm love to hear from you all
I was on Cipralex (Escitalopram) for 8 years. I tapered off over 4 months (too fast) & was fine for the next 4 months then fell into a Severe Depression which has lasted 7 months now with no end in sight.
How do I know if I'm experiencing withdrawal or relapse?
My symptoms are all mood related, not physical (which makes me think it's a relapse) I've been diagnosed with Major Episodic Depressive Disorder. Hence, I've had Many Major Depression Episodes all my life & have been medicated for over 30 years.
I'm thinking of going back on the medication, but would like to know what I'm experiencing? Should I stick this torture out?
Your input would be greatly appreciated "katanawaves@gmail.com"
I been on them since i was 17 im 37 now and finally convinced my doctor to taper me off. I was at my worst when i was on the most meds. ... .i still live at home with my parents and never have had a long term relationship . At 34 they told me i was high functioning autisic. I did neuro feedback therapy and that helped me the most in my life.but this fucking cutting down on meds is making me feel a bit shit. But its also winter. ...im pretty sure all the meds have given me leaky gut . .. im in therapy i go to yoga and excersise but right now comming off the meds is making it hard to get up and do anything . I allready have ADHD as well .
Thank you for this post. I’m currently tapering from cymbalta. Not fun... 😒 but I’m taking it slow. And I’m also your 100 subscriber! Lol
Jamie F thanks so much for being subscriber 100 🙂👍 hope your own withdrawal goes well, slow and steady is good.
James Moore thank you! 😁
Jamie Fuller x
Thanks for this channel
Finished a 3 year taper off of 20mg of Paxil. That was 6 years ago. Still have withdrawal symptoms. Paxil is horrible.
I just totally withdrawal of mirtazapine by tapping off in three months I prepared myself before doing and more or less I could handle but after the last doses I started to beginning feel physical sick like stomach ache and discomfort muscle pain and cramps, nausea and vomiting the insomnia had been always there and worst of worst I have problems absorbing water and been taking a lot electrolytes drinks otherwise I will be completely exhausted, I am having a lot of support of the psychiatrist but because it’s my health and I have to take care of myself
How are you now, I’m a month off Mirtazapine, and still feeling ill.
@@josevences7765 I am more anxious than before but I found out that my cortisol is very high and I started taking something that help reduce the level besides taking some supplements that help. I don't feel the withdrawal symptoms but I have symptoms like I need one antidepressant and I don't want to do it again but you psychiatrist they think on medicine
José I just find out recently that celery juice in combination with 1 green apple do wonders to the anxiety and debt I was drinking but I increased the amount and also started drinking in the after and I had noticed the difference I couldn't believe until I tried for myself maybe this juice can help you relax more, please let me if you try and work for you
Please help I’m so alone in all this, I have no one for support, the thoughts are horrific, I have written goodbye notes to members of my family, I live alone and I’m so scared.
Hi there, I’m dealing with withdrawal right now and that’s how I ended up watching this video. But I saw your comment and I wanted to say whatever your circumstances are right now it will get better. Whether in the middle of a depressive episode, it gets better. Or withdrawal, I hear it gets better, that’s the hope I have.
Please know that dealing with this is because our brain lies to us. Don’t listen to it. You’re not as alone as you feel in this moment. If you have someone to reach out to, now is a good time.
@@KC-nq1rl Thankyou Kristen it’s so hard, but all I have is to hope it will get better
@@kimhunt5890 how are you?
@@wpc456cpw I’m still hanging on,, still so alone but just keep hoping I’ll get through this, Thankyou for asking.
@@kimhunt5890 Kim well done for hanging on . Although you feel horrendous right now you truly are a fighter and a warrior! Being alone is just so so hard and no one truly understands that pain of loneliness unless they’ve been there . I’ve been hanging on for years now but every day I find something to see beauty in anything that keeps me going . Hold on ❤️
Thank you very much for this! How is Claire doing today?
MMJ hi there, thanks so much for listening and your comment. I am delighted to say that Claire has made huge progress over the last year or two and I hope to interview her again for an update on her story very soon. 😊
@@jfmoore whats taking you so long
Any update? @@jfmoore
This is what I am going through. I was only on lexapro for a month. I am only 10 days of going cold turkey not by choice but because of a doctor who couldn't return my call. I feel like im dying. I feel like there's no hope for me every feeling normal again. I just refuse to go back. I feel sick constantly writing this I'm crying because I'm so over feeling shitty. I go to bed every night hoping I'm going to sleep it off and feel better the next day and it doesn't happen.
I pray you adre feeling better
Hold on you definitely recover but it take some or longer but you will get better
Good podcast, what was the first antidepressant where u on?
Jayjay F hi thanks for the feedback, for me personally, I'm taking Mirtazapine.
Easily at all. Not
I need help but can't seem to get any
But what difference does going so so slow make because you have still suffered horrendous issues after the taper anyway!?
Where are the withdrawal advisers? Ghost written NICE guildelines. The central nervous system is involved in decision making, once this is affected - confusion!
Hello ur podcast is very helpful i tried to get off from my effexor xr after 7 years of it and i feel very very bad, i got nausea high anxiety panic and feel very bad , i feeling sad again i'm confused if this is just a withdraw syndrome or is my depression coming back after i start tapeering..i forgot to mention nearly 2 month ago i stopped to take flurazepam from insomnia and suddnely 1 month ago i decide to start tapering effexor xr .. i'm very sad pls help :(
I too can't tell the difference between withdrawal or relapse?
How do you tell?
Have you improved at all?
Thank you.
need major help. have not slept in a month 2 weeks and 2 days. maybe 6 hours total. been on meds for 26 years. tooken clozapine for 15 years. my body is not doing well. my wife is pissed.if anyone has any ideas for me please let me know. God Bless
High dose vit c-everyday-use coconut oil everyday-buy a tens machine and put along your spine-to stimulate nerves-endorphins-start a keto diet-look into all of this x start slow-listen to your own instinct-but fat builds the brain-protects the nervous system-vit c works on rebuilding neurotransmitters-rub coconut oil down your spine and spoon into hot drinks everyday-also caster oil down your spine too x
Get animal fat into your body-to heal/soothe and sleep-and a tens machine -it helps with pain /nerves-and recovery?!! (It just stimulates in a good way-but always check inn with your own body))!
Why is it so hard to come off the last few mg of an antidepressant . Im struggling with withdrawal in the last bit , sweats , chills anxiety 😭
Hi Debbie, thank you for listening, I am sorry that things are a struggle for you but you will get there. There is a reason why the last few milligrams are so difficult, it's because ADs do most of their 'work' in the first few milligrams. This paper is quite involved but it does explain this effect. www.thelancet.com/article/S2215-0366(19)30032-X/fulltext I hope things ease for you, stick with it, go slow and you will get there.
@@jfmoore what would you say to someone who has taken the drug lexapro for 10 months weaned off them in those 10 months reinstated 5 months later at full dose had side effects then quit cold turkey after 6 days developed discontinuation syndrome 1 week later for 4.5 months symptoms got worst and worst reinstated at .5mg 2 weeks ago at 5 months post cold turkey has seen improvement in withdrawal symptoms but still has depression. This has been a terrifying experience pure torture but at this doseage im more stable. Im scared about coming off i already have to measure out my doses in pill form very carefully its a strenous task day to day. To top it off my own mother prescribed me these pills and told me to come off cold turkey.
I can't come off. I'm loosing my strenght. Not even with 5 %. from total 300mg of Venlafaxin. I'm back to my initial dose since 3 weeks but somehow it's not getting better. I'm lost. Thanks to you all I'm shure a I'm not paranoid, because that's what they will acuse me of.
Start again 1 or 2% at a time hold on three week and see how it goes from there
If I needed an antidepressant, I'd very much want to avoid SSRIs. The entire drug class is uncommonly dangerous vending machine kicking.
Prozac has now been discontinued and drs didn’t tell me so withdrawing from it has been somewhat interesting. Generic fluoxetine caused me problems so that’s why I was given Prozac which worked better for me but now I’m in this position. Luckily I had a bit of a stockpile but nowhere near enough and I’m one of the luckier ones who has that, some are having to go through cold turkey or just shoved on another anti depressant with no thought how the change over would affect them. I’m not off these yet another 5 weeks to go and then what? I’m already getting the withdrawal side effects. So on top of all my other ailments I’m beginning to feel terrible. Hey ho fight on.
How’s Claire these days
Is there an update regarding Claire?
I've been in them for twenty years, I have been off them before for around 5 years. This last period up until now has been 7 years. I tried to come off but had a bad migraine and anxiety. GP won't give me the liquid.
Effexor by any chance?
Whats the point on tapering for months if you can do it cold turkey which will last days it just makes no sense to me i cold turkey paxil and proxetine which lasted only 8 days
Many people simply cannot stop suddenly without severe symptoms, it’s incorrect to assume your experience translates directly to others.
@@jfmoore true that and some people cant handle the severe symptoms in my case i dealt with the worse symptoms like suicidal thoughts and the none stop feeling of vomiting and more it lasted 8 days and i actually feel so much better then when i was on these meds i’m totally against these meds cuz it will make it difficult for the person to manage his anxiety and depression without these meds
I've been on 50mg sertraline for 5 months and went cold turkey about 8 days ago, and my doctor isn't being very helpful. I don't know what to do, I can't sleep and when I do I have the most horrific nightmares, and my symptoms seem to come in waves, I feel okay but i feel like there's something missing in me. Can I please have some advice about how to taper off????
High dose vit c- juice lettuce- loads of it,it calms the nervous system and aids sleep- buy caster oil- pour in a warm bath and let it soak in the skin- use loads- use coconut oil- teaspoon in hot drinks throughout the day- run along your neck and spine- GO KETO- you need fat fat fat- animal fats-
Cold turkey? Why? You need to be good to yourself. Going cold turkey from 50mg is just asking for trouble. Restart right now at a lower dose, and stay there for a few months. Yes, months! Don’t be in a big hurry. Taper by small increments and hold each “new” dose for months. I know of where I speak. I have gone from 40mg to 10mg of paroxetine over a 2 year timeframe. I’m going to hold at 10 for as long as I feel like it. There is no hurry. The medical community is mostly uninformed about our predicament, therefore we have to help each other and take good care of ourselves. I hope you’re better.
These drugs are incredibly dangerous 😢
Uploads from Michelle (ex SsRI girl): ua-cam.com/play/UUrQ-Bp3fmf2lxiBfABqb01A.html
I just posted a antidepressant withdrawal review on my channel.
I quit cold turkey off bupropionhydrochlorid 150 mg after my my doctor told me its okay to go off cold turkey
I took bupropion for two months
2 weeks after quitting cold turkey i got the flu like Symptoms and it lasted for more than 2 months and that was february this year
I am going through much pain all over my body
I have brain zaps too and am highly sensitiv
I get sometimes tightness in my chest and throat
I shake and my heart beats quick and random and sometimes i get breathing Problems
I get this bad taste in my mouth and my jaw hurts
My body itches sometimes gets red
I get panic attacks and i become aggressive
I have this sad crying feeling very often
There are so many
I am going through much
I have been taking neurexan and it doesnt really help
I need help
How are you doing now bro?
So if I taper off slowly I still will have effects?
go slow slow you can and your odds are better that you will be ok,,,, but either way you will heal
@@garysimone4977 Thanks. well I finished tapering off 2-days ago. Scared but my faith is in God.
@@prettylou How are you doing now? Any side effects?
@@picklesoupcase hey - I came off them really well and didn't have any side effects. The only difference was that my period became irregular. It's okay now. However, I started the antidepressants back 2 weeks ago because I became suicidal. soooo.... It's a tough one.
@@prettylou you didn’t have side effects but then went on to say you became suicidal? That’s a pretty huge but common side effect so sorry to hear this and sorry you had to go back on these awful drugs , we do what we have to do to stay alive ❤️🙏
The drugs helped you. The companies that make them obviously love people using them. It's not up to the doctors to hold your hand and get you off the drug
Ryan Wheeler true should of researched more, idiot
Doctors should be more educated about these drugs . They don't tell you about the withdrawal and side effects ,😡