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Skamen: Anhedonia caused by 14 years of Paxil, now in hell after CT

skamen
skamen
in Introductions & Ongoing Recoveries

Featured Replies

  • Author

Thank you, @unmanned2.

2011-2023 Paxil

2023-2024 Effexor

Since February 2024 in anhedonia caused by the long use of AD

February 2024-March 2025 drug after drug after drug... 70 rTMS sessions, 8 ketamin infusions-nothing worked

March 2025 CT upon doctor "advice" from Desipramine, Viibryd, Lithium at high doses all together in 6 days

Since then awful withdrawal: unbearable anxiety, panic attacks, adrenaline rushes, hot flashes, muscle pain over all the body, insomnia, depression, intrusive thoughts, brain fog

Current tapering Mirtazapine : December 29,2025-3 mg, February,15, 2025-2,7 mg, February,28-2,5 mg, March,8-2 mg, March,14-1,5 mg, March,20-0 mg

  • Replies 606
  • Views 11.6k
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  • skamen
    skamen

    Dear @Nemina, I am in the deepest of my suffering, nothing helps, I don't know how I will survive...

  • Pokey449
    Pokey449

    @skamen I’m not doing very well today. WD symptoms keep coming back. Another terrible night again last night. And I’m all alone. The loneliness really closes in on me , especially at night when I jo

  • Nemina
    Nemina

    @skamen Two years and seven months, that is an incredible long time for such terrible suffering. I’m so proud of you that you keepl fighting. Do not give up my friend! We will celebrate your healing t

Posted Images

@skamen I understand how desperate you are. But I can't help but notice your signature which says

February 2024-March 2025 drug after drug after drug...

And none of it worked. I just worry that the Gabapentin won't work either or make everything worse, and then you will be forced to CT or taper off that too.

I will be thinking of you. If you do decide to go ahead, please do not take such large doses quite so quickly. Start super, super low, like 10mg. You can always go up. Ask if you can have Gabapentin liquid to start with.

My overall advice is to try and avoid it though.

November 2024 Elvanse for ADHD. Anxiety and jaw clenching, stopped after 4 weeks. Felt fine.

 

January 2025 Medikinet XL

Made me depressed and suicidal so stopped after 3 weeks. Felt fine

 

March 2025 Concerta XL Made me depressed and suicidal so stopped after 2 weeks. Felt fine

 

April-May 2025 Amfexa and Methylphenidate instant release, both only worked for an hour so stopped.  Felt fine.

 

June 2025 Atomoxetine started slow taper. Immediate hot flushing and feeling sluggish.

 

July-September 2025 Tapered up to 70mg Atomoxetine. Constipation, insomnia, muscle spasms, weird thoughts, mood swings, night sweats, hot flushes, brain fog, dizziness etc

 

October 2025 rapid taper off Atomoxetine. I also had a GA for shoulder surgery the same week I finished meds.

 

Ongoing symptoms ever since, but now also trouble swallowing, difficulty passing urine, muscle twitches, depersonalisation, heavy limbs, emotional blunting, apathy, feeling "wired" and robotic, PGAD.

 

New symptoms February 2026: Nausea and burning head

 

Supplements: B12, folate and Vit D as all were bordering on deficient. 

Bad reactions to CBD oil, Mag glycinate, Mag L.Threonate and Fish Oil

  • Author

Thank you, @Sminismoni, to contact me. I won't take it.

2011-2023 Paxil

2023-2024 Effexor

Since February 2024 in anhedonia caused by the long use of AD

February 2024-March 2025 drug after drug after drug... 70 rTMS sessions, 8 ketamin infusions-nothing worked

March 2025 CT upon doctor "advice" from Desipramine, Viibryd, Lithium at high doses all together in 6 days

Since then awful withdrawal: unbearable anxiety, panic attacks, adrenaline rushes, hot flashes, muscle pain over all the body, insomnia, depression, intrusive thoughts, brain fog

Current tapering Mirtazapine : December 29,2025-3 mg, February,15, 2025-2,7 mg, February,28-2,5 mg, March,8-2 mg, March,14-1,5 mg, March,20-0 mg

    • Love 2

    Dear, @skamen , I think this is a wise decision. I hope and pray that natural relief will come soon for you.

    SA Thread: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/33406-nemina-tapering-escitalopram/


    AR Thread: https://antidepressantrecovery.org/topic/14-nemina-tapering-escilatopram-and-zolpidem/

     

    Drug History

    2013 - 2025:  Zolpidem 5 mg

    2015 - Oct 2024: Venlafaxine, Sertralin (Zoloft), Paroxetin (Paxil),duloxtin (cymbalta), Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro) and more 

     

    Current Drugs

    L-Thyroxin 75, Estrogen, Progesteron 200

     

    Tapering Escitalopram

    Until Sept 2024: Setralin/zoloft 75 mg

    Oct 2024: Switch to Escitalopram / Lexapro 2mg

    Then I tapered over a year from 2mg to 0,32 mg (October 2025).  108 days hold without stabilizing. Resumed taper February 2026:

    11 Feb 2026 0.314mg 

    18 Feb 2026 0.307mg 

    21 Feb 2026 0.302mg

    09 Mar 2026 0.297mg

    18 April 2026 0,293 mg

    18 May 2026 0,285 mg

    18 June 2026 0,265 mg

    18 July 2026 0,250 mg

    18 Aug 2026 0,232 mg

    18 Sept 2026 0,232 mg (Holding since 19.8.)

     

    Tapering Zolpidem: From 5 mg to 0,7 mg in 12 months,  then just crumbs for several weeks, now 0! (Jan 2026)

     

    Other Supplements 

    Omega 3, Magnesium Glycinate, Vit D, Calcium, L-theanin, Vit C, Vit K2, Selen

    •
    • Like 1
    • Love 1
    10 hours ago, skamen said:

    I won't take it.

    VERY wise xxx

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I only offer my thoughts as support. Please speak to your health practitioner about your care. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 

     

    If you are from the UK please make sure you fill in a 'Yellow Card' report for the MHRA. It is you doing your bit to help make a difference.

    Please take the time to do it today 🙂 https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

    For US members details here.

    •
    • Love 1

    Thinking of you 💙

    SA Thread: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/33406-nemina-tapering-escitalopram/


    AR Thread: https://antidepressantrecovery.org/topic/14-nemina-tapering-escilatopram-and-zolpidem/

     

    Drug History

    2013 - 2025:  Zolpidem 5 mg

    2015 - Oct 2024: Venlafaxine, Sertralin (Zoloft), Paroxetin (Paxil),duloxtin (cymbalta), Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro) and more 

     

    Current Drugs

    L-Thyroxin 75, Estrogen, Progesteron 200

     

    Tapering Escitalopram

    Until Sept 2024: Setralin/zoloft 75 mg

    Oct 2024: Switch to Escitalopram / Lexapro 2mg

    Then I tapered over a year from 2mg to 0,32 mg (October 2025).  108 days hold without stabilizing. Resumed taper February 2026:

    11 Feb 2026 0.314mg 

    18 Feb 2026 0.307mg 

    21 Feb 2026 0.302mg

    09 Mar 2026 0.297mg

    18 April 2026 0,293 mg

    18 May 2026 0,285 mg

    18 June 2026 0,265 mg

    18 July 2026 0,250 mg

    18 Aug 2026 0,232 mg

    18 Sept 2026 0,232 mg (Holding since 19.8.)

     

    Tapering Zolpidem: From 5 mg to 0,7 mg in 12 months,  then just crumbs for several weeks, now 0! (Jan 2026)

     

    Other Supplements 

    Omega 3, Magnesium Glycinate, Vit D, Calcium, L-theanin, Vit C, Vit K2, Selen

    • Author

    Thank you, @Nemina. Living Hell...

    2011-2023 Paxil

    2023-2024 Effexor

    Since February 2024 in anhedonia caused by the long use of AD

    February 2024-March 2025 drug after drug after drug... 70 rTMS sessions, 8 ketamin infusions-nothing worked

    March 2025 CT upon doctor "advice" from Desipramine, Viibryd, Lithium at high doses all together in 6 days

    Since then awful withdrawal: unbearable anxiety, panic attacks, adrenaline rushes, hot flashes, muscle pain over all the body, insomnia, depression, intrusive thoughts, brain fog

    Current tapering Mirtazapine : December 29,2025-3 mg, February,15, 2025-2,7 mg, February,28-2,5 mg, March,8-2 mg, March,14-1,5 mg, March,20-0 mg

    • Love 2
    • Hugs 1

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