1 minute ago, Steve1 said:

I tried to tell him that we aren't treating anxiety now, we are treating the side effects/withdrawal. He didn't believe me.

you can't talk about this with 95% of the doctors, unless they are knowledgeable with withdrawal. just tell the doctor the ssri helps so he doesn't pull you out of it.

The Maudsley Deprescribing Manual should be required reading for physicians! At the very least

Is the Maudsley manual available free to read anywhere?

Thanks in advance

11 minutes ago, SarahMc said:

Siiggghhh. I’ve heard this one too, another classic 🙄.

All the doctors said that. its really another classic 🤣

2 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Is the Maudsley manual available free to read anywhere?

Thanks in advance

I don’t think it’s available for free anywhere. @Chippy ?

It looks like it’s available as a pdf for around $20 in US

Actual book $60 or $70

Edited September 21Sep 21 by Finni

17 hours ago, Finni said:

I don’t think it’s available for free anywhere. @Chippy ?

It looks like it’s available as a pdf for around $20 in US

Actual book $60 or $70

No it's a paid for item. Can buy it on amazon in the UK think it was about £40 when I got my copy

Feel completly trapped by this medication.

Feel like I'm getting activation and withdrawal.

Surely 5mg settles down soon (6+ weeks)?

1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

Feel completly trapped by this medication.

Feel like I'm getting activation and withdrawal.

Surely 5mg settles down soon (6+ weeks)?

the best way to deal with this, is just acceptance, let off the control, just believe in god and let whatever needs to happen, happen, this will free you a lot from the suffering.

just gotta hold up and do what you can and do whatever hobbies you can ❣️

Thank you would just love to know when symptons will calm down

And would be great to know if the body is screaming out for more or less escitalopram?

2 hours ago, Steve1 said:

Feel completly trapped by this medication.

Feel like I'm getting activation and withdrawal.

Surely 5mg settles down soon (6+ weeks)?

Something that helps me is to assess if there has been any settling every two weeks instead of expecting a change overnight. Having a future checkpoint can take some pressure and worry off. ❤️

Feel like things have got worse in the last two weeks. I was feeling more hopeful on wk3/4 of reducing the dose?

38 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

And would be great to know if the body is screaming out for more or less escitalopram?

windows and waves, no change, the answer never changes.

5 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Feel like things have got worse in the last two weeks. I was feeling more hopeful on wk3/4 of reducing the dose?

It’s so disheartening, I know. Weeks 5 and 6 after a change have been hard for me, too. Sometimes it really does seem that things get worse before they get better.

50 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

And would be great to know if the body is screaming out for more or less escitalopram?

I know everyone is different, but every time I tried to make a change to lessen mirtazapine activation after I got back down to 15 mg, things got worse. I needed to hold at that 15 mg.

How I wish I could go back in time. Things have just gotten way way more stirred up.

So continue to hold at 5mg for the foreseeable?

I personally would, because I have hindsight working for me!

How does it feel to say you’ll hold for two more weeks and then reevaluate? this is not medical advice. This is what I would do personally.

Feel like I've no option but to hold as getting activation and withdrawal concurrently.

Just hope the body finds some sort of equilibrium soon as this is rough!

Edited September 22Sep 22 by Steve1

8 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Feel like I've no option but to hold as getting activation and withdrawal concurrently.

Just hope the body finds some sort of equilibrium soon as this is rough!

It is a very very trying experience.

Holding is definitely the safest option in my opinion

Things calmed down considerably for me.

I learned the hard way. I had no idea it could get worse.

Thanks for the response @Finni

I know everybody is different, but after holding how long did things calm down for you?

15 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Thanks for the response @Finni

I know everybody is different, but after holding how long did things calm down for you?

Until this last time when I have become so so destabilized,

I could feel a lot of improvement by week 8 of each dose disruption

I’ve had a lot of dose disruptions since February

I should’ve just held it February because I was nowhere near as bad as I am now

Sorry to hear that @Finni . Are you seeing and greenshoots of improvement currently or is it still very chaotic?

10 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Sorry to hear that @Finni . Are you seeing and greenshoots of improvement currently or is it still very chaotic?

Very chaotic but now mostly physical

My mind seems pretty normal. Just very overwhelming body activation. Seems to be getting worse

Hey @Steve1 sorry things are rough for you mate. No one can tell you what is the correct answer, you can only work things out for yourself unfortunately as everyone is different and on different drugs and has different circumstances. We are here for you what ever you decide to do with your dose.

20 hours ago, Steve1 said:

And would be great to know if the body is screaming out for more or less escitalopram?

Hello Steve1, maybe this interview with Chris Paige may be of help to you. It was for me. Its about healing while staying on the medication. It says its not so much the drugs harming you, but the dose-changes you made.