I think it may be delayed withdrawal. As I was getting some initial relief when I dropped to 5mg wk1-3

These waves (that I rightly or wrongly class as withdrawal) got gradually stronger and now have become almost constant.

30 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

I think it may be delayed withdrawal. As I was getting some initial relief when I dropped to 5mg wk1-3

I think you could well be right mate

29 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

These waves (that I rightly or wrongly class as withdrawal) got gradually stronger and now have become almost constant.

This could just be the WD doing it's thing. Feels like worsening till it eases. Like I said, set a pin in the diary and see how things are between now and then. One day at a time.

Thanks @Chippy hopefully it peaks soon!

Resigned myself to the fact this is going to take a long time to heal. Just hope I can get back to a 5/10 so I can get back to work

I don't know your dosage or whether you tapered it down fast or slow. I feel you, as I went through exactly what you are experiencing now, but in an even harsher way; my body completely rejected the medication, which caused severe activation syndrome when the dose was increased.Calm down and accept where you are right now. Take it one day at a time; this is a temporary phase that is bound to pass. Don't count the days or keep looking for when it will end—everyone's body is different.

Things are still escalating unfortunately. Sleep has started to break down.

Pretty sure this is withdrawal now. But really don't want to up dose as 10mg was unbearable.

31 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Things are still escalating unfortunately. Sleep has started to break down.

Pretty sure this is withdrawal now. But really don't want to up dose as 10mg was unbearable.

I think you are doing the right things Steve. There comes a point where we are passengers and just have to trust the body to drive. You have the strength to deal with what ever comes along, just know that mate.

Praying this peaks soon as really want to stay on 5mg to avoid anymore changes.

If I was to up dose slightly what would be recommended test?

Nearly 7 weeks at 5mg

@Steve1

It gets more complicated when the med has been activating.

I know you know that.

Just stopping by in solidarity ❤️

If only our body could tell us why it was screaming at us! @Finni

Just now, Steve1 said:

If only our body could tell us why it was screaming at us! @Finni

Isn’t that the truth!

We would do whatever it takes to help it.

52 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

If only our body could tell us why it was screaming at us! @Finni

Are your symptoms predictable or all over the place?

2 hours ago, Steve1 said:

If I was to up dose slightly what would be recommended test?

Nearly 7 weeks at 5mg

When you take the 5 mg, do you feel a negative reaction within an hour,? If so, updosing is not the answer. If not, you could try to increase by no more than 10% of your dose, so maximum 5.5 mg but less is a more cautious approach.

If we could see an hourly daily log of symptoms, it would help to see if this was the right approach or if splitting the dose would be better.

2 hours ago, Steve1 said:

If I was to up dose slightly what would be recommended test?

Nearly 7 weeks at 5mg

you shouldn't really updose, just accept the symptoms, if you have both withdrawal and adverse reactions, updosing will cause more adverse reactions.

You have to trust your body, and know that symptoms are just symptoms, nothing more.

In the last week symptons seem to be ramping up progessively during the day. Not sure if that relates to withdrawal or adverse reaction to the pill?

33 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

In the last week symptons seem to be ramping up progessively during the day. Not sure if that relates to withdrawal or adverse reaction to the pill?

What time do you take your pill?

What are your symptoms of WD and activation?

Edited September 25Sep 25 by LostinCanada

7.30am

Activation - restlessness and physical tension

Withdrawal - heavy wave

34 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

7.30am

Activation - restlessness and physical tension

Withdrawal - heavy wave

Since your withdrawal seems to build and doesn't happen immediately after taking it, splitting the dose slowly may lessen the extremes of both activation and withdrawal. Every change brings a level of risk. Only you can weigh that against the benefits and trust your gut.

Body is now pulsating......its either desperately wanting more of the pill or less of the pill

1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

Body is now pulsating......its either desperately wanting more of the pill or less of the pill

Another option is the cns is just doing its thing trying to calm. It can cycle through some strange stuff! It can cycle through, go onto something else, and then go back to the symptom you thought was over.

That’s what I’m trying to go with right now because trying to figure it out is about to drive me batty.

so you never actually stabalised despite holding

Nah. Gave it 6 months at full dose but diffeeent time relase. Then switched to the original time release for a few months and it got 10% better. I decided to taper through it because I didnt feel like stability was around the corner. So I tapered to zero and felt much better within a year , and completely better in another year.

It was uncomfortable, my career took some dings, and I did C-level work and had no life. I still wouldnt have done anything differently. Now at 3 years off meds im training for a new career and I thank heaven every day I am not getting WD symptoms or dealing with AD side effects.

I suppose I need to work out how lomg I hold at 5mg before tapering down then?

17 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

I suppose I need to work out how lomg I hold at 5mg before tapering down then?

I think youre doing the right thing as I said before Steve. You felt better for a while after reducing, this implies the reduction to 5mg was helpful, then out of the blue things worsened, this sounds like WD. It could be you are now having a reaction to 5mg and the body is telling you to reduce some more, it is so hard to know. Only you can choose what you should do next. I don't think it is wise to updose. Personally I still think holding for a month is a good idea and see how things progress. If you are worried about the reaction having caught up with you a test reduction would be the best route to see how the body responds. Going on what you are saying this does sounds like WD more to me though.