I come to you Bluelight in my time of need. I need advice! A lot of Advice.

[Visionary_Kpsycho]

I have had my ups and downs since I started smoking weed at 13. I am now 20. I have been a daily user everyday multiple times a day never missing a day. For the past year or 2 things have changed a little I was put on an SSRI (Ciprelex – 10mg average normal lowest dose (been on it for about 2 years; was put on it because while I was sober I had a legit panic attack; 175bpm)) not for depression but for anxiety. I take Xanax 1-2-3mg depends on the day, Clonazepam 1mg every day, I extract codeine 450mg from Tylenol tablets, pop percs, basically everything that makes me not sober. I feel like my body needs a break from everything, Including the SSRI (which I want off first)(I feel subtle emotional numbness, like things don’t affect me that much) I just want off everything. I do not know how to do this how to start. A doctor would say stay on the SSRI and go to therapy. I want off the SSRI; I am not suicidal or depressed so getting off the SSRI will just provoke anxiety/panic attacks. That is what I need help with. But I need help getting off everything, but the anxiety seems so overwhelming. I just do not know where to start. I really do not know what to do; ANY suggestions will be fantastic, because I cannot take it anymore. I just want to feel sober for once. I am starting college and I just want a clear sober mind. I want to live healthy…..at least for a few years. Please give me some suggestions what to do were to start. I am a healthy 20 year old with no cardiac or neurological problems. (I know this because my anxiety made me get MRIs and also a CAT scan on my head/brain. Also ECG for the heart. I am perfectly healthy; accept for the constant drug abuse problem.

So please Bluelight, I have been on here since 2007 (which might not seem that long, but for me visiting this site almost every day since then it is for me) I trust these members more than most of the doctors/pharmacists in today’s society. So please what can I do to get off all these drugs (SSRI EXPESCIALLY)

P.S I heard getting off SSRI’s give you brain zaps, I’m guessing this will cause anxiety; But please Bluelight members and moderators, I have been a faithful member. Please in return give me some suggestions. Because I know I have the power to get off any drug through rehab, but I am pretty sure they don’t have SSRI rehabs for anxiety ridden people. SO PLEASE give some suggestions.

And to all of you that are going to/giving me suggestions, may you have great karma blessed upon you, or god’s blessing, whatever your faiths are, I wish you all good luck

 

[Tude]

You're not depressed because you're on the SSRI. This is just a hunch, but I think you'd go back to being depressed if you came off it. If you really want to get off it, though, why not ask your doctor? I hope you at least go to counseling.

 

[theartofwar]

I would highly recommend staying on the SSRI - and first starting with your rec drug use. Rec drug use will certainly keep you more in a fog than your SSRI - cut out the benzos and opiates and give it a month , see how your body reacts to that. If you are still set on going off the SSRI then the best move is to go through your doctor and ween yourself off so you don't feel like you are being hit by lightning !

Best of luck brah !

 

[Pagey]

I'd also recommend you get off the other drugs before the SSRI and then think about that one, because they're harming you a lot more.
If I were you I'd make getting off the percocet and benzos my top priority. However, benzos might be helpful in getting off the percocet so my advice is try to just quit the percs CT and take A LITTLE benzos if you're having trouble handling the withdrawals. There's no real danger in quitting opiates CT so you should be okay. If you can stop taking the codeine at the same time that'd be great but the percs are a bigger concern I think. As for benzos, be sure to taper taper taper . I think you should talk to your doctor and work out a taper schedule. You seem very determined about getting off all this so in theory it doesn't sound like you'll have too much trouble. Have you ever been through withdrawal before?
Once you're off opiates and benzos you'll already begin to see a gigantic difference - trust me, they're numbing you WAY more than the SSRIs.

 

[Beachcat]

I agree totally with the above posters. You would be best served by coming off all the other drugs first, stabilizing and then if you still want to, work on tapering off of the SSRI. It seems like all of your additional drug use is what is messing with your head.

 

[tokenname]

so..i'm not gonna tell you what you should do.
i wanted off my AD years ago..and it was my business why.
they just don't work for everybody..and can really cause
alot of problems for some of us..
so if that's what you want to do- the only real good advice
is to set up a taper plan with your prescribing physician.
just make sure you taper..even if it feels as tho it's not working..
stopping an ssri c/t is not worth the trouble it causes.
i would stay on the benzos while tapering the ssri..to help
with the anxiety..and like an above poster said..the benzos
absolutely need to be tapered when you choose to
come off of them.
good luck with this and w/school!

 

[Folley]

I'm going to have to disagree with everyone.... SSRIs are horrible drugs, and no-one should take them. Ever. Especially not for anxiety


SSRIs cause down-regulation of serotonin transponders, meaning, they will actually make depression worse over time. Many people report the emotional numbness and a sense of being "in a fog" from SSRI use too... so I would recommend getting off them, safely.


Consult your doctor though, he would legally be required to help you come off them, considering it's your choice what you put in your body, and not his. SSRI withdrawal can be dangerous, so you'll need to taper over a month or so

 

[RobotRipping]

i'd say get off the SSRI first, it will cause less problems. You can't just quit benzos and give it a month and see how you feel. It is a super long recovery with benzos and if you quit an SSRI while in benzo withdrawal you can expect a visit to the psych ward. SSRI's are more damaging than benzos and opiates are and it is absolutely stupid that a Dr put you on an SSRI for anxiety. The xanax and klonopin are keeping you anxiety free, the SSRI is essentially doing nothing except strengthening your dependence on it.

I doubt you'll even notice the ssri withdrawal while on benzos and opiates. If mental health is your concern your best bet is to get off cipralex if you aren't or were never depressed (which is what i assume based on your post) and then cut your benzo use down while still on opiates until you can only take them as needed a few times a week. Then after that taper down the opiates and come off everything and then you can use benzos as needed. That is the ideal situation and the one i'm working towards.

 

[Visionary_Kpsycho]

I was thinking to get off the SSRI first. Anything that can cause your brain to "zap”) through withdrawals) cannot be good at all. I am not depressed just extremely agitated and anxious. Anger management would be a thought to. But in reality I love life and everything about it. So i know i am not depressed. I live in a depressed household mother, father, sister all anxious and miserable so that could contribute. So what is a good idea? I was thinking tapering off. Going from 10mg to 5 mg wait 2 weeks. Then stop cold turkey. At the time I will have Xanax. 0.5s And 1mg and Clonazepam at my disposable in case I get panicky. Then wean myself off the Benzos. The opiates are not as big of a concern as the Benzos but they still are a concern (if I don’t get my codeine fix I will get terrible migraines, that plus brain zaps (if i do get them) would really suck. So what do you guys think? All my doctor would say is, try another SSRI because this one is not working. I have already been prescribed 3 antipsychotics (i just through the prescription off) to stabilize my mood.... My doctor is a fucking dumbass

What do you guys think??

Again THANK YOU for the suggestions!

 

[webbykevin]

I'm going to have to disagree with everyone.... SSRIs are horrible drugs, and no-one should take them. Ever. Especially not for anxiety


SSRIs cause down-regulation of serotonin transponders, meaning, they will actually make depression worse over time. Many people report the emotional numbness and a sense of being "in a fog" from SSRI use too... so I would recommend getting off them, safely.


Consult your doctor though, he would legally be required to help you come off them, considering it's your choice what you put in your body, and not his. SSRI withdrawal can be dangerous, so you'll need to taper over a month or so

excellent advice.

 

[Bambooshoot]

I too am on Cipralex after trying citalopram and fluoxetine. I've found it good for my anxiety. When I have missed a couple of days I do get quite bad terrible mood swings and yes brain zaps. I would have agree with most people here and say stick to them. You are not depressed because you are on them. This is a common mistake people make they think "oh I feel fine now I can come off them" when indeed it is the drug actually working! Also yes, they may be a drug but really all they do is keep you stable it's not like you are intoxicated while on them like the benzos. So yeah I would take my time getting off the rest of the stuff but keep your SSRI as a rock.
I went through a faze of feeling like you do "wanting off everything" but it caused me more harm than good coming off the SSRI. I have come to accept that I need them. It's not the end of the world. Also is you are coming off your benzos and suffer from anxiety you will need the Cipralex to help you through this.
I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Visionary_Kpsycho]

I wasent't put on them from depression, I was put on them for anxiety, and i think my doctor just wanted me to become numb and shut up cause the constant visits to the doctors office, emergency for panic attacks. The doctor who put me on the anti depressant originally was dead against Benzos. But was all for anti depressants...??? Now the doc I am with now is saying stick with 10mg of Cipralex and take Xanax. I want off Cipralex... Call it a gut feeling... I am not depressed at all. I am gifted to not have depression. But this Anxiety is a curse. I feel that if i stay on Cipralex It would ruin me. Maybe wean myself down to 5mg? I am starting college (just a year course) but still a lot of change and different things that are going to go on. I don't know if I should just stay on the Cipralex........ Anyone?????