• 💊 OTHER DRUGS 💊 Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules
    Notable Threads 1 Notable Threads 2
    Dangerous Combos Addiction Support
    Emergency Services Benzo Guide v.1
    Addiction Stories Scary Case Studies
    Biology, Pharmacology & Drugs 101
  • Select Your Topic Then Scroll Down
    Alcohol Bupe Benzos
    Cocaine Heroin Opioids
    RCs Stimulants Misc
    Harm Reduction All Topics Gabapentinoids
    Tired of your habit? Struggling to cope?
    Want to regain control or get sober?
    Visit our Recovery Support Forums

Coming off of Antidepressants

S

scottEboy

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 29, 2002
Messages
133
Location
melbourne\Perth
Coming of antidepressants is one weird experience
So far I've noticed
1) A discusting fuzzy sensation, spacial disorientation
2) Music starting to sound way better again, much more emotional responce to it.
3) The 350mg codeine I just took is sooo much nicer than usual.
I'm only on my third day
So the question does it get better or worse (the withdrawal) because this fuzziness is hideous.\
 
This type of question belongs in the Health forum.
What antidepressant are you coming off?
For most antidepressants, there is certainly withdrawal, especially if you quit taking them cold turkey. It is highly recommended that you taper off your antidepressant, and in some cases (e.g. with Effexor), a gradual taper is absolutely necessary, because the withdrawal can be so severe. Did you stop taking your AD cold turkey or are you on a taper?
Of course, if you taper of your antidepressant properly, withdrawal is usually manageable and yes you will return to normal after time. If your withdrawal effects are 'hideous' then I'm guessing you either quit cold turkey or you are tapering too fast -- solution? Taper more gradually of your medicine.
You need to provide us with more specific information if you want to be helped.
 
^^^^^^^ What she said.
I had montruous withdrawal from Effexor and a semi-terrible w/d from Paxil. Other things you might have to look forward to: nausea, headache, bowel problems. There's plenty more. Does your doctor know you're quitting the antidepressant? Be careful. I didn't think quitting cold turkey would be any problem but I was wrong. When I stopped taking the Effexor, I was in bed, completely immobile for about four days (until I gave in and took half a dose). Who knew!
 
the antidepressant is citalopram.
I took half a dose and its evened things out
thanks ppl,
I will just take half a dose everytime it gets to bad, hopefully shouldn't take to long.
Does anyone know the mechanism that causes these withdrawal symtems--curious to know.
 
Yeah, you should DEFINITELY taper off an SSRI....I went of prozac basically cold turkey and fell into a month long depression....not fun.
I would do anywhere from a week to month long taper, depending on the dose of citalopram you were on, and for how long your were taking it. Definitely take your dose if the withdrawal is bad.
As for WHY there is withdrawal from the SSRIs, well, these drugs change the way that you brain function. They increase your serotonin levels and also cause downregulation of serotonin receptors. Thus, when you go off the SSRI, your serotonin levels drop (because serotonin reuptake in no longer being inhibited) but your serotonin receptors are still downregulated! This means that not only do you lack serotonin, but you also lack serotonin receptors, and this leads to depression and a variety of withdrawal symptoms. It takes a while for your brain to upregulate its serotonin receptors, and this is why you should always taper...
 
Originally posted by fairnymph:
Yeah, you should DEFINITELY taper off an SSRI....I went of prozac basically cold turkey and fell into a month long depression....not fun.
I would do anywhere from a week to month long taper, depending on the dose of citalopram you were on, and for how long your were taking it. Definitely take your dose if the withdrawal is bad.
As for WHY there is withdrawal from the SSRIs, well, these drugs change the way that you brain function. They increase your serotonin levels and also cause downregulation of serotonin receptors. Thus, when you go off the SSRI, your serotonin levels drop (because serotonin reuptake in no longer being inhibited) but your serotonin receptors are still downregulated! This means that not only do you lack serotonin, but you also lack serotonin receptors, and this leads to depression and a variety of withdrawal symptoms. It takes a while for your brain to upregulate its serotonin receptors, and this is why you should always taper...
I did a fairly stupid thing lately. I went off my SSRI (Paxil) briefly (what I thought was for a weekend). Decided if I noticed withdrawal I'd substitute Celexa. Didn't notice any, and the weekend turned into a week with no visible side effects.
I got home, and went back on Paxil. My levels had obviously dropped sufficiently, because I started getting withdrawal. Mainly there weren't physical side effects but I had a higher sex drive and was much more prone to bad moods....which is really just like being a normal person, I guess (how SSRIs have spoiled me).
My levels rose again over days and then i noticed more effects from going back ON (yawning, etc, the transients) than my 'withdrawal'.
Another week later, I appear to be back to wonderful.
-u40915, repaxillated
Click to expand...
 
Oh, I forgot.
Paxil withdrawal gave me two nights of awful nightmares during the period where
I noticed no other side effects (and nightmares are so rare for me that it was more fascinating than annoying), and paxil reintroduction restored my dreams to their vivid normalcy (more vivid i guess because of paxil itself)
-u40915, neuromancer
 
im on paxil, i wasnt able to get to the chemist to get my new script for 4 days leaving me 4 days off work.
I had awful side affects
- light headed
- feeling tingles all over my body
- flashing black
- i woul walk and feel unbalanced
- i felt like i wasnt really there
- i was forgetful
- i felt sick and got flushed
i was working full time time too
when i eventaully come off them i deffnetly think time of work and letting myself down slow is needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top