SSRI withdrawal similarities to MDMA recovery

[cope]

Hi !

i was just researching the similarities of symptoms of ex SSRI patients and MDMA (ab)users.

it seems they share a lot, i will paste some quotes from ex SSRI users:

it's like continual motion sickness that lasts for days, mixed with a mild migraine headache. It generally doesn't reach the point of actually vomiting, but the combination of headache, dizziness, and nausea makes me wish I could vomit it out so I could feel better

I mainly suffered from the brain zaps, where it feels like a light shock through out the body. The whole thing lasted around 3 weeks and I just had to do something where my eyes wouldn't be moving around a lot, that ause the brain zaps.

Right now I can't concentrate on anything and I don't really know if I have depression at all. Sometimes everything just sucks and some other times my mind just feels numb.

Anxiety attacks, OTOH, while you won't think you're dying while having one, you will be in real physical (chest) discomfort and may be convinced you are having a heart attack

It varies for different people, but for me, a panic attack is a sensation of chills all over, severe heart palpitations, a cold sweat, a sense of nausea that can last for days and prevent me from eating *at all*, and the most miserable, depressed, wretched emotional sensation imaginable, which lasts for hours and hours without the slightest let-up, and in fact just keeps getting worse. The first time I had one, I went practically hysterical out of the terror that it was NEVER going to end, that I was never going to feel normal again

Two months cold-turkey has been a rough ride to say the least…- I have been able to deal with migraines, insomnia, severe anxiety, stomach upsets, RLD and electrical flashing in my head. What I didn’t count on is the ANGER and EMOTIONAL sudden sadness that grips me suddenly and without warning.

it makes sense when you read this:

The method that SSRI use to increase Serotonin levels in the brain is at the heart of the withdrawal problem. By blocking Serotonin receptors on neurons, the brain becomes dependent on the drug to maintain consistent levels of Serotonin. As the brain becomes accustomed to the drug, it no longer has to produce or regulate Serotonin as it did before. When the drug is removed, the receptors that stimulate Serotonin production are still blocked, and levels of this neurotransmitter begin to fluctuate. Since Serotonin is closely involved in mood and the ability to cope with emotions, this fluctuation causes wide mood swings and uncontrollable emotions. It seems that the level of Serotonin in the brain is not as important as consistent levels. As the brain adjusts to the need to self regulate levels of Serotonin, many patients experience a cascade of extreme emotional and physical symptoms. Analogous to the stages of grief or joy, these symptoms don’t always come all at once. In most cases, withdrawal symptoms come and go as the user lowers their dose of the drug. Some common emotion symptoms include depression, anxiety, anger, confusion, insomnia, and memory loss.

here is a summary from the study "Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome and DUI evaluation."

Clinical Effects Reported with Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome

Cognitive Impairment Effects

* Agitation

* Anxiety

* Confusion

* Depersonalization/detachment

* Electric shock-like sensations

* Impaired concentration

* Irritability

* Short-term memory impairment

i wanted to share this with you as i find it very interesting.

ironically the treatment for severe cases is to be put on low doses SSRIs again.

Even the time for recovery from SSRIs seems to be in the same range as MDMA recovery.

best of luck !

 

[futura2012]

Wow thats some very interesting research cope.

It just illustrates the dangers of SSRIs in general.

More important

The combination of SSRi + Long Term recovery victim. By taking SSRI you are effectively doing this to your brain + recovering from MDMA abuse. Not a good mix I feel.

Let this be a warning. If you suffer from MDMA long term comedown and your Dr prescribes SSRIs. Take the pills thank the doctor and ditch them

There are many other antidepressants I would advise above and beyond SSRi if you have MDMA long term comedown issues.

Why do doctors in the UK always prescribe SSRIs? Answer they are the cheapest, the doctor is likely on commission from the relevant pharma company.

SSRI + MDMA Comedown = Poor Choice

 

[pokepoke420]

From 14-20 I took Zoloft, a few others anti-depressants but I always ended up back on Zoloft. I was prescribed because I was "depressed." Well, what other fucking adolescent young adult ISN'T depressed at these times? Finally at 20 years old I realized I was taking stuff I did not need. I was on 100mg of Zoloft which is a pretty high dose, and one day I really wanted to quit. I cut my dose in 1/2 100-50, the Dr said it was horrible to take that drastic of a cut like that. One OK thing from Zoloft use, in High School I had rumors circulate that I could last forever in the sack. Which I could, because it was so damn hard to cum. When I was quitting, my penis was so sensitive that I was hooking up with a girl in my car one night, she grabbed my dick and I came. That sensitivity lasted about a year and was awful. But apart from that, I had brain zaps, literally CRYING from them they were so bad. Foggy depressed anxious just flat out sick. (I kicked a 2 year oxycontin addiction [sober for 8 months :D] which was easier than the Zoloft). Finally, after about 2-3 months, an entire summer I got off of them. It was very difficult, I had become so used to being on Zoloft that I LITERALLY had to re-learn basically how to live my life. I had terrible social anxiety, I did not know even really how to talk to people. If you knew me, I was and am now a very bubbly outgoing person. Zoloft really took away a lot. Basically, my point of this was that SSRI's are terrible and I have NEVER gotten as sick as I did from MDMA use even when used a little heavier than I should have.

 

[F1n1shed]

SSRI withdrawal is much more gentle imo, trust me im on it. How ever i was only on it for less than a year but still, it is a much more gradual and gentle thing. It does last long which is annoying.

 

[cope]

From 14-20 I took Zoloft, a few others anti-depressants but I always ended up back on Zoloft. I was prescribed because I was "depressed." Well, what other fucking adolescent young adult ISN'T depressed at these times? Finally at 20 years old I realized I was taking stuff I did not need. I was on 100mg of Zoloft which is a pretty high dose, and one day I really wanted to quit. I cut my dose in 1/2 100-50, the Dr said it was horrible to take that drastic of a cut like that. One OK thing from Zoloft use, in High School I had rumors circulate that I could last forever in the sack. Which I could, because it was so damn hard to cum. When I was quitting, my penis was so sensitive that I was hooking up with a girl in my car one night, she grabbed my dick and I came. That sensitivity lasted about a year and was awful. But apart from that, I had brain zaps, literally CRYING from them they were so bad. Foggy depressed anxious just flat out sick. (I kicked a 2 year oxycontin addiction [sober for 8 months :D] which was easier than the Zoloft). Finally, after about 2-3 months, an entire summer I got off of them. It was very difficult, I had become so used to being on Zoloft that I LITERALLY had to re-learn basically how to live my life. I had terrible social anxiety, I did not know even really how to talk to people. If you knew me, I was and am now a very bubbly outgoing person. Zoloft really took away a lot. Basically, my point of this was that SSRI's are terrible and I have NEVER gotten as sick as I did from MDMA use even when used a little heavier than I should have.

wow, dr. prescribing SSRIs to a 14 year old.

i am amazed.

thank you for your 1st hand report and congratulations on your 8 month abstinence !

 

[futura2012]

wow, dr. prescribing SSRIs to a 14 year old.

i am amazed.

I think the message from this is clear. Anything you are prescribed by a doctor should always be questioned and researched a little first.

A doctor indicates someone who has studied some medical exams and just like anyone else is trying to make a living > $$ ££. It does not automatically qualify them to care or necessarily be expert in what they are prescribing.

I am convinced these doctors gain financially each time these pharma products are prescribed.

The quote above does not surprise me at all.

 

[blight12]

I will say ssri's,paxil after mdma damage was a lifesaver, made life functional again. Though i always research first and usually walk in to a consult knowing what i want.

 

[futura2012]

Intresting to hear your experience is good blight. Aways good to have a balanced opinion.

What was your story if you dont mind me asking?

I am 39, taken life time approx 400 pills, had one year comedown from MDMA+BZP. As of yet I have not found an antidepressant that I get on with.

Is your stroy MDMA comedown related? What was the paxil like when it kicked in? As I understand it you are quite emotionally numbed by it. I guess different for everyone.