Withdrawal times.

[longbob]

I hope I get this right and don't accidently break any forum rules.

Briefly, 3 years on an SNRI at close to max dosage, now withdrawing to go onto a melatonergic AD. Withdrawal was in hospital, 3 days of dose reduction, then onto the new AD.

Thing is, I'm home again and I feel terrible.  I can't find out if it is withdrawal or the new AD. Can anyone suggest how long  the withdrawal symptoms might last? A week or so seems a short time for 3 years worth to clear the system. My doc is vague about it. The fact that I'm sitting here wide awake at 2am would suggest all is not exactly going to plan!

Waiting for sunrise, always.

[geoff]

dear Longbob, I wasn't sure as to what this new AD, melatonergic did, and it's primary base was to not deprive the user of any sleep deprivation which doesn't seem to be working for you at the moment.

It's still unclear about how long before you can start a new AD although the general rule is about 4 to 7 days but this differs from doctor/psychiatrist to another, however some say that you can 'cross dress' them, which means that as the first is slowly being stopped you can start a new one, again this differs from doc to doc.

Google 'The Black Institute' asking about the period needed to stop an AD before starting a new one.

This new drug is supposed to eradicate the problems we can have with many SSRI and SNRI.

I know feeling awful is terrible and it makes us feel lousy, but I would think that the dosage of this new drug, melatonergic would only be a small amount to start with, so I would ask your doctor if and when it can be increased, because you have to remember that the previous drug would have been a maximum amount and now this drug is only a small amount which you would have to take into account, so please let us know what your doc has done, and I hope you do feel better much sooner. Geoff.

[longbob]

thanks' so much Geoff for the info. I guess the crux of my question is how long do the withdrawal symptoms manifest - days, weeks, months ? SNRI info is all over the shop as to time, along with the symptoms to expect. I know we are all different, but perhaps there is an average expectancy

BTW I had a little dog just like the one in your pic. Pippin. Followed me everywhere. He died recently, 17 years old. I so miss the little critter!

[JessF]

Hello longbob, there is one pill I was on that has a notorious withdrawal syndrome, especially if you stop it suddenly (as I was silly enough to do when my prescription ran out, and I thought, oh a few days will be fine).  I had dreadful brain zaps and it felt like I was going to go out of my mind, literally...it felt like I was disconnecting from myself.  Horrible.  I read up on the internet about it (not always the most reliable source of info, I know, but Wikipedia is actually very quick and easy and pretty good, and if you are not sure about what it's telling you you can always check the sources at the bottom to make sure it's coming from a reliable place).

Anyway, I found out that with this drug it was common to get these symptoms even when tapering off properly, and sometimes it could even last months. So I spoke to my doctor about it and said I wasn't happy being on it as I didn't feel safe.  What if I was travelling and lost my pills or had my luggage stolen? So he ended up putting me on another one, but tailored it so I was going one to the other without having to go down to zero first - bingo, no brain zaps. 

I would be persistent with your doctor, and get a second opinion if he is being too vague. Yes there are side effects with medication but they shouldn't be so bad that they are worse than actually having depression in the frist place.

[Scorch13]

Hi longbob,

with this new drug as with most AD's if no effect in 2 weeks perhaps return to your doc and let them know, and try for another 2 weeks. Make sure to get sunlight exposure every morning when you wake up, may help with sleep and feeling drowsy at night 🙂

with how long symptoms can last, depends again on drug but can be around 3 weeks but remember gets better over time. Keep busy and best of luck!

[louie83]

Hi Longbob,

I'm interested to see how you are going with the new AD. Did the symptoms start to settle? 

The reason I'm so interested is because I am currently going through a change myself. My GP changed me from a short acting SSRI I had been taking for 6 months, to a longer acting SSRI which knocked me for 6. Then she started me on an SNRI. This all happened with in the space of 2 weeks. So the tapering and wash out periods were very quick. 

I feel so ill. Just so foggy, nauseous, emotional, headaches, I can't concentrate at all. I just wanted to see how you ended up going? 

Thank you

Louie 🙂 

[geoff]

dear Longbob, I am addressing this to you because you started this post, but I see that Louie is having a lot of trouble, but a 2 week wash out is a quick time before you start the new AD, I'm no doctor and they know best, but it seems to be too quick, and I would hope that it's a low dosage you are taking.

There is anti-nauseous medication, but I tend to find that this medicine does make me being sick in the loo, and then I do feel much better, so it's a catch-22 situation.

Jess has raised a very good point about if you travel overseas, and your luggage is stolen or lost, so what you should do is to get a letter from your doctor specifying the medication that he/she has authorised for you, and you would need this if you do go overseas where they have a no drug policy.

I had thought that I may travel overseas so I got a letter from my doctor and photocopied it a couple of times ( OCD) where the original would be put in with my passport and the others spread in various locations.

Plus if your luggage is lost you will need this letter to show the doctor overseas that you need the script to be filled. Geoff.