If you haven't - DONT!!! ADs and Cold Turkey = NO!

[nygirl7]

Ooops I did it again.  I completely forgot about the last time I tried it and this time it was longer and much worse.

If you are on an AD do NOT just stop taking it or seriously.........you risk the white coat treatment and a trip to the hospital.

About five days ago I decided I didn't need the paxills anymore so I didn't refill them.  Then the nightmares started. I mean hardcore horrible worse things you can imagine and so real nightmares.  Then last night on night five I just went ballistic crying, weeping, going out of my mind sobbing. I tried to take an Ambien and go to sleep well - the nightmares were so bad and so strong I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs. I turned the light on and went back to bed and they came back. Finally I found the religious tv station in our area and turned that on too and figured good that will be calming all night (the hour of sleep that was left) but no go - woke up screaming again.

First thing this morning I called the local CVS and refilled my script.

When the time comes I am going to do it the right way and taper off.

I had NO idea it could really be this bad. I've gotten off hard core drugs much easier than this.

I know that i needed them for treatment and probably still do...I just wanted to say please take my advice........it's not worth it in a million billion years.

Debby

[l-horn]

? How long were you on them ? I took ...****..can't recall now..Lexapro...and 'pretty much' kicked 'em cold turkey after 3 months. I did notice some mania effect but it's hard to tell what caused what as I was coming off the tx at the same time. I have no idea what caused it, I just know it happened. You cold turkey off the interferon and riba too ya' know....

;)

[susan400]

BTW, when is that start date again???  Are you still going to make that next week??  Just being nosey!

Susan

PS:  If you don't want that interferon, I'll take it off of your hands for you!!!   Just kidding...I think.

[IAmTheWalrus]

Just wanted to say congratulations on dealing with your addiction and say thanks for your help and advice to others. God bless you!

[IAmTheWalrus]

Thanks for the warning! I will be sure to watch it when the time comes. I know I put off the decision to start them until I was in pretty bad shape. Don't want that to happen again when I quit.

Brent

[pitter]

Hi.
thanks for your frankness and honesty in your sharing your experience and about quitting alcohol...it is much appreciated...and probably helps more people than you know.
pitter

[Forseegood]

I had a messa people tell me that they had to ween off, oh so slowly...by small fractions...over a period of time...say, if you were taking 40 mg of something, then maybe to to 35 for a week or two...then 30, etc etc...all the way till you get to 5 mg...then half that...that's the only way that I heard of people doing it to where it's semi-comfortable...now, they just told me that, cause I just can't find one that works for me, I'm hoping that it'll be better once I'm on tx....then I'll react better...hoping anyway...best of luck to you...I had a whole melt down on Sat night...so maybe I was right there with you and we didn't even know it...good to laugh about panic attacks later, cause it's sure hard while they are happening!!!!! take it from one WHO KNOWS!!!!!

[Deb_c430]

You know my friend you have been through a lot the last couple of days,  We are here for you if need me!

hugs

Deb

[working dog]

i tell people to get help or take there time when stopping an addiction as i had terrible nightmares stopping alcohol...i would never quit the same way again...whether alcohol or drugs i think the rewireing of your brain is similar..heres a great part of a post about what happens durring different levels of sleep from the alcohol forum..............................................When you drink - you disable your brain to reach a certain sleep level - there are 4 main levels of sleep - and that would be level 1 - right before you fall asleep - kinda hazy 2 - 1st stage of sleep 3 - REM (dreaming) and 4 - DEEP (restorative/healing).  Alcohol can disrupt the patterns and keep you from reaching REM and can keep you from reaching a full level 4.  (You may not remember ever dreaming when you were drinking)  So you bounce around the sleep stages.  The alcohol literally "rewires" your brain and so for awhile, until the brain is able to do it on its own again, your sleep patterns are messed up.  You have trouble falling asleep cause the alcohol was responsible for getting you to Level 1 and 2 (alcohol is a depressant)(your brain is relearning how to do that on its own) you have vivid dreams and even nightmares because you no longer have the alcohol surpressing this stage.  The night sweats are VERY normal and I had them SO badly!  I would wake up SOAKED for the first 3 months.  After the 3rd month it was better and it only happened occasionally up till the 6th month of sobriety then it stopped............anyway...i thought this was some good insight.....billy

[Deb_c430]

That is the hard part, not knowing what is real and what is not, like standing outside your self.

I think it is great you are warning folks!  This is something that could cause a lot of hurt to someone

[sldb]

Just looked Paxil up in my drug book, says you need to taper off slowly over 1 to 2 weeks.  Take care. Hope the night frights leave you soon.....Leah

[nygirl7]

I just want to warn people now - it was so bad.  I just hope the argument i had with my son doesn't leave permanent ramifications and that those dreams are gone for good they were so so crazy. Unless you've had them you can't understand them - Deb they are just like the morphine dreams - my ex had them and the only way they would take him off the morphine was when I threatened to sue the hospital. he thought he was at work shovelling cow patties and kept screaming (wide awake though) look everyone in the parking lot has gone home please please let me come home I'm tired.....

It was so horrible to be asleep but awake sort of like that. Just will never forget it.

[charm27]

Oh no! I was down that road in 2000. First time on a/d. Went off thought I didnt need it
was on Paxil. Within 3 days my body felt like it was electricuted!!! Horrifying experience to say the least.

My doc said to  get off Paxil 6 to 9 mos. Very slow gradual weeening off!!
He wrote me up a schedule how to get off and it was still hard................but very doable.

Sorry you had to go thru that...I remember it well unfortunately!!!

[Deb_c430]

That is the hard way to learn about tapering off.  I feel for you my friend.   Nightmares and  delusions are awful.  

I had those at Walter Reed, but they were morphine dreams. To this day only being awake and knowing logically it couldn't of happened.  


My heart goes out to you,  You have so much on your plate. Take care dear friend

Deb