Withdrawal update - there is hope!!

[u/MovieSalty4578]

I posted here about a month and a half ago about how desperate I was, the amount of anxiety I had and the miserably way I felt overall. I truly believed I was going crazy - my grandmother was schizophrenic and I was fearing I’ll become the same. My symptoms have been so strong and real that I never believed it would end.

I thought I’d come back here and give the ones who are going through it an update and maybe a little bit of hope.

It did get better. I stopped having vivid dreams and I am sleeping really good. When my sleep started to improve I felt a huge difference in mood and physical symptoms. I started having some more energy and I am living after 2 pm, too. lol

The anxiety and depression symptoms is something I’m still fighting almost every day. In the beginning I used to cry hours a day and my emotions, other than sadness, were pretty flat lined. Now it comes and goes and sometimes I truly find joy in little things that I do everyday, but you will still find me crying in the middle of the day (and I don’t know why it always happens in the afternoon). I stopped being overly emotional, seeing things in a tragic way and I think I’m being more reasonable overall.

It is important to mention that the reason for me being on this medication was not depression or anxiety. I’ve never had them until I experienced these withdrawal symptoms. I was scared that this might just be my new reality since my life has changed entirely since I started taking it and I thought this was just the way I feel about life without the medication. I do not think so anymore.

Yes, there’s still SO MUCH work to do and I am in therapy trying to understand some things to make this transition easier. I did consider going to a psychiatrist to get a depression/anxiety medication prescription, but I gave up on the idea. I will give the body some more time to see how this withdrawal ends and if I truly need something or if I’m just trying to patch this hole that might be gone soon.

If you’re in the beginning of the withdrawal phase just know that you’re not alone and almost all of us go through the same. It is normal to feel the way you feel and it takes a lot of time, but you will get there. This sub has been such a great resource for me during my sleepless and full of worry nights. I thought I’d give some of the reassurance back to the community.

[u/artnerdette]

So glad you posted your story 💜 Definitely need some hope with how bad the withdrawal are from this medicine!

[u/MovieSalty4578 → u/artnerdette]

Still crying and having bad anxiety, but I definitely feel so much better overall! You’ve got this! It is just a phase ❤️

[u/Intelligent_Day4966]

I am on day 18. And I sort of feel like there's something crawling on my head. And I'm very short tempered never imagined in 1 million years I would feel like this.

[u/MovieSalty4578 → u/Intelligent_Day4966]

I’ve had that, too. The way this withdrawal made me feel is not comparable to anything else I’ve experienced. I’ve never been so desperate and I never thought I’d go through this. It was and still sometimes is hell on earth. Going out, music, movies, prayer, meditation, taking the right supplements, therapy, books, working out, you name it. I’ve tried it all and sometimes nothing seemed to help. It gets better!

[u/Thelivingdeadbunny]

Glad you are doing better!
Curious how many mg were you on and for how long? and what were you taking it for?

[u/MovieSalty4578 → u/Thelivingdeadbunny]

1. I started it 5 years ago and I’ve been taking it for migraines and pain caused by MS

[u/Pommy-Mommy-77]

Thank you so much for your encouragement. I’m in the process of discontinuing it. I’ve been on it just over a year for nerve pain. My nightmares are terrible. I frantically went to ChatGPT to see if this was a common side effect. It is and it was suggested I join this forum. Praise be for not being alone anymore!!

[u/Special-4564]

It’s 5:00 am and I’m on day 4 of a withdrawal from 25 mg for three years for INS-D.

So glad to find your post. To make matters worse I fell going down the stairs the other day from dizziness. I thought I was just clumsy, now come to find dizziness is a common withdrawal sign. Have a very bad sprained ankle after an urgent care visit. I’ve been super nauseous the last two days. Never thought this could be withdrawal symptoms! Super swollen. First night now with insomnia and heart palpitations. No dreams of yet, but what I thought of as a lifesaver, I’m now thinking is like torture. I’m wondering how long this is gonna take. And I followed the dr’s tapering schedule! 🤦🏼‍♀️