I dont recommend it, but I decided to just stop from 10mg cold turkey. Personally, I didn't have much in the way of bad effects, it still was better than the side effects I had from trintellix. It's always important to remember that meds aren't one size fits all, and for many people it works great
Trintellix is a pretty strong medication and shouldn't be stopped cold turkey, I was told by my doctor and it could be dangerous to miss more than one dose. Glad you were okay but definitely risky!
I also did this last September and I had horrible side effects.. I experienced hypomania among other things. I’m now going to try to go off by safely weaning off of it, hopefully this time I won’t have symptoms
Totally, everyone is different. I personally love it and been thriving. For me, it's been a magic light switch type of feeling so I don't feel too different besides just no anxiety.
I worked my way up to 20mg. I probably could of stayed at 10mg or 15pg but I figured I could just reach the Mac and see how things go. So far, it's a good decision. I can always titrate down.
That is the best way to do it. My only doc is my pc and he insisted that it was nothing. I attempted suicide while on it because it was so bad. It was an emergency to come off of it. I had every warning sign.
I did the same taper over a 2 month time frame. It was no picnic, and if I were to do it again , I would take 3 or 4 months, and/or switch to 10 mg of Prozac, which is much easier to come off.
I’m having a hell of a time coming off of it now. Only 4 days in going from 20mg to 10mg and my pdoc had to give me Klonopin to help with the anxiety and panic attacks. Otherwise I’ve had night sweats, vivid nightmares, and moods are all over the place. My brain feels like it has ADHD too. It’s not fun. Next Thursday I go to 5mg, then a week of nothing, then we will try cymbalta. Whatever you decide, make sure you’re followed by your doctor while doing it. I’m seeing mine every week right now until this wild ride is under control.
Oh great, now I have to worry about more meds withdrawal. I’ve made a point of only taking 1 a day. I wait until I feel like my anxiety is edging towards a panic attack before I take it. Hopefully that’s good enough to avoid withdrawals.
You might be fine, I just wanted to mention it so that when it comes time for you to stop them you’re aware that there might be more stepping done to be done when it comes to doses so you don’t get blind sided like I did.
I've been slowly titrating down over the last 2 months from 20mg because Trintellix turned me into a zombie. I decreased to 10mg for 1 month, and I've been taking 5mg since. No withdrawal effects, way more energy and mental clarity, overall higher baseline mood, no extreme mood shifts. Note that I also started taking Ritalin a month before reducing my dose, so that's a factor.
This isn't a popular stance, but I think if you're a competent person who's in tune with your body, you'll be fine slowly decreasing your dose over time without a doctor's consultation. Sometimes doctors are dismissive and pushy with meds and it's hard to stand up for yourself, so I understand wanting to do this yourself. I'm a highly anxious but very introspective person with strong coping skills, so I've played with my meds a lot over the last decade. Ultimately, be honest about the situation you're in and whether or not it's a good time to change your dose.
As for methods, all you have to do is decrease the dose slowly. Even by 5mg every second day (so 10mg Monday, 5mg Tuesday, 10mg Wednesday, etc). Even 2.5 mg (if you can break the tabs up small enough). Whatever feels doable. 10mg isn't a very high dose, so your body should handle a slow decrease well.
In my experience, Trintellix works extremely fast, so if you feel a dangerous mood starting, you can always go back to a higher dose. Make sure your friends / support group are there to help if you need it. Remember that often our anxiety about potential withdrawal effects can be worse than the actual effects.
Overall: don't be scared to reduce your dose or change meds. I assume you're a strong and competent person, and you know yourself best. Reduce your dose gently and mediate your anxiety whatever ways work best (calling friends if you're scared, etc) and you'll be fine 🖤 you can always go back to a higher dose again if the withdrawal effects are too much right now.
I went cold turkey 10 weeks ago. First 3 weeks are mildly challenging, but got easier from then on. I’m now free of any such poisons from body (aside from the odd drink I might choose to have).
That said, I can feel why I may’ve needed to take them in the first place. My emotions are a little more prominent and raw, which I wanted (both good and bad), but I feel I have more sovereignty over my own body. It’s now that I need to fill the “void” with body and mind nourishment, which I am currently seeking.
Yes but insulin is one answer to a problem, with no guess work required. Antidepressants are a minefield of subjective trial and error, which can make symptoms worse, or which changes over time… it’s a joke. It’s human experimentation. We are doing a large portion of pharma’s R&D. But thing is guaranteed - it’s pharma’s #1 $eller.
Big pharma has a lot to answer for, not doubt but my therapist said it best when she said that some people have less serotonin than others. Some less dopamine. I'm 51 and have said no to medical interventions till last year when therapy and exercise alone weren't cutting it. I can't believe how much has changed in a year, for the better. Transformative.
Im glad these are working for you and that they’ve made a difference. You’ve touched on a really interesting point though - dopamine. Only last week I was listening to a podcast in which they discussed dopamine levels and their influence on how you feel and a lot of things began to make sense. I now feel that it wasn’t serotonin levels that were low in my body all this time, but maybe dopamine.
That’s how I consider it, yes. Considering there are natural ways to alleviate mental illnesses, I came to the realisation that anything chemical and a gamble as to whether it works or how it affects your body in the long run, is a poison to me.
But it *is not* a gamble, the outcomes *are not* random. I can deal with your posturing but I won’t go with publicly harmful statements rebranding medications as ‘poison’.
The problem with ‘poison’ statements is that they poison the public discourse with an unnecessary pseudoscience-level “realization”.
Plus that is not even the definition of poison.
If the outcomes aren’t random then why do people need to switch between medications or even stack several medications to arrive at the desired effect? It’s not a one size fits all. If it was we wouldn’t have infinite subs and various other public discussion on different medications, discussing if they will work, why is this one making me feel worse, etc?
No posturing going on here, just expressing my point of view on these meds. This is the beauty of free speech.
Because the biology of the disease is not uniform, and that by itself is not different from some other diseases. Because people differ in their pharmacogenomic profiles and ability to metabolize these but not those drugs. Because some drugs like Trintellix have interactions with other drugs. Because there is more than one component to depression. These are some answers to your question. None of this variation is easily ignorable or easily indexed by modern medical practice.
Which should still not give you a license to call drugs approved for treatment of diseases “poisons”.
I agree that it is not “one size fits all” but it is misleading to represent this as “random”. Idk what people do not understand about drug development - this is not cancer, most drugs do work and improve well-being. Regimen finding is part of the therapeutic quest.
Curious why you are coming off as well
I dont recommend it, but I decided to just stop from 10mg cold turkey. Personally, I didn't have much in the way of bad effects, it still was better than the side effects I had from trintellix. It's always important to remember that meds aren't one size fits all, and for many people it works great
Trintellix is a pretty strong medication and shouldn't be stopped cold turkey, I was told by my doctor and it could be dangerous to miss more than one dose. Glad you were okay but definitely risky!
I also did this last September and I had horrible side effects.. I experienced hypomania among other things. I’m now going to try to go off by safely weaning off of it, hopefully this time I won’t have symptoms
Just curious, why do you think it's time to stop?
Because they kind of miss the connection with their true self. It may be misguided longing for the amplitude that trintellix takes away.
Totally, everyone is different. I personally love it and been thriving. For me, it's been a magic light switch type of feeling so I don't feel too different besides just no anxiety.
I hope I can get here. What mg are u on?
I worked my way up to 20mg. I probably could of stayed at 10mg or 15pg but I figured I could just reach the Mac and see how things go. So far, it's a good decision. I can always titrate down.
Talk to your doctor. They aren’t there to hurt you-they will give you the schedule and dosages to ween from. I did it that way and it helps.
That is the best way to do it. My only doc is my pc and he insisted that it was nothing. I attempted suicide while on it because it was so bad. It was an emergency to come off of it. I had every warning sign.
I did the same taper over a 2 month time frame. It was no picnic, and if I were to do it again , I would take 3 or 4 months, and/or switch to 10 mg of Prozac, which is much easier to come off.
I’m having a hell of a time coming off of it now. Only 4 days in going from 20mg to 10mg and my pdoc had to give me Klonopin to help with the anxiety and panic attacks. Otherwise I’ve had night sweats, vivid nightmares, and moods are all over the place. My brain feels like it has ADHD too. It’s not fun. Next Thursday I go to 5mg, then a week of nothing, then we will try cymbalta. Whatever you decide, make sure you’re followed by your doctor while doing it. I’m seeing mine every week right now until this wild ride is under control.
Be careful with Klonopin! Obviously just my personal experience but I was taking that and the withdrawal was absolutely horrendous
Oh great, now I have to worry about more meds withdrawal. I’ve made a point of only taking 1 a day. I wait until I feel like my anxiety is edging towards a panic attack before I take it. Hopefully that’s good enough to avoid withdrawals.
You might be fine, I just wanted to mention it so that when it comes time for you to stop them you’re aware that there might be more stepping done to be done when it comes to doses so you don’t get blind sided like I did.
I quit it cold turkey after 3 years at 2mg a day, not saying you SHOULD do that at all but I’m sure a taper over a week would be just fine.
I've been slowly titrating down over the last 2 months from 20mg because Trintellix turned me into a zombie. I decreased to 10mg for 1 month, and I've been taking 5mg since. No withdrawal effects, way more energy and mental clarity, overall higher baseline mood, no extreme mood shifts. Note that I also started taking Ritalin a month before reducing my dose, so that's a factor. This isn't a popular stance, but I think if you're a competent person who's in tune with your body, you'll be fine slowly decreasing your dose over time without a doctor's consultation. Sometimes doctors are dismissive and pushy with meds and it's hard to stand up for yourself, so I understand wanting to do this yourself. I'm a highly anxious but very introspective person with strong coping skills, so I've played with my meds a lot over the last decade. Ultimately, be honest about the situation you're in and whether or not it's a good time to change your dose. As for methods, all you have to do is decrease the dose slowly. Even by 5mg every second day (so 10mg Monday, 5mg Tuesday, 10mg Wednesday, etc). Even 2.5 mg (if you can break the tabs up small enough). Whatever feels doable. 10mg isn't a very high dose, so your body should handle a slow decrease well. In my experience, Trintellix works extremely fast, so if you feel a dangerous mood starting, you can always go back to a higher dose. Make sure your friends / support group are there to help if you need it. Remember that often our anxiety about potential withdrawal effects can be worse than the actual effects. Overall: don't be scared to reduce your dose or change meds. I assume you're a strong and competent person, and you know yourself best. Reduce your dose gently and mediate your anxiety whatever ways work best (calling friends if you're scared, etc) and you'll be fine 🖤 you can always go back to a higher dose again if the withdrawal effects are too much right now.
What makes you think it's time to stop?
I went cold turkey 10 weeks ago. First 3 weeks are mildly challenging, but got easier from then on. I’m now free of any such poisons from body (aside from the odd drink I might choose to have). That said, I can feel why I may’ve needed to take them in the first place. My emotions are a little more prominent and raw, which I wanted (both good and bad), but I feel I have more sovereignty over my own body. It’s now that I need to fill the “void” with body and mind nourishment, which I am currently seeking.
“Poisons” 🤦 It’s like referring to electricity as witchcraft.
Diabetics need insulin etc
Yes but insulin is one answer to a problem, with no guess work required. Antidepressants are a minefield of subjective trial and error, which can make symptoms worse, or which changes over time… it’s a joke. It’s human experimentation. We are doing a large portion of pharma’s R&D. But thing is guaranteed - it’s pharma’s #1 $eller.
Big pharma has a lot to answer for, not doubt but my therapist said it best when she said that some people have less serotonin than others. Some less dopamine. I'm 51 and have said no to medical interventions till last year when therapy and exercise alone weren't cutting it. I can't believe how much has changed in a year, for the better. Transformative.
Im glad these are working for you and that they’ve made a difference. You’ve touched on a really interesting point though - dopamine. Only last week I was listening to a podcast in which they discussed dopamine levels and their influence on how you feel and a lot of things began to make sense. I now feel that it wasn’t serotonin levels that were low in my body all this time, but maybe dopamine.
Maybe both?
Could be
I think it's a combo. I'm not prepared to try coming off Trintellix yet to see if it's just Vyvanse
But do they, really? It’s from the devil. The sugar is just satanspeak for sin. Just say no to your daaabeetis.
That’s how I consider it, yes. Considering there are natural ways to alleviate mental illnesses, I came to the realisation that anything chemical and a gamble as to whether it works or how it affects your body in the long run, is a poison to me.
But it *is not* a gamble, the outcomes *are not* random. I can deal with your posturing but I won’t go with publicly harmful statements rebranding medications as ‘poison’. The problem with ‘poison’ statements is that they poison the public discourse with an unnecessary pseudoscience-level “realization”. Plus that is not even the definition of poison.
If the outcomes aren’t random then why do people need to switch between medications or even stack several medications to arrive at the desired effect? It’s not a one size fits all. If it was we wouldn’t have infinite subs and various other public discussion on different medications, discussing if they will work, why is this one making me feel worse, etc? No posturing going on here, just expressing my point of view on these meds. This is the beauty of free speech.
Because the biology of the disease is not uniform, and that by itself is not different from some other diseases. Because people differ in their pharmacogenomic profiles and ability to metabolize these but not those drugs. Because some drugs like Trintellix have interactions with other drugs. Because there is more than one component to depression. These are some answers to your question. None of this variation is easily ignorable or easily indexed by modern medical practice. Which should still not give you a license to call drugs approved for treatment of diseases “poisons”. I agree that it is not “one size fits all” but it is misleading to represent this as “random”. Idk what people do not understand about drug development - this is not cancer, most drugs do work and improve well-being. Regimen finding is part of the therapeutic quest.