Symptoms: Akathisia, brain zaps, emotional blunting, sexual dysfunction, cognitive impairment, suicidal ideation, tinnitus, neuropathy, severe anxiety/panic
I was prescribed an antidepressant when I was experiencing a domestic violence situation. I used it for over 25 years. When I decided to come off I halved my dose. I had no idea this is what had caused the extreme fatigue I was experiencing. I decided to sell my 5 acre property cos I didn’t have the energy to look after it anymore. Then a little while later I stopped the rest of drug.
I was so confused with the symptoms I didn’t know what to do. I was virtually bedridden for about 3 months. I developed akathisia, I was suicidal, I had brain zaps. I was in extreme distress and didn’t know where to turn. I road it out for 13 months but couldn’t handle it anymore. I reinstated to another antidepressant and eventually stabilised.
I am now tapering that AD.
The only help I got was when I joined a few Facebook pages where people who were going through the same as me. It was an incredibly lonely journey, especially when the doctors were giving me bad advise and telling me there is nothing wrong.
It was the most horrific experience of my life and still is. I feel I have to manage my symptoms on my own. I am now down to 4.3mg of Prozac and doing ok.