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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
dr-bob@uchicago.eduShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sukarno on December 3, 2007, at 5:23:38
I've read that tianeptine doesn't produce much in the way of physical dependence when tapering or stopping. There are stories out there of people who abused it, taking up to 240 tablets per day, and then detoxified in an inpatient setting over a period of four days or so and didn't have major problems. I guess what that means is "the patient didn't die!". heh.
I have found tapering to be more difficult the longer I remain on Stablon.
I tried tapering from 12.5mg 4x/day by taking 1/2 tablet less. That seems reasonable. I've tapered faster in the past without major problems.
Well, this time was a total disaster. I started getting a throbbing headache, reduced appetite/mild nausea and anxiety. The worst symptom was what I call "rebound depression". My depression came back so badly. It was just absolutely horrible and I don't wish that on anyone.The reason why I lowered the dose was due to financial concerns as it is expensive (56 cents/tablet). That's the only reason I tried to reduce the dose.
My wife insisted that I go back to the previous dose, so I did and I began to feel better. The headache took a few days to go away.
I never expected any of this to happen so I will have to conclude that while this drug is good for anxiety and depression, it can produce physical dependence similar to that of other antidepressants. SSRI withdrawal seems to be a lot worse though.
The sad thing is I never read anywhere that this drug could produce bad withdrawal symptoms. Probably the medical community thinks symptoms like headache, nausea, anxiety and rebound depression are "mild" and nothing of concern, but I would have to differ with them about their definitions of mild.
I also felt cravings for it too. It's not difficult like quitting smoking, but it's pretty hard, both psychologically and physically.Can anyone else here relate to this? I mean, specifically with tianeptine (Stablon) and withdrawal.
Thanks,
Paul
Posted by Sigismund on December 5, 2007, at 18:32:50
In reply to Tianeptine (Stablon) withdrawal symptoms, posted by sukarno on December 3, 2007, at 5:23:38
Hi Paul
Tianeptine turned nasty on me, for some reason or other.
Instead of feeling nice on it I began to feel (for want of a better word) uneasy. Maybe agitated?
Anyway this was after a year of no problems on 3 or 4 per day.Since then I have halved the dose to 1/2 tab 3 times a day, without brain zaps.
I may have breakthrough depression, it's hard to say.
My state of mind is problematic, which is the norm for me.After this morning's half I again felt weirdly stimulated, almost distressed.
I'm hoping I will just be able to stop without difficulty, but naturally worry that things will get worse.
Very recently I tried adding ashwaganda and SAMe (200mg am), and thought it was a good idea at the time.
So maybe for me stopping it will be less of a problem than continuing to take it?
I may titrate.
Posted by desperately seeking on April 27, 2009, at 6:17:31
In reply to Tianeptine (Stablon) withdrawal symptoms, posted by sukarno on December 3, 2007, at 5:23:38
Hi
I'm glad I found your thread. I've been on tianeptine for 5 months to help me deal with the SSRI withdrawal. I'd been on SSRIs for 6 years so I was pretty suicidial etc when I stopped and Stablon helped calm me down a little and get me through the days. But I read an article saying that your nervous system needs time to adjust, so you shouldn't take anything ( no herbs, no meds no 5htp, no vitamins) and just leave your brain and body alone for a couple of months.
I had been on Stablon for 5 months so I decided to try taper it down. But I've effectively swapped one drug dependency for another. I went from 4x a day to 3x a day and I'm feeling the effects just on the first day! Nausea, dizziness, slowness and the return of the really deep, painful depression and insomnia. It is a shame that the companies always mention the great thing about being on the drugs but don't mention trying to come off the drugs. I guess maybe they think you'll be on it forever??
To me that makes Stablon as bad as SSRIs, valium or any other drug. They're all the same. Stablon is meant to have less side effects than SSRI. I wouldn't say so. I think it's just a milder drug. I still felt unnatural on it. Slight depersonalisation, a little too calm in some instances when maybe I should have been feeling a different emotion. However, this could be the combination of the SSRI withdrawal with a new drug that's pulling the brain in an entirely new direction from what it's become used to over the years.
Bottmom line, ultimately, you have to deal with whatever it is that's making you feel bad about life. My experience ( and this is just MY experience) is that antidepressants actually just cloud my brain and alter my mind-state to the point where I don't even know if I'm coming or going anymore. So I can't even begin to deal with the emotions I'm experiencing in a rational, level-headed way.
Just my opinion. Any others agree...?
Posted by desperately seeking on April 27, 2009, at 6:31:22
In reply to Tianeptine (Stablon) withdrawal symptoms, posted by sukarno on December 3, 2007, at 5:23:38
Hi
I'm glad I found your thread. I've been on tianeptine for 5 months to help me deal with the SSRI withdrawal. I'd been on SSRIs for 6 years so I was pretty suicidial etc when I stopped and Stablon helped calm me down a little and get me through the days. But I read an article saying that your nervous system needs time to adjust, so you shouldn't take anything ( no herbs, no meds no 5htp, no vitamins) and just leave your brain and body alone for a couple of months.
I had been on Stablon for 5 months so I decided to try taper it down. But I've effectively swapped one drug dependency for another. I went from 4x a day to 3x a day and I'm feeling the effects just on the first day! Nausea, dizziness, slowness and the return of the really deep, painful depression and insomnia. It is a shame that the companies always mention the great thing about being on the drugs but don't mention trying to come off the drugs. I guess maybe they think you'll be on it forever??
To me that makes Stablon as bad as SSRIs, valium or any other drug. They're all the same. Stablon is meant to have less side effects than SSRI. I wouldn't say so. I think it's just a milder drug. I still felt unnatural on it. Slight depersonalisation, a little too calm in some instances when maybe I should have been feeling a different emotion. However, this could be the combination of the SSRI withdrawal with a new drug that's pulling the brain in an entirely new direction from what it's become used to over the years.
Bottmom line, ultimately, you have to deal with whatever it is that's making you feel bad about life. My experience ( and this is just MY experience) is that antidepressants actually just cloud my brain and alter my mind-state to the point where I don't even know if I'm coming or going anymore. So I can't even begin to deal with the emotions I'm experiencing in a rational, level-headed way.
Just my opinion. Any others agree...?
This is the end of the thread.
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