I was taking 60 mg for approximately 4 years following the death of my daughter. It was given to me for depression and since I also suffer from Fibromyalgia, I believe my Dr. thought that this would be helpful for both.
About the 3rd week in January, 2014, I decided that this was not doing anything for me any more and it was also so costly, it was putting me in the "doughnut hole" with Medicare by August of each year.
Being medication ignorant, I had no idea that there would be any withdrawal associated with this. I did not discuss this with my Dr, and just quit taking it. I know this sounds stupid, but that was the way it was. I did not find this forum until I was about 2 weeks into the cold turkey and it was another week or 2 when I found out about the bead counting. Needless to say, I just forged ahead with the cold turkey and would never recommend this approach to anyone!
I learned so much from the helpful and caring people here and they really helped me through this trip to Hell.
It has now been almost 11 months off this poison and I still have some sleep issues and short term memory problems. I know it's over whenever it's over and am doing the best I can to just accept what I am left with and realize that this may be as good as it gets. Only time will tell but I am able to function.
I really don't know what I was like before the poison drug, so have no idea what I will be like as time goes on... we never remain the same, regardless.
Just thought I would put this down in a new forum and I feel that many of our members might like to add to this and read about our experiences. Of course, questions are welcome if they arise! I just hope that many of you will post here so that we don't have to continually ask each other how long we have been off this crap!
I wish all of you the best, no matter where you are in this withdrawal/discontinuation process.
Liz