165 replies to this topic

[Troypants]

I bought some, I'll let yas know if I go crazy or not.

On another note, still holding on 14 beads, getting shitty cortisol in the morning last 2 days, and took a while to settle last night. Bit of anxiety still, its like a reflex arc, I react to things, get paranoid, have negative thoughts, my body reacts without me getting to think about it and it makes me think I'm coming off strangely, my mate told me I'm just acting normal so it's an internal turmoil that I inflict on myself. Its no worse than it has been before, but I have been better.

Still got ear ringing for the second half of the day, similar to others experiences my symptoms tend to increase as the blood levels of duloxetine rise during the day, and fall over night when I sleep.

[fishinghat]

Classic symptoms but still exasperating and wears a person out. It will get better.

[Troypants]

They sure do get exasperating.... Especially after a year +.

I got a salivary cortisol/testosterone test, testosterone was low, cortisol was low/normal low... Any idea why???

Sounds like pituitary issues, I need to get FSH/LH done I think.

[fishinghat]

Also TSH, t3 and t4.

 

Antidepressants are famous for causing low testosterone. Cymbalta caused mine to go from 480 to 62 in just a few months. The thyroid can also cause some of these issues as well.

[Troypants]

Wow that is a hell of a drop... No wonder I have an attraction to testosterone injections.

But why low cortisol? I read a study which found that SSRIs modify density of glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus and amygdala in a way which reduces cortisol secretion, and downregulates expression of Corticotropin releasing hormone. I remember my cortisol was sky high when I was frequently dropping in dose. Do you think it could be adrenal fatigue? It would make sense, adrenals not responding, hypothalamus raises crh production in an effort to raise cortisol, crh feeds back onto the hypothalamus and inhibits release of gnrh, causes low testosterone.

[fishinghat]

there is research in both directions concerning cortisol levels in relationship to antidepressants. It is just my opinion but focusing on cortisol levels is typically non-productive. Cortisol levels are affected by dozens of different factors and trying to figure out why these levels are changing in a certain way is problematic. Just my opinion.

 

Adrenal fatigue is a non-existent condition that has been disproven many times. It has been shown that the adrenal gland is very active during antidepressant withdrawal with increases in norepinephrine and adrenaline production as well as high levels of both neurotransmitters in the blood. This is one of the reasons that clonidine is so effective against withdrawal anxiety as it provides negative feedback to the adrenal glands slowing the production of these two neurotransmitters.

[Troypants]

Ahhhh ok, yep makes sense. I can see that because I get vasoconstriction and other adrenaline type effects, I don't think cortisol has those same effects. A lot of withdrawals seem to have similar effects on adrenaline for some reason.

I had 250mg agmatine this morning, not really noticing anything, might bump it up to 500mg tomorrow.

[fishinghat]

thanks for the update on the use of agmatine. interested in seeing how that goes. 

[Troypants]

Well so far it seems to have dulled the ear ringing when I take it, it can be a little dulling on the emotion, and can feel effects of low blood pressure, I'm on an ace inhibitor too though.

When it wears off the ear ringing comes back and adrenaline rises, leading to mild anxiety and peripheral vasoconstriction, but it doesnt feel like a full on withdrawal, just a bit of rebound. Although I noticed the effects lasted shorter and shorter times the longer I've taken it.

I'm going to have a break today and see how I go, maybe start it up again on Thursday.

[Troypants]

Ive had marked increase in vasoconstriction today, quite noticeable increase in adrenaline.

I am interested to know whether continued use causes withdrawal, it doesn't sound like it does, but if it doesn't it could be very useful, as long as the effectiveness stays stable over time.

[Troypants]

I'm stopping the agmatine, it seems like my body was getting used to it and I'm afraid of having withdrawal. It made me really tired and cloudy headed and I felt like my blood pressure had dropped quite a bit.

It may be helpful for others, but I didn't like the effects after consecutive use.

[Troypants]

I'm getting pretty over this shit tbh, I am going to get a script for testosterone hopefully and see if that helps. If it doesn't I am considering low dose prozac with buspar or something I don't know, I want to get through this but it feels like it will never end at the moment. I've come such a long way but I just want to be able to function properly, you know, have fun and socialise and shit.

[invalidusername]

Hi Troy.

 

My apologies for the delay catching up here and to all for my absence in general. I am in such a bad way with the wife's case against the NHS and it has been taking every hour God gave us.

 

Glad you tried the agmatine but I would have said that you shouldn't get too excited about it as all these things rely on getting a very specific balance rather than just "upping" everything. Unfortunately this isn't a game of throwing enough balls to win a fish. It is precise work that we don't fully understand ourselves. But no harm in trying.

 

Regarding your other question, you can read about my entire journey in the two following forums;

 

https://www.cymbalta...ea-where-to-go/

 

https://www.cymbalta...fter-last-dose/

 

Plenty to read through there! And please feel free to ask me anything about any of the content. I have no problem revisiting it as that is all part of the recovery. We don't bury these things and pretend they never happened. With a job done right, there is nothing left to be scared of as you know how to deal with whatever comes your way again...

 

Again, sincere apologies for my absence. I would explain, but I would be here all evening!

 

IUN

[Troypants]

Hey IUN, I found one of your threads, I left you a message on there and I don't think you recognised me haha.

Its all good mate, we all have life to navigate, and you can explain it all you want if you need to, I'll listen.

Can I ask how you guys feel now after a couple + years of recovery, and what medications you are on now?

I just want to get back to life to be honest, I'm on 2.5mg duloxetine, I have low testosterone, and I am almost always at some level of hypervigilance and it just makes it extremely difficult to socialise and generate good feelings for myself. Its been 1.5 years since I had my last big drop, a couple of months since I dropped from 3mg to 2.5mg. I'm much much better than I was but I just feel like I'm missing out and its wearing thin. I can't even apply for a scholarship because I don't want to have to goto the awards ceremony. I push myself to get out a couple of times a week, and its got a lot easier, but its still not easy or enjoyable.

I'm going to try testosterone injections if I can get the endo to prescribe it, and if that doesn't help me out, I am considering remediation but I really don't want to go on cymbalta again cause its a shit go to come off.

[fishinghat]

You should feel a noticeable improvement in your emotional status after going on the testosterone.  Low T is famous for causing depressoin. And problems in that area?

[Troypants]

Yeah hat, I've had low testosterone every time I check it, checked it at least 4 times in the last year.

I was on injections a couple of years ago, self prescribed, and I felt good, but I was also on duloxetine so I'm not sure which was the biggest contributor. But that was the reason I was coming off the duloxetine, I felt good, and the high blood pressure from duloxetine was annoying me so I figured id come off.

Since then, I've lost a lot of muscle that I had, and my bones are becoming thinner, and anxiety is shit because I don't have confidence in myself and I over think everything negatively, and I'm missing that control over my thoughts.

So hopefully I can get on the test, and I can get my mind and body back.