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Onmyway: Hello world!

Onmyway
Onmyway
in Introductions & Ongoing Recoveries

Featured Replies

Hi everyone, here from Survivingantidepressants.org - I was on citalopram 20mg for 19 years before tapering over 5 months (I thought I was being careful) and all hell broke loose. I reinstated and then tapered from 2.5mg over 6 years and have been off completely now for over 10 months. I am OK now. But the last 6 years were quite difficult. Happy to answer any questions you might have. 

Citalopram 20-30mg for 19 years, came off over 5 months, had to reinstate and taper over 6 years. 

    • Like 2

    Welcome to the forum!

     

    This is a volunteer-run, community forum aimed at helping those who are tapering and/or experiencing difficulties with psychiatric medications and withdrawl syndrome. We are not medical professionals and cannot offer medical advice. We simply offer support and opinions which you could use as talking points with a medical provider knowledgeable in withdrawing off psychiatric medications.

     

    Please familiarise yourself with the forum rules and the disclaimer located here: Guidelines

     

    Thank you for joining and updating your signature.

     

    I'm glad to hear that you are doing OK at the moment. If you had to put a percentage on your recovery, how far recovered would you say you are?

    Nothing I say is medical advice, it is simply my opinion. I am an anonymous person on an internet forum with no relevant qualifications other than being badly harmed by a drug. For all you know, I could be an idiot. You are making your own decisions and part of that is deciding how much to listen to my opinion, if at all.

     

    Perhaps you should consider this post an artistic work of fiction written for entertainment purposes.

    Story from SA: LukeUK: Remeron/Mirtazapine Severe Withdrawal - Introductions and updates - Surviving Antidepressants

     

    15mg Remeron/Mirtazapine November starting 2022 (severe physical side effects)

    Attempted to taper off January 2023, ended up having a major breakdown and going up to 30mg, took weeks to stabilise

    1 month taper  to 0mg

    Last dose April 2023

    Severe withdrawal syndrome with many physical symptoms

    Summary: 5 months using Mirtazapine, including 1 month taper ending late April 2023.

    Hi @Onmyway, good to see you here! Hope you're doing well 😊

    2023-06: started trazodone, 50 mg

    2023-10: lowered dose to 25 mg

    2023-11: 0 mg

     

    2023-07-04: started paroxetine, 20 mg

    2023-07-30: increased dose to 30 mg

    2023-08-26: lowered dose to 20 mg

    2024-03-21: lowered dose to 10 mg

    2024-07-10: lowered dose to 5 mg

    2024-07-26: 0 mg

     

    2024-08-14: reinstated on another AD, this time 10 mg of escitalopram

    2024-11-24: lowered dose to 7.5 mg

    2025-01-15: lowered dose to 5 mg

    2025-03-01: lowered dose to 3.75 mg (with pill cutter)

    2025-03-26: lowered dose to 2.5 mg (with pill cutter)

    2025-04-23: lowered dose to 1.25 mg (with pill cutter)

    2025-05-24: 0 mg

     

    Started Rosuvastatin in October 2024 due to high cholesterol.

    On a break from this med from April 2026 until July 2026.

    Started taking Rosuvastatin again at the end of July 2026.

     

    Current supplements: None at the moment

    • Author

    Lovely to see you here, @Niels91. How are you managing? 

    Citalopram 20-30mg for 19 years, came off over 5 months, had to reinstate and taper over 6 years. 

    • Author
    1 hour ago, Luke said:

    I'm glad to hear that you are doing OK at the moment. If you had to put a percentage on your recovery, how far recovered would you say you are?

     

    Hi Luke, 

    I wouldn't want to put a percentage on my recovery as my situation is complicated with other stressors and health issues but I consider myself recovered from antidepressant withdrawal. 

     

    My lingering symptoms (night sweats and cortisol mornings) can be explained by other health challenges. 

     

    Citalopram 20-30mg for 19 years, came off over 5 months, had to reinstate and taper over 6 years. 

    • Chippy changed the title to Onmyway: Hello world!

    Welcome to the Forum!

     

    8 hours ago, Onmyway said:

    wouldn't want to put a percentage on my recovery

    I empathise with this. 
     

    Glad to see you here. 
     

    Chippy

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I only offer my thoughts as support. Please speak to your health practitioner about your care. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 

     

    If you are from the UK please make sure you fill in a 'Yellow Card' report for the MHRA. It is you doing your bit to help make a difference.

    Please take the time to do it today 🙂 https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

    For US members details here.

    • Author

    :) Just wondering @Luke, why are some people's posts shown in the thousands (also some forums) when there are only few posts. Thanks @Chippy, Lovely to be part of the community and let's hope this one stays as a community instead of easily being closed. 

    Citalopram 20-30mg for 19 years, came off over 5 months, had to reinstate and taper over 6 years. 

    • Like 1
    20 hours ago, Onmyway said:

     

    Hi Luke, 

    I wouldn't want to put a percentage on my recovery as my situation is complicated with other stressors and health issues but I consider myself recovered from antidepressant withdrawal. 

     

    My lingering symptoms (night sweats and cortisol mornings) can be explained by other health challenges. 

     

     

    I'm glad to hear you consider yourself recovered to a meaningful degree.

     

    Thank you for clarifying.

    Nothing I say is medical advice, it is simply my opinion. I am an anonymous person on an internet forum with no relevant qualifications other than being badly harmed by a drug. For all you know, I could be an idiot. You are making your own decisions and part of that is deciding how much to listen to my opinion, if at all.

     

    Perhaps you should consider this post an artistic work of fiction written for entertainment purposes.

    Story from SA: LukeUK: Remeron/Mirtazapine Severe Withdrawal - Introductions and updates - Surviving Antidepressants

     

    15mg Remeron/Mirtazapine November starting 2022 (severe physical side effects)

    Attempted to taper off January 2023, ended up having a major breakdown and going up to 30mg, took weeks to stabilise

    1 month taper  to 0mg

    Last dose April 2023

    Severe withdrawal syndrome with many physical symptoms

    Summary: 5 months using Mirtazapine, including 1 month taper ending late April 2023.

    21 hours ago, Onmyway said:

    Lovely to see you here, @Niels91. How are you managing? 

    The window and wave pattern continues. Last week was rough as I had the flu followed by a wave. Today I'm feeling better 😊

    2023-06: started trazodone, 50 mg

    2023-10: lowered dose to 25 mg

    2023-11: 0 mg

     

    2023-07-04: started paroxetine, 20 mg

    2023-07-30: increased dose to 30 mg

    2023-08-26: lowered dose to 20 mg

    2024-03-21: lowered dose to 10 mg

    2024-07-10: lowered dose to 5 mg

    2024-07-26: 0 mg

     

    2024-08-14: reinstated on another AD, this time 10 mg of escitalopram

    2024-11-24: lowered dose to 7.5 mg

    2025-01-15: lowered dose to 5 mg

    2025-03-01: lowered dose to 3.75 mg (with pill cutter)

    2025-03-26: lowered dose to 2.5 mg (with pill cutter)

    2025-04-23: lowered dose to 1.25 mg (with pill cutter)

    2025-05-24: 0 mg

     

    Started Rosuvastatin in October 2024 due to high cholesterol.

    On a break from this med from April 2026 until July 2026.

    Started taking Rosuvastatin again at the end of July 2026.

     

    Current supplements: None at the moment

    • Author

    This is a sign of healing. It will take time but this is good that you are experiencing the windows and waves!

    Citalopram 20-30mg for 19 years, came off over 5 months, had to reinstate and taper over 6 years. 

    40 minutes ago, Onmyway said:

    This is a sign of healing. It will take time but this is good that you are experiencing the windows and waves!


    Hi there Onmyway 👋🏻🙂

     

    I’ve been in contact with you on SA as I am, like you once were, in the midst of Citalopram tapering. How long after you reinstated at 2.5mg did you feel well enough to start tapering again?

     

    Of course all our scenarios are different, but after seven months of holding steady at 2.5mg after a few mistakes I’m still not feeling anywhere near ‘stable’. 

    2016 - Started 20mg Citalopram.

    Mid 22 - Attempted to taper too fast upon poor GP advice and lack of personal knowledge. Back onto 5mg in July, then 10mg in Sept and 20mg in Oct.

    Feb 23 - Start of my 10% reduction every four weeks taper. Created dosages by dissolving a 10mg tablet in 20ml water for a 1:2 ratio.

    26th Mar 25 - 23rd Apr 25: Down to 1.2mg. Feeling stable and fine.

    24th Apr 25: Made decision to switch from dissolving tablet to diluting liquid Citalopram as concerned about tablet dissolving accuracy. Began 1mg by diluting liquid Citalopram. 

    28th Apr 25: Onset of destabilisation symptoms. Not sure of exact cause (could be tablet to liquid crossover or % reduction being too high?).

    17th May 25: Updosed to 2mg Citalopram hydrochloride (equivalent to 2.5mg in Citalopram hydrobromide tablet form) and holding to stabilise.

    23rd June 25: Began consuming the above using a 4mg/ml solution as advised in the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines to avoid dropper inaccuracy.

    1st Feb 26: Registered on this forum. Still destabilised seven months into my consistent 2.5mg liquid dilution.

    • Author
    8 hours ago, Luke said:

     

    I'm glad to hear you consider yourself recovered to a meaningful degree.

     

    Thank you for clarifying.

    Just to make sure - I am not  trying to be coy by not putting a percentage to it. I want to say that AD withdrawal is not something I think about in terms of my health and MH any more. I think I am left with sensitivity to medicines - I do occasionally take benzos when I am extremely distressed and a very small amount has a very big effect - i.e. 0.2mg of lorazepam will knock me out while before 1mg would do that. 

     

    Withdrawal is not the issue any more for me. I am here mostly to offer support and to say that this has an end date. 

     

    Citalopram 20-30mg for 19 years, came off over 5 months, had to reinstate and taper over 6 years. 

    15 hours ago, Onmyway said:

    Just to make sure - I am not  trying to be coy by not putting a percentage to it.

     

    I understand that. I'd rather hear your perspective on it than a percentage, it was a general question to see how you think you're doing now.

      

    15 hours ago, Onmyway said:

    I think I am left with sensitivity to medicines - I do occasionally take benzos when I am extremely distressed and a very small amount has a very big effect - i.e. 0.2mg of lorazepam will knock me out while before 1mg would do that. 

     

    I'd strongly recommend not doing this, but it's your choice.

     

    Nothing I say is medical advice, it is simply my opinion. I am an anonymous person on an internet forum with no relevant qualifications other than being badly harmed by a drug. For all you know, I could be an idiot. You are making your own decisions and part of that is deciding how much to listen to my opinion, if at all.

     

    Perhaps you should consider this post an artistic work of fiction written for entertainment purposes.

    Story from SA: LukeUK: Remeron/Mirtazapine Severe Withdrawal - Introductions and updates - Surviving Antidepressants

     

    15mg Remeron/Mirtazapine November starting 2022 (severe physical side effects)

    Attempted to taper off January 2023, ended up having a major breakdown and going up to 30mg, took weeks to stabilise

    1 month taper  to 0mg

    Last dose April 2023

    Severe withdrawal syndrome with many physical symptoms

    Summary: 5 months using Mirtazapine, including 1 month taper ending late April 2023.

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