Hey all,

 

I wrote a success story on SAD, but it was a little rushed since I was trying to get in before it closed.  I'm going to try and be a more thorough here, for better or for worse  😁  

 

Long story short, back when dinosaurs ruled the earth in 2012, I tapered successfully off of Venlafaxine with the help of the Paxil Progress community.   That took around 4 or 5 years, and life got busy and I didn't feel like I had the space or energy to taper off of Bupropion(generic Wellbutrin) at that time.  I thought it was easy to get off of anyway, and thought I needed it and didn't want to be bothered with another taper.  So fast forward to 2021 and I had cleared the space in my life to do this. Plus, I had always been told it was soooooooooo easy to get off of!  Just quit taking it, I was told 🤣  It's EZ, just takes a few weeks.   

 

Well, I wouldn't be here if that were the case.   😊  After my Venlafaxine experience, I thought this would be a piece of cake.   Turns out, it wasn't.    

 

At this time, I had been experiencing constant headaches and burning sensations for years, and an elevated, floaty feeling in my head that I really didn't like.   I had been maxed out at 450mg of Bupropion for 20 some years.  I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even make the connection between the meds and the head issues.   I sure did later, however!  😭

 

So I read up on tapering(I thought I did, at least) and it was confusing, I figured I'd just dive in and work it out as I went along.   I should mention that Bupropion has 3 different time release variants, which was a whole other kettle of fish I wasn't expecting.   

 

Immediately I got migraine like headaches and head pressure, brain fog, dizziness, burning, brain cramps, the whole 9 yards, along with visual strobing and other issues later on.   For that first 3 months or so, I tried to find a way to taper, hoping I would get to a steady baseline eventually.  Then I reinstated on an immediate time release(felt like a whole different medicine than the XR extended release I had been taking) and held on that for 6 months or so, hoping it would settle down into something tolerable.   Then I went back to where I started, and reinstated the XR, and held for 3 months.  

 

During this time the symptoms were constant.  I even got name brand Wellbutrin XL from my doctor to see if that might help, and indeed it did feel 10% better, but now I still had all these head issues that I didn't before I started that first reduction.  My quality of life was still around 40%, I was functioning but not well.   

 

So after much study, this was my conclusion.   I read that for some people, after being on a med for 20 years like I had, that it can 'break' if you make any changes, and never work the same again.  That was my experience.  I decided to taper through the situation, which I call poop-out.  I also read that some generics are better tolerated than others, so I had my doctor send my prescriptions to honeybee pharmacy, who let you choose the factory, and I got one that did indeed have less intense headaches.  

 

So I switched from the XL that I'd attempted to stabilize on, back to instant release, because it dissolves in water easily unlike the extended release, and I hoped for the best.   Some people try and mix and match time releases for best results, but at this time I was worn down by the symptoms and not up for another battle.   

 

I started with a small reduction, and then did an even smaller reduction, to see if that might ease my symptoms.  No luck there, they remained the same regardless.  So against the advice to stick to 10% reductions, I went with larger amounts.   I was at the highest MG amount of Bup they would prescribe, so the old rule of thumb was that you could reduce more quickly at the beginning of a taper, and you slow down as you get to the end, making adjustments along the way.   

 

I felt no different reducing by the larger amount, so I continued to reduce at a measured pace that was greater than 10%.   At this time, my WD normal was the previous symptoms as described.   During the first 3 weeks after a reduction, I would have a roller coaster of emotions and symptoms.   They seemed random, but that was before I kept a daily WD checklist.   Once I did, I could get pretty close to knowing what symptoms I'd have on what day after reducing, when they'd start to improve, etc.   It let me plan life events around WD.  

 

I should also mention my use of comfort meds.  I sparingly took benzo crumbs and Clonidine to manage the bumpiest days.  I recorded how much I used and managed not to get addicted.  It was suggested to me not to take the benzo crumb more than 2 times a week or two weeks in a row.   I never got close to taking that amount, I kept it to under 1/2 a benzo pill per month.  

 

Which connects to some Rules of Tapering that I got from Dr. Shipko.  My line in the sand was holding a job.  If tapering was causing my performance to suffer so much that my job was at risk, I knew I had to reinstate to the last stable dose, or take a comfort med, whatever it took to hold on to my career.   Personal life was next to zero, but keeping a roof over my head was a necessity.  

 

I also recall being told that because I'd been on the med for so long, that it was likely I would have to stay on a small amount of it for the rest of my life.  That's a tough thing to hear.   That said, I heard it, and took it to heart.   I accepted that when I went to zero I might have to go back on a small amount.  

 

So I kept tapering, and started slowing down as I approached 150 mg. I tried to do reductions, hold for 3 or 4 weeks, then do the next reduction.  Every 3 or 4 months I would do an extra long hold to let things catch up and for me to rest a little.  

 

I worked my way down to around 2.5% of my starting dose, and jumped to zero.   Had the most vivid nightmare of my life that night 😁 In a perfect world, I would have worked my way down lower before jumping to zero, but that's what I did.  After 2 or 3 weeks I got The Big Fear, that super spicy 11/10 anxiety.   Turned out great, I got counseling and learned more about managing anxiety than I had in my entire life.  

 

After about 6 months at zero, I was able to work.   There was still construction going on in my brain, but I was able to manage.  I did come uncomfortably close to not being functional, I had some dark days, and somehow pushed on.   

 

Then around 9 months, things started turning around.   Less brain fog, less construction work, less headache.   Around a year I felt like I was still sensitized, but my symptoms were mild.   That's when I decided to taper off of Finasteride, which took me about 9 months and was like tapering an AD in many ways, with the ups and downs.   

 

Around 2 years at zero, I felt less sensitized, like my CNS was settled.   Now at 2.5 years I don't get any noticeable windows and waves any more, outside of those hypnic jerks now and then when I'm tired.  I think I'm somewhere close to being normal, but I wouldn't be surprised if I were even less sensitized as time goes by.   

 

I got better.  And. So. Can. You!

 

Thank you for sharing your success story.

 

These are very valuable for people to read, when they are struggling with their own journeys.

 

If it makes you feel any better, I had hypnic jerks before I ever took Mirtazapine, sometimes, when falling asleep. They can also be natural. If they are med-induced, they may fade in time though.

@j1290 Thank you for posting.

15 hours ago, j1290 said:

After about 6 months at zero, I was able to wor

Thanks so much for sharing your story, it gives me hope as I am about to start mine… Can I ask, you mentioned that you needed to work throughout the taper but in the later post comments you said that after 6 months at zero you were able to work, did you stop working once you hit zero?

 

I’ve been off work for 3 months approaching the 4th and would really like to make it back to a functional life whilst tapering off of Mirtazapine. Was this the case for you? 

@j1290 love you buddy...great job. You kept me going through dark times, reading your daily posts, helping me stay balanced. So happy you got off with success. ❤️🙏

Edited February 13Feb 13 by LostinCanada

On 2/13/2026 at 3:57 AM, The_Taper_Man said:

, did you stop working once you hit zero?

Yes, I did, because my work was restructuring and there was a lay off, so it wasn't by choice.  I figured the timing worked to make the jump to zero, which in hindsite was from too high a dose.   In a perfect world I would have reinstated, but I was completely worn out after 2 years of instability and WD symptoms so I decided to ride it out.   My best guess is I would have remained more functional if I had tapered lower before jumping to zero, but it all worked out.   

 

On 2/13/2026 at 3:57 AM, The_Taper_Man said:

like to make it back to a functional life whilst tapering off of Mirtazapine

I don't know your situation so I can't comment on it, but I certainly hope you're able to get back there to stabilization.  I can tell you my thinking.  Once I came to the very difficult conclusion that I was in poop-out, I figured I'd taper through it and let time do the healing.  After 6 months of holding and never feeling better, I figured I'd rather get off the meds in the hope that eventually I'd feel alright.  From what I've read, everybody heals eventually, but tapering makes it a much, much easier time of things than going cold turkey.  

 

The hardest part of my journey was that first year, just trying to figure out what was going on, and what to do to get off these meds.  

 

You'll find your way.  This has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, but it was worth it.   Good luck!

On 2/13/2026 at 8:28 AM, LostinCanada said:

love you buddy...great job. You kept me going through dark times, reading your daily posts, helping me stay balanced. So happy you got off with success. ❤️🙏

🤣 Good times.   I miss those daily posts.  I was always afraid I was going to get told to stop because I was the only one who made them, but nobody ever did! 😂

 

Pshew they really helped me make it through all this tapering business.   I don't know what I would have done without the SAD community.  I had a lot of good laughs.   

 

I should have written that in my post, come think of it.  I'd encourage anyone tapering to find a group of like minded people that focus on the positive and encourage each other.   That was invaluable for my recovery.  I had so many laughs via private messages with people from all over the world.  Despite the dark times, I had a lot of fun.   Who knew that was even possible?!

 

Love to you too, LIC!   We're so lucky to have you here 🥰

On 2/13/2026 at 12:59 AM, Luke said:

They can also be natural. If they are med-induced, they may fade in time though.

Thanks Luke! 

 

I always had them too, very mild though.   You're right, they may indeed fade with time.   When I was in my first year of tapering and didn't know what I was doing, at the worst I had them pretty heavy.   Now they come in waves and are just annoying, but man I'd like to never have them again 😆

 

Thanks again to you and @Chippy  This site is a valuable place for a lot of people.  

On 2/12/2026 at 2:23 PM, j1290 said:

Hey all,

 

I wrote a success story on SAD, but it was a little rushed since I was trying to get in before it closed.  I'm going to try and be a more thorough here, for better or for worse  😁  

 

Long story short, back when dinosaurs ruled the earth in 2012, I tapered successfully off of Venlafaxine with the help of the Paxil Progress community.   That took around 4 or 5 years, and life got busy and I didn't feel like I had the space or energy to taper off of Bupropion(generic Wellbutrin) at that time.  I thought it was easy to get off of anyway, and thought I needed it and didn't want to be bothered with another taper.  So fast forward to 2021 and I had cleared the space in my life to do this. Plus, I had always been told it was soooooooooo easy to get off of!  Just quit taking it, I was told 🤣  It's EZ, just takes a few weeks.   

 

Well, I wouldn't be here if that were the case.   😊  After my Venlafaxine experience, I thought this would be a piece of cake.   Turns out, it wasn't.    

 

At this time, I had been experiencing constant headaches and burning sensations for years, and an elevated, floaty feeling in my head that I really didn't like.   I had been maxed out at 450mg of Bupropion for 20 some years.  I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even make the connection between the meds and the head issues.   I sure did later, however!  😭

 

So I read up on tapering(I thought I did, at least) and it was confusing, I figured I'd just dive in and work it out as I went along.   I should mention that Bupropion has 3 different time release variants, which was a whole other kettle of fish I wasn't expecting.   

 

Immediately I got migraine like headaches and head pressure, brain fog, dizziness, burning, brain cramps, the whole 9 yards, along with visual strobing and other issues later on.   For that first 3 months or so, I tried to find a way to taper, hoping I would get to a steady baseline eventually.  Then I reinstated on an immediate time release(felt like a whole different medicine than the XR extended release I had been taking) and held on that for 6 months or so, hoping it would settle down into something tolerable.   Then I went back to where I started, and reinstated the XR, and held for 3 months.  

 

During this time the symptoms were constant.  I even got name brand Wellbutrin XL from my doctor to see if that might help, and indeed it did feel 10% better, but now I still had all these head issues that I didn't before I started that first reduction.  My quality of life was still around 40%, I was functioning but not well.   

 

So after much study, this was my conclusion.   I read that for some people, after being on a med for 20 years like I had, that it can 'break' if you make any changes, and never work the same again.  That was my experience.  I decided to taper through the situation, which I call poop-out.  I also read that some generics are better tolerated than others, so I had my doctor send my prescriptions to honeybee pharmacy, who let you choose the factory, and I got one that did indeed have less intense headaches.  

 

So I switched from the XL that I'd attempted to stabilize on, back to instant release, because it dissolves in water easily unlike the extended release, and I hoped for the best.   Some people try and mix and match time releases for best results, but at this time I was worn down by the symptoms and not up for another battle.   

 

I started with a small reduction, and then did an even smaller reduction, to see if that might ease my symptoms.  No luck there, they remained the same regardless.  So against the advice to stick to 10% reductions, I went with larger amounts.   I was at the highest MG amount of Bup they would prescribe, so the old rule of thumb was that you could reduce more quickly at the beginning of a taper, and you slow down as you get to the end, making adjustments along the way.   

 

I felt no different reducing by the larger amount, so I continued to reduce at a measured pace that was greater than 10%.   At this time, my WD normal was the previous symptoms as described.   During the first 3 weeks after a reduction, I would have a roller coaster of emotions and symptoms.   They seemed random, but that was before I kept a daily WD checklist.   Once I did, I could get pretty close to knowing what symptoms I'd have on what day after reducing, when they'd start to improve, etc.   It let me plan life events around WD.  

 

I should also mention my use of comfort meds.  I sparingly took benzo crumbs and Clonidine to manage the bumpiest days.  I recorded how much I used and managed not to get addicted.  It was suggested to me not to take the benzo crumb more than 2 times a week or two weeks in a row.   I never got close to taking that amount, I kept it to under 1/2 a benzo pill per month.  

 

Which connects to some Rules of Tapering that I got from Dr. Shipko.  My line in the sand was holding a job.  If tapering was causing my performance to suffer so much that my job was at risk, I knew I had to reinstate to the last stable dose, or take a comfort med, whatever it took to hold on to my career.   Personal life was next to zero, but keeping a roof over my head was a necessity.  

 

I also recall being told that because I'd been on the med for so long, that it was likely I would have to stay on a small amount of it for the rest of my life.  That's a tough thing to hear.   That said, I heard it, and took it to heart.   I accepted that when I went to zero I might have to go back on a small amount.  

 

So I kept tapering, and started slowing down as I approached 150 mg. I tried to do reductions, hold for 3 or 4 weeks, then do the next reduction.  Every 3 or 4 months I would do an extra long hold to let things catch up and for me to rest a little.  

 

I worked my way down to around 2.5% of my starting dose, and jumped to zero.   Had the most vivid nightmare of my life that night 😁 In a perfect world, I would have worked my way down lower before jumping to zero, but that's what I did.  After 2 or 3 weeks I got The Big Fear, that super spicy 11/10 anxiety.   Turned out great, I got counseling and learned more about managing anxiety than I had in my entire life.  

 

After about 6 months at zero, I was able to work.   There was still construction going on in my brain, but I was able to manage.  I did come uncomfortably close to not being functional, I had some dark days, and somehow pushed on.   

 

Then around 9 months, things started turning around.   Less brain fog, less construction work, less headache.   Around a year I felt like I was still sensitized, but my symptoms were mild.   That's when I decided to taper off of Finasteride, which took me about 9 months and was like tapering an AD in many ways, with the ups and downs.   

 

Around 2 years at zero, I felt less sensitized, like my CNS was settled.   Now at 2.5 years I don't get any noticeable windows and waves any more, outside of those hypnic jerks now and then when I'm tired.  I think I'm somewhere close to being normal, but I wouldn't be surprised if I were even less sensitized as time goes by.   

 

I got better.  And. So. Can. You!

 

Good to “see” that you came over from SA.  Hoping that many more follow.. glad you’re doing well.

Hi J1290,

 

I never joined SA, but I did read your story and watched how you were going. Congratulations on a successful taper. You did so well and put up with so much.

 

Best wishes

 

Wombat

@j1290 congratulations on the successful taper! it is really encouraging to read these stories. hope youre doing well!

June 15, 2026

I've been waiting for something to report. I'm less than 90 days away from my 3rd year off meds, and I just may have been having a bit of a wave. I've been having those involuntary tremors when I'm tired, vivid dreams, some morning cortisol spike, and high anxiety for the last 5 days or so that conventional techniques haven't been great at reducing, although I admitted could have done better to manage it. I seriously considered taking a benzo, which of course I'm glad I didn't.

Might have been entirely business related, which has been particularly stressful, so who knows. I still didn't hit that 11/10 anxiety I used to get while I was taking meds or tapering. It was high but within the normal human range of emotions 😂😎

Considering where I began with all this tapering business, I can't get too upset about a wave, if that's what this is.

Might take a few more years for things to settle 100%, and that's OK. I'm not worried. This is just an inconvenience.

My dear friend @j1290 stress is so brutal on our fragile cns. I am working very hard on trying to not let things bother me….like other people’s driving!😂 I am really wound too tight and I’ve got to let it go.

21 minutes ago, j1290 said:

90 days away from my 3rd year off meds,

Amazing accomplishment….you did great. 🎉🎉🎉

22 minutes ago, j1290 said:

onsidered taking a benzo, which of course I'm glad I didn't.

I am glad you resisted. Today I had some anxiety building so I thanked my body for trying to protect me but the extra adrenaline wasn’t necessary, then I reassured myself that I was safe and had options. It helped…I don’t always remember and of course sometimes it is impossible not to spiral…. Sounds like you are managing it well. Hopefully the wave will pass quickly. ❤️🙏

5 hours ago, j1290 said:

Might take a few more years for things to settle 100%, and that's OK. I'm not worried. This is just an inconvenience.

I think even once we call ourselves healed there is a period of time after where things improve further, you will get there, maybe it will take a few more years as you said, but you will get there.

On 6/16/2026 at 1:11 AM, Chippy said:

I think even once we call ourselves healed there is a period of time after where things improve further, you will get there, maybe it will take a few more years as you said, but you will get there.

Thanks, Chippy. That's my guess too. I think I'm well over the worst of it, but after what my poor brain has been through, it doesn't surprise me that it may take a long time to recover to 100%.

On 6/15/2026 at 8:11 PM, LostinCanada said:

I am working very hard on trying to not let things bother me….like other people’s driving!😂 I am really wound too tight and I’ve got to let it go.

Hang in there, LIC! It's easy to say to let things roll off your back, but when I'm sensitized?! Uhhh it's easier said than done 😂

On 6/15/2026 at 8:11 PM, LostinCanada said:

Amazing accomplishment….you did great. 🎉🎉🎉

Appreciate you. It's one day at a time 🙏

On 6/15/2026 at 8:11 PM, LostinCanada said:

Today I had some anxiety building so I thanked my body for trying to protect me but the extra adrenaline wasn’t necessary, then I reassured myself that I was safe and had options. It helped…I don’t always remember and of course sometimes it is impossible not to spiral…. Sounds like you are managing it well. Hopefully the wave will pass quickly. ❤️🙏

These sounds like things I learned in anxiety school and forgot 😆 Good on ya! In retrospect I was really sensitized. Doing much, much better today. Wishing you the best! ♥️

July 21, 2026

I'm about 6 weeks away from my 3 year anniversary of being off of ADs, which is exciting.

What is also exciting, is I've been offered a job in a new career, and I will be moving cross country soon. I had been interviewing at some aspirational positions in a new field while tapering, but I wasn't at my best, as I'm sure you all can appreciate 😂 This year I wanted to go all-out, and managed to secure an entry level position that has opportunities for growth. It's not exactly what I want, but it gets my foot in the door, and it pays a little money 💰💵😁👍

It's a big move, I'm scared to death, and I have to do it. All the pieces fell into place to make this possible, and reversible if things don't work out. If I don't succeed in this role, then I'm glad I didn't invest in years of schooling to find out it's not a match.

I couldn't have done this while going through the turmoil of tapering, or while being maxed out on these meds.

Speaking of meds, let me tell you a little bit of how things are different. When I was maxed out on Venlafaxine and Bupropion, I would sometimes feel a sort of giddiness that I knew was med related and exaggerated. I remember not liking the feeling, because I knew that logically I shouldn't be feeling something that intense, yet I was, and couldn't help it. Hypomanic might be a description, I'm not 100% sure if that's accurate. Anyway, after recounting the job interview to a business coach, I felt elevated, but not that unrealistic high that I had on meds. It's really nice to only feel the normal range of human emotions 😆 and not some artificially sweetened version of life 🍭

I'm still getting some real cortisol spikes in the morning, and manage it like I did while tapering. Luckily things aren't as intense, but still uncomfortable. I had to travel for this job interview, and due to time zone changes and anxiety, really struggled with getting sleep. However, while I wasn't at my very best, I was present, and did an excellent job of representing myself in the very lengthy, all day evaluation. Not perfect, but well enough, and especially so considering the lack of sleep I had. At the risk of repeating myself, I couldn't have performed at this level while tapering, or really until 2 years off the meds.

My life is expanding for a change. I still have plenty of struggles, however I'd choose to handle them naturally over taking pills any day of the week. Tapering was one of the few decisions in my life that I never regret 🤣

♥️

On 7/21/2026 at 1:51 AM, j1290 said:

July 21, 2026

I'm about 6 weeks away from my 3 year anniversary of being off of ADs, which is exciting.

What is also exciting, is I've been offered a job in a new career, and I will be moving cross country soon. I had been interviewing at some aspirational positions in a new field while tapering, but I wasn't at my best, as I'm sure you all can appreciate 😂 This year I wanted to go all-out, and managed to secure an entry level position that has opportunities for growth. It's not exactly what I want, but it gets my foot in the door, and it pays a little money 💰💵😁👍

It's a big move, I'm scared to death, and I have to do it. All the pieces fell into place to make this possible, and reversible if things don't work out. If I don't succeed in this role, then I'm glad I didn't invest in years of schooling to find out it's not a match.

I couldn't have done this while going through the turmoil of tapering, or while being maxed out on these meds.

Speaking of meds, let me tell you a little bit of how things are different. When I was maxed out on Venlafaxine and Bupropion, I would sometimes feel a sort of giddiness that I knew was med related and exaggerated. I remember not liking the feeling, because I knew that logically I shouldn't be feeling something that intense, yet I was, and couldn't help it. Hypomanic might be a description, I'm not 100% sure if that's accurate. Anyway, after recounting the job interview to a business coach, I felt elevated, but not that unrealistic high that I had on meds. It's really nice to only feel the normal range of human emotions 😆 and not some artificially sweetened version of life 🍭

I'm still getting some real cortisol spikes in the morning, and manage it like I did while tapering. Luckily things aren't as intense, but still uncomfortable. I had to travel for this job interview, and due to time zone changes and anxiety, really struggled with getting sleep. However, while I wasn't at my very best, I was present, and did an excellent job of representing myself in the very lengthy, all day evaluation. Not perfect, but well enough, and especially so considering the lack of sleep I had. At the risk of repeating myself, I couldn't have performed at this level while tapering, or really until 2 years off the meds.

My life is expanding for a change. I still have plenty of struggles, however I'd choose to handle them naturally over taking pills any day of the week. Tapering was one of the few decisions in my life that I never regret 🤣

♥️

Look at you living life and thriving. So happy for you. You are doing so well my friend. 💯🙏❤️

j1290, congratulations on the new job endeavour, and living life to the fullest. ❤️

On 7/28/2026 at 1:59 PM, LostinCanada said:

Look at you living life and thriving. So happy for you. You are doing so well my friend. 💯🙏❤️

Thank you @LostinCanada I am always rooting for you!! ♥️🏖️🙏

6 hours ago, Bernadette said:

j1290, congratulations on the new job endeavour, and living life to the fullest. ❤️

Thanks so much, @Bernadette ! This is terrifying, but yet still better than tapering any day 😂💊🩴

Hi J,

I wanted to ask did you find that working during withdrawals helped you taper off ? Also, what did you do on days that you were not able to go to work that helped.

Thanks,

Ryder.

17 hours ago, Ryder said:

I wanted to ask did you find that working during withdrawals helped you taper off ?

Because of the nature of my job there are periods of no work available. It did provide a place to go and a distraction, however trying to continue to perform under the workday stress while tapering was a challenge. Overall I preferred not working if all things were equal.

17 hours ago, Ryder said:

Also, what did you do on days that you were not able to go to work that helped.

I wish I had some good answers for you and I'm coming up a bit short. When I was unemployed and tapering I got through the day as best I could. Once I dropped to zero from what I now think was a higher dose than I should have, I went to an outpatient anxiety school. Best place I could have been. I learned a lot about how anxiety affects people and strategies for managing it. I'd recommend that to anybody that has the option.