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Finni: Sensitized by Many Med changes and Mirtazapine

Finni
Finni
in Introductions & Ongoing Recoveries

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19 minutes ago, Finni said:

Feeling dangerously cold turkey even though it’s sure to be a reaction. I don’t think I can bear much more

I'm so sorry you're going through this @Finni. Thinking of you and sending strength your way. 💜🫂⚔️

I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I am new to this journey and my thoughts are based only on my personal experience with psychiatric drugs. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 

Current regimen:

Cymbalta - 90 mg/day

Seroquel - 12.5 mg/day

*holding to stabilize as of Apr 2026

 

History:

Seroquel - up to 50 mg as needed for sleep (generally 6.25-12.5 mg a few times a week, though sometimes more) - 2009 (ish) to present

Cymbalta - 60 mg/day, periodically down to 30 mg/day - May 2014 to May 2025

Clonazepam - up to 1 mg/day as needed - March to May 2025, quick taper off

Zoloft - 150 mg/day - May 2025 to Aug 2025 (quick cross-taper from Cymbalta)

Pristiq - 50 mg/day from Aug 2025 to mid-Oct 2025 (quick cross-taper from Zoloft); 100 mg/day from Oct 2025 to Dec 2025; back down to 50 mg/day from Dec 2025 to Jan 2026

Lyrica - 200 mg/day - Nov 2025 to Jan 2026 (quick taper off from mid-Jan to early Feb 2026 due to severe depressive symptoms)

Cymbalta - 60 mg/day - Jan - March 2026; up to 90 mg/day from March to present

 

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    • Finni
      Finni

      I can’t believe I ended up having a dirty window day today! I had horrible vestibular symptoms, but I was myself for the most part. I could access my essence. I managed to cook dinner, take a shower,

    • Finni
      Finni

      Yes And she connected me with Daniel Cohrs, MD When I’m up to it, I will tell you guys what he said about sensitization and mirtazapine. He’s on it himself and having a time. He’s functional and wo

    • Finni
      Finni

      The days were better but not true windows. I still have the new baseline of constant bouncing and rocking sensations that vary in intensity. Yesterday I felt like there had been a mistake with my sca

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    @Finni , I'm really sorry you're having this pain. No one here, unfortunately, is in a position to properly assess or diagnose this. While it could be all related to mirt, I think it's unsafe to conclude that it is. Other conditions can present with these symptoms as well. Id want those to ruled out medically.

    As you know, ER's in the US do more than just add or strip away a patient's meds. They can examine and assess, run tests, do X-rays, blood work etc. And yes, they can offer meds, sometimes as sensible palliative care. As a patient, you have the right to reject any drug, test, or treatment offered.

    In your shoes, at the very least, id be contacting my doctor. I wouldn't hesitate to go to an urgent care center or an ER, especially if it's not letting up or worsens. I wouldn't get caught in guessing or speculating what an ER may or may not do.

    I hope you find relief soon.

    Hi all,

      I've been on various psych drugs in my lifetime but currently only taking two.  I'm on a very low dose of escitalopram as well as 3.7 mg of mirtazapine which has helped me a bunch.  I'm slowly tapering down the SSRI with the goal of discontinuing it sometime this year.  Well, I guess that's enough about me for now.  Hope smooth tapering for everyone!

    Current Med: Mirtazapine 2.3 mg 1/2026 -

    Past Meds:

     Escitalopram 5 mg

    08/2025 - 8/2026

     Venlafaxine 150 mg 5/2022-8/2025

      Mirtazapine 7.5 mg

    8/2022 - 5/2024

    Escitalopram 10 mg

    11/2015 - 5/2022

                        

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    3 hours ago, Finni said:

    Feeling dangerously cold turkey even though it’s sure to be a reaction. I don’t think I can bear much more

    Finni if you feel unsafe don’t hesitate to reach out for support will you, if that means the er then that’s what you need to do. At the very least keep your support network close. Sending you a big virtual hug. 🫂

    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.

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    I thought I was going to get off “easy” after trying the split. It was a big disruption, but I really thought my system was settling into its every other day pattern.

    I could tell a shift started happening about day 10 and now at day 13 after that disruption it is unbelievable.

    I think I’ve noticed these days on previous disruption cycles.

    I just can’t believe this. I absolutely can’t believe it.

    Feels like I’ve been toppled all over again only worse.

    For US members: Please report med to FDA Med Watch

    2017 (May) - Ativan .5 mg (3 x Daily) 

    2018 (Feb) - Mirtazapine 7.5 mg 

    2018 (May) - Ativan to Valium - Switch - Can’t Remember how long it took -tapered to 3 mg of Valium

    2024 (May) - Valium Tolerance

    2024 (2 Nov) - Completed taper off Valium 

    2024 (2 Nov) - Mirtazapine increased to 15 mg

    2025 (Feb) - Ativan 0.25 mg (3 x Daily) - Became Paradoxical - Started weaning got to 0.11mg

    2025 (Mar) - Ativan 0mg - CT In detox

    2025 (April) Started Depakote 1500mg - In detox

    2025 (April) - Depakote 500mg (2 x Daily) once home

    2025 (Aug) - Completed taper off Depakote

    2025 (Aug) - Akathisia surges throughout the day with calming in between

    2025 (Sept) - Gabapentin (Micro Dose) - Was calming at first and then became paradoxical so stop

    2025 (Oct) - Depakote - RI – (Two days of small dose) Became scared and stopped with WD & aka

    2025 (Oct) - Seroquel 50 mg XR – 1 Week - more and more activating and increased aka

    2025 (Oct) - Psychiatrist told me to stop it. But I took a few days of a smaller dose of IR then stopped - Not activating

    2025 (Nov) - Hydroxyzine 2.5mg - it was paradoxical so stopped

    2025 (1 Dec) - Mirtazapine 22.5mg - (2 Days) Was incredibly overstimulating started reducing to previous

    2025 (3 Dec) - Mirtazapine 18.75mg

    2025 (10 Dec) - Mirtazapine 16.87mg

    2025 (22 Dec) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (23Jan) - Mirtazapine 14.7mg

    2026 (23 Jan) - Mirtazapine 1mg Panic dose

    2026 (24 Jan) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (25 Feb) – Mirtazapine 14.7mg (-2%)

    2026 (18 Mar) - propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (21 Mar)- Mirtazapine- 15 mg accidentally in sleepy state

    2026 (22 Mar) - Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (more accurate scales) 

    2026 (29 April) Mirtazapine 14.7 mg/.1020 g (on suggestion of Horowitz) immediate intense symptoms

    2026 (30 April) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (.1026 g)

    2026 (23 May) propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (01 June) Mirtazapine 14.79 mgdose was 5 hours late

    2026 (22 July) Mirtazapine 14.76 mg

    Intense electric activation, muscle tightness, autonomic surges, terror followed

    2026 (23 July) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg return

    2026 (Oct 5) attempted moving 2 mg of dose 45 minutes earlier

    Severe activation followed

     

     

    @Finni I'm so very sorry you have to go through this, reach out as much as possible, were all here for you ❤️

    Dec 23 Citalopram 15mg

    13 March 24 13.5mg

    27 March 24 10mg

    12 March 24 7.5mg

    20 March 24 6mg

    10 Aug 24 5mg

    24 Aug 24 4mg

    2 Sept 24 3.5mg

    11 Sept 24 3mg

    19 Sept 24 2.5mg

    26 Sept 24 2mg

    5 Oct 24 1.5mg

    12 Oct 24 1mg

    17 Oct 24 Jumped off.

    Thinking of you @Finni . xx

    Aug 2006 - Sertraline 25/50/75/100mg TO June 2019 - Reduced from 100mg to 50mg over a few months

    Sept  2019 - Reduced from 50mg to 25mg lasted a week,  then went back up to 50mg, after a few weeks back up to 100mg.

    Oct 2021 - Reduced to 75mg, Dec 2021 (mid) reduced to 50mg , March 2022 - Reduced to 25mg

    Oct 2022 - Reduce to 0mg (Immediate withdrawal crying, mood unstable, impending doom, digestive probs, tingling,numbness,burning, brain zaps,  insomnia)

    Feb 2023 -  "Panic attack" lasting 14 hours, 2 weeks later start back on 25mg sertraline, 12 hours later severe 'panic attack' with chest pain, tachycardia, restlessness, hyponatraemia, impending doom, racing thoughts, akathisia mild.  Taken to emergency. 

    March 2023 back up to 50mg (on medical advice), April 75mg, May 100mg. Back to 75mg within a few weeks due to feeling too stimulated and anxious. 

    Nov 2023 resume taper. 70, 65, 60, 55, 50 (March 2024)

    April 45mg, May 41mg, June 37mg, July 34mg Aug 31mg, Sept 28mg, Oct 26mg, Nov 25mg, HOLD 

    Jan 1st 2025 24mg, Jan 12th 23.5mg, Jan 20th 23mg, Feb 20th 22mg, March 20th 21mg, April 14th 18.9mg, May 5th 17mg, May 28th 15.3mg, July 16th 13.7mg, Aug 26th 12.3mg, Sept 16th 10.5 mg, Sept 22, 10mg, Oct 7th 8.3mg, Nov 4th 8mg, Dec 1st 7.7mg, Dec 26th 7mg 2026 Updose to 7.2mg Mar 20th, Back to 7mg Mar 21. Currently holding

     

    Other supplements: Fish oil, Mg citrate/glycinate 150-300mg per day, Ginkgo biloba daily, womens multi vit/min 3 times week, Vitamin C 1000mg night, valerian/passiflora as needed. B12 as needed. Bone support for osteopaenia (Ca/Mg, K, D)

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