Hi! I'm tapering off of my last drug (celexa) I've been taking this for the past 15 to 17 years. I was able to come off of 7 drugs, and can't wait to be drug free.
My starting dose of Clexea was 20mg and I'm currently at 6.38mg. 
 

I've been tapering Clexea for the past two years. I was able to making bigger reductions in the beginning to half way point, but now I can't do a 10% reduction. I've been trying to reduce by 1% and feel that's a better fit for me but it's at a snails pace. My goal is to be functional while tapering. 
 

I would like to find support, connection and help with tapering. 

 

My SA Thread;

Hi @Noblewarrior2

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Thank you for posting your introduction topic.

 

I found you on SA and linked your thread there, above for you.

 

Can I ask you to please update your signature to include your previous drug history for us?

 

I can see you have been in this a long time so I won't bore you with all the standard introdution details we normally give out to members, as I am sure you are familiar with it all.

 

As you know it is not uncommon for it to be harder to taper on the lower dose ranges. Perhaps you have condiered a micro taper technique already? If you havent maybe that might be something you would consider?

 

We are all here for you, I believe you will find lots of help and support here.

 

Chippy

5 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

Hi! I'm tapering off of my last drug (celexa) I've been taking this for the past 15 to 17 years. I was able to come off of 7 drugs, and can't wait to be drug free.
My starting dose of Clexea was 20mg and I'm currently at 6.38mg. 

I'm glad to hear you have already tapered most of your drugs, that's very good.

you already know about hyperbolic tapering which is great.

5 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

I've been tapering Clexea for the past two years. I was able to making bigger reductions in the beginning to half way point, but now I can't do a 10% reduction. I've been trying to reduce by 1% and feel that's a better fit for me but it's at a snails pace. My goal is to be functional while tapering.

just as a note, you might at some point be unable to taper at all, even 1%.

If you ever arrive at that point, a long hold would be beneficial.

I feel like with you being on a long list of drugs in the past, a micro taper might fit you best, but that's for you to decide.

 

We are here if you ever need help, much love.

Lighty.

 

13 hours ago, Chippy said:

 

Hi @Noblewarrior2

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Thank you for posting your introduction topic.

 

I found you on SA and linked your thread there, above for you.

 

Can I ask you to please update your signature to include your previous drug history for us?

 

I can see you have been in this a long time so I won't bore you with all the standard introdution details we normally give out to members, as I am sure you are familiar with it all.

 

As you know it is not uncommon for it to be harder to taper on the lower dose ranges. Perhaps you have condiered a micro taper technique already? If you havent maybe that might be something you would consider?

 

We are all here for you, I believe you will find lots of help and support here.

 

Chippy

Hi @Chippy! Thank you. I updated my signature. I have thought about a micro taper, but the thing is right now my OCD is very high and I already spend so much time measuring my doses. I second guess myself sometimes about the proper dose and trying to be exact on the measurement line with the syringe. I don’t know if I could handle doing a change of medication everyday, at least not right now as far as measuring. If I have no other option then I’ll try it. 
 

I was thinking of reducing by 1% every week and see how that goes and if my body can take that. It comes out to 0.06mg of a reduction. What are your thoughts on this? 

11 hours ago, Lighty said:

I'm glad to hear you have already tapered most of your drugs, that's very good.

you already know about hyperbolic tapering which is great.

just as a note, you might at some point be unable to taper at all, even 1%.

If you ever arrive at that point, a long hold would be beneficial.

I feel like with you being on a long list of drugs in the past, a micro taper might fit you best, but that's for you to decide.

 

We are here if you ever need help, much love.

Lighty.

 

Hi @LightyThank you for welcoming me! 

8 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

Hi @Chippy! Thank you. I updated my signature. I have thought about a micro taper, but the thing is right now my OCD is very high and I already spend so much time measuring my doses. I second guess myself sometimes about the proper dose and trying to be exact on the measurement line with the syringe. I don’t know if I could handle doing a change of medication everyday, at least not right now as far as measuring. If I have no other option then I’ll try it. 
 

I was thinking of reducing by 1% every week and see how that goes and if my body can take that. It comes out to 0.06mg of a reduction. What are your thoughts on this? 

Hey @Noblewarrior2

 

Thanks for updating. I can see your last few drops have been ~10%. 
 

Probably a bit much for you now. 
 

I understand the ocd. That is a tricky one especially when tapering. You’re doing great with it all the same. 
 

Micro tapers come in all sizes. 1% a week sounds good to me. Gives you a little control but slows the taper down. You could just reduce the monthly reduction if you wanted to start to 5%. What ever works for you. Lots of options. 
 

If it’s a bit tricky to do the small reductions you can make a different dilution up so it’s less finicky. Not sure what you’re doing at the moment to get your liquid? 

On 3/29/2026 at 5:28 AM, Noblewarrior2 said:

Hi! I'm tapering off of my last drug (celexa) I've been taking this for the past 15 to 17 years. I was able to come off of 7 drugs, and can't wait to be drug free.
My starting dose of Clexea was 20mg and I'm currently at 6.38mg. 
 

I've been tapering Clexea for the past two years. I was able to making bigger reductions in the beginning to half way point, but now I can't do a 10% reduction. I've been trying to reduce by 1% and feel that's a better fit for me but it's at a snails pace. My goal is to be functional while tapering. 
 

I would like to find support, connection and help with tapering. 

 

My SA Thread;

Hey @Noblewarrior2 and welcome, I see you managed to quit 7 different drugs, that's amazing, congrats on that, your name ~warrior~ is justified (;

Like you, I cut back in big chunks at first but it was too hard to bear so no more than 1%-1.5% is the way to go for me especially at lower doses, much better to have the road bearable than to rush and crash..

Wishing you much success ahead, you've come to the right place with a common goal of being clean, you'll find great ppl here to support you with that.

Edited March 30Mar 30 by Fullhealing

15 hours ago, Fullhealing said:

Hey @Noblewarrior2 and welcome, I see you managed to quit 7 different drugs, that's amazing, congrats on that, your name ~warrior~ is justified (;

Like you, I cut back in big chunks at first but it was too hard to bear so no more than 1%-1.5% is the way to go for me especially at lower doses, much better to have the road bearable than to rush and crash..

Wishing you much success ahead, you've come to the right place with a common goal of being clean, you'll find great ppl here to support you with that.

Hi @Fullhealing! Thank you. It’s by Gods grace that I was able to come off of 7 drugs. 
 

yeah making the road bearable is definitely helpful. 

16 hours ago, Chippy said:

Micro tapers come in all sizes. 1% a week sounds good to me. Gives you a little control but slows the taper down. You could just reduce the monthly reduction if you wanted to start to 5%. What ever works for you. Lots of options. 
 

If it’s a bit tricky to do the small reductions you can make a different dilution up so it’s less finicky. Not sure what you’re doing at the moment to get your liquid? 

@Chippy I’m using the liquid from the manufacturer. It’s double concentrated 1ml equals 2mg. 
 

I was planning on making a cut this Thursday .04mg and hopefully be able to make another reduction the week after. 
 

Is it common when going through withdrawals to have an underwater feeling in your head? I don’t know how else to describe it. Almost like pressure in your head and feeling heavy. 

7 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

@Chippy I’m using the liquid from the manufacturer. It’s double concentrated 1ml equals 2mg. 

Got you. You can if want water this down each time you dose yourself to make the syringe reading less sensitive. Thought it might help with the ocd. 
 

Using Manufactured Liquid Antidepressants
 

7 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

I was planning on making a cut this Thursday .04mg and hopefully be able to make another reduction the week after.

Sounds good. Nice and steady little weekly drops. Hope this helps. 
 

7 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

Is it common when going through withdrawals to have an underwater feeling in your head? I don’t know how else to describe it. Almost like pressure in your head and feeling heavy. 

Having unexplained head pressure is very common indeed. I’d just watch your symptoms. You’ve been at this long enough to know your baseline. Try to keep in the envelope before dropping and hold a bit to let the worsening settle. Hope this eases for you. Anything to do with the head is horrible. 

On 3/30/2026 at 9:11 PM, Noblewarrior2 said:

Is it common when going through withdrawals to have an underwater feeling in your head? I don’t know how else to describe it. Almost like pressure in your head and feeling heavy. 

 

It varies somewhat in how people describe it, but in general strange, very uncomfortable or painful head sensations are very common in withdrawal, whether it's intense pressure, a burning sensation, aching or other variants of it.

 

I've experienced it, I know @Chippy gets it a lot, but in general it is very common to see it reported by others in various support groups.

23 minutes ago, Luke said:

I know @Chippy gets it a lot,

@Noblewarrior2 Probably not quite as descirbed, but certainly head/pressure issues are super common, and we all experience this though our own bodies, and it feels a little different for each us. But yes you are not alone! Far from it.

@Chippy Yesterday I only did a .02mg reduction. Work is really busy this time of year and didn’t want to over do it. 

Seven drugs already done , that's amazing ,congratulations on getting this far, you sound like you have everything under control . I wish you every success on your last drug.  Welcome to this forum there are plenty of warm supportive people on here 😊

7 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

@Chippy Yesterday I only did a .02mg reduction. Work is really busy this time of year and didn’t want to over do it. 

Great. So 6.38 - 6.36 is -3.1% drop. Hope it goes ok. Every drop less…..

@Chippy Sorry just to confirm, Ai said it’s a .31% not 3.1% drop or am I mistaken? 

1 hour ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

@Chippy Sorry just to confirm, Ai said it’s a .31% not 3.1% drop or am I mistaken? 

it was a 0.31% drop for a 0.02mg drop yes.

2 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

@Chippy Sorry just to confirm, Ai said it’s a .31% not 3.1% drop or am I mistaken? 

Sorry yes! Having a bad maths day!!!! 🙃🥴🤣
 

Makes more sense now!

@Lighty @Chippy Thank you! No worries Chippy, it’s all good. 

@Chippy @Lighty

 

I have a question, how much do antidepressants affect our thyroid? My TSH for thyroid is over 6 and “normal” is .5 to 4.5. Just curious on what your thoughts are or if a lot of other people going through this have similar thyroid issues?  

3 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

@Chippy @Lighty

 

I have a question, how much do antidepressants affect our thyroid? My TSH for thyroid is over 6 and “normal” is .5 to 4.5. Just curious on what your thoughts are or if a lot of other people going through this have similar thyroid issues?  

Yes I found my thyroids would feel raised often for the first few months of wd. I didn’t have my levels checked though. I can’t recall of anyone having treatment for it off the top of my head due to wd but im sure there has been. It may be, you will find this will normalise in time. If you treat it, which you should if your doctor suggests, you may find you don’t need to continue to, once things start to normalise again. 

3 hours ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

@Chippy @Lighty

 

I have a question, how much do antidepressants affect our thyroid? My TSH for thyroid is over 6 and “normal” is .5 to 4.5. Just curious on what your thoughts are or if a lot of other people going through this have similar thyroid issues?  

 

close connection @Noblewarrior2 though personally had no problems (at least proven ones).

You can check this:

https://share.google/aimode/FG9UEVa3iyXeruwAL

 

Edited April 10Apr 10 by Fullhealing

On 4/10/2026 at 1:13 AM, Chippy said:

Yes I found my thyroids would feel raised often for the first few months of wd. I didn’t have my levels checked though. I can’t recall of anyone having treatment for it off the top of my head due to wd but im sure there has been. It may be, you will find this will normalise in time. If you treat it, which you should if your doctor suggests, you may find you don’t need to continue to, once things start to normalise again. 

@Fullhealing @Chippy thank you. 
 

My doctor diagnosed me with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism, but provider won’t treat it till it gets to a 10 on the blood work and my level is at 6. Even though can feel effects from it at a 6. 
 

Here’s the kicker, my blood work for a genetic cholesterol is high, and diet and exercise doesn’t lower it and there’s no treatment to lower it. Thyroid levels can increase this genetic cholesterol. So in theory, when I come off this SSRI my thyroid levels will get better, and then my cholesterol will get better, but that won’t be for another 2 or 3 years or longer. This SSRI is literally killing me. 

1 hour ago, Noblewarrior2 said:

@Fullhealing @Chippy thank you. 
 

My doctor diagnosed me with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism, but provider won’t treat it till it gets to a 10 on the blood work and my level is at 6. Even though can feel effects from it at a 6. 
 

Here’s the kicker, my blood work for a genetic cholesterol is high, and diet and exercise doesn’t lower it and there’s no treatment to lower it. Thyroid levels can increase this genetic cholesterol. So in theory, when I come off this SSRI my thyroid levels will get better, and then my cholesterol will get better, but that won’t be for another 2 or 3 years or longer. This SSRI is literally killing me. 

It’s good your levels aren’t too high and you can avoid treating. 
 

I think as you come down this will improve as you say. 
 

You won’t be on it forever. Just keep up some good healthy eating and exercise to help things along. You can’t change the drug dose any quicker but if there are other elements of diet and exercise you can do that will only help matters im sure. The rest we have to accept and not worry about 😀

@Chippy @Lighty @Fullhealing

I have to start taking a statin. Should I be worried about making the withdrawal worse? Has anybody else taken a statin while tapering that you know of?