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Sandnit: Tapering journey escitalopram

Sandnit
Sandnit
in Introductions & Ongoing Recoveries

Featured Replies

45 minutes ago, Sandnit said:

Thanks again for the reality check. And sorry for rambling..... Its just hard at the moment.

It is a pleasure my friend, we are here for you, I totally get how hard things are, I hope that changes very soon for you.

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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    • Beehive
      Beehive

      @Sandnit Please don't be so hard on yourself ,my goodness it's hard for anyone to accept what we are going through .Yes when I'm ok accepting comes easy but when in a nasty wave all bets are off ,you

    • Sandnit
      Sandnit

      @SarahMc @Chippy @Fullhealing @Bernadette , the better feeling didn’t last for the rest of the day, but the evening was still fairly okay and I slept until around 6:30 this morning. This morning the u

    • Sandnit
      Sandnit

      @Fullhealing @Beehive , Thanks both, I really appreciate your replies. It helps to be reminded that this is part of the process and that I’m not alone in this. I’ll try to go a bit easier on myself an

    • Author

    @Chippy , thanks you so much. Ps. I think i got the same stomach bug that my wife had.... Probably asking a lot from my nervous system as well ....

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    22 hours ago, Sandnit said:

    Ps. I think i got the same stomach bug that my wife had.... Probably asking a lot from my nervous system as well ....

    Yeah being ill doesn't help the process for sure! Hope that passes quickly for the both of you

    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.

    •
    • Like 1
    • Author

    Short update: Stomach is doing better.... But high anxiety from the moment I wake up and early wakings. It feels a bit stuck at the moment. But the good days I had not so long ago were real, and they will come back.

    Just trying to ride this ugly wave and hoping things will ease soon.

    I hope you all are doing better

    Edited by Sandnit

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    58 minutes ago, Sandnit said:

    Short update: Stomach is doing better.... But high anxiety from the moment I wake up and early wakings. It feels a bit stuck at the moment. But the good days I had not so long ago were real, and they will come back.

    Just trying to ride this ugly wave and hoping things will ease soon.

    I hope you all are doing better

    Sorry about the wave @Sandnit they are always ugly and hard to bear but you are doing great navigating through them, keep riding it without resistance, it will make it more bearable.

    Glad you are seeing improvement with your stomach, as your system continues to heal this will apply to more and more symptoms.

    Hang on xx

    1998 forced on cipramil *no anxiety/depression background*

    Over the years all kinds of SSRI/SNRI/antipsychotics/stabilizers due to apparently side effects/withdrawal

    Many attempts to quit over the years with failure (extremely rapid taper followed by doctors' guidens)

    Current attempt-Paxil 20 mg:

    6/24 20 mg to 5 mg-severe AKA

    9/24 Increase to 20-AKA continues

    10/24 stopped completely-AKA out of control 

    11/24 Zoloft bridge attempt-25 mg to 75 mg+Seroquel-AKA continued-stopped them CT.

    12/24 Back on Paxil 10mg (0.1789g)-some stabilization-from here tapered by about 30% each time (don't remember doses and dates).

    2025 - 7.10 0.0558g (3.11mg)/7.11 3% 0.0541g (3.02mg)/4.12 1% 0.0535g (2.98mg)

    2026 - 3.1 1.5% 0.0526g (2.93mg)/9.1 8.5% 0.0480g (2.68mg)/16.2 1.8% 0.0470g (2.62mg)/21.3 1% 0.466 (2.60mg)/23.4 2.2% 0.455g (2.54mg)/8.7 21.7% 0.0356.5g (2mg)/15.8 updose by 11.7% 0.0400g (2.23mg)

    Supplements:

    Magnesium Glycinate - started 28.5.26 1 capsule 200mg in the morning - Increased brain fog and muscle stiffness - stopped after two weeks.

    Iron - liquid, quarter of recommended dose - increased anxiety and burning sensation - stopped after two weeks.

    Saffron - started 8.7.26 1 capsule 30mg in the morning - pretty immediate improvement in terms of terror, body pain and sleep.

    •
    • Like 2
    2 hours ago, Sandnit said:

    Short update: Stomach is doing better.... But high anxiety from the moment I wake up and early wakings. It feels a bit stuck at the moment. But the good days I had not so long ago were real, and they will come back.

    Just trying to ride this ugly wave and hoping things will ease soon.

    I hope you all are doing better

    Sorry to read @Sandnit , what a rollercoaster all this is. You are doing great, you recognise it is just a wave and accept it for what it is. You should be proud.

    Good to recognise the improvements too.

    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.

    •
    • Like 2
    • Author

    @Chippy @Fullhealing , thank you both!!! Yes it is just a wave..... I got this;) Better days will come eventually

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    • Like 2
    • Author

    Update; Still struggling with a lot of inner anxiety/restlessness and today is one of those days where it feels overwhelming.

    At the same time, I'm trying to remind myself that I had several really good days over the past few weeks. So I'm trying not to judge my recovery by how I feel this morning.

    I'm continuing to hold.

    Hoping this long wave will settle ppppfffff......it is hard.

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    1 hour ago, Sandnit said:

    So I'm trying not to judge my recovery by how I feel this morning.

    Very wise :)

    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.

    •
    • Like 1
    • Author

    Update, yesterday kept getting better and felt like myself again for some time.... This morning the unease is back but yesterday was very welcome!!

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    • Like 3
    1 hour ago, Sandnit said:

    Update, yesterday kept getting better and felt like myself again for some time.... This morning the unease is back but yesterday was very welcome!!

    Great progress @Sandnit :)

    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.

    •
    • Like 1
    6 hours ago, Sandnit said:

    Update, yesterday kept getting better and felt like myself again for some time.... This morning the unease is back but yesterday was very welcome!!

    That's such a great sign @Sandnit!! Keep that feeling in mind during the wavy times 😊.

    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

     

    •
    • Like 2
    • Author

    Update; not really sure stil but I feel like something is slowly changing. The anxiety is still there, but it often feels less intense than a few months ago. These days it's a mix of anxiety and that "bleh" feeling, with little interest or enjoyment in things. But i've also had several moments recently where I felt more like myself again. Symptoms still fluctuate a lot. Boy, my nervous system is really taking its time to reach stability. I'm staying at 3.6 mg and taking it one day at a time.

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    • Like 3
    1 hour ago, Sandnit said:

    Update; not really sure stil but I feel like something is slowly changing. The anxiety is still there, but it often feels less intense than a few months ago. These days it's a mix of anxiety and that "bleh" feeling, with little interest or enjoyment in things. But i've also had several moments recently where I felt more like myself again. Symptoms still fluctuate a lot. Boy, my nervous system is really taking its time to reach stability. I'm staying at 3.6 mg and taking it one day at a time.

    You got this @Sandnit. Changing symptoms are a sign of the body working towards stability. You’ll get there.

    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

     

    •
    • Like 2
    • Author
    7 hours ago, SarahMc said:

    You got this @Sandnit. Changing symptoms are a sign of the body working towards stability. You’ll get there

    @SarahMc , Thanks! I sure hope so.

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    • Like 1
    10 hours ago, Sandnit said:

    Update; not really sure stil but I feel like something is slowly changing. The anxiety is still there, but it often feels less intense than a few months ago. These days it's a mix of anxiety and that "bleh" feeling, with little interest or enjoyment in things. But i've also had several moments recently where I felt more like myself again. Symptoms still fluctuate a lot. Boy, my nervous system is really taking its time to reach stability. I'm staying at 3.6 mg and taking it one day at a time.

    Sand it, it good to hear the anxiety has been settling and you said you had feelings of feeling more like yourself, this is very good news, shows your cns is adjusting nicely. Time is our friend and you my friend are doing a amazing job.

    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.

    • Like 1
    • Author
    9 hours ago, Bernadette said:

    Sand it, it good to hear the anxiety has been settling and you said you had feelings of feeling more like yourself, this is very good news, shows your cns is adjusting nicely. Time is our friend and you my friend are doing a amazing job.

    @Bernadette , Thank you for your reply. This morning I woke up with really high anxiety again, so it's hard to see the progress when I'm in the middle of it. I did have those moments where I feel more like myself again, but the fluctuations make me doubt sometimes. Right now it feels as if my CNS doesn't know how to find stability, even though I hope that's exactly what it's slowly working toward.

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    1 hour ago, Sandnit said:

    @Bernadette , Thank you for your reply. This morning I woke up with really high anxiety again, so it's hard to see the progress when I'm in the middle of it. I did have those moments where I feel more like myself again, but the fluctuations make me doubt sometimes. Right now it feels as if my CNS doesn't know how to find stability, even though I hope that's exactly what it's slowly working toward.

    The fluctuations are so cruel @Sandnit. Your system is 100% working very hard atm to get you there. Sometimes it can take a long time for things to settle down, but settle down it will.

    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

    Thanks mate, @Chippy . One thing I've noticed is that the anxiety isn't as intense as it used to be, but it feels more constant now. It's less like waves of overwhelming anxiety and more like a persistent uncomfortable feeling with occasional lighter moments. It's definitely different from before. I'm trying to see it a just another part of the healing process, and I'll keep taking it one day at a time.... Stability will come with time!

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    17 hours ago, Sandnit said:

    One thing I've noticed is that the anxiety isn't as intense as it used to be,

    This is good!

    17 hours ago, Sandnit said:

    but it feels more constant now. It's less like waves of overwhelming anxiety and more like a persistent uncomfortable feeling with occasional lighter moments. It's definitely different from before. I'm trying to see it a just another part of the healing process, and I'll keep taking it one day at a time.... Stability will come with time!

    Things tend to develop over time. More proof of healing happening. :)

    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.

    17 hours ago, Sandnit said:

    Thanks mate, @Chippy . One thing I've noticed is that the anxiety isn't as intense as it used to be, but it feels more constant now. It's less like waves of overwhelming anxiety and more like a persistent uncomfortable feeling with occasional lighter moments. It's definitely different from before. I'm trying to see it a just another part of the healing process, and I'll keep taking it one day at a time.... Stability will come with time!

    This happened to me too lol its so confusing and throws you off. I think its healing, like Chippy said

    2016 - Sertraline 50mg

    2016 - Sertraline 100mg.

    I didnt know better and rarely took it consistently.

    June 2024 - went down to 75mg

    2025 - Down to 50mg

    2026 - down to 25mg

    April 2026 - hit by withdrawal and kindling

    Reinstated April 2026 - 25mg

    May 27th 2026 - Upped to 50mg

    • Author

    Thanks mate! @Chippy . Yeah system is working hard but it feels like it is stuck or something!! The mornings still seem to be the hardest part for me. I often wake up with that uncomfortable feeling/anxiety, even after a decent night of sleep.(Sleep is not bad in general and I don't wake up that early anymore) I've also been having a lot of vivid dreams over the past few days. The muscle twitching seemed to be much less for a few days, but unfortunately it's back again today. I haven't had any real windows over the last few days either, although there are moments when things feel a little lighter. Later in the day things often seem to ease up a bit. I'm trying to just let it unfold and take it one day at a time. But it is hard !!!

    Edited by Sandnit

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    • Author

    Thanks @cherrysquid Its a really confusing proces. It's reassuring to hear that you experienced something similar. Hopefully it's just another phase of healing and my CNS is slowly finding its way towards stability.

    In 2016 Paroxetine 20mg for 4 months then stopped more or less cold Started 10mg Escitalopram 4 Mar 2022

    From 10 to 20mg on 19 Apr 2022

    From 20 to 15mg on 23 Jun 2022

    From 15mg to 7,5mg on 5 Sept 2022 (I was supposed to drop from 15mg to 12,5mg but I accidentally used 5mg and half of 5mg pills instead of 10mg and half of 5mg pills, when I found out 2 weeks later I decided to keep to 7,5mg since most of the WD symptoms subsided by then, I now regret this. From 7,5mg to 5mg on 23 Sept 2022

     

    Started Cross tapering Escitalopram 5mg to tapering strip brand from 26th of feb 2024 over one week and stabilised on 5mg untill 31 March 2024.

     

    31 March 2024 started taper using tapering strips. 

     

     Escitalopram 04/20/24 - 4,5mg (hold because of WD symptoms raming up), 07/03/25 - 4,3mg, 07/28/25 - 4,2mg, 09/15/25 - 4,0mg, 10/13/25 - 3,8mg, 11/23/25 - 3,6mg (after illness big wave, so hold)

    24 minutes ago, Sandnit said:

    Thanks @cherrysquid Its a really confusing proces. It's reassuring to hear that you experienced something similar. Hopefully it's just another phase of healing and my CNS is slowly finding its way towards stability.

    I think it is. From reading ive done, this is non linear because the brain kinda fine tunes or fixes one thing then something else then will go back to the other thing and then something else lol I hope that makes sense.

    2016 - Sertraline 50mg

    2016 - Sertraline 100mg.

    I didnt know better and rarely took it consistently.

    June 2024 - went down to 75mg

    2025 - Down to 50mg

    2026 - down to 25mg

    April 2026 - hit by withdrawal and kindling

    Reinstated April 2026 - 25mg

    May 27th 2026 - Upped to 50mg

    •
    • Like 1
    43 minutes ago, Sandnit said:

    Thanks mate! @Chippy . Yeah system is working hard but it feels like it is stuck or something!! The mornings still seem to be the hardest part for me. I often wake up with that uncomfortable feeling/anxiety, even after a decent night of sleep.(Sleep is not bad in general and I don't wake up that early anymore) I've also been having a lot of vivid dreams over the past few days. The muscle twitching seemed to be much less for a few days, but unfortunately it's back again today. I haven't had any real windows over the last few days either, although there are moments when things feel a little lighter. Later in the day things often seem to ease up a bit. I'm trying to just let it unfold and take it one day at a time. But it is hard !!!

    Always a pleasure my friend. Working hard is an understatement, but working hard on getting this right!

    Mornings are often tough, I can feel quite tatty first thing, even after a good sleep. Sleep gets messed with and I am convinced that even though we are not conscious, certain 'tasks' are not being performed somehow. Vivid WD dream! Mate 100% have them all the time. So do others.

    It is hard, but your attitude is spot on. It will help you get through this.

    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.

    •
    • Like 1

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