Sandnit: Tapering journey escitalopram

August 27Aug 27

Author

12 minutes ago, SarahMc said:
Just the process @Sandnit, try not to search too hard for a reason today is worse -- unless there is something really obvious, I think most of the time it is just random, the bad day was going to happen no matter what. You're not doing anything wrong, this is just a really rough patch. But the flip side is all you have to do is hold on and those better days will come.

@SarahMc , Thank you so much. Nothing obvious so ....its the process..... Yes it's a really rough patch atm.... I hope and pray better days are around the corner....

Though they feel far away at the moment

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)

August 27Aug 27

Such a big pain these waves but they pass, you know well, you're just covered now to see it! hold on @Sandnit bright windows will come, bigger and longer, just a matter of time 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.

3

August 28Aug 28

19 hours ago, Sandnit said:
@Chippy , sorry to hear it is wavy for you atm.....
Unfortunately it is not better today.
I'm trying to accep but it is a really hard phase atm..... It feels like I'm paying the price for the better day.... But I didn't do anything out of the ordinary.... Or just the process?

Sorry to read mate, yeah just how it is, we accept and float, there is nothing else we can do. It can get like this, just as you think things are turning a corner you are back in it again, there is rarely a cause, we always go looking don't we anyway!? Hope today is better mate

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.

1

August 30Aug 30

Author

Hi all, update, yesterday in had a nice window again. Today I'm back in the trenches..... I hope and pray the windows will become more frequent, longer and better..... And stability will get the upper hand.

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)

August 30Aug 30

7 minutes ago, Sandnit said:
Hi all, update, yesterday in had a nice window again.

Amazing :)

7 minutes ago, Sandnit said:
And stability will get the upper hand.

It will in time mate! Hang onto that window! :)

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.

1

September 2Sep 2

Author

Hi all, I almost dare not say it, but over the last couple of days I’ve had better afternoons and evenings. The mornings are still difficult though..... Let's see what today brings

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)

September 2Sep 2

3 hours ago, Sandnit said:
Hi all, I almost dare not say it, but over the last couple of days I’ve had better afternoons and evenings. The mornings are still difficult though..... Let's see what today brings

No, say it, it is important to recognise when things are easier and share them here with us, good record for you and some light for others here. Hope today is somewhat ok 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.

1

September 2Sep 2

7 hours ago, Sandnit said:
Hi all, I almost dare not say it, but over the last couple of days I’ve had better afternoons and evenings. The mornings are still difficult though..... Let's see what today brings

Any positive change is a good sign, even if it's followed by harder times. I hope the windows continue today.

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

1

September 2Sep 2

Author

6 minutes ago, SarahMc said:
Any positive change is a good sign, even if it's followed by harder times. I hope the windows continue today.

@SarahMc Thanks so much for posting..... Unfortunately today is much harder again but so grateful for the windows....

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)

September 3Sep 3

Author

Yesterday and today are awful again....the windows that i had and stability feel so far away atm..... Man this is such a hard 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)

September 3Sep 3

1 hour ago, Sandnit said:
Yesterday and today are awful again....the windows that i had and stability feel so far away atm..... Man this is such a hard time

Sorry to hear mate, ride those waves, remember those windows, you've got 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.

1

September 7Sep 7

Author

Quick update. After four noticeably better days last week, I’ve had several very difficult days again with intense physical restlessness/anxiety. There have still been some brief calmer periods in between, and I’ve slept until almost 6 am for the last two nights, which is better than before.

It’s hard not to feel discouraged after the better days, especially as this wave has been going on for so long. Trying to accept..... I hope better days will come again......

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

September 7Sep 7

11 minutes ago, Sandnit said:
Trying to accept..... I hope better days will come again......

Keep up the good work !

It's all temporary ❣️

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.
Feel free to mention me whenever help is needed.

Current Supplements: Night: 6mg melatonin and 133mg magnesium glycinate. Taking Omega 3 as needed to calm dyskinesia or over stimulation (Lately been reacting more negatively to supplement Omega 3).

Current Medications: Mirtazapine, Lasea (lavender oil) before bed.

------------------------------------------

Tapering: Mirtazapine 15mg, (went compounded) 13.5mg 08/May/2025, 12.1mg 10/July/2025, 15/July/2025 15mg (half tablet), 26/July/2025 14.35mg (moved to dry cutting method) ), 03/Aug/2025 14.6mg, 24/Nov/2025 14.47mg, 29/Jan/2026 14.35mg

Note: Had a lot of issue with degradation with different cutting times and compounded pharmacy which caused withdrawals and a more sensitive nervous system.

1

September 8Sep 8

18 hours ago, Sandnit said:
Quick update. After four noticeably better days last week, I’ve had several very difficult days again with intense physical restlessness/anxiety. There have still been some brief calmer periods in between, and I’ve slept until almost 6 am for the last two nights, which is better than before.
It’s hard not to feel discouraged after the better days, especially as this wave has been going on for so long. Trying to accept..... I hope better days will come again......

Youre doing great mate, look at those better days! Healing is happening. More to follow....

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.

1

September 9Sep 9

Author

Quick update. The last few days have been quite difficult again with a lot of chemical anxiety. I’ve also had some GI symptoms and dry heaving again, which I remember having during previous waves. This makes me wonder if I'm moving backwards but it is just the process right? The better days feel far away at the moment ....but the where real

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

September 9Sep 9

19 minutes ago, Sandnit said:
This makes me wonder if I'm moving backwards but it is just the process right?

yes it's all part of the process, take it one day at a time ❣️

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.
Feel free to mention me whenever help is needed.

Current Supplements: Night: 6mg melatonin and 133mg magnesium glycinate. Taking Omega 3 as needed to calm dyskinesia or over stimulation (Lately been reacting more negatively to supplement Omega 3).

Current Medications: Mirtazapine, Lasea (lavender oil) before bed.

------------------------------------------

Tapering: Mirtazapine 15mg, (went compounded) 13.5mg 08/May/2025, 12.1mg 10/July/2025, 15/July/2025 15mg (half tablet), 26/July/2025 14.35mg (moved to dry cutting method) ), 03/Aug/2025 14.6mg, 24/Nov/2025 14.47mg, 29/Jan/2026 14.35mg

Note: Had a lot of issue with degradation with different cutting times and compounded pharmacy which caused withdrawals and a more sensitive nervous system.

1

September 9Sep 9

Author

1 hour ago, Lighty said:
yes it's all part of the process, take it one day at a time ❣️

@Lighty , Thank you so much for replying... Even though I had better days last week.... I feel so stuck at the moment and feel I will never reach stability again. It is taking so long.... Sorry for rambling I'm having a really rough day.....

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

September 9Sep 9

5 minutes ago, Sandnit said:
t is taking so long.... Sorry for rambling I'm having a really rough day.....

it's okay i also have those days it's normal, takes a long time, this is why we have to enjoy the current moment as much as we can, life is to be lived even when sick, you can't torture yourself mentally and say 'oh I can't live life until im 95% healed'.

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.
Feel free to mention me whenever help is needed.

Current Supplements: Night: 6mg melatonin and 133mg magnesium glycinate. Taking Omega 3 as needed to calm dyskinesia or over stimulation (Lately been reacting more negatively to supplement Omega 3).

Current Medications: Mirtazapine, Lasea (lavender oil) before bed.

------------------------------------------

Tapering: Mirtazapine 15mg, (went compounded) 13.5mg 08/May/2025, 12.1mg 10/July/2025, 15/July/2025 15mg (half tablet), 26/July/2025 14.35mg (moved to dry cutting method) ), 03/Aug/2025 14.6mg, 24/Nov/2025 14.47mg, 29/Jan/2026 14.35mg

Note: Had a lot of issue with degradation with different cutting times and compounded pharmacy which caused withdrawals and a more sensitive nervous system.

2

September 9Sep 9

1 hour ago, Sandnit said:
Quick update. The last few days have been quite difficult again with a lot of chemical anxiety. I’ve also had some GI symptoms and dry heaving again, which I remember having during previous waves. This makes me wonder if I'm moving backwards but it is just the process right? The better days feel far away at the moment ....but the where real

Windows and Waves my friend, I would focus on the better days and see that as evidence things are getting better rather than judging your progression by the waves.

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.

1

September 17Sep 17

Author

Quick update since my last post.

The last week has been a bit more encouraging overall. I’ve had several better afternoons/evenings and a few better days in a row. The mornings are still the most difficult part, especially waking around 5:00 with that familiar chemical anxiety/restlessness, but during the day it sometimes becomes less intense. This morning is pretty intense again.... sight......

I’ve also noticed some normal things returning more often, like hunger, and some symptoms such as muscle twitching have been less at times.

So still very much windows and waves, but there seems to be more movement and more glimpses lately.

One question: is the early-morning waking and morning chemical anxiety/restlessness one of the more persistent symptoms ? even when other parts of the day were already improving?

Edited September 17Sep 17 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)

3

September 17Sep 17

2 hours ago, Sandnit said:
The last week has been a bit more encouraging overall. I’ve had several better afternoons/evenings and a few better days in a row. The mornings are still the most difficult part, especially waking around 5:00 with that familiar chemical anxiety/restlessness, but during the day it sometimes becomes less intense. This morning is pretty intense again.... sight......
I’ve also noticed some normal things returning more often, like hunger, and some symptoms such as muscle twitching have been less at times.
So still very much windows and waves, but there seems to be more movement and more glimpses lately.

Its great things have been a bit better recently mate, celebrate that progress!

2 hours ago, Sandnit said:
One question: is the early-morning waking and morning chemical anxiety/restlessness one of the more persistent symptoms ? even when other parts of the day were already improving?

This and sleep related issues in general are seen to be very sticky on here unfortunately.

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.

1

September 17Sep 17

Glad to hear you’ve seen some progress lately @Sandnit 😊

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

September 18Sep 18

Author

@Chippy @SarahMc Thanks! I do find it hard to celebrate the progress sometimes, especially because yesterday and today have already been more difficult again.

I know that doesn’t erase the better days, but when I’m back in it it is hard not to feel like I’m going backwards... But I'm not right.....

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

September 18Sep 18

51 minutes ago, Sandnit said:
@Chippy @SarahMc Thanks! I do find it hard to celebrate the progress sometimes, especially because yesterday and today have already been more difficult again.
I know that doesn’t erase the better days, but when I’m back in it it is hard not to feel like I’m going backwards... But I'm not right.....

I think it would be good for you to come on a post on your better days, celebrate them and share your positive news. At the moment you are only here when things are tough, which is fine of course, other than you are not accepting and are instead relying on us to assure you, which is the opposite of radical acceptance, we are of course always here for you, just sign posting this for you as I suspect it is helpful in the long run..... :)

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.

2

September 18Sep 18

Author

@Chippy You are completely right, and I’m sorry I didn’t see it myself.

Thank you for being honest with me and for pointing it out in such a kind way. I really appreciate it. I’ll make an effort to share the better days too, and to work on letting the difficult days be there without needing reassurance every time.

I’m very grateful for everything you and others do here and for all the support you’ve given me.

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)

2

Sandnit: Tapering journey escitalopram

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