September 2Sep 2 Author Thank you so much for your comments @Chippy very much appreciated xxx 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 2Sep 2 The good news is you haven’t been on mirt for years ❣️It took you around 3-4 months to stabilize last time you were holding, right? For US members: Please report med to FDA Med Watch2017 (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 Valium2024 (May) - Valium Tolerance2024 (2 Nov) - Completed taper off Valium 2024 (2 Nov) - Mirtazapine increased to 15 mg2025 (Feb) - Ativan 0.25 mg (3 x Daily) - Became Paradoxical - Started weaning got to 0.11mg2025 (Mar) - Ativan 0mg - CT In detox2025 (April) Started Depakote 1500mg - In detox2025 (April) - Depakote 500mg (2 x Daily) once home2025 (Aug) - Completed taper off Depakote2025 (Aug) - Akathisia surges throughout the day with calming in between2025 (Sept) - Gabapentin (Micro Dose) - Was calming at first and then became paradoxical so stop2025 (Oct) - Depakote - RI – (Two days of small dose) Became scared and stopped with WD & aka2025 (Oct) - Seroquel 50 mg XR – 1 Week - more and more activating and increased aka2025 (Oct) - Psychiatrist told me to stop it. But I took a few days of a smaller dose of IR then stopped - Not activating2025 (Nov) - Hydroxyzine 2.5mg - it was paradoxical so stopped2025 (1 Dec) - Mirtazapine 22.5mg - (2 Days) Was incredibly overstimulating started reducing to previous2025 (3 Dec) - Mirtazapine 18.75mg2025 (10 Dec) - Mirtazapine 16.87mg2025 (22 Dec) - Mirtazapine 15mg2026 (23Jan) - Mirtazapine 14.7mg2026 (23 Jan) - Mirtazapine 1mg Panic dose2026 (24 Jan) - Mirtazapine 15mg2026 (25 Feb) – Mirtazapine 14.7mg (-2%)2026 (18 Mar) - propranolol 2.5 mg one time2026 (21 Mar)- Mirtazapine- 15 mg accidentally in sleepy state2026 (22 Mar) - Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (more accurate scales) 2026 (29 April) Mirtazapine 14.7 mg/.1020 g (on suggestion of Horowitz) immediate intense symptoms2026 (30 April) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (.1026 g)2026 (23 May) propranolol 2.5 mg one time2026 (01 June) Mirtazapine 14.79 mgdose was 5 hours late2026 (22 July) Mirtazapine 14.76 mgIntense electric activation, muscle tightness, autonomic surges, terror followed2026 (23 July) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg return2026 (Oct 5) attempted moving 2 mg of dose 45 minutes earlierSevere activation followed
September 2Sep 2 Author Hey @Finni yes 4 months but of course at that point I wasn’t kindled xx 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 2Sep 2 4 minutes ago, Emsy said:Hey @Finni yes 4 months but of course at that point I wasn’t kindled xxI have so much hope for you! I know you can’t see it right now, but this is just a bump in the road. Just hang on 💓 For US members: Please report med to FDA Med Watch2017 (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 Valium2024 (May) - Valium Tolerance2024 (2 Nov) - Completed taper off Valium 2024 (2 Nov) - Mirtazapine increased to 15 mg2025 (Feb) - Ativan 0.25 mg (3 x Daily) - Became Paradoxical - Started weaning got to 0.11mg2025 (Mar) - Ativan 0mg - CT In detox2025 (April) Started Depakote 1500mg - In detox2025 (April) - Depakote 500mg (2 x Daily) once home2025 (Aug) - Completed taper off Depakote2025 (Aug) - Akathisia surges throughout the day with calming in between2025 (Sept) - Gabapentin (Micro Dose) - Was calming at first and then became paradoxical so stop2025 (Oct) - Depakote - RI – (Two days of small dose) Became scared and stopped with WD & aka2025 (Oct) - Seroquel 50 mg XR – 1 Week - more and more activating and increased aka2025 (Oct) - Psychiatrist told me to stop it. But I took a few days of a smaller dose of IR then stopped - Not activating2025 (Nov) - Hydroxyzine 2.5mg - it was paradoxical so stopped2025 (1 Dec) - Mirtazapine 22.5mg - (2 Days) Was incredibly overstimulating started reducing to previous2025 (3 Dec) - Mirtazapine 18.75mg2025 (10 Dec) - Mirtazapine 16.87mg2025 (22 Dec) - Mirtazapine 15mg2026 (23Jan) - Mirtazapine 14.7mg2026 (23 Jan) - Mirtazapine 1mg Panic dose2026 (24 Jan) - Mirtazapine 15mg2026 (25 Feb) – Mirtazapine 14.7mg (-2%)2026 (18 Mar) - propranolol 2.5 mg one time2026 (21 Mar)- Mirtazapine- 15 mg accidentally in sleepy state2026 (22 Mar) - Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (more accurate scales) 2026 (29 April) Mirtazapine 14.7 mg/.1020 g (on suggestion of Horowitz) immediate intense symptoms2026 (30 April) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (.1026 g)2026 (23 May) propranolol 2.5 mg one time2026 (01 June) Mirtazapine 14.79 mgdose was 5 hours late2026 (22 July) Mirtazapine 14.76 mgIntense electric activation, muscle tightness, autonomic surges, terror followed2026 (23 July) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg return2026 (Oct 5) attempted moving 2 mg of dose 45 minutes earlierSevere activation followed
September 2Sep 2 Author Oh @Finni bless your heart for taking the time to respond with the intense withdrawal you are going through.My heart goes out to you but I know that one day you’ll finally start to stabilise yourself and we will all be cheering you on.It’s so much easier to see it happening for others than for ourselves for some reason ❤️ 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 2Sep 2 14 minutes ago, Emsy said:Oh @Finni bless your heart for taking the time to respond with the intense withdrawal you are going through.My heart goes out to you but I know that one day you’ll finally start to stabilise yourself and we will all be cheering you on.It’s so much easier to see it happening for others than for ourselves for some reason ❤️It’s so sad because I think I might have been starting to stabilize. I was shopping online, doing more around the house, laughing, interested in birds again… Now mirt seems to be so reactive that I’m not sure I can keep holding. For US members: Please report med to FDA Med Watch2017 (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 Valium2024 (May) - Valium Tolerance2024 (2 Nov) - Completed taper off Valium 2024 (2 Nov) - Mirtazapine increased to 15 mg2025 (Feb) - Ativan 0.25 mg (3 x Daily) - Became Paradoxical - Started weaning got to 0.11mg2025 (Mar) - Ativan 0mg - CT In detox2025 (April) Started Depakote 1500mg - In detox2025 (April) - Depakote 500mg (2 x Daily) once home2025 (Aug) - Completed taper off Depakote2025 (Aug) - Akathisia surges throughout the day with calming in between2025 (Sept) - Gabapentin (Micro Dose) - Was calming at first and then became paradoxical so stop2025 (Oct) - Depakote - RI – (Two days of small dose) Became scared and stopped with WD & aka2025 (Oct) - Seroquel 50 mg XR – 1 Week - more and more activating and increased aka2025 (Oct) - Psychiatrist told me to stop it. But I took a few days of a smaller dose of IR then stopped - Not activating2025 (Nov) - Hydroxyzine 2.5mg - it was paradoxical so stopped2025 (1 Dec) - Mirtazapine 22.5mg - (2 Days) Was incredibly overstimulating started reducing to previous2025 (3 Dec) - Mirtazapine 18.75mg2025 (10 Dec) - Mirtazapine 16.87mg2025 (22 Dec) - Mirtazapine 15mg2026 (23Jan) - Mirtazapine 14.7mg2026 (23 Jan) - Mirtazapine 1mg Panic dose2026 (24 Jan) - Mirtazapine 15mg2026 (25 Feb) – Mirtazapine 14.7mg (-2%)2026 (18 Mar) - propranolol 2.5 mg one time2026 (21 Mar)- Mirtazapine- 15 mg accidentally in sleepy state2026 (22 Mar) - Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (more accurate scales) 2026 (29 April) Mirtazapine 14.7 mg/.1020 g (on suggestion of Horowitz) immediate intense symptoms2026 (30 April) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (.1026 g)2026 (23 May) propranolol 2.5 mg one time2026 (01 June) Mirtazapine 14.79 mgdose was 5 hours late2026 (22 July) Mirtazapine 14.76 mgIntense electric activation, muscle tightness, autonomic surges, terror followed2026 (23 July) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg return2026 (Oct 5) attempted moving 2 mg of dose 45 minutes earlierSevere activation followed
September 2Sep 2 Author @Finni your nervous system has had so many ups and downs.As others have said, I really think if you stop trying to dose your way out it will eventually start to settle again but I know how hard things are for you right now and waiting to stabilise must feel so so hard ❤️ 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 2Sep 2 Hi @Emsy. I’ve just read through your page and I’m so sorry for what you’re going through😞. I can resonate with your omeprazole interaction because that’s what happened to me last year. When I first went into WD I was taking 20mg omeprazole alongside my lexapro(not knowing of the interaction). I stopped the omeprazole for 5 days prior to to an endoscopy. Of course after 3-4 days I went further into WD then back up to my normal dose once it settled againThen I switched brands a month lasted which of course threw me off again. What a mess. Anyway I decided to stick with the omeprazole, not for stomach acid suppression but for stability.Wishing you all the best Lexapro: Aug 2023 – Lexapro 5mg Jan 2024 – Lexapro 20mg Jun 2024 – Lexapro 17.5mg (Kept tapering down in 2.5mg increments till Aug) Aug 2024 – Lexapro 2.5mg (Withdrawal hit after stopping 2.5mg) Oct 2024 – Lexapro 5mg Jan 2025 – Lexapro 1mg, 1.25mg, 1.5mg, 2mg (Drs orders back reaction) Feb 2025 – Lexapro 1.5mg Sept 2025 – Stabilized Dec 2025 – Back in WD Omeprazole: ?? June 2024 – 20mg 08 Mar 2025 – Stopped 14 Mar 2025 – 20mg 05 April 2025 – Brand swap Start Sept - 15mg (2 week taper) End Sept 2025 - 10mg (By end of Sept) 05 Feb 2026 – Brand swap Supplements: Fish Oil - AM High DHA & EPA Loratadine Am Magnesium Glycinate pm 1,000mg
September 2Sep 2 Author @Johan1233 thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience.I hadn’t needed omeprazole for 6 months so when I started it again beginning of July I could feel the mirtazapine levels rising in my system as I started to feel dizzy and much more sedated.It’s really messed me about and honestly if id known about the issue at the beginning of my taper id have probably stayed on it and not come off for 6 months but I didn’t know any better!Hindsight and all that.Sorry to read you are in WD.Are you still holding the Lexapro at 1.5mg? 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 8Sep 8 Author Hey folks, still really struggling, still not getting windows (where my first wave I got clear windows where I’d suddenly get a day every few weeks with minimal symptoms which gave me hope I could stabilise and eventually I did for 10 weeks or so).Just don’t seem to be improving at all.It’s 9 weeks now since I stopped the omeprazole and went into this wave and Im still housebound, still waking every morning with the awful terror like anxiety which lingers all day along with the nausea and struggle to eat plus the other symptoms.It’s weird how different this wave is to my previous experience and I’m losing hope of stabilising on this dose.I’ve been holding 1.2mg for almost 10 months with just 10 weeks of stability.Feeling so isolated and lonely and exhausted and really needed to share.Hugs to everyone 🫂 Edited September 8Sep 8 by Emsy 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 8Sep 8 23 minutes ago, Emsy said:Feeling so isolated and lonely and exhausted and really needed to share.Hugs to everyone 🫂Sending some love back at your Emsy, sorry things are so tough still. Better days are coming, just man, it doesn't feel like it when you are in the middle of it. xxxx 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.ukFor US members details here.
September 8Sep 8 56 minutes ago, Emsy said:Hey folks, still really struggling, still not getting windows (where my first wave I got clear windows where I’d suddenly get a day every few weeks with minimal symptoms which gave me hope I could stabilise and eventually I did for 10 weeks or so).Just don’t seem to be improving at all.It’s 9 weeks now since I stopped the omeprazole and went into this wave and Im still housebound, still waking every morning with the awful terror like anxiety which lingers all day along with the nausea and struggle to eat plus the other symptoms.It’s weird how different this wave is to my previous experience and I’m losing hope of stabilising on this dose.I’ve been holding 1.2mg for almost 10 months with just 10 weeks of stability.Feeling so isolated and lonely and exhausted and really needed to share.Hugs to everyone 🫂Dear @Emsy , I am in a very similar long (9 months) without stabilising also. With you on the morning terror and nausea. It is so very lonely. I wish I could stay house bound as leaving house is terrifying and doesn't really help when in a wave.We have to hold on and keep going somehow.My heart goes out to you. Big hugs for some peace.You have this community 💛xxxx We feel alone but we have this place. We need others that understand and have endured. Edited September 8Sep 8 by Tracey Aug 2006 - Sertraline 25/50/75/100mg TO June 2019 - Reduced from 100mg to 50mg over a few monthsSept 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 25mgOct 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)
September 8Sep 8 Author Hi @Tracey thank you so much for stopping by.I’m so sorry to hear you are also suffering.Wishing you peace too and you are right, we have to keep holding on and getting through for those better days to come xxxx 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 8Sep 8 The same for me, @Emsy. After stopping Mirtazapine in the middle of March my Hell is unbearable: night and morning terror from adrenaline, hot flashes, nausea, horrendous depression and high anxiety all day long. It is an endless torture... I am also grateful that this site, this community exist. Edited September 8Sep 8 by skamen 2011-2023 Paxil 2023-2024 Effexor Since February 2024 in anhedonia caused by the long use of AD February 2024-March 2025 drug after drug after drug... 70 rTMS sessions, 8 ketamin infusions-nothing worked March 2025 CT upon doctor "advice" from Desipramine, Viibryd, Lithium at high doses all together in 6 days Since then awful withdrawal: unbearable anxiety, panic attacks, adrenaline rushes, hot flashes, muscle pain over all the body, insomnia, depression, intrusive thoughts, brain fog Current tapering Mirtazapine : December 29,2025-3 mg, February,15, 2025-2,7 mg, February,28-2,5 mg, March,8-2 mg, March,14-1,5 mg, March,20-0 mg
September 8Sep 8 Author I’m so sorry you are suffering so badly too @skamen it’s more than any human should ever have to bare.Yes thank goodness for this space to know we are not alone.Wishing us all beautiful peaceful healing ❤️🩹 very soon 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 9Sep 9 Author Struggling so so much this morning.I had a tiny bit of stress yesterday when part of my garden wall collapsed and my nervous system decided it was a life and death situation and I had an awful day of it. All I could do all day was lie under a blanket and listen to meditations to try to soothe myself a little I was so panicked all day.Now this morning the early waking terror is off the scale. My brain is treating everything as terrifying, even trying to sit up in bed, get dressed, drink water!I just don’t know how to keep getting through the days I’m just getting worse and worse and windows seem to be completely closed for me now.I’m worse now than I’ve ever been and know I’ve just undone all that hard earned healing with taking the omeprazole but it was only for 8 days, then I discovered it was increasing my mirtazapine levels so I stopped it. I really thought that after a couple of weeks my nervous system would recover, especially after having the good window beforehand, but to be still getting worse almost 10 weeks out?I know I’m adding a whole load of my own anxiety on top of this because I’m so so afraid and stuck on my own all day with withdrawal brain for company.Sending hugs to all 🫂 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 9Sep 9 Sending some hugs right back to you @Emsy these drugs can be so unpredictable and I am so very sorry what a tough time you've had with Mirt, I really wish it wasn't this way for you and everyone on here tbh. Stress of any kind can certainly add to this, I don't deal with additional stress good or bad as well as Iuse to, and it definitely ramps everything up for me as I know it does others. I have everything crossed that sooner rather than later this settles down 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.ukFor US members details here.
September 9Sep 9 So sorry @Emsy , this is such a hellish thing to get through. I really hope you can settle after the stress trigger of your garden wall collapsing making things worse. Sending some hope, peace and care. Nothing stays the same forever. This can't be permanent. Just unpredictable as Chippy said. Hugs of comfort and safety to you. Aug 2006 - Sertraline 25/50/75/100mg TO June 2019 - Reduced from 100mg to 50mg over a few monthsSept 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 25mgOct 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)
September 9Sep 9 Sending lots of love your way @Emsy, as Chippy and Tracey have said this is not forever. You've seen the other side before and you'll get back there, there's no doubt in my mind. Just keep holding on until that next window arrives, it's coming for you. 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/daySeroquel - 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 presentCymbalta - 60 mg/day, periodically down to 30 mg/day - May 2014 to May 2025Clonazepam - up to 1 mg/day as needed - March to May 2025, quick taper offZoloft - 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 2026Lyrica - 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 9Sep 9 @Emsy Fear and anxiety like this seems more likely internal akathisia (living in a horror move) that just random anxiety. Having anxiety is something else.For me the explanation "stress as a trigger" feels a bit inaccurate for me. i would rather say that seeing the things more stressful as they are, because your body is in a stressful mode. Edited September 9Sep 9 by The Dust 2009-2010: Sertraline (50 mg) 2011: Escitalopram (10 mg) 2009-2011: tried Olanzapine (5/2.5mg), Quetiapine (50/25mg) and Aripriprazole (low dosage) CT Escitalopram, being free for several moths 2012-2016: Fluoxetine (60 mg) 2016-2017: Venlafaxine (75 mg) 2016: just tried Duloxetine and Maprotiline 2017-2018: Mirtazapine (30/45mg) 2012-2018: Bupropion (300 mg) 2014-2018: Lamotrigine (50/100/150 mg) CT Bupropion, tapering Lamitrogine and Mirtazapine (practically CT, fast tapering)
September 9Sep 9 @Emsy For me, with each “disruption” I have re: dosing, I have to hold longer and longer before I see any light breaking through. Keep finding comfort where you can. Heavy blankets, meditation, whatever it takes to get through the minutes and hours and days. Sending so much love 💗 For US members: Please report med to FDA Med Watch2017 (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 Valium2024 (May) - Valium Tolerance2024 (2 Nov) - Completed taper off Valium 2024 (2 Nov) - Mirtazapine increased to 15 mg2025 (Feb) - Ativan 0.25 mg (3 x Daily) - Became Paradoxical - Started weaning got to 0.11mg2025 (Mar) - Ativan 0mg - CT In detox2025 (April) Started Depakote 1500mg - In detox2025 (April) - Depakote 500mg (2 x Daily) once home2025 (Aug) - Completed taper off Depakote2025 (Aug) - Akathisia surges throughout the day with calming in between2025 (Sept) - Gabapentin (Micro Dose) - Was calming at first and then became paradoxical so stop2025 (Oct) - Depakote - RI – (Two days of small dose) Became scared and stopped with WD & aka2025 (Oct) - Seroquel 50 mg XR – 1 Week - more and more activating and increased aka2025 (Oct) - Psychiatrist told me to stop it. But I took a few days of a smaller dose of IR then stopped - Not activating2025 (Nov) - Hydroxyzine 2.5mg - it was paradoxical so stopped2025 (1 Dec) - Mirtazapine 22.5mg - (2 Days) Was incredibly overstimulating started reducing to previous2025 (3 Dec) - Mirtazapine 18.75mg2025 (10 Dec) - Mirtazapine 16.87mg2025 (22 Dec) - Mirtazapine 15mg2026 (23Jan) - Mirtazapine 14.7mg2026 (23 Jan) - Mirtazapine 1mg Panic dose2026 (24 Jan) - Mirtazapine 15mg2026 (25 Feb) – Mirtazapine 14.7mg (-2%)2026 (18 Mar) - propranolol 2.5 mg one time2026 (21 Mar)- Mirtazapine- 15 mg accidentally in sleepy state2026 (22 Mar) - Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (more accurate scales) 2026 (29 April) Mirtazapine 14.7 mg/.1020 g (on suggestion of Horowitz) immediate intense symptoms2026 (30 April) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (.1026 g)2026 (23 May) propranolol 2.5 mg one time2026 (01 June) Mirtazapine 14.79 mgdose was 5 hours late2026 (22 July) Mirtazapine 14.76 mgIntense electric activation, muscle tightness, autonomic surges, terror followed2026 (23 July) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg return2026 (Oct 5) attempted moving 2 mg of dose 45 minutes earlierSevere activation followed
September 10Sep 10 16 hours ago, Finni said:For me, with each “disruption” I have re: dosing, I have to hold longer and longer before I see any light breaking through.I think this is really important to recognise and a common experience @Emsy 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.ukFor US members details here.
September 10Sep 10 Author I’m struggling so hard today.I’ve had constant panic and head buzz since this morning its just brutal.I’ve tried everything to soothe myself but nothing has touched the sides.Even my go to meditations haven’t taken the edge off.I can only think of one other day when I felt this bad which was February when I tried to change to the liquid but I’ve not changed dose or anything! 3 weeks Paxil around 2002 I think can’t really remember. CT no issues except for a few head zaps.1 day Citalopram Dec 201710/07/25 - Mirtazapine 7.5mg19/07 - 15mg, 01/08 7.5mg, 15/08 dissolving orodispersible tablets for easier measuring 6mg, 22/08 5mg, 04/09 4mg, 18/09 3mg, 02/10 2.5mg, 16/10 2mg, 30/10 1.5mg, 13/11 1.2mg taper paused due to WD symptoms, had a window 17th March continuous improvement until early June when I went back into a moderate but manageable wave after overdoing things until early July when taking omeprazole for gastritis pushed me into another bad wave. Still waiting to stabilise before proceeding with taper.Supplements - 100mg magnesium glycinate daily.Other meds - Omeprazole 20mg a day when gastritis flares - realised after taking this for 8 days end of June ‘26 I was experiencing some WD symptoms again and researched to find PPIs block the liver enzymes used to metabolise a lot of antidepressants artificially raising blood levels. Stopped omeprazole and 2 weeks later back into a bad wave as my body has reacted as if I’ve updosed and then dropped again.Post menopausal GP has prescribed HRT but have not started as don’t want to confuse my system while tapering.
September 10Sep 10 @Emsy, you are not alone. I am with hellish adrenaline rushes all the night, morning terror, restlessness, inner vibrations, brain fog. As you said, it is brutal. I haven't changed nothing for 6 months now, and the Hell is unbearable, every second for 6 months... 2011-2023 Paxil 2023-2024 Effexor Since February 2024 in anhedonia caused by the long use of AD February 2024-March 2025 drug after drug after drug... 70 rTMS sessions, 8 ketamin infusions-nothing worked March 2025 CT upon doctor "advice" from Desipramine, Viibryd, Lithium at high doses all together in 6 days Since then awful withdrawal: unbearable anxiety, panic attacks, adrenaline rushes, hot flashes, muscle pain over all the body, insomnia, depression, intrusive thoughts, brain fog Current tapering Mirtazapine : December 29,2025-3 mg, February,15, 2025-2,7 mg, February,28-2,5 mg, March,8-2 mg, March,14-1,5 mg, March,20-0 mg
September 10Sep 10 4 hours ago, Emsy said:I’m struggling so hard today.I’ve had constant panic and head buzz since this morning its just brutal.I’ve tried everything to soothe myself but nothing has touched the sides.Even my go to meditations haven’t taken the edge off.I can only think of one other day when I felt this bad which was February when I tried to change to the liquid but I’ve not changed dose or anything!Thinking of you @Emsy. I had a few of my worst days back in July entirely out of the blue without having changed anything. Sometimes these things are just random and it doesn't do us any good to search for a cause. You will make it through 💜. 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/daySeroquel - 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 presentCymbalta - 60 mg/day, periodically down to 30 mg/day - May 2014 to May 2025Clonazepam - up to 1 mg/day as needed - March to May 2025, quick taper offZoloft - 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 2026Lyrica - 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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