I’m hoping to find people with a similar experience because I’m struggling and my doctors keep telling me “Fluoxetine doesn’t cause withdrawal”.

Background:
I was on different SSRI for 9 years, most of the time escitalopram 20–25 mg. Then my psychiatrist switched me cold turkey: Day 1 no more Escitalopram and 10 mg Fluoxetine, Day 2 15 mg, then 20 mg. After about 5 weeks it felt so horrible that I tapered down to 15 mg. Then I went up to 17.5 mg for a bit, back to 15 mg, down to 10 mg and then stopped completely.

I’ve now been off Fluoxetine for about 40+ days.

What’s happening now:
The first two weeks after stopping I actually felt a bit better. Then the brain zaps started – slightly, after a few days really intense, then better, now bad again. They come in waves.

Additionally I have strong emotional distress (feeling trapped in discomfort or sth.), chest pressure, tinnitus-like symptoms. Sleep is still okay and exercise helps a lot, which I’m very grateful for.

I don’t want to go back on Fluoxetine. I’m using very low-dose Lorazepam as needed (often lol, about 3mg per week) and that gives some relief, but I know it’s not a long-term solution.

I ask myself if I should reinstate, maybe with Escitalopram? But I don’t have a doctor to talk about it. Mine would just put me on a normal dose again.

I also would just endure the withdrawal if I just knew it’s normal and will get better. But it’s 40 days and I still have these bad feelings and sensations. And I don’t think it’s a relapse or something because it feels so different and because of the brainzaps.

But I also work fulltime, study, have a social life, etc. And I definetly want to need less lorazepam, I already fight against every 0,25mg and do everything to cope differently instead.

Has anyone had a similar switch from Escitalopram to Fluoxetine? I wonder if the bad response to Prozac could also be escitalopram withdrawal? Lol

How long did the brain zaps and emotional waves last for you?

Did anyone suspect being a rapid metabolizer (CYP2C19) and did that make a difference?

Would really appreciate hearing from people who had a rough time but eventually improved.

Thank you so much ❤️

Welcome to the forum!

 

This is a volunteer-run, community forum aimed at helping those who are tapering and/or experiencing difficulties with psychiatric medications and withdrawl syndrome. We are not medical professionals and cannot offer medical advice. We simply offer support and opinions which you could use as talking points with a medical provider knowledgeable in withdrawing off psychiatric medications.

 

Please familiarise yourself with the forum rules and the disclaimer located here: Guidelines

 

Please make sure your signature is kept up to date with your drug history. This will allow members to see some basic information about your drug history and situation so that they may help you best. Information on how to do this is located in the FAQs section above, but here is a direct link: Update Signature

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Please use the format outline here Preferred signature/drug history format

I'm so sorry to read about the tough time you've had recently you will find plenty of support here for sure.

1 hour ago, Bibi96 said:

I’m struggling and my doctors keep telling me “Fluoxetine doesn’t cause withdrawal”.

This is absolutely untrue. Fluoxetine has a very long half life, which delays WD more so than other ADs, this is how they get away with making such a claim.

1 hour ago, Bibi96 said:

I was on different SSRI for 9 years, most of the time escitalopram 20–25 mg. Then my psychiatrist switched me cold turkey: Day 1 no more Escitalopram and 10 mg Fluoxetine, Day 2 15 mg, then 20 mg. After about 5 weeks it felt so horrible that I tapered down to 15 mg. Then I went up to 17.5 mg for a bit, back to 15 mg, down to 10 mg and then stopped completely.

Very sorry to read. These drugs are not good for us in isolation, but CTs, switching to other drugs, adding in extra drugs and moving doses aroung causes all sorts of problems for people. Hypersensitivity and kindling

 

Taper needs to be done much slower than you have done it. Tapering Information

1 hour ago, Bibi96 said:

I’ve now been off Fluoxetine for about 40+ days.

What’s happening now:
The first two weeks after stopping I actually felt a bit better. Then the brain zaps started – slightly, after a few days really intense, then better, now bad again. They come in waves.

It is very common for WD to be delayed, with Fluoxetine it can be delayed by many weeks or even a few months depending on the individuals metabolism.

1 hour ago, Bibi96 said:

Additionally I have strong emotional distress (feeling trapped in discomfort or sth.), chest pressure, tinnitus-like symptoms. Sleep is still okay and exercise helps a lot, which I’m very grateful for.

I am sorry to read, that must be very distressing for you. Good news your sleep is ok.

1 hour ago, Bibi96 said:

I don’t want to go back on Fluoxetine. I’m using very low-dose Lorazepam as needed (often lol, about 3mg per week) and that gives some relief, but I know it’s not a long-term solution.

I can understand you not wanting to RI Prozac, I have to advice caution on using Benzos, they build up tolerance quickly and you end up having to take them regularly so as not avoid WD and taper off, but with no benefits due to the tolerance. I would either stop taking them or take them regularly and taper off. I wouldn't personally use them as needed, they may extend your healing.

1 hour ago, Bibi96 said:

I ask myself if I should reinstate, maybe with Escitalopram? But I don’t have a doctor to talk about it. Mine would just put me on a normal dose again.

This is a tricky one. Your body will be missing Escitalopram as you were on it a long time and will have built up alot of dependance on it. Switching to prozac is a common move by doctors and it never seems to go well.

You have been taking Prozac long enough to gain dependence on it so WD from stopping that is likley, because of the long half it could be more delayed.

So what to RI if you RI is tricky. I personally think a very low dose of Escitalopram is a reasonable thing to try but you have quite a bit going on here so, there will be an injury that has happened from stopping Lexapro and starting Proazac and moving doses around, followed by a CT that RI does not fix.

IMO RI either drug may cushion things for you, it is very hard to know for sure. Because of the length of time you were on Lexapro I would say that makes the most sense to try personally.

RI is not a magic wand and some it can worsen then. The low dose is seen to be all that is needed in most to stablise them, and the low dose reduces the risks.

You don't need to tell your doctor you are taking a low dose, just take a prescription for a full dose of say 10mg and just take a low dose, you only need to keep him happy so you get your refills. Reinstating an Antidepressant

If you want to try RI we can help you do this and suggest a dose to try.

2 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

I also would just endure the withdrawal if I just knew it’s normal and will get better. But it’s 40 days and I still have these bad feelings and sensations. And I don’t think it’s a relapse or something because it feels so different and because of the brainzaps.

No it's certainly not a relapse, these drugs cause all sorts of issues and IMO they are almost always down to the drugs. You will get better but we can't know how long that will take. For some it can be very long. RI can help cushion things.

2 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

But I also work fulltime, study, have a social life, etc. And I definetly want to need less lorazepam, I already fight against every 0,25mg and do everything to cope differently instead.

Im sorry, it is very hard trying to live a normal life and deal with WD, again I would suggest you either stop taking these or it you think you have been taking them enough to gain dependance, pick a dose and stick to it, then taper off.

2 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

Has anyone had a similar switch from Escitalopram to Fluoxetine? I wonder if the bad response to Prozac could also be escitalopram withdrawal? Lol

Lots and lots of people do this. They call it the 'prozac bridge', I have never seen it go well. The reaction you had was common, is it WD from Lexapro? maybe, it's hard to say, we do know that adding in more drugs and moving things around causes nervous system dysregulation in most.

2 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

How long did the brain zaps and emotional waves last for you?

A very personal question, it varies for everyone. No one person is the same. Try to accept your symptoms as best as possible and avoid going down the rabbit hole of finding someone just like you.

2 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

Did anyone suspect being a rapid metabolizer (CYP2C19) and did that make a difference?

Everyone metabolizes these drugs at different rates. So time to onset of WD varies and can be quite delayed.

In the mean time this is what I would do if I were you:

 

-Stay Hydrated 

 

-Eat a good clean whole food diet, avoiding processed foods and sugars.

 

-Stay away from caffeine, alcohol and antihistamines and any other psychoactive substances.

 

Supplements are to be avoided initially, as they often irritate our nervous systems. Try to get your nutrition through food.

 

Down the line, you may wish to introduce Fish Oil and Magnesium. Those who can tolerate them have found them calming to the nervous system. Be careful try one at a time and start low and see how you get on should you choose to try them.

 

A daily walk is very important as much as you can manage, if you can manage it. Gets you your fresh air and Vitamin D does wonders for your mind!

 

You are very welcome here and I hope you find the site supportive.

Chippy

Thank you so much. It’s so relieving to get an answer from someone who both takes you seriously and understands you.

I’ve already taken magnesiumbisglycinat before the whole fluoxetine disaster and continue to do so. I added omega 3 and some probiotics around three weeks ago.

I had such a bad day today and when I calmed down a bit I decided to reinstate and give it a try. I took 0,5mg escitalopram (measured in a liquid solution, as described on this page).

It’s been like 2,5 hours since and I feel quite well. I know that’s not too meaningful yet but I’m glad I didn’t get some kind of immediate crash.

There’s still a sparkle of hope that my brain is not too injured and I just had a bad reaction to fluoxetine and tapered too fast back then.

I also took a closer look at my notes and my health insurance app, and about seven years ago I tried to stop taking escitalopram for the first time (not CT but the typical rapid tapering prescription) and, as far as I can remember, didn’t have any problems at all.

But just two months later, I had a really severe breakdown. It was truly an unbelievable panic attack, something I’d never experienced before despite my panic disorder and I was in a terrible state. I’ve always wondered what that was. Today, of course, I also wonder if it could have been from coming off the medication. After that, I started taking the medication again and things got better.

I don’t know if this detective work matters at all, but maybe it’s relevant.

Welcome to the forum.

Normally after reinstatement the advice in prescribed harm groups is to now wait and give it a couple of weeks.

It seems to have gone OK so far, so you're best off just waiting and seeing if you stay stable at that.

10 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

Thank you so much. It’s so relieving to get an answer from someone who both takes you seriously and understands you.

It is my pleasure

10 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

I’ve already taken magnesiumbisglycinat before the whole fluoxetine disaster and continue to do so. I added omega 3 and some probiotics around three weeks ago.

That's good. Perhaps hold off adding in extra things until things have settled down for you. Less changes the better imo.

10 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

I had such a bad day today and when I calmed down a bit I decided to reinstate and give it a try. I took 0,5mg escitalopram (measured in a liquid solution, as described on this page).

Ok, thanks for letting us know. Glad you are ok on that dose. Hold it there for 4 days if you don't react really badly (which is doesn't sound like you have) and then reassess in 7-14 days. Let us know how your progress. It might be worth rating each day out of 10, 10 being awful and 1 being mild during this process.

10 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

I also took a closer look at my notes and my health insurance app, and about seven years ago I tried to stop taking escitalopram for the first time (not CT but the typical rapid tapering prescription) and, as far as I can remember, didn’t have any problems at all.

But just two months later, I had a really severe breakdown. It was truly an unbelievable panic attack, something I’d never experienced before despite my panic disorder and I was in a terrible state. I’ve always wondered what that was. Today, of course, I also wonder if it could have been from coming off the medication. After that, I started taking the medication again and things got better.

I think it highly likley that you were experiencing WD here.

10 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

I don’t know if this detective work matters at all, but maybe it’s relevant.

It doesn't matter but understanding what has happened to you might be useful. I think it can be.

Let us know how you are. x

Thank you both!

The last few days were such a mess. I’d say the intensity of the symptoms was an 8–10, but I don’t even want to say that because I thought that before and it still got worse.

It’s been about 14 hours since the small dose, and this morning I still felt better. I woke up without any brainzaps. It’s the first time in weeks, so I think this could be a good approach for me. Today it’s a 4 I think. I'm so relieved, but I don't want to get my hopes up too soon. And of course I still feel kind of disturbed and anxious.

Now, of course, I’m wondering how I should proceed. I’ve read various things. Should I stay at this dose if I’m feeling okayish on it? What would be a reason to increase it? For example, if the brainzaps come back? And when should I start tapering off?

7 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

Thank you both!

Pleasure

7 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

The last few days were such a mess. I’d say the intensity of the symptoms was an 8–10, but I don’t even want to say that because I thought that before and it still got worse.

It’s been about 14 hours since the small dose, and this morning I still felt better. I woke up without any brainzaps. It’s the first time in weeks, so I think this could be a good approach for me. Today it’s a 4 I think. I'm so relieved, but I don't want to get my hopes up too soon. And of course I still feel kind of disturbed and anxious.

Yes this is very good sign, you have so far responded well to this dose. Great news.

One thing to keep in mind is that we are not trying to get rid of your WD symptoms completely with the RI (although that would be nice!) just cushion them and make them more managable.

8 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

Now, of course, I’m wondering how I should proceed. I’ve read various things. Should I stay at this dose if I’m feeling okayish on it? What would be a reason to increase it? For example, if the brainzaps come back? And when should I start tapering off?

Of course. Well as I said before keep this dose for 7-14 days, so perhaps around day 10 see how you are. I would track each day just give it a broad number out of 10, so you can see how it is going and then come back and let us know.

It is completely possible to increase the dose, but this must be done slowly and carefully. If things stay around 4/10 you might want to consider leaving the dose where it is. Of course you may also choose to increase it, that is you decision. We can cross that bridge when we get there. For reference by increase, we are talking to 0.6mg from 0.5mg! So tiny increase. What I would not do with the next 10 days is change the dose. It is really important to stick to this dose. The brain doesn't like changes! :)

Really pleased this has helped you.

Okay, so I’ll stay on the 1mg dose for the next few days and hope to recover a bit. :)

I found some coping strategies for withdrawal here, but I have another question. A lot of us were prescribed SSRIs because we originally had a mental health issue. So how do people manage to deal with that? Well, I don’t know, I never felt like my SSRI helped me anyway, but for example, I took lorazepam every now and then before the whole thing in fluoxetine-inducing thing. It was very rare, and it helped me a ton and made things possible again that I could then do without lorazepam afterward.

So how do you deal with the original original problem? I’ve already been through a lot of therapy. I work out a lot, I do ACT, but I have no idea. I just don’t know where all this is supposed to lead.

8 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

Okay, so I’ll stay on the 1mg dose for the next few days and hope to recover a bit. :)

I found some coping strategies for withdrawal here, but I have another question. A lot of us were prescribed SSRIs because we originally had a mental health issue. So how do people manage to deal with that? Well, I don’t know, I never felt like my SSRI helped me anyway, but for example, I took lorazepam every now and then before the whole thing in fluoxetine-inducing thing. It was very rare, and it helped me a ton and made things possible again that I could then do without lorazepam afterward.

So how do you deal with the original original problem? I’ve already been through a lot of therapy. I work out a lot, I do ACT, but I have no idea. I just don’t know where all this is supposed to lead.

I thought about your question a lot myself. For me, how do I avoid the initial panic attack that led to the anxiety that led to the SSRI? I lean towards holistic measures and healing the body naturally. I've always believed that many societies are nutritionally starving and depleted of key nutrients that affect or infect our mental health. Magnesium, Vitamin B, Vitamin D... The answer may vary person to person. Some people may need therapy to handle personal or unresolved problems. Like I said for me I think it was insufficient nutrition.. and possibly too much sugar that altered the gut brain connection. Plus you can exercise, avoid triggers... but I think it really just depends what each person has going on.

44 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

A lot of us were prescribed SSRIs because we originally had a mental health issue. So how do people manage to deal with that? Well, I don’t know, I never felt like my SSRI helped me anyway, but for example, I took lorazepam every now and then before the whole thing in fluoxetine-inducing thing. It was very rare, and it helped me a ton and made things possible again that I could then do without lorazepam afterward.

So how do you deal with the original original problem? I’ve already been through a lot of therapy. I work out a lot, I do ACT, but I have no idea. I just don’t know where all this is supposed to lead.

I’ve thought about this a lot too. I was initially prescribed my antidepressant because of severe anxiety that at times made me non-functional, and I did feel like it helped. So I worry sometimes that once I get off I’ll just be right back where I started.

I think the answer to managing our mental health is probably super individual, but for me I think it’s going to be a lot about reducing stress to the extent possible and learning to recognize initial warning signs that I’m taking on too much. I always got these outbreaks of intense anxiety and insomnia during particularly high-stress times — so I think I need to work on creating a lifestyle where the stress and pressure are manageable for me instead of trying to push through by using meds.

Anxiety is one of the more prevalent mental health issues, so I’m sure you can find some good success stories from folks who have come off meds and learned to manage their anxiety in other ways. It’s possible! 😊

On 6/12/2026 at 1:33 AM, Bibi96 said:

I’m hoping to find people with a similar experience because I’m struggling and my doctors keep telling me “Fluoxetine doesn’t cause withdrawal”.

Background:
I was on different SSRI for 9 years, most of the time escitalopram 20–25 mg. Then my psychiatrist switched me cold turkey: Day 1 no more Escitalopram and 10 mg Fluoxetine, Day 2 15 mg, then 20 mg. After about 5 weeks it felt so horrible that I tapered down to 15 mg. Then I went up to 17.5 mg for a bit, back to 15 mg, down to 10 mg and then stopped completely.

I’ve now been off Fluoxetine for about 40+ days.

What’s happening now:
The first two weeks after stopping I actually felt a bit better. Then the brain zaps started – slightly, after a few days really intense, then better, now bad again. They come in waves.

Additionally I have strong emotional distress (feeling trapped in discomfort or sth.), chest pressure, tinnitus-like symptoms. Sleep is still okay and exercise helps a lot, which I’m very grateful for.

I don’t want to go back on Fluoxetine. I’m using very low-dose Lorazepam as needed (often lol, about 3mg per week) and that gives some relief, but I know it’s not a long-term solution.

I ask myself if I should reinstate, maybe with Escitalopram? But I don’t have a doctor to talk about it. Mine would just put me on a normal dose again.

I also would just endure the withdrawal if I just knew it’s normal and will get better. But it’s 40 days and I still have these bad feelings and sensations. And I don’t think it’s a relapse or something because it feels so different and because of the brainzaps.

But I also work fulltime, study, have a social life, etc. And I definetly want to need less lorazepam, I already fight against every 0,25mg and do everything to cope differently instead.

Has anyone had a similar switch from Escitalopram to Fluoxetine? I wonder if the bad response to Prozac could also be escitalopram withdrawal? Lol

How long did the brain zaps and emotional waves last for you?

Did anyone suspect being a rapid metabolizer (CYP2C19) and did that make a difference?

Would really appreciate hearing from people who had a rough time but eventually improved.

Thank you so much ❤️

Sorry to hear that your cross-taper and then taper were so difficult. Prozac (Fluoxetine) absolutely causes withdrawal. It is hard to tell in your situation though if you were more feeling the impact of the Escitalopram withdrawal. I am doing a Prozac taper and have had to reinstate at a higher dose several times in years past when I went to quickly in my taper process. Good luck in this process.

Hi @Winnie76,

thanks for posting. When you are able to, please could you create an introduction thread about yourself and your situation?

Thanks!

Thank you guys for your thoughts!

I’ve actually always trusted doctors, the healthcare system, and all the guidelines. I always thought doctors who mess up were just the exception. But the last few weeks have been so rough. I really went on a doctor-hopping spree, I even paid for two appointments with a professor of psychiatry, but he wanted to switch me from fluoxetine to bupropion right away, haha. Luckily, I didn’t do that. Looking back I can’t believe how I just trusted doctors and medication all these years.

I also spent a lot of time thinking about it. I think community helps, too. I was ashamed, but when things got really bad, I called in sick and went back to my parents’ place for a few days, and that really helped me calm down. I also do martial arts, and the community there helps me a lot, too.

And I think that’s why the support here helps me, too. I’m so grateful that I now have a place here where people understand me.

18 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

And I think that’s why the support here helps me, too. I’m so grateful that I now have a place here where people understand me.

I'm so glad you're finding the forum helpful 😊 I felt the same way when I first found it, like I had finally found supportive folks who truly understood what I was going through.

20 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

I think community helps, too. I was ashamed, but when things got really bad, I called in sick and went back to my parents’ place for a few days, and that really helped me calm down. I also do martial arts, and the community there helps me a lot, too.

Don't be ashamed of doing what you need to do to take care of yourself! Your health is always the priority. And I fully agree about community. I do a lot of rock climbing, and beyond just the exercise element I find the climbing community really welcoming and supportive. It's nice to have somewhere you can go see friendly faces regularly.

15 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

Okay, so I’ll stay on the 1mg dose for the next few days and hope to recover a bit. :)

I found some coping strategies for withdrawal here, but I have another question. A lot of us were prescribed SSRIs because we originally had a mental health issue. So how do people manage to deal with that? Well, I don’t know, I never felt like my SSRI helped me anyway, but for example, I took lorazepam every now and then before the whole thing in fluoxetine-inducing thing. It was very rare, and it helped me a ton and made things possible again that I could then do without lorazepam afterward.

So how do you deal with the original original problem? I’ve already been through a lot of therapy. I work out a lot, I do ACT, but I have no idea. I just don’t know where all this is supposed to lead.

I would for the minute take all this one step at a time. It is very hard to pick apart WD and your 'original condition' at this point.

The short answer is, I think you will pick up skills during this journey which will help you in the long run.

The long answer, is I think we need to reframe 'mental health' condition and understand we are not broken. These feelings we got before taking these drugs are totally normal and natural part of being a human, not a design flaw, a feature. Learning to listen to them helps a bunch imo. We can certainly train our brains to not be anxious in situations and there are lots of therapies out there to help with this. But I think the first part is to stop being scared of our natural selfs.

There are also many things that feed or cause these feelings that are not natural. The food we eat is often poor, alcohol, drug use, not enough exercise, being over weight all sorts of factors that effect our systems and can make us feel quite overwhelmed unnaturally. This ties in with the short answer tbh!

And of course we are all too stressed, living in an online social media driven world that our brains were never designed to be a part of. So limiting exposure to these things can help an awful lot!.

Finally, although the occasional benzo may have appeared to have helped, it would have started to irritate your nervous system imo and made things increasingly worse, making the need for an occasional benzo required more often in your mind at the time.

It's all gonna be ok. Just one little step at a time :)

I dont know if I made a mistake :( the 2 days before that I actually took 0.5 mg of escitalopram. Then I thought, these doses are so small, I might as well try 1 mg yesterday, because I’d like to get back up to around 5 mg to get some stability.

But I had the worst sensations. I panicked so badly, it felt like my whole body was on fire, probably flooded with adrenaline or something. And then I had my parents pick me up and went to their place for the night. I’m almost 30!

I was able to sleep there, but I still feel so alarmed and anxious, and I called in sick. I don’t know if I’ll ever be normal again, with work, my hobbies, and all that.

And I don’t know if that dose was a mistake, if I should stick to 1 mg today anyway. I don’t even know if it came from the escitalopram, because I wasn’t feeling that great yesterday anyway. I’m also afraid that the escitalopram won't work for me anymore or that it's causing paradoxical reactions.

I am so desperate:(

4 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

I dont know if I made a mistake :( the 2 days before that I actually took 0.5 mg of escitalopram. Then I thought, these doses are so small, I might as well try 1 mg yesterday, because I’d like to get back up to around 5 mg to get some stability.

But I had the worst sensations. I panicked so badly, it felt like my whole body was on fire, probably flooded with adrenaline or something. And then I had my parents pick me up and went to their place for the night. I’m almost 30!

I was able to sleep there, but I still feel so alarmed and anxious, and I called in sick. I don’t know if I’ll ever be normal again, with work, my hobbies, and all that.

And I don’t know if that dose was a mistake, if I should stick to 1 mg today anyway. I don’t even know if it came from the escitalopram, because I wasn’t feeling that great yesterday anyway. I’m also afraid that the escitalopram won't work for me anymore or that it's causing paradoxical reactions.

I am so desperate:(

Ok, Lexapro in particular is VERY strong at low doses. You should never consider wanting to go to a dose as high as 5mg. Most people who RI this drug end up around 0.7-1mg. That is all! But they do it in tiny little steps. There is no way to fast track this process. The right dose is different for everyone. You are not the only person to jump their doses around, many have done it, but it is a very bad idea, but you will ok! :)

What you should do now in my opinion is revert back to 0.5mg and hold there for 14 days and don't move the dose at all. Always check here before doing things and run ideas past us. You want to be as informed as you can when moving doses. Remember stablity is not being symptom free, and the goal of a RI is cushion the symptoms down and make life more manageable.

Thank you Chippy!

Escitalopram didn't reach an effective level in my blood at 20 mg, which is why I've been taking 25 mg lately.

That's why I'm wondering if 0.5 mg will even have any effect on me. On the other hand, escitalopram has always been the SSRI I've tolerated best.

What also worries me is the lorazepam. Right now, there’s no way I can stop taking it, it’s the only thing that helps. Until about two weeks ago, my use was moderate, but last week it was so high. A total of about 5.5 mg spread out over the whole week, so between 0.5 and 1 mg per day. I was hopeful the whole time that I could taper off it, because it was “only” 3–4 mg spread out over the whole week, some weeks also “only” about 2mg.

At first I thought, “Just until the bad initial phase with the fluoxetine is over,” then “just until I’ve stopped taking the fluoxetine,” then “just until the withdrawal symptoms are over,” and now half a year has gone by and it’s a bottomless pit. And I’m so unsure about the fixed daily dose. I’m also afraid that my doctor won’t prescribe it to me anymore? And it’s so bitter because I’ll probably can’t use lorazepam just as PRN like I used to.

I wish so much I had never touched the fluoxetine.

I've been looking into ACT and similar approaches a lot lately, and it gives me a glimmer of hope, but it also feels a bit like trying to put out a fire with a water gun, lol.

There were so many things I had planned for the summer, and I still have two exams ahead of me because I’m currently working on my part-time master’s degree (which I’m actually really enjoying!).

It’s a relief to be on sick leave for now, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.

Sorry for the rant haha

12 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

Escitalopram didn't reach an effective level in my blood at 20 mg, which is why I've been taking 25 mg lately.

That’s a huge dose! Lexapro normally maxes out for people at 10mg. If you look at the sert occupancy curve you don’t get much more effect on the brain above a certain level.

1mg is about 20% effect on the brain and that is all that it is observed is needed. Any more often worsens people.

With the benzo you will find it will loose effect the more you take it which is why you are taking more and more of it. Eventually it won’t help unfortunately due to tolerance. But because you’ve been taking a lot you may need to keep taking a daily split dose and taper it to avoid benzo wd. Split because of benzos shirt half life avoiding interdose wd. And then taper off.

16 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

I've been looking into ACT and similar approaches a lot lately, and it gives me a glimmer of hope, but it also feels a bit like trying to put out a fire with a water gun, lol.

Can’t hurt. But it won’t touch we symptoms. They are not actual mental health issues. Acceptance and distraction are the big tools to help cope with the symptoms. Anything to get through the day and reduce the suffering and avoid second fear creeping in.

17 minutes ago, Bibi96 said:

There were so many things I had planned for the summer, and I still have two exams ahead of me because I’m currently working on my part-time master’s degree (which I’m actually really enjoying!).

It’s a relief to be on sick leave for now, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.

Sorry for the rant haha

I am sorry. We all understand. This journey tends to disrupt most of our life’s to one extent or another.

1 hour ago, Bibi96 said:

I've been looking into ACT and similar approaches a lot lately, and it gives me a glimmer of hope, but it also feels a bit like trying to put out a fire with a water gun, lol.

As Chippy said, I think you’ll find that a lot of these techniques will have limited effectiveness while you’re in this acute withdrawal period. I’ve found that my WD symptoms just come and go as they please, and all I can really do is distract myself and wait until they pass. When all of this started for me I got pretty obsessed with meditation and during a more stable period I found it really helpful — but as soon as I got destabilized again it did nothing at all.

Of course it can still be helpful to learn these coping skills so that you have them in your tool belt for when you’re through the worst of withdrawal, and further down when you’re off meds. Just don’t get too frustrated or upset if you feel like they’re not helpful right now. When you’re in the thick of it many of us find you simply need to accept your symptoms as they come, and do whatever you can to distract yourself and help pass the time.

It’s not going to be easy, but you’ll get through this 💜

4 hours ago, Chippy said:

Ok, Lexapro in particular is VERY strong at low doses. You should never consider wanting to go to a dose as high as 5mg. Most people who RI this drug end up around 0.7-1mg.

I don‘t know – my intention is rather being more stable than drug free. Even if that means that the tapering will last a lot longer. A part of me thinks/wishes I had just a bad reaction to fluoxetine and should go back to what my brain knows.

3 hours ago, Chippy said:

That’s a huge dose! Lexapro normally maxes out for people at 10mg. If you look at the sert occupancy curve you don’t get much more effect on the brain above a certain level.

1mg is about 20% effect on the brain and that is all that it is observed is needed. Any more often worsens people.

Yes I know, but maybe the fast metabolization could play a role? Because I noticed 23h after the last dose the brain zaps show up again. Or is this normal?

I don’t expect to be symptom free, and I had lots of difficult times but this is a whole different level.

3 hours ago, Chippy said:

Acceptance and distraction are the big tools to help cope with the symptoms.

Ah yes, ACT is especially about acceptance :)

1 hour ago, Bibi96 said:

I don‘t know – my intention is rather being more stable than drug free. Even if that means that the tapering will last a lot longer. A part of me thinks/wishes I had just a bad reaction to fluoxetine and should go back to what my brain knows.

The experience of the community would suggest this would be a very bad move.

These drugs are not good for us. And now your nervous system is upset it’s likely getting off the drugs will be your best move. Obviously this is your choice but that’s what we see in the community over the past couple of decades when you take into account surviving antidepressants.

1 hour ago, Bibi96 said:

Yes I know, but maybe the fast metabolization could play a role? Because I noticed 23h after the last dose the brain zaps show up again. Or is this normal?

It’s very normal to have brain zaps in wd. Some people get symptoms with in 24 hours of stopping. Others take weeks or months for wd to show. There is no way to tell who will get what and when. Often symptoms can be random. Come and go change in intensity. It’s very non linear and unpredictable.

@Chippy is also trying to suggest things that promote stability.

Huge swings in doses are the opposite of this and risk significant destabilisation.

I can’t believe this was only about two weeks ago. I just wanted to let you know that a few days after the reinstatement I went to my GP (one of the few doctors I trust) and decided to take Escitalopram in therapeutical doses again. Each day 1mg and now I’m on 10mg.

I felt better everyday and had almost no side effects besides some headaches. I hope the Escitalopram keeps working for a while, I am SO RELIEVED.

I’m definitely coming back when I’m ready for tapering off. All the best to all of you.

17 hours ago, Bibi96 said:

I can’t believe this was only about two weeks ago. I just wanted to let you know that a few days after the reinstatement I went to my GP (one of the few doctors I trust) and decided to take Escitalopram in therapeutical doses again. Each day 1mg and now I’m on 10mg.

I felt better everyday and had almost no side effects besides some headaches. I hope the Escitalopram keeps working for a while, I am SO RELIEVED.

I’m definitely coming back when I’m ready for tapering off. All the best to all of you.

Im glad RI has worked well for you. Please keep us up to date with how you get on. Please don't start your taper until you have checked in here. This should not be for many months yet. :)