Hey @Lukas92 Sorry your RI didn't go well. You are right for sure, the RI was too high and your body rejected it.

How did you feel on 0.6mg? Im guessing things were tough still which is why you quit?

As Sarah has said a very low dose would be all we would suggest, you could try 0.1mg as a test to see if you react badly, I suspect it would not be enough drug to have any meaningful positive effect, you could updose from there with our help if you didn't react badly. However, the fact you have had some better days and are functioning, plus the poor reaction you had to the dose before, suggests to me that RI is perhaps not a good idea for you.

Could I ask you to please put your latest RI doses and dates into your footer, it makes life so much easier for us on here when there are so many members now.

Chippy

Strong anxiety returned yesterday. The reinstatement made everything much worse. I intially thought that when i stopped the drug after reinstatement things would go back to where it was before reinstatement. Strong anxiety, atakizia,crying( it was unbereable) and new symptoms like muscle twiches, parestezia, burning skin, much worse insomnia, inner vibration, adrenaline flushes, digestion issues- my stomach feels full and i am alsways burping etc. it really scared me, and that's why i stopped. When i was on 0.6 mg for 4 days it was still very though.

Unfotunately the symptoms are persisting (some got better like dizziness) some are gone: like foggy head, sleep jerking

Yes, i have better days, when i feel somewhat better in terms of anxiety/depression.

Can these new symptoms that were caused by high reinstatement to be treated with much lower reinstatement? Do people improve after an adverse reaction to reinstatement? i don't know what to expect.

Could this make things even worse? I have been several months since my tapering off. Would it still be safe?

Thank you both very much.

I also visited a new psychiatrist. He suggested new SSRI/SNRI, trazodone for sleeping, and benzoos. I told him about my reaction and he told me that's because adverse effects appear at low doses.... I didn't take anything, and won't see him again.

and one more thing, what should i expect if the reinstatements helps? Will i still have to go through bad withdrawal symptoms when tapering off?

Edited September 10Sep 10 by Lukas92

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

Strong anxiety returned yesterday. The reinstatement made everything much worse. I intially thought that when i stopped the drug after reinstatement things would go back to where it was before reinstatement. Strong anxiety, atakizia,crying( it was unbereable) and new symptoms like muscle twiches, parestezia, burning skin, much worse insomnia, inner vibration, adrenaline flushes, digestion issues- my stomach feels full and i am alsways burping etc. it really scared me, and that's why i stopped. When i was on 0.6 mg for 4 days it was still very though.

Unfotunately the symptoms are persisting (some got better like dizziness) some are gone: like foggy head, sleep jerking

Yes, i have better days, when i feel somewhat better in terms of anxiety/depression.

I'm sorry things are still so tough for you @Lukas92. Unfortunately we do see that reinstatement can sometimes make things worse, especially at too high a dose, and stopping the reinstatement is not always an instant cure. It is a really good sign that you have better days though, your nervous system is clearly working towards stability.

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

Can these new symptoms that were caused by high reinstatement to be treated with much lower reinstatement? Do people improve after an adverse reaction to reinstatement? i don't know what to expect.

Could this make things even worse? I have been several months since my tapering off. Would it still be safe?

Thank you both very much.

@Chippy is much more experienced than me, so I would listen to him when he says that reinstatement may not be a good idea for you. Even a very low dose reinstatement does run the risk of making things even worse, and the risk is higher given that you've already reacted badly to a past RI.

Again, I'm sorry things are really hard for you right now but you WILL get through this with time and patience. You may want to check out some of our resources on coping skills like acceptance: Acceptance is key - Why does acceptance feel impossible?

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

I also visited a new psychiatrist. He suggested new SSRI/SNRI, trazodone for sleeping, and benzoos. I told him about my reaction and he told me that's because adverse effects appear at low doses.... I didn't take anything, and won't see him again.

Wow. Every time I think I've heard the craziest thing a psychiatrist can come up with, it turns out I'm wrong!! I'm glad you didn't take anything. All these doctors will offer you is more pills, and that isn't the answer.

Hey @Lukas92 I am sorry to read the RI made things worse and that being on the lower dose did not help. It may have been if you hung there for a bit things would have settled but it maybe that RI in general isn't a good idea for you.

RI just responds to the brains call for a drug it has become dependent on. It doesnt treat anything and cant treat RI injury unfortunately.

That doesnt mean RI wouldn't help, but I would be very concerned it would make you worse looking at what we know about how you were back on the drug.

Yes everyone heals, even from additional harm from RI! You are having better days, this is very good news so soon after stopping again. All proof that your nervous system is working very hard for you to sort all this out. :)

Time is our friend and coping skills help so much with dealing with the worst of the days. We all understand and are here for you.

Thank you Chippy and Sarah. I really appreciate your guidance.

For the past 2 weeks, i feel terrible. My anxiety and depression is not good. There have been hours during the day when i felt good, but most of the time it’s tough. i also have this strange feelings like i feel good for few seconds, but then the anxiety and depression come back. This could go on for hours. Like a roller coaster.

Since the reinstatement my system is activated?

My sleep is still not good because there is like this weird tension/ electric feeling in my head that wakes me up when i am falling asleep( more intense early the morning)plus sudden rush that goes trough my body. Have you heard of this symptom?

Regarding reinstatement: i thought i was getting better, but i don’t know now.

Since feburary 2026 i was taking 2,5mg of citalopram approximately every week until beginning of april. Do you think that it’s too late to start reinstatement now please? Can my nervous system be kindled? It’s really tough decision. It’s like gambling with my life.

Edited September 21Sep 21 by Lukas92

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

Thank you Chippy and Sarah. I really appreciate your guidance.

Our pleasure

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

For the past 2 weeks, i feel terrible. My anxiety and depression is not good. There have been hours during the day when i felt good, but most of the time it’s tough. i also have this strange feelings like i feel good for few seconds, but then the anxiety and depression come back. This could go on for hours. Like a roller coaster.

I am sorry to read. Sounds like windows and waves to me, and this is a very good sign. The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

Since the reinstatement my system is activated?

Sounds like a yes and no. Anxiety is a a typical activated neuroemotion where as Depressed is the the other side of the spectrum. I rollercoastered between the two after my cold turkey (not advised!) for around 8 months before it settled down. Being a human, and dealing with emotions in WD

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

My sleep is still not good because there is like this weird tension/ electric feeling in my head that wakes me up when i am falling asleep( more intense early the morning)plus sudden rush that goes trough my body. Have you heard of this symptom?

Sleep issues in WD are very very common and can be one of the last things to settle down. Sleep in WD

What you described here is brain zaps. Many of us have experienced them. I have even had brain crackles which would happen when I wake for the bathroom and am back in bed and getting back to sleep. They have settled for me now.

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

Regarding reinstatement: i thought i was getting better, but i don’t know now.

Do you mean you think you are improving now you are off? The waves and windows you describe above suggest things are fluctuating which is good. Unfortunately improving isn't linear, and we often talk about how you can be better but still suffering so it is hard to tell things are better.

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

Since feburary 2026 i was taking 2,5mg of citalopram approximately every week until beginning of april. Do you think that it’s too late to start reinstatement now please? Can my nervous system be kindled? It’s really tough decision. It’s like gambling with my life.

The longer you leave it the more risky it is to RI. You have tried RI a fairly low dose and it made things worse. On this basis I would not RI personally.

Reinstating an Antidepressant

I mean, it’s feeling like it’s worsening. I woke up to a night terror at midnight, i eventually calmed downed by breathing slowly, but night was difficult. I am trying to figure out if i am doing something that might worsen my condition. i was doing too much( gym and running) during my window 2 weeks ago and now i am being punished? Should i stop all the activities? The past three days i felt better in the afternoon.

I’ve read stories when people are still suffering after years. i can’t imagine to endure this.

When i was on citalopram/escitalopram last year it wasn’t as effective as it was in the past.

When i reinstated 2.5 citalopram i quit taking l-tryptofan few days before( not much-around 300 mg) .

I know that it’s recommended here to take the same drug, but couldn’t microdose of another SSRI help? Or if i go with reinstatement, i should go with 0.1 mg of citalopram or escitalopram?

I remember that during my failed reinstatement, i had 2-3 hours in the afternoon on 4th day when i felt very good. Like almost all the symptomps disapeared. but it was also unbereable outside that window. I quit on 8th day, because i developed muscle twiches, brain zaps and parestezia. But the things didn’t go back to normal after i stopped. Maybe if i reinstated smaller dose, my body could take it.

I have citalopram(seropram) drops 40 mg/ ml. If go with reinstatement, how should i do it please? I haven’t decided yet, as i am ofc scared, that if things go badly that’s it for me.

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

I mean, it’s feeling like it’s worsening.

Waves have a habit of feeling like this.

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

I am trying to figure out if i am doing something that might worsen my condition. i was doing too much( gym and running) during my window 2 weeks ago and now i am being punished? Should i stop all the activities? The past three days i felt better in the afternoon.

It could be you over did it, it's more likley this would have happened anyways. We all spend a lot of time looking for patterns etc. I now tend to find a balance of healthy and not too much and stick to that regardless. It is very good you feel better in the afternoons and very common too.

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

I’ve read stories when people are still suffering after years. i can’t imagine to endure this.

In WD it is best to not look to the future or worry about the past. It teaches us to take it one day at a time. Stressing about what may or may not happen achieves nothing but more suffering. You are stronger than you know.

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

When i was on citalopram/escitalopram last year it wasn’t as effective as it was in the past.

No you built up tolerance, this happens with all drugs that are taken over time.

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

know that it’s recommended here to take the same drug, but couldn’t microdose of another SSRI help? Or if i go with reinstatement, i should go with 0.1 mg of citalopram or escitalopram?

The only thing we suggest ever is a low dose of the original drug. You have a bit of a complex history as you switched between the two drugs, which isn't advised as well as every other day dosing. When you RI before the dose was clearly too much for your nervous system. Reducing to 0.6mg did things ease at all?

1 hour ago, Lukas92 said:

I have citalopram(seropram) drops 40 mg/ ml. If go with reinstatement, how should i do it please? I haven’t decided yet, as i am ofc scared, that if things go badly that’s it for me.

We have no way to know if RI is the right thing for you. The choice is yours of course. If you choose to RI you would need some needless syringes. Perhaps 1ml and 20ml syringe of the same brand.

Make up a solutions like this which is 1:2 ratio or 0.5mg/mL:

0.5ml of your liquid drug

39.5ml of water

Shake/mix the solutions well

Draw up 0.2ml of the solution, you will be taking 0.1mg of drug

Dispose of the rest.

Take it everyday at the same time.

It's unlikely this dose would help IMO and you would need to increase over time, but if you wanted to try it would be a way to check carefully for a reaction to the drug. If you try and don't notice an obvious severe worsening then hold the dose for 7-10 days and re-assess.

Thank you! very helpful. It was slightly better when i decreased to 0.6 mg. I also have shortness of breath over the past couple of days and see a little blurry when looking the screens.

Edited September 23Sep 23 by Lukas92

could my interminent dosing potentially influence my future reinstatement in negative way?

Edited September 23Sep 23 by Lukas92

12 hours ago, Lukas92 said:

Thank you! very helpful. It was slightly better when i decreased to 0.6 mg. I also have shortness of breath over the past couple of days and see a little blurry when looking the screens.

Pleasure, how would you rate your WD at the moment out of 10? 1 being mild 10 being severe? Sounds like the RI was too high and the lower dose better. We can't tell if staying at that dose would have settled you, no way to know, but a useful observation.

12 hours ago, Lukas92 said:

could my interminent dosing potentially influence my future reinstatement in negative way?

It's all part of the situation. The brain likes consistency, same dose each day. Changes of any sorts can be destablising. Mainly don't give it a second thought though, what is done is done, you need to choose what you think you should do next and then just trust your body. Past is the past.

56 minutes ago, Chippy said:

Pleasure, how would you rate your WD at the moment out of 10? 1 being mild 10 being severe? Sounds like the RI was too high and the lower dose better. We can't tell if staying at that dose would have settled you, no way to know, but a useful observation.

I would say 5-6.

I now remember that the good window was also on 5th day in the afternoon. Very strange, everything was good all of sudden.

Can it make feel worse in the beginning?

7 minutes ago, Lukas92 said:

I would say 5-6.

I now remember that the good window was also on 5th day in the afternoon. Very strange, everything was good all of sudden.

Can it make feel worse in the beginning?

You had a window, this is great sign. Apart from the 1 day window has the symptoms improved at all? Always been about this level?

sorry. i meant the symptoms improved in the afternoon on the 5th of reinstatement( lasted until the evening and i felt good, i could feel it's because of AD, i know that feeling)but the next day agony returned in the morning.

Do you mean whether the symptoms that i have now improved? Compared with symptoms when? after reinstatement?

i also read a thread from Altrostata about microdosing of lamotrigin. What's your thoughts on that please?

2 hours ago, Lukas92 said:

i also read a thread from Altrostata about microdosing of lamotrigin. What's your thoughts on that please?

We never recommend using new drugs to treat the symptoms of withdrawal. This is incredibly, incredibly risky -- once your nervous system is hypersensitized it's impossible to predict how your body will react to a new drug, and in many cases they make people worse. The only healer is time.

3 hours ago, Lukas92 said:

sorry. i meant the symptoms improved in the afternoon on the 5th of reinstatement( lasted until the evening and i felt good, i could feel it's because of AD, i know that feeling)but the next day agony returned in the morning.

Got you.

3 hours ago, Lukas92 said:

Do you mean whether the symptoms that i have now improved? Compared with symptoms when? after reinstatement?

I mean you have 5/6 out of 10 now. Since you stopped talking he drug completely has it always been this way?

3 hours ago, Lukas92 said:

also read a thread from Altrostata about microdosing of lamotrigin. What's your thoughts on that please?

Sarah has covered this nicely

thanks! So no lamotrigin then.

It was 3 before reinstatement( there are some discrepancies in my intial post, i had it bad like for 1-2 weeks. Sorry when i was writing it i was a mess and let AI do the spell- checking) .

Then it got much worse after reinstatement. I felt so sick few days. Since then it is fluctuating. I had days when my mood has lifted and felt good given circumstances. My physical symptoms remain more or less stable.

The last 2 weeks were bad. There was relief only few hours( if). last 4 days it was tough in the morning, then it got better in the afternoon and continued until the next morning.

What also worries is my sleep: i have pressure in my head that get stronger when i am falling asleep. Along with brain zaps( i don’t even know how to describe it), weird popping, sensations( it feels my brain is damaged). I wish i would know how to stop it.

I wonder if my failed reinstatement could have caused 2nd withdrawal and i am now dealing with 2.

I'd argue you that its mainly more one withdrawal since Citalopram is more or less a sister, weaker version of Escitalopram.

There's really nothing more to it than time and allowing the body to get it's **** back together. It really can do this. The waves are extremely discouraging but windows do happen. Celebrate the times it got better, even if just a little bit.

16 hours ago, Lukas92 said:

thanks! So no lamotrigin then.

It was 3 before reinstatement( there are some discrepancies in my intial post, i had it bad like for 1-2 weeks. Sorry when i was writing it i was a mess and let AI do the spell- checking) .

Then it got much worse after reinstatement. I felt so sick few days. Since then it is fluctuating. I had days when my mood has lifted and felt good given circumstances. My physical symptoms remain more or less stable.

The last 2 weeks were bad. There was relief only few hours( if). last 4 days it was tough in the morning, then it got better in the afternoon and continued until the next morning.

What also worries is my sleep: i have pressure in my head that get stronger when i am falling asleep. Along with brain zaps( i don’t even know how to describe it), weird popping, sensations( it feels my brain is damaged). I wish i would know how to stop it.

I wonder if my failed reinstatement could have caused 2nd withdrawal and i am now dealing with 2.

It is good that things have been better at times, feeling better in the evenings is very common, these are windows are good signs. Unfortunately waves come along and they can be worse than before, it doesn't mean you are worse, just that you feel worse. We believe they are signs of healing and adaptation.

It is hard to know what has caused what in WD. Overall we just have to accept the harm, make what little choices we can, then trust the body to put everything right for us.

Head pressure & Brain Zaps are common, I have had both, they are tied in with sleep somehow. We don't understand how. As will all WD symptoms accept, stay calm, trust, one day at a time.

As things are fluctuating and that your symptoms are moderate, personally I wouldn't RI but these are just my thoughts.

We all understand and are here for you.