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Steve1: Escitalopram nightmare - please help

Steve1
Steve1
in Introductions & Ongoing Recoveries

Featured Replies

  • Author

Thanks @SarahMc I feel completly failed by my Drs

2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    •
    • Hugs 1
    • Replies 321
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    • Bernadette
      Bernadette

      Hi @Steve1 a just read through your thread and from what I have read you say you went from 10mg to 5mg of escitalopram. So back when I was tappering citalopram which is the older of the two , escital

    • j1290
      j1290

      I have a thread in the success stories that I think tells the tale. Long story short, I'd been on Bupropion(wellbutrin) for 20 years, and I later read that if you're on a med for that long and begin

    • LostinCanada
      LostinCanada

      Hi @Steve1 I had a quick read of your thread. I suggest that you reread it as well. I really heard you saying escitalopram never has been good from the start. IMO you would not want to increase due to

    • Author

    Today has been the worse day yet. Feel a bit paralysed and not been able to do much.

    2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

    April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

    Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

    Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

    Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    •
    • Hugs 2
    1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

    Thanks @SarahMc I feel completly failed by my Drs

    I know bud, I think we all do on here

    45 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

    Today has been the worse day yet. Feel a bit paralysed and not been able to do much.

    I'm sorry. We're here 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/day

    Seroquel - 12.5 mg/day

    *holding to stabilize as of Apr 2026

     

    History:

    Seroquel - up to 50 mg as needed for sleep (generally 6.25-12.5 mg a few times a week, though sometimes more) - 2009 (ish) to present

    Cymbalta - 60 mg/day, periodically down to 30 mg/day - May 2014 to May 2025

    Clonazepam - up to 1 mg/day as needed - March to May 2025, quick taper off

    Zoloft - 150 mg/day - May 2025 to Aug 2025 (quick cross-taper from Cymbalta)

    Pristiq - 50 mg/day from Aug 2025 to mid-Oct 2025 (quick cross-taper from Zoloft); 100 mg/day from Oct 2025 to Dec 2025; back down to 50 mg/day from Dec 2025 to Jan 2026

    Lyrica - 200 mg/day - Nov 2025 to Jan 2026 (quick taper off from mid-Jan to early Feb 2026 due to severe depressive symptoms)

    Cymbalta - 60 mg/day - Jan - March 2026; up to 90 mg/day from March to present

     

    •
    • Love 1
    1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

    feel completly failed by my Drs

    It is very traumatic when the medical community is supposed to be there for us, helping us....such a breach of trust.

    We have each other and that is huge...no gas lighting here. ❤️🙏

    I am not a medical professional. My comments are based on my personal experience and information on SA.

     

    Paroxetine-2002 onward-20mg/ Citalopram-2007-20 mg-straight switch from paroxetine-back to paroxetine after a month/ Sertraline -25 mg-Dec 2016- given for a month instead of paroxetine (doctor mistake) Oxazepam -10 mg-2016-twice weekly for a couple months for sleep/ Zopiclone -3.75-7.5mg-2020-2022-once a week for sleep/Paroxetine -20 yr+/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ Prozac-10mg August 24-29 2022/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.11.28-2022.12.04/10mg-Dec 5&6/22/ Prozac-10mg-Dec 8&9/22/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01

     

    TAPER-Paroxetine-2023-Jul 2-4.9mg/ Jul 21-4.8mg/Jul 28-4.73mg/Aug 4-4.65mg /Sep 21-4.58 mg/Oct 27-4.56 mg/Dec 5-4.54 mg/2024-Jan 2-4.52 mg/Jan 9-4.51 mg/Jan 17-4.49 mg/Jan 26-4.47mg/Feb 6-4.46mg/Feb 19-4.44mg /Apr 4-4.43mg/Apr 28-4.4 mg/May 5-4.39 mg/May 19-4.36 mg/Jul 2-4.34 mg/Jul 9-4.32mg/Jul 31-4.3 mg/Oct 1-4.29mg/Nov 27-4.25 mg/Dec 5-4.22mg/2025-Jan 5-4.17mg/Feb 2-4.1mg/Mar 7-4.07mg/Apr 23-4.04mg/May 23-4mg/Jun 22-3.99mg/Jun 30-3.95mg/Jul 18-3.92mg/Sep 25-3.9mg/2026-Mar 25-3.85mg/Sep 18-3.8mg

     

    9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/75 mg DGL if needed for reflux/150 mg calcium citrate/algae oil for omega 3/ginger as needed for nausea/500 mg of Vitamin C for cortisol

     

    "... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

    •
    • Love 3
    18 hours ago, Steve1 said:

    Yeh my gut is saying majority of symptons is withdrawal now, with maybe some residual activation

    Thats good listen to it

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I only offer my thoughts as support. Please speak to your health practitioner about your care. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 

     

    If you are from the UK please make sure you fill in a 'Yellow Card' report for the MHRA. It is you doing your bit to help make a difference.

    Please take the time to do it today 🙂 https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

    For US members details here.

    •
    • Like 1
    16 hours ago, Steve1 said:

    Thanks @SarahMc I feel completly failed by my Drs

    We all can relate Steve.

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I only offer my thoughts as support. Please speak to your health practitioner about your care. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 

     

    If you are from the UK please make sure you fill in a 'Yellow Card' report for the MHRA. It is you doing your bit to help make a difference.

    Please take the time to do it today 🙂 https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

    For US members details here.

    Oops!

    Sorry - thought I was posting on my own thread

    I deleted

    I hope you’re okay 🌞

    Edited by Finni

    For US members: Please report med to FDA Med Watch

    2017 (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 Valium

    2024 (May) - Valium Tolerance

    2024 (2 Nov) - Completed taper off Valium 

    2024 (2 Nov) - Mirtazapine increased to 15 mg

    2025 (Feb) - Ativan 0.25 mg (3 x Daily) - Became Paradoxical - Started weaning got to 0.11mg

    2025 (Mar) - Ativan 0mg - CT In detox

    2025 (April) Started Depakote 1500mg - In detox

    2025 (April) - Depakote 500mg (2 x Daily) once home

    2025 (Aug) - Completed taper off Depakote

    2025 (Aug) - Akathisia surges throughout the day with calming in between

    2025 (Sept) - Gabapentin (Micro Dose) - Was calming at first and then became paradoxical so stop

    2025 (Oct) - Depakote - RI – (Two days of small dose) Became scared and stopped with WD & aka

    2025 (Oct) - Seroquel 50 mg XR – 1 Week - more and more activating and increased aka

    2025 (Oct) - Psychiatrist told me to stop it. But I took a few days of a smaller dose of IR then stopped - Not activating

    2025 (Nov) - Hydroxyzine 2.5mg - it was paradoxical so stopped

    2025 (1 Dec) - Mirtazapine 22.5mg - (2 Days) Was incredibly overstimulating started reducing to previous

    2025 (3 Dec) - Mirtazapine 18.75mg

    2025 (10 Dec) - Mirtazapine 16.87mg

    2025 (22 Dec) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (23Jan) - Mirtazapine 14.7mg

    2026 (23 Jan) - Mirtazapine 1mg Panic dose

    2026 (24 Jan) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (25 Feb) – Mirtazapine 14.7mg (-2%)

    2026 (18 Mar) - propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (21 Mar)- Mirtazapine- 15 mg accidentally in sleepy state

    2026 (22 Mar) - Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (more accurate scales) 

    2026 (29 April) Mirtazapine 14.7 mg/.1020 g (on suggestion of Horowitz) immediate intense symptoms

    2026 (30 April) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (.1026 g)

    2026 (23 May) propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (01 June) Mirtazapine 14.79 mgdose was 5 hours late

    2026 (22 July) Mirtazapine 14.76 mg

    Intense electric activation, muscle tightness, autonomic surges, terror followed

    2026 (23 July) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg return

    2026 (Oct 5) attempted moving 2 mg of dose 45 minutes earlier

    Severe activation followed

     

     

    •
    • Love 1
    • Author

    Had a slightly better day (not good, but better) yesterday, but today is bad again. Feels like there is no escape

    2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

    April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

    Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

    Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

    Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    •
    • Hugs 2
    1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

    Had a slightly better day (not good, but better) yesterday, but today is bad again. Feels like there is no escape

    The better day is a good sign ❤️

    For US members: Please report med to FDA Med Watch

    2017 (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 Valium

    2024 (May) - Valium Tolerance

    2024 (2 Nov) - Completed taper off Valium 

    2024 (2 Nov) - Mirtazapine increased to 15 mg

    2025 (Feb) - Ativan 0.25 mg (3 x Daily) - Became Paradoxical - Started weaning got to 0.11mg

    2025 (Mar) - Ativan 0mg - CT In detox

    2025 (April) Started Depakote 1500mg - In detox

    2025 (April) - Depakote 500mg (2 x Daily) once home

    2025 (Aug) - Completed taper off Depakote

    2025 (Aug) - Akathisia surges throughout the day with calming in between

    2025 (Sept) - Gabapentin (Micro Dose) - Was calming at first and then became paradoxical so stop

    2025 (Oct) - Depakote - RI – (Two days of small dose) Became scared and stopped with WD & aka

    2025 (Oct) - Seroquel 50 mg XR – 1 Week - more and more activating and increased aka

    2025 (Oct) - Psychiatrist told me to stop it. But I took a few days of a smaller dose of IR then stopped - Not activating

    2025 (Nov) - Hydroxyzine 2.5mg - it was paradoxical so stopped

    2025 (1 Dec) - Mirtazapine 22.5mg - (2 Days) Was incredibly overstimulating started reducing to previous

    2025 (3 Dec) - Mirtazapine 18.75mg

    2025 (10 Dec) - Mirtazapine 16.87mg

    2025 (22 Dec) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (23Jan) - Mirtazapine 14.7mg

    2026 (23 Jan) - Mirtazapine 1mg Panic dose

    2026 (24 Jan) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (25 Feb) – Mirtazapine 14.7mg (-2%)

    2026 (18 Mar) - propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (21 Mar)- Mirtazapine- 15 mg accidentally in sleepy state

    2026 (22 Mar) - Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (more accurate scales) 

    2026 (29 April) Mirtazapine 14.7 mg/.1020 g (on suggestion of Horowitz) immediate intense symptoms

    2026 (30 April) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (.1026 g)

    2026 (23 May) propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (01 June) Mirtazapine 14.79 mgdose was 5 hours late

    2026 (22 July) Mirtazapine 14.76 mg

    Intense electric activation, muscle tightness, autonomic surges, terror followed

    2026 (23 July) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg return

    2026 (Oct 5) attempted moving 2 mg of dose 45 minutes earlier

    Severe activation followed

     

     

    •
    • Love 1
    • Author

    Feel dreadful again today...now nearly 8 weeks on 5mg. Was only on 10mg for 9 weeks.

    2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

    April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

    Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

    Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

    Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    •
    • Hugs 2
    4 hours ago, Steve1 said:

    Feel dreadful again today...now nearly 8 weeks on 5mg. Was only on 10mg for 9 weeks.

    Sorry to hear @Steve1. Please remember that you were not on 10 mg of lexapro in a vacuum. This is likely an accumulation of harm starting from when you initially swapped from lexapro to zoloft, and then rapidly tapered the zoloft. Healing will require lots of patience but you've got this.

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I am new to this journey and my thoughts are based only on my personal experience with psychiatric drugs. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 

    Current regimen:

    Cymbalta - 90 mg/day

    Seroquel - 12.5 mg/day

    *holding to stabilize as of Apr 2026

     

    History:

    Seroquel - up to 50 mg as needed for sleep (generally 6.25-12.5 mg a few times a week, though sometimes more) - 2009 (ish) to present

    Cymbalta - 60 mg/day, periodically down to 30 mg/day - May 2014 to May 2025

    Clonazepam - up to 1 mg/day as needed - March to May 2025, quick taper off

    Zoloft - 150 mg/day - May 2025 to Aug 2025 (quick cross-taper from Cymbalta)

    Pristiq - 50 mg/day from Aug 2025 to mid-Oct 2025 (quick cross-taper from Zoloft); 100 mg/day from Oct 2025 to Dec 2025; back down to 50 mg/day from Dec 2025 to Jan 2026

    Lyrica - 200 mg/day - Nov 2025 to Jan 2026 (quick taper off from mid-Jan to early Feb 2026 due to severe depressive symptoms)

    Cymbalta - 60 mg/day - Jan - March 2026; up to 90 mg/day from March to present

     

    •
    • Love 2
    On 10/2/2026 at 2:00 PM, Steve1 said:

    Had a slightly better day (not good, but better) yesterday,

    Very good sign mate

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I only offer my thoughts as support. Please speak to your health practitioner about your care. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 

     

    If you are from the UK please make sure you fill in a 'Yellow Card' report for the MHRA. It is you doing your bit to help make a difference.

    Please take the time to do it today 🙂 https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

    For US members details here.

    • Author

    I'm seriously considering a dose change tomorrow. Now 8 weeks at 5mg and things seem to be getting worse not better.

    2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

    April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

    Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

    Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

    Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    50 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

    I'm seriously considering a dose change tomorrow. Now 8 weeks at 5mg and things seem to be getting worse not better.

    I'm sorry Steve. It can take a very long time to stabilize in some cases unfortunately.

    Obviously it's up to you whether you try to change your dose, but I would proceed very very cautiously. Are you thinking of up-dosing?

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I am new to this journey and my thoughts are based only on my personal experience with psychiatric drugs. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 

    Current regimen:

    Cymbalta - 90 mg/day

    Seroquel - 12.5 mg/day

    *holding to stabilize as of Apr 2026

     

    History:

    Seroquel - up to 50 mg as needed for sleep (generally 6.25-12.5 mg a few times a week, though sometimes more) - 2009 (ish) to present

    Cymbalta - 60 mg/day, periodically down to 30 mg/day - May 2014 to May 2025

    Clonazepam - up to 1 mg/day as needed - March to May 2025, quick taper off

    Zoloft - 150 mg/day - May 2025 to Aug 2025 (quick cross-taper from Cymbalta)

    Pristiq - 50 mg/day from Aug 2025 to mid-Oct 2025 (quick cross-taper from Zoloft); 100 mg/day from Oct 2025 to Dec 2025; back down to 50 mg/day from Dec 2025 to Jan 2026

    Lyrica - 200 mg/day - Nov 2025 to Jan 2026 (quick taper off from mid-Jan to early Feb 2026 due to severe depressive symptoms)

    Cymbalta - 60 mg/day - Jan - March 2026; up to 90 mg/day from March to present

     

    1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

    I'm seriously considering a dose change tomorrow. Now 8 weeks at 5mg and things seem to be getting worse not better.

    Hi Steve1

    Do you have a reliable, accurate method for measuring your tablets?

    For US members: Please report med to FDA Med Watch

    2017 (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 Valium

    2024 (May) - Valium Tolerance

    2024 (2 Nov) - Completed taper off Valium 

    2024 (2 Nov) - Mirtazapine increased to 15 mg

    2025 (Feb) - Ativan 0.25 mg (3 x Daily) - Became Paradoxical - Started weaning got to 0.11mg

    2025 (Mar) - Ativan 0mg - CT In detox

    2025 (April) Started Depakote 1500mg - In detox

    2025 (April) - Depakote 500mg (2 x Daily) once home

    2025 (Aug) - Completed taper off Depakote

    2025 (Aug) - Akathisia surges throughout the day with calming in between

    2025 (Sept) - Gabapentin (Micro Dose) - Was calming at first and then became paradoxical so stop

    2025 (Oct) - Depakote - RI – (Two days of small dose) Became scared and stopped with WD & aka

    2025 (Oct) - Seroquel 50 mg XR – 1 Week - more and more activating and increased aka

    2025 (Oct) - Psychiatrist told me to stop it. But I took a few days of a smaller dose of IR then stopped - Not activating

    2025 (Nov) - Hydroxyzine 2.5mg - it was paradoxical so stopped

    2025 (1 Dec) - Mirtazapine 22.5mg - (2 Days) Was incredibly overstimulating started reducing to previous

    2025 (3 Dec) - Mirtazapine 18.75mg

    2025 (10 Dec) - Mirtazapine 16.87mg

    2025 (22 Dec) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (23Jan) - Mirtazapine 14.7mg

    2026 (23 Jan) - Mirtazapine 1mg Panic dose

    2026 (24 Jan) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (25 Feb) – Mirtazapine 14.7mg (-2%)

    2026 (18 Mar) - propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (21 Mar)- Mirtazapine- 15 mg accidentally in sleepy state

    2026 (22 Mar) - Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (more accurate scales) 

    2026 (29 April) Mirtazapine 14.7 mg/.1020 g (on suggestion of Horowitz) immediate intense symptoms

    2026 (30 April) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (.1026 g)

    2026 (23 May) propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (01 June) Mirtazapine 14.79 mgdose was 5 hours late

    2026 (22 July) Mirtazapine 14.76 mg

    Intense electric activation, muscle tightness, autonomic surges, terror followed

    2026 (23 July) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg return

    2026 (Oct 5) attempted moving 2 mg of dose 45 minutes earlier

    Severe activation followed

     

     

    • Author

    Hi @Finni yes I have a jewellery scale.

    @SarahMc do you think it would be wise to hold for longer?

    2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

    April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

    Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

    Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

    Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    •
    • Like 1
    16 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

    do you think it would be wise to hold for longer?

    Are you thinking of updosing? Have you concluded you are no longer being activated but that this is withdrawal?

    If you choose to increase or decrease, do so by no more than 10% maximum. I always lean toward caution like a difference between 0.1 mg.

    I am not a medical professional. My comments are based on my personal experience and information on SA.

     

    Paroxetine-2002 onward-20mg/ Citalopram-2007-20 mg-straight switch from paroxetine-back to paroxetine after a month/ Sertraline -25 mg-Dec 2016- given for a month instead of paroxetine (doctor mistake) Oxazepam -10 mg-2016-twice weekly for a couple months for sleep/ Zopiclone -3.75-7.5mg-2020-2022-once a week for sleep/Paroxetine -20 yr+/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ Prozac-10mg August 24-29 2022/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.11.28-2022.12.04/10mg-Dec 5&6/22/ Prozac-10mg-Dec 8&9/22/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01

     

    TAPER-Paroxetine-2023-Jul 2-4.9mg/ Jul 21-4.8mg/Jul 28-4.73mg/Aug 4-4.65mg /Sep 21-4.58 mg/Oct 27-4.56 mg/Dec 5-4.54 mg/2024-Jan 2-4.52 mg/Jan 9-4.51 mg/Jan 17-4.49 mg/Jan 26-4.47mg/Feb 6-4.46mg/Feb 19-4.44mg /Apr 4-4.43mg/Apr 28-4.4 mg/May 5-4.39 mg/May 19-4.36 mg/Jul 2-4.34 mg/Jul 9-4.32mg/Jul 31-4.3 mg/Oct 1-4.29mg/Nov 27-4.25 mg/Dec 5-4.22mg/2025-Jan 5-4.17mg/Feb 2-4.1mg/Mar 7-4.07mg/Apr 23-4.04mg/May 23-4mg/Jun 22-3.99mg/Jun 30-3.95mg/Jul 18-3.92mg/Sep 25-3.9mg/2026-Mar 25-3.85mg/Sep 18-3.8mg

     

    9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/75 mg DGL if needed for reflux/150 mg calcium citrate/algae oil for omega 3/ginger as needed for nausea/500 mg of Vitamin C for cortisol

     

    "... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

    • Author

    Hi @LostinCanada I'm still unsure if its providing ongoing activation, but there is definitely lots of withdrawal

    2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

    April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

    Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

    Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

    Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    • Author

    Hi @LostinCanada will 0.1mg actualky make a difference either way?

    2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

    April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

    Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

    Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

    Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    27 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

    Hi @LostinCanada will 0.1mg actualky make a difference either way?

    Yes...if I personally taper that much I can get some hard core WD. Those amounts are not small and escitalopram is twice as powerful as other SSRIs.

    Also, you are still unclear about activation and withdrawal....it will minimize a reaction going small though there still could be one.

    I am not a medical professional. My comments are based on my personal experience and information on SA.

     

    Paroxetine-2002 onward-20mg/ Citalopram-2007-20 mg-straight switch from paroxetine-back to paroxetine after a month/ Sertraline -25 mg-Dec 2016- given for a month instead of paroxetine (doctor mistake) Oxazepam -10 mg-2016-twice weekly for a couple months for sleep/ Zopiclone -3.75-7.5mg-2020-2022-once a week for sleep/Paroxetine -20 yr+/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ Prozac-10mg August 24-29 2022/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.11.28-2022.12.04/10mg-Dec 5&6/22/ Prozac-10mg-Dec 8&9/22/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01

     

    TAPER-Paroxetine-2023-Jul 2-4.9mg/ Jul 21-4.8mg/Jul 28-4.73mg/Aug 4-4.65mg /Sep 21-4.58 mg/Oct 27-4.56 mg/Dec 5-4.54 mg/2024-Jan 2-4.52 mg/Jan 9-4.51 mg/Jan 17-4.49 mg/Jan 26-4.47mg/Feb 6-4.46mg/Feb 19-4.44mg /Apr 4-4.43mg/Apr 28-4.4 mg/May 5-4.39 mg/May 19-4.36 mg/Jul 2-4.34 mg/Jul 9-4.32mg/Jul 31-4.3 mg/Oct 1-4.29mg/Nov 27-4.25 mg/Dec 5-4.22mg/2025-Jan 5-4.17mg/Feb 2-4.1mg/Mar 7-4.07mg/Apr 23-4.04mg/May 23-4mg/Jun 22-3.99mg/Jun 30-3.95mg/Jul 18-3.92mg/Sep 25-3.9mg/2026-Mar 25-3.85mg/Sep 18-3.8mg

     

    9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/75 mg DGL if needed for reflux/150 mg calcium citrate/algae oil for omega 3/ginger as needed for nausea/500 mg of Vitamin C for cortisol

     

    "... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

    •
    • Like 1
    • Author

    So confused what to do....taken 5mg again this morning

    2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

    April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

    Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

    Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

    Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    4 hours ago, Steve1 said:

    So confused what to do....taken 5mg again this morning

    Are you thinking about updosing or reducing?

    I’m glad you held steady while confused

    For US members: Please report med to FDA Med Watch

    2017 (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 Valium

    2024 (May) - Valium Tolerance

    2024 (2 Nov) - Completed taper off Valium 

    2024 (2 Nov) - Mirtazapine increased to 15 mg

    2025 (Feb) - Ativan 0.25 mg (3 x Daily) - Became Paradoxical - Started weaning got to 0.11mg

    2025 (Mar) - Ativan 0mg - CT In detox

    2025 (April) Started Depakote 1500mg - In detox

    2025 (April) - Depakote 500mg (2 x Daily) once home

    2025 (Aug) - Completed taper off Depakote

    2025 (Aug) - Akathisia surges throughout the day with calming in between

    2025 (Sept) - Gabapentin (Micro Dose) - Was calming at first and then became paradoxical so stop

    2025 (Oct) - Depakote - RI – (Two days of small dose) Became scared and stopped with WD & aka

    2025 (Oct) - Seroquel 50 mg XR – 1 Week - more and more activating and increased aka

    2025 (Oct) - Psychiatrist told me to stop it. But I took a few days of a smaller dose of IR then stopped - Not activating

    2025 (Nov) - Hydroxyzine 2.5mg - it was paradoxical so stopped

    2025 (1 Dec) - Mirtazapine 22.5mg - (2 Days) Was incredibly overstimulating started reducing to previous

    2025 (3 Dec) - Mirtazapine 18.75mg

    2025 (10 Dec) - Mirtazapine 16.87mg

    2025 (22 Dec) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (23Jan) - Mirtazapine 14.7mg

    2026 (23 Jan) - Mirtazapine 1mg Panic dose

    2026 (24 Jan) - Mirtazapine 15mg

    2026 (25 Feb) – Mirtazapine 14.7mg (-2%)

    2026 (18 Mar) - propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (21 Mar)- Mirtazapine- 15 mg accidentally in sleepy state

    2026 (22 Mar) - Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (more accurate scales) 

    2026 (29 April) Mirtazapine 14.7 mg/.1020 g (on suggestion of Horowitz) immediate intense symptoms

    2026 (30 April) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg (.1026 g)

    2026 (23 May) propranolol 2.5 mg one time

    2026 (01 June) Mirtazapine 14.79 mgdose was 5 hours late

    2026 (22 July) Mirtazapine 14.76 mg

    Intense electric activation, muscle tightness, autonomic surges, terror followed

    2026 (23 July) Mirtazapine 14.79 mg return

    2026 (Oct 5) attempted moving 2 mg of dose 45 minutes earlier

    Severe activation followed

     

     

    4 hours ago, Steve1 said:

    So confused what to do....taken 5mg again this morning

    you know you just got to keep holding the 5mg, as you can see yourself you are slowly improving.

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I only offer my thoughts as support. Please speak to your health practitioner about your care. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 
    Feel free to mention me whenever help is needed.

     

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

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

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

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

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

    • Author

    Hi @Lighty I don't think I am improving. I think I'm getting worse

    2014- April 2025 Escitalopram 10mg

    April 2025 - straight swap to Sertraline 50mg

    Dec 2025-Jan 2026 - tapered off Sertraline 50mg - 0mg

    Jun 2026 - Escitalopram 10mg 9 weeks

    Aug - Escitalopram 5mg

    33 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

    Hi @Lighty I don't think I am improving. I think I'm getting worse

    From what it seems to me, just windows and waves, could be that the worsening weather is contributing to you feeling worse, it works like that with me.

    Either way 5mg seems like the way to go, as updosing will lead to more activation, and dropping will lead to worse withdrawal.

    Up to you tho ❣️

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I only offer my thoughts as support. Please speak to your health practitioner about your care. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 
    Feel free to mention me whenever help is needed.

     

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

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

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

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

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

    •
    • Like 2

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