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Four key Withdrawal Symptoms Explained -Anders Sorensen

LostinCanada
LostinCanada
in In the Media

Featured Replies

Great article found by @Golden

No image preview

Four key withdrawal symptoms explained: Anxiety, depressi...

We talk a lot about what psychiatric drug withdrawal looks like.

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 1

    Hello @LostinCanada @Golden , thank you for pulling up this article. I just listened to it, and it is truly excellent. I would encourage people to take some time to read Crossing Zero (if you’re in a state where you can function enough to do so).

    Started 10mg Lexapro 12/16. Dr cold turkey 12/20. Reinstated 20mg 10/21, started trazadone 100mg 11/21 and klonopin 1mg 11/21.

    Completed trazadone taper 8/22

    Completed klonopin taper 10/22

    Currently tapering from 20mg Lexapro.

    •
    • Like 2
    12 minutes ago, Saturn468 said:

    I would encourage people to take some time to read Crossing Zero (if you’re in a state where you can function enough to do so).

    I agree. 😊

    2025 / Current:

    Bupropion (Wellbutrin) (at least since Jan. 2019) 150 mg -> 131.5 mg on 4-22 -> 112.5 mg on 5-26 -> 93.75 mg on 6-21 -> 87.5 mg on 8-7 -> 77.5mg on 9-1 -> 69 mg on 10-15 -> 61 mg 11-12 -> 60 mg 11-28 -> 54 mg on 12-13-25 -> 53 mg on 4-8-26. HOLD

    Escitalopram (Lexapro) 20 mg (consistently since July 2018) -

    Gabapentin 100 mg once daily (since June 2014?) -> 90 mg on Oct 10, 2026

    Clonazepam As of Jan. 2019 1.5 mg daily in 3 divided doses as needed. Decreased as I didn’t need as much. March 2025: 1/8 of 0.5 mg tablet (0.0625 mg), 2-3 x daily (0.125 mg - 0.1875 mg daily). -> 2 x daily (0.125 mg daily), -> 1/8 morning0.0625 mg & 1/16 tablet evening (approx. 0.094 mg daily ) March 2026.

    Cross over to liquid 0.125 ODT evening dose 0.028125 mg Apr 18; morning dose 0.04375 mg Apr 25, -> 0.040625 mg Apr 26, -> 0.034375 mg May 1, -> 0.028125 mg twice daily (0.05625 mg daily) May 4, -> 0.053125 May 13, -> 0.050 mg May 14, -> 0.04375 mg May 16, -> 0.040625 mg May 19, -> 0.0356 mg 6/2, -> 0.03125 mg June 8, -> 0.0275 mg June 14. -> 0.025 June 16, -> 0.0187 mg June 21, -> 0.0125 mg July 7, -> 0.006 mg July 14.

    July 21, 2026 ZERO!

    Compounded Bio-Identical HRT: Cream Bi-Est 0.5, Progesterone 150 mg/ML (0.5ML)

    Compounded Bio-Identical HRT: Capsule 150 mg each evening 

    Metoprolol ER Succinate -> 1/2 of 25 mg tablet 1 x daily on 5/31/25 -> 1/4 tablet on 1-09-2026 -> 1/2 of 25 mg tablet on 2-19. Switched to

    Atenolol 4 mg March 4,2026 -> 3 mg Mar.26 -> 2 mg April 18 -> 1 mg May 1, -> zero May 11, 2026.

    Supplements:Calcium,D3,K2,Magnesium,Omega3,B-Complex,Biotin,Quercetin,Zinc,C

    My profile at Surviving Antidepressants is:

    https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/32343-golden-introduction/

    “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

    4 hours ago, LostinCanada said:

    Great article found by @Golden

    No image preview

    Four key withdrawal symptoms explained: Anxiety, depressi...

    We talk a lot about what psychiatric drug withdrawal looks like.

    @LostinCanada are you able to send a link for The Antidepressant Story. I saw it the other day, but now can’t find it. Tx

    Link to SA Profile: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/32414-catbird-introduction-a-long-and-winding-road/

    1996 Commenced on Sertraline 50 - 100mg. Many ADs trialled -Fluoxetine 20 mg, Paroxetine 20mg, Venlafaxine 75mg, Escitalopram 10 - 20mg, Vortioxetine 20mg, Bupropion 150mg.  2019 Recommenced Escitalopram 2022 Mirtazapine 30mg - Rapid taper. Amitriptyline 20mg

    CURRENT MEDICATIONS: Escitalopram taper from ~ 10mg commenced 2024, Amitriptyline 20mg at night, Diazepam 7.5mg total per day, Baclofen 10mg morning, 10mg lunch and 20mg night, Polaramine 2mg at night, Ketamine troche 25mg per day (Ceased early September 2025), Valsartan 160mg evening, HRT (Oestrogen 25mcg/day) 

    ESCITALOPRAM TAPER: 5 April 2025 - started holding at 1.516mg. Escitalopram taper resumed July 2025; End Aug 1.364; End Sept 1.228; End Oct 1.145; End Nov 1.1 Early Dec 1.11; End Dec 1.082; 2026 End Jan 1.047; Feb 6 1.030; Feb 20 1.014; April 10 1.012; May 3 1.014; May 11 1.020 & still holding; Sept 19 1.014; Oct 4 1.006; Oct 8 1.010

    Supplements: Mg++ glycinate, Omega 3s, Curcumin. Vit D3/K2 spray, Vitamin B12 spray, chelated zinc.

    •
    • Like 1

    Very interesting read but it seems to apply to people who are still tapering their meds. What about the many people who have been off the meds for many months? Does it still apply to them? It's so incredibly unfortunate and frustrating that we still know so little about the mechanics and specifics of protracted withdrawal syndrome or whatever it is that we experience after coming off.

    2023-06: started trazodone, 50 mg

    2023-10: lowered dose to 25 mg

    2023-11: 0 mg

     

    2023-07-04: started paroxetine, 20 mg

    2023-07-30: increased dose to 30 mg

    2023-08-26: lowered dose to 20 mg

    2024-03-21: lowered dose to 10 mg

    2024-07-10: lowered dose to 5 mg

    2024-07-26: 0 mg

     

    2024-08-14: reinstated on another AD, this time 10 mg of escitalopram

    2024-11-24: lowered dose to 7.5 mg

    2025-01-15: lowered dose to 5 mg

    2025-03-01: lowered dose to 3.75 mg (with pill cutter)

    2025-03-26: lowered dose to 2.5 mg (with pill cutter)

    2025-04-23: lowered dose to 1.25 mg (with pill cutter)

    2025-05-24: 0 mg

     

    Started Rosuvastatin in October 2024 due to high cholesterol.

    On a break from this med from April 2026 until July 2026.

    Started taking Rosuvastatin again at the end of July 2026.

     

    Current supplements: None at the moment

    • Author
    12 hours ago, Niels91 said:

    Very interesting read but it seems to apply to people who are still tapering their meds. What about the many people who have been off the meds for many months? Does it still apply to them? It's so incredibly unfortunate and frustrating that we still know so little about the mechanics and specifics of protracted withdrawal syndrome or whatever it is that we experience after coming off.

    Whether the reaction is from a lowered dose or complete removal of the drug, the information presented holds true.

    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 2

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