Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome: Everything you need to know!
Vložit
- čas přidán 22. 06. 2024
- In today's video, we will discuss the ugly side of antidepressants, Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome.
Intro 00:00
Prevalence 00:29
withdrawal symptoms 01:05
why antidepressant withdrawal symptoms occur 01:45
antidepressants that put you at risk 03:45
prevention of antidepressant withdrawal 06:42
tip to come off venlafaxine or paroxetine 08:04
tip- duration of treatment matters 09:41
tip- uses minimum dose to treat symptoms 10:25
Resources:
Medicating Normal Documentary: amzn.to/450pUd9
Deprescribing Guide: amzn.to/4dZEUMk
Stahl's Prescribing Guide: amzn.to/3UXj8QL
www.switchrx.com/
🎥 This video was edited by:
Rahul Kanchi / rahulkanchi24
🚑 If you are in a mental health crisis please dial 9-8-8 from the U.S. Or text HOME to 741741 and get connected to a crisis counselor.
You can find a list of international crisis lines here: blog.opencounseling.com/suici...
References:
Davies, J., & Read, J. (2019). A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?. Addictive behaviors, 97, 111-121. doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2018...
Henssler, J., Heinz, A., Brandt, L., & Bschor, T. (2019). Antidepressant Withdrawal and Rebound Phenomena. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 116(20), 355-361. doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2019....
Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes only and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice or substitute for diagnosis and treatment of any conditions discussed herein. Furthermore, watching these videos or getting answers to comments/questions, does not establish a provider-patient relationship. Please consult with your own health care provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
AHHHHHH. Who else is feeling absolutely horrible ???
Me! Feeling sleppy and in a kind of pain. Feeling lightheaded. My pills ran out
Nightmares! I did not know that quitting Zoloft could cause it. Well, i now know i can.
Me. I am on week 2 of withdrawl of citalopram..been on it for f**** 10 years :(. The insomnia and fatigue are the worst. My anxiety is bad. But i wanna push through
If you have access to a sauna, definitely take advantage. Making yourself sweat will help pull out all of the toxins from your body. I have been using my infrared sauna 30 to 45 minutes daily, and I can say that it has definitely helped with all of the withdrawal symptoms.
Biggest thing for me right now after stopping antidepressants for Six days is swinging from anger to wanting to cry and feel ok again in under a minute.
Same plus nausea
Did you managed to quit? I know that, for me, the worst part of the withdrawal came after 3 months. Horrible moments :P I didn't quit cold turkey, but even if I lowered slowly, it kick me after 3 months :P
@@mariannelabanane2589 It's been over 3 months now, most of withdrawal symptoms are gone. I only having a little anxiety every now and then.
Same
same, I can't do it anymore. I guess ill just have to start taking them again,
I wish prescribing doctors would discuss withdrawal symptoms and all the issues you can have when coming off the medication BEFORE they prescribe.
No one would take these drugs if they would discuss the withdrawal symptoms. They are aweful.
100% @@LansingLawnServiceLLC
They don’t want you to quit
"try not to be on the medication more than six months to a year" Ha, yeah tell the doctors that. They just put you in and forget about you. 15 years later and I'm finally off this ****.
Same.
I was taking effexor for approximately 5 years. Side effects kept building up and all of a sudden I was having extremely negative and self destructive thoughts.
Hlo bro i need your help
@@ashok0049 Stay hydrated. I have found this has greatly helped with the dizziness and brain zaps.
@ashok0049 And stay away from too much caffeine. It made me feel worse. Find whatever you like to drink like coconut water, power or Gatorade, herbal tea, etc.
I want to listen to this, I really do, but I can’t the music is so distracting why do people make these really good videos smother with pointless music
I'm sorry! I've been trying to make the music less distracting.
Agreed!
Wow. How rude 😒
@@Crazydoglady. No, it’s frustrating. ESPECIALLY if, say, you’re going through med withdrawals and looking for information. Her videos are very helpful and informative-but would be easier to process without the distraction is all. Cheers.
I don’t understand why there is music on teaching videos. I have trouble staying focused anyway 🙃I love this Dr and all of the teachings they are so helpful. Thank You so much for your help and support ✔️💯
as someone who has struggled with addiction and also weaning off effexor... it certainly feels like addiction. dont care what kind of differentiation that drs like to make. I am addicted to my antidepressant.
Big pharma call it discontinuation syndrome they don't want them having same stigma as opiates, barbiturates big pharma corrupt as uck
I’m weaning myself off Effexor too!! I was on 75 for a year or so and then 37.5 for 4 years. I just started taking out 10 beads at a time . I’m going to go slow so hopefully the withdrawals are minimal. How’s your taper going ?? I want off this med!!!!
@@anaksunamoon8618 how are things going with you? I’ve been on it for about two years with 75 mg. Did you notice a difference when you drop Straight to the half dose of that
I'm down to literally 1 effexor bead but now having trouble just stopping that! I've been hearing of using st.johns wort
Ive been tapering off of paroxetine for over two years now. Im at 3.6mg, down from 40mg/day. I was put on this medication at age 10 and stayed on it for decades. Each time i tried to get off, the withdrawals were so intense, the docs' belief that I should stay on the drug was reinforced. They (nor I) knew anything about how intense the withdrawal really is.
At age 30, my dose was doubled from 20mg to 40mg/day and i went manic and suicidal for the first time in my life. It last months and it was terrifying. I engaged in dangerous activities and had bizarre behaviors very unlike myself. This experience sent me on a journey of learning how to get off this drug for good. Meditation, healthy diet, no alcohol, lots of therapy, cold showers, good relationships, etc. Thia stuff has changed my life. Its just a shame that so many people feel stuck on these drugs because of how hard they are to get off. SSRIs should not be used long-term.
I'm so sorry for all the pain and suffering caused by paroxetine. I'm very glad you are taking charge of your health. I agree that SSRI's should never be used long-term. The suffering is unimaginable. I wish you much success in your taper and may your life be filled with peace and happiness once this med journey is completed. You sure deserve a break. Age 10. Ugh.
@@Jannietime1 Thanks so much for your support and encouragement. It's been a tough road but also a journey that's taught me a lot. I joined a support group which has really helped me avoid feeling sorry for myself or getting stuck in victim-mode. Life comes with difficulties but those challenges shape us and cause us to grow. I look forward to my future- good stuff ahead! All the best to you.
Very true. Thanks for sharing your story, it gives hope to others who are also struggling.
Have you looked at the excellent video with Dr Mark Horowitz?
@@cowboyjohnsontownPlease can I contact you please?
This is a well-made and hugely informative video. I love your clear and concise explanations.
Thank you 😊.
Glad it was helpful!
I just went through agonizing symptoms, all of the ones in FINISH, these past two months. I was being monitored by a doctor (but I don't think he knew much about this) and going off Paxil gradually, but not nearly as gradually as you are saying. I had been on Paxil for 26 years. It's been awful. Really, really awful. I have been off totally for two weeks and am feeling better, but I would never have done this if I had known! Thank you for making people aware of this. I wish you could have talked to my doctor before I started this!
I am sorry that you had to go through this. I am glad to hear that you are feeling better now. If you need further support, you can call me for a free phone consultation www.levelheadedmind.com/contact. Take care 🙏🏽
Darcy, I am going through the same thing. Switching off Paxil has been miserable. I've had to take a leave of absence from work because of it. I had no idea that it was high risk to get off of. I'm glad you are improving though.
@@yyyallison After six weeks off Paxil I had to go back on it. I was miserable and having dark episodes of depression. During the withdrawal and the six weeks completely off I was taking Buspirone. It didn't seem to do anything. I am feeling back to myself again and will never go off Paxil again. Hope you feel better soon.
@@LevelheadedMind same, I'm trying to lay off venlafaxine and it's draining.
It’s been 5 months and I’m still not ok. How are you?
Thank you so much for the medication comparison videos! Your info has been so helpful to me.
You are so welcome! Glad you found it helpful.
This makes more sense to me than anything else I have listened to. I'm dropping dose of fluoxetine after years massive struggle.
I really wish there were many doctor's like you who actually know about this. I've been on antidepressants for 20 years and none of my docs ever even considered getting me off of them. When I finally decided to get off of duloxetine I was tapered off to fast by my doc and have been suffering withdrawal symptoms for two months and counting. Thanks for posting this info.
Not all doctor’s are smart enought !
I've been off Citalopram since October 2022, I started to wean off them since June 2022 and the dizziness side effects are still there, I was only on them from January 2022... Is this still a side effect or what is it
Hey how are you now? Did symptoms end? I gave up duloxetine ~3 months ago after ~9 years use and then I used fuloxetine for one month. I did all these with my doc. After 3-4 weeks then, my withdrawal symptoms (nausea, headache, fatigue, dizziness etc) started and still goes on. I cannot go away from home for so long because of those symptoms.
How are you now
My nephew, who is a family physician, discussed with me how very , very tiny the increments of decrease must be to avoid problems. And if symptoms occur at any point, the patient must go back up to the last dose that was comfortable and may have to stay at that dose for awhile. Unfortunately, the capsules I take are extended-release and contain minuscule coated granules within. These granules are of different strengths and different release times, of which I am ignorant. So, for example, I can’t open a capsule and take nine-tenths of them and expect that I have taken nine-tenths of the capsule dose. At least in my area, a compounding pharmacy would be needed to custom create these doses and that would likely not be affordable for me and, I’m guessing, not covered by insurance either.
This information is literal GOLD! God bless you 🫂
Thank you for posting this information Jezel 👍🏾
One of the best video i have saw in youtube and your video is the best and helpful .❤❤
Excellent video!
As a hyper sensitive person, this music is so difficult! Painful and anger reactions…
This is so so helpful!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’m tapering off and on half my dose now, I think it’s been 5-6 weeks to get to this point. My symptoms have come back so I need to just stay on 50% - didn’t know this before I came to your video! The other thing I learned was the vivid dreams are a part of it. Unfortunately I have had a hard time finding a therapist, but I am doing self therapy so I hope the tools I learn from that will be helpful in tapering off further when I’m ready. Thank you so much for making this information accessible!
You're welcome, and I wish you all the best as you continue the tapering process.
I’m going through a complete nightmare over this stuff…it’s been almost two months trying to quit Effexor…I employee you to be careful…I’ve damaged my brain…had a heart attack…dark places in my mind…extreme anxiety….
I tapered myself off of lexapro in July n August. It is November. 14 years on Lexapro and Klonopin. Tapered off off Klonopin last December. Probably did it too fast. Too late. It's done. Presently tapering off of xanax. Was on 1mg at night from January- July. Decided to taper off. It was at that time that I began slowly to realize what I had gotten myself into... I discovered in August the epidemic of people trying to withdraw off these meds and the extreme distress it causes. I realized how BMS burning mouth syndrome, tongue thrusting, the debilitating dizziness and so much more had happened to me. And yes, I am having brain zaps. In fact it started in October and here mid November it seems to be increasing. Sigh. Heaven help us. Have mercy. I wish I had never, never been offered these meds.
How are you feeling now? I stopped lexapro over a month ago now I'm still really struggling. I hated being on it being numb and not feeling anything but now I'm feeling everything a million times worse. Did you get anger episodes and really upset? I do not wanna go back to the lexapro but if this doesn't I'll have to, please let me know if the lexapro withdrawls are better or not for you
These doctors are so quick to prescribe these, I am 6 months off Zoloft, was on them 3 years and never again! but I'm still having a difficult time. can't sleep feeling anxious and depressed!
Thanks for making this! I so regret starting ssri’s
Same. I'm off venlafaxine and it's hard. They never helped me anyway and now I have to struggle with stupid symptoms. I wish the doctors warned us it would be really hard to come off of them.
@@thalin6081 yeah we actually never learned about it in med school. so dumb. i wonder if it's on purpose
@@afternoon222 I hope they realise maybe some people want to eventually stop taking them and need to be mentally prepared for the hell you have to go through.
I was having brain zaps. My doctor gave my gabapentin and it helped. Hope this helps someone.
It says gabapentin also causes dependency on quick google research. How did it go for you?
@@user.47221 didn’t have any. Was talking 200-300 mg each time. For around a month. Started a week b4 my last dose to get my body used to it b4 I stopped the antidepressant
I forgot to take my 225 mg of Venlafaxine yesterday.
I felt awful all day, it was like if I had an elephant foot pressing my head towards the ground, if I no longer had skin in my body and everything even a small breeze could hurt me, like a burn or an electric shock, I couldn’t concentrate at all at any task and I slept so bad last night. I woke up like 7 times with vivid dreams, extremely thirsty and nauseous.
I noticed yesterday’s pills over the counter this morning when I was going to take my dosis for this day and in the blink of an eye everything just made sense. I’m watching this videos while I wait today’s dosis to kick in.
I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone 😢
looking to come off venlafaxine. i took a dose 3 hours late and felt so sick, headaches, flu like, etc. my dr. said withdrawal is not real....so no help from pychiatrist....want to get off so badly.
I'm trying to get off effexor too. Yall have any updates or advice?
Very good vedio. Thanks madam
I’ve been on Effexor for about 15 years! 75 mg daily. Made the switch to 37.5 for a few months. Really felt no different. Then gradually came off by taking one pill every other day. Then licking my fingers and taking a few beads and then quit. The first few days was good! I could actually feel again! I could watch a movie and cry or laugh! The 2 nd week it hit me! The headaches, nausea, GI issues, aches and tingling! It’s been 4 weeks since that last little dose and I still feel horrible!
I wish you the best in your recovery. Some people find relief with free form amino acids and b complex vitamin as long as your doctor approves, try that.
@@LevelheadedMind yes I started taking a B complex vitamin. Will St John’s wort help?
@@kimschlosser2854 Too many medication interactions with St John's Wort, but it could he'll, just run it by your doctor. 5Htp can also help and no interactions. But still run it by your provider.
I’ve tapered off fluvoxamine at my drs direction. When I had a 6-7 days of 25mg twice a day he had me stop. He did increase buspirone to 15mg twice a day before I stopped the other. I’m also on 0.25mg Ativan twice daily. But man, only 4 days off and I’m having bad zappy dizziness/disorientation whenever I move my head or eyes. I can actually hear the zap sounds in my ear. Now I’m extremely nauseous and just I’ll feeling. I’m also battling some heart rate problems the last few months. So trying to deal with both issues is debilitating. I pray this goes away soon. I can’t drive and have already been off work two weeks. Waiting on cardiologist referral, thinking I might have POTS after having COVID. This is so rough and scary.
Was on for 22 years... almost 5 months down and still having issues. Chronic fatigue and severe cognitive issues one day, and the next, I'm manic and can't handle the anxiety. Way way worse than I've ever experienced.
Dealing with this now as I am tapering down my Zoloft. The med didn't help and now I'm going through a withdrawal. I wish I had never taken this crap
How long have you been taking it ? I’m planning to withdraw bupropion xl 150 mg just after a week of taking it . Will I face withdrawal symptoms .
@@97k01 I took it for about 8 months. I am off now. I am not sure about bupropion. According to google, it is possible to have withdrawls. Have you talked to your doctor or pharmacist?
Been on it for over 10 years! Tapered off for 1 month /6 weeks without it and I felt great! Decided to go back on it and it's a whole new monster! Dizziness, amxiety,and mood swings! Horrible SHIT!!!!!
Hi! I have been on duloxetine for nearly 20 years, for fibromyalgia. I really want to get off it and I have talked with my primary care physician more than once. He talked about tapering and I told him it is basically addiction withdrawal and he said it is not addiction. But you are the first person I have heard explain why it isn’t! My doctor, whom I really do do agree with most of the time, was correct and I feel so much better after your explanation. Thanks so very much!
I can relate. Was on cymbalta for 19 years and on week 6 of my 8 week tapering schedule to get off of this nightmare of a drug completely. I do not even know whose body I’m in right now but it’s being scary for me. How long did it take for you to feel even half way decent after finishing your tapering schedule?
@@Love_for_CoffeeI
@@Love_for_Coffee how are you now
How are you now
I ran out of duloxetine and couldn’t get it for almost a week. At that point, incredibly having not felt any withdrawal symptoms, I thought I would see how long I could go without it. I lasted about ten days but then had a depression so severe I was practically catatonic. So I restarted and the depression improved. Right now I am at what I call my baseline, where I am vary between slightly depressed and slightly contented. I am having other issues so duloxetine is on a back burner for now.
I stopped Lexapro cold turkey 7 months ago. Sensitive spot of my forehead when touched lightly and weird headache pulses every few mins. Torture. Hope they resolve soon. Good video
How long were you on them
I'm currently tapering off of Paroxetine after being on 20mg every day for the past 4 years..3 weeks in and the most noticeable withdrawal symptom for me is the vertigo by far!! Good luck to everyone in their journeys to happiness ✌️💚
That's what I'm having trouble with. I'm about mid way through my taper. Doing about 1/2 tab less weekly, but this dizziness just came on and I get really nauseous, woke up from the dizziness and couldn't go back to sleep for a while....it's scary to have the dizziness, I'm going to let my doctor know Monday, I'm thinking will need to make the taper longer.
So I took a full tablet instead of 1/2 tab that day,and now that dizziness is gone. I'm going to slow down the taper. Maybe 1/2 tab removed every 2 weeks.
Yeah apparently the taper should be really long! Like 4-6 weeks each taper! I'm still on half dose as withdrawals were pretty bad, hopefully be able to reduce again soon.. hope things go good for you mate
@SmokeyJ420 yes. Thank you. I'm going to take it slow. I'm doing better. Hope all is well with you.
@ArmourofGod77 I'm glad to hear you're doing better.. I'm still on the half dose, might reduce to quarter in the next week or 2.. really don't want the withdrawals to come back again..
Thank you ☺️
You’re welcome 😊
Until you have actually come of the crap you will never know how painful it can be. Coming off Efexor almost killed me.
Thanks!
The tapering advice on this video does not apply to those who have been on antidepressants for decades. I'm 14 years off and still suffering brain damage following a one year taper. I have healed a long way but not done. It may take years to do a very gradual taper. This just breaks my heart after reading the comments. There are so many of us suffering silently on account of "medicine". So sad.
When I come off my Zoloft - I get severe nocturnal panic attacks where I can’t breathe.
BTW- I’ve been on antidepressants for 30 years
I am having the worst and scariest withdrawal symptoms from taking cymbalta since the drug hit the market. I’m on week 6 of 8 in tapering completely off. The symptoms have been utterly horrifying to say the least. I lost my 5 year old daughter to a rare childhood cancer battle of 2 years of chemo and radiation and a liver transplant and my other daughter has a rare clotting disorder in which she almost lost both legs due to claudication and complete occlusion of arteries from her groin to ankles so she has continuous stents the length of both legs. One might say these events could cause anxiety and depression but I’m living proof it has caused those well earned unfortunate diagnoses. I’m having all of the symptoms you just mentioned and a slew more of them like severe heart palpitations, whole body zaps and stupor, blurred vision, horrid nightmares and many many more changes in my body. Cymbalta must have stopped working years and years ago because my depression was worsening and I’ve had to quit working as a registered nurse. It has affected me in my home life as well. I found your video doing some research about this topic. You seem so much like the person I would love to talk to in depth. Cymbalta has ruined my life. Thank you so much for your videos so keep up the right information coming out for those who need to be educated on this topic as myself. God Bless you.
Self edited for spelling corrections
Thanks for sharing your experience. Unfortunately I hear this all too often which has led me to focus on deprescribing and helping patients get off this stuff! God bless you too and hope you have a full recovery 🙏
I just want to say im so sorry for ur pain ..... have u tried to work with a constitutional homeopath and an emdr therapist?
I pray 🙏🙏
You get better
Oh my gosh! That sounds so hard.
@@BayanHijirPlease can I contact you please?
Currently going through withdrawals rn. I'm on a moderate risk medication and being tappered off (3week period) but i already experienced side effects while on the meds (why I'm coming off). Now i get random episodes of itching, depressive and suicidal thoughts, waves of anxiety, flu like symptoms, extreme tiredness and very vivid dreams. I just want this to be over honestly. I was hoping this video would talk about the 40 something percent that do experience withdrawal. And i know this is minimzed cus of the tapering as I've gone cold turkey before, had to call an ambulance not fun. But thank you for the information❤
Hey, just curious if it got better?
@@nataliedvorackova3325 hey yeah I am, but it's a bit of a slow process but the further along you get the better it becomes. I still felt out of it for about 2 weeks after but nothing compared to the 3 weeks coming off it. Hope this helps
I've got the flu-like systoms, vivid dreams an nightmares and the imbalance. I was fine yesterday but it's back today... I'v only been on the SSRI since May, so i;m hoping the withdrawl doesn't last too long.
How are you now bro please tell me im going through it
7:15 This is refreshing. I wasn't able to get prozac and had to wean off from 80mg to zero over 5 days. My doc wouldn't writing a script while I searched for a new psych bc she felt uncomfortable. I don't plan on going back on the med after this upset, but it's good to have resources that can explain what I may expect as it leaves my system. Thanks!
How 😢 are you now dude please tell me my going through same are normal now like before taking the medication
@@Paranoid529 I guess my comment got deleted bc of some of the wording. Too bad.. had important info. I'll keep it short. I haven't slept. Like is hard. I struggle everyday and wonder if it's worth it. They tell me it is but no med changes since last post. My symptoms have gotten def worse though since being taken off cold turkey. Stay hydrated, in dark places for as long as you need. Check in with people that understand too. It really helps.
@@pheona1164 i was on 20 mg prozac and clobazam 5mg for anxiety for around 3 months im 17 years old now i have stop taking them forever and i forgot things from last 1 month will my recovery will be easy?
@@pheona1164 hey recently around three days ago, I stopped my medicine. I was taking Prozac and clobazam for anxiety from last three months and I am having some memory issue so how long do you think I need to recover
Prozac 20 mg and clobazam 5 mg?
Thank you for your informative video. I am experiencing symptoms now that I have been tapering off venlafaxine for 12 weeks which I have been taking for over 20 years. 😮. My question is how long do you predict the brain zaps and the nausea will continue? Those are the two symptoms that I find most difficult to deal with.
Never knew only suppose to be on a MED for only a yr...very interesting
At home right now as I watch this video suffering!
Sorry to hear that. I hope you will find some comfort 🙏
Thank you for providing another wonderful video. My Dr has prescribed 7.5 mg of mirtazapine for chronic insomnia. Glad to hear that withdrawl is not a issue.was on klonopin for 2 years withdrawl was not pleasant. Been off 6 months. Was wondering if you think Mirtazapine is a better option than Lunesta for insomnia. Been taking 3mg of Lunesta, and does not always work.
Many blessings for you!!
Hi there, mirtazepine is safer in my opinion since it lacks risk of dependency, but can't really say it is better or worse. I find it to be just as effective as the hypnotics and benzos for sleep.
@@LevelheadedMind thank you!
Your going to have a tough time if you ever want off this medication there are support groups on Facebook and Reddit
Way to Go with klonopin🙏🏻
How Long taper for 2 years? What dose where you on?
Doctors don't know enough about mirtazapine. I'm 12 weeks off and still having horrible withdrawal, and I was only on the lowest dose.
Was on venlafaxine for a year 150mg, elevated my hr for 10-15bm and was anxious because of that and decided to tamper off slowly over 6-7 weeks, now third day without and im having vivid nightmares, dizziness, i hope it will stop soon, because my heart rate is back normal and thats reason to fight through
Thanks for helping us get off this stuff. I am down 42 grains of Effexor which is about 15 mgs every day and a half
That's incredible good for you! With a half life of 4 hours, you are going to be experiencing interdose withdrawl by using it every day and a half. I'm down to 50 beads a day divided morning and night. You are a very strong person, thanks for sharing :)
Diane Morell
I hope you are doing okay on your way to trying to get off this. You are brave too. I am down to 18 beads a day which is almost nothing but still getting swishing after 5 months but I am continuing to try to get free.
Very informative video. Thank you for addressing all the poasible aspects in details.
I need your help i am on Vilazidone hydrochloride 20mg since past 20 months. My doctor reduced my dosage to 10mg per day 8 months ago but since than he isn't reducing or ending it at all. So i decieded to stop eating it since past 4 days. Now i am suffering from sensory issues you've mentioned. Electrical shock like sensation. How to cop up with it?
You may require amino acid support. However, best to let your provider know, as you may need to titrate that last 10mg more slowly. You would need to get a compounding pharmacy to make it into liquid though. Also consider looking at root causes and potential deficiencies such as vitamin D, b12, folate, or magnesium.
Super helpful video! I'm a bit sad that my psychiatrist didn't warn me about this syndrome, despite I asked. Unfortunately, the withdrawal syndrome has begun :( I hate anxiety kicks, but the brain zaps are the worst... My case was kind of special since I found out I am pregnant. I consulted this immediately with my psychiatrist, and they advised me to take half of the my current does for 2-4 days and then stop completely. Is there anything I can do to minimize this syndrome? Taking another medication is not an option at the moment.
Oh man, that sounds tough. It sounds cliche, but I think you just need to focus on natural things. Try to get some exercise. I say this as someone who is physically broken in so many ways, so I know that can be difficult. Try to eat healthy. Don't worry about being anxious. That will just make it worse. Just focus on the good that you're doing and the good things that will happen. Keep remembering that the darkness isn't real, it's just withdrawal. Be kind to yourself.
@@mitchjohnson4714 thank you for your kind words.BTW my brain got used to it and brain zaps were gone after around 2-3 weeks. Can't tell exactly because it wasn't a concrete cut-off.
Great video. My first week of a Zoloft 100mg taper down to 75 mg (25 mg taper ) have me insomnia. Almost no sleep. So I resumed the normal dose. So disappointing.
Many people, like me, had no success with a cross taper to prozac. It only works for some people. A hyperbolic taper is the best advice. For me by day 4 of making a small cut, the withdrawal was most pronounced. Wait somewhere around 2 weeks minimum to 2 months for some people to be stable before taking next cut.
Great advice!
What's a hyperbolic taper?
i am quitting nortriptylin after using it for just 3 weeks. it was high on the list for having withdrawal symtems but can i taper quikly off of it? im hoping to go from 50 milligrams per day to 20 right now for a week and then 10 milligrams for a week and then just quit.
I have been on escitalopram for about 4 years and i am on my 2nd day trying to stop taking them, also the losartan, amlodipine and the prevaststin. I lost my insurance so im going to stop them for financial reasons, plus my diet is a lot more healthier. Yor video is very helpful, thanks
You're welcome. 😊
Can you mention about fluvoxomine please the withdrawal symptoms please
I've come off zoloft about 5 times now, it doesn't get any better each time :(
Very helpful video! I am tapering Sertraline that I have been on for 6 years now. Is it normal to get a low fever together with the flu-like symptoms? I was pretty sure it was withdrawal, until I checked my temperature and now I'm confused. But it's not like I have any airway symptoms or anything, so...
I’ve been coming off sertraline and it’s been a nightmare. Body aches and it feels like I have the flu - 4 weeks in feeling like this 😢
How are you feeling now?
@@Randompancakes12345 it was horrible. It took about six weeks for the sides effects to go away.
Once I went back to working for corporate again all my anxiety and depression came back and the doctor put me back on the meds.
So you take. It depression meds and that causes your serotonin receptors to work even worse than they did before bc now they don’t need to work since you’re getting it syntheticly?
Thank you so much for this video. I had a really bad experience coming off of 150 mg sertaline a year ago after tapering even slower than my doctor told me to. It was so bizarre- three months after I had completely stopped the medication, I randomly had a huge spurt of vivid, horrific nightmares and a resurgence of mood swings. Almost like the last of the drug was leaving my system. Does this sound at all possible?
I’m getting ready to taper off of 10 mg lexapro after being on it for about a year. I’m really nervous about it so videos like this help a lot.
My doctor, of course, told me that sertaline didn’t have any discontinuation symptoms and that my experience was my “anxiety coming back”. 💀
I'm currently coming off sertaline and I'm having constant vivid dreams including nightmares. It's really exhausting because I feel like I'm living 10 extra lives in my sleep and wake up in the morning like i haven't rested at all.
Same, tapered zoloft too fast by doc. I can hardly walk, my head feels like electricity, I feel terrible.
I was on sertraline for 6 days and I did not like all the side effects it was giving me while being on it, I tried reaching out to my doctor and she never got back with me so I completely stopped. Can the withdrawals still occur even if you have not token the pill for too long?
thanks from canada
You're welcome. Glad it was helpful.
I am almost 7years on antidepressants some dr are afraid if they lose you as a patient they not gonna make money my medical aid ask him for my health report because they feel some thing more has to be done I was so upset with him he diagnosis me with bipolar so he can get paid he didn't even discuss it with me wish me luck I only hope long term damage is not done thank you you video was very helpful
Ive been on Prozac 40mg for the last 10 years....i have told my doctor i dont feel the benefit no more...only bad side effects...yesterday he prescribed me trintellix
He said taper down Prozac to 20mg for 2 weeks....then take trintellix 10mg...is it a good idea im already anxious about switchind meds
You can try that cross taper, it may be just fine since Prozac has such a long half life. You can also look at switchrx.com to see what they recommend and present that to your provider if you prefer to go slower.
Interesting video. I have been taking Paxil for 32 years. If I try to come off it, I go back to my original systems of Depression, High Anxiety, Long term PTSD, a with a dash of bi-polar disorder thrown in. How would you suggest I try to come of my medication?
I was on 20mg of fluoxetine for 6 days and had to come off because of bad side effects, that was 14 days ago and I’m still getting really bad night sweats is this normal? And how long does it take to leave ur body?
HOW ARE YOU DOING, GOING THROUGH THE SAME, HAVE YOU GOTTON BETTER? I STARTED TAKING CBD GUMMIES AND ASHWAGANDA PILLS THEY SEEM TO HELP A TINY BIT...
My doctor prescribed me to withdraw within a month. And I fell back to a higher dose again. I don't think he knows anything of these!
I have antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. I have been off venlafaxine for 10 weeks now. There has been progress but I am still not my self. Any idea how long until I’m back to my normal happy self? I have changed my diet, taking vitamins, and exercising.
This will vary person to person. Continue vitamins, exercise, hydration, and also consider free form amino acids as they can help your neurotransmitter system to reregulate and heal.
How are you feeling now? Im also off venlafaxine after 13 years. Since 2 weeks i feel terrible. Constant dizziness and body feels heavy and weak. 😢
Sen nasılsın şu an@@sumeyyecakir
I'm currently cross tapering effexor (after 10 years) to Prozac... It's NOT fun... I did a Genomind test and hopefully the Prozac does work 🙏❤️
Best of luck!
@@LevelheadedMind thank you. It's very tiring...
I've been on 50 mg trazodone for 30 years with 15 mg mirtazapene. I decided it's the healthiest time of my life I'm 62. I started with taking an entire year cutting the 50 mg of trazodone in half till I was eventually taking an apple seed size bite every night for the last month. Week 3 I crashed with nausea, tiredness, anxiety can't even drive. Now I wonder how in the world I'm going to get off mirtazapene which I heard is horrible. I had to start cutting with a blade the apple seed size piece in half 3 days ago and I am doing much better. I just need support. My own pcp didn't even suggest a tapering regime she just said go slow. I think a year is slow. No one believes me that it's awful
How do they compare to opiod withdrawal?
my muccle stiffy,and unbalance ,i did.massage but not help , what to do
I'm trying to go through this paxil withdrawal before the collapse of the united states I don't want to go through this when we are going through some bull 💩.
I am from South Africa . Trust me, those greedy drug dealers will make sure you can find their drugs .
I got severe back body stomach spasms…this has happened before getting off this stuff. And for some reason none of these professionals will talk to me about it. It’s crazy.
I have been prescribed citalopram 20mg for my stress and anxiety. After watching videos about withdrawal symptoms i feel i want to stop . Im using for 5 weeks only . Please advise how to taper and would using sceletium or ashwaganda help or prevent withdrawal symptoms?
How are things with you now?
Thank you! I think this is why I was so sick this week.
I chose to skip taking my escitalopram until I refilled my buproprion and lamotrigine so I could continue taking them all together. Then, even after I refilled my prescriptions, I didn't bother to take them because I wasn't feeling very bad.r
After about 4 to 6 days off my meds, I got really nauseous. I went into work one day feeling hungry and ended up in an ER because I couldn't stop throwing up.
I thought I had just overworked myself and not eaten enough over the weekend. So, I rested and ate well for a day. I had read some advice to stop taking oral medicine while I'm nauseous, so I continued to skip my meds.
When I still didn't feel well, and was unable to go back to work, I started wondering if not taking my medicine had anything to do with the way I was feeling. My symptoms seemed like typical withdrawal symptoms. I also recalled the last time I had to go to the ER because I couldn't stop vomiting was during a time when I wasn't taking my meds.
Your video makes it really clear that withdrawing from antidepressant medicine is real thing. I should get back on my medicine and then see if I feel better.
I now have even more reason to make sure I take my meds consistently. When I take my meds I feel fantastic, when I fall off of them I start to feel like something is wrong with me within 4 to 24 hours. Now I know that if I go too long without my meds, I end up physically sick with no strength to function normally.
How are you now?
I’ve been on Zoloft for about two years. Even after a slow taper of 8-12 weeks, I will experience sudden, painful withdrawal symptoms about 4-6 weeks of being off of it. Muscle pain, neurological problems, TMJ issues, etc. Is this common, for the withdrawals to be this delayed?
Delayed withdrawal is common. Even months later. Also, tapering over months is NOT slow. Years of tapering is slow.
I was on diazepam for 10 years and stopping that was nothing compared to Paxil. I thought I was dying from some sort of disease. I was only on that for two months because it didn't work for anxiety.
I was on Fluoxetine for 35 years and 6 months ago did a very gradual 3 month taper. No side effects from the taper but now I am experiencing a lot of deep sadness and anxiety and waves of weirdness, tiredness and fear. Sad things seem tragic and stressful things seem amplified. What might be the best course of action?
Talk with your doctor about it and make sure to look for potential root causes of your symptoms which are often missed.
To fast tapering u should tapering at least 4 years..
@@birgittafloren1716 can you clarify with any studies or findings why a four year taper is recommended
Hi there! SSRI'S for 30 yrs. Tapering slowly off escitalopram. Jan 2023 was on 20 mg reduced to 15mg overnight bc my eye sight was deteriorating rapidly. Experienced horrible brain zaps for a month. Eyes started clearing up w in 2 days of tapering. Middle of August tapered to 10mg overnight continued 10mg for 6wks, no brain zaps...saw my dr beginning of Oct. I'm now altering 10 mg one day 5mg the next & so on till I talk with my dr in nov. All meds are different. I've read the slower the taper the less pain. Since I've been taking it so long I plan to be tapering thru atleast jan 2024. The only thing I know for sure is certain supplements are necessary 4me. B-complex (methylated) absorbs better & doesn't upset my stomach, D-3 5,000 I.U.'s with K-2/daily so ya dont get calcium deposits from taking only D, Zinc, Niacinamide (another type of B vit), B-12 drops, Magnesium *research well*, Cod Liver Oil capsules by Carlson's I think, our brains need those healthy oils. It's a lot of crap to swallow so I break it up throughout the day & sometimes only do every other day with the larger capsules. Journal everything down so you don't have to rely on your memory. This is not easy. In fact if I wasn't living back at home with loved ones who support me or was trying to keep a job my success rate would be lower. I think it's the U.K that has more tapering info. I have to sign a pain contract & agree to a random drug screen annually for my low dose opiate prescription but paxil, prozac & Lexapro are prescribed as " fix everything pills" & there not. Our generations have been the major antidepressant clinical trials. Sending you strength in healing🙏🙏🙏🙏
I’ve been on 15 mg of escitalopram for 6 months and I felt great the first two months but then I went completely numb, my sex drive sucks, and I just feel weird in my own skin. Im thinking my time is up with these pills. I am on it for postpartum panic and depression. I want to get off. How should I taper? My psychiatrist doesn’t seem interested in me and just pushes me aside. I’m also on 7.5 mg of mirtazapine. They also had me on Klonopin and I did I really fast taper on that and it sucked, but I’ve been off it it since January. Pls help.
Tapers are individualized If you want to book a consultation do so here: www.levelheadedmind.com/contact
Brilliant video as always, friend! Paroxetine is a great drug, but it’s a little booger bear! I’ve actually never placed anyone on that med, though I have had to manage patients who came to me already on it. Great explanations for antidepressant withdrawal syndrome! 💜💚
Thank you for the support! When those patients are ready to come off, try the cross taper it really works well!
Its not a great drug in my opinion. It has ruined my life.
Took Celexa for 10 years and now in month 8 of experiencing WD, is that common? It has totally upended my life.
Hi. Thank you for all the great information. I'm trying to get off Venlafaxine, it caused high heart rate and extremely high bloid pressure. My GP disinformation me about any of this before I started taking it. Long story short been ill since Feb this year, this is my 3rd different medication, so I'm still not stabilised on an anti depressant. I've got withdrawal syndrome, currently taking 37.5 mg once a day, feeling nauseous, chills, hot flashes and dizzy, disorientated. I'm supposed to chat with a new GP about what medication I need to go on and absolutely dreading it. After what I've been through I'm feeling that I just want to be off all medication to see how I am, any advice?? I'm feeling OK on this dose but obviously cant stay on it as I can't tolerate it 😒
Have you tried liquid Venlafaxine and tapering by drops? Discuss this option with your provider.
Thank you, I will ask about this 🙂
@@yorkshirel_a_s_s You will most likely have to dose twice a day since liquid is not extended release like the pill is.
Thanks for the advice, I'm successfully off, last doses were 37.5mg, 6 weeks free atm
@@yorkshirel_a_s_s that is great news 👏
Great video… so helpful but the background music is not necessary and a bit anxiety inducing as it’s hard to hear you with the music loop.
Very helpful video. I was on trintellix for anxiety for 6 years. Helped a little bit. I was on 20mg for awhile then 10mg for several months. I went to lowest dose of 5mg for 3 months then was off it for 6 days then started on a low dose of 12.5mg luvox. I’m pretty sensitive to meds. I had crazy acid reflux and GI issues on luvox and panic and anxiety daily. I gave it 33 days then told my doc I wanted off. She said I could just stop since it is such a low dose. After a few days I had skin burning sensations, depersonalization, dizziness, lightheaded, nauseous, crazy vivid dreams and fatigue. A little bit of agitation. It has been 5 weeks and I’m still feeling those symptoms for several hours a day and every now and then I’ll have a day with very little symptoms. Day 1 off the meds I drastically changed my lifestyle. Walk 5 to 7 miles throughout the day. I eat healthy and I’ve lost 20lbs. I get all my vitamins in too. My panic is basically gone and my only anxiety stems from these withdrawal symptoms because my doc says it’s highly unlikely what I’m feeling is withdrawal since I was on a low dose. I’ve had everything checked and they found no issues. Something interesting though is my testosterone while on these SSRI drugs was diminishing to near 200. 2 weeks off it went to 287! kinda proves to me that even a low dose can effect me.
Hello, I have a question. I stopped taking Cipralex 8 months ago, and I was experiencing terrifying withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, dizziness, muscle tension, and dissociation from reality. Now I have improved, but my short-term memory does not work. I forget a lot. I cannot create new memories. Please, do you know about this, and will it last? With me all my life ، I am a 24 year old young man.Note: There is an improvement in memory, but little improvement
You can get some guidance on Outro website here: learn.outro.com/home it is free to sign up.
When i got off my SSRI i got angry OUT of the blue! Was just pissed AF! It felt like i was about to explode... It was weird tho... But not too bad..
I feel the exact same I’ve been angry and agitated all day with a massive headache this is bs…
What should people that have chronic anxiety due to adhd and or ocd do? Are we supposed to stay on ssris for life? For the first time in my life i realize what normal ppl feel like............. i had no idea the lenght i was suffering for 35 yrs....... im terrified of getting off and the anxiety coming back......
I am getting serious withdrawal symptoms from Prozac (was on it for years).
I had been on Escitilopram for 5 years, i start tapering off for FOUR months, after which I have been experiencing the exact symptoms of Post-SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome! My local healthcare prescribed Amitriptyline. I am hesitant to take it because i didn't find any research suggests it as a treatmen for the syndrome?!
I've been trying to taper off the Clomipramine I've been taking for over 30 years for severe anxiety. The dosage has come down from 150 mg/day to start to 25 mg/day for the last 10 years. The doctors tried 6 other medications that all failed before finding this one that actually worked for me. Since then they have tried to switch me to other medications but the severe anxiety would come back and cause other unwanted side effects. I would really like to get off this medication but can't seem to get past that last step. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I was on citalopram for depression and when I came off of it cried all the time. I am eighty-three years old cannot sleep without medication so my doctor gave me restoril I take 30 mg each and still sometimes have trouble sleeping. Is it a good idea for me to take restoril and gabapentin at night?
I'm not your provider and can't say, but talk to your doctor and I'd be cautious with Restoril use long term due to benzo depence and issues that can occur.
What is the name of the song used in this video?
Why didn’t my psychiatrist look like you? 🥇❤️💪🏼
Day 45 and I’m still having awful headaches and nausea. The heartburn which was really bad is finally beginning to settle down some. I am sleeping well. But I can hardly function with the headaches and nausea! I haven’t found an OTC drug to help with headaches!
It could be from dehydration, try organic bone broth to help. 1 cup 3 times a day can help ease withdrawal effects.
Unfortunately, I've been taking venlafaxine for about ten years now 😕 I can't stop taking it. Venlafaxine is very addictive :/ Any advice on how I can taper off of it?
Got prescribed Pristiq. I am struggling not to just take it again. I don't know if I can do it. I was fine at first but now every day feels like hell
Yes you can!
I NEED HELP. SO, its been 10 days since I have reduced the dosage of paroxetine to 5mg from 10mg. I was ok for first 3, 4 days but gradually brain zaps started kicking in me. Now its been a week or so, since I have been experiencing these withdrawal effects feeling dull, unmotivated, bit of anxiety, nightmares and vivid dreams EVERYDAY alongside terrible brain zaps. My doctor instructed me to completely stop medication after 15 days but I am kind of unsure what would be the right thing to do. Should I stop taking them even if these effects continue to persists?(Can I tolerate those effects? Yes.)
OR,
Should I begin consuming previous dosage pills?
What would be a good choice for my health on a long run? I would really appreciate if someone can help me find peace🙏
Let your provider know you are having these withdrawal effects. They may choose to keep you on 5mg longer. However, many people will have lingering withdrawal symptoms after coming off. You may need to supplement with free form amino acids. Hardy Nutritionals has a good one, so does pure encapsulations. Alternatively you could drink organic bone broth 3 times a day.
Now the other day I learned about the long term side effects of withdrawal such as pssd, emotional blunting etc. Thinking this could happen to me, I was so scared and anxious to the peak point. I feel like my anxiety has relapsed. Should I start taking medication even if I dont want to or should I let it pass for the time being? I am so freak out right now, I dont know what to do. please help me suggest what would be the best thing to do.
Taper yourself more slowly
I've been on pristiq for anxiety. Been on it for only 2 weeks. Do I still need to taper off the medication or I can I just discontinue taking it since its not for a very long time. Please let me know, or if someone reads my comment and knows about this, please go ahead a advise.
Typically speaking taking an antidepressant for less than 4 weeks does not cause withdrawal.
@@LevelheadedMind ok thank you.
I’ve been taking 1 mg Xanax every night for 8 months. How hard is it going to be to get off this? I’ve never taken more than the 1mg dosage . Thanks
Everyone is different, so hard to say.
How did it go😊?
I’m coming off 375mg of venlafaxine. Tapered for 3 months and now on zero. Tapering was ok but now I’m feeling awful. All the side effects. I’m really sick. Not sure whether just to hold on and ride it out.
How are you feeling now?
Been on the poison for 14 years and i have now tapered down to 5 mg from 20 mg over a two year period, and even though i go so extremely slow it's a nightmare, and it gets harder the lower i come, i'm worried that i will never be able to come off it.
I'm sorry you're having a difficult time. I wish you well on your taper and sometimes when you get towards the end you have to go slower, so give yourself grace.
Which poison? I would be curious to hear how you did. Sounds like you are doing great for someone who has been on it for so long. May I ask, why did you decide to come off?
@@AstroMartine because in the long time this medicines ARE that, poison
What about Trazodone?
I wonder if one want to get of paroxetine, isn´t it possible to first get on an other anti depressant, with milder withdrawal symptomes if one wants to stop the medication???