How do I come off antidepressants? an interview with Dr Mark Horowitz

Dr Mark Horowitz is a training psychiatrist, having done part of his training in Australia and now working in London as a Clinical Research Fellow in the NHS and an Honorary Clinical Research Fellow at UCL. He runs a deprescribing clinic in North East London, and has done extensive research into how to safely come off anti-depressants to avoid withdrawal effects. As well as writing or contributing to changes in best practice guidance from NICE and the Royal College of Psychiatrists on stopping antidepressants, he is also preparing a learning module for prescribers in England on behalf of Health Education England to help doctors safely prescribe how to stop antidepressants.
Please like and subscribe and follow the RIOT Science Club on X (formerly Twitter) @riotscienceclub

[@user-mi4xe2iz3l]

Dr Mark is absolutely right...its very difficult to withdraw ...I am a neurologist.. i was never taught ..Reality is different ..More awareness and more studies regarding withdrawal needed.

[@mikeodee1164]

not true i know better

[@nwicconsultants6640]

@@mikeodee1164 What is not true? The statement or the person making it? Clarify

[@mikeodee1164]

@@nwicconsultants6640 its not true i know better

[@mikeodee1164]

@@nwicconsultants6640 u r on ignore i dont feed trolls

[@mikeodee1164]

not true its very easy to quit psych meds u get no withdraw

[@user-3282]

Dr Mark is incredibly insightful and so authentic in his practice. It is such a shame that most doctors and psychiatrists don't seem to have his clear compassion and authentic approach that genuinely puts patients interests and proper informed consent first. I think this chat with Mark is groundbreaking in our understanding and should revolutionalise AD medicating and stopping. I fear the public and most of the medical industry aren't ready to hear this, but I do believe Mark is incredibly insightful and correct in his viewpoint.

[@BP-ck6fb]

This is exactly what I have gone through I was put on a new antidepressant when I was 28 I'm now nearly 60 have tried and tried no one is listening! Now I have brain zaps all the time I'm becoming unable to do anything. I can't move my eyes without zapping. I'm so desperate

[@lonnievisch6009]

Thanks! I am in my 42 months after stopping ssri. Almost better. All windows and waves. Healing will come❤

[@miniol2118]

Thank you for sharing. Stay strong!

[@frala2398]

So nice to hear something positive

[@Snowflake1374]

Good to hear. How long were you on SSRI and which one?

[@lonnievisch6009]

I was on Prozac for 10 years. Got really sick ( protracted/ brain injury after 4 month taper. So happy when I found out about protracted because I thought I was losing my mind. First 2 years were very hard. After that better. Not surviving every day. But it is really really hard. But feel so much better now. Only symptoms now are anhedonia. Burning legs in night and feeling unwell. More windows now. Take care!🌹

[@Snowflake1374]

@@lonnievisch6009 Good for you I know how hard it is. Now 5 months off zoloft 13 year use. Fast taper 2 months off zero - protracted/brain injury. Trying to survive every day. Also had adverse reaction. Feels like my life is gone. Non functional.

[@MariaJose-wr1fm]

Mark, You are such an ethical doctor that I am moved to hear the sincerity of your words. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@katwalkerhextall]

I am two and a half years into SSRI withdrawal and have tapered down to 0.5mg citalopram. Wouldn't wish this hell on my worst enemy.

[@anatino]

Are you sure it’s not perimenopause/menopause symptoms? Some women really suffer horrible because the hormonal changes. I see women here in comments on KZbin that they are really sick in their 40’s and never took a psychiatric meds. It’s horrible what some women have to go through. I’m suffering as well after stoping 7mg Zoloft and now I’m back on 0.5 mg Ativan twice a day to help me stay alive. I’ve noticed that Claritin antihistamine help a lot of women 10-12 days before their period. A lot of women do great on antidepressants during menopause transition. I know it’s confusing. I just don’t understand how some people can stop the meds without any withdrawals. Mind blowing.

[@i.ehrenfest349]

@@anatinoomg withdrawal is so different from menopause…of course, menopause symptoms can be horrible. Bit steep withdrawal is on another level. And mostly, it’s very DIFFERENT. You can tell it’s not hormonal. You can tell your brain is effed up.

[@i.ehrenfest349]

I took 2 years to get down to about 7.5 mgs of citalopram, and I couldn’t manage it. Had to go back on. Most people speak of heavy withdrawal once they’re down to zero, but for me, I didn’t even need to go down to 0.

[@JacquiQ]

Oh G*d. I am tapering off benzo's - taking me years - then will attempt to get off my SSRI . Bl**dy hell.

[@i.ehrenfest349]

@@JacquiQ but you’re doing ok?

[@davidbent347]

I have just had a horrific experience coming off 150mg of Sertraline... I tapered off over 2 months & over the next 2 months my symptoms became more & more severe... Panic attacks, racing thoughts, insomnia, intrusive thoughts, breathing irregularities, impending doom feeling etc... Things actually sped up dramatically ending in what i would call a full on nervous breakdown. Hellish! I had a stash of old 50mg Sertraline tabs & in sheer desperation during the night i took one & my mind went from 1000mph to 100mph overnight. This is absolutely a causation event as i eat so cleanly & dont drink or smoke... Im so shocked at the impact these tablets can have on our brain chemistry! Scary!

[@Snowflake1374]

Im shocked too, zoloft destroyed my brain. 14 years use. Severe WD. Tried another SSRI after 4 months, adverse reaction and worse WD. Didn't know it could be like this. Painful brain. Can you die?

[@tanyaherbert8572]

I have e all these symptoms my life is utterly ruined ended up in hospital too. I've tried going back on sertraline twice now and it made my already bad anxiety so much worse to point of suicidal. I'm so lost 11 months for me and I tapered over a yr😢

[@i.ehrenfest349]

@@tanyaherbert8572and you don’t consider going back on? Not saying you should…I did 2 years of tapering and absolutely loathed the thought that all that suffering would have been for nothing, but I had no choice. Now I’m taking extensive nutritional supplements and hope to try again once my brain is in a better position, which could take years.

[@JacquiQ]

also recently tried to lower my 50 mg dose of Sertraline and 14 days in anxiety ++ went back on, couldn't stand it. will have to go much much slower..shave and weigh tablets I think . Been on them 10 years. My GP swore to me SSRI's were NOT addictive, but turns out they cause physically dependance.

[@i.ehrenfest349]

@@JacquiQ yeah, no kidding. I’ve been on them 30 years, I’m not sure if i’ll ever be able to go off them. Sucks.

[@susanmorgan4151]

Exactly what is happening with me right now. SSRI prescribed for 20 years. Cannot find a general practitioner who understands this hell we are going through.

[@susanmorgan4151]

Still having hideous anxiety and terrible nightly insomnia after almost 5 months off of Paroxetine.

[@thisgirl5933]

​@@susanmorgan4151Effexor for me. 3 months. Just reinstated 2mg as I weaned off too quickly. Committed to not use Lorazepam as a crutch. Don't need more problems. The anxiety is brutal.

[@jerry-ny7hs]

I'm going through this with my wife. She is currently hospitalized with severe anxiety. This is the 7th time in 2 years. I cannot get through to her that she needs to ween off of all meds. The hospitals just swap one for another. She is on multiple ones.

[@barbaraadams4751]

@@SB-iz2fk😅

[@celticwarrior5646]

Look for somewhere where there are communities sharing these issues .Highlighting and sharing experiences between users is the way forward.

[@missma7882]

I am in awe of this man. A completley honest appraisal with no strings attached. Everything he says makes sense. I have slowly come off meds zoloft. Interesting i now have side effects i never had before..so super imteresting . Thankyou so nuch for your education and Honesty its so refreshing . Thankyou

[@lynnpienaar5964]

Yes I fully agree

[@mikeodee1164]

what he says is not true i know better i quit anti depressants and other psych meds

[@mikeodee1164]

u have to lower the dose gradually month after month my psychiatirsts did it for me

[@edie4321]

@@mikeodee1164, That makes it easier to come off of them , but does not stop the PAWS. I'm still struggling after seven years, but I was on all the drugs he mentioned, plus Adderall, benzos, opiates, and more.

[@christianbaldwin8107]

I don't think you were on them very long. Some us have been on these drugs for over 20 years and the longer you have been on them, the harder it is

[@sandraritchie6512]

I love how you talk Mark. Im so sad that I got caught up with my psychiatrists who treated me solo he discouraged me and told me I didn't need a psychologist. Why dont drs get paid by patients wellness. Like in ancient china. Why have I paid to be experimented on. I have had 35yrs + of my life taken away. Why did I pay for that.

[@iwonab5150]

Dr Horowitz we need you, i live through hell after putting away neuroleptics after 12years, it was nightmare its not just antidepressants, but i made it, it takes time but the brain healed itself

[@creationmark]

Thank you for this, I have felt so lost recently. I've been on antidepressants for 30 years, I've always wanted to discontinue them because I feel that my emotions are dumbed down, I'm confused and have a terrible memory. My wife,family and doctor have been telling me for years that I shouldn't come off my antidepressants, personally, I don't feel like I'm the person that I'm supposed to be at this point in my life.

[@AjitSingh-dd3ep]

How are you now??

[@emmaester5284]

Taper slow-high dose vit c-and use a ketogenic diet-these things help-but go slow-also use heat/sauna to help with withdrawal symptoms-

[@AjitSingh-dd3ep]

Plz reply??

[@laniakeas92]

Why would you stuff yourself with ads for 30 years? It's pure madness

[@beabeauty]

I can tell you why some , like me , who is a nurse or was before 20 years of psych meds. We are taught that we must have a chemical imbalance, and if the original symptoms (depression, anxiety, insomnia or hypersomnia) return after stopping these meds then that imbalance is a genetic disorder. And we are not ever able to allow our brain to return to a healthy or normal State. And this works perfect for medical purposes and big pharma profits. The long term damage (aka side effects)from many or most of the SSRI, SRNI, benzodiazepines, is not studied and can be given a band aid such as a new medication! It’s a very sad and vicious cycle. Of course our body and brain can adapt to many states. But being unmediated does not help the $$ makers it only helps the patient. I have only recently learned how long withdrawals can last after long term use. Knowledge is power. Each one of us has to care about ourselves to advocate. And depression lies to us , saying we should give up! @laniakeas92

[@johnnyecoman9121]

Good to hear he is running a deprescribing clinic.

[@bobjary9382]

Had some terrible experiences coming off meds myself and there was no info or support back then. Its very encouraging to listen to such a level headed discussion on this matter, its a shame everyone who has the right to prescribe these meds isnt educated as to the very real risks involved in discontinuation.

[@brendansmyth5053]

Hey Mark I’m a 5 year survivor of PAWS after my uneducated GP cold turkeyed me Cymbalta. Hell on earth for the first two years and now I’m disgusted of what I’ve learnt over the years. Im sure I’m suffering now with PTSD. Love and peace from Australia 🇦🇺 🙏🏻

[@AjitSingh-dd3ep]

I am suffering same, how are you now

[@brendansmyth5053]

@@AjitSingh-dd3ep it’s incredible how slow the healing process is. It’s hard to explain to people that I improve every year. My nervous system was so shook up it still has some time to go I feel. I hope you are going ok with what you’re dealing with?

[@AjitSingh-dd3ep]

@@brendansmyth5053 actually same happened with me some months ago my GP stopped my ssri cold turky and after a month suffering from withdrawal symptoms I got nervous breakdown and went to psychiatrist again for re medication but still not feeling good hope it will take time

[@TheDavveponken]

@@brendansmyth5053 Could you please describe how your nervous system feels? My CNS is disrupted as well after Ritalin. Mainly in my brain, but also genitals (possibly elsewhere). I have a very hard time with experiencing any intense emotion. I get stabbing sensations around my head rather than a euphoric feeling. I took it very briefly and have been off it for 18 months.

[@sandrahbradley1511]

Oh my God, blessings to you hang in there it will get better TIME is what it takes, be patient with yourself I know it's sheer hell these YT on this subject helps also you are not alone. 💜

[@justmadeit2]

The manufacturers are downplaying the withdrawals

[@Snowflake1374]

Big time. The literature says one thing. Those who take SSRIs say otherwise and they are right about WD.

[@cindycatterton6603]

I’ve watched many interviews with Dr. Horowitz. This is a great one with a lot of new information. Thank you!

[@scotscub76]

Thank god Mark is making people aware of this. This is ground breaking for the future.

[@phillipgriffiths9624]

I was on 120mg of Duloxetine daily for three years. I took it for severe neck pain. I am finally off it. I reduced very slowly. I had an awful cough and was taking Benylin Dry. I noticed that it stopped many of the withdrawal like the awful brain saps. It sounds strange but it worked. It took me about three months to get off the Duloxetine.

[@JGH1708]

Have taken cymbalta for 6 years to help with constant back pain. It worked very well and has helped me get back to work. I decided to come off it and weened over 5 months by removing beads. I took it down to only 30 beads (which must be 1mg at most) before stopping and I have still had withdrawal symptoms. Nothing too bad but a feeling of sea sickness in my legs, brain zaps and feeling teary. I can't see how people are told they can go from 60mg to 30mg for a few weeks then off it completely.

[@rachelmorrison1708]

Thank you Mark

[@joshuagoodsell9330]

A very informative, comprehensive, and non-judgmental interview. Thank you!

[@donnaminchin8039]

Thankyou Gentleman. This was a very informative and eye opening discussion. Mark you have really helped validate my experience of physical dependence and a terrible experience of trying to come off off Venlafaxine too quickly under a GP. I so wish the medical practicioners had this knowledge and were more supportive of those wishing to come off of antidepressants. I'm now tapering very,very slowly after 27 years on antidepressants. I too have turned to peer support through online groups.The link you made between ADHD symptoms and the effects of the antidepressants was also very interesting for me as I struggle terribly with concentration now. Thankyou so much. Looking forward to your book Mark. Thanks for your contribution in this field!

[@victoryamartin9773]

This was very helpful and gave me some hope of recovery for the first time in a couple years. After several months of uneventful weaning from 3+ decades of antidepressant use, I got COVID and subsequent horrific brain dysphoric symptoms such as insomnia, paranoia, fragmented thoughts, wiped memory, anxiety and dread. These things rendered me unable to plan anything or function beyond my daily routine. I acquired anhedonia and daily suicidal ideations, feeling absolutely helpless and hopeless. I was also unable to associate these things with a valid reason for being depressed other than the absence of the drugs from my system. Hearing that it takes time (even months or years) for the brain to return to a normal healthy state of functioning after being dependent on the SSRIs for so long (beyond any initial withdrawal effects) is what gave me hope for eventual recovery. The hopelessness and dread came from thinking I was losing myself and dying as my brain deteriorated from Dementia.

[@carolknapik7426]

On Prozac for about 45+ years and tried once coming off them and got so severely depressed I had to go to ER for help. I realized then that I'm to be on this med till the day I die!! I don't even want to try after that experience! Thanks for exposing this serious problem.

[@trolloftheyear7963]

Effexor.........Impossible to get off it. I feel like im chained to it for life. Started on it when my mum died. Have tried to taper off 4 times.......withdrawal symptoms from Hell: non stop panic attacks, electrical shocks going thru my body, paranoia and even became manic on one of the attempts.

[@sharonchomereau2485]

That's what I'm on, 150mg feeling the body shocks but determined to keep going

[@JT-2000]

I was on 150mg Venlafaxine for a about 4 or 5 years, cannabis got me off it because it awakened me to the reality that this poison is useless for treating depression. I tapered over about 3 or 4 months and was ok-ish. I had a relapse, but wasnt going to go back on Venlafaxine, so ended up trying Escitalopram. Was on that for about 18 months, then i smoked some weed, which again, showed me how silly this SSRI merry-go-round really is. Was only on 10mg of Escitalopram, nothing more than a sugar pill - although a neurotoxic one at that! - so quit that cold turkey about a month ago. I'm imbibing cannabis daily, using Lionsmane mushroom extract (non-psychoative) and Ciacin B3 supplements. I cant lie, I'm so fucking miserable, anxious and unhappy in my daily life i.e. working week days (until i get high and drink a few glasses of red wine on an evening - not a recommendation - i just need something because i am also a recovering opioid addict.) But I'm determined to just sit with these feelings and power through. Really do not want to go back on them, I'd rather be miserable. At the end of the day, life is suffering anyway, so we just got to accept that and get on with it. No pill is gonna change that fact.

[@mickrozycki451]

I'm coming off Effexor went from 150 mg to 37.5 mg over a year. Let me help you. :)

[@patriciamharris5664]

​@@sharonchomereau2485❤

[@cxvzf]

I took up my PCP’s offer for Lexapro after a few months of feeling down. It’s been almost 10 years now. I’ve tried to go off one time, by tapering in half and felt all the withdraw symptoms. Couldn’t stop crying. Went back on the med after being told by the psych those symptoms showed I needed the drug.

[@BeenaXtreme]

Wow. Thank you for this enlightening content. It makes so much sense! Hoping to gain enough insight to slowly wean off SSRI after 5 yrs, due to a slew of terrible, debilitating symptoms discussed here. I have also found in recent months, that the drug is providing VERY little relief for the original "diagnosis."

[@mychannelnotyours]

I’ve just started taking Zoloft. I started with a low dose of 12.5 mg then after a month my doctor insisted to take the prescribed 25 mg which I did for a month and it does help a lil with the way I think but depression is still there….then I started to see new changes in my personality which I don’t like.Also I started having bad dreams and I noticed how I would have stammering.I haven’t seen my doctor (I cancelled multiple appointments just last month) but I started tapering off to 12.5 mg.I had multiple not so nice side effects tapering if off ….such as nightmares ,headaches,vertigo, flu like symptoms,fatigue and tremors. I am planning to see my doctor and insist to him that I need the liquid form of Zoloft to taper if off .I can’t imagine the ones who’s been in this drug for a long time. I only took it for two months and I didn’t like the symptoms tapering it off.

[@sr2291]

I hate doctor resistance. I take Xanax to sleep and since they are too strong I put myself on a dose of 1/4 of a .25. That was over 30 years ago. I raised it to 1/2 twenty years ago and today I take 3/4. The bottle always said take one .25 three times a day. Today the bottle says take one tablet (.25) every day. They have to say that because they can't prescribe less than one tablet but I cut them and take less.

[@sandrahbradley1511]

Please taper slowly don't rush, your systems going to be knocked off kiln as is because of the dosage change so far of what I've seen on Dr Josef YT he understands the tapering process I think he did one on tapering or taper clinic you can also contact him, also you can consult with a compounding pharmacy on dosage changes for this type of med I would like to have had a Dr. Josef when I went off these meds, hang in there it can be a bumpy ride. Blessings 💜

[@user-3282]

Thanks for sharing. You are helping others understand. Very useful 👌

[@Iliketurtlezz]

Great interview.

[@RIOTScienceClub]

Thank You!

[@DeborahMowatt]

Thank you for this talk! This describes and validates my experience trying to get off of these types of meds. I'm very disapointed in the lack of knowledge and support from my doctors and practitioners. They were of no help and we fine seeing me start to withdrawl - looking at it as a relapse and proof of the condition - and letting me go back on the meds in an endless cycle.

[@mohammed7423]

Dr knows what he is talking about

[@dv_vid]

No. He is blissfully unconcerned that the research shows antidepressants have little or no clininical benefit beyond their placebo effect.

[@mary-chrisstaples9767]

Amazing. Thank you.

[@nickparton5663]

3 and a half years after a crash taper (with GP advice) and an extremely ill advised partial reinstatement, it's still a total nightmare. I might never be free, but at least this issue is coming to light now

[@mynhardtsaayman1]

Thank you for this information. I've been having an uphill battle getting of my SSRI (cilift Citalopram) ive been on for 2 years and now I'm m on a 1/4 tablet every 4 days for a year now, so effectively I'm on it for 3 years. All the symptoms you mention here I am having. Day 4 I have dizzy spels, extreme fatigue, brain sparks and sevete brain fog . You are giving me hope thank you and I hope I can get back to where I was, ane I'm probably rambling here but I dont think I should've gone on the stuff but I don't know, my doctor put me on the stuff after I had a massive breakdown and it did work for me .

[@emilyburnworth5815]

Want to thank you for all of your work Dr. Horowitz and for your openness. I am a primary care provider with a lot of interest in mental health needs. I feel that I’ve always been very conservative in helping people titrate down and off SSRIs and SNRIs. However, recently I took 2 1/2 weeks of an SSRI at a very low dose and tried to stop when I started having profound fatigue. The side effects of stopping that med have been terrible. I am grateful for the knowledge I have in psychopharmacology because I recognized FINISH syndrome. But the myalgias and RLS symptoms were terrible and required me to take time off of work. Diminished cognition is persisting for over a week. It feels like my brain has been stunned. Though I’d use solutions to help people titrate off it took my own experience to learn about hyperbolic dosing in SSRIs the way it’s done in other med classes.

[@marcodallolio9746]

To anyone with any understanding of neurobiology, and an open undogmatic mind, most of what he said is either already known, or intuited but not yet articulated. But still, it takes a lot of courage to state it, and the fact that such things sound revolutionary tells a lot about the state of psychiatry

[@claregilby895]

Thank you so much for this information. It is a long journey and its good to hear by reducing very slowly with liquid it can be done. Most doctors half it over a few weeks and this really doesnt work. I am very grateful for your advice 🙏 x

[@RedRocket83921]

Exactly the case with me, was prescribed sertraline after having some mild anxiety for 2 DAYS! Made me feel way worse but I stayed the course for a month or two until I chose to stop them, went into withdrawal and didn’t realise and was told I had relapsed (it wasn’t like anything that I had been through before) and was advised to restart the drug. Kindled myself badly with a severe adverse reaction but kept on the drug for years. Now 18 months off and still feel so mentally and physically damaged and I don’t know how long this will carry on.

[@connydm729]

Maybe taking a good/ high quality of vitamins and minerals, omega 3 and antioxidants, it will take a few weeks before you will feel better....please don´t give up!! Try all natural things, (good quality of honey,) who could help your brain and body to heal.... Much Love, Conny

[@adriduplooy2981]

Wish I knew then what I know now! I've experienced terrible side affects and even worse withdrawel. I've lost all faith in the medical profession due to my struggle with antidepressants. I just want to feel "normal" again!

[@davidwhalland7401]

I’m hearing u brother I agree all the best mate

[@zenakassab5455]

i agree!

[@pradeepdatta2168]

I am 68 years old and prescribed multiple psychiatric drugs by a specialist psychiatrist doctor. There was no informed consent. Had I known the problems with these drugs , I would have never taken them. I am on medication for last 5 years. I tapered off .25 mg clonazepam 3 months back. I am on 8 mg Flueoxetine ; 100 mg lamotrigine and 2 mg olanzapine out of which I am tapering Flueoxetine at 10% hyperbolic per month. I am very impressed by Dr Horowitz and follow his interviews very closely. Unfortunately my psychiatrist is not very conversant with tapering off psychiatric mrdicines and had suggested a very accelerated taper schedule which I did not follow.

[@Beck-rv7xr]

Yes! My GP just denied this yesterday, that the symptoms I’m experiencing have anything to do with withdrawal effects on my brain. She told me I should go back on the SSRI’s. 😕

[@AlbaLynxQueen]

That's very typical

[@snafu22]

All GPs say this. They are completely clueless.

[@Snowflake1374]

Same. ”It's not WD there is no such thing for SSRI, it's your anxiety”. No, it's electricity in the head and pain in the nerves. Horrible, its 2024 and still this BS.

[@wannabrew8718]

Same today

[@user-3282]

​@@snafu22100% Worse than clueless. Most are prescribing serious drugs they don't understand. In effect, poisoning the public.

[@simplypositiveme]

I was able to understand this! Wow.

[@emmaester5284]

Anyone in withdrawl-high dose vitamin c helps-also doing a ketogenic diet-get high saturated fats into your diet-and use heat/sauna-loads of fats-look into carnivore doctors-and dr Chris palmer-the brain is made from fat-NEEDS fat to function

[@annierichards7367]

Great Comment. The brain needs fats.

[@IwhimIwhim]

Can you please expand on the heat sauna, how long how often. Also how much vitamin c

[@user-rq1vj8gt7e]

Omg! This is exactly what I’m going through. Have been on ssri for 5 years, many times I would forget to take the pills for a few days and I would experience major panic attacks, which I never had before the medicine. And now I have been many weeks trying to come out of it and I’m feeling a really uncomfortable shortness of breath and insomnia. Now I’m scared it can last months or years, if I had this information before I wouldn’t have started them in first place.

[@saradarv1161]

I’m in the same situation. I took Cipralex on and off for 5 years. I stopped taking it a few months ago and now I’m dealing with insomnia, very unrestorative sleep, shortness of breath, huge bouts of inconsolable sadness and anger (usually triggered by something one of my parents will say or do…).

[@James-yu8nv]

I have tried tapering off anti depressant numerous times over the 15yrs I've used them, in recent years I had been able to lower the dose to 5mg twice a week then stopped them for 2 weeks and started Methylene Blue, way less withdrawal than I've ever known before, sometimes my eyes are sore, I feel a little tired sometimes emotionally flat, bit tearful and sometimes angry when small things go wrong but the brain fog is gone now, I sleep fine, no depression or anxiety.

[@evethamijmo3191]

Good job! Which antidepressant have u used?

[@James-yu8nv]

@evethamijmo3191 Update, I was on Zoloft/Sertraline I'm now using a TDCS headset to treat my depression made by Flow Neuroscience which seems to be working pretty well.

[@hazel9903]

I have successfully managed to come off mirtazapine gradually reducing from 30mg last Aug to nil in January. I'd been on different antidepressants since 1995. I did this totally by myself. I was also on an opiate reduction program which started about 2 weeks after I'd started reducing my dose of antidepressants. This was due to me being prescribed fentanyl since 2010. I was told by a friend who is a working nurse that it would be challenging to do the two at the same time. What I can say is that my emotions have felt my raw since coming off both these medications at the same time but not necessarily in a negative way. I'm glad my emotional bluntness has gone and I now experience the same personality I had before I ever started taking antidepressants which was generally quite assertive and not tolerating bs. I felt taking antidepressants took all that away from me. I believe I was also inappropriately prescribed them in the first place as tragic family bereavements first got a GP prescribing them to me.

[@TheDavveponken]

I had longterm "withdrawal" from Ritalin (adhd meds). There's been a study on rats showing that methylphenidate (Ritalin) raises serotonin for many months after cessation. This was my experience as well. I think I had serotonin syndrome that lasted for almost six months after stopping. This was very clear from how my orgasms felt, they were almost painful and only resided within the brain (which is unusual to begin with) for many months after, indistinguishable from how they were while on it. Then, a year after that I've experienced withdrawal (my brain trying to come back to normal, especially cerebral blood flow it seems and I've had resulting nerve damage from it, in my penis as well - which seems to correspond with other's structural changes of the penis found in pssd cases).

[@ConnectionHeals]

Can I ask for you to list the research paper is that Mark mentions. Thankyou

[@Snowflake1374]

When you tapered too fast and are off with WD 5 months off. 13 year use. There is nothing to do about the damage?? Im scared.

[@thisgirl5933]

I reinstated 2mg Effexor to cope after 3 months of AWS. I want out of this hell. Will taper off that much slower. Previously did 12.5mg step downs. Didn't know about 10% hyperbolic taper.

[@thisgirl5933]

Went up to 4mg and 12.5mg tab on day 11. I can't. Disappointed, but the mental anguish is torture. Every. Morning. One long panic attack. Edit: Day 22 went up to 25mg. Job search anxiety at the same time :(

[@loispalmer6714]

​@thisgirl5933 I'm on 37.5mg down from 300.ive started having awful panic attacks and not sure what to do😢

[@gorijdjd3558]

How are u right now?

[@catherinemarsh5453]

I was on antidepressants for 10 years. I decided to go cold turkey one day when I refused to go and buy another script. On day three I was in a state of terror, waking at night in a sweat, nightmares and cramping. It was terrible. I spoke to a lady at the chemist who was also a naturopath and she handed me a bottle and said take three a day of these. The next day I woke up and ALL the symptoms were gone. I felt absolutely normal. I continues on these tablets for 2 months then decided to stop them to see what would happen. Nothing! No symptoms and no more tablets. The tablets were called Kalva Calm. They calm the nervous system while the body gets rid of the drug in your system.

[@JacquiQ]

I tried to come off my SSRI - Sertraline, I cut the dose by 1/4 for two weeks and got horrendous anxiety and went back on . I now think 1/4 tablet was too much. i may have to shave and weigh to taper. I am half way through a v long taper - supposedly safe- of benzo's ...that has been hell and traumatising.

[@Crazydoglady.]

Prozac is a nightmare to come off of😢

[@thisgirl5933]

Switch to liquid and take it slow when you get down to 20mg. 10% taper every month (from last dose).

[@Snowflake1374]

Zoloft same.

[@helenaquin1797]

Mercy, you're right! I was on it for post partum, from a gp, decades ago. Absolutely NO folliw-up. Did not realize it at the time but was hypomanic on it. And I was taking some college classes and felt so alert, smart and hyper enough to use my boosts. Then, slowly, it began to make me so mentally slow. A kind of pseudo dementia began to set in and felt numb but on the depressed side. I struggled to play with my child and "be involved". I noticed a very odd feeling when I didn't take it so just intuitively began to reduce very gradually. It took quite awhile but finished out my university after the college - THANKfully. So, keep at it. There's light on the other side.

[@Crazydoglady.]

@@helenaquin1797 Me too! I started painting & pressure washing the house, cleaning. Lost my appetite...lost weight.. ect.. It was amazing!!! Until it wears off

[@laurenganann3457]

I had an amazing GP who helped me ramp down from the harmful dose I was given by a psychiatrist whom I no longer visiting. I was suffering from side effects and tried to quit cold turkey. It was shockingly uncomfortable. The brain zaps, anxiety, insomnia, etc. it was nothing that doctors warn about when they prescribe them. I characterize this as physical withdrawal and I think that’s accurate. Why does the medical community not realize that this class of drugs is physically addictive against all our knowledge? I’m not saying they have zero therapeutic benefits, but the risks are not fully disclosed.

[@zenakassab5455]

thank you

[@jonathanbevan7462]

Withdrawal from antidepressants is a million times worse than alcohol withdrawal... in terms of the length of suffering.

[@shleysites6406]

Is this Stuart Ralf from the ocd stories doing the interview? It sounds so much like him 🤔

[@dv_vid]

My psychiatrist, Michael J. Everson at Psychiatry Associates of Kansas City, told me to abruptly stop taking Zoloft, and it worked.

[@normakarina8722]

Did you stop Zoloft cold turkey?

[@dv_vid]

@@normakarina8722 Yes, my Dr. Michael Joseph Everson advised me to. Was he wrong?

[@dv_vid]

@@normakarina8722 Yes, my doctor advised me to do that.

[@dv_vid]

@@normakarina8722 Yes.

[@normakarina8722]

@@dv_vid how was it? Please

[@dianedevery2662]

I went from 100mg, down to 50 then stopped. 6 months now; I am still majorly depressed but decided the antis were not helping.

[@snappypickle]

I was prescribed Sertraline 4 years ago when I was diagnosed with post-natal depression and borderline personality disorder (after a 30 minute Zoom appointment!). Very little support other than the drugs. I'm 100% sure that I don't have BPD. I had 4 babies in 5 years, then found out my ex-husband is a paedophile! I've never been given a blood test, no therapy. Now I'm a single mum of 4 with no support from medical professionals. I'm trying to slowly wean off of Sertraline because I need to process everything that's happened and can't get in touch with my emotions. The withdrawals are awful! I can't parent like this so will have to get back up to 150mg. Pray for me and my babies 🙏.

[@paintinout3709]

How fast did you recover when you whent back on your medication??

[@Ignacy_Fruczak-Golabek]

Tapering conservatively at the rate of 10% of my last dose per month, it would take me longer to taper off the drug than the time I was on it. To my uscientific mind, this is increasing my cumulative exposure to the drug, which could be just as bad as a rushed taper. Is there such a thing as a too long taper?

[@thisgirl5933]

I think at higher doses you can go faster than 10%. I looked at a similar graph for Effexor and there is hardly a differfnce in 5-htt occupancy between 220mg and 80mg. It's after you get to lower doses that you have to take it slow. I'm in withdrawal btw becsuse didn't know this.

[@Snowflake1374]

In WD because doctor told me Im on a low dose and took me off. They dont have knowledge. Been on zoloft 14 years.

[@Snowflake1374]

@healyourheart8 Its really bad unfortunately. Missed to reinstate in time. Tried after 4 months adverse reaction.

[@shaun4443]

SAME, I HAVE BEEN SIX MONTHS OFF ZOLOFT AND STILL LIVING IN HELL! I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

[@jiririnagl302]

What about cross tape method with long half life AD ?

[@M.Sforza]

Going to start my taper off of 90mg of Cymbalta which I have been on for 19 years. Prior to that I started with antidepressants back in 1977 after suffering horrific panic attacks, and up till then I was always a melancholy/ depressed kid. I was put on meds specifically for panic disorder however. I have only now realized that a lot of my major depressive symptoms have actually been withdrawal symptoms. Sadly most drs will either try to add another medication, or abruptly take you off what you’re on, and exactly like you said, you will be told you need to go back on or change the antidepressant to a newer one. I will not tell my Dr. I’m tapering off I will be doing it with the help of a reputable Naturopathic Physician who has also prescribed a few supplements that will help with any withdrawal symptoms. We have calculated that with a 2.5% reduction daily a hyperbolic taper would be best and it’ll take approximately a year.

[@luffyonepiece2210]

How are you doing with your naturopathic?

[@M.Sforza]

@@luffyonepiece2210 Good…withdrawal symptoms have been few. He gave me something called Crave Arrest, and some mixture of mushrooms in powder form for mental clarity. It’s been a month, and I feel fine.

[@replaceablehead]

There are an awful lot of substances that can produce a short term feeling of euphoria.

[@celticwarrior5646]

Are they addictive? "They don't steal or rob a bank to get caffeine". I'd like to see the results of what would happen if the pharmacies closed overnight and you couldn't get your antidepressants unless you bought them off a drug dealer.

[@funnycatvideos5490]

so many people are taking these without realizing they are basically as addictive as street drugs and the withdrawals are even worse than street drugs

[@celticwarrior5646]

@@funnycatvideos5490 A drug & alcohol counselor made the comment that he thought antidepressants were harder to discontinue than heroin.

[@snafu22]

I’ve spoken to hundreds of people going through withdrawal from psych drugs. Some have gone through heroin withdrawal and that heroin was way easier to come off than any psych drug. Heroin after a month was done and over. Psych meds are more severe and years longer. Their words verbatim.

[@OliverJobson]

What would happen if you suddenly couldn’t buy water? Dependence and addiction are different things.

[@user-3282]

Yes, fair point. GPs are easily accessible drug 'dealers'. Educated, but in some ways that potentially hides reckless ignorance.

[@shawnaford5540]

I took 3 years to come off antidepressants. It was not relapse but more having my emotions come back on line, and that is difficult. But with as needed anxiety medication I did manage. I wish I had known that SSRI’s can cause Anhedonia, I lost years of my life.

[@BrookeBrooke12320]

Ive been on Luvox for almost 20 years and have no intention of coming off it. I have reduced from 200mg to 150mg recently because I have progressively needed to take more and was concerned about eventually needing to take the highest dose. I was able to do it by taking 200 one day, 150 the next and then progressively lessening the days I take 200mg.

[@craftygirl17]

How do you taper from an extended release medication like Effexor XR

[@johannawarrington4633]

I have antidepression now for 19 years first Citalopram, Metazepine and now Trazodon 50 Mg at night not one Docter in Holland wants to help me with stopping. I tryed my self but then I start a gain I fall down a lot dizzy.

[@barblucchesi9527]

My grandson is taking Lexapro, and the psych doc added wellbutrin, he has had drug problems and continues to keep relapses under control but he seems so out of touch with normal behavior, he's been in and out of inpatient programs and I'd like to think there's a better solution

[@intermilan6202]

I went cold turkey on 2 different occasions (ssri’s) withouth even knowing that you had to taper off!!

[@christiantrnnes8026]

If it wasnt for Lexapro I would have been dead. 8 yrs and slo slo tapering. No other symptoms than some buzzing in my head for a week or so after the last dosage

[@Iliketurtlezz]

Great! You belong to the 50% group who can come off quite easily! Happy for you mate!

[@kristijanignjatovski4415]

I did not understand if he is off of ad.

[@codywilson4938]

I noticed VSS sometime in going off antidepressants and coming back on them again. Do you have any insight into a possible causality here? Am I just doomed to have impaired visuals for the rest of my life?

[@ginakendrick2581]

It’s one thing now to have learned this but now what do we do if we don’t have anyone to help us !!!without a liquid dose at the end. On mirtazapine 30 years. No one ever told me or asked how long I’ve been on this. Originally went on it for insomnia. It worked great at 15mg. Once a year at my doctors wellness check not one doctor at my clinic asked how long have you been on this , why and this is what may happen if you continue. They just keep refilling it. It’s a crime. Your video helped, the charts are great. Doing 10% now for 4 months 7.5 every Friday, now I have to go another 10% etc etc.. but what’s going to happen if I don’t have liquid suspension?

[@jenniferj3663]

i've been on mirt for 10+ years. how is the withdrawal going?

[@ginakendrick2581]

@@jenniferj3663 well so far I’m taking half a pill every Friday but I’ve been doing it now for eight months. I got to move onto another half a pill on Wednesdays so afraid to, but I have to do it eventually at 10% a month. This is probably gonna take another year to get down to 7.5 mgactually knowing the symptoms helps a lot because then you don’t freak out if you actually know you’re going to feel this way very tired, very shaky, anxious then you don’t double it by being afraid of it

[@ERBSavage]

Can LSD or magic mushrooms help alleviate withdrawal symptoms?

[@JustinTrudeau1971]

No

[@justmadeit2]

I’m the future we will probably look back and be surprised at how crude ssris are, that is of course at a time when advances are made in the mental health Profession

[@ajax700]

He experienced the worst state in his life, and still he is *very* lucky as he didn't got PSSD. One of the very very very few honest psychiatrists. Psychiatry is a scam. Best wishes.

[@blackbirdboy]

"Lucky" no offense to you but the rate of getting PSSD is very low.

[@ajax700]

@@blackbirdboy PSSD is much much higher than pharma admits *and* it is a very underdiagnosed condition. Have you read David Healy or any other serious definition? Best wishes.

[@blackbirdboy]

@@ajax700 Idk man, I've been taking them for 12 years almost and I still laugh and cry at stuff but I feel less OCD and less like a psychopath lol

[@johannawarrington4633]

What kind of relapse ? Symptones of depression or relapse of alcohol or drugs. ??

[@LeticiaWorboys]

I'm 3 years into a taper from Effexor. I'm going super slow, avout 5% every 2 or 4 months. I'm taking approximately 20mg right now and its very hard the lower u get. Ive recently been having severe anxiety and panic attacks. My Drs don't understand how horrible this drug is sadly. It should be taken off the market.

[@erinc4703]

I got off Effexor by tapering years ago but it was hell. I'm glad there's awareness about it these days, I felt like I was losing my mind. It needs to be taken off the market or at the very least Dr's need to know this and warn people before they start taking it!

[@chriscarpunky]

If talk therapy is better with no side effects and benzos and ssri do not work and are not helpful in the long run then what good is the psychiatry field? They usually prescribe the medication and the therapist/counselor are the one who does talk therapy.

[@JustinTrudeau1971]

It has its uses for people with severe issues like psychosis or schizophrenia but for your average joe it causes more harm than good, imho. Going on antidepressants was the worst decision of my life.

[@mariannelabanane2589]

What mean CBT (around minute 7:00)???

[@almasaraci8061]

Cognitive behaviour therapy 36:30

[@mariannelabanane2589]

@@almasaraci8061 Ah ok, thanks!

[@mikeodee1164]

i quit anti depressants and other psych meds i never had any probelms u have to reduse the mg gradually month after month i was not suprised anti depressants only helped 50 percent alpha lipoic acid helps 100 percent for my depression for the past 2 years and psych meds never helped me and others i knew with ocd magnesium is helping me alot with ocd for the past 15 months too many lying psychiatrist

[@littlecreep1903]

My doctor upped my dose of sertraline yesterday and told me it's in no way addictive and does not cause withdrawals at all when you want to come off

[@JustinTrudeau1971]

Your doctor is wrong wrong wrong. Sorry.

[@brunomoscon8899]

I don’t know what the hell I’m gonna do now

[@lucianogoyenechea8704]

my doctor is supportive with me to leave meds, but... he denies addiction nor dependence nor withdrawal efects!!

[@benchaplt]

I'm two weeks in nasua, sleep issues,that's it so far 10 milligrams Lexapro down to 5 milligrams make yourself sleep if I don't I get crazy and mad

[@benchaplt]

@@healyourheart8 bad but I'm back in weed so I don't have any sides that I know of maybe more snappy I'm still on 5 mg sleep is good

[@benchaplt]

@@healyourheart8 I'm good not bad lol

[@benchaplt]

@@healyourheart8 smoke weed I recommend

[@benchaplt]

@@healyourheart8 Keep your head up make sure you sleep melatonin and green works well and go slow on the tapper do it over months if not a year

[@katiebrown7774]

I tried to go from 40mg lexapro to 37.5mg. Hell.

[@emilholmsten8600]

Mirtazapine has truly ruined my life! Truly truly AS horror show! 6 years of my life is gone.. and it is not yet over

[@Iliketurtlezz]

Im so sorry for you. Youre not alone.

[@GingerNuts361-ny4qp]

What worked for me is taking Prozac to wean off, since it has such a long half life there’s no need to wean off

[@dv_vid]

Are you Jewish? Do you know if Zoloft is considered Kosher Parve or if the inactive ingredients are derived from pork gelatin? Or if it is not Halal or Haram?

[@user-pb8gb5jm3l]

I come off paroxetine three times until now, fortunately it was very easy for me,, the last time i stopped it completely suddenly because i got pregnant,i had minimal side effects...

[@martinacaffrey4411]

Very lucky. How long and what dose had you been taking?

[@user-pb8gb5jm3l]

@@martinacaffrey4411 20mg for four -five years every time..

[@user-pb8gb5jm3l]

@@martinacaffrey4411 20 mg ,about four -five years every time.

[@user-pb8gb5jm3l]

20 mg ,here in Greece paroxetine called Seroxat...i was taking this medicine for three -four years... Mostly for panic attacks and once for mild depression... It was a great therapy for me,but i gained weight... listen to me,you have to come off slowly,maybe it takes weeks,so what????I never felt something scary, for me it was difficult the beginning,,i was feeling very anxious, sometimes i felt a burning sensation in my body... don't be afraid and trust your doctor and your strength..

[@lezleyperkins1063]

How long were you on Paroxatine? I've just weaned myself off after 18 years, it took me over 5weeks . Now I have a terrible cough and find it hard to breathe if I even walk upstairs, did you experience any of this.

[@kimwaldron2606]

Good reason to not start taking them

[@Theholyspiritstemple]

Coming off APs and SSRIs reminds me of being tortured and brainwashed by the CIA.

[@johnnyecoman9121]

Yo Dr Mark says misery is the norm. Relax, misery shies you are human.

[@wednesdayschild3627]

This biologic psychiatry has all become a big disaster. Did anyone ask what was happening and why did people feel depressed? Tge drugs were a big nothing for me, largely placebo. I went of many years ago alone within about 3 months.

[@user-id1ij8vc8i]

You got try. Vitamin b have helped me and. Magnesium. Blueberries. It's the mind. Stop. Thinking about stuff all the best to you all

[@clausmehl8731]

Completely Destroyed by ssri great shit Called treatment. Pssd

[@Snowflake1374]

Same.

[@Hezzey]

How long did the dummy, who is speaking, eat those things? I believe that is or was years……

[@Keshiaaa]

Ew shut your mouth. He’s a brilliant man trying to help others. Why do you call him a dummy? You’re the dummy, dummy.

[@jimbobaggins5183]

Who are you asking and who are you talking about? It's common to maintain an assumption but not common for it to be useful.

[@kazman_6899]

15 years, I guess? Why would you be on drugs that aren't essential for 15 years? And why would a doctor fall for this? I simply don't understand creating a reliance on medicine. It's a huge self-sabotage red flag.