Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Town Hall 5 -- Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

[@briank1263]

I've been off for about 11 months now after a 6 month taper from Lexapro. Was on SSRIs for 22 years. I am At my Dad's house for Thanksgiving. Normally I'd be very cheerful during this time with family , but can hardly feel any joy at the moment. I do feel something , although, it is very subtle. I know I'm healing and I know it takes time and it's different for everyone... I will never give up. I hope others going through the same thing can encourage themselves to push through this time of tumult , pain and suffering. God Bless you all.

[@Snowflake1374]

4 months off zoloft after 13 years and too fast taper at the end. Still numb dont feel any joy or sensory at all.

[@briank1263]

@@Snowflake1374 I just passed the one year mark for me and still am having symptoms... It is getting easier for me though. Months 6-9 were brutal. I hope you can find your power. It's definitely a marathon. God Bless. Keep pushing.

[@DiogoSantos-ix5sl]

How about long lasting symptoms from adverse reactions, which are really similar to protracted withdrawal, what is behind those? Thanks for all your work…

[@lifeAfterSSRIs]

I took sertraline for 13 years and tried to quit at least 7 times with horrible withdrawals. My final time, I drastically reduced sugar consumption and was exercising frequently. I had ZERO withdrawals that time, and I was going cold turkey. I've been off of it for four years now.

[@bibibobi249]

‏‪In all the video talk there was really no solution to the subject question: what can be done to avoid or to not suffer severely from withdrawal symptoms. the girl asked the subject question "with what can you inform us so that people wouldn't suffer as I did" and the general answer was "it's a good thing to be reminded that you're experiencing withdrawal symptoms that will end so hang on there buddy" yes you should taper and not go cold turkey, yes you should taper by percentage dosages rather then Equal dosages but prepare for hell that potentially will last for years... good luck with that. anyways without addressing the root cause of the imbalances that all the symptoms that came up the first day you felt them and searched for help and found your self in a psychiatric office for the first time, till they are addressed it will be going in circles endlessly + the additional damage caused by the drugs themselves over the years + the time that passed, the years of continuing damaging the system with the same thing that hurt you from the beginning ‏‪

[@mariannelabanane2589]

That the answer I was searching for. What can be done to not suffer severely from withdrawal symptoms. I lower my dosage too fast, then I came back to my original dosage, but, I still suffer extremely with a withdrawal syndrome that's going to last at least a year in my opinion, according to my past experiences, looking desperatly for an answer. What can be done to lessen the suffering when you are in it???

[@lifeAfterSSRIs]

Cut out sweets and excess sugar, and do a good amount of exercise. That was how I finally was able to quit with ZERO withdrawals. I had tried after for 12 years before that and always had horrible withdrawals.

[@Snowflake1374]

Important information.

[@carolinecroft7029]

Excellent, thank you.

[@mariekejansen7658]

Thank you 🙏

[@beckiehall6752]

I have been on antidepressants for over 15 years and I have antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. I had very severe withdrawal. So I had to go back on the drug. But my symptoms still aren’t gone. I can’t find a doctor who knows how to treat this. I live in Kentucky.

[@lifeAfterSSRIs]

Cut out sweets and excess sugar, and do a good amount of exercise. That was how I finally was able to quit with ZERO withdrawals. I had tried after for 12 years before that and always had horrible withdrawals.

[@ironmedicine6898]

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