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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Im withdrawing from my SSRIs, how long will it last?

G

goku4ever

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Joined
May 13, 2010
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461
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Bristol
Took my last dose of Cipralex on saturday. Before then I had been taking 10mg every other day for a few days, before that it was 10mg daily. Since monday I keep getting this feeling like my body and mind all of a sudden become really fuzzy and heavy, but then it passes as quickly as it comes on. However its happening more and more frequently.

Edit:
Another good way to describe the sensation is like brain zaps, but for the body. And sometimes I get a big one which is like a static shock.
 
Yes, this sounds like it could be related to the discontinuation of an SSRI. I wouldn't be too concerned if these episodes aren't troublesome or increasing in severity.
 
when i got off of paxil the main WD lasted 2 weeks and another 2 weeks of vomiting (on and off). it was a horrible month but it was partly my fault for tapering too fast. but i got brain zaps, mood swings, sore muscles, and the vomiting was the worst of it. For me this WD was tougher on me then the WD from OC (but i tapered very slow for this).
 
I stopped my zoloft early, and get this weird dizziness / head spin feeling when i would walk and it would happen off and on. Kind of similar to you, im not sure how long it lasts but you've already waited like 3 days? You should be in the clear soon
 
How long have you been on the medication for? This plays a large role in how long your body needs to adjust back to "normal" in addition to the half-life of the particular med.
 
6 months

edit:
oh yea, I just remembered a while ago I was on 20mg a day for a few months and when my dose was reduced to 10mg a day I got similar symptoms, though not as bad. But I can't remember how long they lasted.
 
it took me about 2 months of really really bad withdrawals to come off of a daily dose of 150mg effexor (which is not an SSRI but an SNRI, though somewhat similar) after about 4 years, half a year for the lingering ones to vanish, and 2 years later i still feel like they messed with my head. obviously
 
This definitely sounds like SSRI discontiniation syndrome. For most people the symptoms, if they get them, settle within a few weeks.. if yours are severe or not improving I would return to your doctor - sometimes they will switch you to one with a lonher half life (eg fluoxetine/Prozac) for a smoother taper.

Article on SSRI discontinuation syndrome
 
I think the symptoms are lessening. Oddly enough the weird feelings seem to occur far more frequently if I think about them. If I were to take my mind off it somehow I could go for a couple of hours without experiencing them.
 
It really depends on dose, drug and your body

Im currently coming of citalopram 40mg OD. I started about 4 weeks back and am currently down to 20mg OD.

About 5 days ago I started getting bad headaches, nightmares, postural hypotension (dizziness when I stood up) and just generally feeling crap. Yesterday I started to feel really paranoid and a little panicy and hit the gp up for some Valium, which has definitely helped.

Withdrawal from SSRI should be done super slow, otherwise your serotonin just plummets. Even small dose adjustments done gradually will just all of a sudden drop the serum levels and bingo! You feel shitty.

You can't really put a time limit on withdrawal symptoms, just make sure that you are ready to come off them. I knew I was ready because every time I took my tab I felt way hyper!

Good luck man, you're not y yourself!
 
exsultate said:
it took me about 2 months of really really bad withdrawals to come off of a daily dose of 150mg effexor (which is not an SSRI but an SNRI, though somewhat similar) after about 4 years, half a year for the lingering ones to vanish, and 2 years later i still feel like they messed with my head. obviously
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for this info. I took wellbutrin (buproprion) for a couple months and didn't experience any WD (other than awful nightmares, I also got these when I started on the bupropion). Does it just take longer than a couple months of is Effexor more likely to cause dependence?
 
My withdrawals are pretty much gone. Very infrequent effects, which are nowhere near as bad as they once were. Im one happy chappy.

Edit:
Ive just realised, Im off my anti-depressants and Im happy with my life. Im over most of the withdrawals. I feel like Ive accomplished something.
Depression, go fuck yourself, I win.
 
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