Symptoms: Akathisia, brain zaps, emotional blunting, sexual dysfunction, cognitive impairment, insomnia, suicidal ideation, neuropathy, severe anxiety/panic, muscle/joint pain, anhedonia, whole body jerks, formication
I was put on an SSRI as a teen, and in 2023 I enquired about trying to get off it (after about 15 years of use) as I didn’t want to be on it forever. My GP in the UK told me to “taper” over a week or two. I dutifully followed her advice.
What followed was hell on earth. I was unable to function, suicidal, with severe brain zaps and severe insomnia. I was getting about two hours of sleep a night. I had no idea what was happening. I was not warned about withdrawal. I ended up polydrugged on two more medications. Then another cold turkey experience and various dose changes. I was disabled by this—more injury to my sensitised nervous system.
Then I found Dr Mark Horowitz’s work and useful Facebook groups, did my own research, and fought for liquid formulations of my medications. Doctors gaslit me and didn’t want to give liquid because of the cost. Now I’m tapering extremely slowly, fearful that doctors don’t believe me and will take my liquids away.
It’s going to take years. I don’t know how I’ve kept a job and raised a young child through this. So much anger and grief over it all. Traumatised.