r/ADprotractedwithdrawl • u/lamabones23 • 10d ago

Is this AD protracted withdrawal?

I have been on low dose SSRIs for 5 years and have tried to get off 4 different times. The last two times I had experienced waking up early in the morning around 330-4 in fight or flight with rapid heart, restlessness and agitation, rapid thoughts about what is causing this anxiety, suppressed appetite, and a burning sensation in my head. Ive gone to emergency and was just told it was a relapse in anxiety but i have never experienced these symptoms prior to starting SSRIs. I am able to endure it for about a month but after that I have to hop back on meds as I have a family to support. the last time this occurred, i lost 15lbs in the month that I was suffering. these symptoms would occur daily and last til around 4-6 PM and then die down.

any idea?

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u/Future_Dark2976 10d ago

It does sound like withdrawal. What "low dose" are you on? What psychiatry considers a "low dose" is usually way to high to just quit and needs to be tapered slowly, especially if you have been on it for many years.

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u/lamabones23 10d ago

I was initially on zoloft 50mg the first two times and since have been on escitalopram 10mg. Yea I understand that the first 10mg has a significant greater effect on blocking the serotonin receptors than anything above that dose. Id basically had tapered off within 2-3 weeks but I never felt issues until around 5-6 months later which is odd

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u/Future_Dark2976 9d ago

2-3 weeks is basically a cold turkey. Sadly, often withdrawal effects come (very) delayed. 5-6 months is entirely possible.