This calculator estimates withdrawal symptoms based on medication half-life, duration of use, and tapering speed. The timeline is an approximation from clinical studies and patient reports.
Most patients experience symptoms lasting 1-2 weeks, but 10-20% report symptoms lasting months or even over a year. Symptoms vary by medication type and individual factors.
Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medication regimen.
Stopping SSRIs or SNRIs isn’t as simple as taking your last pill and calling it done. For many, the real challenge begins after the final dose. Withdrawal symptoms don’t always show up right away-and when they do, they’re often mistaken for a return of depression or anxiety. That’s why understanding SSRI and SNRI discontinuation timelines isn’t just helpful-it’s critical to avoiding unnecessary suffering and misdiagnosis.
Most symptoms begin when 90% of the drug has left your system. That’s why short-acting drugs like venlafaxine and paroxetine are notorious for sudden, sharp withdrawal. Fluoxetine’s long half-life acts like a built-in buffer, which is why it’s sometimes used to help people taper off other SSRIs.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, venlafaxine discontinuation causes the most severe symptoms in 65% of cases. Dizziness affects 78%, brain zaps hit 62%, and nausea occurs in 55%. These aren’t rare outliers-they’re the norm for many.
Why the contradiction? Because most clinical trials were done on people who stayed on meds for 6-12 months. But many patients are on antidepressants for years. Their brains have adapted more deeply. A 2-week taper that works for someone on 6 months of treatment might wreck someone on 5 years.
If symptoms return after stopping, restart the last effective dose and taper slower. Most symptoms resolve within 24-72 hours of going back to the previous dose.
These aren’t normal. If you experience them, contact your prescriber immediately. The FDA’s adverse event database shows that 63.1% of people report brain zaps during withdrawal-enough to be common, but not enough to ignore.
For now, the best advice is simple: Don’t rush. Don’t assume your symptoms are depression returning. Don’t let a 2-week plan be your only option. Your brain took months to adapt-giving it time to unlearn the change is the only reliable way to stop safely.
For most people, symptoms last 1-2 weeks. But 10-20% experience symptoms for months, and some report them lasting over a year. The duration depends on the medication’s half-life, how long you’ve been taking it, and how fast you taper. Fluoxetine can cause delayed symptoms that appear weeks after stopping.
It’s not recommended. Stopping abruptly, especially with short-half-life drugs like paroxetine or venlafaxine, can cause severe withdrawal symptoms including brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, and anxiety. Even if you feel fine, your brain hasn’t had time to adjust. A slow, symptom-guided taper is far safer.
Several factors: medication half-life (shorter = worse), duration of use (longer = more adaptation), genetics, mental health history, and taper speed. People who’ve been on antidepressants for years or have anxiety disorders tend to have more intense symptoms. Switching generics or missing doses can also trigger withdrawal-like effects.
Yes, sometimes. Fluoxetine is often used to help taper off shorter-acting SSRIs like paroxetine because of its long half-life. This is called a “bridge taper.” It smooths the transition and reduces shock to the nervous system. But this should only be done under medical supervision-it’s not a DIY solution.
If symptoms return, restart your last effective dose. Most symptoms will fade within 24-72 hours. Then, begin a slower taper-reducing by smaller amounts and waiting longer between cuts. Many people need to taper over many months. Don’t see this as failure; it’s normal for long-term users.
There’s no strong evidence that supplements like omega-3s, magnesium, or St. John’s Wort reliably reduce withdrawal symptoms. Some people report feeling better with magnesium or B vitamins, but these aren’t proven treatments. Avoid unregulated products-they can interact with your medication or worsen symptoms. Always talk to your doctor before adding anything.
Look for psychiatrists, psychopharmacologists, or functional medicine doctors who specialize in deprescribing. Ask if they’ve used symptom-guided tapering or hyperbolic tapering methods. Online communities like Surviving Antidepressants or Reddit’s r/antidepressants often have lists of recommended providers. Avoid doctors who push quick tapers or dismiss your symptoms as “just anxiety.”
Been off paroxetine for 8 months now. Brain zaps still pop up when i’m tired or stressed. Not fun, but they’re fading. Took longer than anyone told me it would. Just wanted to say you’re not alone if this is your life now.
Oh wow. Another person who thinks their brain is a fragile snowflake that needs a 12-month taper. Did you also cry when your phone charger broke? 🙄
you think 12 months is long?? i was on cymbalta for 7 years and tapered over 3 years. my therapist said i was ‘too sensitive’. guess what? i’m still here. and you’re not.
I just want to say, thank you for sharing this. Seriously. So many people don’t realize how complex this is. I’ve seen friends go through this and doctors just say, ‘It’s all in your head.’ No. It’s in your neurotransmitters. And your nervous system. And your life. Please, if you’re reading this, don’t rush. Slow is strong. Slow is safe. Slow is sacred.
I tapered off sertraline over 18 months. Started with 10% cuts every 6 weeks. Had to pause twice because of dizziness and insomnia. My doctor thought I was overreacting. Turns out, I was just listening to my body. The worst part? People telling me I was ‘addicted.’ It’s not addiction. It’s adaptation.
i mean... if u r so weak u cant handle a 2 week taper then maybe u shouldnt have taken it in the first place? like... life is hard. why do u expect your brain to be a spa day?
I’m from India and I’ve seen so many people here get pressured to stop meds fast because ‘it’s not spiritual’ or ‘God will heal you.’ This post saved me. I tapered slowly with a psychiatrist who actually listened. Took 14 months. I’m free now. Not because I was strong. Because I was patient.
My doc gave me a 3-week taper for venlafaxine. Woke up day 2 with brain zaps so bad I thought I was having a stroke. Ended up back on the dose for 2 months before trying again. This time? 10% every 8 weeks. Took 10 months. Zero zaps. Just quiet. That’s the win.
I’m not a doctor but I’ve helped 3 friends through this. The biggest mistake? Trying to do it alone. Find a community. Track symptoms. Don’t trust the 2-week plan. If your doctor doesn’t know about hyperbolic tapering, find someone who does. You’re worth the time.
I tapered off Lexapro with a liquid form. 2.5% every 6 weeks. Used a syringe. Looked like a chemist. My friends thought i was crazy. But i had ZERO brain zaps. Just chill vibes. 🧪✨ If your doc won’t prescribe it, find a compounding pharmacy. It’s not magic. It’s math.
This is why people are so weak these days. You take a pill for 6 months and suddenly you can’t function without it? Maybe you should’ve tried therapy instead of a chemical crutch.
The Lancet study cited here is solid. But I’d add that genetic polymorphisms in SLC6A4 and CYP2D6 significantly affect metabolism. Some people clear fluoxetine 3x faster. That’s why one-size-fits-all tapering fails. Personalized pharmacokinetics is the future.
I’m the author of this post. Thank you all for sharing your stories. I didn’t expect this much heart. I’ve been on this journey for 4 years. Some days I still get a brain zap. But now I know: it’s not failure. It’s just my nervous system catching up. We’re all healing at our own pace. Keep going.
