TaperCommunity
I’ve been medicated (against my will) since age 9. I have just about every single diagnosis. I had no choice in the matter as my parents used to sneak medication in my food. I was given ADHD medication, SSRIs/trycyclics, antipsychotics and benzodiazapines all before the age of 18 and I believe these all monumentally impacted my development. I recall being prescribed Quetiapine in high school, for what I now know is Complex PTSD but was told was ODD at age 15; and my brain has never been the same since that period of time. A few months later I was given 40 mg of fluoxetine to mitigate the side effects from the Quetiapine. Prior to this I had never experienced rage or irritability or anger. These drugs created an artificial sense of irritation within my psyche and created behaviours that were out of alignment with my organic nature. In 2015 when I started university and ended an abusive relationship while on a large dose of Fluoxetine(80mg) and (30mg) of mirtazapine I was told I was experiencing a hypermanic episode of bipolar disorder 2 and this label has followed me around since despite not demonstrating any behaviours of that before or after the medications in conjunction with the stress of starting university. The mood stabiliser they prescribed me called Sodium Valproate caused me to gain 30kg and develop hormonal issues like PCOS & PMDD. I have not been the same since. I have a diagnostic list that is so long, since I have been treated for these things since 2002. But I am currently diagnosed with CPTSD & ADHD & PMDD. These medications have taken away my career, my academic trajectory, my social life, my motivation and willpower and my ability to function in the real world. I never had a normal childhood or adolescence as I was poly drugged on these drugs without being informed of the impact these drugs would have on my function long term. I had no idea when I was given a benzodiazepine for PTSD related anxiety as a teenager that could lead to a lifelong dependency. I had no idea that the anti depressants I was forcefully given at age 9-16 were going to impact me for decades after that, although I have never been clinically depressed. I had no idea the anti psychotic I was prescribed at age 15 would create a state of dopamine deficiency and had a myriad of side effects, such as tachycardia , reduced cognitive function, brain fog, extreme fatigue, irritability, low frustration tolerance, akathisia, metabolic disorders and artificial insomnia. I am here now I am older ready to reclaim and restore what decades of psychiatric harm has taken from my life, and find support and bring awareness to the damage these medications can cause. If I had known I would’ve never taken them, not that I had any ability to consent at the age I was started but, I often wonder how my life would’ve turned out had I never been forcefully drugged and medicated by my parents and doctors at such a young age.
Valium — 2 years, 2 months — holding | Topamax — 25mg — 3 years, 3 months — actively tapering | other — 3mcg — 3 years, 9 months — supporting others | other — 30mg — 3 years, 3 months — supporting others
Feeling fair. No specific symptoms. Started lithium march 2023. Stopped in January 2025 due to severe GI symptoms, extreme skin issues (Epidermoid cysts), and bladder problems. Plus brain fog and decreased cognition. No withdrawal symptoms to report outside of my bladder function returned to normal and my skin cleared up after a few months of it being out of my system. It felt inherently heavy and toxic to take.
Feeling poor. Been having bouts of headache, irritability, electric shock sensations, brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, emotional blunting, gi upset, muscle aches, and appetite changes. Been off Mirtazapine since June 2026. Dropped off at 3mg-0mg. Sleep is okay, substitute with magnesium & l-theanine and wake up a few times a night Gut issues have flared up since coming off mirtazapine. Unable to consume certain food groups without severe GI Flare ups.
Feeling okay. Been having bouts of gi upset, visual disturbances, muscle aches, and emotional blunting. I started my taper on 25mg of Diazepam last year and I am currently down to 5mg and holding this until I have a stable home environment to complete the rest of the taper. If I miss a dose of diazepam I experience severe restless legs, akathisia and body aches.
Feeling okay. Been having bouts of gi upset.
Feeling good. Been having bouts of irritability, insomnia, appetite changes, and gi upset.
Feeling fair. Been having bouts of dizziness, allergies, eye watering, headache, anxiety, fatigue, depersonalization, gi upset, muscle aches, emotional blunting, sweating, and visual disturbances. October 2025, dropped to 7.5mg from 15mg
Feeling fair. Been having bouts of crying spells, fatigue, appetite changes, emotional blunting, and visual disturbances. September 2025. 15mg mirtazapine
Feeling okay. Been having bouts of headache, irritability, appetite changes, flu-like symptoms, emotional blunting, visual disturbances, depersonalization, and fatigue. I have been off all SSRI/SNRIs since May 2025 as of September 2026. I experience bouts of daily fatigue and burnout feelings, exhaustion, and emotional blunting.
March 2025. Valium taper began. 25mg.. No specific symptoms.
Feeling fair. Been having bouts of electric shock sensations, headache, dizziness, brain zaps, depersonalization, and visual disturbances. 0mg of fluoxetine
Feeling okay. Been having bouts of electric shock sensations, depersonalization, emotional blunting, and visual disturbances. Switched onto venlafaxine which was a huge mistaken. Have been off fluoxetine since 19/2/2025
Switched from Intunive to Clonidine for ADHD/PTSD. No symptoms that I am aware of. Intunive worsened my night terrors & night time flashbacks and did not really help with ADHD or PTSD symptoms. Unable to recall dose. Was on it from June 2021-November 2022.
Feeling poor. Been having bouts of gi upset, muscle aches, emotional blunting, flu-like symptoms, appetite changes, fatigue, anxiety, depression, crying spells, irritability, nausea, dizziness, visual disturbances, sweating, and rage. Sick with severe GI symptoms after cold turkey off pregabalin in October 2022. I was nauseous, dry heaving and had diarrhoea every morning from November-December 2022. I was unaware of tapering. My dose prior to this was 200mg. I dropped to 50 and then went to 0mg.
Feeling fair. Been having bouts of headache, crying spells, emotional blunting, flu-like symptoms, appetite changes, fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia, brain zaps, and dizziness. Went from 200mg of Pregablin to 50mg to nothing over a month as I was unaware of tapering in 2022. I was sick throughout the entire month of November and December with nausea, dry retching and severe diarrhoea. I was unable to eat and lost 10kg. I assumed it was anxiety but I wonder now if it was the side effect of coming off 2 years of Pregablin too quickly. (Didn’t have a treating psychiatrist to prescribe and no continuity of care due to moving cities in lockdown).
Feeling good. Been having bouts of insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, depression, irritability, depersonalization, and rage. Stopped taking it after 6 months due to incredibly dry mouth and concerns about cardiovascular issues. Severe rebound of ADHD symptoms crept in over the course of the following 18 months.
Feeling good. Been having bouts of dizziness, irritability, electric shock sensations, gi upset, muscle aches, emotional blunting, flu-like symptoms, visual disturbances, rage, and sweating. Serotonin syndrome from extreme dose of fluoxetine and mirtazapine along with preworkout and nootropics for university resulted in a bipolar 2 diagnosis. Never had any symptoms again. Down from 80mg to 20mg of fluoxetine as of July 2015. Off all fluoxetine as of February 2025.
Feeling very good. Been having bouts of dizziness, nausea, insomnia, fatigue, electric shock sensations, appetite changes, and visual disturbances. Dropped from 75mg - 50mg of Quetiapine in January 2013. Stayed on the dose for a month and dropped to 25mg and then dropped to 25mg every second night.