Supporting · Sep 26, 2026

supporting

23 posts

Australia

Exercise tolerance

September 26, 2026

Has anyone else experienced a sudden drop in exercise tolerance during withdrawal? I’d been back weight training consistently and had built up my training over several weeks without major issues. About six weeks ago I had a pretty nasty wave/flare after a bigger session, and since then my tolerance seems completely different. Even after backing right down and gradually reintroducing weights, I seem to get increased activation, louder symptoms and sensitivity after relatively small sessions — sometimes showing up more over the following 24–48 hours. Before this flare I could tolerate considerably more. Has anyone had their exercise tolerance suddenly drop like this after previously doing well, and did you eventually find you could gradually build it back up again? Exercise was my life before all this 😢

Sertraline for 2 years, successfully tapered off. 8 months later 1 week of Pristiq, stopped due to bad side effects.
Quetiapine low dose 1 week.
Suspected kindling injury.

43 Replies

TroyOct 9

Hi again peeps, I need to say I am really struggling not being able to lift weights and train at the moment 😢 I try to tell myself this is temporary but it's so hard, especially when I look in the mirror and notice my physique disappearing. It's been such a big part of my life. Throughout this it is what kept me anchored and it was also something I could do with my wife after a long day at work. How have other people coped with losing the gym etc? Thanks again everyone.

Sertraline for 2 years, successfully tapered off. 8 months later 1 week of Pristiq, stopped due to bad side effects.
Quetiapine low dose 1 week.
Suspected kindling injury.

⭐

CatinaOct 9

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi Troy, I'm sorry this is so hard on you. If you can't tolerate the workouts you used to, could you and your wife take some gentle walks together? It would still give you some exercise and time spent together. Try to keep in mind that you're giving your body what it needs right now so it can heal and recover, although it's the opposite of what you're used to. Exercise intolerance happens to many people, so I'm sure some other members will be able to add their suggestions and thoughts. I'm glad you're reminding yourself that it's only temporary....because it is.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

TroyOct 9

@Catina thanks for your reply. I was going on walks but my work schedule has changed somewhat which makes it difficult at times. The stupid thing about it is I also feel embarrassed going out at times knowing what I use to look like, sounds vain I know, but I'm really grieving the loss of what I love and what I looked like. I'm trying to allow and accept this is where I am right now but it's bloody hard. Sorry if this is overly negative 🙏

Sertraline for 2 years, successfully tapered off. 8 months later 1 week of Pristiq, stopped due to bad side effects.
Quetiapine low dose 1 week.
Suspected kindling injury.

⭐

CatinaOct 9

Community AnchorEffexor

"The stupid thing about it is I also feel embarrassed going out at times knowing what I use to look like, sounds vain I know, but I'm really grieving the loss of what I love and what I looked like." — @Troy

I understand, more than you think I do. This can happen when our self-esteem is closely linked to our physical appearance. But, I will tell you that this situation might actually be a good life lesson for you. It's a chance for you to work on developing more of your inner qualities and "beauty." You're still the same wonderful person inside, so remember that. And you probably don't look half as bad as you think you do! We're our own worst critic.

anne noni mossOct 9

LighthousePaxil · holding

"his can happen when our self-esteem is closely linked to our physical appearance" — @Catina

Not proud of this, but I'm vain with this. It has been so hard to be...I won't use the words. They would be my fat-phobic, eating disordered father's words anyway. There's so much more to life, and because of society's messages, that my family TOTALLY BOUGHT INTO, I refused to let myself be happy if I wasn't at my "fighting" weight. I.e. the weight I had to work out twice a day and restrict eating a ton to maintain. Not good for the nerves, either.

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)

immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.

Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.

I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.

October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.

Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL

Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.

Troy4d ago

I am still really struggling with not being able to lift weights, I'm trying to just get on with things and tell myself it's not forever but it was my outlet, my stress relief. I know I sound like a broken record but this is hard. I feel like I'm wasting away honestly.

Sertraline for 2 years, successfully tapered off. 8 months later 1 week of Pristiq, stopped due to bad side effects.
Quetiapine low dose 1 week.
Suspected kindling injury.

Cosmic19734d ago

WelcomerMirtazapine · active

Hi Troy, Lethargy, muscle aches, tiredness, nausea etc is text book WD so i'd be surprised if anyone didn't have exercise intolerance that worsened after exercising. I'm shattered after playing football and going on bike rides with my children but as the weeks roll on, it's easing away, slowly. It's only a temporary thing IMO. so use it as an excuse to take it easy and make up for it when you're better.

Mirtazapine — 0.2mg — 1 year — actively tapering

Troy4d ago

@Cosmic1973 it does the opposite for me, after the gym I feel good, there maybe some symptoms present but normally I'm OK. Lately it's 24-48 hours after it causes a wave. Just a couple of months ago I was going to the gym about 3 times a week with minimal symotoms. I'm not sure what has changed, maybe it's setback 🤷 all I know my symptoms have increased again.

Sertraline for 2 years, successfully tapered off. 8 months later 1 week of Pristiq, stopped due to bad side effects.
Quetiapine low dose 1 week.
Suspected kindling injury.

⭐

Catina4d ago

Community AnchorEffexor

@Troy, it's only natural that you feel the way you do. Exercise is something that is very important to you.

"I'm trying to just get on with things and tell myself it's not forever" — @Troy

This is key. Until things start improving, perhaps you can find other outlets that help you relieve stress. You're not doomed forever. Yes, you've experienced a bump in the road, but you're still on your destination.

Troy1d ago

Is it normal for symptoms to increase again, or even for new symptoms to develop, after a period of improvement? I've recently started experiencing tingling in my lips, along with an increase in sound sensitivity, which had previously improved. It's quite disheartening, especially considering the progress I've made over the past year. I'm wondering whether this could be considered a setback or wave in recovery, and whether others have experienced something similar after making significant improvements. Thanks in advance for any insights or experiences you can share.

Sertraline for 2 years, successfully tapered off. 8 months later 1 week of Pristiq, stopped due to bad side effects.
Quetiapine low dose 1 week.
Suspected kindling injury.

⭐

Catina1d ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"Is it normal for symptoms to increase again, or even for new symptoms to develop, after a period of improvement?" — @Troy

Hi Troy....yes, that happens a lot with people. Having windows of feeling better can be followed by waves of original or new symptoms that vary in intensity. If you can think of it as a necessary part of the healing process it might make it more endurable. https://taper.community/resources/blog/windows-and-waves-withdrawal-pattern

John1d ago

WelcomerPaxil · active

Hey, Troy. I’d need a bit more information before I could give you a decent answer (e.g., are you suffering from protracted withdrawal,, are you still tapering, how heavy are your overall symptoms, etc.). If you’re tapering, think of each dose reduction as a workout in itself. With each reduction, you’re putting a lot of stress on your nervous system. As you know, weight training (especially heavy training) also stresses your nervous system. The two together can make it easy to exceed your overall “stress threshold” and trigger symptoms. You might have to slow your taper, drop the intensity of your workouts, or both. Personally, I continued to lift heavy weights while tapering. The symptoms were manageable, so I thought I was okay. It turns out that the symptoms were excessive, and in January 2025, I triggered a protracted withdrawal injury (nervous system dysregulation). I not only had to stop the taper, but also the weight training and many other ordinary aspects of normal living. I’m still healing, but I’m very slowly adding weight-bearing exercises back into the mix. Better safe than sorry. The symptoms you’re feeling are your body telling you you’re doing too much. Listen to your body. 👍

Paxil — 3.525 mgs — 26 years — actively tapering | without clinician

Troy23h ago

@John I'm not tapering and off all meds. But of a long story but my signature sums a bit if it., I am in protracted withdrawl though. It's good to chat to a fellow lifter, I was handling the gym somewhat with interupted periods when I hit a wave, the symptoms were always there when lifting but I'd pull back when a wave hit, I'd then be able to continue once it passed. This last couple of months the symptoms have ramped up and even a small weights session increases symptoms. It's devastating to me as training was my life, watching my body go from what it was to untrained is also very hard.

Sertraline for 2 years, successfully tapered off. 8 months later 1 week of Pristiq, stopped due to bad side effects.
Quetiapine low dose 1 week.
Suspected kindling injury.

John23h ago

WelcomerPaxil · active

Understood. I have two suggestions that you might find helpful. First, when your nervous system is healing from a protracted withdrawal injury, it’s important to do enough to promote healing, but avoid doing so much you trigger a setback or crash. I’ve found really helpful information for managing this balance in the chronic fatigue communities (CFS is also rooted in nervous system disregulation). Check out the CFS Recovery and CFS Health channels on YouTube. Look especially for information on “establishing your baseline”, which is the point of relative stability where you can begin to slowly rebuild your capacity and resilience. Second, the loss of anything important including training and fitness) is obviously very hard on us. Ironically, that sense of loss is also a stressor and can work against us while we’re healing, so it’s important to try to deal with it as constructively as possible. For me, the key has been acceptance or non-resistance. There’s a spiritual aspect to it. The bottom line is to stop psychologically “fighting” the situation. This is one of those things we don’t even realize we’re doing, but it’s present whenever we wish things were different, when we think about the unfairness of it, etc. These are all ways of “fighting” what is, and it works against our healing. I hope that helps, Troy. All the best in your healing journey. 🙂

Paxil — 3.525 mgs — 26 years — actively tapering | without clinician

Zsigmondus22h ago

WelcomerSeroquel · active

I do not know what kind of training you do. As you get older I think you more lean towards endurance exercises with the one or 2 weight sessions in between. At least that is what works for me. When I drop the dose or change diets or just under a lot of stress I go easy. How are your general stress levels

Seroquel — 200 mg XR — 3 years 2 months — actively tapering

Troy20h ago

@John I try to accept as much as I can but obviously it's not perfect. I believe that even if you are struggling with accepting you are still healing it just makes it a bit harder. All I know is that the gym is my stress relief and it's been ripped away, I'm slowly accepting that I can't control that and it's not my fault. Harder on some days. I'll look at the cfs stuff as well 🙏

Sertraline for 2 years, successfully tapered off. 8 months later 1 week of Pristiq, stopped due to bad side effects.
Quetiapine low dose 1 week.
Suspected kindling injury.

Troy20h ago

@Zsigmondus i do weight training and martial arts, I haven't done martial since this started however. I deal with everyday stress pretty much with work etc, it can't be helped. I try to switch off when I can. You can't help life unfortunately.

Sertraline for 2 years, successfully tapered off. 8 months later 1 week of Pristiq, stopped due to bad side effects.
Quetiapine low dose 1 week.
Suspected kindling injury.

Zsigmondus5h ago

WelcomerSeroquel · active

Same here. For my mental health the most positive change was going on the keto diet. I hope you manage to conquer this and move forward with your life. Light cardio going jogging at dawn or dusk is a fantastic way to release anxiety and helps with your cardiac health as well. God bless you

Seroquel — 200 mg XR — 3 years 2 months — actively tapering

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