Update on my destabilization/crash and getting a flu!🤧

October 30, 2026

Hey hope everyone is doing well! I thought I’d give a little update on my crash/destabilization/withdrawal that happened when being stable at 38mg of Zoloft and going overboard with exercise, sauna and then infection + antibiotics. Its “only” been about 9 weeks since this happened and its been a ride for sure. Initial weeks were weird, kinda thought it was just a short duration and the windows at that time, week 2-4, showed me that I “will” be stabilized sooner than later. Well not so easy! It has waxed and waned, different feel to everything now, both the windows and the waves. Also different feel to feelings, sensations and all that. Windows been feeling like a little more dirtier and waves have been very strong and brutal and also at times not so strong and brutal. Neuro-emotions and looping thoughts have been strong and fear of this continuing/worsening/never getting better has also been strong. Recently It has been 1 bad day and then next day good and so on and so forth. Things that have been intense and thinking I will never get through, get silenced by other things that think that they are more important😭😂 Few days ago I also caught some kind of a flu. Symptoms are sinus pain, headache, very sore throat, thick mucus and postnasal drip. This probably adds a stress to the system, so yeah🤧 Whats people’s experience been like when getting a flu/cold? How everyone else doing overall?

2 Replies

Tealrobin4d ago

WelcomerTrintellix · holding

I’m sorry to hear you are having a tough time. I think the fact you are having some good days is encouraging, but I totally get you on the feeling of ‘will this never end’. But it will! It just sucks that these things take so much time. I have had a couple of bad colds through the months of withdrawal and symptoms, I think they really sapped my energy and probably gave my CNS something extra to be dealing with, though weirdly I think because the symptoms of a cold were so familiar it gave me something else to focus on that my brain knew would feel better soon amongst the rest of the chaos. Give yourself as much comfort as you can, as much rest and self care that you are able to 🩷 I’ve been doing better the last few weeks, really slowly but windows are lengthening and waves shortening. It’s so hard when you are in it but future you will soon be looking back when you are through the worst and wishing you could tell current you that things will be okay 🩷

Citalopram - 40mg to 20mg in 1 week then 0 June 2026 | Trintellix 5mg 4 weeks, 10mg 17 days, 5mg 5 weeks, 3.75mg 4 weeks, up dosed to 5mg 13 Oct 2026 — plan to holding and to taper slower in future

anne noni moss3d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

Hi @Anton ! So sorry you have been sick. I get sick a LOT on these meds since they all lower white blood cell count. Not everyone gets sick like me, but I know many do get frequent sinus infections.

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.

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