I was on Paxil for almost ten years. God, the zaps, the nausea, and the memory loss when coming off of it!

I just read a book the other day that I’ve had for awhile but hadn’t read—or so I thought. While reading it, some of it seemed familiar but I just assumed I had started it but never finished. I went to post it to my Goodreads account only to find it already there complete with a review that I had written. I have no memory of writing that review, much less of ever actually finishing the book.

I realized I had read it towards the end of my time on my medication.

That’s a prosaic example compared to the conversations my wife and I have where she’ll mention something funny or endearing about our children who were toddlers at the time but I simply can’t remember them.

If you’re thinking about using SSRI’s for anxiety I encourage you to find a therapist who has an evidence-based practice like ACT.

I was on Effexor for about three years. Once or twice during that time I forgot to take it and got a sample of a dreadful sensation that was unlike anything I had ever experienced. This caused me to look up and read about withdrawal problems people had reported. I was taking three of them a day and I began tapering by taking two-1/2 a day for a couple of weeks and then moving to two a day for two weeks and so on. Over the course of about three months I weaned myself off without once having any sort of withdrawal effect that I could recognize. I was happy to be free.

I’m sorry for that feeling. Is it possible it is not the Sertraline but just you are not the same person you were 15 years ago. I know I’m not.

How long ago did you finalize your tapering and stop altogether?

It has been about two years now.

I know someone who was on diazepam for only a year and he says that it took him longer than a year from the point of final dose to start feeling himself again. I know diazepam is not the same class of drugs, but hopefully the same is true for you - the longer you go from the final dose the more yourself you feel.

Well for one, you’re not supposed to take benzodiazepines longer than a few weeks. Benzo withdrawal can be life-threatening if you’re accustomed to a high enough dose.