SSRI/SNRI Tapering Calculator
Medication Details
Key Information
Expected Withdrawal Timeline
Select your medication to see your expected timeline
Common Symptoms
Select your medication to see common withdrawal symptoms
Recommended Tapering Steps
Select your medication and tapering strategy to see your steps
Medication Reference Table
| Medication | Half-Life | Typical Symptom Onset | Common Withdrawal Symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paroxetine (Paxil) | 24 hours | 1â3 days | Brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, anxiety |
| Venlafaxine (Effexor) | 5 hours | 24â48 hours | Severe dizziness (78%), brain zaps (62%), nausea (55%) |
| Sertraline (Zoloft) | 26 hours | 1â3 days | Insomnia, irritability, flu-like symptoms |
| Escitalopram (Lexapro) | 27â32 hours | 1â3 days | Headaches, mood swings, fatigue |
| Fluoxetine (Prozac) | 4â6 days | Weeks to months | Delayed anxiety, sleep issues, emotional numbness |
Important Safety Information
Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and potentially dangerous. Never stop your medication abruptly without medical supervision. If you experience suicidal thoughts, severe panic attacks, confusion, hallucinations, or seizures, seek immediate medical attention. This calculator provides general information only and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider.
Stopping an SSRI or SNRI isnât like turning off a light switch. For many people, itâs more like slowly dimming a bulb thatâs been on for years - and even then, the afterglow doesnât disappear right away. If youâve been on these medications for more than six weeks, your brain has adapted. When you stop, it doesnât instantly reset. Thatâs why withdrawal symptoms - often called Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome - arenât rare. Theyâre expected. And if youâre not prepared, they can feel like your depression is coming back. Or worse, like somethingâs seriously wrong with your brain.
Why Timing Matters: Half-Life Is Everything
Not all antidepressants are made the same. The biggest factor in how youâll feel when you stop is how long the drug stays in your body. Thatâs called its half-life. A short half-life means the drug clears fast. That means symptoms show up fast. A long half-life gives your brain more time to adjust.Paroxetine (Paxil) and venlafaxine (Effexor) have some of the shortest half-lives. Paroxetine leaves your system in about a day. Venlafaxine? Even faster - around five hours. Thatâs why people on these drugs often feel dizzy, nauseous, or hit with electric-shock sensations in their head - called âbrain zapsâ - within 24 to 48 hours of missing a dose. These arenât side effects. Theyâre withdrawal. And theyâre intense.
Fluoxetine (Prozac) is the outlier. It sticks around for days - up to six. Thatâs why people on Prozac often donât feel anything for weeks after stopping. But donât be fooled. Symptoms can still show up a month later. Thatâs why experts say you need to monitor yourself for at least three months after your last dose.
Hereâs a quick snapshot of how different drugs behave:
| Medication | Half-Life | Typical Symptom Onset | Common Withdrawal Symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paroxetine (Paxil) | 24 hours | 1-3 days | Brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, anxiety |
| Venlafaxine (Effexor) | 5 hours | 24-48 hours | Severe dizziness (78%), brain zaps (62%), nausea (55%) |
| Sertraline (Zoloft) | 26 hours | 1-3 days | Insomnia, irritability, flu-like symptoms |
| Escitalopram (Lexapro) | 27-32 hours | 1-3 days | Headaches, mood swings, fatigue |
| Fluoxetine (Prozac) | 4-6 days | Weeks to months | Delayed anxiety, sleep issues, emotional numbness |
How Long Should You Taper? The Great Divide
Hereâs where things get messy. Doctors and guidelines donât agree on how long tapering should take. Some say two weeks. Others say two years. And both sides have data to back them up.Many clinical guidelines - including those from the British Association of Psychopharmacology - suggest a 2- to 4-week taper. Thatâs fast. And itâs what most general practitioners do. But hereâs the problem: patients arenât responding well to it. A 2023 study in the British Medical Journal found that 68% of people who tapered in under eight weeks ended up with severe withdrawal or relapse.
Meanwhile, patient communities like Surviving Antidepressants and Redditâs r/antidepressants report something different. Out of thousands of stories, 73% of people needed over a year to stop safely. One person on Reddit described tapering off paroxetine for 11 months - even though their doctor said six months was plenty.
Why the gap? Because guidelines were written based on small clinical trials. Real people live with this for years. And for many, a 10% reduction every four to eight weeks - known as the â10% Ruleâ - works better than anything else. That means if youâre on 20mg of sertraline, you drop to 18mg, then 16.2mg, then 14.6mg. Tiny steps. Long pauses. Youâre not just reducing the drug. Youâre giving your brain time to rebuild its own serotonin system.
What Symptoms Should You Watch For?
Withdrawal symptoms can feel like a mix of anxiety, flu, and neurological chaos. Theyâre not dangerous for most people - but theyâre deeply unsettling.- Brain zaps: Brief, sharp electrical shocks in the head. Not seizures. Not strokes. Just weird. Theyâre most common with venlafaxine and paroxetine.
- Dizziness and imbalance: Like youâre on a boat that just stopped moving. Often worse when standing up.
- Flu-like symptoms: Fatigue, chills, muscle aches. No fever. No virus. Just your body reacting.
- Mood swings and anxiety: Panic attacks, crying spells, irritability. These can be mistaken for depression returning.
- Sleep disruption: Insomnia, vivid dreams, or nightmares. Sometimes both at once.
- GI issues: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Very common with short-half-life drugs.
These usually peak within the first week and fade in 1-2 weeks - if youâre lucky. But 10-20% of people report symptoms lasting months. Thatâs not rare. Thatâs normal for some.
When You Need to Stop - And When You Shouldnât
Some people stop because they feel better. Others stop because theyâre tired of side effects. Some stop because their doctor says itâs time. But not everyone should.If youâve been on the medication for less than six weeks, withdrawal is unlikely. But if youâve been on it for a year or more? Donât rush. The longer youâve been on it, the more your brain has changed. Stopping fast increases your risk of relapse - and relapse isnât just sadness. Itâs hospitalization, lost jobs, broken relationships.
Also, donât switch generic brands without talking to your doctor. A 20% difference in concentration - which can happen with generics - can trigger withdrawal even if you didnât change your dose. Thatâs not your fault. Itâs a flaw in how we make these drugs.
What Works: Real Strategies That Help
Thereâs no one-size-fits-all. But these strategies show up again and again in successful cases:- Use liquid formulations: If your drug comes in liquid form (like sertraline or fluoxetine), you can make tiny cuts - 1mg or less. This reduces severe symptoms by over 60% in early trials.
- Alternate-day dosing: If you canât get smaller pills, take your pill every other day for a few weeks. Itâs not perfect, but it slows the drop.
- Switch to fluoxetine: For people on short-half-life drugs like paroxetine or venlafaxine, switching to Prozac first - then tapering off slowly - can make the process much smoother.
- Track symptoms daily: Use a simple app or notebook. Note sleep, mood, brain zaps, nausea. That way, you know if youâre improving or if you need to slow down.
- Donât panic if symptoms return: If you feel awful after a reduction, go back to your last stable dose. Wait two weeks. Then try again. Slower is safer.
The Cleveland Clinic says 92% of people who succeed at stopping SSRIs or SNRIs work with a provider who knows how to taper slowly. Thatâs not a coincidence. Itâs the difference between surviving withdrawal and being crushed by it.
Red Flags: When to Call Your Doctor Immediately
Most withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable, not dangerous. But some need urgent attention:- Suicidal thoughts - even if youâve never had them before
- Severe panic attacks that donât ease up
- Confusion, hallucinations, or seizures
- Extreme agitation or aggression
The FDAâs adverse event database shows that 4.2% of people attempting to stop antidepressants report suicidal ideation during withdrawal. Thatâs higher than the rate during active treatment for some. If you feel unsafe, donât wait. Call your doctor. Go to the ER. Restart your medication if you have to. Itâs not failure. Itâs survival.
The Bottom Line: Slow Is the Only Way
You donât need to stop. If youâre feeling okay, stay on. But if you want to stop, do it slowly. Not because youâre weak. Because your brain needs time.Forget the two-week taper. Thatâs a myth built on outdated science. The real world - the world of real people, real symptoms, real lives - shows that most need months. Some need years. And thatâs okay.
Work with someone who gets it. Use liquid forms if you can. Track your symptoms. Be patient. Withdrawal isnât a race. Itâs a slow rewiring. And youâre not broken for needing time. Youâre human.
How long do SSRI withdrawal symptoms last?
For most people, symptoms last 1-2 weeks. But 10-20% experience symptoms for months. The duration depends on the drug, how long you were on it, and how fast you tapered. Paroxetine and venlafaxine tend to cause shorter but sharper symptoms. Fluoxetine can cause delayed symptoms that show up weeks later.
Can I stop SSRIs cold turkey?
You can - but you shouldnât. Stopping suddenly increases your risk of severe withdrawal symptoms like brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, and anxiety. It also raises your chance of relapse. Even if youâve only been on it for a few months, a slow taper is safer and more effective.
Is withdrawal the same as depression coming back?
No. Withdrawal symptoms are physical and neurological - brain zaps, dizziness, electric shocks, nausea. Depression is emotional - persistent sadness, loss of interest, hopelessness. But they can overlap, which is why many people mistake withdrawal for relapse. Tracking symptoms daily helps tell the difference.
Why do some people have worse withdrawal than others?
Itâs a mix of biology and timing. People on short-half-life drugs like venlafaxine or paroxetine tend to have worse symptoms. Those whoâve been on the drug longer, or who taper too fast, also have higher risks. Genetics, stress levels, and mental health history play roles too. Thereâs no single reason - but slow tapering helps everyone.
Should I switch to fluoxetine before stopping?
For people on short-half-life SSRIs or SNRIs, switching to fluoxetine first can make tapering much easier. Fluoxetineâs long half-life acts like a buffer. You can reduce the dose more gradually, and symptoms are usually milder. This is a common strategy used by specialists - but it must be done under medical supervision.
Are there any new treatments to help with withdrawal?
Yes. Liquid formulations that allow micro-tapers (1-2.5% reductions) are showing promise in early trials, cutting severe symptoms by over 60%. Also, new guidelines are being developed to include patient-reported outcomes, not just clinical checklists. The NIH-funded TAPER-SSRI study, tracking 1,200 patients through 12-month tapers, will release results in late 2025 - and could change how doctors advise withdrawal.
What Comes Next?
If youâre thinking about stopping, start by talking to a doctor who understands tapering - not just one who prescribes. Ask if theyâve helped patients taper off SSRIs or SNRIs before. Ask about liquid options. Ask about tracking symptoms. Donât settle for a two-week plan unless youâre okay with a 70% chance of struggling.Withdrawal isnât a failure. Itâs the next step. And you donât have to do it alone.
Paul Ong
January 2, 2026 AT 22:47Worst part was thinking it was a stroke
Richard Thomas
January 4, 2026 AT 04:11It's not about willpower. It's about biology meeting time. And time, unlike pills, can't be rushed. You can't force a tree to grow faster by yelling at it. Why do we think our neurons are any different?
Donna Peplinskie
January 5, 2026 AT 21:19Layla Anna
January 6, 2026 AT 16:31Andy Heinlein
January 7, 2026 AT 10:46do not do what i did
Heather Josey
January 9, 2026 AT 07:11Ann Romine
January 9, 2026 AT 20:09gerard najera
January 11, 2026 AT 16:22