The SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI-induced Manic Depression (Bipolar) Theory

BEFORE SSRI DETOX, EVERY SSRI USER MUST SEE A COMPETENT MEDICAL 
PROFESSIONAL. NO DETOX SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN WITHOUT STRICT MEDICAL 
SUPERVISION. 

I am not a doctor, nor an expert on addiction. This is 
not meant to be a guide to SSRI therapy termination. 

I cannot respond to any individual emails looking for advice on 
symptoms or treatment - this is a theory. Please consult an expert 
on addiction and manic depression. 

SSRI Syndrome has been identified by the pharma industry and medical 
community, but not adequately explained. The following is an attempt 
to explain SSRI Withdrawal Syndrome in relation to a second concurrent
syndrome, SSRI-induced Manic Depression. The following is a theory on 
SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI-induced Manic Depression. The syndrome can be 
further broken down into two sub-categories: SSRI Withdrawal/Accute 
SSRI-induced Depression and SSRI Withdrawal/Accute SSRI-induced Mania.



The SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI-induced Manic Depressive (Bipolar) Syndrome 
Theory 



List of SSRIs, US Name, UK Name: 

Fluoxetine 
Prozac 
Prozac 

Paroxetine 
Paxil 
Seroxat 

Sertraline 
Zoloft 
Lustral 

Citalopram 
Celexa 
Cipramil 

Escitalopram 
Lexapro 
Cipralex 

Fluvoxamine 
Luvox 
Faverin 

Venlafaxine 
Effexor 
Efexor 



Now, for a minute forget the stigma and laws attached to illicit drugs
and look at them as simply drugs or chemical compounds that have an 
effect on the nervous system, like cocaine, heroin, MDMA-ecstasy, 
opium, marijuana, and even legal drugs like alcohol and cigarettes. 
Pay particular attention to ecstasy, or MDMA, it will come up a lot. 
These all affect the central nervous system, regardless of whether 
they are bought at the grocery store, gas station, or on the street or
in an alley. Once again, they all affect the central nervous system, 
some with a longer, some a shorter half life. 



Now let's look at SSRIs. These too affect the central nervous system, 
like cocaine, heroin, opium, marijuana, and even legal drugs like 
alcohol and cigarettes. But before we do, let's take a look at the 
history of pharmacology in relation to serotonin. 

The following is a brief history of the street drug ecstasy, but it 
was not always illegal. It was a patented phrama-drug that the 
industry thought would help with conditions from bleeding to 
weight-loss. A highly psychoactive drug, once taken, produces a 
chemically induced manic-depressive episode. One dose provides 
profound feelings of joy for approximately 4-8 hours, then a comedown 
over approximately 24-48 hours and then a depressive state for 
approximately 24-48 hours, then recovery. The same chemically induced 
manic-depressive episode is happening to SSRI users. But how? First 
we must establish the link between serotonin and both MDMA (ecstasy) 
and SSRIs. MDMA first. 

A brief history of MDMA ecstasy 

Christmas Eve, 1912: The pharmaceutical company Merck files for a 
patent on MDMA ('ecstasy'). Their patent application is granted two 
years later (1914.) There is no evidence that they were aware it was 
psychoactive or intended to market it as a product. 

1965: Predicting that MDMA might be psychoactive, a chemist named 
Alexander Shulgin synthesizes MDMA while working at Dow Chemical, but 
does not try the substance. Shulgin had made Dow a tidy sum of money 
with his prior work on an insecticide, and as his reward was allowed 
to pursue whatever field of research appealed to him. Shulgin chose to
study psychoactive drugs...a decision that would eventually impact the
entire world. 

November 2, 2001: The US Food and Drug Administration gives approval 
for human testing of MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress 
disorder to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.
MAPS, a group made up of many of the same doctors and researchers that
had originally fought tooth-and-nail to keep MDMA available to 
doctors, is conducting the research as part of their plan to gain full
FDA approval of MDMA as a prescription drug. If approved, MDMA will 
once again be able to be used openly by psychiatrists. See
http://thedea.org/drughistory.html

I do not have proof; however, I have a strong suspicion that SSRIs 
have been reverse engineered from MDMA. After all, it may not be too 
far fetched since MDMA was discovered by Merck, a pharma company. 

Remember that commercial, 'this is your brain on drugs.' And then they
fry the egg. Well, image that when someone takes a hit of MDMA, it is 
like putting the brain in a orange juice squeezer and squeezing out 
all the serotonin. Sounds painful, right? Wrong. Most MDMA users will 
tell you that it is the best feeling in the world. The highest highs 
in the world. But, clinically, it is a manic episode. And as any 
physicist will tell you, what goes up, must come down. 

Yes, it is possible to manufacture a manic-depressive episode, which 
is very different from an organic manic-depressive episode. 

It varies with different people, but with extended MDMA use, many will
exhibit signs of depression after the MDMA-induced manic episode. For 
more info on the link between serotonin and MDMA go to the Brown 
University site: 
http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/ATOD/other_drugs/Ecstasy.htm

Can SSRIs induce a manufactured Manic Depression episode? I think so. 

SSRIs make users feel 'happy' in the beginning, but they somehow 
change and leave the user feeling ill. Like MDMA, SSRIs work on the 
serotonin system of the brain. Hence the name Selective Serotonin 
Reuptake Inhibitor. Here check out this University of Michigan Medical
Site, http://www.med.umich.edu/womensguide/pages/17.html. 

So if there is a link between MDMA and SSRIs and serotonin levels in 
the brain, then the effects on the body could be similar. But there is
one difference. Where MDMA squeezes serotonin out of the cells to 
flood the brain, SSRIs block the serotonin from entering back into the
cells, but the effect is similar - both allow more serotonin to 
flood the brain, but SSRIs to a much lesser extent. Why? Because they 
are engineered that way. SSRIs are engineered not to block the cells 
too much, because the user would become manic, much like a Raver on 
MDMA ecstasy does. So, these SSRIs are engineered to block your cells 
just enough to make you 'happy,' but not too happy, otherwise the SSRI
user would quit work, hang out at raves, suck on lollypops and hold 
hands with people they hardly know telling them how much you love 
them. 

So, what the SSRIs are doing is keeping enough serotonin floating 
around in the brain to keep the user slightly manic, not full-blown 
raver manic like on MDMA, but enough that they might feel a bit 'off,'
'weird,' 'drugged' or 'high.' This feeling of being high becomes much 
more pronounced, if the SSRI user has skipped just one dose or 
decreased therapy. 

Now imagine that the brain is like a tachometer on a car, reading 0 to
8. If 0 is terribly depressed, and 2 is normal mood, then these SSRIs 
keep the brain revving at between 3-4. The redline on this brain 
tachometer representing acute mania. 

And that's it, I believe. SSRIs artificially make the user feel high 
by producing more serotonin via the serotonin system. In essence, the 
SSRIs override the patient's organic serotonin system. Great idea in 
the lab. But what happens when you give these drugs to humans, well 
strange things might happen - like a possibly lethal fight for control
of the patient's serotonin system by both 'friendly' and 'unfriendly' 
forces once the patient decides to stop therapy. The patient's organic
system being 'friendly' and the SSRI environment being 'unfriendly.' 

I strongly believe that those on SSRIs will, over time, become 
dependent on SSRIs. 

Now remember the Raver, who takes a MDMA pill to party, but in fact is
inducing a bout of manic-depression. He gets high, then comes down, 
and then crashes. The same thing happens when you change your dose of 
SSRIs or get off them abruptly, but it is happening a bit differently.
I suspect that eventually, all SSRI users will induce a manufactured 
manic-depressive episode. 

The pharma industry wants to call it, serotonin withdrawal syndrome, 
but it is also, I strongly believe, a SSRI-induced manic-depressive 
episode. But we must further break this down into two subgroups of the
syndrome. 1) SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI-induced Depressive Syndrome. 2)SSRI 
Withdrawal/SSRI-induced Manic Syndrome. 

SSRI users have been revving at between 3-4 on the brain's 
tachometer for months, even years in a perpetually elevated 
quasi-manic state. Now, what happens when you take the SSRI user off 
the SSRI? The SSRI user moves very quickly to a potentially life 
threatening SSRI-induced depressive state. SSRI users experience this 
when they quit cold turkey. I strongly believe this is why some SSRI 
users commit suicide or have suicidal ideations. This full blown SSRI 
depressive state must be avoided and can be avoided with slow, doctor 
monitored tapering, which in many cases might involve hospitalization 
during the detox. 

So now, what happens when a SSRI user, skips maybe one or two doses. 
They feel the effects of withdrawal - edginess, irritability, and an 
increasing sense of unreality until it progresses to full blown 
SSRI-induced depression, coupled with withdrawal phase. 

The skipping of doses or a lowing of the dose from say 30mg to 20mg 
will cause SSRI uses to exhibit pronounced mood swings, where they may
suddenly and without notice act out against family and friends, which 
all SSRI users will say is not in their nature. These mood swings are 
a direct result of addition. The nervous system is demanding an 
increase in therapy to the original level, the 30 mg dose. 

At the time the SSRI user thinks that he/she is 'going crazy,' but it 
is the addiction/syndrome. Just ask that raver how he/she is feeling 
on the 2nd day after a dose of MDMA, and you will probably find 
him/her in bed in the fetal position, depressed and edgy like never 
before, unable to do even the simplest task. 

But the raver has it good. In four days the trip is over. From manic 
to depressive to recovery, and it is all over. Day 5, and the raver is
feeling great, that is until he/she takes his/her next hit. 
Unfortunately the SSRI trip is a bit longer and more intense, but like
the MDMA raver, the SSRI user will get over it. Maybe not on day five,
but they will. 

Once again, do not equate SSRI-induced Manic Depression with organic 
Manic Depression. I strongly believe that everyone on these drugs will
experience the same thing. It depends on a lot of factors. For 
example, there are SSRI users that have stopped the SSRI therapy a few
times with no adverse effects, and even skipped doses with no problem,
but now experience full blown SSRI withdrawal and SSRI induced Manic 
Depression. What changed? I suspect that the nervous system got 
hooked. 

So here is what the SSRI user can expect. 

If the SSRI user goes cold turkey, the user will spiral into a full 
SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI-induced depressive syndrome. That is everything 
the experts are now warning about, from dizziness to electro-shock to 
agitation and the list goes on - THIS STATE IS VERY DANGEROUS. 
POSSIBLY LIFE THREATENING, AND MUST BE AVOIDED. The industry and 
medical community call it Serotonin Withdrawal Syndrome, it is really 
a SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI-induced depressive syndrome and should be 
labeled as such. And it is very dangerous, and should not be 
played-down, by the medical community. 

Here is what I believe is happening when users wean off SSRIs. As they
slightly lower the dose, the natural serotonin system begins to fight 
for control and produces serotonin, while the SSRI is also working. 
So, what they are feeling is the effect of an extra serotonin load, 
coupled with the withdrawal. Thus, the feeling of elevated mania 
resulting from the increased load, but I believe that the mania is 
harmless, as long as it is understood and SSRI users do not panic. For
example, look at the ravers, an MDMA high is not characterized by 
violence/panic, on the contrary, MDMA highs are characterized by 
feelings of complete joy, or mania. 

So, as the SSRI user slowly weans, the natural serotonin is getting 
stronger, but the SSRI user will continue to exhibit signs of mania, 
but this should decrease with further slight reductions in milligrams 
over an extended period of time. 

I believe that a sudden discontinuation, results, within a few days, 
in the total collapse of the serotonin system, hence the terrible 
panic and depression and possible risk of suicide. Why does the system
collapse? Not sure. I think that the natural system does not boost-up 
in time to replace the serotonin that had until then been manufactured
by the SSRI. In other words, as the SSRI leaves the system, the 
patient's natural serotonin system remains idle. This collapse leaves 
them in SSRI-induced depression, coupled with withdrawal. A situation 
that must be avoided - weaning is the solution. 

The SSRI user must go to a specialist to be monitored during the 
weaning process. The problem is that many doctors do not know about or
believe in the severity of the SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI Manic Depressive 
syndrome. Thus, SSRI users must seek out a mental health professional 
with a specialty in addiction and Manic Depression. 

What to expect from weaning. 

The process can take a long time, therefore it is imperative that the 
SSRI user remain under medical supervision for the duration of the 
weaning process. 

As the SSRI user weans off the drug, they will feel high, but it is 
manageable, they might say that they feel a bit 'weird' a bit 'off.' 
If they start feeling really awful like electro-shocks, numbing, 
dizziness, then they must slow down the weaning process, the 
electro-shocks are the nervous system's way of telling them that they 
are going too fast. 

The SSRI user must tell their loved ones and employers, with the 
specialist present if possible, that they are weaning and what to 
expect. Tell them that they are detoxing from a highly addictive drug 
and that they might exhibit odd (manic) behavior from time-to-time and
seem a little high. This will include, restless energy, forgetfulness,
bouts of being very talkative, followed by bouts of seeming lost in 
thought, among others. They should also do exercise under the 
supervision of a doctor, because there is going to be a lot of nervous
(manic) energy to expend. Or even listen to music, and jump around the
room. It sounds funny, but it might help. The SSRI user should expect 
to be 'high' during the process. 

The SSRI user will experience panic attacks, but can overcome them. I 
believe that the panic attack is nothing more than a sudden surge of 
serotonin or serotonin storm. The raver experiences these serotonin 
storms while coming up on MDMA, but does not panic because he/she is 
aware that this is to be expected. I believe that the SSRI user 
panics, simply because an unexpected serotonin storm is a frightening 
event possibly triggering adrenaline to surge alongside the serotonin.
A mix of serotonin and adrenaline would throw healthy person into a 
terrifying panic. 

A day in the life of a SSRI weaning patient 

Warning: No reduction should be undertaken without the consultation of
an expert in manic depression and addiction. (This is my personal 
example) 

I believe that the patient should wean with a pill in the morning, not
evening. Here is my example of a typical day of weaning. 

9-10 a.m. - Patient takes reduced milligram of SSRI (Celexa) (-5 mg 
from original therapeutic 10 milligram dose) for example). Absorption 
in small intestine takes place. 

10-12 a.m. - Patient enters serotonin storm. Patient exhibits, nausea,
faster heartbeat, sense of fever, and manic feeling (Patient should 
not confuse the manic feeling with a panic attack, it only becomes a 
panic attack, if the patient does just that, panics. The patient must 
remain calm as to not allow a rise in adrenalin. Remember this simple 
equation: increased serotonin equals mania (which is quite manageable,
some would argue even enjoyable). Increased serotonin plus adrenaline 
(from fear) equals a panic attack. Even if the patient does panic, it 
cannot last long, since the adrenal gland can only pump a finite 
amount of adrenaline before it must replenish itself. 

12-2 p.m. - Patient will peak in manic state, and then descend into a 
slightly depressed, but manageable state 

2-3 p.m. - Slightly depressed, but manageable depressed state 

3-4 p.m. - I believe in this phase that the Patient's organic 
serotonin system boosts up. Patients may feel emotionally balanced 
during this phase. 

4 p.m. - 9 a.m. (next day) - Patient will remain in a slightly 
manic, but manageable state until the patient takes the next reduced 
SSRI dose. Patient should feel slight pressure in head, but no numb 
hands, lips, or electro-shocks. 

Day 2, cycle begins again until patient is stabilized on 5 mg dose. 
(for some patients a (minus)-5mg deduction might be too drastic, 
medical professional must make that determination on individual 
basis). 

Cycle begins again at 9 a.m. Cycle continues for as many days required
for patient to stabilize on 5 mg dose. 

A typical day in the life of a patient weaning off SSRI mirrors a MDMA
induced 'trip'. The symptoms are virtually the same. This cannot be 
disputed, I find. The problem is that the SSRI user experiences a 
MDMA-like 'trip' each day until he/she stabilizes at the lower dose. 
Once again, this is why slow weaning under doctor supervision is 
imperative. 

Many SSRI users who have gone through an unsupervised 'cold turkey' 
complain that they continue to exhibit panic attacks. This is entirely
plausible. I believe that it is a panic attack brought on from fear 
that they will once again go through SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI-induced 
Manic Depression, but they did not know at the time the nature of the 
syndrome and many are still unaware of what exactly they experienced. 
However, these panic attack should subside, once they understand the 
nature of the syndrome and that their serotonin system should rebound 
over time. The ravers' serotonin systems rebound as well. I believe 
what is giving these former SSRI users panic attacks (attacks many did
not exhibit before going on SSRIs) is a latent memory of a sense of 
'loss of control' Once this 'loss of control' is explained to them in 
terms of SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI Manic Depression Syndrome, I strongly 
believe that they will be able to move on to a healthier mental state.



Once again, the SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI Manic Depression Syndrome is a 
manufactured, engineered event, unlike organic Manic Depression, 
however it mimics organic Manic Depression. And it is very closely 
tied, I believe, to MDMA-inducted Manic Depression. 


I wrote this theory as a process to understand my SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI
Manic Depressive Syndrome clinical state. I hope that this information
benefits those suffering from SSRI Withdrawal/SSRI Manic Depressive 
Syndrome. This is not a guide to withdrawal. BEFORE SSRI DETOX, EVERY 
SSRI USER MUST SEE A COMPETENT MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. NO DETOX SHOULD 
BE UNDERTAKEN WITHOUT STRICT MEDICAL SUPERVISION. IF FEELING SUICIDAL,
SSRI USERS SHOULD CALL 911 (OR EMERGENCY HOTLINE IN THE COUNTRY THAT 
THE PATIENT RESIDES OR GO DIRECTLY TO NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM. 



This paper is for all SSRI sufferers; adults (like myself) and 
children, and to all those who have lost loved ones or friends due to 
what I and many others believe was SSRI-induced suicide. 



This paper is also for a somewhat (not all, but many) hostile medical 
community that largely ignores SSRI sufferers' cries for help. I call 
on the pharma industry, FDA, and medical community to review this 
theory. 



This paper is also for Joe Paxil (many may know Joe from the 
Quitpaxil.com website and Rant page) "Sorry Joe, you are the lemming."



Best to all, get help and get well soon, 



MK a.k.a. Scatterbrain 

I'm sick and tired of hearing things/ From uptight, short-sighted, 
narrow-minded hypocritics/ All I want is the truth/ Just gimme some 
truth - John Lennon