How long before the brain returns to normal after stopping SSRI/SNRIs?

I am also in the process of completely weening myself off an SSRI (fluoxetine aka Prozac). Like philosikat, I have been feeling increased irritability and general edginess. In my case, I've been taking an extremely low dose (10mg twice a week) for about 10 years. I know this is below the dose normally considered therapeutically effective, but there is no doubt in my mind that even this low dose has been efficacious in reducing my anxiety and improving my mood. I reduced my dose to 10 mg once a week about 4 weeks ago. I felt no difference for the first two weeks but then started feeling irritable. I suspect the long half life of the active metabolite (norfluoxetine) kept my mood in check for the first couple of weeks. My question now, is whether my mood will improve in a few more weeks after my body adjusts to the lower dose, or whether I'm returning to my normal state that was controlled by the medication. I hope in a few weeks I'll know the answer.

If someone suffers returning depressive symtoms and anxiety I believe in most cases it is because they still need the medication to sustain good mental health! Many people have genetic reasons for serotonin deficiencies and need help. My family has a strong history of anxiety issues along with A.D.D. and depression. I’ve found great help with Anti-depressants and A.D.D. medications. Good counseling, exercise, healthy lifestyle choices help as well. I’ve gone on and off the Anti-depressants at times, but then went back when mood anxiety issues returned! Being able to be a happy productive part of society is invaluable to me. If you had diabetes you would take insulin! If your medication prescribed by a Psychiatrist helps you, do not worry! If you need or want to stop taking it, take your Doctors advice for that too! I’ve never experienced any bad side-effects, if your depression returns consider medication is your friend! And what a friend indeed!!! ❤️

Yes, I stopped taking both the Abilify and the Cymbalta separately and gradually. I did not add another medication to help the process. I had tried quitting both at the same time at an earlier date but it was not doable. I am really ready to be done with these drugs as I have read recent studies that talk about damage to the brain, including dementia, from long term use, and a questionable efficacy when compared to placebo for mild to moderate depression. As with all things, one must always seek to balance the scales between harm and anticipated good. Best of luck to you as well on your journey.

Adding the prozac in the process and the stopping the cymbalta made all the difference in the world for me. It is much easier to stop taking the prozac afterwards

Yes, I’ve read about the withdrawal symptoms. My question is more specific—that is, how long before the brain repairs itself and rebuilds its transit bridges that the SNRI/SSRI tore down and substituted their chemical process for. Abilify affects the dopamine D2 receptors and is an atypical anti-psychotic with withdrawal symptoms similar to other anti-psychotic meds.

Its still the same answer. No bridges or pathways are torn down by ssris. The mechanism by which it causes withdrawal is that because it prevents reuptake of serotonin which increases the amount of serotonin in the synapse, with time however the brain starts taking some of the serotonin receptors out due to the overload of the neuro transmitter in the synapse. After stopping the medication, the amount of serotonin decreases but it takes time for the receptors to increase in number again in response to the levels of serotonin returning to normal. Since withdrawal symptoms last for about 6 weeks, then the time it takes your body to return to the state before you were taking the medication is 6 weeks. Its the same thing, withdrawal symptoms start because a medication threw the body out of equilibrium when it was stopped. The disappearance of withdrawal symptoms means that the body returned to normal.