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Jerry L: Geodon - Question about weaning off?


JerryL

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Hey. I have two questions.

 

1. I am currently thinking of weaning off Geodon a drug that is in a capsule. And I have question about weaning it off.

 

2010-2011 Paxil and Zyprexa(forgot dosage)

2012-2014 Quiting cold turkey bad problems

2014-2015 Zyprexa 7.5 mg and Luvox 300mg extended release

Dec2015 -June 2016 added Geodon 40mg twice a day Zyprexa reduced to 5 mg

 

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Hey. I have a few questions .

 

1. If I am weaning off Geodon how do I do liquid titration with it? The drug is in a capsule. As I see from posts on here they say to use a scale but Im wondering how to open the drug without spilling it or having some of it go all messy on the table?

 

2. The other thing is Im thinking of weaning off Zyprexa soon. And is the liquid titration method most suitable for this drug? Is using Milk  the liquid to disperse it?( Ive seen on benzobuddies.org use this method but im not sure if its suitable for Zyprexa?)

 

 

2010-2011 Paxil and Zyprexa(forgot dosage)

2012-2014 Quiting cold turkey bad problems

2014-2015 Zyprexa 7.5 mg and Luvox 300mg extended release

Dec2015 -June 2016 added Geodon 40mg twice a day Zyprexa reduced to 5 mg

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Jerry, Welcome to SA. I'm glad that you found us before you started to reduce Geodon. I hope you'll find that the information supports you to taper off it safely and completely.

 

I hid the other thread that was created when you clicked twice. Moderator magic!

Also, I moved your topic to the Introductions and updates Forum.  More people will see your comments and questions here. I recommend that you bookmark this page in your browser, and/or follow the topic so that you'll get updates when someone posts. You follow the topic by clicking the grey button near the top right of the page, just below the yellow "Donate" button.

You may have browsed around the forums and seen different topics. Here are two that are especially relevant for you:
Tips for tapering off Geodon/Zeldox (ziprasidone)

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?
 

Some questions for your next post

  1. What dose of Geodon are you on?
     
  2. When do you take your dose(s)?
     
  3. Is Geodon the only drug you're taking?

 

It helps those of on the moderating team to respond more completely to your questions when we can see your current drugs & doses and taper history in one place. The best tool for helping us help you is the signature that appears below every member's posts.
Please put your withdrawal history in signature

Have a look at the above topics and post here with your questions.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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I noticed a lot of people on this site reduce for example (12.5 mg to 12.2 mg) very small change in tapering in medications. And I have noticed I do not know how to do this. I read this site and the links either say use a scale ( which i dont like to do because i hear people on this site say it takes 1 hour to prep every time and its powder so how to control it. that it moves around and spills and blows away). or make a liquid but the video and explanation is for tablets and in the video its a NON psychiatric medication.( so how do u do it with capsules and is water the only way to make it soluble and how do you do it with psychiatric drugs?) So if someone can tell me in detail how to reduce drugs so easily like from ( 12.5 to 12.2 mg for example) it would help me. 

 

and the drug  Im considering to reduce. are my Geodon to nothing.  in a taper fashion and hopefully reduce my Luvox and Zyprexa . also to nothing.  in the long run too.

I am currently taking 40mg geodon twice a day.  5 mg zyprexa.   and 300 mg Luvox extended release.

 

PS . If someone can also explain how to do this very slow tapering with capsules.

2010-2011 Paxil and Zyprexa(forgot dosage)

2012-2014 Quiting cold turkey bad problems

2014-2015 Zyprexa 7.5 mg and Luvox 300mg extended release

Dec2015 -June 2016 added Geodon 40mg twice a day Zyprexa reduced to 5 mg

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Jerry, although the video is for a non-psychiatric drug, naltrexone is used to assist people tapering off a class of neuroactive drugs -- opiates.  The method shown to dissolve tablets is the same one that people have used for years with Prozac and other antidepressants. With capsules containing powder, your options are to weigh the powder or create a solution/suspension.

Because you're on 3 neuroactive drugs, please read Taking multiple drugs? Which to taper first.
 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

scallywag you havent answered the question. How do you make the solution suspension? please explain in detail. and please dont offer links i want an explanation.

2010-2011 Paxil and Zyprexa(forgot dosage)

2012-2014 Quiting cold turkey bad problems

2014-2015 Zyprexa 7.5 mg and Luvox 300mg extended release

Dec2015 -June 2016 added Geodon 40mg twice a day Zyprexa reduced to 5 mg

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Jerry, this is a do-it-yourself site. One of the key components of the moderating team's role is to direct you to information that's already been posted. It's unfortunate that approach doesn't work for you.  Would you like me to post the links or will you search the Tapering forum yourself?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

I am taking Geodon 40 mg twice a day.  Luvox 300mg Extended Release once a day. and Zyprexa 5mg once a day.

 

Since I am planning on reducing all the drugs to nothing. ( I dont want to take all of them anymore) 

Which drug should I taper off of 1st? 

Or should i taper off all at same time ?

 

2010-2011 Paxil and Zyprexa(forgot dosage)

2012-2014 Quiting cold turkey bad problems

2014-2015 Zyprexa 7.5 mg and Luvox 300mg extended release

Dec2015 -June 2016 added Geodon 40mg twice a day Zyprexa reduced to 5 mg

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi JerryL

 

I've joined your new intro topic to your original one.  It is one Intro/Update topic per member.  This way your information will be kept together and will be useful for you and others of your history and your tapering.

 

Thank you for completing your signature.

 

Scallywag has already given you the link about Taking multiple drugs? Which to taper first.  It is recommended by SA that you only taper one drug at a time otherwise if issues arise you will not be able to work out which drug is causing the problem.  When taking multiple drugs it is suggested that you put all your drugs into the Drug Interactions Checker and copy and paste the results here in your topic.  This will enable the staff to offer a suggestion of which drug to taper first.

 

These are the links for your 3 drugs:

 

Tips for tapering off ziprasidone (Geodon, Zeldox)

 

Tips for tapering off Luvox (fluvoxamine)

 

Tips for tapering off olanzapine (Zyprexa)

 

Have a read of the above links and the you can post any questions you have in your Intro/Update topic as well as journal your progress.  It is also a good idea to update your signature with date, drug & dose whenever you make a change so that your drug history remains current and able to be seen at a glance.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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scallywag you havent answered the question. How do you make the solution suspension? please explain in detail. and please dont offer links i want an explanation.

Please will someone help this man? I was just like him and the links and videos didn't help me either. Some of us are so compromised that we need someone to guide us, specifically with calculations. I would not have been able to taper geodon without that kind of specific help.

 

Hi JerryL. I will try to help you. Do you want to taper starting with geodon? I used a scale because I also could not figure out how to make a solution from the links and videos. Someone named Altostrata kindly walked me through step by step.

 

I was taking 80 mgs at night. I used a Gemini 20 scale from amazon. About 30 dollars. I also bought 00 size gelatin capsules and cellulose paper squares to put the powder on.

 

To taper by 10 percent, multiply 80 by 90 percent. I used the calculator on google. So 80 times 90 percent equals 72.

 

Now take several 80 mg capsules anand gently twist apart and pour the powder onto a cellulose paper square that has a crease made in it for ease of pouring onto scale. Do this with several capsules and record the weight then add all the weights of each capsule. Then you want to get an average weight. Do this by dividing the total weight contents of the capsules.

 

For example 1796 total wright of contents of 5 capsules divided by 5 equals 359. (You may want to weigh more than 5 capsules) but I started out with 5. So the average weight is 359.

 

Then take the 72 (your 10 percent reduction from 80 mgs) and divide by 80 which is 0.9. Then take average weight 359 and multiply by 0.9 which equals 323.1. I rounded down in this case to 323. So 323 equals 72 mgs. Pour out contents of an 80 mg capsule onto cellulose paper. Turn on scale with weighing tray on platform and follow leaflet instructions to calibrate scale. When finished you are ready to weigh.

 

Pour the powder onto the weighing tray until scale reads. .323 This is your dose. Pour excess powder into empty medicine bottle and cap tightly. Then take powder on weighing tray and transfer back to cellulose paper. It should have a crease to help with pouring the powder into the 00 size gelatin capsule. If you decide to do it this way you will have to gradually by two hours per day move your 40 mg morning dose to the evening dose and then get the 80 mg capsules and start the tapering process.

 

Was this helpful at all? If you want to make a solution, I can try to help you with that also.

Edited by scallywag
paragraph breaks added

I am not a medical professional. My comments and posts are based on personal experiences. Please consult appropriate medical professionals for advice. 

I was started on psych drugs back in the late 80's. You name it. I probably was on it. Tapered off final cocktail 2013-2019. For Hashimotos and high blood pressure I take Levothyroxine. Liothyronine. Spironolactone. Hydrochlorothiazide. Losartan. B12 hydroxy. Fish oil w/D3. Bee pollen. Magnesium Glycinate.

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  • Administrator

Thanks for answering Jerry's questions with such detail, Marsha.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Marsha - we don't even know what drug he is choosing to taper from.  When he makes that decision, we can help with the maths.  Thanks for bringing him to our attention, but until he comes online with his decision, there is not much we can do.

 

See if this helps - this is how it's done, demonstrated with a benzo - but you can make your own strength with your own drug following this method:

 

 

As for the maths, it's ratios.  When you choose the drug to taper we will better be able to be more specific.

 

You are on 2 brakes and 1 accelerator; I would probably consider tapering the Luvox first, get it down to a convenient dose that you can take in a tablet - say taper for 8 months to get it down to 150 mg, then take a long hold (another 3 months) to start looking at bringing the geodon down.    The thread that Chessie gave you:  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/5095-tips-for-tapering-off-luvox-fluvoxamine/ tells you how to ask for your drug - you will be taking part of your dose in ER (Extended Release) and part of it in immediate release.

 

I know it sounds like a hassle, but the alternative is more extreme symptoms which can be dangerous and land you in hospitals.  It's much better to take charge of your own medication than to just meekly accept what they give you.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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  • 5 months later...

I just started decreasing my Zyprexa with compounded prescriptions and I got like 3 medium bad thoughts that stayed with me on the 1st month.( Im on my 3rd month now) and I also got a very bad thought that stays with me from 1-24-17 and also on 1-30-17 I got a flurry of bad thoughts that stays ( Kind of similar to if I went down in mg too fast) and that last one was where i drew the line so i got up on this site again. to get help. Btw ( November -December 2016 i went from 5 mg - 4.5 mg and then December 2016- Jan 2017 from 4.5-4 mg and now (Jan 2017-Feb 2017 i went from 4- 3.5 mg) 

And my question is what do you think i should do because im in a predicament because I have to lower my Zyprexa due to the side effects like (diabetes . sleeping alot. high triglycerides . eating alot) But im getting like very severe intrusive thoughts that stay ( like they keep recurring when i do a common task that i do everyday) what should i do? and is there a way to decrease without these effects ?

2010-2011 Paxil and Zyprexa(forgot dosage)

2012-2014 Quiting cold turkey bad problems

2014-2015 Zyprexa 7.5 mg and Luvox 300mg extended release

Dec2015 -June 2016 added Geodon 40mg twice a day Zyprexa reduced to 5 mg

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Intrusive thoughts are common in withdrawal.

 

Here is SA's discussion on the topic:  intrusive-thoughts

 

Here are some other links which might give you some suggestions of how to cope with it:


Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

"Change the channel" -- dealing with cognitive symptoms


Change cognitive framing - Redirect - Another Way

 

Neuro Emotions

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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