Frogie: how to taper off Lexapro and Xanax?

[AliG]

Hey Frogie!

 

Andy said:

The longer you hold while you are asymptomatic before making your next move the greater the comfort level that your body has reached homeostasis. 

 

I'm going to suggest don't push it.  (sorry to contradict, Andy - I like that she's slowing down - but there are tons of people who regret tapering too fast, and very very very few who regret tapering too slow)

 

There is no harm in holding.

 

Really.  

 

Remember last fall - you were doing so well - and you held for awhile - but when you cut in January - January 1 (you were gonna do it on a schedule) it turned all wobbly.

 

What is the harm in holding another month, to make sure you are really really well before your next cut?  Throw out the calendar.  You are not obligated to taper on Day 30 of recovery from symptoms...

Rhis's Start Small Listen to Body Taper Plan

 

I found this in my notes, and cannot remember if I gave it to you or not:

 

https://youtu.be/lvSWgwKJavw  (Stomach Acid)

 

Sorry if this is contradictory or confusing.  I am just reminding you that holding is healing.

I'm not sure this is a contradiction. Isn't that what A was saying?  Holding is healing and that is what he said.

Sounds like a plan, Frogie. Wishing you well.

[Frogie]

Spoke to soon, I'm nauseous

 

Not bad, it almost feels like my stomach is burning and a little upset

[Frogie]

 

Hey Frogie!

 

Andy said:

 

The longer you hold while you are asymptomatic before making your next move the greater the comfort level that your body has reached homeostasis.

 

I'm going to suggest don't push it. (sorry to contradict, Andy - I like that she's slowing down - but there are tons of people who regret tapering too fast, and very very very few who regret tapering too slow)

 

There is no harm in holding.

 

Really.

 

Remember last fall - you were doing so well - and you held for awhile - but when you cut in January - January 1 (you were gonna do it on a schedule) it turned all wobbly.

 

What is the harm in holding another month, to make sure you are really really well before your next cut? Throw out the calendar. You are not obligated to taper on Day 30 of recovery from symptoms...

Rhis's Start Small Listen to Body Taper Plan

 

I found this in my notes, and cannot remember if I gave it to you or not:

 

https://youtu.be/lvSWgwKJavw (Stomach Acid)

 

Sorry if this is contradictory or confusing. I am just reminding you that holding is healing.

I'm not sure this is a contradiction. Isn't that what A was saying? Holding is healing and that is what he said.

Sounds like a plan, Frogie. Wishing you well.

Thanks AliG! I'm holding until AT LEAST next week. Then if I'm ok, I'm only going to drop 1.67% like Andy and I talked about.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[AliG]

Frogie. For some reason, I have had similar symptoms lately and have found raw ginger helpful. I add it to a smoothie or freshly squeezed juice -  carrot, apple and ginger.  

[Frogie]

Frogie. For some reason, I have had similar symptoms lately and have found raw ginger helpful. I add it to a smoothie or freshly squeezed juice - carrot, apple and ginger.

 

AliG:

 

I wish I could do some ginger, but I throw up. Doesn't matter if it's capsule, candy or fresh, it gets me.

 

I have to watch what I eat even. My body just doesn't like it at all.

 

Do you think it's ok to wait a week like Andy and I talked, then if I'm ok, taper 1.67%?

 

But I would love to have some of your smoothie recepies if you don't mind.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[AliG]

Frogie. Yes . I would stick to that plan. Andy knows his stuff!

 

If you sneak it ( ginger) into a juice a little at a time then you may not react. However failing that the easiest smoothie is banana/ spinach water and or coconut water. You can add berries ( frozen organic) and /or cacao or any combination of the above. 

 

I usually just do banana ( frozen ) spinach and purified water. Simple, effective and easy. I always have frozen bananas on hand.

 

If I'm feeling nauseous I do banana, pea protein powder and almond milk with a touch of vanilla and stevia.

[Frogie]

Frogie. Yes . I would stick to that plan. Andy knows his stuff!

 

If you sneak it ( ginger) into a juice a little at a time then you may not react. However failing that the easiest smoothie is banana/ spinach water and or coconut water. You can add berries ( frozen organic) and /or cacao or any combination of the above. 

 

I usually just do banana ( frozen ) spinach and purified water. Simple, effective and easy. I always have frozen bananas on hand.

 

If I'm feeling nauseous I do banana, pea protein powder and almond milk with a touch of vanilla and stevia.

Thanks AliG!

 

I'm going by Andy and my plan.

 

I'm definitely trying your smoothies! I'm always looking for new ones.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Frogie]

Day 29:

 

No nausea!

 

Maybe I'm getting better, who knows.

[Flowers]

Yay! Just enjoy it while you can!

 

Flowers xxx

[Frogie]

Yay! Just enjoy it while you can!

 

Flowers xxx

Spoke too soon. I took a nap with my chihuahua, and woke up a little nauseous.

 

How are you feeling?

[Gridley]

Just a thought: have you tried the homeopathic remedy for nausea, Nux Vomica? 

[brassmonkey]

Although it is a very minuscule dose we have had several members have bad reactions to Nux Vomica lately.  Further research lead us to find that the active ingredients in it are the same as rat poison, all be it a very small amount.  We can not recommend you using this supplement.

[Frogie]

Although it is a very minuscule dose we have had several members have bad reactions to Nux Vomica lately.  Further research lead us to find that the active ingredients in it are the same as rat poison, all be it a very small amount.  We can not recommend you using this supplement.

Thanks brassmonkey:

 

If I'm home and just a tiny bit nauseous, I just live through it.

 

If it is out of control, and we have somewhere to go, I'll take a zofran or phenegran, maybe once a month and I'm fine.

 

I don't take anything else without checking here 1st. I've read too many horror stories lately.

 

I've stopped supplements for now. Andy and I are seeing if that might be causing my nausea?

 

Does anyone know about thyroid? AliG told me to eat 2 Brazil nuts a day, but I haven't bought them yet. At my physical my TSH was 4.710, 24 days later, it's 5.12. I can't take synthroid, it makes me throw up. Tried it already. Do you know anything natural? I heard that Lexapro can cause TSH to become high? It's never been high before. I don't want to be on meds the rest of my life

 

Thanks.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Frogie]

Just a thought: have you tried the homeopathic remedy for nausea, Nux Vomica?

 

Thanks Gridley:

 

You might want to read what brassmonkey wrote.

 

It's not too bad right now, I can live through it.

 

Thanks for thinking of me.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Gridley]

I'm glad it's not too bad right now.  

[scallywag]

Frogie, remember to add nutrients slowly -- including Brazil nuts. If you choose to experiment with Brazil nuts for the selenium (which is helpful for thyroid health), start with a quarter of a nut or less. No need to upset things by trying 2 full nuts every day.

[Frogie]

Frogie, remember to add nutrients slowly -- including Brazil nuts. If you choose to experiment with Brazil nuts for the selenium (which is helpful for thyroid health), start with a quarter of a nut or less. No need to upset things by trying 2 full nuts every day.

Thanks Scallywag:

 

I wouldn't have done that.

 

Hope you're doing well.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Frogie]

Day 30:

 

Very tiny bit of nausea. Don't even know if I would call it that.

[Blondiee1915]

Amazing it is almost gone whoohoooo

[Flowers]

So pleased you are getting some improvement!

 

xxxx Flowers

[Frogie]

So pleased you are getting some improvement!

 

xxxx Flowers

I don't know if I would call it improvement, maybe a step in the right direction. It's still not gone.

 

How is your nausea? Hope better.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Happy2Heal]

Day 30:

 

Very tiny bit of nausea. Don't even know if I would call it that.

 

that's fantastic!!

concentrate on the good stuff and it will grow. 

 

if you continue to focus on what is not right, or not as good as you want it to be, that is ALL that you will see and it will be all that you will get: more bad stuff.

 

you don't have to pretend that things are good when they are not, but on the other hand, if you never acknowledge any improvement, you're going to stay stuck in, well, never improving.

[Frogie]

 

Day 30:

Very tiny bit of nausea. Don't even know if I would call it that.

 

 

that's fantastic!!

concentrate on the good stuff and it will grow. 

 

if you continue to focus on what is not right, or not as good as you want it to be, that is ALL that you will see and it will be all that you will get: more bad stuff.

 

you don't have to pretend that things are good when they are not, but on the other hand, if you never acknowledge any improvement, you're going to stay stuck in, well, never improving.

Thanks... You are right.

 

Now to the dr tomorrow to tell him I'm not going on thyroid meds, and am going to try a supplement 1st.

 

I'm pretty sure it is WD related, so we shall see.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[JanCarol]

Hey Frogie - 

my Pilates machine today

 

OMG you have an actual Pilates machine?  I am so jealous!  I have a Swiss Ball, but lordy, there's only so much I can do with that - it's intense!

 

Thanks AliG! I'm holding until AT LEAST next week. Then if I'm ok, I'm only going to drop 1.67% like Andy and I talked about.

 

No, that is not 30 days out from your symptoms.  You said this on May 7, and you reported nausea on May 7.  So the soonest you should even THINK about a taper is June 7.  And probably more like July 7.  that's if you don't have ANY nausea between now and then.  You also reported some nausea on Day 27.

 

What I think you need to do is this:  A day you have nausea is day 0.  Your first day without nausea is day 1.  If you have nausea, you start over.  I don't know what you are counting from here - your updose, perhaps?

 

You're pushing it Frogie, and I don't want you to regret it.

 

Okay - hypoallergenic alternatives to synthroid/thyroxin:

Here are 3 articles:

https://www.verywell.com/things-thyroid-patients-shouldnt-be-forced-to-do-4067154

 

This mentions Tyrosint as the best option for allergies and IBS.

 

https://www.verywell.com/synthroid-can-cause-allergic-reactions-sensitivities-3233180

 

https://www.verywell.com/thyroid-medication-mistakes-3233280

 

Please post your labs here for your records, so that we can track them down the line.

 

It looks like your thyroid issue is more than just dehydration.

 

It may be something that clears up entirely after you get off the Lexapro with a clean diet.

ps.  you were asking about someone who tapers by single drops of liquid.  The pharmaceutical companies make Lexapro the strongest liquid.  There are some formulations that have a complete dose in a single drop.  If you were to use Lexapro Oral liquid to taper - I would recommend diluting the Lexapro liquid to taper.

[Frogie]

Hey Frogie - 

 

my Pilates machine today

 

 

OMG you have an actual Pilates machine?  I am so jealous!  I have a Swiss Ball, but lordy, there's only so much I can do with that - it's intense!

 

Thanks AliG! I'm holding until AT LEAST next week. Then if I'm ok, I'm only going to drop 1.67% like Andy and I talked about.

 

 

No, that is not 30 days out from your symptoms.  You said this on May 7, and you reported nausea on May 7.  So the soonest you should even THINK about a taper is June 7.  And probably more like July 7.  that's if you don't have ANY nausea between now and then.  You also reported some nausea on Day 27.

 

What I think you need to do is this:  A day you have nausea is day 0.  Your first day without nausea is day 1.  If you have nausea, you start over.  I don't know what you are counting from here - your updose, perhaps?

 

You're pushing it Frogie, and I don't want you to regret it.

 

Okay - hypoallergenic alternatives to synthroid/thyroxin:

Here are 3 articles:

https://www.verywell.com/things-thyroid-patients-shouldnt-be-forced-to-do-4067154

 

This mentions Tyrosint as the best option for allergies and IBS.

 

https://www.verywell.com/synthroid-can-cause-allergic-reactions-sensitivities-3233180

 

https://www.verywell.com/thyroid-medication-mistakes-3233280

 

Please post your labs here for your records, so that we can track them down the line.

 

It looks like your thyroid issue is more than just dehydration.

 

It may be something that clears up entirely after you get off the Lexapro with a clean diet.

ps.  you were asking about someone who tapers by single drops of liquid.  The pharmaceutical companies make Lexapro the strongest liquid.  There are some formulations that have a complete dose in a single drop.  If you were to use Lexapro Oral liquid to taper - I would recommend diluting the Lexapro liquid to taper.

I do have a Pilates machine. I just need to use it lol...

 

I don't want to take a thyroid med until I'm done with tapering Lexapro. I don't want to be stuck on it for the rest of my life. I read all those articles and I've read all of those before. I have been investigating this for a couple of weeks non stop.

 

My dr is really good on supplements, maybe he will have something that I can take.

 

I'm really hoping it is the tapering of Lexapro. No one told me to dilute the liquid Lexapro? How do I do that?

 

Thanks,

Frogie xx

[Frogie]

Day 31:

 

Small amount of nausea, but went away quickly.

 

I think it was because I was nervous about my dr appt today. Went over thyroid numbers again.

[Frogie]

Day 32:

 

No nausea.

[Frogie]

I have a question...

 

I started taking liquid Lexapro in November, 2016, before I started tapering in January, 2017.

 

I have been advised that liquid Lexapro is very strong.

 

If I'm tapering on it, it should be diluted.

 

How do I dilute it? And do I now need to go back up to 10mg, and start the tapering process over because I didn't dilute it?

 

Thanks for helping me.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[AliG]

I think you have worn us all out F. Can you just give us a minute? We are all dealing with our own issues as well as trying to deal with your immediate  problems. A is spent as are we all.

 

Please be aware that we are going through this process too as we try to help.  

[Frogie]

JanCarol asked me to post this:

 

On 4-11-17 these are my thyroid tests results:

 

TSH 4.710.

Range. 0.0450-4.500

Thyroxine 8.0.

Range 4.5-12.0

T3uptake 22.

Range 24-39

Free thyroxine index 1.8.

Range 1.2-4.9

 

On 5-4-17 (24 days later):

 

TSH 5.120.

Range 0.0450-4.500

Thyroxine 8.1

Range 4.5-12.0

T3uptake 23

Range 24-39

Free thyroxine index 1.9.

Range 1.2-4.9

Reverse t3, 18.5

Range 9.2-24.1

TgAb+thyroglobulin,IMA or LCMS

Thyroglobulin antibody. 0.0.

Range 0.0-0.9

Thyroglobulin by IMA. 27.2.

Range 1.5-38.5

TPO Ab 12.

Range 0-34

Triiodothyronine, Free, Serum. 3.2.

Range 2.0-4.4

 

I went over the results with my dr yesterday. He started me on a supplement called Raw Thyroid. I cant take anything that has lactose in it. All the prescriptions for thyroid has lactose in in except Armour and Tirosint and they have to be $350/month on my insurance. Lets hope this supplement works!!

[Frogie]

I think you have worn us all out F. Can you just give us a minute? We are all dealing with our own issues as well as trying to deal with your immediate  problems. A is spent as are we all.

 

Please be aware that we are going through this process too as we try to help.  

I didn't mean it to be immediate.

 

I'm going to continue to take my meds as I have been until I hear differently.

 

I was only asking a question, sorry...

 

I know everyone is going through this at the same time I am. I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I'm not that kind of person.  

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[AliG]

We also have our moments.

 

We're trying to do our best.

[Frogie]

We also have our moments.

 

We're trying to do our best.

I know everyone is struggling and trying to heal.

 

When I put a question on my thread, I don't mean it has to be answered immediately. Or by one specific person.

 

I'm only asking for advice. When someone figures out if I need to dilute my liquid Lexapro or not, could someone let me know? Until then, I'm going to continue what I'm doing.

 

I don't know how else to do it.

 

Again, I'm sorry for bothering anyone. It wasn't my intention at all.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Chuck83]

Just a thought: have you tried the homeopathic remedy for nausea, Nux Vomica? 

 

Please to all member I recommend to stay away from this ****. This "supplement" rat poison, made me disabled for two weeks, I was persuaded to take it with the deception of a bastard homeopath False doctor, Because I was desperate for my hemorrhoids, and continued rectal bleeding.

[Frogie]

 

Just a thought: have you tried the homeopathic remedy for nausea, Nux Vomica?

 

 

Please to all member I recommend to stay away from this ****. This "supplement" rat poison, made me disabled for two weeks, I was persuaded to take it with the deception of a bastard homeopath False doctor, Because I was desperate for my hemorrhoids, and continued rectal bleeding.

Thanks Chuck83:

 

I don't take a supplement without checking here or with my dr 1st.

 

Hope you are feeling better.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Frogie]

Hello:

 

I just found out that when I post something, for some reason, everyone thinks that I need an immediate response.

 

I don't know how else to ask a question, but to put it on my thread. I never expected it to be answered immediately. I'm only asking for advise like everyone else on this forum is doing.

 

I know everyone is healing here, and have their own problems.

 

I'm a very caring person if you know me. I don't wish bad things on anyone.

 

I'm sorry if I have "spent " anyone, especially the mods. That was not my intention at all.

 

I will stop posting, if that will help. When I do post like day xx, nausea or no nausea, that is for me. I'm keeping track for myself. No one needs to respond on that.

 

Again, I'm very sorry.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx