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Moondog99: Sertraline tapering- different recommendations on line & from psychiatrist


moondog99

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Psychiatrist has told me to stop Sertraline from 150, down to 100mg the next week, then down to 50 the next, then stop (not because my depression has eased but because it doesn't seem to have helped at all. However, online I see that people  are recommending a much longer tapering.  . The problem is, when I rang the surgery today to try and voice my concerns about this and some other things I wasn't sure about, I was told by one of the staff to just follow what the psychiatrist says.  I tried telling her that I had to go away for three months to work in a place where I have no friends, family or doctor, but she didn't seem to want to listen.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?  Is this too quick a time period and if not, aren't I just dependent on whatever a certified doctor tells me to do?

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Have just posted about this.  I am not sure how I can taper 10% month, when the psychiatrist has prescribed me tablets to reduce from 200mg to zero in four weeks.  As I am dependent on a prescription, which he has the authority to prescribe, I will not be able to reduce in this  safe way.  I was wondering if there are others who are not able to proceed with 10% reduction for similar reasons. 

Edited by scallywag
split from Zoloft topic; individual situation
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  • KarenB changed the title to Moondog99: Sertraline tapering- different recommendations on line & from psychiatrist
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hello Moondog99 - welcome to SA,

If you have been on Sertraline for less than one month, then you can stop as the psych says.  However, if you have been taking it for longer, we recommend a gentle taper, reducing by no more than 10% of your current dose each month

This allows your brain time to adjust as you go, and lessens any withdrawal.  The troublesome thing with SSRIs is that you can't just flush their effects out of your system.  They change the way your brain works, and that takes much longer to heal.  Suddenly stopping the drug puts your brain and Central Nervous System into shock.  It's like yanking a trellis out of a garden instead of gently untangling the plants and slowly removing the wood – it’s too much trauma for the plants/your brain.  (For the source of that simile, plus further discussion, see http://survivinganti...el-your-brain/)

Preparing-to-taper is a good place to start reading.  You might like to start taking Vitamin B (as it can be difficult to start once you are tapering).  Many people find Fish oil and Magnesium useful during withdrawal.   

Keeping things simple is your best bet:  Keep it Simple; Keep it Slow; Keep it Stable

It is also a good idea to start looking at how you will manage your depression without drugs.  Non-Drug Techniques to cope with emotional symptoms.

Please put your withdrawal history in your signature – all drugs/dates/dosages etc. so we can see your situation easily whenever you post, and help you more accurately.  Thanks.

 

Have a read of those and then you can come back to this thread to discuss things further.  This can be your journal to record your tapering and healing progress, and to ask questions. 

Welcome to SA,

Karen

2010  Fluoxetine 20mg.  2011  Escitalopram 20mg.  2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS.  Effexor 150mg. 

2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants.  Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. 

Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms).

8 month hold.

2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent).

2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well.
Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea.

2023 Now on 7 micro-beads of Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops.

 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.'  Dr Gabor Mate.

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On 2017-06-22 at 1:27 PM, moondog99 said:

Have just posted about this.  I am not sure how I can taper 10% month, when the psychiatrist has prescribed me tablets to reduce from 200mg to zero in four weeks.  As I am dependent on a prescription, which he has the authority to prescribe, I will not be able to reduce in this  safe way.  I was wondering if there are others who are not able to proceed with 10% reduction for similar reasons. 

Yes - this is a common problem, as we are all dependent on someone to prescribe.  But there are alternative methods.  Some people go to a different doctor to get the prescription they need.  Others ask for a liquid, or make their own (see the first post in this thread, Tapering Zoloft). 

Edited by scallywag
split from Zoloft topic; individual situation

2010  Fluoxetine 20mg.  2011  Escitalopram 20mg.  2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS.  Effexor 150mg. 

2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants.  Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. 

Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms).

8 month hold.

2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent).

2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well.
Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea.

2023 Now on 7 micro-beads of Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops.

 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.'  Dr Gabor Mate.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Moondog, welcome to SA. You are right to be concerned about such a fast taper. Sadly many psychiatrists do not have a clue about the drugs they prescribe! How long have you been taking sertraline? If you have a repeat prescription slip that comes with your drugs, you can take that to a chemist in the new location and ask for the prescription as a new patient.  In my experience here in the UK,  psychiatrists take weeks to send their report to the gp so the gp will probably not know the psychiatrist has told you to stop it. Lots of us here have had to taper ourselves without the help of doctors because they insist on tapering far too fast, We collect the prescriptions regularly so that we have what we need. You could find that you start to feel better as you taper, anti depressants are known to cause depression!  I will get some links for you so that you can get the information on how to taper safely when you have the right prescriptions, I hope you manage to get them without too much trouble.

 

I see Karen posted as I was typing. 

 

 

Maybe you could print off some of these papers for your psychiatrist, they are scientific papers on withdrawal. 

 

 

 

Edited by mammaP

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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As those who have already commented said, if you've been on sertraline for a few months or more, tapering that quickly is way, way, way, too fast.  IMO, even if you have been on it for a month, jumping from 50 to 0 is risky.  Also, if you are going away, and will be alone, IMO it's not a good time to taper.  Could you not ask your doctor to postpone the taper.  Then, you can control and slow down the taper as you need.  If you want to taper while away, you could taper at a rate that you feel comfortable with and not have to rush.

200 Zoloft; 10 mg Zyprexa; 4 mg valium as of May 2021;  Valium taper: July 16: 3.5 valium; July 30: 3 mg (paused valium taper); Aug. 23: 2.5 mg
Zyprexa: July 26: 8.75 mg; Aug. 9: 7.5 mg; Aug. 30: 7.1 mg

-------
Dec 1, 2016. 10 mg zyprexa for 1.5 month. Started taper mid-Jan. 2017. Cut 1.25 mg every 2 weeks; smaller cuts 2.5 mg down. Stopped at .6 mg. May 7, 2017: zyprexa free. 
Zoloft: Dec1, 2016, 200 mg. Started taper: Jun12, 2017: 197.5 mg; Jun19,:195 mg; July 2:185mg; July 9,:180 mg; July16,: 175; July 23: 170; July 30: 165; Aug6: 160; Aug13: 155; Aug. 20: 150; Aug.27: 146 mg; Sept3: 145 mg; Sept10:143 mg; Sept17:140 mg....Nov5: 122 mg...Dec3:112.5 mg; Jan14, 2018: 95 mg...Jan28: 90 mg; Feb21:80 mg; Mar11: 75 mg; May2:70 mg; May15: 68 mg; May28: 65 mg; Jun9: 62 mg;Jun25: 60 mg:July22: 55 mg; Aug25: 45 mg. Aug28: 50 mg...Oct 28: 38 mg; Dec.4: 30 mg; Jan8,2019: 25mg; Feb6: 23.5 mg; Apr1:17.5mg; May1:1 mg; May 5: 18;  May 18:15mg; June 16:12.5mg; Sept 10:11 mg; Sept.16:10 mg; Oct. 1: 9mg; Nov. 27: 8mg; Dec.5: 7mg; Jan.1,2020, 6 mg; Feb1: 5 mg; May 1: 2.5 mg; Jn 1: 2 mg; Jy 1: 1.5 mg

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On 2017-06-22 at 1:27 PM, moondog99 said:

Have just posted about this.  I am not sure how I can taper 10% month, when the psychiatrist has prescribed me tablets to reduce from 200mg to zero in four weeks.  As I am dependent on a prescription, which he has the authority to prescribe, I will not be able to reduce in this  safe way.  I was wondering if there are others who are not able to proceed with 10% reduction for similar reasons. 

As Karen said. Could you go to your doctor and ask them to prescribe?  Or go back to psychiatrist after a few days of tapering down. Tell them you are feeling really bad and need to extend taper. But best to try to find a supportive doctor. 

200 Zoloft; 10 mg Zyprexa; 4 mg valium as of May 2021;  Valium taper: July 16: 3.5 valium; July 30: 3 mg (paused valium taper); Aug. 23: 2.5 mg
Zyprexa: July 26: 8.75 mg; Aug. 9: 7.5 mg; Aug. 30: 7.1 mg

-------
Dec 1, 2016. 10 mg zyprexa for 1.5 month. Started taper mid-Jan. 2017. Cut 1.25 mg every 2 weeks; smaller cuts 2.5 mg down. Stopped at .6 mg. May 7, 2017: zyprexa free. 
Zoloft: Dec1, 2016, 200 mg. Started taper: Jun12, 2017: 197.5 mg; Jun19,:195 mg; July 2:185mg; July 9,:180 mg; July16,: 175; July 23: 170; July 30: 165; Aug6: 160; Aug13: 155; Aug. 20: 150; Aug.27: 146 mg; Sept3: 145 mg; Sept10:143 mg; Sept17:140 mg....Nov5: 122 mg...Dec3:112.5 mg; Jan14, 2018: 95 mg...Jan28: 90 mg; Feb21:80 mg; Mar11: 75 mg; May2:70 mg; May15: 68 mg; May28: 65 mg; Jun9: 62 mg;Jun25: 60 mg:July22: 55 mg; Aug25: 45 mg. Aug28: 50 mg...Oct 28: 38 mg; Dec.4: 30 mg; Jan8,2019: 25mg; Feb6: 23.5 mg; Apr1:17.5mg; May1:1 mg; May 5: 18;  May 18:15mg; June 16:12.5mg; Sept 10:11 mg; Sept.16:10 mg; Oct. 1: 9mg; Nov. 27: 8mg; Dec.5: 7mg; Jan.1,2020, 6 mg; Feb1: 5 mg; May 1: 2.5 mg; Jn 1: 2 mg; Jy 1: 1.5 mg

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On 22/6/2017 at 7:27 PM, moondog99 said:

Have just posted about this.  I am not sure how I can taper 10% month, when the psychiatrist has prescribed me tablets to reduce from 200mg to zero in four weeks.  As I am dependent on a prescription, which he has the authority to prescribe, I will not be able to reduce in this  safe way.  I was wondering if there are others who are not able to proceed with 10% reduction for similar reasons. 

 

You can just always bullsh*t them, like I did. Just not tell them anything about withdrawing, everything is groovy, the meds are helping you a lot. Zoloft can be easily dissolved in water and water titrated. Or maybe you go to another one and tell them you aren't comfortable swallowing pills, can they prescribe a liquid solution instead. I mean, they're drug dealers anyway, in my experience they really can't help in any way beyond dealing drugs (which don't help that much, really).

1 year risperidone, 1 year olanzapine (10 mg). attempted first withdrawal cold turkey, failed. 2 more years olanzapine, switched to abilify which was very disruptive so attempted quitting cold turkey, failed. then 4 years amisulpride at 150 mg and about 3 zoloft at 150 mg. attempted withdrawal from both in 3 weeks, failed. reinstated zoloft and bridged to olanzapine (10 mg), successfully withdrew it over 10 months. tried withdrawing zoloft over 12 months, failed. bridged to prozac, at 40 mg,  now at 12 mg.

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Thank you Karen, mammap and Madelne for replying to my post (I can't see a way of replying to each person here).  I have cut down from 150mg to 50mg. and yet to experience any really heavy withdrawal symptoms (but have had crazy dreams, dry mouth and quite a bit of nausea). I am expecting the 50mg to 0 to be the hardest bit.  As i thought, the psychiatrist should not have asked me to cut down so quickly, so am going to the GP to explain. 

 

  If anyone has any links to information about Sertraline / zoloft  increasing depression (rather than the ones that say in the first few weeks) I would like to read, as I cannot find much information.

 

 I have been on sertraline / zoloft for about two years and I personally think it never worked at all. For me it wasn't the case of waiting a few weeks.  The dose was increased because the initial dose did nothing.   I'm not blaming how I've been feeling on the medication but it certainly hasn't relieved any symptoms. If SSRIs have a low hit rate, where is the info from people whose symptoms were not improved from taking them?

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8 minutes ago, moondog99 said:

Thank you Karen, mammap and Madelne for replying to my post (I can't see a way of replying to each person here).  I have cut down from 150mg to 50mg. and yet to experience any really heavy withdrawal symptoms (but have had crazy dreams, dry mouth and quite a bit of nausea). I am expecting the 50mg to 0 to be the hardest bit.  As i thought, the psychiatrist should not have asked me to cut down so quickly, so am going to the GP to explain. 

 

  If anyone has any links to information about Sertraline / zoloft  increasing depression (rather than the ones that say in the first few weeks) I would like to read, as I cannot find much information.

 

 I have been on sertraline / zoloft for about two years and I personally think it never worked at all. For me it wasn't the case of waiting a few weeks.  The dose was increased because the initial dose did nothing.   I'm not blaming how I've been feeling on the medication but it certainly hasn't relieved any symptoms. If SSRIs have a low hit rate, where is the info from people whose symptoms were not improved from taking them?

Hi Moondog

I see that you have started tapering rather quickly as per instructions from your Psychiatrist. Although you may not feel too bad now sometimes withdrawal symptoms do not show up for a while so you could be in for a rough ride. A lot of us on here found out that way!

 

Your GP may not understand the slowness of tapering that is recommended here so be prepared that they will not agree with what you are saying.

 

If you decide to try a slower taper perhaps if you can fill in your signature with the dates and amounts you have tapered by the mods will be able to advise you what is best to do with your dosage just now.

 

Best Wishes

 

Flowers 

 

 

 

 

 

15 yrs on 20 to 30 mgs CITALOPRAM.  MAY 2014 Increased to 40 mgs per day.SEPT/NOV 2014 tapered in 6 weeks down to 10 mgs as per Dr instructions due to violent nightmares/palpitations.Given Noctamid (lormetazepam) to help with anxiety. On average took 2mg per day for 8 weeks.No taper was advised.DEC 2014 WD severe. Nervous tic in eyes and limbs, muscle pain,fluct  temp, weakness, dep and anxiety, nausea, giddy, unstable when walking. Different Dr suggested taking 20mgs CIT. BROMAZEPAM 3mgs up to 3 x daily for anxiety.DEC 9 2014 Updose CIT to 30mgs. Only taking BROMAZEPAM in emergency.DEC 31 2014 Settling at 30mg CIT - helping with depression. No Brom for 2wks.Found SA.APR 2015 Trying to stabilise on 30mgs CIT.  JAN 2016 Started Cit Taper reducing by 5% per month.  28.5 mgs 
FEB  Taper held bereavement. APR Taper resumed 27mgs . MAY 25.50 mgs .  JUNE 24 mgs .  JULY I stupidly mixed up my BP meds with CIT. Consequently took no CIT for 3 days and doubled my BP meds. Waiting for the fallout....Holding for a while until any chance of repercussions have abated. SEPT taper resumed to  22.5 mgs . OCT 21 mgs .NOV 19.95 mgs DEC crashed. 2017: FEB 3rd updose to 20.5 mgs to try to stabilise.FEB.switched over to 75mgs of Venlafaxine XR for 3 weeks.Too stimulating so switching back to Cit. 12 March 37.5 Ven and 20 Cit. 21 March 18mg Ven 20mg Cit. 4 April 9mg Ven 20mg Cit. Xanax .50mg when needed.  13 April 0 mgs Ven, 20mg Citalopram. Xanax .50 mg per day. 5 May reinstated a small amount of Ven to stabilize  1 mg twice a day. 20 mg Citalopram at night. Xanax .25 mg twice per day.Other Meds: Losartan (BP)Started 1993 at  50 mgs at night.  Seretide (Asthma) Started 1996 at 1 puff twice a day. Jan 2019 Antibiotic Ceclor 500mgs twice a day for bronchitis and  Atrovent 2ml capsules twice a day for asthma. Finished the course of both Jan 17. 

XANAX  Jan 27  - Feb 3 2019 Failed Valium Crossover.   Feb 14 2019  Updosed Xanax by .0625  Feb 17 2019 Decreased Xanax by .0625. Back to .50mg daily.  Update Xanax 28.2.20 tapered to .1250 mg 8am .25 mg midnight. Update Xanax 11.8.21 tapered to .25 mg at night. 

Current Meds 28.2.19: CITALOPRAM  20mg  taken at midnight. VENLAFAXINE  .9 mg twice a day at 8am and 10pm.  XANAX .50 mg split into 4 doses per day. 10am .0625mg / 2pm .1250mg/ 6pm .0625mg / midnight .25mg.Update 10.8.22 .25 mg at night.  LOSARTAN 50 mgs taken at midnight.  SERETIDE 1 puff taken at 8am and 10pm.   7.7.19 VENLAFAXINE UPDATE: Started tapering 10% every 4 weeks. Currently .4 mg twice a day at 8am and 10 pm.  2.9.19 .36 mg x 2. 1.10.19  .32 mg x 2. 26.11.19 .29 mg x2. 26.12.19 .26 mg  x 2. 23.1.20  .23 mg x 2.  20.2.20 .21 mg x2.20.3.20  .19 mg x 2. 21.4.20 .17 mg x 2. 19.5.20 .13 mg x 2.  18.6.20 .11mg  x 2 .18.7.20.10 mg x 2.1.9.20.09 mg x 2. 30.9. 20 .08 mg x 2. 1.11.20 .07 mg x 2.  2.12.20 .06 mg x 2.  8.1.21 .05 mg x 2.  4.2.21 .04 mg x 2. 9.3.21 .03 mgx2.  7.4.21  .02 mg x 2.  9.5.21 .01 mg x 2.  21.6.21 .01 mg x 1.  11.8.21 ZERO!

 

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9 minutes ago, Flowers said:

Hi Moondog

I see that you have started tapering rather quickly as per instructions from your Psychiatrist. Although you may not feel too bad now sometimes withdrawal symptoms do not show up for a while so you could be in for a rough ride. A lot of us on here found out that way!

 

Your GP may not understand the slowness of tapering that is recommended here so be prepared that they will not agree with what you are saying.

 

If you decide to try a slower taper perhaps if you can fill in your signature with the dates and amounts you have tapered by the mods will be able to advise you what is best to do with your dosage just now.

 

Best Wishes

 

Flowers 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Flowers,

 

Yes I am quite concerned that the withdrawal effects might start kicking in  later.  The problem is, I  have to get a GP or psychiatrist's consent before can get the meds.  I did go out and order a month's supply or sertraline, / zoloft  before they pyschiatrist's letter had been sent to the GP so i have some at hand.

 

 I don't understand why a psychiatrist has suggested such quick tapering.  Surely he should know of the probable effects?

.

Thanks for your reply, feel free to comment any time!

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On 6/23/2017 at 1:42 AM, mammaP said:

Hi Moondog, welcome to SA. You are right to be concerned about such a fast taper. Sadly many psychiatrists do not have a clue about the drugs they prescribe! How long have you been taking sertraline? If you have a repeat prescription slip that comes with your drugs, you can take that to a chemist in the new location and ask for the prescription as a new patient.  In my experience here in the UK,  psychiatrists take weeks to send their report to the gp so the gp will probably not know the psychiatrist has told you to stop it. Lots of us here have had to taper ourselves without the help of doctors because they insist on tapering far too fast, We collect the prescriptions regularly so that we have what we need. You could find that you start to feel better as you taper, anti depressants are known to cause depression!  I will get some links for you so that you can get the information on how to taper safely when you have the right prescriptions, I hope you manage to get them without too much trouble.

 

I

Thanks a lot for your reply.  For some reason the link in the email went to another thead (not this one) and have only just read the replies.  As i mentioned above , have cut down to 50mg but as flowers has mentioned, the worst of it might be slow hitting. If things stay as they I'll probably be able to cope (despite a few symptoms including nausea)..  Am going to talk to doctor on Thursday.  Meanwhile I have at least a month's supply and am not going to go straight down to zero next week.  Will try very gradual tapering.

 

 

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4 minutes ago, moondog99 said:

Hi Flowers,

 

Yes I am quite concerned that the withdrawal effects will start kicking in  later.  The problem is, I  have to get a GP or psychiatrist's consent before can get the meds.  I went out and ordered a month's supply or sertraline, / zoloft  before they pyschiatrist's letter had been sent to the GP so i have some at hand.  I don't understand why a psychiatrist has suggested such quick tapering.  Surely he should know of the probable effects?

.

Thanks for your reply, feel free to comment any time!

Hi again Moondog

 

I understand now the situation as you are planning to work away for some time. Not sure where you are headed but in some countries like here you can buy meds over the counter at the chemist! 

 

Maybe you need to tell your GP you want to do a slower taper. It is your brain/body after all.

 

Unfortunately, Dr's and Psychiatrists are very badly educated regarding tapering. I was told by my GP to come off in 6 weeks after taking them for 15 years and that is when my troubles started and I found this site.  

 

It might not be too late for you to backtrack and start a slow taper but you will have to take advice from the mods on that one!

 

Flowers 

 

 

15 yrs on 20 to 30 mgs CITALOPRAM.  MAY 2014 Increased to 40 mgs per day.SEPT/NOV 2014 tapered in 6 weeks down to 10 mgs as per Dr instructions due to violent nightmares/palpitations.Given Noctamid (lormetazepam) to help with anxiety. On average took 2mg per day for 8 weeks.No taper was advised.DEC 2014 WD severe. Nervous tic in eyes and limbs, muscle pain,fluct  temp, weakness, dep and anxiety, nausea, giddy, unstable when walking. Different Dr suggested taking 20mgs CIT. BROMAZEPAM 3mgs up to 3 x daily for anxiety.DEC 9 2014 Updose CIT to 30mgs. Only taking BROMAZEPAM in emergency.DEC 31 2014 Settling at 30mg CIT - helping with depression. No Brom for 2wks.Found SA.APR 2015 Trying to stabilise on 30mgs CIT.  JAN 2016 Started Cit Taper reducing by 5% per month.  28.5 mgs 
FEB  Taper held bereavement. APR Taper resumed 27mgs . MAY 25.50 mgs .  JUNE 24 mgs .  JULY I stupidly mixed up my BP meds with CIT. Consequently took no CIT for 3 days and doubled my BP meds. Waiting for the fallout....Holding for a while until any chance of repercussions have abated. SEPT taper resumed to  22.5 mgs . OCT 21 mgs .NOV 19.95 mgs DEC crashed. 2017: FEB 3rd updose to 20.5 mgs to try to stabilise.FEB.switched over to 75mgs of Venlafaxine XR for 3 weeks.Too stimulating so switching back to Cit. 12 March 37.5 Ven and 20 Cit. 21 March 18mg Ven 20mg Cit. 4 April 9mg Ven 20mg Cit. Xanax .50mg when needed.  13 April 0 mgs Ven, 20mg Citalopram. Xanax .50 mg per day. 5 May reinstated a small amount of Ven to stabilize  1 mg twice a day. 20 mg Citalopram at night. Xanax .25 mg twice per day.Other Meds: Losartan (BP)Started 1993 at  50 mgs at night.  Seretide (Asthma) Started 1996 at 1 puff twice a day. Jan 2019 Antibiotic Ceclor 500mgs twice a day for bronchitis and  Atrovent 2ml capsules twice a day for asthma. Finished the course of both Jan 17. 

XANAX  Jan 27  - Feb 3 2019 Failed Valium Crossover.   Feb 14 2019  Updosed Xanax by .0625  Feb 17 2019 Decreased Xanax by .0625. Back to .50mg daily.  Update Xanax 28.2.20 tapered to .1250 mg 8am .25 mg midnight. Update Xanax 11.8.21 tapered to .25 mg at night. 

Current Meds 28.2.19: CITALOPRAM  20mg  taken at midnight. VENLAFAXINE  .9 mg twice a day at 8am and 10pm.  XANAX .50 mg split into 4 doses per day. 10am .0625mg / 2pm .1250mg/ 6pm .0625mg / midnight .25mg.Update 10.8.22 .25 mg at night.  LOSARTAN 50 mgs taken at midnight.  SERETIDE 1 puff taken at 8am and 10pm.   7.7.19 VENLAFAXINE UPDATE: Started tapering 10% every 4 weeks. Currently .4 mg twice a day at 8am and 10 pm.  2.9.19 .36 mg x 2. 1.10.19  .32 mg x 2. 26.11.19 .29 mg x2. 26.12.19 .26 mg  x 2. 23.1.20  .23 mg x 2.  20.2.20 .21 mg x2.20.3.20  .19 mg x 2. 21.4.20 .17 mg x 2. 19.5.20 .13 mg x 2.  18.6.20 .11mg  x 2 .18.7.20.10 mg x 2.1.9.20.09 mg x 2. 30.9. 20 .08 mg x 2. 1.11.20 .07 mg x 2.  2.12.20 .06 mg x 2.  8.1.21 .05 mg x 2.  4.2.21 .04 mg x 2. 9.3.21 .03 mgx2.  7.4.21  .02 mg x 2.  9.5.21 .01 mg x 2.  21.6.21 .01 mg x 1.  11.8.21 ZERO!

 

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12 minutes ago, Flowers said:

Hi again Moondog

 

I understand now the situation as you are planning to work away for some time. Not sure where you are headed but in some countries like here you can buy meds over the counter at the chemist! 

 

Maybe you need to tell your GP you want to do a slower taper. It is your brain/body after all.

 

Unfortunately, Dr's and Psychiatrists are very badly educated regarding tapering. I was told by my GP to come off in 6 weeks after taking them for 15 years and that is when my troubles started and I found this site.  

 

It might not be too late for you to backtrack and start a slow taper but you will have to take advice from the mods on that one!

 

Flowers 

 

 

Hi Flowers,

 

Now I've reduced to 50mg, maybe it would be unwise to put the dose back up again  Will certainly fill out a list  with dates like you and others done .  Did you manage to find medicine that worked for you?   It's good that this forum and others exist, where people have taken the initiative to organise themselves to take action and share their experiences because you it seems you can't count on medical professionals, let alone the companies to provide the right info. It seems that a one sizes fits all approach simply does not work for anti depressants. 

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On 6/25/2017 at 4:15 PM, SpecialAgentDaleCooper said:

 

You can just always bullsh*t them, like I did. Just not tell them anything about withdrawing, everything is groovy, the meds are helping you a lot. Zoloft can be easily dissolved in water and water titrated. Or maybe you go to another one and tell them you aren't comfortable swallowing pills, can they prescribe a liquid solution instead. I mean, they're drug dealers anyway, in my experience they really can't help in any way beyond dealing drugs (which don't help that much, really).

Dale - that's what I should have done! You're right, they are not the solution.

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Hi Moondog

 

Well if you need their advice I am sure the moderators will advise what is best to do in your situation regarding dosage.

 

Citalopram helped with my anxiety/depression for many years but I shouldn't have been kept on it by my GP for that long. That's when I ran into trouble trying to come off too quickly.  I wish I had never taken them and had been offered CBT or some sort of therapy that would have been more beneficial.

 

This site has such a great deal of information and support - sometimes you have to take your life in your own hands!

 

Flowers 

 

 

15 yrs on 20 to 30 mgs CITALOPRAM.  MAY 2014 Increased to 40 mgs per day.SEPT/NOV 2014 tapered in 6 weeks down to 10 mgs as per Dr instructions due to violent nightmares/palpitations.Given Noctamid (lormetazepam) to help with anxiety. On average took 2mg per day for 8 weeks.No taper was advised.DEC 2014 WD severe. Nervous tic in eyes and limbs, muscle pain,fluct  temp, weakness, dep and anxiety, nausea, giddy, unstable when walking. Different Dr suggested taking 20mgs CIT. BROMAZEPAM 3mgs up to 3 x daily for anxiety.DEC 9 2014 Updose CIT to 30mgs. Only taking BROMAZEPAM in emergency.DEC 31 2014 Settling at 30mg CIT - helping with depression. No Brom for 2wks.Found SA.APR 2015 Trying to stabilise on 30mgs CIT.  JAN 2016 Started Cit Taper reducing by 5% per month.  28.5 mgs 
FEB  Taper held bereavement. APR Taper resumed 27mgs . MAY 25.50 mgs .  JUNE 24 mgs .  JULY I stupidly mixed up my BP meds with CIT. Consequently took no CIT for 3 days and doubled my BP meds. Waiting for the fallout....Holding for a while until any chance of repercussions have abated. SEPT taper resumed to  22.5 mgs . OCT 21 mgs .NOV 19.95 mgs DEC crashed. 2017: FEB 3rd updose to 20.5 mgs to try to stabilise.FEB.switched over to 75mgs of Venlafaxine XR for 3 weeks.Too stimulating so switching back to Cit. 12 March 37.5 Ven and 20 Cit. 21 March 18mg Ven 20mg Cit. 4 April 9mg Ven 20mg Cit. Xanax .50mg when needed.  13 April 0 mgs Ven, 20mg Citalopram. Xanax .50 mg per day. 5 May reinstated a small amount of Ven to stabilize  1 mg twice a day. 20 mg Citalopram at night. Xanax .25 mg twice per day.Other Meds: Losartan (BP)Started 1993 at  50 mgs at night.  Seretide (Asthma) Started 1996 at 1 puff twice a day. Jan 2019 Antibiotic Ceclor 500mgs twice a day for bronchitis and  Atrovent 2ml capsules twice a day for asthma. Finished the course of both Jan 17. 

XANAX  Jan 27  - Feb 3 2019 Failed Valium Crossover.   Feb 14 2019  Updosed Xanax by .0625  Feb 17 2019 Decreased Xanax by .0625. Back to .50mg daily.  Update Xanax 28.2.20 tapered to .1250 mg 8am .25 mg midnight. Update Xanax 11.8.21 tapered to .25 mg at night. 

Current Meds 28.2.19: CITALOPRAM  20mg  taken at midnight. VENLAFAXINE  .9 mg twice a day at 8am and 10pm.  XANAX .50 mg split into 4 doses per day. 10am .0625mg / 2pm .1250mg/ 6pm .0625mg / midnight .25mg.Update 10.8.22 .25 mg at night.  LOSARTAN 50 mgs taken at midnight.  SERETIDE 1 puff taken at 8am and 10pm.   7.7.19 VENLAFAXINE UPDATE: Started tapering 10% every 4 weeks. Currently .4 mg twice a day at 8am and 10 pm.  2.9.19 .36 mg x 2. 1.10.19  .32 mg x 2. 26.11.19 .29 mg x2. 26.12.19 .26 mg  x 2. 23.1.20  .23 mg x 2.  20.2.20 .21 mg x2.20.3.20  .19 mg x 2. 21.4.20 .17 mg x 2. 19.5.20 .13 mg x 2.  18.6.20 .11mg  x 2 .18.7.20.10 mg x 2.1.9.20.09 mg x 2. 30.9. 20 .08 mg x 2. 1.11.20 .07 mg x 2.  2.12.20 .06 mg x 2.  8.1.21 .05 mg x 2.  4.2.21 .04 mg x 2. 9.3.21 .03 mgx2.  7.4.21  .02 mg x 2.  9.5.21 .01 mg x 2.  21.6.21 .01 mg x 1.  11.8.21 ZERO!

 

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  • 5 months later...

Well, it's been hell but I don't know how much of that is due to the sertraline withdrawal.  Only recently stopped the last 25mg and have been having really terrible negative thoughts and crying.  Not sure whether to talk about it here or start another thread.  Will try that

 

Wishing you all a good year.

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MD what do you think about doing the drug sig.

Sorry you are now getting hit by ssri wdl.

Noone can really imagine what it is like until they get flattened by it. That's why the harm reduction approach of the slow taper by 10% is recommended.

Its only one intro thread per person so you don't need to start a new thread...makes it easy eh.

 

nz11

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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