Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

Micro-taper instead of 10% or 5% decreases


Altostrata

Recommended Posts

  • Administrator

ADMIN NOTE Also see

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The slowness of slow tapers

 

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering


 

A micro-taper is a way to go off psychiatric medications in a very gradual way that doesn't depend on the calculation of 10% decreases.

 

Often, micro-tapering isn't any faster in total than a 10% or 5% reduction, but for people whose nervous systems are exceptionally sensitive, it may be more tolerable than the relatively larger reductions.

 

To do this, you need to taking a liquid medication or one that comes in capsules filled with beads, such as Effexor XR or Cymbalta. The micro-taper method is particularly helpful in going off benzodiazepines, where people are often sensitive to minute changes in dosage.

 

The idea is you might be able to make smaller decreases more often. Micro-tapering does NOT mean making a reduction every day -- don't go faster than your nervous system allows!

 

People who have tried a 10% or 5% reduction and already understand their withdrawal symptom pattern and nervous system tolerance for dosage changes are in a good position to try this. They may already have a feel for the amount of the micro-reduction, for example, 1 bead or .5mg.

 

A very sensitive person might want to make reductions of .01mg as often as they can without getting withdrawal symptoms.

 

Example of how to do a micro-taper

  • Decide on the amount of your micro-taper, for example, 1 bead of Cymbalta.

     

    If you have had problems with a 10% taper, the amount of your micro-taper will be much smaller than 10%. For example, if you find you can't reduce 10% from 25mg -- 2.5mg -- without withdrawal symptoms, your micro-taper would be a fraction of 2.5mg, such as .5mg.

  • Reduce your dose by the micro amount. Take this dose for a week.
  • If no withdrawal symptoms, you may be able to reduce by the micro amount more often, such as every 4 days. For most drugs, it takes about 4 days for a change to fully register. If you go faster than that, you might exceed your tolerance for dosage reduction and not know it until it's too late.
  • You may wish to hold on reduction ever so often, to allow your nervous system to rest and integrate at the reduced level of medication.
  • This may work fine for a while, then you might find you feel the micro decrease. This is a sign to either 1) make the micro decrease even more micro, or 2) you need longer holds between drops.
  • Keep a journal of your symptom pattern and dosage drops so you can see how the decreases are affecting you.
  • As with any tapering schedule, if withdrawal symptoms appear, slow your tapering or hold on the current dosage until the nervous system stabilizes.

     

    According to our member Rhi, she controls her micro-taper by "paying close attention to my withdrawal symptoms and holding longer whenever they seem to be ramping up at all.

     

    This requires being VERY attentive to your symptoms and I also recommend keeping a chart of dose changes versus symptoms. But I find that it allows me to adjust my taper quickly and subtly as needed."

Liquid solutions are helpful for micro-tapers because they enable very gradual, controlled tapering. Many drugs are available in liquid solution form, or they can be made into a liquid by a compounding pharmacy. Some drugs, such as Prozac, can be made into a solution with water at home. Use the Search box at the upper right for tips about tapering specific medications.

 

See also:

Making a liquid from a tablet or capsules .

Using a digital scale to measure doses.

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

Edited by Altostrata
updated

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 months later...
  • Administrator

Reminder to everyone interested in micro-tapering:

 

If you want to try a micro-taper, I strongly recommend you find out your symptom pattern first.

  • Do NOT plan on reducing your dosage every day.
  • Wait at least 4-7 days after each of the first few reductions to see what happens.
  • Keep notes on paper about your dosage and symptom pattern -- this is important!
  • From your symptom pattern, you can figure out your tolerance, how fast you can go.
Even a reduction of one bead or one tenth of a milligram may be too much every day. Over a week or 10 days, this builds up to a large reduction in a short period of time. Do not take it for granted because a bead seems tiny, your nervous system won't notice the cumulative reduction.

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

I would add, start with smaller cuts at first, too.

 

And keep a journal of your dosages and your symptoms (ranking them on a numerical scale, like 1 to 5).

 

I know we are all so impatient to get off these drugs--I started my tapers WAY too fast, and paid for it!--it's hard to take it slow at the start. But it is SO worth it, because you can learn your own body's patterns of withdrawal and recovery, and you can adjust your taper to your own needs.

 

Once you have a sense of how your body's going to react to cuts, and how the withdrawal process unfolds for you over time, and how long you need to hold before you can cut again, you can adjust up the speed of your taper until you find the pace that gives you the optimal balance between tapering progress and minimizing withdrawal symptoms. And once you learn how your body reacts to tapering you can fine-tune your taper according to the demands of your life.

 

For example, if you have a special occasion coming up that you want to be feeling good for, you will know how long you need to hold your taper beforehand. Or, if you know you have a nice low-key stress-free time coming up and you want to push your taper a bit harder, you know how much you can get away with and how much lead time you can expect before the symptoms ramp up.

 

It's really worth taking the time to get to know your body's responses right up front, if you can summon the patience. Way better than doing what I did at first, pushing it too hard and then crashing and burning. Big ouch.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

With regards to this Micro Tapering method, are you guys referring to calculating the tiny cuts off of the original dose, or are you guys referring to tiny cuts off of each current dose? Thanks for your help in advance.

 

 

Redeemed

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

We measure by tiny cuts off the most current dosage. If you're tapering by a steady amount such as 3%, the absolute amounts of the decreases would keep getting smaller.

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am microtapering Ativan at a 12.5 ug/day reduction rate. This rate will change as the taper changes. Although I do reduce my daily dose every day, which Alto does not recommend, it took some serious experimentation to dial in a daily reduction rate that works for me. Most of my daily dose is taken as 0.5 mg tablets; the use of a small amount of liquid lets me measure the cut with the required accuracy. I dose 3 X day and take make up doses in between. This may be why I don't experience IW sx. I take 1 less tablet than my daily dose calls for,  and make up the Ativan in that tablet with [a steadily decreasing amount of] Ativan in liquid form. This allows continuous gradual reduction without cuts in the usual sense. My w/d sx are minimal. Stress flares them up, so learning to deal with stress w/o good ol' chemical assistance is definitely part of my healing. Exercise and yoga/meditation seem to be very effective--when actually done.
 
Jerome

Edited by Petu
fixed text

72 years old, no history of AD meds. Single dose of Ativan ramped up to 6-8 mg/day (!) for 7 years, initial Rx for insomnia. Summer of 2012 I learned about IW sx and began the change to 3X day dosing, finishing in October. Big improvement in sx. I also take opiate pain meds.

Finally got under way with a hybrid [wet/dry] daily cut taper in Dec. 2012, at 0.0125 mg/day reduction. I was able to taper down from 8 mg/d to 4 mg/d in 2 years at that rate, interrupted by several medical adventures (heart block, wrist fracture, endocrine problem). I'm currently [9/2021] stable at 4 mg/d and plan to start a micro-taper at an initial reduction rate of 0.035 mg/d. Now (10/2023) at 1.75 mg/day, I'm getting what I think are some w/d sx. so maybe hold for a while.

 

My taper method, which has gone through several iterations, is linked here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/5037-jeromes-wetdry-taper-revised/?hl=jerome. At the moment, I'm not using a solution, but rather dealing with dry 0.5 mg tablets.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

I am microtapering Ativan at a 12.5 ug/day reduction rate.....

Let us note that 12.5 ug means 12.5 micrograms or 0.0125 milligrams.

Edited by Petu
fixed text

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

I'd like to mention again the necessity of intermittent longer holds in a microtaper.

 

I have found that after doing three or four very small cuts I generally need to take a longer hold period (at least a couple of weeks, sometimes a month) to settle down. My taper might not be 100% typical (I'm tapering multiple meds at various rates so it's definitely not typical), but it seems like most folks I've worked with doing microtapers do need periodically to take longer holds. 

 

It's possible for even very small reductions to have a cumulative effect over time and to get ahead of our brain's ability to heal. It's hard to gauge; we have to listen carefully to our bodies.  

 

Not all withdrawal symptoms are experienced right away. The healing process is complex and it seems to have different stages which unfold out over a period of time.

 

You don't want to get ahead of that process and end up finding you've cut too much. Even with tiny cuts that can happen if you make them too often and you ignore or "push past" symptoms.

 

Learn your body's patterns and warning signs, and listen to them.

 

If you do that, I think a microtaper allows a level of responsiveness and sensitivity to tapering and withdrawal that can make a taper possible and tolerable even for people who are very sensitive to changes in psych meds. I love microtapering myself and wouldn't be able to do it any other way.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I have been microtapering effexor since January 2013 without much relief.  Is this because of the 50% cut I made in Oct 2012?  I became sensitive to any decrease/

I wasnt on this drug for long in the first place.

Started Effexor August 2012 Sept'12-150mg=extreme anxiety Oct'12 cut half-75mg severe wds

Feb 2013 68.5mg. Mar'13- 65mg. Apr'13-59mg. May'13-57mg. June '13-52mg Aug'13 49.75mg.

Sep'13-48.75. Nov'13-47mg Dec'13-45..5mg

May 2014 42mg. Jun'14 40mg (depressive mood started). Aug'14 -40mg/ started brintellix 2.5mg

Oct '14 -39 Nov'14 36.89 Dec'14 34.45

Jan 2015- 31 Feb'15 29mg. Mar'15 26.72. Apr'15 24.48. May'15 22.31mg. Jun'15 20.30mg

Aug'15-18.89. Oct'15 16.96. Nov/16- 16.10. Dec/15- 15mg

Jan 2016-14.22. May'16 11.45. Aug'16-9.60. Sep/16- 8.88mg. Oct/16- 8.39mg. Nov/16- 8.13. Dec/16- 7.89

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm currently tapering off Risperidone, which I've taken for 9 years. Even small steps such as 2% result in a great deal of bad withdrawal symptoms for me. Like sleeping worse, being more anxious, depressed, hopeless, restless, agitated, nervous, unable to concentrate, having suicidal thoughts, etc.etc. However, after days or weeks, these symptoms relieve and I feel way better than before.

To avoid these big amount of withdrawal symptoms, I once tried to micro taper every other day.

It was like Rhi mentioned, the withdrawal symptoms occured only several days after going to a lower dose. When I noticed that I've actually gone too fast and having too much symptoms, I already have tapered even more and then had trouble stabilizing.

Still I want to try micro-tapering again, in order to distribute the strong symptoms over the days. But first I have to find out a good taper rate.

 

From reading this (not knowing anything else about your history) it sounds like you may be cutting small amounts, but too fast. We can't always cut every day or every two days.

 

I know it's frustrating to go slow--believe me, I know! I'm terrible at patience! But it's really important to do that, especially at first.

 

I would try making a micro cut and waiting a full seven days to observe how symptoms come, when they appear, how fast they fade. If there are no symptoms after doing two cuts this way, I would then experiment with moving the cuts a little closer together, gradually. Keep a journal every day of what you cut and when. Note when symptoms appear, and when they do, look not only at your most recent cut, but at the pattern of how much you have been cutting how often for the previous weeks as well.

 

If you start slow and only gradually increase, you will be able to get a sense of what you can tolerate, and then you can design your taper in a way that works for you.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

Read this thread http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2364-the-slowness-of-slow-tapers/

It helped me with an true concept of slow tapering.

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Whats the viewoint on sa about how low one should go ie when should people jump off ...1mg? 0.5mg? 0.1mg?

Is there really any point in anything below 1mg? ...or are you finding people still struggling at that below 1mg dosage?

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

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

The point at which people simply stop varies according to the individual. My recommendation is to go at least to less than a milligram before quitting.

 

There are a host of points in a milligram! In our Introductions topics, you can find people who are tapering by tenths or hundredths of a milligram. Again, this is individual.

 

Personally, I have had times when I tapered by hundredths of a milligram, my nervous system was so sensitive.

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Whats the viewoint on sa about how low one should go ie when should people jump off ...1mg? 0.5mg? 0.1mg?

Is there really any point in anything below 1mg? ...or are you finding people still struggling at that below 1mg dosage?

 

Depends on the med and the person. I've only come all the way off one med, gabapentin. By the time I got to the end of my microtaper I was cutting by about 0.5 mg (half a milligram) at a time, so that's the amount I came off at. But gabapentin was originally prescribed for me at 1800 mg a day. Xanax, on the other hand, is usually prescribed in amounts like 0.25 to 1 mg total, so obviously you're going to be working with much smaller numbers with that one.

 

I think really you have to just decide based on how fast you've been able to taper so far. As usual, our bodies are the only real experts. If you're microtapering you'll probably have a pretty good sense of how much you can cut at a time, and I wouldn't come off at any dose higher than that amount. 

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

I am down to 3.40 ml of prozac liquid.  Even micro tapers are now very hard .

My last micro drop was .04, after a one month hold, caused sadness and anxiety for weeks.

Rhiannon, you have always suggested longer holds. After my last micro drop I'm convinced

I need to stay at this dose until I've felt totally fine without symptoms for at least a month.

I feel emotionally exhausted. It's humbling.

Of course there is the nagging fear that I'll never feel fine again and this is as low as I'll be able to go.

On 20 mg of Prozac for about ten years. Sept 2012 started reducing 10% a drop using gram scale, with average of one month holds.

When I'd reached the half way mark, taking 10 mg  powder out of the 20 mg capsules, I switched over to 10 mg capsules and cutting

down from those. Withdrawals got harder the lower I dropped.  May 2013 changed to 5% drops, holding until all withdrawal symptoms gone.

January 2015 changed to liquid prozac (concentration of 20MG per 5 mL) using a 1mL oral syringe.

Current dose of fluoxetine solution equivalent 3.4 mg. Any effort to drop below this has been disastrous so for the time being I'm staying at this level.
Adding 200 mg Tryptophan and 200 GABA a day has helped with anxiety.
Also take 1,300mg Omega- 3,  875mg  Magnesium, 1800mg Curcumin, 1000mg Vit C, 5000 Vit D.
 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Indigo,

We hit the exactly same wall at the same time and similar dose doing micro tapering!

For the first time ever pre and post my experience with ssir, I suddenly have some depressing feeling at my last cut to 3.3 mg lex. started first with heartburn/ reflex which has been gone for one year without PPI (CT PPI One year ago without prob) after a silly big meal at a party last weekend.

 

It's very disappointing I still got hit with the super slow reduction and just one month after I started seeing some lights!

Has the new symptoms subsided for you? How bad are they? Mine is light, but still very hard to deal with on top of everything else. Interesting thing is, my other symptoms that have been always with me, mainly pain related allover, lessened quite a bit exact the time when the new sxs started, makes me thinking I'm at the dose of turning point with more WD than side effects.

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, I understand slow taper won't guarantee symptom free, I wonder what we can expect and need to be prepared giving going super slow.

 

I would appreciate any ffedback from experienced members.

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am preparing "mentally" for slow tapper...I am at present on 2.5mg...

- 12.03.2021- doxepin- 50mg

- 6.11.2020- 75mg

- 16.10.2020- 100mg

- 30.09.2020- doxepin- 125mg

- May 2020, omeprazole 40mg switched to esomeprazole 20mg

- 2012 re-started Doxepin 75mg, evening. Increased to 150mg

- 2012, Atenolol 25mg, twice a day

- 2016, Low dose of HRT in evening, Sandrena and Utrogestan 

- Long term of Nasal spray Otrivine

- 2012, PPI Omeprazole 40mg-evening

24.10.2014- Started ESCITALOPRAM-first 5mg and then 10mg; due to the adverse symptoms reduced on 5.01.2015- Escitalopram- 2.5mg 22.07.2016- re-started reduction by 1% at a time. Completed tappering on  19.03.2020 😇

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Has anyone put a long hold on their micro tapers and then were able to resume decreasing with somewhat bigger cuts?

I have been struggling lately as I am down to 18.07mg of effexor. I am doing 3-5 % monthly fr the last couple months before that I was able to do 7% monthly.

I'm having a lot more zaps and even low grade fever that comes and goes. My doctor, who does believe in wd syndrome says that fever is from the chronic fatigue and muscle and joint pain.

Started Effexor August 2012 Sept'12-150mg=extreme anxiety Oct'12 cut half-75mg severe wds

Feb 2013 68.5mg. Mar'13- 65mg. Apr'13-59mg. May'13-57mg. June '13-52mg Aug'13 49.75mg.

Sep'13-48.75. Nov'13-47mg Dec'13-45..5mg

May 2014 42mg. Jun'14 40mg (depressive mood started). Aug'14 -40mg/ started brintellix 2.5mg

Oct '14 -39 Nov'14 36.89 Dec'14 34.45

Jan 2015- 31 Feb'15 29mg. Mar'15 26.72. Apr'15 24.48. May'15 22.31mg. Jun'15 20.30mg

Aug'15-18.89. Oct'15 16.96. Nov/16- 16.10. Dec/15- 15mg

Jan 2016-14.22. May'16 11.45. Aug'16-9.60. Sep/16- 8.88mg. Oct/16- 8.39mg. Nov/16- 8.13. Dec/16- 7.89

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

 

  • You may wish to hold on reduction ever so often, to allow your nervous system to rest and integrate at the reduced level of medication.
  • This may work fine for a while, then you might find you feel the micro decrease. This is a sign to either 1) make the micro decrease even more micro, or 2) you need longer holds between drops.

 

 

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Just had a re-read of this thread to remind me why I'm doing what I'm doing... very helpful, thanks to all who've written above.  I think I have found a good tapering rate for me.  This month I made 4 weekly 0.4% cuts, and now I'm going to hold for a month.  I'm feeling pretty good, very minimal symptoms, almost even 'normal' sometimes ;)

 

I am somewhere around 133mg Effexor, so have a ways to go yet but I vastly prefer this way to the big (10% and 1%) cuts I did at first which made me feel awful most of the time.  

 

KarenB

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you think it's possible to feel any different from just two days of taking one bead out? I'm thinking maybe I'm just having anxiety cause I know that I took the beads out ???? Allergies have been bad around here lately also. So it's hard for me to tell the difference. I also believe in the last couple months I have been experiencing withdrawal effects even though I wasn't tapering.

Panic attacks-Prozac 20mg 4 years

Effexor 75mg approx 9 years

Effexor to Zoloft 25 mg approx almost 2 weeks

Also used very low dose of Valium 1 mg sometimes 2x a day for anxiety for a month during medication changes.

Zoloft to Celexa 10 mg approx a week

Celexa to Prozac 10 mg for approx 5 weeks

Weaned off Prozac 10-5-2.5 mg

As of 1-8-2016 off everything

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds just like me. Do think it is eds. Just a bead gives me hella anxiety.

Started Effexor August 2012 Sept'12-150mg=extreme anxiety Oct'12 cut half-75mg severe wds

Feb 2013 68.5mg. Mar'13- 65mg. Apr'13-59mg. May'13-57mg. June '13-52mg Aug'13 49.75mg.

Sep'13-48.75. Nov'13-47mg Dec'13-45..5mg

May 2014 42mg. Jun'14 40mg (depressive mood started). Aug'14 -40mg/ started brintellix 2.5mg

Oct '14 -39 Nov'14 36.89 Dec'14 34.45

Jan 2015- 31 Feb'15 29mg. Mar'15 26.72. Apr'15 24.48. May'15 22.31mg. Jun'15 20.30mg

Aug'15-18.89. Oct'15 16.96. Nov/16- 16.10. Dec/15- 15mg

Jan 2016-14.22. May'16 11.45. Aug'16-9.60. Sep/16- 8.88mg. Oct/16- 8.39mg. Nov/16- 8.13. Dec/16- 7.89

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

I notice a change from just taking two beads out - haven't tried just one.

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I tapered off Effexor XR completely 75mgs. over a 2 year period.  I never thought to count the beads, I just guesstimated and poured them out with each decrease.  Oddly enough, although I did that, I never felt any withdrawal symptoms or anxiety.  I was always able to remain calm even when I tapered to a tiny tiny amount.  When I finally discontinued, I felt great for about 3 months.  Then I hit a rough patch, something made me anxious and that made all my anxiety come back.  To boot, I even developed OCD symptoms which I never knew were there.  Don't know if that was withdrawal symptoms from discontinuing Effexor or that maybe I'm an anxious person.  I had been on Effexor XR for over 12 years, always at 75mgs.

.5 mgs. Risperdal, Feb. 1/16 10% cut or less., mild w/d symptoms (cut too much), Apr. 1/16 5% or less cut, no w/d symptoms, May 15/16 5% or less cut, no w/d symptoms, Sept. 1/16 less than .25 mgs., no w/d symptoms, feeling great.  Risperdal tablets are disintegrating so shaving tiny tiny amounts is how I do it.

 

2012 to Aug./15 tapered 75 mgs. Effexor to nothing, felt great for 3 months then hit an anxiety patch late Oct., couldn't sleep, shaky all the time, couldn't concentrate. Nov. 1/15 reinstated tiny fraction, Feb. 1/16 8 beads, June 1/16 4 beads, Sept. 1/16 3 beads, no w/d symptoms, Feb. 10/16 2 beads, great no w/d symptoms, taking this really really slow.

 

200 mgs. Trazodone for sleep.  Will taper very slowly when Effexor and Risperdal are done with proven stability.

Taking Magnesium Citrate, Omega 3 Fish Oil  and Ashwagandha (has calming effect, promotes good sleep & feel energized)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

I tapered off Effexor XR completely 75mgs. over a 2 year period.  I never thought to count the beads, I just guesstimated and poured them out with each decrease.  Oddly enough, although I did that, I never felt any withdrawal symptoms or anxiety.  I was always able to remain calm even when I tapered to a tiny tiny amount.  When I finally discontinued, I felt great for about 3 months.  Then I hit a rough patch, something made me anxious and that made all my anxiety come back.  To boot, I even developed OCD symptoms which I never knew were there.  Don't know if that was withdrawal symptoms from discontinuing Effexor or that maybe I'm an anxious person.  I had been on Effexor XR for over 12 years, always at 75mgs.

It's actually pretty common for people to hit a rough patch three to six months after coming off an AD. Don't know why.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Thank you Rhiannon.  I don't know why this happened to me.  I found myself worrying about something to the point it became an obsession and then my anxiety just shot up and got more intense with each day.  I don't know why that happened.  Maybe I should have rode it out for several months.  Tried some natural supplements for anxiety and that's helped.  Now, I've reinstated Effexor but only about 5-7 beads.  I feel calm again and my obsessive quality that appeared out of nowhere is gone.  What's that all about?  What should I have done instead of reinstating?  I did so well cause I tapered over 2 years to virtually nothing and felt great for three months after.

.5 mgs. Risperdal, Feb. 1/16 10% cut or less., mild w/d symptoms (cut too much), Apr. 1/16 5% or less cut, no w/d symptoms, May 15/16 5% or less cut, no w/d symptoms, Sept. 1/16 less than .25 mgs., no w/d symptoms, feeling great.  Risperdal tablets are disintegrating so shaving tiny tiny amounts is how I do it.

 

2012 to Aug./15 tapered 75 mgs. Effexor to nothing, felt great for 3 months then hit an anxiety patch late Oct., couldn't sleep, shaky all the time, couldn't concentrate. Nov. 1/15 reinstated tiny fraction, Feb. 1/16 8 beads, June 1/16 4 beads, Sept. 1/16 3 beads, no w/d symptoms, Feb. 10/16 2 beads, great no w/d symptoms, taking this really really slow.

 

200 mgs. Trazodone for sleep.  Will taper very slowly when Effexor and Risperdal are done with proven stability.

Taking Magnesium Citrate, Omega 3 Fish Oil  and Ashwagandha (has calming effect, promotes good sleep & feel energized)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm wondering how I can begin a micro taper on 1.1 mg (.55 ml) of Paxil. 

 

The lines on the syringe (tiniest syringe they had at the pharmacy) are just microscopic.

 

For my next drop I'd like to try instead of 10% all at once, 2.5 + 2.5 + 2.5 + 2.5. 

 

2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, 

I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever.

 

2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds.

2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better

 

Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.)

"You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Skyblue, I bought some 0.5ml syringes online and took off the needles and covers with a pair of pliers, no need to expose the needles. Ebay have them but didn't find many on Amazon. They are perfect for the lower doses.  You could maybe dilute the liquid to make it easier to measure if it becomes too hard to measure the tiny amounts. 

**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

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi!

I am doing a micro-taper of Cymbalta. I am taking off 1% ever month. This is what works for me. I don't care how long it will take. Every morning is a little victory when I empty beads from the capsule. I have played with the timing of my medication as well. If I take it around 7 am, I am good all day until 7 pm. Then I feel a little nauseous. At least it happens when I am done work and ready to slow down my day and Kids are in bed. I have been on Cymbalta for 10 years, I can handle another year or two. :) I am also seeing a psychologist and a naturopath to help me. The interesting thing is that even though I have lowered my dose, I don't feel worst emotionally than I did on the full dose. I feel the same, and some days I feel better. The Cymbalta was only preventing me from crying and feeling aware of my emotions. I now cry a little more and I seem morr able to see my emotions for what they are. They are not me. I still have a long way to go, but I feel more in control. This site has given me better information and support than any doctors or books could. Thanks!

Cymbalta for 2 years, and Celexa for 8 years prior to that. I am trying to taper off, 1 bead at a time. I have been having extreme nausea, headaches and tiredness.
I began my tapering on February 1st, 2016. It took me until October 2016 to reduce to 30 mg.

June 3rd: I am now at 20 mg.

August 1st 2017: I decided I was going to go down to 10 mg. It is not going well. Barely no physical side effects, except for insomnia. I am feeling really down. I am debating whether or not I should go back on 20mg....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi MammaP, cool. thanks! 

 

2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, 

I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever.

 

2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds.

2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better

 

Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.)

"You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Not everyone can do the liquid method, it's too complicated honestly, are there other solutions instead? simple ones?

2005/6-2013 - A wild rollercoaster of meds I can't remmeber, i was on 40mg of zyprexa at one point daily
2014 200mg Zoloft /5mg Saphris
2015 April 200mg Zoloft /5mg Saphris
2015 May 200mg Zoloft / 400mg Seroquel
2015 June 200mg Zoloft / 300mg Seroquel
2015 July 150mg Zoloft / 200mg Seroquel
2015 August 125mg Zoloft / 100mg Seroquel
2015 September 100mg Zoloft / 50mg Seroquel
2015 October 50mg Zoloft
2015 November 75mg Zoloft

2016 November 100mg Zoloft; 112.5mg Clozaril 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi everyone! I got a 0.5 ml syringe! 

 

I called tons of pharmacies near me -- even a vet's office! (They had them, but wouldn't 

let me buy one!!) No one else had them.

 

I finally located one at a compounding pharmacy 20 miles from me. They just gave it

to me (like Alto mentioned above). I was sooo happy and thanked the lady profusely!!! Lol

 

It's so cute and tiny! It really lets me see the tiny gradations I will need to do 2.5% cuts. 

 

Thanks again to all, esp. Alto and Mamma P!

 

2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, 

I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever.

 

2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds.

2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better

 

Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.)

"You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Not everyone can do the liquid method, it's too complicated honestly, are there other solutions instead? simple ones?

 Captain Jack, there is the weighing method. People use a super-sensitive scale to get the tiny dosage decreases they need.

 

2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, 

I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever.

 

2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds.

2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better

 

Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.)

"You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello!

I am currently tapering liquid fluoxetine (I was originally on the pill form but switched to liquid when starting the tapering). I find it has been easier to manage for me than trying to cut a pill accurately. I am now at .54ml and am concerned about when I drop down very low as I am using a 1ml syringe but I am very excited that there is a .5ml one! Thank you Skyblue for giving me hope! I have been making 5% decreases out of concern that if I drop a larger amount at these lower doses I will have a hard time. So now I will have to be on the look out for that syringe :)

08/2014 10 mg 8/28/14 switched to liquid 2.5 timeline-9/6/14 2.30=9.2 ...10/03/14 2.07=8.28 ...11/1/14 1.9=7.611/3014 1.72=6.88 ... 12/26 1.54=6.16... 2/16 1.46=5.84 switch to 5% per 3 wks3/14/15 1.38=5.52 ... 4/4/15 1.30=5.2 ...4/25/15 1.24=4.965/16/15 1.18=4.72 ... 6/6/15 1.12=4.48...6/26/15 1.06=4.24 switch to 5%ish per two weeks7/15/15 1.0=4. 7/30/15 .96=3.84 8/13/15 .91=3.64 or .90=3.60 8/29/15 .86=3.44 9/12/15 .82= 3.28 9/26/15 .78=3.12 10/11/15 .74=2.96 10/25/15 .70=2.8 hit a wall been holding since12/26/15 2.5% decrease .68=2.72 1/9/16 .66=2.64 2/6/16 .63=2.52 3/3/16 ,60=2.4 3/26/16 57=2.28 4/30/16 .54=2.16mg 6/4/16 .52=2.08 8/5/16 updose .75=3.0. 9/6/16 1.00=4.0 5mg 2/10/17 6mg 2/17/17 8 mg 3/17/17 7mg ? 3/18/17 6mg 4/1/17 5mg @4/17 4.5mg=1.12 5/19/17 4 mg=1.00ml 7/15/17 .98=3.96

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

You can dilute the liquid drug more so you can measure small amounts with the same syringe.

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy