Dale: New Here.

[Dale]

Hi,I never joined a forum like this before. Im hoping to get more info on my tapering off Zoloft. Ive been on the drug for 8yrs. Ive tried tapering once but I think I mistakend withdrawal symptoms for a relapse and went back on it. Ive been doing lots of research on zoloft and my brain is boggled on the options. Crush this, liquid that, don't do this, do that. My question is how do I do a ten percent taper?

I cant afford a compound pharmacy and definitly not liquid.

 

Dale

[Narcissus]

Welcome Dale.

 

This would be a good place to start:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1441-tips-for-tapering-off-zoloft-sertraline/

 

If you're not able to do the liquid then you might want to consider getting an inexpensive milligram scale to weigh your doses.

 

For more informed help you might try outlining your drug history in your signature.

[Dale]

Ok thanks Narcissis.

[Jemima]

Withdrawal symptoms are often mistaken for a relapse, even by doctors. Could you tell us how you "tapered" before? And please do put your drug history in your signature, like so:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

The more accurate the information we have on your drug history, the better the advice we can give you.

 

Here are instructions for making liquid Zoloft:

 

How to Make a Liquid from Tablets or Capsules

 

Welcome to the forum. You'll find lots of solid information and gentle, friendly support here.

[Dale]

Thank you Jemima.

I'm liking that liquid idea. It seems a little confusing to me. Maybe I need to read it a few times. If i'm reading correctly, I can only make 3 days of liquid at a time from water. Thanks for your input.

[strawberry17]

Welcome to the forums Dale, Zoloft was my original drug, yes if you can make a liquid and use that to taper it makes for accurate and easier tapering.

[Dale]

I called a local pharmacy that compounds and he said that I wont have to compound it and that my doctor would just tell me to cut it in half. I said ok thanks and hung up. I got aggravated and figured I need to get it approved from my doctor first anyway, which is what the pharmacy said anyway.

I don't know what the doctor will say but in the past, most doctors I have dealt with were bull headed.

[Dale]

I called the pharmacy back cause I forgot to ask if my insurance covered it and he said probally not cause you can break it up it halves. He said I would have to ask my insurance company and if my doctor would approve it. He said again that I should just be able to break it down in halves and that they have tapered people like that with no problems.

I told him that I did that and it didnt work out and he said I should be alright.LOL. Its not his fault he or most doctors dont understand. Im scared im gonna mess something up making it into liquid.

[Altostrata]

If a doctor prescribes a compounded liquid, it most likely is covered by insurance. Phone your insurance company to check.

 

It's really easy to make a liquid yourself, if you have the right containers and oral syringes. You can get them from the compounding pharmacy.

[Dale]

This is what I am thinking.Could I buy a digital scale and weigh one pill. Get that weight and then subtract what 10 percent off that would be.

Shave it till I get it to what it would be with the 10 percent weight.

 

I have 100mg per pill so of course I would need 90mg but I know that the weight of the pill would have different numbers.

Just a thought.

[basildev]

Hi Dale,

 

you could do it that way.

 

But a much easier way in my opinion would be to crush the entire pill, dissolve it in water and then use an oral syringe to extract the portion you don't want - then drink the rest.

 

You could dilute the pill in 100ml water then drink only 90 ml of the solution - or dilute it in 50 ml and drink only 45ml.

 

I think that would be more accurate (and certainly more so once you get down to the really small numbers) but then that's just the way I'm used to doing it.

 

Swings and roundabouts:)

[Dale]

Thanks Basildev

 

I will maybe end up doing the liquid. I just gotta get a little more confidence in the approach. It's new to me so thinking about all the math boggles my mushy brain.

[strawberry17]

Agree with Basildev, shaving and weighing pills gets to be a bit of a chore, think a liquid preparation might be easier but at the end of the day (sorry about the cliché) it's up to you.

[Dale]

Thanks Strawberry

 

It was just a thought. Ill most likely end up doing liquid since that's what most think is best. I would love to find somebody on here that's tapering from 100 mg of Zoloft to follow them and compare strategies.

I'm game for any insight or opinions.

[strawberry17]

Hi Dale, there is a search button in the top right, perhaps do a search for Zoloft under Introductions and see who comes up, there might well be someone else here on the same path who would be happy to compare notes, although we do all respond in different ways it's still good to find others following the same path isn't it?

[basildev]

Hi Dale,

 

it's really easy to make a liquid.

 

I use a pill crusher first, then just add water.

 

If you're not sure about the maths just post here and we'll help you out:)

[Dale]

Thanks Basildev and Strawberry17 for the replies. I will keep my journey updated and I appreciate the encouragement.

[Dale]

Today was a crapper.

I called my doctors office and the nurse returned my call asking why am I getting off my meds. Mind you this is a different nurse than who Ive been communicating with. She asked me that after I told her I wanted a liquid version so I could taper slower than I did in the past.

Well she started getting horsey because my regular nurse had called me in 25mgs and 100mgs to help with a taper, that I didnt start because I found this site with better info. She said the doctor knows how to taper people because he is a psychiatris. I told her I didnt say he couldnnt. Its just that I need to do it slower than whats recommended by the Pharmaceuticals.

I asked her if she new what withdrawals were and she said shes a nurse and she knows. So Im thinking whats the stinking problem then.lol.

She said Im gonna have to talk to the doctor and void any refills first. I said thats what I wanted in the first place. I also told her Im not abusing my meds and I could bring anythin precribed to show so. She can only talk to the doctor on tuesdays since hes only available that day. This is a mental clinic which Im gonna research other avenues after that conversation I think.

[basildev]

Sounds like you've got a bit of an ego battle going on there. A kind of 'how dare you question us, WE'RE medical professionals!!' thing.

 

I don't know how it works where you are but here is Aus you can get a prescription for meds from a regular doctor (General Practitioner). I don't even bother talking to my doctor about tapering. I just get the script (20 mg) and then make the liquid myself. So that way I can avoid having to jump through hoops.

 

Perhaps it's best not to discuss tapering with your nurses, or like you say, find a place that does support you with your wishes?

[Dale]

Yeah thats how they made me feel. The thing is that I know my individual needs this time around and that nurse didn't seem to care about that.

[basildev]

Doctors and nurses believe they know best.

 

You may need to resign yourself to the possibility that if you want to taper, you may have to do so without the support of your health practitioners.

 

There are very few doctors who understand withdrawal.

[Dale]

I totally agree. Most are just ignorant to what most go through. Which in turn makes it hard for them to empathize without having the experience. So all there left with is possibly some symphathy for the patient. Not every doctor though. There are great doctors out there. Not that I want either. I just want them to listen and help achieve my health.

[Rhiannon]

Unfortunately, all too often people who want to do a 10% or slower type taper have to just do it on their own and not tell their doctors. It's pitiful, really.

 

Although what's ideal is to work with a supportive doctor, since it's practically impossible to find one who is well-informed, you may just have to keep refilling your meds and not tell them that you're tapering.

 

I highly recommend the book Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker; I think it will help you understand how things have gotten this way, with doctors and nurses actually knowing less about these drugs and how to taper them than fellow consumers (read: victims) like you and me.

[Dale]

I'll check that book out. I'm reading "the antidepressant Solution" right now. I'm gonna search online for some good meaureing syringes and the bottles to draw the doses from. I'm kinda new to that so if anyone has what the best measuring devices are then I would appreciate it. I just don't understand how the syringes connect to bottles. Also I read that you have to take the liquid from the middle of the solution. I don't grasp how I would do that without some kind of extension or something.

[Altostrata]

Read this topic Using an oral syringe and other tapering techniques -- everything you wanted to know about oral syringes.

[Dale]

Read this topic Using an oral syringe and other tapering techniques -- everything you wanted to know about oral syringes.

 

 

Sorry if I'm being redundant on this topic.

I read everything on the syringe. I don't understand how to do this with the syringe and bottle. "Use an oral syringe to take the dosage you wish from the middle of the liquid not from the top -- there will be less drug there" I just didn't see anything that showed me the syringe going into the bottle. Again sorry if I'm not making any sense. I'm just a little nervous and want to get it right this time. Thanks

[Altostrata]

If you mix your liquid in a contain such as a small jar, you stick the syringe in and take it from the middle of the liquid.

 

If you're going to use a bottle, which is too deep to stick an oral syringe in, you have 2 choices:

 

1) From the pharmacy, get a special cap for the bottle that has a hole in it. The syringe fits in this hole. You tip the bottle upside down to draw from it. Instructions are in Using an oral syringe and other tapering techniques

 

2) Pour your liquid into a smaller container with a wide mouth, into which you may stick your syringe.

 

Summed up here http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/235-using-an-oral-syringe-and-other-tapering-techniques/page__view__findpost__p__50942

[Dale]

Oh now I get it. Sorry for not seeing that part.

[Altostrata]

I just revised it, for you and others with the same question.

[Dale]

So far Iv'e been reading "The Antidepressant Solution" and taking some Fish Oil by Now brand. I'm about half way through the book. I notice his recommendations on taper are on quick side but he's also probally in close contact with his patients unlike some doctors might be. After all the info I've read on here, if I were to do his taper under his care then I would probally still take it slow, slow at the end. I'm not done reading it so it may learn something else.

The more I think back to my last taper that went unsuccessful, I think I did fine until I was off it and thats when the pain came. So at this point i'm trying to get some fish oil in me before tapering which should start next week.

[Altostrata]

Exactly. As you can see by the way he's written his book, Dr. Glenmullen rightly emphasizes monitoring for symptoms.