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Terry: withdrawing from Xanax and Zoloft


Terry

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  • Moderator

Yes, it is a good idea to be stabilized before doing a taper.  In some cases it's not possible however.  Stability is not the absence of WD symptoms, but rather a steady state of feeling crappy without any major swings either direction.  The steady state of feeling bad is what establishes your baseline, referred to as WDnormal.  It can take several months to determine your average level of symptoms.  Over the course of your taper the improvements in your WDnormal is the best gage for measuring progress.  It will be slow at first, something like "hey, I just realized that I'm feeling better than I did six months ago".  But as your taper progresses the improvements in your WDnormal baseline will increase in speed.

 

When a person makes a drop there will be several weeks of increased symptoms. Once these symptoms have settled back to an average "dull roar", then it's time to make another decrease.  In general it takes six weeks from the time of the decrease to the point where things are stabilized enough to do it all again.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Thank you.  That makes it clearer.  After tapering for the first 2 months my WD symptoms seemed to get better.  Now after 3 1/2 months they seem to be mostly tolerable.  Have you had any WD symptoms since being drug free?  

 

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • Moderator

I had some mild ones to start but they have gotten progressively better overall.  There have been a couple of waves that I had to pay attention to.  They were primarily anxiety and just needed to be pushed thorough and endured until they resolved themselves.  I'm coming up on nine months off and there has been a lot of improvement since I made the jump.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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I don't feel as brave or as strong as so many on this forum seem to be.  I'm afraid of coming off the drugs and having WD symptoms I'm unable to handle.  If I could feel as good then as I do today I would be very, very happy.

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • Moderator

Being brave and strong has nothing to do with not feeling fear or handle things in a "proud" manner.   It's doing what has to be done to survive, sometimes minute by minute, hour by hour or day by day. If it's hiding in a dark place crying or going for a walk when you legs are too sore to move, getting out of bed and taking a shower, if it needs to be done and you do it, that's being brave and strong. Marching down the street exuding strength is a show of bravado which frequently accomplishes nothing, unless that is what the moment calls for.  The people around you who appear to be towers of strength, are often brittle and will crack and break when things don't go their way.  This is a big factor in why people in ADWD slowly lose many of their friends over time.  The friends do not have the strength and bravery to face the situation and so in time turn and run.  For those of us in the thick of it, we have no choice, to get through this we must go on minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day doing what needs to be done, and by doing so each and every one of us displays strength and bravery beyond the superhero level.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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On 12/2/2017 at 2:24 PM, brassmonkey said:

 It's doing what has to be done to survive, sometimes minute by minute, hour by hour or day by day

This is what I would call strong, and I'm not sure I could hang in there.

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 9/19/2017 at 12:10 PM, Terry said:

You're currently taking  0.125 mg alprazolam at 7 am and 7 pm. The goal is to get to 4 doses of .0625 mg taken at 7 am, 12 pm,  5 pm, and 10 pm.  This will space out your doses evenly 5 hours apart. If 10 pm is too late, you may want to take that dose a bit earlier, but as long as you're consistently taking it earlier (say 8 or 9 pm every night), you'll be fine. 

Your suggestion to take alprazolam at 5 hour intervals has worked quite well for me.  I know this will be sometime later, but I'm wondering how I can taper it using this method.  Or would I be able to use a different sort of schedule?

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Mentor

Terry,

I'm checking in to see how you are doing.  How are you feeling?  Are you stabilized?  I hope you had a good holiday and 2018 is a great year for you.

Rachel

 

I am not a health professional in any way.  I do not give medical advice.   Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a professional medical practitioner.

 

NEW INFORMATION FOR GABAPENTIN TAPER

April 29, 2022 900 mg to 800 mg (11%), May 29, 2022 800 to 700 mg (12.5%), June 20, 2022 700 to 650mg (8%), July 20, 2022 650 to 575 (12%), August 20,  575 to 500 (13%),  Sept 20, 2020 500 to 475mg (5%) Nov 7, 2022 475 to 425 (11%), Nov 21, 2022 500mg

Medications: Gabapentin, Prednisone 1.5mg a day, Cortisol Inhaler daily. 

HISTORY FOR ZOLOFT TAPER

Feb. 2016 to June 2016  - Was on 150mg Zoloft.  Put on Gabapentin at 900mg a day in 2016 due to antidepressant withdrawal. 

Quit Zoloft (Sertraline) June  2016,  reinstated 50mg of Zoloft July 2016.  From July 2016  to October 2016 went from 50 mg down 2.3 mg. I up-dosed in November 2016 to 12.5 mg. Held there until January 2017 when I started a much slower taper.

STARTING SENSIBLE  ZOLOFT TAPERING USING GUIDELINES FROM THIS SITE

Dec. 10 2016  - switched to Liquid Zoloft (Sertraline) @ 12.5 mg.   Jan. 4, 2020 1.875 mg (6.3%). Jan. 25, 2020 1.75 mgFeb. 29, 2020 1.625mg (7.10%).  Apr. 4, 2020 1.5 mg.  May 9, 2020 1.375 mg.  June 6, 2020 1.25 mg. (9.10%).  July 4, 2020 1.125 mg. (10%).  August 15, 2020 1.0 mg.  Oct 24, 2020 .875 mg.  Nov. 28, 2020 .75mgJan 16, 2021 .685mg (8.7%).  Feb 13, 2021 .62mg. March 12, 2021 .56mg.  May 1, 2021 .375mg.  May 29, 2021 .25mg. June 26, 2021 .0125mg. July 25, 2021 .065mg. August 22, 2021 .048mg.  October 2, 2021 .043mg.  October 10, 2021 .038mg.  October 23, 2021 .035mg.  October 30, 2021 .032mg.  Nov. 13, 2021 .030 mg.  Dec 4, 2021 .0285 mg.  Dec 11, 2021 .0265 mg. Dec 18, 2021 .0246 mg. Dec 25, 2021 .023mg. Jan 1, 2022. 0 mg. OFF COMPLETELY

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Hi Rachel,

Thanks for checking in on me.  I seem to have had more WD after my last taper from 13.8 mg to 12.5 mg, including nausea which I've never had since I started tapering.  However, I'm now on day 13 being on 12.5 mg sertraline and things seem to be getting better.  Actually, I feel almost "normal" today.  I think I'm stabilizing.  I did have a very nice Christmas with all my sons and their families, though the the anticipation of everything I had to do caused some anxiety.  How are you doing?  Will you be Zoloft-free yet this year?  Wishing you the best in 2018!

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • 4 months later...

How good should I feel before further tapering?  I seem to always have a degree of early morning anxiety.  I've also been feeling lack of energy, interest in much, and mild depression.

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

My guideline for being ready for the next taper is that WD symptoms are tolerable and without big swings from day to day.  Tapering is not, as a general rule, going to be symptom-free and there is going to be some discomfort, but discomfort you can deal with, with the use, for example of non-drug coping skills such as meditation.

 

It looks like you are tapering at 10% every two weeks, which is twice as fast as we recommend.


Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

 It is especially important to go more slowly as you get lower in doses, which is where  you are now.  The higher doses are generally easier than the lower doses.

 

It is also important to hold from time to time to let your system catch up.  WD symptoms can build up as you taper and then manifest all of a sudden.  Symptoms can also be delayed during a too-fast taper.

 

Delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms

 

This would be a good time for a hold of 2-3 weeks or longer.

 

 

 

 

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • Altostrata changed the title to Terry tapering
  • Administrator

Hi, Terry, here's your Intro topic. Please bookmark it or follow it so you can find it again.

 

You can always take a vacation from tapering if you feel like it -- hold for a couple of months or more.

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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3 hours ago, Gridley said:

My guideline for being ready for the next taper is that WD symptoms are tolerable and without big swings from day to day.  Tapering is not, as a general rule, going to be symptom-free and there is going to be some discomfort, but discomfort you can deal with, with the use, for example of non-drug coping skills such as meditation.

 

It looks like you are tapering at 10% every two weeks, which is twice as fast as we recommend.


Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

 It is especially important to go more slowly as you get lower in doses, which is where  you are now.  The higher doses are generally easier than the lower doses.

 

It is also important to hold from time to time to let your system catch up.  WD symptoms can build up as you taper and then manifest all of a sudden.  Symptoms can also be delayed during a too-fast taper.

 

Delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms

 

This would be a good time for a hold of 2-3 weeks or longer.

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Gridley.  I guess I've been so anxious to get drug free that I've been tapering when WD symptoms were minimal.  I will also have to taper alprazolam next, so the thought of doing this for several years yet is discouraging.  We are selling our home and moving to a new senior building next year and I'm hoping that doesn't cause too much additional stress.

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Terry,

I can sympathize.  It is definitely a long-term project for me too.  I try to go with the one-day-at-a-time attitude.

 

Regarding your move, there's a pretty solid rule here at SA: do not taper when times are hard.

 

Gridley

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • 1 month later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

i don't know about the multi mineral - but here's a clue:  if it has calcium, magnesium, and iron in it - then stop taking it.  Anyone who bundles these together doesn't realise (or care) that they cancel each other out in the absorption competition.

Because I have osteoporosis, I'm taking a complex of calcium, magnesium, vitamins K2, D3, C. boron and strontium.  I'm hoping that you're not recommending stopping these, because I think they're really necessary in my situation.

 

Terry - I picked this up from Waterfall's thread.  (first quote is mine, second quote is yours - I'm not very good at copying quotes yet).

 

This sounds like a doctor prescribed combination supplement meant to ease your mind about osteoporosis.

 

However, the calcium and the magnesium will be eating each other up, cancelling each other out.  There may be, in a pharmaceutical formula, a buffer of some sort to keep them separate in the digestive tract, but I don't have much faith in pharmaceutical formulas.  Especially not formulas which combine calcium and magnesium (I see them in the shops all the time, and shake my head in wonder - people really buy these things!)

 

If I were you, I would take these same supplements divided.

Calcium, K2, D3 C boron & strontium can go together (this is off the top of my head - I am unable to do research right now)

Likewise Magnesium, K2, C, boron & strontium can go together.  K2 is an awesome supplement for osteoporosis, and can be found in grass-fed butter, and Nattokinase.  

 

Calcium and Magnesium should be taken at least 2 hours apart.  I take my calcium in the morning with breakfast, and my magnesium in the afternoon and after dinner.  I need calcium because my parathyroid gland was surgically removed, and so I don't produce it for myself.  If your supplement involves taking Calcium and Magnesium at the same time, then if I were you, I would be asking all kinds of questions of doctor and pharmacist.


Additionally, MSM (elemental sulfur, not the same as ingredients in most supplement forms), is an essential mineral for bone health.  This is at the cutting edge of my research, I have some, and am still learning how to take it, and what the benefits are.  Like Magnesium, it is involved in hundreds of cascades in the body - but - I am still researching this one, so my "off the top of my head" information is limited.

 

Have you asked your doctor about the scientific results achieved with this particular supplement?  Is there evidence that it actually saves bone and prevents breaks or bone loss?  

 

I no longer buy everything that doctor tells me, I believe that I am in charge of my own health, and do the research myself to confirm or deny what the doctor claims.

 

I hope you see the sun today!

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

 

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

 

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

 

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


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

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

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

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Terry - this came in my inbox this morning from ConsumerLabs. 

 

It is naughty of me to report it here, as it's from behind a paywall - so I will include my usual ad that ConsumerLabs is an extremely valuable service, and for about $35 a year, you get up-to-date information on supplements of all kinds - what works, what doesn't, what forms are better, recalls, and studies from all over the world.  It is worth that, and more, for anyone who wants to take charge of their own health.  This month, they are reviewing Ashwaganda, which looks like a super valuable review.

So - without further ado:  Probiotics (especially l.reuteri) and osteoporosis - and the kinds of studies about bone density, bone loss, and breaks that I am asking for concerning your current supplement:

Probioticsbonedensit.jpg

Edited by JanCarol

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

 

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

 

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

 

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


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

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

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

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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1 hour ago, JanCarol said:

Is there evidence that it actually saves bone and prevents breaks or bone loss?  

Yes.  In a 12 month study of 414 participants the increase in bone density among post-menopausal women was 1.3%.  This is a plant-based product derived from algae.

 

"Three groups of post-menopausal women each took different (brand hidden) formulations with all groups increasing bone density at one year. The smallest average increase among the 3 groups was 1.3% – an extraordinary result since traditional calcium supplements do not increase bone density. This comparative effectiveness study measured bone density via DEXA scan at baseline and then again at 6 months and one year. (Brand hidden) results were compared to published data on traditional calcium supplements BMD scores."

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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1 hour ago, JanCarol said:

 

Terry - I picked this up from Waterfall's thread.  (first quote is mine, second quote is yours - I'm not very good at copying quotes yet).

 

This sounds like a doctor prescribed combination supplement meant to ease your mind about osteoporosis.

 

However, the calcium and the magnesium will be eating each other up, cancelling each other out.  There may be, in a pharmaceutical formula, a buffer of some sort to keep them separate in the digestive tract, but I don't have much faith in pharmaceutical formulas.  Especially not formulas which combine calcium and magnesium (I see them in the shops all the time, and shake my head in wonder - people really buy these things!)

 

If I were you, I would take these same supplements divided.

Calcium, K2, D3 C boron & strontium can go together (this is off the top of my head - I am unable to do research right now)

Likewise Magnesium, K2, C, boron & strontium can go together.  K2 is an awesome supplement for osteoporosis, and can be found in grass-fed butter, and Nattokinase.  

 

Calcium and Magnesium should be taken at least 2 hours apart.  I take my calcium in the morning with breakfast, and my magnesium in the afternoon and after dinner.  I need calcium because my parathyroid gland was surgically removed, and so I don't produce it for myself.  If your supplement involves taking Calcium and Magnesium at the same time, then if I were you, I would be asking all kinds of questions of doctor and pharmacist.


Additionally, MSM (elemental sulfur, not the same as ingredients in most supplement forms), is an essential mineral for bone health.  This is at the cutting edge of my research, I have some, and am still learning how to take it, and what the benefits are.  Like Magnesium, it is involved in hundreds of cascades in the body - but - I am still researching this one, so my "off the top of my head" information is limited.

 

Have you asked your doctor about the scientific results achieved with this particular supplement?  Is there evidence that it actually saves bone and prevents breaks or bone loss?  

 

I no longer buy everything that doctor tells me, I believe that I am in charge of my own health, and do the research myself to confirm or deny what the doctor claims.

 

I hope you see the sun today!

Thanks for your reply and all the information you sent.  I appreciate the time it took you to do it.

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • 2 months later...

Hello Terry

 

"Oh, you gave me quite a laugh!  I'm even older than you, but I sure hope to be done with this stuff well before I die."

 

I'm glad I gave you a bit of a chuckle, there was a dose of irony in my rumination!  Seriously, though, I feel so unstable I daren't go fast on the taper and I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel - and I'm struggling as it is.  If you are even older than me and intend to be off the drugs before you die, that is a ray of hope for me.  Thank you for dropping by - nice to hear from you.

 

Neroli

 

 

2006 Citalopram 20mg on and off to 2013.  April 2013 - July 2014  Sertraline, Venlafaxine, Fluoxetine, Mirtazapine v. bad reactions. July 2014 - CT Mirtazapine.  July 2014 - February 2016 Medication free, long term w/d.  February - July 2016 Fluoxetine.  Medication free, long term w/d syndrome.  2017 Jan physical breakdown.

2017 February - March Escitalopram, Nortriptyline instated.  Lorazepam, Zopiclone PRN.  April 2017 Lithium Carbonate 250mg 1 wk. 14 August 2017 finish cross to Diazepam 22.5mg daily, stop Zopiclone

Tapers:

Diazepam 

2017 21 August - 30 Dec 21.25mg to 14.5mg 2018 6 Jan - 11 May to 12mg.  2 June updose to 12.25mg - hold. 2019 (0.5mg cuts) 12 Jan - 28 Dec 12mg to 10mg 2020 (0.25mg cuts) - 25 Jan - 29 Dec 9.75mg to 6.25mg 2021 *May have bungled dose and accidentally took 1mg more for about a month (7.25mg), so 4 Jan started again at 6.5mg; 19 Jan 6.25mg; 1 Feb 6.0mg; 23 Feb 5.75mg; 9 Mar 5.5mg; 23 Mar 5.25mg; 9 Apr 5.0mg; 6 May 4.75mg; 13 May 4.5mg; 6 Jun 4mg; 12 July 3.5mg; 2 sep 3.0mg; 15 Sep 2.5mg; 1 Nov 2mg; 15 Nov 1.5mg; 16 Dec 1mg; 26 Dec 0.5mg; 2022 1 Jan - OFF

Escitalopram - 2022 1 Mar to 9mg; 29 Mar 8mg; 24 May 7mg; 21 Jun 5mg; 19 Jul 4mg; 1 Sep 3mg; 23 Sep 2.5mg; 31 Oct 1.5mg; 22 Nov 0.5mg; 2023 1 Jan 0.25mg; 1 Mar OFF

Nortriptyline  2018 90mg to 2020 1 Dec down to 72.5mg; 2021 20 May 70mg; 8 Jun 67.5mg; 24 Jun 65mg; 31 July 60mg; 12 Oct 55mg; 23 Oct 50mg; 2022 13 Jan 40mg; 22 Jan 30mg; 29 Mar 20mg; 26 Apr 10mg; 3 Aug 5mg; 23 Sep 2.5mg; 2023 1 Jan - OFF

 

1 March 2023 - off all drugs - 6-year taper off three drugs.

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

I'm wondering at what point it's safe to end tapering.  I know I still have a ways to go (I'm on 3.6 mg sertraline), but I want to have something to look forward to.  After that I will still need to taper alprazolam.

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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Hey @Terry I’m new to the site,seams like setraline comes in much smaller doses than Effexor.Im not sure how low that is compared to Eff.Im pretty sure u can hold as long as u wish if your in a good place in your taper.I held at 75mgs for 5 yrs as I was just happy to be able to function a lil .Ive got off several ADs with not much Wds and others like Eff is ruff it’s been in my system for 20+ years.I m on 3 drugs as well will be long haul.

1992-1995 Tofranil : was hospitalized 

1996 Zoloft, Larazepam- CT 1996

1996-  Effexor till now

2002- Remron till now

2008- Trazodone 

2010- Zyprexa, Seroquil

2010 hospitalized then CT Zyprexa, Seroquil

2010-  Lamictal till now

2011- tapered off Trazodone

2011- tapered Effexor from 150mg to 75mg / Tapered Remeron 30ng to 7.5mg / Tapered Lamictal 50mg to 37.5mg

1/27/2017 Tapered Effexor 75mg to 31.25mg

 

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  • Administrator

Hi, Terry, here's your Into topic.

 

How has your taper been going?

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

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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

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

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

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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I think I'm doing fairly well, though I have my share of WD symptoms:  broken sleep, mild depression, lack of energy, burning skin, and, of course, anxiety, especially early AM. This has been harder than when I tapered mirtazipine, which really went smoothly.   Early this week I felt up to shopping and while I was at the fabric store I suddenly realized that I felt almost normal. 😊 I wound up buying some fabric and now hope I have the ambition and energy to sew it.  I had lunch with some old friends yesterday and that was really good too.  I started seeing an acupuncturist and she thinks her treatments may lessen my WD.  She tested me and found that my endocrine system is not functioning at optimum levels, so maybe that has some bearing on the way I feel.

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Terry: withdrawing from Xanax and Zoloft

Has anyone had problems with liquid sertraline?  Because I'm tapering I have to dilute my 20 mg liquid.  So I wind up with enough for about 4 daily doses of 3.6 mg. each (my current dose).   Recently I've noticed a white film on the bottom of my glass container.  I've tried shaking the container really hard, but the sediment won't go into solution.  I quit refrigerating it thinking maybe that was the problem.  I made a fresh solution yesterday, and this morning when I went to use it the solution was flocular and no amount of mixing helped to dissolve it.  I was hoping not to have to make fresh solution every day, first because the prescrip is expensive (I'd have to waste a lot of it) and second because it's extra work.

 

I'm also wondering how to measure to the nearest hundredth on my dose.  I've been measuring with syringes, but just rounding off to the nearest tenth. I'm thankful for any suggestions that may be offered.

 

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

If you are making 10% reductions and the figure is a difficult one to measure remember to round up, otherwise you will be reducing by more than 10%.  Remember to then calculate the next reduction on the rounded up amount, not the starting amount.

 

What sort of water are you using to dilute your liquid?

 

You could contact the pharmacy and ask them about it.  If they can't help, contact the manufacturer directly.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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

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

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

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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38 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

What sort of water are you using to dilute your liquid?

I use filtered water which I have boiled, and store it in a glass container in the refrigerator.

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

That's good.  I'd be contacting the pharmacist or manufacturer then to get further information on what is in the bottom of the container.  You need to find out if it contains any drug or is other stuff and the drug is fully dissolved in the liquid.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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

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

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

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Mentor
17 hours ago, Terry said:

Recently I've noticed a white film on the bottom of my glass container.  I've tried shaking the container really hard, but the sediment won't go into solution.

Hi Terry,

I use liquid Sertraline and I too get the white film on the bottom of my container. I use pre-made liquid, meaning I buy it that way rather than make my own. I dilute it with water and the solution appears completely clear both before I dilute it, as well as after. I too have wondered what it is, especially since my mixture is so clear.  I live in a city that has hard water so I wondered if it is mineral deposits, or if it is indeed the medication at the bottom of the container.  I use water that has only been filtered once by a filter we have under the sink. After I clean the glass container it takes about about 3 to 4 days for the the deposits to build back up. I end up cleaning the container completely about once a week.

RS

 

I am not a health professional in any way.  I do not give medical advice.   Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a professional medical practitioner.

 

NEW INFORMATION FOR GABAPENTIN TAPER

April 29, 2022 900 mg to 800 mg (11%), May 29, 2022 800 to 700 mg (12.5%), June 20, 2022 700 to 650mg (8%), July 20, 2022 650 to 575 (12%), August 20,  575 to 500 (13%),  Sept 20, 2020 500 to 475mg (5%) Nov 7, 2022 475 to 425 (11%), Nov 21, 2022 500mg

Medications: Gabapentin, Prednisone 1.5mg a day, Cortisol Inhaler daily. 

HISTORY FOR ZOLOFT TAPER

Feb. 2016 to June 2016  - Was on 150mg Zoloft.  Put on Gabapentin at 900mg a day in 2016 due to antidepressant withdrawal. 

Quit Zoloft (Sertraline) June  2016,  reinstated 50mg of Zoloft July 2016.  From July 2016  to October 2016 went from 50 mg down 2.3 mg. I up-dosed in November 2016 to 12.5 mg. Held there until January 2017 when I started a much slower taper.

STARTING SENSIBLE  ZOLOFT TAPERING USING GUIDELINES FROM THIS SITE

Dec. 10 2016  - switched to Liquid Zoloft (Sertraline) @ 12.5 mg.   Jan. 4, 2020 1.875 mg (6.3%). Jan. 25, 2020 1.75 mgFeb. 29, 2020 1.625mg (7.10%).  Apr. 4, 2020 1.5 mg.  May 9, 2020 1.375 mg.  June 6, 2020 1.25 mg. (9.10%).  July 4, 2020 1.125 mg. (10%).  August 15, 2020 1.0 mg.  Oct 24, 2020 .875 mg.  Nov. 28, 2020 .75mgJan 16, 2021 .685mg (8.7%).  Feb 13, 2021 .62mg. March 12, 2021 .56mg.  May 1, 2021 .375mg.  May 29, 2021 .25mg. June 26, 2021 .0125mg. July 25, 2021 .065mg. August 22, 2021 .048mg.  October 2, 2021 .043mg.  October 10, 2021 .038mg.  October 23, 2021 .035mg.  October 30, 2021 .032mg.  Nov. 13, 2021 .030 mg.  Dec 4, 2021 .0285 mg.  Dec 11, 2021 .0265 mg. Dec 18, 2021 .0246 mg. Dec 25, 2021 .023mg. Jan 1, 2022. 0 mg. OFF COMPLETELY

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@RachelSusan

Hi Rachel,

     I get the liquid sertraline from the pharmacy, rather than trying to make my own.  I spoke to my pharmacy this morning, and the pharmacist had no real answers to this problem.  All he suggested was using one of the other recommended diluents such as lemon-lime soda.  I hardly ever drink soda and wouldn't care to start because of all the artificial ingredients they contain.  Our water is softened and filtered, so I don't think the sediment is minerals.  After I made my dilution this morning using a new syringe, I put it in the fridge and will see what it looks like tomorrow.  The pharmacist said maybe they could get a replacement prescription for me from the manufacturer.  I don't hold out any real hope for that happening.

 

In this long process do you have any problems getting various size syringes?  What sizes do you use and just how do you make your dilutions?  It looks like we are currently taking close to the same dosage, although you are tapering more slowly than I am.  How are you doing with WD symptoms?

 

Thanks for your reply, and wishing you smooth tapering.

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • Moderator

It's possible that the additional water is forcing the drug out of solution and causing the film. It has a fairly low solubility rate in water.  It has a much higher solubility rate in alcohol so possibly adding a bit of vodka to the mix would help. Worth a try. 

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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30 minutes ago, brassmonkey said:

It has a much higher solubility rate in alcohol so possibly adding a bit of vodka to the mix would help. Worth a try. 

You are so right!  I still had my dilution with the floccular sediment which I was going to toss out today, so I added a few drops of vodka and it cleared immediately.  When I make my next dilution I think I'll try using 1/2 or 1 ml of vodka and the rest water.  I think going with the smallest amount of alcohol that works is safest.

 

Thanks, brassmonkey!

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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  • Moderator Emeritus
3 hours ago, Terry said:

You are so right!  I still had my dilution with the floccular sediment which I was going to toss out today, so I added a few drops of vodka and it cleared immediately. 

 

That's great news.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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

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

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

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Mentor

Hi Terry,

 

I am currently using a syringe that is 1.0mL. I wanted to find one that was smaller and could show me more increments of measurements. I had no luck with that so I started making more of a dilute formula.  I now mix .5mL to 1.5mL of water.  I have a hard time getting my head around it but my doctor and Andy here on our site worked with me to make sure I was doing it right.  

 

Yes, I am a slow taper. Last spring I was going much faster, and didn't have any problems, then suddenly I crashed. It came on during the course of one week and left me with tremors and other withdrawal symptoms for close to three months. Now I am being ultra cautions.  I get slight symptoms with each taper.  Minor tremors, sweats, and sometimes sinus headaches.  The symptoms can come on anywhere between 8 and 15 days after the taper and tend to last about five or six days.  It's very tolerable. Burning skin is with me always and is my new normal.  I've had that now for about a year. 

 

What about you? How are you WD symptoms?

 

RS

 

I am not a health professional in any way.  I do not give medical advice.   Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a professional medical practitioner.

 

NEW INFORMATION FOR GABAPENTIN TAPER

April 29, 2022 900 mg to 800 mg (11%), May 29, 2022 800 to 700 mg (12.5%), June 20, 2022 700 to 650mg (8%), July 20, 2022 650 to 575 (12%), August 20,  575 to 500 (13%),  Sept 20, 2020 500 to 475mg (5%) Nov 7, 2022 475 to 425 (11%), Nov 21, 2022 500mg

Medications: Gabapentin, Prednisone 1.5mg a day, Cortisol Inhaler daily. 

HISTORY FOR ZOLOFT TAPER

Feb. 2016 to June 2016  - Was on 150mg Zoloft.  Put on Gabapentin at 900mg a day in 2016 due to antidepressant withdrawal. 

Quit Zoloft (Sertraline) June  2016,  reinstated 50mg of Zoloft July 2016.  From July 2016  to October 2016 went from 50 mg down 2.3 mg. I up-dosed in November 2016 to 12.5 mg. Held there until January 2017 when I started a much slower taper.

STARTING SENSIBLE  ZOLOFT TAPERING USING GUIDELINES FROM THIS SITE

Dec. 10 2016  - switched to Liquid Zoloft (Sertraline) @ 12.5 mg.   Jan. 4, 2020 1.875 mg (6.3%). Jan. 25, 2020 1.75 mgFeb. 29, 2020 1.625mg (7.10%).  Apr. 4, 2020 1.5 mg.  May 9, 2020 1.375 mg.  June 6, 2020 1.25 mg. (9.10%).  July 4, 2020 1.125 mg. (10%).  August 15, 2020 1.0 mg.  Oct 24, 2020 .875 mg.  Nov. 28, 2020 .75mgJan 16, 2021 .685mg (8.7%).  Feb 13, 2021 .62mg. March 12, 2021 .56mg.  May 1, 2021 .375mg.  May 29, 2021 .25mg. June 26, 2021 .0125mg. July 25, 2021 .065mg. August 22, 2021 .048mg.  October 2, 2021 .043mg.  October 10, 2021 .038mg.  October 23, 2021 .035mg.  October 30, 2021 .032mg.  Nov. 13, 2021 .030 mg.  Dec 4, 2021 .0285 mg.  Dec 11, 2021 .0265 mg. Dec 18, 2021 .0246 mg. Dec 25, 2021 .023mg. Jan 1, 2022. 0 mg. OFF COMPLETELY

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  • Moderator Emeritus
On 5/2/2011 at 6:56 AM, Altostrata said:

Where to get oral syringes

Many pharmacies carry the larger oral syringe and, as Brandy implies, veterinarians carry them, too, to give animals medication.

 

Compounding pharmacies will have a wider range of oral syringes.

 

They cost very little; most pharmacies will give them to you gratis.

 

What size oral syringe to get

The larger 10 mL syringe can measure out dosages as small as .2 mg; the small 1 mL syringe (see the second post in this topic) can measure out dosages as small as .01 mL.

 

There are also .5mL oral syringes, measuring as small as .01 mL.

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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

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

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

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment

 

18 hours ago, RachelSusan said:

Hi Terry,

 

I am currently using a syringe that is 1.0mL. I wanted to find one that was smaller and could show me more increments of measurements. I had no luck with that so I started making more of a dilute formula.  I now mix .5mL to 1.5mL of water.  I have a hard time getting my head around it but my doctor and Andy here on our site worked with me to make sure I was doing it right.  

 

Yes, I am a slow taper. Last spring I was going much faster, and didn't have any problems, then suddenly I crashed. It came on during the course of one week and left me with tremors and other withdrawal symptoms for close to three months. Now I am being ultra cautions.  I get slight symptoms with each taper.  Minor tremors, sweats, and sometimes sinus headaches.  The symptoms can come on anywhere between 8 and 15 days after the taper and tend to last about five or six days.  It's very tolerable. Burning skin is with me always and is my new normal.  I've had that now for about a year. 

 

What about you? How are you WD symptoms?

 

RS

 I have my share of WD symptoms:  broken sleep, mild depression, lack of energy, burning skin, and, of course, anxiety, especially early AM.   I seem to have some combination of these every day, though most of the time they are somewhat tolerable.  I may be paying for tapering too fast during my first year. 😣

2007 - 2008          Paxil and Klonopin

2008 - 2012           Mirtazapine following CT from Klonopin and Paxil.  

2012                       Unsuccessful taper of mirtazapine; reinstated.     

7/2013 - 1/2014   Successfully tapered mirtazapine from 7.5 mg to 0.00.

 

Sertraline (Zoloft) Taper  Aug 4, 2017 - July 18, 2021 - Current dose 0.00

Alprazolam (Xanax)  July 19, 2017 - Nov 15, 2021 0.25 mg.

Began 10% taper  Nov 16, 2021 - 0.25  Jan 11, 2022 - 0.203;  Jan 13, 2023 - 0.0499;  Jan 21, 2024 - 0.0137;  Mar 17, 2024 - 0.0099;  Taper is 96% complete.

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