roxie Posted April 16, 2016 Posted April 16, 2016 I am new to this group. I have been on a psychotropic medication cocktail for several years, including: clonazepam .5 mg which I tapered off of about 3 weeks ago; risperidone .5 mg (still want to taper this med); duloxetine 60 mg; and lamotrigine 200 mg. I still have some withdrawal symptoms from the clonazepam, but am coping okay thus far. I want to come off all the others too, but am wondering which one first, and also how to taper off .5 mg of risperidone. I tried cold turkey off risperidone a few days ago, and within 4 days, I had super withdrawal symptoms including irritability, anger, hostility, aggression, anxiety, to the point where I could not stand it anymore, so I went back on the .5 mg of risperidone last night and today I feel better with no withdrawal symptoms. How does one taper off .5 mg of risperidone when the pill is so teensy that I cannot cut it, even with the pill splitter. Does anyone know how to taper this drug?
Moderator Emeritus Fresh Posted April 17, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Posted April 17, 2016 Hi roxie , welcome to the site. Your post has been moved to the Introductions section. This is your own personal thread to journal or ask questions. Please click FOLLOW at the top right so you receive an email each time someone posts here. We have all the information you need to taper off safely , so I'm going to point you in a few directions and you have some reading ahead. " clonazepam .5 mg which I tapered off of about 3 weeks ago" This is huge accomplishment. Please don't make any further changes for at least 2 or 3 months so your central nervous system can recover. As you found , things are fragile at the moment. With regard to which drug to taper next , see "Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?" http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2207-taking-multiple-psych-drugs-which-drug-to-taper-first/ We usually advise tapering the more activating drug first , which would be duloxetine. Holding the 0.5mg respiradone may help keep things stable. To taper from tiny doses like 0.5mg , you can make a liquid solution by dissolving you tablet in water and using a syringe to draw up a precise amount. See http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2693-how-to-make-a-liquid-from-tablets-or-capsules/ Please come back with questions. You've had a taste of how things can get bad very quickly , and we want to help you avoid that. It would be a big help if you can fill in your signature with a summary of your drug history. Please read http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/ Best wishes , Fresh 1987-1997 pertofran , prothiaden , Prozac 1997-2002 Zoloft 2002-2004 effexor 2004-2010 Lexapro 40mg 2010-2012Cymbalta 120mg Sept. 2012 -decreased 90mg in 6months. Care taken over by Dr Lucire in March 2013 , decreased last 30mg at 2mg per week over 3 months. July 21 , 2013- last dose of Cymbalta Protracted withdrawal syndrome kicked in badly Jan.2014 Unrelenting akathisia until May 2014. Voluntary hosp. admission. Cocktail of Seroquel, Ativan and mirtazapine and I was well enough to go home after 14 days. Stopped all hosp. meds in next few months. July 2014 felt v.depressed - couldn't stop crying. Started pristiq 50mg. Felt improvement within days and continued to improve, so stayed on 50mg for 8 months. Began taper 28 Feb. 2015. Pristiq 50mg down to 45mg. Had one month of w/d symptoms. Started CES therapy in March. No w/d symptoms down to 30mg. October 2015 , taking 25mg Pristiq. Capsules compounded with slow-release additive. March 2016 , 21mg
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