samanthaelizabeth: How do you manage to keep working while taper off

[samanthaelizabeth]

Okay, MODS i'm starting my taper tomorrow by 5% It will be 150mg tablet and MG Liquid

[degen12]

14 minutes ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

Okay, MODS i'm starting my taper tomorrow by 5% It will be 150mg tablet and MG Liquid

 

You would need 2 mL liquid to go along with your 150 mg tablet. That's all well and fine but the math will get more confusing as you continue your cross-taper.

 

If it was me I wouldn't do it. Too easy to mess up the math doing a taper combined with a cross-taper at the same time.

 

Higher complexity stuff like that led to problems for myself as you don't know what change is causing what problem.

[samanthaelizabeth]

I don't have any other way to accurately measure by 40mg.  I can easilly cut in half the 100mg but to estimate 40mg of the other tab would be too hard.  MODS please assist. I took my 200mg this morning as 150mg tab and the rest 50mg liquid. 

[degen12]

7 minutes ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I don't have any other way to accurately measure by 40mg.  I can easilly cut in half the 100mg but to estimate 40mg of the other tab would be too hard.  MODS please assist. I took my 200mg this morning as 150mg tab and the rest 50mg liquid. 

 

That's not what I said. Let me rephrase.

 

If I was in your situation, I would finish switching to liquid first before starting my taper, because it avoids unnecessary complexity and reduces the number of moving parts.

 

But, by all means, wait for a MOD to link you 3KIS again.

[DaveB]

27 minutes ago, degen12 said:

 

That's not what I said. Let me rephrase.

 

If I was in your situation, I would finish switching to liquid first before starting my taper, because it avoids unnecessary complexity and reduces the number of moving parts.

 

But, by all means, wait for a MOD to link you 3KIS again.

 

I would second this. I am not a mod so take my advice with many grains of salt, but I don't think you are stable to where you should start your taper. You seem to be very much up and down (much like myself). By all means start your switch to liquid if you would like, but I don't think I would start a taper if I was you, and certainly not while you are sill transferring to liquid. 

[samanthaelizabeth]

I just have a rough time in the morning.  And I think the Zoloft is causing extreme sweats.  If Mod would stop by and help that would be great.

[samanthaelizabeth]

I am starting to dread taking my usual dose of 19 years now

[DaveB]

3 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

 I'm not exactly happy right now, even with my max dose of Zoloft.  So why am I risking tapering?  I don't want to rock the boat, you know?  Aside from the heavy sweating (which is way more than normal) I'm okay.  I wasn't sweating like this before I quickly tapered off of the Zoloft and went right back on after a day of being fully off of it.  Could the sweating be from this?  Will me mood worsen, If I taper down by only 5%? I feel apathetic to some degree but do not want to get depressed. I will not be starting this taper off in a good place and that worries me.

 

These would be my thoughts, seems you are in a unnecessary rush to begin your taper. If you are ok aside from some sweating, I would hold for a good while. I would sweat PROFUSELY in January when I got back on Paxil after I accidentally didn't take it for a little while. I have no such issue anymore. The sweating could simply be a Zoloft side effect that will fade as you stabilize. All your recent changes have not had a chance to stabilize. I would hold, find a job, do some things you want to do, then begin a taper when you feel more in control of your life. Just my thoughts. 

[DaveB]

12 minutes ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I just have a rough time in the morning.  And I think the Zoloft is causing extreme sweats.  If Mod would stop by and help that would be great.

 

I think it is VERY common to struggle more in the mornings, certainly is the case for me. I doubt it really has anything to do with the timing of your Zoloft dose, but I could be wrong, Whatever you do know I will be rooting for you and am confident YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS AND BE OK, regardless of the road you choose. I just would hate to see you add any additional suffering by starting a taper too soon. 

[samanthaelizabeth]

35 minutes ago, DaveB said:

These would be my thoughts, seems you are in a unnecessary rush to begin your taper. If you are ok aside from some sweating, I would hold for a good while. I would sweat PROFUSELY in January when I got back on Paxil after I accidentally didn't take it for a little while. I have no such issue anymore. The sweating could simply be a Zoloft side effect that will fade as you stabilize. All your recent changes have not had a chance to stabilize. I would hold, find a job, do some things you want to do, then begin a taper when you feel more in control of your life. Just my thoughts. 

I suppose you are right.

[ChessieCat]

Q1: Have you been taking 3/4 tablet dose and 1/4 liquid dose to equal 200mg Zoloft?

 

Q2:  If yes, how many days have you been taking the above?

 

Q3:  Have your symptoms been the same or worse?

 

I've tried to find the post where I explained the cross over from tablet to liquid but haven't been able to.  I do know that it said 3 days on each.

 

It is okay to take a combination of tablet and liquid.  You have 2 choices:

 

(a) 100mg tablet and the rest of the dose as liquid, or

 

(b) take 150mg tablet and the rest of the dose in liquid.

 

You could then continue to take the tablet dose and just reduce the liquid when you taper.  If you choose option (b) after you reach 150mg you would then change over to (a).

[wildchild93]

4 hours ago, DaveB said:

I think it is VERY common to struggle more in the mornings, certainly is the case for me. I doubt it really has anything to do with the timing of your Zoloft dose

Yea i struggle big time in the morning. It hits me right when I open my eyes, before I take my dose of effexor and then eases up a little as the day goes on. So strange.

[samanthaelizabeth]

3 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Q1: Have you been taking 3/4 tablet dose and 1/4 liquid dose to equal 200mg Zoloft?

 

Q2:  If yes, how many days have you been taking the above?

 

Q3:  Have your symptoms been the same or worse?

 

I've tried to find the post where I explained the cross over from tablet to liquid but haven't been able to.  I do know that it said 3 days on each.

 

It is okay to take a combination of tablet and liquid.  You have 2 choices:

 

(a) 100mg tablet and the rest of the dose as liquid, or

 

(b) take 150mg tablet and the rest of the dose in liquid.

 

You could then continue to take the tablet dose and just reduce the liquid when you taper.  If you choose option (b) after you reach 150mg you would then change over to (a).

Thanks Chessie.  So I don't have to transition over to liquid 100% So I can do 2 days 150MG and 2.5 ML (50mg) for 3 days and then 100MG (TABLET)  with 5 ML liquid FOR three days and stay on that until I decide to taper?  This will be so much easier for me? 

 

Q2:  If yes, how many days have you been taking the above? today was my first day doing 150MG (tablet) and 50MG (2.5ML) liquid.

 

I did feel a little strange today at the grocery store-  But I feel okay now.  

[samanthaelizabeth]

4 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I suppose you are right.

I do feel like I am ready to begin my job search again...

[samanthaelizabeth]

I took my Mirtazapine the tonight, the same time as usual and I'm not even tired yet.  Is this because of the transition to liquid that I started today?

[samanthaelizabeth]

2 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I took my Mirtazapine the tonight, the same time as usual and I'm not even tired yet.  Is this because of the transition to liquid that I started today?

It's 1:30 am and I just realized that I didn't even take my Mirt tonight! I just took it so hopefully I will sleep.  I don't think I am going to transition to liquid right now, I don't think I can tolerate it, My stomach is having spasms or something-Cannot stop going to the bathroom. I think it's best if I just hold steady for a bit and then try late. Maybe I'll just try and taper down somehow with my tablets. I guess I'll need a scale for this?

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

Maybe I'll just try and taper down somehow with my tablets. I guess I'll need a scale for this?

 

It is possible, and quite easy, to create your own liquid by dissolving Zoloft tablets in water.  You just add 100mg tablet to 100mls of water, leave overnight, stir and extract and dispose of the excess and take the rest.

[samanthaelizabeth]

6 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

It is possible, and quite easy, to create your own liquid by dissolving Zoloft tablets in water.  You just add 100mg tablet to 100mls of water, leave overnight, stir and extract and dispose of the excess and take the rest.

Thank you @ChessieCat

[samanthaelizabeth]

How much longer until I stabilize? Please look at my signature. I feel like I am slightly depressed, not crying or anything. But my husband was speaking loudly this morning on the phone while I was still in bed and It made me feel kind of startled.  I went back to bed and I think about everything that has happened, any I normal, can I work? I think I know too much about these drugs now and it's bothering me. I feel flawed now with all of the knowledge I have now, you know "ignorance is bliss" Does this make sense to anyone?

[samanthaelizabeth]

So, I've decided that I'm not going to attempt a taper at this point.  I was fine until I went to that new Pdoc and tried to start me on Lexapro which I didn't take, but did taper off the Zoloft.  This was a bad mistake.  I'm just going to try to stabilize at this point on the Zoloft and concentrate on getting back to work, along with therapy.  When I am in a good routine, I will then attempt to taper of the Mirtazipine before I start my Zoloft taper.  I appreciate everybody's help but I think reading all of these stories is detrimental to my psyche.  I'm going to try to get back to a regular life and approach this sometime in the future. Good luck everyone and God Bless!

 

Sam

 

[ChessieCat]

Not sure if this has been posted before:

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?
If you're not having an adverse reaction from the other medications, taper the most activating drug first. This is usually an antidepressant or stimulant (ADHD drug).

 

My personal opinion is that you are on too high a dose of Zoloft and should be trying to lower your dose as soon as you are able to (ie 3-7 days after the last stage of the liquid tablet cross over).  You might find that even getting to 150mg may help to reduce the symptoms of serotonin toxicity which I believe you have.  Getting lower than that would definitely be more beneficial.

 

I also think it would be better to start your taper and get settled with tapering before going back to work.  This would hopefully bring some improvement in your symptoms (especially the sweating which may be contributing to poor sleep) and consequently you will be feeling a bit better in yourself, and therefore be better able to handle starting a new job.  Three (3) reductions of 10% of the previous dose would bring you down to 146mg.  Holding for 4 weeks after each reduction would only take 3 months.  In the scheme of this, this isn't very long.

 

These are my thoughts on the matter.  However, the decision is yours as to what you do.  I am glad that you have the knowledge about these drugs now so you can make informed decisions.

[samanthaelizabeth]

 

1 hour ago, ChessieCat said:

Not sure if this has been posted before:

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?
If you're not having an adverse reaction from the other medications, taper the most activating drug first. This is usually an antidepressant or stimulant (ADHD drug).

 

My personal opinion is that you are on too high a dose of Zoloft and should be trying to lower your dose as soon as you are able to (ie 3-7 days after the last stage of the liquid tablet cross over).  You might find that even getting to 150mg may help to reduce the symptoms of serotonin toxicity which I believe you have.  Getting lower than that would definitely be more beneficial.

 

I also think it would be better to start your taper and get settled with tapering before going back to work.  This would hopefully bring some improvement in your symptoms (especially the sweating which may be contributing to poor sleep) and consequently you will be feeling a bit better in yourself, and therefore be better able to handle starting a new job.  Three (3) reductions of 10% of the previous dose would bring you down to 146mg.  Holding for 4 weeks after each reduction would only take 3 months.  In the scheme of this, this isn't very long.

 

These are my thoughts on the matter.  However, the decision is yours as to what you do.  I am glad that you have the knowledge about these drugs now so you can make informed decisions.

 

Thanks Chessie, I just logged on to ask why I an still feeling like I am over-medicated? I was only totally off my dose for on full day, so I'm not sure since I reinstated so quickly, why I would now feel over-medicated.  I have this anxiety that doesn't feel like normal, more like chemical in nature, if that makes sense. I'm also very scared to reduce because that depression that was brought on from the Ativan back in 99 was SO bad, I don't want to go to that place again.  This morning I was easily startled just from my husband talking on the phone.  

I took my dose this morning with only tablets (200mg)  The liquid made me feel strange yesterday, and it was kind of gross tasting. Should I just make my own liquid 1/2 100mg tablet & 1/2 my own preparation? Or just start tapering?Or just go by what you said with the above instructions and taper with the pre-mixed liquid?  I am also concerned that I am over medicated now, but how could that be?  I'm sorry to bother you, thank you for your help.

 

Sam

 

Edited February 19, 2018 by ChessieCat
removed duplicate quote

[ChessieCat]

17 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I was only totally off my dose for on full day, so I'm not sure since I reinstated so quickly, why I would now feel over-medicated

 

Going off for one day may have been enough time for you to feel some relief from being over drugged so that when you started back on you had something to compare it with.  This is just a thought.  My reason for thinking this is that it only took 4 hours after updosing my Pristiq for me to be able to type again.  I think I've told you about my experience with that.

 

17 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I have this anxiety that doesn't feel like normal

 

This might be from the serotonin.  It wasn't until my dose got lower that I looked back at how I had been feeling and I realised that I had always been feeling on edge and unsettled.  I think I was probably also experiencing a small amount of confusion.  It was the excessive sweating in winter that had me researching serotonin toxicity.  It wasn't until later when I started feeling a bit better that I realised what other symptoms I had been experiencing.

 

17 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I'm also very scared to reduce because that depression that was brought on from the Ativan back in 99 was SO bad, I don't want to go to that place again. 

 

That is understandable.  However, that was back in 1999 with a different drug.  There is also a different reason for you reducing this drug - toxicity - too much serotonin.

 

I believe that it the high dose of Zoloft together with the Remeron which is causing you to feel so awful now.

 

I suggest you watch this short video:

 

 

 

17 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I took my dose this morning with only tablets (200mg)  The liquid made me feel strange yesterday, and it was kind of gross tasting. Should I just make my own liquid 1/2 100mg tablet & 1/2 my own preparation? Or just start tapering?Or just go by what you said with the above instructions and taper with the pre-mixed liquid? 

 

You made the comment that you felt strange when you took the liquid Zoloft.  It might be better to make your own preparation.  As I said it is easy.  You need to ensure is that you be as accurate as possible and importantly do it the same way using the same tools every time for consistency and on a level surface.  It would still be best to do a cross over so:

 

3 days      200mg    using   150mg tablets + 50mg dissolved in 50mg 50ml water   (use the other half of the tablet)

 

3 days     200mg    using    100mg tablet + 100mg dissolved in 100mg 100ml water

 

Commence taper:

 

180mg:   100mg tablet + 100mg dissolved in 100mg water, extract and dispose of 20ml (=20mg), drink the remaining liquid

 

It takes about 4 days for the dose change to take full effect in the blood and a few more days for it to register in the brain.  Please keep daily notes on paper.

 

It's also important to learn and use Non-drug techniques to cope

 

Edited February 19, 2018 by ChessieCat
correction made

[samanthaelizabeth]

Thank you @ChessieCat You have been so kind and so helpful to me.  I truly appreciate it!

 

Sam

[samanthaelizabeth]

I didn't start my cross taper because the liquid is too hard to measure (get air bubbles) and can't measure it accurately.  I just took my regular tablets this morning.  So does this mixture 

14 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

3 days      200mg    using   150mg tablets + 50mg dissolved in 50mg water 

How much is 50mg of water? How long does it take for the tablet to dissolve?  Thanks!

[samanthaelizabeth]

52 minutes ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

I didn't start my cross taper because the liquid is too hard to measure (get air bubbles) and can't measure it accurately.  I just took my regular tablets this morning.  So does this mixture 

How much is 50mg of water? How long does it take for the tablet to dissolve?  Thanks!

 

[Gridley]

Sam,

 

I would say the same thing to you that I said to DaveB.  "As advised previously, because of the many recent changes in your drugs and dosages, you should not make any changes at this time.   It can take months to stabilize.  More switches can further destabilize your system."

 

The cross-taper, when you do it,  will have some destabilizing effects, so you should not make any changes when you complete it.  I know it is hard to hear this, but it can take a while to stabilize after a change.  You can see see that DaveB is doing really well by holding steady.  I know you want to go back to work, but if you go too fast, you are delaying rather than hastening the day you can return to work.

[samanthaelizabeth]

12 minutes ago, Gridley said:

Sam,

 

I would say the same thing to you that I said to DaveB.  "As advised previously, because of the many recent changes in your drugs and dosages, you should not make any changes at this time.   It can take months to stabilize.  More switches can further destabilize your system."

 

The cross-taper, when you do it,  will have some destabilizing effects, so you should not make any changes when you complete it.  I know it is hard to hear this, but it can take a while to stabilize after a change.  You can see see that DaveB is doing really well by holding steady.  I know you want to go back to work, but if you go too fast, you are delaying rather than hastening the day you can return to work.

Hi @Gridley, But ChessieCat told me I could start my cross taper now, Is it okay?  I'm just going to use my tablets in water and try to reduce down to 150 and then I can just go back to my tablets because I can easily cut in half a 100mg tablet.  I'm not sure if I am ready to start a years long taper.  I don't want to ruin the rest of my life tapering. I just for now want to lower my dose. I'm sweating so much, I don't think it's healthy and I'm getting conflicting information from this site.

 

[Gridley]

Yes, it's okay to start your cross-taper if Chessie said it was.  I was talking about no changes for a while AFTER you complete the cross-taper. 

[samanthaelizabeth]

Okay, Thanks Gridley.  But can i just partially cross taper, I don't want to do all liquid (partial tablet)?

[samanthaelizabeth]

I didn't start my cross taper because the liquid is too hard to measure (get air bubbles) and can't measure it accurately.  I just took my regular tablets this morning.  

  16 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

3 days      200mg    using   150mg tablets + 50mg dissolved in 50mg water 

How much is 50mg of water? How long does it take for the tablet to dissolve?  Thanks

[samanthaelizabeth]

Well then, I guess I'll just hold at 200mg then all tablets..I don't know what to do with this sweating though??

[DaveB]

3 minutes ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

Well then, I guess I'll just hold at 200mg then all tablets..I don't know what to do with this sweating though??

 

I would bet the sweating is a temporary side effect of the Zoloft that will decrease and disappear entirely as you hold. I would give it a couple of months at 200 and see how you feel, I will bet the sweating goes away. 

[samanthaelizabeth]

8 minutes ago, DaveB said:

 

I would bet the sweating is a temporary side effect of the Zoloft that will decrease and disappear entirely as you hold. I would give it a couple of months at 200 and see how you feel, I will bet the sweating goes away. 

Then there is no point in even trying to taper. I've already messed up my career with that switch to Wellbutrin and quitting so many jobs, my resume is basically ruined along with my sense of self of being a successful career woman my whole life.  How do I get that back?

[ChessieCat]

2 hours ago, samanthaelizabeth said:

How much is 50mg of water? How long does it take for the tablet to dissolve?

 

I made an error and it should be 50ml of water.  I have corrected the original post.

 

You can dissolve it overnight so it will be ready in the morning.  Just stir it before extracting the amount to dispose of.

[samanthaelizabeth]

Thanks @ChessieCat!  I appreciate your response.  I am going to hold at 200mg (hopefully it doesn't kill me) but I'm getting conflicting information here, some say "continue to hold" and you say "cross taper and then start tapering"  I need to get my life back,  which I am having an issue with. I know this board is not meant for therapy, just typing how I feel.  So if the 200mg isn't going to harm me. I guess i'll just stay at that dose for now. What do you think?  I'm not getting general consensus here from all the Mods....