neroli Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 https://www.facebook.com/innercompassinitiative/?hc_ref=ARRdIIjHYzgACJg-XE4ALjq7mDuGx2nKOqs1uEG3SG5KNfs-cTophiNVJCkdIAwSLro 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.
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted February 13, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Posted February 13, 2018 (edited) ______________________________________________ MOD NOTE: Please see this post by Altostrata ______________________________________________ This initiative (described below) is similar to this site, but focusing on helping people find each other in person, where they live. Additional great info on tapering and withdrawal. ****Announcing the Launch of Inner Compass Initiative and ICI’s The Withdrawal Project!**** Inner Compass Initiative (ICI) is a new 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides information and resources to help people make more informed choices regarding all things “mental health” and to support people who wish to leave, bypass, or build community beyond the mental health system. Its first major effort, The Withdrawal Project (TWP), is a comprehensive online hub for safer psychiatric drug withdrawal. The resources on the ICI and TWP websites include a detailed layperson’s “Companion Guide” to safer tapering from psychiatric medications; mini-booklets that provide detailed, critical information about psychiatric drugs, psychiatric diagnoses, and the mental health industry; and two networking platforms to help people who are thinking critically about the mental health system or seeking support for psychiatric drug withdrawal to find each other in their local communities. Visit ICI at www.theinnercompass.org Visit TWP at withdrawal.theinnercompass.org Edited September 18, 2018 by ChessieCat added mod note 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa
DoctorMussyWasHere Posted March 14, 2018 Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) I came across it today. Indeed a very well-presented website. The Inner Compass - website The Inner Compass - Facebook Edited September 14, 2018 by ChessieCat updated link I am here as a supporter to certain individuals undergoing withdrawal, and to learn from and contribute to the forum where possible.
TikkiTikki Posted August 30, 2018 Posted August 30, 2018 Yeah, wow – has anyone else checked this site out? I read a lot of it last night and it was strange to read all the information we know so well from SA presented in an "official public health" way. A lot of inner searching and reflection in their tapering and preparing sections, but I suppose that's really helpful when you're starting out. They don't have specific drug information, and don't actually 'name names' – they direct you to read labels etc. Why would this be? Avoiding legal trouble? Does anyone know more about Laura Delano? Was she ever a member here or at PP? And did she consult with Alto when starting her initiative? Celexa (Citalopram) 40mg - 60mg - 40mg for 7 years Tapered (over 3 months) drug-free Aug–Nov 2013 CRASH 40mg Dec 2013 – Jan 2017 (7 weeks reinstatement hell then relief) 2017: 20mg 30 Jan 18mg 19 April 16mg 6 May 14mg 20 May 12mg 10 Jun 10mg 7 July 9mg 7 Aug 8mg 16 Oct 7.5mg 27 Nov 2018: 7mg 8 Jan 6.5mg 12 Feb 6mg 17 Mar 5.2mg 14 Apr 5mg 28 Apr 4.8mg 4 Jun 4.6mg 23 Jun 4.4mg 24 Jul 4.2mg 13 Aug 4mg 20 Aug 3.8mg 1 Sep 3.6mg 28 Sep 3.4mg 14 Oct 3.2mg 11 Nov 3mg 5 Dec 5mg 26 Dec 10mg 28 Dec Added Valdoxan 25mg 12 Dec 2018 stopped 24 Jan 2019 Wellbutrin 150mg 25 Jan
bubbles Posted August 31, 2018 Posted August 31, 2018 There's some stuff about her at Mad in America. Also she has some Youtube videos, from memory. 2005 St John's Wort / 2006-2012 Lexapro 20mg, 2 failed attempts to stop, tapered over 4.5 months in early 2012 January 2013 started Sertraline, over time worked up to 100mg July 2014 Sertraline dropped from 100mg to 75mg, held for six months, slower tapering until 2019 22 Dec 3.2mg 2020 Sertraline 19 Jan 3.1mg, 26 Jan 3.0mg; 1 Mar 2.9, 7 Mar 2.8, May (some drops here) 24 May 2.5, May 29 2.4, June 21 2.3, June 28 2.2mg, July 4 2.1mg, July 24 (or maybe a bit before) 2mg, early Nov switched to home made suspension; 29 Nov 1.8mg; approx 25 Dec 1.6mg) 2021 Some time in about Jan/Feb realised probably on more like 1.8mg and poss mixing error in making suspension; doses after 10 Feb accurate; 10 Feb 1.6mg; 7 Mar 1.4, continued monthly 10% drops until 1mg, then dropped 0.1mg monthly. May 2022,0.1mg, now dropping 0.01mg per week 29 August 2022 - first day of zero! My thread here at SA: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1775-bubbles/page/21/ Current: Armour Thyroid
TikkiTikki Posted August 31, 2018 Posted August 31, 2018 Thanks Bubbles. Are you writing a book, or compiling research for something? You seem to be across a lot of the research and very knowledgeable. I read a book early this year called Coming of Age on Zoloft by an American author, and it was based around personal stories of using ADs and individual mental health narratives. It was quite thoughtful about how drugs figure in the stories we tell ourselves about our mental health, but I wished it had more to say about difficulties with withdrawal, and how often that is labelled relapse. Do you think that awareness of AD withdrawal is gathering momentum? It seems to be that there are more articles in mainstream media, more sites like Inner Compass being established, and my most recent GP has acknowledged that "some people have a lot of trouble coming off antidepressants" and agreed to prescribe a compounded solution for me! (And THAT is almost the most remarkable development, to my mind!) Beyond my own taper, I find the whole area really interesting. Celexa (Citalopram) 40mg - 60mg - 40mg for 7 years Tapered (over 3 months) drug-free Aug–Nov 2013 CRASH 40mg Dec 2013 – Jan 2017 (7 weeks reinstatement hell then relief) 2017: 20mg 30 Jan 18mg 19 April 16mg 6 May 14mg 20 May 12mg 10 Jun 10mg 7 July 9mg 7 Aug 8mg 16 Oct 7.5mg 27 Nov 2018: 7mg 8 Jan 6.5mg 12 Feb 6mg 17 Mar 5.2mg 14 Apr 5mg 28 Apr 4.8mg 4 Jun 4.6mg 23 Jun 4.4mg 24 Jul 4.2mg 13 Aug 4mg 20 Aug 3.8mg 1 Sep 3.6mg 28 Sep 3.4mg 14 Oct 3.2mg 11 Nov 3mg 5 Dec 5mg 26 Dec 10mg 28 Dec Added Valdoxan 25mg 12 Dec 2018 stopped 24 Jan 2019 Wellbutrin 150mg 25 Jan
Bee5 Posted September 14, 2018 Posted September 14, 2018 (edited) Hi, While researching brain zaps, I came across a new-ish website dedicated to withdrawal. The SA forum/website was actually an inspiration for the website. The website is https://withdrawal.theinnercompass.org/. Has anyone else checked it out? I would love to hear the thoughts of the mods. The website is informative, aesthetically pleasing and well-organised; however, It doesn't contain more information than we have on SA. Regards, Bee Edited September 14, 2018 by ChessieCat topic merged 7 months of prescribed polypharmacy in 2015-2016, including several classes of psych meds. 1st attempt at taper was too fast. 2nd attempt is underway. 1 Mar 2018: 37.5 mg paroxetine, 150 mg lamotrigine, 300 mg quetiapine 1 Oct 2020: 30 mg paroxetine, 150 mg lamotrigine, 37.5 mg quetiapine 15 May 2022: 25 mg paroxetine, 150 mg lamotrigine, 0 mg quetiapine 11 Jan 2024: 20 mg paroxetine, 118.75 mg lamotrigine Supplements: Iron, Vit D magnesium glycinate, omega 3 I am not a medical professional. All my posts are my opinions only, based on my experiences.
Bee5 Posted September 17, 2018 Posted September 17, 2018 On 9/14/2018 at 1:32 PM, Bee5 said: I would love to hear the thoughts of the mods @Altostrata and @ChessieCat and @brassmonkey and @Shep, do you have any thoughts on this website? 7 months of prescribed polypharmacy in 2015-2016, including several classes of psych meds. 1st attempt at taper was too fast. 2nd attempt is underway. 1 Mar 2018: 37.5 mg paroxetine, 150 mg lamotrigine, 300 mg quetiapine 1 Oct 2020: 30 mg paroxetine, 150 mg lamotrigine, 37.5 mg quetiapine 15 May 2022: 25 mg paroxetine, 150 mg lamotrigine, 0 mg quetiapine 11 Jan 2024: 20 mg paroxetine, 118.75 mg lamotrigine Supplements: Iron, Vit D magnesium glycinate, omega 3 I am not a medical professional. All my posts are my opinions only, based on my experiences.
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted September 17, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Posted September 17, 2018 I'm not a member, Bee5, so I'm not qualified to give a review. Do they give tapering advice for specific drugs or just an overview of the basic "10% or less per month" reduction method? I would be careful getting information off the internet and do your research thoroughly. If you find that site helpful, then it's a good site for you to use. But it's really too new and we haven't gotten a lot of feedback posted here on SA about it (at least not that I've seen).
Administrator Altostrata Posted September 17, 2018 Administrator Posted September 17, 2018 On 8/30/2018 at 4:32 PM, TikkiTikki said: Yeah, wow – has anyone else checked this site out? I read a lot of it last night and it was strange to read all the information we know so well from SA presented in an "official public health" way. A lot of inner searching and reflection in their tapering and preparing sections, but I suppose that's really helpful when you're starting out. They don't have specific drug information, and don't actually 'name names' – they direct you to read labels etc. Why would this be? Avoiding legal trouble? Does anyone know more about Laura Delano? Was she ever a member here or at PP? And did she consult with Alto when starting her initiative? Laura and I have known each other for years. She has been searching for a way to monetize information about tapering and withdrawal. For a fee, she used to provide emotional support but no hard information. Inner Compass, The Withdrawal Project, and her foundation are the latest iteration of her business model. She gets grants. Not too long ago, I asked her how much she'd borrowed from SurvivingAntidepressants and she gave me a vague cover-your-ass answer. So there you go. I guess her project gets more information out in public, so that's all good, but as usual, she leaves the heavy lifting to others. She provides no individualized coaching in tapering. Read your drug inserts. 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.
Bee5 Posted September 18, 2018 Posted September 18, 2018 Thanks for weighing in @Shep and @Altostrata. I just like the way the website is presented (because there are no threads, but pages, which make finding info simpler). I will however, never discount what SA has to offer in comparison. This forum is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. The two are different, but related resources, but as Alto points out, I don't think monetising withdrawal and tapering is a moral idea (unless someone is starting up a physical clinic facility run by lay-people such as our members on SA). 7 months of prescribed polypharmacy in 2015-2016, including several classes of psych meds. 1st attempt at taper was too fast. 2nd attempt is underway. 1 Mar 2018: 37.5 mg paroxetine, 150 mg lamotrigine, 300 mg quetiapine 1 Oct 2020: 30 mg paroxetine, 150 mg lamotrigine, 37.5 mg quetiapine 15 May 2022: 25 mg paroxetine, 150 mg lamotrigine, 0 mg quetiapine 11 Jan 2024: 20 mg paroxetine, 118.75 mg lamotrigine Supplements: Iron, Vit D magnesium glycinate, omega 3 I am not a medical professional. All my posts are my opinions only, based on my experiences.
Moderator Emeritus Baxter Posted September 18, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Posted September 18, 2018 I joined the Inner Compass site just to snoop around. All it required was a username and a password. It is very professionally done - including carefully worded pop-up disclaimer that you must Confirm to be allowed further into the site. It appears to me that a web designer, an editor, and a legal expert have done their jobs. It's slick. No new information about withdrawal, though. Long and short of it: the founder has invested in her new startup. 1989 - 1992 Parnate* 1992-1998 Paxil - pooped out*, oxazapam, inderal 1998 - 2005 Celexa - pooped out* klonopin, oxazapam, inderal *don't remember doses 2005 -2007 Cymbalta 60 mg oxazapam, inderal, klonopin Started taper in 2007: CT klonopin, oxazapam, inderal (beta blocker) - 2007 Cymbalta 60mg to 30mg 2007 -2010 July 2010 - March 2018 on hiatus due to worsening w/d symptoms, which abated and finally disappeared. Then I stalled for about 5 years because I didn't want to deal with W/D. March 2018 - May 2018 switch from 30mg Cymbalta to 20mg Celexa 19 mg Celexa October 7, 2018 18 mg Celexa November 5, 2018 17 mg Celexa December 2, 2019 16 mg Celexa January 6, 2018 15 mg Celexa March 7, 2019 14 mg Celexa April 24, 2019 13 mg Celexa June 28, 2019 12.8 mg Celexa November 10, 2019 12.4 Celexa August 31, 2020 12.2 Celexa December 28, 2020 12 mg Celexa March 2021 11 mg Celexa February 2023
TikkiTikki Posted September 20, 2018 Posted September 20, 2018 On 9/18/2018 at 8:00 AM, Altostrata said: Laura and I have known each other for years. She has been searching for a way to monetize information about tapering and withdrawal. For a fee, she used to provide emotional support but no hard information. Inner Compass, The Withdrawal Project, and her foundation are the latest iteration of her business model. She gets grants. Not too long ago, I asked her how much she'd borrowed from SurvivingAntidepressants and she gave me a vague cover-your-ass answer. So there you go. I guess her project gets more information out in public, so that's all good, but as usual, she leaves the heavy lifting to others. She provides no individualized coaching in tapering. Read your drug inserts. Interesting. And disappointing for you. She refers to the "layperson withdrawal community" in referencing all her information, or something like that, and I found it weird that she didn't name specific websites and communities ( though she does have links or a list later). Also not speaking specifically about individual drugs. I did join the Connect thing, but it only enables one-on-one communication, not forums, and it didn't seem heavily populated as yet. I prefer talking to real people here!! Someone should write a book about the history of antidepressant withdrawal online communities. I would read it. Celexa (Citalopram) 40mg - 60mg - 40mg for 7 years Tapered (over 3 months) drug-free Aug–Nov 2013 CRASH 40mg Dec 2013 – Jan 2017 (7 weeks reinstatement hell then relief) 2017: 20mg 30 Jan 18mg 19 April 16mg 6 May 14mg 20 May 12mg 10 Jun 10mg 7 July 9mg 7 Aug 8mg 16 Oct 7.5mg 27 Nov 2018: 7mg 8 Jan 6.5mg 12 Feb 6mg 17 Mar 5.2mg 14 Apr 5mg 28 Apr 4.8mg 4 Jun 4.6mg 23 Jun 4.4mg 24 Jul 4.2mg 13 Aug 4mg 20 Aug 3.8mg 1 Sep 3.6mg 28 Sep 3.4mg 14 Oct 3.2mg 11 Nov 3mg 5 Dec 5mg 26 Dec 10mg 28 Dec Added Valdoxan 25mg 12 Dec 2018 stopped 24 Jan 2019 Wellbutrin 150mg 25 Jan
Administrator Altostrata Posted September 20, 2018 Administrator Posted September 20, 2018 Not so disappointing because I know Laura!! 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.
Bruci Posted October 17, 2020 Posted October 17, 2020 On 9/20/2018 at 6:58 AM, TikkiTikki said: Someone should write a book about the history of antidepressant withdrawal online communities. I would read it. I am new here, just starting my taper, but I’m a medical writer and I would be interested in participating in the writing of a book compiling all the information here on the forum. I have contacted Altostrata so she knows my intention. Ideally, there should be at least one or two sympathetic psychiatrists on board to get credibility. Let’s start the discussion. 1980s: First diagnosed with depression. Treated with a tricyclic. 1988: Switched to Prozac 20 mg. 1990s to 2010: On and off Prozac. Increased dose led to side effects. 2011: Put on Zyprexa. 2011: Work burnout and breakdown. Hospitalized for suicidal depression. Switched to Seroquel. Switched to Celexa 40 mg and lithium 300 mg. 2019: Stopped Seroquel. 2020 July: Decreased Celexa to 30 mg in attempt to alleviate sexual dysfunction. Worked somewhat. 2020 August: Decreased Celexa to 20 mg. Sexual function improved but w/d effects started. 2020 September: Maintaining Celexa at 20 mg. Experiencing w/d effects - fatigue, dysphoria, mood instability 2020 September 13: Increased Celexa to 30 mg due to w/d effects. Still on lithium 300 mg/day. 2020 October 3: Reduced Celexa to 27 mg. Started taper. 10% per month as recommended. 2020 October 18: Reduced to 24 mg. 2020 December 4: Reduced to 21 mg. 2020 December 23: Reduced to 20 mg (spacing out taper intervals due to persistent w/d effects) 2021 September 23: Several reductions over the past 9 months to 7.0 mg. Stressful life circumstances led me to feeling very depressed with suicidal feelings, so upped to the dose to 10 mg until I feel better.
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