IHAVEOCD Posted February 19, 2018 Posted February 19, 2018 I am taking clomipramine 25 mg and Prozac 40mg from last three years. I want to quit clomipramine because of weight gain issues. Is it possible to try and see if I am able to quit otherwise start taking it again. Do I have to take higher does if I start again? What can I do to avoid insomnia while not on clomipramine as I have heard it comes when u try to withdraw? Should I take something for better sleep?
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted February 19, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Posted February 19, 2018 Hello, IHAVEOCD, and welcome to SA. To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly. Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. Reinstatement of a drug you are tapering is possible if withdrawal symptoms are unbearable. It isn't a guarantee of diminished symptoms but it's the best tactic available. It is best to reinstate as soon as possible after withdrawal symptoms occur. We usually suggest a much smaller reinstatement dose than your last dose. Please read the first few posts of this topic on reinstatement.: About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Because reinstatement doesn't always work, it's best to taper slowly enough so that reinstatement isn't necessary. At Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases. The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs. Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops. To get you started, and familiarized with the protocols followed by SA, I am linking a few topics so that you have a better understanding of what is recommended here. Before you begin tapering what you need to know What is Withdrawal Syndrome?Why taper by 10% of my dosage? I know the weight gain is of concern to you, but we would advise that you taper the Prozac before the Clomipramine. Prozac is an activating drug, also known as an accelerator, while tricyclics like Clomipramine are more sedating drugs, also known as brakes. Thus, Clomipramine will act as a buffer and help you through the taper and withdrawal from Prozac. Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first? I faced a similar situation to yours two years ago, before I discovered SA. I was on Lexapro (activating SSRI) and Imipramine ( sedating tricyclic). I wanted to get off the tricyclic and, not knowing the brake-accelerator factor, began to taper it. All went well for around six months when I started experiencing extreme anxiety, which I'd never before experienced, as well as insomnia. Without the buffer of the tricyclic, the activating effects of the Lexapro were pronounced and awful. I reinstated part of my dosage of Imipramine but it took me four months to stabilize and I am currently holding. Around this time I discovered SA, which advised me to taper the activating Lexapro, which I did. Now, a year later, I am doing well though probably would be doing better if I had stayed on the Imipramine until I'd gotten off the Lexapro. This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community. I hope you'll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us. 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 Oct 15: 3.2mg Taper is 96% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now