Wings taper

[Wing]

I read the rules section and there was a lot to follow. Hopefully I get the picture well enough. I don't know if trying to come off antipsychotics is allowed but I saw a post about risperidone and decided it might be okay for me to sign up. I have been on these medications for over 10 years. At first being given high doses of injectable ones. Then I switched to oral ones so I could control my own dose. I started off at 160 pounds and now I am at nearly 300 and still gaining. I staved off the weight gain for as long as I could trying to come off rapidly throughout the years. But I kept getting horrible withdrawal effects. Now I want to try and come off properly. With either a 10 or 20 percent reduction. One main withdrawal effect for me is the inability to sleep. So I feel as long as I am able to sleep each night I should do fine. Also am I supposed to share which medication I am trying to come off now?

 

Thanks and nice to meet you guys,

Wing

[Gridley]

Hello, Wing, and welcome to to SA.  We have numerous members tapering antipsychotics, and we are happy to help you.

 

We do need to know the medications you are on and the dosage.  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.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

We recommend tapering no faster that 10% of current dose every four weeks.  Some have to taper more slowly.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

These links explain the importance of a slow taper.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Sleep is very important when tapering psychiatric drugs.  Here are some helpful links:

 

Tips to help sleep - so many of us have that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

Relaxation exercises, guided meditations, calming videos, sleep hypnosis

 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/02/16/tips-tricks-fall-asleep-faster.aspx?

 

utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20170216Z1&et_cid=DM133787&et_rid=1889748952

 

This link contains helpful information, including insomnia and also non-drug coping skills.  

 

 Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems

 

Some members have found Melatonin helpful with insomnia.   

 

Melatonin for sleep  

 

It's best to start at a very low dosage, such as .25mg, and gradually increase if needed to the lowest effective dose.  

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wing]

I have always had something deep down that knew these things were doing damage. And hopefully it's not irreparable if that's the right word. I can't even remember the last time I felt like myself. Just lost the spark you know. But I feel like I can heal from these heavy psychotropics. I made a sig, I will refine it as I go.

 

Currently I need to aquire a pill splitter and possibly one of those little med boxes just so I can prepare everything. I also plan to do a bit more reading around here.

 

I did a rough calculation of 10 percent of 4mg, which is my current dose. So .4 MG reduction every month. To make it simple I will just say .5 which mean because each pill is 2mg I can quarter them and reduce by a quarter each month

[Songbird]

6 hours ago, Wing said:

I did a rough calculation of 10 percent of 4mg, which is my current dose. So .4 MG reduction every month. To make it simple I will just say .5 which mean because each pill is 2mg I can quarter them and reduce by a quarter each month

 

Hi Wing, your calculation is 10% of the starting dose and the same reduction each month.  The way we recommend here is 10% of current dose, meaning the reduction amount is smaller with each drop.  So from 4 mg you would go to 3.6mg, then 3.2mg, then 2.9mg, then 2.6mg and so on.

 

There is a topic here that should help:  How to calculate dosages and dilutions? Spreadsheets and calculators

 

 

[Wing]

3 hours ago, Songbird said:

 

Hi Wing, your calculation is 10% of the starting dose and the same reduction each month.  The way we recommend here is 10% of current dose, meaning the reduction amount is smaller with each drop.  So from 4 mg you would go to 3.6mg, then 3.2mg, then 2.9mg, then 2.6mg and so on.

 

There is a topic here that should help:  How to calculate dosages and dilutions? Spreadsheets and calculators

 

 

 

Oh I understand now. Thanks for clarifying that.