CindyG Posted May 13, 2019 Share Posted May 13, 2019 I've taken Zoloft for 12 years and Wellbutrin for 10. Eventually got to 100mg of both. One year ago started hormone therapy and felt I was emotionally ready to taper meds a few months ago. Tapered Zoloft only (Wellbutrin still at 100mg for now and maybe forever). Zoloft taper: 100mg to 50mg--big mistake, BUT after feeling like I had the flu for 2 weeks felt stable and tapered again after a few more weeks to 25mg. Did well with that dose for a few weeks, just some minor anger issues and very tired. Felt stable and went down to 12.5mg for two weeks, again tired some anger SOOOO went to 0mg on 5/9/19 and next day lightheaded and felt "high" most of the day, especially when standing/walking/moving. A tiny bit of stomach discomfort, some anger. It's been 4 days and the lightheadedness is pretty bad, I'm afraid to drive. Wanting advice as to whether I should go back to the 12.5 dose for awhile, stick this out, or anything that could help. I have two special needs children and I can't function enough like this to be able to take care of them like I should. Thanks in advance for any information! PS: I've read a lot about what I should have done to taper and realize I messed up by not researching enough ahead of time. Zoloft: Dec.2006 25mg, updosed many times to eventual dose 100mg approximately 2010 to early 2019 Jan 2019 100mg. Feb 2019 50mg. Apr 2019 25mg. Apr 2019 12.5mg May 9, 2019 0mg. May 15, 2019 12.5mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted May 14, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 14, 2019 Hello, CindyG, and welcome to SA. You've made a lot of big changes in the last few months, and it looks like the withdrawal symptoms from the various drops are catching up with you. Withdrawal symptoms can be delayed after a too-fast taper. Since you've only been off the 12.5 dose for a few days, I suggest you go back to 12.5mg Zoloft and wait to stabilize, which can take several months. Make no further changes. Please add a signature. Include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. Any drugs and supplements 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. This is a direct link to your signature: Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. Please continue to use this thread to document your taper and to ask questions. 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 Sept 25: 3.6mg Taper is 95% 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. Link to comment
laydefish Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Hi @CindyG & Welcome to the group! Please don't be discouraged by not following the "proper" tapering method, I was uninformed as well, did a CT & although I don't recommend it- I'm doing great now- I'm 8 1/2 months Antidepressant free after 11 years & Benzo free after 7 years! You can do it! Stay Strong! 2 years Drug History Prior to Tapering: Between 2011 & 2018 I had approximately 58 dose changes between the 4 main medications I took as well as 14 new medications add & taken away. Prozac (Fluoxetine):(Aug 2016-Dec 2016: 60MG),(June 2017-Nov 2017: 60MG),(Dec 2017: 80MG),(June 2017-Sept 2 2018: 60MG),(Sept 3 2018-Sept 5 2018: 40MG),(Sept 6 2018-Sept 8 2018: 20MG),(Sept 9 2018: 0MG). Cymbalta:(Jan 2017-May 2017: 60MG). Cyclobenzaprine: (Aug 2016: 30MG,(Feb 2017: 30MG). Diazepam (Valium):(Aug 2016-Sept 15 2016: 30MG),(Sept 16 2016-Oct 2017: 15MG),(Nov 2017-Aug 19 2018: 6MG),(Aug 20 2018: 0MG). Gabapentin:(Aug 2016-Aug 3 2018: 2400MG),(Aug 4 2018-March 26 2019: 2000MG),(March 27 2019-March 30 2019: 1600MG),(May 1 2019: 2000MG) Hydrocodone:(Aug 2016-Oct 2016: 10-325/4daily),(Nov 2016-Feb 2017: 10-325/3daily),(March 2017-April 2017: 5-325/4daily),(May 2017-April 2018: 10-325/3daily),(June 2018-Aug 25 2018: 10-325/5daily),(Aug 26 2018-Sept 2 2018: 4.5daily),(Sept 3 2018-Sept 10 2018: 10-325/4daily),(Sept 11 2018-Sept 18 2018: 10-325/3daily),(Sept 19 2018-May 1 2019: 10-325/3.5 daily). Oxycodone: May 2018: 10-325MG/4daily). Please see my Intro for full drug history. **Forgive Yourself For Not Knowing What You Didn't Know Before You Knew It! -Maya Angelou/ Link to comment
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