Hawkfeather

[Hawkfeather]

I am currently tapering and have had hard time with the taper method, again, ugh! So I am staying at my 25mg and have added GABA supplement and it has really helped keep anxiety at bay and I have been able to function without crying through out the day and have had no anxiety or panic attacks. The 10% taper is for real important. Slow and steady wins the race🤙🏽

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Hawkfeather.

 

To start, could you summarize your medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.  Please include the name and dose of your GABA supplement in your signature, as well as the drug you're currently on at 25mg.  Here's the link:

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

What difficulties have you had with the taper method?

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

[Hawkfeather]

Sertraline taper question

 

I have been tapering as directed by my doctor, for 2 months now, with the advisement of 50mg 1 day on 1 day off for a month then go to 2 days on and 2 days off . The 2 days on and 2 days off,which he said equaled 25mg,  has before side effect hell. . I've stayed with 25mg daily for about 5 weeks and yesterday took 50mg because I had such suffering I chose to up the dose. Should I continue with the 50mg or stay at 25mg from here forward until I balance? So, far today I have only taken 25mg.  Thank you for your time and all you do.

 

Edited August 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
added topic title

[ChessieCat]

Please see these instructions about what is needed in your drug signature.  We need to be able to see your drug history at a glance.  Thank you.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

This link goes straight to your signature.  Remember to Save.

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Thank you for re-doing your drug signature.  It is much more helpful for us.

[Hawkfeather]

My current issue with tapering has been anxiety, fear and doubt, lots of crying. Today and several days a week I do neuro-optimal neurofeedback which really helps calm me down and bring homeostasis. I am wondering if I should stay at the 25 mg daily or go ahead and do the 50 mg again to balance out? Getting going at the beginning of the day has been tough and often I can find optimism by mid-day. Thanks everyone.

 

 

https://neuroptimal.com/

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, Hawkfeather said:

Sertraline taper question

 

I have been tapering as directed by my doctor, for 2 months now, with the advisement of 50mg 1 day on 1 day off for a month then go to 2 days on and 2 days off . The 2 days on and 2 days off,which he said equaled 25mg,  has before side effect hell. . I've stayed with 25mg daily for about 5 weeks and yesterday took 50mg because I had such suffering I chose to up the dose. Should I continue with the 50mg or stay at 25mg from here forward until I balance? So, far today I have only taken 25mg.  Thank you for your time and all you do.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Hawkfeather said:

I am wondering if I should stay at the 25 mg daily or go ahead and do the 50 mg again to balance out?

 

I'm trying to work out how you have tapered.  Please do not take 50mg again at the moment.  I'll be back as soon as I can.

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, Hawkfeather said:

then go to 2 days on and 2 days off .

 

This is the stupidest way of tapering I've ever heard of.

 

Usually skipping days to taper it would be take the drug on 1 day and then skip 2 days.

 

BUT skipping days to taper is NOT recommended by SA.  The brain likes consistency.

 

I've tried to recreate your taper from the information you have given.

 

DATE	DOSE	No of Days
23-May-20	50	1
24-May-20	0	2
25-May-20	50	3
26-May-20	0	4
27-May-20	50	5
28-May-20	0	6
29-May-20	50	7
30-May-20	0	8
31-May-20	50	9
01-Jun-20	0	10
02-Jun-20	50	11
03-Jun-20	0	12
04-Jun-20	50	13
05-Jun-20	0	14
06-Jun-20	50	15
07-Jun-20	0	16
08-Jun-20	50	17
09-Jun-20	0	18
10-Jun-20	50	19
11-Jun-20	0	20
12-Jun-20	50	21
13-Jun-20	0	22
14-Jun-20	50	23
15-Jun-20	0	24
16-Jun-20	50	25
17-Jun-20	0	26
18-Jun-20	50	27
19-Jun-20	0	28
20-Jun-20	50	1
21-Jun-20	50	2
22-Jun-20	0	3
23-Jun-20	0	4
24-Jun-20	50	5
25-Jun-20	50	6
26-Jun-20	0	7
27-Jun-20	0	8
28-Jun-20	50	9
29-Jun-20	50	10
30-Jun-20	0	11
01-Jul-20	0	12
02-Jul-20	50	13
03-Jul-20	50	14
04-Jul-20	0	15
05-Jul-20	0	16
06-Jul-20	50	17
07-Jul-20	50	18
08-Jul-20	0	19
09-Jul-20	0	20
10-Jul-20	50	21
11-Jul-20	50	22
12-Jul-20	0	23
13-Jul-20	0	24
14-Jul-20	50	25
15-Jul-20	50	26
16-Jul-20	0	27
17-Jul-20	0	28
18-Jul-20	25	1
19-Jul-20	25	2
20-Jul-20	25	3
21-Jul-20	25	4
22-Jul-20	25	5
23-Jul-20	25	6
24-Jul-20	25	7
25-Jul-20	25	8
26-Jul-20	25	9
27-Jul-20	25	10
28-Jul-20	25	11
29-Jul-20	25	12
30-Jul-20	25	13
31-Jul-20	25	14
01-Aug-20	25	15
02-Aug-20	25	16
03-Aug-20	25	17
04-Aug-20	25	18
05-Aug-20	25	19
06-Aug-20	25	20
07-Aug-20	25	21
08-Aug-20	25	22
09-Aug-20	25	23
10-Aug-20	25	24
11-Aug-20	25	25
12-Aug-20	25	26
13-Aug-20	25	27
14-Aug-20	25	28
15-Aug-20	25	29
16-Aug-20	25	30
17-Aug-20	25	31
18-Aug-20	25	32
19-Aug-20	25	33
20-Aug-20	25	34
21-Aug-20	25	35
22-Aug-20	50	1
23-Aug-20	25	1

 

[ChessieCat]

You've been on 25mg for 5 weeks / 35 days.  Going back to 50mg might be too much.

 

I would not take more than 30mg.

 

What dose of tablet do you have?  Are you cutting your tablets?

 

To get the 5mg you could dissolve 25mg tablet in 25mL of water and take 5mL of the liquid +  25mg tablet.

 

You will need to use the same equipment and do everything the same so you get a consistent dose.  Even measuring the liquid in the same spot on the table or bench.

 

The liquid will keep in the fridge, covered, for about 4 days.

 

It takes about 4 days for a dose change to get to full level in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.  Keep notes on paper so you can see how the updose is affecting your symptoms.

 

Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft)

[Hawkfeather]

Taper started June 16 50mg 1 day on 1 day off. Then July14 I started 50mg 2 days on 2 days off and continued this until August 19. I went to my doctor August 19 and told him of my side effects and that the days on and off were not good. He said with the math of his taper method I am currently at 25mg and to stay here for 2 months then I will see him again.

 

Impressive tapering chart, how did you create that so fast? Thank you so much.

[Hawkfeather]

I have 50mg tablets that I cut in half. I've never made a liquid before but certainly willing to try. I am so thankful for the site and the communication. You all are saving lives!! Om Shanti  Thank you ChessieCat

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, Hawkfeather said:

Impressive tapering chart, how did you create that so fast?

 

I've had plenty of practice working with Excel for my own taper.

 

1 hour ago, Hawkfeather said:

I have 50mg tablets that I cut in half.

 

Try to cut them in half as precisely as you can.  It is important to be get your dosing as consistent as possible.

 

Q:  Are you able to get a prescription for 25mg tablets?

 

Using the 50mg tablets would be okay for now but using 25mg tablets would be more precise.

 

how-to-talk-to-a-doctor-about-tapering-and-withdrawal-what-to-expect

 

1 hour ago, Hawkfeather said:

Thank you ChessieCat

 

You are very welcome.  I, too, was very thankful for the assistance I got when I first came here.  This is what happened to me:

 

I reduced my Pristiq from 100mg to 50mg and for 2 weeks I experienced severe cog fog, and even walking took my whole concentration.  I joined SA but didn't updose as suggested because I was trying, through the brain fog, to learn about what was happening.  A couple of days after joining I got to the stage that I was unable to type.  Having been a typist for 40+ years I knew that something was really wrong.  I was very thankful for SA's suggestion.  I went and took extra Pristiq.  Astoundingly after only about 4 hours (not days) I was able to type again and the brain fog was lifting.  Because I had a benchmark I knew that it was because of the drug. 

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, Hawkfeather said:

I went to my doctor August 19 and told him of my side effects and that the days on and off were not good. He said with the math of his taper method I am currently at 25mg and to stay here for 2 months then I will see him again.

 

When you contact this doctor I suggest you tell him about SA and that there is information on the site about how to get doses so you can taper without skipping days.

 

You could also print off this information to give him.  Alto, this site's owner, has included research  papers.

 

never-skip-doses-to-taper

 

 

Edited August 24, 2020 by ChessieCat