DaveK34: How to taper?

[DaveK34]

I’ve tried everything and I’m stuck but want off this drug! I’m on 150mg but my doctor said to taper by cutting out 37.5mg and I did for a whole month. However, one day I woke up with a really bad headache and it felt like I was gonna die so I just went back to normal dose. I then tried reducing it to 130mg but that didn’t work as I woke up feeling extremely weird and spaced out, so I went to full dose. I don’t know what to do anymore and all I want to do is cry. Please help

Edited September 1, 2020 by Shep
added new username to title

[ChessieCat]

Hi and welcome to SA,

 

I'm pleased that you have found SA.  It's good that you doctor knew that you needed to taper your drug, however reducing from 150mg to 112mg is a 25% reduction which is a lot faster than SA recommends.

 

SA's suggested taper rate is no more than 10% of the current dose followed by a hold of about 4 weeks to allow your brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.  So when you do start to taper your dose would be not be any less than 135mg (150mg x 0.9).  The next reduction would be calculated on 135mg (or whatever dose you had decided to take, eg 140mg), so 135mg x 0.9 = 121.5mg.  Please see further down in this post about staying on 150mg until you are stable.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

We need to know your drug history.  Please create your drug history for ALL drugs current and past.  Keep it simple.  For the last 2 years we need drug name, doses and dates for the dose changes.  Anything older we just need a summary, drug name, year, how long on the drug and how you stopped, eg cold turkey or fast taper.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

The following topic has links to many drugs which explains how to get the dose you need.  You haven't said which drug you are taking.

 

Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

 

 

Q:  How are you feeling now?

 

Q:  How is your sleep?

 

Q:  Have your withdrawal symptoms improved since you updosed?

 

It will depend on when you updosed and how you are feeling how long you will need to stay on your current dose before commencing your taper.  We call it WDnormal.  This topic is also helpful:  Stability

 

Stabilising is not linear, it happens in a windows and waves pattern.

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

This is your own Introduction topic where you can ask questions about your own situation and journal your progress.