BoBila: Tapering schedule

[BoBila]

I'm curious, after learning about the Brass Monkey Tapering schedule: would it make sense to taper by 10% or less, and hold it for 4-6 weeks, then taper down 10% or less again?  I'm not sure i follow tapering down weekly for four weeks then holding.  My daughter want so taper off Lexipro after 7 years and last time didn't go well (too fast) and she/we want to do it right this time and make this the final time.  thank you.

Edited March 25, 2021 by Gridley

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, BoBila.  It would be good if your daughter could communicate directly with us  but if that's not possible, that's fine.

 

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.

 

I did the Brassmonkey slide taper off 20mg Lexapro, total time on the drug 16 years.  The taper took almost four years and the Brassmonkey slide worked well for me.

 

What you're describing -- 10% of current dose every four weeks -- is the standard taper as recommended here on the site.  It is fine to taper this way.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The Brassmonkey slide taper is a bit gentler since you're not hit with the full 10% dosage reduction all at once.  Instead, you do gown by 2.5% of current dose every week for four weeks, followed by a 2-week hold.  This spreads out the taper over the four weeks so the reduction is more gradual and, I found, easier on the system.  The 2-week hold allows your system to acclimate to the new dose before beginning the next stage of tapering down.  Either the standard 10%/4 week taper or the Brassmonkey taper are recommended by SA.

 

Since your daughter went too fast last time, she might be  inclined to go with the more conservative and slightly slower  Brassmonkey taper this time.

 

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Get supplements that ae single ingredient (not mixed with other types of supplements).

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 25, 2021 by Gridley