Abbie

[Abbie]

My son has been taking antipsychotic meds for about 12years.. currently he is taking Clozaril for 8years and Olanzapine for 2 and a half years. He tapered the Olanzapine from 10mgs to 5mg using the liquid tapering method....this took about 16mnths! he has stayed at the 5mg for nearly a year.. my query with this post is about tapering strips  which we have looked into and he would like to try... the problem with tapering strips is that the percentage reductions are much bigger than the percentages recommended in peer groups and websites like the Withdrawal Project and presumably this one, which is usually 5 to 10% and even as low as 2% near the end of the tapering..  with tapering strips the percentage decrease in reducing Olanzapine from 5mg -2.5 mg is 50% in 28 days.. It is a gradual reducing , each day in the 28days reducing by a very small amount till you reach the 25mg.. You can also however order customized strips where you can choose to make the reductions at a much slower pace... Tapering strips need to be prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist ...my son's psychiatrist is willing to do this but is not willing to prescribe anything lower than the standard strips available... he feels that my son would have no problems tapering at this rate... I wish I could be so sure that it would be as easy as this, i worry that it wouldn't be, that it could trigger akathisia even....my son has been taking these drugs for a long time and his nervous system is very sensitive... to continue with the liquid tapering is so slow and would take about 2 years!   I would very much appreciate any help and advice with all of this.............

[ChessieCat]

Hi Abbie and welcome to SA,

 

It is really good that you have found SA.

 

SA's recommended tapering rate is to reduce by no more than 10% of the current dose (not the original/starting dose) with a hold of at least 4 weeks to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

It very difficult for SA to work through a third party.  Please have your son join SA so that we can discuss his options with him directly.

 

Please have him post in this topic so that the information provided will be kept together.  Please also ask him to create his drug signature following these instructions:

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

We have found that members who get involved directly with their drug tapering can feel more empowered because they feel that they have more control over what is happening to them.  And when they achieve small goals along the way it is very encouraging because they have achieved it by themselves.  And it can give them more strength and determination to get through the more difficult challenges that they face during their journey to get off their drug/s.

 

They can also get support from other members who understand what they are going through instead of feeling isolated.

 

Post #1 of this topic has links to helpful topics as well as links to Tips for Tapering various drugs, where there is information about how to get non standard doses.

 

Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ