ChrisUnder: Tapering off Seroquel, Depakote and Klonopin

[ChrisUnder]

Hello, I’m new here and would like some advice on how to taper off these medications. I’m currently taking Seroquel (300mg) Depakote (1,750 mg) and Klonopin (1.0mg) 

 

Thank you!

 

- Chris

[ChessieCat]

Hi Chris and welcome to SA,

 

It's really good that you have found SA to learn how to get off your drugs.

 

SA's recommended tapering rate is no more than 10% of current dose followed by a hold of about 4 weeks to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.  However, it is important to listen to your body/symptoms and hold for longer if needed.  It's also a good idea to hold if you experience additional stress or sickness during your taper.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Please put all your current drugs in the interaction checker and copy and paste the results in a post here in your Introduction topic:

 

Drug.com Interactions Checker

Medscape Drug Interaction Checker

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

If you're not having an adverse reaction from the other medications, taper the most activating drug first. This is usually an antidepressant or stimulant (ADHD drug).

 

Because you are taking 2 sedating drugs, you might find that as you taper the Zoloft (which is generally activating) that you might need to halt the Zoloft taper and taper one of the other drugs because they are sedating.  If you take too much sedating drugs it can have a paradoxical reaction(works the opposite way) where your body/brain fights to keep you awake because if you are too sedated your brain reacts to keep you alive.

 

Post #1 of the following 2 topics explain how to get non standard doses:

 

Tips for tapering off quetiapine (Seroquel)

 

Tips for tapering off sodium valproate and valproic acid (divalproex sodium, Depakote, Depakene)

 

Benzos are also generally tapered following SA's tapering protocol described above.  If you have any questions about this please ask.  There are ways to get non standard doses of benzos but we do not has tapering topics for the individual drugs.

 

Please create your drug signature following these instructions:

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

This is your own Introduction topic which is the best place to ask questions about your own situation and where you can journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place.  Please remember to update your drug signature whenever you make a change so that it remains current and your drug history can be seen at a glance without us having to read back through your posts.  Thank you.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @ChrisUnder

 

To start, we need to know when you started each of these drugs and whether you have adverse effects from any of them.

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.