sua4sarathua: Is my sertraline taper wrong? Risperidone tapering.

[sua4sarathua]

I was on Sertraline for 6 weeks. 

Week 1,2 - 50mg

Week 3 - 100mg

Week 4 -50mg

Week 5,6 - 25mg

Stopped. 

I still suffers PSSD symptoms 3 months after stopping the ssri. 

Was the tapering wrong?

What I need to do now?

 

Edited August 28, 2022 by manymoretodays
added risperdone to title

[manymoretodays]

Hi there sua4sarathua,

 

Can you tell us if you had been on other drugs of this nature before?

And if you are having any other WD(withdrawal) symptoms.

 

There's a PDF you can open with a list of some of the common symptoms here:

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

 

When did your PSSD begin in relation to the Sertraline?

What date did you come completely off the Sertraline?  Month, day, year.

 

You did do a fairly FT(fast taper).  Not everyone will suffer WD(withdrawal) after FT's.   And you were just on your sertraline for 6 weeks.  It is generally about 4 weeks before anyone become dependent on most AD's(antidepressants).  It might be less time or more......we don't know exactly.

 

Tell more about your situation if you would.  In regards to symptoms you have now.  I know you mentioned PSSD.  Any other symptoms?

 

Yes we do promote a harm reduction taper here at survivingantidepressants.org 

And might have advised a slower taper. 

However, it appears you started coming off the sertraline almost as fast as you went on it. 

And I might have advised you to taper or reduce sertraline just as you did it.

So......don't worry yourself too much about your method now.  

You did good.

 

Just for your information now:

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off sertraline(Zoloft)

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

I am not certain any reinstatement would benefit you now.  Please communicate with us here before any drug reinstatement.  

 

 

More on sexual problems encounter on drugs or after, apparently there are groups for this too.   

 

Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD)

 

SSRIsex group for post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD)

 

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)

 

I bolded questions I would like to see answers to if you respond.  And hope you are doing well enough today.  We can get you more on coping with distress now if you'd like.  I am going to close this post now.

 

My best regards,

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

 

 

 

 

[sua4sarathua]

Drugs :-

Carbamazepine 400mg daily from 2003 to 2009 and from 2012 to present.
Risperidone 1mg - 01/21/2022 to 07/15/2022
Risperidone 0.5mg - 07/15/2022 to present
Clonazepam 0.5mg - 01/21/2022 to 05/15/2022(Tapered off)
Melatonin 3mg - 03/29/2022 to 05/15/2022

Symptoms :-

Difficulty in talking as Sentence making seems little bit difficult. 

Not able to do my work (computer programming) as fast as before.

A little numbness felt on face, back, feet etc

Higher degree of numbness was felt on arms, few weeks earlier, which resolved. 

Numbness felt in anal area apart from penis.

A little anhedonia present. 

Strain felt with eyes when switching sight from a dim surface to brighter one,especially felt while using computer. 

Bladder sensitivity is diminished by some extent. 

Sertraline :-
Sertraline started on 03/29/2022
PSSD noticed on 04/21/2022
Completely off the sertraline on 05/12/2022

Edited August 18, 2022 by sua4sarathua
Missed some data.

[sua4sarathua]

On 8/18/2022 at 12:24 AM, manymoretodays said:

Hi there sua4sarathua,

 

Can you tell us if you had been on other drugs of this nature before?

And if you are having any other WD(withdrawal) symptoms.

 

There's a PDF you can open with a list of some of the common symptoms here:

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

 

When did your PSSD begin in relation to the Sertraline?

What date did you come completely off the Sertraline?  Month, day, year.

 

You did do a fairly FT(fast taper).  Not everyone will suffer WD(withdrawal) after FT's.   And you were just on your sertraline for 6 weeks.  It is generally about 4 weeks before anyone become dependent on most AD's(antidepressants).  It might be less time or more......we don't know exactly.

 

Tell more about your situation if you would.  In regards to symptoms you have now.  I know you mentioned PSSD.  Any other symptoms?

 

Yes we do promote a harm reduction taper here at survivingantidepressants.org 

And might have advised a slower taper. 

However, it appears you started coming off the sertraline almost as fast as you went on it. 

And I might have advised you to taper or reduce sertraline just as you did it.

So......don't worry yourself too much about your method now.  

You did good.

 

Just for your information now:

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off sertraline(Zoloft)

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

I am not certain any reinstatement would benefit you now.  Please communicate with us here before any drug reinstatement.  

 

 

More on sexual problems encounter on drugs or after, apparently there are groups for this too.   

 

Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD)

 

SSRIsex group for post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD)

 

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)

 

I bolded questions I would like to see answers to if you respond.  And hope you are doing well enough today.  We can get you more on coping with distress now if you'd like.  I am going to close this post now.

 

My best regards,

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

 

 

 

 

Hidden

Drugs :-

Carbamazepine 400mg daily from 2003 to 2009 and from 2012 to present.
Risperidone 1mg - 01/21/2022 to 07/15/2022
Risperidone 0.5mg - 07/15/2022 to present
Clonazepam 0.5mg - 01/21/2022 to 05/15/2022(Tapered off)
Melatonin 3mg - 03/29/2022 to 05/15/2022

Symptoms :-

Difficulty in talking as Sentence making seems little bit difficult. 

Not able to do my work (computer programming) as fast as before.

A little numbness felt on face, back, feet etc

Higher degree of numbness was felt on arms, few weeks earlier, which resolved. 

Numbness felt in anal area apart from penis.

A little anhedonia present. 

Strain felt with eyes when switching sight from a dim surface to brighter one,especially felt while using computer. 

Bladder sensitivity is diminished by some extent. 

Sertraline :-
Sertraline started on 03/29/2022
PSSD noticed on 04/21/2022
Completely off the sertraline on 05/12/2022

[manymoretodays]

Hi sua4sarathua,

Thank you for further drug information.

Would you go ahead and edit your signature, and get all your drugs in there.

 

Carbamazepine 400mg daily from 2003 to 2009 and from 2012 to present.
Risperidone 1mg - 01/21/2022 to 07/15/2022
Risperidone 0.5mg - 07/15/2022 to present
Clonazepam 0.5mg - 01/21/2022 to 05/15/2022(Tapered off)
Melatonin 3mg - 03/29/2022 to 05/15/2022

Sertraline 3/29/2022 for 6 weeks, started at 50 mg, then up to 100 mg, back down to 50 mg, ended at 25 mg  Off completely in May 2022

This ^ would work for the signature.  Also see: How to Summarize Your Drug Signature

The short cut to get there is AccountSettings/signature for doing edits.  Make sure to hit Save, at the bottom of the signature update/edit so your additions and changes take effect.

 

I also see a recent clonazepam taper to off, ending about the same time as you finished the Sertraline.  As well as a 50% decrease done with your risperidone.  These also might be factors in how you are feeling now.

 

Do something happen last January when risperidone and clonazepam were added to the Carbamazepine?   If you don't mind saying.  That's up to you.  You've had a lot of drug changes recently, and some fairly abrupt ones,  and this can be tough on the central nervous system.  I'm so sorry, as it does sound really tough right now.

 

Symptoms :-

Difficulty in talking as Sentence making seems little bit difficult. 

Not able to do my work (computer programming) as fast as before.

A little numbness felt on face, back, feet etc

Higher degree of numbness was felt on arms, few weeks earlier, which resolved. 

Numbness felt in anal area apart from penis.

A little anhedonia present. 

Strain felt with eyes when switching sight from a dim surface to brighter one,especially felt while using computer. 

Bladder sensitivity is diminished by some extent. 

 

I appreciate you sharing your current symptoms too.  It does sound very difficult right now.   And those are very likely WD symptoms from all of your recent changes done.  Just stay put with your current drugs right now, while we get to know you a bit further and gather information.

Thank you.

 

I do see that you have  recent changes with both risperidone, and clonazepam too.  

For right now, let's get your information gathered and further organized.

 

Let me know if you can get to Drugs.com to do an interaction checker too, with your current drugs put in there.

Here's the link to that:  Drug Interactions Checker

Then copy and past the results here please, or a link to the results.

If you can't access it, let me know, and I'll get that done.

 

Get your complete drug information into your signature below your posts.  You can use my summary above for that.

 

And best sua, L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[manymoretodays]

Hi sua4sarathua,

I think we may have dual posted at the same time.  I've asked for a bit more information and some reorganization in my above post.

Hopefully I can get back soon and see how you did with that.

Hang in there in the meantime.

 

And thank you for all your efforts.

[sua4sarathua]

1 hour ago, manymoretodays said:

Hi sua4sarathua,

Thank you for further drug information.

Would you go ahead and edit your signature, and get all your drugs in there.

 

Carbamazepine 400mg daily from 2003 to 2009 and from 2012 to present.
Risperidone 1mg - 01/21/2022 to 07/15/2022
Risperidone 0.5mg - 07/15/2022 to present
Clonazepam 0.5mg - 01/21/2022 to 05/15/2022(Tapered off)
Melatonin 3mg - 03/29/2022 to 05/15/2022

Sertraline 3/29/2022 for 6 weeks, started at 50 mg, then up to 100 mg, back down to 50 mg, ended at 25 mg  Off completely in May 2022

This ^ would work for the signature.  Also see: How to Summarize Your Drug Signature

The short cut to get there is AccountSettings/signature for doing edits.  Make sure to hit Save, at the bottom of the signature update/edit so your additions and changes take effect.

 

I also see a recent clonazepam taper to off, ending about the same time as you finished the Sertraline.  As well as a 50% decrease done with your risperidone.  These also might be factors in how you are feeling now.

 

Do something happen last January when risperidone and clonazepam were added to the Carbamazepine?   If you don't mind saying.  That's up to you.  You've had a lot of drug changes recently, and some fairly abrupt ones,  and this can be tough on the central nervous system.  I'm so sorry, as it does sound really tough right now.

 

Symptoms :-

Difficulty in talking as Sentence making seems little bit difficult. 

Not able to do my work (computer programming) as fast as before.

A little numbness felt on face, back, feet etc

Higher degree of numbness was felt on arms, few weeks earlier, which resolved. 

Numbness felt in anal area apart from penis.

A little anhedonia present. 

Strain felt with eyes when switching sight from a dim surface to brighter one,especially felt while using computer. 

Bladder sensitivity is diminished by some extent. 

 

I appreciate you sharing your current symptoms too.  It does sound very difficult right now.   And those are very likely WD symptoms from all of your recent changes done.  Just stay put with your current drugs right now, while we get to know you a bit further and gather information.

Thank you.

 

I do see that you have  recent changes with both risperidone, and clonazepam too.  

For right now, let's get your information gathered and further organized.

 

Let me know if you can get to Drugs.com to do an interaction checker too, with your current drugs put in there.

Here's the link to that:  Drug Interactions Checker

Then copy and past the results here please, or a link to the results.

If you can't access it, let me know, and I'll get that done.

 

Get your complete drug information into your signature below your posts.  You can use my summary above for that.

 

And best sua, L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,

I missed some data.

Risperidone was taken at 0.75 mg for 2 weeks and then titrated to 0.5mg.
And again Clonazepam was stopped some day near 04/01/2022, then onwards Clonazepam 0.5mg was substituted by Lorazepam 1mg, which was then tapered.
Also Carbamazepine was stopped in April 2021 and restarted in January 2022.

 

I'm taking Carbamazepine for epilepsy. 

In January I was reeling under uncontrollable thoughts (certainly not depression and no plan to harm me) provoked due to certain realizations I made at that time.(regarding my career and life itself). At that time my mother consulted a Psychiatrist for me and she prescribed Quetiapine and Sertraline. I was not having the opinion of taking medicines for mind, so I just discarded them.
But one day and the consecutive day I happened to took Quetiapine as it is mouth dissolving. From next day onwards I avoided it, but failed to get sleep. So I became panic and consulted my neurologist and he asked me to restart Carbamazepine as a mood stabilizer which was stopped and suggested to consult the Psychiatrist there. He started Clonazepam and Risperidone. He told me that will be stopped once my issues get cleared. A tired me decided to take a chance on both of them. That's what happened.

[sua4sarathua]

8 hours ago, sua4sarathua said:

Hi,

I missed some data.

Risperidone was taken at 0.75 mg for 2 weeks and then titrated to 0.5mg.
And again Clonazepam was stopped some day near 04/01/2022, then onwards Clonazepam 0.5mg was substituted by Lorazepam 1mg, which was then tapered.
Also Carbamazepine was stopped in April 2021 and restarted in January 2022.

 

I'm taking Carbamazepine for epilepsy. 

In January I was reeling under uncontrollable thoughts (certainly not depression and no plan to harm me) provoked due to certain realizations I made at that time.(regarding my career and life itself). At that time my mother consulted a Psychiatrist for me and she prescribed Quetiapine and Sertraline. I was not having the opinion of taking medicines for mind, so I just discarded them.
But one day and the consecutive day I happened to took Quetiapine as it is mouth dissolving. From next day onwards I avoided it, but failed to get sleep. So I became panic and consulted my neurologist and he asked me to restart Carbamazepine as a mood stabilizer which was stopped and suggested to consult the Psychiatrist there. He started Clonazepam and Risperidone. He told me that will be stopped once my issues get cleared. A tired me decided to take a chance on both of them. That's what happened.

 

Hi,

One important symptom I missed. My  sleeps are not refreshing as before. I'm really terrified as I think this will be permanent. Is my rapid taper the sole reason for this. Is there any chance exists for people whose nervous system get shocked by rapid taper, going back to older stable state. Also I was only few weeks on the antidepressant, will that works in favor of me?

[manymoretodays]

On 8/19/2022 at 7:34 PM, sua4sarathua said:

One important symptom I missed. My  sleeps are not refreshing as before. I'm really terrified as I think this will be permanent. Is my rapid taper the sole reason for this. Is there any chance exists for people whose nervous system get shocked by rapid taper, going back to older stable state. Also I was only few weeks on the antidepressant, will that works in favor of me?

 

How bad is the insomnia sua?  Unlikely it will be permanent.  It's real frequent symptoms that we see here.

Please see: Tips to help sleep: so many of us have that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

The signature is different from the profile information you gave on arrival.  We still need you to get your drug data into the signature.  I do see where you told me more above, and appreciate that information.   And that is correctly positioned in your replies......thanks.

 

Can you see your signatures below each post?  Once you get the rest of your information in there it gives us all, a quick and easy reference as to your drug history.

Can you get to your signature using the links I gave you(in an above post) and add in your complete drug/medication information for ALL drugs/medications.

Be sure to hit the SAVE button when you are done.

 

Okay, all for now.

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

[manymoretodays]

sua,

When did you take the quetiapine?

Please put that in your signature too.

year, date, name of drug, and dose.

 

If you are using a phone, check all your notifications from the account settings, and make sure you have the signature view turned on or enhanced view turned on too.

 

I know it can be confusing to new members, but it really helps us to have ALL of your drug information gathered and then updated in the signature portion below all your posts.

 

Symptoms and narratives, and questions, go right in the replies that you do.

Hope that helps.

 

[manymoretodays]

Hi sua, @sua4sarathua

I don't mind if you quote me, or just reply in the reply box(in reference to your PM question).  Either is fine with me.

I was wanting to get your signature more in line and maybe confused you, as you did put more information in a reply, but not in the standard signature box.

That's the box that presently shows this:

From 29 March 2022 onwards 

 

Week - 1,2 - Sertraline 50mg

Week - 3 - Sertraline 100mg

Week - 4 - Sertraline 50mg

Week - 5,6 - Sertraline 25mg

 

Stopped. 

 

And here's what I'm thinking, might work better there:

 

2003-2009 Carbamazepine, and 2012-April 2021, restarted January 2022 at 400 mg (given for epilepsy)

2022 January Risperdal started at 1.0 mg, later 0.75 mg, since July 15 0.5 mg

2022 January Clonazepam 0.5 mg, switched to Lorazepam 1 mg then tapered

2022 March 29 Sertraline 50 mg 2 weeks, then 100 mg 1 week, then 50 mg 1 week, 25 mg 2 weeks, and then off May 10

 

Check ^ over and you could put in those 2 doses of Zyprexa you took, and if remembered the dose, with the respective date or approximate date.  

Are you completely off the Lorazpam now, please add in to the above when you edit your signature an end date to it, or if you are still on it.

 

AccountSettings/signature  This link should get you to YOUR signature, where you could remove your old signature(edit) and then add in this more complete version.  Make sure and hit SAVE when done.

 

You can see how that then gives us a more thorough picture of your drugs, and enlightens us too, that it isn't JUST Sertraline that you are dealing with.

I have a few questions now too.  Do you have a doctor who follows you for the epilepsy, and why did they decide to take you off the carbamazepine for 3 years?  And then again in April of 2021?

How did they take you off it?  Was it tapered in any way? 

We've found that drugs like carbamazepine can cause WD too, and so always recommend a taper of that, using the 10% rule(in my first post).  I'm not finding a specific topic on that, and also........am hoping you have a neurologist for your epilepsy, who can and should manage that drug for you.

 

Okay, and then I checked interactions of your present drugs carbamazepine and risperidone.

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=497-0,2019-0&types[]=major&types[]=minor&types[]=moderate&types[]=food&types[]=therapeutic_duplication&professional=1

 

This ^ is really interesting.

 

You can use that same site to read up on drugs too, before you take them.  Here's what comes up on risperidone, general information:

https://www.drugs.com/risperidone.html

 

Are your sleep problems more recent since that last drop in your risperdal?  Often it can make you sleepy.

And again, this being a drug that effects your psych.......we also recommend a taper from, using that 10% rule, that I gave you in the first post.

Here's the topic on: Tips for tapering off Risperdal(risperidone) for when you might want to taper that.

 

Are you doing better since last January(2022) when you had all kinds of intrusive thoughts going, and family was concerned.

 

I do see a whole lot of drug changes, and some just since mid July.  And so it might be good to just sit steady for a bit with your drugs(meds).

 

Your posting fine, other than the confusion on getting your "signature" into the signature format, rather than in a reply to me.  Oh, I hope that makes sense sua.

 

Hope you are doing well enough.

Best.  L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sua4sarathua]

On 8/25/2022 at 5:18 AM, manymoretodays said:

Hi sua, @sua4sarathua

I don't mind if you quote me, or just reply in the reply box(in reference to your PM question).  Either is fine with me.

I was wanting to get your signature more in line and maybe confused you, as you did put more information in a reply, but not in the standard signature box.

That's the box that presently shows this:

From 29 March 2022 onwards 

 

Week - 1,2 - Sertraline 50mg

Week - 3 - Sertraline 100mg

Week - 4 - Sertraline 50mg

Week - 5,6 - Sertraline 25mg

 

Stopped. 

 

And here's what I'm thinking, might work better there:

 

2003-2009 Carbamazepine, and 2012-April 2021, restarted January 2022 at 400 mg (given for epilepsy)

2022 January Risperdal started at 1.0 mg, later 0.75 mg, since July 15 0.5 mg

2022 January Clonazepam 0.5 mg, switched to Lorazepam 1 mg then tapered

2022 March 29 Sertraline 50 mg 2 weeks, then 100 mg 1 week, then 50 mg 1 week, 25 mg 2 weeks, and then off May 10

 

Check ^ over and you could put in those 2 doses of Zyprexa you took, and if remembered the dose, with the respective date or approximate date.  

Are you completely off the Lorazpam now, please add in to the above when you edit your signature an end date to it, or if you are still on it.

 

AccountSettings/signature  This link should get you to YOUR signature, where you could remove your old signature(edit) and then add in this more complete version.  Make sure and hit SAVE when done.

 

You can see how that then gives us a more thorough picture of your drugs, and enlightens us too, that it isn't JUST Sertraline that you are dealing with.

I have a few questions now too.  Do you have a doctor who follows you for the epilepsy, and why did they decide to take you off the carbamazepine for 3 years?  And then again in April of 2021?

How did they take you off it?  Was it tapered in any way? 

We've found that drugs like carbamazepine can cause WD too, and so always recommend a taper of that, using the 10% rule(in my first post).  I'm not finding a specific topic on that, and also........am hoping you have a neurologist for your epilepsy, who can and should manage that drug for you.

 

Okay, and then I checked interactions of your present drugs carbamazepine and risperidone.

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=497-0,2019-0&types[]=major&types[]=minor&types[]=moderate&types[]=food&types[]=therapeutic_duplication&professional=1

 

This ^ is really interesting.

 

You can use that same site to read up on drugs too, before you take them.  Here's what comes up on risperidone, general information:

https://www.drugs.com/risperidone.html

 

Are your sleep problems more recent since that last drop in your risperdal?  Often it can make you sleepy.

And again, this being a drug that effects your psych.......we also recommend a taper from, using that 10% rule, that I gave you in the first post.

Here's the topic on: Tips for tapering off Risperdal(risperidone) for when you might want to taper that.

 

Are you doing better since last January(2022) when you had all kinds of intrusive thoughts going, and family was concerned.

 

I do see a whole lot of drug changes, and some just since mid July.  And so it might be good to just sit steady for a bit with your drugs(meds).

 

Your posting fine, other than the confusion on getting your "signature" into the signature format, rather than in a reply to me.  Oh, I hope that makes sense sua.

 

Hope you are doing well enough.

Best.  L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 8/25/2022 at 5:18 AM, manymoretodays said:

Hi sua, @sua4sarathua

I don't mind if you quote me, or just reply in the reply box(in reference to your PM question).  Either is fine with me.

I was wanting to get your signature more in line and maybe confused you, as you did put more information in a reply, but not in the standard signature box.

That's the box that presently shows this:

From 29 March 2022 onwards 

 

Week - 1,2 - Sertraline 50mg

Week - 3 - Sertraline 100mg

Week - 4 - Sertraline 50mg

Week - 5,6 - Sertraline 25mg

 

Stopped. 

 

And here's what I'm thinking, might work better there:

 

2003-2009 Carbamazepine, and 2012-April 2021, restarted January 2022 at 400 mg (given for epilepsy)

2022 January Risperdal started at 1.0 mg, later 0.75 mg, since July 15 0.5 mg

2022 January Clonazepam 0.5 mg, switched to Lorazepam 1 mg then tapered

2022 March 29 Sertraline 50 mg 2 weeks, then 100 mg 1 week, then 50 mg 1 week, 25 mg 2 weeks, and then off May 10

 

Check ^ over and you could put in those 2 doses of Zyprexa you took, and if remembered the dose, with the respective date or approximate date.  

Are you completely off the Lorazpam now, please add in to the above when you edit your signature an end date to it, or if you are still on it.

 

AccountSettings/signature  This link should get you to YOUR signature, where you could remove your old signature(edit) and then add in this more complete version.  Make sure and hit SAVE when done.

 

You can see how that then gives us a more thorough picture of your drugs, and enlightens us too, that it isn't JUST Sertraline that you are dealing with.

I have a few questions now too.  Do you have a doctor who follows you for the epilepsy, and why did they decide to take you off the carbamazepine for 3 years?  And then again in April of 2021?

How did they take you off it?  Was it tapered in any way? 

We've found that drugs like carbamazepine can cause WD too, and so always recommend a taper of that, using the 10% rule(in my first post).  I'm not finding a specific topic on that, and also........am hoping you have a neurologist for your epilepsy, who can and should manage that drug for you.

 

Okay, and then I checked interactions of your present drugs carbamazepine and risperidone.

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=497-0,2019-0&types[]=major&types[]=minor&types[]=moderate&types[]=food&types[]=therapeutic_duplication&professional=1

 

This ^ is really interesting.

 

You can use that same site to read up on drugs too, before you take them.  Here's what comes up on risperidone, general information:

https://www.drugs.com/risperidone.html

 

Are your sleep problems more recent since that last drop in your risperdal?  Often it can make you sleepy.

And again, this being a drug that effects your psych.......we also recommend a taper from, using that 10% rule, that I gave you in the first post.

Here's the topic on: Tips for tapering off Risperdal(risperidone) for when you might want to taper that.

 

Are you doing better since last January(2022) when you had all kinds of intrusive thoughts going, and family was concerned.

 

I do see a whole lot of drug changes, and some just since mid July.  And so it might be good to just sit steady for a bit with your drugs(meds).

 

Your posting fine, other than the confusion on getting your "signature" into the signature format, rather than in a reply to me.  Oh, I hope that makes sense sua.

 

Hope you are doing well enough.

Best.  L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah. I'm consulting a neurologist for my epilepsy. In 2009 he stopped Carbamazepine by tapering down. But in 2012 I again got epilepsy, that's why it restarted. 

From July my situation is somewhat stable.

Now I want to get rid of Risperidone too, as I'm a person not believing in medicine for mind. I tapered down from 1mg to 0.5mg by taking 0.75mg for 2 weeks in between. I know you people suggest a 10% tapering for risperdone.  What should I do now?

 

On 8/25/2022 at 5:18 AM, manymoretodays said:

Hi sua, @sua4sarathua

 

[sua4sarathua]

Yeah. I'm consulting a neurologist for my epilepsy. In 2009 he stopped Carbamazepine by tapering down. But in 2012 I again got epilepsy, that's why it restarted. 

From July my situation is somewhat stable.

Now I want to get rid of Risperidone too, as I'm a person not believing in medicine for mind. I tapered down from 1mg to 0.5mg by taking 0.75mg for 2 weeks in between. I know you people suggest a 10% tapering for risperdone. I recently experience a brain fog after tapering risperidone to 0.5mg, which I attributed to Sertraline. What should I do now? I have edited my drug signature.  

[manymoretodays]

4 hours ago, sua4sarathua said:

Now I want to get rid of Risperidone too, as I'm a person not believing in medicine for mind. I tapered down from 1mg to 0.5mg by taking 0.75mg for 2 weeks in between. I know you people suggest a 10% tapering for risperdone. I recently experience a brain fog after tapering risperidone to 0.5mg, which I attributed to Sertraline. What should I do now? I have edited my drug signature.  

Hi there.  And okay you are posting out here!

Best might be to HOLD steady right now for a bit.  And thanks for doing some signature edits.

When are you taking the risperdone?

And then when are you taking the carbamazepine?

The time's.  And go ahead and answer right here in a reply.

 

Since you just did so many changes and a 50% reduction in the risperdone, I think it makes sense to hold steady now with it.  A couple of months might be good.  No sense rushing now.  We do want to be really careful that you don't get hit with any untoward effects from a too fast taper.

If we can go slow enough, and low enough before you get off completely........the hope is you can avoid any hypersensensitivity, or supersensitivity.

This is your first go round with an AP(antipsychotic) and then hopefully your last too. 

Stay determined, yet I just don't want you to go too fast.

Risperdone is icky!  Any side effects from it that you have noted.

You can use Medscape or Drugs.com to become aware of those.

 

In the meantime, we should figure out a way to do just 10% reductions from each previous dose going forward.

What do you take now of the risperdone.  Tablet/pill strength/dose?

And then have you been chopping/cutting your pills?

Any chance you can get a hold of the oral solution?  I see it comes in a 1 mg/1mL concentration.

We do encourage a slow transition from pill to liquid too.

It's explained in this link:  Cross Over: Changing form(tablet to liquid).....

 

This may come in handy when you are just reading here:

 

Instructions on how to view SA in your native language:

 

Go to survivingantidepressants.org and copy the URL then go to:

 

https://translate.google.com/

 

Click on the Website TAB, paste the URL and on the right hand side click on the language you want to view the website in.  Then click on the blue arrow to the right of the box where you pasted the URL.

 

Is your sleep any better?  How are your days?

 

Links that might be helpful regarding your present symptoms:

Brain fog

Tips to help sleep

 

Good information here:

Before you begin tapering-what you should know

 

Best, Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

 

 

 

 

[sua4sarathua]

Hi,

I take both Carbamazepine and Risperidone in tablet form, both at night after food. Now I'm taking Risperidone 0.375mg at night. As I suffer from some anhedonia at present and my rate of taper was too abrupt, do I need to reinstate Risperidone at 1mg? I'm suffering from anhedonia and brain fog now, which is preventing me from functioning as good as before. Will you people help me get out of this hell? Is taper by 10% easier with crushing tablets or solution?

[manymoretodays]

sua4sarathua,

If you just dropped 25% from your 0.5 dose of risperidone, why don't you go back up to 0.5 mg with it.

What date did you make the reduction to  0 .375 mg of risperidone?

 

We don't promote 25% tapers.

And as far as updoses go too, it's much better to go in smaller increments and test to see how it goes, giving it 4 days to a weeks time to evaluate the change.

 

Can you get the solution and is it affordable?

I would think that would be the simplest form to go with if so. 

Another option is making your own suspension of risperidone.

Or using a scale.

Do you want more links so you can decide what might work for you, before you continue making changes?

 

 

12 hours ago, sua4sarathua said:

Will you people help me get out of this hell? I

 

We can try and help you sua and I am.  

Symptoms won't magically resolve by further fast tapers/ or continuing to make large reductions, when frustrated. 

I think that is one thing you might need to get clearer on.

I understand that your meds may give you more anger and irritability, as well as what we often see in WD, in the way of neuroemotions

Certainly be careful now, especially when interacting with your prescribing doctor for risperidone.  Be cool, don't react, don't show frustration with them.  Okay?  They'll look at it as an "Illness" to be further medicated.

 

I did a a quick search via google: survivingantidepressants.org risperidone

and came up with results of some other members who have tapered it, so I'll give you a few of those results.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/25145-usman36-tapering-risperidone/

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/11884-melody21-tapering-off-05mg-risperdal-after-12-years/

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/23757-taper11-sizodon-risperidone-want-to-taper/

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/13497-salaw-help-in-tapering-off-risperidone/

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/6994-rispmed-risperidone-taper-withdrawal/

 

You can see what methods they went with, and/or do a further search on your own too.

 

Please consider going on back to the 0.5 mg dose of risperidone, and staying put with that dose for longer.  Please give it a week at least, prior to any further updosing.  Your nervous system will thank you.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

Edited August 29, 2022 by manymoretodays
rearranged,removed quote type link, numbers corrected, addtional

[sua4sarathua]

1 hour ago, manymoretodays said:

Please consider going on back to the 0.5 mg dose of risperidone, and staying put with that dose for longer.  Please give it a week at least, prior to any further updosing.  Your nervous system will thank you

I'm ready to go back to 1mg Risperidone if anhedonia and brain fog clears. I'm going to buy this machine for that. I want to do 10% tapering, so what are the prospects of going upwards to 1mg, and then tapering by 10%

American Weigh Scale Gemini Series Precision Digital Milligram Scale, Silver 20G X 0.001G (GEMINI-20) (Silver)

 

 

50%
off

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 

 

 

•  

[manymoretodays]

My understanding was that you were okay-ish until July or so, and so I don't know why you would wish to updose, so far now.  I'm feeling like you really might benefit from just HOLDing steady with the 0.5 mg dose and giving your system time to settle a bit post benzo's and then the ups and down, and off the sertraline.

Did you go back up to the 0.5 mg dose?

I would think more risperidone now might make you feel more blah.  I don't understand your rationale or reasoning.

 

And yes, that's the scale that most use around here.

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

And feel free to ask questions around using the scale, and when the time comes to work out doses for tapering.  I hate to see you backtrack now, to a dose you were on in January.  Changes are going to be much less too, using the 10% or less rule and in decimal points.

Say for example with your 0.5 mg dose to find out a 10% taper from would look like this:

0.5 X .90 = .45

The .45 represents the 0.45 mg dose change of 10% from 0.5.

 

 

How did you feel after your benzo taper?

On 8/19/2022 at 9:52 AM, manymoretodays said:

Clonazepam 0.5mg - 01/21/2022 to 05/15/2022(Tapered off)

This final date ^, was this for the Lorazepam then? 

 

I do want to check with the team around possibly having you split your timing of risperidone from the carbamazepine too.  That may change things for you too.   So let me do that today. 

Here's that Drug Interaction Report:  Carbamezapine and Risperidone, Drugs.com

 

And why don't you go ahead and do a day or two for us of some notes, so we can get an idea of how your symptoms relate to present drugs?

Just note times on the left throughout the day.  Definitely note your current drugs by name and current dose on the right.  And then also on the right side note your symptoms too, as they occur throughout the day.  You can rate them as far as intensity goes too if you'd like.  Take a look at Glenmullen's symptom list again if you need to(that link is above).

That will give us a better idea of just what is going on now.

Do try sua and thank you.

 

Another couple of general links and information, that may come in handy too:

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made.  The CNS likes stability. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.

 

The Waves and Windows pattern of Stabilization

Considerations about "Stability" Stop jumping around!

Are We There Yet? How Long is Withdrawal Going to Take?

 

Okay.  L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

Edited August 30, 2022 by manymoretodays
added ? about risperidone dose, fixed link to interactions

[Altostrata]

On 8/29/2022 at 4:00 AM, sua4sarathua said:

Hi,

I take both Carbamazepine and Risperidone in tablet form, both at night after food. Now I'm taking Risperidone 0.375mg at night. As I suffer from some anhedonia at present and my rate of taper was too abrupt, do I need to reinstate Risperidone at 1mg? I'm suffering from anhedonia and brain fog now, which is preventing me from functioning as good as before. Will you people help me get out of this hell? Is taper by 10% easier with crushing tablets or solution?

 

Hello, @sua4sarathua

 

As I understand it, you went off sertraline in March and have been tapering risperidone since?

 

If your most prominent symptoms are anhedonia and brain fog, if I were you, I'd stay at 0.5mg right now and let your nervous system settle down for a while, maybe a few months, to let the prior withdrawal symptoms clear up. Then you can taper risperidone very gradually, according to Tips for tapering off risperidone (Risperdal)

 

[sua4sarathua]

6 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

How did you feel after your benzo taper?

On 8/19/2022 at 9:22 PM, manymoretodays said:

Clonazepam 0.5mg - 01/21/2022 to 05/15/2022(Tapered off)

This final date ^, was this for the Lorazepam then? 

I switched to Lorazepam in March, and then tapered on Lorazepam. After benzo taper I was more relieved, with improved cognition.

[sua4sarathua]

4 hours ago, Altostrata said:

If your most prominent symptoms are anhedonia and brain fog, if I were you, I'd stay at 0.5mg right now and let your nervous system settle down for a while, maybe a few months, to let the prior withdrawal symptoms clear up. Then you can taper risperidone very gradually, according to 

Tips for tapering off risperidone (Risperdal)

 

I have completed two weeks on Risperidone 0.375 mg. So does I need to up my dose to 0.5 mg, and keeping the same dose for coming months, or is it ok to keep the dose stable at 0.375 mg for the coming months?

[sua4sarathua]

4 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Hello, @sua4sarathua

 

As I understand it, you went off sertraline in March and have been tapering risperidone since?

I came taking sertraline on 29th March and went off on May 12th.

[sua4sarathua]

7 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

Did you go back up to the 0.5 mg dose?

I would think more risperidone now might make you feel more blah.  I don't understand your rationale or reasoning

No, I didn't went back to 0.5mg. Actually I have completed my 2 weeks on risperidone 0.375 mg. So will it be good to updose to 0 5mg.?. Why I asked about going back to 1mg Risperidone is that, now I came to understand about the benefits of 10% tapering, so what I thought was, I just going back to 1mg Risperidone again and then titrating from there to 0mg by 10% rule will make me feeling more relieved.

[Altostrata]

19 hours ago, sua4sarathua said:

I have completed two weeks on Risperidone 0.375 mg. So does I need to up my dose to 0.5 mg, and keeping the same dose for coming months, or is it ok to keep the dose stable at 0.375 mg for the coming months?

 

You can do this if you want to put up with the brain fog for a while. It may go away if you stay at one dosage for a good while.

 

If your symptoms get worse, you may wish to increase to 0.5mg.

[sua4sarathua]

On 9/1/2022 at 4:54 AM, Altostrata said:

 

You can do this if you want to put up with the brain fog for a while. It may go away if you stay at one dosage for a good while.

 

If your symptoms get worse, you may wish to increase to 0.5mg.

Yesterday night I took Risperidone 0.5 mg, and today my brain fog is all gone. How long will I need to stay at 0.5 mg, before starting tapering by 10%?

[Altostrata]

If I were you, I'd let my nervous system settle down for 3 weeks. You may have ups and downs. In the meantime, read Tips for tapering off Risperdal(risperidone) Please let us know how you're doing.

[sua4sarathua]

Sure, 

 

I will do as per your instructions. You people are doing a great job. But Surviving Antidepressants website is not coming in the Google search results when we search for" how to taper a drug". It need some search engine optimization done regarding this facet. Most results that came while searching Google are 25% reduction regimens from unknown people. I myself came to know about Surviving Antidepressants is from an chat with a person in Quora.

 

Thank You for your valuable intervention that help me regain the quality of my life. 

 

[Altostrata]

Google search favors what it thinks are medical authorities.

 

"how to taper a drug" is very non-specific.

[sua4sarathua]

Hi,

What about my PSSD symptoms. When will it go away? If I reinstate sertraline on 100mg and then taper it by 10% to 0 solve my problem? I'm ready to do anything to get me rid of this.

Please help me to get out of this.

[Altostrata]

4 hours ago, sua4sarathua said:

Hi,

What about my PSSD symptoms. When will it go away? If I reinstate sertraline on 100mg and then taper it by 10% to 0 solve my problem? I'm ready to do anything to get me rid of this.

Please help me to get out of this.

 

On 8/18/2022 at 11:23 AM, sua4sarathua said:

Sertraline :-
Sertraline started on 03/29/2022
PSSD noticed on 04/21/2022
Completely off the sertraline on 05/12/2022

 

Since it appears sertraline caused sexual dysfunction while you were taking it, reinstating sertraline is not likely to resolve it.

 

We have seen PSSD to very slowly go away over many months after people go off antidepressants. You weren't taking sertraline long, this is a good sign.

[sua4sarathua]

22 hours ago, Altostrata said:

We have seen PSSD to very slowly go away over many months after people go off antidepressants. You weren't taking sertraline long, this is a good sign.

Is there any thing else I should do to speed up my PSSD recovery apart from just waiting for recovery?

[Altostrata]

Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you. Please let us know how you’re doing.

[manymoretodays]

Hey there sua,

I would not either recommend going back on the drug that started the PSSD.

Definitely try some of the supplements too, that Alto linked you too.........start with one or the other, low dose first with a slow increase.  Now would be a great time to do that, while you are HOLDING prior to any further reductions of risperidone.

 

We do have a PSSD topic and I'll give you the link, it also mentions off site places too........yet I will discourage you from spending too much time steeped in negativity around those symptoms, or even online too, too much.

 

Are you getting fresh air.  Possibly finding some friends you are comfortable relating to now?  Getting a daily walk in.  Eating right?  Those are all things that will help.

 

Here's a successful PSSD recovery story:  branyan PSSD success/challenges

and another who perhaps not PSSD, but lowered libido/interest:  CharlieBrown's Long Road to Success!

Both should give you hope.

Here's the PSSD topic as well:  PSSD Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

 

Are you using your scale yet for present dosing of respiridone?  And do remember that the liquid option is always good too.......I don't know if you did look into that.....I know it does come in a pharmacy made liquid.

 

Okay, think positive, healing,

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[sua4sarathua]

12 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

Are you using your scale yet for present dosing of respiridone?  And do remember that the liquid option is always good too.......I don't know if you did look into that.....I know it does come in a pharmacy made liquid.

I have ordered a AWS Gemini 20 scale, and will be delivered in a few days. I'm holding on 0.5mg for 3 weeks as per instruction by Allostrata and then after will reduce by 10% per month. Here in India it will be difficult for me to get liquid form.

 

Is it OK to achieve 10% reduction per month by doing 5% reduction bi-weekly?

[Altostrata]

11 hours ago, sua4sarathua said:

Is it OK to achieve 10% reduction per month by doing 5% reduction bi-weekly?

 

Yes. The total monthly reduction should not exceed 10% calculated on the last month's dosage.

[sua4sarathua]

As I'm taking Risperidone 0.5mg now, is there any need to reinstate to 1mg, as I tapered from 1mg to 0.5mg through 0.75mg ,in which I took 0.75mg for 2 weeks. As I did a 25% taper will it affect me negatively than I did a 10% tapering? Is I going back to 1mg and then further tapering by 10% helpful for me in longterm, ie avoidance of withdrawal symptoms?