taperingbernardo: tapering escitalopram and paliperidone

[taperingbernardo]

Hi everybody

 

Been using escitalopram 20mg and paliperidone 3mg for 6 to 7 years.

 

Psychiatrist prescribed it and retired 2 years after. I just kept taking it without supervision until recently.

 

25kg after, I felt it was time to leave it. So consulted new psychiatrist. 

Plan is to reduce escitalopram to half over 3 weeks. On the start of week 3 am to completely drop paliperidone, and completely drop escitalopram after week 3.

Am now on the seventh day of week one.

 

Not feeling bad. Cant really put my finger on what i have been feeling.

 

Put a lot of weight these years. Dont know if completely related to drugs, but been very hungry 7 years. 2 hours after lunch, my stomach is already asking for food. Its not a craving, I am actually tired of constantly have to eat, its more like I get hungry, my stomach asks for food, my body feels weak, so i eat to feel good again

Been going to the gym also since the beginning of the year, gained muscle, and gym makes me feel good, happyer and clear minded.

Do have a big belly though, am a guy, so that is where weight mostly been going to.

Curiously, i feel less hungry since tapering escitalopram. Still feel unusually hungry by most people standarts, I have to eat two times between lunch and dinner.

Yesterday, started on a diet, like eating healthier and less food.

Felt really bad and kept forgetting where i left stuff, so today I am only eating healthier.

 

And thats my story.

Best regards 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @taperingbernardo

 

The antipsychotics such as palperidone are well known for causing weight gain. 

 

Why did you decide to go off both drugs at the same time? The tapering plan you're considering is much faster than any kind of taper we'd recommend, and we'd urge you to taper only one drug at a time, probably palperidone first because it's a drug with more serious adverse effects.

 

If you're feeling odd, that might be the beginning of withdrawal symptoms. If I were you, I would not reduce another drug until this reduction settles out. You would not want to add more withdrawal symptoms on top of escitalopram withdrawal symptoms.

 

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.