yoshi4844

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844  So remember the decreased dose is maximum 10% from current dose. So the max would be 9mg minus 10% so 8.1 mg. Keep a daily journal but it sounds like that might be your pattern. As long as your symptoms are manageable/ not extreme you should be fine. Just hold if they get too hard or you can try less than 10%. 

[yoshi4844]

@LostInCanada Thank you for the quick reply. I think maybe this time I will go to 4.2 ml instead and see how I feel. 

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844how are you managing? Hopefully all is well.

[yoshi4844]

@LostInCanadaHi, I think I am managing well. Overall My windows and waves are coming in like weekly, so I will get a better week then a bad week but even at my worst i can get like 6 hours of sleep and still do what I need to do. I have been taking it easy as well which may be helping. I am just getting ready for school soon so hopefully I can manage well then.

 

I am not worried anymore since my specific symptoms cycle every 3 days or less throughout all my tapers. 

 

Thank you for checking in and your help

 

also my family, friends and my therapist have been very supportive during this time. My psychiatrist is doubtful but still supportive?? idk but she at least wants to keep in connection and listens to my updates.

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844 search Panorama on this site. It was a recent BBC expose of SSRI withdrawal. Mark Horowitz makes such an humble admission how the experts are retired engineers, firemen and housewives not the psychiatric community. 

Also check this out

https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/07/pharma-ceo-others-attempt-contradictory-critiques-of-serotonin-debunking-study/

Might help with your psychiatrist. 

[yoshi4844]

I need some advice please. 

 

I feel much more comfortable with a 5% taper. Even assuming if I get into a really bad wave before my next drop, it has been significantly easier on me to deal with the symptoms. However, I am anxious about the length of the taper. I am afraid I might develop permanent symptoms or have a harder time with tapering since my brain would be more dependent on the drug(?)

 

Are these fears unfounded?

 

The fastest I can go would be a 10% taper anyways so I don't see much of an alternative. What do you all think?

 

P.S Thank you all for the advice and help, it's helped my family and I navigate this situation.

[Faure]

10% is the starting point here on SA. Many, many people can’t go anywhere near that fast and have to go slower. If you feel 5% is right for you and it means WD symptoms are significantly less then go for it. You don’t need to worry about becoming more dependent or worse WD symptoms. You’ve already proved your WD is more manageable at 5% and you’re continuously reducing your dependence however slowly you taper. I do 10% every 6 weeks and feel better and better as time goes by ☺️

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844 hey, been thinking of you. You are doing great listening to your body. Have you thought about the brassmonkey slide? When you do a reduction what day do you start to feel it? How long does it last? Every drop is a victory for sure. 👍

[yoshi4844]

@LostInCanadaWhen I did 10% taper, I felt it really bad for the first 3 days but most of the symptoms were greatly reduced by 1-2 weeks. I didn't feel my best until week 3. Week 4 I felt under the weather right after.

 

When I did 5% taper this time, most of my symptoms disappeared instantly, then about a week later I hit a normal wave(?) It only lasted 5 days. However, with every change I have made, I usually feel it for 3 days right after the change (first day feel a little off, 2,3,4th days are peak symptoms usually)

 

I was thinking about brassmonkey eventually perhaps when I am at smaller doses. As of right now I was thinking of maybe doing faster 5% reductions. (maybe every 3 weeks?)

 

 

@FaureThank you

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844under the tapering guidelines on here, Alto mentions 3 week holds if you aren't experiencing symptoms. You might want to read that over again. You haven't been on the drug a long time so I understand your concern of being on longer than necessary so that might be a good compromise, 5% every 3 weeks. Just slow it down if needed.

[yoshi4844]

@LostInCanada I will see how I do with monthly for right now, I am about to reenter school so I do not want to risk anything for now anymore. Maybe for my breaks/vacations I will try out a 3 week change. 

 

From what I've read I think it is better to feel like I am going too slow rather than feel like I am going too fast right?

 

Thank you

[yoshi4844]

I am going to reduce 5% tomorrow because I don't start school until another month and worst case scenario I can rest this whole next month. 

Hopefully all goes well.

[yoshi4844]

Just a little update:

Doing pretty good, little to no long lasting symptoms. Only symptom thats been sticking around is having a little bit of red veins in my eyes (and soreness) but it is improving over time.

 

Last night I felt kind of a feverish skin sensitivity building up rapidly (over a couple hours) and some palpitations and then it felt like my brain went pop and they dissipated almost instantly. Very interesting stuff.

 

So far I think it is going well, I do not think I will try to shave time anymore since I will begin school and move out again soon.

Thanks for the support

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844 good to hear.. believe it or not I have read about 2 others having the pop in their head and all the WD symptoms disappearing. Crazy how these drugs affect us. If that pace is working that is great. Good job👍

[yoshi4844]

The red veins in my eyes aren't going away, my eyes are no longer dry or feel sore and the optometrist (I went for a check for DMV paperwork) didn't say anything about it.

 

I am going to reduce 5% tmw hopefully all goes well. maybe it will help

[LostInCanada]

Make sure you are staying hydrated as well. I know here we have alot of allergens in the air.

[yoshi4844]

Yes

 

I am also reducing screentime which seemed to help a bit as well.

[yoshi4844]

I am currently half way through my fall semester and so far I have been able to balance my symptoms & taper & school. : )

Smooth sailing so far.

[LostInCanada]

So glad to get this positive update. You are doing fantastic.💯👍

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844 hope you are doing well. One day at a time. 👍

[yoshi4844]

@LostInCanada I am doing well thank you for asking   : )

 

 

I hope the days have been kind to you as well. 

 

[LostInCanada]

Glad to hear it @yoshi4844 

Always some bumps on life's road but doing okay. Thanks for asking. 

[yoshi4844]

@LostInCanada @Altostrata I have a question for you two (but also open to anyone else who reads this)

 

--

Ever since I have been back to university, I have been noticing that some of my friends are on antidepressants for anxiety, adhd, and depression. Although my opinion has always been to find alternative ways to manage without medication, they are already taking them.

 

I can see that they are beginning to go through many of the beginning stories that I've seen on this website before. (Switching medications, cold turkeying then getting back on, or just planning on staying on them for as long as possible w/o a plan to get off of them). 

 

The best I can do is tell them that they should taper as slow as they can and avoid jumping from drug to drug. But most only nod their heads and don't really care/make any changes. I just worry about how it will end up for them in the future. I always tell them they could hit me up if anything goes too bad. 

--

 

Is this the best I can do for them? I don't worry too much about it since I have my own issues to deal with but I am curious if there is more I can do. What do you all think?

 

Thanks for reading

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844 that is so good of you. I too have acquaintances on them. I mention what I can but until someone really wants to stop them, there is nothing else you can do. I always say the SA website and how it has been a lifesaver for me. 

But it is no different from someone who smokes and doesn't want to quit. You can tell them all the dangers and such but they will keep smoking till they reach a point where they want to change. 

You have a good heart.💯

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844hope you are doing well 🙏☺️

[yoshi4844]

@LostInCanada I am managing the ups and downs : )

 

I hope you are well as well : P

[LostInCanada]

30 minutes ago, yoshi4844 said:

managing the ups and downs : )

 

Good to hear. We don't really have much choice lol. Slow and steady wins the race. 😊