Daisysunshine- tapering Fluvoxamine ER 100 help and ideas

[Daisysunshine]

Hello. I've been reading everything I can on this  wonderful website over the past week. I can not believe the selflessness of the moderators. This entire website is a valuable resource. 

Back story time(I'll keep it short). I have suffered from postpartum mental health issues after all my babies. 5 years ago September 2019, I hurt my back. That caused me to not being able to workout. That spiraled into a full on OCD meltdown. I lost weight, couldnt eat, sleep or function.  I started therapy and visited a psychiatrist. I was put on all sorts of drugs but landed on fluvoxamine ER amd .50 Klonopin as needed. I felt great. I quit the Klonopin permanently in late 2020. It wasn't consistent so I had no trouble stopping it. 

I'm in a good place in my life right now. My medication has made me flat, lifeless and dulled to the world. I have some other physical side effects that aren't worth it. I was fine before my melt down and I'm hoping I'll be fine after this taper.  

In early December 2023 I read a little about tapering. I opened my pill and took out 10 grains of the medication.  I felt a little edgy and weepy for 4 weeks.  But I was expecting side effects and was fine. I planned to weigh my medication and do a slower taper. Well last Monday I ran out of my medication. The pharmacy was out and ordering more. I had been without meds for a night here and there so I thought I'd be fine. NOPE. I didn't sleep. I felt intense panic and anxiety.  I had brain zaps. I felt nauseous. It was terrible.  I was able to get ahold of my medication and reinstated it at the lower dose, minus 10 grains of medication. The anxiety has been weird over the last week. It's low level most of the time. I can't eat and feel hopeless. I understand I messed up and am dealing with withdrawal.  I'm currently taking 90mg of fluvoxamine er? I'm not sure of the exact dose since I just removed beads.

I'm prepared to micro taper off this medication. I'm prepared to take years and go slow. I'm hoping to stabilize soon. 

Since this medication is extended release I can't crush it up. I'm wondering if I should start taking immediate release so I can really microsose if need be? I've heard switching can be hard since the medication leaves much quicker than extended release. I started a 24 hour symptom journal because my anxiety gets worse late afternoon until I take my medication.  I didn't used to have that problem.  My nervous system is all wonky right now I imagine. Just looking for a little guidance and friendly help.  I have an appointment with my psych doctor next week and I can switch to immediate release if needed. I'm also going to start therapy again. I need extra support. 

 

[Emonda]

Welcome @Daisysunshine

 

I'm glad to read you've been benefiting from this website for the past year and that it's been a wonderful resource for you.

 

7 hours ago, Daisysunshine said:

In early December 2023 I read a little about tapering. I opened my pill and took out 10 grains of the medication.  I felt a little edgy and weepy for 4 weeks.  But I was expecting side effects and was fine.

 

Remember, 10% is the maximum reduction recommended. Why taper by 10% of my dosage? 10% was too much for me. I'm doing 2% per week, although I've held over Christmas / New Year. Slow and steady is the way to go...The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

Even when tapering per the guidelines, you can still experience WD symptoms. Hopefully, they are more tolerable. Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

7 hours ago, Daisysunshine said:

Well last Monday I ran out of my medication. The pharmacy was out and ordering more. I had been without meds for a night here and there so I thought I'd be fine. NOPE. I didn't sleep. I felt intense panic and anxiety.  I had brain zaps. I felt nauseous. It was terrible. 

 

7 hours ago, Daisysunshine said:

I was able to get ahold of my medication and reinstated it at the lower dose, minus 10 grains of medication. The anxiety has been weird over the last week. It's low level most of the time. I can't eat and feel hopeless. I understand I messed up and am dealing with withdrawal.

 

I reckon we've all run out once, and tend not to make that mistake again. I've learnt the hard way.

 

Things will improve: Windows and waves pattern of stabilization

 

Now would be a good time to hold your dose until things settle down for you. When symptoms are unpleasant, you need to listen to your body, and hold your dose.

 

7 hours ago, Daisysunshine said:

I'm wondering if I should start taking immediate release so I can really microsose if need be? I've heard switching

 

Personally, I always found switching ADs very difficult. I won't do that again. 

 

Have you read this link: 

 

7 hours ago, Daisysunshine said:

I started a 24 hour symptom journal because my anxiety gets worse late afternoon until I take my medication. 

 

I find this very helpful. Sometimes, when you're going through a rough patch, it is helpful to reflect on your diary and remind yourself that it's temporary.

 

You are taking a few supplements, this site just recommends two:

 

Magnesium

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

 

Avoid alcohol. Go very easy with the caffeine. When my anxiety is elevated, I cut out caffeine, and it makes a noticeable difference.

 

Please post any updates here in your thread.

 

Once again, welcome to S.A.

 

Emonda.

 

 

 

[Daisysunshine]

Thank you sp much for your reply! I have a feeling 10% taper going forward will be too much for me. My body is already super sensitive since I started tapering in December 2023. I'm going to cut out the Vitamin B12 and reduce caffeine on good days to 20mg. I can't deal with the withdrawl headaches from caffeine right now.  But I definitely notice when ive had beyond whats helpful foe headaches. I don't drink any alcohol. I've been sober for 23 years. I need to work on my sleeping pattern. I have a busy family and my sleep is all over the place. It always has been. But I need good solid sleep. So while I try and stabilize before resuming my taper I'm going to work on sleep. 

I'll stay on fluvoxamine er for now. I might have to switch to immediate release when I get lower in my taper. I hate what these drugs do to our minds when we try to come off of them. 

[Emonda]

11 hours ago, Daisysunshine said:

I have a feeling 10% taper going forward will be too much for me. My body is already super sensitive since I started tapering in December 2023

 

It's not a race. Listen to your body.

 

11 hours ago, Daisysunshine said:

I can't deal with the withdrawl headaches from caffeine right now.  But I definitely notice when ive had beyond whats helpful foe headaches

 

Yes, I appreciate the withdrawal headache. If the anxiety gets bad enough, the headache may seem like a better option 🙃

 

11 hours ago, Daisysunshine said:

I need to work on my sleeping pattern.

 

Have a look at the links to sleep on our home page under the heading: I’m not sleeping. What can I do?

 

11 hours ago, Daisysunshine said:

I hate what these drugs do to our minds when we try to come off of them. 

 

Yep, we all understand that here.

 

 

[Daisysunshine]

My doctor is switching me to 50mg twice a day of regular fluvoxamine malate. Im stressed about the switch. But Extended Release fluvoxamine has been a little hard to come by where I live.  I told her I was tapering. I shouldn't have. I should have just asked to switch and taper on my own. She's very supportive. But I'm terrified of going to fast. I'm finally stabilized on my extended release after missing a dose. My nervous system is super sensitive right now. I'm worried about withdrawls I between doses.  

[Daisysunshine]

Just updating for people who might be tapering off fluvoxamine too. I was switched to 100 mg of immediate release fluvoxamine.  My doctor wanted me to try taking it once a day. I was scared to switch to once a day and not do twice a day.  But so far I'm not noticing a difference. I feel great.

 

I started to weigh my doses on my scale. I follow the regular 10% off the last dose.  I'm pretty sure I ended up going back up in dose during the switch from extended to immediate release. I should have taken off more than 10%. Considering I was taking out 10 beads out of 90 or so out of the extended release. I'm going to do another 10% drop later this week and then hold for 4 weeks

 

I stopped all my vitamins and supplements except what is in my signature.  B12 was super activating for my anxiety. I also cut out most caffeine. I do drink 1/2  can of diet soda to keep the migraines away for now. I walk daily. I lift light/medium weights 4 days a week. I restarted therapy. I started learning breathwork/ mindfulness.  I'm going to give myself the best chance I have to actually get off this medication.  

I found out I have Hashimotos a couple weeks ago. I've had hypothyroidism for 13 years but my antibodies have always been negative until recently. That explains some of my ups and downs over the years. 

.

 

[Daisysunshine]

I did another 10% cut tonight. I decided that I was on a higher dose than I was on extended release. I've been having some anxiety today. It's been busy and a little chaotic so that might be why. I'm breathing through the anxiety and that'd enough for today. I have not been able to go to the gym for a couple days and walking my dog isn't cutting it for exercise. I'll be able to get back tomorrow. I might regret cutting down  2 weeks after my last drop. I kind of like having this space to write down my journey. 

[Daisysunshine]

Day 4 of cutting my dose to .413 mg. So far things are OK. I'm holding this dose for maybe 5 weeks. I have a vacation coming up in March and I want to be in a good head space to enjoy that time. 

Ive found some things that have worked well for me in the past and currently to help my emotional symptom during this taper. I found doing SOMETHING as opposed to doing nothing but panicking about my symptoms helps tremendously. Regular exercise, sleep, talk therapy, meditation, cutting down on caffeine, limiting my news/social media intake and just generally slowing down as much as possible have been so helpful the last month.

[Daisysunshine]

Just doing a check in. I like having a space to come back to during my taper. 

I decided to drop my dose before my vacation. My last drop I did alright. Lately I've been having heart palpations. It's probably not related to my taper but you never know. It's something I deal with from time to time. It could be from my Hashimotos.  The last week I've been drinking more than just the small dose of caffeine I've been drinking for a couple months. It's probably related to that more than anything else right now. I love my caffeine but need to stop.

I've also been dizzy. That could be from my palpations, caffeine, exercise etc. Maybe I need to go see a doctor.  IDK

Mentally, I've had good days and bad days. I've been slowing down as much as I can in my life to help my brain heal. So far so good. I have a long ways to go until I'm at 0mg but I'm ok with going slow if it means less side effects. I'm cutting and weighing my immediate release 50mg tablets still. I have a good system down and I'm happy with it. 

My psych nurse laughed at me when I told her how slow I'm planning on tapering. She's aware of the individual nature of tapering. We have a good paitent/nurse relationship. She's willing to let me taper as slow as needed.