MrFrisbee - 26 years on ADs, time to get off but realised its much harder than expected!

[MrFrisbee]

Hi - long story as short as possible (been on ADs for nearly 30 years).

 

I am 58 and been on Anti Depressants since 1998 with only one or two short breaks in that time.

 

Clinical depression with anxiety coming into the mix perhaps 10-15 years ago. Three major depression episodes spread over that time that required time off work, daytime hospitalisation/treatment once. Currently reasonably stable taking 5mg per day of Escitalopram and have been for a few years but anxiety still present in mornings but daily cold water swimming helps with that a lot.

 

Medication History

1998 - tried Sertraline and Paroxatine but in the most effective was Citalopram initially at 10-20mg per day.

2009 Citalopram does slowing increased to 60mg as it was being less effective even when adding Duloxetine, risperidone and pregabalin

Feb 2010 Moved on to Venlafaxine/Risperidone/Buspirone 

Sep 2010 Tried adding Lithium for a while but not much worked.

Oct 2010  Venlafaxine (75mg increasing to 150mg and eventually 225mg), Abilify (Aripiprazole), Risperidone (1mg or 0.5mg)

Nov 2010 Venlafaxine & Seroquel (quetiapine) 

Nov 2010 Hospitalised for day care with bad stress/depression (just for a week)

Dec-Mar 2010/2011 Venlafaxine 225mg & Seroquel 25mg increasing to 50mg and then 100mg and finally 200mg of XL version (quetiapine) and Stilnoct (10mg) for sleep as required.

June 2011 Venlafaxine 225mg and reduced then removed Seroquel

Stable and then in Oct 2016 to Mar 2017 slow taper off of Venlafaxine (felt better and did not like side effects, profuse sweating was main one, weight gain). Occasional use of Zolpidem for sleep (only a few times a month). 

May 2017 - after being off Venlafaxine for a month or two anxiety was intolerable (was having therapy sessions during this time). Depression started to return so prescribed Escitalopram 5mg increasing to 10mg

After about 12 days started to feel better increased Escitalopram dose to 15mg and then 20mg and

June 2017 added in Lyrica (pregabalin) 75mg 3 times a day (to try to help with anxiety).

Early 2023-Oct 2023 - slowish taper and stop (detail below) and then after 3 weeks of nothing horrible withdrawal so went back to 5mg per day to rethink the plan!!!

 

Stable for last 4 or 5 years on 5mg of Escitalopram and wanted to try to come off it.  Took about 6-9 months of slow reductions (Jan to Sep 2023 approx) but only by cutting 5mg tablets in half and alternating doses by day (5/2.5mg etc), then just 2.5mg and then alternate days @2.5mg etc and then nothing! I moved onto a further reduction once I felt fine on the lower dose for 3-4 weeks at least. I thought this was slow enough and with 5mg tablets the smallest we can get here in the UK there is not that much I can do to get less than 2.5mg (though happy to try to make solution). 

 

By September 2023, once I was on nothing I felt fine for about 3-4 weeks and then quite suddenly got a load of withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, confusion, palpitations, panic etc), did not want to put up with it so went back to 5mg per day of Escitalopram.  That very quickly (within a day or so) made me feel better again.  Having read this site, I clearly realise my taper had to be MUCH slower/smaller does at the end and the symptoms I felt once off it was withdrawal and not really depression (though they have some similarities). 

This week I asked my GP for liquid escitalopram so I could taper more slowly and he said he cannot prescribe it on NHS and I would have to go private (so need to see a psychiatrist etc first) or be referred to psychiatrist on NHS (which he has done but could take 6-9 months to hear back). Even though I explained I would be stuck on the medication for ever if they did not give the liquid they cannot do it as they claim it is too expensive (even though I would be taking a micro dose as they only supply 20mg per ML liquid here).   

 

My plan right now is to perhaps try to taper slowly whilst I wait for the NHS appointment hopefully later this year and then I will be ready to go really low once I have the liquid.

 

WHAT HELP DO I NEED?
Is there a way to taper Escitalopram when you can only get 5mg tablets (can I make my own solution?  does cutting them in quarters work? etc)

I am quite worried that even with a slow taper I could have to put up with withdrawal symptoms for many, many months and even years.  Is it really worth it if I am not suffering that much being on the medication? (and considering my age @59) 

Is there anything else I can do to minimise withdrawal when it does hit?

What else have I missed?

 

 

Hope this gives enough information for someone to assist.

 

Thanks,

MrFrisbee.

 

(PS: Signature coming right after this is posted!)

 

 

 

[Emonda]

Welcome, @MrFrisbee,

Thanks for including your signature.

 

Sounds like you've learnt a few lessons of late, it happens to most of us.

 

As you now know, skipping doses is not recommended: Never skip doses to taper

 

Reducing by a maximum of 10% per month of the most recent dose is a great place to start: Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

When you break either of the above rules, WD symptoms are the likely outcome:

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

6 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Is there a way to taper Escitalopram when you can only get 5mg tablets (can I make my own solution?  does cutting them in quarters work? etc)

 

Have you seen this link for your AD:

 

The link says that you can cut your 5mg pill, but you need to be accurate. Have a look at the Gemini-20 scale.

 

Before I found this site, I tried to taper by cutting a pill by sight...not at all accurate. Accuracy and consistency are very important.

 

6 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I am quite worried that even with a slow taper I could have to put up with withdrawal symptoms for many, many months and even years.  Is it really worth it if I am not suffering that much being on the medication? (and considering my age @59) 

 

Even when you taper slowly, you can still experience WD symptoms. Solution = go sower: This is working for me: The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

Is it worth it: We make our own decisions. I'm not much younger than you and am thrilled to be making great progress following the recommendations on this site. I've noticed the side effects that I have experienced after ~30 years on these things are easing.

 

6 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Is there anything else I can do to minimise withdrawal when it does hit?

 

These links will be helpful:

 

Windows and waves pattern of stabilization

 

Emotional Spirals

 

Non-drug coping strategies

 

Melatonin for sleep

 

6 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

What else have I missed?

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but two that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. Add one at a time and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

 

Avoid alcohol. 

 

This is your own Introduction topic.  Each member has only ONE Introduction topic.  Your own Introduction topic is the best place to ask questions and the place to journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story. 

 

Once again, welcome to S.A.

 

Emonda

 

 

 

[MrFrisbee]

Wow, thank you so much Emonda!

 

Lots of information and I am not surprised many people get overwhelmed by it all.  I have read a lot of the information above and the links.  Brassmonkey is clearly very, very thorough and analytical.

 

A few specific questions related to my situation.

 

Firstly, in my recent (failed) attempt to taper last year I coped very easily with dropping fairly slowly (though not in terms of how it is recommended on here) down from 5mg to 2.5mg (I was previously on 10mg and cut that to 5mg very quickly) and noticed very limited impacts of this.  The main thing I notice when I do reduce my dose closer to 2.5mg or below is that my feelings of joy/sadness (crying during a sad movie or news item) starts to return a bit.  So I know the reduction is having a largely positive impact at that stage.  

 

I do not tent to overthink or worry about the reductions, I just let it happen.  Even when I stopped completely I did not think hooray I am there etc.  It just happened (though did not last all that long as previously explained).  

 

[OK, I have found my own answer to this next question but have left it in just so you can see my thought process. I noted that Altrostrata thinks that the initial 10% is very cautious but it is a risk reduction reason.  Having been down to 2.5mg for months last year I do know what the impact usually is for me.] Does this mean I can be a little less clinical at this stage (whilst reducing to 2.5mg) or should I go 100% methodical even now?  It does seem that the research on your site implies that the impact/binding on receptors etc of escitalopram can be pretty significant even at small doses, so am I wasting lots of time/effort initially when slowly reducing as I am not really reducing the amount of the SSRI binding (SERT levels) to the receptors etc. (sorry, cannot remember the technical terms).

 

My thinking here is that once I get comfortably to 2.5mg I have to be much more accurate and specific/slow.

 

I am not trying to shortcut the process, just asking (though I think I know the answer you will give)!  Obviously for some the easier the process the easier the ride, for others, perhaps the accuracy and minutia help them. 

 

In terms of my side effects whilst on the drug, I do not notice that many that cause me real concern, but I probably do not remember what I felt like before I was on them (it was mostly terrible)!  I know I suffer from anhedonia though I do still enjoy things, but less than I should. My emotional range is very narrow with a bias for sadness/melancholy rather than happiness. Obviously, having been like this for nearly 30 years it has just become a part of my personality.

 

Anyway, I am getting ready to start the journey and coming up with a plan based on my readings on here and I may well see a private doctor in the UK to get a regular prescription of the liquid medication otherwise I do think the reduction process (cutting/grinding/weighing) is going to be overly complex and if anything remind me too much about what I am doing. 

 

Can you point me in the direction of the daily trackers/monitoring documents?  I seem to have read about those but cannot find them. 

 

Thanks again,

 

Mr.F.

 

 

 

 

[Emonda]

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

from 5mg to 2.5mg (I was previously on 10mg and cut that to 5mg very quickly) and noticed very limited impacts of this

 

My own experience has been that the initial drop was not too rough (15mg to 7.5mg - a bit of dizziness), BUT, when I tried to go from 7.5mg to a lower amount...can't recall exactly what dose as I was doing it by sight, so not accurate...it caught up with me. I ended up going back to 7.5mg and holding there for ~6 months to stabilise. 

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Does this mean I can be a little less clinical at this stage

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

My thinking here is that once I get comfortably to 2.5mg I have to be much more accurate and specific/slow.

 

Consistency and accuracy are vital now. Whilst we all respond differently, you don't want to rock the boat and be put into a 'holding pattern' for months while you recover.

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I am not trying to shortcut the process, just asking

 

Yeah, there's no shortcut sadly. Slow and steady, and listen to your body. It's not a race.

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Can you point me in the direction of the daily trackers/monitoring documents? 

 

Do you mean this one: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Anyway, I am getting ready to start the journey and coming up with a plan based on my readings on here and I may well see a private doctor in the UK

 

It's good to have a plan. Remember to hold your taper if the WD symptoms tick up. Ignore an uptick in WD symptoms at your peril 😬

[MrFrisbee]

Hi, sorry for delay, just finding time to see the doctor to try to get the liquid.

 

Once question, is there any simple way to know if the time is right to come off the AD's?  My main motivation at the moment is that I feel reasonably stable, but not perfect (but is anyone), I feel that I am suffering with "brain fog" which I usually dont get and if I dont get off or at least try soon, then I probably never will. 

 

I am trying to separate out whether some of the "issues" I have right now are side effects of the AD or symptoms of low grade depression/anxiety.  Obviously my worry would be that 

 

Whilst I am fairly stable, I still suffer from...

 

* Low stress threshold and get anxious/wound up by fairly small things.  These feelings are usually gone if a few hours or next day, but can easily return.  This is perhaps one of the big worries for me as my stress tolerance/head room is now much lower than it ever was. 

* Jittery at times (sort of an anxiety type feeling that is centred in my chest (shallow breathing etc). 

* Brain fog (tired, bit confused sometimes but brief) 

* Memory declining (could just be an age thing but who knows after 30 years on these pills). 

* Focus when reading in particular

 

I appreciate these may just be daily norms or they may be medication side effects but interested to hear if there is a way to judge them.

 

I have filled in the daily checklist as a starting point as this is my base level and will see how it goes as I reduce.

 

I am sort of hoping that even if I got down to 2.5mg (half my dose) then I may find some of the side effects reduce perhaps. 

 

Mr.F.

[Emonda]

18 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

sorry for delay, just finding time to see the doctor to try to get the liquid.

 

Have a read of the 4th post down by Gridley: Transitioning from pills to liquid

 

18 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

is there any simple way to know if the time is right to come off the AD's?  My main motivation at the moment is that I feel reasonably stable, but not perfect (but is anyone), I feel that I am suffering with "brain fog" which I usually dont get 

 

I pondered this question myself for some time. For me, I felt stable, and I noticed increased side effects of the AD that I did not like. I came to the same conclusion as you: 

 

18 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

if I dont get off or at least try soon, then I probably never will. 

 

18 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Whilst I am fairly stable, I still suffer from...

 

I can relate to all the things on your list. 

 

18 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Low stress threshold and get anxious/wound up by fairly small things.  These feelings are usually gone if a few hours or next day, but can easily return.  This is perhaps one of the big worries for me as my stress tolerance/head room is now much lower than it ever was. 

 

This can be worked on. I chatted with a psychologist/counsellor and made great inroads. I debrief with my wife daily about the garbage in my head. It's good just to talk it out with someone else, I find.

 

18 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Jittery at times (sort of an anxiety type feeling that is centred in my chest (shallow breathing etc). 

 

Exercise helps me (but not everyone). Running and swimming have been very beneficial. They're part of my daily routine these days.

 

18 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Brain fog (tired, bit confused sometimes but brief) 

* Memory declining (could just be an age thing but who knows after 30 years on these pills). 

 

I've noticed the fog lift / memory improve as I've reduced my dose by ~85% over the past few years.

 

18 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I appreciate these may just be daily norms

 

My wife reminds me of this. We are humans, we have emotions, and as we remove the ADs, the emotional blunting is reduced. We need to get used to emotions.

 

18 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I am sort of hoping that even if I got down to 2.5mg (half my dose) then I may find some of the side effects reduce perhaps. 

 

That's been my attitude. At 2mg, the side effects I noticed at 15mg are substantially gone. 

 

It's not a race. I'm just chipping away. I reflect on how far I've come rather than how far I still have to go.

 

I hope this helps.

[MrFrisbee]

1 hour ago, Emonda said:

Exercise helps me (but not everyone). Running and swimming have been very beneficial. They're part of my daily routine these days.

I swim (pond on the heath, cold/fresh water all year, all weather/temps) 5 mornings a week (nearly 7 years now), it is massively helpful (the colder the better, just don't stay in long).  I run 3 times a week but have an ankle problem that is limiting my running at the moment but trying to fix that (cycling also irritates it).  Discovering running about 12 years ago was a major breakthrough for me in helping me cope and recover from a major depressive episode - I remember my first run when I realised how much it helped.

 

Interesting to read the rest of your feedback as it all sounds very familiar.  Thanks again for your support and insight, it is really helpful and re-assuring. 

 

Mr.F

[MrFrisbee]

Quick update.  Now, nearly 5 months on, I have just dropped to 2.5mg escitalopram per day. (was on 5mg in March 2024). 

 

No major changes on the journey down, perhaps a bit more tired and feel less able to exercise as much as I did but that could just be an age related issue.

 

Anyway, ready for the next phase of reduction without too much concern right now. 

 

I have noticed the occasional emotion returning (not in a bad way) but feeling a little less blunt in that regard. 

 

Anyway, will be hoping things continue to work out fine over the coming months. 

[Emonda]

Glad to hear you've been progressing ok.

 

Just a word of caution: the lower we go in dose, the slower many of us need to go. As Dr Horowitz said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

I'd have another read the 10% maximum taper in my first post: Why taper by 10% of my dosage? The reductions should get smaller and smaller each month, for example: 10mg, 9mg, 8.1mg, 7.3mg etc. This process involves a degree of trial and error, as there is no way of predicting how an individual will respond. Importantly, if you develop unpleasant side effects from tapering, halt the taper, give yourself time to settle, and once stable, taper more slowly and by smaller amounts moving forward. The experience of others suggests that the lower you go in dose, the slower you need to go with tapering.

 

The tortoise always beats the hare when tapering.

[MrFrisbee]

Hi, Thanks for the reply and I had been reading about speed and how long to go before the drop off completely, but will worry about that in a year or two!

 

I even charted it yesterday taking me all the way to May 2027 at 0.06mg so I am sort of prepared if needed and could adjust speed at appropriate times.

 

I will update you as things change/progress is made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Highbury]

On 3/18/2024 at 3:45 PM, MrFrisbee said:

 

Hi, sorry for delay, just finding time to see the doctor to try to get the liquid.

 

Hi MrFrisbee,

Hope you’re doing really well.

Did you manage to get the liquid to aid you in your tapering? 
 

I had a very difficult time getting it also on the NHS, but with perseverance I finally managed to get it prescribed.

It cost £9! 
 

 

[MrFrisbee]

14 hours ago, Highbury said:

Hi MrFrisbee,

Hope you’re doing really well.

Did you manage to get the liquid to aid you in your tapering? 
 

I had a very difficult time getting it also on the NHS, but with perseverance I finally managed to get it prescribed.

It cost £9! 
 

 

Hi, No luck so I had to go to a private GP to get it.  He agreed it was utter madness that they would not let me have it. I could have fought a bit harder but they said only NHS hospital/mental health team could prescribe it.

 

I am actually going to make my own liquid going forwards as that seems pretty easy with a basic saline solution.  That will reduce the cost to zero and give me loads of flexibility.  I get stressed just trying to get those drops out the bottles anyway. 

 

Best

MrF.

[Highbury]

3 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

Hi, No luck so I had to go to a private GP to get it.  He agreed it was utter madness that they would not let me have it. I could have fought a bit harder but they said only NHS hospital/mental health team could prescribe it.

 

I am actually going to make my own liquid going forwards as that seems pretty easy with a basic saline solution.  That will reduce the cost to zero and give me loads of flexibility.  I get stressed just trying to get those drops out the bottles anyway. 

 

Best

MrF.

Cool,

yes it really took it out of me fighting the system.

I am trying to stabilise at 10mg Escitalopram for a good while before attempting to taper down again with the liquid.

At least i now have it in place for when i switch over to it.

Luckily found this site that’s fantastic with solutions in the tapering process.

 

Good luck with your continued tapering journey.

 

warmly

Highbury 

 

 

[MrFrisbee]

On 8/6/2024 at 12:48 AM, Emonda said:

Glad to hear you've been progressing ok.

 

Just a word of caution: the lower we go in dose, the slower many of us need to go. As Dr Horowitz said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

I'd have another read the 10% maximum taper in my first post: Why taper by 10% of my dosage? The reductions should get smaller and smaller each month, for example: 10mg, 9mg, 8.1mg, 7.3mg etc. This process involves a degree of trial and error, as there is no way of predicting how an individual will respond. Importantly, if you develop unpleasant side effects from tapering, halt the taper, give yourself time to settle, and once stable, taper more slowly and by smaller amounts moving forward. The experience of others suggests that the lower you go in dose, the slower you need to go with tapering.

 

 

 

The tortoise always beats the hare when tapering.

Hi, 

 

So, I have hit a slight snag and the above is probably your answer, but just in case its not...

 

At the same time as my most recent reduction from 3mg to 2.5mg I did notice an increase in anxiety symptoms (mostly in my chest) and a reduction in general energy levels.  I have been on the 2.5mg dose now for over 4 weeks and most of these symptoms are still there much of the time.  When I was away for a week on vacation earlier this month I was pretty much fine (no anxiety at all), then as soon as I returned to home the anxiety returned.  I don't believe this is withdrawal (though you may beg to differ) and it did not warrant returning to the higher level, but I am going to sit here for an extra month at least to see what happens. 

 

I suppose I am wondering if these symptoms are an "impact" I have to live with during the reduction process OR is it further evidence that I do really need the medication and my sweet spot is perhaps around the 3mg per day.  Is there a view on whether some people just have to continue with the meds?

 

MrF.

 

 

[Emonda]

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

my most recent reduction from 3mg to 2.5mg

 

A 17% reduction is much larger than recommended.

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

increase in anxiety symptoms (mostly in my chest) and a reduction in general energy levels.

 

Typical WD symptoms...I'd pay attention to the message / warning your body is sending you....slow down.

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I have been on the 2.5mg dose now for over 4 weeks and most of these symptoms are still there much of the time.

 

Once you rock the boat, it can take some time for stability to return...best not to rock the boat in my experience.

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

When I was away for a week on vacation earlier this month I was pretty much fine (no anxiety at all), then as soon as I returned to home the anxiety returned

 

I'm much the same. When on holiday, away from work, I feel much better. I return to work...WD seems to pick up. Stress can flare up WD.

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I don't believe this is withdrawal

 

I'm sticking with my view of WD 😊

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I am going to sit here for an extra month at least to see what happens. 

 

Very prudent. You don't want to push ahead with tapering when WD is causing your grief. It'll just make things worse.

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I suppose I am wondering if these symptoms are an "impact" I have to live with during the reduction process OR is it further evidence that I do really need the medication and my sweet spot is perhaps around the 3mg per day. 

 

Slow down the taper to make WD more manageable.

 

I thought I was stuck at 7.5mg and just needed the drug. With time and patience, I managed to start tapering again. Then I thought I was stuck at 3.5mg, etc. Now, I find myself at 1.46mg. Slow tapering works for me. The Brassmonkey slide has been a game-changer.

 

You end up paying for impatience. I've currently found myself in an unscheduled holding pattern. Why? Probably because I tried to increase my taper rate from what has worked (8% per month) to what has caused me grief before (10% per month). I must be a slow learner 🤪 each time I try to speed up, it slows me down.

 

Hope this helps.

[MrFrisbee]

13 hours ago, Emonda said:

21 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I don't believe this is withdrawal

 

I'm sticking with my view of WD 😊

OK, well this is more what I wanted to hear rather than a return of general symptoms of depression. 

 

I will sit tight for now and revise my taper spread sheet a bit to be sure the reductions are small (this is such a slow/dull process!). 

 

If things do not improve in the next few weeks should I consider nudging back up a again to 3mg or even just to 2.75mg? 

 

I am now better equipped (scales etc) to create solutions myself which will make it easier to create dilutions that suit. 

 

Thanks for the info!

 

MrF

[MrFrisbee]

PS: I have also just re-calculated everything based on using the Brassmonkey slide at 2.5% per week for 4 weeks then hold for two.  Wow - this is pretty complicated even for someone good with spread sheets!!! 

[Emonda]

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

If things do not improve in the next few weeks should I consider nudging back up a again to 3mg or even just to 2.75mg? 

 

If the symptoms are manageable, I tend to hold. If they are not, I set a line in the sand...three weeks, perhaps, the reassess.

 

As to updosing, I'd follow the same rule as tapering. A maximum of a 10% drop on the way down, and a maximum of 10% to updose...small changes are best, then sit back and monitor.

 

8 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

I am now better equipped (scales etc) to create solutions myself which will make it easier to create dilutions that suit. 

 

Accuracy is very important.

 

7 hours ago, MrFrisbee said:

PS: I have also just re-calculated everything based on using the Brassmonkey slide at 2.5% per week for 4 weeks then hold for two

 

Yeah, I have a spreadsheet, too. One thing I have learnt is that the spreadsheet is a guide to the maximum...if you have to slow down, then slow down.

 

 

 

[MrFrisbee]

On 8/30/2024 at 1:16 PM, MrFrisbee said:

On 8/30/2024 at 12:02 AM, Emonda said:

On 8/29/2024 at 3:19 PM, MrFrisbee said:

I don't believe this is withdrawal

 

I'm sticking with my view of WD 😊

OK, well this is more what I wanted to hear rather than a return of general symptoms of depression. 

 

I will sit tight for now and revise my taper spread sheet a bit to be sure the reductions are small (this is such a slow/dull process!). 

 

If things do not improve in the next few weeks should I consider nudging back up a again to 3mg or even just to 2.75mg? 

 

FYI, symptoms have improved to a much more manageable level.   Going to sit tight here for a week or two before moving on. 

[MrFrisbee]

In late September I moved to the "Brassmonkey slide" method and creating my own solution 1mg per ml mixture. 

 

Now, over 2 months into this method and down to 2.04mg, whilst a bit slower, it has so far been smoother with largely very few symptoms and reduced anxiety which is great.

 

Regime includes omega fish oils, magnesium and turmeric supplements which may or may not have helped but certainly seem to have had a positive impact for me. 

 

The journey continues.