Kimberly5: Introducing myself, and a question about how to withdraw from last 1 mg.

[Kimberly5]

Hello Everyone,

I have been on an SSRI since 1996, and almost 25 years on Celexa. I've been tapering slowly off of 10 mg over the course of a year and 9 months. I am now down to 1 mg. (actually .86 mg)  I joined this group hoping to get advice as to how slowly I should withdraw from my last 1 mg.  My thought was to take 100 days but that may be too fast. My withdrawal process so far has been very smooth. How many months should I take to get down to zero? 

Edited September 19 by Emonda
Name to title

[Emonda]

Welcome @Kimberly5

 

So the moderators can best help you, please complete your drug signature by following these instructions. Adding a signature ensures your drug history appears at the bottom of every post, making it more efficient for those trying to assist. This link should go directly to your own signature: Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

3 hours ago, Kimberly5 said:

how slowly I should withdraw from my last 1 mg.

 

The lower people go in dose, the slower people generally need to go.

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.

Those that taper too quickly often develop very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) is a helpful summary of what many experience.

3 hours ago, Kimberly5 said:

My thought was to take 100 days but that may be too fast.

You've done well to get to the dose you are at with minimal WD symptoms.

Sometimes, WD symptoms can catch up with you...I'd slow down from here as per the maximum 10% per month guidance.

I look forward to you adding your signature.

Wishing you well.

Emonda