Marissab: Deanxit tapering

[Marissab]

For 9 years I have been taking deanxit ( a very small pill that is a combination of the tca melitracan 10 mg plus 0,5 mg of the ap flupentixol). It is banned in us due to longterm possible side effects. I got this when I was young for unrest and anxiety attacks and insomnia. My doctor at the time didn’t know better. I have wanted to stop several times but with the most horrible and destabalising effects so they got reinstated within weeks. My current doctor’s idea was to taper slow with 10 percent of dose like you describe here. I have been doing this for 8-9 months and am now in half. But: at the same time also got a burnout from work and am at home. I don’ t knowif the burn out is causing symptoms or the tapering is causing the burnout 😞 So I have at the moment : anxiety switching with depression, fatigue, insomnia, sometimes  a good day, neurological symptoms like tingling in the feet, pins and needles, lack of apetite. Not easy at all but milder than my previous attempts. It does feel after 6 months of tapering that its getting worse. I happened to land on this forum and now when reading everything I realised something that is a big concern now for me. Since the drug has 2 components, it’s impossible to know how many is in it of each component… this worries me a lot. When the farmacy mixes it in half, there could be like 1 day 0.3 of the antipsychotic in it and the other day 0.4 or 0.1 for example. It this not very dangerous for my brain? So I’m thinking about reinstating again to have a stable dose. I never had any side effects while taking it, just living a good life, just worried about the possible effects on the long run like parkinson,... I don’t really have a solution right now or what is the lesser of 2 evils. Since I am 40 and have a family to take care of I would right now just want to feel like I can function. 

[LotusRising]

@Marissab

 

Welcome to SA,

 

I'm not familiar with Deanxit since it's not widely prescribed, but I see from another thread that it has a half-life of 61 hours, which is very long. If you're looking for more information, you could also use the search bar to search this drug name. It might be worth reaching out to other members that have also tapered deanxit.

 

On 10/20/2024 at 6:58 AM, Marissab said:

It does feel after 6 months of tapering that its getting worse.

If your symptoms are getting worse, you should hold your dose until symptoms settle. Alternatively, you could updose by a small amount. When did you last make a reduction?

 

On 10/20/2024 at 6:58 AM, Marissab said:

So I’m thinking about reinstating again to have a stable dose.

What do you mean?

 

On 10/20/2024 at 6:58 AM, Marissab said:

When the farmacy mixes it in half

Does your pharmacy compound the dosage?

[Marissab]

On 10/22/2024 at 3:47 AM, LotusRising said:

@Marissab

 

Welcome to SA,

 

I'm not familiar with Deanxit since it's not widely prescribed, but I see from another thread that it has a half-life of 61 hours, which is very long. If you're looking for more information, you could also use the search bar to search this drug name. It might be worth reaching out to other members that have also tapered deanxit.

 

If your symptoms are getting worse, you should hold your dose until symptoms settle. Alternatively, you could updose by a small amount. When did you last make a reduction?

 

What do you mean?

 

Does your pharmacy compound the dosage?

My symptoms were getting much worse the last days so i had to up the dose. I hope it gets better soon.( usually in 1-2 weeks) 

i wild hold of tapering for a long while now, I think I am in too much stress and not healthy and strong enough from my burnout to handle the symptoms of stopping the pills right now. 
 

Yes the parmacies here do this, they compound the dose and puts the doses in capsules

[Marissab]

Hello, 6 days ago i upped the dose to 8 mg but now i have these small muscle contractiond trough my whole body/head. Also I am having a lot of trouble sleeping. According to docter, it needs at least 2 weeks to work again properly and despite the annoying side effect should at least try to keep this dose for 2 weeks. The muscle contractions could stop. It is still possible to lower dose again with 2 mg after 2 weeks ? ( if necessary) 

[LotusRising]

@Marissab

 

On 10/23/2024 at 12:46 PM, Marissab said:

i wild hold of tapering for a long while now, I think I am in too much stress and not healthy and strong enough from my burnout to handle the symptoms of stopping the pills right now. 

 

Yes, I agree. I think this is a wise idea.

 

 

 

On 10/26/2024 at 1:23 AM, Marissab said:

According to docter, it needs at least 2 weeks to work again properly and despite the annoying side effect should at least try to keep this dose for 2 weeks.

 

Yes, your doctor is right. Since deanxit has a very long half life, it could take up to two weeks for you to notice the effects of the updose.

 

What is the date of your last reduction, prior to your updose to 8mg?

 

 

[Marissab]

3 hours ago, LotusRising said:

@Marissab

 

 

Yes, I agree. I think this is a wise idea.

 

 

 

 

Yes, your doctor is right. Since deanxit has a very long half life, it could take up to two weeks for you to notice the effects of the updose.

 

What is the date of your last reduction, prior to your updose to 8mg?

 

 

Hi, my last reduction was 3 weeks ago. I had already stress and anxiety, but now a week after the updoses I have full blown panick. On friday I tried to take a supplement magnesiumnycitrate and a half hour later I got the biggest panick ever and a rash. Is this a possible side effect?
We are now monday and still having constant anxiety and heavy panick attacks. ( since taking the manesium). Am taking a benzo for the heavy anxiety because it is too much. ( will offcourse see that i do not take this too much or get addicted). 

Scared that the updose is making everything way worse. Doctor wants me to continue with updose. Refuses to prescripe compound of smaller dose. I hope this goes away 😭😭 can’t function like this. I hear a lot that upping an ad can cause more anxiety first few weeks. I hope it is that, am scared I am never getting out of this. 

[LotusRising]

@Marissab

 

6 hours ago, Marissab said:

Hi, my last reduction was 3 weeks ago. I had already stress and anxiety, but now a week after the updoses I have full blown panick.

Ok, so you made a reduction 3 weeks ago and then updosed 1 week. Your body is trying to find equilibrium again. I know it's scary, but you'll get through this.

 

It's possible that the WD symptoms have piled up a bit with the continuous reductions, and the very long half life. If it were, I would continue holding and wait for your body to catch up to the reductions and the updose.

 

6 hours ago, Marissab said:

Am taking a benzo for the heavy anxiety because it is too much. ( will offcourse see that i do not take this too much or get addicted).

Yes, please take care with the benzo. I think what you mean is physiological dependence, and yes, this can happen in as little as 2-4 weeks, so please tread carefully. What benzo are you taking? Could you please add it to your signature.

 

6 hours ago, Marissab said:

On friday I tried to take a supplement magnesiumnycitrate and a half hour later I got the biggest panick ever and a rash. Is this a possible side effect?

Some people do have reactions from supplements- difficult to know if this is what happened since you're already dealing with an increase in symptoms from the changes. We suggest starting with small amounts, perhaps even a baby dose, to test the waters with anything new.

 

6 hours ago, Marissab said:

am scared I am never getting out of this. 

You will get out of this 💚

[Marissab]

On 10/29/2024 at 2:12 AM, LotusRising said:

@Marissab

 

Ok, so you made a reduction 3 weeks ago and then updosed 1 week. Your body is trying to find equilibrium again. I know it's scary, but you'll get through this.

 

It's possible that the WD symptoms have piled up a bit with the continuous reductions, and the very long half life. If it were, I would continue holding and wait for your body to catch up to the reductions and the updose.

 

Yes, please take care with the benzo. I think what you mean is physiological dependence, and yes, this can happen in as little as 2-4 weeks, so please tread carefully. What benzo are you taking? Could you please add it to your signature.

 

Some people do have reactions from supplements- difficult to know if this is what happened since you're already dealing with an increase in symptoms from the changes. We suggest starting with small amounts, perhaps even a baby dose, to test the waters with anything new.

 

You will get out of this 💚

Hi, 10 days in. Still getting muscle twitching, also in my face ( mouth and ears), thus doesn.t get better, horriblr  insomnia and still have the rash. Keep thinking I should taper a little ( to 6 mg)!to see if it betters. After 10 days can you still go down? Feel like I,m poisoning myself now. 

[LotusRising]

8 hours ago, Marissab said:

Still getting muscle twitching, also in my face ( mouth and ears), thus doesn.t get better, horriblr  insomnia and still have the rash.

@Marissab

 

For the first 8-9 months, did you have any of these symptoms?

 

When did you typically feel your WD symptoms after making a reduction?

[Marissab]

1 hour ago, LotusRising said:

@Marissab

 

For the first 8-9 months, did you have any of these symptoms?

 

When did you typically feel your WD symptoms after making a reduction?

No i did not have any of these symptons. I had milder symptoms like nervousness, more emotional,less sleep, nothing really bad. This was after 3 dats upto 12 days after tapering.  The last month the emotional symptoms worsened and worsened. But The worst symptoms arrived 3 days after upping the dose 😭 I did not have all this panick or physical symptoms. I regret this so much now, i think it is a type of kindling, i shoulve upped a smaller dose but I panicked. Docter says try going down 2 mg. As you can guess, my doctor does not know anything about these type of situations and the severity. 

[Marissab]

2 hours ago, LotusRising said:

@Marissab

 

For the first 8-9 months, did you have any of these symptoms?

 

When did you typically feel your WD symptoms after making a reduction?

to be honest, i am really scared i am now allergic to the deanxit, since the rash isnt getting better. If i’m allergic, that means CT is necessary and this would be my worst nightmare

[LotusRising]

On 10/30/2024 at 1:22 PM, Marissab said:

to be honest, i am really scared i am now allergic to the deanxit,

Well, if you've been taking deanxit all this time, I expect this isn't an allergy. Your body is probably stressed and this is one of the ways it's presenting in your body. I experienced many weird rashes too that I'd never had before. Where is the rash? How big? Have you mentioned it to your doctor?

 

How are you doing today? How many days now on this updose? If it were me and I was going to reduce my dose back down, I would start with a 1mg reduction, rather than 2mg. 

 

Let me know how you're doing 💚

[Marissab]

2 hours ago, LotusRising said:

Well, if you've been taking deanxit all this time, I expect this isn't an allergy. Your body is probably stressed and this is one of the ways it's presenting in your body. I experienced many weird rashes too that I'd never had before. Where is the rash? How big? Have you mentioned it to your doctor?

 

How are you doing today? How many days now on this updose? If it were me and I was going to reduce my dose back down, I would start with a 1mg reduction, rather than 2mg. 

 

Let me know how you're doing 💚

Hello ❤️ so kind of you.  Still have the rash, its red small bumps all over my bottom legs and bottom arms. It iches especially at night. It hasn’ t changed in 6 days, it does not get bigger or smaller. When I see pictures of hives, my bumps look smaller.
 

i dropped 2 mg a few days ago, I now have less muscle spasms and less severe panic. Do have sometimes a few hours feeling like my feet are freezing from inside ( neuropathy). Thus is really annoying. Brain will be confused I guess. Putting a warm heated cherry pillow on top helps.  when I was on 5 I already had tingling in my feet but not the freezing. Slept 5 hours last night in stead of 2 with the alpazolam. Only taking 1 alprozalam +_ once every 2 days now (0,5 mg). 3 in total now. It does really help with the anxiety and I feel like eating again when I take it. Most of the day I am really tired from lack of sleep but still not able to sleep and no appetite, feel horrible really but glad I didn’t have full blown panic attacks last 2 days. Hope that the rash goes away. Very scared for going cold turkey offcourse. Not strong enough for going through what the rest is going through here, I would die…I would go to a hospital and try other medications just for relief. 😕 7 years ago previous doctor tried me to quit cold turkey and got severe agressive constant ocd thoughts which prevented me from doing anything really but lying in bed scared staying with my mom guarding me. Couldn’t be around my kids.  They gave me 2 weeks of antipsychotics (which I tapered) to calm my thoughts and reinstated deanxit. Luckilly this helped. Still traumatising for me so really scared now offcourse. Had a pretty great life untill now, mad at myself for trying to taper really. Scared of dying, going crazy and all the neuropathy issues.

[LotusRising]

@Marissab

 

On 11/1/2024 at 3:21 PM, Marissab said:

 

i dropped 2 mg a few days ago, I now have less muscle spasms and less severe panic.

Ok, this is good to hear! Sounds like that extra 2mg was definitely too much. 

 

If it were me, I would continue holding here for at least a month, or at least until symptoms return to more of a baseline.

 

On 11/1/2024 at 3:21 PM, Marissab said:

Very scared for going cold turkey offcourse.

Cold turkey is never a good option. Hopefully, the rash will start to fade now that you've reduced your dose back to what it was.

 

On 11/1/2024 at 3:21 PM, Marissab said:

Scared of dying, going crazy and all the neuropathy issues

These symptoms are scary for sure, but you'll get through it. 

 

Check in when you need to.

[Marissab]

15 hours ago, LotusRising said:

@Marissab

 

Ok, this is good to hear! Sounds like that extra 2mg was definitely too much. 

 

If it were me, I would continue holding here for at least a month, or at least until symptoms return to more of a baseline.

 

Cold turkey is never a good option. Hopefully, the rash will start to fade now that you've reduced your dose back to what it was.

 

These symptoms are scary for sure, but you'll get through it. 

 

Check in when you need to.

The rash is not getting any better at all 😞

[Marissab]

On 11/3/2024 at 6:24 PM, LotusRising said:

@Marissab

 

Ok, this is good to hear! Sounds like that extra 2mg was definitely too much. 

 

If it were me, I would continue holding here for at least a month, or at least until symptoms return to more of a baseline.

 

Cold turkey is never a good option. Hopefully, the rash will start to fade now that you've reduced your dose back to what it was.

 

These symptoms are scary for sure, but you'll get through it. 

 

Check in when you need to.

Anxiety is much better. Still have severe insomnia , heart palpitaionw and the rash all over legs and arms, a lot of itching almost all day. Doctors and psychiatrist wont believe its from the deanxit. They cant find what its from. Nobody will help me, only want to give more antipsychotics to calm me down.  Didn,t take them. Feeling hopelesness. 

[LotusRising]

4 hours ago, Marissab said:

Anxiety is much better.

 @Marissab This is good!

 

4 hours ago, Marissab said:

Still have severe insomnia

I'm sorry you're still struggling with bad insomnia. This is so common and can feel really unrelenting at times. Are you practicing a good sleep hygiene routine? I know it doesn't sound like much, but your body really loves routine, so even little things can make a difference over time.

 

4 hours ago, Marissab said:

Doctors and psychiatrist wont believe its from the deanxit.

Yes, I hear you. I had to let go of speaking to my doctor about many things. 

 

Your body does a lot of things when under stress. I developed a very severe case of eczema, something I'd never experienced before, ever. But, it did slowly go away. When your body becomes less stressed, I expect the rash will start to improve.

 

I know 'hang in there' isn't nearly adequate enough, but it really will get better 💚

[Marissab]

18 hours ago, LotusRising said:

 @Marissab This is good!

 

I'm sorry you're still struggling with bad insomnia. This is so common and can feel really unrelenting at times. Are you practicing a good sleep hygiene routine? I know it doesn't sound like much, but your body really loves routine, so even little things can make a difference over time.

 

Yes, I hear you. I had to let go of speaking to my doctor about many things. 

 

Your body does a lot of things when under stress. I developed a very severe case of eczema, something I'd never experienced before, ever. But, it did slowly go away. When your body becomes less stressed, I expect the rash will start to improve.

 

I know 'hang in there' isn't nearly adequate enough, but it really will get better 💚

Since yesterday evening anxiety is back full force. Mixed with the constant insomnia and the rash, it’s becoming unbareable. Feel like I am going to crash 

[Catina7]

Hi @Marissab,

 

I'm sorry you're having a hard time.  I too have had problems with anxiety and rashes.  Because these drugs affect histamine receptors, things can get a bit out of whack when in withdrawal.  I switched to a low-histamine diet and it helped improve things a little.  It's something you may want to look into.  I hope you get some relief soon, hang in there!    

Edited November 8, 2024 by Catina7

[LotusRising]

7 hours ago, Marissab said:

Since yesterday evening anxiety is back full force.

It will take time for your body to adjust back to a baseline. It's likely trying to regulate from the ups and downs of the medication. I wish I could say how long this will take, but everyone is different. 

[Marissab]

On 11/8/2024 at 8:17 PM, LotusRising said:

It will take time for your body to adjust back to a baseline. It's likely trying to regulate from the ups and downs of the medication. I wish I could say how long this will take, but everyone is different. 

Hello, after 3 weeks on this dose,  still experiencing , several hours of unrest, anxiety, same rash on arms and legs, and extreme insomnia. Have to take sleeping pill to get 3-4 hours.  Starting to fear I am having adverse effects do to kindling of my deanxit which I took for 11 years. Beginning to fear I will have to CT. I know this is dangerous and not advised but my situation now seems also uncopeable and very unhealthy . I know Ct will make things even much worse but this also is not a life. Doctor and husband will not let me just stop.. if I stop they want me to replace it with other medications. Don’t see any good ending to this situation either way it is going. 

[LotusRising]

Hi @Marissab

 

I'm sorry you're still experiencing so many symptoms and I know none of this is easy by any stretch. I would tend to agree with your husband and doctor - stopping CT doesn't sound like the safest option. 

 

The half-life of deanxit is very long, so I expect you should be starting to feel the full effect of the 2mg reduction by now, and over the next few days. It could take your body some time to stabilize since making this reduction. I wonder if 

 

You mentioned a slight improvement in anxiety symptoms back on Nov 7 - how are you doing now?

 

What is happening with your rash? Has there been any change or improvement whatsoever?

 

Are you experiencing other symptoms?

 

23 hours ago, Marissab said:

Have to take sleeping pill to get 3-4 hours.

How often are you taking a sleeping pill? Which one? Do you sleep at all, without it?

 

 

[Marissab]

41 minutes ago, LotusRising said:

Hi @Marissab

 

I'm sorry you're still experiencing so many symptoms and I know none of this is easy by any stretch. I would tend to agree with your husband and doctor - stopping CT doesn't sound like the safest option. 

 

The half-life of deanxit is very long, so I expect you should be starting to feel the full effect of the 2mg reduction by now, and over the next few days. It could take your body some time to stabilize since making this reduction. I wonder if 

 

You mentioned a slight improvement in anxiety symptoms back on Nov 7 - how are you doing now?

 

What is happening with your rash? Has there been any change or improvement whatsoever?

 

Are you experiencing other symptoms?

 

How often are you taking a sleeping pill? Which one? Do you sleep at all, without it?

 

 

I have ( mostly all the afternoon) an inner restlessness and nervousness but the extreme anxiety and panic attacks are gone. I have not taken xanax anymore since I don’t want to also depend on this and it just helps for one or two hours . I have neurological symptoms, like a numb feeling in hand or finger and ears sometimes or a pressure on the head, sometimes a few hours , sometimes a day without it, sometimes all evening. I have a dry mouth. I experience all the symptoms seperately, so a few hours the head pressure, other few hours the restlesness, a few hours itching … in the mornings I tend to feel the “healthiest” for a few hours. Mentally I have a lot of negative thinking and fear of dying or thinking about dying. The rash is pretty persistent, it stays like it is , all over my legs and arms, and sometimes there are new spots every few days and some spots go away. My allergy medication that I have to take for my allergies( ceterizine) does not help, so it does not seem to be allergic but a “side effect”. It is in the leaflet, together with the other symptoms I am experiencing but did never have them in the past. Right now i take one sleeping pill (ambien) every day, without medication I don’t seem to

fall a sleep. I don’t like it at all but I have did this before and am convinced I can taper this and it had never been as hard for me as the AD’s. Doctor wanted to put me on seroquel but i refused( another antipsychotic 🙄) I did one time take two sleeping pills out of desperation and I was blurry all day ontop of the anxiety so will not do this again since that makes me depressed. I feel like if I don’t sleep I get more anxiety. Question is if this insomnia is caused by the deanxit. The weird things is, on Monday I had one “good night” and a “good day” where I felt a little more like normal  so I was hopeful, but after Monday it became worse again. It can still be much worse, like akathesia would be my biggest fear. Up to  1 1/5 week ago my anxiety was so bad I had to move constantly to be able to cope with the restlessness, and could not bare any sounds or smells so I am glad that has passed. Hence the worries that I will have to stop eventually because of the rash and insomnia. Because than I expect even much worse. I know people here are experiencing even much worse than me. And a lot of people here are very very strong and inspirational. My biggest fear is I will become one of them who suffer so so much …  

[LotusRising]

On 11/15/2024 at 2:24 PM, Marissab said:

I have neurological symptoms, like a numb feeling in hand or finger and ears sometimes or a pressure on the head, sometimes a few hours , sometimes a day without it, sometimes all evening. I have a dry mouth. I experience all the symptoms seperately, so a few hours the head pressure, other few hours the restlesness, a few hours itching

First, I want to say this isn't an uncommon pattern. But I'm interested to know when they started?

 

On 11/15/2024 at 2:24 PM, Marissab said:

Question is if this insomnia is caused by the deanxit.

Have you had insomnia since starting deanxit?

 

On 11/15/2024 at 2:24 PM, Marissab said:

The weird things is, on Monday I had one “good night” and a “good day” where I felt a little more like normal

This is a window. This is like your nervous system "getting things right" for a period of time. It's a good thing! 

 

On 11/15/2024 at 2:24 PM, Marissab said:

Hence the worries that I will have to stop eventually

I feel like this could make things worse. I still wonder if the continuous reductions, without a hold in between, were too quick for your nervous system - possibly letting the symptoms build one on top of the other before your nervous system had a chance to adapt.

 

If it were me, I'd continue holding. It sounds like your body is trying to stabilize and it might be helpful to give it some time. 

 

On 11/15/2024 at 2:24 PM, Marissab said:

My biggest fear is I will become one of them who suffer so so much …  

But there's also a possibility that you won't. AND you're already managing so far. One step at a time okay? Try not to let your thoughts get too ahead of you.

[Marissab]

8 hours ago, LotusRising said:

First, I want to say this isn't an uncommon pattern. But I'm interested to know when they started?

 

Have you had insomnia since starting deanxit?

 

 

8 hours ago, LotusRising said:

This is a window. This is like your nervous system "getting things right" for a period of time. It's a good thing! 

 

I feel like this could make things worse. I still wonder if the continuous reductions, without a hold in between, were too quick for your nervous system - possibly letting the symptoms build one on top of the other before your nervous system had a chance to adapt.

 

If it were me, I'd continue holding. It sounds like your body is trying to stabilize and it might be helpful to give it some time. 

 

But there's also a possibility that you won't. AND you're already managing so far. One step at a time okay? Try not to let your thoughts get too ahead of you.

The neurological symptoms started after uppig the deanxit. Then when going down they stayed or even expanded. The dry mouth was added a week later. Still having new types of neuro symptoms every week. 
 

i started having a little insomnia on 5 mg and got severe insomnia since upping the deanxit

 

i did have holds for 2 months sometimes. I feel like the last reduction before going up was no good 😔
 

i can handle all the other symptoms but the no sleeping is making me exhausted and depressed and worrying

[LotusRising]

7 hours ago, Marissab said:

i did have holds for 2 months sometimes.

Ok, good to know you had some long holds. Thank you for clarifying this

 

7 hours ago, Marissab said:

i can handle all the other symptoms but the no sleeping is making me exhausted and depressed and worrying

Yes, the no sleep is really challenging. I can empathize with this after going a long time with poor sleep myself. What do you do when you can't sleep? Have you tried just resting with your eyes closed? I used to listen to yoga nidra when I couldn't sleep. Have you tried this?

[Marissab]

11 minutes ago, LotusRising said:

Ok, good to know you had some long holds. Thank you for clarifying this

 

Yes, the no sleep is really challenging. I can empathize with this after going a long time with poor sleep myself. What do you do when you can't sleep? Have you tried just resting with your eyes closed? I used to listen to yoga nidra when I couldn't sleep. Have you tried this?

Yes, resting I can do , so I rest as much as possible. Last 2,weeks, I wasn’t even able to rest because of heart palpitions, this has also subsided 5 days ago. 

[Marissab]

In the mean time I also have tinnitus, my dry mouth is getting extreme and insomnia extreme also… feeling desperate. 😕