Jump to content

☼ Skyler: Completed - Benzo/Lyrica/Requip tapers


Recommended Posts

This is a very encouraging experience skyler. I am very happy for and for your continuing good health.

I am not a medical professional. My comments and posts are based on my personal experiences. Please consult appropriate medical professionals for advice. 

I was started on psych drugs back in the late 80's. You name it. I probably was on it. 47 different drugs. Over 57 thousand pills. Tapered off final cocktail February 1st, 2013- September 9th, 2019. For Hashimotos I take Levothyroxine. Liothyronine. BP meds. For supplements I take B12 hydroxy. Fish oil w/D3. Bee pollen. Magnesium Glycinate. 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Thanks Elbee and Marsha.  The biggest + in tapering is patience.  Had I realized this whole deal would take me 6 years at the outset.. I dunno.. guess I would have been flummoxed to say the very least!  At the outset, I thought six months was alot... WOW, was I ever disabused! 

As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule.

 

Requip - 3/16 ZERO  Total time on 25 years.

 

Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.

BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10)  Total time on 25 years.

 

Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section.  "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Just want to touch base and let folks know I'm still doing well.... went down real gradual like, kind of drifted off the lower doses... I did not jump.. at the lowest end of the taper, when reducing by 10% no longer worked because the amount of the reductions (despite using a goodly amount of water to mix) was no longer readable on the syringe, I divided the doses into even amounts and reduced further that way.  I had a few muscle spasms, nothing major, about three weeks out, and that was it, no other unpleasant sequella.

 

Ahhh.  Good to know as I am having something going on in my left hip flexor area.  Maybe it's a muscle spasm?  And......now......... I will hold on any further trileptal reductions until I am clear of it.  It's awfully painful and mobility limiting at times.  Learning to live with it and hate to report my usage of ibuprofen.........quite painful though.  What did you do to cope with the muscle spasms.......if you have time?   I'm now doing ice and heat, coconut oil to the area........some exercises that are pain site specific........and decreasing the ibuprofen as well...........  I might have some flexeril around.......but unsure of it's mechanism of action or side effects so I won't try it........unless you think a mini dose might help.

 

Yah.....patience and changing.......trying to change some of my more typical reactions to emo or physical pain........which were for me........doing what the doctor said........basically ingesting medications.

 

Happy for you too!

 

You did say lyrica was like trileptal awhile back?  Hope so...... :)   But if not......I'll be the idiot clown for just a couple seconds...... :blush:

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022, and again finally 5/25/24.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Both Trileptal and Lyrica are anticonvulsants.. but I don't think of them as 'close' cousins...  The muscle spasms I had were episodic.. if I cut too soon or by too much, I would have bouts of them.. the spasms would last for maybe, at most, 15 minutes, and time limited themselves.  Most were in my feet and legs (some in the abdominal wall.. but not so much), I'd have to put weight on my feet for 10 min or so to get them to stop.  The spasms were triggered off by mechanical action.. for example, walking around a supermarket for an hour, etc.

As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule.

 

Requip - 3/16 ZERO  Total time on 25 years.

 

Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.

BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10)  Total time on 25 years.

 

Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section.  "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Thanks.  Mine are in my Left hip flexor region.  Maybe a pinched nerve or spasms.  Day 4.  Very ouchy and mobility limiting.  Often can't bend at all and tolerate the pain and have been favoring the Left leg a lot.  When the pain comes on........man it's more than 10 minutes.  Continuous at times and not episodic.

 

A reprieve today.......... if I push and focus and get somewhere out of the house or body so to speak........much improved.  But woah.  It has been intense suffering. 

 

Maybe triggered by a mild walk the day before or........my last drop in dosage.

 

Anyway.........nice reprieve today.......may it last.

 

In anycase I will go slow, slow, slow now with further tapering.  And hope that I have felt the worst of this.  Sheesh. 

 

Thank you again for sharing your experience even if from a "distant" cousin medication.  :)   It kind of helped to think of them, the spasms........rather than total bone disintegration and lifelong limitations in mobility.  My mind will just take off on a life of it's own with severe physical pain.  Learning how to control it.

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022, and again finally 5/25/24.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

hey skyler,

Im glad you made it.

Just one question about tinnitus and crawling bugs, do you still have them? Im 5 months in withdrawal but still have those. Did not reduce dosage as slowly as you did though

 

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Unfortunately, I still have tinnitus... it's the result of some sort of damage that was done to the auditory nerve. Just now I'm in a minor uptick, which means I have to identify the agent that is causing the increase... I'm thinking it's the ice tea flavoring I use.. or it could be I'm taking too much calcium again. So it's not just heavy duty drugs that can tweak it, but as long as I'm mindful, I keep it to an acceptable level.

 

Hope you manage it well going forward..

 

Skyler

As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule.

 

Requip - 3/16 ZERO  Total time on 25 years.

 

Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.

BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10)  Total time on 25 years.

 

Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section.  "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Skyler,

 

I am in agony and I don't know the cause -- my Cortisol levels are low, my adrenals are shot.

 

I currently have tinglingling and burning all over my face, body, ears, feet, stomach, intestines -- you name it. I'm achy all over. Please help me.

 

i am currently on:

 

7mg Valium

70mg Gabapentin

12.5mg Zoloft

 

i don't know what the culprit is here, but I need to know what to stop first. My physiatrist says Gabapentin, my PCP says Valium. I don't know what I to. I have a chronic pain condition...all of these meds are making me worse. 

OXYCODONE On and off 5-15mg Oxycodone from 2013- Oct. 2106. Weaned down and STOPPED OXYCODONE DEC, 2016

OTHER OPIODS TRIED: January 2017: Tried 50mg Nucynta, then 15-45mg Morphine. Feb and March 2017: 12.5Mcg Fetanyl Patch

PERCOCET April 2017: 15-22.5mg STOPPED PERCOCET 

OXYCODONE: May - July 23, 2017 10-20mg Oxycodone. Weaned down and STOPPED OXYCODONE July 23, 2017

VALIUM On and off 5-10mg Valium from 2012 - Dec. 2016. WEANED AND STOPPED VALIUM DEC. 2016

ANTI-ANXIETY: 2012: Tried Elavil 6 months, 2013: Tried Cymbalta 6 months, Spring of 2016, tried Fetzima, Cymbalta, Seroquil, Fall 2016:  Baclofen, Cymbalta STOPPED THESE MEDS

PAXIL 10mg 2/16/ - 6/14/17

-------- CURRENT BELOW:

ZOLOFT: 25mg 6/15 - 8/10/17, 12.5mg 8/11/17 - current

SURGERY 3/30/17 .5mg KLONIPEN 2x Day. Unsuccessful rapid wean stopped 5/16/17. Reinstated 5/26 .25mg, .5mg, then used Ashton Manual to make a switch to 9mg Valium. Slowly weaning down: VALIUM: 2mg am, 5mg pm 8/29/17

GABAPENTIN Oct 2016: began 100mg Gabapentin and increased until Jan. 2017: 600mg, Feb: 500mg- 400mg, March-April 15-20: 300mg, April 21-26: 200mg, April 27 - 8/16/17: 100mg pm (experienced sdx daytime)

8/17: 40mg am and 50mg pm. Weaning down 10% per month, 26mg 2x day 10/1/17

 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 16/07/2017 at 4:10 PM, Skyler said:

Unfortunately, I still have tinnitus... it's the result of some sort of damage that was done to the auditory nerve. Just now I'm in a minor uptick, which means I have to identify the agent that is causing the increase... I'm thinking it's the ice tea flavoring I use.. or it could be I'm taking too much calcium again. So it's not just heavy duty drugs that can tweak it, but as long as I'm mindful, I keep it to an acceptable level.

 

Hope you manage it well going forward..

 

Skyler

Hi Skyler

 

Just read through your success story, congratulations!!

 

I was wondering how sensitised/ unstable you were right at the beginning? I've been massively unstable for over three months thanks to crazy med changes/ cts/ fast tapers etc before finding this site. I'm praying I stabilise so I can begin the long taper...

 

I read you were unstable and that it doesn't mean it'll be like that through the taper journey...

 

currently on 5mg lexapro, 15mg Mirtazipine and 6mg diazepam.

 

Nikki X

2009-2011 mirtazapine 45mg plus clonaz as needed. Start Lexapro Nov 2011. 

June 2016 Zopiclone, July-Sept Trazodone 50mg, adverse reaction, ct, started pregabalin, reduced Lexapro from 20 to 15mg

Start of 2017 on 15mg lexapro, 100mg pregablin. April added 15mg mirtazapine. End May.  Start June stop pregablin after two week taper.  End June.  Stopped Lexapro 15mg 3 wk taper. Start July Mirt 30mg + Diaz daily 2-4mg End July  returned to mirtaz 15mg + lexapro at 10mg reinstated. 4th Aug - 19 Sept Zopiclone (3.75 then 7.5 then 3.75 at the end)

diazepam 7-8mg day since then. 16 Sept cut lex to 5mg. 5-6 Oct swapped 5mg lex to 8.15am and 15mg mirtazipine to 11pm

8 Oct onwards sticking to 6mg diazepam p/day 3 doses/ 2 Feb start 1mg clonazepam, stop Diaz. 21 Feb 2% cut lex. 8 March 12.5% clon cut. Now take .5 clon 9am, .375 5pm(0.875 mg daily clonazepam) 16 May  @8% clon reduction so 9am dose .43(0.805 mg daily clonazepam)

2 July 10% Lexapro reduction to 4.5mg. 9 Aug .25mg lex cut  to 4.25mg/ 13 Aug 4.5mg

2018 October Lexapro 4.5 to 4.25 mg  clonazepam 0.80 mg  mirtazapine 15 mg

2019 October present drugs:  Lexapro 2.75 mg(tapers of 0.25 increments in last year at 5 -9 week intervals),  clonazepam 0.78 mg(taper of .02 mg November 2018),  mirtazapine 15 mg

2020 January 5th Lexapro taper to 2.57 mg(2%drop), total clonazepam 0.78 mg, mirtazapine 15 mg

previous signature here  recent dosing and symptom logs here

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • ChessieCat changed the title to ☼ Skyler: Completed - Benzo/Lyrica/Requip tapers
  • 1 month later...

Hi Skyler,

I read your journey and about your marvelous success, and I wonder how you are doing. I couldn't find anything after July, 2017.  I am suffering from tinnitus, so I am particularly interested in any advice or insight in that department.  Best wishes.

Alcohol periodic excessive 1963-1976, Valium sporadic 1964-1973,  Imipramine off & on 1982-1985, Fluoxetine 10mg-80 mg. Oct., 1995-Jan., 2014; Cymbalta, other ADs 1/2014-3/2014; Abilify 5 mg. 3/2014 - 8/8/17; Trintellix 20 mg. 3/2014 - 9/2017; Propranolol 60-80 mg. sporadically Sept-Oct, 2017; Seroquel few days Sept 2017 (c/t); Wellbutrin 150 mg. Sept, 2017 updosed to 300 mg. few days till c/t Oct 8, 2017, fish oil, vitD, vitE Oct 16, 2017-pres. Lipoflavonoid 4/2017-pres.  Fluoxetine 10 mg. Sept-Oct 8, 2017, 20 mg. 10/9- 10/15; 10 mg. 10/16 - 12/29;  9 mg. 12/30 - 2/9; 2 mL liquid (8.1mg) 2/10 - 3/7; 1.8 mL (7.29 mg) 3/8 -3/20; 1.6 mL (6.561mg) 3/20-4/2; 1.4 mL (5.9 mg) 4/3-4/14; 1mL (4 mg.) 4/15-4/22; .9mL (3.6mg) 4/23-5/1; .81mL (3.24 mg) 5/2-5/24; .73mL (2.916mg.) 5/25-6/8; .65mL 6/9-6/23; .6mL 6/24-7/17; .58mL 7/18-7/28; .525mL 7/29-8/13; .5 mL 8/14-21; .45mL 8/22-31; .4mL 9/2-21; .35mL 9/22-10/4; .3mL 10/5-28; .25mL 10/28-11/10; .2mL 11/11-11/24; .18mL 11/25-12/3; .1mL 12/4-12/18. Zero-12/19/18-present.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
On 7/14/2017 at 7:02 AM, Bobo32 said:

 Im 5 months in withdrawal but still have those. Did not reduce dosage as slowly as you did though

 

Hi Bobo32,

How are you doing?  I'm trying to cope with tinnitus and hope you are doing well.

Alcohol periodic excessive 1963-1976, Valium sporadic 1964-1973,  Imipramine off & on 1982-1985, Fluoxetine 10mg-80 mg. Oct., 1995-Jan., 2014; Cymbalta, other ADs 1/2014-3/2014; Abilify 5 mg. 3/2014 - 8/8/17; Trintellix 20 mg. 3/2014 - 9/2017; Propranolol 60-80 mg. sporadically Sept-Oct, 2017; Seroquel few days Sept 2017 (c/t); Wellbutrin 150 mg. Sept, 2017 updosed to 300 mg. few days till c/t Oct 8, 2017, fish oil, vitD, vitE Oct 16, 2017-pres. Lipoflavonoid 4/2017-pres.  Fluoxetine 10 mg. Sept-Oct 8, 2017, 20 mg. 10/9- 10/15; 10 mg. 10/16 - 12/29;  9 mg. 12/30 - 2/9; 2 mL liquid (8.1mg) 2/10 - 3/7; 1.8 mL (7.29 mg) 3/8 -3/20; 1.6 mL (6.561mg) 3/20-4/2; 1.4 mL (5.9 mg) 4/3-4/14; 1mL (4 mg.) 4/15-4/22; .9mL (3.6mg) 4/23-5/1; .81mL (3.24 mg) 5/2-5/24; .73mL (2.916mg.) 5/25-6/8; .65mL 6/9-6/23; .6mL 6/24-7/17; .58mL 7/18-7/28; .525mL 7/29-8/13; .5 mL 8/14-21; .45mL 8/22-31; .4mL 9/2-21; .35mL 9/22-10/4; .3mL 10/5-28; .25mL 10/28-11/10; .2mL 11/11-11/24; .18mL 11/25-12/3; .1mL 12/4-12/18. Zero-12/19/18-present.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Im doing better still tinnitus but improving. I get waves now and then but overall improving 

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
On 15/01/2018 at 6:25 AM, RealMe said:

Hi Bobo32,

How are you doing?  I'm trying to cope with tinnitus and hope you are doing well.

 

Still tinnitus maybe it's related to my high homocysteine levels 26 which causes thickening of the blood i'm supplementing with B9 and B12 maybe that will improve it

Also I cut gluten and it helps

 

2004-2007 paxil

2015- zoloft 3 months zyprexa 3 months lexapro 3 months xanax

Med free since Feb 28th 2017

Mostly experiencing PSSD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Bobo32 said:

 

Still tinnitus maybe it's related to my high homocysteine levels 26 which causes thickening of the blood i'm supplementing with B9 and B12 maybe that will improve it

Also I cut gluten and it helps

 

What is PSSD?  How did your tinnitus start?  I'll look up gluten free diets.  So far I've cut out salt, sugar, aspartame, tomatoes, white flour...

Alcohol periodic excessive 1963-1976, Valium sporadic 1964-1973,  Imipramine off & on 1982-1985, Fluoxetine 10mg-80 mg. Oct., 1995-Jan., 2014; Cymbalta, other ADs 1/2014-3/2014; Abilify 5 mg. 3/2014 - 8/8/17; Trintellix 20 mg. 3/2014 - 9/2017; Propranolol 60-80 mg. sporadically Sept-Oct, 2017; Seroquel few days Sept 2017 (c/t); Wellbutrin 150 mg. Sept, 2017 updosed to 300 mg. few days till c/t Oct 8, 2017, fish oil, vitD, vitE Oct 16, 2017-pres. Lipoflavonoid 4/2017-pres.  Fluoxetine 10 mg. Sept-Oct 8, 2017, 20 mg. 10/9- 10/15; 10 mg. 10/16 - 12/29;  9 mg. 12/30 - 2/9; 2 mL liquid (8.1mg) 2/10 - 3/7; 1.8 mL (7.29 mg) 3/8 -3/20; 1.6 mL (6.561mg) 3/20-4/2; 1.4 mL (5.9 mg) 4/3-4/14; 1mL (4 mg.) 4/15-4/22; .9mL (3.6mg) 4/23-5/1; .81mL (3.24 mg) 5/2-5/24; .73mL (2.916mg.) 5/25-6/8; .65mL 6/9-6/23; .6mL 6/24-7/17; .58mL 7/18-7/28; .525mL 7/29-8/13; .5 mL 8/14-21; .45mL 8/22-31; .4mL 9/2-21; .35mL 9/22-10/4; .3mL 10/5-28; .25mL 10/28-11/10; .2mL 11/11-11/24; .18mL 11/25-12/3; .1mL 12/4-12/18. Zero-12/19/18-present.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi there,

 

The staff at SA are wondering how you are.  We'd love to hear how you are doing now.   Would you mind dropping by and giving an update?

 

Thanks.

CC

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy