camel Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Hi all, I've been on my taper journey for quite a while now (4 years) and i'm now on a very low dosage of zoloft (4mg, where the 'therapeutical minimum' is 50mg) and i'm doing fine. My major issue in withdrawal howerver is a lack of sleep, wich has lead to a burnout last year (back then i updosed a little, wich i tapered off now)... I react really, really bad on sleep drugs and i'm very much against these 'aids', so that's no option at all. I have tried a lot of things, sleep hygiene and sleep restriction restriction in combination with valerian was the most effective. In addition to this, i'm considering supplements that contain tryptophan. Generally, the combination ssri an trypthophan is not recommended (serotonin syndrome). But since i'm a such a low dosage and since (i assume) the amount of serotonin decreases when tapering, it makes sense to try these supplements. Any ideas, experiences on this subject? Thanks! Since 2005 50mg of Serlain (Zoloft).After several failed attemps of tapering on doctors advice (way too fast), in 2012 begun with slow taper. In 09/2014 on 4.5mg(=9%) of initial dose crashed and upped a bit (6.5mg; =13%) and stayed there for more than a half year Lost my job in 06/2015, but was doing OK My goal: to super slow taper further down and finally come off these meds. Since 1/1/2016 on 3.9mg (=7,7%) Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted December 5, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 5, 2015 Hi Camel, I can see that you are reasonably new here and have not made an Introduction Topic for yourself. BTW welcome to SA. It might be worth you reading this link: Tips to help sleep -- so many of us have withdrawal insomnia To start Intro topic, here is how to do it: Please start a topic about yourself in the forum Once you have done that, the mods will probably move this topic to your Intro topic. You can then use the new topic to ask questions and receive questions and as a journal of your progress. The members here are very supportive. Putting your withdrawal history in the signature block helps people see your drug history at a glance: Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature OR Complete your Signature from Phone or Tablet A couple of things that you might find helpful in understanding what happens: Video: Healing from Antidepressants: Patterns of Recovery and Brain Remodelling All the best, CC * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft;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
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted December 5, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 5, 2015 Hello camel and welcome to SA from me too. As ChessieCat said, I have moved the thread you started here to be your introductory thread. I believe you will find the links Chessie so kindly posted for you helpful. When you have filled in your signature with your drug history we might have more ideas. I would be curious to hear a bit more about how you are tapering: how often you make cuts, by how much? Do you have any other symptoms except sleeping problems? Here is our discussion on tryptophan: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9933-5-htp-5-hydroxytryptophan-and-l-tryptophan/ Once again welcome. Bubble Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
indigo Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Hi Camel, I've been tapering off Prozac for three years and am down to 3.4 mg, so we are in a similar situation. Sleep has been elusive for me too during this taper. When I was dropping very small levels I didn't want to take anything like Tryptophan or 5-HTP because I needed to keep in touch with the symptoms of withdrawal so I'd know when to do my next drop. However, I have been holding at 3.4 mg for three months now and recently started taking 100 mg of 5-HTP ( a tryptophan derivative). I'm delighted at how it has improved my mood and eased my over reaction to stress. As you say, for people on a micro dose of SSRI serotonin syndrome is extremely unlikely. On 20 mg of Prozac for about ten years. Sept 2012 started reducing 10% a drop using gram scale, with average of one month holds. When I'd reached the half way mark, taking 10 mg powder out of the 20 mg capsules, I switched over to 10 mg capsules and cutting down from those. Withdrawals got harder the lower I dropped. May 2013 changed to 5% drops, holding until all withdrawal symptoms gone. January 2015 changed to liquid prozac (concentration of 20MG per 5 mL) using a 1mL oral syringe. Current dose of fluoxetine solution equivalent 3.4 mg. Any effort to drop below this has been disastrous so for the time being I'm staying at this level. Adding 200 mg Tryptophan and 200 GABA a day has helped with anxiety. Also take 1,300mg Omega- 3, 875mg Magnesium, 1800mg Curcumin, 1000mg Vit C, 5000 Vit D. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted December 6, 2015 Administrator Share Posted December 6, 2015 Welcome, camel. When was the last time you changed your Zoloft dosage? Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, seehttp://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/ This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
indigo Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Hi Camel. I forgot to say 5-HTP also significantly improved my sleep. On 20 mg of Prozac for about ten years. Sept 2012 started reducing 10% a drop using gram scale, with average of one month holds. When I'd reached the half way mark, taking 10 mg powder out of the 20 mg capsules, I switched over to 10 mg capsules and cutting down from those. Withdrawals got harder the lower I dropped. May 2013 changed to 5% drops, holding until all withdrawal symptoms gone. January 2015 changed to liquid prozac (concentration of 20MG per 5 mL) using a 1mL oral syringe. Current dose of fluoxetine solution equivalent 3.4 mg. Any effort to drop below this has been disastrous so for the time being I'm staying at this level. Adding 200 mg Tryptophan and 200 GABA a day has helped with anxiety. Also take 1,300mg Omega- 3, 875mg Magnesium, 1800mg Curcumin, 1000mg Vit C, 5000 Vit D. Link to comment
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