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Utahgal

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I have been taking 300 mgs gabapentin for anxiety for the past 2 years. I recently tried to taper down to 200 mgs with my doctors permission. After about a week, I ended up in severe withdrawal and had to spend 4 days in a psych ward! I'm back up to 300 mgs. It's 2 months later and I still wake with morning anxiety, have no appetite, and have weak legs.

 

I really want to get off gabapentin, but am ow really scared! I was thinking of asking my doctor about the liquid form of gabapentin and tapering by only 10 mgs every 3 weeks. Do you think I can avoid the terrible withdrawals? I just don't know how to get off this medication.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Here's our specific topic on tapering gabapentin (Tips for Tapering Neurontin), but I think you might find these general tapering tips more useful:

 

Why Taper By 10% of My Dosage?

 

Two years is a long time to have been on a drug, so your best bet is probably to go very slowly, and be ready to stop or even updose depending on how you feel. It's important to taper off as comfortably as possible, not as fast as possible.

 

When you have a chance, please add your drug history to your signature:  How To Put Your Drug History In Your Signature

 

Welcome to the forum, Utahgirl.  You'll find lots of good information and friendly support here.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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I was wondering if I could still be feeling badly from my failed taper / withdrawal 2 months ago. I did go right back up to my full dose of 300 mgs several days into the withdrawal. I still feel a loss of appetite, anxiety, dizziness, general weakness.

 

My doctor said that it can NO way be for that horrible withdrawal 2 months ago. I just feel like my nervous system has been shocked and will take time to heal. I'm not sure why I don't feel better since I increased my gabapentin dose back up.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Administrator

Welcome, utahgal.

 

Yes, your nervous system could still be recovering from your earlier upset.

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.

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I'm having issues with gabapentin also.Just changing generics has me in a tizzy..I haven't been able to stabilize either. Hang in there..The liquid would be the way to go if you can tolerate it. If you don't mind we could compare symptoms sometimes.Maybe I wouldn't think I was going crazy.The pharmacy should never switch generics on you like they did me.

C/T Celexa and Trazadone on Jan.29th 2014
Prescribed 1mg of Klonopin every 6 hours on Jan.29th
Began tapering Klonopin April 18th..stretching time between doses...at first one hour for 2 weeks then a half hour for app.10 days then another half hour 10days later.
Presently at .25 three times a day..6 2 and 10pm. Trying to stabilize.
Also still taking gabapentin 300mgs 2xs a day..

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Utah--

 

The thing doctors don't know is that it's really variable how people react to these drugs and to withdrawal. Your reaction and experience might not be the most common, but from what I've seen people report on this and other forums, it's also not that unusual.

 

When I tried to CT Neurontin 1200 mg and then went back on 300 mg, I had a terrible reaction and it took many months for me to stabilize. Unfortunately I started other meds due to that reaction, bad idea, I'm still tapering them.

 

You can definitely taper safely off Neurontin though. Read through the suggested threads and wait until you're feeling pretty much back to normal before starting.

 

Glad you're here, good luck to you!

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Thank you all for welcoming me. I feel like tis forum will really help! I will definitely wait a few more months before I try the GP taper. I will be asking for your help and support along the way.

 

I had a psychiatrist appt yesterday, and he raised my zyprexa from 5 mg to 10 mgs to help with the anxiety. I really don't want to increase, but I really can't function with this much anxiety, and I have 2 kids to care for. Hopefully the zyprexa kicks in and I can wean back down to 5 mgs shortly.

 

It's amazing to me just how messed up my body got from a 100 mg decrease of a prescribed med!

 

Rhi,....... I see that you successfully tapered off GP. I would love to learn more about your story.

 

Thanks again for your support!

 

Utah

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I recently started thyroid meds even though my labs are normal. My numbers are at the bottom of the range. My symptoms are: fatigue, feeling cold, hair loss, muscle weakness, hair loss, difficulty sleeping, poor appetite, weight loss.

 

Oddly enough, I looked up gabapentin side effects, and noticed some of them on that list! All the more reason I want off!!!

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Administrator

If I were you, I would not increase Zyprexa. See adverse effects here http://www.drugs.com/pro/zyprexa.html

 

Perhaps you might consider reinstating a low dose of gabapentin instead.

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.

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Alto,

 

I think I will stick with my 5 mg zyprexa and not increase. I did reinstate back to 300 GP after the third day of terrible withdrawal. So I am back at my starting dose. I really don't want to rely on Xanax, but definitely need a morning dose (0.5) as that is when anxiety is the worst. I do try breathing exercises and restorative yoga, but nothing seems to really help. I was doing fine until I tried to lower that blasted GP. I'm still paying the price 2 months later!

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Alto,I think I will stick with my 5 mg zyprexa and not increase. I did reinstate back to 300 GP after the third day of terrible withdrawal. So I am back at my starting dose. I really don't want to rely on Xanax, but definitely need a morning dose (0.5) as that is when anxiety is the worst. I do try breathing exercises and restorative yoga, but nothing seems to really help. I was doing fine until I tried to lower that blasted GP. I'm still paying the price 2 months later!

 

Are you drinking coffee in the AM. When I was in WD, caffeine magnified the symptoms exponentially, so I had to stop drinking it for the time (and I LOVE my coffee).

 

Hope you find relief soon...

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

 

 

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Oh my, I have been drinking coffee. I will need to cut that out! I should have known better. Time to buy some tea!

 

Has anyone had luck slowly tapering off zyprexa? I know it is not water soluble so it must be tough to do a liquid taper. I would love to read some success stories.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Oh my, I have been drinking coffee. I will need to cut that out! I should have known better. Time to buy some tea!

 

I had to cut out all caffeine... including that in dark chocolate.  Dropping the coffee is an excellent step, but you may also have a bad reaction to tea.  Maybe try decaffeinated tea?  I did believe it would make much difference,, and dragged my feet... but then I realized the anxiety abated every afternoon between 3 and 4 PM... just when the caffeine was leaving my system.  Life was much better after I took a week or so to reduce my intake.

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

 

 

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Hi UG,

 

I finished Zyprexa in Dec. I don't know how long I tapered as not sure when I started...maybe over 5 to 7 months, off 5mg. I think it was about 4 months off to really get over it. I have so many other drugs in play it's hard to know. The biggest issues were rage and insomnia. I chopped up tablets. Now I would still chop, but either weigh or put them in empty capsules so I could contain tiny amounts. I think broken tablets have to be contained to prevent degredation. It wasn't always pretty, but I worked part-time throughout. I didn't realize how Zyprexa had buried my soul. Good luck!

1st round Prozac 1989/90, clear depression symptoms. 2nd round Prozac started 1999 when admitted to dr. I was tired. Prozac pooped out, switch to Cymbalta 3/2006. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder due to mania 6/2006--then I was taken abruptly off Cymbalta and didn't know I had SSRI withdrawal. Lots of meds for my intractable "bipolar" symptoms.

Zyprexa started about 9/06, mostly 5mg. Tapered 4/12 through12/29/12

Wellbutrin. XL 300 mg started 1/07, tapered 1/18/13 through 7/8/13

Oxazepam mostly continuously since 6/06, 30mg since 12/12, tapered 1.17.14 through 8.26.15

11/06 Lithium 600mg twice daily, 2.2.14 400mg TID DIY liquid, 2.12.14 1150mg, 3.2.14 1100mg, 3.18.14 1075mg, 4/14 updose to 1100mg, 6.1.14 900 mg capsules 7.8.14 810mg, 8.17.14 725mg, 8.24.24 700mg...10.22.14 487.5mg, 3.9.15 475mg, 4.1.15 462.5mg 4.21.15 450mg 8.11.15 375mg, 11.28.15 362.5mg, back to 375mg four days later, 3.4.16 updose to 475 (too much going on to risk trouble)

9/4/13 Toprol-XL 25mg daily for sudden hypertension, tapered 11.12.13 through 5.3.14, last 10 days or so switched to atenolol

7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol

56 years old

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Meime......

 

What did you do to help with the insomnia? Do you think Benadryl would help with that? How long did the insomnia last? I've read that it is common with zyprexa withdrawal.

 

Did you have a scale to weigh your crushed pills? So, water titration would not work?

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Welcome. There are suggestions in the Symptom & Self Help thread for insomnia. Perhaps you will find something there. I personally would first suggest that if you are on your computer sooner than a few hours before bed OR drinking coffee in the afternoon to be careful with that.

 

There are glasses to shut out light from your computer if you can't resist ( points to self)...

Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone

1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox.

b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b]

2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax

November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b

Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax

My mantra " go slow & with the flow "

3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day)

4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day.

10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro.

1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms.

1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. :) 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut.

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Hi Utahgirl,

 

I think Benadryl would be okay as a last-ditch option. Then you'd have to get off that. I tapered without any knowledge, so I'm no expert. I restarted my benzo. Zyprexa reduces histamine; I think that's why insomnia is such an issue. There is info at beyondmeds.com about a low-histamine diet which also might help. Best advice I've read: you need to change your belief that "I'll have a good day tomorrow if I get a good night's sleep" to "I'll have a good day tomorrow if I get a good night's rest."

 

It turns out my med regime was a house of cards, you move one card and another shifts. So I have been withdrawing almost continuously at a fairly rapid pace for at least a year and I don't sleep well. But there are multiple chemicals in play, and I am at the end of perimenopause. Good times.

 

Drugs don't usually degrade instantly, so I am thinking you could crush (mortar and pestle) and suspend quickly in water to make a dose, then toss the leftovers. I might use a 2.5mg tablet whole, then crush the other tablet. I had a suspension made by a compounding pharmacy to try to reinstate. He suspended it in methyl cellulose. But methyl cellulose makes the drug absorb over eight hours, which can be good and bad. I took 0.2 mg and it totally sedated me, but I may just have been too far out from stopping. Another compounding pharmacy might use another agent that would dissolve differently.

 

Good luck, and let us know how it goes...as you can see there's not a lot of Zyprexa info here.

1st round Prozac 1989/90, clear depression symptoms. 2nd round Prozac started 1999 when admitted to dr. I was tired. Prozac pooped out, switch to Cymbalta 3/2006. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder due to mania 6/2006--then I was taken abruptly off Cymbalta and didn't know I had SSRI withdrawal. Lots of meds for my intractable "bipolar" symptoms.

Zyprexa started about 9/06, mostly 5mg. Tapered 4/12 through12/29/12

Wellbutrin. XL 300 mg started 1/07, tapered 1/18/13 through 7/8/13

Oxazepam mostly continuously since 6/06, 30mg since 12/12, tapered 1.17.14 through 8.26.15

11/06 Lithium 600mg twice daily, 2.2.14 400mg TID DIY liquid, 2.12.14 1150mg, 3.2.14 1100mg, 3.18.14 1075mg, 4/14 updose to 1100mg, 6.1.14 900 mg capsules 7.8.14 810mg, 8.17.14 725mg, 8.24.24 700mg...10.22.14 487.5mg, 3.9.15 475mg, 4.1.15 462.5mg 4.21.15 450mg 8.11.15 375mg, 11.28.15 362.5mg, back to 375mg four days later, 3.4.16 updose to 475 (too much going on to risk trouble)

9/4/13 Toprol-XL 25mg daily for sudden hypertension, tapered 11.12.13 through 5.3.14, last 10 days or so switched to atenolol

7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol

56 years old

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I'd still like to know more about Rhi's experience with Gabapentin withdrawal. I have read so many horror stories and am so scared. I was really sick when I dropped from 300 to 200 mgs. I certainly want to avoid that again. I usually just take 300 before bed. I would like to do a liquid taper (I learned it comes in liquid form) and drop to 290 or 285 for three weeks. Should I divide the dose and take it twice a day or just take the whole thing at night?

 

I also am scared that I have lost weight after the last failed taper that sent me into withdrawal. I am very thin. Hence the doctor put me on Zyprexa. How do I maintain an appetite during tapering?

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Administrator

Hi Utahgal

 

The episode that drove me to this site was when I was down to about 18 mg effexor and I got cocky thinking I was so close to being off of the meds and dropped 100 mg of gabapentin.  (I only took/take 200 mg at night).  That drop was enough to cause me to fall into intense withdrawals ... the worst I've ever had.  Alto theorizes that I was on the fine edge due to a too fast effexor withdrawal and the percipitous drop of gabapentin pushed me over the edge.

 

If you are stable on your other meds then a 10% decrement from your current dose should be ok.  You could monitor your symptoms to see if that amount is too much or about right.  I think your plan to decrement by less than 10% is fine, but I would caution you to take inventory of yourself and make sure you are feeling stable before you start your taper.

 

Rhi micro tapered off of gabapentin and I recall that she said it was a very linear progression.  What I believe she meant by that was she would drop a little med, she might have some discomfort, but then it would resolve, but she wouldn't have a rebound or worse sypmtoms crop up the further she got from the decrement ... this would be unlike SSRI withdrawal where we see members drop a little med, feel fine and then a few weeks out they suffer discomfort or the symptoms get worse.

 

I see you started thyroid treatment.  Depending on when you started thyroid treatment you might want to give your system a little time to become accustomed to now having sufficient thyroid before you attempt to decrement again.  What I discovered after my withdrawal event was that I was able to manage my symptoms better if I just changed one thing at a time and gave the change time to see how it effected me before I changed something else.

 

Welcome to the site,

Karma

2007 @ 375 mg Effexor - 11/29/2011 - 43.75 mg Effexor (regular) & .625 mg Xanax

200 mg Gabapentin 2/27/21 - 194.5 mg, 5/28/21 - 183 mg, 8/2/21 - 170 mg, 11/28/21 - 150 mg, 4/19/22 - 122 mg; 8//7/22 - 100 mg; 12/17 - 75mg; 8/17 - 45 mg; 10/16 40 mg
Xanax taper: 3/11/12 - 0.9375 mg, 3/25/12 - 0.875 mg, 4/6/12 - 0.8125 mg, 4/18/12 - 0.75 ; 10/16 40mg;

1/16 0.6875 mg; at some point 0.625 mg
Effexor taper: 1/29/12 - 40.625 mg, 4/29/12 - 39.875 mg, 5/11/12 - Switched to liquid Effexor, 5/25/12 - 38 mg, 7/6/12 - 35 mg, 8/17/12 - 32 mg, 9/14/12 - 30 mg, 10/19/12 - 28 mg, 11/9/12 - 26 mg, 11/30/12 - 24 mg, 01/14/13 - 22 mg. 02/25/13 - 20.8 mg, 03/18/13 - 19.2 mg, 4/15/13 - 17.6 mg, 8/10/13 - 16.4 mg, 9/7/13 - 15.2 mg, 10/19/13 - 14 mg, 1/15/14 - 13.2 mg, 3/1/2014 - 12.6 mg, 5/4/14 - 12 mg, 8/1/14 - 11.4 mg, 8/29/14 - 10.8 mg; 10/14/14 - 10.2 mg; 12/15/14 - 10 mg, 1/11/15 - 9.5 mg, 2/8/15 - 9 mg, 3/21/15 - 8.5 mg, 5/1/15 - 8 mg, 6/9/15 - 7.5 mg, 7/8/15 - 7 mg, 8/22/15 - 6.5 mg, 10/4/15 - 6 mg; 1/1/16 - 5.6 mg; 2/6/16 - 5.2 mg; 4/9 - 4.8 mg; 7/7 4.5 mg; 10/7 4.25 mg; 11/4 4.0 mg; 11/25 3.8 mg; 4/24 3.6 mg; 5/27 3.4 mg; 7/8 3.2 mg ... 10/18 2.8 mg; 1/18 2.6 mg; 4/7 2.4 mg; 5/26 2.15mg; 8/18 1.85 mg; 10/7 1.7 mg; 12/1 1.45 mg; 3/2 1.2 mg; 5/4 0.90 mg; 6/1 0.80 mg; 6/22 0.65 mg; 08/03 0.50 mg, 08/10 0.45 mg, 10/05 0.325 mg, 11/23 0.2 mg, 12/14 0.15 mg, 12/21 0.125 mg, 02/28 0.03125 mg, 2/15 0.015625 mg, 2/29/20 0.00 mg - OFF Effexor


I am not a medical professional - this is not medical advice. My suggestions are based on personal experience, reading, observation and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers

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Thank you Karma!

 

I was JUST reading your intro thread! How strange is that! I noticed that you also have the Gab to taper :)

 

My doc had me decrease from 300 to 200 and it landed me in the nut hut for 4 days with severe withdrawal! So much for trusting him! And now I'm on zyprexa to boot! Uuuugggg!

 

My thyroid meds are not optimized yet and I'm not fully recovered from my failed gab taper. I also am experiencing some anxiety from my synthroid that was just added to my armour.

 

I think I will put off the gab taper for a couple months. I'm really scared after reading all the horror stories on the net. I'm here looking for support and advice. Better advice than my doctor anyway!

 

Thanks for your response and congrats on all your tapers!

 

Marnie

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I'd still like to know more about Rhi's experience with Gabapentin withdrawal. I have read so many horror stories and am so scared. I was really sick when I dropped from 300 to 200 mgs. I certainly want to avoid that again. I usually just take 300 before bed. I would like to do a liquid taper (I learned it comes in liquid form) and drop to 290 or 285 for three weeks. Should I divide the dose and take it twice a day or just take the whole thing at night?I also am scared that I have lost weight after the last failed taper that sent me into withdrawal. I am very thin. Hence the doctor put me on Zyprexa. How do I maintain an appetite during tapering?

 

I don't really have a lot to say--I did a very slow taper, at the same time as other drugs, and I didn't really have any problem. It was actually the easiest to taper of the meds I've tapered.  I think the key is just to do a really slow taper.

 

I did get really sick when I tried to CT it though and like I said it took a long time to stabilize after reinstating a partial dose.

 

But for me anyway with a slow taper, no problems.  

 

I did spread my doses out and dose multiple times per day as gabapentin clears through the kidneys in something like six hours I think.

 

Also it sounds like you're taking 0.5 mg of Xanax in the morning? Please read over the posts in the benzo section that talk about interdose withdrawal. Fluctuations in blood levels of Xanax (which peaks out around two hours and then drops) can cause symptoms of anxiety, and during tapers we tend to be more sensitive to that. You may want to educate yourself about benzo interdose withdrawal and your options with that. I was multiple-dosing my Xanax during my gabapentin taper.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Thank you, Rhi! I can use all the encouragement I can get! It may take me 2 years to get there, but I will do it!

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

you will totes do it Utah!

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Did anyone else taking gabapentin or tapering from it suffer from loss of appetite? I just can't stand the thought of food for most of the day. Luckily by dinner, I can eat. I have lost a lot of weight and I am scared, my psychiatrist accused me of being anorexic and put me on zyprexa........and I still can't gain weight!

 

I just wondered what others' experiences were.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Utahgal,

 

People can't see the article you posted without joining Medscape.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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Sorry. I tried to copy the article about withdrawing from antipsychotics but it didn't work. I don't suscribe to medscape. It basically gave a list of drugs to help with withdrawal, such as anti anxiety, anti nausea, and others. Sorry it didn't copy correctly.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I am not tapering Gabapentin but have had the lack of appetite problem several times in my various withdrawal attempts from ADs.  I recently lost a bunch of weight because I just couldn't eat as much as I normally would and nothing really sounded good.  I forced myself to eat because I knew I needed the food to function but it was really hard.  Mine was the same way too where it would get better usually at dinner but the rest of the day was really hard.  Once you stabilize, this should get better and your appetite will improve.  

-1/06 - 3/07 Cymbalta. Fast taper (essentially CT); withdrawal symptoms after 4 mos (didn't realize was WD)

-10/07: 100 mg Zoloft; 1 mg Klonopin - tapered off Klonopin after 4 mos. Several unsuccessful slow tapers of Zoloft; went up and down in dose a lot

-Spring 2013 back on 1 mg Klonopin to counter WD symptoms; switched over 5-6 mos from Zoloft to 35 mg citalopram
-Two attempts at slow tapering citalopram, always increased dose due to WD; also increased Klonopin to 1.25 mg in 2014, then to 1.5 mg in 2015

-8/17-9/17: After holding one year at 20 mg, feeling withdrawal symptoms due to stress - slowly increased to 25 mg. No change in symptoms after 6 months (? tolerance ?)  - decided to start citalopram taper February 2018 (still on Klonopin 1.5 mg).

Supplements: fish oil; magnesium; vitamin D3; curcumin

Citalopram taper:  2/2018 - 12/2019: 25 mg - 11.03 mg I 2020: 10.89 mg - 7.9 mg I 2021: 7.8 mg - 5.26 mg I 2022: 5.2 mg - 3.36 mg I 2023: 3.3 mg - 1.47 mg 2024: 1/5/24: 1.44 mg; 1/19/24: 1.40 mg; 1/26/24: 1.37 mg; 2/2/24: 1.34 mg; 2/9/24: 1.31 mg; 2/23/24: 1.28 mg; 3/1/24: 1.25 mg; 3/8/24: 1.22 mg; 3/15/24: 1.19 mg

 

 

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  • Administrator

Hi Marnie

 

You might want to check out this site: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/.  I am a member of a thyroid patient advocate site and from what I've experienced and observed it may be that your iron isn't optimized to utilize the thyroid that you are taking, thus resulting in the anxiety ... you may not need the additional T4 (Synthroid) on top of the Armour. 

 

Just something to look into.

 

Karma

2007 @ 375 mg Effexor - 11/29/2011 - 43.75 mg Effexor (regular) & .625 mg Xanax

200 mg Gabapentin 2/27/21 - 194.5 mg, 5/28/21 - 183 mg, 8/2/21 - 170 mg, 11/28/21 - 150 mg, 4/19/22 - 122 mg; 8//7/22 - 100 mg; 12/17 - 75mg; 8/17 - 45 mg; 10/16 40 mg
Xanax taper: 3/11/12 - 0.9375 mg, 3/25/12 - 0.875 mg, 4/6/12 - 0.8125 mg, 4/18/12 - 0.75 ; 10/16 40mg;

1/16 0.6875 mg; at some point 0.625 mg
Effexor taper: 1/29/12 - 40.625 mg, 4/29/12 - 39.875 mg, 5/11/12 - Switched to liquid Effexor, 5/25/12 - 38 mg, 7/6/12 - 35 mg, 8/17/12 - 32 mg, 9/14/12 - 30 mg, 10/19/12 - 28 mg, 11/9/12 - 26 mg, 11/30/12 - 24 mg, 01/14/13 - 22 mg. 02/25/13 - 20.8 mg, 03/18/13 - 19.2 mg, 4/15/13 - 17.6 mg, 8/10/13 - 16.4 mg, 9/7/13 - 15.2 mg, 10/19/13 - 14 mg, 1/15/14 - 13.2 mg, 3/1/2014 - 12.6 mg, 5/4/14 - 12 mg, 8/1/14 - 11.4 mg, 8/29/14 - 10.8 mg; 10/14/14 - 10.2 mg; 12/15/14 - 10 mg, 1/11/15 - 9.5 mg, 2/8/15 - 9 mg, 3/21/15 - 8.5 mg, 5/1/15 - 8 mg, 6/9/15 - 7.5 mg, 7/8/15 - 7 mg, 8/22/15 - 6.5 mg, 10/4/15 - 6 mg; 1/1/16 - 5.6 mg; 2/6/16 - 5.2 mg; 4/9 - 4.8 mg; 7/7 4.5 mg; 10/7 4.25 mg; 11/4 4.0 mg; 11/25 3.8 mg; 4/24 3.6 mg; 5/27 3.4 mg; 7/8 3.2 mg ... 10/18 2.8 mg; 1/18 2.6 mg; 4/7 2.4 mg; 5/26 2.15mg; 8/18 1.85 mg; 10/7 1.7 mg; 12/1 1.45 mg; 3/2 1.2 mg; 5/4 0.90 mg; 6/1 0.80 mg; 6/22 0.65 mg; 08/03 0.50 mg, 08/10 0.45 mg, 10/05 0.325 mg, 11/23 0.2 mg, 12/14 0.15 mg, 12/21 0.125 mg, 02/28 0.03125 mg, 2/15 0.015625 mg, 2/29/20 0.00 mg - OFF Effexor


I am not a medical professional - this is not medical advice. My suggestions are based on personal experience, reading, observation and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Sorry. I tried to copy the article about withdrawing from antipsychotics but it didn't work. I don't suscribe to medscape. It basically gave a list of drugs to help with withdrawal, such as anti anxiety, anti nausea, and others. Sorry it didn't copy correctly.

 

In that case, I'm glad the link didn't work.  To the best of our knowledge here, there are no drugs that help withdrawal and in fact, most of them make it worse.  Of course, mainstream medicine treats drug side-effects with more drugs. That's SOP, however harmful it may be.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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  • Administrator

"Anti-anxiety" means a benzo. No revelation there.

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.

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Karma

 

My ferritin was low, so I am on iron supplements. I was lucky enough to find a thyroid savvy doctor who goes by FT4 and. FT3 and symptoms first, and not the blasted TSH. Both my frees were at the bottom of the normal range. I had been on armour for the past 6 months and very gradually worked up to 60 mgs. My labs showed that my FT4 was well below my FT3 so he just added in some synthroid. I get new labs in 2 weeks.

 

I also take 20 mgs cortisol for my adrenals.

 

I think this anxiety is a mixture of the shock caused by my failed gabapentin taper and a bad response to 25 mcgs of synthroid. I backed my synthroid down to 12.5 mcgs a few days ago and today I feel much better. I only need half of a Xanax all day!!

 

I am not sure if my hair loss, fatigue, poor memory, weak leg muscles is due to thyroid or are side effects of the gab!

 

I had to go to Boston to find a doc to treat my thyroid since my labs were always in the "normal" range. But as I'm sure you know, you can have normal labs but still benefit from thyroid hormone. STTM is the book I read that taught me that.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I'm not against using meds temporarily to get me through some rough patches of withdrawal. Especially with nausea and anxiety. I do realize that some people would rather just be med free.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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I'm starting to feel down about my lack of recovery. As I first posted in my intro, I had to reinstate 300 mgs gabapentin after a taper gone terribly wrong. It's been over 2 months and although I feel about 40% better, I am still suffering from early morning anxiety, mild nausea, lack of appetite, and general weakness. Could this really be from the gabapentin taper? How long does it usually take to bounce back? Why does my psychiatrist insist that it's not from the gabapentin? He is trying to blame my thyroid medication because I take armour and I know it's not from that!!!

 

Has anyone else been through something like this? I really expected to be back to normal after reinstating the gabapentin.

I am on 2.0 mg abilify for 2 yrs now.  I tired to taper every month 2.0....1.5....1.0....0.5....off.  I was fine until I jumped off at the end.  I will need to slow the taper down after 0.5.  Maybe try 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025...off.

 

8/2/17. Abilify  2.0 mg

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