Nikki Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 (edited) ADMIN NOTE Also seetablets or liquid in withdrawal ? How to calculate dosages? Using an oral syringe and other tapering techniques How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules I find this confusing. I just picked up Celexa liquid 10mgs/5mL is on the front of the package. I take 40mgs. Celexa I have 10mg tablets Should take 30 or 35mgs. of tablets and use the rest in liquid? ~ OR ~ 30mgs. Celexa and the rest in liquid. (yes I know I am being neurotic, tapering ain't easy for me) Most important how do I use the liquid to decrease 1/2 mg. The syringe he gave me is for 5mL. 1/2mg = 1/4mL? 1mg = 1/2mL? 5mL syringe = 10mgs? Somebody please straighten me out here He gave me another syringe which is 1mL Confused here. Edited February 13, 2019 by ChessieCat added links / cc removed Celexa, now liquid topic Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 6, 2012 Administrator Share Posted May 6, 2012 (edited) 10mgs/5mL means there are 2mg Celexa in each 1mL, a 2:1 ratio (twice as much Celexa as liquid). 1mL liquid contains 2mg Celexa For example, if you want to take 8mg Celexa in the liquid, you would take 4mL. If you're at 40mg Celexa and you want to take 36mg (a 10% decrease), you could take 30mg in tablets (3 10mg tablets) and 6mg in liquid (3mL liquid). You would have to fill a 1mL oral syringe 3 times. (You may wish to get the 10mL oral syringes for this stage of your taper so you only have to fill a syringe once for a dose.) Here are some equivalencies for a 10mgs/5mL solution of Celexa (2:1 ratio): .5mg Celexa = .25mL liquid 1mg Celexa = .5mL liquid 2mg Celexa = 1mL liquid 3mg Celexa = 1.5mL liquid 4mg Celexa = 2mL liquid 5mg Celexa = 2.5mL liquid 6mg Celexa = 3mL liquid 7mg Celexa = 3.5mL liquid 8mg Celexa = 4mL liquid 9mg Celexa = 4.5mL liquid 10mg Celexa = 5mL liquid Edited May 7, 2012 by Altostrata corrected mg to mL, added 1mL equivalent 1 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikki Posted May 6, 2012 Author Share Posted May 6, 2012 Thank you Alto... I do understand the 2:1 ratio now. My problem is the five levels - lines in between each mL marking. 4mL_________ ____ ____ ____ ____@ this first line what is the decrease - an 1/8 or 1/4 or 1/2, etc.? 5mL_________ I want to fill the syringe up to that line. It is the smallest cut that I can make. It would be 9 something. What that something is I don't know. Aside from numbers, ratios, percents, algebra, geometry, adding, subtracting, multiplying and division being my worst subjects....the reason I can't absorb is because of the Celexa. I swear it has me blocked and unable to absorb Hugs Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 6, 2012 Administrator Share Posted May 6, 2012 If there are 5 divisions between 4mL and 5mL, each of the chunks would be .2mL (.2 x 5 = 1.0mL) -- 1/5 of a mL. If there are 10 divisions between 4mL and 5mL, each of the chunks would be .1mL (.1 x 10 = 1.0mL) -- 1/10 of a mL. I have one 1mL oral syringe that has 5 divisions between numbers, and another that has 10 divisions. I have to carefully count the divisions each time I take a dose. 1 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikki Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 Bubbles I think I did this with Lexapro liquid back in 2007. Although the Pharmacist told me the Lexapro liquid was the same dosage as the pills. I sat down and figured this out last night. I am assuming when I fill the syringe and when I fill it to the line right above the 5mL line that I will have dropped 1/5mL. I still don't know what that equals in terms of mgs. Once I get from 5mL to 4mL I know that will be a 2mg. drop in dose. Right? Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 7, 2012 Administrator Share Posted May 7, 2012 Correct. 1mg Celexa = .25mL liquid 4mg Celexa = 2mL liquid 1mL liquid contains 2mg Celexa If one division = 1/5 mL, it would be 1/5 x 2mg Celexa = .4mg If you take 4 out of 5 divisions, you are taking 1.6mg Celexa (4/5 x 2mg) What I do is write down what I need to take and very carefully count the divisions for every dose. 1 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikki Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 FYI for anyone decreasing Celexa... I am doing okay with it. I did not expect that. I took the advise given here. I can't do a 10% reduction (or at least I could not do that in the past), so I knew I wouldn't start there. I have made two cuts in three weeks. 1/5th mL and then another 1/5th. Each time, I did get insomnia, heightened AM anxiety and that was about it. The anxiety leads to other things, like worry, and fear. Not so good. That is what takes me out. It did subside each time. Thank You God.... I think I will bask in the good days for a short while and then make another 1/5th cut. I have been busy and that's good for me too. Years ago I read a book "When I Got Busy, I Got Better". Very true for me. In all of my tapers, I did experience fatigue which was probably from insomnia. I had aches and pains too. Basically I was not incapacitated and was always able to exercise heavily. On occasion that would level me, but I guess I have good stamina. So busy is better for Moi Hugs Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cats Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Hi. I need some help to make sure I'm measuring correctly: Here's a recap first: -7 years on Zoloft 50mg twice daily as prescribed by my psychiatrist -1 year on Zoloft 50mg daily...psychiatrist disapproved of this reduction, so only told him once, then did it on my own. -1 week cold turkey...psychiatrist advised against going off AD, but finally said "Fine, come back in 3 months, and let me know how it's going." -1 month on Zoloft 25mg daily Yesterday I saw my psychiatrist. We discussed how things were going. I asked him to prescribe an oral suspension to assist me in my tapering. He obliged, but still prescribed dosage as if I was still on the 50mg twice daily. Aren't they supposed to listen to you??? Here's what I got: 180ML *SERTRALINE 10MG/CC ORAL SUSPENSION TAKE 5ML TWICE DAILY FOR 7 DAYS, THEN 5ML IN THE MORNING AND 2.5ML IN THE EVENING FOR 7 DAYS, THEN 2.5ML TWICE DAILY FOR 7 DAYS, THEN 2.5ML DAILY. My plan is still to taper by 10% every 3 to 4 weeks. Does this sound correct? 5ML oral suspension=50MG capsule In order to taper by 10% from 25MG that I've been taking for the past month, I would take 2.25ML of this new oral suspension??? Any help is appreciated, as I'm not sure I'm doing this right. SSRI History: 8 years on SSRIs (Luvox, Paxil, Effexor) 4 years on Zoloft 100MG daily 1 year on Zoloft 50MG daily 1 week off Zoloft cold turkey Began Zoloft taper Jan. 26, 2013 starting at 25MG daily Other Presriptions -Amiloride 5MG-50MG daily (blood pressure) -Rabeprazole 20MG daily (acid reflux) -Atorvastatin 20MG daily (high cholesterol) -Lorazepam 0.5MG as needed Supplements -Vitanin B-100 complex -Cal-Mag Supreme (also includes potassium, zinc, boron, vitamins D and K) -Vitamin D -Vitamin E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 25, 2013 Administrator Share Posted February 25, 2013 Are they supposed to listen to you? In a perfect world, yes. You may need to learn to "work" with this doctor, i.e. politely give him instructions about what you need. First, check the concentration on your bottle to make sure it is 10mg/cc (same as 10mg/milliliter). If it is 10mg/mL, you would take 2.5mL for a 25mg dose. A 10% reduction would be 22.5mg or 2.25mL, as you correctly calculated. Your doctor's tapering plan is eccentric and too fast, figuring to get you off Zoloft in 4 weeks. When you run out of liquid in a couple of months, you'll have to refill the prescription (if you can) or ask him for another. You might say at that time you decided to take it slower. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meimeiquest Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 Does anyone know of a fabulous standardized bottle for carrying homemade suspensions in a purse or man-carrying-device? I found an amber bottle on Amazon, but it is too tall for a syringe (I am pouring into lid) and comes in 12-packs. Just pre-packaging in a syringe makes me nervous because solids can rest in the dead space and never make the mouth (although multiple rinsing into your mouth would probably take care of that, I guess, but really.) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted December 26, 2013 Administrator Share Posted December 26, 2013 You can get a small bottle from the pharmacy. Mine gave them away for free. There have been times when I pre-filled an oral syringe and carried it in a closed container, I can't remember what it was. Maybe a yogurt container? Or a medicine bottle? I figured if any solution leaked out of the syringe, I'd put water in the container and drink it out, but it didn't leak. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted April 12, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 12, 2014 Hi, The liquid lexapro I will get is 10 mg/ ml and so I will need to dilute that. It says it is mixed with ethanol. What liquid can I use to dilute this highly concentrated liquid? Thanks, RU 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 12, 2014 Administrator Share Posted April 12, 2014 Can you get a 0.5mL or 1mL oral syringe instead? It will measure to hundredth of a milliliter. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted April 12, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 12, 2014 Can you get a 0.5mL or 1mL oral syringe instead? It will measure to hundredth of a milliliter. Yes. Actually I have a 1 mL , glass pipette so I can measure accurately to tenths of a mL. I wasn't thinking… sorry. But I'm still curious about it. I know water wouldn't work… but how about ever clear liquor? 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 12, 2014 Administrator Share Posted April 12, 2014 Is this a compounded solution? From the manufacturer, Forest, of Lexapro oral solution: Lexapro oral solution contains escitalopram oxalate equivalent to 1 mg/mL escitalopram base. It also contains the following inactive ingredients: sorbitol, purified water, citric acid, sodium citrate, malic acid, glycerin, propylene glycol, methylparaben, propylparaben, and natural peppermint flavor. Are you sure yours is diluted with alcohol? What is the manufacturer? 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted April 13, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 13, 2014 Lundbeck. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 13, 2014 Administrator Share Posted April 13, 2014 Are you reading the label? Otherwise, I'd double-check the ingredients with the manufacturer. If the base is alcohol, ask them about dilution. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted April 14, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 14, 2014 I would ask the pharmacist or as Alto says, the manufacturer. It may be fine to dilute with water. We mix water and alcohol all the time, it's not a problem. I think Everclear is something like 50% ethanol. But I'd see if you can get the info from manufacturer or pharmacist first, before experimenting on your own. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted April 16, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 16, 2014 I It may be fine to dilute with water. We mix water and alcohol all the time, it's not a problem. Yes.. I will check on all of these details but.. When you mix alcohol with water the total volume changes. Maybe that is not a problem? I discuss all of this with my P doc tomorrow. Wish me luck. He's been supportive of my taper in the past but I always worry he will suddenly buck it. Now would be a very inopportune time for that. My strategy? Tell him up front at the beginning of the appt. exactly what I need for prescriptions and then let him listen to himself talk ( his favorite thing) ending with a reminder from him that he got his agree from the Mayo clinic … usually that does it. I walk out of these stupid appts. with the prescriptions I need to get of these damn drugs. RU 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted April 16, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 16, 2014 I'm sorry, I don't understand, isn't "dilution" the same as "total volume changes"? I mean isn't that sort of the point? Love your description of visiting the doc! Ha! yep. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted April 17, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 17, 2014 I'm sorry, I don't understand, isn't "dilution" the same as "total volume changes"? I mean isn't that sort of the point? Love your description of visiting the doc! Ha! yep. Thanks! What I mean is if you add 10 ml of water to 10 ml of alcohol you don't get 20 mls of liquid. You actually get less than that. So that would mean that the number of mgs. of lexapro per ml couldn't be calculated using 20 mls as the denominator. Seriously . I don't want to confuse things here and Alto feel free to delete this discussion.. I would get that. At this point it's just a discussion of curiosity… not intelligence … particularly on my part!!! I don't want to confuse any tapering issues here. RU 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted April 17, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 17, 2014 Are you sure your compounded solution is mixed with 100% ethanol? It seems to me like it would be more likely to be a mixture with some simple syrup or something (say that five times fast). I'd try just experimenting. When you mix ethanol and water it's true you get a bit of volume loss but depending on the quantities involved it might not be significant. As always, the important thing is to make sure that whatever you do, you do it consistently. If you have to adjust the solution slightly to get a dilution that works for you, just make sure that you do it the same way every day. The important thing isn't necessarily the absolute numbers, it's the proportion, as you taper down. Does that make any sense? I think I may be confusing myself and I actually know what I mean. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted April 17, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 17, 2014 Are you sure your compounded solution is mixed with 100% ethanol? It seems to me like it would be more likely to be a mixture with some simple syrup or something (say that five times fast). No. I'm not sure yet. And I agree completely with your statement of consistency. See the doc in a few. You can be sure I won't be asking him any of these questions… the dude just LOVES to throw out clinical mumble jumble … and all I want to say is "cough up the prescriptions dude…I can figure out the rest". I really hate to talk about him this sarcastically… he really DOES have a good heart. RU 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 17, 2014 Administrator Share Posted April 17, 2014 Read the label rather than rely on what the doc says. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
finding123 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Hi there, I am currently tapering off Prozac liquid and I am down to 0.9ml a day. My doctor has pointed out to me today that the bottle of medicine expires after one month of opening it. Each bottle is 70ml, so if I open a new bottle every month I would be wasting a lot. I wondered what everybody else does? Is it considered unsafe / unwise to take the medicine more than one month after opening it? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 13, 2015 Administrator Share Posted July 13, 2015 If you use it past expiration, it may or may not be a consistent strength. Generally, it's a good idea not to use a liquid past its expiration date. To reduce expense, you can make your own Prozac liquid, read this topic from the beginning Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine) 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarabella79 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Hi finding123, I'm currently using a combination of 5mg tablet + a very small quantity of Paroxetine liquid(currently 1.2ml daily) to taper and I haven't been throwing the bottle of liquid away after the 1 month mark. I mentioned the 1 month expiration warning on the bottle to one of the GPs at my practice and he said it can - as Alto said - start to degrade and lose some of its potency after it's been open a while. From personal experience, I've found it's ok for about 7 weeks. After that, I can tell it isn't working as effectively and I start my next bottle. I guess cost isn't as much of an issue for us here in the UK (I notice you're from Liverpool), as we only have to pay £8.20 (around $13 USD) for a bottle of liquid. It's still useful to know that you can make a liquid from tablets, though, if you happen to run out and can't get to the docs. Well done on getting to such a low dose of Prozac, by the way 1st Sep '14 - reduced to 18mg from 20mg; 15th Sep - 17mg; 29th Sep -16mg; 21st Oct - 15mg; 10th Nov - 13.5mg; 1st Dec - 13mg; 11th Dec - 12.5mg; 5th Jan '15 - 12mg; 20th Jan - 11.5mg; 11th Feb - 11mg; 26th Feb - 10.5mg; 5th Mar - 10mg; 1st Apr - 9mg; 29th Apr - 8.5mg; 29th May - 8mg; 18th Jun - 7.7mg; 9th July - 7.4mg; 11th Aug - 6.8mg; 2nd Sep - 6.5mg; 12th Sep - 6.3mg; 26th Sep - 6mg; 10th Oct - 5.7mg; 30th Oct - 5.3mg; 28th Nov - 4.8mg; 20th Dec - 4.4mg. Medication History: January 1997: 20mg Paroxetine (Seroxat) daily for depression with anxiety. CT withdrawal attempted 1997 and 1999. Dividing pills withdrawal attempted 2002. Liquid/pill 13 month tapered withdrawal 2007/8. Started to become very ill days after CTing at 2mg. Prescribed other antidepressants (Citalopram, Mirtazipine) but neither were as effective and had more side effects, so Paroxetine 20mg reinstated June 2008. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonial Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Hi, I'm reading Clarabellas post from July, saying her liquid paxil expires in a month from "opening"? When I get my liquid from the pharmacy, it has the general use by one year on the label, and when I asked what the manufacturer expiration is, they said it was almost 2 full years from the date I received it. I noticed she is from England, is their formulations different? I'm currently using a bottle I got about 6 months ago, but says is still good for another 5 months/ Thanks! Starting ds 2 (12.5 CR'S) = 25 MG PAXIL CR 1/21/15: 1 Pill + 10mg liquid (2 weeks) 2/4: 1 Pill + 9mg Lq (3 weeks) 2/25: 1 Pill + 8 mg lq (1 week) 3/4: 1 Pill + 6 mg lq (2 weeks) 3/18/15 1 Pill + 4 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/1/15 1 Pill + 3 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/14/15 1 Pill + 2 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/29/15 1Pill + 1 mg lq (16 days) 5/15/15 1 12.5 mg Pill ONLY (9 days) 5/24/15 12 mgs liquid (8 days) 6/1/15 11mg lq (12 days) 6/13/15 10 mg. 12/3/15 Drop from 8mg to 7.6 (24 days to) 12/27/15 7.2mgs 8/4/16 6.8mgs, 11/1/16 6.4mgs, 2/5/17 6 mgs 4/3/17 5.6mgs, 4/24/17 5.2mg, 6/13/17 4.8mgs, 9/20/17 4.4mgS, 11/23/17 4 mgs, 1/1/18 3.6 mgs, 2/15/18 3.2 mgs. 4/13/18 2.8mgs, 5/11/18 2.4mgs, 6/10/18 2.0 mgs, 8/4/18 1.6mgs, 9/27/18 1.2mgs, 12/24/18 0.8mg, 3/24/19 0.64 mg,(syringe change issue date?) 4/22/19 0.60 mg, 5/24/19 0.60 mg, 7/7/19 0.52 mgs, 8/4/19 0.44mgs, 11/4/19 0.36mgs, 2/1/20 0.28mgs, 3/1/20 0.24mgs (crash April 6) Compound started 6/28/21: 0.24mgs, 8/29/21: 0.22mgs, 10/31/21: 0.20mgs, 1/03/22: 0.18mgs, 3/5/22: 0.16mgs, 5/5/22: 0.14mgs. Original Wellbutrin Dose: 6 months from 9/14 to 3/2015, 300 XL 3/15/15: Half to 150 XL ( severe symptoms started on day 12) 4/16/15: 125mg for 20 days to: 5/6/15: 100mg for 15 days to: 5/21/15 75mg for 10 days to: 6/1/15: 56.25mg 13 days to: 6/13/15: 37.25mg 7 days to: 6/20/15 28.12mg 14 days to: 7/4/15 18.75mg, 7 days to: 7/11/15; RAISE BACK TO: 28.12 to 8/14/15: 18.75mg 20 days to :9/3/15 : 12.5mg, 8/4/16 9mg 1/9/17: 8.5mg 2/8/17 8mg, 3/9/17: 7.6 4/9/17 7.2 5/27/17 6.4 6/24/17 5.8, 8/1/17 5.0, 8/29/17 4.2mgs, 10/2/17 3.5mgs, 12/28/17 2.5mgs, 2/27/18 1.7mgs, 4/19/18 0.8 mgs, LAST DOSE: 6/11/18: 3 YEARS, 2 MONTHS, 27 DAYS... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Skyler Posted February 22, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 22, 2016 Hi, I'm reading Clarabellas post from July, saying her liquid paxil expires in a month from "opening"? When I get my liquid from the pharmacy, it has the general use by one year on the label, and when I asked what the manufacturer expiration is, they said it was almost 2 full years from the date I received it. I noticed she is from England, is their formulations different? I'm currently using a bottle I got about 6 months ago, but says is still good for another 5 months/ Thanks! colonial.. you already have a liquid suspension? I put the link thru with the idea you needed to make your own.. which many folks here do. But you already have some on hand? 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 More sharing options...
Colonial Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 my paxil is liquid, yes. but my xanax are the scored pills I was just wondering why Her liquid paxil says 1 month but the date on mine is a year, dont want to be using it if that's an issue. Starting ds 2 (12.5 CR'S) = 25 MG PAXIL CR 1/21/15: 1 Pill + 10mg liquid (2 weeks) 2/4: 1 Pill + 9mg Lq (3 weeks) 2/25: 1 Pill + 8 mg lq (1 week) 3/4: 1 Pill + 6 mg lq (2 weeks) 3/18/15 1 Pill + 4 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/1/15 1 Pill + 3 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/14/15 1 Pill + 2 mg lq (2 weeks) 4/29/15 1Pill + 1 mg lq (16 days) 5/15/15 1 12.5 mg Pill ONLY (9 days) 5/24/15 12 mgs liquid (8 days) 6/1/15 11mg lq (12 days) 6/13/15 10 mg. 12/3/15 Drop from 8mg to 7.6 (24 days to) 12/27/15 7.2mgs 8/4/16 6.8mgs, 11/1/16 6.4mgs, 2/5/17 6 mgs 4/3/17 5.6mgs, 4/24/17 5.2mg, 6/13/17 4.8mgs, 9/20/17 4.4mgS, 11/23/17 4 mgs, 1/1/18 3.6 mgs, 2/15/18 3.2 mgs. 4/13/18 2.8mgs, 5/11/18 2.4mgs, 6/10/18 2.0 mgs, 8/4/18 1.6mgs, 9/27/18 1.2mgs, 12/24/18 0.8mg, 3/24/19 0.64 mg,(syringe change issue date?) 4/22/19 0.60 mg, 5/24/19 0.60 mg, 7/7/19 0.52 mgs, 8/4/19 0.44mgs, 11/4/19 0.36mgs, 2/1/20 0.28mgs, 3/1/20 0.24mgs (crash April 6) Compound started 6/28/21: 0.24mgs, 8/29/21: 0.22mgs, 10/31/21: 0.20mgs, 1/03/22: 0.18mgs, 3/5/22: 0.16mgs, 5/5/22: 0.14mgs. Original Wellbutrin Dose: 6 months from 9/14 to 3/2015, 300 XL 3/15/15: Half to 150 XL ( severe symptoms started on day 12) 4/16/15: 125mg for 20 days to: 5/6/15: 100mg for 15 days to: 5/21/15 75mg for 10 days to: 6/1/15: 56.25mg 13 days to: 6/13/15: 37.25mg 7 days to: 6/20/15 28.12mg 14 days to: 7/4/15 18.75mg, 7 days to: 7/11/15; RAISE BACK TO: 28.12 to 8/14/15: 18.75mg 20 days to :9/3/15 : 12.5mg, 8/4/16 9mg 1/9/17: 8.5mg 2/8/17 8mg, 3/9/17: 7.6 4/9/17 7.2 5/27/17 6.4 6/24/17 5.8, 8/1/17 5.0, 8/29/17 4.2mgs, 10/2/17 3.5mgs, 12/28/17 2.5mgs, 2/27/18 1.7mgs, 4/19/18 0.8 mgs, LAST DOSE: 6/11/18: 3 YEARS, 2 MONTHS, 27 DAYS... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Skyler Posted February 23, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 23, 2016 ohhh... I see. 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 More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 28, 2016 Administrator Share Posted February 28, 2016 Different formulations. Please go by the labeling on your bottle. If you have questions, ask your pharmacist. 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 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottly9999 Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Hello Fellow Survivors! Just a question thats been running through my head. While tapering down on Lexapro - and finally convincing chemists here in Australia if liquid Lexapro IS available (yes it is) - although it seems most chemists are reluctant to give you the 10mg/ml bottle, and really push towards the 20mg/ml concentration (I believe it's the PBS pricing or something that does it). I've noticed that I always seem to run into withdrawal symptoms and more problems towards the end of a bottle. Now as I'm taking only about 2mg or even 1.8mg or 1.5mg, the bottle lasts me a long time. I opened my current bottle at the beginning of January this year, and it's now mid April. I'm still on the same bottle, albeit not much left. I've had horrible withdrawal symptoms lately. The bottle says discard after 3 months. Now most medicine has a use-by date, but I was wondering if anybody has had experience of liquid Lexapro (or any other SSRI for that matter) that might lose it's potency over time?? It almost feels that way to me. 2008 (approx) Lexapro 10mg. 2009 attempted cold turkey 5mg for 2 weeks - crash and burn. 2009 back on 10mg. 2012 - pooped out - but didn't know. 2014 - poop-out got worse. 2014 sept 20mg, 2014 oct 15mg, 2014 nov 10mg 2014 dec 7.5mg, 2014 dec 23rd crashed. Dec 24th 10mg - trying to stabilize 2015 Jan Stabilized as much as thought I would, 2015 Jan 9mg, 2015 Late Feb, 8mg, 2015 late Mar 7mg. 22nd May 6.3mg 2015 small "slide" down to 6mg. 19th June 5mg. 15th Aug 4.5mg - slid down to 4mg. Sept 20th 3.8mg. 2015 gradual decrease between Oct and Nov 10th to 3mg: Dec between 3-2mg. 2016 Jan15th 2mg Feb: 1.8mg, somewhere got to 1.6mg. 2016 Feb 25th crashed! Not sure if sick or WD, back to 2mg. 2016 During March - gradual decrease to 1.8mg, then 1.5mg. April 19th 1mg 2016 June 8th 0.8mg July 1st 0.6mg: Sept 0.4mg (long hold) 2017 Jan 0.2mg 2017 May 0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted April 13, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 13, 2016 As I understand it the bottle starts to lose potency once opened. Do you keep it in the fridge where it is cool and dark? I'm sure I read that medicines which are exposed to light deteriorate faster which is why they are usually in brown bottles. **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibari Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Hello Fellow Survivors! Just a question thats been running through my head. While tapering down on Lexapro - and finally convincing chemists here in Australia if liquid Lexapro IS available (yes it is) - although it seems most chemists are reluctant to give you the 10mg/ml bottle, and really push towards the 20mg/ml concentration (I believe it's the PBS pricing or something that does it). I've noticed that I always seem to run into withdrawal symptoms and more problems towards the end of a bottle. Now as I'm taking only about 2mg or even 1.8mg or 1.5mg, the bottle lasts me a long time. I opened my current bottle at the beginning of January this year, and it's now mid April. I'm still on the same bottle, albeit not much left. I've had horrible withdrawal symptoms lately. The bottle says discard after 3 months. Now most medicine has a use-by date, but I was wondering if anybody has had experience of liquid Lexapro (or any other SSRI for that matter) that might lose it's potency over time?? It almost feels that way to me. I'm so glad you mentioned this. Since my cuts are getting smaller, my bottle is lasting longer as well. I too have felt that my wd is a bit more intense even though I haven't made a cut since mid March and I have been feeling pretty stable. 9/2013-4/2014: After moms death, was prescribed a series of meds that didn't work. Zoloft, Lexapro, Nortriptyline, Liquid Prozac, Cymbalta. 1/2014-9/2014. Clonzapam: Given Lamictal, stopped Clonzapam at .125mgs 1/2015-4 2017 Remeron: 41.25 -0.025mgs 7/2015-11/2018 Lamictal: 200mgs-0.05 mgs Had paradoxical reaction to Lamictal wd, broke my heart to take a benzo but wasn't sleeping. 3/28/2019 -2/5/ 2021 Clonazapam: 0.625mgs-.00115 Med Free July 27th, 2022**Severe Setback due to surgery/ anesthesia. 9/7/22-10/4/22 Trazadone 50-100mgs for sleep, 10/13/22-11/13/22 Trazadone 1 mg to stabilize 10/4/22-11/20/22 Remeron 7.5mgs (for sleep doesn't work) 11/20 7.3 12/4 7.0 12/14 6.9 12/22 6.6 12/31 6.3 2023: 1/18 6.1 1/29 5.9 2/17 5.7 2/28 5.5 3/14 5.3 3/27 5.1 4/8 4.8 4/21 4.6 5/3 4.3 5/13 4.0 5/25 3.8 Additional Support: Armour Thyroid 75mgs, Magnesium Glycinate 300-500mgs, Calms Forte, Flaxseed oil, L-theanine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottly9999 Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Hi Guys It's an interesting topic for sure. The bottle is a brown glass bottle, I just keep it in the cupboard, so it's dark all the time, except for the morning when I take it out - and a reminder that I'm STILL taking this "poison"!!! I'm about to get a repeat - annoyingly the GP's won't give me a script for a repeat, just the one bottle... and I have to explain it each time to a perplexed GP as to what and why. Man the drug companies have done a great job of NOT informing the doctors as to what this stuff CAN do to people. I have met 1 GP over the years who WAS supportive of a slow taper, and was quite serious about it. He seems to have since retired. I've met a few people who have either stopped cold turkey, or 2.5mg every few weeks, and has a few brain zaps, but after that, they were fine. WOW. I'll report how I feel once I get a new bottle. I'm HOPING to get a 10mg/ml bottle - as more accurate - and has the nozzle for an oral syringe. And if the chemist doesn't have that exact bottle, they say they need to speak to the GP to get permission to give me the 20mg/ml <sigh>The GP has no idea in the first place. 2008 (approx) Lexapro 10mg. 2009 attempted cold turkey 5mg for 2 weeks - crash and burn. 2009 back on 10mg. 2012 - pooped out - but didn't know. 2014 - poop-out got worse. 2014 sept 20mg, 2014 oct 15mg, 2014 nov 10mg 2014 dec 7.5mg, 2014 dec 23rd crashed. Dec 24th 10mg - trying to stabilize 2015 Jan Stabilized as much as thought I would, 2015 Jan 9mg, 2015 Late Feb, 8mg, 2015 late Mar 7mg. 22nd May 6.3mg 2015 small "slide" down to 6mg. 19th June 5mg. 15th Aug 4.5mg - slid down to 4mg. Sept 20th 3.8mg. 2015 gradual decrease between Oct and Nov 10th to 3mg: Dec between 3-2mg. 2016 Jan15th 2mg Feb: 1.8mg, somewhere got to 1.6mg. 2016 Feb 25th crashed! Not sure if sick or WD, back to 2mg. 2016 During March - gradual decrease to 1.8mg, then 1.5mg. April 19th 1mg 2016 June 8th 0.8mg July 1st 0.6mg: Sept 0.4mg (long hold) 2017 Jan 0.2mg 2017 May 0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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