Madeleine: tapering Zyprexa (then Zoloft)

[Madeleine]

On 2/16/2018 at 3:04 PM, samanthaelizabeth said:

This is discouraging.  You tapered off in 7 years time and still ended up in the hospital?  How long were you on zoloft originally?  I have been on it for 19 years and just contemplating tapering.  I don't think I will ever fully go off of it, but at least bring it down to the minimum effective dose.

I was on about 10 years.  I can't remember how many years I was taping it as I started off with about 4 psych drugs,  with zoloft at 200. Over the 7 years, I tapered off all the drugs, including zoloft, so it's hard to say now how long it took each one, but it was quite a few years of tapering off zoloft, though towards the end, I was at 25 mg for some time.

I ended up in hospital this past December 2017 because I totally panicked!  -- I had no problem tapering, i.e. no bad symptoms while tapering.  I got off ok. No symptoms right after either.  Then, about 4 or so months later I felt really stressed -- but I had A LOT of life stressors too, and wasn't coping with them.  I felt a 'wave" from what I think now was withdrawal, panicked and went to the hospital right away as I thought I had to reinstate asap.  But, in the hospital, they do what they do and put me on loads of drugs, 3 in total, a benzo, an anti-psychotic and 200 mg zoloft....  It whacked me out. I couldn't think straight... This was last December. I tapered off the first 2 drugs soon after I got home, then started tapering the zoloft in June 2017.  

I am now tapering again, and am at 85 mg zoloft. I'v been reducing at no more than 10 mg down a month -- and feel fine.   Again, as last time, I have had no real withdrawal symptoms going down at this pace. Sometimes I feel a bit shaky but that's it. Shaky emotionally, not physically...

I am hopeful that I will get off this time for good and stay off and not end up in hospital again....  because I have done a lot of therapy on how to not panic.



 

[samanthaelizabeth]

Please keep us posted.  I would really love to see a true success story!  Good luck!

[wantrelief]

On 2/19/2018 at 1:07 PM, Madeleine said:

I had A LOT of life stressors too, and wasn't coping with them.  I felt a 'wave" from what I think now was withdrawal, panicked and went to the hospital right away as I thought I had to reinstate asap.  But, in the hospital, they do what they do and put me on loads of drugs, 3 in total, a benzo, an anti-psychotic and 200 mg zoloft....  It whacked me out. I couldn't think straight... This was last December. I tapered off the first 2 drugs soon after I got home, then started tapering the zoloft in June 2017.  

I am now tapering again, and am at 85 mg zoloft. I'v been reducing at no more than 10 mg down a month -- and feel fine.   Again, as last time, I have had no real withdrawal symptoms going down at this pace. Sometimes I feel a bit shaky but that's it. Shaky emotionally, not physically...

I am hopeful that I will get off this time for good and stay off and not end up in hospital again....  because I have done a lot of therapy on how to not panic.

Hi Madeleine,

 

Congratulations on all of the progress you are making with your taper!  This post resonated with me as through the years I have tried several tapers off of ADs. I don't recall having too many problems with symptoms while tapering.  However, if something stressful happened, my body would go into complete withdrawal mode....almost like a panic response.  I would wait a bit but when things didn't change, I would increase my dose.  This has happened so many times I've lost count (you can read my thread to get a taste but it was happening before I joined SA as well).  Well, this last time my updose didn't work at all so now it appears I am in tolerance and have started (once again) a very slow taper down. I am curious, if you wouldn't mind sharing, if you have found anything specific to help you learn how not to panic?  I am in therapy too and have been talking to my therapist about this but if there is anything you would recommend I would be very grateful.  

[Madeleine]

On 2/20/2018 at 8:24 PM, wantrelief said:

Hi Madeleine,

 

Congratulations on all of the progress you are making with your taper!  This post resonated with me as through the years I have tried several tapers off of ADs. I don't recall having too many problems with symptoms while tapering.  However, if something stressful happened, my body would go into complete withdrawal mode....almost like a panic response.  I would wait a bit but when things didn't change, I would increase my dose.  This has happened so many times I've lost count (you can read my thread to get a taste but it was happening before I joined SA as well).  Well, this last time my updose didn't work at all so now it appears I am in tolerance and have started (once again) a very slow taper down. I am curious, if you wouldn't mind sharing, if you have found anything specific to help you learn how not to panic?  I am in therapy too and have been talking to my therapist about this but if there is anything you would recommend I would be very grateful.  

Hi WantRelief:
Thank you for stopping by my thread.   From what you wrote, It does seem that you and I react in a somewhat similar way... i.e. a panic response when we encounter stress.  How I am dealing with it now, with the therapist's advice, is to change my way of thinking.  Before, as soon as something went a little bit wrong, I would start catastrophizing, i.e. thinking that the worst case scenario was going to happen... and I learned that put my body into a physical state as if the thing I was fearing had really happened! 

The therapist explained that thoughts can lead to physical reactions.  And, so what used to happen, is that I would automatically think a catastrophe would happen or start thinking that I was a failure at life, that there was no solution to whatever my problem was, that the problem would compound etc. etc. So, then my body went into "flight or fight" mode -- e.g. certain parts of body shut down, certain speed up, e.g. heart-rate.  Then, because I would see those physical symptoms, I would then panic even more, and then I got into a circular cycle of panic -- the more I worried & catastrophized, the more I would feel physical manifestations, and then the more I would think that I can't handle stress, and that the physical was evidence of this, and it ramped up, to the point that I ended up having 3 breakdowns over a number of years, twice ending up in the hospital.

So, the therapist explained that when I have a negative thought, I need to go through the thought exercise or the "thought record" exercise as they call it in cognitive behavioural therapy, and change my negative thinking.  When I see a physical response, I now try to say "that's just a physical response and it happened and it will go away -- instead of panicking.

Not sure the helps but that's the gist of it.   

With best wishes,

M.

[wantrelief]

3 minutes ago, Madeleine said:

Hi WantRelief:
Thank you for stopping by my thread.   From what you wrote, It does seem that you and I react in a somewhat similar way... i.e. a panic response when we encounter stress.  How I am dealing with it now, with the therapist's advice, is to change my way of thinking.  Before, as soon as something went a little bit wrong, I would start catastrophizing, i.e. thinking that the worst case scenario was going to happen... and I learned that put my body into a physical state as if the thing I was fearing had really happened! 

The therapist explained that thoughts can lead to physical reactions.  And, so what used to happen, is that I would automatically think a catastrophe would happen or start thinking that I was a failure at life, that there was no solution to whatever my problem was, that the problem would compound etc. etc. So, then my body went into "flight or fight" mode -- e.g. certain parts of body shut down, certain speed up, e.g. heart-rate.  Then, because I would see those physical symptoms, I would then panic even more, and then I got into a circular cycle of panic -- the more I worried & catastrophized, the more I would feel physical manifestations, and then the more I would think that I can't handle stress, and that the physical was evidence of this, and it ramped up, to the point that I ended up having 3 breakdowns over a number of years, twice ending up in the hospital.

So, the therapist explained that when I have a negative thought, I need to go through the thought exercise or the "thought record" exercise as they call it in cognitive behavioural therapy, and change my negative thinking.  When I see a physical response, I now try to say "that's just a physical response and it happened and it will go away -- instead of panicking.

Not sure the helps but that's the gist of it.   

With best wishes,

M.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this all out.  It does make a lot of sense and is really helpful.  I have had the same thing happen in the past where my body would react physically to whatever stressor was happening leading me to panic which would lead to a downward spiral.  I really like how you respond, what you tell yourself, now when you are noticing a physical response.  I am working on the exact same thing with my therapist with changing my thought process, both with thoughts and feelings (a little bit of CBT and DBT).  I am so glad you have had good success with this; I hope to as well!  Thanks again, Madeleine.

[Madeleine]

Hi everyone: 

 

I’m just posting an update— made a 5mg cut yesterday to 70 mg Zoloft  from 75 mg.  I had been on 75 for a while  as I had a trip/vacation planned  overseas for a week and  did not want to make any changes until I got back.  

 

The vacation was great ! All went well. 

 

Now that i am back home I’m resuming tapering at 10 per cent per month. 

 

Best wishes to all 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Good to hear from you, Madeleine.

[DaveB]

Madeline, I see you tapered off of Zyprexa. How did you do it? Cut the 2.5mg pills? Make a liquid solution? Use a scale and file some off? I am preparing for a Zyprexa taper and want to get as much info as I can from people who have taken it and successfully tapered off. 

[DaveB]

Sorry I should have tagged @Madeleine

[Madeleine]

22 hours ago, DaveB said:

Sorry I should have tagged @Madeleine

HI Dave:
I quartered the 2.5 mg using a razor blade, and cut down .6 mg every few weeks (approximately two weeks).  I watched my symptoms and waited more time between cuts if I was feeling a bit unstable.  My lowest dose was .6 , i.e. a quarter of a 2.5 pill.  It worked of re, but I had not been on it long at all when I started tapering.   I was in the hospital and they put me on 10 mg.  About a month after I left, I started tapering it down. More details are in my signature. 

I also started going to a psychotherapist, to deal with my anxiety, and found that very helpful, as before, I would panic if I was not feeling 100% and worry about what would happen in the future, etc. etc.  

The way  I got off, i.e. cutting the pills, worked for me. But, some people make a water solution.  I think it's important to monitor how you feel, and make each cut only when you are feeling you can handle it, and not to rush yourself.   When I found that I was sleeping generally ok, and was fairly calm over all, I made another cut, but if I was anxious I would wait a bit more.

Hope that helps.   
With best wishes, 
M.

[DaveB]

49 minutes ago, Madeleine said:

HI Dave:
I quartered the 2.5 mg using a razor blade, and cut down .6 mg every few weeks (approximately two weeks).  I watched my symptoms and waited more time between cuts if I was feeling a bit unstable.  My lowest dose was .6 , i.e. a quarter of a 2.5 pill.  It worked of re, but I had not been on it long at all when I started tapering.   I was in the hospital and they put me on 10 mg.  About a month after I left, I started tapering it down. More details are in my signature. 

I also started going to a psychotherapist, to deal with my anxiety, and found that very helpful, as before, I would panic if I was not feeling 100% and worry about what would happen in the future, etc. etc.  

The way  I got off, i.e. cutting the pills, worked for me. But, some people make a water solution.  I think it's important to monitor how you feel, and make each cut only when you are feeling you can handle it, and not to rush yourself.   When I found that I was sleeping generally ok, and was fairly calm over all, I made another cut, but if I was anxious I would wait a bit more.

Hope that helps.   
With best wishes, 
M.

 

That helps a lot, thank you!

[IanM]

7 hours ago, Madeleine said:

HI Dave:
I quartered the 2.5 mg using a razor blade, and cut down .6 mg every few weeks (approximately two weeks).  I watched my symptoms and waited more time between cuts if I was feeling a bit unstable.  My lowest dose was .6 , i.e. a quarter of a 2.5 pill.  It worked of re, but I had not been on it long at all when I started tapering.   I was in the hospital and they put me on 10 mg.  About a month after I left, I started tapering it down. More details are in my signature. 

I also started going to a psychotherapist, to deal with my anxiety, and found that very helpful, as before, I would panic if I was not feeling 100% and worry about what would happen in the future, etc. etc.  

The way  I got off, i.e. cutting the pills, worked for me. But, some people make a water solution.  I think it's important to monitor how you feel, and make each cut only when you are feeling you can handle it, and not to rush yourself.   When I found that I was sleeping generally ok, and was fairly calm over all, I made another cut, but if I was anxious I would wait a bit more.

Hope that helps.   
With best wishes, 
M.

 

Hi Madeleine. I'm new on the board and just wanted to drop a note of thanks for all of your thoughtful and upbeat postings. You are very inspiring.

 

I am currently gearing up to do a taper off Zyprexa, having been on various doses over the last year and 4 months, with doses ranging from 30mg, 10m, 5mg, and now 2.5mg for the last couple of months or so. I recently tried dropping to 1.25mg, and within 3 days I had a serious crash. As a result, I've now ordered a Gemini scale and will proceed with a 10% taper as soon as I feel stabilized. I hope my taper goes as well as your Zyprexa taper, but mine will likely be harder given my longer history with the drug. Of note: I was put on Zyprexa 10mg over 17 years ago, and I cold-turkeyed it after a month with no withdrawals at all... I wonder if you could have gotten away with that too?

 

Again, thanks so much for this uplifting thread, and I wish you continued success with your Zoloft taper.

 

[Spideygsm]

Madelein,

 

I'm new here also. My last dose of Zyprexa was almost 12 weeks ago. I was on 30mg Zyprexa and started the drug 14 years ago. I initially did a 10% drop and had every withdrawal symptom you read about. My Doctor said to go ahead and do a 25% reduction every 10 days. I had to get off the Zyprexa because of health side effects that were essentially killing me. My Doctor prescribed 10mg Ambien to help with the sleep and 10mg Valium to help with the anxiety. Neither helped at all so I stopped those. I've done a Benzo withdrawal also in 2003 and it was horrible (not as bad as Zyprexa).

 

I'm don't want to scare you because everybody's different. The withdrawals during the taper were very uncomfortable. However, when I dropped to 0.625mg and then when I completely stopped within 2 days the withdrawals got extremely uncomfortable. The withdrawals reached their peak at about 4 weeks. The intensity seemed to double at the 4 week mark 100% off Zyprexa. I have no idea why that was. I wasn't coming off any other medications. At about week 9 the withdrawals started to subside (except the insomnia). Today I'm at about 75% and feel much better. The insomnia sucks. I take Trazodone and CBD for the insomnia. I don't know which one is doing the trick. I can tell you that the last 4 days I've fallen right asleep and slept a minimum of 7 hours. I saw my doctor today and she said to keep taking both for the Trazodone and CBD for awhile. What helped me most was hard aerobic exercise at least 5 days per week. I'm talking about a butt kicker to get those endorphins released. Since I've stopped I've lost 25 lbs, and all of my health issues related to the Zyprexa side effects have resolved themselves. I don't think all of that is a coincidence. Keep a very positive attitude and be strong willed. I don't think everybody's timeline or intensity of withdrawals will be the same. That's why I suggest you only read positive stuff and don't read any negative stuff. You don't need any discouragement entering your mind. I wish I had read the positive stuff instead of the negative stuff. I would have been helpful to have read a timeline and what helped people during the withdrawals. I only read the negative stuff and that stuff sticks in your mind because of what you're going through.

 

By the way, it seems like it would be very difficult to stop both Zyprexa and your antidepressant at the same time. I've had to get off Benzos, change antidepressants, and sleeping pills and my Doctor has always said to only stop one drug at a time. I'm not a Doctor so I don't know what's best for you. People say only taper by 10% every few months or so. For me, when I start tapering and experience withdrawals, why prolong the agony. I followed my Doctors instructions that for me, ended up being the best advice. How many Doctors will tell their patients to try CBD and to stay on it? That's why I've seen her for 12 years.

 

Good luck and I wish you the best. Just hang in there. I thought it would never end but it did.

[Altostrata]

Hi, Spidey. Please also update your own Intro topic.

[Madeleine]

On 5/23/2018 at 9:28 PM, Spideygsm said:

Madelein,

 

I'm new here also. My last dose of Zyprexa was almost 12 weeks ago. I was on 30mg Zyprexa and started the drug 14 years ago. I initially did a 10% drop and had every withdrawal symptom you read about. My Doctor said to go ahead and do a 25% reduction every 10 days. I had to get off the Zyprexa because of health side effects that were essentially killing me. My Doctor prescribed 10mg Ambien to help with the sleep and 10mg Valium to help with the anxiety. Neither helped at all so I stopped those. I've done a Benzo withdrawal also in 2003 and it was horrible (not as bad as Zyprexa).

 

I'm don't want to scare you because everybody's different. The withdrawals during the taper were very uncomfortable. However, when I dropped to 0.625mg and then when I completely stopped within 2 days the withdrawals got extremely uncomfortable. The withdrawals reached their peak at about 4 weeks. The intensity seemed to double at the 4 week mark 100% off Zyprexa. I have no idea why that was. I wasn't coming off any other medications. At about week 9 the withdrawals started to subside (except the insomnia). Today I'm at about 75% and feel much better. The insomnia sucks. I take Trazodone and CBD for the insomnia. I don't know which one is doing the trick. I can tell you that the last 4 days I've fallen right asleep and slept a minimum of 7 hours. I saw my doctor today and she said to keep taking both for the Trazodone and CBD for awhile. What helped me most was hard aerobic exercise at least 5 days per week. I'm talking about a butt kicker to get those endorphins released. Since I've stopped I've lost 25 lbs, and all of my health issues related to the Zyprexa side effects have resolved themselves. I don't think all of that is a coincidence. Keep a very positive attitude and be strong willed. I don't think everybody's timeline or intensity of withdrawals will be the same. That's why I suggest you only read positive stuff and don't read any negative stuff. You don't need any discouragement entering your mind. I wish I had read the positive stuff instead of the negative stuff. I would have been helpful to have read a timeline and what helped people during the withdrawals. I only read the negative stuff and that stuff sticks in your mind because of what you're going through.

 

By the way, it seems like it would be very difficult to stop both Zyprexa and your antidepressant at the same time. I've had to get off Benzos, change antidepressants, and sleeping pills and my Doctor has always said to only stop one drug at a time. I'm not a Doctor so I don't know what's best for you. People say only taper by 10% every few months or so. For me, when I start tapering and experience withdrawals, why prolong the agony. I followed my Doctors instructions that for me, ended up being the best advice. How many Doctors will tell their patients to try CBD and to stay on it? That's why I've seen her for 12 years.

 

Good luck and I wish you the best. Just hang in there. I thought it would never end but it did.

Thanks for the heads up spidey...  I am definitely not tapering the two at the same time as you are right it's not advisable. I tapered zyprexa, then waited a while, then started tapering zoloft.   I'm trying to taper that as advised here, roughly 10% a month. I don't think I can go faster...

[Madeleine]

On 5/23/2018 at 8:15 PM, IanM said:

 

Hi Madeleine. I'm new on the board and just wanted to drop a note of thanks for all of your thoughtful and upbeat postings. You are very inspiring.

 

I am currently gearing up to do a taper off Zyprexa, having been on various doses over the last year and 4 months, with doses ranging from 30mg, 10m, 5mg, and now 2.5mg for the last couple of months or so. I recently tried dropping to 1.25mg, and within 3 days I had a serious crash. As a result, I've now ordered a Gemini scale and will proceed with a 10% taper as soon as I feel stabilized. I hope my taper goes as well as your Zyprexa taper, but mine will likely be harder given my longer history with the drug. Of note: I was put on Zyprexa 10mg over 17 years ago, and I cold-turkeyed it after a month with no withdrawals at all... I wonder if you could have gotten away with that too?

 

Again, thanks so much for this uplifting thread, and I wish you continued success with your Zoloft taper.

 

Hi Ian: Thanks for the kind words. 🙂   I try to stay positive and be upbeat and spread positivity as I do think that's the best way to proceed 🙂 

I don't think I could have done what you did 17 years ago, i.e. cold-turkeying from 10 mg.  My brain was unfortunately very much affected by the 10 mg, and there is no doubt in my mind I would have crashed badly had I just stopped. Any faster than what I did would have gotten me into trouble, even though I had not been on it for long.

Good luck with your reinstatement, and this coming attempt to get off.  Slow and steady wins the race in my opinion.  That's what seems to work for the most number of people here and also in my case too.
With very best wishes,
M.

[Madeleine]

Just an update on my taper:
Just over a year ago, in May 2017, I started tapering from 200 mg zoloft, after being on that dose for about 6 months.  (It's a long story, so read my intro if you want more details about that.)   Currently,  as of June 2018, I am at 63 mg zoloft.  I've been tapering approximately 10 % per month, with some holds, and a few cuts a bit sooner, but it's averaged about 10 % per month. 

In that time, I've been functional: I don't work (am homemaker) but have travelled three times while tapering, one of those times overseas.  So, I've been doing quite well.  In addition,  I have spent a year working with a therapist, sorting out various issues that had put me into a spiral of stress and negative feelings.  Everyone has a different reason how they got here, but these issues were ones that got me onto the ADs in the first place.  So, it has been very helpful for me to work through them.

Anyway, I wanted to post with a positive update as I find people, naturally, post in the bad times as they need support and want to share, but when they are feeling okay, don't post as regularly. This is totally understandable as when people are feeling well they are out there doing things and not hanging around as much online on forums 🙂   

Best wishes to all of my fellow taperers!

M.  

[wantrelief]

Great to hear you have been doing so well with your taper, Madeleine!  Wishing you all the best as you continue moving forward in your journey - WR.

[Carmie]

What a great update Madeleine, 

 

Very encouraging indeed. I hope a lot of people read it. I think it’s so important to document here when you’re doing well as it can uplift other people’s spirits too. 

 

Good on you and I hope all continues to go well with your tapering 💚

[Glosmom]

Love to hear good reports. Thanks for keeping us updated and best wishes to you the rest of the way down. 

[frasier23]

On 5/24/2018 at 3:28 AM, Spideygsm said:

'm don't want to scare you because everybody's different. The withdrawals during the taper were very uncomfortable. However, when I dropped to 0.625mg and then when I completely stopped within 2 days the withdrawals got extremely uncomfortable. The withdrawals reached their peak at about 4 weeks. The intensity seemed to double at the 4 week mark 100% off Zyprexa. I have no idea why that was. I wasn't coming off any other medications. At about week 9 the withdrawals started to subside (except the insomnia). Today I'm at about 75% and feel much better. The insomnia sucks. I take Trazodone and CBD for the insomnia. I don't know which one is doing the trick. I can tell you that the last 4 days I've fallen right asleep and slept a minimum of 7 hours. I saw my doctor today and she said to keep taking both for the Trazodone and CBD for awhile. What helped me most was hard aerobic exercise at least 5 days per week. I'm talking about a butt kicker to get those endorphins released. Since I've stopped I've lost 25 lbs, and all of my health issues related to the Zyprexa side effects have resolved themselves. I don't think all of that is a coincidence. Keep a very positive attitude and be strong willed. I don't think everybody's timeline or intensity of withdrawals will be the same. That's why I suggest you only read positive stuff and don't read any negative stuff. You don't need any discouragement entering your mind. I wish I had read the positive stuff instead of the negative stuff. I would have been helpful to have read a timeline and what helped people during the withdrawals. I only read the negative stuff and that stuff sticks in your mind because of what you're going through.

I had the same experience with 4 week mark. Today after 2 years+ I feel about 60-70%. My journey has made med stop with lots of bad things in life and Im more prepared now to build a positive life. So maybe we will catchup in life eventually by being more effective. Im hopeful.

[Spideygsm]

Frasier

 

Glad to hear you slayed the Zyprexa dragon. Off for 2 years is fantastic. I’m almost at the 4 month mark. Hard to put a number but I’d say I’m bouncing around the 80% mark. I still get nights with zero to minimal sleep and yesterday my anxiety was horrible. 

 

I’d rather feel like I do now than live in the comatose world I was living while on Zyprexa. I had no idea how I really felt until after I finally got through the Zyprexa withdrawals. I’m still fighting the mental health demons but doing it on 2 drugs. 

 

Good luck

[Madeleine]

Down to 45 mg zoloft this weekend.  .  (Started at 200 mg, so now at just below 1/4 of the original dose.  )   Somehow cut 10 mg in 1 month as in my signature I notice that I was at 55 mg on July 22.  So it was a big jump.  Somehow I was not paying attention enough to the calendar.    But, now that I have cut, am going to stick to the 45 mg dose.  So far so good...

Plan to stay on this dose, 45 mg, until the same time next month, end of September, at least -- probably should stay on 45 mg even longer  that that... -- as I seem to have been accelerating the cuts.   I think I did that because I had held longer at a certain point when I was going on a trip, a few months ago, so held at 75 mg for a while -- and so was wanting to "catch up" to the original plan I set at the very beginning when I started.  Plus I felt hardly any effects at the higher doses when I cut, so it emboldened me...  

Then, again, maybe since it's been only a couple of days at 45 mg. I should go back up to 50 and hold a bit? 

I've been tapering one year, and 2 months.  It seems like a long time, but I know it's not when it comes to tapering, and I have to accept that I have at least another year or more ahead of me of tapering....

And, I realize that at the lower doses one needs to slow down.  (I'm spelling this out on my thread to read myself.)  This process does take patience!...  😕

 

Best wishes to all!

M.

[Spideygsm]

Hang in there. You’re doing great!

[Madeleine]

6 hours ago, Spideygsm said:

Hang in there. You’re doing great!

Thanks spidey 🙂 

[TikkiTikki]

Hi Madeleine,

 

Great to hear it's going okay. It is a long process. But really, if you're feeling okay as you taper, there no harm in going slow to avoid future problems.

 

Keep going!

[Madeleine]

On 8/26/2018 at 8:30 PM, TikkiTikki said:

Hi Madeleine,

 

Great to hear it's going okay. It is a long process. But really, if you're feeling okay as you taper, there no harm in going slow to avoid future problems.

 

Keep going!

Thanks. I am going back up to 50 mg from 45.  After two days, I can tell the last drop of 5 mg was too fast and too soon...  

[wantrelief]

Hi Madeleine - You are doing great with your taper!  I hope you feel better soon.

[Lolita]

Hello Madeleine!

 

I am just passing by since reading about zoloft tapering. 

 

I see you got over zyprexa..

That is awsome ! Congrats to you!

 

Im taking zoloft since 9 weeks at 25 then 50 now 25mg.

Also taking clonazepam.0.25mg at night.

I have anxiety and been on almost every med since 11years.  But since a year and a half, it seems that they dont agree with me anymore. I cant be on a low dose without feeling all side effects.

 

Withdrawing is scary for me since I have on them for so long. But maybe I will be better without it!?

 

WhenI take my med, almost 2 to 3 hours after, I feel almost worse. 

And feel so tired all the time, anxious, etc.

 

I take clonazepam low dose since a year and Im sure it doesnt help also and probably maintain my low mood.

I need it for sleep and that sucks a bit.

 

I dont know about zyprexa but it might be a benzo??? So you feel better since not taking it anymore?

Have you been on meds for a long time?

 

Take care xx

[Madeleine]

On 9/26/2018 at 3:03 PM, Lolita said:

Hello Madeleine!

 

I am just passing by since reading about zoloft tapering. 

 

I see you got over zyprexa..

That is awsome ! Congrats to you!

 

Im taking zoloft since 9 weeks at 25 then 50 now 25mg.

Also taking clonazepam.0.25mg at night.

I have anxiety and been on almost every med since 11years.  But since a year and a half, it seems that they dont agree with me anymore. I cant be on a low dose without feeling all side effects.

 

Withdrawing is scary for me since I have on them for so long. But maybe I will be better without it!?

 

WhenI take my med, almost 2 to 3 hours after, I feel almost worse. 

And feel so tired all the time, anxious, etc.

 

I take clonazepam low dose since a year and Im sure it doesnt help also and probably maintain my low mood.

I need it for sleep and that sucks a bit.

 

I dont know about zyprexa but it might be a benzo??? So you feel better since not taking it anymore?

Have you been on meds for a long time?

 

Take care xx

Hi Lolita:
Sorry I didn't reply earlier. I wasn't on the forum for a while.  It's very hard to say which drug is affecting you -- maybe even each of them in a different way?   Have you also thought about or tried non-drug  methods of dealing with anxiety and to deal with your mood?  You can't get off the drugs immediately: it requires tapering each one very slowly, often extremely slowly.  However, unless we learn how to cope with stress and anxiety without drugs, we often encounter the same problems over and over again when life throws us difficult situations.  

Also, have you gone onto the benzo section of this forum? People there can also give you information on benzos: how they affect you, how to withdraw etc.  

My drug history is so complicated it's hard to answer in just one post...  I've had various episodes of stress/breakdowns when I ended up being prescribed drugs.  This latest time I was on zyprexa for a very short time, and starting tapering it slowly after being on it for just a few weeks.  The zoloft I have been on longer (see my signature) and I am tapering fairly slowly.

Hope it all goes well for you.  Lots of info. here on this forum to guide you.

Best wishes,

M.

 

[Madeleine]

Well, down to 38.5 mg of zoloft now.  Seems still like a lot, but I have to put it into perspective, as I was on a total of 200 mg at one point.  Maybe I am tapering a bit too fast, but so far feeling OK.  When I get down to 25 mg, I plan to slow the pace, as I know the final stretch can be the most difficult for some.

 

Best wishes to all.

M.

[Glosmom]

Great job, Madeline!  Keep up th good work and thanks for checking in to let us know how you are doing!  Peace, glosmom

[Spideygsm]

M

 

Good for you. Hang in there. You made a great statement. “You put it into perspective”. Thats what I did and continue to do. I still have withdrawls from Zyprexa. However, when I put it into perspective, I feel better now than on that horrible drug I took for 15 years. 

[Altostrata]

On 10/30/2018 at 8:13 AM, Madeleine said:

Well, down to 38.5 mg of zoloft now.  Seems still like a lot, but I have to put it into perspective, as I was on a total of 200 mg at one point.  Maybe I am tapering a bit too fast, but so far feeling OK.  When I get down to 25 mg, I plan to slow the pace, as I know the final stretch can be the most difficult for some.

 

Best wishes to all.

M.

 

Good for you! It's been a lot of work. What's your tapering schedule now?

[Madeleine]

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

 

Good for you! It's been a lot of work. What's your tapering schedule now?

Hi Alto:  Thanks for checking in. I'm going at about 10% per month...  sometimes I think I might be able to speed it up, as I have been feeling quite good... but I know that many people feel the effects of going to fast after they stop totally so have been trying not to rush.

Best wishes,
 

[Altostrata]

Carry on!