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  • Moderator Emeritus

I had a look at your signature: all the bouncing since practically last year... I'm actually not sure from your signature what drugs you are taking now... 5 beads of Effexor and  3.75 mg of zoplicone? No Remeron any more? Maybe you could make that clearer somehow.

 

I'm afraid that if you continue stopping and starting drugs, increasing and decreasing this destabilization will take longer to resolve and could possibly get worse.

 

Whatever side effects Zpiclone is/was/could cause your brain has adopted it as a part of its structure. You can only remove it through a slow and careful taper. But you need to get stable before you are in a position to do that. And as you have been told a number of times, the way out of this is taking the same dose of the same drugs the same time every day and patiently wait for the time to heal you. Once you get stable you can worry about other things. Now is simply not the time. 

 

This is called harm reduction approach: stopping Zoplicone now is more harmful for you than continue taking it.

 

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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25 minutes ago, bubble said:

I had a look at your signature: all the bouncing since practically last year... I'm actually not sure from your signature what drugs you are taking now... 5 beads of Effexor and  3.75 mg of zoplicone? No Remeron any more? Maybe you could make that clearer somehow.

 

I'm afraid that if you continue stopping and starting drugs, increasing and decreasing this destabilization will take longer to resolve and could possibly get worse.

 

Whatever side effects Zpiclone is/was/could cause your brain has adopted it as a part of its structure. You can only remove it through a slow and careful taper. But you need to get stable before you are in a position to do that. And as you have been told a number of times, the way out of this is taking the same dose of the same drugs the same time every day and patiently wait for the time to heal you. Once you get stable you can worry about other things. Now is simply not the time. 

 

This is called harm reduction approach: stopping Zoplicone now is more harmful for you than continue taking it.

 

Sorry for any misunderstanding on my signature.  I cleaned it up a bit.  Right now I am on 15 beads of Effexor xr and 3.75 mgs of zoplicone.  The remeron was ended on August 29/17.  I actually had reinstated 5 mgs of effexor at the end of July but the Dr. Said it was nonsense at that amount, to stop right away and try this remeron.  So for the month of August I tried.  It made me sick, anxious and overly fatigued and certainly did not help my sleep.  Dr. Told me to just stop but I lowered the dose to 3.75 the last five days and still had withdrawls.  Was very sick and wished I would not have gone on the remeron.  On Sept.4/17 I reinstated the 15 beads of effexor.  I am just praying I did not really wreck my brain with the remeron on top of everything else.  All of the moderators that advised me said to leave the remeron done and to focus on the effexor reinstatement.  Am trying to do so but the anxiety just is out of hand.  Its hard to function in a day.  I turn here for support.  

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

That is all to be expected under the circumstances. Now you have a clear path and a strategy. But it will take time and patience. You will have to learn to cope with symptoms and difficulties functioning. 

 

Have you checked non-drug coping skills? This is a great time to start practicing them.

 

For support you can visit other people's thread and offer them support and they will offer you support back. Also you will see a lot of people in very similar situations and be able to read the advice and suggestions they got which you can apply. That's how one builds a support network here. It's a very supportive community.

 

Just get out of your thread and meet your neighbours. You will soon find somebody you will just get along with nicely. 

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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Quest,

im so sorry for what you're going through. I, like you, played around with my dosage ( lexapro), and added other drugs into the mix and ended up in the same position you're in....trembling anxiety, complete insomnia, and also migraines and vomiting. 

 It's been a little over three months and things are finally settling down a bit. I know 3 mo is a long time, I never thought I would survive it. But I have and I feel stronger for it. I'm only down on the lexapro 50% so still have a long way to go with that. I will also have to taper Ativan, lunesta, and metoprolol. 

Never thought I would be in this position. It makes me disrespect doctors. No it makes me hate doctors. A psych dr rolled her eyes at me when I told her this was drug induced anxiety, not the kind you can breathe through. Only my GP said that it will take me a year or more to get off this med. 

last night was the first good sleep I've had. Today I had more windows than waves. They weren't windows that reflected the old me, but they were decent and I was grateful for them. 

I hope you stabilize quicker than I did. Like the mods told you, don't change anything else right now. Things will settle down. It's hard to see when you feel so bad and have life to live, but it will settle down. 

Take care, littlegrandma 

Lex  4.3mg,  3/2/18  Ativan ,5 mg,  lunesta 2 mg , toprol  25 mg                                                            

 

Oct 16-28 2018 C/O to 19 mg V from 1.5 mg Ativan, 1.3 mg lunesta 

jan 22 2019- 11 mg V

jan 23 - pneumonia, 2 AB’s. 

    Hold taper

july 5- 10.72 V

July 6- 11 mg V- ugly bad

july 11- 10.72 mg V, 4.3 lex, 

              25 mg toprol

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Thank you very much Littlegrandma for sharing your experience and providing a powerful practical example of what we are trying to say!

 

It can take a while for this concept to sink in with people because it is so counterintuitive: we were taught and are used to doing something about the problem when we have it. Here we must change from Western problem solvers and fixers into Eastern zen masters who just step back from the problem and wait for the time to fix it.

 

This might be a very big lesson that the horrible experience of withdrawal is teaching us. Once we practice it in WD it will serve us very well in the rest of our life.

Wishing you continued healing LG.

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Thank you for confirming that you are eyeballing the size not the amount. During the first part of my (wrong) taper I eyeballed the amount! 

It is good to take the 15 biggest balls from a new capsule every day, they will be consistent.  I get free prescriptions so threw away the rest. It will take time to stabilise but you will get there. Just be patient. 

**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    :D 

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

 

 

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2 hours ago, mammaP said:

Thank you for confirming that you are eyeballing the size not the amount. During the first part of my (wrong) taper I eyeballed the amount! 

It is good to take the 15 biggest balls from a new capsule every day, they will be consistent.  I get free prescriptions so threw away the rest. It will take time to stabilise but you will get there. Just be patient. 

I am trying.  Yesterday the anxiety didnt let up and it is 4:11 and not any sleep. Did what you suggested and took full amount of 3.75.  Just feels defeating to take again and it does nothing.  How in the world does one sleep?  

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I haven't been taking xanax for panic attacks, sleep, anxiety or anything for years, a decade and more.

 

The only reason I'm taking it is to prevent withdrawal which occurs when I reduce even a tiny bit of it.

 

The sleep will come back with time. The key is not to panic. You don't even have to expect sleep: just focus on getting some rest and keeping still. 

 

Are you using some non-drug coping methods to help your brain relax?

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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7 minutes ago, bubble said:

I haven't been taking xanax for panic attacks, sleep, anxiety or anything for years, a decade and more.

 

The only reason I'm taking it is to prevent withdrawal which occurs when I reduce even a tiny bit of it.

 

The sleep will come back with time. The key is not to panic. You don't even have to expect sleep: just focus on getting some rest and keeping still. 

 

Are you using some non-drug coping methods to help your brain relax?

Right now, every time I close my eyes the anxiety surges.  The effexor gives me the restless.  Have real hard time being still.  Right now just trying to breathe using square method.

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

this is very good!

 

 

there are loads of tips here. Easy to get information overload.

 

I use application calm.com. I paid some 40 USD but it's worth it. I like their guided mindfulness meditations, body scans, progressive muscle relaxation, sleep stories and the fact that it comes in different chunks: I can choose only 5 mins at a time.

 

Guided meditations on you tube, calming music and imagery... You just have to get through the night and then through the day and do what you can. Time is your friend. 

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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13 hours ago, Littlegrandma said:

Quest,

im so sorry for what you're going through. I, like you, played around with my dosage ( lexapro), and added other drugs into the mix and ended up in the same position you're in....trembling anxiety, complete insomnia, and also migraines and vomiting. 

 It's been a little over three months and things are finally settling down a bit. I know 3 mo is a long time, I never thought I would survive it. But I have and I feel stronger for it. I'm only down on the lexapro 50% so still have a long way to go with that. I will also have to taper Ativan, lunesta, and metoprolol. 

Never thought I would be in this position. It makes me disrespect doctors. No it makes me hate doctors. A psych dr rolled her eyes at me when I told her this was drug induced anxiety, not the kind you can breathe through. Only my GP said that it will take me a year or more to get off this med. 

last night was the first good sleep I've had. Today I had more windows than waves. They weren't windows that reflected the old me, but they were decent and I was grateful for them. 

I hope you stabilize quicker than I did. Like the mods told you, don't change anything else right now. Things will settle down. It's hard to see when you feel so bad and have life to live, but it will settle down. 

Take care, littlegrandma 

Thank you for your info and taking the time to write.  So difficult to know if youre doing the right thing when thst anxiety and no sleep hit.  I wish you much luck on your healing as well.  How did you manage to get through the nights?

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm actually on my second week off after my most recent meltdown. That's why I'm here much more than usually.

 

MammaP is a real insomnia survivor. Going for days without a wink of sleep. And surviving. Maybe you can check her thread.

 

I never had a complete insomnia but her periods of very disrupted sleep and constant anxiety. I had a period of 6 months were I would wake up every 2 hours. It was horrible and I didn't know how and if it would stop but I just endured and it did.

 

As I mentioned mindfulness meditation, body scans and other techniques helped me a lot. 

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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1 hour ago, Quest said:

I am trying.  Yesterday the anxiety didnt let up and it is 4:11 and not any sleep. Did what you suggested and took full amount of 3.75.  Just feels defeating to take again and it does nothing.  How in the world does one sleep?  

 

2 minutes ago, bubble said:

I'm actually on my second week off after my most recent meltdown. That's why I'm here much more than usually.

 

MammaP is a real insomnia survivor. Going for days without a wink of sleep. And surviving. Maybe you can check her thread.

 

I never had a complete insomnia but her periods of very disrupted sleep and constant anxiety. I had a period of 6 months were I would wake up every 2 hours. It was horrible and I didn't know how and if it would stop but I just endured and it did.

 

As I mentioned mindfulness meditation, body scans and other techniques helped me a lot. 

That's why I try and talk with her.  I haven't slept for almost a. Month now with only 1-2 hrs. Or no sleep as well.  I couldn't even go back to work this fall be a use of the anxiety.  I know what I should be doing  just easier said than done.  So very sleep deprived and anxiety comes every time I close my eyes.  

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

You did a lot of adjusting of your drugs, stopped zoplicone, etc. Now when you are on regular dosing, you are finally on the right track and your brain finally has conditions to heal itself.

 

However due to all those bouncing it might take a while. But it will happen. 1-2 hours is a very good sign. Just rest whenever you can even if you can't sleep. meditation, breathing, yoga for calming and grounding, spending as much time as you can in fresh air even if just sitting on a bench  - it is all laying a sound foundation for your sleep cycle restoration.

Edited by bubble

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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Quest,

I didn't get through those nights very easily. I couldn't lay in bed and suffer. I was so restless (akathasia?). I was up and down, trembling. So much anxiety and fear. I took up smoking again and hung in the garage a lot of the night chain smoking. 

I ended up being hospitalized for a week. I would nod off to sleep and wake up with terror, screaming nightmares. They put me on a steady dose of Ativan which allowed me to get a couple hours of straight sleep. That has improved over the last couple weeks and I am sleeping 4 or 5 hours now. 

I don't condone the Ativan for anybody as now it will have to be tapered also. I have been through benzo W/D and it is hell. I will also have to taper lunesta. All these drugs are just making my brain mush. So foggy, unreal. 

I hope you're sleep settles soon, naturally without added poison. I wish I had the magic wand for all of us. This is a nightmare!

This is the day I promised my husband I would quit smoking. One less poison! Hope I can keep that promise!!

lg

Lex  4.3mg,  3/2/18  Ativan ,5 mg,  lunesta 2 mg , toprol  25 mg                                                            

 

Oct 16-28 2018 C/O to 19 mg V from 1.5 mg Ativan, 1.3 mg lunesta 

jan 22 2019- 11 mg V

jan 23 - pneumonia, 2 AB’s. 

    Hold taper

july 5- 10.72 V

July 6- 11 mg V- ugly bad

july 11- 10.72 mg V, 4.3 lex, 

              25 mg toprol

 

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Is your reinstated dose of ad helping your anxiety?  My 15 beads isn't.  It is hard to know how long to give it because I know even this amount will be incredibly hard to stop. It is day 7 now. Are you feeling better on the higher dose of escitalopram?  How to know to go higher or lower.

 

 

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5 hours ago, bubble said:

Thank you very much Littlegrandma for sharing your experience and providing a powerful practical example of what we are trying to say!

 

It can take a while for this concept to sink in with people because it is so counterintuitive: we were taught and are used to doing something about the problem when we have it. Here we must change from Western problem solvers and fixers into Eastern zen masters who just step back from the problem and wait for the time to fix it.

 

This might be a very big lesson that the horrible experience of withdrawal is teaching us. Once we practice it in WD it will serve us very well in the rest of our life.

Wishing you continued healing LG.

 

Lex  4.3mg,  3/2/18  Ativan ,5 mg,  lunesta 2 mg , toprol  25 mg                                                            

 

Oct 16-28 2018 C/O to 19 mg V from 1.5 mg Ativan, 1.3 mg lunesta 

jan 22 2019- 11 mg V

jan 23 - pneumonia, 2 AB’s. 

    Hold taper

july 5- 10.72 V

July 6- 11 mg V- ugly bad

july 11- 10.72 mg V, 4.3 lex, 

              25 mg toprol

 

Link to comment
5 minutes ago, Littlegrandma said:

Quest,

I didn't get through those nights very easily. I couldn't lay in bed and suffer. I was so restless (akathasia?). I was up and down, trembling. So much anxiety and fear. I took up smoking again and hung in the garage a lot of the night chain smoking. 

I ended up being hospitalized for a week. I would nod off to sleep and wake up with terror, screaming nightmares. They put me on a steady dose of Ativan which allowed me to get a couple hours of straight sleep. That has improved over the last couple weeks and I am sleeping 4 or 5 hours now. 

I don't condone the Ativan for anybody as now it will have to be tapered also. I have been through benzo W/D and it is hell. I will also have to taper lunesta. All these drugs are just making my brain mush. So foggy, unreal. 

I hope you're sleep settles soon, naturally without added poison. I wish I had the magic wand for all of us. This is a nightmare!

This is the day I promised my husband I would quit smoking. One less poison! Hope I can keep that promise!!

lg

Oh good luck to you.  I am the same with the restlessness.  Up down all night.  I am glad you are sleeping.  I think it sure would help my anxiety if I could.  Lunesta is a lot like Zoplicone.  My 3.75 isn't doing anything for me.  On 15 beads of effexor and just want some relief from the anxiety.  Hard to know if it is enough or too much.  Good luck with the slowing down on smoking.

 

 

Link to comment

Thanks bubble. 

That means a lot to me. 

I'm sorry you are struggling again right now. The stories on this forum are the only thing that give me hope. Without all of you I wouldn't have a clue what was happening to me. The drs just chalk it up to straight anxiety, nothing to do with w/d. I wish I could give them 24 hours of my life!!

hope you have a better today. Lg

Lex  4.3mg,  3/2/18  Ativan ,5 mg,  lunesta 2 mg , toprol  25 mg                                                            

 

Oct 16-28 2018 C/O to 19 mg V from 1.5 mg Ativan, 1.3 mg lunesta 

jan 22 2019- 11 mg V

jan 23 - pneumonia, 2 AB’s. 

    Hold taper

july 5- 10.72 V

July 6- 11 mg V- ugly bad

july 11- 10.72 mg V, 4.3 lex, 

              25 mg toprol

 

Link to comment

Quest 

i don't know anything about Effexor. But when I reduced my lexapro and couldn't stabilize, I went back to my full dose, at suggestion of therapist, and all hell broke lose. I guess it was just too much for my already fragile system. I went from anxiety to straight trembling all day and night for a couple months. I ended up in the hospital. They reduced my dose by 50%. I knew that was too much, too quick but I was desperate. The trembling stopped. I'm grateful for that. Now I'm just waiting out the w/d symptoms. 

I would have never thought I'd be strong enough to endure something like this for 3 plus months but I persevere. And so will you. When sleep finally comes it will make the rest easier. 

And sleep will come. Slowly. 

But surely. 

I hope you have a better today. And especially a better tonight. 

Lg

Lex  4.3mg,  3/2/18  Ativan ,5 mg,  lunesta 2 mg , toprol  25 mg                                                            

 

Oct 16-28 2018 C/O to 19 mg V from 1.5 mg Ativan, 1.3 mg lunesta 

jan 22 2019- 11 mg V

jan 23 - pneumonia, 2 AB’s. 

    Hold taper

july 5- 10.72 V

July 6- 11 mg V- ugly bad

july 11- 10.72 mg V, 4.3 lex, 

              25 mg toprol

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
32 minutes ago, Quest said:

Is your reinstated dose of ad helping your anxiety?  My 15 beads isn't.  It is hard to know how long to give it because I know even this amount will be incredibly hard to stop. It is day 7 now. Are you feeling better on the higher dose of escitalopram?  How to know to go higher or lower.

Unfortunately you are asking all the wrong questions. You still don't get it.

 

You still don't understand there are no quick fixes and no short cuts in the same way it's not possible to heal a broken bone in a week.

 

Plus you only just reinstated zolpicone.

3 minutes ago, Littlegrandma said:

. Now I'm just waiting out the w/d symptoms. 

Littlegrandma, that's the way to go. Things will settle down.

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
On 08/09/2017 at 1:37 AM, mammaP said:

Try to be patient Quest, it will take time and like you said, the antibiotic will not be helping.  I agree with the others not to go up to 37.5. Just hang in there. I know it's hard, I've been where you are and it does get better.  Did the zopiclone help before you reduced it? 

We gave you our best advice and suggestion.

 

Read through your thread over and over until it sinks in.

 

Visit other people's threads. There are a lot of them in the same boat. You will find comfort knowing you are not the only one, read about methods they used to cope, give and get support.

 

The only way out is through.

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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15 minutes ago, Littlegrandma said:

Quest 

i don't know anything about Effexor. But when I reduced my lexapro and couldn't stabilize, I went back to my full dose, at suggestion of therapist, and all hell broke lose. I guess it was just too much for my already fragile system. I went from anxiety to straight trembling all day and night for a couple months. I ended up in the hospital. They reduced my dose by 50%. I knew that was too much, too quick but I was desperate. The trembling stopped. I'm grateful for that. Now I'm just waiting out the w/d symptoms. 

I would have never thought I'd be strong enough to endure something like this for 3 plus months but I persevere. And so will you. When sleep finally comes it will make the rest easier. 

And sleep will come. Slowly. 

But surely. 

I hope you have a better today. And especially a better tonight. 

Lg

Thanks for your kind words, I wish you a good day as well.  Patience is a hard thing when one is unwell.  I am glad your trembling has stopped and please keep in touch.  Thanks for listening~

 

 

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Quest

missed one of your questions...,

no I am still suffering anxiety and the depression is getting worse. 

But I feel much calmer after dark. I guess it's due to the cortisol levels settling down. That's probably why I am able to get some sleep now. 

Lex  4.3mg,  3/2/18  Ativan ,5 mg,  lunesta 2 mg , toprol  25 mg                                                            

 

Oct 16-28 2018 C/O to 19 mg V from 1.5 mg Ativan, 1.3 mg lunesta 

jan 22 2019- 11 mg V

jan 23 - pneumonia, 2 AB’s. 

    Hold taper

july 5- 10.72 V

July 6- 11 mg V- ugly bad

july 11- 10.72 mg V, 4.3 lex, 

              25 mg toprol

 

Link to comment

Quest 

one thing I want to add. 

I started sleeping with a sleep mask, ear plugs, and a sound machine with white noise. They really seem to help a lot. 

I don't know how to meditate yet. I start cbt therapy wed. But I pray. I am not a greatly spiritual person but I lay in bed and pray to God. This must be a form of meditation and it brings me some peace and relief from the anxiety and I can nod off to sleep. 

Lex  4.3mg,  3/2/18  Ativan ,5 mg,  lunesta 2 mg , toprol  25 mg                                                            

 

Oct 16-28 2018 C/O to 19 mg V from 1.5 mg Ativan, 1.3 mg lunesta 

jan 22 2019- 11 mg V

jan 23 - pneumonia, 2 AB’s. 

    Hold taper

july 5- 10.72 V

July 6- 11 mg V- ugly bad

july 11- 10.72 mg V, 4.3 lex, 

              25 mg toprol

 

Link to comment
54 minutes ago, Littlegrandma said:

Quest 

one thing I want to add. 

I started sleeping with a sleep mask, ear plugs, and a sound machine with white noise. They really seem to help a lot. 

I don't know how to meditate yet. I start cbt therapy wed. But I pray. I am not a greatly spiritual person but I lay in bed and pray to God. This must be a form of meditation and it brings me some peace and relief from the anxiety and I can nod off to sleep. 

I pray too.  Just need the nod off to sleep thing!  

 

 

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  • Administrator
On 9/9/2017 at 6:42 AM, baroquep said:

Hi Quest, for now, and until you stabilize, would you be able to stick with counting the balls?  Just take 15 balls and put them into an empty gelatin capsule.  I think you are stressing yourself unnecessarily and only need to worry about stabilizing for now.  Once you have stabilized, which will likely take a few months, we can take a look at measuring for more exact doses once you are ready to start tapering again.  If you want to use the scale going forward, you could find out the weight of 15 balls and use that measurement to create each dose you prepare so that every dose going forward has the same weight.  But for now, you want to get 15 balls into your system each and every day at the same time to build up a steady dose of the Effexor in your system.    

 

Keep it Simple, Slow and Stable

 

On 9/9/2017 at 4:09 PM, Quest said:

By eyeballing 15 balls wreck my chances of stability as well?  I must be getting the weights wrong.  This scale isn't very precise either.  If I get a compounded prescription do I ask my dr. For 5 mgs?  after talking with primekittycat, seems to think with my average weight of 123 of three capsules that 15 balls = approx. 5 mgs.  I certainly don't know, but my pharmacist said the same thing.  She's just not back and running until the 25 th of this month. It is day 5 of the reinstated effexor, do you think I should hang in one more week and see if it settles down this anxiety? I am lost on whether to come down or go up.  I think too that month of remeron is wreaking havoc with my system too.  Any advice, greatly appreciated, thanks~

 

 

 

What's important is not how much you're taking, 15mg is not a magic number, but that it is reducing your symptoms. I am concerned that perhaps being a perfectionist about measuring your dosing is making your anxiety worse. I agree with baroquep, simply count out 15 random beads from a capsule, don't worry about the size or dosage in milligrams at this point. Stop fiddling with the scale, put it away to use later.

 

Make sure you take 15 beads of Effexor (and each of your other drugs) at the same times each day. Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. This will help track whether a particular drug is causing symptoms.

 

Also, it will help answer the essential question: Have your symptoms changed at all since you reinstated Effexor? If yes, in what way?

 

Yes, you need to give it a little more time to see if 15 beads is sufficient.

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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34 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

 

 

What's important is not how much you're taking, 15mg is not a magic number, but that it is reducing your symptoms. I am concerned that perhaps being a perfectionist about measuring your dosing is making your anxiety worse. I agree with baroquep, simply count out 15 random beads from a capsule, don't worry about the size or dosage in milligrams at this point. Stop fiddling with the scale, put it away to use later.

 

Make sure you take 15 beads of Effexor (and each of your other drugs) at the same times each day. Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. This will help track whether a particular drug is causing symptoms.

 

Also, it will help answer the essential question: Have your symptoms changed at all since you reinstated Effexor? If yes, in what way?

 

Yes, you need to give it a little more time to see if 15 beads is sufficient.

Yes, my symptoms have changed.  Anxiety is worse at night and through the night, close my eyes and it comes.  Abseloutely zero appetite, anxiety through the day is about the same.  I truly do not know if it is making it worse.  I felt really bad going on the remeron and coming off, very depressed, which worsened the first 3-4 days on effexor.  Drs. All disagree with this small reinstatement and just want to put me on different and more.  Trying very hard to deal with the anxiety, seems like nothing helps and not sleeping at all is bad.  Even if I could lay there it wouldn't be bad but I have an inner restlessness that won't quit.  It was day 7 today, how would I even stop at this point?  How do I gauge if this is working?

 

 

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4 minutes ago, Quest said:

Yes, my symptoms have changed.  Anxiety is worse at night and through the night, close my eyes and it comes.  Abseloutely zero appetite, anxiety through the day is about the same.  I truly do not know if it is making it worse.  I felt really bad going on the remeron and coming off, very depressed, which worsened the first 3-4 days on effexor.  Drs. All disagree with this small reinstatement and just want to put me on different and more.  Trying very hard to deal with the anxiety, seems like nothing helps and not sleeping at all is bad.  Even if I could lay there it wouldn't be bad but I have an inner restlessness that won't quit.  It was day 7 today, how would I even stop at this point?  How do I gauge if this is working?

Won't taking random sized balls make stability harder?  Really different doses each day?

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Quest, 

14 hours ago, mammaP said:

Thank you for confirming that you are eyeballing the size not the amount. During the first part of my (wrong) taper I eyeballed the amount! 

It is good to take the 15 biggest balls from a new capsule every day, they will be consistent.  I get free prescriptions so threw away the rest. It will take time to stabilise but you will get there. Just be patient. 

 

As MammaP said, take 15 of the biggest balls out of a capsule every day. You do not need to worry about the weight or the milligrams for now.  Please take 15 of the largest balls out of a new capsule everyday and you will get a consistent dose which is what you want to do.  The only thing you need to worry about right now is stabilizing on the Effexor.

 

Your dose for the next three months

15 large balls out of a new Effexor capsule everyday

3.75 zoplicone

 

What time of the day do you take the Effexor?  Zoplicone?

 

 

Current Prescription Drugs for Hypothyroidism:  Synthroid 100mcg / Cytomel 5mcg (15 years Pristiq/Effexor)

Tapering Schedule
September 15, 2016 - switched from Pristiq 50mg to Effexor XR 75mg; November 10, 2016 - reduced to 67.5 Effexor XR
December 9, 2016 - reduced 60.75
January 5, 2017 - reduced 54.67
January 30, 2017 - reduced to 49.0
February 20, 2017 - reduced to 44.0 
May 20, 2017 - reduced to 40.25 (holding for additional month due to late onset of withdrawal symptoms after this taper)
July 17, 2017 - reduced to 38.24
August 15, 2017 - reduced to 37.5 (50% of my original dose)

October 15, 2017 - reduced to 35.6

November 12, 2017 - reduced to 33.8
December 15, 2017 - up-dose to 35.6
December 28, 2017 - up-dose to 37.5

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21 minutes ago, baroquep said:

Hi Quest, 

 

As MammaP said, take 15 of the biggest balls out of a capsule every day. You do not need to worry about the weight or the milligrams for now.  Please take 15 of the largest balls out of a new capsule everyday and you will get a consistent dose which is what you want to do.  The only thing you need to worry about right now is stabilizing on the Effexor.

 

Your dose for the next three months

15 large balls out of a new Effexor capsule everyday

3.75 zoplicone

 

What time of the day do you take the Effexor?  Zoplicone?

 

 

Effexor at 10 am, zoplicone 1/2 of 3.75 at 10-10:30 pm. And 2nd 1/2 at about 2 hrs. Later. Was hoping doing it that way would get me some kind of sleep.  

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

have you always taken the zoplicone that way?  or did you change how you take it?  

Current Prescription Drugs for Hypothyroidism:  Synthroid 100mcg / Cytomel 5mcg (15 years Pristiq/Effexor)

Tapering Schedule
September 15, 2016 - switched from Pristiq 50mg to Effexor XR 75mg; November 10, 2016 - reduced to 67.5 Effexor XR
December 9, 2016 - reduced 60.75
January 5, 2017 - reduced 54.67
January 30, 2017 - reduced to 49.0
February 20, 2017 - reduced to 44.0 
May 20, 2017 - reduced to 40.25 (holding for additional month due to late onset of withdrawal symptoms after this taper)
July 17, 2017 - reduced to 38.24
August 15, 2017 - reduced to 37.5 (50% of my original dose)

October 15, 2017 - reduced to 35.6

November 12, 2017 - reduced to 33.8
December 15, 2017 - up-dose to 35.6
December 28, 2017 - up-dose to 37.5

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For the past 11/2.  Since about aug. of 2016 when I first weaned off of it after 11 years.  Was off sept.2016-nov. 2016, and then back on and tried coming off again mar 2017-aug 2017.  Went back on it again, because I was so scared of the other alternatives for sleep.  Trazadone, elavil, seroquel, etc. It actually worked for 11 years at 3.75.  But look where I am now.  It sure doesn't work anymore, but everyone has advised me now is not the time to quit with my issues.  Thank you for caring, I realize I am coming off neurotic, but my goodness I really can not help it right now.  It feels insurmountable.  

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

No, you can't quit the zoplicone, at least for now.  You need to stabilize on both the Effexor and Zoplicone.  

 

do you take the zoplicone at night?  usually 3.75mg?

Current Prescription Drugs for Hypothyroidism:  Synthroid 100mcg / Cytomel 5mcg (15 years Pristiq/Effexor)

Tapering Schedule
September 15, 2016 - switched from Pristiq 50mg to Effexor XR 75mg; November 10, 2016 - reduced to 67.5 Effexor XR
December 9, 2016 - reduced 60.75
January 5, 2017 - reduced 54.67
January 30, 2017 - reduced to 49.0
February 20, 2017 - reduced to 44.0 
May 20, 2017 - reduced to 40.25 (holding for additional month due to late onset of withdrawal symptoms after this taper)
July 17, 2017 - reduced to 38.24
August 15, 2017 - reduced to 37.5 (50% of my original dose)

October 15, 2017 - reduced to 35.6

November 12, 2017 - reduced to 33.8
December 15, 2017 - up-dose to 35.6
December 28, 2017 - up-dose to 37.5

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Just now, baroquep said:

No, you can't quit the zoplicone, at least for now.  You need to stabilize on both the Effexor and Zoplicone.  

 

do you take the zoplicone at night?  usually 3.75mg?

Yes.  I don't know how to manage 3 months feeling this anxiety and depression.  I guess I just start.  After. 11 years on this stuff I guess it's hard to wrap my mind around 5 mgs doing anything.  

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Believe me when I say, you have no idea HOW STRONG these drugs are.  Please trust that the answer is not going back up to 37.5mg, in my opinion, adding that much Effexor will destabilize your central nervous system even further and you'll likely end up in the hospital.  The goal is to stabilize on the lowest possible dose that will alleviate your withdrawal symptoms.  If you don't have to go higher than 15 balls to get some relief, why would you want to take more?  More is definitely not better in this instance.  I want you to promise yourself, that you are going to take 15 of the largest balls of Effexor every morning and 3.75mg of Zoplicone every night.  

 

Your daily schedule until you stabilize

15 large balls from Effexor at 10:00 am (open up a new capsule every morning and take out 15 large beads) 

3.75mg of Zoplicone at night

 

Please do not alter the number of Effexor balls or split your zoplicone dose.  If you are ever going to stabilize, it is in your best interest to adhere to this schedule.  Please keep a diary to track of your symptoms everyday so that we can see a consistent pattern over the next few weeks.

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist
Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

Edited by baroquep

Current Prescription Drugs for Hypothyroidism:  Synthroid 100mcg / Cytomel 5mcg (15 years Pristiq/Effexor)

Tapering Schedule
September 15, 2016 - switched from Pristiq 50mg to Effexor XR 75mg; November 10, 2016 - reduced to 67.5 Effexor XR
December 9, 2016 - reduced 60.75
January 5, 2017 - reduced 54.67
January 30, 2017 - reduced to 49.0
February 20, 2017 - reduced to 44.0 
May 20, 2017 - reduced to 40.25 (holding for additional month due to late onset of withdrawal symptoms after this taper)
July 17, 2017 - reduced to 38.24
August 15, 2017 - reduced to 37.5 (50% of my original dose)

October 15, 2017 - reduced to 35.6

November 12, 2017 - reduced to 33.8
December 15, 2017 - up-dose to 35.6
December 28, 2017 - up-dose to 37.5

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