Terry: withdrawing from Xanax and Zoloft

[manymoretodays]

Try this one Terry,  Are We There Yet? How Long is Withdrawal Going to Take?

And then if you go on back to the start of that whole topic, you may find more on the subject too.

 

Thanks for letting us know on the other link.  I'll take a look.

 

[manymoretodays]

Ah.  Thanks Gridley. 

[Terry]

UPDATE:  It seems the windows are fewer and farther apart these days.  I have just been so low, feeling weak and anxious most of the day.  I used to have some pretty good evenings, but not much anymore.  I wonder if it's because I'm getting to a low dosage.  I'm trying to prepare for a family dinner tomorrow, but not getting much done due to the weakness, fatigue, and anxiety.  Wish I could see some sign of improvement, but I seem to be gradually getting worse.  I'm so afraid of being like this forever!

[Terry]

My liquid sertraline prescription is expiring this month.  Since I am down to such a low dose (1.2 mg) I wonder why I couldn't continue to use it until it's gone.  From what I've read, medicines may lose some effectiveness, but I doubt it would suddenly be no good.  Rather, it may lose a bit of potency which at my low dose might not be significant. 

 

@Altostrata  @Shep  Any thoughts on this?

[Shep]

How bad are your symptoms, Terry? If you're still struggling, you may want to go ahead and get a fresh supply. If you have a pattern of being sensitive to small reductions in dose, you may want to err on the side of caution and stick with a prescription that's still in date. 

 

Also, you may want to consider the psychological factor. Just knowing the drug is full potency can help, a placebo effect in a way. That way if you have a wave, you won't be wondering if it's from the lack of potency from an expired bottle. It removes one of the variables. 

[Terry]

I would say that my symptoms are, for the most part, manageable.  I had hoped to avoid getting a new bottle since this one is still almost half full and a new one will be expensive.  I would ask my pharmacist's opinion, but I'm pretty sure she would recommend tossing the old prescrip.

 

Thank you very much for your input.  I will have to thoughtfully consider your advice.

[Terry]

I just spoke to my pharmacist.  When I told her I'm down to 1.2 mg liquid sertraline she said, as I expected she would, that I could just quit.  But I told her I wasn't ready, and she said I could safely used the expired prescrip for another 30 days.  Then she said they could also make up a smaller bottle for me at a lower cost, which would be really good.

[Shep]

Thanks for letting us know, Terry. A smaller bottle at a lower cost sounds like a great idea. 

[Terry]

Now that I'm down to a low dose would it be better to do a BrassMonkey taper or a 10% taper?  I have tried variants of both, but wonder which would be simpler and easier on my system at this low level.  I'm dealing with a lot of brain fog, fatigue, weakness, and some degree of anxiety.  Unusual leg symptoms as well.  I'm so glad I've made it this far and look forward to being drug free (tho that will be several years yet, unfortunately). 

[Shep]

The Brassmonkey Slide is good for those who have destabilized nervous systems because of the smaller weekly reductions, as opposed to one big monthly reduction. So you may want to go with the Slide. 

 

And you can adjust the slide to fit whatever percentage you wish for the month's total reduction. You may want to go slower than 10% since you're having so many symptoms. 

[Terry]

Thanks, Shep.  I just don't want to do anything to jeopardize my stability. 

[Terry]

I had surgery on my foot this morning and was given a nerve block in my ankle and sedation by IV fluid.  I received three prescriptions to take in the days to follow:  oxycodone, hydrozyxine, and celecoxib.  The PA pretty much insisted I needed them all.  I dislike having to take prescription medicine, especially with my experience with ADs.  However, I know I'm going to need something for pain besides tylenol.  I am in a quandry as to what to do.

 

[Shep]

Terry, if non-drug methods and Tylenol don't work, you could try the stronger meds at the lowest possible dose. Do as much self care as you can. 

[Terry]

Thanks so much for your advice, Shep.  I'm going to see how few of these meds I can get by on.  Perhaps I can manage just using tylenol, which would be great.  I was rather surprised I wasn't given an antibiotic, but really glad that I wasn't.

[Frogie]

Hi Terry:

 

 I was doing great on a 7% taper, then we moved. I’m super happy we moved to civilization (long story), but I couldn’t find a dr that would prescribe Xanax. They all wanted to switch me to Valium and I had a taper from Valium  so I couldn’t go back on it without feeling I might have a reaction. I ended up going back to a dr I had about 6 years ago. He is very nice, but thought I could go a little faster on my taper so upped it to 10%. He wanted to go faster but I talked him out of that really quick. So, the last couple of months I’ve had severe anxiety when I wake up in the morning. It settles down by the time the day goes on. I take magnesium and that helps a lot. My anxiety has settled in my legs and I just want to claw them off. I also took a large amount, 3 mg a day and over 20 years. I’ve also had a lot of situational anxiety in the last few months. I’m sure hoping it will settle down soon.

 

I wish now I wouldn’t have told him I’m tapering off. But I can’t lie to a dr. He would have continued to prescribe it and I could have done the 7% a month. But what’s done is done.

 

Everyone is different, but if you take it nice and slow and take the mods advice here, I’m sure you’ll do just fine.

 

 I’m sorry about your surgery. I hope it went well and you’ll be up and back to normal in no time😊

 

I hope I answered your question.

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Terry]

Thanks, Frogie,

 

Understanding your situation has really helped.  My doctor is probably going to retire before I start my xanax taper, so I'm hoping the new doctor will still allow me to have xanax until I can taper off.  Thanks for the well wishes on my surgery.  

 

Wishing you much relief from your extreme anxiety!

[Frogie]

1 minute ago, Terry said:

Thanks, Frogie,

 

Understanding your situation has really helped.  My doctor is probably going to retire before I start my xanax taper, so I'm hoping the new doctor will still allow me to have xanax until I can taper off.  Thanks for the well wishes on my surgery.  

 

Wishing you much relief from your extreme anxiety!

I hope the new dr will allow you to taper off the Xanax also.

 

You are welcome. If you have any other questions, just ask away😊

 

Good luck!

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Frogie]

Hi Terry:

 

Just wondered how you were feeling?

 

 I hope much better.

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Terry]

Thanks for asking.  I think I'm slowly recovering.  Another week and I should feel better.  🙂

 

My husband is tapering off valium and is down to 0.36mg.  I don't think his doctor likes re-filling his prescription.  He was usually getting 30 pills/month.  But the last time it was only 15 pills.  And I'm not sure his doctor will approve another refill.  I hope my husband can get his dose down to a low enough level to safely jump off.  Shep has said he could probably quit at 0.25.  I hope she's right.

 

Wishing you the best!

Terry

 

 

[Frogie]

16 minutes ago, Terry said:

Thanks for asking.  I think I'm slowly recovering.  Another week and I should feel better.  🙂

 

My husband is tapering off valium and is down to 0.36mg.  I don't think his doctor likes re-filling his prescription.  He was usually getting 30 pills/month.  But the last time it was only 15 pills.  And I'm not sure his doctor will approve another refill.  I hope my husband can get his dose down to a low enough level to safely jump off.  Shep has said he could probably quit at 0.25.  I hope she's right.

 

Wishing you the best!

Terry

 

 

I’m glad you are recovering. Hopefully sooner than a week, fingers crossed 😊

 

I hope your husband’s  dr will allow another re-fill so he can taper off correctly. Maybe explain it to the dr that he only needs one more re-fill to be done?

 

Shep is very knowledgeable about benzos. I’m sure she gave you the correct information.

 

Wishing you lots of luck in your and your husband’s recovery!

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Gridley]

@Terry I see from your signature that your last drop was by 10% in 3 weeks.  You might want to stretch it to every four weeks.  Going slowly at the lower doses is especially important.

Edited February 11, 2020 by Gridley

[Shep]

15 hours ago, Terry said:

Shep has said he could probably quit at 0.25.  I hope she's right.

 

Wait, let's go back and look at this over on Raphael's thread. I think there may be a misunderstanding. 

 

Please see my post here. 

 

Raphael: When to start valium taper

 

I stated that Raphael may want to decrease to .25 mg in order to take his dose by pill form on his trip when he thought he might have to completely stop at the .32 mg liquid amount.

 

My comment on the .25 mg dose was not a stopping dose. Raphael will need to go by his symptoms. 

 

 

[Terry]

 

Today is day 12 of this illness.  My husband took me to Urgent Care last Friday and the doctor called it bronchitis.  I had a chest Xray and he said I didn't have pneumonia.  However, I have read that Xrays don't always show it.  (My sister was told she didn't have pneumonia per the Xray, but then was hospitalized, had a CT scan, and told it WAS pneumonia.)  He wrote a scrip for an essentially useless medication, so my coughing has continued.  I'm hoping this "bug" will have run it's course soon.

 

Hope I'm better when it's time to taper again.

[Frogie]

On 2/17/2020 at 8:21 AM, Terry said:

 

Today is day 12 of this illness.  My husband took me to Urgent Care last Friday and the doctor called it bronchitis.  I had a chest Xray and he said I didn't have pneumonia.  However, I have read that Xrays don't always show it.  (My sister was told she didn't have pneumonia per the Xray, but then was hospitalized, had a CT scan, and told it WAS pneumonia.)  He wrote a scrip for an essentially useless medication, so my coughing has continued.  I'm hoping this "bug" will have run it's course soon.

 

Hope I'm better when it's time to taper again.

Hi:

 

I hope you are feeling better. I saw you were on a z-pack. 
 

Hopefully it worked and you’ll be back to yourself in no time😊

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

 

[Terry]

When I think back to how I got started on ADs it makes me sad and angry.  I went to my PCP because I was feeling depressed.  My mother died that year, my kitty had cancer and had to be put down, my children were leaving home, getting married, and my situation at work had become very stressful.  If only I had known enough to ask for therapy instead of accepting an AD.  I have lost a big part of my life and now I'm so old I may not have the time left to fully regain my previous self.  I feel now like I'm just marking time. 🙁

[direstraits]

38 minutes ago, Terry said:

 now I'm so old I may not have the time left to fully regain my previous self.  I feel now like I'm just marking time. 🙁

I can really relate to this,you're not alone...it's scary.

just got my Medicare card, how did that happen...yikes!

 

take care,ds

[Terry]

Why don't I see success stories from people who tapered rather than CT or fast taper?

 

Except for BrassMonkey's success story, I can't find anyone else who actually tapered all the way rather than cold turkey or much too fast taper.  I'd like to see success stories about those who did a long, slow taper.  I'm 33 months into my sertraline taper and have a long way to go.  I'd like to hear that the long wait is worth it.

Edited April 30, 2020 by manymoretodays
moved from SStories to here, title added

[manymoretodays]

Hi Terry, @Terry

Oh so sorry, you've had a post sitting there for a long time that I just moved here, and it is above.

My last one, drug, I slow tapered.......it wasn't an AD(antidepressant) though and I'm past due for getting my success story posted.

 

There must be others.......and we have those in progress, with slow tapers, who are successes in their own right too.

I'll just add that the long wait is worth it.......or I think it is.  As long as you can keep honing non-drug coping skills to use......that really, really helps.

 

How you doing now?  I see 0.73 of sertraline, since April 18th.  What kind of tapering method are you using?

 

Oh best Terry, and so, so sorry......posts sometimes just get overlooked when posted elsewhere or without a notification.  This is a good place for your question to the community, above.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited April 30, 2020 by manymoretodays
written to posted

[Terry]

 

@manymoretodays I think I'm doing quite well.  Thanks for asking.   It's hard to know though, if some of my problems are WD related, or something else.  I've been using the Brass Monkey slide for about 3 months now.  It seems to be a little easier on my system.  

 

Waiting to see your success story!  

 

Terry

[ChessieCat]

I've been tapering off 100mg Pristiq since October 2015 and I'm now down to 1mg.  I'm doing okay and have noticed improvements during that time.  Some of it is very subtle and isn't obvious until I recall how I was at different times earlier in my taper and suddenly realise that something isn't as bad as it was.  For example just yesterday I realised that my tinnitus is now very mild; at one time it was very bad.

 

Recently I've felt a bit irritable which I have noticed when something small happens, like dropping something and having to pick it up, or getting annoyed with my cat.  It was when it returned (but not as bad as before) that I thought oh I went for quite a while where I wasn't irritable.

 

Another thing I noticed is that I seem to be thinking much more clearly now.  There was also a time 2 1/2 years ago when I started getting excited about things, whereas 6 months prior I wasn't.

 

Recently I had a looping song and again realised that it had been a while since that had happened.  And a few days ago I had the feeling that I couldn't settle which was something that bothered me for many months a few years ago.

 

Oh yes, and my leg muscles don't get tight when I walk.  A few years ago I had difficulty stepping up the gutter from the road and would have to use the slope.

 

If all goes okay I will be off about mid 2021, which will be almost 6 years of tapering.  I had hoped to be off by my 60th birthday; I will be almost 64 when I'm finished.  It might be possible to get off sooner, but after going carefully for so long I'd rather not take the risk of upsetting things.

 

I hope that gives you some encouragement.

[Frogie]

Hi Terry:

 

 I will answer you on your page so we aren’t carrying a conversation on Joy’s.

 

“I don't know if I'm asking this on the wrong thread or not.  But could you tell me how it's different from AD taper?  I'll be tapering my alprazolam (Xanax) possibly next year, and it would be nice to know what I might expect.  My doctor is retiring this summer and I'm hoping his replacement will continue my prescription until I can safely taper off.”

 

My Lexapro taper was not fun as you know. I felt like I had the flu. I was nauseous and achy. I didn’t know why in the world I was doing this to myself.

 

My Xanax taper is totally different. I take my last dose at 8:00 pm because we go to bed at 8:30 (we are old lol... my “hubby” gets up for work at 3:30 am). But, around 2:00 am, I start trembling inside and I can feel my legs getting this “creepy crawly” feeling. Then in the morning they are weak. My trembling doesn’t stop until around 10:00-11:00.  I only sleep from 8:30-2:00. I was on a much higher dose than you, so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it.  I was on 3 mg a day. I’m down to 0.60 mg a day. I’ll be done in July. Unless I can scrape enough powder to do one more taper in August. But the dr only gave me enough to get through the taper until July. I should have never told him I was tapering, but oh well. I’m going to make it!

 

Everyone is different though. You may be just fine. Don’t take my Xanax taper as what will happen to you. I’ve read a lot of people come off just fine too.

 

 I hope the new dr will keep you on it. If not, I’d look for one that will. And only go down 10% a month or less. Just like your antidepressant taper.

 

 I hope I helped just a little.😊
 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

 

 

[Terry]

Thanks so much Frogie!  I do worry that I will have been on xanax for 4 years before I can even start my taper.  I wish I could start it now, though I know it isn't recommended to taper 2 drugs at the same time.  Are you able to take just one dose per day, or do you divide it? 

 

Congratulations on becoming a mentor!  You are so encouraging, I know you'll do a fine job.

 

Wishing you a smooth landing on your xanax taper.

 

Terry

[Frogie]

6 minutes ago, Terry said:

Thanks so much Frogie!  I do worry that I will have been on xanax for 4 years before I can even start my taper.  I wish I could start it now, though I know it isn't recommended to taper 2 drugs at the same time.  Are you able to take just one dose per day, or do you divide it? 

 

Congratulations on becoming a mentor!  You are so encouraging, I know you'll do a fine job.

 

Wishing you a smooth landing on your xanax taper.

 

Terry

Thanks Terry:

 

 I take .20 mg at 6:30 am, 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm,  it’s spread out through the day. I was on for I think 20 years.

 

 I wouldn’t recommend doing 2 tapers at once. You don’t know which medication might be giving you side effects. I’d stick with what you are doing. You’re doing great!

 

 I try to be encouraging, and I love to read about everyone on here. You can’t learn enough about this wd stuff.

 

Thanks for the encouragement on the Xanax taper. Rough ride so far but I’m going to come out of it ok😊

 

Have a great day!

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Frogie]

Hi Terry:

 

Just thought I’d stop by and say hi.

 

I saw you posted you were having a rough day. I’m sorry to hear that.

 

 I hope you feel better soon 😊

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Terry]

Thanks, Frogie.  This evening's been a bit better.  I managed to finish sewing a dress for my youngest granddaughter, though I really had to push myself.  I'm glad now that I did because her birthday is tomorrow.

 

Best to you,

Terry

[Frogie]

10 hours ago, Terry said:

Thanks, Frogie.  This evening's been a bit better.  I managed to finish sewing a dress for my youngest granddaughter, though I really had to push myself.  I'm glad now that I did because her birthday is tomorrow.

 

Best to you,

Terry

How wonderful you were able to finish it for her birthday. She’s a special girl. How old is she?

 I had my granddaughter over Memorial weekend. It was so nice to see her. She’s 12 going on 20 lol...

I did sew some masks, but I haven’t sewn for years. As soon as material becomes available again, maybe I’ll sew something else that doesn’t require a lot. Don’t think I’m ready for a dress quite yet.

Anyway, enough of me. I’m so glad your evening was better. I hope you continue to feel better everyday.

Take care,

 Frogie xx