DMV64: reinstate Saphris?

[JanCarol]

10 hours ago, DMV64 said:

stop eating all grains and gluten

 

Hey D - 

 

I had to do this.  Wheat, definitely, hits my system like  a poison now.  I can eat other grains sparingly.  But yeah.  Gluten free is better.  For pain, for brain, for digestion and gut.  People think I'm crazy or it's an "allergy" but I'm like, no, it's toxic!  Nobody should be eating this stuff!  I know this is a strong opinion, but the more I learn, the less I think we are meant to eat processed grains.  The convenience of the food industry is not exactly about health.

I've been reading a book by Perlmutter, "Grain Brain," and it is very enlightening.

I hope you see the sun today!

[JackieDecides]

On 9/26/2020 at 7:05 AM, JanCarol said:

Wheat, definitely, hits my system like  a poison now.  I can eat other grains sparingly.  But yeah.  Gluten free is better.  For pain, for brain, for digestion and gut.  People think I'm crazy or it's an "allergy" but I'm like, no, it's toxic!  Nobody should be eating this stuff!  I know this is a strong opinion, but the more I learn, the less I think we are meant to eat processed grains.  The convenience of the food industry is not exactly about health.

 

 

 I need to try this. I cut way back on dairy and that was helpful. 

[DMV64]

On 9/26/2020 at 10:05 AM, JanCarol said:

But

But but but. I have to do it anyway. Brain fog is bad enough. Plus bladder pain. Started today on the anti inflammatory diet which would be gluten free and a lot of other things. Actually I am pretty hungry today! Not sure what to eat between low acid (bladder burn) low inflammation and gluten free. I am a bit allergic to nuts and seeds. Must do sparingly. I am excited today even I feel a little better!

[DMV64]

4 hours ago, JackieDecides said:

toxic

Omg! Yes I feel like this is so true. Poison!

just what to eat????

[DMV64]

On 2/12/2020 at 10:56 AM, Snorky said:

Parkinson’s

My gosh I am just seeing this! Yes it does sound like my symptoms!

[DMV64]

@manymoretodays @JanCarol just dropped 10%of the Geoden and having some agitation symptoms. Only day 1.5 hoping to work it thru. Just need to reach out. Snapped at my husband again.

[ChessieCat]

58 minutes ago, DMV64 said:

just dropped 10%of the Geoden and having some agitation symptoms

 

Were you are anxious about doing the reduction?

Or monthly cycle?

[DMV64]

51 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

reduction

I felt it would be ok. I mean it has been pretty smooth. But having agitation. Anxiety. Headache. Concentration sucks. Only day 2. Going to try to get through. No more monthly here. 

[ChessieCat]

When you only "think it's okay" is the time when it might be better to do a smaller reduction.

[manymoretodays]

Hi DMV64,

I was just thinking about you. And so.....synchronicity of a sort, eh?

 

What are you at dosage wise now with the Geodon?  How often have you been doing the 10% drops?  How are you measuring?  You need to refresh my memory banks. 

 

And......what is your daily schedule like now?  Medications, and symptoms?

Can you do a symptom log/Notes?  The time(s) on the left, all medications(dosages), supplements, symptoms, sleep on the right.
daily notes of drug schedule and symptoms to track patterns and progress

the first post there, has a sample note

(I'm guessing you remember these, we tried a few before, and I could use an update of what you take when, it's been awhile, and it's always good to see symptoms in relation to your dosing with your daily meds.)

 

And yes.....see how it goes, and maybe the next taper you may want to do less than 10%, or start more of a microtaper plan.  Like Ccat said above.

Keep us updated this next week, okay?

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

( I am kind of excited about starting teacher certification(Yoga) in January, it's on Zoom with a local instructor and cheap enough to do, and I think I am ready now.  As you know, I've been wanting to do this for awhile now)

Hoping all is well with you and yours too.  We are okay here.

 

 

Edited November 8, 2020 by manymoretodays

[DMV64]

3 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

reduction

Yes I’m going to see how I feel tomorrow. Right now I feel OK. I’m struggling a bit to see the tiny syringe and make sure I’m getting the exact right dose. But now I’m using stronger glasses and brighter lights.

[manymoretodays]

The last I am seeing in your signature, on the Geodon is a 6 mg dose, noted on August 4th.  With tapering resumed on January 10th of 2020.

 

And then on the Saphris, I'm seeing end dose of that, or off on August 18th.  Was that in 2019 then?

 

If/when you can consolidate a bit in your signature, that will be helpful too.  Go to your Account Settings and then select signature, over on the left.  Edit or update and then press the Save button.

21 hours ago, DMV64 said:

Just need to reach out. Snapped at my husband again.

 

And oh, a lot going on now too.  Pandemic and elections.  Best you can do sometimes is apologize.  Glad you reached out DMV64.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[DMV64]

2 minutes ago, manymoretodays said:

consolidate

Oh my gosh I have wanted to do this for awhile! But was afraid to/did not know what to cut! Can you give me some direction here? Yes Saphris was last year-WAHOO! Now Geoden (another atypical antipsychotic-the worst for me). Geoden has been going much better than Saphris. I just dropped from liquid compound (I hope I get this right in explaining) 6mg total daily dose divided into 4 doses 1.0ML per dose. I dropped to 0.9ML. Today is better.

[manymoretodays]

3 hours ago, DMV64 said:

Geoden has been going much better than Saphris. I just dropped from liquid compound (I hope I get this right in explaining) 6mg total daily dose divided into 4 doses 1.0ML per dose. I dropped to 0.9ML. Today is better.

 

And okay, good that today seems a bit better.

 

Why don't we start with just the Geodon today.  So you started reducing last January, or January 2020.

1/10/20 Geoden taper 18mg to 16mg.2/14 14mg. 3/20 13mg 4/29 11mg 5/21 10mg/6/13 9mg/7/4 8mg/7/24 7mg 8/4 6mg/94

This is what you have in your signature last, on Geodon.

 

So you are mixing your own liquid or do you have a pharmacy made mixture?

And then, how concentrated is it, or how many mg's (milligrams) are in how many mL's(millileters).

 

Right now when do you take the 4 doses of Geodon?  The times?

 

And how many mL's do you take with each dose?  When you say you dropped to 0.9 ML, I'm not sure it that is the total daily amount in liquid, or the amount of each of the 4 divided doses you take in one day.

 

And DMV64, you can provide answers right here in your Introduction, to the above ?'s .   And then, we can work on the signature later, ideas for improving that.

And eh, forgive me DMV, so were taking  Geodon a 4 times a day of 1.0 mL?  And now you still take it 4 times a day, but 0.9 mL?And maybe it used to be a total of 6 mg/day?  What is the total daily dose now?  It might help to share what the liquid compound concentration is?  It is probably labeled in mg per mL.  You've always divided the total daily dose in this way?  Split into 4 doses?  Why?  I'm just wondering, it might be back a ways in your Introduction now. 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2020 by manymoretodays
in purple, clarity I hope

[DMV64]

3 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

answers right here

Ok I am trying to figure out how to type right under your answers but having some kind of spaz out on that so I will just answer here...

 

Why don't we start with just the Geodon today.  So you started reducing last January, or January 2020.

1/10/20 Geoden taper 18mg to 16mg.2/14 14mg. 3/20 13mg 4/29 11mg 5/21 10mg/6/13 9mg/7/4 8mg/7/24 7mg 8/4 6mg/94

This is what you have in your signature last, on Geodon. 

 

So you are mixing your own liquid or do you have a pharmacy made mixture? Compound Pharmacy

And then, how concentrated is it, or how many mg's (milligrams) are in how many mL's(millileters). It says 1.5mg/ml suspension. Take 1ml (1.5mg) 4x a day. Total 6mg daily.

 

Right now when do you take the 4 doses of Geodon?  The times? 7am, 1pm, 7pm, 1am

 

And how many mL's do you take with each dose?  When you say you dropped to 0.9 ML, I'm not sure it that is the total daily amount in liquid, or the amount of each of the 4 divided doses you take in one day. that is each dose

 

And DMV64, you can provide answers right here in your Introduction, to the above ?'s .   And then, we can work on the signature later, ideas for improving that.

And eh, forgive me DMV, so were taking  Geodon a 4 times a day of 1.0 mL?  yes And now you still take it 4 times a day, but 0.9 mL? yes And maybe it used to be a total of 6 mg/day? yes  What is the total daily dose now? I need to ask my math guy. Was hoping to go down to 5mg but that was like a 16% drop. So he told me I could use the liquid I had but take 0.9ml for a 10% drop.   It might help to share what the liquid compound concentration is?  It is probably labeled in mg per mL.  Above You've always divided the total daily dose in this way?  Split into 4 doses?  Why?  I'm just wondering, it might be back a ways in your Introduction now. Geoden has such a short half life that when I had it in only three doses I was getting terrible anxiety in the morning, waking up. I split it into 4 and it stopped!

[DMV64]

OK my math assistant got back to me so I am taking 5.4 mg a day

[manymoretodays]

Okay DMV64,

I got that all.  Awesome, you have a math assistant!

Present dose of Geodon is 5.4 mg per day.

Split into 4 doses using a compounded liquid(of 1.5 mg per 1 mL).

You take 0.9 mL of the liquid,  at 7 am, 1 pm,  7 pm, and 1 am.  Or 1.35 mg each dose.

23 hours ago, DMV64 said:

Geoden has such a short half life that when I had it in only three doses I was getting terrible anxiety in the morning, waking up. I split it into 4 and it stopped!

It is usually dosed twice a day.

And this goes to show, how different we each can be.  Back when I was on Geodon, I took it once a day, at bedtime........and had a horrible morning hangover, until a certain hour and then I would be fine.  I have no recall of what else I was on then.  Probably an AD, most likely Lexapro, possibly Effexor.  Anyway.....I digress.

 

So, I went a bit further with your reductions since January 2020.  You've gone down approximately 70% from your starting dose last January, 2020.  Looks like you have based taper percentages on each proceeding dose, or close to that.  I came up with a little higher number for what your present dose might be, if doing exactly a 10% taper from each proceeding dose.

 

I hope you are doing well enough today.

 

So next, you are HOLDING now........so let's look at your whole picture of medications.  From September 2019:

  

On 9/2/2019 at 10:15 AM, manymoretodays said:

Current drug list is then:  Uribel, clonazepam, Geodon, gabapentin, Cogentin, hydroxyzine, omeprazole, progesterone, and Vyvanse

(taken from your drug interaction list posted, DMV, and signature)  That's 9!!

 

I get dizzy looking at it.

I'm thinking that you may not be on the Uribel anymore.  But let's do a daily symptom log/Notes.

Keep daily notes of drug schedule and symptoms to track patterns and progress

I'm almost certain you might be familiar with ^, and if so, or even if not........take a look at the first post there and please try one.

They are so very helpful in looking at symptoms in relationship to med(s).

Time on the left.  And then go through a whole 24 hours with time on the left, and then medication(s) by name, dose on right.  Also on the right, anything else, like symptoms(can rate them if needed), supplements(again name and dose), sleep(after the fact), activity, etc.  Any coping skills that you do and that help especially, add in those on the right of the times too.

 

It's just a very good time to do this ^.  I think so anyway.

 

If you want to, go ahead and just add in your present dose of Geodon to your signature too.  For the signature, you can just note the date you tapered again and the total daily dose.  I left you the link to get you there a couple posts up.

 

And okay.  I'm feeling especially nerdy today......LOL.  I can't believe you said you were having a "spaz out here".  We speak a similar language.  ❤️  We got another burst of winter here with some sweet snow too!  So I'm excited about that.  I'm going to go play for a bit now.......get outside in my many layers, anyway.........it's brrrrrrr cold now.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited November 9, 2020 by manymoretodays
minor checks, spelling

[DMV64]

2 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

present dose of Geodon

Hey thanks!

I am going to do the 24 hour thing. And adjust the signature

[manymoretodays]

Hi DMV64,

I'm going to put a copy of your signature right here today.

That way you'll have it, to refer to, after or during consolidation. 

New hopefully cleaner, signature

2001 - Klonopin (.125 mg) for anxiety and sleep at night.

2010 - depressed, tried several SSRI's, settled in 2011 on Saphris (5 mg)

2011 - Dystonic reaction from Saphris. CT. Terrible withdrawal. Panic. 

2011 - Attempts to stablize: Klonopin 1.0 mg. Xanax 1mg. Geoden 20mg. Wellbutrin 100mg. Tried at this time: Seroquel, Cymbalta, Lamictal 

2014 - Vyvanse 20 mg/ADHD, Gabapentin 300 mg added/bladder pain. Wellbutrin fast taper/Rash.

2016 - Depressed - Lithium 300mg til June/Rash and only marginally effective.

2017 - June - Saphris 5 mg added cogentin for side effects

2017 - September Fast taper Saphris. Aug 29. Terrible withdrawal. Panic.

2017 - Attempts to stablize: Lithium: Aug 31 - Sept 9. Stopped. Geoden 40mg Sept 9. Fast taper to 20 mg Sept 13.  Reinstated Saphris Sept 9 (1.25 mg), updosed the Saphris Sept 11 (.2.5mg) .Vyvanse 5mg for ADHD Stopped Sept 14, reinstated sept 17. Cut to 3mg sometime in March.

Omezerpole/reflux. Fish oil supplements. .5 cogentin for possible reactions to Saphris. Oct 25 water taper of Geoden 20mg,  11/18 next 10% drop. Hold at 16.2mg. Dec 12 begin Saphris 2.5 mg taper on scale. Rapid taper doc rec./bad idea. Hold at 1.2mg, updose 2/13. Split Geoden dose 11AM/12mg 7:30PM/6mg. 3/26 Updose Geoden by 2mg to 18mg. Dec 1 split Klonopin dose. 3/23 12 hours apart 3/27. 6/18 1 mg klonopin split 12 hours apart. Sometime in Feb. Klonopin increase to 1.5 to avoid hospital. 6/4 updose Saphris to .015mg July 1 cut Saphris to .014mg. July 29 .013 Aug 29 .012 Sept 29 .011Oct 29 .010 Dec 6 .009 (0.9 mgai) Jan 26 .008 (0.8mgai) Feb 25 (0.7mgai) March 25 (0.6mgai) May 24 begin liquid taper. Cut sublingual tab to .020 in 5ML water. Pull out 1.25ML (.05mgai) 6/14 1ML .025 dry dose dissolved (.045mgai) 7/7 .Dissolve .025 in 8ML drink .009ML 7/28Dissolve .025 in 8ML drink .008ML. 8/18 Jumping! 1/10/20 Geoden taper 18mg to 16mg.2/14 14mg. 3/20 13mg 4/29 11mg 5/21 10mg/6/13 9mg/7/4 8mg/7/24 7mg 8/4 6mg 11/8 5.4mg

 

I don't know if any of us, you, me, or JC have gotten back to the Saphris tapering topic either yet.  To add in there, your experiences tapering the Saphris sublingual.

 

Happy gratitude day, coming up, and month!  Sweet potato pie is going to be my main entree.....Lol, desert, with whipped cream!  Going to, a very small, and distanced, get together on Thursday, next week.  And hoping for leftovers, and/or I'll roast turkey, with some on sale turkey later.  Gobble, gobble, goo.

Hopes that no one on the planet will ever go hungry, ever.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[DMV64]

3 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

Saphris sublingual.

What a nightmare. Saphris. No one yet, but it was a story!

At this point I am really unsure what is appropriate to cut! Ideas??

Thank you so much for doing this for me.

Thanksgiving is my hubby and daughter. The traditional meal. Son and wife staying home in nyc.

Yes, yes. Th ehope of the end of hunger...

xoxo

[manymoretodays]

Hi DMV64,

Lol.  We are going to do this thing.  Signature consolidation.  You do realize I need to whittle mine down a bit too.

 

I'm thinking on yours, you could probably cut out a lot of your incremental drops, some of the stuff after the last 2017, on the left.

Keep all your drugs/medications at the start of the year down there.  You could note the year, present medications, with doses.

 

Get some of the years after 2017, on the left, and then briefer notes, on the Sapris and Geodon.  So those tapers stand out more clearly with less detail.

 

See how that goes.  You could do a practice here, a post before editing too, if you'd like.

 

December, December, here we are!

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

[DMV64]

4 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

You could do a practice here

Whew - That was WAY harder than I thought it would be!

How is this:

 

New hopefully cleaner, signature

2001 - Klonopin (.125 mg) for anxiety and sleep at night.

2010 - depressed, tried several SSRI's, settled in 2011 on Saphris (5 mg)

2011 - Dystonic reaction from Saphris. CT. Terrible withdrawal. Panic. 

2011 - Attempts to stablize: Klonopin 1.0 mg. Xanax 1mg. Geoden 20mg. Wellbutrin 100mg. Tried at this time: Seroquel, Cymbalta, Lamictal 

2014 - Vyvanse 20 mg/ADHD, Gabapentin 300 mg added/bladder pain. Wellbutrin fast taper/Rash.

2016 - Depressed - Lithium 300mg til June/Rash and only marginally effective.

2017 - June - Saphris 5 mg added cogentin for side effects

2017 - September Fast taper Saphris. Aug 29. Terrible withdrawal. Panic.

2017 - Attempts to stablize: Lithium: Aug 31 - Sept 9. Stopped.

2017- September Reinstated Saphris. 2.5mg. 8/2019 Jumping! 

2017- Cogentin .5 continued for possible reactions to Saphris/Geoden. Stopped June 2020 

2017 - Geoden 20 mg Sept 13 2017/6mg Nov. 2020. Continuing taper.  

2017 - Vyvanse 5mg for ADHD 3mg in March 2017. Split Geoden dose into 4. 6 hours apart. Split Klonopin dose. 12 hours apart 3/27. Sometime in Feb. (2018?)Klonopin increase to 1.5 to avoid hospital. 

1/10/20 Begin Geoden taper at 18mg. 

11/20 Geoden 6mg

Omezerpole/reflux. 20mg holding

Fish oil supplements.Magnesium.

[manymoretodays]

Hey DMV64,

Sorry it has taken me a bit to get back.  Holidays I guess, and more of a ground life than I had, maybe too.  I'm trying to be cautious and not take on too much at once, or over commit.  So far, so good.  I love what I get to do lately. 

Currently......into pie creations for non-drug coping.    I got a new glass pie container and a pastry tool, that I am excited about.  Simple pleasures.

 

On 12/5/2020 at 2:32 PM, DMV64 said:

2017 - Geoden 20 mg Sept 13 2017/6mg Nov. 2020. Continuing taper.  

2017 - Vyvanse 5mg for ADHD 3mg in March 2017. Split Geoden dose into 4. 6 hours apart. Split Klonopin dose. 12 hours apart 3/27. Sometime in Feb. (2018?)Klonopin increase to 1.5 to avoid hospital. 

1/10/20 Begin Geoden taper at 18mg. 

11/20 Geoden 6mg

 

Maybe......keep Geodon with Geodon.  In the first line I quoted, you might be able to just do a re-do.  I see above that Geodon was started in 2011, and then to conserve on lines used, perhaps for each drug, do a separate line, with start date, and dose, and then continue along that same line(it may run into a second line for some) with subsequent dates of when started taper, continued tapers.

You might even be able to take out some of the continued taper information on some drugs, and just note the percentage you tapered at, and the method and then completion date.

 

I know.  I've got mine copied too, in my introduction to figure out how to make it brief too.  And just have not gotten to it.

 

Additional helps, for us both:

The information in the first post here:  Please summarize your WD history in your signature

And from a recent discussion, Off Topic:  I'll share the post from Alto there: 

You do need to be signed in to see it, just click the arrow then, at the top right corner.

 

We are going to get this done DMV64!!!  With so many on phones and other devices now, it's a courtesy I think, so they don't miss posts entirely, due to our large signatures.  And to staff, like me 🥴, to be able to get a clearer picture, easily, with concise, and updated signatures.

 

Best, L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited December 10, 2020 by manymoretodays
additional

[DMV64]

What do you think? 

: )

 

I cannot get this to un-bold! (CC did it!)

 

 

2001 - Klonopin (.125 mg) for anxiety and sleep at night.

2010 - Depressed, tried several SSRI's. 

2011 - Saphris 5mg.. Dystonic reaction from Saphris. CT. Terrible withdrawal. Panic. 

2011 - Attempts to stablize: Klonopin 1.0 mg. Xanax 1mg. Geoden 20mg. Wellbutrin 100mg. Fast taper/Rash. Tried at this time: Seroquel, Cymbalta, Lamictal 

2011 - Geoden 20mg. Liquid taper. Anxiety/agitation. 2020 Geoden 6mg.

2011 - Gabapentin 300 mg added/chronic bladder pain. 2020 - 300mg holding.

2014 - Vyvanse 20 mg/ADHD. 2020 Vyvanse 5mg. 

2016 - Lithium 300mg til June/Rash and only marginally effective.

2017 - Saphris 5 mg. milligram scale. Terror. Panic. Agoraphobia. 8/2019 off Saphris.

2017 - Cogentin .5mg for side effects of Saphris/Geoden. Stopped June 2020.

2018 - Klonopin increase to 1.5 to avoid hospital. 

Omezerpole/reflux. 20mg holding

Fish oil supplements. Magnesium.

 

 

 

Edited December 10, 2020 by ChessieCat

[manymoretodays]

Okay, I tried a bit on paper, to organize and here is what I came up with, I added in this color any questions or dates that might still be needed:

 

2001- started Klonopin 0.125 mg  2011- increase to 1 mg  2018- increase to 1.5 mg

2010- trials of SSRI's, several

2011- Saphris 5 mg, got dystonia, CT, Withdrawal symptoms.  2017- retry Saphris 5 mg sublingual, (you could add in the month here that you started it, and the month you began your taper, also what % taper- e.g. 10%, or 5%, I'm guessing this is back when you started here and in your narratives) tapered with scale, and final taper liquid sublingual, August 2019- taper complete!

2011- Geodon 20 mg (add date you began taper, year and month, % taper) liquid taper, 2020 December (date)- 6 mg (because you will still be updating here, as your taper continues)

2011- Gabapentin 300 mg to present- 2020

2014- Vyvanse 20 mg, 2020- Vyvanse 5 mg

2016- Lithium 300 mg, June 2016 - FT due to rash

2017- Cogentin 0.5 mg for side effects of Saphris, August 2019- off Cogentin ( ? taper, and I did not know you had come off it)

Omeprazole 20 mg and holding, Omega 3's/fish oil, Magnesium

Present medications bolded

 

We don't need symptoms in the signature.  I bolded what you are still on.  And that might bring it down to 9 lines!  On edit, you will only get 12 lines total.  Woah, DMV64, we are close now to having this ready to go.  Good work!  ( an aside- And it, this, all tells a story....it does, about polypharmacy and just how it gets started.  You have a good recall too.)

It does need your inspection, for sure, to check for correctness.

 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2020 by manymoretodays
added a comma

[DMV64]

On 12/11/2020 at 11:05 AM, manymoretodays said:

correctness.

OMG! Are we there yet?

 

2001- Klonopin 0.125 mg.  2011- increase to 1 mg.  2018- increase to 1.5 mg

2010- Trials of SSRI's, several.

2011- Saphris 5 mg. CT. 6/2017- retry Saphris 5 mg sublingual, begin taper August 2020 10% taper with scale, and final taper liquid sublingual, August 2019- taper complete!

2011- Geodon 20 mg. Begin taper Sept 2019. 10% liquid taper, 2020 December-5 mg.

2011- Gabapentin 300 mg to present- 2020.

2014- Vyvanse 20 mg, 2020- Vyvanse 5 mg.

2016- Lithium 300 mg, June 2016 - FT.

2017- Cogentin 0.5 mg. June-August 2019- off Cogentin.

Omeprazole 20 mg and holding, Omega 3's/fish oil, Magnesium

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by ChessieCat
unbolded

[manymoretodays]

Yes dear DMV64.  Looks good.

I am thinking that it might be good to bold your present medications, so they stand out easily.

And if that sounds good, looks okay, then.......just go ahead and put it in:  AccountsSettings/Signature

We've still got a copy of your old one out here too. 

 

Check out my new signature.....LOL, it took me several tries....and honestly, still linked it back to a post in my Introduction.  It's an important part of me now.

 

And okay.  Delayed response.  Hope you are well enough.  And next I want to see a day laid out, with when you take your meds(drugs) and symptoms, if any WD stuff going on now.  You know, the notes.   I can refresh you on how to do that, if need be.

 

Is your Geodon taper going okay?

And oh, Happy.....New......Year.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[DMV64]

18 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

Is your Geodon taper going okay?

Yes! Going well well! Thank God. I do need a refresher on the med/symptoms...thanks!

Going to post my new signature and try to figure out how to bold...hahha

[manymoretodays]

On 1/8/2021 at 1:01 PM, DMV64 said:

Yes! Going well well! Thank God. I do need a refresher on the med/symptoms...thanks!

 

Oh, nice job DMV64, on the signature.  I haven't inspected it from my droid screen yet, but it is looking so much nicer from my desktop.   And just look at how far you have come, on minimizing some of your drugs now!  Yay, I say.

 

And okay, on the meds and symptoms journal, Notes/logs.

Keep daily notes of drug schedule and symptoms to track patterns and progress

there is the link ^

And it is worth reading through how helpful this may be.

In the first post, there's a quote, which when opened, you'll see the sample note too.

 

Hope that this helps.

 

And best, L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[Rabe]

Just thinking about you and wondering how you are doing and how things are going!

Rabe

[DMV64]

11 hours ago, Rabe said:

thinking about you

Hey there! Thanks for checking in. Things are mostly ok. Taper is going well. Soon I will start Klonopin taper. It has just been a little discouraging lately as it feels like this is taking soooo long and I am doing the bladder protocol as well. 

Things with husband going very well. So grateful. Adult children driving me crazy. Sigh.

What can you do right? Trying to let go..

Spring is right around the corner! Yay! 

Update me on how you are doing???

XO

D

 

[DMV64]

@ChessieCat @JanCarol 

Hi Friends...

I have a question...

I am currently at 2 mg Geoden split into 4 daily doses liquid titrate (I think 0.5ml) -not in front of bottle now.

I REALLY want to stop with this liquid business. What do you think? Ok to jump?

-D

[ChessieCat]

(Please do not tag me in future, thank you).

 

I can understand your frustration.  It has taken me 6 years to taper off 100mg Pristiq. 

 

I think that jumping off at 2mg Geodon is much too high.  Especially if you have ever had any psychotic episodes (I cannot recall your history and I'm not able to read back to get the information).

 

Brassmonkey went down to 0.016mg Paxil

 

I'm going down to 0.0025mg Pristiq

 

If the Geodon prescription liquid contains water as an ingredient then you can dilute it with water which makes measuring the doses a lot easier.

 

It is much better to go nice and slowly and steadily than to risk going to fast.  If you go too fast and have to updose, there is no guarantee that the updose would work, and if it didn't you are going to end up taking longer to get off the drug than if you had just keep plodding along.

 

when-to-end-the-taper-and-jump-to-zero

 

[DMV64]

Hi...

I am sorry ChessieCat...I did not realize. I have not been on in awhile. 

I have been tapering off 20mg Geoden for something like a year and a half. I think I may be going too slow...I don't know. I would like to go faster.

I am not psychotic-never had an episode. I was put on Geoden to possibly help me with depression since I could not tolerate SSRI.

Stupid. But there it is.

Sometimes I wait six weeks, but mostly that is because I lose track! I have never had to updose this...

Sigh. I don't know.

Thanks for any help. Any additional suggestions welcome!

-D

[ChessieCat]

Please update your drug signature so we can see the Geodon dates and doses at a glance.  Thank you.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

[JanCarol]

Hey D - good to hear from you.  You don't need to tag me either, your thread comes up in my feed.

 

So - first I have to say - I'm proud of you for being so stable and slow and heading in the right direction!  Remember when it was touch and go?  Challenging?  Struggling?  Yeah, those don't seem to be there, now!  You are feeling okay - so much so, you are thinking of dropping the Geodon.  This is awesome!

I know you may feel like 2 mg isn't doing much, but it is.  Geodon hits a few receptors.  I know that 2 years seems like a long time, especially fiddling with liquid and doses and stuff.

 

Usually the smaller ends of the dose are the "sticky end of the business."  That's why Chessie and Brass are going for / went for the lowest number possible before dropping off.

If you go to a psychiatrist, they might tell you that - oh, you are "below therapeutic dose" and to go ahead and drop it.  But in our experience at SA, there is still an effect at very low doses.  The curve of changes is steepest at the lower doses, so the miniscule drops at the end are belaying you down the cliff.   You don't want to carefully lower over the first 200' and then drop of at 20' and break your legs!

So - if you are feeling you can speed it up - please consider this  pointy end of the stick, and take care.

If you are tapering at 6 weeks, you can likely reduce that to 4.  There is a hard line at 3 weeks, though, where it takes at least 3 weeks for your neurotransmitters to adjust and achieve homeostasis (balance) for each taper.  I would not go faster than 3 weeks, as you may end up stacking tapers and get into strife after a few of those.

I hear your frustration - but this is a good thing.  It means you are feeling better and are eager to be done with this thing.  Our lives get consumed by tapering, and that you are looking forward to being done with this is a positive sign.  But you've been cautious, and it has paid off for you - this is not the time to throw caution to the winds.

It MAY be okay, you MAY get away with it.  But you may not, as well, and that is the chance we don't want to take.  If I recall, you have some complicating health factors, so you really cannot afford to destabilise at this point.  (NOBODY deserves destabilisation!)

So this might be a good time to re-read your thread.  To look at the problems you had when you first came here - and take stock.  When I did this, I noticed that my symptoms had cut in half in my 3 years of tapering.  What do you notice about your own health and how it has changed / improved over the last 3 years?

Then, you can appreciate how far you have come.  It's also a great time to read the link that Chessie sent you - it's an article that Brass wrote about jumping off, and why we are so cautious at the end of the taper.

You're doing well, take some pride in that. 

 

I hope you see the sun today!

Edited October 16, 2021 by JanCarol