Rabe: how to taper and adjust Viibryd while on Clonazepam

[Rabe]

@brassmonkey Wondering if you would help me with something.  I was reading your post on Mimis thread about stabilizing and then on the distribution of active ingredients in pills and the article you had in that post?  

First I was wondering if I am able to cut a 10mg Viibryd in half and be fairly stable then in the dose given what I think that article said?  It sounded like the active ingredients are fairly well distributed throughout tablets?  I would like to stop that taper after the next drop...at 5mg...and move to the Clonazepam and get that at more balanced, spread out doses as I am finding as the Viibryd goes the anxiety has increased lots...so it was doing something.  I find that the Clonazepam is a bit unpredictable too so thought it might help that too. 

Also, were you talking about stabilizing in tapers or after your taper is completely done?  I was wondering re the 6 months to a year?  So we sort of stabilize as we taper and then keep going but when done tapering it is when the 6 months to a year kicks in?

I hope these make sense?  Thanks so much brassmonkey. 

[brassmonkey]

Hi Rade-- I see no problem in holding your Viibyrd taper at 5mg while you start to reduce the other. If you can tell that things are not balanced and evening them out would help I don't see why not.

 

Stability is one of those terms that is really easy to get confused because it is used in several different situations. The stability itself is the same but the reason for seeking it and the getting there is what is different. Every time we make a reduction there is a flair up of symptoms.  We have to wait for that flair up to stabilize and return to baseline before doing the next reduction. This usually happens fairly quickly in the matter of a few weeks because the flair up is usually mild.

 

Sometimes, like in the case of a CT, fast taper, excessive reduction or adverse reaction there will be a major spike in symptoms. Any of these activities can also leave the body much more sensitive to changes in the dose. Because of this sensitivity and the intensity of the symptoms it can take the body a much longer time to stabilize and establish a new baseline. This is where the longer time frames I mentioned come into play. It is very hard to put a schedule on stabilization in these cases, but at a minimum three (3) months is required with a lot of people taking six months to a year and some even longer. Even though we can really say how long it will take, we can say it will happen.

 

Intense waves are also a cause of destabilization. They usually hit hard and fast, last an unpredictable length of time and then fade. As they fade the body starts to stabilize, but will requires a post wave period to fully recover and establish a new baseline. This baseline is often better than before entering the wave.

 

A person should be in a stable condition before making the jump to "0". That stability should hold throughout the post jump time. There will be flair ups of symptoms, but if the taper was done correctly they will be minor and will stabilize just like doing a reduction. Severe symptoms post "0" are an indication that the taper was rushed in some manner and the body was not ready.  Post "0" is a very dynamic time for the body as it makes adjustments, but each flair up should be resolved with a higher level of baseline.

 

Hope that helps. 

[Rabe]

@brassmonkey Thank you so much for that!  Yes it helps very much!  

Right now I think the SIBO, and trying to move ahead somehow with that, is causing lots of issues with my tapers.  I started a new Viibryd taper and am at about 5% now when I had been doing 3% but I want to get to 5mg so was pushing a bit.  

The doctor said to try different spices...helps digestion...so I tried basil and that was ok and then moved to oregano a couple days ago and felt AWful....akin to the rapid taper in the hospital that  shredded my GI.  Ive been down for the count since...trying to regroup.  I did contact the pharmacy to get 10 more capsules so I have a bit more time to stabilize, given your explanation.  Thank you again so very very much!  I am grateful.  Hope all is well!  

[Rosetta]

I hope you feel better soon, Rabe.  As always, I’m thinking of you.  I hate it that your gut is in such a mess.  
 

Thank you for writing on my thread.  I need all the support I can get right now.

[Rosetta]

Rabe, are you all right?

[Rosetta]

Hi. Miss you.

 

[Rabe]

I wanted to get back here and say 'Hi' to everyone and let you know how much I hold you in my heart and prayers always!! 

Life just moves along and I am trying to learn to move along with it.  I now have 5!! five beautiful grandchildren, the youngest being 18 months and the oldest 7.  I decided I needed to truly focus on getting better overall and have been working hard on that.  

Had COVID last year and after that had obvious problems with hormones so am currently slowly tapering off my Premarin.  Amazing how even that is a challenge....but after understanding my genetics,  I'm doing things it at a much slower pace than the doctor recommended as at that speed I wasn't doing well.  Turtles can win races too as everyone here knows. 😃 

My doctor would like me to stay at .5mg of the Viibryd because of having more than 3 major depressive episodes in my life, and for now I am OK with that.  I think a generic is coming out 'soon' and not having to compound it would be a great financial help.  

I remain at .9 of the Clonazepam but that will be my next target after my system settles from the Premarin taper.

I babysit at least twice a week for 2 of my grandchildren, have a wonderful Bible study with wonderful people, and am getting help with an SI joint issue...OUCH!  

I'm in my head too much and when it's running the show it can take me to some not as much fun places and focuses so I try to stay busy.  I also am dealing with the trauma in my life and have found that to be an incredible journey that is hard but healing.  I have been working with a wonderful nutritionist and eat all natural whole foods and that too has made a difference.  My SIBO is much better and overall my health has improved.  For the first time in my life my Vit D levels are in normal range!  Found out I have a gene whereby I don't absorb vitamin D. So getting help with that has helped as well.

I think the biggest thing for me was getting out, walking, moving, being with my grandchildren, playing, laughing, staying busy.  

I still have hard days and parts of days but because of everything else I don't focus on it so much it seems....although sometimes I still go down various rabbit holes.

I lost my sponsor and dear friend last September and that was and is SO hard.  Miss her everyday, but grateful for all the times we shared and all I learned from her.

There has been so much going on in my life but I am grateful to get back here.  My son and family in Maryland had problems after their first child...she had bleeding and that affected her in many ways so been trying to help there, and my daughter had a miscarriage and then had a next pregnancy with complications and a C section and a baby in the NICU so Ive been supporting and helping her and her family.  She is still struggling with her hormones 2 years later but better. 

Im not looking forward to the Clonazepam tapering again but feel that I will be in a much healthier place than I was during my tapering of the Viibryd...at least I hope so.

Happy New Year and much love to you all!  And bless everyone here!  

Becky

Wanted to get this on the right thread!  Again, I apologize Rosetta. 

I am finding that tapering the Premarin seems to have made the Clonazepam hit harder and I dont like it.  Does anyone have any thoughts on that?  Thanks much.  

Becky

[Altostrata]

Good to hear from you, @Rabe

 

4 hours ago, Rabe said:

My doctor would like me to stay at .5mg of the Viibryd because of having more than 3 major depressive episodes in my life

 

This is a myth and 0.5mg Viibryd can only be a placebo for major depression (which is what your doctor claims you have), but it's your decision.

[Rabe]

Hi Alto,

Thank you for that.  I have wondered about it as well.  Could you explain your thought 'this is a myth' for me?

What the 'this' is?  I would really be grateful to understand your thoughts better.

She is my primary not the psychiatrist...not that it makes a difference.  Right now I feel I have to get off the Premarin, I personally would next like to get the Clonazepam to a logical dose that I could than taper without the compounding if possible.  Then, from what I have learned here, it would be best to go back to the Viibryd and finish that taper, then 

return to the Clonazepam and finish that taper.  It would be nice to be free of the medications.  I am finding that, as I have tapered the Viibryd and more noticeable now tapering the Premarin, the Clonazepam often hits me quite hard, especially the .7mg evening dose.  I will fall asleep/zonk out with glasses on and computer on my lap....and I guess sometimes even the afternoon .2 dose at times seems to make me tired.  Is this the result of more of the enzyme that metabolizes all the meds is freed up as now the Premarin goes, so more is available to metabolize the other two? 

Thank you again Alto.  I hope all is going well with you and yours.  

Becky

[Rosetta]

I am so happy to see you posted!  I thought the worst.

 

The myth is that a person needs to be on an AD if she has had more than three depressive episodes.  Such trash.

 

 

[Carmie]

Thanks for visiting my thread the other day Becky, it was nice to hear from you again. Rosetta and I have always wondered how you were doing. 
 

Hope you’re having a pleasant day💛

[Rosetta]

Hope you will check in again. - Rosetta

[Carmie]

Hey there @Rabe, it was nice to see you pop in around March again, after a long time. If you pop in again, let us know how you’re doing💛

[Rosetta]

How are you, Rabe?  I had hoped to see you here again.  Maybe you will check in again soon.

 

🧚🏻‍♀️Rosetta