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marconyc: introduction


marconyc

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  • Mentor
1 hour ago, Gridley said:

 

Good idea to wait.

 

You might consider going a little lower, into the .00's, like .01 if possible.  I know it's difficult working with those tiny amounts.  Just to take no chances.

 

But I think my scale only goes to 4mg reliably. Didn't you tell me that?

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
10 minutes ago, marconyc said:

But I think my scale only goes to 4mg reliably. Didn't you tell me that?

 

That is true, according to Brassmonkey.  Take a look at his signature, which contains details of the end of his taper.  He managed to get down to the 00's, I think, by manually splitting the lowest dose the he could weigh and eyeballing it.  I'm not quite there yet so can't speak from personal experience.

 

I'm guessing you could get down to 4mgpw/.1mgai and then manually split it into halves (giving you .05mgai) or quarters (giving you around .025mgai.  That would be a lower jumping off point if the powder allows you to make those divisions.  Brassmonnkey said that these low doses are a pain to work with but worth it.  

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • Mentor
5 minutes ago, Gridley said:

 

That is true, according to Brassmonkey.  Take a look at his signature, which contains details of the end of his taper.  He managed to get down to the 00's, I think, by manually splitting the lowest dose the he could weigh and eyeballing it.  I'm not quite there yet so can't speak from personal experience.

 

I'm guessing you could get down to 4mgpw/.1mgai and then manually split it into halves (giving you .05mgai) or quarters (giving you around .025mgai.  That would be a lower jumping off point if the powder allows you to make those divisions.  Brassmonnkey said that these low doses are a pain to work with but worth it.  

Okay, sorry. Yes, it was Brassmonkey who said it. 

 

I'll try eyeballing it once I get that low. Good idea. It's hard to believe doses this low are still having an effect, but why take chances? The collective experience here is that even minuscule doses and decreases have an effect, so I trust that.

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • Mentor

@Gridley @manymoretodays How are you both? I hope you’re doing well.

 

Ive been holding at 5mgpw of aripiprazole. It’s been more than 3 weeks. I haven’t noticed much in the way of withdrawal. However, the past 2 days have been very hard. I think it’s directly related to the imminent arrival of our daughter. My wife is due Dec 18 but might be induced a week early. She and the baby are healthy, but because my wife is in her 40s, the pregnancy is considered high-risk. The final week or two in particular can involve an increased risk of pre-eclampsia and other problems, so our OB often induces woman over 35. My point is that the baby will be here very soon.

 

Yesterday, I was hit with a wave of loss over people who have passed away and regret over things I didn’t accomplish in my life. It’s like as I open this door,  I’m thinking about the doors that have closed. I’m also about to turn 49, so there’s some midlife “taking stock” going on.

 

Then, last night, we had our final birthing class. There’s so much to remember. I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night and my anxiety is through the roof today. I have no appetite. I’m at the point of wanting to take some Klonopin. 

 

Oh yeah, and my Mom just told me the results of her recent stress test were abnormal. She might have a blocked artery.

 

I’m not even sure what I’m asking for here. Maybe just advice or encouragement in general. 

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
2 hours ago, marconyc said:

However, the past 2 days have been very hard.

You're under  lot of stress, so it's very natural to have ramped up symptoms.  Regret and feelings of loss are also natural at mid-life, and I'm sure it's intensified by withdrawal.  You've got a lot of good things ahead of you, Marconyc, and it seems to me you are handling things very well.  Congratulations on the impending birth.  I think it'll be a whole new beginning in a lot of ways.

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • Mentor
1 minute ago, Gridley said:

You're under  lot of stress, so it's very natural to have ramped up symptoms.  Regret and feelings of loss are also natural at mid-life, and I'm sure it's intensified by withdrawal.  You've got a lot of good things ahead of you, Marconyc, and it seems to me you are handling things very well.  Congratulations on the impending birth.  I think it'll be a whole new beginning in a lot of ways.

Thank you, @Gridley. Much appreciated. I'm finding right now that I need to cry, so I'm trying to let that happen. I'm also reaching out to friends. My wife and I have a really good marriage, and I can always talk to her, but I also don't want to burden her too much because she's going through enough, both physically and emotionally.

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • Mentor

Hi @manymoretodays @RichT@Gridley

 

I hope all of you are doing well. I haven't been very active here lately because I've been busy with work and getting ready for the birth of our daughter. My wife is due Dec 18. She and the baby are doing well so far. I've been feeling pretty good emotionally, and my withdrawal symptoms are still "WD normal." I'm holding at 5mg of aripiprazole. That's the drug I've been tapering. I haven't made any changes to the sertraline (still 200mg/day). The only stubborn symptom is insomnia. I have a hard time falling asleep most nights. Sometimes it takes hours. Once I'm asleep, though, I don't wake up, and I often feel like I could continue sleeping in the morning (on weekends I do). I'm still in weekly therapy, exercising regularly, meditating several times a week, and taking fish oil and magnesium. I do occasionally have a beer or a cup of coffee.

 

My mom had to have an angiogram yesterday because they thought she had a blocked artery. It turns out she doesn't, but she does have high cholesterol and doesn't exercise. I didn't think I was upset, but I just cried and realize I've been very worried. My father, who passed away several years ago, went to the doctor after not going for years and discovered he had a blocked artery, and that was the start of a long, slow decline into dementia. So I think I'm terrified that my mom will go through the same thing. 

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
2 hours ago, marconyc said:

My mom had to have an angiogram yesterday

Sorry about your mom, marconyc.  There's no reason though to assume your mom will develop dementia.

 

It sounds like you're doing great with the taper and congratulations on the big upcoming event.  It's good to hear from you.

 

 

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • Mentor
18 minutes ago, Gridley said:

Sorry about your mom, marconyc.  There's no reason though to assume your mom will develop dementia.

 

It sounds like you're doing great with the taper and congratulations on the big upcoming event.  It's good to hear from you.

 

 

Thanks @Gridley I appreciate the support, as always.

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • Mentor

@manymoretodays @Gridley @RichT

 

Hope you're all doing well. It's been a while since I've posted because my wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Dec 7. It's been a fantastic experience, although my wife and I are both thoroughly exhausted. The baby is a good sleeper, but still, she's up every 3 hours to feed. My job has given me paid parental leave through the end of Jan, which is great. Also, our two dogs have adjusted well to the new addition. 

 

As you can see on my signature, I'm down to 3mgpw of aripiprazole, which doesn't even register on the Gemini scale. I'm eyeballing it. I haven't had much in the way of withdrawal symptoms. I was very worried about being able to handle the stress of the baby while tapering, but so far I'm feeling pretty good. I am making sure to take my vitamins, meditate and exercise regularly, go to talk therapy, and see my friends and family. It's hard while taking care of a newborn, but I'm pushing myself to maintain the self-care because I know it's good for me. 

 

There have been some difficult times, of course--mostly when I try to do too much. Also, my wife is very anxious about being a good mom, so I'm spending a lot of time trying to calm her down. At times I get frustrated and want to scream, and that's when my depression or anxiety or obsessiveness tends to return. 

 

As far as tapering goes, it's pretty much eyeballing it from here on out. I was planning on tapering the same way I've been doing so all along: wait at least a month before the next cut. 

 

Anyway, any advice is greatly appreciated, as always. 

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Mentor
18 hours ago, marconyc said:

@manymoretodays @Gridley @RichT

 

Hope you're all doing well. It's been a while since I've posted because my wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Dec 7. It's been a fantastic experience, although my wife and I are both thoroughly exhausted. The baby is a good sleeper, but still, she's up every 3 hours to feed. My job has given me paid parental leave through the end of Jan, which is great. Also, our two dogs have adjusted well to the new addition. 

 

As you can see on my signature, I'm down to 3mgpw of aripiprazole, which doesn't even register on the Gemini scale. I'm eyeballing it. I haven't had much in the way of withdrawal symptoms. I was very worried about being able to handle the stress of the baby while tapering, but so far I'm feeling pretty good. I am making sure to take my vitamins, meditate and exercise regularly, go to talk therapy, and see my friends and family. It's hard while taking care of a newborn, but I'm pushing myself to maintain the self-care because I know it's good for me. 

 

There have been some difficult times, of course--mostly when I try to do too much. Also, my wife is very anxious about being a good mom, so I'm spending a lot of time trying to calm her down. At times I get frustrated and want to scream, and that's when my depression or anxiety or obsessiveness tends to return. 

 

As far as tapering goes, it's pretty much eyeballing it from here on out. I was planning on tapering the same way I've been doing so all along: wait at least a month before the next cut. 

 

Anyway, any advice is greatly appreciated, as always. 


Fabulous news Marconyc. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Congratulations!

 

Rich

 = medication taken now

2007 quetiapine to March 2019 200mg

2019 quetiapine March to present 225mg 

2007 citalopram to present 40mg 
2018 March Abilify 5mg  
2019 Abilify February rapid taper over 3 weeks from 5mg to off

2019 March Clonazepam as required, taken very occasionally, then taken 0.5mg for 2 days 28th and 29th March, now phased out

2019 1st April reinstated Abilify 0.5mg / day 

2018 to 2020 Liquid B12 2g twice daily (diagnosed B12 deficiency) 

2020 July reduced quetiapine to 200mg

2022 October began taper of Abilify
 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
18 hours ago, marconyc said:

I was planning on tapering the same way I've been doing so all along: wait at least a month before the next cut. 

Congratulations, Marconyc!  That's great news all around.  

 

I've heard the Gemini doesn't register below 4mgpw.  I'm at 9mgpw and will soon have to be eyeballing it myself.  I'm glad to hear there's not much in WD symptoms.  You're doing great.

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi marconyc,

Congrats!  Having that little bundle around should have a great effect on your healing!  That good old Love hormone or something.  Sounds like you are doing Aokay!

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • Mentor

Hi everyone: I stopped the Abilify on 2/1/20 and have been doing fine. Not much to speak of in the way of withdrawal. I'm having some insomnia, but I think that's more related to continued job stress and the demands of a newborn. At this point, I'm just taking 200mg of Zoloft along with a multivitamin, magnesium, and fish oil. Still exercising and meditating regularly and going to talk therapy weekly. 

 

I'm really hesitant about trying to reduce the Zoloft given how brutal the withdrawal was the last time I tried, although the process went smoothly from 150 to 100mg; it was once I got down to 75 and 50mg that everything went sideways. That was before I found SA, so I didn't realize I should actually be going MORE slowly as the dosage got lower. 

 

@manymoretodays @Gridley @RichT Thank you for your continued support. 

Edited by marconyc

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
1 minute ago, marconyc said:

: I stopped the Abilify on 2/1/20

Congratulations, marconyc!  That's fantastic.

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Congratulations!  Wishing you a continued smooth recovery. All the best, Glosmom

2016 - Oct -Daughter started Risperdal (for steroid induced psychosis that never went away after stopping prednisone)

Nov - dose increases stopped at 1.5mg in Dec

2017 - Jan- weaned from 1.5 to 1.0 in 2 weeks then 1.0 to .5 in two weeks and then off. Feb. 3 weeks of increased psychosis, pacing, insomnia, other awful symptoms so late Feb  - Back on 1.5 mg Risperdal. May  - decrease to 1.25mg, two weeks later 1.0mg - symptoms started again. June - held steady at 1.25mg for 6 weeks and switched to liquid (3 ml syringe). July - started 10% taper every 3 weeks, October -  .8 mg, December - .7 mg .

2018 -Jan- 0.65 mg,  Feb- 0.59,  Mar-0.50, late April - .40mg, July- .36 mg, Aug - switched from 3 mL syringe to 1 mL syringe for more accuracy (her dad and i were not sure we were giving her the same dose when in between the 'dashes' on the 3 mL syringe.) Aug -.30 mg (3mL syr)/.44 mg (1 mL syr) difference due to med in the tip of both syringes). Sept- .28 mg (3mL syr)/.42 mg (1 mL syr). Oct - .16 mg (3 mL syr)/.30 mg (1 mL syr). Nov.- .06mg (3mL syr)/.20 mg (1mLsyr). Dec. - tip only/unmeasurable (3mL syr)/.10 mg (1mLsyr)

2019- Jan -.06 mg (1 mL syr), Feb- .025 mg (1 mL syr), Feb 27, 2019 - jumped to zero!!

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  • Mentor
12 minutes ago, Glosmom said:

Congratulations!  Wishing you a continued smooth recovery. All the best, Glosmom

Thank you so much, @Glosmom

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • Mentor
On 3/3/2020 at 1:15 PM, marconyc said:

Thank you so much, @Glosmom

 

Hey SA, I hope everyone is hanging in there during this pandemic and lockdown. Now, after 5 weeks in this 700 sq-foot apt with a teething 5-month-old, I'm starting to feel pretty crummy emotionally. I'm still off of the Abilify and Klonopin, but these past few days, I feel pretty anxious and depressed. 

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Mentor

Hi @marconyc

I totally agree, feeling also anxious, and depression. I live alone so I really feel isolated, but I am thankful that I can go to work.

We need to focus on the recovery and this all will make us stronger in the end🙏
Take good care of yourself, let’s do this one day at a time 

 


1999-2020  20 mg Paxil

Bridged with Fluoxetine to help me get off Paxil.

2022 Fluoxetine 15 mg 12/12 14mg 27/12  13mg jan 12mg feb 11mg mars 10mg, 9 mg 8,5 mg 7.6mg 7.0 mg 6,3 mg 5,6 mg 5,0 mg 4,5 mg 4,0 mg 3.6mg 3,2 mg 2,9 mg 2,6 mg 2,3 mg 2,0 mg

 


I am not a medical professional nor is this a medical advice. I only talk from my own experience.

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  • Mentor
13 minutes ago, Hanna72 said:

Hi @marconyc

I totally agree, feeling also anxious, and depression. I live alone so I really feel isolated, but I am thankful that I can go to work.

We need to focus on the recovery and this all will make us stronger in the end🙏
Take good care of yourself, let’s do this one day at a time 

 

Take care of yourself, too @Hanna72. Thank you.

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

Link to comment

Hang in there! -Rosetta

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

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  • Mentor
8 hours ago, Rosetta said:

Hang in there! -Rosetta

 

Thank you @Rosetta. I went for a run yesterday--with my mask on, of course--and felt a bit better. I hope you're doing okay.

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

Link to comment

Oh, good.  That will help.  Exercise is usually good for you.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

Link to comment
  • 7 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

marconyc,

Drop on by for an update.  Oh, I hope all is well.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...
  • Mentor
On 11/27/2020 at 3:54 PM, manymoretodays said:

marconyc,

Drop on by for an update.  Oh, I hope all is well.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

Hi everyone! I'm really sorry about being out of touch. My daughter turned 1 today. My wife and I are celebrating from our new house in Portland, Oregon. The three of us and our two little dogs been out here for a couple of months now. I also started a new job in Oct. It's quite a bit of change at once, but things are going very well. I haven't taken aripiprazole or clonazepam, or noticed withdrawal symptoms, in a long time. I'm still on 200mg of sertraline and taking a multivitamin and fish oil. Although the pandemic has gotten in the way of playing soccer, I'm running regularly. I also have therapy weekly and write in my journal. I haven't had the time or energy to meditate, but that's something I'd like to return to. 

 

I can't say how much I have appreciated the support and wisdom from the people here on SA. Although I'm still on sertraline, I'm off two of the three meds I was taking and was able to manage withdrawal. I feel like myself again. It's the most beautiful thing in the world. 

 

Please let me know how you are doing as well. :)

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Administrator

What good news! Happy holidays to you, marconyc.

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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  • Mentor
3 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

What good news! Happy holidays to you, marconyc.

 

And to you @Altostrata!

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

And oh boy, that is one great update marconyc!

Makes the holiday season brighter!

I am doing this "well" thing pretty good lately......and grateful, same sentiments as you expressed.  ❤️

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited by manymoretodays
spelling

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

Link to comment
  • Mentor
16 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

And oh boy, that is one great update marconyc!

Makes the holiday season brighter!

I am doing this "well" thing pretty good lately......and grateful, same sentiments as you expressed.  ❤️

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

@manymoretodaysI'm so glad to hear that. It's really inspiring to hear that you've been able to sustain your recovery after coming off all of your meds. One of the things that has kept me going is knowing that others have made it. 

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • Mentor
On 11/27/2020 at 3:54 PM, manymoretodays said:

marconyc,

Drop on by for an update.  Oh, I hope all is well.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

I'm thinking of reducing the sertraline again but I'm scared of experiencing withdrawal again or ending up in a situation where the drug doesn't work. I had been on 150mg for most of the time I was on sertraline and only increased to 200mg after the withdrawal kicked in in early 2017. My psychiatrist would not support this decision, and I don't think my therapist would either given how difficult the withdrawal was. But my feeling is that 150mg worked for so long, so why should I be on more than that?

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
46 minutes ago, marconyc said:

only increased to 200mg after the withdrawal kicked in in early 2017.

Did you ever determine why the withdrawal kicked in in 2017?  It's very possible that what happened was poop-out (tachyphylaxis), since you'd been on the drug for 17 years.  This post by Brassmonkey might offer some guidance as to what to do next.

 

Tachyphylaxis, Reaching Tolerance or as It's Lovingly Known “Poop-Out”

 

If you decide to taper, I'd start with a very small reduction to see how you react.

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • Mentor
56 minutes ago, Gridley said:

Did you ever determine why the withdrawal kicked in in 2017?  It's very possible that what happened was poop-out (tachyphylaxis), since you'd been on the drug for 17 years.  This post by Brassmonkey might offer some guidance as to what to do next.

 

Tachyphylaxis, Reaching Tolerance or as It's Lovingly Known “Poop-Out”

 

If you decide to taper, I'd start with a very small reduction to see how you react.

 

@GridleyThe withdrawal was caused by my taper. I went pretty slowly from 150 to 100mg and didn't experience any withdrawal symptoms, but then as I got to lower doses, I didn't adjust the size of the tapers or the amount of time I held at each dose. When I got to 50mg, severe withdrawal kicked in. Maybe the withdrawal would have kicked in regardless of whether I slowed down the taper just because I was hitting a lower dose, but there's no way to know for sure. 

Edited by marconyc

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
23 hours ago, marconyc said:

I'm thinking of reducing the sertraline again but I'm scared of experiencing withdrawal again or ending up in a situation where the drug doesn't work. I had been on 150mg for most of the time I was on sertraline and only increased to 200mg after the withdrawal kicked in in early 2017. My psychiatrist would not support this decision, and I don't think my therapist would either given how difficult the withdrawal was. But my feeling is that 150mg worked for so long, so why should I be on more than that?

 

Hi marconyc!

 

Yes, the time may have come to plan and begin the sertraline taper. 

You are still doing pretty good, after the Abilify taper?

 

And baby growing bigger and fun for you with the Holidays I expect.....or I hope so.  For some, it is a stressful time.

 

I was thinking of the: Why taper? SERT transporter occupancy studies show importance of gradual change in plasma concentrations

and wondering if there is a graph available for the sertraline.  I'd hunt further but have to get to some commitments shortly.

 

In any case, it won't change how you go about your sertraline taper initially.  Use the same 10% guidelines, based on each previous dose, and then good observations.  So you might be able to taper every 2 weeks say, at first, and then may want to slow down later.   And then you can vary the percentage of your taper too.  No greater than 10%, but you could go by less, or do a brassmonkey slide.

 

The hope is, that with a well planned taper, and then good observation, that you might not have to suffer much WD at all. 

Right?  Yes.  B)

 

Tips for tapering sertraline(Zoloft)

 

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays......and phew, we all made it through 2020......well, just about there anyway.....

 

L, P, H, and G, and best

mmt

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • 1 year later...
  • Mentor
On 12/24/2020 at 11:17 AM, manymoretodays said:

 

Hi marconyc!

 

Yes, the time may have come to plan and begin the sertraline taper. 

You are still doing pretty good, after the Abilify taper?

 

And baby growing bigger and fun for you with the Holidays I expect.....or I hope so.  For some, it is a stressful time.

 

I was thinking of the: Why taper? SERT transporter occupancy studies show importance of gradual change in plasma concentrations

and wondering if there is a graph available for the sertraline.  I'd hunt further but have to get to some commitments shortly.

 

In any case, it won't change how you go about your sertraline taper initially.  Use the same 10% guidelines, based on each previous dose, and then good observations.  So you might be able to taper every 2 weeks say, at first, and then may want to slow down later.   And then you can vary the percentage of your taper too.  No greater than 10%, but you could go by less, or do a brassmonkey slide.

 

The hope is, that with a well planned taper, and then good observation, that you might not have to suffer much WD at all. 

Right?  Yes.  B)

 

Tips for tapering sertraline(Zoloft)

 

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays......and phew, we all made it through 2020......well, just about there anyway.....

 

L, P, H, and G, and best

mmt

Hi, it's been a long time since I've posted. I just started tapering my Zoloft down from 200mg. I did my first cut more than 2 weeks ago. Only 10% per recommendations here. I've felt a few little bumps so far but nothing too bad. 

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Mentor

It's been more than a month since the 10% taper, and I don't think I've felt much in the way of withdrawal so I'm planning on another 10% taper starting next week. 

 

I've been taking a daily multivitamin, vitamin D, B-complex, magnesium citrate, and fish oil. The first two are for general health, and the last three are for supporting my nervous system as I taper. I've also been recommitting to some daily form of self-care, whether that's yoga, meditation, running, or journaling. 

 

I have a couple of questions regarding tapering. First, I reduce by weight using a scale. If I have reduced the amount I take by 10% of the weight, what does that mean in terms of medication dosage? Does that mean I'm taking 190mg of sertraline now, since I was at 200mg?

 

Second, would it make sense to increase the holds as the dose decreases? I realize that by cutting 10% at a time, we are using a hyperbolic (nonlinear) reduction that seems to match up nicely with those serotonin occupancy curves. But is the hyperbolic dose reduction enough to mitigate withdrawal? Would it also be useful to increase the holds?

 

 

2000–2015: sertraline 50mg, eventually up to 150mg for most of those years. Prescribed for dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. Two major attempts at discontinuing per psychiatrist's tapering advice were failures; each failure resulted in the dose being increased by 50mg. Those were my only increases in dose over the first 15 years

2000–2002: clonazepam .5mg 3x/day, then tapered quickly with no withdrawal
Jan 2015–Dec 2016: tapered sertraline from 150 to 50mg (relatively slowly from 150 to 100 and then pretty quickly from 100 to 50); severe withdrawal at 50mg
Jan 2017-Aug 2018: increased dose of sertraline from 100mg to 150mg to 200mg/day over the course of a few months per psychiatrist, who also added aripiprazole 1mg/day and clonazepam .5mg 2x/day

Found SA; Aug 2018-May 2023: Slowly tapered off clonazepam and abilify from 2018 to 2020; sertraline 200mg/day (200 mgai)

Taper: May 2023, 200 mgai; June 2023; 190 mgpw; July 1, 185 mgai; July 29, 181 mgai; Aug 27, 178 mgai; Oct 31, 175mgai; Dec 1, 171mgai; Jan 21, 2024, 168mgpw

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
1 hour ago, marconyc said:

Second, would it make sense to increase the holds as the dose decreases? I realize that by cutting 10% at a time, we are using a hyperbolic (nonlinear) reduction that seems to match up nicely with those serotonin occupancy curves. But is the hyperbolic dose reduction enough to mitigate withdrawal? Would it also be useful to increase the holds?

 

Some members find that as their dose gets lower they need to reduce less and/or hold for longer.  There is no rule about when this might happen (if it does); it can be different for different people/drugs/doses/situations.  The 10%/4 week taper protocol is only a guide.  The important thing is to listen to your body/symptoms and not make another reduction unless you are stable.  If you are experiencing an illness or additional stress it is generally better to hold.  Generally it is better to hold for longer than to reduce too soon.

 

Even if you are stable you might get up with tapering and decide to have a "tapering holiday" and just have some time when you can enjoy some form of "normality".

 

The goal is to get off the drug with minimal discomfort and live your life as normally as possible.

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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