Moonglow: taper from Quetiapine

[Moonglow]

I'll try and keep this brief!.Around 2015 due to errors by both myself and my Doctor I ended up on 5mg Lorazepem for chronic insomnia, later switched to 50mg Diazepam.It took a year to taper ,during which I suffered horrendous depression ( having no history of it before) at first acute and then switching to typical waves and Windows.I was put on various meds for it,Sertraline,Mirtazipine and Quetiapine.In 2017 I was taken off the Sertraline.Still no better and in desperation, at the start of this year I rang a tranquilizer withdrawal charity which suggested I wouldn't get any better whilst I was still on the other meds, (particularly the Quetiapine),as they would hinder healing from the Benzo.My Psychiatrist couldn't disagree more, and has told my it's been so long since I came off the Benzo it's nothing to do with either Benzo withdrawal, or the other medications.He insists my symptoms are Psychological.And so I'm looking for reassurance that these symptoms could indeed be down to the meds ,and I'm not keeping myself ill as he suggests.Also support with tapering the Quetiapine as I'm trying to do it myself without his say so.I've been trying to cut 10% every fortnight,and am down to 75mg.So far symptoms have stayed the same ,but I'm willing to hold doses for longer as I go down.I'm feeling so frustrated, and upset at having to go through more withdrawals.I thought the worst of it was all done once I was off the benzo.Thanks for reading.

[Gridley]

Hello, Moonglow, and welcome to SA.  I'm sorry you're having a difficult time.  

 

To start, in orderto give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

Please include the dates of your taper and the rate at which you tapered.  This drug signature is very important.

 

You are tapering the Quetiapine too fast.  At Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.  Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops.

 
Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Brain Remodelling

 

Tips for tapering off Seroquel (quetiapine)

 

You have been on and off a number of drugs in the recent past, in addition to the current too-fast taper, so it is not surprising you're experiencing withdrawal.  The vast majority of doctors know nothing about withdrawal, so your psychiatrist's response is typical.  

 

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?
 
What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms?

 

What withdrawal symptoms are you experiencing?  To help you understand your symptoms, here is some information on withdrawal.  

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

 The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

Edited August 14, 2018 by manymoretodays
removed excess white space

[Moonglow]

Thank you for the warm welcome.Will work my way through the links.Can I just ask quickly ,if I taper slow enough is a  full recovery reasonably probable?.It's my greatest fear that as I've been poly medicated,and as you say taken on and off so many drugs ,the damage will be so great I won't recover.Thanks.

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Hello, Moonglow. Yes, we advise a gradual taper so as to facilitate full recovery.

[Carmie]

Hi moonglow, 

 

How are you doing?💚