JolieCA: tapering citalopram, gabapentin and Zyprexa

[JolieCA]

Hi All,

    Just creating a post so I have a log for my tapers.  So far it is going well, no withdrawal symptoms to report.  I am feeling better and more alive than I have in a long time.  😊

Jolie

       

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, JolieCA.  Thank you for completing your signature.  Please include the rate at which you're tapering.  

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

Based on your signature, you are tapering three drugs now.  We recommend tapering only one drug at a time.  Otherwise, if problems or withdrawal symptoms occur you won't know which drug taper is the cause.  I'm glad you haven't experienced withdrawal symptoms, but sometimes these can be delayed.  We recommend tapering the most activating drug first, known as an accelerator, leaving the more sedating drugs, knows as brakes, to be tapered later to help preserve sleep.

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

Od the drugs you're tapering, the most activating is the SSRI, Citalopram.  The more sedating are the Gabapentin and the antipsychotic, Zyprexa.  Our recommendation would be to stop the Gabapentin and Zyprexa tapers and continue with the Citalopram taper.  Once you've finished with the Citalopram, you could resume tapering one of the other two drugs remaining.

 

We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of current dose every four months.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

You're tapering the the Citalopram and Gabapentin somewhat faster than our recommended rate and the Olanzapine faster than the other two. Our recommendation would be to reduce the rate of your Citalopram taper to 10% every four weeks.  The following link is specifically about tapering Citalopram, including how to get the nonstandard does needed for a 10% taper.

 

Tips for tapering off citalopram (Celexa)

 

 

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) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Get supplements that are single ingredient (not mixed with other types of supplements).

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can add your taper rates to your drug signature, ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JolieCA]

Thanks for the advice Gridley.    I am feeling good with the reductions I made so far, but will read the links you included before I decided what to do next.  

[ChessieCat]

Here is a list of common withdrawal symptoms.  They are many and varied.  You may be experiencing withdrawal symptoms which you do not realise have been caused by your tapering.

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Withdrawal Symptoms

 

SA suggests that members listen to their body/symptoms and throw out the calendar.  The aim is to get off the drugs with minimal discomfort, ie a harm reduction method.  It is better to go slower than to go too fast and risk getting bad withdrawal symptoms.  We have members here who have tried to go too fast and it has ended up taking longer to get off their drug/s than if they had done a nice and steady taper.  Some have ended up on additional drug/s which will then need to be tapered.  Once you experience bad withdrawal symptoms it may take many months to stabilise and some members don't get back to being as stable as they were before the bad withdrawal symptoms.

 

Stability

 

WDnormal

[JolieCA]

Thanks ChessieCat, I appreciate the additional resources.  I have a lot of reading to do before I decided next steps. 

[ChessieCat]

You are very welcome.  Please continue to let us know how you are.  If you start getting withdrawal symptoms please let us know straight away.

 

I suggest that if you start getting withdrawal symptoms that you do not increase the dose of any of your drugs but post letting us know so that we can make a suggestion about what you might do.  So that you can be prepared we will need you to post 3 consecutive days of daily symptom notes to assess your situation.  This is what we will need:

 

Keep Notes on Paper 

 

SA strongly encourages members to learn and use:

 

Non-drug techniques to cope

[JolieCA]

Just a quick update:

 

I have decided to continue reducing my Olanzapine and Citalopram because I feel over medicated, tired all the time and cognitively impaired. I need my brain back, as I must return to work in January, for financial reasons. I have stopped Olanzapine in the past with no troubles.  I am also currently in a DBT group and I practice mindfulness, both of which have been incredibly helpful.  I feel I have the support I need to manage my rapid taper of these two medications. 

 

I have also decided to stop tapering the Gabapentin for now. I take Gabapentin to manage nerve pain and since reducing it, my pain has returned. It works really well at reliving my pain, so much so that I do not need any other medication for pain.  I increased back to 1200mg because 900mg was not enough to keep pain away. I plan to hold at 1200mg for a few days and see how my pain is managed. If pain does not improve I will reinstate 1800mg.

 

Other than the pain issue, I am not experiencing any negative withdrawal symptoms. I have noticed an increase in my energy and a improvement in my cognition. 

[ChessieCat]

3 hours ago, JolieCA said:

I have stopped Olanzapine in the past with no troubles.

 

Please note that just because you had no troubles in the past with stopping olanzapine does not mean that will be the same this time because the effect of going on and off different drugs and up and down in doses has a cumulative effect on the nervous system.

[JolieCA]

thanks for the advice ChessieCat, I will keep this in mind as I taper. 

[ChessieCat]

It's important to have a gently gently approach and not be gung ho about it.

 

Quote

What does 'Slowly, slowly catchy monkey' mean? - Idiom ...

https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/slowly+slowly+catchy+monkey.html

Also used as "Softly, softly, catchee monkey", this old Engllish proverb means that if do not rush or if you avoid being too hasty, then eventually you will achieve your goal - in other words, be patient.

 

 

Quote

Gung Ho | Definition of Gung Ho by Merriam-Webster

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gung ho

Gung ho definition is - extremely or overly zealous or enthusiastic.

 

 

Edited December 5, 2020 by ChessieCat

[JolieCA]

 Hi ChessieCat, thanks for all the advice about taking a gentle slow approach to tapering. 

 

Update on my Taper

I started to experience some mild withdrawal symptoms:   Electric zap-like sensations in brain, Electric shock-like sensations in body, and tingling in face especially behind my eyes. I know this is because I reduced my Citalopram too quickly. Also, I found it difficult to cut up the tablets accurately. I only have 40mg tablets and they crumble when cut. So I decided to pause my Citalopram taper at 20mg until I complete my Olanzapine taper.   I am not distressed about the withdrawal symptoms as I know they are temporary. And when I am ready to continue tapering Citalopram I will get lower dose tablets from pharmacist.   

 

 So for now I will continue with just the Olanzapine taper, as this medication causes me the most unwanted side effects. 

[ChessieCat]

The zap sensations are a good indication that your nervous system is not happy.  My suggestion would be to stop tapering ALL drugs at this time and wait for at least 2 months and then reassess.

 

4 hours ago, JolieCA said:

I know this is because I reduced my Citalopram too quickly. Also, I found it difficult to cut up the tablets accurately. I only have 40mg tablets and they crumble when cut.

 

It is possible to make a liquid with citalopram tablets.  See this post:

 

Tips for tapering off citalopram (Celexa)

[JolieCA]

  Appreciate the recommendation ChessieCat.  I am going to take your advice and pause my taper, to allow my nervous system time to adjust. I will post an update once things settle down.🙃🙂