Lauren8622 Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Hello, I have been on psych meds (antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood-stabilizers, etc.) for the past 15 years. I have recently become aware that they may be doing me more harm than good. I have begun tapering from some of these and would like to get help with doing it the right way. I am having many withdrawal side effects interfering with daily functioning. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus getofflex Posted March 9, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 9, 2021 (edited) Hello, and welcome to SA. We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs. It's a good think you are being cautious with your tapering and are seeking help on how to do this. First of all, can you please give us specific information about your drug history? Please read the link below for instructions. This will allow us to give you the best guidance. How to List Drug History in Signature This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: What is Withdrawal Syndrome? Here is some information about how these drugs actually work. How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain Tapering must be done extremely slowly, and we taper by 10% of the current dose, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller. Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage When we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad. This is called waves and windows. Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms We don't suggest many supplements, but 3 that we do suggest are magnesium, omega-3, and melatonin. Here are the links for info about those. Magnesium Omega 3 Fish Oil Melatonin I've given you quite a bit of information here. Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart. We in this forum have been through this, and we understand first hand the pain and discomfort you are going through. Please know that the brain is amazing in it's healing abilities. It takes time, but healing can and will happen. Edited March 12, 2021 by getofflex Please do not private message me. Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you. ***Please note this is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one. Lexapro Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg; started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20 0.18 mg; Jul 16 0.17 mg, Aug 23 0.16 mg, Oct 7 0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005, Jul 8, 0.00. Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!! Woohoo!!! other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly Link to comment
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