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Sunflower414: medicated at age 7, now 27


Sunflower414

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Thank you for your kind words @Greatful as much as I want off the medication, I suppose I will hold for awhile here.

 

I use the oils literally all day!

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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On 9/29/2021 at 11:30 PM, Toast said:

Hi @Sunflower414, I just wanted to drop by your thread to say I'm thinking about you and I'm sorry you're really suffering. With respect to your questions, I was wondering if you have seen any improvement at all after 8 months, even if you are still in Hell now? If you're in even just 0.1% less Hell, that is still a hopeful thing. Unfortunately nobody really knows when we will improve or get better, as it's different for different people. I know that sucks to hear but it doesn't mean you won't improve.  

 

I find reading the success stories on here to be really helpful when things are difficult. There are examples of people who went on SSRIs at young ages and successfully healed and came off. I was also on an SSRI from a young age, since I was 10 and am now getting off of them at age 26. It has been the worst Hell, and every day still sucks, but I do see the tiniest bit improvement compared to 15 months ago when I went off. I hope you have at least seen a tiny improvement too, even if things are still bad. 

 

Sending lots of love and support ❤️

  
 

hi @Toast was thinking of you today. How are you doing?

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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Hi @Sunflower414, thank you for checking on me ❤️ I am doing ok! I still feel horrible but I think a lot of it is situational and not withdrawal related. I think my withdrawal symptoms are getting better, but unfortunately dealing with life **** so still feeling awful 😞.

 

It looks like you are still struggling too. Please keep hanging in there ❤️ Try to find something you can do every day that gives you some amount of purpose and meaning. 

 

Sending lots of love and positive thoughts. We will get through this.

2005 - Zoloft, 200 mg for childhood anxiety (starting at age 11)

Summer 2015 - Switched to Prozac, 40 mg  

June 2019 - Tapered to 10 mg Prozac, no adverse effects. Held for 1 year. 

June 2020 - Discontinued Prozac. Horrible withdrawal. Did not realize it was withdrawal at first. 

Nov 2020 - Reinstated Prozac 2.5 mg. Still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. 

May 2021 - Prozac 2.0 mg. Still experiencing symptoms - some symptoms have improved, but situational factors have worsened.

August 12 2021 - Prozac 2.25 mg. Partial reinstatement as symptoms had worsened

June 17 2022 - Prozac 2.0 mg; Sept 13 2022 - Prozac 1.75 mg; Nov 1 2022 - Prozac 1.5 mg; Feb 1 2023 - Prozac 1.25 mg; Apr 1 2023 - Prozac 1.0 mg; June 15, 2023 - Prozac 0.75 mg; Aug 15, 2023 - Prozac 0.5 mg

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I added magnesium glucinate into my nightly routine three nights ago. I’ve noticed my heart is racing and my skin is tingly / itchy. Could this be from the magnesium? I’m cutting 200mg pills into thirds 

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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  • Mentor

@Sunflower414 How are you feeling today sunflower?

How is the CBD working?

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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@Greatful

I’m not sure if it’s the CBD or just Time but today I feel 1almost like my old self!!!! I’m amazed! However this has happened twice before and only lasted a day. I’m praying it sticks for awhile. 
 

how are you?

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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  • Mentor

@Sunflower414 
That's great!  Soak it up and enjoy.  What a reassurance that you can heal☺️ That we all can heal no matter what❤️

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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@Grateful another decent day, I cannot believe it! How are you doing? ❤️ 

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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Hey there @Sunflower414. I am really glad that you have good days as well, windows tell us that we heal, no matter how hard it's sometimes and how long will take (wave), it remembers ourselves that healing, is out there :)

 

I see you are using CBD, what is the concentration of THC in it ? I was told by fellow members that using CBD in withdrawal is a bad idea, mostly because of this posts :

 

Cannabis, marijuana, hashish, THC, & CBD (cannabidiol) or Hemp oil

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7331870/

 

I have a CBD oil with less than 0.2% THC, but afraid to use it because of the posts mentioned above :D.

27/04/21 Escitalopram x 2.5mg Clonazepam 0.375 mg | 14/05/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.5 mg | 30/05/21 Escitalopram x 7.5mg Clonazepam x 0.375 mg | 14/06/21 Escitalopram x 10mg Clonazepam x 0.25 mg | 27/08/21  Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.5 mg |

28/08/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.475 mg | 04/09/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.4 mg | 09/09/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.35 mg | 14/09/21  Escitalopram x 5 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 14/10/2021 Escitalopram x 4mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 22/10/21 Escitalopram x 4.5mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 19/11/21 Escitalopram x 4mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 29/12/21 Escitalopram x 3.92 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 2/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.84 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 7/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.76 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 7/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.76 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 17/05/22  Escitalopram x 3.36 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 12/06/22 Escitalopram x 2.92 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 01/08/22 Escitalopram x 2.61 mg Diazepam x 14 mg |  29/08/22 Escitalopram x 2.46 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 1/11/22 Escitalopram x 2 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 28/11/22 Escitalopram x 1.61 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/01/23 Escitalopram x 1.30 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/02/23 Escitalopram x 1 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/03/23 Escitalopram x 0.76 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/04/23 Escitalopram x 0.54 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 08/05/23 Escitalopram x 0.31 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 06/06/23 Escitalopram x 0.15 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 04/07/23 Lexapro FREE Diazepam x 14 mg | 10/09/23 Lexapro FREE Diazepam x 13 mg | 02/10/23 Diazepam x 12 mg |  23/10/23 Diazepam x 10 mg | 

 

 

 

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Hi @lex1989

 

mine has the same amount of thc. I haven’t had any issues. I take very little and it’s the only supplement I can handle / that has helped. 
 

how’re you doing? I fear because I’ve been on medications so long and I am on Paxil, that I am beyond healing. I saw an interview with a psychiatrist that said some people will never be able to get off off their SSRIs if they’ve been on them a long time which I have. @getofflex @Altostrata do you find this to be true?

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I can't speak for everyone, but personally I don't believe that is true.  I've been on Lexapro now for almost 20 years, and I'm over 99% off of it, and I continue to improve.  

 

Many doctors have been brainwashed by big pharma.  Drug makers spend huge amounts of money promoting their products to the health care industry, and passing them off as safe and effective, because they make massive profits off of them.  Unfortunately, many doctors believe this stuff.  Perhaps that psychiatrist is one of them.  Check out the book by Robert Whitaker called "Anatomy of an Epidemic".  

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 

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Thank you @getofflex I will look that book up. 
 

this is the psych I was talking about. She actually has a book and does podcasts trying to get people to not take these meds. Because she is in that field, and said some people will never get off and it permanently changes your brain, I get scared. 
 

https://youtu.be/kt5y2tQC2rc

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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  • Moderator Emeritus

You may want to limit the psychiatrists and doctors you listen to.  There is a lot of fear mongering and false information out there on the internet.  Try to keep a positive attitude and remain optimistic.  We have many success stories of people on here who were on many drugs for a long time.  Recovery can take years for many of us.  But at least that is still temporary.  

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 

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  • Administrator

Obviously, we have members here who have come off the drugs after long-term use.

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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  • Moderator Emeritus

Only one week ago I stopped my Pristiq, which I had been taking since 2012.  Before that I had been on citalopram.  In total 25+ years consecutively on an antidepressant.

 

And now I am free!!!

 

It can be done.

 

Check out:   success-stories-recovery-from-psychiatric-drug-withdrawal

 

Brassmonkey got off Paxil a few years ago. 

 

tao-of-the-brassmonkey

 

* 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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14 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Only one week ago I stopped my Pristiq, which I had been taking since 2012.  Before that I had been on citalopram.  In total 25+ years consecutively on an antidepressant.

 

And now I am free!!!

 

It can be done.

 

Check out:   success-stories-recovery-from-psychiatric-drug-withdrawal

 

Brassmonkey got off Paxil a few years ago. 

 

tao-of-the-brassmonkey

 


 

CONGRATS @ChessieCat that is amazing. How do you feel? I looked at your taper plan. Did you follow a certain percentage? 

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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  • Mentor

@Sunflower414

Hi, how are you doing?

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

Link to comment

Hi @Grateful

 

i am not doing too well. My intrusive thoughts are very strong and my legs are jerking a ton. I’m not sure how long I can do this. I’m debating trying another medication. 
 

how are you?

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

Link to comment
  • Mentor

@Sunflower414

On 11/15/2021 at 9:46 PM, Sunflower414 said:

another decent day, I cannot believe it! How are you doing?

This was from the 15th.  How many days was the window?

You can do this.   Don't get me wrong I totally understand.  It is crazy how quickly we can remember feeling good.  It is not hard to find these thoughts over and over on SA the fear of "this is me now"," the drugs ruined me', "I don't think I can live without the drugs" " maybe I am sick" these thoughts are a constant battle.

I dropped 10% about a week and a half ago, went through a rough patch and thought the same thing as you, all the

I really had a disconnect I think last Sunday morning.......I had some D/R and or D/P and horrible brain panic,  (I think I was trigger by some of the stories about self harm/harming others I had read), anyway I could not stop the panic in my brain, I felt frantic and thought about stabbing myself over and over, like stabbing at the pain, take this, take that, then I had a thought about pushing and screaming at my son to get away from me. ( he was coming home form collage for Thanksgiving and I was really stressed about it)  Scared the heck out of me,  I was so worried," could I do something like that. could wd cause a total disconnect. It seemed so close to real.  It took me  a few hours to calm down enough to be more rational.  

 

But the point is I am doing better.  The mornings are still tough but it is like something clicks and the late afternoon evening have be better.

 

 

 

 

Edited by Greatful

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

Link to comment
  • Mentor

@Sunflower414

Opps I accidently sent it before I was done.

3 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

I’m debating trying another medication. 
 

This would make me nervous.  Would you switch from Paxil  to something else?

Looks like you went down that route before.  I did drug hopping that last winter and well here I am🥴

I can't tell you what to do and you have to do what you think is right for you. I understand very much the "I am over this already thought".  

Just be careful of the wish for a quick fix. 

 

Just curious why you think a new drug would be better?  Do you think the Paxil is not working?  I want you to  know that I feel your pain and fear of uncertainty. ❤️

 

At the very least I am so happy that you were able to feel good for a few days and see that you are still in there and doing okay, waiting to come fully out from all the misery you are going through.. 

 

Hang in there.

 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

Link to comment
1 hour ago, Greatful said:

@Sunflower414

Opps I accidently sent it before I was done.

This would make me nervous.  Would you switch from Paxil  to something else?

Looks like you went down that route before.  I did drug hopping that last winter and well here I am🥴

I can't tell you what to do and you have to do what you think is right for you. I understand very much the "I am over this already thought".  

Just be careful of the wish for a quick fix. 

 

Just curious why you think a new drug would be better?  Do you think the Paxil is not working?  I want you to  know that I feel your pain and fear of uncertainty. ❤️

 

At the very least I am so happy that you were able to feel good for a few days and see that you are still in there and doing okay, waiting to come fully out from all the misery you are going through.. 

 

Hang in there.

 

 

@Greatful are you doing any better from your last drop? 
 

I have only dropped 2.5% twice in the past 10 months with little to no relief. The Paxil wasn’t working anymore to begin with so I’m not sure if switching would help — but it seems not medications help me anymore. It’s almost been a year of tapering and I’m not even half way off. And the lower you go the slower and harder it is. I do not think I could handle any harder than this. I also feel awful because it’s not only me but my family who is suffering as well. 
 

thank you for your kind words and always checking on me. 

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

Link to comment
On 11/19/2021 at 11:54 PM, Sunflower414 said:

Hi @lex1989

 

mine has the same amount of thc. I haven’t had any issues. I take very little and it’s the only supplement I can handle / that has helped. 
 

how’re you doing? I fear because I’ve been on medications so long and I am on Paxil, that I am beyond healing. 

 

Hey there Sunflower, I am righting now to you with a wonderful felling (after taking 8mg of CBD) and seeing this supplement really works, I hope it works for you as well. How are you taking it , each day ?

 

Regarding the second topic. As getoflex mentioned, do not believe everything what you see or hear on the internet, although that lady and the moderator of the video you provided mentioned really important, arguable and true stuff, you seen so many people on this forum that made it, it's just taking a lot of patience for someone who took the medicine for so long. Maybe in your case is better to go off faster as you are already have a bad reaction to it, don't take it for granted, I don't have the experience of the mods here.

 

 

22 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

Hi @Grateful

 

i am not doing too well. My intrusive thoughts are very strong and my legs are jerking a ton. I’m not sure how long I can do this. I’m debating trying another medication. 
 

how are you?

 

Don't give up to medicine, please... What this : https://medicatingnormal.com/. I think it's a couple of dollars to see the movie. The harm and lies about this medicines (antidepressants). Just don't give up to them again, if you can, but I know you can :).

 

27/04/21 Escitalopram x 2.5mg Clonazepam 0.375 mg | 14/05/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.5 mg | 30/05/21 Escitalopram x 7.5mg Clonazepam x 0.375 mg | 14/06/21 Escitalopram x 10mg Clonazepam x 0.25 mg | 27/08/21  Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.5 mg |

28/08/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.475 mg | 04/09/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.4 mg | 09/09/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.35 mg | 14/09/21  Escitalopram x 5 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 14/10/2021 Escitalopram x 4mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 22/10/21 Escitalopram x 4.5mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 19/11/21 Escitalopram x 4mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 29/12/21 Escitalopram x 3.92 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 2/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.84 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 7/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.76 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 7/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.76 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 17/05/22  Escitalopram x 3.36 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 12/06/22 Escitalopram x 2.92 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 01/08/22 Escitalopram x 2.61 mg Diazepam x 14 mg |  29/08/22 Escitalopram x 2.46 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 1/11/22 Escitalopram x 2 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 28/11/22 Escitalopram x 1.61 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/01/23 Escitalopram x 1.30 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/02/23 Escitalopram x 1 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/03/23 Escitalopram x 0.76 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/04/23 Escitalopram x 0.54 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 08/05/23 Escitalopram x 0.31 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 06/06/23 Escitalopram x 0.15 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 04/07/23 Lexapro FREE Diazepam x 14 mg | 10/09/23 Lexapro FREE Diazepam x 13 mg | 02/10/23 Diazepam x 12 mg |  23/10/23 Diazepam x 10 mg | 

 

 

 

Link to comment

Hi @lex1989

 

Thank you for your comment. I am taking 8mg of CBD at 5pm and 4mg at nighttime. Do you still find it’s giving you relief?


it is very hard to not want to turn to medication when my whole life I was told / convinced I “needed it”. I am trying to find peace through the pain & suffering. How are you doing?

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

Link to comment
5 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

Hi @lex1989

 

Thank you for your comment. I am taking 8mg of CBD at 5pm and 4mg at nighttime. Do you still find it’s giving you relief?

I took it only twice until now ( 8mg total during the day) giving me almost total relief when taken.

I want to take it just 1-2 times a week for now , if I would take it daily I am not sure how it will be, that it's why I want to take it rarely, at least for now, maybe when I am totally off medicine I will take it more often :D.

 

5 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

it is very hard to not want to turn to medication when my whole life I was told / convinced I “needed it”. I am trying to find peace through the pain & suffering. How are you doing?

And you really believe you "need it" ? You seen so many negative posts and videos about psychiatric medicine and they are 99% true. Don't go back, set yourself free... No matter what.

 

27/04/21 Escitalopram x 2.5mg Clonazepam 0.375 mg | 14/05/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.5 mg | 30/05/21 Escitalopram x 7.5mg Clonazepam x 0.375 mg | 14/06/21 Escitalopram x 10mg Clonazepam x 0.25 mg | 27/08/21  Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.5 mg |

28/08/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.475 mg | 04/09/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.4 mg | 09/09/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.35 mg | 14/09/21  Escitalopram x 5 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 14/10/2021 Escitalopram x 4mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 22/10/21 Escitalopram x 4.5mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 19/11/21 Escitalopram x 4mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 29/12/21 Escitalopram x 3.92 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 2/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.84 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 7/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.76 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 7/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.76 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 17/05/22  Escitalopram x 3.36 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 12/06/22 Escitalopram x 2.92 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 01/08/22 Escitalopram x 2.61 mg Diazepam x 14 mg |  29/08/22 Escitalopram x 2.46 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 1/11/22 Escitalopram x 2 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 28/11/22 Escitalopram x 1.61 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/01/23 Escitalopram x 1.30 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/02/23 Escitalopram x 1 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/03/23 Escitalopram x 0.76 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/04/23 Escitalopram x 0.54 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 08/05/23 Escitalopram x 0.31 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 06/06/23 Escitalopram x 0.15 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 04/07/23 Lexapro FREE Diazepam x 14 mg | 10/09/23 Lexapro FREE Diazepam x 13 mg | 02/10/23 Diazepam x 12 mg |  23/10/23 Diazepam x 10 mg | 

 

 

 

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@Altostrata

@getofflex 


sorry for asking another question. I have been holding at 14.2mg and hanging in there but not doing too great. If I hold here until spring / summer, do you think I may be able to do a 10% taper if I give my body a chance to adjust?

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I think this idea is an excellent one.  I've done a couple of long holds, and my tapering was significantly easier after them.  If it was me, I'd attempt a 5% taper after your hold, and see how that goes.  Or, consider a micro taper such as Brassmonkey Slide Method of Microtapering   These are gentler on the nervous system, and given your history, I believe they would work better for you.  

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

Update of symptoms:

 

still not doing well 

experiencing 

 

- body jerks 

- inside vibration feeling 

- nausea

- feelings of terror / doom / hopelessness

- extreme sense of panic randomly

- depression, thoughts I won’t be able to survive

- no feelings of joy/hope/love/etc.

- extreme fatigue

- very sensitive to anything and overwhelmed easily

 

 

does it ever get better? Why is this so awful when I have barely lowered my dose? I worry I am trapped on this awful medication for life

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

Link to comment
8 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

Update of symptoms:

 

still not doing well 

experiencing 

 

- body jerks 

- inside vibration feeling 

- nausea

- feelings of terror / doom / hopelessness

- extreme sense of panic randomly

- depression, thoughts I won’t be able to survive

- no feelings of joy/hope/love/etc.

- extreme fatigue

- very sensitive to anything and overwhelmed easily

 

 

does it ever get better? Why is this so awful when I have barely lowered my dose? I worry I am trapped on this awful medication for life


Yes it will.


You remember you had that window you were telling us about? Well think of that window and that is possible, it’s just a hard wave now and you need more time to stabilize, taking same dosage at the same hour, have a clean sleeping schedule (you are sleeping a lot as far as I remember) and give some time for things to improve.

 

Everybody’s journey is so different, we should just put our heads down and do what is needed for the time beeing. Waves and windows come and go, no matter how rough things get, just remember that today you are one day closer to the finish line. I know it seems impossible at times, but the end is real. Hang on to that and know that you will get there. Your body and mind wants to heal, so give it what it needs and then ride the waves to the steady shore :). You will do it. 
So much of it it’s mental, so do your best to stay in a positive place. Easier said than done, but critical. If you are in hell, keep going !

27/04/21 Escitalopram x 2.5mg Clonazepam 0.375 mg | 14/05/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.5 mg | 30/05/21 Escitalopram x 7.5mg Clonazepam x 0.375 mg | 14/06/21 Escitalopram x 10mg Clonazepam x 0.25 mg | 27/08/21  Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.5 mg |

28/08/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.475 mg | 04/09/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.4 mg | 09/09/21 Escitalopram x 5mg Clonazepam x 0.35 mg | 14/09/21  Escitalopram x 5 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 14/10/2021 Escitalopram x 4mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 22/10/21 Escitalopram x 4.5mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 19/11/21 Escitalopram x 4mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 29/12/21 Escitalopram x 3.92 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 2/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.84 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 7/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.76 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 7/1/2022 Escitalopram x 3.76 mg Clonazepam x 0.3 mg | 17/05/22  Escitalopram x 3.36 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 12/06/22 Escitalopram x 2.92 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 01/08/22 Escitalopram x 2.61 mg Diazepam x 14 mg |  29/08/22 Escitalopram x 2.46 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 1/11/22 Escitalopram x 2 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 28/11/22 Escitalopram x 1.61 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/01/23 Escitalopram x 1.30 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/02/23 Escitalopram x 1 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/03/23 Escitalopram x 0.76 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 09/04/23 Escitalopram x 0.54 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 08/05/23 Escitalopram x 0.31 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 06/06/23 Escitalopram x 0.15 mg Diazepam x 14 mg | 04/07/23 Lexapro FREE Diazepam x 14 mg | 10/09/23 Lexapro FREE Diazepam x 13 mg | 02/10/23 Diazepam x 12 mg |  23/10/23 Diazepam x 10 mg | 

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

What day in November did you do your reduction?  Please add this to your drug sig, thank you. 

 

I believe that if you do a nice long hold, as previously discussed, your system will very gradually stabilize, and things will improve.  I'm very sorry you are dealing with this.  I know it really sucks, because I've been there.  

 

Here are some helpful links that will help you to get through this.  Be sure to check out both posts: 

 

Acknowledge, Accept, Float

 

 

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 

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@getofflex Oct. 27 - 2.5% down to 14.2 

 

I always forget how to do the signature - I’ll try to figure that out. Still doing awful. I trie magnesium and it made me super itchy. I may try omega in hopes it helps. Do you know anyone who uses the liquid version instead of a capsule? 
 

im just still feeling like I might be one of the ones who “need” meds. My doctor suggested I try trintellix but I am weary 

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I'll put this one in for you.  You just click on your name in the upper left corner of the screen, select "account settings", then select "signature".  Remember to click "save" after you make the changes to your signature box.  I'm assuming your drug sig line that said "Nov 2021 - 14.2 mg" was a mistake, so I just replaced that with the October date you gave me.  

 

Are you taking your precise dose each and every day at the same time? 

 

You said "still doing awful".  What are your symptoms?  How is your sleep, and eating?  

 

I'm sorry to hear that the magnesium made you itchy.  I don't know anyone who uses the liquid version of omega 3.  However, the capsule just contains the oil, so it's probably the same thing.  

15 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

im just still feeling like I might be one of the ones who “need” meds. My doctor suggested I try trintellix but I am weary 

I don't know that anyone really "needs" these meds.  Most doctors will suggest meds because that is what they are trained to do, and they are brainwashed by the billions of dollars that drug companies spend to try to increase their profits by sales of their drugs. If it were me, I would not allow myself to be put back on yet another psych med.   It's totally up to you what you do.  

 

Have you mainly been feeling awful after your reduction to 14.2 in late October?  If so, my suggestion would be for you to either hold at this for a long time, until you stabilize, or you could try a partial updose to about 14.6 mg, and see if that doesn't help to reduce your symptoms.  It's up to you.  

 

Please keep a daily journal of your symptoms, plus your activities like eating, sleeping, supplements, when you take your drug, etc.  See if we can find any patterns to see if there is something in your environment causing your trouble.  I do this, and it has really helped.  See this example: 

 

6 AM woke with anxiety

8 am took 2.5 mg lexapro

10 am stomach is upset

10:30 am ate breakfast

11:35 am got a headache, lasted one hour

12:35 ate lunch

4 pm feel a bit better

5 pm took 2.5 mg lexapro

6 pm ate dinner

9:20 pm headache 

10:00 pm took 50 mg Seroquel

10:30 pm feeling dizzy

10:30 pm fell asleep 

2:30 am woke, took 3 mg Ambien

2:45 am fell asleep

4:30 am woke, but got back to sleep 

 

Post your notes here, and let's see what we find.  

Edited 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 

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Thank you @getofflex

 

8am woke up sick throwing up from anxiety stress / nightmares 

9am fell back asleep 

2pm got up to take meds 

3pm back to sleep 

9am woke up and ate some food. Let dog out. Feeling hopeless and depressed with headache 

11pm laid back down but didn’t fall asleep for a long time 


 

I just keep thinking I won’t make it much longer because everyday is so awful and I still have a ton to taper so how is this going to be doable 

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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  • Mentor

@Sunflower414

I hit a pretty big bump too.  It can be very discouraging, I found that if I started reading and learning about these drugs and the miss handling information pharma puts out that is misleading and how it is starting to be questioned. Go to the "In the Media part of SA.  Educate yourself and it can help you less in the dark and maybe even get you fired up to fight this.....

Did you know that these drugs were not meant to be long term.  The trails were on the average  2 months long, or less, how they pick the most positive outcome and hide the less fairable side.

I had to do this yesterday, Ask yourself what can I do to help myself.   Educate, learn, learn to accept and love yourself.   Empowering yourself will help you feel like you have some control.

 

That is always a question we have to answer for ourselves, what is it I want. We have to look deep inside and see what we see.   If I want to get off this I have to find away, dig down deep, educate myself, learn coping skills, accept that it may take a little longer then I would like.

 

If we look at it as a huge mountain then it is very overwhelming.  Try to break it down to something more manageable. The day, the week, whatever helps you make it through this.  

Remember time will go by regardless and it will pull you with it.

 

I am sick of it as well....But I am really afraid of adding any new chemicals to my body.  They control you and change you.  It really hurts the position we are in.....Drug hopping is like trying to see what if anything  sticks......And never mind the side affect, oh yeah that's okay just take this other one here to help with that side affect.   

You sound like me worrying about how am I ever going to get off of these.  Hopefully if you can stabilize then the rest of the taper should go a little smoother🙄

 

I really do feel your pain, worry, and panic to start something anything to make this go away.

Hugs to you ❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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Thank you @Greatful you are always so helpful. 
 

I know a lot about these meds but it doesn’t make me fired up, it makes me feel hopeless and upset 😢 

 

I don’t know if I’ll be able to continue tapering Paxil. I’m looking into cross tapering from Prozac. I tried it once a year ago and it went awful (but in the past I switched between the two no problems) but I also don’t think I did it correctly. This is all so hard and confusing. 

Medicated at age 7. Many med changes (over 20). Tapered off Xanax in 2018. 
 

PAXIL TAPER:  
2021: Feb. dropped from 20mg to 15mg Paxil. Terrible. Bedridden for 8 months.  Oct. - 14.6mg  Oct. 27 - 14.2 mg Nov. 14 - 14mg  Feb. 28 - 13.6mg March. 28 - 13.4mg April 5 - 13.4mg but introducing liquid (bad reaction)  2022:  November 14 - 13.2mg  2023:  January 4 - 13mg March 7 - 12.7mg April 20 - 12.4mg May 16 - 12.1mg Aug. 30 - 12mg Oct. 19 - switched from tablet to liquid from compounding pharmacy Nov. 12. 11.65mg Nov. 30 - 11.3mg Dec. 18 - 10.95 2024 Jan. 4 - 10.75 Feb. 10 - 10.4 Feb. 28 - 10MG!!!!!!

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  • Moderator Emeritus
22 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

8am woke up sick throwing up from anxiety stress / nightmares 

9am fell back asleep 

2pm got up to take meds 

3pm back to sleep 

9am woke up and ate some food. Let dog out. Feeling hopeless and depressed with headache 

11pm laid back down but didn’t fall asleep for a long time 

 

Thanks for posting your daily journal.  

 

How do you feel after you take your meds, as opposed to before you take your meds? 

 

About how many hours in the 24 hour day are you sleeping?  

 

Are you taking precisely 14.2 mg Paxil at 2 pm each day?  

On 12/11/2021 at 12:46 PM, getofflex said:

Have you mainly been feeling awful after your reduction to 14.2 in late October?

If you answer the question above, it will help me to see if you are having an adverse reaction to Paxil, or if you are experiencing WD from your taper in late October.  

22 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

I just keep thinking I won’t make it much longer because everyday is so awful and I still have a ton to taper so how is this going to be doable 

Was everyday awful prior to the reduction to 14.2?  

 

This is still very doable.  You are young (27), and you still have most of your life ahead of you.  It may be that you need to micro taper, and go extremely slowly.  Perhaps dropping from 15.0 to 14.2 was too big of a reduction for you.  Even if it took you several years to taper off of this, you would still have quite a few years left, drug free.  Let me know if you decide to do an updose as suggested in my prior post.  Perhaps that would help you to feel less awful.  

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 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Also, consider the possibility of crossing over to Prozac.  But honestly, if it were me, I would first attempt an extremely slow, gradual taper off Paxil.  Here is a link about that - please read it carefully.  

 

Prozac Switch or Bridging with Fluoxetine

 

If you do try this, take heart.  One of the more experienced staff will walk you through it step by step.  

 

 

 

 

Edited 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 

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