Nabila: Tapering off through gradual drug holidays

[Nabila]

Hi

I has been taking antidepressents for more than a decade, and I want to come off them. Because of the unavailability of smaller doses, I wonder whether it would be safe for me to taper off by taking drug holidays in the following way: For example, I can take a drug holiday for one day every week for 6 months, and then take two day drug holidays every week for the next 6 months, and so on, until I come off completely. That makes 3 years and a half of gradual tapering off. 

Thank you 

[getofflex]

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.  I'm glad you found us - you have come to the right place.  

 

We do not recommend coming off psych meds by skipping doses.  This causes an uneven amount of the drug in the bloodstream from day to day, and can cause significant or severe withdrawal symptoms.  There are ways of measuring out smaller doses even with tablets.  We can tell you how to do this.  

 

Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  This helps you understand why is is so important to come off these drugs very slowly and carefully to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms. 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

When we know which drug or drugs you are taking, we can suggest a specific course of action.  

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. This is extremely important. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and feel free to ask any questions.  We look forward to hearing from you again soon.