Finnishgirl: Starting tapering in drug-resistant situation?

[Shep]

12 hours ago, Shep said:

 

Did you feel better after you took the benzo? 

 

3 hours ago, Finnishgirl said:

Yes. But it takes some time, about 30-45 minutes to notice some improvement. Same thing happened in the evening. Now when I paid attention, I noticed that the feeling started to creep in 2 hours before the benzo.

 

 

It will take time after you take the drug for the improvements to set in - it takes up to 2 hours for the peak concentration level to build up in your system with Ativan. 

 

You had asked about benzo tolerance earlier. Since you're getting relief from the benzo, you know you haven't reached tolerance. This is a good sign.

 

[Finnishgirl]

Last evening: this general malaise already bad at 7pm, had to go lay down at 7.30pm. Feels in head, chest and stomach. Started to ease out about 1-1,5 hours after the benzo. I remember having this same feeling already in the first months of taking the benzo if the interval between doses grew bigger by incident. Today the malaise set in about 1,5-1 hours before the benzo time (which is in 10 minutes from now). Last night was emotionally better and also today but this physical malaise has grown stronger.

[Greatful]

@Finnishgirl  Hi, I want to stop by your thread I did a quick scan through it....It sounds like a lot of us around here that end up poly drugged from a to fast a taper or a doctor that doesn't know what's really going on.  My history speaks volumes of that..  Why do doctors throw on several drugs......... we panic and do whatever the doctor says and  take a benzo for sleep and anxiety then add another drug for sleep, pretty soon you are on several and  we don't know if they are even playing nice together or if you are having a adr from one....Or maybe the benzo would have been enough....Not to mention that if you are in withdrawal from one drug adding more many not cover up the Withdrawal and may make it worse.....So is it the drugs that are making me sicker or what....Of course this then perpetuates all the fear and anxiety over what is causing what, withdrawal adr, drugs not playing nice together.  Okay that's my rant..lol  😬 

As you can see I've been there and I still am there lol😒

 

My heart goes out to you♥️  I wish I could tell you what to do and it will all go according to plan....Sadly what works for one does not mean it will work for another....Each one of us are a individual case...because of so many factures ....our own chemical makeup, how our body response to the drug (adr, kindling, inner dose withdrawal,poop out or tolerance) our metabolisms, how much pain we can endure, how much support we get, the list goes on....We all will heal at our own pace🌞 Time, Patience, trust in your bodies ability to heal.  One day at a time.....

 

Success stories are a good place to go to when you need to see that people do heal from this.  I also like Baylissa's website   https://mccare.org/       innercompass  https://www.theinnercompass.org/

 

From one stubborn Finn to another.....We can and we will get through this🌞SISU 

 

 

[Finnishgirl]

Made a 0,5mg cut from Trintellix today. Planning to go 5 percent in 4-6 weeks.

 

There has been no change in my bad situation during the last months and my WD normal has been established.

[wantrelief]

Hi @Finnishgirl:  I am wishing you lots of luck as you start your taper from Trintellix.  I hope this first cut goes smoothly for you.  Thinking of you, WR.

[Finnishgirl]

58 minutes ago, wantrelief said:

 

Hi @Finnishgirl:  I am wishing you lots of luck as you start your taper from Trintellix.  I hope this first cut goes smoothly for you.  Thinking of you, WR.

Thank you sweet WR ❤️ I hope so too! I also have some autoimmune stuff going on in my brain (similar to long covid) so starting an autoimmune diet and considering FMT. 

[FireflyFyte]

Just read through your story, Finnishgirl, and sending positive thoughts for your upcoming taper. 

[Finnishgirl]

4 minutes ago, FireflyFyte said:

Just read through your story, Finnishgirl, and sending positive thoughts for your upcoming taper. 

Thank you sweet Firefly ❤️ I will stop by your thread next!

[RachelSusan]

@Finnishgirl I wanted to wish you good luck with your cut of Trintellix. I am please that your cut is going to be very small. I think it's great to start out with a very a tiny cut and see how you feel.

[Margaret1]

Hi

I wish you you the utmost peace on this journey. It is amazing. Be sure to be kind to yourself. This is important. I found God in this process. I am always around to help.

God is in us all. And in finding him I found peace. I will eventually get off all meds. I am tapering from Paroxetine one of the heavy hitters. Its important for me to do this process in a safe place. 

Love,

Aimee

 

[wantrelief]

9 hours ago, Finnishgirl said:

Thank you sweet WR ❤️ I hope so too! I also have some autoimmune stuff going on in my brain (similar to long covid) so starting an autoimmune diet and considering FMT. 

I am really sorry to hear you have other health issues on top of the drug stuff.  I can commiserate as I am also dealing with some health challenges.....it is hard enough dealing with CNS damage and tapering.  You aren't alone - I am rooting for you, FG!

[Finnishgirl]

On 12/13/2022 at 5:31 AM, wantrelief said:

I am really sorry to hear you have other health issues on top of the drug stuff.  I can commiserate as I am also dealing with some health challenges.....it is hard enough dealing with CNS damage and tapering.  You aren't alone - I am rooting for you, FG!

Thank you and I am also rooting for you ❤️ Actually that autoimmunity stuff has to do with brain receptors so it might be from withdrawal. Now quite a few people with post-SSRI problems have gotten similar results from those tests... 

 

I actually acidentally dropped my dose by 5 percent and not 0,5mg 😀 Also, I have grinded the pill to make sure the active ingredient is evenly distributed and last days have not been able to preserve enough of the pill when grinding (I don'tknow where it vanishes, probably as a "cloud" to the air or something). So my reducement has been 6,5 percent. Next time I will drop so that I reach 10 percent in total.

[Finnishgirl]

On 12/12/2022 at 11:21 PM, Margaret1 said:

Hi

I wish you you the utmost peace on this journey. It is amazing. Be sure to be kind to yourself. This is important. I found God in this process. I am always around to help.

God is in us all. And in finding him I found peace. I will eventually get off all meds. I am tapering from Paroxetine one of the heavy hitters. Its important for me to do this process in a safe place. 

Love,

Aimee

 

Thank you Aimee for your kind message ❤️ I have also gotten closer to god in the middle of all this. I hope you peaceful healing ❤️

[Finnishgirl]

On 12/12/2022 at 11:06 PM, RachelSusan said:

@Finnishgirl I wanted to wish you good luck with your cut of Trintellix. I am please that your cut is going to be very small. I think it's great to start out with a very a tiny cut and see how you feel.

Thank you Rachel. ❤️ As I just wrote, I accidentally dropped a little bit more but still a small drop fortunately. No withdrawal symptoms at least not yet

[RachelSusan]

1 hour ago, Finnishgirl said:

Thank you Rachel. ❤️ As I just wrote, I accidentally dropped a little bit more but still a small drop fortunately. No withdrawal symptoms at least not yet

It is still small enough to be safe. I think you are handling this very well. ❤️❤️❤️

 

[wantrelief]

Hi @Finnishgirl:  I am so glad you haven't noticed any withdrawal symptoms - that is very good  news!  As RachelSusan said, even though you ended up dropping more than you expected, it is still a safe amount.  I am thinking of you and wishing you the best as you move forward, WR 💖

[FireflyFyte]

6 hours ago, Finnishgirl said:

No withdrawal symptoms at least not yet

 

This is great news, Finnishgirl. I hope that your taper continues symptom free.

[Finnishgirl]

@RachelSusan@wantrelief @FireflyFyte Thank you fo your encouraging words, they really made me feel better about my situation. I have to say it really feels good to be tapering! ❤️ 

[Finnishgirl]

And still no symptoms which is very good, almost 2 weeks from the drop now

[Finnishgirl]

Okay so on Monday the next reduction! This first cut didn't give me any symptoms. How do you feel about the following plan:

 

Should I try upping the cut monthly to aim at 10 percent? So next cut would be 7%, then 8% etc until I reach 10 %. If I get any symptoms, I will stop there and cut the reduction back. For example if I notice any WD symptoms with a 9 percent cut, I would reduce by 8% next time and continue with this. How does this sound to you? Am I pushing the limits with trying to reach the 10 percent cut? I have a lot of med changes in my history so I am definitely sensitized. But the thing is that it will take my 10 years to taper all my meds if I take 5 years tapering the first one 6 percent a month.

[Finnishgirl]

The last taper took 7,5 months before the crash and I lowered the dose by 71 percent of my original dose.

 

I calculated that if I would have made 10 percent cuts, I would have lowered 57 percent of the original dose in 8 months. So the difference is notable but not huge. 

 

Do you think it could be feasible for me to get to 10 percent rate? Or should I just in case aim at for example 8%? Just to be on the safe side.

[Finnishgirl]

Tagging forgotten again: @Altostrata  @Shep  @Frogie@RachelSusan @wantrelief

[Finnishgirl]

I actually miscalculated. So last time, I reduced 71 percent in 7,0 months. In 7 months, I would drop by 52 percent with 10 percent cuts. So there is a notable difference. 

[RachelSusan]

@Finnishgirl We are all different and what I am suggesting is what I know that I should do if I were tapering.  Because I am so sensitized and I have had so many crashes I would do another small cut. I would do the 8% and then if I didn't have any problems at all I might make a 10% the next time. I know I should never go over the 10% even if I felt good.

 

I have not always done what is correct for me and I cut a higher percentage because I wanted to get off faster. Many of those times I paid a price and the symptoms came back. I know you had a big crash in October so perhaps you may want to be cautious as well and cut by the lower amount?

[Finnishgirl]

@RachelSusan I appreciate your input! I would definitely not try a 10 percent cut now! What I was thinking was that I could try 7 percent now, then raise the percent by one every month until I reach 10, assuming I don't get any symptoms. Anyone else, how does this sound?

[wantrelief]

Hi Finnishgirl:

 

27 minutes ago, Finnishgirl said:

What I was thinking was that I could try 7 percent now, then raise the percent by one every month until I reach 10, assuming I don't get any symptoms. Anyone else, how does this sound?

I am so glad your last cut went well and you didn't experience any symptoms from it - that is good news. I think what you are proposing sounds good.  I actually have been doing something similar and am up to 8% currently (broken out into smaller cuts per week).  I am planning to stay at this rate for awhile but may try to get up to the 10% at some point.  

 

I am wishing you all the best as you move forward with your taper.

[RachelSusan]

@Finnishgirl I think it sounds like a very smart plan.

[Finnishgirl]

Thank you @wantrelief and @RachelSusan! I really appreciate your insight on this ❤️ 

[Shep]

@Finnishgirl You may want to read this thread:

 

Why taper? SERT transporter occupancy studies show importance of gradual change in plasma concentration

 

It's a good explanation of why it may be best to decrease your taper rate as you get to the lower doses. 

[Finnishgirl]

9 hours ago, Shep said:

@Finnishgirl You may want to read this thread:

 

Why taper? SERT transporter occupancy studies show importance of gradual change in plasma concentration

 

It's a good explanation of why it may be best to decrease your taper rate as you get to the lower doses. 

Yes thanks! Yes I actually knew that already. I definitely might have to make the reduction rate smaller again when I'm reaching small doses. What is your take on about my plan now? Does is sound solid?

[Altostrata]

On 1/7/2023 at 7:19 AM, Finnishgirl said:

What I was thinking was that I could try 7 percent now, then raise the percent by one every month until I reach 10, assuming I don't get any symptoms. Anyone else, how does this sound?

 

Since you've found a 5% reduction does not cause withdrawal symptoms, you might try a 6% reduction and observe for a month. Decide what to do next based on the results.

 

It is possible your optimum rate is somewhere between 5% and 10%, we can't predict exactly what it might be.

[Shep]

15 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Decide what to do next based on the results.

 

@FinnishgirlI agree with what Alto wrote one hundred percent. Let your symptoms be your guide. They will show you how fast to go and direct the traffic with your symptoms. The goal isn't to get there the fastest. The goal is to be as functional as possible on your journey. 

[Finnishgirl]

@Altostrata @Shep

 

Thank you for your insights, appreciate much! 

 

I will continue with this! 👌👍

[wantrelief]

Hi @Finnishgirl:  I've been thinking of you and hoping you are doing as well as possible. 💖

[Finnishgirl]

On 2/17/2023 at 9:06 PM, wantrelief said:

Hi @Finnishgirl:  I've been thinking of you and hoping you are doing as well as possible. 💖

Hi Wantrelief! I am doing a lot better! 

 

Started Walsh Protocol (level 2) and FMTs at Chistmas and feeling so much better! How are you? I hope you are also doing better ❤️ Or at least manageable. ❤️

[FireflyFyte]

5 hours ago, Finnishgirl said:

I am doing a lot better! 

 

Started Walsh Protocol (level 2) and FMTs at Chistmas and feeling so much better!

 

Glad to hear that you are doing well, Finnishgirl.