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Tania: 45mg mirtazapine tapering


Tania

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  • Moderator

@Tania

 

I used this pill grinder and then put it between a piece of parchment paper.

 

I found, on Amazon.com a pill grinder. It’s made by B&C Home Goods and called Premium Pill Grinder. It was $15.99 and worth every penny. You pour the pills in, put the handle on and turn it. It grinds the pills into a fine powder and has a storage container on the bottom.

PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. 

 Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist.

 Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form)

---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil.

Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper.

19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020)

I am not a medical professional.

The suggestions I make are based on personal experience.

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Thank you so much for this. But is what I'm doing with the weight correct? 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Mentor
21 hours ago, Tania said:

Hi, I'm very confused. I've now crushed 2 individual pills, and the 1st one weighs 0.391 and the 2nd one weighs 0.463. Do I put different amounts in each capsule? Cos according to the first weight I should take 0.363mg (0.391 x 0.93) but for the second pill, I should take 0.430 (0.463 x 0.93) . I want to do this daily to begin with, not in batches. Thank you for your help. 

 

When I started this I weighed 3 whole pills and divided by 3 (the number of the pills I weighed) to get an average pill weight. I then took the percentage I needed off the average weight so I knew what weight needed to go in my capsule. Do all this with whole pills, before you grind.

 

In my case the average pill weight was 0.152 mg and I took just 0.004mg off, so my first lot of pills weighed 0.148mg.

 

Then I ground a weeks worth of pills (you can just do a few and keep the powder for another day), weighed the amount I needed for one pill and used a piece of paper to tip it into the capsule. The amount you need will be the same each day, whatever the figure is you ended up in step 1 - in my case it was 0.148 every day for a week.

 

Not much gets left on the paper as far as I can see. I haven't looked in the grinder for residue but I know some is lost in the process.   Because of the loss of powder in the grinding process you would probably be better off grinding a weeks worth even if you only make up one a day. The remainder can be kept in a pill capsule for the next day.

 

@brassmonkeyhelped me with this, as did Gridley but he's taking a break. Maybe Brassmonkey can just weigh in and confirm this method....

 

am not a medical professional. I provide information and make suggestions based on my own experience and SA guidelines. I am unable to respond to private messages. 

Mirtazepine 15mg Nov 2018 -April 2019  April - Sept 2019 Mirtazepine down to around 6mg - skipping days to taper

October 2019 - Dec 2019 unwell from failed taper including jumping about in doses 

15 December 2019 to 13 June 2021 15mg Mirtazepine 

14 June 2021 started brass monkey Slide.  
2021: 23 August 12.3mg, 28 October 11.1mg, 6 Dec 10mg

2022: 12 Feb 8.5, 25 Oct 4.5mg

2023: 16 Jan 3.6mg, 28 Sept 1.8mg

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Ahhh...I've been weighing the pills after I crush them. So, say you take 6 pills, weigh them as they are, crush them all and then put what you need inside each capsule? 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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I've just weighed 3 pills and they weigh 1.340 : 3 = 0.446 each x 09.3 = 0.415, is this correct? 

Strangely, when I weighed each individual pill I'd get more mg for each individual pill, I'd get at least 0.430gr. Now by weighing 3 pills, I only get 0.415gr. Is this correct? I'm panicking as I've run out of 15mg pills and only have 45mg pills now. 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Mentor

I have run your numbers through my calculator and agree, assuming you mean 0.93 and not 09.3 for the percentage reduction.

 

Have you calibrated your scales? You need to look in the instruction book and do this every time you weigh. I calibrate until the weight of the 10mg weights is within 0.001/2. I think because of this it's better to make up a week at a time because then you're always getting exactly the same amount every day.

 

So now you need to weigh 0.415 mg every day for how ever long you're going to take this dose.

 

A helpful hint:

 

I put the ground prefer in an egg cup and mix it with a toothpick. I put some powder on a teaspoon and push powder from the spoon into the scale with the toothpick doing v small amounts as I get close to the target weight. If I go too far I used the tweezers to take powder off.

am not a medical professional. I provide information and make suggestions based on my own experience and SA guidelines. I am unable to respond to private messages. 

Mirtazepine 15mg Nov 2018 -April 2019  April - Sept 2019 Mirtazepine down to around 6mg - skipping days to taper

October 2019 - Dec 2019 unwell from failed taper including jumping about in doses 

15 December 2019 to 13 June 2021 15mg Mirtazepine 

14 June 2021 started brass monkey Slide.  
2021: 23 August 12.3mg, 28 October 11.1mg, 6 Dec 10mg

2022: 12 Feb 8.5, 25 Oct 4.5mg

2023: 16 Jan 3.6mg, 28 Sept 1.8mg

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  • Mentor

Pills weigh slightly different amounts, that is why you take the average. You only have to do that the first time, this time, in future you'll just take a percentage off your last dose.

am not a medical professional. I provide information and make suggestions based on my own experience and SA guidelines. I am unable to respond to private messages. 

Mirtazepine 15mg Nov 2018 -April 2019  April - Sept 2019 Mirtazepine down to around 6mg - skipping days to taper

October 2019 - Dec 2019 unwell from failed taper including jumping about in doses 

15 December 2019 to 13 June 2021 15mg Mirtazepine 

14 June 2021 started brass monkey Slide.  
2021: 23 August 12.3mg, 28 October 11.1mg, 6 Dec 10mg

2022: 12 Feb 8.5, 25 Oct 4.5mg

2023: 16 Jan 3.6mg, 28 Sept 1.8mg

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OK. I've rounded it up and did 0.420mg. So I guess next time I want to do my next decrease, I have to do the whole process again and take say 15% off the whole amount? I'm doing a 7% reduction currently. 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

The next reduction needs to be calculated the current dose.  If you are doing a 7% reduction:  0.42mg x 0.93 = 0.3906mg

* 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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Hi, sorry I'm more confused now...I thought brassmonkey said to multiply the weight x 0.93 after crushing the pill...

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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Ha sorry, yes..you meant 0.420mg!

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Yes I'm talking about the dose, not the amount of powder that you weigh.

* 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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  • Moderator

Hi Tania, Faure is doing a great job of explaining how to do this.

 

Now that you have established a daily dose that weighs 420mg you will want to stay on it for at least four weeks, I would recommend six, before making the next reduction. When that time comes, you do not have to recalculate everything. We recommend what is called a hyperbolic taper. Sounds tricky but it isn't. As CC just pointed out it is a very simple calculation. For a reduction of 7% you multiply the weight of your current dose by 0.93 to get the weight of your new dose. Next time you do the same thing, current dose weight times 0.93, and so on until you get to a very low dose.

 

Before things get too far along, we need to address how people are writing the weights and strengths. We need to pay close attention to where we put the decimal point and what unit of measure we are referring to. These scales weigh in grams (g).  The display shows 0.000. The number furthest left is in grams the number furthest right is in milligrams. You display should be showing 0.420. As it shows on the display it would read as 0.420 grams if we read the display left to right. It can also be read as 420 milligrams. If we try to read it as 0.420 milligrams, we would be talking about an amount much smaller than a pinhead, which we won't see until the very end of the taper. So, the weight of the dose we are talking about above is 420mg.

 

Because each medication and original pill strength is different, we generally find it best to talk about the strength of the dose instead of the weight. The original strength of the dose is listed on the package. 45mg is what is mentioned above. The calculations work exactly the same way, current dose strength times 0.93 = new dose strength. This means that at a dose weighing 420mg you are getting a dose of 42mg in strength. This can get confusing because they are both xxmg. To make it easier the dose weight is referred to as mgpw (milligrams pill weight) and the dose strength is referred to a mgai (milligrams active ingredient). You need to keep records of both, so you know how much to weigh out (mgpw) and how much to talk about (mgai).

 

To recap the method of weighing things out.

 

Weigh several whole pills and calculate the average weight. Total weight divided by number of pills = average weight.

Calculate the weight of your new dose by multiplying the average weight by 0.93.

Crush several of the pills and mix the powder together.

Weigh your new dose from this pile of powder and put that dose into capsules. Save the leftover powder for next time.

As you run low on powder, crush more pills and add it to the pile.

 

Using the average weight of the original pills for a starting point, things will be much more accurate and easier to do over the long run.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Thank you so much for this. I've now decided to stick to 0.415mg - weight of the actual pill, which I believe is a 7% taper from 45gm of actual strength of the pill. The average pill weight is 0.446. Hope I'm doing this right. It's late here and my brain is a bit scrambled. 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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Can I ask one last question, 415mg means that I'm taking the equivalent of 41.5mg in strength? 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Moderator

Yes. You happen to be very lucky and there is a 10:1 correlation between the pill weight and the dose strength. Not many drugs have this.

 

You calculated the average pill weight as 446mgpw which is very close to 450mgpw which I suspect is the weight the manufacturer is aiming for. If you use 450mgpw as your average pill weight, then all you have to do is move the decimal point one place to the left to get the related dose strength. The difference between using 446 and 450 is so small it won't affect the final outcome and after one more reduction will have no affect at all.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Oh wow! Yes...thank you so much for this eureka realisation. Now the challenge is just to ensure that all the powder I measure goes into the capsule! Thanks a mill again 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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Hi again...this might sound stupid but I'm finding that whenever I swallow the vegetarian capsules I bought from Amazon, it feels like the capsule gets stuck in my throat and it doesn't properly go down. It's an awful feeling and it lasts for ages....anyone else has this problem?

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Do you take a sip of water before you take it?

 

You could try taking it with milk instead of water.

 

Holding it is your hand to warm it would make it a bit softer.

* 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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I'll try that...I've also bought actual gelatin capsules so I'll see if they're better. Thank you :)

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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Hi, since the 11 December 2020 I started diminishing my dose, first it it was with a pill cutter and since the 8th January I've been crushing and weighing my pills and taking mostly 42mg....I feel fine now, bit wondering of I should a little drop or stay on this for a while longer. I'm very scared obviously.  

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Mentor

Glad to hear it's going well so far.

 

You must hold for at least 4 weeks till you drop again, this is the maximum speed recommended on here if you want to minimise wd effects, stay well and hopefully keep life going. WD effects often take a few weeks to show up. If you go too fast WD effects can pile up and cause a crash which can take months to resolve. Of course you did a 7% drop; the maximum recommended is 10% off the most recent dose so if this cycle goes well you could perhaps take a mod's advice on going up to 10% next time

 

What does "mostly 42mg" mean? Your weighing needs to be highly accurate.


If you started the weighing properly on 8 January, 4 weeks takes you to 5 February. You were feeling slightly unstable before you started weighing accurately. I suggest you put the next scheduled drop in your diary so you can stop thinking about when to do it!

 

It is very tempting to go faster, especially if you are feeling good. Believe me, I think about going faster often. But then I remember the consequences of going fast are potentially getting very ill and life and work falling apart. I always conclude this is not worth the risk and I have the "going faster debate" with my supportive friend and decide to stick to the plan. You only need to read a few threads on here to see how ill people get from failed tapers.

am not a medical professional. I provide information and make suggestions based on my own experience and SA guidelines. I am unable to respond to private messages. 

Mirtazepine 15mg Nov 2018 -April 2019  April - Sept 2019 Mirtazepine down to around 6mg - skipping days to taper

October 2019 - Dec 2019 unwell from failed taper including jumping about in doses 

15 December 2019 to 13 June 2021 15mg Mirtazepine 

14 June 2021 started brass monkey Slide.  
2021: 23 August 12.3mg, 28 October 11.1mg, 6 Dec 10mg

2022: 12 Feb 8.5, 25 Oct 4.5mg

2023: 16 Jan 3.6mg, 28 Sept 1.8mg

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  • 5 weeks later...

I've just dropped to 40mg (last night)...a little bit anxious as to whether this is the right time as I'm quite stressed at work, the problem I realised is that since starting this med, there has never been an ideal time to decrease...I've started and want to continue. I'm just aware that I've become utterly amd completely psychologically dependent on these pills. 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Please update your drug signature with the date and dose.  Thank you.

* 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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Hi how do I change my signature. I've tried to go into account setting, and edit profile then wrote in the space 'About me' but nothing happens...where is the signature exactly as I can't see it in account settings? 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

This link goes straight to your signature.  Remember to SAVE after you have edited it.

* 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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Thanks a mill!!

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
13 hours ago, Tania said:

I've just dropped to 40mg (last night)...a little bit anxious as to whether this is the right time as I'm quite stressed at work, the problem I realised is that since starting this med, there has never been an ideal time to decrease

I know where you are coming from - I feel the same way!  There is always something going on, and life keeps happening.  You are doing a slow and prudent taper, so I suspect you will be OK.  

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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  • Mentor

How are you feeling now? I sometimes get a small amount of anxiety the day after a drop, but for me all WD effects are mild and short lived. I learned this after just a few weeks of tapering.  With such small drops I think you will be fine. Be sure to do percentage drops and not just 'x' mg, because the same percentage drop everytime is a steady decline for your body to handle. I get on very well with the Brassmonkey slide of 2.5% a week for 4 weeks then a 2 week hold. 

 

If you get severely stressed it's best not to stress your system further with reductions. I got very stressed back in September and held for 3 extra weeks till I was through it.

am not a medical professional. I provide information and make suggestions based on my own experience and SA guidelines. I am unable to respond to private messages. 

Mirtazepine 15mg Nov 2018 -April 2019  April - Sept 2019 Mirtazepine down to around 6mg - skipping days to taper

October 2019 - Dec 2019 unwell from failed taper including jumping about in doses 

15 December 2019 to 13 June 2021 15mg Mirtazepine 

14 June 2021 started brass monkey Slide.  
2021: 23 August 12.3mg, 28 October 11.1mg, 6 Dec 10mg

2022: 12 Feb 8.5, 25 Oct 4.5mg

2023: 16 Jan 3.6mg, 28 Sept 1.8mg

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Hi Faure, thank you so much for your reply. I re-weighed the pills and am now taking 39mg, which is a 7% decrease and that is what I did first time round. I get very nervous when I drop the dose, it's like I'm waiting for someone someone really bad to happen. 

Something I've noticed though is that my legs are slight twitching at night..could that be caused by the dose reduction you think? 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Tania, you can search our site to find answers to a lot of your questions:  

 

How to Do a Site Search

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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Hi @Tania

 

Twitching is fairly typical for me after a drop. I’ve now done 2 drops and both times the same symptoms cropped up, so have already started to see a pattern.

 

Hope the drop goes well for you x

Sertraline (Lustral):  2014. Sept 50mg. Oct 100mg. Dec 150mg. 2015-2019. 150mg. 2019  Apr-May 0mg. Beg May 150mg. End May 100mg. Late June 125mg. Late Aug 100mg. 2020 Jan 75mg. April 50mg.

2022  50mg. 1Jan 45mg. 1Feb 40.5mg. Water T24Feb 39.5mg. 3Mar 38.5mg. 18Mar 38mg. 25Mar 37.5mg. 22Apr 37mg. 5May 36.5mg. 18May 36mg. 1Jun 35.3mg. 15Jun 34.5mg.  30Jun 34mg. 15Jul 33.5mg. 22Jul 33mg. 5Aug 32.5mg. 19Aug 32mg. 1Sept 31.5mg. 1Oct 31mg.  27 Oct 30.5. 16 Nov 30mg. 30 Nov 29.5mg. 14 Dec 29mg

2023. 2 Jan 28.5mg. 6 Feb 28mg. 10 Mar 27.5mg. 1 Apr 26.5mg. 1 May 26mg. 1 Jun 25.5mg. 1 Jul 25mg. 1 Aug 24.5mg. 17 Aug 24mg. 5 Sept 23.5mg. 9 Oct 23mg.

 

Desogestrel:  2014 -  present:  

Supplements Magnesium. 400mcg  Vitamin D. 10mcg.  Multivit/min. 1 tab. B Complex

 

Certirizine:   2022 May 10mg. Dec 20mg. 2023. 15mg.

 Omeprazole.:  2016 20mg. 2022  20mg.  15Jan 15mg. 9Feb 10mg. 25Feb 6.5mg. 15Mar 3mg. 3Apr 1.5mg.  15Apr 0mg   2023. 20mg. 15 Sept 15mg.

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  • Mentor
20 hours ago, Tania said:

re-weighed the pills and am now taking 39mg, which is a 7% decrease

This sounds good, just checking you didn't go through the whole getting the average weight again? You only do that when you first start, now you always just reduce by 7% of the most recent dose.

 

It's understandable to feel worried about the drops; a lot is at stake. But you are going very cautiously which is the safest way to go-well done! I think the worry may decrease when you've done a few cycles and see you are ok.

 

Everyone gets different withdrawal effects. One of the most common for me is what I call "fleeting pains" in my legs mostly, occasionally elsewhere. They are much less frequent and less painful now I'm almost at half my starting dose. You will hopefully find things get easier for you too. Remember the slow and steady approaches minimises wd effects, doesn't eliminate them all together but keeps them bearable. If they start building up then is the time to hold till they resolve.

 

Another very common one for me is time taken to fall asleep. By weeks 3 & 4 of 2.5% drops a week it takes over an hour to fall asleep, so I'm grateful for the two week hold which is when sleep resolves for me, ready to start again!

 

How is your sleep?

 

am not a medical professional. I provide information and make suggestions based on my own experience and SA guidelines. I am unable to respond to private messages. 

Mirtazepine 15mg Nov 2018 -April 2019  April - Sept 2019 Mirtazepine down to around 6mg - skipping days to taper

October 2019 - Dec 2019 unwell from failed taper including jumping about in doses 

15 December 2019 to 13 June 2021 15mg Mirtazepine 

14 June 2021 started brass monkey Slide.  
2021: 23 August 12.3mg, 28 October 11.1mg, 6 Dec 10mg

2022: 12 Feb 8.5, 25 Oct 4.5mg

2023: 16 Jan 3.6mg, 28 Sept 1.8mg

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 2/21/2022 at 7:08 PM, Faure said:

This sounds good, just checking you didn't go through the whole getting the average weight again? You only do that when you first start, now you always just reduce by 7% of the most recent dose.

 

It's understandable to feel worried about the drops; a lot is at stake. But you are going very cautiously which is the safest way to go-well done! I think the worry may decrease when you've done a few cycles and see you are ok.

 

Everyone gets different withdrawal effects. One of the most common for me is what I call "fleeting pains" in my legs mostly, occasionally elsewhere. They are much less frequent and less painful now I'm almost at half my starting dose. You will hopefully find things get easier for you too. Remember the slow and steady approaches minimises wd effects, doesn't eliminate them all together but keeps them bearable. If they start building up then is the time to hold till they resolve.

 

Another very common one for me is time taken to fall asleep. By weeks 3 & 4 of 2.5% drops a week it takes over an hour to fall asleep, so I'm grateful for the two week hold which is when sleep resolves for me, ready to start again!

 

How is your sleep?

 

Hi Faure

 

Sorry for the tardy reply! I've been sick with covid. My sleep is ok, I'm om 39mg now so it's still a high dose. 

 

I wanted to ask people something...I caught covid on Tuesday last week and my mood is appaling. I feel really low, I've hardly any energy and am really worried because I don't know if it's covid that is making me feel like this or the dosage drop...I'm really scared that I've to up my dose again? 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm very sorry to hear you are now dealing with COVID on top of withdrawal.  I know that must be very unpleasant.  I'm glad your sleep is OK.  I can't say for sure what is causing your mood to be appalling, but if I were to guess, I'd say probably a combination of the COVID and the dose drop.  You don't have to up your dose again, unless your symptoms become unbearable.  Please try not to worry about it, as this will tend to make the other symptoms worse, and cause a downward spiral.  Also the end of winter is a hard time for many of us, myself included, and this could have something to do with it.  If it were me, I would try to wait it out, and use non drug coping techniques for the low mood and low energy.  You may find that if you accept where you are right now, instead of worrying about it, that your energy and mood may improve.  Here is some information about acceptance: 

 

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-radical-acceptance-5120614

 

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 

Link to comment

Thank you so much for replying...it's a good reminder, I'll read all the material you've sent avidly. 

Mirtarzapine: 

2017 - 2018, 30mg 
2019 - 2021, 45mg 
11 December 2021: 41.25mg x 1 day, 45mg x 2 days (in alternate fashion) 

22 December 2021: 41.25 approx (still cutting pills manually), 8 January 2022: 42mg, 16 February 2022: 40mg, 18 February 2022: 39mg, 25 April 2022: 36mg, 9 August 2022: 35.5mg, 23 August 2022: 35mg, 08 Sept 2022: 34mg, (Brassmonkey method started on 8th Jan) 29 Jan 2023: 31.8mg, 11 April 30mg 

 

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