Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

Elaine5: Introduction


Elaine5

Recommended Posts

  • Moderator Emeritus
31 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

it seems like everything I’ve done to “help” myself as ended up creating other problems

Can you expound on this?  What things that you've done to help yourself that created other problems? 

32 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

When would a critical period be for reinstating at 17/18be? like how many days out 

 

There is no hard and fast number of days, as we are all different and respond to the drugs in different ways.  It is best to reinstate within the first 4 weeks, but I've seen people be helped by reinstatements further out.  Here is our link about reinstatement: 

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

33 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

yes help measuring nonstandard dose would be great. Could try cutting 5 in 2 but pills are very tiny. 

1) You will probably be able to grind the pills into a powder, and then weigh the powder with a scale, but check the link below to be sure. 

 

Here is a list of drugs that should not be crushed:   https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/tablets-crushed-3563535/

 

Using a Scale to Weigh and Measure Doses

 

 

2) You may also be able to have a compounding pharmacy make this specific dose: 

 

Getting Custom Doses at Compounding Pharmacies

 

 

3) You may be able to make a liquid from your tablets.  This is helpful for especially small tablets and doses: 

 

How to Make a Liquid from Tablets or Capsules

 

I'll try and check with the other mods, to see if they know more about how to measure non standard doses of Belsomra.  

 

 

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

I mean I terms of this whole rigamarole. Tried to help my anxiety by going on medication, tried to help my relationship by going off it, try to help my libido by taking a supplement, tried to help the ensuing insomnia by taking more medication, tried to stop side effects by stopping the medication, tried to alleviate withdrawl by going back up in dose… etc. it’s been a wild goose chase and it has not worked. I guess more reason to just stay put and wait things out. 
 

will call a compounding pharmacy today. 
 

 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Administrator
4 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

I mean I terms of this whole rigamarole. Tried to help my anxiety by going on medication, tried to help my relationship by going off it, try to help my libido by taking a supplement, tried to help the ensuing insomnia by taking more medication, tried to stop side effects by stopping the medication, tried to alleviate withdrawl by going back up in dose… etc. it’s been a wild goose chase and it has not worked. I guess more reason to just stay put and wait things out. 
 

will call a compounding pharmacy today. 

 

High praise for this realization! Up to now, it appears you've been pursuing a drug solution for your drug-induced problems -- a drug mindset -- and I was just about to remind you that this is a site for going off drugs, not for adjusting a cocktail.

 

Your psychiatrist should be able to give you a prescription for compounded Belsomra.

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.

Link to comment

Yes, Alto. Sadly I did get caught in that mentality. Thank you for the reminder. 
 

A have a question regarding different doses of the same medication. I have been taking 3 of the 5mg pills for a dose of 15mg. However, due to the insane price of Belsomra, it makes much more sense to take the one 15mg dose. It’s made by the same company, Merck, with slight differences in additive ingredients I believe. Is this a no no? Will changing the pill itself but not the dose lead to system upset? 
 

i hadn’t thought of that until just now. 
 

additionally, if you could please indulge me as I am so desperate for support and reassurance right now, what I am experiencing in terms of my disabling and horrifying symptoms, can still get better in time on their own? 
 

thank you. 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Administrator

I thought you were going to look into a compounded liquid for tapering Belsomra?

 

You may wish to get 10mg tablets and add the rest of your daily dose in liquid form while you taper.

 

Unfortunately, if you want to taper slowly, you may have additional costs.

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.

Link to comment
  • Administrator

Since you're taking 5mg tablets, why don't you split one into quarters and taper by 1.25mg per step? Did you read https://walrus.com/questions/can-you-split-belsomra ?

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.

Link to comment

The pills do not split evenly and are quite fragile. I called a compounding pharmacy today and the pharmacist said he’s never done it with Belsomra before but he could do it. if supply the pills and he would make a liquid or new capsules. 
 

So wait, do I stay at 15 now or go back up to 17.5? 

 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment

12/27 

- took 15belsomra at 1:30am, feeling disconnected and worried 

- fall asleep wake up about half hour later in panic, pace around lightly 

- wake up in panic about every hour until 8am 

-8am take 20mg Propanolol, fall back asleep 

-10am wake up, panic, have to stand up 

-11am eat breakfast, sign in to therapy 

-2pm feel calmer, but disconnected. No panic but feel depersonalized and weird 

-4pm take 10mg propanolol shower and then panic increases 

- 6pm shopping, can barely walk have no energy, feel so disoconevted from everything and crappy

- 8pm feel a bit better, to for evening stroll 

-9pm have dinner, starting to feel nervous, definitely don’t feel good, feel loopy and derealized, light sensitive 

- 10pm trying to brace through anticipatory anxiety of bad evening, feel heart rate increase, tight chest, feel loopy 

-11pm feel good!!!! normal, in the moment, laugh and talk with friend 

-12:15am feel wave of panic run through me, then currents moving in legs, feel cold and scared, tingling in spine/back, lots of weird unsettling and distracting sensations 

-12:30am take 20mg Propanolol 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment

12/28

-12am feeling a current of panic running through me and discomfort physically in legs/back, like a tingling 

- 15mg Belsomra at 1:30am 

- 2:30am feel spasm in tongue, body electric currents, very uncomfortable, start feeling loopy effects of Belsomra (lots of visuals before falling asleep, out of it mentally, scared) 

- 4-7:30am sleep on and off

- 8am take 20mg Propanolol notice tongue spasms, not feeling good at all, electric current feeling very uncomfortable, scared, tight pit in stomach, left side of head feels hot and weird, neck feels cold 

 

I am upset because I think I feel worse now having cut to 15mg. I thought the issue was activation from Belsomra but it would appear now that’s not the case. Ive been getting panicky before taking the evening dose and even noticing more issues and discomfort with tongue spasms and more burning restlessness in body again that is near unbearable. I still feel depersonalized and not good.

 

ugh. This is such a mess. It’s been 6 nights of taking 15mg Belsomra instead of 20mg. The first night was iffy, but then I had some really good days I felt. Now I’m getting much less sleep too. Now it seems worse, but it’s all crap so idk what to do. 
 

i also spoke with someone yesterday with Akathisia for over a year and who had an episode as we were talking. It was very very bad. I feel very scared. 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
38 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

ugh. This is such a mess. It’s been 6 nights of taking 15mg Belsomra instead of 20mg. The first night was iffy, but then I had some really good days I felt. Now I’m getting much less sleep too. Now it seems worse, but it’s all crap so idk what to do.

If it were me, I would go to back to 17.5 mg of Belsomra, and do this promptly.  I would stay on this dose for a while, to allow your nervous system to stabilize to some degree.  

 

7 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

-8am take 20mg Propanolol, fall back asleep 

 

7 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

-12:30am take 20mg Propanolol 

 

38 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

- 8am take 20mg Propanolol

 

Why are you taking 20 mg propranolol?  According to your sig you are on 10 mg 3x daily.  But on 12/27, you took 50 mg propranolol.  

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 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

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

12/16 upped propanolol to 40mg a day 

12/21 upped Propanolol to 50mg a day to address Akathisia restlessness and alsonheart rate 

 

updated signature. Not enough lines to be 100% specific with dates. 
 

I feel really unwell all evening into today. 
 

How do I know that this is from too big a cut and not a wave- I can’t know going back to 17.5 will help. I don’t know if it’s better to feel the burning pain more that makes me panicked and immobilized but in the moment or the depersonalized disconnection that makes me have SI. 
 

the last three days I have been completely unable to focus on any tv show, movie, story, barely conversation. I have felt very unwell and either in pain or on edge or out of it. To 
 

i had days of feeling okay and even pretty good- I laughed, felt calm, even if partly in the day just a little while ago. I have faith I will have more of those soon. 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
21 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

How do I know that this is from too big a cut and not a wave- I can’t know going back to 17.5 will help.

Honestly, I don't know either.  There have been many drug changes in your recent past, and it may be from that, too.  You can try sticking with the 15 mg, and work on non drug coping techniques to deal with your symptoms, or try updosing to 17.5 mg.  The main thing is, to try to find some stability, and to not frequently change the doses of your drugs, which is likely to cause further destabilization.  Either go to 17.5 mg and stick with that for a while, or stay with 15.0 and stay on that a while.  Also, I wouldn't keep changing the dose of your propranolol.  Stay on your current doses of that, and be very regular with taking the same doses at the same times each day.  

 

The trap I see a lot of people getting into, is they are destabilized, and they try to use drugs to fix their symptoms, so they frequently go up and down on their dosages, or try new drugs, and usually they end up getting worse.  Please try to avoid that scenario.  Did you read the links I supplied about stability? If it were me, I would also hold steady on the propranolol dosing as well.  Your system really needs some stability right now.  

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

I’ve thought before that I had to do something because things couldn’t get worse. I’ve learned they absolutely can. Inaction is likely the best action here. 
 

I am hoping that I am young and healthy enough to pull through this. 
 

It is very possible that what I’m experiencing is a mix of protracted withdrawl, adverse reactions, and acute withdrawl. Which is why it’s so unbelievably brutal right now. 
 

I’ve made so many decisions out of desperation thinking that the current predicament is permanent. If I had just accepted discomfort earlier I would be in less discomfort now. So while it’s late, it’s not impossible to learn now. 
 

i will likely stick with the 15mg Belsomra. That’s my plan for tonight. This is because I cannot clearly pinpoint the direct cause of anything in this jamborta, and as it seems like every move I make to try and offset issues causes more issues, I might as well just knock it the hell off. 
 

i have a lot of burning/tingling/popping/toxic feeling in legs and back and in pit of my stomach. Idk if that is Akathisia or a different part of withdrawl or reaction. 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment

I’m freaking out thinking about how I used Xanax pretty consistently between 2021-Last June, usually .25 or .5 a few times a week and then stopped in June 2022 when I found out about pssd. 
 

i didn’t seem to experience any issues then. 
 

then the gelatin diet induced insomnia/twitching/anxiety in mid September and i used Xanax .5 at night for about 8 days, an Ativan, and then sort of lessened it each night, with one exception. However this time around the Xanax didn’t do much at all, only the Ativan did. 
 

Could I be having like severe benzo withdrawl from that? However, I felt good in between then and developing akathisa a month later. 
 

i guess it’s all these things combined. But that doesn’t mean I won’t recover. 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
15 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

It is very possible that what I’m experiencing is a mix of protracted withdrawl, adverse reactions, and acute withdrawl. Which is why it’s so unbelievably brutal right now. 

Yes, I would tend to agree.  

 

15 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

If I had just accepted discomfort earlier I would be in less discomfort now. So while it’s late, it’s not impossible to learn now. 

This is a very good insight.  I too had this insight during my tapering off Lexapro.  It's a good thing you are aware of this.  Have you checked out the non drug coping skills like I gave you on Tuesday?  I strongly suggest you use some of these techniques to help yourself.  They won't take the pain away, but they can really help.  One big one is acceptance, which means to stop trying to fight it and control it, which tends to make our suffering worse.  

 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pieces-mind/201207/radical-acceptance

 

Another one is to try to be less anxious and fearful of your symptoms and of withdrawal.  I know this is not easy, but being fearful of our WD creates adrenaline, and cortisol in our bodies, which will worsen symptoms.  Here are some ideas.  

 

video: Claire Weekes on Anxiety and Panic

 

Emotional Spirals

 

Acknowledge Accept Float

 

Music to Calm Anxiety

 

Breathing Technique for Anxiety

 

Anxiety Stuff - all kinds of stuff about anxiety attacks and things that help ...

 

 

15 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes) Female voice - getselfhelp.co.uk

 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes) Male voice - getselfhelp.co.uk

 

Meditation

 

9 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

’m freaking out thinking about how I used Xanax pretty consistently between 2021-Last June, usually .25 or .5 a few times a week and then stopped in June 2022

I doubt that you would have severe benzodiazepine WD if you only used it a few times a week.  Years ago, I used Xanax 3 times a week. and just quit, and had no major ill effects from it.  I really believe your issues are from all of the various psych drugs you have started and stopped, and all the dose changes over the past months.  

 

And yes, you will recover from this, as long as you take good care of yourself, and go by the principles outlined in the links on stability.  

 

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

Hi, Elaine,

 

In your post above where you tagged me, what you describe sounds like a type of derealization or anhedonia.  I had both.  They were both pretty scary at first, but not like akathisia — no terror.  You will get used to the derealization or anhedonia.  I don’t mean to sound cold.  Aka is something that I could not get used to — ever.  Although I hated anhedonia, of course, I came to see it as harmless and a relief from intense negative feelings.  Derealization is pretty frightening at first, also, but it’s also harmless unless, of course, you tell a doctor or health care professional about it.  Never do that.  In the U.S., and many other countries, it is not safe to tell medical people about symptoms like that because they may diagnose you with something that could help them force you to take anti-psychotics.  It’s just a weird, fleeting symptom of withdrawal, and eventually, you won’t have it again.

 

I hope you doing ok today, Rosetta

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

Link to comment

Thanks you @Rosetta ❤️ 
 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment

Stability. Thank you a lot Getofflex. I appreciate your time, care, insight, and thoroughness. I am trying to show thanks by also adding some well meaning moral support to others’ threads in terms of encouragement and understanding. I am going to save those to read when I’m feeling really badly so I have something to distract. I have read through them before I believe. 
 

General notes: I really can’t tell I’m doing better or worse after the cut in Belsomra. 
 

today I felt well enough to go for a walk around the neighborhood. The sun felt pleasant. The air was healing. I had a juicy orange and felt…. Content. Strong. Hopeful. 
Then I saw my reflection in a car window and yikes! That’s okay. I am a strong and patient person for enduring this, I don’t also  have to look hot right now. Over the course of the day I had moments where I felt barely any symptoms. For most parts of the day, I felt a sort of slight burning in the background, or an uneasiness in the background. For a few parts of the day, I felt pain and restless and scared. Please note for notes when I say I feel okayish, I mean that things are tolerable, not that I’m really functioning or able, but I’m not in any feeling of danger or pain or grief and I’m sort of content. Otherwise I list symptoms or else clarify that I do in fact feel kind of good or almost normal. That’s been rare since coming off Buspar last month after developing akithisia episodes. 
 

Specific notes: 

 

12/28 continued 

-12am feeling a current of panic running through me and discomfort physically in legs/back, like a tingling 

- 1:30AM 15mg Belsomra

- 2:30am feel spasm in tongue, body electric currents, very uncomfortable, start feeling loopy effects of Belsomra (lots of visuals before falling asleep, out of it mentally, scared) 

- 4-7:30am sleep on and off

- 8am take 20mg Propanolol notice tongue spasms, not feeling good at all, electric current feeling very uncomfortable, scared, tight pit in stomach, left side of head feels hot and weird, neck feels cold. Agitated and short tempered. 

- 11am symptoms lessen somewhat, don’t feel burning intensity

- 3:30pm take 10mg Propanolol, therapy appt., start to feel symptoms lift more, feel okayish 

- 6:30pm start to feel weird, burning, anxiety, but doesn’t last too long

-7pm to 12am feel relatively comfortable 

 

12/29 

-12 am take 20mg propanolol, watch tv, almost doze off 

-1am take 15mg Belsomra 

-1:30 fall asleep and wake up immediately in panic 

- 4am wake up and think I’m having allergic reaction, throat feels tight and itchy, calm down soon after- no burning 

- 5am sleep 

-8am wake up take 20mg propanol sleep to 10am 

-11am lots of burning discomfort over back, legs, tingling, log into in to meeting eat breakfast 

- 12pm burning subsides, I feel okayish, laugh/joke around a bit

-2pm feel very sleep all of a sudden, burst of tongue spasms, wave of emotion that all pass quickly 

- 3pm go for a walk outside, feels nice 

- 4:30pm take 10mg Propanolol feel okayish 

- 6:30pm start to feel anxious, some burning l. Eat salmon dinner. 

-7:30pm feel burning, anxious, restless in body, head., just really uncomfortable and scared, but not really freaking out- sitting on couch with family internally feeling really uncomfortable sensations that are scaring me a bit. Able to sit still though and brace through it. Not outwardly having a problem. But not relaxed. 
-8:30pm feel a bit better, almost okay no sensations 

-10pm go for drive with family, fluctuating between feeling okay and feeling uneasy, feeling flat and disconnected no sensations 

- 11pm watching tv with family, feel the tingling in back and legs and head feels tingly as well. Burning sensation in back and forehead now, no terror or panic, just uncomfortable and blah feeling emotionally 

-12am take 20mg propanol, sensations continue and it’s irritating/distracting me. Feeling disconnected and anhedonic. Headache, tired. 
 

Is there anything or in notes from 12/28 that would seriously demand uprising to 17.5? I felt a bit better today and I’d say I didn’t seem to have any explicit or overwhelming akthisia episode aside from waking up with the burning pain and it lingering for a while and closing the day with burning. I haven’t felt outright GOOD since 12/25, which was a few days after dropping to 15mg Belsomra. Before the drop, I had some good days and usually felt great even by evening. I haven’t felt that again since 12/25. My reason for dropping Belsomra was because I usually felt a lot better right before it was time to take it again. Now that it’s been lowered, I haven’t had those windows, which surprised me. I would often feel like normal before sleep but that hasn’t really happened lately. 
 

i would updose to 17.5 except that if my system is so unstable now, I wouldn’t want to make another change AND THEN possibly if that makes me feel worse being tempted to LOWER dose again. I’m in a bad spot now and I don’t want to make it worse. I am trying to use my logic through this discomfort and be reasonable. It’s hard to make decisions about your own well being while you’re on fire and in pain. It’s like performing surgery on yourself- very scary stuff! 
 

Thanks so much for your help. I know it seems like I made a lot of stupid decisions with meds, but believe me, based on what else was offered and almost being hospitalized because my doctor thought I was bipolar, I’m at least proud of myself for avoiding that. I want to shift the narrative of “I’m so stupid and screwed” to “I have control over these decisions even if I don’t have control over the sensations.” Instead of “I’m doomed to feel miserable and everything I do is wrong” it’s “I am happy I avoided worse scenarios and I am doing my best with what I can.” Everyday in every way I am getting better and better. My grandma told herself that while battling cancer. Im telling myself that now. 
 

something I haven’t experienced gratefully in a while is the complete mental block/dissociation in which I feel so dysphoric that I start questioning if I have control over myself and having bad intrusive thoughts vis a vis OCD about what if I go crazy. That was the scariest part of this “akithisia” experience  so far. Idk if that’s better because of stopping Buspar, lowering Belsomra, or I just got used to it somewhat? 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
8 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

today I felt well enough to go for a walk around the neighborhood. The sun felt pleasant. The air was healing. I had a juicy orange and felt…. Content. Strong. Hopeful. 
Then I saw my reflection in a car window and yikes! That’s okay. I am a strong and patient person for enduring this, I don’t also  have to look hot right now. Over the course of the day I had moments where I felt barely any symptoms. For most parts of the day, I felt a sort of slight burning in the background, or an uneasiness in the background. For a few parts of the day, I felt pain and restless and scared. Please note for notes when I say I feel okayish, I mean that things are tolerable, not that I’m really functioning or able, but I’m not in any feeling of danger or pain or grief and I’m sort of content. Otherwise I list symptoms or else clarify that I do in fact feel kind of good or almost normal. That’s been rare since coming off Buspar last month after developing akithisia episodes. 

This all sounds very good!  I'm hearing a lot of strength, courage, and acceptance.  Outdoor walks are very healing and therapeutic, both physically and emotionally/spiritually.  I''m in a wave myself today, because of a strong storm that came through here last night, so I'm not up to reading the notes, but I trust that you are hanging in there.  Here is something to read that is very helpful and reassuring for when you feel desperate or terrified.  

 

Steps for Managing WD Symptoms

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

12/30 Notes 

no burning sensations today to note, felt disconnected yet calm for most of day with some deep seated internal restlessness that turned into a truly enjoyable, great evening of almost normal!!!! 

 

-11:30am take 20mg Propanolol. Feeling some tingling, twitching, tremoring slightly in legs. 
- 1am take 15 mg Belsomra doze off 

- 2am wake up in panic, feel staticky in brain. Calm myself down. Continue to feel uncomfortable and scared. Sleep 
- 3am wake up, feel throat is itchy/dry/allergic reaction? Panicky. Sleep. 
-8:30am wake take 20mg propanolol. Feel normal upon waking up, then static in brain kicks in. Sleep 

- 12:30pm in and out of sleep, wake up and notice tremor feeling in legs and hands. wake up eat breakfast. Head feels like tea pot before steam lets out. Pressure, sensitive to sound, tinnitus, ear pressure. Muscle tension in head? Nerves? 
- 1pm some kind of unnatural anxiety low level in background. Like something is just not right, uneasy. 
- 2pm fluctuate between feeling nondescript anxiety and dissociated depersonalized disconnection/behind glass feeling, sometimes both through the day 

-4pm go for a nice walk, laugh, feel good! 
-4:30 take 10mg propanolol 

-6pm feel disconnected and depersonalized. Feel “drugged” feeling which is very calm but also like I’m fighting it and want to be present. 
-7pm feel some good energy, restless but in a good way? Shower. notice my teeth are chattering after, from slight movement of lower jaw? Also notice twitching in genitals? Wave of emotion passes through me (I’ve noticed this thing happen now with tongue/mouth spasms and simultaneous considerable increase in libido… weird). 
-7:30pm reading something upsetting (horror stories) and notice I’m kind of rocking back and forth 
-8pm dinner, feel good, interacting and sitting down comfortably 

-10pm go for drive with friend, feel GREAT, listen to Janis Joplin and enjoy the music, feel it, am moved by it, take a moment to literally say “I feel so alive and present in this moment” 

- 11pm continue to feel good!!! 
-12:30am take 20mg Propanolol and soon notice some twitching and tension/tightness in my head that is distracting, but not terrible. Watch tv, sort of into it! Feel mostly in the moment. 
-1am take 15mg Belsomra…. Developed a real fear of taking this one. 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
On 12/29/2022 at 11:17 PM, ElaineBenes5 said:

Is there anything or in notes from 12/28 that would seriously demand uprising to 17.5?

If it were me, I would not updose to 17.5 mg.  From what you say above, it sounds as if your symptoms were tolerable.  I would continue to stick with the 15 mg for a while, before doing a 10% reduction of it.  I think considering all the drug trials and changes you've done, you are doing well.  Hang in there, this too shall pass.  

 

On 12/29/2022 at 11:17 PM, ElaineBenes5 said:

Thanks so much for your help. I know it seems like I made a lot of stupid decisions with meds, but believe me, based on what else was offered and almost being hospitalized because my doctor thought I was bipolar, I’m at least proud of myself for avoiding that. I want to shift the narrative of “I’m so stupid and screwed” to “I have control over these decisions even if I don’t have control over the sensations.” Instead of “I’m doomed to feel miserable and everything I do is wrong” it’s “I am happy I avoided worse scenarios and I am doing my best with what I can.” Everyday in every way I am getting better and better. My grandma told herself that while battling cancer. Im telling myself that now. 

I think this is really good, what you are doing with your thought processes.  You do have control over the decisions you make.  I believe you are doing the best you can with what you have right now, which is all any of us can do.  Try reading this.  

 

Shame, Guilt, Regret, and Self Criticism

 

You will make it through this, and come out on the other side!  You are doing much better than you were several months ago.  

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
  • Administrator

It appears to me that you are having an adverse reaction to both too much propranolol and too much Belsomra. I agree with @getofflex, I would not updose. 

 

You might consider tapering off Belsomra more gradually and learning how to cope with the adverse effects, including withdrawal symptoms, you're getting from the drugs you're taking. We cannot make this easier for you.

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.

Link to comment

Thanks for pointing that out. Im certainly not going to do anything about either one until time passes and I feel more stable. 
 

I think hearing that you may be having an adverse reaction to something might make people inclined to instinctively want to drop it more quickly, so thanks for including the reminder about “gradually.” 
 

I’ve been taking paper notes and logging symptoms which I will continue to do on my own for now. 
 

I believe my system could be unstable and reacting weirdly to things, so slow and steady wins the race. 
 

Getofflex thank you for the encouragement, I know this site is about tapering, so thanks for your kind support and thorough analysis- it really has helped. 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Elaine I'm glad I could be of help to you.  I urge you to please continue to work on non drug coping techniques for dealing with your symptoms.  You can do a search on this site, and find topics related to whatever symptoms you need help with.  

 

How to Do a Site Search on SA

 

Also, 

 

Important Topics About Symptoms Including Sleep Problems

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 

Link to comment

You are welcome.  Good luck, and Happy New Year!

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

Link to comment

A week of more mild symptoms. Praying this continues. 
 

Set to return to work the end of January. On one hand not sure if the stress would be destructive or if the joy I derive from my job would be healing (teaching). 
 

I am feeling easily activated/agitated the last few days (downgraded from the pain, terror, loss of humanity I experienced before), and am reminded that this current feeling is how I felt whilst on Wellbutrin. Albeit, without the euphoria and libido boost of Wellbutrin of course. Now, it is just an irritating inner nagging that is slightly distracting; it’s a feeling which is familiar and annoying, but very much within the range of human feelings/experiences. While on Wellbutrin I described it as feeling “hopped up.” 
 

I am having difficulty not being swept up in trauma from what I just endured and trying to remain positive and thankful healing continues. Experiencing waves of resentment towards family for belittling this. No matter, I can’t dissect that now it is too taxing. I must continue to ignore as much as that bothers me; I cannot get into it now because I need all energy for healing/ 
 

 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
51 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

A week of more mild symptoms. Praying this continues. 

Fantastic!  I'm very happy for you.  

 

52 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

I am feeling easily activated/agitated the last few days (downgraded from the pain, terror, loss of humanity I experienced before)

This sounds like a major improvement.  You are on the right track!  I too am still easily activated, even 6 months after stopping my Lexapro after a very slow taper in 2020 through 2022.  

 

53 minutes ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

Experiencing waves of resentment towards family for belittling this. No matter,

Yep, been there, done that.  People who haven't gone through this just don't get it.  It's frustrating when people minimize our suffering, and don't offer support.  I see you've already found the thread about helping family understand.  Everyone here gets it for sure. 

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

I had been feeling, actually, great lately- almost two weeks of feeling better, even happier and more excited about life.
 

Yesterday, my family was very stressful- insulting, yelling, and it seems like when this happens I get so upset and activated that I am unable to calm down and it spirals. 
 

i didn’t sleep last night and am feeling very dissociated, scared, angry, agitated today. 
 

i am reminding myself that I am healing and this feeling won’t last forever. I felt truly happy to be alive and good this last week and a half- I forgot what this other feeling was even like! Surely that is hopeful and positive, even if today I am experiencing otherwise. 
 

 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
23 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

Yesterday, my family was very stressful- insulting, yelling, and it seems like when this happens I get so upset and activated that I am unable to calm down and it spirals. 
 

i didn’t sleep last night and am feeling very dissociated, scared, angry, agitated today. 

I have had very similar reactions in WD to toxic family and church situations like that.  I've had to set some strong boundaries to limit my exposure to stuff like this.  Just something to consider.  I'm happy that you've been feeling better the past 2 weeks.  It shows that you are stabilizing nicely.  

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, I am hopeful for brighter days. 
 

The last two days/nights were less good, but tolerable. 
 

In terms of a plan here, I am currently on 15mg Belsomra and still would like to decrease this dose safely. 
 

After the last drop and considering the many changes made recently, what timeframe for another drop would be safe and reasonable? 
 

I guess another upset two days ago was I took my morning dose of Propanolol 2.5 hours late as I slept through my alarm. Otherwise, I have been perfectly timed. In this regard, I am currently taking Belsomra at 1am. It’s too late if I plan on returning to work in a few weeks- how do people safely move their dosing time- up by 10minutes? I take 20mg Propanolol around 12am and then Belsomra at 1. Ideally I’d be taking both before midnight. 
 

geez, it’s really not going to be good for me to balance going back to work. My family however would create such strife for me if I do not that the feelings of worthlessness and hatred from them would be more stressful than going back. And thinking of both of these stressors is really shutting me down. 
 

but anyway, help re: timeframe for next drop in Belsomra and also moving the time up would be appreciated. Thanks. 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
22 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

In terms of a plan here, I am currently on 15mg Belsomra and still would like to decrease this dose safely. 
 

That's good.  Our general guideline to to reduce by 10% of the current dose, so that they reduction becomes smaller and smaller, every 4 to 6 weeks.  However, you want to wait until you are pretty stable before you start reducing your dose again.  Back in October and November, you made many, many changes to your psych drugs and doses.  Therefore, I would suggest that you be extra patient and wait another few months before you start changing your drugs by tapering again.  You don't want to throw your nervous system into a major tailspin.  Here is our link about what we mean by stability: 

 

Stability

 

22 hours ago, ElaineBenes5 said:

I am currently taking Belsomra at 1am. It’s too late if I plan on returning to work in a few weeks- how do people safely move their dosing time- up by 10minutes?

 

You can shift your drug dose by 1 hour each 24 hour period.  So, you could take it at midnight. tonight, then 11 PM tomorrow night, etc.  

 

 

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

Yes, definitely don’t want destabilize anything as Im just starting to stabilize now. 
 

After those 12 glorious days of feeling GOOD, I had a few days of feeling agitated, and now totally zonked out lately. 
 

No longer feeling terror or panic, no burning, no restlessness, in fact the opposite. I feel tired, slow, like still asleep most of the day, disconnected and depersonalized. 

 

Im not sure if it’s a wave, or if the earlier adverse reaction/upset has settled down and now I’m feeling the effects of Belsomra as a really unpleasant hangover. It feels like I’m drunk but in the least fun way possible. 
 

The other day I woke up at 8am to take my morning meds, or at least I must have, because hours later I wake up again and see the pill bottle opened with a glass of water. I have no recollection of having taken it. I’m sleeping in later and even took a nap the other day which hasn’t happened in ages. Belsomra seems to kick in around 4am and then last throughout the whole next day. It makes driving not feasible and I feel really zonked out and crappy- depressed for lack of a better word, as in my system is slowed down depression, not emotionally depressed, although I think this adds to the anhedonia/flat feeling. 
 

Question- is it an odd thing to ask a compounding pharmacy for a unique smaller dose? The three that I called acted though it was outlandish and tedious for them to do. I thought that’s what compounding pharmacies did? So I would want to line one up for dropping from 15mg to 13.5. The doctor would need to call this prescription in to the compounding pharmacy? I am sorry to ask that here, it’s just when I spoke to the pharmacists they were not helpful and actually told me “just cut the pill on your own if you want.” 
 

 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment

 


Saving these here for later. 

Aug 2020 - Feb 2022 on and off Lexapro 5 and 10mg,  Rapid taper

Nov 2021 - May 2022 on off Wellbutrin 100mg, 150mg, 75mg CT clindamycin cycle and also Plan B bc 1x 

Fall 2020- June 2022 - Xanax .5 PRN usually 4x a week, CT 

June 2022 - Z pack, Buspar 7.5 3 days

September 20-24th - low tryptophan diet and 20-30g beef gelatin powder

Oct 3- 16 - Xanax .5 for sleep each pm, 1 mg Ativan in ER, .25 Xanax —> .125–>0 

Oct 14-17Trazadone 50/75, Lunesta 3mg 

Oct 24-  start Belsomra, 4 days to20mg 

Nov 3-5 10mg Belsomra and 300mg Gabapentin 

Oct 13-Dec 1 Buspar 7.5 2x/day rapid taper over 2 weeks due to ADR 

Recent: Belsomra 20mg since 10/23/2022 to 15mg mid December for 2 nights —> 20mg —> 15 mg since 12/22/2022 —>14 mg compounded 02/11/2023 —> 15 mg 2/13 —> 10mg 2/22 —> 5mg 3/1 —> 0mg 3/8/2023 

Current:  Propanolol 20mg AM, 10mg 4pm, 20mg PM since 11/30/2022

Link to comment

I think it is huge there is no terror and restlessness. I am still struggling with the later, the former is much subsided. It could still be a wave, symptoms can infamously morph and change over time. Still, I think it is undeniably progress.

 

I would give a literal arm for my restlessness to go, it is going, yes, but very slowly.

As for the pharmacists, that is a run of the mill reaction, to be expected. You either get the doctor to describe it or have to do the liquid yourself, it is what I do!

 

Prayers, It is so uplifting the restlessness is finally behind you!

 

December 2021 - Metoclopramide started. Akathisia symptoms start; Metoclopramide gets changed to PRN.

March 2022 - Akathisia diagnosed; Metoclopramide stopped; Propranolol 10mg x twice a day. Biperiden PRN (0.5mg to 1mg).

April 2022 - Tandospirone 30mg (10mg 3x day), Quetiapine 25mg (only taken once, immediate adr). Mirtazapine 7.5mg. . Discontinued Propranolol.

May 2022 - Mirtazapine upped to 15mg. Tandospirone cut to 2x 10mg. Low dose Depakote for the month; 100 to 200 to 100 to 0. Mirtazapine cut back to 11.75mg (3/4 of a 15mg pill).
June 2022 - Mirtazapine updose to 15mg. Tandospirone, Biperiden discontinued. Klonopin started PRN (0.5mg). 
September 2022 - Akathisia slowly starts improving, WD/ADR normal sets in in mid September. Hold for 4 months.
March 2023 - Off mirtazapine; no Klonopin for 5 months either! Started quercetin (250mg x 2) to soften the histamine rebound.

May 2023 - Stopped quercetin and changed from magnesium carbonate to oxide - reacted badly. Reverted back to carbonate. 
June 2023 - Added fish oil.
Current regimen: CALM Magnesium (Carbonate into Citrate) 175mg x2; Vitamin E 268mg x2; Fish oil (100mg Omega3; EPA 30mg; DHA 37mg)x2
Intro thread: 
https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/27095-portuguesesea-metoclopramide-akathisia-and-mirtazapine/

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
On 1/15/2023 at 7:01 PM, ElaineBenes5 said:

Question- is it an odd thing to ask a compounding pharmacy for a unique smaller dose? The three that I called acted though it was outlandish and tedious for them to do. I thought that’s what compounding pharmacies did? So I would want to line one up for dropping from 15mg to 13.5. The doctor would need to call this prescription in to the compounding pharmacy? I am sorry to ask that here, it’s just when I spoke to the pharmacists they were not helpful and actually told me “just cut the pill on your own if you want.”

Absolutely not odd for them to make a unique dose.  You had every right to ask them to do that.  Unfortunately, pharmacists are very stressed and overworked.  My husband is a retired pharmacist, and that was the case with him, and every other pharmacist friend of his.  So, they were probably saying this because they were overwhelmed.  Go ahead and have one of the pharmacists do this anyway.  Yes, the doc would call in the script to the compounding pharmacy.  

 

It sounds like overall, you are improving quite a lot, in spite of your current symptoms.  I think it will help when you move your Belsomra dose back earlier in the evening.  

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

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy