Moderator Emeritus JanCarol Posted December 3, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 3, 2014 Wow RU! I just read your whole thread. I'm too slow to keep current on these things, but I love to read people's stories. Yours is so different from mine, and yet, I understand what you must be going through. Congratulations on your micro tapers, it seems to be working well for you - it feels (from here) like you have some measure of control as to *when* things get weird at least! Enjoy training for that beautiful trip to tropical Maui! Just think of the green and the colors, the flowers and the birds you will see! When I was still in gray Indiana, I had a code word to remember the end of the tunnel, "Lorikeets" - I would just say "Lorikeets" and remember the sun and put my head down and work towards it, even when I thought I couldn't go on anymore! Lorikeets! Or whatever the local equivalent is in Maui! "Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again. My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices. A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia. CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013. Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine). Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 - Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years on Lithium). Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made. The tedious thread (my intro): JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium The happy thread (my success story): JanCarol - Undiagnosed Off all bipolar drugs My own blog: https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/ I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016! Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted December 15, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 15, 2014 Update.... I hit my goal of 12 mg of lexapro three days ago. It hasn't been without some discomfort, but I made it! With this last tiny drop I hit some insomnia & body aches. I'm glad I'm here. I'll hold now for at least a month. I only have 2 more mg and I will be down to my final goal of 10 mg. I still plan on taking 10 mg indefinitely. Once I hit 10 mg, I will only have the xanax to taper. I will taper that down to zero. I am down from 4 mg/day to 2.5 mg./ day. There is no reason for me to be on xanax. I am retired and have no anxiety and even if I did , I believe I could handle it. I shouldn't have been put on it anyway ..at least not form more than a very short time. It will be a bit over two years since I began this journey. It has taken that long to taper from 300 mg wellbutrin XL to 150 mg, from 20 mg Lexapro to 12 mg., and from 4 mg xanax to 2.5 mg. I am very, very happy with my progress. I have felt better and better with each drop in dosage. It feels very good to be so close to being done!. But I am not in a hurry. If it takes another year or two... so be it. I feel good! RU... signing off for a bit. Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
mattinsmom Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 I am so very proud of you! Just think, Hawaii is just around the corner. get out of snow country and start 2015 with glorious healing sunshine. Wishing you very happy holidays. Current: Lorazapam: 2mg: 4/9/15: 2mg - 1.5mg: already sick/nothing noticed. No changes in sleep noted after illness. Lamictal: 7/27/13 - 8/6/13: 400mg - 500mg(dr order) mouth sores, headache, cognitive/balance, heart palp...8/7/13 - 8/23/13: 500mg - 400mg; symptoms↓...10/10/13: 350mg; fever/flu-like <2-weeks...12/30/13: 325mg; fever/flu-like symptoms <1-week...2/10/17: 300mg; no significant changes noted. Discontinued: Omeprazole: 09/2103 40mg...5/1/14: 20mg... 8/21/14 = 0 Wellbutrin: 11/22/13: 300mg – 225mg...12/6/13 delayed reaction- mood swings, weight↓, heart palp/chest pain, alerting...12/14/13: 187mg; physical symptoms↓, neuro emotions ↑, weight stable...12/20/13: 225mg; physical symptoms return, emotions stable <1-week, weight↓...4/21/14: 187mg; weight↑...5/17/14 (neurologist ordered discontinue asap):168mg; headache, mood swings, ↑weight, sleep flux...5/24/14: 150mg; headache, mood swings, ↓cognitive/balance...6/2/14: 112mg; see above, weight stable, <3-weeks... 6/28/14: 100mg; moody...7/25/14: 87.5mg; family troubles... 8/4/14: 75mg; headaches; moody... 8/9/14: 50mg headaches... 8/12/14: 37.5mg; 8/17/14: 25mg...8/26/14 = 0 Hydroxyzine; 10mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. Mood changes/rage Buspirone: 7.5mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. No changes. Link to comment
tgirl Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 RU, That's awesome news! I hope you have a Merry Christmas! April 2014 remeron 45mg. June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!! Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0 Currently Remeron 7.5 Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems. August 2015 down to 0.1 mg Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted December 25, 2014 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 25, 2014 Thank you everyone and a Merry Christmas to all!! Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted January 24, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 24, 2015 I'm back from my trip to Maui!!! It was FANTASTIC!!! I'm tan!! So loaded with vitamin D! And the days are getting longer here in the northern latitudes and the chickadees are singing their spring song and the eagles are doing their spring pairing soaring and and and and!!!! AND I snuck in a larger cut in the lexapro that I've ever tried before. It's day FOUR and so far so good. Cross your fingers for me!!! I'm getting very close to my target 10 mg of lexapro!!!!! RU with a sunny disposition !!! Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted February 14, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 14, 2015 Well I'm very happy to report that the last cut was successful. I had next to no symptoms. I'm am confident that This next two tiny cuts will result in me reaching my goal of 10 mg of Lexapro down from 20 mg two years ago. I have felt more "alive" and with it each time I have dropped to the point that I am completely satisfied with remaining at 10 mg Lexapro indefinitely. After having read about how difficult it is to get to zero, and with the history that I have of recurring depression ( of which I a convinced is clinical. Been going on for 40 + years) I will stay with this "lower" dose. Now. The hard part. This spring after I am completely stable on 10 mg tablets again for awhile ( give me some flexibility here! This is HARD!!) I will attempt to decrease the xanax.... down to ZERO. I am at 2.5 mg ( .5 . five times per day) down from 4 mg. My next stop with the xanax is 1.25 mg. I will liquid taper down to that which SUCKS but it works. I'll stay at 1.25 ( see I can switch from liquid to tablets again then. >25 mg, five times a day) until I am ready to go to zero. THAT journey: 1.25 mg xanax to ZERO scares the crap out of me but I don't dwell on it ....... yet. Plenty of time for that. In the mean time YAYA!!!!!! Almost to my final goal with TWO of the three meds I'm on ( the other was wellbutrin...been there fir over a year...at 150 mg.....) RU Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Skyler Posted February 14, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 14, 2015 >Now. The hard part. This spring after I am completely stable on 10 mg tablets again for awhile ( give me some flexibility here! This is HARD!!) I will attempt to decrease the xanax.... down to ZERO. I am at 2.5 mg ( .5 . five times per day) down from 4 mg. My next stop with the xanax is 1.25 mg. I will liquid taper down to that which SUCKS but it works. I'll stay at 1.25 ( see I can switch from liquid to tablets again then. >25 mg, five times a day) until I am ready to go to zero. THAT journey: 1.25 mg xanax to ZERO scares the crap out of me but I don't dwell on it ....... yet. Plenty of time for that. In the mean time YAYA!!!!!! Almost to my final goal with TWO of the three meds I'm on ( the other was wellbutrin...been there fir over a year...at 150 mg.....) RU A hearty congratulations RU.. way to go! Given you continue doing the 'turtle', you should be okay to go all the way off Xanax. If I got there... you can too!! The dose I was on for Xanax, kind of sort of the same as per the Ashton 'equivalency' standards'.. was the same as yours. It is possible. You have done yourself proud! PS.. if you can think of how we might do a 'testimonial' thread for folks who have been helped by evening out doses, let me know. There are so many who really don't understand the importance of taking even doses several times a day. There are numerous accounts, but they tend to be at the top of folks threads because it's the first step in their journey, and so get lost in the narrative. But it's key to being able to successfully getting off benzos, as you well know. Maybe something in the benzo thread, or a thread in recovery success stories. As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule. Requip - 3/16 ZERO Total time on 25 years. Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10) Total time on 25 years. Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section. "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted February 14, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 14, 2015 Hello RU, soooo very happy to hear of your progress! I can't help thinking Maui and all that sun helped;) I totally understand the thrill of going back to "solids". In one year I came from 2 mg of Xanax to 1.12 mg and there was one point when I could do 5 times 0.25. Skyler, it so good to hear your reassurance that we can get to zero! I agree that we could share our experience with 5 times a day dosing...Ever since I started it I've been going only down. Now I'm doing very tiny cuts more often and I don't feel them so that's what I'd recommend.I even figured out the maths;) Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted February 14, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 14, 2015 PS.. if you can think of how we might do a 'testimonial' thread for folks who have been helped by evening out doses, let me know. There are so many who really don't understand the importance of taking even doses several times a day. There are numerous accounts, but they tend to be at the top of folks threads because it's the first step in their journey, and so get lost in the narrative. But it's key to being able to successfully getting off benzos, as you well know. Maybe something in the benzo thread, or a thread in recovery success stories. Thanks Skyler. It is good to know that you can relate to my story and especially that you yourself have been successful at tapering off. AND I think a testimonial of sorts for the Benzo thread is a great idea. Let's think on it. Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted February 14, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 14, 2015 Hello RU, soooo very happy to hear of your progress! I can't help thinking Maui and all that sun helped;) I totally understand the thrill of going back to "solids". In one year I came from 2 mg of Xanax to 1.12 mg and there was one point when I could do 5 times 0.25. Skyler, it so good to hear your reassurance that we can get to zero! I agree that we could share our experience with 5 times a day dosing...Ever since I started it I've been going only down. Now I'm doing very tiny cuts more often and I don't feel them so that's what I'd recommend.I even figured out the maths;) Maui helped tremendously. I have NO DOUBT about that. I was headed to a dark place before I flew out... to the point that I really didn't even want to go...would have been happier stuck in the house. NOT a good sign. I may not do Maui again because of the cost ( unless our kid still lives there!!! ) but I WILL always do a yearly sun trip. In the long run, the cost of meds., psychologist bills, not to mention the cost to my personhood is will balance out. I'll just have to make it work. Plain and simple. My significant other is on board with this ( He kind of likes that happy me, not the "me oh my" b**** me) and that helps. RU Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted February 19, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 19, 2015 Hi. Lest anyone think this journey becomes perfect and easy...and are disheartened because perfect and easy doesn't ever seem to happen to YOU, listen up. Yesterday sucked. Slammed, bammed, down, tired, exhausted, lethargic, sleepy, achy, crabby, lazy, feel like a piece of crap ( because this is supposed to become perfect and easy).... flashbacks to the beginning of the journey and what it felt like.... UCK! I gave in & allowed it to happen. Guess what? TODAY IS BETTER!!!! Soldier on fellow warriors...... RU Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
moodyblues78 Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 hi RU Glad to see you back here and with good news I feel like going to Maui too. 08 Cipralex 10mg for about 6 months. 11-12 Cipralex 20mg. Unsuccesful WD. 12-13 Zoloft 100mg with Diazepam 10-20mg as needed for anxiety.Fall 13 Tapering Zoloft 100->50->25->12,5->0 in 2,5 months and CT Diazepam. 12/24/13 RI Zoloft 12,5mg. 1/21/14 11mg 3/18/14 9,9mg 2/18/14 8mg 4/22/14 7,6mg 5/5/14 7,2mg 5/12/14 -> cutting 0,5mg per week, holding when necessary. 8/18/14 -> cutting 0,25mg per week holding when necessary. 10/20/2014 -> cutting 0,1mg per week, holding when necessary.12/28/2014 Jump! Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 23, 2015 Administrator Share Posted February 23, 2015 Yay, RU! Can you believe it, you've come so far from when you first joined. 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
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted April 11, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 11, 2015 Thanks Alto!! Yeah... I've come a long way!! I'm just stopping by to update... I've made my second goal & have tapered from 20 mg down to 10 mg Lexapro. But that's not why I'm posting. I've also gradually moved my doing of the Lexapro from right away in the morning to just before bed. It has made a noticeable difference in how drowsy I feel during the day. Whereas while dosing anytime before bed I would frequently nap during the day..I now do not feel nor need a daily nap. I DO, however , sleep a long night... sometimes up to 10 hours!! But I would rather have a full day of energetic feelings rather than never knowing when I would suddenly feel the urge to take a nap. I have changed nothing but the time of dosing the lex & so I'm pretty sure that for me, lexapro has been adding to my tiredness during the day. I have read that it can be stimulating... it isn't for me & I am glad that I tried to move the dose now that I've reached my final dose goal of 10 mg indefinitely , I will always take 10 mg / day & I will always take it before bed. Now. My final push to being as drug free as I'll ever be and that is to taper down from 2.5 mg xanax to ZERO.... I will begin that journey some time this summer. Onward ho..... Are you. Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Skyler Posted April 12, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 12, 2015 Excellent news RU. Glad to hear you are going to be coming down of the Xanax. That should help you feel better. As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule. Requip - 3/16 ZERO Total time on 25 years. Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10) Total time on 25 years. Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section. "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted April 12, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 12, 2015 Thanks for your comment Skyler. I'm dragging my feet on that one... as you know it's PITA mixing up those daily doses but knowing that you are off the benzos and know what you're talking about... it's just a little more kick in the arse to get 'er done. Did you find some ora plus? And how are you doing? Again... you've been with me from the beginning of this escapade and again I just want to thank you with all sincerity. Peace. RU Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
mattinsmom Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 I am so far behind on what is going on with you and so happy to hear that in spite of a wave you are generally feeling better and ready to make another cut. My thoughts and prayers are with you that this cut be a new experience of ease. Current: Lorazapam: 2mg: 4/9/15: 2mg - 1.5mg: already sick/nothing noticed. No changes in sleep noted after illness. Lamictal: 7/27/13 - 8/6/13: 400mg - 500mg(dr order) mouth sores, headache, cognitive/balance, heart palp...8/7/13 - 8/23/13: 500mg - 400mg; symptoms↓...10/10/13: 350mg; fever/flu-like <2-weeks...12/30/13: 325mg; fever/flu-like symptoms <1-week...2/10/17: 300mg; no significant changes noted. Discontinued: Omeprazole: 09/2103 40mg...5/1/14: 20mg... 8/21/14 = 0 Wellbutrin: 11/22/13: 300mg – 225mg...12/6/13 delayed reaction- mood swings, weight↓, heart palp/chest pain, alerting...12/14/13: 187mg; physical symptoms↓, neuro emotions ↑, weight stable...12/20/13: 225mg; physical symptoms return, emotions stable <1-week, weight↓...4/21/14: 187mg; weight↑...5/17/14 (neurologist ordered discontinue asap):168mg; headache, mood swings, ↑weight, sleep flux...5/24/14: 150mg; headache, mood swings, ↓cognitive/balance...6/2/14: 112mg; see above, weight stable, <3-weeks... 6/28/14: 100mg; moody...7/25/14: 87.5mg; family troubles... 8/4/14: 75mg; headaches; moody... 8/9/14: 50mg headaches... 8/12/14: 37.5mg; 8/17/14: 25mg...8/26/14 = 0 Hydroxyzine; 10mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. Mood changes/rage Buspirone: 7.5mg: 5/20/15 *prn 4/5 times then dc'd. No changes. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted April 27, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 27, 2015 Thank you Mattinsmom. I am doing so much better than when I first joined!!! A slight bump here regarding the lexapro goal reached and I'd like to share my experience in case others find it useful sometime in their own journey: I've been cutting the lexapro from 20 mg to 10 mg by dry cutting a 20 mg tablet and weighing it. I've been doing this well below the 10 % per month recommendation with intermittent holds as necessary. I reached the 10 mg range by dry cutting and weighing using a scale and so then ordered 10 mg tablets. I took my first one 5 days ago. Almost immediately I experienced a little insomnia... waking up in the middle of the night, but able to fall back asleep. I also have experienced crazy dreams. BOTH of these symptoms very characteristically exhibit themselves when I make a cut. I am 5 days out from switching to the 10 mg tablets. Initially it spooked me as I wasn't quite sure how I would up dose if the symptoms became more intense.... but they haven't so no worries. Oh. I also crashed yesterday and slept in the middle of the day... haven't had a lex crash in quite some time. The tablets are of the same chemical makeup... same manufacturer.. Moral of the story? 1) dry cutting isn't perfect.. 2) this business is unpredictable...get used to it. 3) Deal with it. RU..... we'll all get there.......sometimes with one step forward & two steps back but never give up. Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted May 7, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 7, 2015 It took two weeks , but I have stabilized with the 10 mg tablets! It wasn't bad... just some insomnia that manifested like this: I began to wake up at 3 am, then 4 am, then 5 am, then 6am. but I resisted getting up. I then managed to fall back asleep. All is well. Will begin the regalfrtizendumbledorfin&%## taper of the xanax to ZERO ( from my current 2.5 mg) sometime this summer. Onward... Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Skyler Posted May 8, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 8, 2015 Alright! Good to hear from you, thanks for checking in. Hope the Minnesota spring is as good as ours here in VT. Warm days after the very cold winter.. yes! As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule. Requip - 3/16 ZERO Total time on 25 years. Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10) Total time on 25 years. Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section. "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 4, 2015 Administrator Share Posted July 4, 2015 RU, what's new? 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
Moderator Emeritus areyouthere Posted August 29, 2015 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 29, 2015 Hey! I just saw your post Alto and was just now going to say a little about what's new! : I have noticed as of late that my memory is better. I have gotten sort of used to thinking of things I need to do, for example, while realizing that I would likely forget...and then subsequently WOULD forget! I just kind of got use to it. But recently I have been regaining the ability to remember to do something or that I wanted to do something etc. An example might be like//"Hmmm. I really should consider calling so and so, or hmmm. maybe for something fun I'll look up who's playing a concert in town, or, I really need to FINALLY make that doctor's appt... etc. And then I would just never remember to do those things frequently until days later and I would think to myself "Cripe.. you can't remember **** from shine ola".... Well I'm starting to remember **** from Shine ola and it's kind of NICE!!! I guess my recall is becoming sharper. Just a note. Is this normal and a part of healing? Thanks.... and I'll just enjoy it. It's so refreshing and reassuring. I hope it doesn't disappear again. Later!!! RU Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone 1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox. b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b] 2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax My mantra " go slow & with the flow " 3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day) 4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day. 10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro. 1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms. 1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted August 29, 2015 Administrator Share Posted August 29, 2015 Sure, it's normal. You're doing great! 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
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