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Duloxitine or Trazadone, which to taper first?


Jilla

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Hi there! I have been healing from a CT withdrawal from Paxil (13 years on it) since last March. It has not been an easy ride to say the least. I was put on 50 mg of Trazadone for sleep and 60 mg of Duloxitine at the hospital, they were treating my symptoms as a relapse, which I now know it was not a relapse at all, but rather PAWs. When I feel strong enough, I want to start tapering off these other meds. I was wondering which you all would suggest I go for first….the Traz or the Duloxitine? Anxious to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

Paxil 2008 20mg 2016 40mg feb 21 2022  20mg, feb 28 0mg April 23 20mg April 24 40mg April 26 20mg April 27 10mg April 28 0mg May 7 10mg May 17 0mg

Duloxitine Feb. 21, ‘22-30mg feb 28 60mg March 14 0mg April 21. 30mg April 26 60mg April 28 30mg am/60mg pm May 7 60mg am currently still on

Lexapro 2022 April 14 5 mg April 18 10m

April 21 0mg

Trazodone April 24 50mg 

Currently on 60mg dulox and 50mg Trazadone 

taking hydroxyzine and xanax as needed

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Welcome to SA, Jilla.  Thanks for completing your signature.

 

Good question about which to taper first.  Generally we recommend tapering the more activating drug first and leaving the more sedating drug in place to aid sleep.

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first

 

With Duloxetine and Trazodone, the question is bit nuanced.  Trazodone is more sedating than Duloxetine (though Duloxetine is known to be the least activating of the SNRI's) but as you'll see from the link below Trazodone is a particularly nasty drug.  After reading the links, you'd need to weigh a couple of factors to help you make your decision:

1. How does each affect you?  Side effects?

2.Sleep benefits of Trazodone vs. the negatives of the drug as described in the link


Tips for tapering off duloxetine (Cymbalta)

 

Tips for tapering off trazodone (Desyrel)

 

We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every 4 weeks.  

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The links above tell you how to get the nonstandard doses needed for a 10% taper.

 

It's good you plan to get off one of the drugs as there's a major drug interaction between the two:

Using traZODone together with DULoxetine can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called serotonin syndrome,

 

Doctors misdiagnosing withdrawal as relapse is all too common.  Here's some information on the withdrawal you've been experiencing.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium (glycinate is a good form) and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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Thanks for this info Gridley. I have been leaning towards the Trazadone taper first👍

Paxil 2008 20mg 2016 40mg feb 21 2022  20mg, feb 28 0mg April 23 20mg April 24 40mg April 26 20mg April 27 10mg April 28 0mg May 7 10mg May 17 0mg

Duloxitine Feb. 21, ‘22-30mg feb 28 60mg March 14 0mg April 21. 30mg April 26 60mg April 28 30mg am/60mg pm May 7 60mg am currently still on

Lexapro 2022 April 14 5 mg April 18 10m

April 21 0mg

Trazodone April 24 50mg 

Currently on 60mg dulox and 50mg Trazadone 

taking hydroxyzine and xanax as needed

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