Taper Slowly

[palm]

Hi,

I wanted to share my experience as to why it is so important to taper slowly.

Currently, I am tapering Remeron. I had been eyeballing the cuts which will change once I receive my digital scale.

On Friday, I made what seemed like a small cut after 4 weeks. I felt pretty good and thought I was ready for another one.

WRONG! I felt so bad yesterday that I went back up on the dose I was on before Friday and will not make another cut until I receive my digital scale and can tell exactly how much I am cutting.

You might get away with tapering some drugs fast like I did with Wellbutrin XL and Adderall. But drugs like Paxil and Remeron are the big leagues and will hit you with "chin music" if you try to taper fast. If you want to be successful tapering, do not subvert the process. You can't win.

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I am preaching. But this experience really shook me up and I don't want anyone to suffer needlessly.

In spite of not getting enough sleep, I can tell I am back to being myself.

Palm

[paxilgirl]

Palm, are you using a pill cutter?

Once you get your digital scale, sometimes using a nail file can be helpful with the most minute cuts in dosage...I never used it and like you eyeballed my cuts and it was a pain-but then I never knew about using a nail file....I never owned a digital scale either, so who knows if I was putting my body into shock with inaccurate measurements.

I can totally relate to the "chin music" when I was weaning!

Hang in Palm and you were right to up your dosage and stabilize...

[palm]

Originally Posted by paxilgirl

Palm, are you using a pill cutter?

Once you get your digital scale, sometimes using a nail file can be helpful with the most minute cuts in dosage...I never used it and like you eyeballed my cuts and it was a pain-but then I never knew about using a nail file....I never owned a digital scale either, so who knows if I was putting my body into shock with inaccurate measurements.

I can totally relate to the "chin music" when I was weaning!

Hang in Palm and you were right to up your dosage and stabilize...

Hi paixl girl,

I found using a pill cutter to make even cuts was impossible. So I have been using a nail scissors to clip along the numbers which at least give me some idea of where I am. But think as you go lower in the dose (I am around 12mg), you really need to be as accurate as possible.

I will definitely look into a nail file, thanks.

Thanks for your well wishes. Good luck to you too.

Palm

[Songbird]

Hi Palm,

I did my first couple of cuts from 10mg by 'eyeball' and they worked okay for me, maybe because the dose wasn't that low yet. But since I got my scale, I feel more confident that I am getting the right dose. I wouldn't want to be trying to do it by eyeball now that the dose is getting lower and the pieces are getting so small. What on earth is chin music, I've never heard of it...

[palm]

Originally Posted by Songbird

Hi Palm,

I did my first couple of cuts from 10mg by 'eyeball' and they worked okay for me, maybe because the dose wasn't that low yet. But since I got my scale, I feel more confident that I am getting the right dose. I wouldn't want to be trying to do it by eyeball now that the dose is getting lower and the pieces are getting so small. What on earth is chin music, I've never heard of it...

Hi Songbird,

Good question.

I was using a baseball analogy. When the pitcher throws a fastball too close to a batter's face, that is called "chin music". Here is a link to more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chin_music

I felt like lowering the Remeron dose too much and/or too fast is like getting hit in the head by the Remeron. So that is why I thought of the analogy.

In the states, professional baseball teams are going to spring training to get ready for the seasons. So that is why I think it was on my mind.

Glad the scale is helping you. Interesting you had the same concerns. I know I will feel alot better about what I am doing once I get the scale. It will just be nice to know I have all the flexibility with the dose.

Palm

[Songbird]

Thanks. That explains it nicely. There is very little baseball in New Zealand!

[rdjanis]

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I am preaching. But this experience really shook me up and I don't want anyone to suffer needlessly.

You don't sound like you are preaching, thanks for sharing your experience!

[paxilgirl]

I took "chin music" to be an uppercut to the chin...like being knocked out....I guess that is the same as getting hit w/a baseball...lol.