Tapering too slowly? - Page 2

mustangwoman · 04-14-2012, 10:19 AM

I have to tell you that my first time on SSRIs was zoloft and I was only on approx 5.5 months. So I tapered like the doc said to in 2 weeks. Six months out I crashed bad, obsessive intrusive suicidal thoughts, pit of despair depression, extreme anxiety. Had never had the suicidal thoughts before, or depression, and had only had some anxiety. I went off way too fast. In 5.5 months zoloft had made huge changes in my brain chemistry. Imac is correct that 6 months would probably be good. I think I would have handled things differently had I known that this was withdrawal. I just thought I was totally losing it! Just take your time especially the lower you get!

04-14-2012, 01:37 PM

Guys, I am so confused. I hear some people telling me that I need to take into account my 13 years of total SSRI use and therefore go slowly, and others telling me that I only need to take into account the last 6 months of Zoloft, and therefore taper more rapidly.

Please help me with a clear-cut answer! I need to know how to wait in between drops and which drops to make. I want to have a plan, not do trail and error.

LCrawford67 · 04-14-2012, 04:42 PM

You're asking the impossible. This is a decision only you can make, we can't do that for you. Only you know what you're going through and how you feel. It's up to you to weigh the advice you've been given and make your decision. There is no clear cut answer and everyone has a different opinion based on their personal experience.

Even without a history and regardless os length of time on any drug, you have to be willing to adjust. We tell everyone 10% every 3 to 6 weeks, some have to drop less, or wait longer, some can go faster. But, everyone has to take that first step and figure out what works best for them.

jr1985 · 04-14-2012, 04:59 PM

Well... I'd take into account the 13 years of SSRI use tbh. They all elevate serotonin activity, which would alter the brain in much the same way, regardless of the specific drug.

50mg of Zoloft is about 20mg Paxil. People here seem to run into problems once they get below 10mg. So you could try bigger drops (20%?) until about 25mg zoloft, then do 10% from there.

JessG · 04-14-2012, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jr1985

Well... I'd take into account the 13 years of SSRI use tbh. They all elevate serotonin activity, which would alter the brain in much the same way, regardless of the specific drug.

Exactly.

scotty · 04-14-2012, 05:33 PM

I think LC hit it on the head. The multiple drugs, the switching etc... make the weaning process completely trial and error. I guess my thought is that one can't go to slow, but again you're going to have to pick a schedule and see how it goes.

I wish there was something more definitive to tell you, but unless someone is on one drug the whole thing becomes very muddied.

04-15-2012, 08:31 PM

I'm gonna err on the side of caution and do the 22-month taper. I can't risk becoming suicidal again or not being able to work, etc.

Because bottom line is that for the past 13 years, I've been on an SSRI, be it Paxil, Prozac, or Zoloft.

After 13 years, 22 months is nothing. Plus, I'll finally be drug-free on 1-1-2014. Got a nice ring to it, don't ya think?

lmac · 04-15-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElVito1981

I'm gonna err on the side of caution and do the 22-month taper. I can't risk becoming suicidal again or not being able to work, etc.

Because bottom line is that for the past 13 years, I've been on an SSRI, be it Paxil, Prozac, or Zoloft.

After 13 years, 22 months is nothing. Plus, I'll finally be drug-free on 1-1-2014. Got a nice ring to it, don't ya think?

That's a great idea! You can never taper too slowly, you've been on ssris for 13 years, what's another 22 mnths. And the quality of life is so much more important!

LCrawford67 · 04-16-2012, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElVito1981

I'm gonna err on the side of caution and do the 22-month taper. I can't risk becoming suicidal again or not being able to work, etc.

Because bottom line is that for the past 13 years, I've been on an SSRI, be it Paxil, Prozac, or Zoloft.

After 13 years, 22 months is nothing. Plus, I'll finally be drug-free on 1-1-2014. Got a nice ring to it, don't ya think?

Perfect!

julieannboo · 04-16-2012, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElVito1981

I'm gonna err on the side of caution and do the 22-month taper. I can't risk becoming suicidal again or not being able to work, etc.

Because bottom line is that for the past 13 years, I've been on an SSRI, be it Paxil, Prozac, or Zoloft.

After 13 years, 22 months is nothing. Plus, I'll finally be drug-free on 1-1-2014. Got a nice ring to it, don't ya think?

well done. you can never go too slow xx

04-19-2012, 10:01 AM

Thank you everyone! I'm gonna add an extra 5 weeks to make it a 23-month taper until 2-5-2014, which also has a really nice ring to it: 100 weeks, 700 days.

Plus, 23 months is 15% of the 154 months of being on SSRIs prior to starting the taper, so I can think of my taper as like the tip that one pays a waiter at a restaurant

After paying $154 for a meal, one should leave a $23 tip

aberdeen · 04-19-2012, 01:30 PM

I'm not tipping ANYONE for what I've been served,LOL!

04-20-2012, 07:32 AM

04-14-2012, 10:19 AM	#26
mustangwoman Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 284	Re: Tapering too slowly? I have to tell you that my first time on SSRIs was zoloft and I was only on approx 5.5 months. So I tapered like the doc said to in 2 weeks. Six months out I crashed bad, obsessive intrusive suicidal thoughts, pit of despair depression, extreme anxiety. Had never had the suicidal thoughts before, or depression, and had only had some anxiety. I went off way too fast. In 5.5 months zoloft had made huge changes in my brain chemistry. Imac is correct that 6 months would probably be good. I think I would have handled things differently had I known that this was withdrawal. I just thought I was totally losing it! Just take your time especially the lower you get! __________________ zoloft 2004-08 tapered too fast, severe WD-6 mos out hospitialized and restarted on ssri. Finally learned the problems were from WD. Luvox 5/08 100 mg 07/10 40mg via small reductions, 08/10 39mg, 09/10 38mg, 10/10 37mg, 11/10 36mg,2/11 35mg, 5/11 34mg, 8/11 33mg, 11/11 32mg, 01/12 31mg, 03/12 30mg, 4/12 29mg, 5/12 28 mg, 8/12 27 mg, 11/12 26 mg, 1/13 25 mg, 3/13 24 mg, 4/13 23 mg

04-14-2012, 01:37 PM	#27
VitoM1981 Posts: n/a	Re: Tapering too slowly? Guys, I am so confused. I hear some people telling me that I need to take into account my 13 years of total SSRI use and therefore go slowly, and others telling me that I only need to take into account the last 6 months of Zoloft, and therefore taper more rapidly. Please help me with a clear-cut answer! I need to know how to wait in between drops and which drops to make. I want to have a plan, not do trail and error.

04-14-2012, 04:42 PM	#28
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 34,484	Re: Tapering too slowly? You're asking the impossible. This is a decision only you can make, we can't do that for you. Only you know what you're going through and how you feel. It's up to you to weigh the advice you've been given and make your decision. There is no clear cut answer and everyone has a different opinion based on their personal experience. Even without a history and regardless os length of time on any drug, you have to be willing to adjust. We tell everyone 10% every 3 to 6 weeks, some have to drop less, or wait longer, some can go faster. But, everyone has to take that first step and figure out what works best for them. __________________ aka LC aka Laurie C. Paxil, 20 mg since 1997, for IBS Two unsuccessful attempts to quit. Started tapering 11/27/06 PAXIL FREE 12/29/07 Today is the best day, EVER! Last edited by LCrawford67 : 04-14-2012 at 05:04 PM.

04-14-2012, 04:59 PM	#29
jr1985 Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 442	Re: Tapering too slowly? Well... I'd take into account the 13 years of SSRI use tbh. They all elevate serotonin activity, which would alter the brain in much the same way, regardless of the specific drug. 50mg of Zoloft is about 20mg Paxil. People here seem to run into problems once they get below 10mg. So you could try bigger drops (20%?) until about 25mg zoloft, then do 10% from there. __________________ 2003-2005: Paroxetine 2006-2009: Citalopram 2009-2011: Effexor Aug/Sept 11: Effexor -> Mirtazapine Oct: C/T Mirtazapine -> Effexor Nov/Dec: Fast Tapered Effexor - w/d hell 5/2/12: Reinstated Effexor 37.5mg 20/2/12: Updosed 75mg 9/3/12: Dropped 37.5mg 30/4/12: 33.8mg 1/5/12: 37.5mg 4/5/12: 35.6mg 19/6/12: Dropped 2.5% 23/6/12: 35.6mg 29/6/12: 37.5mg 30/6/12: 35.6mg 17/7/12: 37.5mg Yes, I know it's messy...

04-14-2012, 05:33 PM	#31
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 46,985	Re: Tapering too slowly? I think LC hit it on the head. The multiple drugs, the switching etc... make the weaning process completely trial and error. I guess my thought is that one can't go to slow, but again you're going to have to pick a schedule and see how it goes. I wish there was something more definitive to tell you, but unless someone is on one drug the whole thing becomes very muddied. __________________ AKA Laurie "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK

04-15-2012, 08:31 PM	#32
VitoM1981 Posts: n/a	Re: Tapering too slowly? I'm gonna err on the side of caution and do the 22-month taper. I can't risk becoming suicidal again or not being able to work, etc. Because bottom line is that for the past 13 years, I've been on an SSRI, be it Paxil, Prozac, or Zoloft. After 13 years, 22 months is nothing. Plus, I'll finally be drug-free on 1-1-2014. Got a nice ring to it, don't ya think?

04-19-2012, 10:01 AM	#36
VitoM1981 Posts: n/a	Re: Tapering too slowly? Thank you everyone! I'm gonna add an extra 5 weeks to make it a 23-month taper until 2-5-2014, which also has a really nice ring to it: 100 weeks, 700 days. Plus, 23 months is 15% of the 154 months of being on SSRIs prior to starting the taper, so I can think of my taper as like the tip that one pays a waiter at a restaurant After paying $154 for a meal, one should leave a $23 tip

04-19-2012, 01:30 PM	#37
aberdeen Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 2,898	Re: Tapering too slowly? I'm not tipping ANYONE for what I've been served,LOL! __________________ *2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."* 2005-2010 Effexor XR 112.5mg-262.5mg for PPD Dec 2010 Poop-out and rapid 3 month wean. Off Effexor March 2011 Hell started 1 month later-tried 3 other meds to deal with w/d nothing worked. . Now tapering from 20mg Paxil (still recovering from Effexor w/d) Oct'11 to Nov '12 20mg-10mg Mar 5/13- 9mg Apr 12/13-8.1mg May 5/13-7.3mg

04-20-2012, 07:32 AM	#38
VitoM1981 Posts: n/a	Re: Tapering too slowly? Haha

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