[Minnow]

So last September, with my Dr's consent, I bumped all my meds up because I was having what I'll call SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I tend to get really bad anxiety/depression in the fall, along with disruptive sleep that lasts through the holidays. The extra meds have helped greatly and I was able to relax. I've done this off and on for 4+ years. The down side to this higher dose is feeling tired and in a fog.
Cymbalta went from 20mg to 80 mg
Seroquel went from 100mg to 150 mg
Klonopin went from 1mg to 2mg

Now I'm starting the taper because I do feel the need to be more productive at work and home.

Started Monday's dose at
Cymbalta went from 80mg to 60 mg
Seroquel went from 150mg to 100 mg
Klonopin went from 2mg to 1.5mg

So far so good but I always worry about doing this so I'm keeping this thread as journal and check in. I may be a little aggressive on the Klonopin so I'll keep a close eye on that taper. I plan to monitor and adjust every two weeks or so with a goal to get down to these doses, which are what I call my maintenance dose.

Cymbalta 20-40mg
Seroquel 50 mg
Klonopin prn (I've haven't been able to get to PRN in a couple years. The lowest was .5mg)

Any comments or concerns are welcome.. Thank you. Minnow

[benzenering]

Do you have doctor monitoring for this taper?

[Minnow]

Originally Posted by benzenering

Do you have doctor monitoring for this taper?

Yes, my Dr is OK with this plan and knows it's really up to how I'm feeling. I've done this before and know the bumps along the way. I just can't handle being a zombie anymore. So I'm shooting for just north of freaked out and south of numb. Exercise and a really healthy diet is the key to this plan going smoothly.

Thanks

[Guiness187055]

I wish you the best of luck with your taper. I wish I was able to taper but am not at this time.

[Minnow]

Thank you Guiness!

I woke up several times last night and early this morning so feeling a little restless but I'm ok. I second guess why I'm doing this but I know I need to try. I can always return to the higher dose but I don't like being a zombie so I have to try.

[Minnow]

So I'm very emotional at the moment. I'm feeling a little withdrawal (headache and just a little dizzy) and questioning why I'm doing this. Had the thought that I'm just taking steps down into a dark whole rather than taking steps up from the fog. I'm ok and just trying to sit with it at times and distract myself as best I can at work.

[Minnow]

Lowering my meds was a BAD idea for me. My Anxiety and Depression returned quickly even with the small reductions. I went back up to my original doses on Friday night. I still feel anxious and wish I didn't mess with things. Exercise and reading have been my distractions but the Catastrophic thinking is still here. UGH!!! Part of me thinks I psyched myself out..

In retrospect, I should have only lowered one med at a time.. Not all three. I also normally wait until spring so I can be outdoors more which is calming for me. Lesson learned. Now I'm fighting to get back to that calm/peaceful mental state. I just have to be patient for now.

[marcoleap]

Originally Posted by Minnow

Lowering my meds was a BAD idea for me. My Anxiety and Depression returned quickly even with the small reductions. I went back up to my original doses on Friday night. I still feel anxious and wish I didn't mess with things. Exercise and reading have been my distractions but the Catastrophic thinking is still here. UGH!!! Part of me thinks I psyched myself out..

In retrospect, I should have only lowered one med at a time.. Not all three. I also normally wait until spring so I can be outdoors more which is calming for me. Lesson learned. Now I'm fighting to get back to that calm/peaceful mental state. I just have to be patient for now.

Hang in there, keep using your self-coping strategies, exercise, read, and don't feel bad about having to return to your original dose. I often feel angry at myself and ashamed when I can't reduce or discontinue my meds, and it only makes things worse. Taking care of yourself and being healthy and comfortable in your own skin are the most important things, not what meds you're on and at what dose. I've learned this the hard way.

[kecanoe]

For me, it was helpful to taper one med at a time.

You'll be able to taper after restabilizing. Hang in there; it may take a bit for the meds to return to working after the decrease.

[Minnow]

Originally Posted by marcoleap

Hang in there, keep using your self-coping strategies, exercise, read, and don't feel bad about having to return to your original dose. I often feel angry at myself and ashamed when I can't reduce or discontinue my meds, and it only makes things worse. Taking care of yourself and being healthy and comfortable in your own skin are the most important things, not what meds you're on and at what dose. I've learned this the hard way.

Thank you for the kind words and you're right about just being comfortable inside ourselves. I'm slowly getting back to myself and it's more mental work than chemical at this point.

[Minnow]

So today is the first day I feel "back to my old self". Funny how lower my meds for 4 days spun me out for a week and a half.

Now I just need to push/motivate myself at work more.

[MeditatingMan]

Hello Minnow, I read your posts and feel I had similar experiences tapering off my meds. It took me far longer than I anticipated to taper down to zero, with several step-backs, but I got there. Lots of walking and meditation helped me.

[possum220]

Yup, dropping one med at a time slowly is they way to go. Least then you will know which one is having what effect. Never do any of them fast.

No Seroquel for me means no sleep. Take that one down slowly over months. Klonolpin is also a pain in the butt for getting off. 2mg might not seem much but our bodies/minds adjust to them so quickly that they don,t like it when we turn off the supply.

We can be all for getting off meds from a desire perspective but we weren’t prescribed them for no reason. There is another site called benzo buddies that has some very advice for those wanting to taper off. Good luck.

[Sometimes psychotic]

I’d focus on the seroquel....since it’s used as a sleep aid for some.....

[Minnow]

So I'm going to attempt to taper again and have been reading up on how to do it slowly, starting with Seroquel. I've read how you can dissolve the pill in 100ml of water and then remove 5 or 10ml. I also read how you can weigh the pills and then use a nail file to shave off 5 or 10%. I think the nail file way is easier so that's my plan and will start with 5% reduction to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
Wish me luck.

[kecanoe]

Good luck, Minnow. I did a slow taper and had no problems at all.

[Guiness187055]

I guess my body is different. I have always been able to come off of meds with no taper. I just dropped 200mg of seroquel all at once.

[Minnow]

Spring has arrived and I'm still in a funk. I started some moderate exercise last week by walking daily and started a diet that reduces sugar, carbs and processed food. I felt better after the walks but the intrusive thoughts about the future are still running my life. I started a slow taper lowering the 150 mg Seroquel by 5% in hopes of having more energy. Only three days in on that but questioning everything I do and weighing the pros and cons.
Pros on exercise: It's simply the best thing you can do for your body and brain. There is no con. The only issue is it will create more energy which can feel like Anxiety.
Pros on reducing medication: I should be less groggy in the morning so less brain fog. The con is potentially more anxiety if I wake up really early with the extra energy.

[Minnow]

Good week on the lower dose of Seroquel. No issues. Will step down again by 5% this week. Less fog and more energy. A little anxious first thing in the AM but it passes.