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Sloooow Taper


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#1 citrusbliss

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    I need support in tapering off 30mg Duloxetine. I was on 60 mg for 4 years for chronic back pain and depression/anxiety. After 2 spinal fusion surgeries and a great psychologist I'm ready to go med free and see how it goes.

Posted 12 February 2017 - 11:18 AM

Good Morning!

I have begun my second attempt at tapering down from 30mg duloxetine. Yay!!! This time I'm going slooow; 5 beads out of capsule containing average 150 beads for 5 days, then 8 beads out for 5 days, 11 beads out for 5 days etc. And this time I'll pay more attention to withdrawal symptoms and adjust the bead cound and stabilization time as needed. Previously, I had quickly gotten down to about 22 g but felt so sick that I then had to go back up to 30mg and I could feel the heaviness descend again...hate this drug but I have to treat it like the toxic crapalta that it is and protect myself.

Thank you to all the good people who have posted their battle stories and always show up to offer support and answer questions  :) 


#2 TryinginFL

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    Now that I have been off this poison for over 6 years, I hope to help others as they join us

Posted 12 February 2017 - 11:38 AM

Good for you, Citrus!!

 

Just be careful - there is no time line here and it is not a race, even tho I know how badly you want off of this crap!

 

Just be kind to yourself and listen to your body...if you have to stay at a certain level for a week or 2 it is OK - you can do this!!

 

Liz


#3 fishinghat

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Posted 12 February 2017 - 01:40 PM

I think you got this figured out Citrus. Like Liz said it is not a race but a test of endurance.


#4 citrusbliss

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    I need support in tapering off 30mg Duloxetine. I was on 60 mg for 4 years for chronic back pain and depression/anxiety. After 2 spinal fusion surgeries and a great psychologist I'm ready to go med free and see how it goes.

Posted 12 February 2017 - 07:03 PM

Darn right it's not a race, I learned that the hard way lol!

I have to say I feel so empowered just knowing that I'm taking responsiblility for my own taper. I haven't felt so strong in a long time.

You know I adopted the turtle as my mascot during my post-surgery recoveries and I think that mascot is appropriate for this recovery as well!

Slow and steady wins this test  :rolleyes:


#5 citrusbliss

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    I need support in tapering off 30mg Duloxetine. I was on 60 mg for 4 years for chronic back pain and depression/anxiety. After 2 spinal fusion surgeries and a great psychologist I'm ready to go med free and see how it goes.

Posted 13 February 2017 - 07:13 PM

Only the second day of taper and I can feel a lot of stomach acid. There are so many side effects in cutting down just a little or maybe I'm just too sensitive. I took an antacid and felt a lot better. So much better than eating gravol (dramamine) like I did last time ;)


#6 90milesnorth

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Posted 18 February 2017 - 07:48 PM

I too did the very slow taper method and took two months to get off a 20 mg dose.  I started my taper by removing 5 beads/day week 1, 4 beads/day week 2, etc. until I got down to 2 beads and then just took 2 beads for about two days and finally stopped.  I am one month out and felt great the first two weeks.  Now, my brain won't stop tingling.  My psychiatrist told me to take an anxiety med every time I feel the tingle, but it just won't go away.  I wish you the best on your journey.  Take your time and know that even if it takes you a couple a months you will be in a better place a couple months down the road.   


#7 citrusbliss

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    I need support in tapering off 30mg Duloxetine. I was on 60 mg for 4 years for chronic back pain and depression/anxiety. After 2 spinal fusion surgeries and a great psychologist I'm ready to go med free and see how it goes.

Posted 05 March 2017 - 09:50 AM

I'm down to 18 beads out now. Very slow going but I'm feeling pretty good. My math skills are not always accurate but I'm working with 150 (average) beads in each capsule of 30 mg so 5 beads equals 1mg of duloxetine.

I'll stay at 18 beads out for 5-7 days or until I feel sure that I've stabilized. I have a LOT of anxiety that hits hard out of the blue. At my next GP appointment I will ask for help with that symptom of withdrawal. Sleeping is not always possible either.

On a positive note my application for Disability Benefits was approved!! So that's a load off my mind. I'm in a good place to keep up this this slow taper  :rolleyes:


#8 TryinginFL

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Posted 05 March 2017 - 10:07 AM

So happy for you, Citrus!

 

Regarding the anxiety and inability to sleep, I quote FH in advising hydroxyzine which carries no withdrawal.  You also may try

Benadryl...although it will poop out if used too frequently.

 

Hydroxyzine will not only help the anxiety but make you sleepy, so you might start out slow

 

Hang in there - you're doing well!! :)


#9 fishinghat

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Posted 05 March 2017 - 11:33 AM

As usual Liz is right on.. You are doing great. Hang in there.


#10 gail

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Posted 05 March 2017 - 03:53 PM

Yeah for you Citrus! Good news also about the approval.

Keep on counting!

#11 citrusbliss

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    I need support in tapering off 30mg Duloxetine. I was on 60 mg for 4 years for chronic back pain and depression/anxiety. After 2 spinal fusion surgeries and a great psychologist I'm ready to go med free and see how it goes.

Posted 08 March 2017 - 07:51 PM

Hi Gail

 

Thanks for the tip on Benadryl Total. It has helped me out a couple of times! I'll be asking again for prescription hydroxyzine from my GP...she asked me to wait to see how the taper would affect me.

Winter is back once again, darn!


#12 tfaff

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Posted 18 March 2017 - 11:04 PM

Good to hear from you, Citrusbliss. It's great to hear you got approved for Disability, that should take a load off so you can just get better!

Last week was a bad one for me with anxiety and insomnia. I took a week off from tapering and changed some things around so I'm ready to taper again.

Hope you have some better days this week.
Tammy



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