5 replies to this topic

[QueenTimely]

From participating in another online forum, I was given this lead. It doesn't necessarily tell us too much we don't already know, but I find it helpful to have the slow tapering reinforced elsewhere. There is a manual available for people withdrawing from benzos -- The Ashton manual. Does anyone know if there is such a thing for withdrawing from anti-depressants? For what it's worth:http://www.benzosupport.org/tapering_antidepressants.htm

[LadyNina81]

From participating in another online forum, I was given this lead. It doesn't necessarily tell us too much we don't already know, but I find it helpful to have the slow tapering reinforced elsewhere. There is a manual available for people withdrawing from benzos -- The Ashton manual. Does anyone know if there is such a thing for withdrawing from anti-depressants? For what it's worth:http://www.benzosupport.org/tapering_antidepressants.htm

Thanks so much for this post. I found your link very useful. I am tapering a benzo and cymbalta together. I definitely need all the support I can right now!

[LadyNina81]

Thanks so much for this post. I found your link very useful. I am tapering a benzo and cymbalta together. I definitely need all the support I can right now!

BTW- I don't believe there is any sort of "manual" for withdrawing from antidep. I wish there was. I believe everyone takes them in their body differently. I started half-ing my dose. I hope this will work for me. I figured that since they keep upping you by half when increasing that downing by half could work too. But, maybe, let the time in between half dosing be longer.

[MaureenV]

BTW- I don't believe there is any sort of "manual" for withdrawing from antidep. I wish there was. I believe everyone takes them in their body differently. I started half-ing my dose. I hope this will work for me. I figured that since they keep upping you by half when increasing that downing by half could work too. But, maybe, let the time in between half dosing be longer.

You're right about everyone being different; some can come off large doses of Cymbalta without difficulty, others need to take six months getting off low doses if they wan't to keep functioning.


The consistent thing with some of the more recent anti-d though, is their short half life, and it's an important difference. With something like Prozac for example, it does work taking it every second day when you're weaning off. With Cymbalta it doesn't. Whatever you do, whatever dose you're taking, take a consistent dose each day, weaning down slowly.

Good to see your diary elsewhere on the site, it will help others.


regards, Maureen.

[Junior]

Thanks so much for this post. I found your link very useful. I am tapering a benzo and cymbalta together. I definitely need all the support I can right now!

Hi LadyNina

I go to this forum regularly now http://www.paxilprog...display.php?f=7 and they have built a sophisticated knowledge of a/d and benzo withdrawal over several years. I've seen the link to the Ashton manual there and believe it is very good. One thing they all recommend, however, is to taper ONE drug at a time. If you read up on the chemical changes, you will understand why. One drug at a time is more than enough. Of course it all depends on how you respond to a taper. Some people have major, major trauma but this does not apply to everyone.

Just wanted to let you know.

Regards
Junior

[Junior]

BTW- I don't believe there is any sort of "manual" for withdrawing from antidep. I wish there was. I believe everyone takes them in their body differently. I started half-ing my dose. I hope this will work for me. I figured that since they keep upping you by half when increasing that downing by half could work too. But, maybe, let the time in between half dosing be longer.

You will find it easier getting down from a higher dose than a lower dose. This is very common. Even my naturopath, who has a lot of experience in helping people get off psych meds, has found this. But overall, it is better to go slowly. I'm afraid the majority of doctors just don't recognise the true withdrawal syndrome. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is a massive cover up by the drug companies. Additionally, because Cymbalta and Effexor chemically alter two chemical messengers rather than the one altered by Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, etc., they are harder to get off. The general recommendation is to taper by 10% of your current dose, and to wait 3-6 weeks in order to stabilise before reducing further.

If you try dropping faster and find that it doesn't work, you CAN updose, stabilise, and wean more slowly.
Whatever you decide, good luck

Junior