Posted by bleauberry on February 16, 2008, at 20:47:01 [reposted on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:13 | original URL]
In reply to WITHDRAWAL, posted by ultra on February 16, 2008, at 18:22:17
Slow and easy in tiny increments is the best way to withdraw from any drug in my personal experience. It does take more time, but is so much less traumatic on the body, mind, and daily living.
I don't know what your pills or capsules look like. What you need to do is figure out how to reduce the dose by about .25mg per step. Stay at each new step a week or two before moving to a lower step.
I also find the alternating dose schedule very helpful. That is, go down to a new lower dose for a couple days, then back to the original dose, then back down to the lower dose again, stay there a bit, then go down to a lower step for a couple days, back up to the previous step, and so on. Kind of like a see-saw effect, down some, back up but not as much, down some more, back up but not as much. Though the doses are up and down a little bit, the overall trend is down. This gives the brain and body a start on adjusting to the new lower dose, as well as some relief during the whole process to allow some healing and comfort to happen while temporarily at the higher dose for a day.
For me withdrawing from zyprexa was much harder than withdrawing from xanax. I used these strategies to do it. Basically, small steps, spend as much time at each new step as you need to get enough confidence to move down more, and use the alternating see-saw effect when going to a lower dose.
poster:bleauberry
thread:813229
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20070929/msgs/813242.html