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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by DisTraught on October 30, 2007, at 1:59:58
Hi All,
I'm on 5mg diazepam and 40mg citalopram. I need to start weaning off my meds. How long time is realistic in order to be medfree without severe withdrawal symptoms? Thanks for any advicePenny
Posted by 49er on October 30, 2007, at 1:59:59
In reply to Weaning off meds, posted by DisTraught on October 28, 2007, at 15:38:07
> Hi All,
> I'm on 5mg diazepam and 40mg citalopram. I need to start weaning off my meds. How long time is realistic in order to be medfree without severe withdrawal symptoms? Thanks for any advice
>
> PennyHi Penny,
The best advice I have come across is to reduce by 10% of the current dose every 3 to 5 weeks. Unfortunately, with some meds, that is hard to do.
For example, when I had extended release drugs I wanted to reduce the dosage on, I had my psychiatrist write the prescription for the dose I wanted and then I filled it at a compound pharmacy. Unfortunately, when I tried this with the drug I want to reduce now, the pharmacist wanted more money than just by insurance co-payment. So I can't follow the 10% rule.
Fortunately, I can crush my pill and simply do trial and error miniscule cuts. Not the way I like to do it but I don't have much choice. Trying to cut the pill into even little pieces is a losing battle for me.
For support with the valium withdrawal, take a look at this google link for benzo support sites:
Ok, let me sum up everything.
1. Best option is to reduce drug by 10% and get the right dose at a compound pharmacy. But this involves betting your doctor to buy in (not a guarantee), plus finding a compound pharmacy nearby that will do it for a reasonable price.
2. If your pills can be cut evenly into eights, reduce by an 1/8 each time and wait 3 to 5 weeks between cuts. Sometimes you can go more quickly and somethings you can't.
3. If your pill is crushable, use a measuring item like the miniscule teaspoon that comes with stevia to take out a very small amount. Involves alot of trial and eror.
4. There is a spreadsheet on http://www.paxilprogress.org that will give you the timeline. But you have to register. You can send a psychbabble email to me with your email address and I can sent it to you off list.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any quesitons.
49er
Posted by Racer on October 30, 2007, at 1:59:59
In reply to Weaning off meds, posted by DisTraught on October 28, 2007, at 15:38:07
Why do you need to wean off your medications? If they're working, it's often wise to stay on them...
Just asking.
In terms of your question, I would say that it's going to vary, and what your doctor offers will make a difference, too. How often do you take the diazepam? Is that once a day? Or prn? That should be the easier one to stop, if you're not taking it more than once a day. The citalopram will probably take a bit more time -- taper down, take as long as it takes for you. I usually start by halving the dose, then halving again, until I'm at the lowest dose available. That's me, and I rarely break tablets, and NEVER open capsules. For me, it's been fine. Generally, I say halve the dose, then see how long it takes before you adjust. Then, halve the dose again, and wait that same length. For any of the SSRIs, if you have withdrawal problems, a very low single dose of Prozac will often stop the problem, because it's long half life makes it essentially self-tapering. Also, Benadryl is often helpful, too.
So, why are you weaning off your medications?
Posted by 49er on October 30, 2007, at 1:59:59
In reply to Re: Weaning off meds, posted by Racer on October 28, 2007, at 16:48:11
Hi Racer,
In my opinion, cutting meds by 50% is a way too fast tapering rate. Sure, some people like yourself can get away with it but in my opinion, that is playing with fire.
Also, as one who suffered horrible withdrawal symptoms from CTing Prozac, I think the advice to use it to buffer withdrawal symptoms needs to be approached with extreme caution.
The best advice I have seen on tapering meds is to withdraw 10% of the current dose every 3 to 5 weeks. Of course, this isn't always feasible but if you want to minimize your withdrawal problems, you need to go as slow as possible.
Just so you know, I picked up this advice from the paxil progress boards. The woman who runs it is a nurse who almost lost her son to a paxil induced suicide.
Finally, I am curious as why you assume people need to stay on meds for life? I am not asking to be argumentative but I think I am a little sensitive becasue that assumption was made about me. Well, during my tapering, in spite of dealing with crisis's like a near death of a family member and job instability, I have not come close to a relapse.
I can't prove this but I think one reason people have relapses and go back on meds is that they withdrew from meds too quickly or CTd meds unnecessarily.
49er
Posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2007, at 1:59:59
In reply to Re: Weaning off meds, posted by 49er on October 28, 2007, at 17:02:34
When celexa did not do a thing for me at all my pdoc after eight weeks said to just stop the med and I did. No withdrawal. It did not work anyway. Only benzos work for me and I'm old so don't really care about discontinuing them as been on them since the 70's. Why? The pdoc's I see always say just to cut a med they don't do withdrawal. Even when I was on effexor for only about a week and a halve just stopped it and immediatedly or a day later felt much better. Never get sick when starting a med either. Maybe I don't metabolize them? Phillipa
Posted by Racer on October 30, 2007, at 1:59:59
In reply to Re: Weaning off meds, posted by 49er on October 28, 2007, at 17:02:34
>
> Finally, I am curious as why you assume people need to stay on meds for life?I wasn't assuming that. I was asking why the original poster had decided right now to wean off drugs, especially since it didn't sound as though she had consulted her doctor about it. That's a combination which, to me, makes it a reasonable question.
Posted by DisTraught on October 30, 2007, at 2:00:00
In reply to Re: Weaning off meds » 49er, posted by Racer on October 28, 2007, at 20:44:17
Hi Racer,
Well, now that I'm leaving the workplace that led to my suffering from burnout, depression and anxiety, I was hoping I could start THINKING about dropping the meds. I know that one's situation needs to be stable when you're letting go of drugs, so I hope that after a few months at the new job I can start tapering.
I simply need to prepare myself mentally, I think :)Penny
Posted by DisTraught on October 30, 2007, at 2:00:00
In reply to Re: Weaning off meds, posted by 49er on October 28, 2007, at 16:46:02
Hi, 49er
Thanks for the response, I will definitely tread carefully while tapering as I'm worried about the withdrawal symptoms I might otherwise face. I'll follow your advice and look into the sites you mentiones.
Rgds
Penny
Posted by Racer on October 30, 2007, at 2:00:00
In reply to Re: Weaning off meds )) Racer((, posted by DisTraught on October 29, 2007, at 14:09:22
This is the end of the thread.
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