Tapering Off Medications

[Grace511]

Hi All.
So for the past year or so,I have been on 0.5 mg of Ativan three times a day, 100mg of Seroquel at night and 150 mg of Zoloft once a day.

Over the past two week I tried tapering myself but could not take thewithdrawal symptoms anymore so I took 100mg of Zoloft and 0.5mg of Ativan today and I plan on taking my Seroquel at night like usual.

I'm so frustrated, I want to be off of these but every time I try I feel like such crap I cave in and get back on.
Any advice? I have read Zoloft is a hard medication to get off of.


I feel like I have the flu. I get hot and cold. I sweat, my lips get numb, I feel like someone is shocking my brain with an electric current. I cry easily and lose my patience, it is horrible.

Any advice is appreciated. I feel like I'm never going to get off of this.

 

[Life_in_the_Mist]

It is best to taper one medication at a time. Wait 4-6 weeks between tapers. Taper by no more than 25% at a time. That is what I have heard and what has helped me.

 

[bell]

Are you under a doctor's supervision while doing this? If not, please please please talk to someone about this, as going off your meds alone is hardly ever a good idea. Going off 3 meds at once, to me, sounds like way too much to tackle all at once.

I'm so frustrated, I want to be off of these but every time I try I feel like such crap I cave in and get back on

Also, are you not taking your meds regularly anyway? Taking them irregularly can cause them not to work properly and sometimes our brains and bodies *need* the right medication to function properly. If what you're taking makes you feel like you have the flu, ask your doctor what other options there are instead.

 

[TimeToHeal]

@Grace511, I know exactly the feeling you describe - it is awful.

I definitely agree with @bell on this though. Trying to wean yourself off 3 different meds at the same time on your own without physician supervision/direction, is a recipe for disaster. Might I ask why you've decided you don't need these medications any longer?

Perhaps your Dr could advise you as to some alternatives to your current meds of you are no longer happy with them. Or at the very least, provide you with a wean schedule to come off them safely, if you're adamant to stop them.

Please take care of yourself!

 

[open eyes]

I completely relate.. I was on 250mg of Zoloft & while I was in a hospital, they tried removing it over the course of 2 weeks. I had such severe electric jolt symptoms, feeling like every time I move I was getting shocked & I'd lose my balance. It took me 6 months to get off of Zoloft. I only recently stopped taking 12.5 mg (because I was that sensitive) several weeks ago. Best of luck to you, & definitely take your time with getting off of it.

 

[open eyes]

Oh, & also- only try tapering off of ONE medication at a time. Trying to get rid of two or three will make be hell.

 

[Hashi]

I'm also wondering what your doctor says, about how you're feeling on the medications and about reducing them.