advice on rx for drug tapering

[shabina shaikh]

dear j

i understand thts it difficult to taper of the drug.i have gathered some info hopefully thts helpful for u.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR LONG-TERM
BENZODIAZEPINE USERS WHO ARE ALSO TAKING
ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND WISH TO WITHDRAW
FROM BOTH DRUGS.

1. Complete the benzodiazepine withdrawal before starting to taper your antidepressants.
2. Allow at least 8 weeks after stopping your benzodiazepines before starting on antidepressant withdrawal.
3. Inform your doctor before starting to withdraw the antidepressant and consult your local tranquilliser withdrawal group, if available.
4. Withdrawal of antidepressants must be gradual to avoid withdrawal effects.
a) Cut down on your dose in a gradual way, making larger
cuts at the beginning and smaller cuts the lower you go.
For example, for 75mg amitriptyline, make initial cuts of
10mg at a time till about half-way down, then cut 5mg at
a time, till about 10mg. Finally make 2.5mg cuts at a
time for the last 10mg. For 20mg paroxetine, make
2.5mg cuts down to zero.
b) An alternative is to use a liquid preparation eg for
20mg/5ml fluoxetine (Prozac) use one eighth of a
teaspoon (2.5mg) for reductions down to zero.

c) If smallest doses of tablets cannot be obtained in the
final stages of cutting, reduce by taking a tablet every
other day, then every third day etc.
d) Allow at least 5 - 6 weeks between each dosage
reduction.
5. With slow tapering, withdrawal symptoms from
antidepressants are greatly reduced in severity,
though they can still be unpleasant, especially
at lower levels. In addition, residual withdrawal
symptoms from benzodiazepines, held back by
the antidepressants, can also appear during
antidepressant withdrawal.

The symptoms which u have described are very common symptoms of drug withdrawal &homeo prescribing requires more specific &characteristic symptom.in my opinion u should look for a qualified homeopath in ur area &he will help u in a better way.

normally for detoxification nux vomica6 &sulp 6 would be suggestable but i said earlier it medicine should be based on ur characteristic symptoms.
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[Nandkumar Sanglikar]

It may be advisable to shift the person to a slow release version of the molecule he/she is taking and follow suggestions made below regarding tapering..
Drugs like benzodiazepines, when consumed orally, reach peak blood plasma level vary fast, in a matter of minutes which leads to a 'high' people get addicted to. Slow release versions avoid this phenomenon as they allow time to the body get adjusted to lower blood plasma concentrations.
Abrupt stopping of medicine can be fatal and should be avoided.
Nandu

shabina shaikh wrote:
dear j

i understand thts it difficult to taper of the drug.i have gathered some info hopefully thts helpful for u.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR LONG-TERM
BENZODIAZEPINE USERS WHO ARE ALSO TAKING
ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND WISH TO WITHDRAW
FROM BOTH DRUGS.

1. Complete the benzodiazepine withdrawal before starting to taper your antidepressants.
2. Allow at least 8 weeks after stopping your benzodiazepines before starting on antidepressant withdrawal.
3. Inform your doctor before starting to withdraw the antidepressant and consult your local tranquilliser withdrawal group, if available.
4. Withdrawal of antidepressants must be gradual to avoid withdrawal effects.
a) Cut down on your dose in a gradual way, making larger
cuts at the beginning and smaller cuts the lower you go.
For example, for 75mg amitriptyline, make initial cuts of
10mg at a time till about half-way down, then cut 5mg at
a time, till about 10mg. Finally make 2.5mg cuts at a
time for the last 10mg. For 20mg paroxetine, make
2.5mg cuts down to zero.
b) An alternative is to use a liquid preparation eg for
20mg/5ml fluoxetine (Prozac) use one eighth of a
teaspoon (2.5mg) for reductions down to zero.

c) If smallest doses of tablets cannot be obtained in the
final stages of cutting, reduce by taking a tablet every
other day, then every third day etc.
d) Allow at least 5 - 6 weeks between each dosage
reduction.
5. With slow tapering, withdrawal symptoms from
antidepressants are greatly reduced in severity,
though they can still be unpleasant, especially
at lower levels. In addition, residual withdrawal
symptoms from benzodiazepines, held back by
the antidepressants, can also appear during
antidepressant withdrawal.

The symptoms which u have described are very common symptoms of drug withdrawal &homeo prescribing requires more specific &characteristic symptom.in my opinion u should look for a qualified homeopath in ur area &he will help u in a better way.

normally for detoxification nux vomica6 &sulp 6 would be suggestable but i said earlier it medicine should be based on ur characteristic symptoms.
__________________________________________________________
Yahoo! India Answers: Share what you know. Learn something new
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/
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