Hey @Haa just checking on you, how things going for you? 💞

Edited March 10Mar 10 by Fullhealing

Hi @Fullhealing

Thanks for dropping by. 
Atm I am i window. Just minor WD symptoms. Mostly physicals and the feeling of being overdosed with Sertaline and Oxapax after the huge updosing in December and January. 
My vision is foggy and I am tired and could sleep all day. But I don’t just an afternoon nap. 
I am in good spirit and hopefull that this will last, so I can get on tapering Sertraline back to 75mg. 
I found a way to calming my activating part of my brain: Laying flat on the floor head down, feeling the weight of my body and the support of the floor. 
After a while my whole system relax and I can carry on in a nice soft spot.

I so hope for you that the war in your region soon will end. And the turmoil within you as well. And it will. We know that for sure. 🙏💕💕
 

39 minutes ago, Haa said:

Hi @Fullhealing

Thanks for dropping by. 
Atm I am i window. Just minor WD symptoms. Mostly physicals and the feeling of being overdosed with Sertaline and Oxapax after the huge updosing in December and January. 
My vision is foggy and I am tired and could sleep all day. But I don’t just an afternoon nap. 
I am in good spirit and hopefull that this will last, so I can get on tapering Sertraline back to 75mg. 
I found a way to calming my activating part of my brain: Laying flat on the floor head down, feeling the weight of my body and the support of the floor. 
After a while my whole system relax and I can carry on in a nice soft spot.

I so hope for you that the war in your region soon will end. And the turmoil within you as well. And it will. We know that for sure. 🙏💕💕
 

Thanks for the update @Haa very glad to hear that you are in good spirits and sorry about the rest, I find that the mind is relatively clean, it is easier to overcome the rest although it is certainly annoying.

Great that you find techniques that help, it sounds interesting, I will try it, I'm always in favor of anything that may help.

Hope you keep up the good mindset and that the rest fades away, it will over time for sure.

Keep up the great work, take good care 💞

Update 4.30pm

Score 1-2/10 overall in the last 10 days. 
Best of all no overactive sympaticus. 
Still tired and blurt vision. But just mild symptoms. 
I am celebrating every minute of being in this soft spot. 🙏💕💕

 

 

7 hours ago, Haa said:

Update 4.30pm

Score 1-2/10 overall in the last 10 days. 
Best of all no overactive sympaticus. 
Still tired and blurt vision. But just mild symptoms. 
I am celebrating every minute of being in this soft spot. 🙏💕💕

 

 

Lovely news @Haa very glad for you!

May it continue ✨

Edited March 12Mar 12 by Fullhealing

@Fullhealing

Thank you.
I made a small reduction to test the water, and reacted to this. I decided to ask Chippy how long to hold before start tapering. 

How are you this morning? 

Edited March 13Mar 13 by Haa

@ChippyHi Chippy. 
To test the water I tried to lower Sertraline from 91mg to 90,8mg two days ago. This morning I feel somewhat overstimulated,(unease, inner restlessness and uptight). Nothing new and choose to shift from being worried to embrace the reaction. I am not going to change anything atm. Holding the 90,8mg.

How long would you wait to start tapering considering the reaction to this very small reduction? It is 10 weeks since I lowered from 95mg to 91mg. 

1 hour ago, Haa said:

@ChippyHi Chippy. 
To test the water I tried to lower Sertraline from 91mg to 90,8mg two days ago. This morning I feel somewhat overstimulated,(unease, inner restlessness and uptight). Nothing new and choose to shift from being worried to embrace the reaction. I am not going to change anything atm. Holding the 90,8mg.

How long would you wait to start tapering considering the reaction to this very small reduction? It is 10 weeks since I lowered from 95mg to 91mg. 

Hi @Haa 

 

How long have you felt 1-3/10?

 

So after 2 reduced doses you are feeling an up tick in symtoms. How are you rating them?

 

How long to hold is a personal thing and there isn't a right answer.

 

Some are happy to drop with a certain amount of symptoms and thats fine for them some have long long holds and have reported finding great stablity from where they have smooth successful tapers.

 

Personally I would want you to manage a drop that small easily without feeling it before continuing.

 

I was going to suggest you try Micro Tapering when you do start. So 1/30 daily drops of whatever monthly % rate you decide apon.

 

So for example, you dropped 0.2mg 2 days ago. If you did that daily that would be a 6mg drop in your first month which would be 6.59% of your last dose. Then you would recalculate your daily drop based on 1/30 of the next monthly drop. Does that make sense? So you don't keep dropping 0.2mg every day, just the first month, in that example.

 

It may be you need to go a bit slower than that even but you get the idea.

 

What people find is by dropping tiny a amount each day they can creep off without the brain noticing. The fact you are noticing that small amount means you need to keep this holding for the minute. If you got WD symptoms from every tiny drop they would stack and that wouldn't be good.

 

If you did go for a micro taper and you found the first day or two was fine, you could continue with it for a week or even two and then hold to see how you were for the first month at least just to make sure you were coping with it.

 

It could be that when you do start to taper you might handle a 0.1mg daily drop in your first month which base on 91mg would be a 3.3% drop in the first month.

 

Just some ideas for the future. For the minute you just need to see how you go from here and make a call then. I like your tiny drop though, it was a good idea and about the right rate IMO.

 

Chippy

3 hours ago, Haa said:

@Fullhealing

Thank you.
I made a small reduction to test the water, and reacted to this. I decided to ask Chippy how long to hold before start tapering. 

How are you this morning? 

Sorry to hear you had a reaction @Haa it is quite "normal" I would say, just depends on how tolerated it is.

Useful tips as usual from @Chippy I see, how his brain works like that in this process is beyond me.. impressive.

Anyway micro tapering sounds interesting and maybe worth a try after the system catches up of course, I will consider it myself in the future, light years away from that now.

Hope you get your balance soon, that is the focus now.

5 minutes ago, Fullhealing said:

Sorry to hear you had a reaction @Haa it is quite "normal" I would say, just depends on how tolerated it is.

Useful tips as usual from @Chippy I see, how his brain works like that in this process is beyond me.. impressive.

Anyway micro tapering sounds interesting and maybe worth a try after the system catches up of course, I will consider it myself in the future, light years away from that now.

Hope you get your balance soon, that is the focus now.

@Fullhealing & @Haa for what it’s worth I’ve found micro tapering much gentler 

@Chippy Thanks for your reply and your suggestions. 
I’ll hold on this dosis at least until

April 1. And longer if the symptoms are persisting. 
The unease today lastet until after morning meds. And they haven’t shown up yet here mid afternoon. 
I would rate them as 2/10. So not bad. Just that I noticed them, as I haven’t felt the psychical symptoms for a while. 
I’ll defiantly consider microtapering. I have been hesitating doing this, as I was thinking that the WD could accumulate. But it is worth trying carefully for a while.
I don’t think I shall go above 5%, and I think, I shall hold at least 2 weeks between the tapering weeks. The idea of starting at 3% sounds safe.

Finally thanks a lot for doing the maths. 
We will see how the next days will go.

I am hopefull and enjoy the day. 🙏💕

@Haa which drug are you tapering at present?

Hi @Catbird

Sertraline from 91mg to 90,8mg. Hmm

I guess it is too early to start reducing again as I reacted to this tiny reduction. I’ll wait and see how long it will last before the sympathetic nervous system settles again. Luckily so far it has only been in the morning and the symptoms fade. This morning it faded before I took my morning meds. Got to think: (It could be a cortisol spike activated from the reduction). 

Anyway thank you for asking. It means a lot, to know I am part of a caring and wise community. 🙏💕💕
 

Edited March 14Mar 14 by Haa

16 hours ago, Haa said:

@Chippy Thanks for your reply and your suggestions. 
I’ll hold on this dosis at least until

April 1. And longer if the symptoms are persisting. 
The unease today lastet until after morning meds. And they haven’t shown up yet here mid afternoon. 
I would rate them as 2/10. So not bad. Just that I noticed them, as I haven’t felt the psychical symptoms for a while. 
I’ll defiantly consider microtapering. I have been hesitating doing this, as I was thinking that the WD could accumulate. But it is worth trying carefully for a while.
I don’t think I shall go above 5%, and I think, I shall hold at least 2 weeks between the tapering weeks. The idea of starting at 3% sounds safe.

Finally thanks a lot for doing the maths. 
We will see how the next days will go.

I am hopefull and enjoy the day. 🙏💕

Keep us posted @Haa with how you’re doing. You’ll get there best to not rush to maximise chances a good taper imo. 

1 hour ago, Chippy said:

Keep us posted @Haa with how you’re doing. You’ll get there best to not rush to maximise chances a good taper imo. 

@Chippy I sure will. Have a nice day. I hope you are doing ok..

4 hours ago, Haa said:

Hi @Catbird

Sertraline from 91mg to 90,8mg. Hmm

I guess it is too early to start reducing again as I reacted to this tiny reduction. I’ll wait and see how long it will last before the sympathetic nervous system settles again. Luckily so far it has only been in the morning and the symptoms fade. This morning it faded before I took my morning meds. Got to think: (It could be a cortisol spike activated from the reduction). 

Anyway thank you for asking. It means a lot, to know I am part of a caring and wise community. 🙏💕💕
 

You’re welcome @Haa

Hey @Haa how things are going for you since the reduction? 💞

Edited March 17Mar 17 by Fullhealing

Thanks for asking @Fullhealing

I am doing pretty good. Luckily the reaction to the microscopic reduction faded within some days. And now I am back in my soft spot. Still foggy vision, burning sensation on off and somewhat tired. But this doesn’t bother me. 
Its is when the sympathetic nervous system ramps up, I am challenged. 
Biggest win is no fear, no overstimulation and no restlessness.

I am so grateful.
If this continue, I will slowly reduce Sertraline again in April.

I hope you soon will have some easy days. 

1 minute ago, Haa said:

Thanks for asking @Fullhealing

I am doing pretty good. Luckily the reaction to the microscopic reduction faded within some days. And now I am back in my soft spot. Still foggy vision, burning sensation on off and somewhat tired. But this doesn’t bother me. 
Its is when the sympathetic nervous system ramps up, I am challenged. 
Biggest win is no fear, no overstimulation and no restlessness.

I am so grateful.
If this continue, I will slowly reduce Sertraline again in April.

I hope you soon will have some easy days. 

That's sweet! Great progress, lovely to read!

Update 9pm

Still in my soft spot. I decided to reduce slightly today. And then decided against it. It is just five days since my last reduction. Slowly, slowly. No rush. 🙏💕

Edited March 20Mar 20 by Haa

10 minutes ago, Haa said:

Update 9pm

Still in my soft spot. I decided to reduce slightly today. Just 1%. Slowly slowly. 🤞

Lovely news @Haa good luck with the reduction,🤞it will go smoothly 💞

Edited March 20Mar 20 by Fullhealing

Update 10.30pm

I have been wondering, why I am getting more and more sleepy during the last week or so.

When I wake up, I am feeling fine

Then I take my morning meds and two hours later, I am so sleepy that I have to take a nap for at least two hours. And again an afternoon nap too.

There are two reasons I can see:         

1. I am reacting to the updosing in both Sertralin and Oxapax some month ago. I am clearly overmedicated.

2. It is because I have reduced in Sertralin and are reacting to this.

 

My question is: 

Should I try to reduce Sertralin again or is it too close to the last reduction on Marts 15? ( if it is due to the too high dosis) together with Oxapax.

 

Or should I try to reduce in Oxapax as it is after morning dosis 8am, that I get extremely sleepy.

 

Or should I just live with it, as it is for now? It is at least 4 hours of sleeping during the day. And still I sleep all night.

 

When I wake up after med nap in the afternoon I am feeling like myself again like when I wake up in the morning.  
 

What would you do, if it were you?

🙏💕

6 hours ago, Haa said:

Update 10.30pm

I have been wondering, why I am getting more and more sleepy during the last week or so.

When I wake up, I am feeling fine

Then I take my morning meds and two hours later, I am so sleepy that I have to take a nap for at least two hours. And again an afternoon nap too.

There are two reasons I can see:         

1. I am reacting to the updosing in both Sertralin and Oxapax some month ago. I am clearly overmedicated.

2. It is because I have reduced in Sertralin and are reacting to this.

 

My question is: 

Should I try to reduce Sertralin again or is it too close to the last reduction on Marts 15? ( if it is due to the too high dosis) together with Oxapax.

 

Or should I try to reduce in Oxapax as it is after morning dosis 8am, that I get extremely sleepy.

 

Or should I just live with it, as it is for now? It is at least 4 hours of sleeping during the day. And still I sleep all night.

 

When I wake up after med nap in the afternoon I am feeling like myself again like when I wake up in the morning.  
 

What would you do, if it were you?

🙏💕

Hi @Haa seems you right on with points 1 and 2, combination of both, it's possible that the benzo takes up more space now after cutting with Sertralin and this is the result for now.

If I'm not mistaken here, the recommended is to start cutting with the activator, which is what you do to leave relatively calm ground for the process to be as bearable as possible, which make a lot of sense, I personally have no real experience with benzo's so take this with a grain of salt..

Looks like you're doing the right thing with the current form of reduction and things will balance out in terms of sleep over time, but I'm sure others as lovely @Chippy will give their opinion as well, and whether to continue reducing, as you mentioned you're doing well so it may be a good time to try another small cut of Sertralin, your call of course.

I'm so pleased to hear that you are still doing well, may it stays 💞 

Edited March 28Mar 28 by Fullhealing

8 hours ago, Haa said:

have been wondering, why I am getting more and more sleepy during the last week or so.

When I wake up, I am feeling fine

Then I take my morning meds and two hours later, I am so sleepy that I have to take a nap for at least two hours. And again an afternoon nap too.

Hey @Haa it might be the benzo dose is a bit too much for you. 
 

8 hours ago, Haa said:

2. It is because I have reduced in Sertralin and are reacting to this.

Reducing an activating drug like sertraline may make the sedative effects of the benzo stronger. Although at these doses I’m surprised. 
Polydrugged? Which drug to taper off first?

 

8 hours ago, Haa said:

My question is: 

Should I try to reduce Sertralin again or is it too close to the last reduction on Marts 15? ( if it is due to the too high dosis) together with Oxapax.

91mg down to 90mg is only about 1% so you could certainly reduce some more if you felt stable enough to try. This may increase the sedative effects of the benzo further. 
 

Tbh I was going to suggest you get some of the bulk of sertraline down to a level and then do the same with the benzo whilst holding sertraline and then continuing that taper. So a little push me pull me in the brakes/accelerator's. 
 

Mainly I’m quite shocked you are noticing this sedation at this level/ratio. 

 

Be careful tapering two drugs at the same time can be confusing. When you get into trouble it is hard to know what caused what!

 

What i would do is wait a few more days and get 3 weeks away from your drop. Confirm you don’t have any wd from the reduction, and you are stable, then make April a mini benzo taper month. Just take a little off. 1 or 2% and see if that helps. Then if it does, hold that till May and restart your sertraline taper, if you feel stable enough to. 
 

Chippy

Chippy and Fullhealing made some good points.

There are people who taper multiple drugs together with small drops (compared to finishing a taper of one drug and then starting to taper the next one)

If the sleepiness is not withdrawal, but the benzo acting stronger due to less of the AD, you could do your next drop be a benzo taper and not AD.

 

I personally got no knowledge of tapering multiple drugs at the same time, I'll try to take a look at other people on SA, if they do each time a drop of multiple drugs together, or each time do a drop of one drug and then to the next.