Hi all

 

I have a long history of antidepressant use (trialling different ADs) more recently adding in more and more drugs.  Current drugs:

1. Escitalopram 1.11mg (tapering from 10mg for 2 years so far);
   
2. Amitriptyline 20mg (plan to pause the Escitalopram taper soon and decrease Amitriptyline to 10mg due to side effects);
   
3. Diazepam 8mg per day (plan to taper last);
   
4. Baclofen 45mg (I've been dropping by 5mg here and there - there's a paucity of info on how to taper this drug); and
   
5. Polaramine 2mg at night (for sleep).
   

 

So far, I've been doing okay.  Needed to hold for 3.5 months after a major crash (tapering too quickly) in April 2025. I'm having weekly one-on-one psychotherapy and will be commencing weekly or twice weekly group therapy for treatment resistant conditions.

 

Having this forum is a godsend. Having a place online and being able to communicate with others going through similar difficulties is so important. I get so much out of supporting others and vice versa. I look forward to connecting the others online. ;) ;)

 

Well done Luke on getting this up and running.

 

You can see my journey so far here at sa: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/32414-catbird-introduction-a-long-and-winding-road/

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Hey Catbird

 

Thanks so much for joining the forum and welcome! It’s amazing to have you here. Together hopefully we can help each other through this challenging time in our lives!

 

I’ve linked you sa thread for you above. 

 

Speak soon

 

Chippy

Thank you for joining.

 

I hope that you do indeed get a lot out of this forum.

Good to see you here.

thanks everyone for the warm welcome 😀

Hello @catbird, Great to see you here! I really hope that your taper will go well. You really have or had quite a lot to get rid of.  

 

I saw that you plan to taper the diazepam last. As you know, I am holding Escitalopram for more than two months now, and I have made some tiny steps of tapering my Zolpidem. Over at benzo buddies, I have been recommended to first completely taper off the z drug, as far as I understood, because it is more difficult. I don’t know what to do. I had a terrible night tonight, in the end about three hours of sleep. And anxiety . Miss my sleeping pill or at least the biggest part of it… sleeping was what helped me through this first difficult year of tapering. I don’t know.

 

What does the diazepam for you? 

 

I hope that you will find a good community for you here. It is great how Chippy and Luke are taking care of all of us.

See you! Nemina

Over at benzo buddies, I have been recommended to first completely taper off the z drug, as far as I understood, because it is more difficult. I don’t know what to do. I had a terrible night tonight, in the end about three hours of sleep. And anxiety . Miss my sleeping pill or at least the biggest part of it… sleeping was what helped me through this first difficult year of tapering. I don’t know.

Hey Nemina 

 

Im a CT non poly drugged case and haven't had to deal with tapering in my journey. From Ive heard from Mark Horowitz keeping the drug most sedative till last could make sense for obvious reasons. I'm not sure if there are other thoughts for suggesting removing the zDrug first but my gut would be the opposite. Love to know anyone else's thoughts on this?

 

Chippy

Hey Catbird! Nice to see you here. You’ll get there with time, patience, and slow tapers. I feel you on the on again off again of polydrugged in 2013 and for a short time of 3 together not a haphazard on/off in 2017.

 

(Note to Nemina from Jen - Edited Chippy)

I agree with @Chippy. Because sleep is important to deal with everything else. We also detox and repair a lot during sleep. I don’t have scientific evidence to prove the z drug being last to taper though. I wonder if there is anything over at SA about it or where Mark Horowitz might have mentioned it.

Edited January 17Jan 17 by Chippy

I can’t link to a video. But he’s mentioned it many times in interviews on YouTube.

Hello Catbird,

 

 

Great to see you here too!  😛❤️ 

Hi Nemina

Quote

I saw that you plan to taper the diazepam last. As you know, I am holding Escitalopram for more than two months now, and I have made some tiny steps of tapering my Zolpidem. Over at benzo buddies, I have been recommended to first completely taper off the z drug, as far as I understood, because it is more difficult. I don’t know what to do. I had a terrible night tonight, in the end about three hours of sleep. And anxiety . Miss my sleeping pill or at least the biggest part of it… sleeping was what helped me through this first difficult year of tapering. I don’t know.

 

What does the diazepam for you? 

I notice you have had a few replies indicating to do the more sedating drugs last. I'm also of similar thinking. I did an acute Benzo withdrawal in 2023 and during that time I also managed to stop Zolpidem. I didn't fully get off the Diazepam because I started a ketamine assisted psychotherapy program. It seemed like the ketamine made me more aware of my anxiety so it was a bad time for me to stop completely. Now I just take it to keep me stable.

 

If you're not on Diazepam I'd keep it that way.  Maybe you could revisit the SA homepage where they talk about tapering multiple drugs and use the terms accelerator and brakes. It will help you make a decision on what to do.

 

Our paths and drug histories are somewhat different so what has worked for me won't necessarily work for you.  I'm on amitriptyline which helps with sleep. I'm about to taper it because of other side effects.  

 

I take it you're only tapering one drug at a time?

Dear chippy, catbird and namastejen, thank you so much for your answers and valuable thoughts!

 

 since this is not my thread, but catbirds, I don’t want to use so much space here, so just want to say thank you!

How are you doing Catbird ?

Hello catbird,

it makes a lot of sense to taper the sedating drug in the end.

How are you doing? 

I feel that our paths are somewhat similar. And I have had so many good advice from you already! I’m happy that you are here on this forum now, too. I think often of you, because you said that a 3,5 month hold has helped you. I have now three months full and I’m not feeling well at all. Strong waves… but I hold onto the hope that someday they will subside when I hold long enough.

I have seen it on the other forum that you are interested in Gut health and metabolic health. I also think, that these points are extremely important. I will have my gut checked next week. Did you have tests for your micro biome and for metabolic health?

 Take care! Nemina

Edited January 17Jan 17 by Chippy

Hi @Nemina I just came across your post. It’s taking me a while to get used to this site. I had some gut tests a few years ago - namely SIBO - and everything checked out. I’m now on a keto diet which addresses a whole range of things. My cognition has markedly improved, my appetite has decreased, my gut is working so much better even without lots of fibre (amitriptyline causes constipation), I’ve lost a little bit of weight, not too much. All my markers of metabolic health are really good aside from LDL-C which is up but to be expected.

if you’re interested in metabolic health I’d recommended YouTube videos by Robert Lustig, Casey Means, and the YouTube channel The Metabolic Mind.

Hope you’re doing okay 🤗

@Nemina

https://www.levels.com/blog/why-butyrate-foods-are-essential-to-gut-health?__s=7uzg38g7yzpmbm0y2xxu&utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=[Newsletter]+01-15-26+-+How+to+increase+butyrate+for+a+healthier+gut+[Active+Leads]&utm_content=Want+a+healthier+gut%3F+Increase+butyrate

I don’t have to worry about butyrate as I make my own (keto), but thought you might find this interesting 

Hello @Catbird, sorry for answering late, I had some problems with checking in to this site. (My own mistake). Thank you for all the valuable information! I will check it out. The information on butyrate is already very interesting. 
i’m happy to hear that you are feeling better on your keto diet. Keep us posted on how it is going! I have read a lot about keto, but I am reluctant to try it, because I have problems with my adrenal glands and don’t want to put stress on them. (Not only adrenal fatigue, but I have a high-level of antibodies against the glands). I believe the main root of all my health problems, including mental health, is in childhood trauma. It seems to me that it is possible that it is similar for you. The constant inner alarm takes its toll on the body in many ways. (Besides the fact that it leads us to take psychoactive medicines, which are in the end very bad for us.) 

I really hope that your health will improve soon. 
Take care, Nemina

 

Feeling very jittery today. Not too sure whether it's my keto diet, my very slow Escitalopram taper, or decreasing my diazepam by 0.5mg a week ago and last night moving my split dose to one a total daily nighttime dose. Probably a combination of all and a waste of energy second guessing. I'm going to hold everything as it is until my CNS settles.

 

On the positive side I've had no somnolence today though feeling really activated is very uncomfortable.

40 minutes ago, Catbird said:

Feeling very jittery today. Not too sure whether it's my keto diet, my very slow Escitalopram taper, or decreasing my diazepam by 0.5mg a week ago and last night moving my split dose to one a total daily nighttime dose. Probably a combination of all and a waste of energy second guessing. I'm going to hold everything as it is until my CNS settles.

 

On the positive side I've had no somnolence today though feeling really activated is very uncomfortable.

Hey @Catbird 

 

Sorry about how you're feeling today. You have alot of plates spinning there don't you. Might be worth keeping an eye on the diazepam drop as that was the change you made recently. See how you go you could always updose again if you suspect it? A little hold here at least sounds like a good plan to me. 

 

Glad your somnolence has lifted, I know you said you were having to nap/rest alot in the day. Not so good your feeling activated now as result. I have to say this is interesting its coincided with lower the Benzo dose.....

3 minutes ago, Chippy said:

Hey @Catbird 

 

Sorry about how you're feeling today. You have alot of plates spinning there don't you. Might be worth keeping an eye on the diazepam drop as that was the change you made recently. See how you go you could always update again if you suspect it? A little hold here at least sounds like a good plan to me. 

 

Glad your somnolence has lifted, I know you said you were having to nap/rest alot in the day. Not so good your feeling activated now as result. I have to say this is interesting its coincided with lower the Benzo dose.....

Seems it could be @Chippy although the activation has heightened with each micro drop of the Escitalopram recently (prior to the Diazepam drop). I don't think I'll reinstate the Diazepam just yet. I'll just see how the next few days go. It's a bugger trying to get down to Escitalopram 1mg!!

 

Thanks for checking in,

17 minutes ago, Catbird said:

It's a bugger trying to get down to Escitalopram 1mg!!

I’ve read alot of people say this. And some doctors say it’s not a clinically significant dose at this level 🤷‍♂️🙈

5 hours ago, Chippy said:

I’ve read alot of people say this. And some doctors say it’s not a clinically significant dose at this level 🤷‍♂️🙈

It’s about 25% SERT occupancy 

Just now, Catbird said:

It’s about 25% SERT occupancy 

Exactly!

I am sorry, that you are not feeling well @Catbird. Jittery and activated to me is worse than sleepy. I hope everything will stabilize soon. ❤️