The following post is an amalgamation of research and draws from a variety of sources. Clinical resources are subject to regular updates as scientific understanding improves. This post is for informational purposes, but it is not a peer-reviewed, controlled clinical document and should NOT be taken as medical information nor clinical guidelines.

 

Instead, it is provided for informational purposes and should serve as a useful prompt to do your own research, review appropriate clinical sources and seek qualified medical advice when making your own decisions.

 

Preparing Doses for Tapering - Weighing & DIY Liquids

 

Weighing Pills/Powder

 

Procedure

There are 2 basic ways to weigh a pill, either by grinding the pill into powder or using the whole pill and removing some of the weight by shaving or filing. For either method, it is recommended to weigh 5 to 10 pills collectively and get an average weight of your pill. That will be your standard to make calculations in determining your pill weight as you taper and cut. There are slight variations of weight with each pill due to the limitations of a factory made pill. Using this consistent average weight removes that variability.  The actual pill weight (mgpw) is more than your dose weight of actual ingredient (mgai) because the pill has fillers in it. For example, a 20 mg pill may weigh 236.8 mg or 0.237g on a scale.

 

Shaving

If the pills have a line in the center of the tablet (scored), this means the drug is evenly distributed throughout it. Using a pill cutter works well to do the big cuts of a pill and then use a one-sided razor, file, or very sharp knife to shave the pill carefully to get the desired weight from there. 

Grinding 

Grind the pills to powder and fill capsules with the necessary weight. This is the preferred method if your pills are not scored. Capsules vary in weight as well and will need to be added to the powder’s weight for accuracy. Some prefer this method whether the pill is scored or not.

 

Equipment:

 

Weigh Scales

Always calibrate your scale before use. Place scale away from heat sources, fans, windows or direct sun. When using the scale, make sure the surface is stable and level.

There are various levels of weigh scales available. Most find the Gem20 Digital Milligram Jewelry Scale, found on sites like Amazon, sufficient when starting their taper. This is a scale that reads to 0.001g.

To find a scale that reads to another decimal point, the cost will be significantly more, a couple examples of this are:

 

A&D EJ-54D2 Dual Range - 22g x 0.0002g / 52g x 0.001g Compact Balance

 

U.S. Solid 0.1mg Analytical Balance, 100g x 0.1mg, 0.0001g Lab Science Electronic Balance

 

Blades or Files

Using a simple one-sided blade, very sharp knife or metal file works.

 

Capsules

Use a size that will be large enough to hold the needed powder and that is easy enough to handle.

 

Tools

Pill cutters and various filling tools can be found on Amazon such as funnels, scoops, etc.

 

Grinders

There are numerous methods of crushing pills, such as between 2 spoons, a pestle and mortar or a pill grinder.

 

The Math

 

Cutting Calculator 2.0

 

MAKING DIY LIQUID

 

Once doses become quite small, it may be preferable to crossover to a liquid solution. Check the solubility of your drug to determine how to proceed. Some ADs do come in liquid form in some countries but, for many, it is necessary to make a DIY liquid. 

 

Crossover

This is a necessary step to prevent issues. Crossover is best done from a stable state.

 

- For 4-7 days, ¼ of your dose of the liquid solution/ ¾ of your dose in the pill/powder form.

- For 4-7 days, ½ of your dose of the liquid solution/ ½ of your dose in the pill/powder form.

- For 4-7 days, ¾ of your dose of the liquid solution/ ¼ of your dose in the pill/powder form.

- Full dose in the liquid solution.

 

If at any stage, if withdrawal symptoms show up, hold till they subside then proceed with the schedule.

 

Solubility 

ADs vary from soluble to insoluble. 

Some have found it beneficial to add maple syrup or use apple juice to form a suspension when pills are insoluble or have limited solubility. 

Check The Maudsley Deprescribing Guide to determine if your drug can be converted to liquid form. 

Remember that the pill's filler may not be soluble but that will not affect the efficacy of the solution.

 

Procedure

- Accuracy and consistency of the preparation are key. This will limit minor variations in dosage. 

 

- First, grind the pill to a very fine powder as mentioned above. 

 

- Next, weigh a set amount of powder to use for making your solution or you can grind just one pill and work with that dose. 

 

- Put the powder into a dark glass jar. Add measured water or suspension liquid using a syringe*, micropipette*, or glass beaker. The water can be tap, distilled or bottled drinking. 

*using the same manufacturer of syringe or micropipette to measure water/suspension liquid, as you use to draw your solution is the most accurate

 

- Shake or stir vigorously, giving time for the drug to thoroughly dissolve. It can be left for 20 minutes and shook or stirred again. Always shake or stir, before using a syringe or micropipette to draw out your dose. 

 

Discard the leftover solution if stability is unknown. Cover and refrigerate if the solution is stable and discard after the recommended shelf life. 

Most drugs last 3 days refrigerated, but this varies depending on the individual drug so always double check. Fluoxetine/Prozac lasts 14 days refrigerated.

 

Using a ratio of 2:1 water/suspension liquid to drug dose is the most common. An example of this is 20ml of water to 10mg of drug dose. If you needed 8.7 mg, you would draw up 17.4 ml of diy liquid. 

As doses become smaller, it may be necessary to increase the ratio of water/suspension liquid to drug for accuracy.

 

You can use the Cutting Calculator 2.0 to help work out how much of your liquid to take as well as calculate your reductions.

 

Equipment:

 

Syringes

There are various sizes. Use a well-known company and, for consistency, stick with that company. To preserve the markings, place clear tape on them or use clear fingernail polish to coat them.

 

Micropipettes

There are many options. This is an example of a professional grade one. Single-channel micropipette Transferpette® S, adjustable, DE-M

 

Glass

Use dark glass jars for storing the liquid. This prevents light from degrading the drug. Lab beakers can also be used for measuring; both are available on Amazon.

 

Magnetic Stirrer

This may help with dissolving the pill/powder and distribution of the drug throughout the liquid. Available on Amazon.

 

Additional resources of how to make up DIY liquids

 

This is a video of someone doing the following procedure, starting at the 1 minute 15 sec mark:

 

Aussies Turn To Online Advice To Try And Get Off Their Antidepressant 

 

1. Crush the 5 mg tablet between two spoons.

2. Use the tip of one spoon to pulverize the crushed bits above into a very fine powder

3. Do this on an A4 plastic sleeve.

4. Fold the sleeve in half, long ways, to make a funnel.

5. Place the tip of the funnel at the entrance to the 10ml syringe.

6. Pour the fine powder into the syringe. Give the sleeve a few light taps to make sure minimal residue is left on the sleeve.

7. Add 10ml of water, using a micropipette.

8. Place your thumb over the top of the syringe and shake well for 10-20 seconds.

9. Use a micropipette to measure your dose.

10. 0.34mg dose / 5mg tablet * 10ml water = 0.68ml on a micropipette

11. Place a cap over the syringe to keep it airtight and leave it in the darkness of a cabinet. (Vortioxetine)

Edited April 15Apr 15 by LostinCanada

Lots of great advice here LostinCanada!

 

Because I'm at the lower doses I make a fairly dilute suspension by dropping a 10mg tablet into 50ml water.  At the start I used a bigger pipette as the doses were larger but now I use a 1ml pipette and each increment provides 0.004mg citalopram.  It helps ensure the tiny dose changes towards the end of the taper are as accurate as possible.  I don't grind the tablet into powder first, I never considered that but it disappears into a solution in 5 or 10 minutes and seems to be working for me.

I found the same, @Mamgu...The 10 mg citalopram tablets seem to dissolve completely in the water with some stirring, after they have sat for a while. Because I'm still way up there at almost 12 mg, I dissolve one and a half 10 mg tablets in 10 ml water and use a 10 ml and a 1 ml syringe to measure out the dose.

 

 

4 hours ago, Treefrog said:

I found the same, @Mamgu...The 10 mg citalopram tablets seem to dissolve completely in the water with some stirring, after they have sat for a while. Because I'm still way up there at almost 12 mg, I dissolve one and a half 10 mg tablets in 10 ml water and use a 10 ml and a 1 ml syringe to measure out the dose.

 

 

Make sure you weigh that half with micro scales won’t you? Pill cutters are not accurate enough. 😀

On 3/11/2026 at 10:13 PM, Chippy said:

Make sure you weigh that half with micro scales won’t you? Pill cutters are not accurate enough. 😀

Hmm, that crossed my mind, that I don't really know if what I'm dissolving is actually 15 mg or not, but I haven't done anything about it... I guess I better get a decent micro scale.. 😊

Edited March 15Mar 15 by Treefrog

4 hours ago, Treefrog said:

Hmm, that crossed my mind, that I don't really know if what I'm dissolving is actually 15 mg or not, but I haven't done anything about it... I guess I better get a decent micro scale.. 😊

100% or start dissolving 2 tablets. So important to be as consistent as possible. 

This my reasoning for not even attempting to weigh dry tablet particles, I think the wet solution will provide much more consistent results.  @Treefrog, it may be OK at the dose you're on at present but perhaps when you get to lower doses you'll have to ensure you are spot-on; whether you break up dry material or make a wet solution.  I have heard there are some great scales that have helped folks completely taper off their ADs so it's definitely doable - as Chippy says, being consistent is the key. Good luck with your continuing taper 🙂

 

On 3/15/2026 at 12:21 AM, Mamgu said:

I have heard there are some great scales that have helped folks completely taper off their ADs so it's definitely doable

Shoutout to the Gemini scales, mine have been toted around and gone through many wringers, yet remain bang-on accurate for years. It made a big difference to get a scale and have the same amount each day instead of whatever looked accurate-ish from a pillcutter: sweet stability. 

I bought the Gem20 digital scale from Amazon and I've been using it to weigh up the last 2 weeks of doses. I'm not sure if my experience with the scale is typical or maybe it is a defective unit that I need to exchange?

 

Calibration: I'm not sure it's calibrating properly, because while it seems to weigh the calibration weights correctly, it never displays the PASS message that it's supposed to display when calibration is complete.

 

Weighing: I suspect this is par for the course for this scale, but there is a lot of variation between weights. For example, the first time I measure a half tablet, it might weigh 0.032 g, and if I do it again, it weighs 0.031 g.

 

Can anybody who is experienced with this scale "weigh in"? 😀

20 hours ago, Treefrog said:

I bought the Gem20 digital scale from Amazon and I've been using it to weigh up the last 2 weeks of doses. I'm not sure if my experience with the scale is typical or maybe it is a defective unit that I need to exchange?

 

Calibration: I'm not sure it's calibrating properly, because while it seems to weigh the calibration weights correctly, it never displays the PASS message that it's supposed to display when calibration is complete.

 

Weighing: I suspect this is par for the course for this scale, but there is a lot of variation between weights. For example, the first time I measure a half tablet, it might weigh 0.032 g, and if I do it again, it weighs 0.031 g.

 

Can anybody who is experienced with this scale "weigh in"? 😀

They can be a bit unpredictable. For example, everything I can see online says you turn the scales on to calibrate and then once you see 0.000 you hold the on button for 3 seconds and then it says Cal on the screen. However with our set, I have to hold MODE instead! 🤷‍♂️ Then it says Cal on the screen. Then I have to hit mode again and it asks for 2 weights (20.000g)! I give it 2 weights and is says says PASS. Then if I take the weights off, it goes back to 0, and then put them on again it says 20.000g. So I assume this correct now. I also check with each weight individually and it says 10.000g. So all is good.

If your scale weighs the cal weights correctly I would assume it is fine. Might be worth getting another one from Amazon to be on the safe side, but I think there are variations in how each scale is setup, so it might be yours doesn't say Pass, in the same way mine uses the wrong button to get into cal mode!

 

The fluctuation you are seeing is probaly just that the pill is a bit close to the 0.0315/6 mark so it keeps changing the rounding depending.

I think just put the pill on, let the reading settle and take that as correct. If it fluctuates a little that is ok.

 

I seem to find that 'loading' the scale with a bit more weight helps the scale reading to be more stable. So adding in the 10g weight works well. 

 

What ever you do I would do the same each time. So if you add in a weight, do that everytime. If you put the pill on let it settle and then take the reading and ignore the fluctations, do that everytime. Minimise variables. 🙂 

 

 

Thanks Chippy... Sounds like it's not just my scale that's quirky. It does weigh the calibration weights correctly though, so there's probably no point in exchanging it.

I gave up on scales after the third different set failed to provide consistency.

Once you switch to homemade liquid you probably won't go back.

It's more reliable and I can make much smaller reductions.