I've been on 10 mg for about 6 months and decided to get off of it. The more I read, the more I think I probably should have never gone on it in the 1st place. I was in a moderate depression that I believe I was on the verge of coming out of on my own when I started to take it. I felt like hell for almost a week when I started it, also a lot of insomnia for almost a month. [xx(] If I even had any idea what I would have to go thru to get on it, I probably never would have started it!
I definitely felt MUCH better after being on it for about 5 or 6 weeks and wanted to get off, but was told I should stay on it for a minimum of 4 months up to 9 months. I figured since I was feeling good, with minimal side effects, what the heck.
So finally after 6 months, I decided I wanted to get off this, especially after reading 100s of posts on withdrawals. Seems the longer someone is on this, the more chance of worse side effects. I was going to tell my Dr., but since he didn't have a clue what I was in for when he gave it to me, I don't really trust what he'll tell me to get off! I did my own research by reading everyone's personal experiences and any withdrawal tips I could find from medical sites. It definitely helps knowing what you MIGHT be in for, so you donât get caught by surprise. If I would have done some research before I started this drug, I would have waited at least couple of more weeks before starting to take it, to see whether I REALLY needed to! I would have thought my doctor might have suggested this before prescribing it!
I cut down to 7.5 mg for a week, with minor side effects. I felt just a tad dizzy off and on for a day or two, and then I had a slight hung-over feeling after about 5-6 days which actually dissipated by the end of the day. By the 7th day, I felt basically normal again. Now I'm down to 5.0 mg on my 4th day. Yesterday, I actually felt some minor anxiousness, slight dizziness, and minor tingling in my left arm and face that I often feel when I get nervous. After I ate my lunch and took my vitamins the symptoms seemed to have backed off quite a bit. By the evening I was only feeling mild dizziness and minor fatigue. It hasnât effected my sleeping at all, Iâve been sleeping very good, so far.
I'm hoping to go to 3.75 for a week, then 2.5 for a week, then 1.25 for a week, then stretch out a 1.25 dose until I'm only taking it once every 3-4 days and then stop. I think you can get the pills into 1/8s, I'm actually breaking them into quarters just using my fingers. I'll use an Exacto knife to get it into 1/8s though.
You can put the 1/4 tablet into a small container and cut it with the knife. That way if it ends up getting semi-crushed, just divide the piles into equal halves and you won't lose any of the powder.
I'm definitely not getting on any more medication unless it's a LAST resort after this! [:0]