general tips for tapering off meds as someone who has done it both safely and unsafely before:
⭐ DISCLAIMER: this is for harm reduction purposes only. if you want to come off a medication, it is best to do so with a trusted professional.
unfortunately, not all professionals know how to properly taper and may put you in danger. some may deny assistance entirely. please advocate for yourself/bring someone with you, or seek better care.
please do NOT rely solely on this post to do a self taper. i am a patient, may be wrong, and do not know you. if you can't access professional assistance, do your own research before doing anything.
- check if your medication has a withdrawal syndrome. learn about the symptoms and watch for them as you taper. if you begin to experience moderate or severe withdrawal, return to the previous dose at next dosing and reassess the tapering schedule.
- start low and go slow. the higher your dose and the longer you've been on the medication, the smaller the dose reductions will be and the less frequently you reduce the dose.
- how your dose was increased does NOT translate to how it should be decreased. tapering depends on the medication, current daily dose, and how long you've been on the medication.
- make a schedule and stick to it. do not rush. depending on your situation, it can take anywhere from days to years to come off a medication. days if you've only been on it for a short time or are on a low dose, years if you've been on it for years, and weeks to months in most other cases.
- instant release is NOT the same as extended release. instant release medications are released into the bloodstream much faster than extended. extended stays in the blood for longer. generally, you will be tapering more slowly on an ER med than an IR one.
- signs you're tapering too fast are: feeling sick, heart rate and blood pressure changes, issues with temperature regulation, distressing mental health symptoms like severe depression or anxiety, erratic mood, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, severe insomnia
- normal changes as you taper down: mild changes in mood, energy, sleeping habits, appetite; these should fade as your body readjusts to the lower dose. if they do not go away after tapering ceases, contact a professional.
And as for the question of whether or not to taper, here are some reasons people choose to taper down or off:
The meds are causing side effects that cannot be tolerated
The meds are reducing quality of life instead of enhancing it (ex: being overly sedated or stimulated)
The meds are not effective or not effective enough to warrant the risks
To lower the risk of complications from long term medication use (ex: movement disorders from taking antipsychotics)
To avoid the withdrawal syndrome
The meds interact with other medications they are on, or are going on
The meds are too expensive
To learn to cope without medication
Psych meds have helped some, but there are also many more who find them not worth the risks or cost.
While I always hope people can safely taper down with a doctor, I know this is not always possible.
If you need to come off a medication for your health but lack support, self-tapering is an option. But it's risky, and can lead to crisis or hospitalization if done incorrectly.
If you choose to self-taper, if you do nothing else, please take it slow and stay safe! Do your own research!
Are you on psych meds? (read all options)
yes; they help me and i want to stay on them
yes; they only help a bit but i dont mind taking them
yes; they dont help me and i want to come off
yes; they cause me side effects and i want to come off
yes; they dont help/cause side effects but my psych refuses to take me off them
yes; i have mixed feelings about my meds
no; i dont take meds but i want to
no; i dont take meds and i have mixed feelings about them
no; i used to be but i am not anymore (by choice)
no; i used to be but am not anymore (by circumstance)
no; i am not on psych meds and dont plan to be
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