Getting off Geodon (w/response)

[Guest guest]

" johntiflin "

<<Has anyone successfully tapered off Geodon? If so how did you do it? How

were the withdrawal symptoms?>>

** Hi ,

Only one of these questions can be answered. Yes, people have gotten off

Geodon. A few weeks ago the same question was asked. The bottom line is while

none of these drugs are the exact same as another, they are all similar. Getting

off one anti-psychotic is no different from getting off any other anti-psychotic

in the amount to decrease each time. But, having said that, getting off a drug,

any drug, can be very different depending on the person. Factors such as age,

how many psych drugs a person is/has been on, how many years drugs have been

taken, fundamental core health, diet, other drugs being taken, health

condition,history of how one has cared for one's self, and the list goes on.

Withdrawal symptoms? Too many to name. You can find most of them listed in

any drug monograph as " side effects " and " adverse effects " .

You can also query Google for a list of anti-psychotic withdrawal symptoms.

Symptoms experienced depend on how a person does the withdrawal. Going too

quickly or reducing by too much at a time will produce uncomfortable, and

sometimes almost unbearable symptoms.

Rule of thumb with anti-psychotics. Reductions should be no larger than 3%

at a time. Most people do 2%. Do a reduction of 2% and then wait. Ask yourself

every 5 days or so this question, " Do I feel as well or better than I felt prior

to the reduction? "

If you can't answer affirmatively, it is not time for another reduction. It

doesn't matter if it has been a month since the reduction. If you can't say you

feel as well or better than you felt prior to the reduction, it is not time for

another reduction.

Each 2% reduction is based on the current dose being taken, not the original

dose.

Example:

Current dose of Drug X -- 10 mg.

Reduction of 2% = 0.2 mg leaving you with a 9.98 mg dosage.

You can accomplish this by either getting it compounded at the pharmacy of by

creating a liquid formula yourself. Hot liquid will often work for this.

You use the same amount of liquid all the time. This allows you to easily

titrate the dose. People in the USA find it easiest to work with 10 oz.

So, you would dissolve your pill in 10 oz. of hot liquid. Then, you'll need a

syringe for liquids. You'll draw off about a quarter off an oz. (0.25 mg).

This is in place of the 2 mg. Rounding it out like this simplifies things.

Throw away what you draw off and drink the remaining 9.8 oz.

You cannot do this with some delayed release/timed release/extended

release-type drugs. There are drugs that do fall in these categories that you

can use for liquid titrations.

But, the most important thing to remember that no two people are chemical

clones of each other. This means that you cannot assume that because " Jack King "

successfully came off Drug X and posted how he did it, that you would have the

same experience. What is a savior to one can land another in the hospital.

This is why, in all but the simplest cases, I recommend saving yourself a lot

of trouble and do a consultation with me. A simple case not usually requiring

this is a one time stint on one antidepressant or benzodiazepine for no longer

than 2 years for a person under 45 years of age with no chronic health problems

and not taking any other pharmaceutical drugs. Anything beyond that

exponentially complicates matters and would be best served by exploring all the

factors in a consultation. This gives people a good jump start.

One final note for everyone -- being tough is meaningless in this. If you

think you are going to go faster or drop larger amounts of a drug because you're

" tough " and can " do anything " to which you set your mind, you're sadly mistaken.

You will ultimately fail. If you don't end up in the hospital beck on your drug

with one added for good measure, you will end up with a lifetime of symptoms no

doctor can diagnose or help. Most who do this end up having to stop working.

They become completely disabled, yet to others they look fine. Friends and

family get tired of you saying you're sick and can't work yet no doctor give you

a diagnosis. No matter who you are, this will happen to you UNLESS this is your

1st time of a drug. You get some leeway the 1st time around.

So, that's the best I can give you. If there were formulas that worked for

everyone with this, I'd put them in a book, sell the book and make money while

sleeping. I wouldn't spend time doing things this way.

If you want help you'll have to provide more information. Drugs taken, how

long, age, why you began this drug, experiences trying to stop, 4 day food and

beverage diary, list of all medications and supplements, etc.

Regards,