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Chapter
Fifteen
How to Taper Off
Multiple Medications
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I feel 100% better!!!! Oh My Gosh. I cannot believe how great I feel. I’m
actually getting ME back. I can see my personality, my spunk, my spark increase
gradually each and every day, more and more. I cannot thank you enough. This has
changed my life dramatically!
Please let me know how I can help to talk with others, to
educate them, encourage them on getting their lives back and not depending on
these drugs.
I know I still have a long way before I am completely healed.
I look at it like this, though. If I feel this great now and I’ve only been off
these 2 drugs (Klonopin and Effexor) for about 2 1/2 weeks, I cannot wait to see
how I'll be feeling a month from now. I thought I’d never get over that dizzy,
lightheaded, floating feeling in my head, with the lack of concentration and the
agonizing pain in my joints and muscles.
Each day has gotten easier and easier. I had some very hard
ones in there, though, but I am so happy I have done this.
The other day, I was teaching a Boot camp class and I had a
coat on that I hadn't worn since last fall, I put my hand in my pocket and there
was a Klonopin in there. I looked at it and it really made me think. A month
ago, if I was in that stressful class situation I would have taken a small bite
out of that little pill...instead I threw it away!!!!!
I really am serious about wanting to spread the word about
these drugs. I think everything happens for a reason and there's a season for
everything. This was the right time for me to stop taking them. I just want
others that depend on these medications to be aware and know more of what the
doctors are not telling us. Again thank you for helping me get my passion back”
“Today has been the 5th day on the supplements. 10 days with
no Klonopin! 12 days with no Effexor! I am feeling a lot of relief from
the dizziness/brain zaps and concentration or lack of. Thank God, because
that is the worst withdrawal symptom!! I'm sleeping better, very deep and feel
very rested. My appetite has decreased YEAH!!! Thank you!!!”
“I read through your site for about one month before trying
the products myself. I must say, all of the ”Oh, God's” in your testimonials
made me wonder if this could really be true. I was told not to really expect a
change for 3 to 7 days. After day 1 I had to call TRB Health and tell them what
they had here. The “Oh, God” statements I have read now make sense. I was taking
an antidepressant and a benzodiazepine and reached the state of no energy, a
grinding anxiety during the day, could not sleep at night and more. The Power
Barley Formula and the cherry blew me away. You guys have a spokesperson when
you want one. Thank you.”
What to Do If You Are Taking
Multiple Drugs
If you are taking a benzodiazepine, anti-anxiety or sleep
medication along with an antidepressant, anti-psychotic or ADHD medication,
deciding which medication to taper off first is important. There are times when
a benzodiazepine or sleep medication will have a drug/drug interaction with
antidepressants, anti-psychotics and ADHD medications.
Most of the time an antidepressant, anti-psychotic or ADHD
medication will have a
drug-drug interaction with other antidepressant, anti-psychotic or ADHD
medication …but not always. Which drug you wean yourself from first will be
largely responsible for your success.
The most common reason these medications have a drug/drug
interaction is that they share the same metabolizing route. Two medications
trying to go through the same pathway will create a “cumulative” effect of the
medications and usually one or both medications will take longer to clear the
body.
Imagine 4 linemen from your favorite football team trying to
push through the front door of your home, shoulder to shoulder. None of the
linemen will back off and let the other pass through first. This is what is
happening inside the body.
Occasionally, one medication will greatly increase the
effect of another medication.
Example: Zoloft and Ambien
Ambien is increased by 43% with concurrent Zoloft usage. You
will need to taper off the Ambien first or you will go into withdrawal on
the Ambien, even though it was not reduced.
First Step in Getting off Multiple Drugs:
Read “The Science Behind The Road Back.” The chapter is
technical, so take the material to your physician and/ or pharmacist.
Your success will depend on knowing about the drugs you are
going to get off, and how (or if) they interact.
If
you are taking a benzodiazepine, anti-anxiety or sleep medication with an
anti-depressant, anti-psychotic or ADHD medication, we do need to address the
pre-taper differently.
Pre-Taper Program if Using an Antidepressant,
Anti-Psychotic or ADHD Medication Combination
The
charts in the chapter “The Science Behind The Road Back” must be used to
determine which medication to taper off first.
Once
you have fully tapered off a medication, wait 14 days before starting the taper
off the next medication. This gives you and your body time to adjust.
To
recap: If taking a benzodiazepine along with an
antidepressant, anti-psychotic or ADHD medication, use the pre-taper outlined
for Antidepressant, Anti-psychotic or ADHD medication if you have anxiety and
insomnia.
If you are taking an
antidepressant, anti-psychotic or ADHD medication in a combination, use the
pre-taper outlined for Antidepressant, Anti-psychotic or ADHD medication and
select the pre-taper that fits your individual case.
When reducing any of the
medications, use the instructions found for that class of medication. Wait 14
days before reducing the next medication.
Continue taking all
supplements as established during the pre-taper.
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