How to Taper Off an Antidepressant
Antidepressants that boost serotonin and other neurotransmitters are taken by almost 10 percent of Americans as a means of treating neurological disorders such as depression, panic disorder and compulsivity. Despite the medication's effectiveness, at some point, most users wish to wean themselves off it. This can happen for various reasons, such as expense or feeling uncomfortable with taking a medication indefinitely. By tapering off the medication gradually rather than all at once, your body is given time to adjust and compensate for the reductions. This process should be done slowly; according to healthyplace.com, it may take up to a year.
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Instructions
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First, consult a physician familiar with antidepressants and ask for specific advice regarding how, when and at what rate you should taper off your use of the medication. Do not attempt to go off antidepressants without the aid of a physician.
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Once you've worked out your program for reducing your medication, consult a nutritionist who can recommend a diet that will help compensate for the change your brain will be going through. For someone coming off the antidepressant Efexor, for example, this may include a diet supplemented by vitamin B6.
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In accordance with a doctor's suggestions, taper off the medication slowly but precisely, measuring the correct dosage with a calculator and, if necessary, cutting the pills with a pill cutter. According to antidepressantfacts.com, you should taper your medication by a maximum of 5 percent per week.
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When you're taking your medication in the smallest dose, the 10 mg capsule, prepare it by crushing it down and stirring it into a glass of orange juice. Drink 9/10 of the glass every day for a full week. Then, during next week, drink 8/10 of the glass. Repeat for 10 weeks, drinking one-tenth less of the glass each week, until you are entirely weened off the drug.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose the right time in your life to go off your antidepressant. Don't go off the medication during a time of particular stress or change that may trigger depression or a panic attack.
Do not mix your medication with grapefruit juice. The juice contains an enzyme that can break down certain antidepressants in the liver, causing a toxic reaction.
Some people attempting to taper off their use of the antidepressants experience a return of the ailments that caused them to begin taking antidepressants, such as anxiety and depression. If this is the case, consult your physician to discuss treatment options.
Many people who reduce their dosage of antidepressants can also experience side effects, some mild and some severe, including dizziness, nausea, balance problems, flu-like symptoms, hallucinations, blurred vision, irritability, tingling sensations, electric-shock sensations, nervousness and melancholy. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your physician.
