NOTHING BUT success stories from those who have polytapered from polydrugs simul

ok i'm trying this again, since the first thread i posted became a collection of stories about people who thought it was a bad idea.  (how can a success story be a bad idea?)  anyways...

this thread is for SUCCESS STORIES ONLY from people who have COMPLETED a polytaper from poly (more than one at a time) drugs and have no more meds to taper off of and have no lingering (1 year out  or more) bad symptoms and have not had to updose, reinstate, or begin another medication to deal with sxs or began destructive/unhealthy habits instead of learning new coping skills at the end.

there is no limitation on time/duration of the polytaper, other than no CT/rapid tapers please.

the purpose of this thread is to collect success stories specifically for the polydrugged who are choosing to do very carefully planned slow SYMPTOM BASED POLYTAPERS only.

there are hundreds of success stories from other types and i want to hear from the ones doing it this way in particular.

a little about me and why i chose to polytaper vs monotaper:

my first encounter with a person who succesfully polytapered from multiple drugs at the same time was on another forum besides BB.

it was a lady with an education in various areas that gave her the understanding required to attempt this method of tapering without fear.

she decided that since her body was used to all of the drugs she was currently on (back then) in the exact ratio that she was taking them, that to do a single taper off of one medication at a time would throw that ratio off.

since she understood the synergistic way the meds all reacted together in her system, she decided not to upset that balance and to do a polytaper instead.

she chose a very very slow rate of reduction and began decreasing her meds~ (all liquid to make it possible to draw out tiny increments on the slip tip syringes) ~at the same time.

the key here is "very very slow rate of reduction". much slower than if she was tapering only one medication. because all of the meds together added up to more than one of course.

by going very very slow and utilizing HOLDS whenever any WD symptom would become uncomfortable, & by using her symptoms as her guide to slow down or keep going, she finished her polytaper with less problems than most of her peers. the polytaper went very well, and she finished SUCCESSFULLY and now lives a happy productive life. she didn't (have to) reinstate, she didn't (have to) updose, she didn't replace her tapered meds with new ones, she didn't take up new bad unhealthy habits to deal with stress, and she started new healthy exercise & diet habits (during her polytaper) that continue to this day. she learned new coping techniques & fully reintegrated into society.

this is my template. 

(my polydrug history is in my Buddie Blog because it literally would not fit into a signature, no matter how much i abbreviated the words and dates. everything is there if you want more details.)

since 1995 (24 years) i've been polydrugged on over 45 prescription psych meds and also some others. (am currently on 3 psych meds plus 2 hrt meds which affect my GABAa receptors). i was inpatient over a dozen times in a single decade. i've been misdiagnosed with various physical conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, (which turned out to be Seroquel side effects at high doses for almost 20 years. the sxs disappeared when the dose was reduced to a low enough amount.)

the psychiatrists and therapists misdiagnosed:

my sadness as depression,

my happiness and joy as mania and euphoria,

my occasional feelings of self-esteem and pride in my achievements as grandiosity,

my fear or worry about my future as panic/anxiety disorders,

my memories of past abuses as complex ptsd,

my suspicion of potential abusers as paranoia,

my creativity and energy as adhd,

my anger as intermittent explosive disorder,

my variable moods as bipolar disorder,

my many-faceted personality as mutiple personality disorder/dissociative identity disorder,

etc etc etc...

they did this with the help of DSM IV and now DSM V...the bible of psychiatrists and prescribers so they can literally turn your feelings into a diagnosis which they can then prescribe drugs to anesthetize. yay.  cha-ching! as they say...

these "specialists/experts/md's/phd's,etc" also committed numerous abuses against my body and mind, using up my insurance dollars to fund the "treatments" they prescribed.  at one point they had me taking so many different drugs that i couldn't form a complete sentence. i couldn't walk without a roling walker or a cane. i couldn't ride a bike without falling over. i got lost in the night trying to find my bathroom. i had urinary and bowel incontinence. i fell down a lot and injured my vertebrae. i lost my only pregnancy that got as far as 4 months. they put me in CT WD and i was in interdose WD for decades without ever being told. i was yanked off of one med as it presented more side effects and put on increasing amounts of another without time to taper in between so many times i lost count. "kindling", as they coined the term, yup. and so much more, but you get the idea.

so after this much suffering, i decided i do not want to torture myself with another 15+ years of the same. once i found the method of polytapering successfully outlined in several paragraphs above, i decided that this is the way for me. by being very in touch with my body,  through my whole-foods plant-based diet and holistic healing approaches, helps me be very aware of what i'm currently feeling, which i think will be useful in the polytaper based on my sxs...at any given time. i already have this in my toolbox to help me know when to slow down or to HOLD along the way.

i've chosen very modest rates of reduction to do my polytaper from polydrugs.

for instance, my seroquel taper has been 2.5% every 4 weeks with a 2 week HOLD following. the antipsychotic caused me the most problems (drug induced metabolic syndrome), so i started tapering that one first, about 2 years ago. now my seroquel taper is more than 3/4 finished. i have held at various points to stabilize after traumatic events in my life during this time. i'm holding currently to remain stable while my CNS adjusts to the added clonazepam taper.

my clonazepam taper is only a 1% reduction every 14 days, increasing that rate up to 1.63% every 14 days after the initial 4 months at 1%. this gives my CNS time to slowly adjust to a very tiny taper amount. then gradually, the increase in rate, to a still very modest reduction rate that i will continue, (with HOLD's as needed) until the completion date. 

the final drug taper will be added, (and overlap other taper/s) later, as my body sxs tell me i'm stable enough to take another change to the CNS.

there is NO RUSH. i don't believe anyone telling me i'm going too slow and disregard their remarks.

it's not a competition for me. it's about maintaining balance and taking this as slow as neccesary to carry on daily activties with a minimum of upsets to my CNS. 

...so now that's out of the way,  bring on the SUCCESS STORIES of POLYTAPERING (1+ years after)!

Following...

(Good luck, -Cant see why not..)

Following, that was really interesting.....I am not poly drugged however that was really interesting 

I hope it all works out and will be reading your story the whole way.  Mary 💜💜💜

Following...

(Good luck, -Cant see why not..)

thx Cant! 

Following, that was really interesting.....I am not poly drugged however that was really interesting 

I hope it all works out and will be reading your story the whole way.  Mary 💜💜💜

thx Mary Catherine Gallagher! lol 

Following, that was really interesting.....I am not poly drugged however that was really interesting 

I hope it all works out and will be reading your story the whole way.  Mary 💜💜💜

 

thx Mary Catherine Gallagher! lol 

Sometimes you need to poly-taper, for sure. Keep the drugs as balanced as possible as you go down.

I wish I did.

When I was weaning off Lexapro, I was still on a high dose of Adderall (was also on Lamictal, Lithium and clonazepam at the time, too).

The problem was Adderall, though.

Because I didn't reduce Adderall at the same time, weaning off Lexapro made the effects of Addreall so extreme I got very very sick. The nerves on my scalp were so agitated that only pulling my hair out gave me relief.

Once I got a clue, I weaned off Adderall and started feeling better immediately.

It took me over a year to grow my hair back, and now it is down my back (I'm overcompensating due to my experience, lol)

I also learned hair extensions don't work on almost baldies. I tried it! But a good wig does wonders.

So, listen to your body and poly-taper to keep those meds balanced & adjusted as you go down.

I was lucky that I had success with tapering and withdrawing off each drug one by one (except the Lexapro-Adderall combo). If I had severe side effects I knew which drug was causing it.

But it took a long time. (Aug 2014 to July 2019)

And I still went through hell post jump-off from clonazepam.

Wishing you all the best and am very happy of you. It looks like you have a great plan.

Taylor

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

💯％

I haven't really gotten depressed either. it is gone. No panic attacks: the meds caused those. I never reinstated, either.

We should be very proud of ourselves for never reinstating!

I didn't have knowledge of the Ashton Manual or BB, either, and wish I did so I would have a longer benzo taper.

But anyway, here we are, very brave and completely drug-free. What an amazing victory.

Nomoredrugsforme, you will be victorious too!

Sometimes you need to poly-taper, for sure. Keep the drugs as balanced as possible as you go down.

I wish I did.

 

When I was weaning off Lexapro, I was still on a high dose of Adderall (was also on Lamictal, Lithium and clonazepam at the time, too).

The problem was Adderall, though.

Because I didn't reduce Adderall at the same time, weaning off Lexapro made the effects of Addreall so extreme I got very very sick. The nerves on my scalp were so agitated that only pulling my hair out gave me relief.

 

Once I got a clue, I weaned off Adderall and started feeling better immediately.

It took me over a year to grow my hair back, and now it is down my back (I'm overcompensating due to my experience, lol)

I also learned hair extensions don't work on almost baldies. I tried it! But a good wig does wonders.

 

So, listen to your body and poly-taper to keep those meds balanced & adjusted as you go down.

I was lucky that I had success with tapering and withdrawing off each drug one by one (except the Lexapro-Adderall combo). If I had severe side effects I knew which drug was causing it.

 

But it took a long time. (Aug 2014 to July 2019)

And I still went through hell post jump-off from clonazepam.

 

Wishing you all the best and am very happy of you. It looks like you have a great plan.

 

Taylor

omg Taylor Tot! lol

that is so horrible the addy took your hair! but i bet you are strong as hell now, going through that mess. i have reall short hair right now cause i shaved it earlier this year when i decided no more drugs, no more chemicals, including hair chemical. dsince our hair stores the chemicals we ingest, i decided to cut it off clean at the scalp n start over. one day my hair will be glorious like your mane is now!

thank you so much for the warm support!

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

wow you are one of my role models now!

that is amzing Marigold

we have similar drug histories

i hope we stay in touch. i can learn a lot from you...and i like loud people so no shushing around me! be yourself be a beautiful sunny Marigold 

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

Marigold, once you finished the last taper, how long before you started to fell okayish.normalish again?

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

 

💯％

 

I haven't really gotten depressed either. it is gone. No panic attacks: the meds caused those. I never reinstated, either.

We should be very proud of ourselves for never reinstating!

I didn't have knowledge of the Ashton Manual or BB, either, and wish I did so I would have a longer benzo taper.

But anyway, here we are, very brave and completely drug-free. What an amazing victory.

 

Nomoredrugsforme, you will be victorious too!

yall should be so proud yes!! i'm very proud of yall for not looking back! that's my goal. very brave indeed yes and back to the way yall were intended to be in the first place. i love this, yall are inspiring me just posting your stories and not just the horrible parts but also the glorious parts on the other side! that's what i'm talkin about 

Sometimes you need to poly-taper, for sure. Keep the drugs as balanced as possible as you go down.

I wish I did.

So, listen to your body and poly-taper to keep those meds balanced & adjusted as you go down.

I was lucky that I had success with tapering and withdrawing off each drug one by one (except the Lexapro-Adderall combo). If I had severe side effects I knew which drug was causing it.

 

But it took a long time. (Aug 2014 to July 2019)

And I still went through hell post jump-off from clonazepam.

 

Wishing you all the best and am very happy of you. It looks like you have a great plan.

 

Taylor

Taylor tot, did you change your avatar too?

Yes! It’s a benzo-fighting superhero TaterTot!

Yes! It’s a benzo-fighting superhero TaterTot!

that is so frikkin awesome.  did you make it?

Yes! It’s a benzo-fighting superhero TaterTot!

 

that is so frikkin awesome.  did you make it?

No way, that’s too technical for my Benzo-brain. I googled tatertot cartoon images. Some hilarious person created it!

Yes! It’s a benzo-fighting superhero TaterTot!

 

that is so frikkin awesome.  did you make it?

 

No way, that’s too technical for my Benzo-brain. I googled tatertot cartoon images. Some hilarious person created it!

wow serendipity! too bad you can't find whoever made it cause yall are 2 rockin tots hahahahh

i saw it and it made me smile big. perfect avatar

Yes! It’s a benzo-fighting superhero TaterTot!

 

that is so frikkin awesome.  did you make it?

 

No way, that’s too technical for my Benzo-brain. I googled tatertot cartoon images. Some hilarious person created it!

 

wow serendipity! too bad you can't find whoever made it cause yall are 2 rockin tots hahahahh

 

i saw it and it made me smile big. perfect avatar

Well, that's funny. I went to look up the image again and couldn't find it (to see if I could see who created it), so I'm thinking the universe just gave it to only me to use! :laugh:

How are you feeling today?

Yes! It’s a benzo-fighting superhero TaterTot!

 

that is so frikkin awesome.  did you make it?

 

No way, that’s too technical for my Benzo-brain. I googled tatertot cartoon images. Some hilarious person created it!

 

wow serendipity! too bad you can't find whoever made it cause yall are 2 rockin tots hahahahh

 

i saw it and it made me smile big. perfect avatar

 

Well, that's funny. I went to look up the image again and couldn't find it (to see if I could see who created it), so I'm thinking the universe just gave it to only me to use! :laugh:

 

How are you feeling today?

apparently it was meant to be grrl. i love it. makes me giggle each time i see it.

i am ...oh...fragile a bit today. had a big emotional blowup/upset/meltdown again so now i'm feeling the various chemicals from that swirling around in me making me feel bad.

but thank you for checking in on me. that is very sweet. i appreciate little kindnesses 

on a lighter note, i started a support group here called "Peace-loving Atheists in WD & Recovery" under the suport groups section. i hope it will be a safe place to express feelings during this healing process for me and others who just don't want the religious/spiritual talk as a distraction or a trigger. it's a sensitive thing for me. felt good to try to create a safe space tho!

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

 

wow you are one of my role models now!

that is amzing Marigold

 

we have similar drug histories

i hope we stay in touch. i can learn a lot from you...and i like loud people so no shushing around me! be yourself be a beautiful sunny Marigold 

role model .... if you knew...

As I said, there are so many of us. Mostly we post on the protected board and its sad that only people who are some more months off get access to that. They thought we would scare the newbies. In my eyes we would do the opposite. Cause on that board its about how to find back into a life again and we are all wise warriors. Why separate us. But that's just my opinion.

I have written a lot in the post-withdrawal section. You can see my former posts by going into my profile,- takes some time...

Its not as hard as we think to become drug free. Sounds tough, is tough but in the end this is only one period of your life.

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

 

Marigold, once you finished the last taper, how long before you started to fell okayish.normalish again?

Normalish? Well, never.

This might be part of my personality... or you just cannot return to normal again if you have a withdrawal and all the shit that comes with it behind you.

But I can tell you that my cognitive function came back very very quickly. Ativan was the last med I tapered and I was in tolerance while tapering. To reach the zero was pure hell, but in the end - my emotions, my brain!, my creativity... I still cannot really get it how fast it all came back and exactly this was too much first. I felt like someone had turned my system from zero to 200 in a second. Anything was over-the-top. Totally crazy.

The first year was like trying to swim in a tornado. Or so.

I think the 2d year was better then, I am now in the 3d year and working 2 days in a week again, but I still feel my brain rising. But now I can use it! And the problems I am facing now are related to the fact that I am convinced that I am lovable, and deserve the best in life. I know how fast a life can end and I want to be in charge of my life. This brings a lot of difficulties with it.. 

Overall I think after the first 18 months most members I know noticed changes. Do not wait til the big changes do come, thats my advice. Do things NOW. Take your time to rest after you do things that challenge you, but step by step, do things. Be yourself the best coach, therapist, cheerleader, mum, dad - whatever.

Wishing you the best,

Marigold

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

 

wow you are one of my role models now!

that is amzing Marigold

 

we have similar drug histories

i hope we stay in touch. i can learn a lot from you...and i like loud people so no shushing around me! be yourself be a beautiful sunny Marigold 

 

role model .... if you knew...

As I said, there are so many of us. Mostly we post on the protected board and its sad that only people who are some more months off get access to that. They thought we would scare the newbies. In my eyes we would do the opposite. Cause on that board its about how to find back into a life again and we are all wise warriors. Why separate us. But that's just my opinion.

I have written a lot in the post-withdrawal section. You can see my former posts by going into my profile,- takes some time...

Its not as hard as we think to become drug free. Sounds tough, is tough but in the end this is only one period of your life.

you don't gotta be perfect to be my role model  just experienced  and wise!

i wish the protracted board wasn't segregated either. i feel the newbies deserve to know the full picture of wd and recovery, not tjust the "what to expect during tapering" part. one day i'll probably be joining yall, due to my drug history and how long i've been polydrugged, but i look to the light and the good things to come, even now as i have windows that show me healing is already happening. i enjoy things that i couldn't 2 years ago. and i'm still tapering. i will check out your profile and take time to read.

hugs

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

 

Marigold, once you finished the last taper, how long before you started to fell okayish.normalish again?

 

Normalish? Well, never.

This might be part of my personality... or you just cannot return to normal again if you have a withdrawal and all the shit that comes with it behind you.

But I can tell you that my cognitive function came back very very quickly. Ativan was the last med I tapered and I was in tolerance while tapering. To reach the zero was pure hell, but in the end - my emotions, my brain!, my creativity... I still cannot really get it how fast it all came back and exactly this was too much first. I felt like someone had turned my system from zero to 200 in a second. Anything was over-the-top. Totally crazy.

The first year was like trying to swim in a tornado. Or so.

I think the 2d year was better then, I am now in the 3d year and working 2 days in a week again, but I still feel my brain rising. But now I can use it! And the problems I am facing now are related to the fact that I am convinced that I am lovable, and deserve the best in life. I know how fast a life can end and I want to be in charge of my life. This brings a lot of difficulties with it.. 

Overall I think after the first 18 months most members I know noticed changes. Do not wait til the big changes do come, thats my advice. Do things NOW. Take your time to rest after you do things that challenge you, but step by step, do things. Be yourself the best coach, therapist, cheerleader, mum, dad - whatever.

Wishing you the best,

Marigold

yes ma'am. i'm trying my best to do just what you said...doing things now instead of waiting til i'm "healed". i do rest as neeeded, that was a hard lesson. allowing myself time to do nothing. not feeling guilty or ashamed because of it. i'm my own advocate now. lol it embarasses my Hubby sometimes but he knows it's better than me just following dr orders blindly as before, which is what got me here!

best to you also...i'm so glad you posted and i got to meet you 

Here are so many buddies who withdraw from different psycho meds. I am one of them.

I tapered over 10 meds in about 5 years.

I did not reinstate.

I did not taper properly cause I found BenzoBuddies and the ashton manual too late.

I am now 3 years off, never touched any kind of chemical med again.

I tapered z-drugs, benzos, ADs, anti-psychotics - I was polydrugged.

Since I am med free, no more depression, panic attacks and my true self is back. I will never give this up again.

Was worth it to stop this nonsense.

 

Marigold, once you finished the last taper, how long before you started to fell okayish.normalish again?

 

Normalish? Well, never.

This might be part of my personality... or you just cannot return to normal again if you have a withdrawal and all the shit that comes with it behind you.

But I can tell you that my cognitive function came back very very quickly. Ativan was the last med I tapered and I was in tolerance while tapering. To reach the zero was pure hell, but in the end - my emotions, my brain!, my creativity... I still cannot really get it how fast it all came back and exactly this was too much first. I felt like someone had turned my system from zero to 200 in a second. Anything was over-the-top. Totally crazy.

The first year was like trying to swim in a tornado. Or so.

I think the 2d year was better then, I am now in the 3d year and working 2 days in a week again, but I still feel my brain rising. But now I can use it! And the problems I am facing now are related to the fact that I am convinced that I am lovable, and deserve the best in life. I know how fast a life can end and I want to be in charge of my life. This brings a lot of difficulties with it.. 

Overall I think after the first 18 months most members I know noticed changes. Do not wait til the big changes do come, thats my advice. Do things NOW. Take your time to rest after you do things that challenge you, but step by step, do things. Be yourself the best coach, therapist, cheerleader, mum, dad - whatever.

Wishing you the best,

Marigold

 

yes ma'am. i'm trying my best to do just what you said...doing things now instead of waiting til i'm "healed". i do rest as neeeded, that was a hard lesson. allowing myself time to do nothing. not feeling guilty or ashamed because of it. i'm my own advocate now. lol it embarasses my Hubby sometimes but he knows it's better than me just following dr orders blindly as before, which is what got me here!

best to you also...i'm so glad you posted and i got to meet you 

Life cannot be repeated. Even if you would not have been on those meds you cannot get back what you have lost. It's hard. It's true. There are people who are suffering more than me on this planet and from time to time I just watch a documentary to remind me that I am at least able to do some decisions. You seem to do a great job, I wish you the best