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How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely
Copyright Notice Forward A Note From James Harper, Founder, The Road Back Table of Contents
Part One
3. Suggested Nutritionals for The Road Back Program 6. General Pre-Tapering and Tapering Instructions 9. Pre-Taper For: Benzodiazepines, Anti-Convulsants, Anti-Anxiety & Sleep Medication 10. Pre-Taper For Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and ADHD Medication 11. How to Taper Off Benzodiazepines, Anti-Convulsants, Anti-Anxiety and Sleep Medication (Slow and Gradual Taper) 12. How to Taper Off Benzodiazepines, Anti-Convulsants, Anti-Anxiety and Sleep Medication (Fast and Gradual Taper) 13. How to Taper Off Antidepressants, Anti-Psychotics and ADHD Medication (Slow and Gradual Taper) 14. How to Taper Off Antidepressants, Anti-Psychotics and ADHD Medication (Fast and Gradual Taper)
16.
What to Do If You Have Already
Started to Taper Off Your Medication
or 17. How to Taper Off Multiple Drugs 18. What You Can Do If You Have Never Taken Psychiatric Drugs 19. Science Behind The Road Back Program How to Get Off Celexa Safely How to Get Off Cymbalta Safely How to Get Off Effexor Safely How to Get Off Klonopin Safely How to Get Off Lexapro Safely How to Get Off Paxil Safely How to Get Off Prozac Safely How to Get Off Valium Safely How to Get Off Xanax Safely How to Get Off Zoloft Safely How to Safely Get Off Psychoactive Medication Faithful Recovery for the Spiritually Inclined
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Chapter Ten
Pre-Taper For Antidepressants, Anti-Psychotics, (Abilify, Adderall, Anafranil, Adapin, Celexa, Concerta, Cymbalta, Effexor, Elavil, Haldol, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, Remeron, Risperdal, Ritalin, Seroquel, Serzone, Strattera, Thorazine, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyprexa etc.) “I am doing great on the Taper Program. I have successfully gotten off Elavil. I had been on it for about 10 years. I have tried in the past to go off cold turkey and I got so sick each time that I had to go back to it. I finally realized it wasn't the new medications making me sick. It was withdrawal from Elavil. (No doctor recognized my symptoms as withdrawal and I went to 3 different ones trying to get off of it and onto something with fewer side effects.) I have followed the program as indicated and have had no withdrawal effects. I am amazed. I have been completely off for 10 days now. Thank you for making this solution known to the general public.” “I made the mistake and quit my antidepressant cold turkey. The side effects were nausea, constant headache, anxiety, no sleep, that brain zap and a whirling in my head. James, your assistance, and guiding me through the first days has made all the difference. Nausea is gone, headache is gone, brain zaps quit within one hour like you said, and the remaining side effects are so small I can deal with them. I do not know how I can ever repay you for saving my life. Unless someone has been through this, they may not know what I am talking about.” “I am like many others. I decided to come off Prozac by myself in one week. Long story short, you saved my life. Deepest gratitude.” "I am officially off of all SSRIs. I have been "drug free" since Saturday and so far I feel great. This is the longest I have gone without taking either Paxil or Celexa in about four years and I have no regrets!” G.Q. Green Bay, WI. If you have not read the
entire chapter “General
Pre-Tapering and Tapering Instructions,”
please do so before continuing with this chapter. Reading and understanding the
chapter “General
Pre-Tapering and Tapering Instructions”
is vital before starting the pre-taper. Starting Your Pre-Taper Note: This pre-taper addresses several types of medication as noted in the chapter title. Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and ADHD Medication are completely different, but the method to do the pre-taper is identical. Some of you reading this book may be on one or more of these drugs and experiencing problems or extensive side effects from anxiety and/or insomnia, fatigue, hearing voices, seeing things that are not really there, or a host of side effects. The pre-taper for these medications is divided into two separate pre-taper programs to accommodate the side effects you currently experience. If you are suffering from anxiety and insomnia or are using an antipsychotic medication, use the Anxiety Insomnia Pre-taper. If you do not have anxiety and insomnia, use the Fatigue Pre-taper. As mentioned in the
chapter,
General Pre-Tapering and Tapering Instructions,
new supplements have been added to this third edition of the book for this
pre-taper. The new supplements for
this pre-taper and taper are:
It is strongly urged you
include the Beta 1, 3, D Glucan, Nature’s Vitamin C and the Probiotic Supreme.
The RenewPro has replaced the Power Barley Formula if you have anxiety or
insomnia and is part of this pre-taper and taper program and needs to be used. The Probiotic Supreme can
be used for 60-days and then discontinued if you wish. We have not included the
Probiotic Supreme in the steps below in an attempt to keep the daily schedule
easier to follow. You can take 2 capsules of the Probiotic Supreme any time
during the day with food. If you use birth control pills or have taken an
antibiotic in the past, we do urge you to use the Probiotic Supreme for the
60-days. Clinical trials have shown at least 18% of all people that use or have
used an antidepressant will have Candida yeast overgrowth. With that in mind and
with side effects associated with Candida yeast overgrowth, we urge you to use
this probiotic.
PRE-TAPER PROGRAM As you are experiencing chronic anxiety during the day and insomnia at night, as side effects of your medication, you will start your pre-taper with Body Calm, Body Calm Supreme, Beta 1, 3-D Glucan and Essential Protein Formula. These products have been specifically formulated to help relieve these symptoms. With either anxiety or insomnia present, there are sure to be other symptoms, as well, that are likely caused by your anxiety during the day and lack of sleep at night. You will begin your
pre-taper by taking Body Calm, Body Calm Supreme, Beta 1, 3-D Glucan and the
Essential Protein Formula as directed in this chapter. These four supplements
should take care of all or most of the daytime anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep
problems. If you or your patient is hearing voices, Step 1 of this pre-taper may
very well eliminate those as well. Remember, as soon as you start the pre-taper,
you will simultaneously
start keeping track of your days in the Daily Journal.
Make sure to
note when existing side effects stop or when there is a major improvement.
This is very important.
You will then know
which supplement turns off which side effect(s) or caused the major improvement.
You will need to know this in order to complete
both the pre-taper and the full taper successfully. The design of the pre-taper
is to address the normal cycle of anxiety/insomnia/anxiety that takes place
because of medication usage.
Anxiety first thing in the
morning and a return of the anxiety in the afternoon are both
very common side
effects. When using these medications, on any given day, by the time you are ready to go to sleep at night, you are too stressed out and fatigued from dealing with the difficulties of the anxiety all day long. Sleep simply may not happen, and you could easily end up feeling depressed due to this continuing cycle of anxiety, no sleep, anxiety, no sleep, endlessly. If you
are also experiencing depression to some degree, do not be surprised if the
depression goes away during the pre-taper, as your ability to sleep improves or
the daytime anxiety abates.
But, even as you start to experience relief from
your symptoms, do not change anything;
just continue with the program, as there are still many, many gains to be had as
you move through to full completion of The Road Back Tapering Program. If you are taking an antipsychotic medication, I strongly
urge you to have a blood test to measure substances called IL-2 and IL-6. IL-2
is associated with anxiety and insomnia and IL-6 is associated with depression
and stress. Step 1 Goal:
·
Improved sleep.
·
A
vast reduction or elimination of anxiety.
·
A lessening or elimination of other medication-induced side
effects. Supplements you will take: · Essential Protein Formula. · Body Calm. · Body Calm Supreme.
·
Beta 1, 3-D Glucan. Day One:
Action:
Take:
Essential Protein Formula: 1 teaspoon mixed in a liquid of
your choice.
Time:
At
bedtime. Day Two, Three, Four: Action:
Take:
Essential Protein Formula: 1 teaspoon mixed in a liquid of
your choice. Time:
First thing in
the morning when you awaken.
Take:
Beta 1, 3-D Glucan. Take 1 capsule of 100 mg Beta
1, 3-D Glucan.
Time:
Any time in the morning. Make sure to only use as
much liquid as needed to wash the capsule down and do not have any other liquid
or food for ˝ hour after taking the supplement. Ideally, you would not have food
˝ hour before taking the Beta 1, 3-D Glucan.
The rest of the day and up until bedtime, you will be
alternating the Body Calm Supreme and the Body Calm every 4 hours. At 3 pm, you would take 1 Body Calm Supreme capsule and 1
teaspoon of Essential Protein Formula. At 7 pm, you would take 1 Body Calm capsule and 1 teaspoon of
Essential Protein Formula. At bedtime, or 11 pm, you would take 1 Body Calm Supreme
capsule and 1 teaspoon of Essential Protein Formula. Action:
The morning of Day 5
– Rate your sleep from the night
before and have a look at your Daily Journal regarding daytime anxiety. If you
now rate your daytime anxiety at a 7 or higher and your sleep is at a 7 or
higher, proceed to Step 2. If you do not rate yourself at a 7 or higher for daytime
anxiety and sleep, follow Continue Step 1. Continue Step 1 In this stage, you will be adjusting the time you take each
supplement and/ or the quantity of each supplement used during the day or at
bedtime. Locate the scenario that fits
your circumstance:
Daytime anxiety below a 7 rating and sleep at a 7 or higher
If your sleep was below a rating of a 7 and is now at a 7 or higher, you are
responding very well to the Body Calm Supreme.
a. Replace the Body Calm during the daytime with the Body Calm Supreme. Take 1 capsule of Body Calm Supreme every 4 hours during the daytime and continue taking the 1 teaspoon of Essential Protein Formula at the same time as the Body Calm Supreme during the day. Rate your daytime anxiety at the end of every day, before bedtime and rate your sleep first thing in the morning and post in your Daily Journal. Follow Step a. for 3 days. The goal is to have three consecutive days with anxiety and sleep at a rating of 7 or higher. As soon as you have 3 consecutive days at a 7 or higher, move to Step 2. If you improve to a 7 rating at any time, DO NOT CHANGE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Example: You are on day number 2 of Step a. and you now rate yourself at a 7 with anxiety and sleep. Do not change anything you are doing, but continue for 2 additional days and see if this new trend holds. This would give you 3 full days at a 7 rating or higher. Make sure to continue taking each supplement at the same time
each day and night that you established during this step for the rest of the
pre-taper and taper process. If this new trend of a 7 or higher rating for daytime anxiety holds for three consecutive days, proceed to Step 2. If you are not at a 7 or higher after 8 full days, following Step a., use the following sequence: Continue with the 1 Body Calm Supreme every four hours but
increase the Essential Protein Formula to 4 teaspoons with each serving. Rate yourself each night for the anxiety level of that day. If you feel an improvement, but not to a rating of a 7, continue with this step for 2 full days. If there is no change, or you are still not up to a 7 rating after 2 full days, do the following: Decrease
the
Essential
Protein
Formula
back
down
to 1-teaspoon every four hours. Begin taking 6 Beta 1, 3-D Glucan daily. Take 2 in the morning, 2 additional capsules near noon and 2 more capsules before 4 pm. Increase the Body Calm Supreme to 1 capsule every 3 hours. Continue this for 3 full days. Make sure to rate your daytime
anxiety each night before bedtime. If on day two or three of this procedure you
now rate yourself at a 7 or higher, continue taking the supplements exactly as
you have been in this stage until you have 3 consecutive days of a rating of 7
or higher with daytime anxiety, and then move to Step 2. If the daytime anxiety is still not rated at a 7 or higher,
do not get discouraged, there are still options for you. The Anxiety Reduction Chart located in the chapter “General
Pre-Tapering and Tapering Instructions,” shows how anxiety tends to drop as time
passes when using the correct supplement. Give this some time. Other Options There are other options available with using the Body Calm,
Body Calm Liquid and the Body Calm Supreme. The next section provides further
ways an individual may use change or alter these products for anxiety and or
insomnia. Body Calm capsules
– You can add 1 Body Calm capsule with each Body Calm Supreme if needed. You can
take as many as 3 Body Calm capsules at bedtime for sleep. Body Calm liquid
– For some, but very few, the Body Calm liquid was the answer for daytime
anxiety and or insomnia. Making the switch from capsule to liquid can be magic.
Body Calm Supreme
– As described in the chapter “General Pre-Tapering and Tapering Instructions,”
reaching a “steady state” can be different for each person. If you are feeling
some relief from anxiety, but it is only temporary, you may need to change the
frequency or amount of Body Calm Supreme. You can take the Body Calm Supreme
every 2 hours during the day to achieve this. For some people this made
astounding results. Suggestions:
If you have felt any improvement during these procedures, you have something to
work with. If the anxiety has at least moved from a rating of 3 to a 5, rating,
and the anxiety is holding at that level, using these supplements will be the
answer for your success. You just need to adjust them further, allow a little
additional time, or adjust the time of day you are taking them. Adjust
supplements 1 one-by-one every third day. Keep good notes in your journal. The
answers will either be the quantity taken of a supplement or it will be how
often the supplement is taken. However, the answer can be both quantity and how
often a supplement is taken. Experiment with this as needed and keep your Daily Journal.
Give this some time to work. If you have had some improvement, such as from a 3
to a 5 rating, and it is holding steady, but will not move beyond a 5 rating,
give this stage 30-days to fully work. After 30-days, if still at a 5 rating, move on to Step 2 and keep rating the daytime anxiety each evening. It may very well improve to a 7 rating later in the pre-taper. Daytime anxiety above a 7 rating and sleep below a 7
rating a. Keep doing exactly what you have been doing during the daytime during Step 1. a. One thing here to keep in mind as you increase the supplements for sleep, the changes made during the daytime for the anxiety may very well help with the sleep, as well. If a person who had daytime anxiety no longer has daytime anxiety, the chances are very high that his or her ability to sleep will improve greatly as well. Do:
Increase the Body
Calm Supreme to
2 capsules at bedtime and
continue to take the 1-teaspoon of Essential Protein Formula. c.
If b. did
not result in the
desired rating of a 7 or
higher, include 1 Body Calm
capsule
at bedtime,
along with
the 2
Body Calm Supreme capsules
and the 1 teaspoon of
Essential Protein Formula. d. If you are having difficulty going to sleep, try taking all the supplements ˝ hour before bedtime for 3 nights. If still no change, try taking the supplements 1 hour before bedtime for 3 nights. If you begin to feel tired before your normal bedtime, go to bed a little earlier than usual. This may be your window of opportunity for going to sleep with ease, and we do not want to miss the chance. e. If you are waking up in the middle of the night and are able to go back to sleep with little effort, that is very normal. If you have difficulty going back to sleep, take 1 Body Calm Supreme in the night when you awaken. f. If at any time you begin to sleep well with a 7 or higher rating, but you wake up tired, reduce the last supplement that was increased slightly. You can open up any of the capsules and remove ˝ of the supplement powder. Remember, have 3
consecutive nights at a 7 rating or higher for sleep and then move to Step 2. Body Calm capsules
– There have been a few people that needed to take 3 Body Calm capsules at
bedtime, along with the other supplements to reach a good night sleep at a 7 or
higher rating. Body Calm liquid
– For some but very few, the Body Calm liquid was the answer for sleep. Making
the switch from capsule to liquid can be magic. Body Calm Supreme – As described in the chapter General Pre-Tapering and Tapering Instructions, reaching a “steady state” can be different for each person. If you are feeling some relief from insomnia but it is not enough, you may need to change the amount of Body Calm Supreme. It may take 3 Body Calm Supreme capsules to fully handle the insomnia. Suggestions:
If you have felt any improvement during these procedures, you have something to
work with. If the insomnia has at least moved from a rating of 3 to a 5 rating,
and the insomnia is holding at that level, using these supplements will be the
answer for your success. You just need to adjust them further, allow a little
additional time, or adjust the time of day you are taking them. Adjust
supplements one-by-one every third day. Keep good notes in your journal. The
answers will either be the quantity taken of a supplement or it will be how
often the supplement is taken. However, the answer can be both quantity and how
often a supplement is taken. Experiment with this and keep your Daily Journal. Give this
some time to work. If you have had some improvement, such as from a 3 to a 5
rating, and it is holding steady, but will not move beyond a 5 rating, give this
stage 30-days to fully work. After 30-days, if still at a 5 rating, move on to Step 2 and keep rating your sleep each evening. It may very well improve to a 7 rating later in the pre-taper. Special Note: If you have insisted on taking calcium and you still are not at a 7 rating or higher, you need to remove the calcium supplement. If you are taking other supplements that are not part of The Road Back Program, it is time for you to quit taking all of them. If your healthcare provider suggested other supplements, let the practitioner know what you want to do, and take the practitioner a printout of this page or the book. Once you are off all other supplements for 3 full days, you should feel a remarkable difference. Daytime anxiety below a 7 rating and sleep below a 7 rating Follow each action found earlier in this chapter: Daytime anxiety below a
7 rating and sleep below a 7 rating. If you complete all stages for anxiety and sleep and you
still rate anxiety and sleep below a 7 on a 1-10 scale, one of these nine things
is happening:
1.
You are one of the few
who need to continue taking the supplements for additional time before
they will work for you.
2.
You need to reevaluate how
you are rating yourself. Are you being a little too rough on yourself, and how
you are judging yourself?
3.
You are taking
other supplements and
the real
reason you
will not respond
to Stage 1 is the
other supplements. This is
when you need to reevaluate calcium, if you are taking it, B vitamins, and all
other supplements. The other
supplements, herbs or concoctions may have been causing the increased anxiety or
insomnia for some time. 4. You are changing something. 5. You are not taking the supplements as outlined. 6. Maybe you are changing the time of day when you take your medication.
7.
Look at the weekends. Are you sleeping in a few hours later and not taking the
morning medication at the same time? Are you staying up later in the evening and
not taking the medication at the same time? 8.
You have
started The Road Back Program after you have already made one or several
attempts to come off your medication and you were having withdrawal side effects
before starting the program. 9.
The Road
Back Program is not for you. I wish I could say this program works for everyone,
but it does not. From 8 years experience, I know the percentage is very low that
this program will not work for, but there is that percentage, nonetheless. Step 2
Goal:
Supplement you will introduce:
Day One: Action:
Take:
2 Ultimate
Omega 3 softgels.
Time:
First
thing in the morning and around noon, but before 4 pm. Day Two, Three, Four: Action:
Take: 3 Ultimate Omega 3 softgels. Time:
First thing in
the morning, when you awaken, and around noon, but before 4 pm. After the rigors of
Step 1,
you will find
Step 2 to
be quick
and easy! You are finished and ready to move to
Step 3. You are finished increasing the Ultimate Omega 3. Move to
Step 3 even if there has not been a major positive change with the last increase
of Omega 3. Step 3
Goal:
Supplement you will introduce:
Day One:
Action:
Take:
1/2 scoop of
RenewPro.
Time:
First
thing in the morning. Day Two, Three, Four: Action:
Take:
1/2 scoop of
RenewPro Time:
First thing in
the morning and around noon. Step 4 Day 1:
Begin
taking 400 i.u. of vitamin E first thing in the
morning.
Take the vitamin E with the rest of the morning
supplements.
Begin
taking 1 capsule of Nature’s Vitamin C any time around midday.
(If you are taking
ADHD Medication do not take any vitamin C and watch your fruit intake.) Keep taking all supplements exactly as you have established
during the pre-taper. You are completely
finished with the pre-taper when:
·
22-days have passed after you started Step 1
·
You rate yourself at a 7 or higher for anxiety
and sleep. Continue taking all of the supplements exactly as you are now
during the tapering portion of the medication. If you have tried to quit these medications in the past, you
may be a little apprehensive about reducing the medication again. You can remain
at this stage of the process for as long as you like. You do not have to rush.
When you are ready, follow the procedures detailed in the chapter, “How to Taper off
Antidepressants, Antipsychotics and ADHD Medication (Slow and Gradual)
or the next chapter
How to Taper off
Antidepressants, Antipsychotics and ADHD Medication (Fast and Gradual).”
PRE-TAPER PROGRAM Supplement you will introduce:
Day One: Action:
Take:
1/2 teaspoon of Power Barley Formula.
Time:
First
thing in the morning. Day Two, Three, Four: Action:
Take:
1/2 teaspoon
of Power Barley Formula. Time:
First thing in
the morning, around noon, and once again before 4 pm. * Remember, this barley formula is not like other barley
products. When you feel the positive change, remain where you are at and do not
increase further. If you went past the positive point and you do not feel as
well, return to the last amount of barley you were taking. Day Five, Six, Seven: Action:
Take:
1 teaspoon of Power Barley Formula.
Time:
First thing in
the morning, around noon and once again, before 4 pm. If no major positive changes, continue with Day Eight, Nine and Ten. If the major positive changes took place during this part, move to Step 2.
Day Eight, Nine, Ten: Action:
·
Improvement of mood.
·
A lessening or elimination of other medication induced side
effects. Supplement you will introduce:
·
Ultimate Omega 3. Day One: Action:
Time:
First
thing in the morning and around noon but before 4 pm. Day Two, Three, Four: Action:
Take:
3
Ultimate Omega 3 softgels. Day Five, Six, Seven: Action:
Take:
4
Ultimate Omega 3 softgels. Time:
First thing in
the morning when you wake up and around noon, but before 4 pm. After the rigors of Step 1, you will find Step 2 to be quick
and easy! You are finished and ready to move to Step 3. Step 3
Goal:
Supplements you will take:
Day One: Action:
Take:
Essential Protein Formula: 1 teaspoon mixed in a liquid of
your choice.
Time:
At
bedtime. Note:
If you begin to feel tired
during the daytime at any time during this Step, go back to the amount of
Essential Protein Formula, Body Calm, and Body Calm Supreme you were last taking
before you felt tired, and remain at that level. Day Two, Three, Four: Action:
Take:
Essential Protein Formula: 1 teaspoon mixed in a liquid of
your choice. Time:
First thing in
the morning when you awake.
The rest of the day and up until bedtime, you will be
alternating the Body Calm Supreme and the Body Calm every 4 hours. At 3 pm, you would take 1 Body Calm Supreme capsule and 1
teaspoon of Essential Protein Formula. At 7 pm, you would take 1 Body Calm capsule and 1 teaspoon of
Essential Protein Formula. At bedtime, or 11 pm,
you would take 1 Body Calm Supreme capsule and 1 teaspoon of Essential Protein
Formula Step 4 Day 1:
Begin
taking 400 i.u. of vitamin E first thing in the morning. Take the vitamin E with
the rest of the morning supplements.
Begin
taking 1 capsule of Nature’s Vitamin C any time around midday. (Do not take
vitamin C if taking ADHD Medication)
Other Options If you are still feeling any depression, you can take up to 3
softgels of CLA daily. Take 1 in the morning, one near noon and the third
softgel before 4 pm. CLA has been clinically proven to significantly stop the
production of IL-6, a marker of depression. If you have not added the Probiotic Supreme to your daily
supplements, you might have Candida yeast overgrowth. Adding the Probiotic
Supreme for 60-days may just be the assistance your body needs. Your other option to further lower the IL-6 levels is with
RenewPro. You can add up to 2 full scoops each day to your routine. Keep taking all supplements exactly as you have established
during the pre-taper. You are completely
finished with the pre-taper when:
You do need to wait the
22-days from the date you started Step 1 before you begin the taper process. Continue taking all of supplements exactly as you are now
during the tapering portion of the program. If you have tried to quit these medications in the past, you
may be a little apprehensive about reducing the medication again. You can remain
at this stage of the process for as long as you like. You do not have to rush. When you are ready,
follow the procedures detailed in the chapter, “How to Taper off
Antidepressants, Antipsychotics and ADHD Medication (Slow and Gradual
Taper) or
How to Taper off
Antidepressants, Antipsychotics and ADHD Medication (Fast and Gradual Taper).”
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