Withdrawal From Stelazine (Page 5)

I have been on stelaine for 25 years with short breaks but I am trying to stop it and getting nasty withdrawal effects. I have reduced from 7mg to 3mg daily but have headaches anxiety and sense of unreality. I fell perfectly rational and know it is not the ill ness returning. I am seeking advice from someone who has managed to get of this drug or for any tips. I am planning to cut down 1mg per month but am already apprehensive about this.

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Oh really! I beg to differ. I have suffered through 6 months of torture after being taken off just 1mg Stelazine for 30 years. Doctor has put me back on them and every symptom has disappeared overnight.

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I have been taking Stelazine for nearly 30 years and recently tapered off then completely stopped (at the suggestion of my psychiatrist). I have never regularly taken more than 3 mg per day, so in that sense, my experience may be different from others. I was initially prescribed it by a psychiatrist for anxiety and psychosomatic symptoms, including a feeling in my forehead of a "band" around. A trigger was often someone being intrusive and disrespecting my boundaries. That's just some background. Over the last ten years, again under the supervision of my doctor, I went down by 1mg at various points in time. I had been on 1 mg for the last few years prior to quitting completely. I took .5 mg over the last few months. For the most part, going Stelazine free has been uneventful; I have felt fine. In the last couple of days, however, I have had either a headache or a slightly uncomfortable feeling in my forehead, but I am hoping this goes away. I had this feeling earlier in my tapering journey, i.e., going from 2 mg to 1.5 mg, etc. I have been completely off Stelazine for about a month now, so I would think any unwanted reactions would no longer occur. We shall see...I did want to address the woman who wishes to have a baby. I am the mom of a 17 year-old daughter. I took 2 mg/day regularly throughout my pregnancy, and she is completely normal. Perhaps you could work toward reducing your dose, then see if your obstetrician might be more willing to endorse your staying on Stelazine. Good luck!!!

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Did you ever try getting a pill cutter and taking .5 mg? That's what I did and now I've been completely off of Stelazine (generic Trifluoperazine) for a month. So far, things are basically normal (slight headache but am hoping that disappears). Good luck!

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My mom took Stelazine for over 50 years when a dr took her off. She had horrible withdrawal for over two years and they can not find anything to help her. She took Stalizine for anxiety. She has bad insomnia and calls me every morning feeling like she is going to die. She feels better during daytime hours but starts worrying about the night. Anyone else have these issues? Anyone have suggestions? Her anxiety is all consuming.

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DrJoey,

I am so grateful for Stelazine, it has utterly saved me from a life of confused misery. I live a normal life because of it. I do not take it on a regular basis and despite its known benefits for me it has been hard to get it prescribed. I am not overly impressed with the newer antipsychotics and suspect the drugs companies needed something new to sell and have sold the doctors a lemon with most of it. I am worried now that should I have an episode of confusion again my stock will not be enough and it might not be available.

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Re: Buster (# 14)

How did you fractionate ( cut up the pills?) Did you use a liquid version?

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Re: Daughter4 (# 84)

yes, I was very similar. 30 years of Stelazine and only 1mg per day but still horrific withdrawal symptoms when the doctor took me off them Six months later another doctor suggested I start taking them again and instant cure from day one.

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