Step 16- Preparatory Decisions
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Why this step is important
Prior to starting a taper, there are important planning decisions to make that pertain to a person’s chosen method.
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Getting oriented
It’s important to take time to consider decisions carefully now, because once a taper has begun, the lay withdrawal community has found that consistency of approach can be invaluable for improving the odds of a smooth and successful taper. That said, it’s always possible – and sometimes wisest – to change choices later if problems arise.
In this section
- Step 10- Get Informed About Your Psychiatric Drug
- Step 11- Ensuring that a Drug is Relatively ‘Taper-friendly’
- Step 12- Interactions, Reactions and Sensitivities
- Step 13- Taper Rates
- Step 14- Taper Schedules
- Step 15- Taper Methods
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Step 16- Preparatory Decisions
- Making a Liquid Mixture Using Immediate-release Tablets or Capsules
- Using a Digital Scale to Weigh Powder from a Crushed Immediate-release Tablet or Poured-out Powder or Beads from a Capsule
- Counting Beads from a Beaded Capsule
- Using a Compounding Pharmacy to Obtain Capsules and/or Liquid
- Using a Manufacturer’s Oral Liquid
- Step 17- Gather the Gear
- Step 18- Essential Skills
- Step 19- Setting Up a Taper Journal
- Step 20- Implementing a Taper
TWP’s Companion Guide to Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Part 2: Taper