Tapering Plan

I found a post in a forum from a pharmacist who recommended a tapering plan that I'm going to try. I usually take 100 mgs a day, all in the afternoon, but lately the restless leg problem has been kicking in earlier and earlier in the day. I did find an article about this; they call it augmentation. Soooo I guess I'm augmenting! Now, I'm going to try taking 50mg in the morning, then 25 in the afternoon. This might prove to be too much of a reduction too soon, if I have terrible trouble, then I'll cut that little white demon pill into 4 pieces instead of 2 and take 3 of them. Then in a couple of days I'll reduce by another 1/4 of a pill, then another 1/4, then another, then another, then another...... Hopefully by the time I get down to 0 I will not be subjected to the horrible withdrawal symptoms that I've had in the past when I've tried to just go cold turkey.

This past weekend, I tried just taking 50 mgs a day, but I might as well have not even taken any the withdrawal was so bad. For me, the absolute worst symptom is the restless legs. I can handle the aches and pains, I can handle the flu like stuff, I can even stand the stomach cramping, but the weird, incredibly uncomfortable sensations that I get in my knees and elbows that is only alleviated by walking around is by far the most intolerable part of withdrawal. Last weekend I think I spent 36 hours straight just pacing around my house. If I tried to sit down or lie down and go to sleep, within minutes I would have to get back up. At my most exhausted I would manage to steal little 20 minute snatches of sleep before my knees would jerk me awake again. All weekend I think I might have slept a couple of hours total.

So I know that I have to taper off in very small increments. 50 mgs is too big of a jump. I'm trying 25 today so I will know tonight if that is reasonable or not.