Rachel: Needing Effexor withdrawal help!

[RaeClaire]

Help! I've been on a 10% taper for about a year now. Each taper is 3 weeks long. This past weekend I missed Friday's dosage and then not realizing it I missed again on Sunday.

 

Monday, I drove myself into work and realized I was having withdrawal/anxiety blackouts basically the entirety of my drive. Was only able to stay at work for an hour before having to call it quits and go home to medicate (medical marijuana) and sleep it off once I got my days dosage in. 

 

Tuesday, I woke up in a panic. Proceeded to get myself ready for work and by the time I was half finished I couldnt go any further because the withdrawals and anxiety.  I spent the next 1.5 hr crying and waiting for the 1.5 xanax to kick in before passing out and sleeping it off. 

 

Today, Wednesday, I woke up 2 hours before my actual wake up time and took half a xanax to try to combat the anxiety.  2 hours later, the anxiety is still there. I get myself through a shower, focusing on breathing and singing a positive song in my head. Only to get out and end up vomiting from the anxiety/withdrawal symptoms.  

 

I have miss the last 3 days of work due to withdrawals and the severe anxiety that comes with. Someone people help me with some advice?!

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, RaeClaire.

 

Those two missed doses certainly contributed to your symptoms.  Also you are tapering too fast.  We recommend tapering by no more that 10% of current dose every four weeks.  Your every-three-week taper over the course of a year has likely created a backlog of withdrawal symptoms that was brought into play by your two missed doses.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off Effexor (venlafaxine)

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.  Please include your taper dates and your current dose.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

Once we're received your signature, we will be in a better position to advise you.  For now, do not taper any further.  It may be necessary to updose a small dosage, but don't do anything until we're can advise you.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can ask and answer questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.