QueenElisabeth: tapering Effexor / venlafaxine from Dec 2018 - how to get off

[QueenElisabeth]

On 7/6/2023 at 6:53 PM, Catina7 said:

You will.  You're doing so many proactive things to help yourself.  I hope you have a wonderful trip to see your friend.

HI @Catina7,
I had to cancel in the end. My nervous system was unable to take the excitement and I didn't sleep and had negative visualizations and a bad feeling about making the trip.  I am glad I allowed myself to do it this way.
I am talking to her almost daily and that is the best I can do for now.

For the BP:  I think it's better, but over all strength is better. I took some electrolytes a couple of times and that seemed to help. I have Keltic salt to help a bit sometimes as well.
I am taking the herbs still, 6 mg of Qui Pi Tang. ( a well known Chinese medicinal mixture in TCM)

Sunday I started to take Amanita Muscaria tincture. Illegal in my country but I could buy it abroad and had it shipped to me. 1 drop Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Wednesday I took 2.
Monday I felt some energy and sat in the sun. Tuesday was alright too. Wednesday I vacuumed and changed the bedcovers as if it was a normal thing to do. Energy has improved wonderfully. 

Anhedonia in the morning was so much lighter last few days. In the evening down to 2, in the morning maybe 5 max. I hope this will continue.


Is there any other way to taper my Venlafaxine RX, then to take out 1 bead?  I wonder.

[felinegaze]

Hello, Just thought I'd say hi from the UK.

So sorry things are so very tough right now and that your withdrawals have meant you missing out on pleasurable things.

I feel where you're coming from.

I'm just trying to stabilise on 75mg Effexor after a failed taper before attempting any further reduction.

It's so hard.

Hopefully we can all be some support to each other.

F x

[Catina7]

1 hour ago, QueenElisabeth said:

I had to cancel in the end. My nervous system was unable to take the excitement and I didn't sleep and had negative visualizations and a bad feeling about making the trip.  I am glad I allowed myself to do it this way.
I am talking to her almost daily and that is the best I can do for now.

 

Aww I do understand.  I've had to cancel so many things myself.  You made the right choice.

 

I'm glad you've seen some improvements otherwise!

 

1 hour ago, QueenElisabeth said:

Is there any other way to taper my Venlafaxine RX, then to take out 1 bead?  I wonder.

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/272-tips-for-tapering-off-effexor-and-effexor-xr-venlafaxine/

 

 

[QueenElisabeth]

2 hours ago, Catina7 said:

 

Aww I do understand.  I've had to cancel so many things myself.  You made the right choice.

 

I'm glad you've seen some improvements otherwise!

 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/272-tips-for-tapering-off-effexor-and-effexor-xr-venlafaxine/

 

 

Thanks @Catina7

its true we live a life adjusted to all of this 

 

Thank you for the link. I am finding myself lost in this website a lot of times. You are very helpful to me. 
 

From what I read, I could make a liquid from even 1 bead and taper that one down in a speed of my choice. 
I am scared and hopeful again at the same time. I haven’t tapered Venla for 1,5 year and can’t even believe I am considering it. But its so hopeful I can reduce the 1 bead with a water titration. 

 

[QueenElisabeth]

3 hours ago, felinegaze said:

Hello, Just thought I'd say hi from the UK.

So sorry things are so very tough right now and that your withdrawals have meant you missing out on pleasurable things.

I feel where you're coming from.

I'm just trying to stabilise on 75mg Effexor after a failed taper before attempting any further reduction.

It's so hard.

Hopefully we can all be some support to each other.

F x

@felinegaze

Thank you for reaching out. It’s extremely difficult to focus on the end results when the journey is so hard. 
I haven’t had the stamina to try it again since a while. 
1 bead was too much for me already and I felt so disappointed for a long time. 
I am going to see what tapering one singel bead with water would look like. 
 

 

[QueenElisabeth]

On 7/13/2023 at 7:34 PM, Catina7 said:

 

Aww I do understand.  I've had to cancel so many things myself.  You made the right choice.

 

I'm glad you've seen some improvements otherwise!

 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/272-tips-for-tapering-off-effexor-and-effexor-xr-venlafaxine/

 

 

 @Catina7 Thank you for sending me that link. I was there before and thought I had read it well. Of course, in withdrawal and fear, we are not always capable. This time I read you can dissolve the beads and make a liquid. I will never do that with the total amount, but I thought I could make a liquid from one bead and taper that.  It's the first time in two years I see a way around the impact of one bead taper.

 

[QueenElisabeth]

I feel upset today. Getting out of bed takes a lot of time. Just to find the willpower to start. I lay in bed and breath peacefully towards all my emotions rising and falling in my body. Anxious tension releases while breathing into the belly. I feel a little panic starting, but when I ask it why it's there it has no story and it just releases again. It goes back to peaceful. But  I long for joy and relief.

Anhedonia is back in full force. (9)  Even in the evening, it intimidates me sometimes. (5)

What is going on in my body? I tapered an antihistamine and did not touch the venlafaxine in 1,5 years. How....?

I don't recognize myself in the fearful behaviors I display. Just a shadow of who I really am. Everything needs to be so small. My right hemisphere must be so miserable with all these choices. Or maybe it's my right hemisphere that is offline anyway....

It feels like continuously drowning without a lifeline and no relief from death.

I realize it's not a pretty report, but I wanted to record my perceived experience in the morning. 

[Cheeky]

On 7/17/2023 at 7:39 PM, QueenElisabeth said:

I feel upset today. Getting out of bed takes a lot of time. Just to find the willpower to start. I lay in bed and breath peacefully towards all my emotions rising and falling in my body. Anxious tension releases while breathing into the belly. I feel a little panic starting, but when I ask it why it's there it has no story and it just releases again. It goes back to peaceful. But  I long for joy and relief.

Anhedonia is back in full force. (9)  Even in the evening, it intimidates me sometimes. (5)

What is going on in my body? I tapered an antihistamine and did not touch the venlafaxine in 1,5 years. How....?

I don't recognize myself in the fearful behaviors I display. Just a shadow of who I really am. Everything needs to be so small. My right hemisphere must be so miserable with all these choices. Or maybe it's my right hemisphere that is offline anyway....

It feels like continuously drowning without a lifeline and no relief from death.

I realize it's not a pretty report, but I wanted to record my perceived experience in the morning. 

Hey @QueenElisabeth

I know how hard it is in this journey and just wanted to come past to say your not alone in this sufferings. 
Do what you can do and look after yourself . 
 

[Rubied]

Hello @QueenElisabeth,

I am wondering where you obtained Amanita tincture. I also live in the Netherlands. Maybe if you don't feel comfortable, you are ok with sharing via private message?

I am very desperate right now and someone pointed me in the direction of these mushrooms, I quickly searched it on this site and your post on the top of the page popped up in my results.

I know its a long shot.

 

I hope you are doing ok