Ang2 Posted October 9, 2020 Share Posted October 9, 2020 Hi everyone, thanks for having this amazingly helpful website! I have been on venlafaxine for about 6 years with lamotrigine. I was on 300mg of venlafaxine then started reduction Jan 2019 for a year. Then stayed put on 75mg for 9 months as couldn't face the withdrawals. Four weeks ago I reduced to 37.5 then last week stopped completely. Now a full week and the intense emotional pain has eased, still struggling with anger and crying but the crying is helpful and if I can get some sleep the anger maybe productive to. The zaps are easing slowly but the confusion and poor memory are difficult especially with studying. The main issue for me is insomnia, racing thoughts and itchy skin, like something is crawling on me and a startle response that has gone mad! If I could just sleep I could manage everything else much better! I fear if I carry on like this I will ruin all chances of graduating and my relationships are strained after just one week of being like this. My issue is if I do decide it is to much and I start taking it again how would I do that ... I take (or took) the instant release tables, lowest dose 37.5 (and not very easy to beak up). If instead I start the extended release 37.5 would that help my symptoms with it being a different formulation? Then I could take a bead out and reduce slower. Any thoughts /opinions would be greatly appreciated as my GP is a waste if time and I need to get some relief. Also has anyone tried diazepam or such for sleep and restlessness? And did it help. Even though prob be unlikely they will give me any. I already take high dose omega and magnesium aswell Angela ☺️ Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 9, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 9, 2020 (edited) Welcome to SA, Ang2. I've brought your situation to the attention of the other staff. Edited October 9, 2020 by Gridley Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 9, 2020 Administrator Share Posted October 9, 2020 Welcome, Ang. 19 hours ago, Ang2 said: Then stayed put on 75mg for 9 months as couldn't face the withdrawals. Did your withdrawal symptoms go away over those 9 months? With your history of having had withdrawal syndrome already, I would not continue to take chances with the abrupt tapering schedule you've been using. If I were you, I'd take 37.5mg extended-release and prepare to reduce bead by bead in some number of months. You must let your nervous system recover. The liquid will be easier for you to taper by tiny amounts later. See Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor) This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Ang2 Posted October 9, 2020 Author Share Posted October 9, 2020 Thank you. The withdrawals did ease out ok in that time period. I will start to go slower from her on. I've got 37.5 ex release from GP today. They contain three tablets. I'm just on reading now how to go from there in the venlafaxine tapering section. Sorry if I'm not making sense, been a long day with a mashed up head. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 9, 2020 Administrator Share Posted October 9, 2020 No, those 3 mini-tablets inside are extended-release tablets, you cannot make a liquid from them. What you might do is take just one of the mini-tablets and see if that's enough to stop the withdrawal symptoms. If not, you can increase in a few days by another mini-tab. At this point, don't worry about tapering, you need some time to stabilize from your last reduction. This may take some months before you'll be able to taper again. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Ang2 Posted October 9, 2020 Author Share Posted October 9, 2020 I get you, thank you. Link to comment
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