FastButSlow: Very sensitive to venlafaxine and side effects after 1 year. What to do?

[FastButSlow]

Hi all.

 

At the moment I'm on 78 mg of Efexor XR since 17 months.

From 150 to 78 mg, in the past 12 months, I tapered too fast.

Details in my signature.

 

In the last few months I also tried tapering about 10% but depression kick in very fast.

 

A nice taper, that I'm going to retest soon, seems 2%.

 

Now, since 1 year, the side effects are gradually getting worse:

• Indigestion (eating at night cause me insomnia because I can't sleep and start sweating)
• GERD if not treated with Betaine
• Hair loss
• Constipation

 

At January I'll have a Gastroscopy, If nothing will be found, probably, the most debalitating side effect (GI issue), will be confirmed.

 

With a rate of 2%/month will take 2-3 years to getting out of this s

hit.

 

I'm wondering if getting out of efexor, can be done with manageable side effects, but more fast, with starting an other antidepressant like bupropion.

 

I tried different substances (drugs, supplements etc) this year, and for what I understand, dopamine enhancer, it's the only thing that works.

 

What should I do?

 

Thanks for reading.

[Erell]

Hello @FastButSlow, 

 

And welcome on SA. This site is run entirely by volunteer Administrators and Moderators, all have been through or are going through withdrawal.

I am sorry you are having a rough time, we'll try to sort it out with you and see if we can give you any suggestions.
Thank you for your signature : this will help us to see all your drug history at a glance.

Questions : 

1. you had never taken a psychiatric medication before 2019?

 

2. Why did you switch from paroxetine to escitalopram in 2020 and then from escitalopram to effexor?
How did you react to these switches? 

 

3. How did you feel at 75mg Effexor ? Then, why did you change to 150 mg ?

 

3. You mentioned trying "different drugs and supplements" this year : could you give us the details of these trials? (name of the drugs and supplements, doses, dates)

 

On 12/21/2021 at 10:07 AM, FastButSlow said:

I'm wondering if getting out of efexor, can be done with manageable side effects, but more fast, with starting an other antidepressant like bupropion.

 

Yes, there are many people who taper Effexor. However, your body has undergone a lot of changes in the last two years: I doubt another change now would help your nervous system to stabilise and I would suggest a long hold before considering a taper. Our central nervous system like stability, these links might help you to understand what is going on :

--> how-psychiatric-drugs-remodel-your-brain

--> are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take/#comment-492493

 

You might also be interested by these threads :

--> why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage
--> tips-for-tapering-off-effexor-and-effexor-xr-venlafaxine

 

 

 

You say that "since 1 year the side effects are gradually getting worse" : does this mean that you were feeling stable at 150mg and are feeling symptoms since you started tapering ?

[FastButSlow]

Hello @Erell, thanks for your time.

 

Before I reply to you I have to put some perspective on the table:

• 33 yo male, suffered from low mood and low energy pretty all my life.
• Anxiety kicked in in 2013. Never treated. Just managed till 2019 with meditation a practice like that.
• My general practitioner put me on these medications in 2019, not a specialist.
• My initial symptoms for which my GP put me on psychiatric meds are the following: constant tension headache increasing intensity when mentally tired; very low mood, anhedonia, existential depression, high stress and unsatisfactory job.

1 hour ago, Erell said:

1. you had never taken a psychiatric medication before 2019?

Never

1 hour ago, Erell said:

2. Why did you switch from paroxetine to escitalopram in 2020 and then from escitalopram to effexor?
How did you react to these switches? 

Both switches were made because my major issue (constant tension headache) did not improve.

Generally the reaction were increased symptoms of depression (tiredness, anhedonia). The few weeks after the switches also constipation and bad sleep. Sometimes also anxiety.

1 hour ago, Erell said:

3. How did you feel at 75mg Effexor ? Then, why did you change to 150 mg ?

Bad, after just 5 weeks I started to pressure my GP to upgrade my dose at 150mg also because I read that was the minimal dosage for depression.

So very in a hurry because really tired of this situation. What a genius....

 

1 hour ago, Erell said:

3. You mentioned trying "different drugs and supplements" this year : could you give us the details of these trials? (name of the drugs and supplements, doses, dates)

Well, these have been just attempts to manage my depression (intensified by WD I think now) with:

• Sulbutiamine (some good effects for few days, but then worsen my sleep)
• L Carnitine (gave me some energy but after few days of use tollerance built up. Tried to cycle but results not stable)
• Noopept (used 2 months but stopped because gave me just energy but my depression were not touched, an unpleasant feeling to be alert but still very depressed)
• Ketamine (tried some cycle every few weeks of "high day" but results on depression were insufficient and dis not last)
• Modafinil (tried few times but tension headache come back and depression is not touched)
• Psychedelic microdosing (did for some months with a 3 day Off 1 day ON protocol and helped to reset my anxiety, till then, anxiety as known before has gone).

Just for clarity, every substance has been used without a supervision of anyone (it is not a boast).

 

2 hours ago, Erell said:

You say that "since 1 year the side effects are gradually getting worse" : does this mean that you were feeling stable at 150mg and are feeling symptoms since you started tapering ?

Yes, I felt somewhat stable on that dose. But in the last year (since started tapering from 150mg) very few months I felt somewhat like that again because when I like that again I begun to taper again. So the my major problem with digestion (and hair loss) could be caused by the never ending taper (at wrong doses) started with that taper.

 

As you said, maybe before stat to taper again, I just need a loooooong hold.

 

Thanks for the links and your time.

Cheers.

 

[manymoretodays]

Hi FastButSlow and welcome aboard from me too,

 

Sounds like you are now taking a nice long hold with your Effexor taper.  That can be a good thing.

 

On 12/21/2021 at 2:07 AM, FastButSlow said:

I'm wondering if getting out of efexor, can be done with manageable side effects, but more fast, with starting an other antidepressant like bupropion.

And we don't recommend using another AD(antidepressant) to help with a taper. 

 

On 12/21/2021 at 2:07 AM, FastButSlow said:

A nice taper, that I'm going to retest soon, seems 2%.

 

This is a great idea ^.

 

And I want you to take a look now too, at these topics:

What is withdrawal syndrome?

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

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.  The CNS likes stability. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.

 

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.  Do not make any more than one addition or change at a time though.  And always start low, with dosage.  That way you can tell what is doing what more readily.

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

And best.  Welcome again.

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)