AmaliaDicea Posted February 4, 2022 Share Posted February 4, 2022 Glad to know about this site, been looking for this kind of information for ages! Im 30, I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety since 2019. I've been medicated ever since. Right now I'm just trying to try other type of treatments for my illness, so I'm leaving one of my actual meds, which is Effexor. I began last november. I was taking 150 mg of Effexor XR. On December I began taking 75 mg of Effexor XR, and on January I ended up in 37.5 mgs. This is where I am. Now, thanks to your site i`ve learned that a actually went really fast, and thats why I have been feeling not so well for the past few months. I did it like that because I've consulted 3 different psychiatrst and they told me they coldn't change any of my medication, and that maybe, I needed to increase the dose of even take another pill and, quite frankly, I am so tired of my contries mental health care system. Right know, I would love some advicies on everything. Thank you for your time, can't describe how helpful this site has been. 2015-2016 Zoloft 2016-2017 Lexapro 2017-2018 Prozac 2018- 2021 Effexor Mar 75 mg, seroquel 25 mg. 2019 Effexor Jan 150 mg, seroquel 25 mg. 2021 Seroquel 25 mg, Effexor Jan 150 mg, Nov 75 mg, 2022 Seroquel 25 mg ,Effexor Feb 37.5 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus getofflex Posted February 7, 2022 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 7, 2022 (edited) Hello, and welcome to SA. We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs. You have come to the right place. Yes, you have been tapering quickly, with large dose reductions, but it's understandable, since almost no doctor knows how to taper patients off their drugs safely and properly. What symptoms are you having? How is your sleep? Are you able to function in your daily life? I would suggest that you don't make any more reductions to your medication at this time. Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months? It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase. Use this format: Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose… Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose… Etcetera Please read the link below for instructions. This will allow us to give you the best guidance. How to List Drug History in Signature Here is some information about how these drugs actually work. This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization What is Happening in Your Brain Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller. Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage Tips for Tapering Effexor Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. Magnesium Omega 3 Fish Oil I know I've given you quite a lot of information. Take you time to go through it, and let us know if you have any questions. Please let us know how you are doing. Edited February 7, 2022 by getofflex Please do not private message me. Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you. ***Please note this is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one. Lexapro Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg; started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20 0.18 mg; Jul 16 0.17 mg, Aug 23 0.16 mg, Oct 7 0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005, Jul 8, 0.00. Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!! Woohoo!!! other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly Link to comment
AmaliaDicea Posted November 4, 2022 Author Share Posted November 4, 2022 Thank you for the information provided, I have updated my signature with my current medication. Since February I am taking 35.7 mg of effexor and 25 mg of seroquel. It has been very difficult. Suicidal ideation has returned, anxiety, I sleep a lot and I don't sleep without medication. I have many stomach symptoms, gastritis, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. I feel desperate. The public health system psychiatrist has recommended that I switch medications, but I don't want to take any more antidepressants. I have functional anxiety and depression, so I can work, but with a lot of effort, i'm always foggy, it physically exhausts me to the point of not being able to eat, bathe or leave the house. I really need help. I really don't know how long I should wait to completely tap off the Efexxor and how to begin tapping down the seroquel. I have been reading about psilocybin treatment, what is your opinion on it? Do you know if it has any contraindications? I have read some studies, and it seems not, but the information is not so clear. I thank you in advance for any advice you can give in order to get through this. 2015-2016 Zoloft 2016-2017 Lexapro 2017-2018 Prozac 2018- 2021 Effexor Mar 75 mg, seroquel 25 mg. 2019 Effexor Jan 150 mg, seroquel 25 mg. 2021 Seroquel 25 mg, Effexor Jan 150 mg, Nov 75 mg, 2022 Seroquel 25 mg ,Effexor Feb 37.5 Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted November 7, 2022 Administrator Share Posted November 7, 2022 I am sorry that you are feeling so ill, @AmaliaDicea We haven't heard from you for 9 months. It seem you may have had withdrawal syndrome then. The best way to resolve withdrawal syndrome is to increase the drug dosage somewhat -- not all the way back to the original dosage, but perhaps to 50mg Effexor. To our knowledge, psilocybin does not resolve withdrawal syndrome. Did you also stop taking Seroquel? What are you taking for sleep? 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
AmaliaDicea Posted November 7, 2022 Author Share Posted November 7, 2022 Hi, Thanks for writting @Altostrata I havent stopped the seroquel, and the dosage of both effexor and seroquel has stayed the same since febrary. Im going to a new psychiatrist, I know he's not going to be on board with the idea of leaving the medication. I really don't want to increase the drug beacuse the fear of going back 🥲, but I know I been tappering really fast. 2015-2016 Zoloft 2016-2017 Lexapro 2017-2018 Prozac 2018- 2021 Effexor Mar 75 mg, seroquel 25 mg. 2019 Effexor Jan 150 mg, seroquel 25 mg. 2021 Seroquel 25 mg, Effexor Jan 150 mg, Nov 75 mg, 2022 Seroquel 25 mg ,Effexor Feb 37.5 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted November 7, 2022 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 7, 2022 Some members don't tell their doctor that they are tapering. You do not have to do what the doctor suggests/recommends. Stay calm and polite, listen to what they say, do your own research so you can make an informed decision and then do what you think is best for you. I have a doctor and a cardiologist wanting me to start taking a statin drug for high cholesterol. I have listened to why they want me to take it, but I have done my research and I have decided that I will not take it. As I said to the doctor, I am not saying no because I am digging my heels in, I have researched it so I am making an informed decision. how-to-talk-to-a-doctor-about-tapering-and-withdrawal-what-to-expect * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted November 9, 2022 Administrator Share Posted November 9, 2022 On 11/4/2022 at 1:27 PM, AmaliaDicea said: Suicidal ideation has returned, anxiety, I sleep a lot and I don't sleep without medication. I have many stomach symptoms, gastritis, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. When did these symptoms appear? Did you accidentally skip any dose, or take them off-schedule? Did you take any antibiotics? Alcohol? Did you have covid? 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
AmaliaDicea Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 Hi, thank you both for answering. So here is my update. @ChessieCat Thank you so much for giving me advice to approach my doctor, it did work. I had the appointment yesterday. Basically, the doctor told me that I don't have the proper diagnosis. It seems that I not only have depression and anxiety, but type 2 bipolar disorder. He asked me to increase the venlafaxine again, and he tells me that reducing the dose does not seem useful to him. Al the moment, I have to do some lab tests to find out if I'm fit to take lithium, but I don't think I want to. I have a lot of information in my head and I don't know which way to go :(. @Altostrata I think those symptoms appear 1 year ago. I rarely skip doses, and when I do, i feel the worst, I can't go more than 12 hours without the venlafaxine, the photophobia, the physical pain, and dizziness are unbearable. At the moment I do not take antibiotics. I don't drink a lot of alcohol, one drink a week, and I didn't have COVID either. I would like to thank you both for taking the time to read me. You make me feel less alone and hopeless. 2015-2016 Zoloft 2016-2017 Lexapro 2017-2018 Prozac 2018- 2021 Effexor Mar 75 mg, seroquel 25 mg. 2019 Effexor Jan 150 mg, seroquel 25 mg. 2021 Seroquel 25 mg, Effexor Jan 150 mg, Nov 75 mg, 2022 Seroquel 25 mg ,Effexor Feb 37.5 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted November 16, 2022 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 16, 2022 4 hours ago, AmaliaDicea said: I have a lot of information in my head and I don't know which way to go I suggest you write things down on paper and list the pros and cons. You can also write down how you feel about the different choices. It can help you to think more clearly if you can get it out of your head. There is a member of SA who I brain storm ideas with and I find it really helps. Sometimes this member isn't able to offer any suggestions but just writing to them about what I am thinking really helps. 4 hours ago, AmaliaDicea said: Basically, the doctor told me that I don't have the proper diagnosis. It seems that I not only have depression and anxiety, but type 2 bipolar disorder. If these symptoms developed after you started/reduced/stopped a psychiatric drugs, ie you didn't have them before you ever took a psychiatric drug, then it cannot be a true diagnosis. This is even stated in the DSM. A diagnosis cannot be made whilst someone is tapering or experiencing withdrawal symptoms because the drug/s have changed the brain. From this post Ch4 of The Antidepressant Solution by Glenmullen 2005: "Antidepressants can certainly make patients look manic or hypomanic. But the American APA DSM explicitly states that “manic like [or hypomanic –like] episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (e.g. medication) should not count toward a diagnosis of bipolar I or bipolar II disorder because these are drug induced states." Check out this list of withdrawal symptoms: Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist 1 * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted November 17, 2022 Administrator Share Posted November 17, 2022 @AmaliaDicea please let us know when you would like to reduce your psychiatric drugs. 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
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