mikal: tapering Effexor

[mikal]

Hello friends. First, a huge thank you to everyone who has created this incredible resource. 

 

After about 18 years on effexor I started slowly tapering in Feb 2021 and it went fine for over a year. I was at the point where I could no longer weigh the tiny bit of a pill, and made a solution in a dropper, per instruction on this site and another tapering group. Then, like for many people here, at 10 drops I crashed into a terrible wall of withdrawal symptoms. Waking up with absolutely crippling anxiety and dread and loss of appetite were the main symptoms. By reading other people's stories here I learned that this is not uncommon. 

 

I started reinstating (am now at 20 drops - double where I was when the withdrawal started), and the anxiety is not as bad but still terrible. Im hoping I get some relief soon. I want my life back.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  I'm sorry you have hit this wall with your taper.  My questions are: 

 

1) have you done 10% of your original dose (75 mg) or 10% of the current dose, which would make each subsequent reduction smaller and smaller? 

 

2) how often have you done these reductions?  

 

3) how many milligrams of the drug are in 10 drops, when you hit the wall of withdrawal?  

 

On 5/8/2022 at 2:03 PM, mikal said:

I started reinstating (am now at 20 drops - double where I was when the withdrawal started), and the anxiety is not as bad but still terrible.

When did you reinstate to the 20 drops?  

 

We will need more detailed info in your drug history.  Can you please give us specific information in your signature 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 important 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

 

 

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 reduction becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

 

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

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

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 don't know if you have read our thread about reinstatement.  I'm glad that going back up to 20 drops is helping you.  When we know more about your drug history, we can give more advice and suggestions. 

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

[getofflex]

Also, instead of measuring the dose in drops with a dropper, it is much better to measure it in milliliters with a syringe, because precision in dosing is very important.  At your small dose, you should use a 1 ml syringe, with markings in 100's of a milliliter.  They are available on amazon.  Drops of liquid can be different sizes, and are not an accurate measurement.  The size of drops of liquid vary depending on the viscosity of the liquid, and the specific dropper.  

Edited May 9, 2022 by getofflex