Cris: need your help

[Cris]

Original topic title:  Need your HELP!

 

Hello, everyone!

 

Recently I discovered this site, which is like a hope, a light at the end of the tunnel, and I found the articles on the site about tapering and etc., I try to read them, but in the state I am in it is very difficult, because of my cognitive problems.

 

I would like to describe a bit of my problem and I would be very grateful if someone would find time to read and help me with an advice. Thank you!

 

2018 - 2019
Different types of drugs: Betamax, Deprestop, Alprazolam, Sedoxil, Modafinil and others.

2019
Losiram (from 5mg, 10mg to 20mg, on 20mg six months, a lot of side effects, switched to 10mg) 
Total time 1 year and 6 months - quit cold turkey on 5mg.

2020
Velaxin(caps) 37,5mg - 2 weeks,  75mg - 10 days again a lot of side effects when I increased the dose to 75mg, like serotonergic syndrome and I also become to have suicidal thoughts that I never had and akathisia, I switched to 37.5mg again.

2020 - 2022 (present)
Velaxin(caps) 37,5mg, many times in this period of two years, I tried to get off the dose of 37,5mg, but i couldn't.

 

Like many others who were not sufficiently informed about the tapering, I tried to stop them as the doctors said, like 50% of the current dose and then I felt really horrible.

My problem is the following, in April this year, I stopped Venlafaxin 37.5mg again too quickly (in about a month), after 3 weeks, I started to have serious symptoms: 

- High blood pressure, increased pulse
- Lack of balance (feeling like I'm going to fall)
- Panic attacks all day, agitation, restlessness, fatigue
- Fever, tingling
- Confusion, strange and racing thoughts, memory problems

- I feel detached from everything
- I couldn't stand for a long time (I always had to support myself)
- hypersomnolence
- blurred vision
- sensations that are not in my body, like I'm in a movie, etc.

During that period, I thought that a month or two would pass and things would change, but it wasn't like that, everything got worse and worse, 5 months passed in such hell, during that time I took Alprazolam and Propronalol because of increased blood pressure and pulse and also for high anxiety and panic attacks, I couldn't stop my brain and I couldn't realize that everything that happens to me is only from Venlafaxin.

In September 2022, I decided to take again Venlafaxin, only that I had Venlaxor (in tablets) and followed it for 1 month (the dose was less than 37,5mg, I cut the tablet until 3/4 from 1 tablet), pulse and blood pressure dropped a little, after I thought to change to Venlaxin(caps with beads) 37,5mg in the end of October because I though it will be easier for me after I get off them, at the moment I follow this dose of 37.5mg but I feel very horrible and I am confused how to proceed further.

According to what I read here on the website, many times when you try to reintroduce the dose you were on, it no longer has the same effect, especially if such a long period of time has passed without drug (in my case 5 months) I really don't know how to do now, to pass on another drug, should I wait, maybe something will change, because I've only been taking it for 1 week, I mean the dose 37,5mg but the simptomes are very serious at the moment and I'm very desperate, I'm thinking not to waste time and nothing will change. 

 

The biggest mistake I could have made was to decrease too quickly 5 months ago the dose of 37,5mg and that I did not reinstart the drug after seeing the WD symptomes that appeared, but again, the problem is that at that moment I didn't know nothing about tapering. 

 

I know that all of you have seen many cases here on the website, please help me how to proceed, not a single doctor I have consulted is able to help me nor does he have the desire, the only thing he can say is to reduce by 50%, but this is not real.

 

I really need your HELP, please help me from the bottom of my heart.

 

Thank you!

P.S. (sorry for my english).

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title and spacing

[manymoretodays]

Hi there Cris and welcome,

It looks like you've got a good start to a signature, which when done, will help us a lot to guide and support you.

Please see:  How to Summarize Your Drug History in Your Signature(click on the underlined passage and you'll see instructions for doing one, or how to do one)  Then this appears below all your posts, and gives us an "at a glance" idea of where you are at with your drugs and tapering.  Some of your past drugs I don't recognize and that may be due to the brand name you used.  If you can look up your drugs by brand name, and find out what the generic name is........that will be helpful to see in your signature.  Just the Deprestop and Sedoxil(? paroxetine??) aren't clear.  We are based in the U.S. and so if you find out what it is called here that can really help.

 

On 11/5/2022 at 9:24 AM, Cris said:

2018 - 2019
Different types of drugs: Betamax, Deprestop, Alprazolam, Sedoxil, Modafinil and others.

2019
Losiram (from 5mg, 10mg to 20mg, on 20mg six months, a lot of side effects, switched to 10mg) 
Total time 1 year and 6 months - quit cold turkey on 5mg.

2020
Velaxin(caps) 37,5mg - 2 weeks,  75mg - 10 days again a lot of side effects when I increased the dose to 75mg, like serotonergic syndrome and I also become to have suicidal thoughts that I never had and akathisia, I switched to 37.5mg again.

2020 - 2022 (present)
Velaxin(caps) 37,5mg, many times in this period of two years, I tried to get off the dose of 37,5mg, but i couldn't.

 

On 11/5/2022 at 9:24 AM, Cris said:

My problem is the following, in April this year, I stopped Venlafaxin 37.5mg again too quickly (in about a month), after 3 weeks, I started to have serious symptoms: 

- High blood pressure, increased pulse
- Lack of balance (feeling like I'm going to fall)
- Panic attacks all day, agitation, restlessness, fatigue
- Fever, tingling
- Confusion, strange and racing thoughts, memory problems

- I feel detached from everything
- I couldn't stand for a long time (I always had to support myself)
- hypersomnolence
- blurred vision
- sensations that are not in my body, like I'm in a movie, etc.

 

On 11/5/2022 at 9:24 AM, Cris said:

During that period, I thought that a month or two would pass and things would change, but it wasn't like that, everything got worse and worse, 5 months passed in such hell, during that time I took Alprazolam and Propronalol because of increased blood pressure and pulse and also for high anxiety and panic attacks, I couldn't stop my brain and I couldn't realize that everything that happens to me is only from Venlafaxin.

In September 2022, I decided to take again Venlafaxin, only that I had Venlaxor (in tablets) and followed it for 1 month (the dose was less than 37,5mg, I cut the tablet until 3/4 from 1 tablet), pulse and blood pressure dropped a little, after I thought to change to Venlaxin(caps with beads) 37,5mg in the end of October because I though it will be easier for me after I get off them, at the moment I follow this dose of 37.5mg but I feel very horrible and I am confused how to proceed further.

 

And okay, I went ahead and quoted some sections from your initial posts, as these will help to get the years, dates, drugs, doses, and previous taper attempts into a Signature format. 

And I've read your whole post now too.  In the Signature, when you are doing that, we don't need anything but a drug history in there, with good attention given to your most recent history of tapering attempts and WD(withdrawal)

 

The symptoms you mention sound just awful and very much like WD(withdrawal) symptoms.

And I'm seeing that you are on Venlafaxine now only?  At 37.5 mg?

Any other drugs or supplements taken now?

You can just answer that when you reply again.

 

I'll try to be brief, and just give you some basics now, in information around our harm reduction model of tapering, and about WD, and some other information for you to have available.  So bear with me.  You've been patient and thank you for that.  Sometimes it takes a little time for us to gather information before we might make any suggests to you.  Meantime, you get some support though.....so that is good.  That knowing sometimes, that others are going through something similar.  It does appear you have been reading or have learned more about your drugs and their effects and that is good.

 

Welcome again.  I am going to reply again with the ^, in another post.  I may have more questions for you there too. 

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

Edited November 10, 2022 by manymoretodays

[manymoretodays]

Hi again and some basics:

 

This is how we like to see tapers done. Of course it doesn't always happen.  We realize this.  So many prescribers/doctors and people are just unaware still.

The 10% or less, taper recommendation, is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

  

Tips for tapering off Effexor and EffexorXR(venlafaxine)

 

What are you working with now?  Name of your drug if regular acting or long acting XR?  Is it beads in a capsule or a solid tablet/pill?  And what is the dose strength per tablet or capsule you presently use/take?

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

What happens when we try to get off our drug(s), after usage for a period of time:

 

Brain Remodelling

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

 

Dr.Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

Look at downloadable PDF and you'll see many of the symptoms you have mentioned

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Any improvements, or even periods when you have felt better, since you have re-medicated with venlafaxine?

If so, when?  And what dose were you taking?

 

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. And sleep is really important during withdrawal. 

 

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.  

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

This is your introduction/journal page where you have now introduced yourself to the community, you can ask questions here regarding your WD or tapering, give updates, and just keep a record of your journey.  Try to communicate with us right here for now.  Just one Introduction per member please too.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited November 10, 2022 by manymoretodays
Took out double link