Johnnyberrry33: Hello everyone.. New member here.. been on Effexor for 9 years ...

[Johnnyberrry33]

I’ve been on Effexor for 9 years at 75mg.. just two months I decided to try and taper off. Little did I know I did 50% drop without knowing the consequences. Lasted a month and decided to take my original dose again 75mg.. Did this all while not knowing a thing, I just followed my psychiatrist.. Now I’ve been back on my 75 mg dose and I’m dealing with what I think is neurological problems in my arms and legs.. my arms feel restless and my legs feel weird at times.. I also have a very weird headache constantly that feels like a burning sensation with weird and unusual anxiety I’ve never felt. I thought I would be able to stabilize at my original dose but idk what to do now.. I wish I did things differently. I didn’t know about slow tapering till it was too late. Any advice would be appreciated.. hopefully I can stabilize… 

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs and supplements 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 specific dates, include the day (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day), drug names, and dosages of each medication decrease or increase. Here is an example: 

 

March 12, ’22: Lexapro 5 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

March 29, ’22: Lexapro 4 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

April 17, ’22:  Lexapro 3.8 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

May 19, ’22:  Lexapro 3.8 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 25 mg

 

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Your Drug History in Your 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  

 

Tips for Tapering Effexor

 

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 have some questions for you: 

 

1) what symptoms did you have after you did the 50% cut, but before you up-dosed back to 75 mg?  

 

2) what symptoms did you have after you up-dosed back to 75 mg?  

 

3) overall, in just one word, do you feel better, or worse since you up-dosed back to 75 mg? 

 

When I see the dates you did the changes to your drug, and the answers to the questions, I can give you some suggestions.