paulk23: Tapering to fast

[paulk23]

I have being tapering off effexor 75 mg now for 2 months as my generic brand only contains six beads I have taken one out every 4 weeks , however I feel this has been to quick as my nervous system is all over the place can anyone give any advice please 

Edited July 31, 2023 by manymoretodays
name to title

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @paulk23

 

For the time being, please stop tapering.

 

How much Effexor are you taking now? When was your last reduction? What is your current symptom pattern? How's your sleep?

 

 

[paulk23]

I have tapered down one third of my medication I was on 75 mg ,I have insomnia I've had diarrhea for a week now I also have dizziness, overwhelm mood swings and chronic fear , because my generic brand only contains 6 viles it was the only way I could think of doing it I've been on effexor for a year now after being on lexapro 10 years I absolutely hate them ,I approached my Dr and he said to taper off over 2 weeks which as I've read here is far to quick so I've been trying to drop by 1 vile a month instead first drop was reletively ok second one has been hell iam confused as to what to do now as I can't approach my Dr 

[Catina7]

Hi @paulk23, I tapered my Effexor too fast as well and got horrible withdrawal symptoms.  I've been holding my current dose for over a year and a half.  We definitely don't want to rush through tapering this awful drug....it's very powerful.  Sometimes giving ourselves a nice long hold of our current dose is the best thing for us.  I hope things improve for you soon.

[paulk23]

It is 2 weeks today since my last taper I feel a little better still very confused and anxious but some of the symptoms have eased I don't know whether to continue with my original plan which was to drop again in two weeks time 

[Catina7]

15 minutes ago, paulk23 said:

It is 2 weeks today since my last taper I feel a little better still very confused and anxious but some of the symptoms have eased I don't know whether to continue with my original plan which was to drop again in two weeks time 

 

I'm glad some symptoms have gotten better for you.  Maybe you should read the link below; it might help you with your decision:

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

[paulk23]

Thanks that helped, pretty much how I've been feeling waves of clear and bad patches , what is keeping me going is the few clear moments iam getting are better than I have felt in my full medication there's actually some joy and excitement coming in to my body which hasn't been there for quite a while.

[paulk23]

I don't know what else to do accept post on this site today ,I've tapered down 30 % of my effexor medication 5 weeks ago ,I've done it at 10 % per month it's been 5 weeks as I said from my last taper and I cannot in words say how awful I feel I have fear of just leaving the bed I have zero interest in the world I've spoke to my Dr who is worse than useless who put me on this stuff without so much as a word about what they would be like to come off, I've been on effexor 18 months before that lexapro for 10 years,all I sufferd from was a bout of anxiety which I didn't understand at the time now I feel like I've been given a death sentence for a crime I did not commit my Dr says iam probably not able for life without them and anxiety is what's happening which is just not true I felt none of these unbearable symptoms with anxiety and the medication has made me emotionless I constantly feel agitated I scream I don't enjoy life iam sorry for ranting but at this moment I feel completely helpless I've never felt suicidal before but I feel so stuck with this I now do if anyone has any advice at all please can they help thanks 

[Altostrata]

On 8/1/2023 at 2:43 PM, paulk23 said:

It is 2 weeks today since my last taper I feel a little better still very confused and anxious but some of the symptoms have eased I don't know whether to continue with my original plan which was to drop again in two weeks time 

 

Hello, @paulk23 You were doing well 2 weeks ago. When was the last time you reduced Effexor? How much did you reduce? How much are you taking now?

 

14 hours ago, paulk23 said:

I have zero interest in the world

 

Since your last reduction, what new symptoms do you have other than this one?

[Catina7]

20 hours ago, paulk23 said:

I don't know what else to do accept post on this site today ,I've tapered down 30 % of my effexor medication 5 weeks ago ,I've done it at 10 % per month it's been 5 weeks as I said from my last taper and I cannot in words say how awful I feel I have fear of just leaving the bed I have zero interest in the world I've spoke to my Dr who is worse than useless who put me on this stuff without so much as a word about what they would be like to come off, I've been on effexor 18 months before that lexapro for 10 years,all I sufferd from was a bout of anxiety which I didn't understand at the time now I feel like I've been given a death sentence for a crime I did not commit my Dr says iam probably not able for life without them and anxiety is what's happening which is just not true I felt none of these unbearable symptoms with anxiety and the medication has made me emotionless I constantly feel agitated I scream I don't enjoy life iam sorry for ranting but at this moment I feel completely helpless I've never felt suicidal before but I feel so stuck with this I now do if anyone has any advice at all please can they help thanks 

 

Have you considered that maybe you're tapering too fast?  I was tapering at only 10% a month but all those reductions caught up with me and I had a really horrible crash.  I experienced severe anxiety, insomnia, and was extremely suicidal.  I've been holding at my current dose since October 2021 in order to stabilize.  Maybe your body is trying to tell you to slow it down.  These drugs are very powerful.  Maybe if you hold for awhile and then do a much smaller and slower taper your body will have enough time to adjust.  I'm sorry you're suffering so much right now, but if you can just hang in there I know things will improve for you.  ❤️

[paulk23]

I don't know how it has become so bad it has progressed in the last 2 weeks I now feel extremely aggressive and agitated which is not my personality iam so confused because my medication only has six beads as to how to come down slower 

[Altostrata]

Please read this and answer my questions. Thank you.

 

[Fifree]

Hopefully there could be some useful info on here Paul. 

 

[Ariel]

Hi @paulk23

I read your post in the Windows and Waves help topic, quoting you here:

 

4 hours ago, paulk23 said:

I am currently one drop of 10 mg effexor away from being off this evil drug I had a good week last week this week I feel awful,iam aggressive agitated no energy tense constantly feel like iam vibrating , I had it in my mind that when I level off my last drop that I would of achieved what I never thought was possible and be free of this drug it's taken me a year to get to here ,my question is from reading a lot of this forum is this just the beginning of the battle when I finally get the final drop ,I have to say that is making me feel very disheartened dont think I can do another year or two of this pain

 

It sounds like you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I'm guessing they are from a too-fast taper coming off of Effexor.

Please don't drop from 10mg -> 0mg. That is much too fast. 

 

It looks like you haven't updated your intro topic since August 2023. 

I see you've posted a number of times in other topics. 

If you'd like help at the current stage of your taper, please post here in your own thread. It helps keep all your info in one place and makes it easier for us to offer assistance. 

 

Are you currently at 10mg Effexor?

How long have you been at this dose?

What tapering rate/strategy have you been using thus far? 

Could you please update your drug signature?

 

 

[LostInCanada]

@paulk23 I saw your post on waves and windows. I am concerned as you are tapering way too fast. 10% every 4 weeks from your current dose is the maximum. Many cannot handle the maximum cut. I can only cut 0.5% at a time which can be weeks apart. Do you make your own liquid or have a scale? You can always dilute the liquid to make smaller cuts. Getting off safety and being able to function is more important than getting off quickly and being disabled. Please slow down. You need to hold or even updose a bit and stabilize for a few months.

Also can you take advantage of becoming a patient of Mark Horowitz? Please watch some of his videos. He runs a deprescribing clinic in the UK.

[LostInCanada]

@paulk23 Just putting your quote here to help others help you:

 

paulk23

Posted 3 hours ago

I have reduced effexor 75 mg by 10 mg every six weeks I have 10 mg to go that's my background I've been on them 13 years,over the last few days I am in living hell i am constantly screaming I feel like my brain is gonna burst through my head I have all sorts of sensations in my nervous system,I can't take this anymore I am trying so hard to get through it for my beautiful little daughter but I feel like taking my own life as I can't take this anymore I've been fighting this over a year I've spoke to my doctor he's useless told me iam in the 1 percent of people who struggle to come off them and it's my symptoms coming back and i should go back on the drug and infect up the dosage ,i don't need this drug i only had mild anxiety which i have worked hard on and it's pretty much gone iam sorry for rambling I just feel desperation can anyone help should i do the last drop will it help because it feels like my emotions are trapped and all i can do is scream maybe if i take away the last bit the emotions will come out throughout tears just any help at all please

[Catina7]

1 hour ago, LostInCanada said:

I have reduced effexor 75 mg by 10 mg every six weeks I have 10 mg to go

 

Hi @paulk23, I have to agree with @LostInCanada that I think you're going too fast in your taper.  I was doing 10% cuts of Effexor 75 mg every month.  My anxiety got worse and worse and then I completely crashed when I got down to 12 mg.  In hindsight, the 10% was much too fast for me.  I'm currently tapering no more than 5% every month and that seems to be agreeing with me much better.  

 

I think if you can just slow things down you might find it much more tolerable.  Hang in there!  

[paulk23]

Thanks for the replies the problem I have is I have only six beads in my capsule as I use a generic brand so iam down to my last bead they are to small to cut so how can I maybe half the drop 

[Catina7]

2 minutes ago, paulk23 said:

Thanks for the replies the problem I have is I have only six beads in my capsule as I use a generic brand so iam down to my last bead they are to small to cut so how can I maybe half the drop 

 

Hopefully these links will help:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/272-tips-for-tapering-off-effexor-and-effexor-xr-venlafaxine/

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/27067-managing-the-endgame-taper/?do=getLastComment