ashkbye - My Effexor Experience

[Ashkbye]

I started on Effexor in 2017 and quickly got up to 225mg. I have only tried Lexapro and Wellbutrin at that point in my life so I honestly didn't know what to expect. Effexor helped me through a very difficult time in my life but 4 years later I was ready to get off. I tapered from 225mg-75mg in 37.5mg intervals. At each interval, I held for a month. When I got to 75mg I stayed on for about 6-8 months because I was dealing with other health issues. Once I decided to continue my taper, I went to 37.5mg and stayed for 1-2 months. Then I started taking beads out weekly. 7-10 beads per week until I hit 0.

 

Throughout my taper, I had a very easy experience. I think the most symptoms I had was brain zaps and headaches. It was manageable though. I honestly thought I was free of the medication as of Dec 2022. A little over a month post-jump, I started developing bizarre symptoms. I had a constant migraine, brain fog, panic attacks daily, insomnia and developed health anxiety - something I've never had before. I had 0 appetite and lost 20 lbs in less than a month. I was in and out of the ER weekly, convinced I was dying. I saw every possibly doctor speciality you could imagine, and all my tests came back normal. 

 

At this point, my life completely crumbled underneath me. I lost my job and had to stop going to school. I ended up reinstating Effexor, because I didn't know what was going on. Immediately the anxiety cleared up and I was able to eat/sleep again. It took me a few months to connect the two, but I'm certain I was experiencing delayed withdrawals. I've been psychiatrist shopping and none of the 5 I've seen believe it has anything to do with Effexor. 

 

I'm currently at 75mg of Effexor, a dose I'm very familiar with. The only issue is, I'm having a difficult time stabilizing my depression. My anxiety is well controlled, but my depression has been going through a roller coaster. Some weeks I'm fine, the next week I'm in a very low mood. I really want to stabilize my depression before revisiting tapering. 

 

So this is where I stand with my current integrative psychiatrist. 

 

Option 1: Introduce vitamins - such as multivitamin & lithium orotate (1mg) - I'm currently working on this option

Option 2: Add lamictal - this is a big no for me because of memory issues associated with it.

Option 3: Increase my Effexor to 112.5mg - I DO NOT want to increase - but if thats what it takes to stabilize then I will try. 

 

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to stabilize my nervous system? Or am I in tolerance. Honestly, I have PTSD from my experience earlier this year and I want to hold off on going through that again until I'm mentally prepared for it again. 

[Emonda]

Hi @Ashkbye

Welcome to S.A.

 

I am sorry you have had a rough time withdrawing from ADs. The symptoms you describe sound like WD to me. I'm not surprised to hear of your experience with five psychiatrists not believing in WD from ADs.

 

It is encouraging that your anxiety has settled. As to the depression, I am unsure of your timeline for reinstating your AD. Sometimes, it can take many weeks or months for things to settle down to a point where you feel comfortable. So the moderators can best help you, please complete your drug signature by following these instructions.

 

I suspect you may have experienced WD as you tapered much faster than recommended on this site. The recommendation is to reduce by no more than 10% per month of the most recent dose. The amount of the reduction gets smaller and smaller every month. I'd suggest you start by reading Why taper by 10% of my dosage? After I tapered too fast (before finding this site), I had to up-dose, and it took some months before I felt settled and perhaps 5 or 6 months before I was confident enough to try tapering again. I've successfully tapered by 80% by following the 10% recommendation in the above link.

 

To address the options you list (1 & 2 initially), we don't suggest many supplements, but two that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. Add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Regarding option 3 of increasing the dose, moderators would need to see your drug signature before they can comment on this.

 

4 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to stabilize my nervous system?

 

Time and patience is your friend in this process. You might find it helpful to read these non-drug coping strategies. 

 

4 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

Honestly, I have PTSD from my experience earlier this year 

 

Many of us on this site can relate to exactly how you are feeling. I've been there many times. Things will improve.

 

4 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

I want to hold off on going through that again until I'm mentally prepared for it again

 

There is no rush at all. Give yourself 6 months to stabilise, and only when you are feeling settled should you consider the maximum 10% taper as per the link above.

 

Hopefully, the above is sufficient information for you to digest as a starting point. Once you have read that and added your drug signature, please post any further questions.

 

Once again, welcome to S.A.

 

Emonda

[Ashkbye]

Thank you for the reassurance. It’s bittersweet to know I’m not the only one. I wish I could find a doctor that would listen to my story and work with me. But the medical field has failed me….

 

i reinstated at the end of Feb 2023 @ 37.5mg. Stayed there for 8 weeks (in hopes I wouldn’t have to go higher) - then went to 75mg. I’ve been at 75mg for about 5 months now. Do you think that would be enough time to stabilize? I wonder if the Effexor isn’t cutting it. 
 

I take Magnesium & Omega 3 daily. 

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Ashkbye

 

What do you mean by depression?

 

How do you feel now compared to how you felt in January, before reinstating Effexor? How has your symptom pattern changed since the beginning of June?

 

 

[Ashkbye]

When I went through everything in January, it was mostly anxiety related. Since getting back on Effexor - it’s like anhedonia. I don’t have any interest in doing anything. I feel hopeless and like I’m just going through the motions of life on auto pilot. I don’t feel like the same person as I was before this year. & I hate being alone.

[Emonda]

Hi @Ashkbye

 

20 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

It’s bittersweet to know I’m not the only one

 

Yep, I found it comforting to know I was not alone and frustrating at the same time. We have to accept it and move on. 

 

20 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

i reinstated at the end of Feb 2023 @ 37.5mg. Stayed there for 8 weeks (in hopes I wouldn’t have to go higher) - then went to 75mg.

 

Thanks for starting your drug signature. Can you please add the information above with doses to that signature. It will ensure your exact medication history will appear at the bottom of each and every post you make. It'll make it much quicker and easier for moderators trying to help.

 

 

[Ashkbye]

Thank you - I updated my signature. Hopefully that is enough information. 

[Altostrata]

14 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

Since getting back on Effexor - it’s like anhedonia. I don’t have any interest in doing anything. I feel hopeless and like I’m just going through the motions of life on auto pilot.

 

Emotional blunting, demotivation, and apathy are very common effects of antidepressants. People who reinstate after withdrawal symptoms often experience it. It's not the psychiatric condition called "depression". More drug is not going to make this better.

[Ashkbye]

@Altostrata

 

thanks. That information is reassuring but also terrifying. How can I fix?

[Emonda]

Time and patience, @Ashkbye. After that, you have option 3 from your original post:

 

On 9/12/2023 at 9:41 AM, Ashkbye said:

Option 3: Increase my Effexor to 112.5mg - I DO NOT want to increase - but if thats what it takes to stabilise then I will.

 

If you do consider increasing, you should seek guidance from one of the moderators first regarding the potential size of the increase. But I'd reflect on what Altostrata said above, 

 

7 hours ago, Altostrata said:

More drug is not going to make this better.

 

To confirm, are you avoiding alcohol, caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate) and mind-altering drugs such as cannabis? These substances are unhelpful for your stabilisation.

 

When I feel down, I find exercise helpful. Others say they don't find it helpful...so you'll need to work out what's best for you with this.

 

I hope this helps. 

 

Emonda 

Edited September 14, 2023 by Emonda
typo

[Ashkbye]

@Emonda

 

so do you think it’s okay to wait until I stabilize to taper off again. Or is it possible I never stabilize?

 

I eat healthy and am sober from all substances - including caffeine. I have considered psilocybin to potentially help me through this time but haven’t done it yet. 

[Altostrata]

You're experiencing a very common effect of antidepressants. If you look at the other Introductions topics, you'll see many people have felt the same effects.

 

The effect of the drug will continue as long as you're taking the drug. Up to you if you want to try fixing this with another drug. Given your recent difficulty with withdrawal, the effects are unpredictable.

[Emonda]

Hi @Ashkbye,

I'd be patiently waiting to stabilise.

 

11 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

Or is it possible I never stabilize?

 

I've had this fear before...most of us probably have. Have a read of LostInCanada's page. She's waited quite some time for stability. She's seen improvement, but she's had to be very patient and is now very slowly tapering. My story has been much the same. Windows and waves are part of the process; sometimes, those waves can last a while.

 

I've learnt that I have to listen to my body. Once you go too fast (more than the recommended maximum of 10% per month), it can take some time to recover.

 

If you read the WD symptom checklist, you may find it reassuring that the things you are experiencing are normal for WD. I find it encouraging to read that I am no different to anyone else on this journey. It helps me to be forewarned about what I may experience so that when I do actually experience it, I can reassure myself this is "normal". The checklist is here (PDF will download) glenmullen_symptoms_AS Appendix 1.pdf 

 

It's great to read you are avoiding alcohol, etc. I can't comment on the supplement you referred to. I'd be sticking with omega-3 and magnesium, as mentioned above.

 

Sing out with any questions.

 

Emonda

 

 

[Ashkbye]

Last year I went through a traumatizing withdrawal experience after coming off Effexor. I reinstated and eventually moved up to 75mg by May of last year.

 

Ive been solid since that time, but in the past 3 months I think I am experiencing tolerance. I need to stabilize so I’m considering going up a dose to get to a stable place. My anxiety is awful and I can’t imagine symptoms getting worse. Once I get stable, I do want to get off. Is this a bad idea? 
 

my current symptoms are: head pressure, fatigue, burning eyes, anxiety, and brain fog. I’m going through medical testing to rule out anything else. 

[Ashkbye]

Hi everyone,

 

I really need some advice.

 

So I reinstated Effexor last year in March and remained at 75mg. Unfortunately the dose has pooped out on me, and not only that but I’m dealing with some heart arrhythmia issues. The meds they gave me are not supposed to be taken with Effexor. I need off, like yesterday.

 

I already experienced withdrawal before so I would love to minimize that as much as possible.

 

My psych has recommended a Prozac bridge. Can anyone provide me with success stories and tapering schedules so I can share with her? I have reviewed the main file on Prozac bridging, but would love experience. 

[Emonda]

Hi Ashkybe,

I've moved your new post back here. Please keep updating this topic rather than starting a new one.

 

10 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

I already experienced withdrawal before so I would love to minimize that as much as possible.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage? The reductions should get smaller and smaller each month, for example: 10mg, 9mg, 8.1mg, 7.3mg etc. This process involves a degree of trial and error, as there is no way of predicting how an individual will respond. Importantly, if you develop unpleasant side effects from tapering, halt the taper, give yourself time to settle, and once stable, taper more slowly and by smaller amounts moving forward. The experience of others suggests that the lower you go in dose, the slower you need to go with tapering.

Those that taper too quickly often develop very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) is a helpful summary of what many experience.

10 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

My psych has recommended a Prozac bridge. Can anyone provide me with success stories and tapering schedules so I can share with her? I have reviewed the main file on Prozac bridging, but would love experience. 

If you use the search function in the top right corner, you will find some information.

I have heard Dr Horowitz comment that the Prozac bridge has real risks. It can be a bridge to nowhere. You end up with WD from the first drug, and then you need to try to adjust to a new drug. While some think it's easy to swap from one AD to another, realistically, they can work on different receptors, hence the difficulty. Dr Horowtiz said people can end up stuck on both medications, making matters worse.

10 hours ago, Ashkbye said:

Unfortunately the dose has pooped out on me

 

I've read that with poop out, the way out is to slowly taper off the AD.

 

Please have a read of Brassmonkey who slowly tapered off Paxil following poop-out.

 

Best wishes, Emonda

[Ashkbye]

As mentioned, I need off Effexor asap due to an interaction with my heart meds. I don’t have time for a slow taper unfortunately.