tmt64 Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 I am tapering venlaflaxine at 5% monthly and I am at 17.50mg now. Been on antidepressant for 30 years Tracy Started Prozac 1990's for about 10 years switched to Zoloft For years then to Pristiq from there over to effexor {venlafaxine} which I am now tapering. Link to comment
tmt64 Posted March 9 Author Share Posted March 9 I started prozac late 90's switched over to zoloft around 2008 then at some point switched to venlafaxine. I am now down to 18.5mg with tapering. I am 60 years old and hope to be able to see if this is even possible at this age. I have been doing 5% each month and taking omega 6, magnesium glycinate to help with symptoms Tracy Started Prozac 1990's for about 10 years switched to Zoloft For years then to Pristiq from there over to effexor {venlafaxine} which I am now tapering. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus getofflex Posted March 10 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 10 Hello, and welcome to SA. We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs. It sounds like you are wisely doing a slow and careful taper. How is the taper going? 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? Please only give us drug names, dosages, and dates, as best you can remember. Please read the link below for instructions. 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 Venlafaxine On 3/9/2024 at 6:01 AM, tmt64 said: I am 60 years old and hope to be able to see if this is even possible at this age. I have been doing 5% each month and taking omega 6, magnesium glycinate to help with symptoms I believe it is very possible! I didn't get all the way off Lexapro until I was 61. I'm slowly getting better, and no longer have the drug numbing me out and making me tired. What are your symptoms? Please do not private message me. Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you. ***Please note this is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one. Lexapro Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg; started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20 0.18 mg; Jul 16 0.17 mg, Aug 23 0.16 mg, Oct 7 0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005, Jul 8, 0.00. Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!! Woohoo!!! other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly Link to comment
Mentor Catina7 Posted March 10 Mentor Share Posted March 10 (edited) Hi @tmt64, welcome! We have much in common. I also live in MD, am tapering Venlafaxine, and have been on psych drugs for 30 years. This site has been a lifesaver for me, and I'm sure it will be for you too. As long as you go slow and listen to your body you'll be okay. You can do this! Catina ❤️ Edited March 10 by Catina7 1 Disclaimer: This is not professional medical advice but is based on personal experience only. 1994 - 2017: Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Seroquel, Buspar, Lorazepam, Xanax, Ambien 2005-present: Trazodone 50 mg 2017: Effexor XR 37.5 >> 75 mg 2020 (March): Began 10% monthly taper of Effexor XR (got down to 12 mg) 2021 (September): Completely crashed. Went back up to 37.5 mg but in doing so I kindled myself 2024: 1/1: 35.6 mg (-6 beads) | 2/1: 33.8 mg (-11 beads) | 3/1: 32.1 mg (-16 beads) | 4/1: (-18 beads) Reasons for starting psych meds: PMDD/Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Other medications: Levothyroxine 75 mcg Supplements: Dr. Berg's Electrolyte Powder on occasion Link to comment
BigCat Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 On 3/9/2024 at 12:01 PM, tmt64 said: I started prozac late 90's switched over to zoloft around 2008 then at some point switched to venlafaxine. I am now down to 18.5mg with tapering. I am 60 years old and hope to be able to see if this is even possible at this age. I have been doing 5% each month and taking omega 6, magnesium glycinate to help with symptoms You seem to be doing really well! I am 61 and stuck on 225mg for now. Perspective is valuable, you are an inspiration 1 Various ADs from 1991, always for depression with anxiety and agitation... sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram (with 2.5mg olanzapine briefly), coming off each for increasingly shorter times until 2000 when I went on meds full time with Clomipramine 200mg. Then Venlafaxine (XR) since 2008, initially 225mg, then 300mg, plus tried on venlafaxine with mirtazapine (California Rocket) for only a week in 2017(?) as absolutely intolerable. July '23 Venlafaxine XL 300 to 275mg. Aug '23 275 to 250mg. Sept/Oct '23 250 to 230 to 225mg. Nov '23 205mg. Dec '23 185mg. 28 Dec '23 reinstated 225mg after crashing. Supplements: Vitamin D and fish oil. "L'exposition du merde est temporaries". Although I have a background in health, I am here to learn from others, encourage others and share my experiences, not to give professional guidance. Link to comment
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