EPD6893: Tapering Effexor Troubles

[EPD6893]

Hi all, I've been taking medications for most of my life as I have conditions like autism, adhd, depression and anxiety. I'm obese and also have issues with emotional eating, binge eating, sleep apnea (though I use cpap for that), possible ptsd.

My journey starts with me in my teen years quickly developing anger issues (likely because that was when I started to get obsessed/addicted with politics and negative news online) and got put on different antidepressants and antipsychotics. I don't remember all the details, but the first antipsychotic I took made me extremely tired and I gained lots of weight, ending in me getting expelled because I couldn't keep up and eventually had a huge panic attack.

Eventually over the years I'm on abilify 5mg and effexor XR 350mg, but I couldn't function back then either due to what feels like chronic fatigue syndrome. Out of desperation in 2020 I asked my psychiatrist about coming off effexor and seeing if it helped the fatigue, so he took me off it by decreasing 75mg every two weeks. In hindsight this was a terrible idea as it gave me bad withdrawal and also functional reflux/ibs (heart burn, bitter taste, insomnia because of the pain, lots of uncontrollable burping). I still have that to this day years later though it's not as bad as I'm not as obese. But it did start about a week after I came off effexor.

I went on 80mg Omeprazole and 40mg Famotadine daily. They didn't help but I've been stuck on them for years, though thankfully have made SOME progress as I've managed to get to 50mg omeprazole last year.

Later in 2021 I tapered myself off abilify 5mg since my psychiatrist and my parents were convinced I needed it for the anger issues. I did it over half a year slowly decreasing it from a liquid form. Thankfully it went ok though I was very scared doing so!! It turned out my "anger issues caused by the autism" was not in fact correct, despite what everyone around me then was telling me.

Unfortunately getting off both drugs did not in fact get rid of my fatigue. The functional reflux makes my sleep worse now.

In 2022 I went back on 37.5mg effexor and later increased to 75mg. I can't tell if it helped, but I did start pushing myself harder in life and making a lot of progress for myself generally. Despite getting new side effects like sexual dsyfunction and worse vision.

Currently I'm thinking of switching to prozac as I've heard about it's long half life, and I think that would be better for me long term. Sadly I've repeatedly tried and failed to taper down. Recently switched from 75mg extended release to the immediate release and gotten bad headaches, worse vision and sexual dsyfunction, more anxiety.

I'd previously read about using half XR and half normal for tapering help, but my doctor wouldn't allow me to continue this as she believes it's making my withdrawal worse, so I'm now on just 75mg immediate. I was previously on half normal and half XR and after a few weeks most of the side effects had either gone or significantly improved. They're worse again now though... 😕

Regardless, I feel I want to push on and get through this. After I stabilize I want to slowly decrease my effexor (because my doctor wants me to go from 75mg to 0mg effexor and swap it immediately with prozac, but I don't want to do this as I don't want worse withdrawal).



Anyways, hope I can get along with everyone here

 

[Erimus]

Hello, and welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. We are a peer support forum to assist in tapering off psychiatric drugs safely, or recovering from psychiatric drug withdrawal.

 

This topic is for anything relating to you, and any questions you have. Please do not start another topic.

 

We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your CURRENT dose each month, to limit withdrawal symptoms. E.g. 10mg --> 9mg --> 8.1mg --> 7.29mg

 

All the answers you are looking for regarding tapering and antidepressant withdrawal are on this site. Please search around and continue to read as much as you can manage. Use the site search function to search for specific words or phrases, such as drugs or symptoms.

 

Here are a few of the most useful links:

 

Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

 

Micro tapering

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

 

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

 

We only recommend two supplements. Omega 3 Fish Oil and Magnesium. Both should be introduced separately and increased slowly.

 

Regards

Erimus

[Erimus]

4 hours ago, EPD6893 said:

I went on 80mg Omeprazole and 40mg Famotadine daily. They didn't help but I've been stuck on them for years, though thankfully have made SOME progress as I've managed to get to 50mg omeprazole last year.

I can relate to your reflux-related issues as a result of antidepressant use. I'd never experienced it before I started them. Omeprazole is best tapered by opening the capsules and decreasing the number of beads.

 

4 hours ago, EPD6893 said:

Regardless, I feel I want to push on and get through this. After I stabilize I want to slowly decrease my effexor (because my doctor wants me to go from 75mg to 0mg effexor and swap it immediately with prozac, but I don't want to do this as I don't want worse withdrawal).

I would suggest sticking with what your body is familiar with, and trying to taper the effexor all the way to zero, unless is becomes absolutely impossible.

 

Please read the following topics, if you haven't already:

 

NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER

 

How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

 

Micro-taper instead of 10% or 5% decreases

 

Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

 

Edited April 8 by Erimus

[FindRest]

6 hours ago, EPD6893 said:

so I'm now on just 75mg immediate

Are you taking this twice a day? I hope so.

[EPD6893]

12 hours ago, FindRest said:

Are you taking this twice a day? I hope so.

Yes I am. 

 

15 hours ago, Erimus said:

I would suggest sticking with what your body is familiar with, and trying to taper the effexor all the way to zero, unless is becomes absolutely impossible.

 

Please read the following topics, if you haven't already:

Hmmm maybe. As I said, I plan to stabilise on what I'm taking currently and then just stay there for a while.

 

15 hours ago, Erimus said:

I can relate to your reflux-related issues as a result of antidepressant use. I'd never experienced it before I started them. Omeprazole is best tapered by opening the capsules and decreasing the number of beads.

Sorry to hear you got it too  reflux sucks. Last night (for the millionth time in a row) I couldn't sleep properly because of my reflux pain.

Also got tinnitus from an ear infection recently. Hope it goes away soon.

[EPD6893]

Day 6. Current symptoms: painful headache, increased anxiety and irritability, erectile dysfunction, worse vision and stinging eyes.

Hope they go away soon. 

[EPD6893]

Day 12. Erectile dysfunction cycles through better and worse every few days but I think things are slowly improving. Still have a massive headache and stinging eyes, but note this could easily be the TWO INFECTIONS I've gotten 💀ear infection and yet another cold.

It's just been cold after cold for the last 2 months. Hope it warms up soon and I can finally get a break.

It's difficult to tell how much/little things have changed with the withdrawals and these bugs affecting me simultaneously. 

[EPD6893]

Day 17. I've been getting worse stinging eyes and worse reflux pain over the last few days. Can't tell if it's the bugs or withdrawal. Ears still hurt. Have headaches (not as bad today slightly but still painful), ear pain, aches and pains everywhere, eyes stinging, worse reflux.

I want to continue and not go back to 75mg extended. I'm sure these problems will eventually go away.

[EPD6893]

Day 25. Stinging eyes and eye sight is the same. Erectile dysfunction still. Pretty much the same as before other than ears not ringing as much (I've been using olive oil ear drops).

I'm hoping I don't have permanent erectile dysfunction. 

[Catwoman73]

On 4/20/2024 at 6:29 AM, EPD6893 said:

Day 12. Erectile dysfunction cycles through better and worse every few days but I think things are slowly improving. Still have a massive headache and stinging eyes, but note this could easily be the TWO INFECTIONS I've gotten 💀ear infection and yet another cold.

It's just been cold after cold for the last 2 months. Hope it warms up soon and I can finally get a break.

It's difficult to tell how much/little things have changed with the withdrawals and these bugs affecting me simultaneously. 

Hi @EPD6893- I struggle with headaches and stinging eyes too, and because I have long covid, I never know what is causing what.  It's not easy- I'm just going to go nice and slow with things, take as much time as I can to stabilize after changes, and hope that the patterns become more obvious over time.  

 

I can't speak to the ED, being a woman, but I do suffer from SSRI sexual dysfunction, complete lack of libido.  It SUCKS.  I've been following the PSSD thread under symptoms, and someone there recently said that the best way to heal these symptoms is to live your life, don't obsess over it, keep your mind occupied, distractions are good.  Healing happens.   Sadly, I think that this is a symptom that can take a while to heal.  Which makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint- when the body and brain are in crisis, reproduction is not high on the priority list.  Be patient, focus on your overall wellness.

 

Hang in there, and keep posting.  Someday, as you heal you'll be able to look back on these early days, and see how far you've come!

[EPD6893]

On 5/3/2024 at 9:44 PM, Catwoman73 said:

Hi @EPD6893- I struggle with headaches and stinging eyes too, and because I have long covid, I never know what is causing what.  It's not easy- I'm just going to go nice and slow with things, take as much time as I can to stabilize after changes, and hope that the patterns become more obvious over time.  

 

I can't speak to the ED, being a woman, but I do suffer from SSRI sexual dysfunction, complete lack of libido.  It SUCKS.  I've been following the PSSD thread under symptoms, and someone there recently said that the best way to heal these symptoms is to live your life, don't obsess over it, keep your mind occupied, distractions are good.  Healing happens.   Sadly, I think that this is a symptom that can take a while to heal.  Which makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint- when the body and brain are in crisis, reproduction is not high on the priority list.  Be patient, focus on your overall wellness.

 

Hang in there, and keep posting.  Someday, as you heal you'll be able to look back on these early days, and see how far you've come!

Thanks  hope we both recover eventually.

[EPD6893]

Day 53. Erectile dysfunction has recovered a lot. Eyes not stinging as much. Vision is the same.

Unfortunately my ears have become very painful again so I'm going somewhere privately to have them treated. Olive oil drops make my pain and reflux x1000 worse now. Everything is very sensitive and painful internally.

[Erimus]

  

37 minutes ago, EPD6893 said:

November 2020, I'm still searching for the root cause of my chronic fatigue (which I still have to this day) and I try to come off my medications to see if they were the cause. I start with effexor (300mg daily) and my psychiatrist tells me in order to quit I need to reduce by 75mg every 2 weeks. 

After a week since stopping at 0mg effexor I suddenly get intense nausea and sensitivity. I am then put on PPIs and H2 blockers as the doctors suspected I had hiatal hernia. The drugs don't work, increases increases increases. Goes up to 80mg Omeprazole and 40mg famotidine daily. Pain is even worse. Have endoscopy and ph test. No evidence of haital hernia or even any acid reflux!

Now stuck on omeprazole and famotidine because of withdrawal every time I try and reduce. Currently on 50mg omeprazole and 40mg famotidine daily.


Could the effexor have caused the initial nausea?

 

What was your method of reduction for the acid reflux medication?

[EPD6893]

On 5/30/2024 at 6:22 PM, Erimus said:

  

 

What was your method of reduction for the acid reflux medication?

I bought some 10mg omeprazole capsules and reduced by 10mg every 2 weeks at first. Eventually I stopped at 50mg because the rebound was getting too bad, but to be honest my reflux is the same now on 50mg as it was on 80mg. Potentially slightly easier? Cannot confirm that last one.

Currently trying to lose more weight so I can attempt to lower it again and manage the acid rebound.

As I said before, I don't actually have GERD, hiatal hernia or anything. I have "functional heartburn" and "functional dyspepsia" but I do get reflux symptoms badly still, bad enough to be disabling. Again this all started when coming off effexor and taking the ppis and stuff.

One day I will come off them all. Definitely going to taper the omeprazole and famotidine first before tapering more effexor. Once I've lost a lot more weight.

[Erimus]

On 6/1/2024 at 3:53 PM, EPD6893 said:

I bought some 10mg omeprazole capsules and reduced by 10mg every 2 weeks at first. Eventually I stopped at 50mg because the rebound was getting too bad, but to be honest my reflux is the same now on 50mg as it was on 80mg. Potentially slightly easier? Cannot confirm that last one.

Currently trying to lose more weight so I can attempt to lower it again and manage the acid rebound.

As I said before, I don't actually have GERD, hiatal hernia or anything. I have "functional heartburn" and "functional dyspepsia" but I do get reflux symptoms badly still, bad enough to be disabling. Again this all started when coming off effexor and taking the ppis and stuff.

One day I will come off them all. Definitely going to taper the omeprazole and famotidine first before tapering more effexor. Once I've lost a lot more weight.

 

You were struggling to reduce the PPIs because you were reducing too quickly. You need to open the capsules and gradually reduce the number of beads you take. I tapered mine by 10mg over 2 weeks, but instead of dropping straight away I reduced by a few beads each day. I think you will be able to get to much lower doses of them by following this method. Definitely worth a try.

[EPD6893]

4 hours ago, Erimus said:

 

You were struggling to reduce the PPIs because you were reducing too quickly. You need to open the capsules and gradually reduce the number of beads you take. I tapered mine by 10mg over 2 weeks, but instead of dropping straight away I reduced by a few beads each day. I think you will be able to get to much lower doses of them by following this method. Definitely worth a try.

I have not tried opening the 10mg capsules before. But I won't be able to try immediately as my ears are blocked and need treating. The ear pain radiates to the rest of my body so I need to fix it asap.

[EPD6893]

Day 62. Entered a wave again; worse vision and stinging eyes, erectile dysfunction is back, more anger and anxiety.

Also might have tinnitus from that ear infection too!

[EPD6893]

Day 66. Definitely have tinnitus from the ear infection. Ears, jaw, throat are all in a lot of pain. Wave is still ongoing.

[EPD6893]

Day 74. Another Wave; erectile dysfunction, blurrier vision. Worried about tinnitus getting worse. Hopefully mouthguard works.

[EPD6893]

Day 91. I'm mostly ok now. Erectile dysfunction and worse vision are back to normal I think?

Currently struggling with something else though which is adjusting to wearing a mouthguard. My gp said I have TMJ so I need to wear one every night. It's difficult to adjust to but hopefully it will get easier.

[EPD6893]

On 6/3/2024 at 11:06 AM, Erimus said:

 

You were struggling to reduce the PPIs because you were reducing too quickly. You need to open the capsules and gradually reduce the number of beads you take. I tapered mine by 10mg over 2 weeks, but instead of dropping straight away I reduced by a few beads each day. I think you will be able to get to much lower doses of them by following this method. Definitely worth a try.

Sorry for the late reply but do you know of a good way for chronic fatigue syndrome/ME sufferers to manage all this drag tapering? It feels impossible to achieve a -10% tapering.