lauraly75 Posted June 26 Share Posted June 26 Hello looking forward to coming off Effexor and Benzodiazepines I am tapering off by myself and welcome any and all advice thank you LauraLy 20 + years on Effexor and benzodiazepines trying to taper off I hate taking so much medication and hate the side effects Been on and off antidepressants since I was 18 I am now 49 I have suffered from depression and anxiety panic attacks and insomnia my whole life I have been on so many medications that I can’t even remember half of them when I can sleep I have night terrors I have tried several times to come off Effexor and benzodiazepine but having to go back on because of the withdrawals The brain zaps and body zaps are the worse Link to comment
Moderator Catwoman73 Posted June 26 Moderator Share Posted June 26 Hi @lauraly75, and welcome to SA! We are a community of volunteers providing peer support in the tapering of psychiatric medications and their associated withdrawal syndromes. Thank you for completing your drug signature. We would love to know more about you in order to know how to best help you. Tell us a little about yourself. Some things you may want to include are: How you ended up on these meds in the first place What side effects you are having while on the medications Previous attempts at tapering- how did you taper? What happened? What withdrawal symptoms you have experienced? Any challenges, such as other medical problems, that might make tapering more difficult. Etc... Do feel free to read the intro topics of others to get more of an idea of what we all have to say, if that helps! We would also love to see more detail in your signature- if you could update it to include (to the best of your ability- sometimes our memories are foggy after being on meds for so long!) drug names, dates, dosages, reinstatements, etc. Again- check out my signature at the bottom to see what stuff to include. Then we'll be able to guide you on how to best proceed. Click the following link to get back to your signature page- when done, just click save! Your drug signature We look forward to helping you on your journey! ❤️🩹 1995- 2007- On and off multiple antidepressants (Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin, escitalopram). Memory poor- can’t remember dates. Always tapered fast or CT. 2007- tapered Wellbutrin, zopiclone and escitalopram over one month to get pregnant. Withdrawal hell for many years. 2009- Daughter born 🥰 Post partum depression/psychosis- no meds taken. 2016- Back on escitalopram due to job change/anxiety 2022- Severe covid infection- Diagnosed with long covid 08/22. 2023- 01/23- Long term disability approved for long covid. Started taper under MD advice from 20mg: 11/23- 15mg. 2024- March-10mg. Started low dose naltrexone for long covid-5mg- terrible reaction, reduced to 0.5mg. April- 10mg escitalopram, 1.0mg LDN. May 1- 9.0mg escitalopram, 1.0mg LDN. May 15- 9.0mg escitalopram, 1.5mg LDN. June 12- 8.5mg escitalopram, 1.5mg LDN. July 8- Brassmonkey micro taper started. 8.4mg escitalopram, 1.5mg LDN. July 15- 8.3mg esc, 1.5mg LDN. July 18 8.3mg esc, 2.0mg LDN, July 22 8.2mg esc. 2.0mg LDN. July 29 8.1mg esc. 2.0mg LDN. Aug. 24- 8.0mg Esc. 2.0mg LDN. Aug. 30 7.9mg esc. Sept. 6 7.8mg esc. Sept. 13 7.7mg esc. Sept 21 2.5mg LDN. Oct. 4 7.6mg esc. Oct. 11 7.5mg esc. Oct. 18 7.4mg esc. Supplements/other meds: Vitamin D, B12, Claritin, HRT PLEASE DO NOT PM ME! PLEASE ONLY TAG ME FOR URGENT QUESTIONS! Thank you! I am not a doctor. I don't even play one on TV. This is not medical advice, but based on personal experience. Please consult a medical professional. Link to comment
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