June24 Posted October 24, 2024 Posted October 24, 2024 Hi, I have been on many meds and was on Duloxetine for about 5 years. My psychiatrist and I decided to switch to fluoxetine and he had me transition in two weeks. It was a horrible, scary experience and I ende up in the hospital where they dropped fluoxetine. I have been off meds for a whole year now, but am struggling so very much. I recently got a new psychiatrist and she started me on Fetzima 20 mg. I was supposed to be on that dose for two weeks and then go to 40mg. Well it’s day 13 on the 20mg and I am having side effects so we decided to stop. My question is, should I taper since it’s been under two weeks. I really don’t want to have to taper, but I also really do not want withdrawals. Tapering seems overwhelming to me. I have one 20 mg pill left and 30 of the 40 mg. They have the little balls in them. If I do have to taper, does it matter that they are different strengths? Do I just count out the same amount, reducing the original dose by 2 beads? Duloxetine 40 mg October 2018-October 2023 Fetzima 20 mg Oct 10 2024 -Oct 23 2024
Moderator Jane318 Posted October 25, 2024 Moderator Posted October 25, 2024 Greetings @June24 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 signature. The severity of the side effects you are experiencing, the short period of time you have taken Fetzima, and its relatively long half life of 12 hours, are indicators that support immediate discontinuation of the drug. Do monitor your symptoms and let us know how you are doing. If you experience severe withdrawal, we might look at reinstating at a reduced dose to stabilize, then taper. Please keep us posted. I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions. My Intro Topic: Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End. Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed. Jeremiah 17:14a. Other meds: 75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism Supplements: Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily). AD HISTORY: 1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft. dosages unk. 1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy. Resumed 1993 (?). 2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms. Resumed meds. 2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk). 2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day. Stayed at this dose for many years. 2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023. By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day. July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day Effexor to address severe withdrawal symptoms. Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve. Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day) Jan 2025 - 1.36 -> 1.33 -> 1.29 -> 1.25 mg/day Effexor (10% per BrassMonkey slide taper). Holding 3 weeks.
June24 Posted November 1, 2024 Author Posted November 1, 2024 Thank you! I did stop cold turkey after 13 days and was ok, thankfully! Duloxetine 40 mg October 2018-October 2023 Fetzima 20 mg Oct 10 2024 -Oct 23 2024
Moderator Jane318 Posted November 1, 2024 Moderator Posted November 1, 2024 @June24 - That is great news! Don't be alarmed if you do experience a bump in the road at some point - sometimes symptoms can be delayed. But good sign that you are doing well. Thanks for letting us know! I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions. My Intro Topic: Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End. Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed. Jeremiah 17:14a. Other meds: 75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism Supplements: Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily). AD HISTORY: 1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft. dosages unk. 1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy. Resumed 1993 (?). 2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms. Resumed meds. 2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk). 2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day. Stayed at this dose for many years. 2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023. By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day. July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day Effexor to address severe withdrawal symptoms. Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve. Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day) Jan 2025 - 1.36 -> 1.33 -> 1.29 -> 1.25 mg/day Effexor (10% per BrassMonkey slide taper). Holding 3 weeks.
Moderator Jane318 Posted November 8, 2024 Moderator Posted November 8, 2024 On 10/31/2024 at 9:34 PM, June24 said: Thank you! I did stop cold turkey after 13 days and was ok, thankfully! @June24 - Just checking in - still doing okay? Can you please update your signature to reflect date you stopped taking Fetzima? Have a great weekend! I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions. My Intro Topic: Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End. Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed. Jeremiah 17:14a. Other meds: 75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism Supplements: Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily). AD HISTORY: 1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft. dosages unk. 1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy. Resumed 1993 (?). 2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms. Resumed meds. 2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk). 2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day. Stayed at this dose for many years. 2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023. By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day. July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day Effexor to address severe withdrawal symptoms. Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve. Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day) Jan 2025 - 1.36 -> 1.33 -> 1.29 -> 1.25 mg/day Effexor (10% per BrassMonkey slide taper). Holding 3 weeks.
June24 Posted November 10, 2024 Author Posted November 10, 2024 Thank you for checking in! I’m feeling pretty good. I don’t think I had any withdrawals, thankfully! Duloxetine 40 mg October 2018-October 2023 Fetzima 20 mg Oct 10 2024 -Oct 23 2024
Moderator Jane318 Posted December 24, 2024 Moderator Posted December 24, 2024 I hope you are still doing well @June24 - wishing you the best for the holidays! I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions. My Intro Topic: Jane318: Tapering off Effexor - Struggling at the End. Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed. Jeremiah 17:14a. Other meds: 75 mcg/day Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism Supplements: Boron, Magnesium Threonate (3 per day of 2000 mg with 145 mg Mg), Vitamin E (every other day), Lugol's iodine (4 drops/day); Cod liver oil (1 tsp); 1 capsule DHA-1000 Fish oil in evening; Adrenal "cocktail" once or twice pd, with Vit C, B-2 (SP Cataplex, 2X daily), and Methyl B-12 (NOWFoods 1,000 mcg, 1X daily). AD HISTORY: 1985-2010 (est.) - various ADs including Wellbutrin, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft. dosages unk. 1991-1992 - stopped AD while to conceive and during pregnancy. Resumed 1993 (?). 2005 (est.) - tried to stop, severe symptoms. Resumed meds. 2010 (est) - started Celexa (dose unk). 2016 (est) - started Effexor, working up to 112.5 mg/day. Stayed at this dose for many years. 2023 - Feb. began linear tapering off Effexor. Switched to hyperbolic tapering in April 2023. By July 12, 2024 at 1.36 mg / day. July 13, 2024 - up-dosed to 1.44 mg / day Effexor to address severe withdrawal symptoms. Felt somewhat better by next day; symptoms continue to improve. Held until 21 Dec, final dose 1.4 mg/day) Jan 2025 - 1.36 -> 1.33 -> 1.29 -> 1.25 mg/day Effexor (10% per BrassMonkey slide taper). Holding 3 weeks.
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