powerback: tapering no 2

[Altostrata]

pb, what time of day do you take venlafaxine? Does it make you tired? Is the anxiety better or worse at any particular time of day?

[powerback]

2 hours ago, Altostrata said:

pb, what time of day do you take venlafaxine? Does it make you tired? Is the anxiety better or worse at any particular time of day?

HI Alto ,I take it at 7am ,I do have extreme tiredness at times and a strong brain/head  fatigue .

I believe its paradoxical too me for a long time now ,I can get very irritable at times .I now understand my living arrangements were never conjusive   for this process .but beggars cant be choosers as the saying goes .

Anxiety can be constant at times so its hard to pin a worse or better time of the day .

Im in quite a tricky spot to pick up my taper and continue ,its a mess because the symptoms get very bad and worrying .

Thanks alto.

[Altostrata]

Do you feel any different after you take venlafaxine? Up to several hours afterward?

[Carmie]

Hi Powerback, 

 

Im sorry to hear you’re struggling so much. Are you still going for your walks? I know you found them soothing. There’s nothing better than being in nature, is there? I go in nature even when I’m totally anhedonic. At those times I can’t really enjoy it but I just make myself do it anyway. I take photos while I’m out. The only thing that stops me getting out is if I’m too sick because of my illness n am stuck in bed. 

 

Take care💚

 

 

 

 

[pinkfairy]

Sending my thoughts across the seas to you p.b 

 

hope you get a break soon 

keep fighting because your worth it 🙏🏻💕

[powerback]

On ‎11‎/‎5‎/‎2018 at 10:45 PM, Altostrata said:

Do you feel any different after you take venlafaxine? Up to several hours afterward?

Hi Alto apologies for the late reply ,ive become very sick .around 1pm to 3 pm I get very tired .the chronic stress has pushed my body into shut down mode and im very close to cracking or I have already and im just good at hiding it from experience I reckon .

I wont bother with details ,ive a pain in my face from repeating myself

.work at 6.30am this morning and had a meltdown ,had a nap from 8.30 until 9.30 and felt better but back to the horrible dry heavey uncomfortable eyes/tiredness feeling [signs of autoimmune dysfunction from what ive read ].ide say my only hope is to put myself in the hands of DRs and medication,this is insane to try and sustain this torture .

Im a laughing stock at this stage in the game .

I hope your well and everyone else .take care .

PB . 

[Altostrata]

Nobody's laughing at you here.

 

Did this get worse since November 4? When did you last reduce venlafaxine? How much are you taking now?

[powerback]

On 11/17/2018 at 8:34 PM, Altostrata said:

Nobody's laughing at you here.

 

Did this get worse since November 4? When did you last reduce venlafaxine? How much are you taking now?

Oh I know that alto ,I didnt mean it to be directed at the site ,ive been fairly bad since the generic brand change in the summer ,im on 37.5 minus 6 beads since october last year .

The internal arguments I have with people in my mind has got very bad ,premting what people think or judge me .

Ide like to take a bead out every 4 days and taper while symptomatic because ive never really reached stability . 

Take care .

[Altostrata]

pb, maybe it's time to think about substituting Prozac.

 

If I were you, I would consider adding 3mg Prozac for 3 days, cut Effexor dosage by half, add 2mg Prozac for 3 days, drop Effexor altogether.

 

Make this change over a holiday.

[powerback]

3 hours ago, Altostrata said:

pb, maybe it's time to think about substituting Prozac.

 

If I were you, I would consider adding 3mg Prozac for 3 days, cut Effexor dosage by half, add 2mg Prozac for 3 days, drop Effexor altogether.

 

Make this change over a holiday.

Fairly quick transition then ,I understand thanks alto .

When effexor is dropped do I do the equivalent doseage (37.5) of effexor in prozac ,a taper up to persay .

Thanks alto for your help .

 

[Altostrata]

No, if I were you, I'd stick with 5mg Prozac for a good while, see what it does.

 

Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. Use a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom, drug and dosage) on the right.

[powerback]

2 hours ago, Altostrata said:

No, if I were you, I'd stick with 5mg Prozac for a good while, see what it does.

 

Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. Use a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom, drug and dosage) on the right.

Sound thanks alto ,3mg prozac  introduction and halving ven ,is this on the same day from the off .

Thanks for your pateince and help alto .

Take care.

[Altostrata]

I would add 3mg Prozac for 3 days WITH YOUR CURRENT EFFEXOR DOSAGE, then cut Effexor dosage by half AND AT THE SAME TIME ADD 2mg Prozac. Observe for 3 days, then drop Effexor altogether.

 

After 6 days, you would be on 5mg Prozac only. Please hang in there, this could be a bit bumpy, but it doesn't look like you can reduce Effexor directly.

[ChessieCat]

41 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

I would add 3mg Prozac for 3 days WITH YOUR CURRENT EFFEXOR DOSAGE, then cut Effexor dosage by half AND AT THE SAME TIME ADD 2mg Prozac.

 

Just to clarify this.

 

Start with 3mg Prozac and then add an additional 2mg Prozac so you would be taking a total of 5mg Prozac.

 

43 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Please hang in there, this could be a bit bumpy

 

Hang in there, but don't hang on too tightly.  Try to relax and go with the flow.  You can do this.  Pull out those non drug coping skills to use.

 

And if nothing works:

 

On 4/28/2017 at 4:03 AM, brassmonkey said:

 

AAF: Acknowledge, Accept, Float.  It's what you have to do when nothing else works, and can be a very powerful tool in coping with anxiety. The neuroemotional anxiety many of us feel during WD is directly caused by the drugs and their chemical reactions in the brain.  Making it so there is nothing we can do about them.  They won't respond to other drugs, relaxation techniques and the like.  They do, however, react very well to being ignored.  That's the concept behind AAF.  Acknowledge, get to know the feeling involved, explore them.  Accept, These feelings are a part of you and they aren't going anywhere fast. Float, let the feeling float off as you get on with your life as best as you can.  It's a well documented fact that the more you feed in to anxiety the worse it gets.  What starts as generalized neuroemotinal anxiety can be easily blown into a full fledged panic attack just by thinking about it.

 

I often liken it to an unwanted house guest.  At first you talk to them, have conversations, communicate with them.  After a while you figure out that they aren't leaving and there is nothing you can do to get rid of them.  So you go on about your day, working around them until they get bored and leave.

 

It can take some practice, but AAF really does work.  I hope you give it a try.

 

 

[powerback]

12 hours ago, Altostrata said:

I would add 3mg Prozac for 3 days WITH YOUR CURRENT EFFEXOR DOSAGE, then cut Effexor dosage by half AND AT THE SAME TIME ADD 2mg Prozac. Observe for 3 days, then drop Effexor altogether.

 

After 6 days, you would be on 5mg Prozac only. Please hang in there, this could be a bit bumpy, but it doesn't look like you can reduce Effexor directly.

Thanks alto ,its already bumpy 😓,fairplay and thsanks for your help alto .

Take care .

[powerback]

11 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Just to clarify this.

 

Start with 3mg Prozac and then add an additional 2mg Prozac so you would be taking a total of 5mg Prozac.

 

 

Hang in there, but don't hang on too tightly.  Try to relax and go with the flow.  You can do this.  Pull out those non drug coping skills to use.

 

And if nothing works:

 

 

Sound CC thanks for your input its much appreciated .

Take care .

[gentlehermione]

Thinking of you powerback. Hang in there! 

[powerback]

15 minutes ago, gentlehermione said:

Thinking of you powerback. Hang in there! 

Hi GHM nice to meet you ,your very kind to say that ,its welcomed with a warm heavy heart,I hope you give yourself the upmost kindness first before anyone .

Take care and be safe.

[Leo1983]

Go for it PB!!!

 

Nice long half life on the Prozac. Hopefully it stabilises you to a better place than the Venlaflaxine has you. 

 

Im crossing my fingers for you that it holds you and you have a much easier job tapering prozac and get your life back. 

 

Just remember when its hard " No pain, No brain". 

 

You got this.

 

Lee

[Carmie]

Hi Powerback, 

 

I’m so sorry you’ve been struggling so much. I hope things settle for you a bit soon. 

 

Sending hugs🤗

[direstraits]

Hi pb

17 hours ago, Altostrata said:

I would add 3mg Prozac for 3 days WITH YOUR CURRENT EFFEXOR DOSAGE, then cut Effexor dosage by half AND AT THE SAME TIME ADD 2mg Prozac. Observe for 3 days, then drop Effexor altogether.

 

After 6 days, you would be on 5mg Prozac only. Please hang in there, this could be a bit bumpy, but it doesn't look like you can reduce Effexor directly.

I really hope this works for you.

you're in my thoughts.

sending lots of hugs and well wishes.

Love,ds   🤗❤️🤗

[powerback]

Thanks everyone im honoured to have such kind support.

I dont say that lightly because im very scared .

Take care.

[wantrelief]

We are all rooting for you, PB!    

[FarmGirlWorks]

7 hours ago, Leo1983 said:

Just remember when its hard " No pain, No brain". 

This is great. You've got this @powerback.

[Leo1983]

@FarmGirlWorks

 

Thanks lol. 

[powerback]

Just opened a new batch of meds and I usually take 6 tiny beads out of the capsule ,now this batch has only  3 bigger tablets inside the capsule ,just great ,nightmare .

[dj2010]

9 hours ago, powerback said:

Just opened a new batch of meds and I usually take 6 tiny beads out of the capsule ,now this batch has only  3 bigger tablets inside the capsule ,just great ,nightmare .

 

oh no sorry to hear this, they don't half try and make things difficult for us do they! it sounds like you have been given the same ones as what I was on, brand name "vensir"

 

be worth trying to take these back or try different pharmacy for your usual ones or if not then might have to shave a tiny bit off the tablet but it will not be accurate,

 

hopefully mods give some better advice,

 

hang in there buddy

[powerback]

Im beyond fed up mate ,I took the whole capsule ,to sick to even think straight.

Ive been here already with them ,I just get the merry go round talk from chemist .

Ah well just have to put up with it .

Take care .

[powerback]

HI mods and esteemed members ,Im waying up the switch to Prozac ,the thing that gets me is im at least 30 months into this nightmare [yes 30 months ,not a typo] and im struggling to see any cases of a successful  "bridge" this far out .so it just comes down to witch level of hell I pick ,taper or switch .oh lord god help me japers .

[dj2010]

14 minutes ago, powerback said:

HI mods and esteemed members ,Im waying up the switch to Prozac ,the thing that gets me is im at least 30 months into this nightmare [yes 30 months ,not a typo] and im struggling to see any cases of a successful  "bridge" this far out .so it just comes down to witch level of hell I pick ,taper or switch .oh lord god help me japers .

 

sorry you are going through this buddy, it doesn't look like you have much choice unless you are able to taper the venlafaxine, maybe give tapering venlafaxine another go before trying the bridge?

 

I do not think bridging is the same as reinstating where theres a time limit, sure the mods will give some better advice,

 

stay strong

[powerback]

1 minute ago, dj2010 said:

 

sorry you are going through this buddy, it doesn't look like you have much choice unless you are able to taper the venlafaxine, maybe give tapering venlafaxine another go before trying the bridge?

 

I do not think bridging is the same as reinstating where theres a time limit, sure the mods will give some better advice,

 

stay strong

Sound mate your input is always welcomed ,I get you alright

. its fairly gloomy few days but I get annoyed I don't have the energy for a hike in it rather than being depressed by it lol, whats that say about me ,im thinking of all the lovely streams overflowing and the scenery ,I really miss my walks but keeping the light burning that ile be back out there some day.this is the first 6 months of past 10 years I haven't consistently been out for my rambles .

You doing ok I hope . 

[Songbird]

Hi Powerback, hang in there.  Mods will discuss and get back to you soon.  Is it a different brand?  What brand were you on before and what did they give you this time?

[powerback]

19 minutes ago, Songbird said:

Hi Powerback, hang in there.  Mods will discuss and get back to you soon.  Is it a different brand?  What brand were you on before and what did they give you this time?

Hi SB cheers thank you ,same brand with the words "new formulation and appearance " written on it .from loads of tiny beads to 3 big tablets

.theres no point going near the chemist or DR this far out ,ive a pain in my face talking to them ,more than 2 years ago they were told "no substitution".im long enough in this hell hole now that I don't care ,ive seen the help on offer from MDs  and its disgusting .every bit of honesty has been used as a rod to beat me with .I am now pathologically fearful from my experience with these people .I have the best incentive to keep on a healing path.  

I've no energy to care. Ide say this is the third generic  changed .

Its talked about on this site about tiny reductions causing symptoms ,yet when I told a clinical phycologist this a few weeks ago he used it to diagnose me on the spot without test of serious mental disorder "my condition coming back ".its literally pot luck what you come up against.the problem is severe withdrawl mimics the symptoms of these diagnoses ,how many people out there are taking meds and shouldn't be because a person of power tells them in the most extreme vulnerable state they'll ever experience      

Will I ever get to a point of no meds and healing and find out whats what ,god knows .

Ok rant over 😣🙂.

[powerback]

Doing a clear out ive come across my doctors bridge recommendation 7 weeks old,

decrease ven 90% and start at 10mg prozac on first day ,decrease and increase as I go .I wonder at what dosage he thought I would arrive at with the prozac ?.

100mg of prozac ,would that not be ridiculous.

[apace41]

PB,

 

Sorry to hear they've switched it up on you again.  I'm trying to understand exactly where you are at this point.

 

Am I correct that you have been micro-tapering and holding since the beginning of 2017 using the bead counting method with the most recent being taking 6 beads out, BUT, with the new meds you were forced to take a full pill of 37.5mg since there is no way to convert the pills to the beads?

Have I got that straight?

Best,

 

Andy

[powerback]

26 minutes ago, apace41 said:

PB,

 

Sorry to hear they've switched it up on you again.  I'm trying to understand exactly where you are at this point.

 

Am I correct that you have been micro-tapering and holding since the beginning of 2017 using the bead counting method with the most recent being taking 6 beads out, BUT, with the new meds you were forced to take a full pill of 37.5mg since there is no way to convert the pills to the beads?

Have I got that straight?

Best,

 

Andy

More or less andy ye ,so as of thismorning im taking a full 37.5mg for the first time in a year ,but I never got passed 6 beads taper so it begs the question should I even be worried of a big problem ,I already am in tatters ,Ive a cold too boot also.

And the pitty party oscar goes to pp

powerback lol.

I hope your doing ok yourself.