ImadB: 4.5 months post effexor withdrawals - I need suggestions

[Oran]

Hello everyone,

 

I need your help regarding issues of reinstatement.

 

In the following text I will do my best to introduce myself to you and to summarize my story as good as possible.

 

I am a 26 year master student from Sweden who was on effexor for almost 2 years. 

 

During the first year I was on 75 mg,  the second year 37,5 mg. After realizing that Effexor only made me feel worse I decided to stop taking it. I spoke to my physician about it and she suggested that I taper down for 2-3 weeks. I ended up tapering for 4 weeks and I was actually feeling better during the whole taper. The good feeling lasted for something like two weeks and then the withdrawals hit me. Brain fog, blurred vision, tiredness, etc.. I managed to hold out for one month and then I decided to reinstate 12,5 mg, which was the dose I was on before stopping completely. The withdrawals were still there but they were much milder so I decided to slowly taper down for 2 months to 4,5 mg. Once again I was feeling relatively OK at the lowest dose but once I stopped the withdrawals hit me really bad again. After one month with bad withdrawals they almost suddenly stopped. I woke up one day and I was feeling relatively OK, the withdrawals were still there but much much more mangaeable. I was still feeling a bit depressed (one of the main withdrawal symtoms) so in new years I decided that I could blunt my emotions with 1-2 glasses of champagne (I was at a big party with a lot of friends). I was still feeling ok for something like 2 weeks, and then the withdrawals slowly started to come back. It is has now been 4,5 months since the last dose of effexor and ever since the withdrawals came back the second time, I have only gotten worse every month. My vision is severly impaired/blurred and I suffer a monumental brain fog - together these symtoms has made it impossible for me to work or go outside. I almost feel disabled and I am on the sick list since 3 months now.

 

I now turn to you for advice on how I should proceed. I have seriously considered to reinstate a low dose to stabilize again. I strongly believe that the glasses of champagne I had in New Year made things worse for me - I have heard similar things from other people in a FB group that I am member of. 

 

You who have similar experience with effexor/SSRI, what do you think I should to? Should I wait a little bit longer to see if things turn around by itself or should I reinstate?

 

I know that I will have to make the final decision but I want to know what you think, from what I told you?

 

 

Thank you so much in advance, big hug from Sweden // Imad

Edited April 16, 2017 by ChessieCat
Added 1st sentence from almost duplicate post

[Lexy]

Welcome

Moderators will be here to help you out. In the meantime you should add your signature where you can list your drug history

In a detail format. Here is the link.

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/12364-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

[Petunia]

Welcome ImadB,

I'm sorry about what you are going through, but glad you found us.

 

As Lexy suggested, it would be helpful if your would fill in your signature. Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature. Doing this helps people understand your context, it appears below each of your posts. Here are instructions for how to do it:

 

Please put your withdrawal history in your signature

 

After reading through your story, I would suggest that you have been tapering too fast. We recommend reducing by no more than 10% of the current dose every 4 weeks, this reduces the risk of withdrawal symptoms arising. Please read through this which will explain why:

  

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Its important to taper slowly as the dose gets lower. What we recommend is a taper that's based on a percentage of your current dose not of your original dose. Here is why: Why taper? Paper demonstrates importance of gradual change in plasma concentration

 

Reinstatement of a small amount of the drug can often work well to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. According to medical knowledge, reinstatement is the only way to alleviate withdrawal. Reinstatement is best done immediately upon appearance of symptoms. The more time that passes, the less likely it is to work. Once you have stabilized on a low dose of the drug, then a slower, safer taper can be started. Here is some information about reinstatement to help you decide if its something you would like to try:  About reinstating and stabilizing to stop withdrawal symptoms

 

Because you have been off the drug for longer than a few weeks, reinstatement might not work and could possibly make your symptoms worse, but by trying a very small amount, you reduce the risk of causing increased symptoms. If you decide to try, I would suggest starting with a dose of about .5mg (half of one milligram)

 

Here is our effexor tapering topic where you will find information about how to take very small doses.

 

Tips for tapering off Effexor (venlafaxine)

 

If you decide not to reinstate, you will still get better, but it will take some time. Recovery usually happens in a windows and waves kind of pattern with lots of ups and downs. Some days of feeling better and then days of worse symptoms again.

 

Here is some information about how recovery happens:

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

 

Here is the link to our symptoms and self care section, you may find some useful ideas to help manage symptoms as you recover.  Especially read the topics pinned at the top.

 

You can use this thread as your ongoing journal to track progress, write about symptoms, ask questions and communicate with the community, add to it whenever you want. Its a good idea to bookmark it or follow it, so its easy to find again.

 

Please stay in touch and let us know what you decide.

 

Petunia.

[Oran]

Thank you both for you replies! I will have a look at all of these things and I have now filled my signature with info about my medical story.

 

If there is anyone out there who can share their experience with me, and maybe give me a suggestion regarding the things I wrote in the first and opening post, please feel free to reply to this post from me!

 

Thank you Lexy and Petunia for replying to my post!