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LarryS: tapering off venlafaxine / Effexor 225mg

LarryS

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I have talked to my doctor, and we agree that I need to up dose, because I feel terrible.

Question:  How much shall I begin with?

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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Nov. 18, 2019 Monday Day 1 New dose Venlafaxine

5:20 AM  Get up, over 7 hrs on CPAP

7:30 AM  Breakfast:  Take 37.5 mg Ven.

10:00 AM 1 hr massage, feel better & relaxed

11:45 AM  Vist GP Doctor, agree to up dose to 75 mg, since I was feeling better then.

12:45 PM  Shopping for groceries, this tends to tier me.

2:15  PM  Fatigue 7, Headache 5, Anhedonia 6

2:44 PM  Physical Therapy exercises:  Back pain 6, Neck pain 7

6:16 PM  Make and serve dinner:  take 37.5 mg Ven.

No Alchohole

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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November 18, recalling doctor appointment:

I had been feeling awful for several months prior.  Set appointment with general practice doctor for today.  He is the doctor who has consented to help me wean myself off of, or as low as I can handle.

Intended to tell him my symptoms, obtain 75 mg prescription for use in tapering, and see what information I could obtain out of him.

So, I told him all about my lousy symptoms, complained that I knew doctors did not really know how to help someone with fatigue, in particular, and asked him for what he could tell me about his background in helping people wean off drugs.  Did also then quickly tell him that I “Really” appreciated that he was willing to help me, to soften what I had just said.  Didn’t want him defensive.

He said well you know, and he went into all his training and 15 years of practice dealing with thousands of people.  He said that studies show 85% of people with depression, anxiety and other similar issues go to their general practice doctor first.  He does his best do diagnose the issues and offer a solution, such as medication.  Then he asked me what I had been thinking with regard to an up dose. 

I told him that I was thinking 75 mg.

He said that he thought that would be a good step for me because he knew I had felt somewhat better then.

The above sounds like I intended to play him, just to get what I needed.  Consciously I had not thought of it, but now looking back, perhaps sub-consciously it all came out this way.

I went home.  When I got home, I started thinking about how good I had felt at 75 mg, and that going back there could be the right thing to do.  So, I popped another 37 ½ mg with dinner. 

I believe I was desperate to feel better.

Stick around for the “Rest of the Story”.

 

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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Nov. 19, Tuesday, Day 2 up dose Venlafaxine

1:50 AM  Wake up, 4 hrs on CPAP, less than normal

Awake at 12:30 AM and could not fall back to sleep.  Fatigue 6, headache 7

4:00 AM  Go back to bed

5:45 AM  Up again

7:15 AM  Breakfast:  37.5 mg Ven, plus morning medications and supplements

I feel some change for the better already.

9:00 AM Very active with grandchildren.  Un-usual.

11:15 AM End time on computer, this can tier me:  Fatigue 4, Headache 5,  Lethargy 4, Anhedonia 6

11:50 AM  End Physical Therapy exercise:  Back pain 7,  Neck pain 7

2:00  PM  End Gym workout - felt easier, stronger and better than in months.

4:45  PM  Prepare and eat dinner;

6:45  PM  Take 37.5 mg Ven, plus Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, CoQ10 100 mg, Magnesium glycinate 120 mg

Total 75 mg Venlafaxine today

8:00 PM To bed

No Alchohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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Nov 20, Wednesday Day 3 up dose Venlafaxine

4:10 AM  Get up, over 7 hrs on CPAP

7:30 AM  Breakfast:  37.5 mg cap Ven, plus morning medications and supplements

8:13 AM  On computer for 18 minutes; Fatigue 7, Headache 7; may be due to some stress caused by others

9:17 AM  End 30 minute Nap

9:30 AM  Physical Therapy Back pain 7, Neck pain 7

11:30 AM Return from shopping

12:40 PM  End 30 minute Nap

1: 15 PM  Go see doctor, a spine specialist.  I'm to tiered to drive, let wife drive.  Dr orders MRI for my neck ache.

I'm VERY fatigued all day with headache 7-8

6:45 PM  Dinner, take 12 mg Ven, realized I should not up dose so fast.

Total Venlafaxine today 49.5 mg

9:10  PM To Bed, very fatigued, Fatigue 8, headache 8

No Alchohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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Altostrata Grand Master

Altostrata

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Appears the increase in venlafaxine gave you a headache. Are you taking immediate-release tablets or the extended-release version?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Nov. 21, Thursday, Day 4 up dose Venlafaxine

12:00 AM Awaken, to toilet, back to bed, toss and turn

1:00 AM  Get up, On CPAP 4:15 hrs

Listen to UTube, find MedCircle.com; topics by psychiatrists

7:45 AM Breakfast: 37.5 mg Ven plus morning meds and supplements

9:12 AM  Do Banking/Quicken update, Fatigue 3, Headache 4

10:30 AM Take wife to review results of memory testing.  Doctor says she does have some issues that can utilize therapy, but no Alzhimers.

12:00 PM Lunch out

1:50 PM  End Physical Therapy: Back Pain 5, Neck Pain 5

Daughter returns and we have good visit.

6:19 PM  Dinner: 12 mg Ven plus evening supplements, Fatigue 4, Headache 5

8:40 stop some work on computer.  A fairly good day.

Total Ven 49.5 mg today

No Alchohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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I'm taking extended release version of Venlafaxine.

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS

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Nov 22, Friday, Day 5 up dose Venlafaxine

4:30 AM  Awake, but roll over

5:30 AM  Get up, On CPAP  over 7 hrs

Feel down, don't know what to do about my venlafaxine, Fatigue 6

7:57 AM Breakfast: 37.5 mg Ven, plus other medications and supplements

8:30 AM Take Tamsulosen 0.4 mg, just read that it is to be taken 30 minutes after meal.

9:00 AM  On computer

9:30 AM  Gym & some PT:  Back pain 6, Neck pain 6

11:45 AM  Grocery shopping

12:45 PM  Arrive Home, Lunch, make calls, Fatigue 8, Headache 7

2:30  PM  Drive 20 miles round trip to obtain MRI imaging on neck.

5:00  PM  Fatigue 7, Headache 7, Anhedonia 6, Lethargy 7

6:30  PM  Dinner: 12 mg Ven plus evening supplements

6:45 PM To bed early with headache and fatigue

Total Venlafaxine 49.5 mg

8:40 PM  Take 1 Hydrocodone to help relieve.  Gives me a short high feeling, unusual.

No Alchohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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How are you measuring your dosage?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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I am currently taking a 37.5 mg capsule plus 12 beads from a 75 mg capsule.

I have counted the beads in a 75 mg capsule multiple times and arrive at an average of 75 beads/capsule, or 1 mg/bead.

I have counted the beads in a 37.5 mg capsule multiple times and arrive at an average of 100 beads/capsule, or .375 mg/bead.

I have found so far that working with the very small beads from the 37.5 mg capsule is difficult.  Perhaps if I find the correct type of surface to put them on and separate them, I will be able to utilize them when the time comes.

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Nov 23, Saturday, day 6 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

5:30 AM Get up, 3+ Interruptions, 9:58 hrs on cpap; feel some rest; hydrocodone last night may have calmed the pain enough to sleep more comfortable.

7:30 AM Breakfast:  37.5 mg Ven; plus Amlodipine and 5 other supplements

8:17 AM  Tamsulosen 0.4 mg

10:30 AM  End time on computer; Fatigue 6, headache 6, insomnia 2

11:30 AM  End 30 minutes lying in bed with cpap on and practicing meditation on breath. Feel a little refreshed.

12:13 PM  End Physical Therapy:  Back Pain 5, neck pain 4, stress measures low

2:30 PM  Spend 2 hours prepping for dinner

5:15 PM  finish making dinner

6:00 PM  Dinner served

6:40  PM  12 mg ven; plus 3 supplements; fatigue 8, headache 6

Evening: watch half a football game

9:15 PM  To bed; fatigue 6, headache 5

No Alchohol

1

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Nov 24, Sunday, day 7 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

12:45 AM  Ibuprofen 400 mg

5:25 get up, 1 Interruption cpap 7:57 hrs;  Fatigue 5, headache 7

Breakfast:  Venlafaxine 37.5 mg, Amlodipine 5 mg, Vit. C 1,000 mg, Vit. D3 50 mcg, Probiotic 218 mg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg.

8:15 fatigue 6

8:30 tamsulosin 0.4 mg

11:00 Attend Church, talk to friend (occupation is nurse) about what is happening in my life.  I felt a need to talk, which I usually do little of, and was a bit uncomfortable (stress).  Fatigue 7, headache 8

11:10  Shop to buy flowers for table center piece at home.

11:30  Start watching prerecorded football game of Seattle Seahawks, our Washington state professional team.  Seahawks win well.  Celebrate during 4th Qtr with 1 beer (about 2:30 pm)

3:00  PM  Start watching football game; Cowboys vs Patriots

5:00  fatigue 6, headache 6

6:00  Dinner

7:30  Been on computer for 1.? hours.  (Forgot to set 20 minute breaks)  Fatigue 7

8:12  Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, CoQ10 100 mg

9:10 To Bed, hold wife for awhile

Prior to today 18 days without alchohol.  Goal: another 21 days without alchohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Nov 25, Monday, day 8 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

12:00 AM Up, then back to bed 

1:50  up, hungry eat banana, 3:15 back to bed

5:40  get up, 2 interupt,  cpap 6:20 hrs,  fatigue 6, headache 8, Back Pain 7, insomnia 4

7:30  Breakfast:  Venlafaxine 49.5 mg, Amlodipine 5 mg, Vit. C 1,000 mg, Vit. D3 50 mcg, Probiotic 218 mg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg.

Realized I missed previous evening dose of ven so will take all dose of ven at breakfast from here forward, fatigue 6, headache 6

7:40  fluticasone nasal spray 100 mcg, clears sinus

8:30  tamsulosin 0.4 mg

8:40  end 1 hr on computer

9:05  end physical therapy: back pain 7, neck pain 6

12:15 PM  end gym work: fatigue 4, headache 4

1:30  end massage 1 hr: (so relaxed)  fatigue 4, headache 4

Late lunch, on computer

2:45  help daughter with errand, fatigue 4, headache 4

3:45  home for evening; fatigue 4, headache 4

5:00  prepare dinner

6:10  eat dinner; Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, CoQ10 100 mg

9:00 end computer stuff, some fatigue but a pretty good day.  Stop tracking of "lethargy" since similar effects to "fatigue"

9:10 fluticasone 100 mcg, clear sinus

9:15 to bed

No alchohole

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Moderator

Been reading on USA PubMed site.  Found study on tamsulosin shows potential side effects for dementia in the elderly of my age.  This study has not been elevated to their main public pages yet, due to "Needs Further Study".

I have just helped my wife get off of a statin drug which has side effects of dementia. She has just been diagnosed with a low level of memory issues.

The doctor who evaluated her also states that metoprolol succinate is also a drug hard on memory, so wife is currently weaning off that also.

I want to get off tamsulosen as quickly as possible.

ANY ADVISE??   

 

I know slow and careful.

 

      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29316005

 

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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Altostrata

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31 minutes ago, LarryS said:

Realized I missed previous evening dose of ven so will take all dose of ven at breakfast from here forward, fatigue 6, headache 6

 

Taking a psychiatric drug inconsistently can cause symptoms such as headache and worse.

 

I am completely confused about your drug schedule. You need to take drugs consistently to record a baseline symptom pattern. I can't interpret a symptom pattern when you've moved drugs around and changed dosages, symptoms could be due to anything. Occasional alcohol is a confounding factor as well.

 

Let me know when you've been on exactly the same drug schedule for a week, with no alcohol.

 

We know about statins. You'll have to talk to your doctor about tamsulosin, whether it's essential and whether you could do with a lower dosage. By the way, steroid inhalers such as fluticasone can promote glaucoma.

1

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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I hear you.

1

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Since up dose to 49 mg I have been feeling somewhat better.  I will continue to monitor for full 6 weeks.

I'm currently dealing with a sinus infection/ soar throat.  It has been coming on for a few days, today the worst.  Got a massage today and asked therapist to help me kick it with massage.  I may feel worse for a few days.

I have been thinking about a new plan for continuing the venlafaxine steep weaning decent once I am stable.  I'm thinking of doing 5% drops about every 3 weeks. I will continue with counting beads for awhile.

I also want to seriously look at crossing over to fluoxetine (Prozac) for it's longer half life.  Also, I can get it easily in a liquid

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Dec. 15; Sunday, day 28 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

Sinus infection and soar throat have dissipated and gone.  Been feeling good all day.  Stabilizing well.

Evaluation for today of symptoms.

Anhedonia 3, Insomnia 2, Fatigue 4, Headache 4, Back Pain 5, Neck Pain 5

 

Have been on same two drugs now for minimum one week.  Venlafaxine and Amlodipine

I have been on same vitamin regimen for minimum one week.

Will begin recording daily notes starting day 29 on venlafaxine 49.5 mg.

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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December 16, 2019, Monday, Day 29 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

2:25 AM Up for 1 hour.

3:25 back to bed

6:05 Up, 2 sleep interruptions, 8:21 Hrs. sleep, 2 cup coffee prior to breakfast

7:15 Breakfast 49.5 mg Venlafaxine, Amlodipine 5 mg, and my standard vitamins/ minerals – C 1,000 mg, D3 50 mcg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Probiotic 218 mg

8:03 Finish all Physical Therapy: Back Pain 6, Neck Pain 6

8:44 End meditation on breath with music

11:30 Lunch

3:15 PM End gym full workout: Back Pain 7

4:00 End 40 min. nap: Fatigue 7, Headache 6

Make dinner

5:30 Dinner plus standard vitamins/ minerals - Coenzyme Q10 100 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg

9:30 To bed, very fatigued all day. Fatigue 8.

No Alcohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS

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December 17, 2019, Tuesday, Day 30 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

4:15 AM Up, 3 sleep interruptions, 8:00 Hrs. sleep: Insomnia 2

Interim: 2 cup coffee, Read, Prepare Breakfast

7:15 Breakfast 49.5 mg Venlafaxine, Amlodipine 5 mg, and my standard vitamins/ minerals – C 1,000 mg, D3 50 mcg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Probiotic 218 mg

Read venlafaxine literature.

9:00 Prepare to depart to appointment. Fatigue 7, Headache 7

9:30 Drive 30 minutes (each way) to Nancy’s one-hour doctor’s appointment. Back Pain 6, Neck Pain 6

11:00 Buy lunch, shop at major store.

12:15 Home, Lunch: Fatigue 6, Headache 6

3:00 End 30 min. nap

5:30 Dinner plus standard vitamins/ minerals - Coenzyme Q10 100 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg

9:30 To bed, a good day overall:  Anhedonia 5

No Alcohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS

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December 18, 2019, Wednesday, Day 31 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

4:40 AM Up, 3 sleep interruptions, 7:31 Hrs. sleep: Insomnia 2

Interim: 2 cup coffee, Read, Prepare Breakfast

7:35 Breakfast 49.5 mg Venlafaxine, Amlodipine 5 mg, and my standard vitamins/ minerals – C 1,000 mg, D3 50 mcg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Probiotic 218 mg

Help wife.

9:55 Finish all Physical Therapy:  Fatigue 7, Headache 6, Back Pain 5, Neck Pain 5

11:15 Enjoy one-hour massage, relaxed.

12:15 Lunch

1:00 Gym workout, except no weights after massage.

3:00 Shop groceries for 1 ½ hours.

4:45 Prepare dinner.

5:45 Dinner plus standard vitamins/ minerals - Coenzyme Q10 100 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg

7:30 To bed, a busy day, exhausted: Anhedonia 5

No Alcohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS

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December 19, 2019, Thursday, Day 32 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

4:00 AM Up, 2 sleep interruptions, 8:38 Hrs. sleep: Insomnia 2

Interim: 2 cup coffee, Read, Prepare Breakfast, feel rested, sore back

7:25 Breakfast:  49.5 mg Venlafaxine, Amlodipine 5 mg, and my standard vitamins/ minerals – C 1,000 mg, D3 50 mcg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Probiotic 218 mg

Do weekly bill paying on computer.

9:15 Depart to wife’s one-hour doctor appointment.  Drive 30 minutes each way.

11:30 Lunch

1:45 PM Finish two-hours of major shopping, arrive home: Fatigue 5, Headache 5

2:52 Finish bill paying computer work.

Take 40-minute nap.

Take hot shower.

4:30 Finish all Physical Therapy: Anhedonia 5,  Fatigue 5, Headache 5, Back Pain 5, Neck Pain 4;  Note day after massage.

5:50 Dinner plus standard vitamins/ minerals - Coenzyme Q10 100 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg

7:34 Stop computer work, rest, watch one-hour TV.

9:00 To bed, a busy day. Feel good, very slight fatigue, but will go to bed any way since this is my regular bedtime.  Fatigue 3

No Alcohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS

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December 20, 2019, Friday, Day 33 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

4:40 AM Up, 2 sleep interruptions, 6:57 Hrs. sleep: Insomnia 2

Interim: feel some rest, 2 cup coffee, read, prepare breakfast

7:30 Breakfast:  49.5 mg Venlafaxine, Amlodipine 5 mg, and my standard vitamins/ minerals – C 1,000 mg, D3 50 mcg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Probiotic 218 mg

8:37 Finish all physical therapy: Anhedonia 4, Fatigue 4, Headache 4, Back Pain 4, Neck Pain 4

Feel pain in hips primarily when doing leg lifts on my side. An improvement over weeks in past.

9:27 Make order on computer, which took ¾ hour.

9:45 Depart to wife’s one-hour appointment.  Drive 5 minutes each way.

11:45 Lunch

12:30 Finish making salad for dinner. 

Became agitated by 4-year old grandson’s defiance and screaming. Fatigue 6, Headache 5

12:40 Depart for haircut. Recover from agitation through deep slow breathing.

1:20 Start gym standard workout. Felt good during and after workout.

4:15 Prepare dinner.

5:30 Dinner plus standard vitamins/ minerals - Coenzyme Q10 100 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg

7:41 Stop computer research.  Watch some TV

9:00 To bed

No Alcohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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Altostrata

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Would you say your sleep is settling out? Your daily symptom pattern looks stable.

 

Why do you take amlodipine at the same time as venlafaxine? Please read up on amlodipine side effects on drugs.com.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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LarryS

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December 21, 2019, Saturday, Day 34 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

4:17 AM Up, 2 sleep interruptions, 7:00 Hrs. sleep: Insomnia 2

Interim: feel a little tired, 2 cup coffee, read, prepare breakfast

7:30 Breakfast:  49.5 mg Venlafaxine, Amlodipine 5 mg, and my standard vitamins/ minerals – C 1,000 mg, D3 50 mcg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Probiotic 218 mg

9:53 Finish reading newspaper

10:30 Finish all physical therapy: Anhedonia 4, Fatigue 5, Headache 4, Back Pain 5, Neck Pain 5

10:48 Start on computer work.

11:48 Stop computer work. Go talk with son-in-law.

2:27 PM Lunch, do some dishes: Fatigue 7

3:12 End 40-minute nap.

Listen to “A Liberated Mind” by Dr Steven C Hayes

4:13 Start watching football on TV

5:30 Dinner plus standard vitamins/ minerals - Coenzyme Q10 100 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg

8:00  End watching football on TV:  Fatigue 7, Headache 4

8:10 To bed

No Alcohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS

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December 22, 2019, Sunday, Day 35 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

10:45 PM Saturday, got up due to regurgitating chili from dinner.

12:15 AM Sunday, Back to bed after up for 1.5 hours

5:30 Awaken but roll over in bed.

6:10 AM Up, 3 sleep interruptions, 6:56 Hrs. sleep: Insomnia 3

6:25 After shower: Anhedonia 5, Fatigue 4, Headache 5

Interim: 2 cup coffee, prepare breakfast

7:30 Breakfast:  49.5 mg Venlafaxine, Amlodipine 5 mg, and my standard vitamins/ minerals – C 1,000 mg, D3 50 mcg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Probiotic 218 mg

Fatigue 6, Headache 6

9:30 Go to church, after do some reading

1:30 PM watch movie on TV

2:00 PM Start watching football game on TV

5:15 Dinner plus standard vitamins/ minerals - Coenzyme Q10 100 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg

6:00 End 25-minute nap: Fatigue 5

6:32 Did all Physical Therapy: Back Pain 5, Neck Pain 5

9:20 To bed

No Alcohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS

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December 23, 2019, Monday, Day 36 at 49.5 mg Venlafaxine

5:15 AM Up, 3 sleep interruptions, 7:32 Hrs. sleep: Insomnia 3

Feel some rest: Fatigue 4, Headache 5

Interim: 2 cup coffee, listen, read, prepare breakfast

7:20 Breakfast:  49.5 mg Venlafaxine, Amlodipine 5 mg, and my standard vitamins/ minerals – C 1,000 mg, D3 50 mcg, Fish Oil 1,600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg, Probiotic 218 mg

8:30 Begin Gym standard workout: Anhedonia 4, Fatigue 4, Headache 5, Back Pain 6, Neck Pain 6

Feel energized after gym workout. Feel better than I have in a long time.

11:00 See general practice doctor. Review my mood and venlafaxine needs. He is supportive but thinks I can wean from venlafaxine faster based upon his clinical experience. (Energy and mood where very good during this doctor visit due to gym work.)

12:15 Lunch: feel good

2:00 PM End Massage 1-hour

3:05 End 39-minute nap: Fatigue 6, Headache 6

Make/ cook pumpkin pie

Make/ cook dinner

6:00 Dinner plus standard vitamins/ minerals - Coenzyme Q10 100 mg, Red Yeast Rice 600 mg, Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg

Cooking tires me. Fatigue 7

6:50 End 25-minute nap: Fatigue 5  (total napping 1:04)

8:10 To bed, very fatigued

No Alcohol

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Hi Altostrata

I find that my symptoms for Anhedonia, Insomnia, Back Pain and Neck Pain have been fairly stable and decreasing in severity.  However, symptoms for fatigue and headache are a bit more variable dependent upon what is happening that day.   These two symptoms vary due to:  1. Stress from outside sources, 2. Quality and length of sleep, 3. How busy my day is scheduled and the need to meet that schedule.  Between December 16 through 23 I did get 7 hours or more a night of sleep according to readings on my CPAP machine, so this was good.  However, I had 2 to 3 interruptions during each night, and required some napping during the day, so this is not good.  Some of the interruption is due to stopping tamsulosin drug for enlarged prostate, which helps one relieve urine less often.  I stopped this drug because I found a medical study on PubMed which indicated that the drug may contribute to dementia.  I will be soon addressing options with my Urologist.

I have had to take on more of the responsibilities my wife used to be able to do more independently.  She is not well and suffers from extreme fatigue also.  For instance, I now do all the shopping.  I now also cook dinner every other day while my daughter and her family live with us temporarily.  I also take more time to help my wife plan and stay on track due to her deteriorating memory.  Not to mention many more doctor visits for her.

I mention the above to relate the need to do my best to maintain as much stability in my own life so that I may be most helpful and well for my wife and others.  This is what most of us want in our lives, and the reason we want to mindfully take care of ourselves.

So now I have a choice to make.  Shall I try to continue forward with 10% drops every four weeks or slow it down to 5% drops every three weeks, which would be like a 10% drop in six weeks.  I hope to start the next drop December 30, 2019.

Regarding the taking of 5 mg amlodipine, at some point in the past, perhaps 15 to 20 years ago, I was experiencing blood pressure above 200/90 mmHg.  It became concerning to me, so I talk to my then general practice doctor.  He put me on the drug.  I have simply continued since then without questioning.  These days, I question all doctors and their drugs.

I read drugs.com and see that the most common side effects are  somnolence, dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, nausea and flushing.

The only one of these that I recognize in me is headache, which is more a pressure in the top of my head that seems unusual to me. 

I have been tracking my blood pressure at least weekly and find it quite variable.  Sometimes good, sometimes not so good.  I will discuss this next time I see my general practice doctor to see if I need to continue the drug amlodipine.

Your comments please.

Thank You

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS

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Six Week Up-Dose Re-Stabilization Hold

I have waited six (6) weeks and have felt fairly stable.  So, I’m dropping 10% to 44.5 mg and will wait and track how this goes.  I will be more cautious now in making a determination to move forward with each drop. I was previously at this dose of 44.5 mg about four months ago.

The chart below shows my average scores for the 4 weeks prior to my 12 mg up-dose, the first 3 weeks of my hold and the second 3 weeks of my hold at 49.5 mg venlafaxine.

Symptom

End Nov. 17; 28-day Average

End Dec. 8; 21-day Average

End Dec. 30; 21-day Average

Anhedonia

6.18

5.33

4.48

Insomnia

2.25

3.28

2.48

Fatigue

6.39

6.19

5.67

Headache Pressure

5.1 *

5.62

4.90

Back Pain

6.32

6.00

5.48

Neck Pain

6.89

5.71

5.30

*Limited data points

The table shows improvement for Anhedonia, Fatigue, Back Pain and Neck Pain.  Insomnia got worse. Headache Pressure unfortunately lacks for data but shows improvement over the hold.

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS

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Seven days ago I dropped 10% down to 44.5 mg of venlafaxine.  I will hold here for 4 to 6 weeks, dependent upon maintaining some semblance of stability.  

 

Since stopping Tamsulosin drug for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) I have been awakening more (2 to 3+ times) per nights sleep.  This is causing extra daytime fatigue.  I have decided that I need to add an additional score point for each awakening beyond 2 since my previous scoring system only accounted for up to 2 awakenings.

 

I have started taking a natural supplemental product called "Real Advantage Nutrients - ProSupport PM".  This product was recommended by my brother who has the same health issue.  The nutrients included are:  Zinc arginate 15 mg, Saw palmetto oil 320 mg, Stinging nettle extract 300 mg, Pygeum extract 100 mg, Lycopene 15 mg, Melatonin 3 mg, and Flowens Cranberry extract 500 mg.

 

I will track to see if my INSOMNIA decreases and my FATIGUE subsides over a 2 month period.  If it does, I will presume that ProSupport PM is doing its work.

As I previously mentioned, I stopped taking "Tamsulosin" because a "PubMed" study shows a link to it contributing to dementia in seniors.

 

I currently track INSOMNIA with the following scoring system, using hour and minute readings from my CPAP machine.

0  Slept 8+ hrs. without interruption

1  Slept minimum 7 hrs. with 1 interruption

2  Slept min. 7 hrs. with 2 Int.

3  Slept min. 6 hrs with 1 Int.

4  Slept min. 6 hrs. with 2 Int.

5  Slept 5 - 6 hrs. 1 Int.

6  Slept less than 5 hrs. 1 Int.

7  Slept less than 4 hrs.

8  Lay awake 1/2 to 1 hour prior to falling asleep for less than 4 hours

9  Lay awake majority of night

10  Could not sleep at all.

 

I currently track FATIGUE with the following scoring system.

0-1  None to slight fatigue

2-3  Minor fatigue after noon

4-6  Mild to moderate fatigue ALL Day

7-8  Fatigue effects ability to think/ concentrate

   9  Naps on and off ALL Day

 10  Bed ridden fatigue

 

Anyone's comments are welcome.  

Can I improve my scoring system?

Is there a better natural product on the market for BPH?

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Four Week 10% Drop at 44.5 mg

I have waited three weeks, so far, and have felt fairly stable.  So, I’m dropping 10% to 40.1 mg at the end of the fourth week and will wait at least four weeks at 40.1 mg.  I will be more cautious now in making a determination to  move forward with each drop. I was previously at 40.1 mg dose about three and one-half months ago, prior to recent up dose to 49.5 mg.

The chart below shows my average scores for the week prior to dropping to 44.5 mg, the first, second and third weeks of my hold at 44.5 mg.

Symptom

Week Prior

First Week 44.5

Second Week

Third Week 44.5

Anhedonia

4.28

4.71

4.85

4.57

Insomnia

3.00

3.42

4.28

2.57

Fatigue

5.85

5.14

5.71

5.42

Head Pressure

4.57

4.85

5.14

5.00

Back Pain

4.71

5.57

5.57

5.57

Neck Pain

4.42

5.14

4.85

5.00

 

Anhedonia improved the 3rd week over the 1st and 2nd week. 3rd week score worse than “week prior”.

Insomnia was worse the 3rd week over the 1st and 2nd week.  3rd week score better than “week prior”.

Fatigue was worse the 3rd week over the 1st week.  3rd week score better than “week prior”.

Head Pressure was worse the 3rd week over the 1st week.  3rd week score worse than “week prior”.

Back Pain was consistent weeks 1, 2 and 3.  3rd week score worse than “week prior”.

Neck Pain improved the 3rd week over the 1st week.  3rd week score worse than “week prior”

Overall scores show little variability and fairly stable scores.

 

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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I’m feeling expressive:

I’ve been a participant on this site for one and one-half years now.  I have gathered some knowledge and have been steady as flowing molasses.  Flowing molasses is what this program feels like to me.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been blessed to have found out a lot of great information.  And it has turned me into a student of health. I’ve always enjoyed good health, until I had my “Spiritual Crisis” in July 2014. (I have more time on my hands now that I retired four months prior, March 2014.)   That is when I was forced by the system to go to my first psych ward visit located at “THE Hospital”.  It was an eye opener for sure.  I was afraid I would be trapped there and/or be sent off to a far worse location, called the “Lunny Bin”.  That didn’t happen thankfully.  But while I was there, trying to figure out how to get along in this microcosm system, it became apparent the staff felt we were all a little crazy and not worth much respect.

One evening, when I was still scared and afraid of what might happen, it happened.  I presume I was not as willing to go along with what they wanted, not sure, can’t remember now.  Two big guys came into my assigned room and strapped me to the bed.  Pretty soon, the call of nature came along, you know, and I wanted some relief.  So, I called out from my bed, asking for a short reprieve.  No answer.  So, I called out again, I need to go, I can’t wait much longer.  No answer.  I got the cold shoulder and the drift of where this was going.  Nowhere.  So, I finally gave in to laying in a pool of warm wet you know what.

I had always been an over achiever.  What do you want, I’ll get it done?  What do you want, I can produce it?

Thankfully, they let me go in one week, assigned to go see the shrink, ups I mean Psychiatrist.  This is how it feels.  Anyway, I dutifully go to the Psychiatrist and he says, well I’ll (make you a deal you can’t refuse) take away all your medications but one.  However, I will increase this one medication called Venlafaxine (Effexor) and you’ll be fine.  OK.

He was right, for a while, I did feel fine.

But not now.  Now is five and one-half years later.  Age 71, with more health issues than I can deal with.  As you get up there in years, you may be wiser, but your slowing down.  And anything that can go wrong with your health, will.  So, I doggedly move on, but slower.  I doggedly keep going, but the fun times are ebbing away.  Oh well, I guess that’s life.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m being expressive.  I’m letting it flow.  I really do still have much to be thankful for.  And so do you. 

I’ve tagged a few people to follow on this site over my time here.  Mostly those trying to get off Effexor, the devil’s drug.  The psych drugs are all the same, bad stuff.  I just noticed; it seems that those I have tried to follow have slipped away.  I don’t know why they fall away.  I do know one who was truthful enough to say why he was giving up.  But the rest, I don’t know. 

At 44.5 mg of Venlafaxine, I’m starting to have some more clarity of mind.  I’m hopeful that I was right, when I told that psychiatrist, I’m in the 20% that will kick this thing.  You see that psychiatrist was basically telling me before I even tried, you can’t do it.  I can.

2

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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Thank you, @LarryS. That was very motivating for me. Your drive will get you through this! 

1988-1996  Various AD’s, all classifications.  1996-2019  Effexor XR 37.5mg to 150mg. Jan 2017 onward, 37.5 mg.

2019  Apr 11 - July 24: Trials of Latuda then Rexulti. CT'd off per dr.  Jul 24: CT Effexor (per dr)  Sep 9-19: Viibryd, CT (per dr).  Sep 23-27: Trintellix. CT (per dr).  Sep 28 - Oct 24:  Prozac 10mg.  Oct 24:  Stop Prozac, began Pristiq 25mg->50->25mg.

2020  Feb 1: CT Pristiq. Feb 1: Reinstated Effexor XR (10 large beads) gradually increasing to 22 beads (15L+7M) or 9.072mgai on Mar, 2020.

2021  Started Jan w 21 beads (13L+8M) or 8.47mgai ended Dec: 17 beads (7L+9M+1S) or 6.19mgai. Severe COVID + TIA.

2022  Ended yr w 14 beads (3L+5M+5S+1XS) or 4.5mgai. Major jaw injury during year.

 

Current: January, 2023: Effexor XR - 14 beads (3L+5M+5S+1XS) or 4.5mgai

Other current meds: Ambien 10mg 3.935mg , clonazepam .125mg .107mg, omeprazole, Synthroid, Premarin.  Supplements: D3, C, probiotic, K2-MK7, Mg Glycinate

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Looking Back to the Start of Symptom Tracking

I knew from the beginning that I needed to track my progress of my tapper from Venlafaxine (Effexor).  I had been directed to, and read, the following discussion regarding tracking on this Surviving Antidepressants web site. 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1779-keep-daily-notes-of-drug-schedule-and-symptoms-to-track-patterns-and-progress/ 

Since I felt comfortable with Microsoft excel, I chose to make daily handwritten log notes, and transfer my 1 to 10 scores into excel. 

I looked at a checklist of all the symptoms that one could possibly track and chose my top five.

I simply gave a score based on a vague sense of how I felt at that time, in the beginning.  About one year into tracking, I came to the conclusion that I needed to better define a 1 to 10 scoring system for each symptom I was tracking, in order to get a more meaningful and steadier value system, so that progress could be better defined, seen and understood.  I chose 1 to 10 to mean least to most intensity of the symptom.

This is the first time I’ve compared my initial symptom values with current values.  Due to some inconsistency in the beginning, I was only able to find 15 days in a row from which to get an average reading of four (4) symptoms. After a while I stopped tracking “lethargy” since it was hard to distinguish from “fatigue”. But the comparison to then and now does show significant improvement in some symptom areas.  This is consistent with my general feeling of improvement over time.

I started my first drop in Venlafaxine June 5, 2018, a very momentous day for me.  In the initial three weeks I assigned a 10 to Lethargy, Anhedonia and Fatigue.  I started seeing consistent tracking of the initial five symptoms June 27, 2018 on my excel spreadsheet.  However, due to some inconsistency, I’m choosing a 15-day period from July 5 through July 19 for my beginning symptom averages.  I will average all 28 days at level 44.5 mg, December 30, 2019 through January 26, 2020 for comparison.

Symptom

July 5 – 19, 2018

Dec. 30 to Jan. 26, 2020

Anhedonia

6.13

4.68

Insomnia

6.33

3.43

Fatigue

6.66

5.54

Headache Pressure

5.06

4.96

 

Even though the above shows improvement, the lesson learned is, consistency of method of tracking is key to obtaining meaningful information.  I intend to provide further discussion about tracking progress at the above forum topic link entitled “Keep daily notes of drug schedule and symptoms to track patterns and progress”.

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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  • 3 weeks later...
LarryS Contributor

LarryS

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Posted

Four Week 10% Drop at 40.1 mg

I have waited three weeks at 40.1 mg and have felt stable.  So, I’m dropping 10% to 36.1 mg at the end of the fourth week and will wait at least four weeks at 36.1 mg.  I will be more cautious now in deciding to  move forward with each drop.  The table below shows my average weekly scores for the six items I am tracking.

 

Symptom

Week Prior

First Week 40.1

Second Wk. 40.1

Third Week 40.1

Anhedonia

4.57

4.42

4.85

4.71

Insomnia

3.42

4.00

3.28

3.71

Fatigue

5.85

4.42

5.42

5.85

Head Pressure

4.85

4.57

4.57

4.71

Back Pain

5.14

6.28

4.00

5.28

Neck Pain

4.71

4.71

4.14

3.85

 

There is no trend that I can see in the above table.  Perhaps it is to short a time to see a trend, but the overall feeling I have of stability is what counts.  Anhedonia has the least variability between highest and lowest of 0.43.  Back Pain has the highest variability between highest and lowest of 2.28.

 

See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top.

Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg.

Other Pharmaceuticals per day:  Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg

Vitamins per day:  C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg

Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019

49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019;  37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023;

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