Buxi: Reinstatement gone wrong

[Buxi]

Please, have a look at my signature.

I'm so afraid my reinstatement of Venlafaxine,done by my doctor, was completely wrong, too high, therefore the persistent symptoms.

I have started tapering on my own.

What damage could have been down to my brain? Is there a chance that my symptoms will eventually go away? Are there other members with the same reinstatement problem?

 

[Songbird]

Hi Buxi, welcome to SA.  Thanks for creating your signature with your med history.   Are you taking any other meds, or just venlafaxine? 

 

From reading your signature, I am interpreting your situation as: you tapered possibly too quickly from 150mg down to 37.5mg and had withdrawal symptoms, so reinstated 150mg but it didn't work the same as before, so your dose was increased up to 225mg, which did not alleviate symptoms.  (Please let me know if I have interpreted correctly or incorrectly).

 

Can you provide more detail about your recent taper beginning February 2018 - dates and doses?  How are you measuring your doses?  What symptoms are you having?  Have they changed since starting your taper in February?

 

Some topics you may find helpful:

why taper by 10% of my dosage?

tips for tapering off effexor and effexorXR (venlafaxine)

 

Please post all your updates and questions about your situation here in your introduction topic.

[Madeleine]

On 6/24/2018 at 2:35 PM, Buxi said:

Is there a chance that my symptoms will eventually go away? Are there other members with the same reinstatement problem?

 

Yes. Definitely, there is more than just "a chance".  It is actually very likely that your symptoms will eventually go away.  You will stabilize and will feel better. 
With very best wishes,
M.

[peng]

Buxi,

I have been battling Venlafaxine.   Have a look at my thread ("My Battle with Venlafaxine") from March 6 2018 onwards.

Hope it will give you some optimism. 

[Buxi]

Thanks e doctora lot for all your answers.

Some more info:

1. Venlafaxine 150mg ext.: for the 1st time from Feb. 2011-2.5.2015, tapered it off according to the doctor over 2 years by reducing it per 37.5mg each reduction. Noticed increased  ensiitivity by reducing it from 75-37.5mg, for the last 37.5 mg had to use 37.5mg non-ext as I wanted to do it slowly and could cut the non-ext., sensititivity increased, took last bit on 2.5.2011, 2 weeks later strange feeling of having to occupy my mind constantly, what I know think is mental akathesia, growing anxiety, panic attacks. I and doctor thought old problem had come back, I got reinstated up to the old dose of 150mg ext. within 2 weeks and 1 year later updosed to 225mg ext. because of ongoing symptoms+adding Lorazepam 0,5 up to 2mg,, to be taken only in the mornings, caused interdose withdrawal every day, which I found out later.

Horrible symptoms have stayed: mental akathesia, high anxities, panic attacks, constant heart racing, nightmares, unusual dreams, plenty more symptoms have come: deep Depression, agrophobia, intrusive thoughts...to name just a few.

As I thought something must be wrong, it can't just be me, I started my research last summer. Doctor did not help, just thought it's me.

First I found out all about the benzos (Dr. H. Ashton), thought everything was due to Lorazepam, tapered it off over 7.5 months (2mg). Then I thought, I have to wait the withdrawal out. 

But I also started my research on Venlafaxine, found out that a) the tapering from 75-37.5mg was too big, because Venlafaxine occupies 80% of the receptors at 75mg. b) switching from ext. to non-ext. was wrong, shock for the nervous System. Thus my symptoms I still have from tapering down to 37.5mg until taking the last bit on 2.5.2015 have been withdrawal, not my old problem!

f

When I found that out, I started tapering Venlafaxine 225mg in Febr. 2018, either  between 8-10% or about 15/16% about every 4 weeks. As I know I got problems the first time only when I came down from 75 to 37.5mg, I think I can go a bit higher unntil I reach 75mg and from there in max. 5%steps or even less.

I want the poison off my system, as I can't cope much longer especially with the mental akathesia, anxities, panic attacks. They have robbed me my life for 3 years already, I lead a more than diminished lief.

 

 

Is it know if people who got reinstated to the old or even higher dose for 3 years can get better, or are we dammed for eternal mental akathesia?

Would you recommend to get off the Venlafaxine as soon as possible to let the recovery process start? Or what else would you recommend?

I have no doctor to turn to and haven't found a knowledge one in my country. Could you advise me an expert in the UK or USA or anywhere?

 

I am so desperate and more than grateful for your help!!!

 

Best wishes to all of you

Buxi

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Buxi.

 

How did your symptoms change since you took 225mg venlafaxine XR in February 2018?

 

What time of day do you take 125mg venlafaxine XR? Are you still taking lorazepam? At what times of day? Are you taking any other drugs?

 

What is your daily symptom pattern? Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages.

[Buxi]

Thank you so very much for your quick answer, dear altostrata.

I take the Venlafaxine once a day in the morning, no Lorazepam since 5.12.2017, Amlodipin 5mg in the morning because of irregular blood pressure siince 2012, nothing else.

 

My daily symptom pattern:

-wake up with extreme Feelings of guilt that I worked too much in the past cared too much about other People, therefore made myself ill, therefore had to take the tablets,, actually my Feelings of guilt caused all my anxieties, because from childhood experinces that I should not make myself ill due to doctors'/nurses' reactions. When my Panic etc. got too much in 2011 and again in 2015 I put myself into pyschiatry, since then tramatized, everything reminds me of the clinic, it was more than horrible, I just wanted help, no I have doctor and clinic phobia and acutally all kinds of phoabia

- don't want to get up the morning, start Panic or high anxiety when I awake

-don't want to shower (so shamef

-every night nightmares or unusual dreams

-don't want to eat

-have frequent stool, don't want to go out for this reason

I force myself to do everything. I still go to work, otherwise I would go mad at home though in the past I always loved being at home, could be alone, had things to do.

-Now I don't know what to do when I'm at home, start Panic,

-can't feel joy

-all Kind of emotions make me feel sad or anxious or guilty, which triggers my heart racing, stomach, stool.

 

I was never like that before, not to this extent. My husband doesn'tknow how to help me. My Feelings of guilt are so strong.

Can all These Feelings and emotions be reinforced by the Lorazepam and ist withdrawal and the Venlafaxine? I have all These symptoms since May 2015.

I don't know how to accept the past.

 

I look forward to your answer. Best wishes to you

Buxi