Sian: Hurt and angry

[Sian]

I am addicted to lithium and venlafaxine.  I need to come off these drugs.  After nearly 40 years on lithium and not sure how many on antidepressant I don’t know how much damage has been done.  My psychiatrist suggested, in a text, I have one day on and one day off venlafaxine 75mg.  What to do next.   Lost all faith in mental health system and don’t feel like approaching psychiatrist as she usually tries to convince me to stay on meds.

 

This is an unaccustomed method of communicating for me.  Excuse any ineptitude please.

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Sian.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.  Please indicate whether you are taking the extended release Venlafaxine.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

Going off the Venlafaxine one day on, one day off is strongly discouraged.  I can't fathom why so many doctors recommend it, except that doctors know nothing of withdrawal or tapering.  This method is the equivalent of a 50% drop in dosage and is like playing ping pong with your brain.

 

At Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.  Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops.  

  

Before you begin tapering what you need to know

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Brain Remodelling

 

Tips for tapering off Effexor (venlafaxine)

 

This last link describes how to get nonstandard doses of the drug, which you will need for your taper.  

We recommend that you taper only one drug at a time, so if there is a problem you will know what is causing it.  You should taper the more stimulating drug first (in your case, Ven) while waiting until later to taper the more calming drug (Lithium).

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.