Rezten: Effexor withdrawal

[Rezten]

I am sleeping about six hours then maybe another hour or so after that in the morning.  

 

The reason I asked about Trazadone was because it was such a big jump I was worried about withdrawals.  There may be some, but I feel just as yucky as I did before I cut it.  

[Altostrata]

If your sleep pattern didn't get worse, looks like you go away with dropping 25mg this time. Yes, you can figure on tapering it 10% in a bit, let yourself stabilize first.

[Rezten]

I have read it is better to taper off an AD before Benzo.  I am on 2 Benzo I want to get off of as well but feel getting off Trazadone first is better.  Any suggestions on this?

[Altostrata]

Tapering off trazodone is what you'd want to do before tapering the benzos. The benzos should be enough for sleep.

[Rezten]

I

17 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Tapering off trazodone is what you'd want to do before tapering the benzos. The benzos should be enough for sleep.

I dont take the benzos at night.  I originally started taking them for anxiety (wish I never did) so I always took them during the day.  It will take me years to taper what took only months for my body to get used to. I should not have listened to docs.  But better to do it slow and steady.  I hope my withdrawal symptoms will ease up in the mean time.

 

Thank you for your help

[Altostrata]

On 10/9/2018 at 10:43 AM, Rezten said:

I take 1.5 mg Valium. A.m. 1 mg noon

 And 1 mg Ativan at 4 p.m.  they dont help anymore, I am very slowly tapering off.  I have been on them for about 5 months

 

Why are you taking these drugs on this schedule? Do they make you dopey? What do you mean, "they don't help"?

 

Please stop tapering the benzos.

[Rezten]

I stopped tapering a few weeks ago.  They dont make me dopey, they just dont alleviate my anxiety anymore.

 

I take them on that schedule because that's how I started taking them to get through daily anxiety

[Rezten]

12 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

 

Why are you taking these drugs on this schedule? Do they make you dopey? What do you mean, "they don't help"?

 

Please stop tapering the benzos.

I stopped tapering a few weeks ago.  They don't make me dopey.  I started taking them to alleviate daytime anxiety, but eventually they didn't help and I didn't want to go up in dose, so with dr. Advice I started to taper, but I put that on hold a few weeks ago.

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

3:30 a.m. woke up. Slept on and off for a few hours.

8:00 a.m. woke up for good feeling anxious, tired, groggy, heavy

8:00 a.m. 1.5 mg Valium.  Laid in bed reading/prayer

10:00 a.m. increased anxiety. Went for 10 min walk.  Everything seemed surreal.

10:15 back in bed reading. Anxiety increasing.

11:00 ate lunch. Not much of appetitie.  Anxious stomache.

12:00 took 1 mg Valium

12:30 my son came over for a bit. Anxiety up a little

1:15 back in bed to read

2:30 anxiety higher, tight chest, sick stomache.

4:00 1 mg Ativan

4:30 anxiety starting to lessen

5:00 made supper

6:00 ate supper

6:30 watching TV anxiety still low

7:30 updating SA post. Anxiety still low

8:00 watch TV until 9:00 then do some reading

9:30 take 75 mg Trazadone and 2.5 mg Melatonin

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

4:00 a.m. woke up

5:30 a.m. feel back to sleep 

7:30 woke up feeling tired and groggy but not as bad as usual.  Some anxiety

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium

8:30 showered anxiety increasing

9:30 left for bible study anxiety moderate

10:00 -12:00 At bible study, very anxious and weepy, trouble focusing on what was going on.

12:30 ate lunc, back home took 1 mg Valium

1:00 reading, laying in bed anxiety decreasing

3:00 still reading in bed anxiety increasing

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:00 took .5 mg Ativan, made supper still anxiety on the high side

5:30 ate supper

5:45 back in bed to read anxiety still on the high side

6:30 anxiety decreasing still laying in bed on tablet or reading

7:30 update SA page, anxiety lower

9:30 will take 75 mg Trazadone and 2.5 mg Melatonin 

 

 

 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

3:30 a.m. woke up

4:30 slept on and off

7:45 woke up feeling tired and groggy but not as bad as usual.  Some anxiety

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium

8:10 ate breakfast

8:30 showered anxiety increasing

9:45 - 10:00 went for a walk anxiety still on the high side

10:15 went to grocery store anxiety high

11:00 ate lunch

11:15 in bed reading

11:30 started noticing anxiety getting lower

12:00 1 mg Valium

1:00 - 4:00 reading in bed, did a load of laundry, took dogs outside.  Felt pretty good anxiety on the low side.

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:00 made supper

5:45 ate supper anxiety still low

6:00 .5 mg Ativan

6:00 - 7:00 watched TV anxiety still low

7:00 back in bed to read

7:15 update SA page, anxiety still on low side

9:30 will take 75 mg Trazadone and 2.5 mg Melatonin 

 

 

 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

3:30 a.m. woke up fell right back to sleep

5:30 woke up, tossed and turned

7:00 got up out of bed, feeling tired fell back to sleep

8:20 woke up took 1.5 mg Valium feeling anxious

8:30 ate breakfast

8:30 layed in bed reading, prayer feeling anxious

10:30 showered

11:30 left for therapy appt.  Feeling anxious

12:00 1 mg Valium

12:00 - 12:45 therapy, anxiety very low but legs were jittery when I got out of therapy. Only lasted a few minutes

1:00 - grabbed lunch

1:20 - home, went for a walk 

1:35 laying in bed reading, anxiety on low side

3:30 anxiety increasing

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:45 ate supper anxiety still on the high side

7:00 .5 mg Ativan

7:00 watched TV anxiety still kind of high

7:15 update SA page

9:30 will take 75 mg Trazadone and 2.5 mg Melatonin 

[Shep]

Rezten, do you go to sleep right away after taking your nighttime drugs? How many hours of sleep are you getting each night? Please add the number of hours to your journal. 

 

Do you feel that the 2.5 mg melatonin may still be too high a dose and may be making you feel extra tired in the morning? If so, after you finish moving the Ativan, you may want to make a reduction of the melatonin to 2 mg and see how you do. 

 

 

[Rezten]

25 minutes ago, Shep said:

Rezten, do you go to sleep right away after taking your nighttime drugs? How many hours of sleep are you getting each night? Please add the number of hours to your journal. 

It takes me about 30 min to an hour to fall asleep.  I get about 5-6 hours a night plus I usually fall back to sleep in the morning for about an hour.  I will add sleep hours to my journal.

 

27 minutes ago, Shep said:

Do you feel that the 2.5 mg melatonin may still be too high a dose and may be making you feel extra tired in the morning? If so, after you finish moving the Ativan, you may want to make a reduction of the melatonin to 2 mg and see how you do. 

 

I am not sure if it's too high, but I know when I wake up around 4:a.m. I just feel tired.  When I fall back to sleep and get up again that's when I feel very groggy and heavy.  I can try 2 mg.

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

Not sure what time I fell asleep last night, but probably around 10:30 and probably a total of 6.5 hours of sleep including morning nap.

Also note when I mention anxiety increasing that also means tightness in chest and stomache are getting worse as anxiety increases.

 

4:00 a.m. woke up tossed and turned 

5:00 a.m. slept on and off until about 7:30 woke up feeling groggy, heavy, anxiety on the high side

8:00 a.m. too 1.5 mg valium

8:00 ate breakfast

8:15 listened to meditation fell asleep

9:00 woke up tired, groggy layed in bed, reading and prayer, anxiety medium

10:15 went to grocery store anxiety medium

11:00 ate lunch, anxiety starting to lower

12:00 1 mg Valium

1:00 - went for short walk anxiety low to moderate

3:30 anxiety starting to increase also have a dull headache and feeling tired a little brain fog 

4:00 took .5 mg of Ativan and 400 mg ibuprofen

5:15 ate supper and watching TV.  Anxiety very high, feeling scared and emotional

6:45 anxiety getting much lower and headache and tiredness going away

7:15 update SA page, anxiety still on low side

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 will take 75 mg Trazadone and 2.5 mg Melatonin 

 

[Altostrata]

On 10/22/2018 at 12:22 PM, Rezten said:

I stopped tapering a few weeks ago.  They don't make me dopey.  I started taking them to alleviate daytime anxiety, but eventually they didn't help and I didn't want to go up in dose, so with dr. Advice I started to taper, but I put that on hold a few weeks ago.

 

Did they stop working a few weeks ago? Is your anxiety worse now than it was a few weeks ago?

 

1 hour ago, Rezten said:

4:00 a.m. woke up tossed and turned 

5:00 a.m. slept on and off until about 7:30 woke up feeling groggy, heavy, anxiety on the high side

8:00 a.m. too 1.5 mg valium

8:00 ate breakfast

8:15 listened to meditation fell asleep

9:00 woke up tired, groggy layed in bed, reading and prayer, anxiety medium

10:15 went to grocery store anxiety medium

11:00 ate lunch, anxiety starting to lower

12:00 1 mg Valium

1:00 - went for short walk anxiety low to moderate

3:30 anxiety starting to increase also have a dull headache and feeling tired a little brain fog 

4:00 took .5 mg of Ativan and 400 mg ibuprofen

5:15 ate supper and watching TV.  Anxiety very high, feeling scared and emotional

6:45 anxiety getting much lower and headache and tiredness going away

7:15 update SA page, anxiety still on low side

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 will take 75 mg Trazadone and 2.5 mg Melatonin 

 

You're taking Ativan irregularly in the afternoon and evening? Att @Shep

 

Do you have any Effexor left?

[Rezten]

4 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Did they stop working a few weeks ago? Is your anxiety worse now than it was a few weeks ago.

I have not noriced relief from the benzos in a few months.  I decided to come off of them because they didnt appear to be helping so I figured I should start tapering.  That was before SA.  My anxiety has improved some in the past few weeks.  

 

6 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

You're taking Ativan irregularly in the afternoon and evening? Att @Shep

Yes.  Just recently split up the dose at Shep's advice.

 

7 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Do you have any Effexor left?

No, it's been about 7 months

[Altostrata]

12 minutes ago, Rezten said:

Yes.  Just recently split up the dose at Shep's advice.

 

Okay, this is important. Your benzo intake needs attention.

[Rezten]

Just now, Altostrata said:

 Okay, this is important. Your benzo intake needs attention.

Ok.  What should I do

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Let's focus on your topic in the benzo forum for now. Your new benzo schedule sounds like it's working.

[Rezten]

3 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Let's focus on your topic in the benzo forum for now. Your new benzo schedule sounds like it's working.

I will put it there from now on but I'm confused because you said it needs attention then you said it sounds like it's working.  I'm getting nervous about it sorry.

[Altostrata]

I didn't know you already had marching orders from Shep. It's all good.

[Rezten]

1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

I didn't know you already had marching orders from Shep. It's all good

Ok. Thank you.  I got scared and thought I messed something up.  

[Rezten]

21 hours ago, Rezten said:

Do you have any Effexor left?

When you asked this were you thinking reinstatement may help?

[Altostrata]

Maybe. But sounds like working with the benzo might be enough.

[Rezten]

2 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Maybe. But sounds like working with the benzo might be enough.

Is it too far out to reinstate?  

[Altostrata]

Your symptom pattern may be due to your benzo dosing. There is no necessity to try Effexor reinstatement at this point. Whether it would work is iffy.

[Rezten]

1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

Your symptom pattern may be due to your benzo dosing. There is no necessity to try Effexor reinstatement at this point. Whether it would work is iffy.

Thanks.  I was thinking it may be too late for that.  Appreciate your help.

[Rezten]

Today's update.  I fell asleep around 10:30 got about 6 hours of sleep, but not good sleep

 

3:00 a.m. woke up feeling tired

3:30 is fell back asleep on and off

5:00 a.m. Woke up dozed on and off until 7

6:45 a.m. woke up with low anxiety symptoms and took a shower feeling tired

7:15 went out to breakfast

8:10 1.5 mg Valium

8:30 took nap

9:00 woke up anxiety symptoms on the low side

11:30 anxiety starting to increase

12:00 1 mg Valium

12:30 ate lunch

1:30 anxiety increasing more

3:30 anxiety pretty high, feeling emotional crying

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

4:30   started making supper, still pretty anxious 

5:30 ate supper

6:30 anxiety still high

7:00 headache, tired took 400 mg Ibuprofen 

7:15 update SA page.  Starting to feel a little calmer, but not by much

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 will take 75 mg Trazadone and 2.5 mg Melatonin 

[Altostrata]

Please post your daily notes in your Benzo topic, so @Shep can see them.

[Bribarian]

On 9/3/2018 at 5:44 PM, Rezten said:

Moderator note: link to benzo forum thread Rezten: Am I tapering slow enough

 

I am new to this site.  Sox months ago I tapered off 10 years of Effexor.  It has been living hell.  Six months later no meds have worked, I have debilitating depression/anxiety and want to get through this no meds.  I am hoping to hear positive stories that there is hope without meds.

I'm in a similar situation.

 

Aftet about 7 years on 300mg Effexor I've been left in a chronic state of depression and haven't been able to find anything that works, even with meds...

 

You were on a pretty low dosage compared to me, you sure it's the cause?

[Shep]

10 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Please post your daily notes in your Benzo topic, so @Shep can see them.

 

Rezten, your benzo thread is here:

 

Rexten: Am I tapering slow enough?

 

I copied your latest drug and symptoms journal post from your main intro thread and pasted it in your benzo thread and also asked some follow up questions. 

 

 

[Rezten]

5 hours ago, Bribarian said:

You were on a pretty low dosage compared to me, you sure it's the cause?

Yes, I'm sure it's the cause.  You dont have to be on high doses to have withdrawals.   

[Rezten]

I am posting my daily symptom pattern here again because I am tapering off Trazadone.  I am going to 67.5 mg from 75 mg  tonight.

 

Today's update:

 

2:30 a.m. woke up slept on and off until 5:20 got bout 5 hours sleep.  Woke up with a headache, feeling like I didn't sleep and moderate to high anxiety. Nauseated stomache

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium still have headache and anxiety high, stomache feels sick

8:30 took 100 mg magnesium

10:00 went to Dr. Appt. Anxiety high

12:00 took 1mg Valium and ate lunch  anxiety moderate nauseated 

12:30 took 100 mg magnesium 

3:00 laying in bed reading anxiety high, tight chest and stomache 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

4:30 took 100 mg magnesium

6:00 ate supper still high anxiety

7:00 updating SA page

7:45 anxiety lower and nausea less

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 67.5 mg Trazadone and 2 mg Melatonin 

 

overall today felt anxious, tightness in chest pit in stomache, tired, upset stomache 

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

3:00 a.m. woke up slept on and off until 7:00.  About 5 hours sleep.  Woke up with low to moderate anxiety. Tired

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium

8:30 ate breakfast, too 100 mg magnesium 

10:00 went to store high anxiety

11.00 mild to moderate anxiety

12:00 1 mg Valium ate lunch

12:30 100 mg magnesium 

3:00 headache took 400 mg ibuprofen 

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:30 ate supper, still have headache anxiety on the high side

7:00 update SA page, still have headache

7:45 nausea anxiety increasing.

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 will take 67.5 mg Trazadone and 2 mg Melatonin also going to try 167 mg lactium

[Rezten]

Today's update

 

2:00 a.m. woke up slept on and off until 7:00.  About 6 hours sleep.  Woke up with low to moderate anxiety. Very tired

8:00 took 1.5 mg Valium  nausea feeling from anxiety.  I have this feeling most days

8:30, too 100 mg magnesium low to moderate anxiety

11.00 ate lunch low anxiery, still pit in stomache feeling, still feel tired

1:00 therapy appt. Increased anxiety. Left with a headache...I think from crying a lot

2:00 took 1 mg Valium forgot to take it at noon

2:30 100 mg magnesium.  

3:00 took 15 min nap

4:00 took .5 mg Ativan

5:30 ate supper, still have headache anxiety low but still feel upset stomache

7:00 update SA page, still have headache 

8:00 .5 mg Ativan

9:30 will take 67.5 mg Trazadone and 2 mg Melatonin and 167 mg lactium