Allreadygone: need help

[Allreadygone]

I have been on Many meds 25+Years for DP/DR depression which was never helped by and meds and I still struggle with.ended up on Effexor then added remeron 18ys ago to get some sleep goin thru what I know now was a reinstatement as I was taken off meds for 3/4weeks and fell off.Began goin thru withdrawals.The remeron helped get me thru that trauma but instead of gettin off I stayed on it as I know how gettin off feels.went thru another trauma in 2006 or so which I added trazadone.After Tgat I stayed on all meds cause I was scared to get off.Around 2010 I started having paws while on the meds.Tryed adding Zyprexa then  seroqiil and became viscously  suicidal,never wanted to die before like that thru all my depressions.Went to hospital after stopping zyprexa CT,they bumped seroquil to 300 did nothing to help and released me.I knew that the meds were killing me,started to taper seroquil and got off.Next I started lowering all other meds,got off traz,and got Effexor to 75 from 150.Remeron 30 to 7.5,Added lamictal which calmed the suicidal thoughts which I’m on at 37.5 .Couldn’t eat,sleep,listen to music,be with kids,tired all the time with no sleep and DP worse.In 2011 I got to where I couod eat,rest,And be with family and I started coaching football which was my first Trauma.since then I’ve coached till now and started a club team as well.This stuff all stresses me out but I was able to handle it with only DP.Last yr I started cutting Effexor 3/4 mgs and got to 38 and besides vertigo was doin ok.Then I dropped to 31.25 and I started feeling paws again.I may have missed a whole week of the 6.25 piece and became suicidal again.I am coaching 2 teams and it stresses me out,I can barely function at work.I had 2/3 days where I was able to watch Tv then back to wanting to die.I have followed this site for a while and isctge only place people can relate.I need help anything u guys can think off to calm my CNS.Football is over in 6 weeks if I can make it I’m done.I wanna live for my family.

[SkyBlue]

Hello A,  

 

Welcome to SA. 

 

I am glad you want to live for your family. Having a reason to live can help us through this incredibly difficult experience. 

 

To help us out, please create a brief signature, showing your drug dosages by date (month and year is best), using these instructions: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/18343-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

I'm glad you're thinking in terms of calming your CNS. A great place to start is keeping notes on paper of your daily symptom pattern. 

Many people do somewhat better with magnesium--more info here: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

There is a lot of info in the Symptoms and Self-Care section and this experience is one that is all about creating a toolkit of strategies that help you cope with the difficulties of withdrawal; one important place to start is here: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/

 

Again, welcome. 

 

 

 

[Allreadygone]

Thx for replying!only those that have felt this type of torture and pain can relate and be of help I truly believe.Docs havnt a clue.

[Allreadygone]

Has anyone tried Tart cherry juice to relax before sleep?I took it yrs ago while goin thru Akathisia&Wds and it seemed to help a lil.Im there again and tried yesterday and I feel again Lil less Wired,depressed.

[ChessieCat]

Hi Allreadygone and welcome from me too.

 

There are many existing topics on this site.  Please use either the site search or google and add survivingantidepressants.org to the search term:

 

eg:  survivingantidepressants.org cherry found this topic:

 

tart-cherry-only-miniscule-amounts-of-melatonin

 

You could try Magnesium

 

Only change 1 thing at a time:  Keep it Simple, Slow and Stable

 

And these might help:

 

Non-drug techniques to cope

 

Sleep Hypnosis, Guided Meditations, Calming Videos

Sleep problems - that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

Melatonin

[Allreadygone]

Thx @ChessieCat for reaching out,it’s my first post and only place I’ve ever researched that people understand how brutal these meds are.Im goin to look into those links.thx again!!

[Allreadygone]

I accidentally went down 6.5mgs on my Effexor that I had already went down same amount a month earlier.I started to feel wds heavy so I up dosed Effexor and also updosed lamictal which put me in full hypersensitive suicidal mode.I dropped the lamictal back to 37.5 and after a month I’m very slowly being able to function a lil.Im on Effexor 31.25 which I’ve tapped from 150 over 7 yrs because I stopped for 4/5 yrs to live some life.I also take remeron 7.5mgs,do u guys recommend to continue Effexor titration once I get some things me of stability?Or is the lamictal to stimulating after lowering Effexor?

[Allreadygone]

I’m on Cali rocket fuel down to 31.25 eff 7.5 remeron.They say  below 75 eff doesn’t effect norepinephrine as much.Not sure on Rem.Ive been on Eff for over 20 yrs for DP which it never helped,due to prior Ct failures and figured I needed it.I only found SA this yr and would probably have been off all meds yrs ago with the knowledge on this board.It is a tuff drug as all are but the half life as u know is shorter.Im trying to stabilize after a misstep on my part forgetting a small piece6.5 of my dose for 7days Tgat threw me into a damaged CNS along with me upping my lamictal which as I’ve read was not smart at all.I did have a question for @altostrata about taking every 12hrs at my current dose to ease Wds,can u elaborate when u have time.Thx

[WantoffVen]

I'm not sure what you want me to elaborate on, All. I am on extended release capsules so I take once every 24 hours. There would be no need that I can think of to take every 12 hours as they are time released for 24 hours. Do you have a specific question for me? Compared to many on here I am doing really well. I do get weepy and feel crummy sometimes but it's not unbearable. I also take a benzo but not another AD. What else can I help you with?

 

[WantoffVen]

Oh I just realized you didn't ask me the question. Out of curiosity, though are taking Effexor IR or XR because I'm pretty certain Alto will agree with me in saying no need to take XR every 12 hours and you are supposed to take IR every 12 hours to begin with.

 

[Allreadygone]

I’m sorry that question was for @Altostrata it was mentioned in original post that if u were on reg ven,as I switched from ER years ago to split dose once ur at lower doses.I was coming off 2/3 other drugs at same time I switched to reg release to 75mgs and held for years as I got very ill due to polydrugging.Last yr till present I went from 75 to 31.25 was doin ok but now I see it was to fast.Thx for your reply @WantoffVen it feels good to hear from someone on the same mission.Im on 2 other ADs as well.Glad u are doin so well,just remember to keep it slow.

[WantoffVen]

Well All my story is kind of messed up a bit because I tapered from 225 to 187.5 to 150 to 112.5 in 3 months per doctor's suggestion and did fine until 112.5 when I felt first withdrawal symptoms and found this site so I've been tapering per their recommendations from 112.5 ever since. I hope it works out. I just didn't see any reason to go all the way back up to 225 when I was doing so well. I worry sometimes I'm gonna crash and burn and that isn't a bit helpful.

 

[Allreadygone]

Me too!Ive been on them for over 20yrs and got this far I’m positive u will make much sooner than me.As people say listen to you ur body I notice the physical stuff,vertigo,headaches,anger is my warning sighns that the emotional stuff may be comin which usually last longer.Im tryin to stabilize after my mistake last month of accidentally dropping extra 6.5 mgs.Went back to 31.25 and added more lamictal in attempt to help but it sent me into some dark stuff.It is slowly easing thru this month.

[WantoffVen]

Oh my goodness extra 6.5mg is big drop from where you are. I guess I am very fortunate I only have one AD but I do have the danged benzo I will need to tackle next but I'm only taking 7.5mg of Vallium a day which isn't a high dose but who knows. I think about all this too much because I have too much time on my hands and where I live winter is fast approaching which keeps me home even more. Hubby wants to retire in year or two out of Illinois and worry about how I keep these meds going if I move. Have to find new doctor. I'm a worrier if you can't already tell.

[Allreadygone]

This stuff is hard not to think about,it effects every system in the body.Do u still work,excercise,I know for me even when I’m in full CNS collapse these things hard as they are keep me moving.What mg are u currently on?

[Altostrata]

Hi, @Allreadygone

 

I moved your posts here to your Introductions topic, as your questions about your own particular taper were taking the more general Tips for Tapering Venlafaxine topic off-course.

 

How much lamotrigine are you taking, at what time of day? When did you start it? What other drugs are you taking, and their dosages?

 

What drug did you last decrease, and when? If you have withdrawal symptoms, stop changing drugs for the time being.

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature This may be easier on a desktop computer.

 

Thank you for your responses, @WantoffVen

[WantoffVen]

All, no I no longer work outside the home and I don't exercise like I should and I recently hurt my back. Before that it was my knee. I'm going to 86mg starting today. I'm doing 10% each month but divided by 4 weeks so essentially 2.5% weekly. And I have paused to hold a couple times. I'm not doing BrassMonkey's full two weeks after each drop. I knew Alto was going to ask you for your signature. I didn't do it because I'm not an administrator. I feel crummier from about noon until later afternoon and usually just fine in the evening. Who knows?

[Altostrata]

Hi, @WantoffVen  please put your questions and updates in your Intro topic.

[WantoffVen]

Alto, I haven't been able to figure out how to do that?

 

[Altostrata]

@WantoffVen

 

[Allreadygone]

Thx @ChessieCat @Altostrata For your responses!I have been on Effexor for 24yrs  high as 200mgs.Remeron for 16yts high as 45.Lamictal 5yrs high as 50.Was only on Eff and was changed to ER after a life change and remeron was added as I couldn’t sleep well.After 7/8 yrs after another stressful life event trazadone,zyprexa,seroquil added which led to suicidal thoughts and CNS distrsss beyond anything like my normal DP/Dr depression put me in hospital which did nothing.As a Last resort lamictal was added which calmed my CNS some.I then decided that these meds were killing me and started to get off.Got off zyorexa and seroquil first and then tazodone about 6yrs ago.I aslo went to IR Effexor and tapered to 75,took remeron down to 7.5 and lamictal to 37.5.I held there for 4/5 years as all that almost killed me.After having a reaction to a brain supplement I decided to continue Effexor and in a yr got to 31.25.I know now I went to fast and after forgetting my 6.5 piece for 7days I dropped off hard again.I know to leave the other meds be for a long while until I get to a stable place with EFf or off.This site is the first time I’ve had any help as my DP started in 1990 and no one knew what it was.Any thing you guys have to offer I’m open too that’s why I’m here.You are doing a great thing we th this site,u are saving lives with hope as there’s times we have none.

[Allreadygone]

@Altostrata forgot to add I take Eff,lam,in morning and rem at night as it used to help me sleep for a couple months.I knew all along these meds didn’t help but was scared from Effexor being takin away twice and feeling bad although now I see it was nothing near what these other added drugs did to me.Zyorexa was suicidal within a week smh.All to help with DP which I know now ADs&such only prolong.

[Altostrata]

Thanks. I need to know this:

 

22 hours ago, Altostrata said:

How much lamotrigine are you taking, at what time of day? When did you start it? What other drugs are you taking, and their dosages?

 

[Allreadygone]

@Altostrata Do u think I need to split Effexor dose of 31.25 once I get stable again or just stay with morning dose?im on IR Effexor 

[ChessieCat]

On 5/6/2011 at 1:01 PM, Altostrata said:

Because of its short half-life, taking regular Effexor as a tablet or liquid necessitates taking the tablets every 12 hours.

 

To split your doses we generally suggest moving part of your dose by 1 hour each day.

[Allreadygone]

Thx so much @ChessieCat for the information.I did not know that.Once I get my CNS to ease after hammering it with to fast taper and accidental dosage drop I will go to 15mgs every 12hrs.Or Shouid I start splitting tablet dose ASAP while I’m strugglin to find calmer state?

Edited October 14, 2018 by Allreadygone

[Allreadygone]

@ChessieCat Should I try this ASAP or once the Wds calm down?It won’t make my sleep worse than it is takin it in pm?

[Altostrata]

On 10/13/2018 at 12:29 PM, Altostrata said:

How much lamotrigine are you taking, at what time of day? When did you start it?

 

On 10/14/2018 at 11:48 AM, Allreadygone said:

@Altostrata Do u think I need to split Effexor dose of 31.25 once I get stable again or just stay with morning dose?im on IR Effexor 

 

I need to know the time of day you take each of your drugs, and their dosages.

 

Also, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature This may be easier on a desktop computer.

[Allreadygone]

@Altostrata I take Effexor and lamictal at 530am and Remeron at 12am after my first wake up I usually fall asleep 1030-12 and wake up at 12.

[Altostrata]

WHAT DOSAGES?

 

Please show respect for my time, I need a complete answer to all of my questions.

[Allreadygone]

@Altostrata I’m sorry it’s a few post up I’m on 31.25effexor 37.5 lamictal and 7.5 remeron is not sure how to bring it down to this post I’m tryin to learn.

[Altostrata]

How long have you been taking Lamictal? Why 37.5mg? Do you feel any effects from it?

 

When you can get to a computer, Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature

[ChessieCat]

I've moved your post to Rhiannon to her success topic.

 

This is the link to her Intro topic:  ☼-rhiannons-intro-by-rhi

 

This is the link to her success topic:  rhi-incremental-success

[Allreadygone]

Awesome thx @ChessieCat

[Allreadygone]

For 6 yrs it helped my system calm a little when My CNS became hypersensitive after trazodone was added for sleep then zyprexa,seroquil which i had really bad reactions too.I will try to put my sig together I will follow your link. @Altostrata I’m off those 3 6yrs just the 3 left.37.5 is where I ended up after 50 was to stimulating.All this to help Depression from DP which none helped,may have prolonged it by the fight or flight response.

[Altostrata]

What are your main symptoms? Do they occur in any daily pattern?