Superwoman: Effexor taper

[Passionlifetime]

On 11/9/2020 at 11:16 PM, Superwoman said:

@Altostrata, I can take the Effexor at noon.  To separate the Armour Thyroid out, then I would not be able to take it until my first break at work at 4pm.  Is this to late in the day to take it?  I think that it is stimulating so I don’t know if it will effect my sleep.  
 

The only other supplements that I take is California Poppy 4 droppers for sleep at bedtime.  I also use essential oils for sleep and immune support at bedtime and a topical vitamin D lotion 5,000 IU at bedtime.   

Hi, How are you ? I talked you 2 years back , is there any improvement overall in your taper?

[Superwoman]

Monday November 23, 2020

 

On period 

 

11am: alarm still tired press snooze 

11:30am: wake up, still tired, breakfast, 1C coffee 
12pm: Effexor xr 67.5mg

12:30pm: amplified HB 1, depression 1

1pm: fatigue 3

2pm-4pm: headache 2 lasting few minutes, otherwise feeling better 

4pm-6pm: anxiety and depression 1, air hunger 1, acid reflux 4

6pm-8pm: anxiety 1, flat mood 3, headache 1

8pm-10:30pm; headache and brain zaps  1

10:30pm-11:30pm: headache worse 3
12am: C. Poppy 4 droppers, Vitamin d lotion, EO’s, feeling better

12:30am: bed, insomnia 1
 

Notes: I have been needing more sleep and still very tired when I wake up, since my period started.  Other than fatigue it was a window today.  Amplified heartbeat 1, worsened mood 3, headaches 3, anxiety 1, air hunger 1, acid reflux 4, brain zaps 1, insomnia 1

[Superwoman]

Tuesday November, 24, 2020

 

On period

 

11am: alarm goes off, pressed snooze

11:30am: wake up with headaches 3, brain zaps 3, breakfast, 1C coffee 
12pm: Effexor xr 67.5

12:30pm: still tired, otherwise ok
1pm: Armour Thyroid 120mg

1:30pm: ok 

2:30-5:00pm: Headaches and brain zaps 1, Brain shivers 1

5pm: anxiety 1, fatigue 6

6:30pm-8pm: exhausted, fatigue 8, amplified heartbeat 1
8pm: shower
8:30pm-10pm: feeling somewhat better, fatigue 4

10pm-12am: feeling better
12am: C. poppy 4 droppers, EO’s, vitamin d lotion 5,000IU, buzzers

12:30pm: bed, insomnia 3

 

Notes: exhausted today, headaches and brain zaps 3, brain shivers 1, fatigue 8, amplified heartbeat 1, insomnia 3

[Superwoman]

On 11/24/2020 at 1:21 PM, Passionlifetime said:

Hi, How are you ? I talked you 2 years back , is there any improvement overall in your taper?

Hi Passionlifetime,

 

Good to hear from you.  My symptoms improved significantly after I tapered from 150mg to 75mg.  A couple of weeks ago I started tapering again and reduced 10% from 75mg to 67.5mg Effexor xr.  So far, I have not noticed much difference either way.  I am hoping that reducing the drug burden will help more with the side effects.   How have you been Passionlifetime?

[Passionlifetime]

11 minutes ago, Superwoman said:

Hi Passionlifetime,

 

Good to hear from you.  My symptoms improved significantly after I tapered from 150mg to 75mg.  A couple of weeks ago I started tapering again and reduced 10% from 75mg to 67.5mg Effexor xr.  So far, I have not noticed much difference either way.  I am hoping that reducing the drug burden will help more with the side effects.   How have you been Passionlifetime?

I have settled in around 8 months after reinstatement to updose of 225mg, now continuing the same, still no job no marriage, will start taper once did both.

Regards

PL

[Superwoman]

Wednesday November 25, 2020

 

11am: alarm goes off, need more sleep, press snooze 

11:30am: wake up with headaches and anxiety 1, breakfast, 1C. Coffee 
12pm: Effexor xr 67.5mg, same symptoms 

12:30pm: feeling better 
1pm: Armour Thyroid 120mg, heartburn 3

2pm-4pm: anxiety 2, air hunger 1, Restless 1

4pm-6pm: anxiety 2, restless 1
Air hunger 2, brain zaps 1

6pm-9:30pm: fatigue 5, palpitations 1
9:30pm-11pm: feeling a little better, fatigue 3

12am: EO’s, bed, insomnia 4
 

Notes: Went to bed early to get more rest b/c I have been extremely fatigued.  Had difficulty falling asleep.  Headaches 1, anxiety 2, heartburn 3, air hunger 2, restless 1, brain zaps 1, fatigue 5, palpitations 1, insomnia 4

[Superwoman]

Thursday November 26, 2020

 

11am: alarm goes off, press snooze, headache 2

11:30am: wake up, breakfast, 1C coffee, ok
12pm: Effexor xr 67.5mg, ok

12:30pm; ok
1pm: Armour Thyroid 120mg

1:30pm-2:30pm: anxiety 2

2:30pm-3:30pm: anxiety 3, irritability 2
4pm: walking, feeling better

4:30pm-5:30pm: ok
5:30pm-7:30pm: few brain shivers 1

Headache 1
7:30pm-9:30pm: body shiver sensations 3

Amplified HB1
9pm: Epsom salt bath 2 cups, bloating 3

9:30pm-11:30pm: bloating 5

11:30am: C.Poppy 4 droppers, vitamin d lotion 5,000IU, buzzers
12am: EO’s, bed, insomnia 3

 

Notes: headache 2, anxiety 3, irritability 2, brain shivers 1, body shiver sensation 3, amplified heartbeat 1, bloating 5, insomnia 3, 

 

[Passionlifetime]

On 11/26/2020 at 12:04 AM, Superwoman said:

Hi Passionlifetime,

 

Good to hear from you.  My symptoms improved significantly after I tapered from 150mg to 75mg.  A couple of weeks ago I started tapering again and reduced 10% from 75mg to 67.5mg Effexor xr.  So far, I have not noticed much difference either way.  I am hoping that reducing the drug burden will help more with the side effects.   How have you been Passionlifetime?

I have tried  stabilize mentally in 8 months, but my stressors are still there ,I postpone the tapering until I do marriage and start a job. 

Still at home though. 

 

[Superwoman]

Friday November 27, 2020

 

11am: wake up with headaches and brain zaps 1, depression 1, breakfast, 1C coffee 

11:30am: amplified HB 1

12pm: Effexor xr 67.5mg
12:30pm: anxiety 2

1pm: Armour Thyroid 120mg
1:30pm-6pm: anxiety 3, brain zaps and headaches 1

6pm-8pm: fatigue 3, depression 1
8pm-10pm: anxiety 3, cold nose 3

Body shiver sensations 1
10pm-11pm: heartburn 7

11:30am: C.Poppy 4 droppers, vitamin d lotion 5,000IU, buzzers, ok
12am: EO’s, bed, insomnia 1

Notes: headaches and brain zaps 1, worsened mood 1, amplified heartbeat 1, anxiety 3, cold extremities 3, shiver body sensations 1, heartburn 7, insomnia 1

[Passionlifetime]

13 hours ago, Superwoman said:

Friday November 27, 2020

 

11am: wake up with headaches and brain zaps 1, depression 1, breakfast, 1C coffee 

11:30am: amplified HB 1

12pm: Effexor xr 67.5mg
12:30pm: anxiety 2

1pm: Armour Thyroid 120mg
1:30pm-6pm: anxiety 3, brain zaps and headaches 1

6pm-8pm: fatigue 3, depression 1
8pm-10pm: anxiety 3, cold nose 3

Body shiver sensations 1
10pm-11pm: heartburn 7

11:30am: C.Poppy 4 droppers, vitamin d lotion 5,000IU, buzzers, ok
12am: EO’s, bed, insomnia 1

Notes: headaches and brain zaps 1, worsened mood 1, amplified heartbeat 1, anxiety 3, cold extremities 3, shiver body sensations 1, heartburn 7, insomnia 1

How about your fatigue? Is it improved or decreased after tapering?

Does supplements help? Later do we need to taper supplements also?

[Superwoman]

5 hours ago, Passionlifetime said:

How about your fatigue? Is it improved or decreased after tapering?

Does supplements help? Later do we need to taper supplements also?

The 1st 2 weeks after this month’s taper I felt less fatigue.  Last week I was menstruating and very fatigued.  This week I have had some days off work so I have been able to get to bed a little earlier and rest up.  I am feeling a little bit better.   
 

I don’t take many supplements b/c like many people on here I am hypersensitive to supplements.  I use a topical vitamin d lotion because I was deficient in vitamin d and the oral vitamin d bothered my stomach and I was reacting to it.  I take a tincture of California Poppy at night to help with sleep.  My naturopathic doctor recommenced it.  I use some essential oils for sleep and immune support.  These are the only supplements that I use.  
 

Some supplements cause dependency and withdrawal and these need to be tapered.  Some supplements that I know of that cause dependency and need to be tapered are some amino acids like 5-HTP and SAMe.  Also Saint Johns Wort, Valerian need to be tapered.  My naturopathic doctor said that California Poppy does not cause withdrawal or dependency.  I have researched it and this appears to be correct.  
 

Mods, @Altostrata, @brassmonkey, @ChessieCatany others, are there any other supplements and herbs that cause dependency and withdrawal that need to be tapered that I am missing?  What are some supplements and herbs that can cause long-term sexual dysfunction?  I would like to avoid these also.

[Superwoman]

6 hours ago, Passionlifetime said:

How about your fatigue? Is it improved or decreased after tapering?

Does supplements help? Later do we need to taper supplements also?

I forgot to mention that I also take an Epsom salt bath 2 cups, 2 or 3 times per week.  My naturopathic doctor recommenced this for insomnia, anxiety and muscle pain.  She said that it has magnesium that can be absorbed through the skin.  It helps and I tolerate it well.  I sometimes just soak my feet in the shower if I don’t have time to take a bath.  Epsom salt and fish oil are the only supplements that SA recommends b/c most people tolerate these.  

[Altostrata]

When was the last time you had your thyroid hormone checked?

 

Too much thyroid hormone can cause some of your symptoms?

 

What are the sensations you have been reporting as brain zaps? I am seeing the brain zaps come and go. They seem to have lessened since you started taking Effexor at a more regular time.

[Superwoman]

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

 

When was the last time you had your thyroid hormone checked?

 

Too much thyroid hormone can cause some of your symptoms?

 

I had my thyroid hormones checked a couple of months ago.  It was borderline low, but my doctor said to keep the dose the same.  The time before this when I had it checked it was also borderline low.  I am going to ask my acupuncturist if acupuncture treatment could help my thyroid function better.  I am hoping I will not have to raise the thyroid med in the future because I don’t know how my body will tolerate raising it b/c I am very sensitive.  
 

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

What are the sensations you have been reporting as brain zaps? I am seeing the brain zaps come and go. They seem to have lessened since you started taking Effexor at a more regular time.

The sensations that I refer to as brain zaps are a sharp jabbing kind of pain that comes on suddenly and only last a few seconds.  I don’t know if I would describe it as an electric zap sensation, exactly.  Is this a brain zap?  The headaches feel similar, but last several minutes or longer.   Sometimes they are hard to distinguish.  I think they have lessened since I started taking the Effexor more regularly.  

[Superwoman]

Sunday, November 29, 2020

 

11am: wake up, ok, 1C coffee, breakfast, ok

11:30am: ok 
12pm: Effexor xr 67.5mg, ok

12:30pm: ok
1pm: Armour Thyroid 120

1:30pm: ok
2pm: anxiety 1
2:30pm: waking, ok

3pm-5pm: ok
5pm-6pm: depression 1

6pm: electric shock-like sensations thumb 5
6:30pm-8:30pm: fatigue/malaise 3

8:30pm-10:30pm: malaise 3, Headache 1? barely perceptible 

10:30pm: anxiety 2, 4 droppers C. Poppy, feeling better 
11pm-12am: ok

12am: vitamin d lotion 5,000IU, EO’s 
12:30am: Touchpoint buzzers

1am: bed, insomnia 3
 

Notes: I felt much better today.  Anxiety 2, worsened mood 1, electric shock sensations body 5, fatigue/malaise 3, headache 1, insomnia 3

[Superwoman]

Monday November 30, 2020

 

11am: alarm went off pressed snooze 

11:30am: wake up, ok, breakfast, 1C coffee, ok

12pm: Effexor xr 67.5mg
12:30pm: depression 1, amplified HB

1pm: Armour Thyroid, same symptoms 
1:30pm: anxiety 1

2pm-4pm: anxiety 1
4pm-6pm; anxiety 1, brain zaps 1

Excessive yawning 1
6pm: dinner

6:30pm-9pm; anxiety 3, brain zaps 3
Headache lasting few minutes 1

9pm-10:30pm: occasional brain zaps 1
10:30pm-12am: ok

12:30am: buzzers, C. Poppy 4 droppers, ok
1am: bed, EO’s, vitamin d lotion 5,000UU, Insomnia 1

 

Notes: Mild symptoms today.   Symptoms started after taking Effexor gradually increased and peaked 6:30pm-9pm then decreased. Anxiety 3, worsened mood 1, amplified HB 1, brain zaps 3, excessive yawning 1, headache 1, insomnia 1.   

[Superwoman]

Tuesday December 1, 2020

 

11am: wake up w/ depression 1, breakfast, 1C coffee 

11:30am: depression 2, headache 2
12pm: Effexor xr 67.5mg, feeling better

12:30pm: ok
1pm: Armour Thyroid 120mg
1:30pm: ok

2pm-4pm: headache 1 lasting 1 min,
Anxiety 1, restless 1

4pm-6pm: anxiety 2, depression 1
Occasional brain zaps 1, restless 2

6pm: dinner
6:30-9pm: restless 1, headache 1

9pm-10:30pm: fatigue 2, irritability 1
Excessive yawning 2, few brain zaps 3
10:30pm: brain zaps 2

12am: vitamin d lotion 5,000IU
12:30am: C.Poppy 4 droppers

1am: bed, insomnia1
 

Notes: Window today.   Depression 2, headache 2, anxiety 2, restless 2, brain zaps 3, fatigue 2, irritability 1, excessive yawning 2, insomnia 1

[Superwoman]

Wednesday December 2, 2020

 

11am: woke with brain zaps 2 went away when I got out of bed, 1C coffee, breakfast 

11:30am: upset stomach 4
12pm: Effexor xr 67.5mg

12:30pm: ok
1pm: Armour Thyroid 120mg, brain zaps 1 immediately after taking , right eye twitches 1

1:30pm:ok
2pm-4pm: irritability 3, Bloating 2, heartburn 3

4pm-6pm: flat mood 3, anxiety 1, Restless 1

6pm: dinner
6:30pm-9pm: anxiety 2, brain zaps 4, Irritability 4

9pm-10:30pm: feeling a little better
Brain zaps 3, mood good

10:30-12am: ok
12am: Epsom salt shower 2 C

12:30pm: C.Poppy 4 droppers, EO’s, brain zaps 2 

1am: bed, insomnia 1, Shortness of breath 1, ringing in ears 3, Lasting briefly, brain zaps 2

 

Notes; I had some work stress today and felt much less anxious than I expected.  The work stress did cause brain zaps and irritability though.  Brain zaps 4, upset stomach 4, eye twitches 1, irritability 4, bloating 2, heartburn 3, worsened mood 3, anxiety 2, insomnia 1, shortness of breath 1, ringing in ears 3
 

[Superwoman]

Today I had an intense neuroanger reaction at work and yelled at my boss.  I was very upset about a work situation and talked to my boss.  She said something that really made me very mad and I started yelling at her and slammed my water bottle on the table.  I have had other instances of neuroanger in the past where I blew up at co-workers and my husband.  I have never blown up at my boss before though.     
 

I later apologized to her and explained that I am not always able to control my emotions since I suffered a drug withdrawal from reducing an antidepressant.   I said that it bothers me because I used to be able to control my emotions before this drug threw my nervousness system out of whack.  She was very understanding.  
 

I plan to reduce my Effexor tomorrow.  I hope I am okay to reduce my Effexor tomorrow.  I already have them all made up.  I am thinking that the neuro-emotion happened because I was really upset and just a fluctuating baseline and not withdrawal.  Overall I don’t think I feel any worse until the nueroanger today.  The brain zaps, anxiety and sleep seem slightly better since the last reduction.  @Altostratawhat do you think?   I can’t really stand the thought of holding for more months.  

[ChessieCat]

It is up to you to make the decision about how much and when to taper.

[Altostrata]

On 12/2/2020 at 10:30 AM, Superwoman said:

12am: vitamin d lotion 5,000IU

 

Vitamin D is a daytime vitamin. This could be affecting your sleep.

 

On 11/30/2020 at 10:25 AM, Superwoman said:

6pm: electric shock-like sensations thumb 5

 

Is this a twinge-like pain in your thumb? Have you been reporting this as a zap?

[Passionlifetime]

20 hours ago, Superwoman said:

Today I had an intense neuroanger reaction at work and yelled at my boss.  I was very upset about a work situation and talked to my boss.  She said something that really made me very mad and I started yelling at her and slammed my water bottle on the table.  I have had other instances of neuroanger in the past where I blew up at co-workers and my husband.  I have never blown up at my boss before though.   

I am feeling for you. You are very strong. You are doing great hard work for your taper.i have seen you updating records everyday from last 2 years . God will not forego your hard work. You will definitely one day free from these meds and live a good life. In sha Allah.

May Almighty be with you. 

 

[Superwoman]

21 hours ago, Passionlifetime said:

I am feeling for you. You are very strong. You are doing great hard work for your taper.i have seen you updating records everyday from last 2 years . God will not forego your hard work. You will definitely one day free from these meds and live a good life. In sha Allah.

May Almighty be with you. 

 

Thank you Passionlifetime!  That is nice of you to say.  You are a strong person also.  You will get through this.  I know God is with you also and I will pray for healing for you. 

[Superwoman]

21 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

Vitamin D is a daytime vitamin. This could be affecting your sleep.

 

 

Is this a twinge-like pain in your thumb? Have you been reporting this as a zap?

I will be taking a break from this site for a while because it is negatively impacting my mental health, upsetting me and exasperating my WD symptoms.  
 

[ChessieCat]

22 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Is this a twinge-like pain in your thumb? Have you been reporting this as a zap?

 

Please answer Alto's question.

[Superwoman]

No it is not a twinge.  It fits the description of the symptom listed on the symptom checklist I found on here of electric shock-like sensation in the body.  It feels like a sharp nerve pain.  It seems like something neurological.  
 

No, I have not been reporting this as a zap.  I report the brain zaps as zaps.  These are two separate symptoms from the checklist that I report.  One symptom is electric shock like sensations in the body.  The other symptom is electric zap like sensations in the brain.  

[Superwoman]

I will take the vitamin d earlier in the day.