Superwoman: Effexor taper

[Superwoman]

Passionlifetime, 

 

I am around your age and I work at a factory.  It is hard to find a taper friendly doctor. 

[Superwoman]

20 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Very amusing story.

 

You're making this more complicated than it needs to be. Since few psychiatrists know anything about tapering drugs, few are going to approve opening the capsules and removing beads.

 

If I were you, I'd continue to get my Effexor XR prescription refills from the doctor and customize my own dose at home. You do not have to discuss tapering with a psychiatrist who doesn't get it. Why are you even paying this doctor? Any doctor, including GPs, can write the prescription.

 

Just about everyone here tapering Effexor XR is tapering by the bead-counting method. Here's a psychiatrist tapering off a similar drug, Cymbalta, himself: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2045125319884834

You misunderstood Altostrata.  I am no longer going to be seeing the psychiatrist.  After the last visit we could not come to agreement on the taper and he was rude so I decided to have my family doctor prescribe and taper the antidepressant.  I visited the Teva factory before I had this last appointment with my psychiatrist. 
 

Thanks for the article.  It sucks though because I don’t have anyone to do the TMS now if I need it in the future. I am going to try to get in with a different TMS doctor. Location is not ideal as I would have to take off work. But better to have good care. 
 

I had to tell the TMS doctor about tapering because there is a small but serious seizure risk with TMS if you change your meds and don’t tell the doctor. 

[sunnysideup69]

Hi Superwoman, been reading your thread. That's a very interesting article Alto posted.....I'm also on Venlafaxine 75mgXR, so am watching your progress. I'm nowhere near being ready to taper, still wobbling about.

I LOVE your factory story, made me LOL

Best wishes,

SSU

[Superwoman]

 

@sunnysideup69,

 

I am glad the story made you laugh. I wish you healing and happiness. 
 

SW

[Superwoman]

@Altostrata,

 

I am greatfull for the help and this site. Where can I donate to help support this site?

 

SW

[Altostrata]

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/210-donations-gratefully-accepted/

thank you.

[Frenchgirl]

Hi Superwoman 

How are you doing?

I just stop by your thread To say i phoned To Pfizer,some times ago, it's ok To open the caps and to take beads without the caps but they say you have To put it into some yoghurt,compote for instance and swallow it immediately.

Hope this helps.

All the best

Frenchgirl.

[Passionlifetime]

12 hours ago, Superwoman said:

Passionlifetime, 

 

I am around your age and I work at a factory.  It is hard to find a taper friendly doctor. 

I am so sorry , you cant find taper friendly doctor, what I understood from my experience that they dont believe in so much slow tapering and they consider WD as RELAPSE.

so if you want to do taper , you have to do on your own.

I am feeling gud today.

How are you today?

[MrAnxious]

Hey Super woman !

 

Read my story,

 

The past two years I have switched to a 100% plant based diet and so much has changed for me mentally. You must assist with helping your body detox. It is not talked about enough and it is so vital to our healing. Inflammation in our body/brain/gut is happening when we are in WD. We must eat tons of akaline forming fruit/veg in order to give us antioxidants and all our minerals/vitamins. Make sense, try it out for a few weeks and I think you will notice a huge difference in some symptoms. No meat, no dairy and get back to me pls 😋all the best, never give up

 

 

Mr. A  

[Superwoman]

Hi @Frenchgirl,

Thanks for stopping by.  I feel a little bit down today. In general I have been getting better though.  It is kind of frustrating because I feel like the withdrawal is preventing me from getting completely better. 
 

How are you doing Frenchgirl?  What did you decide regarding updosing? 

[sunnysideup69]

11 hours ago, Superwoman said:

 

@sunnysideup69,

 

I am glad the story made you laugh. I wish you healing and happiness. 
 

SW

Thank you Superwoman. It's just scary also, though, how tight lipped the drug company was. I loved the bit about 'why do you have a visitor's sign if you don't want visitors?' Very astute. What a front they have put on! 

Healing and happiness to you, too. How are you doing at the mo on the Venlafaxine, if you don't mind sharing?

[Frenchgirl]

Hi Superwoman 

I hope you will Feel better.Don't give up.

I'm not doing great.I don't know if it's the saying.

I'm unable To take a decision.But I'd like To.I Feel like my case is complex.

Feel free To PM as usual.

Take Care.

Hugs.

FG.

 

[Superwoman]

20 hours ago, Passionlifetime said:

I am so sorry , you cant find taper friendly doctor, what I understood from my experience that they dont believe in so much slow tapering and they consider WD as RELAPSE.

so if you want to do taper , you have to do on your own.

I am feeling gud today.

How are you today?

It is hard to find a doctor who believes in withdrawal. I am glad you are feeling good. I feel sad today. Maybe it is a good sign because at least I am able to feel.  For a long time I could not feel sad, just dead. 

[Superwoman]

On 11/9/2019 at 12:09 AM, MrAnxious said:

Hey Super woman !

 

Read my story,

 

The past two years I have switched to a 100% plant based diet and so much has changed for me mentally. You must assist with helping your body detox. It is not talked about enough and it is so vital to our healing. Inflammation in our body/brain/gut is happening when we are in WD. We must eat tons of akaline forming fruit/veg in order to give us antioxidants and all our minerals/vitamins. Make sense, try it out for a few weeks and I think you will notice a huge difference in some symptoms. No meat, no dairy and get back to me pls 😋all the best, never give up

 

 

Mr. A  

Thanks Mr. Anxious.  I am glad that the diet helped you. My aunt does a similar diet and she say that it helped a lot with her autoimmune issues. 
 

I have been on a very restricted diet for years because I have multiple food allergies.  Before this I extremely restricted low carb diet for candida.  My chiropractor has helped harmonize me to foods so I am finally able to eat most foods now. Thank God!  I am sick of diets at this point. But thank you for the advice. I would like to add more veggies into my diet. 

[Superwoman]

On 11/9/2019 at 12:55 AM, sunnysideup69 said:

Thank you Superwoman. It's just scary also, though, how tight lipped the drug company was. I loved the bit about 'why do you have a visitor's sign if you don't want visitors?' Very astute. What a front they have put on! 

Healing and happiness to you, too. How are you doing at the mo on the Venlafaxine, if you don't mind sharing?

Hi Sunnyside up. It is scary how tight lipped the drug company is. I think that the tide is just beginning to turn on awareness of antidepressant withdrawal.  
 

I have good days and bad days.  I am glad that I have this community of support.  How are you doing Sunnyside?  I am making forward progress.  I have been feeling a little bit down this weekend. The grey weather is not helping. 

[sunnysideup69]

Hey @Superwoman, yeah, I have good and bad days. Going through a bit of a wave this last week, with heightened anxiety, which is a nuisance. I think overall though, I am slowly slowly improving, although I always doubt that in a wave. I did a bit of a wobble around with Citalopram, up and down doses, and then switched, so my poor brains are objecting a bit, unsurprisingly. 

 

Grey weather here, too, right now,and that has definitely affected me today.

[Superwoman]

On 11/8/2019 at 1:19 PM, Altostrata said:

In the context of PSSD, you are fortunate in being able to enjoy sex and orgasm. Crying after sex has never been reported as a withdrawal symptom or PSSD symptom.

Altostrata,

I do definitely feel fortunate that I am sometimes able to enjoy sex and orgasm. I feel horrible that some people can not.  I am sure that must be very frustrating.  I oftentimes do have difficulty with these things so I understand.  But I am lucky that I am not completely unable to.  
 

I think that @CharlieBrown is probably right. He said that it seems like I have a combination of sexual problems, some of which stem from trauma and some that seem like medication side effects.  Charlie Brown said that there are probably woman here with abuse histories that could help me differentiate sexual problems from PTSD and PSSD.  If they would want to PM me and we could talk in private that would be great.  I would think that with the high prevalence of sexual assault other people might have similar problems.  My history is kind of complex which makes it complicated. I hope it was ok to share such personal stuff about my sex life.  I hope my description was not too graphic.  It was cathartic, but I was a little embarrassed later because I don’t usually talk about such intimate details of my life. 
 

That is helpful to know that crying after sex is not a withdrawal or medication effect.  What about the genital numbing?  Do you think that is a meditation side effect or do you think that it is psychological because of trauma?  The only way that I am able to feel anything and orgasm anymore is by using super powerful vibrator.  This thing is like a jackhammer lol.  I put it on my husband and he says it is so powerful that it is uncomfortable for him.  I can feel it when I touch the genital area but it does not feel pleasurable at all.  I actually feel more sensation touching my arm.  It didn’t used to be this way. Years ago I used to be able to feel pleasure and “get off” from touching down there and from oral sex.  Now I am dependent on this extremely powerful vibrator.  Most vibrators are too weak for me and I can’t even feel anything.  

 

Last night when my husband gave me oral sex it did not feel good at all.  😢. It actually felt uncomfortable.  (I hope this is not too much personal information.). I was actually feeling hopeful before hand because the last week I have actually been desiring sex. I have been feeling horny and thinking about sex at random times throughout the day.  I can’t remember the last time I have felt this way. So I thought that maybe I am getting better.  Now I feel disappointed and discouraged.  
 

I am concerned because since I have lowered the dose of my SRNI I have regained a little sensation but not a lot.  I was maybe 90% numb before tapering. I would now estimate that I am 80% numb. When I was on this dose of Effexor (112.5 mg) in the past I did not have any sexual side effects. So why now?  The vaginal dryness improved a lot since tapering. 
 

On 11/8/2019 at 1:10 PM, Superwoman said:

The genItal numbing started 15 years ago when the dose of my Effexor was raised from 150 mg to 225mg. Before this I had completely normal sexual function and sensation (except for the crying during orgasm). Even after the dose of Effexor was lowered again to 150mg. the genital sensation never returned to what it was.

Why would sexual function not improve once I lowered the dose again?  Note: I was experiencing a lot of PTSD from the abuse at this point so I attributed the numbing to psychological factors, but I now wondering if the genital numbing thas been a meditation side effect all along. What do you think?  Thank you Altostrata. 
 

 
 

[Altostrata]

I moved your post so as not to take the PSSD topic off-track with a discussion of your non-PSSD sexual issues.

 

You have had a lot of drug changes in the last 2 years from which your nervous system needs to stabilize. While your resumption of 112.5mg Effexor XR last March was a decrease from your original Effexor dosages, your body still feels its getting a substantial Effexor dosage.

[Superwoman]

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

I moved your post so as not to take the PSSD topic off-track with a discussion of your non-PSSD sexual issues.

 

You have had a lot of drug changes in the last 2 years from which your nervous system needs to stabilize. While your resumption of 112.5mg Effexor XR last March was a decrease from your original Effexor dosages, your body still feels its getting a substantial Effexor dosage.

So are you saying that the reduced genital sensations are a side effect of the Effexor?  Since even though 112.5 mg is a reduction my body still feels it is a substantial dose. 

[Altostrata]

Reduced genital sensation is a very well-know side effect of Effexor and other antidepressants. Please consult Dr. Google and read up on the side effects of all your drugs.

[Superwoman]

@Altostrata,

 

What about when I increase my doseage from 150 mg to 225 mg.  Even when I decreased back down to 150 mg the genital numbness did not improve. This was 15 years ago.  Why would it not get better in 15 years?  Before this increase years ago I had no sexual side effects from 150 mg. 

Yes I am aware now that genital numbing is a common side effect of antidepressants.  I just wasn’t sure in my situation if that was what was causing the numbing or not since I do have psychological stuff affecting sex as well.  It is like when you told me to separate coffee and the Effexor because it is hard to tell what is causing what when there are two variables.  
 

I feel really dumb because in all of those years I did not realize that the SNRI might be affecting my sex life.  The thought crossed my mind but then since a lot of things seemed psychological I attributed it to the trauma.  In all these years a doctor never even mentioned sexual side effects. My drug label does not even mention genital numbing.  Yet this is a very common side effect that people might not even attribute to the drug. 

[Altostrata]

Your nervous system has been through a lot of changes in the last few years. It is not the nervous system it used to be. Please consult Dr. Google and read up on the side effects of all your drugs.

[Superwoman]

Saturday November 9, 2019

Reduced coffee from 2 scoops to 1.5 scoops.  Separated coffee and Effexor by 1 hr.  Increased probiotic to 1/4 tsp.

 

10 am. Woke up 9 hrs sleep, well rested, mood low, heartbeat slightly amplified 

10:30 am: Breakfast, coffee reduced to 1.5 scoops 
11 am. HR still slightly amplified about same

11:30 am. Effexor XR 112.5 mg., mood still low moderate 

12 pm. HR still slightly amplified 

12:30pm. Same

1pm. Sad all afternoon and morning 

1:30pm: Lunch, couple mild brain zaps

2pm: HR slightly amplified, sad

3pm. Nap

4pm. Same mild Anhedonia, slight brief headache here and there, mood lifting some 

4:30pm. Driving, 1 brain zap mild

5pm. Hanging out with friends, still sad but mood brightening some

5:30pm. Sad all evening, worries about tapering and sexual problems 

7pm: Dinner

9:30 pm. Probiotic 1/4 tsp

10pm few slight headaches lasting couple of minutes 

10:30pm. Armour Thyroid 3 Grains

11pm. HB amplified, fast slight 

1am. Bed

Notes Sat. Nov. 9: sad all day. Worrying a lot, preoccupied with withdrawal and sexual dysfunction. Could not tell if reacting to coffee and Effexor because I already had slight fast HR when waking.  Increased probiotic to 1/4 tsp. reaction barely perceptible headache 

 

 

[Superwoman]

Sunday November 10, 2019

 

Moved Effexor to lunch so I can separate coffee from Effexor. 
 

10:30 am. Woke up, 9.5 hrs sleep, depression mild

11 am. Breakfast, coffee 1.5 scoops

11:30am. Few Barely perceptible headaches lasting 30 seconds 

12pm. Same, barely perceptible HR increase and amplified 

12:30 pm. Effexor XR 112.5, few barely perceptible headaches immediately after taking pill

1pm. No more headaches, 1/4 tsp. Probiotic, lunch

1:30pm. Okay

2pm. Feeling depressed, slight anxiety 

2:30pm. Few barely perceptible headaches lasting few minutes 

3:30pm. Rock climbing with husband and friends 

4pm. Same mild Anhedonia, slight brief headache here and there

4:30pm. Same

5pm. Feeling better 

7pm. Dinner, HB slightly amplified 

7:30pm. Brain zap mild

9pm. Lethargic 

10:30pm. Fish oil 2 softgels 

11 pm. Ok

11:30pm. Armour Thyroid 3 grains

12:30 am. Couple of mild brain zaps

2am. Bed, Touchpoint buzzers 

Notes Sunday: sad all day. Slight side effects after coffee. Slight side effects immediately after taking Effexor. few brain zaps after taking Armour Thyroid 

[Superwoman]

I think that I am having some side effects from the Effexor.  Today I forgot to take my Effexor at lunch time.  I remembered and took it at 2:30pm.  10 minutes after taking the Effexor I felt light headed, a little bit jittery and just off feeling.  This lasted for 1 hour and then I felt better. 

[Superwoman]

Monday November 11, 2019

 

11 am: Wake up, 9 hrs sleep well rested, ok, breakfast, coffee 1.5 scoops , Effexor 112.5

11:30 am: Ok

12pm: Heartburn 

1:30pm: Probiotic 1/4 tsp.

2pm: Ok

3-4pm: Few brain zaps mild, depression mild

4:30pm: Anxiety slight, few brain zaps mild

6pm: Anxiety mild, few mild brain zaps

6:30 pm: Dinner, 2 fish oil softgels 

8pm: Depression lifting all evening 

8:30pm: About 6 brain zaps per hour all evening 

9pm: Mild headache 10 minutes 

12am: Armour Thyroid 3 Grains

12:30am: Snack, ok

1am: Bed, ok

 

Monday Notes: Depression all morning and afternoon. Depression letting up in evening. Forgot to separate coffee and Effexor.  No reaction after Armour Thyroid 

 

[Superwoman]

Does anyone know how many hours after taking a supplement a reaction can occur?  I am trying to determine what supplements I am reacting to. 

[Passionlifetime]

On 11/13/2019 at 10:23 AM, Superwoman said:

I think that I am having some side effects from the Effexor.  Today I forgot to take my Effexor at lunch time.  I remembered and took it at 2:30pm.  10 minutes after taking the Effexor I felt light headed, a little bit jittery and just off feeling.  This lasted for 1 hour and then I felt better. 

Effexor is extremely sensitive drug, specially because of its short half life.

whenever I missed a dose, the brain zaps started with 24 hrs.

[Superwoman]

Tuesday November 12, 2019

 

9 am. Woke up, breakfast, coffee 1.5 scoops

9:30 am. Ok, no side effects 

10am. Ok, no side effects 

10:30am. Appointment w/ counselor 

11am. Same 

11:30 am. No brain zaps all morning 

12pm. Lunch

12:30pm. No symptoms 

1pm. Probiotic increased to 1/2 tsp., nap,ok

1:30. Driving to work. Realized I forgot to take Effexor 

2:30pm. Took Effexor 112.5 mg. , 10 min later light headed, funny feeling, jittery

3pm. Same

3:30pm. Feeling better

5-6pm. Anxiety 

6pm. 1 brain zap slight 

6:30pm. Dinner, anxiety 

7pm. 7-9pm. Teeth clenching, some ear pain, fatigue, otherwise ok

9pm. More energy 

9:30pm. Few brain zaps slight, teeth clenching all evening

11pm. Leave work 

12am: Snack, probiotic 1/2 tsp. 
12:30 am. Armour Thyroid 3 grains 

1am Bed, hr amplified slight 

Notes: reaction to tums and peppermint Beadlet dizzy, angry, irritability. Slight reaction Armour Thyroid 

[Superwoman]

Wednesday November 13, 2019

 

10:30am. Wake up w/ slight depression, coffee 1.5 scoops, breakfast 

11am. 11am-1pm, still depression otherwise ok

1pm. Lunch, Effexor XR 112.5

1:30pm. Still depressed mild otherwise ok

2pm. Heartburn 4 tums

2:30pm. Subtle light headed, irritability and anger don’t know why 1 hr.

3:30. Mild depression all afternoon 

6:30pm. Dinner

7pm. Ok

9pm. Heartburn, peppermint beadlets, slight headache 10 min.

11pm. Leave work

12am. Snack, probiotic 1/2 tsp. 
12:30am Armour Thyroid 3 grains 

1am. Bed, hr amplified slight 

Wednesday Notes: reaction to tums and peppermint Beadlet dizzy, angry, irritability. Slight reaction Armour Thyroid 

[Superwoman]

Some days that I take Armour Thyroid I have a slight reaction and other days I seem ok. I noticed that the reaction is not nearly as bad since my chiropractor harmonized me to these substances during the last visit. I am going to have him harmonize me more during the next visit. I am continuing to reduce coffee. 

Has anyone noticed any patterns to my symptoms?

[Superwoman]

56 minutes ago, Passionlifetime said:

Effexor is extremely sensitive drug, specially because of its short half life.

whenever I missed a dose, the brain zaps started with 24 hrs.

Me too. I hate this drug!

[Superwoman]

Thursday November 14, 2019

 

9am. Wake up 8 hrs sleep, tired, breakfast, Effexor xr 112.5, coffee 1.5 scoops 

9:30 am. Slightly fast heartbeat, more awake

10am. Ok

10:30am-12pm. Hair cut, anxiety slight 

1pm. Effexor xr 112.5

2:30pm. Irritability mild 3 hrs 

3pm. Dry mouth all afternoon

6:30pm. Dinner

7pm. Few brain zaps slight, flat mood, apathy 

9pm. Ears feel hot slight, couple brain zaps slight, depression lifts rest of evening 

11pm. Leave work 

11:30pm. Few brain zaps mild

12am. Snack, probiotic 1/2 tsp.
12:30am. Stomach rumbling for few seconds then bloating, bath

1am. Bed, diffuse lavender, ok

 

Notes: depression lifting 9pm.  irritability and dry mouth in afternoon. Anxiety in Morning.  Not many brain zaps.  Symptoms improved in evening

 

 

[Superwoman]

Friday November 15, 2019

 

9am. Wake up 8 hrs sleep, tired, coffee 1.5 scoops, breakfast 

9:30am. Ok, more alert 

10:30am. Mental health peer support group, 1 hr.

11:30am: Went to pick up medical records w/peer supporter, Angry b/c doctor refused to give me medical records

12:30pm: Few brain zaps mild, took Effexor XR 112.5

1pm: Brain zaps stopped immediately after taking Effexor them resumed again 10 minutes later

1:30pm: Slight light headed bouts

2pm: Lots of Headaches and brain zaps off and on all afternoon 

2:30pm: Angry about work

6pm: Dinner, still have headache, 2 fish oil soft gels

6:30pm: Headache lasting 30 minutes 

7pm: Same 

7:30pm: Feeling better, mood good rest of evening 

10pm: Few brain zaps mild 

10:30pm: Good

11pm: Same, leave work

12:30am: Armour Thyroid 3 grains 

1pm: Bed, ok

 

Notes Friday: symptoms clustered in afternoon (brain zaps). Feeling lot better in evening (mood better, less brain zaps). Definite reaction to Effexor (brain zaps and light headed)

 

[Superwoman]

Saturday November 16, 2019

 

No supplements, no Armour Thyroid at bedtime, reduced coffee to 1 scoop 

 

11 am: Wake up 10 hrs sleep, coffee reduced to 1scoop, breakfast 

11am-1pm: Slight headache 

1:30pm: Effexor xr 112.5. 10 mins after pill heartburn lasting few seconds, then headache worsening to moderate.

2:30pm: brain zaps mild

3pm: tired

3:30pm: Nap 1hr. HB slightly amplified 

5pm: Headache mild +, crummy feeling 

6pm: Dinner 

6:30pm: Feeling little better

7pm: Visiting with friends 

7:30pm: Brain zaps and headaches here and there

8pm: Little bit of Anhedonia, but still able

to enjoy visit w/friends, brain zaps and 

Headaches off and on

9:30pm: Driving, Few brain zaps mild

10pm: Some brain zaps mild

1:30pm: Bed

 

Saturday Notes; big reaction after taking Effexor (headaches, brain zaps). Slight reaction after coffee reduced to 1 scoop. 

[Superwoman]

Sunday November 17, 2019

 

No supplements or bedtime Armour Thyroid.  

 

11:30am: Woke up, coffee 1 scoop, breakfast 

12 pm: Mild headache 

12:30pm: Ok

1pm: Lunch, Effexor xr 112.5

1:30pm: Ok all afternoon 

4pm: Skype, mild anxiety 

6:30pm: Dinner with parents

7pm: Good Dinner 

7:30pm: 1 brain zap slight 

10:30pm: Few brain zaps mild 

12 am: Shower, mild anxiety, Touchpoint buzzers

12:30 am: Bed

 

Sunday Notes: Oddly, today I did not notice any reaction to Effexor Good day. Hardly any symptoms. Only Few brain zaps in evening No supplements or Armour Thyroid.  Wondering if I felt so much better b/c I did not take Armour Thyroid night before?