sunnysideup69: what can I do to stabilise on venlafaxine

[sunnysideup69]

Third day of half a mug of caffeinated tea in morning (down from a bumper mug) and I've got a headache, plus my sleep has been weird.

I'm at the end of a sugar induced wave, am now 11 days sugar free. So I guess the headache could partly be due to that. 

Interesting that it is three days after making the last caffeine cut and now the headache appears. Roughly the same time as it takes the brain to notice a cut in psych drugs. Guess it makes sense, as caffeine is a psychoactive drug. And I'm pretty sure I'm sensitive to cutting it; glad I'm doing it slowly. Also, glad it's the school hols, don't think I could've faced doing this in term time.

[Longroadhome]

2 minutes ago, sunnysideup69 said:

Third day of half a mug of caffeinated tea in morning (down from a bumper mug) and I've got a headache, plus my sleep has been weird.

I'm at the end of a sugar induced wave, am now 11 days sugar free. So I guess the headache could partly be due to that. 

Interesting that it is three days after making the last caffeine cut and now the headache appears. Roughly the same time as it takes the brain to notice a cut in psych drugs. Guess it makes sense, as caffeine is a psychoactive drug. And I'm pretty sure I'm sensitive to cutting it; glad I'm doing it slowly. Also, glad it's the school hols, don't think I could've faced doing this in term time.

Do you drink decaf? 
you’ve made me wonder about my intake too

although I only drink decaf tea and coffee I still drink way too much every day. 
I know it still contains small amounts of caffeine so today I’m cutting down and substituting for caffeine free peppermint tea 🍵 

[sunnysideup69]

8 minutes ago, Longroadhome said:

Do you drink decaf? 
you’ve made me wonder about my intake too

although I only drink decaf tea and coffee I still drink way too much every day. 
I know it still contains small amounts of caffeine so today I’m cutting down and substituting for caffeine free peppermint tea 🍵

No, I don't drink decaff tea /coffee for the reasons you've stated. There's still some small amounts within them. Aiming for totally caffeine free.

Am substituting one of my morning teas with Rooibos, which is a caffeine free herb. I really like it. Other than this, drinking some herbal teas, but being careful with those, too. Mostly drink Fennel and Liquorice ones. Other than that, lots of water!

[Carmie]

Hey there Sunnysideup, 

 

Good to see you’re slowly coming off the caffeine and sugar. Yes, you’ll definitely get symptoms coming off those things, but your body will eventually settle again. I don’t have sugar or caffeine either. I used to still drink green tea for a while and kombucha, but I’ve stopped that too.
 

Maybe in the future I’ll have an occasional kombucha, maybe not, not sure yet. I found out that tea has fluoride in it too which isn’t good for you. I made my kombucha with plain black tea. I’ve still got two big bottles in the fridge that have been sitting there for ages. As long as they stay in the fridge they’re fine. If I left them out they would turn into vinegar. Salad dressing anyone?😂
 

I drink mainly water and rooibus. I love plain bubbly mineral and soda water. I should get myself a soda stream, and make my water bubbly. 
 

Hope you’re doing okay 🧡

[sunnysideup69]

Hey @Carmie,

Yeah, I used to love Kombucha too, and used to make my own kefir. I still eat sauerkraut for some fermented goodness, but yeah, the Kombucha has gone for me, too. I'm also a Rooibos gal. Tried it recently and it's a good psychological replacement for my morning cuppa, same colour as I add a bit of milk.

 

I'm through the sugar crash, thank god, and yesterday was my FIRST DAY without caffeine. Even though I only drink one mug a day, I still got a headache around 10 am that wouldn't shift until later in the day.

 

This morning, after a good sleep, was just really tired. That cuppa was definitely waking me up and giving me a little boost. Amazing how sensitive we are.

Feel okay so far, fingers crossed. Although acknowledging might have a little dip in mood. Sending hugs xxx

[sunnysideup69]

Second day of drinking no caffeine at all....so am now no caffeine, and refined sugar free. Woohoo!

Am aiming to keep this up for a couple of months to see where I'm at, nervous system-wise.

 

Have to say, am feeling pretty chipper again. Those sugar benders send me spiralling into an absolute crash when I stop, it's bloody horrible. Have become so sensitive to that 'legal crack', as I call it.

 

Also, have pushed myself to socialise more this summer holiday. Last summer was awful, bereavements and lockdown. Making myself go out and about, spent a lovely day on the Southbank in London last week, and a day on the beach in Brighton. Making myself go, pushing through the resistance. Some of it is my shaken nervous system, and I know some is from having been in lockdown for so long. Two more daytrips this week. All part of recovery and rehabilitation, and getting ready to taper.

[mstimc]

Sounds like you're doing great, Sunny!  Hope there are many more window days ahead for you!

[sunnysideup69]

Thanks @mstimc, yep, am doing well, although the caffeine WD kicked in the day after that post. Definitely more drowsy and a couple of days of feeling a bit headachey/ irritable, but it's going now.

Am amazed at how such a small intake could still have wd effects.....but hey, should have learned that by now.

Hope you're doing well  

[mstimc]

Hi Sunny!  I don't know how I'd survive without my two daily cups of coffee.  Years ago when I was being tested for allergies, they tested me for a reaction to caffeine.  I told them I didn't want to know if I was allergic 'cause I wouldn't give it up! 😄  Thank heavens I'm not!

 

We're doing okay.  Getting ready to pull out of Portugal for our pre-return-to-the-US European trip:  Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris, London, York, Edinburgh, Dublin and finally Helsinki for our flight to California.  We'll spend about a week in each place (except Helsinki, that's an overnight layover).  Really looking forward to the trip and to going home!

[Hanna72]

Hey dear @sunnysideup69

Just dropping by to see how you are doing these days? 

All the best to you💕

 

[sunnysideup69]

On 9/21/2021 at 4:57 PM, Hanna72 said:

Hey dear @sunnysideup69

Just dropping by to see how you are doing these days? 

All the best to you💕

 

Hey Hanna, I'm doing ok! 

Am still holding. 

After going sugar free and caffeine free,had two weeks of fantastic sleep.

Then, went back to school and all my resolve went down the pan 😂. My diet has been crappy since the beginning of September. I'm now twelve days back into a sugar detox again. Also started drinking tea again but am trying to keep to one morning cuppa.

The sugar is the worst disruptor, for me. 

Mood wise, am ok, some stressors, but am coping. Feeling a bit frazzled but have a week's holiday right now.

 

Am really focussing upon working on addictions/ dependencies. Venlafaxine makes me want to binge certain food, I have noticed.

 

Am not gonna start tapering in Winter, as I think I get a bit of SAD.

 

How are you?

[ChessieCat]

15 minutes ago, sunnysideup69 said:

Am really focussing upon working on addictions/ dependencies.

 

Once I eat my meal I want to keep eating.  It's not that I am hungry it's just like once I start I cannot stop.  I recently had blood tests done and my cholesterol and blood sugar levels are too high.  So to try and break the habit, I have started cleaning my teeth as soon as I finish my "proper" food.  I'm hoping that it will help.  I only started doing this today.

[sunnysideup69]

Hello Survivors.

Thought it might be time for a little update, haven't posted in a wee while. That's a good thing, as I'm naturally being drawn back more into the world. 

I'm in a very slight wave for the last nine days, entirely self created ( see post above.) However, it's very mild and is NOTHING compared to how waves used to feel.

My sleep has been a bit wonky. I'm tired, too, but I've also had a bit of a crazy half term at work.

It's been three months since my last wave, which was also relatively mild.

So.....am really getting into territory where tapering is now feeling feasible.

 

Am not going to begin in Winter, as I think I am a bit prone to SAD. Also just wanting to slow the whole urgency of beginning a taper right down. Think I was pressuring myself before. Am hopeful that I can begin in Spring 2022. Really want to get a face to face appointment with my GP before I begin, which is proving a bit difficult here in the UK 

 

I've accepted that for now, I'm on antideps, as much as I dislike that. And if it takes me the rest of my life to taper, then so be it. Quality of life is really important. 

 

Most of the time now, I feel pretty normal, with glitches. Also seeing how antideps actually exacerbate issues that were already there.

 

Sending lots of love to you all. Gonna do a bit of thread reading, now.

 

 

 

 

[sunnysideup69]

3 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Once I eat my meal I want to keep eating.  It's not that I am hungry it's just like once I start I cannot stop.  I recently had blood tests done and my cholesterol and blood sugar levels are too high.  So to try and break the habit, I have started cleaning my teeth as soon as I finish my "proper" food.  I'm hoping that it will help.  I only started doing this today.

That's really interesting, I feel similar. I also have that cannot stop feeling, hmmmmm......perhaps I need to get similar things checked out. Thanks Chessie 🙂.

[Carmie]

On 10/25/2021 at 8:13 PM, sunnysideup69 said:

Hello Survivors.

Thought it might be time for a little update, haven't posted in a wee while. That's a good thing, as I'm naturally being drawn back more into the world. 

I'm in a very slight wave for the last nine days, entirely self created ( see post above.) However, it's very mild and is NOTHING compared to how waves used to feel.

My sleep has been a bit wonky. I'm tired, too, but I've also had a bit of a crazy half term at work.

It's been three months since my last wave, which was also relatively mild.

So.....am really getting into territory where tapering is now feeling feasible.

 

Am not going to begin in Winter, as I think I am a bit prone to SAD. Also just wanting to slow the whole urgency of beginning a taper right down. Think I was pressuring myself before. Am hopeful that I can begin in Spring 2022. Really want to get a face to face appointment with my GP before I begin, which is proving a bit difficult here in the UK 

 

I've accepted that for now, I'm on antideps, as much as I dislike that. And if it takes me the rest of my life to taper, then so be it. Quality of life is really important. 

 

Most of the time now, I feel pretty normal, with glitches. Also seeing how antideps actually exacerbate issues that were already there.

 

Sending lots of love to you all. Gonna do a bit of thread reading, now.

 

 

 

 

Nice to see you’re coping fairly well Sunnysideup, 

 

You made me smile when you said that if it takes the rest of your life to taper, so be it. I feel like that’s my journey too😁. I’m going so slow, because my body won’t let me go any quicker. 
 

I’m glad you’re getting some quality of life🧡

[92sharks]

@sunnysideup69Another venlafaxine taperer. I see in your signature that you're on 75mg. It is encouraging that when you do begin to taper that your starting dose is not 2-3x higher. Not to minimize the possibility of difficulty, of course. Any dose is to be respected/feared/etc. It is imperative that an extremely slow taper is definitely in order no matter the starting dose. But starting at 75mg may shave off a few years of tapering if starting from a higher dosage. I don't want to sound as if I'm minimizing where you are or what lies ahead. My comment of your dose is meant to be encouraging. 😬 What type of Effexor are you on, such as caps/tablets, XR, etc? I'm glad you seem to be in a pretty good place and willing to wait until you feel is a good time to begin to taper. Putting life and feeling well as the priority above getting off in a hurry is so, so wise, as you already seem to know. Best of luck to you on feeling better over the next few months. ❤️

[Carmie]

Hi @sunnysideup69

 

How have you been doing since your last update? 
 

Sending hugs🤗

[sunnysideup69]

On 10/30/2021 at 9:03 PM, 92sharks said:

@sunnysideup69Another venlafaxine taperer. I see in your signature that you're on 75mg. It is encouraging that when you do begin to taper that your starting dose is not 2-3x higher. Not to minimize the possibility of difficulty, of course. Any dose is to be respected/feared/etc. It is imperative that an extremely slow taper is definitely in order no matter the starting dose. But starting at 75mg may shave off a few years of tapering if starting from a higher dosage. I don't want to sound as if I'm minimizing where you are or what lies ahead. My comment of your dose is meant to be encouraging. 😬 What type of Effexor are you on, such as caps/tablets, XR, etc? I'm glad you seem to be in a pretty good place and willing to wait until you feel is a good time to begin to taper. Putting life and feeling well as the priority above getting off in a hurry is so, so wise, as you already seem to know. Best of luck to you on feeling better over the next few months. ❤️

Thanks so much, @92sharks, for your encouragement. Didn't feel you were minimising my position at all.

How are you and how is your taper going?

I'm taking the generic Venlafaxine, in extended release tablet form. Wondering how the hell I'm going to get off it, when the time comes.

 

[sunnysideup69]

On 11/26/2021 at 10:43 PM, Carmie said:

Hi @sunnysideup69

 

How have you been doing since your last update? 
 

Sending hugs🤗

Hey @Carmie! Thanks so much for checking in 

Am struggling a bit. Have fallen into a sugar addictive cycle. Am now off the sugar since one day, and am in dopamine deficit.

I'm actually feeling ok, in terms of WD, but annoyed with self for continually falling into a sugar hole.

This past six months, have oscillated between no sugar at all, and then bingeing.

Am coming out of two weeks of overindulging. 

Think I've learned that there is no middle ground for me. I just need to abstain. There's no such thing for me as 'just a little bit,' as the little bit then turns into a bit more and before you know it, it's two weeks later and I've eaten sugar every day.

I'm now bracing myself for the inevitable sugar crash as I go into 'dopamine deficit', as I recently heard it described. 

I've come to the conclusion that I need to treat it like cigarettes and alcohol and just stop it completely.

Have been alcohol free since April 2019 and ciggy free since 2017.

I swear though, sugar is the hardest one to crack!

It seems to give me a mood boost, but then I crash and it makes me fall asleep too early, and I then end up waking around 4am.

 

I swear this bingey behaviour is also partly down to antidepressants. Citalopram made me want to have these binges on alcohol and smoking, which I didn't have, previously. Although, with sugar, I've also always had a bit of a sweet tooth. 

 

Overall, though, am okay. Just knackered. How are you? Any tips for staying away from the sweet sugary devil?? I want to make 2022 totally sugar free, beginning now.

 

 

 

[Malbec37]

@sunnysideup69Just checking by to see how you're doing?? Have you started tapering again yet? I've been holding on 11mg mirtazapine and Jan has been much easier as a result but planning another drop in Feb as need to keep going. Malbec x 

[sunnysideup69]

Hello survivors, sending you hugs and encouragement.🌻

Thought it might be about time to do an update. Haven't posted much because I'm not tapering yet. And also, because I'm so much better, I had forgotten about WD....wow, three years ago, I didn't believe I'd feel like that! It consumed me! 

Since May/June 2021, I've gone through some accelerated healing. It was June 2018 when I had a BIG crash, owing to mucking around with MDMA whilst tapering. Recovery was slow between 2018 and 2021 and I also switched drug. However, from August 2019 I have held steady at the same dose of Venlafaxine and really let my body and CNS settle. It's a long hold, but it's paid off as I am now pretty much normnal and looking towards doing a taper. However, I'm not in a rush. I had several difficult years and at the moment, I'm just focussing on enjoying life and putting some happy memories in the bank, before I start the journey off meds again.🌻

 

Here are the things that are much better.

I'm in a much calmer place, mentally. I'm happier at work and interacting with my team more. I feel PART of my workplace now, whereas I was just gritting my teeth to get through the working day, before.

My skin is clear and back to normal (about three months after crashing off Citalopram and onto Venlafaxine, I broke out in acne/sores all over my face. Think I had some kind of scabby histamine thing going on.) My skin biome seems to have repaired itself, thank god. It was horrible to feel awful and to LOOK awful on the outside.

My sleep is a lot, lot better. Still go through some odd patches, but generally, am getting about seven hours.

I have a renewed sense of wanting to be back in life, again. I have been doing some overtime at work, and my body/ CNS is coping well. Went clubbing on my 53rd birthday ! ( No MDMA, not even alcohol.) Am going again next Saturday, for a friend's birthday.Have a holiday booked for August. Am getting myself out there and enjoying things. Am about to invest some money into buying new clothes....I don't fit the old ones, am afraid the antidep weight gain has happened, despite still exercising. And also, I just had no motivation to look after my appearance whilst in the depths of WD. Oh yeah, am about to experiment with running again. I stopped two years ago as it seemed to aggravate my nervous system and cause waves

I wake up in the morning and feel happy to get out of bed. Most days 🙂.

And I know, one day, that I will be able to do this off antidepressants, too.

Haven't actually had a wave since October 2021, and the last one that felt 'bad' was July 2021. So....I had said to myself that I want to have had six months wave free before I think about tapering again, and it seems I'm getting to that 'ball park' now. Like I said, though, am in no rush, this year is for fun, rest and relaxation as the previous four were really difficult.

 

I experimented last weekend by having a little bit of wine. A glass and a half, to be precise. It was weird, tasted ok, but boy, I'm drunk after that little, now. Next day, I woke up feeling irritable. Then felt fine until Wednesday/ Thursday Friday just gone, when my mood dipped. Felt flat and unmotivated. Was fine by yesterday. Back to normal. So, alcohol definitely upsets my nervous system still, even just a little. 

 

Am so grateful for my lovely cat, Obi. Got him this time last year and I think it's no coincidence that my healing seemed to accelerate soon after he came into my world. Definitely very healing, having a little creature who needs my attention. Plus, cuddles are healing.

 

So, if you're in the thick of it, know that you can and will heal. What has worked for me is just being very, very patient and making no changes to dosage. For nearly three years. I'm in a good place now and just savoring this for a while before I ask my brain to adjust again.🌻

[sunnysideup69]

Just for personal records: my last wave was beginning of October 2021, was a sugar aggravated wave.

 

Am now able to eat and drink whatever ( apart from alcohol) without too many issues. However, am avoiding sugar as much as possible, and keeping tea to three mugs before mid day.

 

Have started jogging again after a two year hiatus.

 

My skin cleared up totally after the Citalopram WD abated. The outbreaks were totally WD related, I'd bet big money on it.

 

I'm planning on joining the gym and lifting some weights.

 

My sleep has improved drastically, apart from if I were to have sugar near bedtime. 

 

 

[sunnysideup69]

Quick update. Things were going SO well. So well, in fact, and the weather was nice, and I had a glass of wine. Felt a bit sh*tty the next day but nothing too terrible. So another couple of weekends in May, I had a glass of wine at the weekend. Just one glass. And am now in a wave. Nothing terrible, but it has wiped me out this weekend and I went back into anhedonia/ just waning to hide from the world. Which I haven't had for AGES.

 

It's so frustrating. I just want to be 'normal' and enjoy the things I used to, in moderation. (Apart from drugs.) I guess because I felt so much better, I thought it couldn't do any harm. WRONG. I seem to be able to tolerate chocolate a couple of times a week, and I have some tea in the mornings. None of that upsets my system any more. Well, the alcohol does, even in moderation.

 

Anyway, lesson learned. Now just have to ride the wave out. I think alcohol just ups the side effects of the Venlafaxine, I seem to yawn a lot and it makes me dizzy. I guess that experiment is now over. I think possibly if I'd just had a glass early in May and left it at that, I'd have been okay. But I got a bit over confident. Just goes as a reminder of how different my nervous system is, nowadays.

 

Anyway, I'm coping ok with the wave, and it's got me thinking that if I can cope with a moderate wave like this, then I can probably cope with a little cut in meds now. I have my med review in July, so I'll put forward my plan to the GP. No more wine, will let my system re settle.

[mstimc]

Sunny, no reason to beat yourself up for not being fully recovered yet.  The good news is you know alcohol is a trigger--at least for now, and it would be best to avoid it.  The better news is the way you're handling your wave--knowing it will pass and you have the strength to ride it out.  You're on a great recovery path!

[sunnysideup69]

7 hours ago, mstimc said:

Sunny, no reason to beat yourself up for not being fully recovered yet.  The good news is you know alcohol is a trigger--at least for now, and it would be best to avoid it.  The better news is the way you're handling your wave--knowing it will pass and you have the strength to ride it out.  You're on a great recovery path!

 

Hello! How are you? Thanks so much for the positive words. You're right, recovery takes as long as recovery takes. It cannot be rushed. Have you found, over your recovery, that you can ever have a drink now and again? Or do you avoid it completely? If you don't mind sharing, of course. Am pooped this morning, owing to an over enthusiastic cat waking me at 4am.

[mstimc]

Sunny, I’m doing well.  I’m Scottish & Irish- my blood is already 80 proof!😅 I’ve never been much of a drinker, but I did stay away from it while I was tapering.  We drank quite a bit of wine in Portugal, and I’ve always been fond of a small dram of good Scotch now and then, usually in social situations.  It can be hard to draw the line between avoiding triggering behaviors and turning avoidance into another phobia. My best advice is to do what feels right on any given day based on the way you feel. There’s nothing wrong with pushing your boundaries if you feel comfortable doing it, but there’s nothing wrong with listening to your body and giving yourself some room. 

[Armorall]

@sunnysideup69 I'm with you. I try decaf coffee ever so often and it ends up knocking me out for the rest of the day. I have accepted a life where I will probably never drink anything but water, bubbly flavored water, warmed plant-based milk and tomato juice. I can't even drink fruit juice because it will give me a headache. It's sad because coffee in my past life was my religion. But, I'll tell you, I am fully healed in the sense that I am symptom free. I'd rather live in a life where I find joy and can pretty much do whatever I want minus the consumption of popular beverages. It's a small price to pay for all the joy and excitement I can feel again, on top of being my old, dynamic self. 

[sunnysideup69]

Thanks @mstimc and @Armorall, that was kind of you to answer. For now, am just gonna let myself heal and settle.

[Dejavu]

Hey @sunnysideup69 how are you feeling now?

[Carmie]

Hi Sunnysideup,

 

Thinking of you and hope you’re having a nice day. How have you been doing?🧡

[Malbec37]

@sunnysideup69Haven't heard from you in ages are you ok?? I also sent you a PM but no response.....please let us know 

[sunnysideup69]

Hello! Wanted to drop by for ages, then realised I'd forgotten my password. Thanks to Shep for sorting me out.

 

Happy new year, survivors! I will have a look at your threads tomorrow and catch up with where you all are.

 

Basically, I'm not tapering yet. Started to feel pretty much one hundred per cent again this year. 

Got a bit cocky with alcohol once or twice and made myself feel bad, so now it is extremely occasional. I'm also drinking tea and eating sugar sometimes. I don't kid myself that I'll be able to do this once tapering, though.

 

This year, I just wanted a break from the horrors of medication and tapering and it has been good to feel like a normal person again.

I've been out, about and enjoying life.

 

Then came November and I decided to take some topical estrogen for a month, which I did. However, it started to make me feel really nauseous so I stopped taking it in December.....and have been in a bit of a wave since, exacerbated by some personal stress. Shouldn't have cold turkeyed it....nope, not even hormones.

 

But it's ok. I know the wave goes, and so when it happens, I can handle it. I guess that's what has happened, miraculously- I have more confidence in my nervous system's ability to heal itself. This is such a gift, and I know it's thanks to all the reassurance I have received here, plus my own experience of healing. It takes time. But if you don't add an extra layer of panic and doubt on top, then healing is inevitable.

 

So, am waiting to resettle again. Am already feeling better today. Once we get into the warmer weather and lighter days next year, I'm going to start a taper.

So then you'll see me a bit more regularly, I'm sure.

 

I'm on the way out right now to the theatre to see Derren Brown, but I'm gonna pop back in and catch up on your threads tomorrow. 

In the meantime, Happy New Year survivors. You've got this. Look forward to catching up with you xxxSsu

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mstimc]

Wonderful hearing from you, Sunnyside!  Sending positive thoughts and good wishes for 2023 from California!

[sunnysideup69]

On 12/31/2022 at 5:06 PM, mstimc said:

Wonderful hearing from you, Sunnyside!  Sending positive thoughts and good wishes for 2023 from California!

Happy New Year to you 🎉🎉

[sunnysideup69]

Well, that post-estrogen wave is over now and I'm back to feeling chipper again.

Gonna catch up with reading your news, now xxx

[Bridgetini]

Hi SunnySideUp,

good to read your story and that 2022 was a good, stable year for you. Sorry to hear about the problems both taking and stopping oestrogen. 

Hope you are stabilised now and in a good place going forward.

Happy New Year!