Edmunds Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 In my current withdrawal from both venlafaxine and bupropion I experience considerable mental fatigue much of the day, in addition to anxiety, derealization, and other symptoms. I know that fatigue is common in withdrawal. I cope with it a bit better by theorizing that my my brain is working long, difficult hours trying to get stabilized and that this process burns extra amounts of bio energy. Does this theory make sense? Fluoxetine 1997-2014, 2015, 10-40 mg. GAD and DR symptoms returned April 2013. Bupropion 2013-14, 4 mos; Lexapro 2014; Cymbalta 2014. Gabapentin 2014; Mirtazapene 2014. Buspirone 2015. Venlafaxine Dec. 2015 – May 2019, 150 mg, tapered to 0 in 3 weeks, May-June 2019 Bupropion Mar 2017 – July 2019 300 mg, tapered to 0 in 3 weeks, July 2019 Fluoxetine/Prozac May 2019 – present, tapered from 20 mg started Jan 2020, linear 10% every 4 wks.; tapered 6 to 4 mg June, 2, 2020; 4 to 1.8 mg Aug. 26, 2020; updose from 1.8 mg to 2.0 Nov. 16, 2020. Holding at 2.0 mg as of Mar 14,2021. April 14, 2021 updosed to 2.5 mg. D3 2,000 mg; Omega 3 360 EPA/240 DHA; Magnesium Chelate 250 mg; Inositol powder started Nov 12, 2020; Theanine 400 mg; cranial electrotherapy stimulation device, self-treatments started Mar 14, 2021. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy4 Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 yep! with that in mind, pace yourself as much as possible I guess. its made a difference for me - accepting that this is how it is at the moment. My doctor is assisting me by giving my work guidelines - a one hour lunch break (every one else is on 30 minutes) and a 4.30pm finish time. A lot of stress for me has come from trying to push through as normal with mental fatigue, this meant losing things, being late, being embarrassed.. eventually anxious (even though this is not a withdrawal symptom for me). I should have pulled back a bit and I would have recovered more quickly. I know it is hard if you work.. I used to tell work I had a migraine (a white lie as that was my neurologist diagnosis). My head is sore and foggy today from work yesterday and having to compose a timeline of my withdrawal two days ago 🙄. I'm going to get on the treadmill and later do some Headspace (app - to try to clear things up in there a bit), I should get out amongst the trees I suppose - thats the best! Lexapro: 2013 - 20 mg, then 30 mg then 40 mg 2016. Cold turkey 4 June 2018. Reinstated August 24 2018 at 5mg (not tapering while I'm tapering the Effexor XR) Effexor XR - 75mg 7 June 2018, increased to 150mg August 2018. Tapering September 2018 10% first drop, 5% second drops every 4 weeks 07 March 2019 112.5mg, 02 June 2019 112.5mg minus 30 beads Seroquel 12.5mg - May 2018 - September 2018 prescribed after work stress to augment Lexapro Phenergen - 10mg as needed from June 2018 - August 2018 for disequilibrium Rizatriptan - 10mg as needed from June 2018 to December 2018 for "vestibular migraine" onset Propranalol - June 2018 prescribed for vestibular migraine prevention 80mg; 30mg Oct 2018, 10mg May 2019 Valium - 2.5mg - intermittent use for withdrawal symptoms Stemitil - 2003 for cervicogenic dizziness and June 2018 for dizziness/nausea (not effective) Supplements: 1000mg fish oil x 2 capsules (EPA 180mg + 120mg) 09/09/19 2 x 2000mg (360mg EPA + 240mg DHA each), vitamin C, magnesium diglycinate 3g,. Taurine 3g , vitamin D3, vitex, bone broth, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmunds Posted October 16, 2019 Author Share Posted October 16, 2019 Dizzy4, thanks for that reply. Unlike you, I have had the advantage of being retired from my career employment. I continue to be professionally active, though, but have had the sense to cut back on the home computer work as well. I exercise regularly (Iyengar yoga, walking, biking), though not too strenuously. In fact, I've seen some signs of recovery this week, more than any previous week in the past 3 months. But I'm ready for a wave if it comes! Fluoxetine 1997-2014, 2015, 10-40 mg. GAD and DR symptoms returned April 2013. Bupropion 2013-14, 4 mos; Lexapro 2014; Cymbalta 2014. Gabapentin 2014; Mirtazapene 2014. Buspirone 2015. Venlafaxine Dec. 2015 – May 2019, 150 mg, tapered to 0 in 3 weeks, May-June 2019 Bupropion Mar 2017 – July 2019 300 mg, tapered to 0 in 3 weeks, July 2019 Fluoxetine/Prozac May 2019 – present, tapered from 20 mg started Jan 2020, linear 10% every 4 wks.; tapered 6 to 4 mg June, 2, 2020; 4 to 1.8 mg Aug. 26, 2020; updose from 1.8 mg to 2.0 Nov. 16, 2020. Holding at 2.0 mg as of Mar 14,2021. April 14, 2021 updosed to 2.5 mg. D3 2,000 mg; Omega 3 360 EPA/240 DHA; Magnesium Chelate 250 mg; Inositol powder started Nov 12, 2020; Theanine 400 mg; cranial electrotherapy stimulation device, self-treatments started Mar 14, 2021. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryS Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 I have been experiencing significant fatigue every day. Lately, I feel fatigue after only an hour or two after awakening. I have not felt this extreme level of fatigue until I tapered below 75 mg of venlafaxine. However, I must say that I have felt some fatigue for many years and have been on CPAP machine treatment for sleep apnea since 1996. The doctor says the CPAP is doing its job correctly, and I don't believe I have much insomnia. So I can only attribute it to withdrawal. I'm currently at 40 mg of venlafaxine, doing the every four week 10% taper. I was on venlafaxine for five years prior to starting withdrawal from the drug. Also must say that I'm retired and age 71. So my age is also likely a factor. My head feels achy and under pressure all the time. I have constant low back pain and neck pain. I continue to push myself to exercise, and this often helps me feel a bit better afterward for awhile. Due to so many ailments, it's difficult, I realize, to determine how much each contributes to my current condition. "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12 See LarryS Health History, Introduction's page 6, 4th post from top. Aug 2014 start Venlafaxine 225 mg. Other Pharmaceuticals per day: Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg, As need Melatonin 3 mg Vitamins per day: C 1,000 mg; D3 50 mcg; Probiotic 218 mg; Fish Oil 1,600 mg; Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg; CoQ10 40 mg; Saw Palmetto 320 mg; Calcium 250 mg; Red Yeast Rice 1,200 mg; Plant Sterol Esters 1,000 mg Start Taper: 225 mg to 55 mg; June 5, 2018, to June 15, 2019 49 mg July 16, 2019; 44 mg August 13, 2019; 49 mg (up 11%) Aug. 26, 2019: 44 mg Sept. 10, 2019; 40 mg Oct. 8, 2019; 37.5 mg (6%) Nov. 6, 2019; 49.5 mg (up 32%) Nov 18, 2019; 44.5 mg Dec. 30, 2019; 40 mg Jan. 27, 2020; 36 mg Feb. 24, 2020; 32.5 mg March 23, 2020; 29.2 mg April 20, 2020; 26.3 mg May 18, 2020; 23.7 mg June 15, 2020; 21.3 mg July 6, 2020; 19.2 mg Aug. 4, 2020; 17.3 mg Sept. 1, 2020; 15.5 mg Sept. 29, 2020; 14.0 mg Oct. 27, 2020; 12.6 mg Nov. 24, 2020; 11.3 mg Dec. 15, 2020; 10.2 mg Jan. 5, 2021; 9.2 mg Feb. 2, 2021; 8.3 mg March 9, 2021; 7.4 mg April 6, 2021; 6.7 mg 5/4/2021; 6.0 mg 6/01/2021; 5.4 mg 7/13/2021; 4.9 mg 8/10/2021; 4.4 mg 9/9/2021; 4.0 mg 10/14/2021; 3.5 mg 11/11/2021; 7.5 mg (up 200%) 12/6/2021; 6.75 mg 1/17/2022; 6.00 mg 2/21/2022; 5.62 mg 3/21/2022; 4.87 mg 4/25/2022; 4.50 mg 5/30/2022; 4.13 mg 7/5/2022; 3.75 mg 8/1/2022; 3.38 mg 9/7/2022; 3.00 mg 10/5/2022; 2.63 mg 11/02/2022; 2.25 mg 12/1/2022; 1.88 mg 1/5/2023; 1.50 mg 2/9/2023; 1.13 mg 3/16/2023; 0.75 mg 4/20/2023; ZERO mg 5/5/2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Gridley Posted November 1, 2019 Moderator Share Posted November 1, 2019 4 hours ago, LarryS said: Also must say that I'm retired and age 71. So my age is also likely a factor. I'm sure both are factors. What you're experiencing are common WD symptoms. I have a lot of fatigue too. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of taper at 2.75mg Current dose as of Feb. 25, 2023 2mg Taper is 89% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan-Sept 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Taper is 87% complete. Supplements: omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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