MarieTea: introducing myself

[MarieTea]

Hello future friends,

 

I'm based in Brussels, Belgium at the moment. I am here because I've been tapering venlafaxine since June 2018. Started at 225mg (see more info in my bio section).

I am completely stalled at 75mg. I tried a micro taper taking out one tiny bead from my Effexor XR 75mg capsule. But it brought on terrible unbearable withdrawal symptoms. It seems I have become hyper sensitive to this drug. I think it might have to do with a kindling effect (tapering quickly before in the past when I didn't know better) and the fact I'm a Highly Sensitive Person perhaps.

The drop I did from 82mg to 75mg completely floored me for 9 months. I was unable to work during that time and was bed-ridden 50% of the time. I had flu symptoms, depression, severe anxiety, severe insomnia, dizziness, IBS symptoms, lack of energy, no motivation, severe headaches. It was MUCH worse than any of my depression or anxiety symptoms before. In short, it was hell. And even a drop of one tiny bead sends me back to this hell. It's so unfair and I'm so mad. So angry to have ever been prescribed this drug in the first place. I'm sure many can relate to that. Especially as it's never even helped me. How absurd.

 

In any case, I feel very stuck. I would like to come off completely because I would like to try for a baby. And ideally, I don't want to be on this stuff. I think the only option for me now is to try bridging to prozac? That's the only thing I can think of. I will see a psychiatrist soon to discuss with them. Any advice or insights welcome. I feel I am being kept hostage by this drug. I cannot afford (either financially or otherwise) any more time off my work and my life - I'm doing a PhD and I need to finish it by 2021. So, yeah. I'm feeling very trapped these days.

 

Thanks so much for reading!

 

Best wishes,

Marie

 

PS. How do I post in the venlafaxine/Effexor thread? I went to the thread but couldn't see how I could post there.

[Sassenach]

Hello     Marie      and welcome to SA.

 

This site is run entirely by volunteer Administrators and Moderators, all have been through or going through withdrawal.

There are no commercial interests or influences  involved .

 

I am sorry you are having such a rough time but you are now in the right place.

 

What are your current symptoms?

dr-joseph-glenmullens-withdrawal-symptom-checklist/

 

Are you taking any supplements or any med other than Venlafaxine at present?

Your taper from 225mgs to 75mgs was much too fast, please see

why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

It is important to note that we recommend a maximum taper of 10% of current dose, not original dose.

You are suffering from A/D withdrawal because of your original taper.

Your CNS ( central nervous system ) is destabilised and even the smallest reduction in dose is destabilising it further.

On 10/25/2019 at 3:21 PM, MarieTea said:

I think the only option for me now is to try bridging to prozac?

This would not be a good idea until you can calm your CNS.

The best way to do that is keep your current dose to enable your brain to catch up.

It is possible that an updose could help but I would need to refer to senior mods, if you want to look at that possibility.

Please see the links below to explain what is happening to you.

the-windows-and-waves-pattern-of-stabilization/

about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/

In the meantime DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGE TO YOUR CURRENT MEDS please.

Please feel free to browse the site, it is a wealth of info.

Other members threads will give you an insight and the opportunity to share experiences.

 

Again welcome.

 

Sassenach

 

 

 

[MarieTea]

Thanks a lot, Sassenach.

 

Yeah, you're completely right that my initial taper was way too fast. I didn't know about the 10% rule back then. And at first it actually went okay - but I was too impatient and went too fast (not knowing the harm that could occur!)

Anyway, I've been at 75mg since December 2018 so don't want to up-dose. It took me 9 months at 75mg for my brain/CNS to catch up and to feel well again.

Just recently trying the micro taper has thrown me into withdrawal again. Just one tiny bead twice.. and that was enough to bring it back on (albeit not as severe as before).

 

On 10/26/2019 at 8:13 PM, Sassenach said:

What are your current symptoms?

dr-joseph-glenmullens-withdrawal-symptom-checklist/

 

So my current symptoms are: worsened mood, lack of energy, anxiety, palpitations, chest pain (because of anxiety), shaking (anxiety), memory problems, concentration problems, headache, IBS problems, insomnia, brain fog...

 

I think anxiety is the main overall symptom right now. I feel anxious all the time. I sleep very badly. And then feel very tired. Headache is alo a big problem.

 

You're right - I don't think I should try bridging until I feel much better again. Thanks for reminding me of that.

 

Thanks for your help! Much appreciated!

[MarieTea]

Oh re. other drugs or supplements - I take vitamin D, and lavendar oil capsules. Very occasionally if I really cannot sleep, and I'm very anxious, I will take a benzodiazepine. I try to only do this a couple of times a week when it's really urgent. I don't feel this is a danger for me as I'm not the type of personality to easily become addicted. I know it's not ideal. But at times I have no choice.

 

Let me know if you need to know anything else 🙂

[Sassenach]

Hi Marie

 

4 hours ago, MarieTea said:

I try to only do this a couple of times a week when it's really urgent. I don't feel this is a danger for me as I'm not the type of personality to easily become addicted.

Unfortunately benzos are extremely addictive and taking them occasionally can exacerbate W/D symptoms.

When do you take vitamin D.

Do you take it because of a diagnosed deficiency?

"Some anecdotal reports claim that taking vitamin D at night can negatively influence sleep quality by interfering with melatonin production."

4 hours ago, MarieTea said:

Just one tiny bead twice.. and that was enough to bring it back on (albeit not as severe as before).

This indicates that your CNS is still in disarray and a long hold will be necessary so it is case of making the best of this period.

Slep is obviously a very important factor.

We only recommend two supplements on this site, one of which is Melotonin, the bodies own sleep inducing hormone.

Please see

melatonin-for-sleep/?do=findComment&comment=1453

It can be taken regularly and is only a booster for the body's natural production.

It is also available instant and extended release formulas.

Do you drink coffee, if so is it decaf?

Good sleep hygiene is also essential.

Regular bedtime.

No TV, phone etc. one hour before bed.

Let me know what you think.

 

Sassenach

Fully darkened room.

 

[MarieTea]

Yes, I take vitamin D because of a diagnosed deficiency. I take it in the morning.

I don't drink coffee.

I have excellent "sleep hygiene" to be honest. But no amount of "sleep hygiene" is going to cure my (at times) severe anxiety.

I have tried melatonin tablets many times but it has never has any effect whatsoever.

I respectfully disagree. What really exacerbates my symptoms is not sleeping. So unfortunately, when it's really bad, an anti-anxiety tablet is the only thing that helps. I've had them for emergency only since 2013. Yes, some people can quickly become addicted. But it's not been the case for me.

 

 

[hippiechick95]

Hi MarieTea,

So sorry to hear you're going through all this.  Yeah, not sleeping well can really make everything harder. Brain fog and insomnia can go together too.  It makes sense, given all you're going through, that you'd be feeling this way.

 

I don't know whether this suggestion will be helpful or not, so get your salt shaker out for a grain of salt!  I did Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) for just 6 weeks (usually takes 10-12 weeks), and it was a miracle. It was a pain-in-the-butt miracle, but it worked so well for insomnia. I'm still on a sleep drug (trazodone) but want to get off of it, because now I know I don't need it, and I was having insomnia while on it anyway. 

 

And you're right, sleep hygiene is great for preventing insomnia, but it won't fix it if you already have insomnia (or so said my sleep therapist). CBT-I takes a different approach to strengthening the body's sleep drive, though it often means short-term (a few days) not getting enough sleep so that in the long term (a couple weeks) you get solid, healthy sleep. (But many on this forum seem willing to go through short-term pain for long-term gain in getting to be drug free.) It's like re-training your brain to sleep.  My sleep therapist was really opposed to people using benzos and z-drugs, and really wanted to help people get off them.  (He didn't mess with my trazodone because it's also an AD.)  But, I don't know how educated any sleep therapists are about withdrawal from other kinds of psych meds. 

 

I don't know how to find sleep therapists in Brussels, since I'm in the US and did mine in Minnesota, but you might be able to find something through the European Sleep Research Society: https://esrs.eu/links/    Also, here is a link to find European sleep specialists who use behavioral treatment, not drugs: https://www.behavioralsleep.org/index.php/european-sbsm-members   None are listed in Belgium, but perhaps someone in a neighboring country would be able to tell you where to look?  

 

Wishing you a good recovery.