JessB: feeling stuck tapering Effexor

[Colonial]

6 minutes ago, JessB said:

@Colonial I know I’ll never get an exception. I am borderline still trying to figure out if I would choose to loose my job over it. I have a lot of thinking to do. My boss has agreed I don’t have to get it as long as it’s not mandated. I have until the dental colleges of Ontario mandate it. Which I don’t think they will to be honest. But I’m just a sitting duck until then! 

 

Keep playing the lottery. 😉

 

[JessB]

Today marks 1 year since my own personal hell started! I will never forget this day / week. 1 year holding around 150 micro beads 😰

@Colonial

[Colonial]

Anniversary's are hard. It's a combination of the life you lost and wondering how long until your stable and figure out whatever the rest of your new life will look like and what your able to attain in that new paradigm.

 

"One day at a time" is difficult because the cortisol keeps making your brain to produce thoughts to both look ahead for new threats and to problem solve getting out of where you are.

[JessB]

@Coloniali actually have been fairly stable for majority of this past year. A lot of things throw me back into cog. Fog or anxiety, but I want to say at least 75% 80% of the year I’ve been stable. 
With the usual waves and windows. Maybe I’m being generous because I’m just ending a window. But when it’s bad, it’s bad. 
a lot of self reflection for sure! ❤️

[JessB]

Hello! 
I’m not sure if I’m supposed to tag - or not. And I’m not sure exactly who to tag, as I have mainly been talking with colonial.

hoping someone sees this, also using as a log of symptoms.

I am doing fairly well. I have been stable for over 8 weeks after a few waves, and then increased anxiety after a monthly cycle.

 

[ChessieCat]

There is no need to tag unless it is urgent and it is related to psychiatric drugs or tapering.

 

If you are just making a post as a journal, I suggest that you state at the start of the update

 

Update: 

 

xxxx xxxxx xxxxx

 

that way the mods can easily see that you are not requiring assistance.

 

If you have a question please make it clear.  For example:

 

Q:  xxxx   xxxxx   xxxxx

 

Doing this makes it easier for the mods to see without having to read all through your post.  It's not that the mods are lazy but SA is a very busy site with a small staff and the mods do a lot of reading of posts.  The mods are unpaid peers who help members as they can, and most of them are also on their own tapering/post tapering/withdrawal journeys.  So we appreciate it when members post clearly.  😊

[JessB]

I have been stable for 13 weeks now. And holding on my 6th month! 
booked vaccine for this Friday.

here’s hoping 🍻

[JessB]

6 days post-first vaccine. Doing great! 
Still nervous to take the 2nd. 
can’t wait to be vaccinated and start tapering again! 
 

[JessB]

Tomorrow is 2 weeks post vaccine and I’m still doing great! 
still can’t wait to get fully vaccinated and start tapering. I held through Xmas and until I get the vaccine over with to restart my tapering journey. 
currently going on 7 months holding, and 16 week window little or no symptoms. Greatest decision I’ve ever made to have an extended hold after suffering so much! 
using this as a journal entry to track myself!

[JessB]

Question:

Received my second covid vaccine yesterday. So far doing well! On/off fatigue and a sore arm is all I can report. So glad it’s over with can’t wait to move forward, as this was a huge stressor for me!

 

how long would one recommend to continue to hold after vaccine to start to taper? I was thinking first weekend of March? Also, given my history, and then my current successes with holding for 7 months, what would someone recommend be a good initial drop? 1 bead again? 
thanks! 

[JessB]

Question for anyone …

I have passed 2 weeks since my second vax and feel fine.

I am having anxiety about restarting my taper since holding since July 2021.

I have approx 17 beads until I reach next recognized dose of 37.5mg of the Effexor. And cannot wait to get there. 
should I start my taper with 1 bead? Also- when I reach 37.5, is it safe to switch to the 37.5 capsules to avoid counting? I have full intentions of holding for a long time at that dose. 

[JessB]

@Altostrata @ChessieCat I apologize for tagging. I don’t think my posts are showing up anywhere for anyone to respond. Non urgent of course ❤️

[Altostrata]

Congratulations on protecting yourself with the vaccinations. Fear of it has been vastly overblown.

 

2 hours ago, JessB said:

should I start my taper with 1 bead? Also- when I reach 37.5, is it safe to switch to the 37.5 capsules to avoid counting?

 

Yes, you can do that. How are you measuring your dosage of venlafaxine?

[JessB]

@Altostrata thank you, it was a major trigger for me. 
 

I am counting beads. 

[Altostrata]

What has been your reduction schedule? Are you getting withdrawal symptoms after you reduce?

[JessB]

@Altostrata prior to dec 2020 it was 5% every 4 weeks with mild nausea lasting about a week. Then I crashed and got really sick from a 5% taper. I held 4 months and tapered 1 bead a month 4 months in a row. I would just feel off for a few days to a week. Then I held from July 2021-current because life got in the way I just wanted to be stable for a while. Some waves lasting about a week, but have not had a wave since Halloween 2021. 

[JessB]

@Altostrata colonial was on a hunch prior about possible hormone issues being the cause for being unable to taper successfully  and possible issues that I take seasonal allergy pills for severe hay fever (which will be starting again in may) 

[Altostrata]

You're probably in a better place now to try a decrease of one bead, see how it goes.

[JessB]

Thank you @Altostrata! 

[JessB]

I have a question about antihistamines. 
I have had a seasonal prescription for Rupall that I’ve taken for years for severe hay fever. I have asthma so hay fever triggers my asthma and I usually end up at the ER without it. My worst months are may-July. 
there are no drug interactions between Effexor and Rupall. 
I took it last year with no issues. And with spring coming up I know I’m to start it soon again. 
what is everyone’s thoughts on this? 

[ChessieCat]

There are many existing topics on SA.  You can use the site search function or use an internet search engine and add site:survivingantidepressants.org to the search term.

 

There is a topic about antihistamines here:

 

allergies-sneezing-stuffed-up-nose-sinus-antihistamines-and-what-to-use-for-allergy-relief

 

[JessB]

I decreased a bead this weekend! No symptoms 🎉 I don’t know where to go from here but I am so proud! 

[JessB]

@Altostrata I have been digging through this website for hours over the past few days and trying to gather as much information as possible. I’m really looking into brass monkey slide method. I’m not sure if I’m a good candidate. I think I will hold this one bead taper longer probably about a month before making firm decision. But might be the gentler taper method I need. What are your thoughts given my history? 

[Altostrata]

If you're taking more than 40mg Effexor, you can probably decrease by 1 bead at whatever intervals may be comfortable for a long time, until you get to 10mg or less.

 

Strongly recommend keeping notes of your reductions and post-reduction symptom pattern changes. This will guide you in determining what rate of taper you can tolerate.

[JessB]

@Altostrata well… I went down a bead on March 19, and another March 31. I was too apprehensive to go down 1 bead a week. 
today being day three, I am weepy and dizzy. Day 1 and 2 I just had headaches. 
I feel so defeated. I can’t believe this is happening again from 1 bead. I’m never going to make it. 
please excuse my weepy rant. 

[Altostrata]

How long do these withdrawal symptoms last after a decrease of 1 bead?

[JessB]

@Altostrata the first bead I had no symptoms, none at all. The second bead they just progressively got worse and I went back up today out of fear 😞

[JessB]

@Altostrata I have never had such severe symptoms from 1 bead. In the past I would feel off and a few headaches for a week. This one felt catastrophic, desperation, depression, fits of crying, throwing up, nausea, dizziness. I feel so lost and stuck, and helpless in this situation. I don’t know where to turn anymore. 

[Altostrata]

March 24, you said you had no symptoms. You tried again March 31. 

 

Perhaps your reduction interval is one bead every 2 weeks.

 

You are extraordinarily sensitive to Effexor reduction. For these situations, doctors will often switch people to another antidepressant, usually fluoxetine (and sometimes citalopram), as a "bridge". See The Prozac switch or "bridging" with fluoxetine

[JessB]

@Altostrata and what happens in those situations of bridging? I don’t want to loose my job, and house, and become disabled. I’d rather go back up than risk my sanity. 

[Altostrata]

Please read the link I gave you.

[JessB]

@Altostrata I mean the success rate. The individuals who do bridge.
 

I have read this article. I am familiar with bridging as my doctor is also suggesting I bridge.  

but are the odds in my favor? What do you normally see? 

[ChessieCat]

43 minutes ago, JessB said:

but are the odds in my favor? What do you normally see? 

 

We are all an experiment where N=1.  There is no way to predict what might happen.

[JessB]

@ChessieCat that is the best way to put it for sure! 
I have some thinking to do that’s for sure. 
I just wish I knew more stats, successful % rate. 

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, JessB said:

 that is the best way to put it for sure! 

 

I've "stolen" it from Alto!

[JessB]

@ChessieCat @Altostrata I have a doc appointment on Wednesday to discuss. Not entirely thrilled with the idea given the risks, but I need to make some moves. I have a week off following the long weekend in may and that is when I will drop the Effexor. 
I will keep you all updated.