Currently Tapering Venlafaxine at 8.5 % on Lexapro 10 mg horrible anxiety

[Eileenm]

Hi everyone,

My name is Eileen, I am 56 and I have been tapering from Venlafaxine 10 % every 30 days since I reinstated in March 2020 at 37.5 mgs.  I had been on Prestiq 50mgs for about 15 years and switched over so I could taper.  I added Lamictal 10 mg in May 2020 because I couldn't function enough to go to work.  My anxiety has been awful all the way through.  I had tapered May of 2019-December 2019 from 37.5 to zero and quickly learned how bad that was.  I tried going to a holistic psychiatrist trying supplements and herbs but had to reinstate it was so bad.  

I had shingles in June 2021 and put on various meds for pain for less than a month.  Gabapentin, tylenol, oxycodon, I even tried pot.  Anyway I am also on Adderall 15 mg. as needed for ADHD ( which helps calm me down until it wears off ).  My question is should I hold until the anxiety wears off before I taper again?  I am using a compounding pharmacy so I can taper at any reduction. I have only held one month because I am stubborn but my life for the last 2 years has been a ball of anxiety, poor sleep, restless legs and achy joints.  

Currently on Venlafaxine 8.5mg, Lexapro 10 mg Adderall 15 mgs ( take about 5 times a week ).  Supplements include MagEnhance 468 mg ( Mag L Threonate, Mag Glycinate and Mag Taurate combined) I have a supergreens powder that I put in a morning smoothie, Vitamin D 5000mg ( currrently take 1 weekly) I drink Flaxmilk daily that contains 1200 mgs Omega 3.  Is there anything else recommended to ease anxiety?

Thanks so much!

[Onmyway]

Welcome to SA @Eileenm

sorry to hear you have been dealing with anxiety. Can you please create a signature so we can be on the same page regarding your medication/supplement history - this will help us advise you quickly.

How to List Drug History in Signature - Introductions and updates - Surviving Antidepressants

 

Venlafaxine is a tough drug to taper and based on your symptoms, which sound like common WD symptoms, it seems like your body needs more time to catch up to to the tapering. I would suggest that you not make any changes for a while - a few months perhaps. That should calm down some of the withdrawal symptoms to more manageable levels. 

 

I would also suggest that you lower your vitD dose by a lot - it is activating (anxiety/on edge feeling) for many people with a sensitized nervous system like us. Yours seems to have been sensitized even further by withdrawing, reinstating and a bunch of other neuroactive drugs for the shingles and the ADHD meds are throwing a wrench a few times a week and not allowing for stability. I wonder if it would be better if you took them more consistently. (But I don't feel competent on that front to advise you to do that, just following the principle of keep it stable and simple). Similarly, how many tablets of the magnesium supplement are you taking? While we recommend magnesium, some people may find that quantity too much. Are you taking just one tablet? 

 

Below is some more information for you: 

What is happening in your brain? - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants

 

In the meantime, please also check out these forums, you might find some good tips: 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants

Success stories: Recovery from psychiatric drug withdrawal - Surviving Antidepressants

 

Hope you feel better soon Eileen, 

OMW

 

Edited September 22, 2021 by Onmyway

[Eileenm]

Hi OMW,

Thank you @Onmyway for responding!!  I will get my list together and post it.  I take 3 tablets of MagEnhance which equals 468mg.  I took so much Vit D because I have an issue absorbing it, however I've been doing that long before I decided to taper and had no idea it would counter act so I will get a lower dose.  I did some reading on the Adderall and think I should just taper off that.  I only went on it earlier this year.  Thank you for the suggestions as well.

Eileen