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kostakonkordia: My forced marriage with venlafaxine


kostakonkordia

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Hello, my name ist Kosta i live in Vienna and I'm 21 years old. 

 

My introduction, 

 

When I was 16 my mother deported me to the psychiatrist because she couldn't handle my anger towards her. They prescribed me Escitalopram, I don't know how much...

 

Then two years later they changed my meds to venlafaxin because i did nothing but sleep all day.

 

From November 2019 to March 2021 i "tapered" my venla****sin every other month by 37,5mg. I had no or just very little w/d symptoms until I jumped from 37,5 to 0. My w/d was ok, for one week I've had some dizziness and brain fog. After a month I had a severe panic attack followed by another a month later which threw me into severe depression. From November last year(2020) to march 2021 I've tapered by 10% of the initial dose. Then I discovered this side and I use the hyperbolic tapering now. Since then I didn't really try to taper much because I'm really scared of the withdrawal symptoms although I usually don't have them that sever. The problem is I'm in a pretty bad mood right now.(I was in a psychosomatic rehabilitation two weeks ago). I have severe anxiety because memories from my past are haunting me and i fear I will never be able to quit venla and I have to kill myselfe or someone else in the end. 

 

The 10% rule did me good i had no withdrawal symptoms, although I don't know if the current anxiety has something to do with my last reduction a month ago. I've had this kind of anxiety also when i didn't taper but since my breakdown after jumping to cero in 2020 I kind of feel like having a trauma from the withdrawal. 

 

So my question is, what's the right time to taper and if i have no w/d symptoms would you advice to taper faster like a cut every three or two weeks with a week hold in between like brassmonkey?

 

My current dose: around 50mg 

 

190mg of bits weighted by my digital scale. 

 

Greetings 

Kosta 

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added spacing

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to kostakonkordia: My forced marriage with venlafaxine
  • Moderator

Hi @kostakonkordia and welcome.

 

Sorry to hear about your family problems.  My mother was always "I'm concerned that you're angry!" never "Why are you angry?"

 

Thanks for creating your drug history in your signature.  Can you please list your dosage changes and dates there since November 2020?  

 

How long have you been at 50mg?

 

It sounds like the best thing you could do is hold there for some time, as your body will still be catching up from your linear cuts.  If you liked, you could map out what your taper would look like if you'd started with the hyperbolic curve, and estimate when you would have got to 50mg that way.  The gap there will explain some discomfort.

 

Anxiety is a very common symptom after a cut.  I always found if it persisted that was my body telling me the cut was too big, or too soon.

 

Generally it is unwise to make the next cut until you are feeling stable, ok and wd-normal.  I found brass monkey's slide taper worked very well for my withdrawal.  It's a good method to look at when you're ready.

 

I will post some links for you momentarily.

Edited by hayduke

I am not a health professional - your actions are your own.  

Please do not seek tapering support via private message - "Any reason to hold is a good one"

My taper visualised as a graph   |   My intro thread

Backdrop:  2003 10mg olanzapine | 2004 2-3mg risperidone | end 2014 3wks aripiprazole

2015: olanzapine  10 -> 7½ -> 6⅔ -> 5mg  by crude pill cutter

2018:  Mar 5.00mg -> water titrated taper -> Aug2.5mg tablet and hold

Jan 2019 2.50mg water titration -> Jan 2020 1.214  -> Jan 2021 0.44 -> 2 Oct 0.205 ->3 Oct ZERO🥂

Jun 2023 💉150mg paliperidone "loading" depot shot, 100mg 1wk after Jul 100mg Aug-Dec 75mg/4wks

Jul 2023 2.50mg aripiprazole/day attempt to lower prolactin^

Jan-Feb 2024 cross taper off shots to 1mg risperidone

 

Ask not what you can do for your country, but what your country did to you"  -- KMFDM

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  • Moderator

 

You may also wish to find a supportive trauma-informed clinical psychologist to help you with your anxiety, family situation and withdrawal.

Edited by hayduke

I am not a health professional - your actions are your own.  

Please do not seek tapering support via private message - "Any reason to hold is a good one"

My taper visualised as a graph   |   My intro thread

Backdrop:  2003 10mg olanzapine | 2004 2-3mg risperidone | end 2014 3wks aripiprazole

2015: olanzapine  10 -> 7½ -> 6⅔ -> 5mg  by crude pill cutter

2018:  Mar 5.00mg -> water titrated taper -> Aug2.5mg tablet and hold

Jan 2019 2.50mg water titration -> Jan 2020 1.214  -> Jan 2021 0.44 -> 2 Oct 0.205 ->3 Oct ZERO🥂

Jun 2023 💉150mg paliperidone "loading" depot shot, 100mg 1wk after Jul 100mg Aug-Dec 75mg/4wks

Jul 2023 2.50mg aripiprazole/day attempt to lower prolactin^

Jan-Feb 2024 cross taper off shots to 1mg risperidone

 

Ask not what you can do for your country, but what your country did to you"  -- KMFDM

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  • 2 weeks later...

@hayduke

 

Thanks for you're answer!!! 

 

I've been on 50mg for a 1,5 to 2 months or so. 

 

I think I held my dose prior to that for about halfe a year or so because I was to scared to taper off again. 

 

I don't think my anxiety is taper related because my last cut was 1,5 months ago and i made my linear cuts 6 months ago or so... 

 

Im thinking of bridging Venlafaxin with Escitalopram. I took Escitalopram years ago maybe this would make it easier. 

 

What do you think of this idea? 

 

Btw, are you from the balkans because haiduk is balkan (serbian) word?

 

Greetings Kosta

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added spacing

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

Venlafaxin Escitalopram bridge

 

Hello,

 

I have a question

 

I'm thinking about bridging venla with Escitalopram. 

 

I took esci a few years ago before my doc switched me to venla so my body knows Escitalopram. I didn't have any problems switching to venla that time. 

 

I didn't have very big problems with tapering off venla eather just when I jumped from 37mg to 0 last year I've had some severe panic attacks which were unbearable. Then the doc reinstated 150mg venla. 

 

My question is what do you say to this idea?

 

Could it ease out the severe anxiety and wd problems? 

 

Greetings 

 

Kosta

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added Intro topic title before merging with intro topic

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

I have merged your new Introduction topic with your original Introduction topic.  Each member has only ONE Introduction topic.  Your Introduction topic is the best place to ask questions specific to your own situation and where you can journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means that you do not have to repeat your story. 

 

Please do not create a new Introduction topic.  Thank you.

 

Q:  Why did change from escitalopram to venlafaxine in 2018?

 

It is not a good idea to keep changing drugs and going on and off your drugs and stopping your drug too quickly.  The brain likes consistency and the effect of changing things (both drug and dose) is cumulative.  Just because you were able to do something before does not mean that it will work next time.

 

We do not what will happen if you change from venlafaxine to escitalopram.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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@ChessieCat

Sorry I didn't know that...

 

My doctor changed my medication because I was getting more depressed, wasn't working or going to school just sleeping all day. 

 

I was 18 at that time and a fool, didn't take my medication regularly. I knew I had withdrawal symptoms from taking it in unregularly but I couldn't care less at that time. 

 

My parents were worried so they sent me to this Dr. whom changed my meds to venla 150mg.

 

I just hate venla sooooo much because I had some severe panic attacks when I tried to stop it the first time. And since then I have ocd and constant anxiety. 

 

I'm not sure if I should start tapering again because of my mental state. Any advice? And I don't know if the fear is w/d or not. It's just confusing. 

 

I'm going to a buddisth monetary soon, I hope there I can learn to better cope with w/d symptoms. 

And I wanted to ask if there are many people who succeeded tapering venlafaxin?

 

Thank you very much for you're support it is unbelievable how much you do for people. 

 

I'm currently in contact with a antipsychiatric peer support group and we are planning to open a escape house from psychiatry. Advicing how to taper and for people which have a taper related or non related psychic crisis. We are planning to open it here in Vienna.(But we are far from realising it because the financialisation is a problem). There is a similar one in Berlin called "Weglaufhaus" if you are interested. 

 

Greeting 

Kosta

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added spacing

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

@ChessieCat@hayduke

 

Btw congrats to you're successful tapers!!!! How are you both doing so far? 

Greetings

Kosta

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
1 hour ago, kostakonkordia said:

And I wanted to ask if there are many people who succeeded tapering venlafaxin?

 

These links are the results from searching in the Success Stories forum for venlafaxine and effexor.  There may be some that appear in both search results.

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q=venlafaxine&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=28

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q=effexor&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=28

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Please answer these questions:

 

Q:  Are you taking the same dose every day at about the same time?

 

Q:  Are you taking any supplements?  If yes, what are they?

 

Q:  Do you drink alcohol?

 

Q:  Do you take any illicit drugs?

 

Q:  Do you get regular sleep?

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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@ChessieCat

Q1: No, I take it in the afternoon I think that is a problem... And not always at the same time. Between 2.pm and 8.pm is the time span sometimes even later. 

Q2: No. I took omega 3 some times but not currently. 

Q3: Rarely, and if very little a Glas of wine or a beer. 

Q4: No

Q5: If by regular sleep you mean a sleep schedule that also a no. I sleep fairly good but I go to bed very late and wake up late and I get anxiety when I wake up.

Thanks for you're answer and the success story's. Although it seems there are not as much venlafaxin success story's as with other drugs... 

Greetings 

Kosta

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
47 minutes ago, kostakonkordia said:

Q1: No, I take it in the afternoon I think that is a problem... And not always at the same time. Between 2.pm and 8.pm is the time span sometimes even later. 

 

Taking your dose at different times can cause issues.  If you take it at 2pm one day and then the next you take it at 8pm then that is 30 hours.

 

So the first thing you need to do is pick a time when you can take your dose every day.

 

48 minutes ago, kostakonkordia said:

Q5: If by regular sleep you mean a sleep schedule that also a no. I sleep fairly good but I go to bed very late and wake up late and I get anxiety when I wake up.

 

Improving your sleep pattern might help improve things.  You could do this by bringing your bed time forward by 1/2 hour every 3-5 days.

 

48 minutes ago, kostakonkordia said:

Although it seems there are not as much venlafaxin success story's as with other drugs... 

 

People who get off their drugs successfully don't always post success stories.  Just like you don't stay in hospital when you get well, I think that there would be a lot of people who get information from SA about how to taper and don't bother staying around.  In most cases it is the members who are experiencing difficulties who keep posting.  The ones who have managed to taper with very little issues probably don't give much thought to coming back to SA.  If I wasn't a moderator I probably would have stopped visiting and posting on SA a long time ago.

 

And you don't have to just look at success stories from people getting off the same drug as you.  I took my last dose of Pristiq on 12th November 2021.  Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) is a very similar drug to Effexor (venlafaxine).

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Thanks for you're answer and you're advice. I will follow the things you told me and see if it changes. That's a bit sad that people don't post their success story's,it could help alot of people like me stay motivated.I'm looking forward to write mine some day.

 

And would you advice to start taper again even if I'm a bit unstable emotionally right now?

 

And how can you become a moderator? 

 

And how are you doing with youre final cut?

 

I hope that are not to much questions I'm just interested because I'm involved in a tapering peer group here in Vienna so we need every bit of expiriece and every bit of advice we can grasp on. 

 

I wish you all the best

 

Yourse 

Kosta 

 

Edited by ChessieCat
extracted response from quote and added spacing

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
14 minutes ago, kostakonkordia said:

And would you advice to start taper again even if I'm a bit unstable emotionally right now?

 

It is important not to taper again until you are stable.  And this is not just about what withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing.  It's also about the current situation you are in.  For example, if you are not well, or are going through a stressful time (some members hold over the Christmas / New Year holiday season), relationship and financial issues, travelling, changing jobs, losing a close relative/friend/pet:

 

Stability

 

WDnormal

 

Moderator brassmonkey has written more about WDnormal in his Success Story:

 

tao-of-the-brassmonkey

 

17 minutes ago, kostakonkordia said:

And how are you doing with youre final cut?

 

So far so good, thank you for asking.  It's been 3 weeks at 0mg now.

 

18 minutes ago, kostakonkordia said:

That's a bit sad that people don't post their success story's,it could help alot of people like me stay motivated.

 

Yes it is very sad, but if a person has had a successful taper with hardly any issues, then the tapering just fades into the background and they get on with their life.  Occasionally there will be a member who hasn't been on SA for many years who will suddenly have something that reminds them that they we on SA and they will come back and update their topic.

 

Also, some members have recovered but don't write a success story.

 

When a member is still on their drug but have improved a lot and are in the process of recovering their Introduction topic is given a "Here Comes the Sun" symbol .

 

Use an internet search engine and use this as the search term:

 

site:survivingantidepressants.org ☼ effexor venlafaxine desvenlafaxine pristiq

 

This will find members on venlafaxine and pristiq who have a sun symbol.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment

@ChessieCat

OK thank you, 

I went out for a walk with my mom today, and it was kind of awful. 

I'm so sensitive I can't even speak or concentrate. I was in the city yesterday and it was kind of overwhelming for me I felt like getting a panic attack or loosing myselfe. 

And I'm in a constant depersonalisation. I'm feeling the best when I stay in bed or I'm alone looking at my phone. I'm sooo disconnected with people feeling like I'm in a constant dream. 

But how is this possible that this is related to my last taper? 

When I reduced by 10% I didn't have any acute w/d symptoms. 

But these kind of phenomenon is getting worse with time... 

I was in school last week and it felt so overwhelming like a big weight was on my body. 

Also the light seems so change in some strange kind of way at the evening. Like it's getting darker or something. 

But the worst part is noone believes me and my parents tell me I need to go to the psychiatrist and medication is obligatory for me. 

But when I was in the rehab clinic for two months I felt a little better but my anxiety was still high. 

It's like this since I first tried to stop venla 1,5 years ago. And it's kinda getting worse. Maybe because feelings are also coming back, like anxiety. 

Do you think that is w/d? 

I hope in not going on you're nerves I'm just very hopeless and tired with my situation right now, everything feels like it's getting worse...

Greetings 

Kosta

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

@ChessieCat

My dose reduction was like 5 weeks ago. But my mental health was prior to that bad too. It's like slowly getting worse. My linear/clear cuts were I think 6-7 month ago. Between that and my first 10% percent hyperbolic taper I only reduced once for about 5% 2 months ago or do, I don't really remember... 

I think I have to find myself a job, that could probably help me. 

 

Im looking forward to you're answer,

Kosta 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
20 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Taking your dose at different times can cause issues.  If you take it at 2pm one day and then the next you take it at 8pm then that is 30 hours.

 

So the first thing you need to do is pick a time when you can take your dose every day.

 

After you start taking your dose at a regular time you might find that the symptoms reduce.  It may take some time for this to happen.  You will need to be patient during the waiting time.

 

Please do not tag me for any reason.  I assist members as I am able to.  Thank you.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Moderator
On 12/5/2021 at 12:20 AM, kostakonkordia said:

 

I don't think my anxiety is taper related because my last cut was 1,5 months ago and i made my linear cuts 6 months ago or so... 

 

Im thinking of bridging Venlafaxin with Escitalopram. I took Escitalopram years ago maybe this would make it easier. 

 

What do you think of this idea? 

 

Btw, are you from the balkans because haiduk is balkan (serbian) word?

 

Greetings Kosta

 

Nope and nope.  As ChessieCat covered, you will want to stabilise where you are then plan tapering off.  Anything else is just creating more problems.  From my first post:

 

On 11/25/2021 at 5:53 PM, hayduke said:

 

It sounds like the best thing you could do is hold there for some time, as your body will still be catching up from your linear cuts.  If you liked, you could map out what your taper would look like if you'd started with the hyperbolic curve, and estimate when you would have got to 50mg that way.  The gap there will explain some discomfort.

 

You are still feeling withdrawal because you cut too much too soon.  This means it takes your body longer to catch up to what it can handle.  It's also more uncomfortable, so best to hold till it's not.

 

I suggest having a good read of the non drug coping thread in my second post in your thread, and trying to relax and get comfortable using ideas from there if you don't already have good ways.  Then take some time to review and process the info we've given you here so far.  
 

It gets difficult for everyone when people start repeating themselves.

 

On 11/25/2021 at 1:13 PM, kostakonkordia said:

(I was in a psychosomatic rehabilitation two weeks ago). I have severe anxiety because memories from my past are haunting me

 

What's that?  I posted a suggestion for therapy you might find helpful here previously.

I am not a health professional - your actions are your own.  

Please do not seek tapering support via private message - "Any reason to hold is a good one"

My taper visualised as a graph   |   My intro thread

Backdrop:  2003 10mg olanzapine | 2004 2-3mg risperidone | end 2014 3wks aripiprazole

2015: olanzapine  10 -> 7½ -> 6⅔ -> 5mg  by crude pill cutter

2018:  Mar 5.00mg -> water titrated taper -> Aug2.5mg tablet and hold

Jan 2019 2.50mg water titration -> Jan 2020 1.214  -> Jan 2021 0.44 -> 2 Oct 0.205 ->3 Oct ZERO🥂

Jun 2023 💉150mg paliperidone "loading" depot shot, 100mg 1wk after Jul 100mg Aug-Dec 75mg/4wks

Jul 2023 2.50mg aripiprazole/day attempt to lower prolactin^

Jan-Feb 2024 cross taper off shots to 1mg risperidone

 

Ask not what you can do for your country, but what your country did to you"  -- KMFDM

Link to comment
  • 4 weeks later...

@hayduke

A psychosomatic clinic is a rehabilitation centre where you have psychotherapy. In Austria at least it's called like that. Maybe in other country's its called something else... 

I have followed you're advice and I'm taking my meds every morning at 11 am. I got some acne and my derealisation is worse. 

It feels like my eyes are swollen and I'm in a still dream like situation. 

It's like am withdrawing from all people and humanity and nothing moves me. I kind of feel like a awful person who will kill someone or myself in the tapering process and that scares me. I have to say that makes me kind of suicidal and really sad and I'm constantly obsessing with the meds topic... But I've stopped smoking today and I'm going to learn meditation from a buddisth monk here in Vienna and start making sports, that's some good news. 

I'm not sure if I asked you that but my last cut of 10 percent was ez to handle not w/d at all, can I speed up the process then? Like every three weeks 10 percent. 

Please read the following article from mad in America:

https://www.madinamerica.com/2021/12/tapering-antidepressants-slow-best-strategy/

Greetings

Kosta 

 

 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

Hi. I don’t think that stopping smoking in the middle of all if this is a good idea IF you are addicted — smoke every day.  It would be better to decide on a particular number of cigarettes per day and use them on a schedule.   Stopping suddenly may be too much of a shock and intensify your WD.  After you have stabilized from AD WD, you can reduce your nicotine intake.  It’s really important to avoid any changes right now, and getting a regular, consistent nicotine dose might help you a lot.
 

If you are NOT addicted to cigarettes, then stopping is a VERY good idea.  Nicotine is not good for people in WD (unless they are addicted.) It’s also best to have no alcohol at all.  Alcohol is one of the worst drugs for a person in WD.  Even one glass will set you back.

 

Good luck, Rosetta

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

Link to comment

@Rosetta

Noooo this makes no sense. 

I'm not in w/d currently

My last reduction was 2 months ago... 

Why should a regular nicotine does help me???? 

It constrains blood flow to the brain that seems so contraproductive... 

I also get agitated when I smoke. 

But my smoker brain tells me yea why not ;)). 

Btw how are you doing so far? 

I've read you are drug free since 2017 that sounds nice. 

Greetings 

Kosta

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

I have to say that reading the past few days in this forum really scared the **** out of me... Especially the threads on effexor really made me panic. 

I'm even more hopeless than I was before. How am I gonna make this when I'm already so anxious??

 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment

@ChessieCat

Can you just answer on the nicotin question as there are contradicting arguments presented to me!! 

And how can I make a post about the tapering group in Vienna? I want to invite people.

 

(To anyone reading this: Please don't read this post if you don't have time or are not interested in my thoughts, it's very long, I just wanted to get some things out of my head and it is not the same writing it in my notebook. I unterstand now why authors publish their books...) 

 

Original Reply:

Thank you ChessieCat , I've read bunch of those success story's. But can you answer my questions please(on the nicotine). I'm sorry I don't want to bother you... It's just being hard lately. Realizing how severe my situation is and how complex the solution, plus the daily fight for recognition from my parents and friends is just very very frightening. Also the idea that everyone is moving forward and im stuck in this forced meditation like situation not doing what my peers are doing. Classic **** right? ;)

 

I've quit smoking immediately as this realization came and I know that all of my dreams are crushed like a wallnut and I have to adjust my life to that. Today I had a thought that might seem a bit odd to some of you but it came to my mind that this experience is like a second birth. We are kind of children from hell reaching to heaven and the stars. It is to me like you're thrown down to the most existencial themes of human nature, a balancing act between life and death itselfe.

I don't want to romantisize this but that are just thoughts that I had to share and it's kind of an coping mechanism to find meaning in this meaningless suffering. 

 

I thought I could escape this long taper, I was even considering cold turkey or a fast 6 month taper the last few days because I was so frustrated by the idea of a snail like 2 year or even longer taper. But I kind of accept it now. 

I had and appointment with my psychiatrist two days ago and it was the same bullsh*t as ever... The meds helped you, it's like diabetes, insulin blablabla. 125€ for this... Yikes... I almost explodet. She was playing around with her pen very nervously as I was presenting my issues and I was so confident with my opinion, I almost shouted and cried. I didn't want to fall in this role again that the Great psychiatrist is explaining me, the dumb sick mouse, something she has no ****ingg idea about. It's funny that she, as I told her that the serotonin theorie was refuted a long time ago, wrote it of as haywire antipsychiatry... Dis bitcch has no freacking clue what antipsychiatry even means xD, or who was involved in this movement. Some of them I adore deeply like Foucault(I love Foucault :D) or Laing. How can someone look in the mirror and be proud of themselves. I only talk if I know things for certain or thought it threw alot. Why don't people do this more????

If you made it through this, I have to say that SA destroyed and saved my life at the same time. 

 

Greetings 

Kosta

 

P.s: If you read this I would love to come in contact with some of you personally, like privat messages or something... 

And if someone from Austria/Vienna reads this you are invited to a tapering group I'm participating in. 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

I’m doing well right now.  Not perfect.  Having some flashes of anger and frustration like a toddler.  So annoying.  But, I’m doing much better and having a long window.

 

SA’s main teaching is that the brain needs stability and consistency. When we feel bad, that is the wrong time to make big changes like taking away the whole dose of a drug we have used everyday for a long time — like nicotine.  If you are noticing adverse effects when you smoke, you may be having a reaction to nicotine because of WD.  In that case, I would reduce it, carefully and slowly, until the reaction is less pronounced, but taking it away all together at once is not a good idea.  That may result in a return of WD symptoms that had ceased.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

Link to comment

@Rosetta

Hey Rosetta, thank you for you're answer, I'm still gonna stop smoking I think. And I'm currently not in w/d my last reduction was almost two months ago. 

I've read in youre story a bit and it seems very distressing what you are going through. I'm a little bit scared that I will have to go through that too... I think I have to stop reading to much on this forum it really ****es with my mind... 

Greetings 

Kosta

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

Kosta,

 

If you feel you are not in withdrawal right now, you should be fine.  Maybe you could try nicotine gum if you start to have symptoms after stopping cigarettes -  really small test doses, very small increases, be careful!  Never take the dose on the box to begin.  
 

I see no reason you would go through what I have if you take it slow, listen to your body, and avoid all the pitfalls that I outline on my thread (dentist’s use of adrenaline based numbing agents (there is an alternative), antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, Xanax or other anti-anxiety drugs for investigative medical procedures such as endoscopies and colonoscopies (unless absolutely necessary, of course), etc.)

 

Investigate any drug your doctor suggests, and think about how it might affect you or throw you back into full-blown withdrawal, (i.e. do not take anything), and most important of all, consider the occupancy charts, and really be careful as you taper your last 30 or 20 milligrams.  Decreases can pile up, and WD can hit after a few decreases which were too close together.  https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/6036-why-taper-sert-transporter-occupancy-studies-show-importance-of-gradual-change-in-plasma-concentration/
 

It took me many years of “kindling” to get to the point I was at 5 years ago — forgetting my doses, having my dose CT’d, then doubled many times, then adding Xanax and Trazodone to a decimated nervous system, and finally, CT’ing off two drugs one after the other and very fast tapering off a third - Zoloft.  All of that put me in a very perilous state.  You have the chance to avoid that as you have knowledge I did not have.  Just use that knowledge.

 

 

I would argue that you are in WD due to the anxiety you feel, but if you feel you are not, that is fantastic.  All you need to do is be careful to stay where you are.  The anxiety will become much less intense, much less frequent, and will go someday, too!  Keep it Slow, Keep it Stable.  You’ll be fine.

 

Rosetta

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

Link to comment

@Rosetta

Hey Rosetta,

I kind of got a little emotional reading you're answer. Also a tear is running down my face right now. I'm just sooo scared you know? I know you can't do anything for me but today I thought about the years I lost from my youth and the time I didn't give a **** about my parents (especially my mother, I always thought that she was responsible for my suffering, which I realize now is not the whole truth) and that I want to life a full life. There is just such a big urge in me to life. But there is Effexor in my way... 

 

Btw I never really expirienced w/d only two years ago when I did c/t. Since then I have this increased anxiety. But I have the feeling that everything is getting worse the last few months and I don't know why? 

I feel so distant from everyone else... Like they all seem like robots and I'm caged in my thoughts. I'm kind of noone anymore. 

I feel so numb... Also somehow the light is changing sometimes in some weird kind of way it gets darker, especially when I get stressed. And crowds are not really bareable for me since a few months.

You think that's w/d? Or some kind of protracted w/d? 

I've quit smoking with no problems and I'm taking my pills regularly now, I also got some acne. 

 

Rosetta you really did no good to you're brain... :(( but its good that you are feeling better now. 

 

I have been thinking alot about this tapering topic lately and this is increasing my anxiety really hard. Like how the fuark am I gonna make this???? 

Lots of I's there... 

 

Don't worry I'm not gonna take any drugs ever again or go to a doctor, that's over. Only if really necessary. So you mean a occasional benzo if wd anxiety  gets unbareable is ok? 

 

I hope I don't bother you Rosetta. 

Thank you for you're answer and you're kind words <3. I wish you all the best in youre healing process. 

Greetings

Kosta 

 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

Yes, I felt the strange sense that there was more darkness, too.  Really odd and disturbing.  Crowds were awful.  I could not stand someone bumping into me, even slightly.  The derealization — the feeling that there was a glass wall between me and the world — was quite strong.  I could see the trees, the grass, etc. but I couldn’t feel that the world was there, emotionally.  I did not see it in two dimensions, but I felt that I should have been seeing it in two dimensions.  At times, the anhedonia was so strong that I didn’t care that I felt derealization.  At other times, anhedonia caused me intense sadness and anxiety.  This is all “normal” for WD in some people.  You have to remember that it doesn’t mean that something terrible is happening to the world.  It’s all going to be ok.  It IS ok.  The world is still there, but your experience of it is warped.  That’s all.  Yeah, right, “that’s all!”  I know it sounds absurd, but it is ok out there, and you are ok.  You just can’t feel that it’s ok.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/16629-rosetta-ct-may-2011-too-fast-taper-feb-2017/?page=25

2001-2011 Celexa 10 mg raised to 40 mg then 60 mg over this time period

May 2011 OB Doctor's Cold switch Celexa 60 mg to 10 mg Zoloft sertraline (baby born)

2012-2016 - Doctors raised dose of Zoloft up to 150 mg

2016 - Xanax prescribed - as needed - 0.5 mg about every 3 days (bad reaction)

2016 - Stopped Xanax

Late 2016- Began (too fast) taper of Zoloft

Early 2017 - Trazodone prescribed for bedtime (doseage unknown)

Feb 2017 - Completed taper/stopped Trazodone

Drug free since Feb 2017

2017 - Unisom otc very rarely for sleep

Link to comment

@Rosetta

So you think thats w/d? 

Even though my last taper was 2 months ago... 

I'm really not sure to be honest as I didn't feel any w/d when reducing 2 months ago... I have to say I did a few clear cuts last November to April this year by 10 percent of the initial dose, so I was reducing every other month by 15mg so I basically came down to 50mg this way. I'm holding for like 7 Months now. 

 

Or is it just side effects? 

Or anxiety related stuff like my own mental health thing. 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

@Thelongestroadhome

Hey, thank you for you're answer and looking into my post!! 

Hmmmm im still not shure to be honest... I have DP and DR that's really upsetting. I didn't know it could probably be my meds until now. Now I'm really down because thinking of a so long taper makes me really sad... Like 1 to 2 years is ok but 6 years? And then recovery time?? And carrying the DR/DP all the way down. Wow this seems really really upsetting to say the least. I get so tired only of thinking of this odysee, like that's too much for a 22 year old human, probably for everyone. 

I want to life life not taper 10 years. 

I know it's only a one way road but wow. 

Have you had DP/DR and has anything helped you? 

I don't feel like a human anymore, and I'm constantly on this site and obsessed with this meds/AD topic. 

How are you doing, I hope good. 

I've laying in bed much lately and not doing much... 

Happy new year to you, 

Greetings 

Kosta

 

Edit: Sorry I don't want to complain too much but noone seems to understand my struggle out of this website... 

 

 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

@ChessieCat

Hey Chessie, 

I have a question about tapering percentages:

I saw a post on SA, where they advice that you start with 10% for two months and if you have minor or no w/d symptoms you can reduce by every 3 weeks. And so on and so on. Is this valid information? 

Because I saw an interview on mad in America with a few activists and on of them said that there can be an cumulative effect and people feel bad 6 months in the taper. So they advice to go even slower than 10%

Can you comment on that please!! 

 

Also on more personal question:

Is the likelyhood of having an easier taper greater when someone already tapered the same drug before and had minor w/d symptoms? 

Thanks

I wish you a happy new year Chessie!! 

Kosta

 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment

@Thelongestroadhome

Yea you are right these sites trigger me so hard and make me hopeless... 

I just want to life again, and feel, and don't worry about withdrawal. 

And I don't want do die. 

I've just read Ed white killed himself in October duo to venlafaxin withdrawal. That hit me hard. 

I must stop reading these things. 

Should I even though try 10% at the beginning? And see how I tolerate it? 

And do you think I can handle this an make it through w/d in general? 

Thank you

I don't know you're name. 

What's you're name? 

Greetings 

Kosta

 

 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

SA's recommended tapering protocol is no more than 10% of the current dose followed by a hold of about 4 weeks to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.  This is a guide, not a rule.  Some people can taper faster and some need to go slower.  But there is no way to know which group you are in.  And some members find that some doses are harder to get past then others.  Some members find that the lower their dose gets the slower they need to go, holding longer and/or making smaller reductions.  It is important to listen to your body/symptoms and not taper if you are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

 

The aim is to keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum so that you can live your live as normally as possible.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

why-taper-sert-transporter-occupancy-studies-show-importance-of-gradual-change-in-plasma-concentration

 

If you are concerned about commencing tapering you can always reduce by a smaller amount.  It is better to go slower than to taper/reduce too much/quickly and bring on withdrawal symptoms.

 

This is a slower taper method:

 

the-brassmonkey-slide-method-of-micro-tapering

 

 

 

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
1 hour ago, kostakonkordia said:

I don't know you're name. 

What's you're name? 

Greetings 

Kosta

 

@kostakonkordia

Some members like to remain anonymous.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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@ChessieCat

Okay I'm gonna take it at my own pace. 

But a 5% taper will last 5 years right? That's sooo looong. 

 

Ad's since 2016 (I was 16 then...) (Escitalopram) 

Nov 2018 switch to venlafaxin 150mg

Nov 2019 to march 2020 tapered by 37,5mg to cero. (breakdown, minor w/d symptoms for a few days only panic attacks followed by deep depression came a month later duo to stress). 

Reinstated venla 150mg in Juli 2020.

Nov 2020 to April 2021 tapering by 15mg every month or so until I reached approximately 50 mg(no w/d symptoms) 

Since April 2021 tapered once by 5% and once by 10% of the last dose because I'm not stable enough for w/d. 

Current dose 50mg venlafaxin

No other medication. 

No supplements

Stopped smoking 29.12.2021

No alcohol 

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