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Komp

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I am currently taking 40 mg of Prozac ( 1 week) along with 37.5 of Effexor ER (4 months). My goal is to get off of Effexor. I am currently having a great deal of anxiety. How can I make this work? Becky

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Komp: Advice Needed

Anxiety Due to Withdrawal from Effexor

 

I was on 75mg  of Effexor ER for 9 weeks and went down to 37.5 mg the past 4 weeks. I also started on 10mg of Prozac to help with withdrawal symptoms for 2 weeks and now I am on 20mg for 1 week. My anxiety is getting worse each day. I need to know what I can do to help with anxiety. I am also taking Valium and remeron for sleep. 
Becky

 

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

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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Tapering remeron

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Komp and welcome to SA,

 

We need some more details about your drugs, so please answer the following questions:

 

Are you in the process of doing a Prozac switch?

 

Is this under the supervision of a medical professional?

 

If yes, what is the planned process of getting off the Effexor and changing over to Prozac?  Please provide the dates and the doses for both of these drugs and what is planned for the future, number of weeks and the dose changes.

 

Are you wanting/expecting to taper Remeron at the same time?

 

Do you take Valium every day?

 

If no, how often do you take it?

 

If not every day, please list the dates you have taken it over the last 2 week period.

 

On 12/26/2021 at 12:16 PM, Komp said:

My anxiety is getting worse each day

 

When did this start in relation to you introducing and increasing the Prozac?

 

Once we have the answers to the above questions we will better able to offer suggestions.

 

This is your own Introduction topic.  Each member has only ONE Introduction topic.  Your own Introduction topic is the best place to ask questions and the place to journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story.

* 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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  • Administrator

Welcome, @Komp

 

If you are taking Remeron, Prozac, and Effexor, it's likely your current symptoms are from a serious drug-drug interaction among the 3 drugs. We need to know more about your drugs. Please answer ChessieCat's questions as soon as possible.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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On 12/27/2021 at 10:10 PM, ChessieCat said:

Hi Komp and welcome to SA,

 

We need some more details about your drugs, so please answer the following questions:

 

Are you in the process of doing a Prozac switch?

 

Is this under the supervision of a medical professional?

 

If yes, what is the planned process of getting off the Effexor and changing over to Prozac?  Please provide the dates and the doses for both of these drugs and what is planned for the future, number of weeks and the dose changes.

 

Are you wanting/expecting to taper Remeron at the same time?

 

Do you take Valium every day?

 

If no, how often do you take it?

 

If not every day, please list the dates you have taken it over the last 2 week period.

 

 

When did this start in relation to you introducing and increasing the Prozac?

 

Once we have the answers to the above questions we will better able to offer suggestions.

 

This is your own Introduction topic.  Each member has only ONE Introduction topic.  Your own Introduction topic is the best place to ask questions and the place to journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story.

Reply: I was taking 75mg of Effexor ER beginning on November 2,2021 until November 29,2021. I was reduced down to 37.5 beginning on November 29,2021. 
I started taking  10 mg of Prozac daily starting in December 8, 2021. 
I have been taking 15 mg of Remeron at bedtime beginning 11/12021 until present. I started taking 5 mg of Valium at bedtime with Remeron beginning December 17 onward.  I can take up to 3 - 2mg tablets of Valium daily. The plan is to continue increasing Prozac for another 2 weeks at 20 mg. And then discontinue Effexor. Not sure how Remeron will be discontinued. I continue to have great anxiety in my stomach each morning. I’m thinking it’s cortisol increasing in the am. It’s most distressing and bothersome. Help!

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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Did you receive my reply?

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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On 12/28/2021 at 5:09 PM, Altostrata said:

Welcome, @Komp

 

If you are taking Remeron, Prozac, and Effexor, it's likely your current symptoms are from a serious drug-drug interaction among the 3 drugs. We need to know more about your drugs. Please answer ChessieCat's questions as soon as possible.

Please see my reply 

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi there Komp,

I am not seeing any reply, just your 2 posts asking if we have seen your reply.

Scroll on up and you will see ChessieCats questions to answer.

Answer in a reply in this thread, your Introduction.  Thank you.

 

And then we will need you to do a drug signature as well:

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24613-how-to-summarize-your-drug-history-in-your-signature/

This will be different from information you gave at registration, and will appear below your posts, once done.

Just follow the instructions in the link above.

 

Okay, and best, welcome aboard,

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

moderator manymoretodays(mmt)

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • Administrator
On 12/31/2021 at 8:20 PM, Komp said:

Reply: I was taking 75mg of Effexor ER beginning on November 2,2021 until November 29,2021. I was reduced down to 37.5 beginning on November 29,2021. 
I started taking  10 mg of Prozac daily starting in December 8, 2021. 
I have been taking 15 mg of Remeron at bedtime beginning 11/12021 until present. I started taking 5 mg of Valium at bedtime with Remeron beginning December 17 onward.  I can take up to 3 - 2mg tablets of Valium daily. The plan is to continue increasing Prozac for another 2 weeks at 20 mg. And then discontinue Effexor. Not sure how Remeron will be discontinued. I continue to have great anxiety in my stomach each morning. I’m thinking it’s cortisol increasing in the am. It’s most distressing and bothersome. Help!

 

Hello, @Komp This is an odd plan. Have you discussed your symptoms with your prescriber?

 

Were you taking any psychiatric drugs before Effexor?

 

Why did you start Remeron? This is while you were taking only 75mg Effexor, correct? What effect did you feel then (November 12-November 29) from Remeron?

 

On 12/31/2021 at 8:20 PM, Komp said:

I was reduced down to 37.5 beginning on November 29,2021. 

 

How did you feel after you cut Effexor to 37.5mg November 29, before you started Prozac? You were taking 37.5mg Effexor and 15mg Remeron November 29-December 7, before Prozac was added.

 

What times o'clock do you take each of your drugs, with their dosages? Please be sure to keep a consistent schedule and not skip any doses. Please also note when you take Valium and how much.

 

Please do create your drug signature, this is very helpful for the staff.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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2 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

Hello, @Komp This is an odd plan. Have you discussed your symptoms with your prescriber?

 

Were you taking any psychiatric drugs before Effexor?

 

Why did you start Remeron? This is while you were taking only 75mg Effexor, correct? What effect did you feel then (November 12-November 29) from Remeron?

 

 

How did you feel after you cut Effexor to 37.5mg November 29, before you started Prozac? You were taking 37.5mg Effexor and 15mg Remeron November 29-December 7, before Prozac was added.

 

What times o'clock do you take each of your drugs, with their dosages? Please be sure to keep a consistent schedule and not skip any doses. Please also note when you take Valium and how much.

 

Please do create your drug signature, this is very helpful for the staff.

I take 20 mg of Prozac and 37.5 mg of Effexor ER in the morning. 5 mg of Valium at night plus 2mg  if Valium 2-3 times during the day. 

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Administrator

Is your plan to switch from Effexor and continue indefinitely on Prozac?

 

Did you talk with your prescriber about how this is not going well? What did your prescriber say?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I am currently taking 37.5 Effexor ER and and 20 mg Prozac in the am. I take 15 mg of Remeron and 5 mg Valium at night. I did not have anxiety while taking 75 mg of Effexor ER with taking 15 mg of Remeron at night. I was having high blood pressure readings then, thus a change to Prozac. Using Prozac as a bridge off of Effexor. I have said that I am not doing well. I was told that I’m not on a high enough Prozac yet!?

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Administrator

Was the intent to switch to Prozac, then taper off Prozac, or was it to continue on Prozac as your antidepressant?

 

Given your experience so far, do you think an increase in Prozac is the answer?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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26 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Was the intent to switch to Prozac, then taper off Prozac, or was it to continue on Prozac as your antidepressant?

 

Given your experience so far, do you think an increase in Prozac is the answer?

I do not know. I am pretty sick and full of anxiety. 

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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I will be going to a dr on 1/10/21. Hope he can help with the appropriate meds. 
thanks for your feed back. Komp

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Administrator

It's unclear to me that going off antidepressants, rather than switching drugs, is your intent. What we do here is enable people to go off their drugs, not to switch drugs -- that's your doctor's job.

 

However, your current prescriber has exposed you to serotonin toxicity and possibly serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening condition, by prescribing TOO MUCH Prozac AND Remeron with 37.5mg venlafaxine -- 3 serotonergic drugs.

 

What you should do is fire this prescriber immediately. If you have the means, you might initiate a lawsuit. This probably won't go anywhere because there are no rules in psychiatric prescribing, but it's possible in your state, you might have grounds for malpractice, or at least a complaint to the state medical board.

 

This is how I see it: If your intent is to continue on Prozac, I would drop the venlafaxine AND Remeron and all but 5mg Prozac. You'll probably still feel terrible from venlafaxine withdrawal, but at least you will not be overdosed with serotonergics. Then you can work out your future on antidepressants with your new doctor.

 

If your intent is to go off venlafaxine altogether, I would stop the Prozac AND Remeron. It takes a couple of months for Prozac to be mostly metabolized, you might feel the effects of it for a while, but they should gradually diminish. It's possible you'll also feel Effexor withdrawal, but maybe not, maybe you'll just feel relief from being overdosed with serotonergics.

 

The Valium may be causing other problems, if you're taking too much, which is possible given your prescriber's style. If your intent is to go off Effexor altogether, we can continue to discuss this. Otherwise, please talk to your new doctor about it.

 

By the way, it's not necessary to switch to another antidepressant to go off Effexor. For your information, our Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Started going off 37.5 Effexor ER today. Feeling nauseated most of the day. New dr has me going up to 30 mg of Prozac in 3 days. Prayers needed for healing. 
 

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi there Komp,

And I am so sorry I did not see your reply above your two posts asking about that.

So your doctor just gave you this schedule of drug changes to follow, until your next appointment on the 10th?

 

I am certainly rooting for your healing.

 

On 12/25/2021 at 3:00 PM, Komp said:

I am currently taking 40 mg of Prozac ( 1 week) along with 37.5 of Effexor ER (4 months). My goal is to get off of Effexor. I am currently having a great deal of anxiety. How can I make this work? Becky

 

On arrival you were taking 40 mg of Prozac. 

Is that when you began getting worse?

And is that part of your doctors plan now, to take you up to that dose again.

 

You do know that you do not have a chemical imbalance of any kind?  That myth was debunked awhile ago.  That "mental illness" or things like "depression and anxiety" are as simple as a chemical imbalance.

Topic:  Again, chemical imbalance is a myth. Stop the lies please.

 

What does a great deal of anxiety break down to if you try and describe it?

 

Is it anything like possibly side effects or interactions of your drugs that you think might be causing your symptoms?

 

Not to freak you out further, but Alto is right, I mean you've been put on a crazy combination of drugs.

Take a look here, at Drugs.com, you can plug in your drugs, all of them, and look at the interactions.  You can  even go to the professional information.  You can also look up drugs singularly using the top box there, and read all about them.

 

Do please do an interaction check, and then share that with us.  Share the link with us, or copy and paste.

 

Not to frighten you, but in retrospect, I found out that so many of my symptoms that kept me chronically ill, were due to my drugs.  And have stabilized nicely after many years and many drugs and many prescribers.  I knew inherently, I was getting worse not better, and then read more about the bio-pharmacological treatments, and how many were not getting well, and eventually came here, to find another way for myself......and did.  Much happier now, and much, much more healed.

 

Here's what we've got on the mirtazapine/Remeron and Effexor/venlafaxine combination too.  It's eye opening.....in a not so great way.

About going off mirtazapine plus venlafaxine(Effexor) aka "California rocket fuel"

(I'll just add another me too, they had me on this combo, and not even at the higher dose strengths mentioned in the studies, and it did not "heal" me from my other drug injuries.  Effexor in fact, moved me into "drug induced bipolar land"........thankfully more hypomanic, or I did not get into huge problems with manic behaviors anyway.  Fortunately.)

  

On 1/2/2022 at 3:44 PM, Komp said:

I did not have anxiety while taking 75 mg of Effexor ER with taking 15 mg of Remeron at night. I was having high blood pressure readings then, thus a change to Prozac. Using Prozac as a bridge off of Effexor. I have said that I am not doing well. I was told that I’m not on a high enough Prozac yet!?

 

Were you doing super great then?  When on 75 mg of Effexor ER and 15 mg of Remeron?

How is your blood pressure now?

 

 

Anyway....... I don't think this doctor is helping you to heal right now......I do agree with Alto.

Please carefully read Alto's reply and ask if you don't understand anything.

I'll tell you, part of my reason for sticking around and moderating is specifically to help others hopefully not get in as deep as I did, unknowingly at the time.  Way back, when I too, was unwittingly on the medication merry go round.

 

Just hoping that is not what you want for yourself, and that you might begin to go another direction now.  I don't know.  We are a site for helping with tapering off drugs in a harm reduction way, and then support during WD(withdrawal), if symptoms do occur.

 

 

Beginning understanding of why we exist here might be found in some of Robert Whitaker's work.  The book, Anatomy of an Epidemic, made it clear to me, that I was on the right track with my intuition, around my treatment with drugs........and that it was not helping me, but making me sicker, and more chronic.

Here is a link to a youtube segment where he talks about his book,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5w-7Za_Z94

 

Are you still taking the Remeron and Valium?

And I know that none of that will help immediately with your symptoms now, but over time, you may change your mind about just following what the doctor tells you, especially if they aren't telling you all the pros and cons to taking drugs like the ones you have been given.  We call that full disclosure.

And then we hope that doctors will become interested in "deprescribing" and principles that are being developed now to help with that.  And that they will want to educate themselves to help their patients who do not benefit from the drugs/medications.  Who are many.

 

Okay, off my soapbox.

 

Listen Komp, if you do decide to stick around, we have lot's of non-drug coping tools indexed and that can be real helpful when recovering from drug mishaps and also WD(withdrawal) symptoms.

 

I would still like you to do a signature too.  I gave you a link above to the topic that explains what is needed there, and then how to do it.

 

Thank you.

Yes, definitely cheering you on, for further understanding of your symptoms, from whence they cometh, and also healing, of course healing.......

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

Edited by manymoretodays
additional, links

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • Administrator
17 hours ago, Komp said:

Started going off 37.5 Effexor ER today. Feeling nauseated most of the day. New dr has me going up to 30 mg of Prozac in 3 days. Prayers needed for healing. 
 

 

Hello, I am sorry you're going through this, but we do not assist in drug changes. If you have confidence in this doctor's advice, continue with this doctor's plan. If you have adverse effects, please report them to the doctor. Good luck.

 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have been on 1 mg daily of Klononpin. It makes me more anxious with some suicidal ideation. Your thoughts?

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
On 1/6/2022 at 3:44 PM, manymoretodays said:

Take a look here, at Drugs.com, you can plug in your drugs, all of them, and look at the interactions.  You can  even go to the professional information.  You can also look up drugs singularly using the top box there, and read all about them.

 

Do please do an interaction check, and then share that with us.  Share the link with us, or copy and paste.

 

manymoretodays asked you to do a drug interaction check of the drugs you are currently taking and to copy and paste the results or the link to the results here in your topic.

* 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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See above

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
2 minutes ago, Komp said:

See above

 

I have looked and cannot see it.  If you have included the link in a post please add the link to that post in a new reply so that we do not have to search for it.

 

Also you have been at least twice to create your drug signature.

 

Please be considerate of staff time.  SA staff are unpaid peers and give freely of their time to try and help people get off their drugs safely.  It can be very frustrating when the staff have to repeat requests for information.

* 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

Hi Komp,

Your posts caught my eye too, and so basically I am saying what Ccat is saying again.  That we need a few things from you, before we can just answer questions.

Acknowledge previous posts to you and answer any questions in them.  Try to do what we ask, as far as some basic stuff that helps us to help you, and some that helps you to be a more proactive person around your care with your prescribing doctor too.  Just some basic education sometimes can help us to have a voice.

If your interest is not in ever considering tapering and going off medications, then you just stop posting here too, and work with your doctor only.  We are not your doctors assistants in other words.

I hate to see anyone lost in the maze of the medication merry go round, but I don't understand why you don't answer questions, or ask if you have difficulty following through with what we ask......I don't know.  I'm just being honest here.

 

15 minutes ago, Komp said:

I have been on 1 mg daily of Klononpin. It makes me more anxious with some suicidal ideation. Your thoughts?

 

When did you start the 1 mg of Klonopin?

Why?

And what else are you on right now?

Benzo's certainly can be kind of depressing, or cause a real blah state.

klonopin is a benzo, and generally dependence is likely in just 2 weeks time of regular use.

If you just started it, and you feel notably worse........I mean if it was me, I wouldn't continue it.

What's going on with your Effexor now?

 

 

Is the basic signature giving you problems?    I know we have asked for that as well a couple of times now.

And so I'm wondering if you might work on that now too.  It's the part you below other members posts, and does give us some basic information around your drugs and tapering, at a glance.

 

This is what you do:

  

On 7/19/2011 at 9:31 AM, Altostrata said:

Putting a SHORT version of your recent history of reducing or discontinuing drugs in your signature helps people understand your context when they read your posts.

 

Your signature appears under all your posts.

 

Staff needs this information to answer your questions. In your signature, we need to see

- Exactly what you're taking now, with dosages and when you started each drug

- What you were taking before, with dosages and start and stop dates

 

As the signature is limited to 12 lines, we expect you will condense your drug history. The last few years usually will do.

 

FOR READABILITY, SHORT LINES ARE BEST.

  • A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs
  • Include ALL drugs, doses, and dates (starting and stopping)
  • Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years
  • Use actual dates or approximate dates (e.g. mid-June 2018) rather than relative time frames (e.g. 3 months ago)
  • Spell out months (e.g. "January" or "Jan" as 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as 9 Jan 2016 or 1 Sept 2016)
  • Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses

 

Example:

2001–2002 paroxetine 
2003  citalopram 
2004  paroxetine
2008  paroxetine slow taper down to 2016 Aug off paroxetine
2016  citalopram May 20mg  Oct slow taper down
2018  citalopram 13 Feb 4.6mg 15 Mar 4.4mg 29 Apr 4.2mg

 

If you edit your signature, the new one replaces any prior signature. It will appear in your signature under all your posts, even your old posts. If you want to save the information in the old signature, copy it and save it in a file on your computer or in a post in your Introductions topic.

 

(As of 12/31/13: Signatures are limited to 12 lines of text.)

How to add or edit your signature

  1. Click on this link to open the correct page in User Settings:
    Create Your Signature in "Account Settings"
    2017-June 12 update: link works on desktop, tablet and mobile phone versions
     
  2. Enter your signature in the space provided.
  3. When you are done, Click on the big black Save button at the bottom.

 

And yah, would also love to see what you think of your drug interactions too. 

I'm not seeing where you followed through checking those and then sharing them either.

 

Anyway......you don't have to let us know if you will be just continuing on with your doctor.

Hoping you'll want something better for yourself though.......if not now, then someday. 

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • Administrator

If your doctor recently changed your drugs, and you are also taking a benzo, please talk to your doctor about adverse effects of your cocktail.

 

This is a site for going off drugs. We do not assist in drug changes or adjusting your cocktail, that's your doctor's job.

 

If you want to go off your drugs, we have asked for your drug history in your signature several times. We will not answer your questions until you supply the information we need.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 11 months later...

Needing information on how to taper off Pristiq. Thank you

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Komp, @Komp

Welcome back.  I don't think you need to get reinstated here at survivingantidepressants.org.

You just need to post in your already established Introduction topic, right here.

We also do encourage anonymity here, so I have hid your other post as it gives your full name.  This is for your own safety and confidentiality.

 

Your last 2 posts have been moved here.

 

I'm wondering if you would be so kind as to help us out with doing a basic drug signature.  Now this is different from information given on original registration, and when done will appear below all your posts.  Here is further explanation and instructions on how to do one:
How to Summarize Your Drug History in Your Signature

Thank you in advance for attending to this.  It can be so helpful to see at a glance.

 

Okay, so now you'd like to taper Pristiq and want information.  Okay.

Wondering how you are doing?

 

Some things that might help to look over now:

Tips from members: Preparing to taper

 

Why taper by 10% of my dose?

 

and then more specific to tapering Pristiq:

 

Tips for tapering off Pristiq(desvenlafaxine)

 

Are you on additional drugs now?  If so, please put that into your signature.

 

And then post here, in your ongoing Introduction topic for now, with further questions or concerns.  That keeps everything together and the site tidy and organized.  Thank you.

 

Welcome back.

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

Edited by manymoretodays
added notification

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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Off of Ativan

 

I went off of Ativan on 11/27/22 after being on it for a year at 1 mg daily. My dr does not agree that I could be having withdrawal symptoms. I am currently experiencing great anxiety daily even while on 75 mg Pristiq and 600mg Gabapentin daily. 
Not sure the source of my current anxiety. What are your thoughts?

Edited by Shep
add title after merging from another intro thread

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

@Komp I moved your last post here to your own intro thread. Please continue to post here so all of your information is in one place.

 

Why are you continuing to take more psychiatric drugs? When you first came here in December 2021, you were on Prozac and Effexor, according to the first post in your thread. And in your signature, since December 2021, you since been on Ativan, Remeron, Lexapro, Pristiq, and Gabapentin.

 

Are you trying to fix prior withdrawal symptoms by adding in more psychiatric drugs? If so, you risk kindling your nervous system with all of these abrupt changes. 

 

Hypersensitivity and Kindling

 

Is your goal to be drug free? 

 

 

 

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Long story. After going off of Effexor XR and on to Prozac, I tried various medications until my dr diagnosed me with BiPolar 2 and added Lamictal on 9/1/2021.  Since then  I have been trying to go onto a medication for anxiety. For the past 15 months I have been taking Pristiq which has not helped my anxiety and has made it worse. I also went off of Ativan at the end of November after being on 1 mg daily for a year. I am trying to figure out the source of my anxiety and the best way to reduce it. What are your thoughts?

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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On 1/3/2023 at 6:22 PM, Shep said:

@Komp I moved your last post here to your own intro thread. Please continue to post here so all of your information is in one place.

 

Why are you continuing to take more psychiatric drugs? When you first came here in December 2021, you were on Prozac and Effexor, according to the first post in your thread. And in your signature, since December 2021, you since been on Ativan, Remeron, Lexapro, Pristiq, and Gabapentin.

 

Are you trying to fix prior withdrawal symptoms by adding in more psychiatric drugs? If so, you risk kindling your nervous system with all of these abrupt changes. 

 

Hypersensitivity and Kindling

 

Is your goal to be drug free? 
 

 

 

I am not trying to be drug free. 

Edited by Shep
fixed text box so Komp's answer was outside the quoted section.

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Administrator

Hello, @Komp. We provide peer support for going off drugs. We cannot advise you about the best drugs to treat your anxiety or purported bipolar disorder. We do not provide adjunct services to get people comfortable on their current drug cocktails.

 

If your anxiety increased after you quit Ativan,  I suggest you discuss benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome with your doctor. I also suggest that you might be pursuing a drug solution to adverse effects caused by your frequently going on and off psychiatric drugs.

 

Please let us know when you want to decrease your drug burden.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thanks for your reply. My dr does not believe in benzo withdrawal symptoms. He thinks it’s increased anxiety from going off Ativan. My last psychiatrist put me on and off different drugs which I now know put me at high risk for difficulties with my current mental health. I want to decrease my drug burden. It’s been difficult to find a psychiatrist, of my choice, to help me through going off and on a new medication. My anxiety is real and I’m concerned that all my past medication changes will impact me now as I try to heal. 

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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  • Administrator

Thank you for finally adding your drug history in your signature. I'm sorry you've had such bad results with going on and off your drugs. 

 

1 hour ago, Komp said:

Since then  I have been trying to go onto a medication for anxiety.....I also went off of Ativan at the end of November after being on 1 mg daily for a year.

 

The benzodiazepines, such as Valium and Ativan, are considered drugs for anxiety. Yet you quit Ativan more than a month ago. Why and how did you do this? Did your anxiety increase afterward?

 

If you have not had good effects from Pristiq, see Tips for tapering off Pristiq(desvenlafaxine)

 

As before, it is unclear what you want to do here. We cannot assist you in finding a drug for anxiety. We do not diagnose or treat. We do not have any quick fixes for your psychiatric drug problems, all we do is suggest how to taper.

 

(Valium does not appear in your signature.)

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I went off of Ativan because I thought it was not helping my anxiety. I guess I am not sure if going off of Ativan is the cause of my current anxiety or is it because of my Pristiq not working for me. I think that kindling is most likely happening to me. Thanks for the Pristiq tapering information. I’m just confused and needing some answers on what to do at this point. If I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms from Ativan, then I will need to accept that. But, who knows??  My mental state is worsening due to an inadequate Dr and my lack of trust with his lack of overall help. 

2001 - Effexor XR - 75 mg 7/20/2021 - Prozac - 60 mg 5/12/2021 -  Cymbalta 

7/28/2021 -  Lexapro9/1/2021 -  lamotrigine  1/4/2022 - Prozac, Ativan 1 mg and Remeron 7.5mg 4/25/22 - Lexapro and Ativan 1 mg 9/11/22 - 50 mg PRISTIQ 11/15/22 400 mg gabapentin 11/27/22 off .25 mg Ativan (1 mg for a year)1/6/ 23 Busbar 5 mg 2x daily 

 

 

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