AmaliaDicea: trying, but I need help

[AmaliaDicea]

Glad to know about this site, been looking for this kind of information for ages! Im 30, I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety since 2019. I've been medicated ever since. Right now I'm just trying to try other type of treatments for my illness, so I'm leaving one of my actual meds, which is Effexor. I began last november. I was taking 150 mg of Effexor XR. On December I began taking 75 mg of Effexor XR, and on January I ended up in 37.5 mgs. This is where I am. Now, thanks to your site i`ve learned that a actually went really fast, and thats why I have been feeling not so well for the past few months. I did it like that because I've consulted 3 different psychiatrst and they told me they coldn't change any of my medication, and that maybe, I needed to increase the dose of even take another pill and, quite frankly, I am so tired of my contries mental health care system.  

 

Right know, I would love some advicies on everything. Thank you for your time, can't describe how helpful this site has been. 

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  You have come to the right place.  Yes, you have been tapering quickly, with large dose reductions, but it's understandable, since almost no doctor knows how to taper patients off their drugs safely and properly.  

 

What symptoms are you having?  How is your sleep?  Are you able to function in your daily life?  I would suggest that you don't make any more reductions to your medication at this time.  

 

Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Use this format:

 

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Etcetera

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.   This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

What is Happening in Your Brain

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Effexor

 

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

I know I've given you quite a lot of information.  Take you time to go through it, and let us know if you have any questions.  Please let us know how you are doing. 

 

Edited February 7, 2022 by getofflex

[AmaliaDicea]

Thank you for the information provided, I have updated my signature with my current medication. Since February I am taking 35.7 mg of effexor and 25 mg of seroquel. It has been very difficult. Suicidal ideation has returned, anxiety, I sleep a lot and I don't sleep without medication. I have many stomach symptoms, gastritis, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. I feel desperate. The public health system psychiatrist has recommended that I switch medications, but I don't want to take any more antidepressants.

 

I have functional anxiety and depression, so I can work, but with a lot of effort, i'm always foggy, it physically exhausts me to the point of not being able to eat, bathe or leave the house.

 

I really need help. I really don't know how long I should wait to completely tap off the Efexxor and how to begin tapping down the seroquel.

 

I have been reading about psilocybin treatment, what is your opinion on it?  Do you know if it has any contraindications? I have read some studies, and it seems not, but the information is not so clear.

 

I thank you in advance for any advice you can give in order to get through this. 

[Altostrata]

I am sorry that you are feeling so ill, @AmaliaDicea 

 

We haven't heard from you for 9 months. It seem you may have had withdrawal syndrome then. The best way to resolve withdrawal syndrome is to increase the drug dosage somewhat -- not all the way back to the original dosage, but perhaps to 50mg Effexor.

 

To our knowledge, psilocybin does not resolve withdrawal syndrome.

 

Did you also stop taking Seroquel? What are you taking for sleep?

 

[AmaliaDicea]

Hi, Thanks for writting @Altostrata

 

I havent stopped the seroquel, and the dosage of both effexor and seroquel has stayed the same since febrary. Im going to a new psychiatrist, I know he's not going to be on board with the idea of leaving the medication. I really don't want to increase the drug beacuse the fear of going back 🥲, but I know I been tappering really fast. 

[ChessieCat]

Some members don't tell their doctor that they are tapering.  You do not have to do what the doctor suggests/recommends.  Stay calm and polite, listen to what they say, do your own research so you can make an informed decision and then do what you think is best for you.

 

I have a doctor and a cardiologist wanting me to start taking a statin drug for high cholesterol.  I have listened to why they want me to take it, but I have done my research and I have decided that I will not take it.  As I said to the doctor, I am not saying no because I am digging my heels in, I have researched it so I am making an informed decision.

 

how-to-talk-to-a-doctor-about-tapering-and-withdrawal-what-to-expect

[Altostrata]

On 11/4/2022 at 1:27 PM, AmaliaDicea said:

Suicidal ideation has returned, anxiety, I sleep a lot and I don't sleep without medication. I have many stomach symptoms, gastritis, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.

 

When did these symptoms appear? Did you accidentally skip any dose, or take them off-schedule? Did you take any antibiotics? Alcohol? Did you have covid?

 

 

[AmaliaDicea]

Hi, thank you both for answering. So here is my update. 

 

@ChessieCat Thank you so much for giving me advice to approach my doctor, it did work. I had the appointment yesterday. Basically, the doctor told me that I don't have the proper diagnosis. It seems that I not only have depression and anxiety, but type 2 bipolar disorder. He asked me to increase the venlafaxine again, and he tells me that reducing the dose does not seem useful to him. Al the moment, I have to do some lab tests to find out if I'm fit to take lithium, but I don't think I want to. I have a lot of information in my head and I don't know which way to go :(. 

 

@Altostrata I think those symptoms appear 1 year ago. I rarely skip doses, and when I do, i feel the worst, I can't go more than 12 hours without the venlafaxine, the photophobia, the physical pain, and dizziness are unbearable. At the moment I do not take antibiotics. I don't drink a lot of alcohol, one drink a week, and I didn't have COVID either.

I would like to thank you both for taking the time to read me. You make me feel less alone and hopeless.

[ChessieCat]

4 hours ago, AmaliaDicea said:

I have a lot of information in my head and I don't know which way to go

 

I suggest you write things down on paper and list the pros and cons.  You can also write down how you feel about the different choices.  It can help you to think more clearly if you can get it out of your head.  There is a member of SA who I brain storm ideas with and I find it really helps.  Sometimes this member isn't able to offer any suggestions but just writing to them about what I am thinking really helps.

 

4 hours ago, AmaliaDicea said:

Basically, the doctor told me that I don't have the proper diagnosis. It seems that I not only have depression and anxiety, but type 2 bipolar disorder.

 

If these symptoms developed after you started/reduced/stopped a psychiatric drugs, ie you didn't have them before you ever took a psychiatric drug, then it cannot be a true diagnosis.

 

This is even stated in the DSM.

 

A diagnosis cannot be made whilst someone is tapering or experiencing withdrawal symptoms because the drug/s have changed the brain.  From this post Ch4 of The Antidepressant Solution by Glenmullen 2005:

 

"Antidepressants can certainly make patients look manic or hypomanic. But the American APA DSM explicitly states that “manic like [or hypomanic –like] episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (e.g. medication) should not count toward a diagnosis of bipolar I or bipolar II disorder because these are drug induced states."

 

Check out this list of withdrawal symptoms:

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

[Altostrata]

@AmaliaDicea please let us know when you would like to reduce your psychiatric drugs.