sdk70 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 Been on Effexor for about 20 yrs. Put on for anxiety instead of checking Thyroid 1st (couple yrs later discovered I had thyroid issues). Tried to come off by tapering by myself 2x’s…unsuccessfully of course. I want to be successful this time due to side effects. Any advice is so appreciated! 2003-2016 Effexor 75mg, two unsuccessful attempts to come off of medication during this time. Came off too fast the 1st time I tapered. It was about a 1 month taper 75mg-0 and had severe withdrawal symptoms once I got to 0 (severe agitation, brain zaps, nausea, headaches...I reinstated to 75mg and within 24 hrs I was fine). 2nd attempt I came off after a 3 month taper and had delayed withdrawal symptoms at about the 3 month mark (Moderate akathisia and then mild at 75mg and then stabilized when I increased to 150mg Effexor). 2017 to February 2022 On Effexor 150mg February 2022-February 2023 Started to taper for a 3rd time from Effexor 150mg-45mg using a 10% taper (Feb-Jan) and went back up to 75mg for the month of February 2023 (Tried to stabilize at 50mg, 60mg, and 70mg but finally went back to the 75mg...feeling pretty good) March 12, 2023 Started tapering again Effexor at 67.5mg March 16, 2023 Mild Akathisia started March 18,2023 Taper at 5% now went up again to Effexor 71.25mg Link to comment
Moderator Onmyway Posted February 6, 2022 Moderator Share Posted February 6, 2022 Dear @sdk70, welcome to SA. It is great that you have found us and are trying to do it right this time. I will post a few links here that can help get you started. Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants Tips for tapering off Effexor and Effexor XR (venlafaxine) - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants Why taper by 10% of my dosage? - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants Why taper? SERT transporter occupancy studies show importance of gradual change in plasma concentration - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants Recording drug schedule and symptoms to track patterns and progress - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants Can I please ask you to also create a drug signature? It helps us help you by advising you faster. How to List Drug History in Signature - Introductions and updates - Surviving Antidepressants Once you have read through the topics above, please do tag me if you have more symptoms by using this tag @Onmyway. Good luck on this journey. OMW "Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. Aug 2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used) Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up) September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0 Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering) citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg, 7/27/19 -1.5 mg, 8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate Link to comment
sdk70 Posted February 7, 2022 Author Share Posted February 7, 2022 On 2/5/2022 at 4:57 PM, sdk70 said: Been on Effexor for about 20 yrs. Put on for anxiety instead of checking Thyroid 1st (couple yrs later discovered I had thyroid issues). Tried to come off by tapering by myself 2x’s…unsuccessfully of course. I want to be successful this time due to side effects. Any advice is so appreciated! 2001-2016 75mg Venlafaxine ER, two unsuccessful attempts to try and stop the medication during this time 2016-present 150mg Venlafaxine ER 2003-2016 Effexor 75mg, two unsuccessful attempts to come off of medication during this time. Came off too fast the 1st time I tapered. It was about a 1 month taper 75mg-0 and had severe withdrawal symptoms once I got to 0 (severe agitation, brain zaps, nausea, headaches...I reinstated to 75mg and within 24 hrs I was fine). 2nd attempt I came off after a 3 month taper and had delayed withdrawal symptoms at about the 3 month mark (Moderate akathisia and then mild at 75mg and then stabilized when I increased to 150mg Effexor). 2017 to February 2022 On Effexor 150mg February 2022-February 2023 Started to taper for a 3rd time from Effexor 150mg-45mg using a 10% taper (Feb-Jan) and went back up to 75mg for the month of February 2023 (Tried to stabilize at 50mg, 60mg, and 70mg but finally went back to the 75mg...feeling pretty good) March 12, 2023 Started tapering again Effexor at 67.5mg March 16, 2023 Mild Akathisia started March 18,2023 Taper at 5% now went up again to Effexor 71.25mg Link to comment
Moderator Onmyway Posted February 7, 2022 Moderator Share Posted February 7, 2022 Thanks for creating your signature @sdk70. "Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. Aug 2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used) Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up) September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0 Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering) citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg, 7/27/19 -1.5 mg, 8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate Link to comment
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