Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

Zombied: How to find Venlafaxine XR capsules with spheroids instead of pallets?


Zombied

Recommended Posts

Hi Everyone,

I am currently trying to taper down from 150 mg Quetiapine XR. I am down to 87.5 mg by now. The 75mg capsules I take each contain 6 pallets of 12.5 mg each, so to reduce my dose further I need to switch to capsules that contain a lot of spheroids instead of a liquid formulation. I explained this to my GP and she said that in the Netherlands (where I am currently residing as an expat) they don't have either the capsules with spheroids or a liquid formulation, which I find difficult to believe. Instead, she offered to switch me to 37.5 mg capsules which I found contain 3 pallets of 12.5 mg each just like my original medication so it is no use. I tried to do a google search to look up options but in the brochures, I do not find any information on whether the capsules contain pallets or spheroids and how many. Does anyone have an idea how I could get this information? I am planning to visit some pharmacies to ask but I find that it really helps to have some knowledge before asking the question otherwise I usually just get a 'no it is not possible' even when there might be an option available but it requires some looking into. 


Thank you very much in advance 

Venlafaxine XR: started ~2013-75mg; ~2018-150mg; Sept 2021-137.5mg; Oct 2021-125mg; Nov 2021-122.5mg; Dec 2021-112.5 mg; Jan 2022-100mg; Feb 2022-87.5mg; March 2022-87.5mg.

Quetiapine: started ~2013 100mg; ~2015 50mg; ~2018 75mg; May 2021 75mg; June 2021 62.5mg; July 2021-present 50mg.

Lexapro: ~2011 to ~2013, do not recall dosage

Mirtazapine: ~2011 to ~2013, do not recall dosage

Supp AM: Zinc-L-Carnosine 20mg; fish oil; CoQ10 30mg; NeuroProtek (Luteolin, Quercetin, Rutin) occassionally. 

Supp PM: Magnesium 105mg; VitC 500mg

 

Link to comment
  • ChessieCat changed the title to Zombied: How to find Venlafaxine XR capsules with spheroids instead of pallets?
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  How are you feeling with your taper?  Are you having any symptoms?  We generally suggest to only taper one drug at a time.  That way if something goes wrong, you know what is causing the problem.  We suggest people taper the most activating drug first, to preserve sleep.  This would be venlafaxine.  

 

Which Drug To Taper First

 

If you are able to get venlafaxine tablets, you could use those to make a liquid and taper that way.   The venlafaxine link further down will go into the various forms this drug comes in, and how to taper accordingly.  My suggestion would be to talk to a pharmacist, rather than your doctor, about what forms it is available in in your country.  Or, perhaps you could order it online.  

 

Tips for Tapering Venlafaxine


 

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 reduction becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature 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

 

Please let us know what you find out, and how you are doing.   

 

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

There is also a moderate interaction between venlafaxine and quetiapine.  It can cause irregular heart rhythm, which could also cause fatigue. Perhaps this could be related to your fatigue and restless sleep?  Here is what I found on drugs.com 

Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

venlafaxine  QUEtiapine

Applies to: venlafaxine, quetiapine

Using QUEtiapine together with venlafaxine can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances (for example, magnesium or potassium loss due to severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting). Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with these medications, whether together or alone. Avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs.

Edited by getofflex

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

Link to comment

@getofflex. Thank you so much for the reply and all the info and advice. It is really amazing work you all are doing at SA. 

So far the tapering has been going ok. Usually, the main symptoms I have are trouble falling asleep and worsening of my IBS symptoms. But usually, those symptoms subside after a couple of weeks. Sometimes after a taper, I get some anxiety and depression coming back but it has been manageable so far. I tried approximately 5 years ago to reduce Venlafaxine but had major anxiety and depression setting in as a result so I had to reinstate my original dosage. I am guessing that this time I am also taking fish oil and magnesium while tapering which might be helping. 

 

I adjusted my signature based on the guidelines. I hope it is more readable now.

 

I didn't know about the interaction between Venlafaxine and Quetiapine. Also looking back I wonder why my psychiatrist took the risk, especially since he prescribed quetiapine mainly for sleep. Thanks a lot for pointing it out. Indeed that could be contributing to my symptoms. I remember I used to have a high resting pulse rate (~90 bpm). Perhaps it was a dose-dependent effect and now that I have reduced the dosage of both my medications I don't have that anymore. 

 

Thanks again for all your help :) 

 

Venlafaxine XR: started ~2013-75mg; ~2018-150mg; Sept 2021-137.5mg; Oct 2021-125mg; Nov 2021-122.5mg; Dec 2021-112.5 mg; Jan 2022-100mg; Feb 2022-87.5mg; March 2022-87.5mg.

Quetiapine: started ~2013 100mg; ~2015 50mg; ~2018 75mg; May 2021 75mg; June 2021 62.5mg; July 2021-present 50mg.

Lexapro: ~2011 to ~2013, do not recall dosage

Mirtazapine: ~2011 to ~2013, do not recall dosage

Supp AM: Zinc-L-Carnosine 20mg; fish oil; CoQ10 30mg; NeuroProtek (Luteolin, Quercetin, Rutin) occassionally. 

Supp PM: Magnesium 105mg; VitC 500mg

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

It sounds like you are doing very well with your taper.  I'm glad that your stabilizing between each reduction. Thanks for updating your drug signature.  

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

Link to comment

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy