Doctorsrcrap: can't cry and frustrated

[Doctorsrcrap]

Hi i am new here.

I have been on a few different ad but none of them have worked for me. I took venlafaxine for about 6 weeks and decided enoufh was enough medication isnt helping.

Doctor told me to come off my 75mg dose over a week. I thought she was nuts. So i did it just under 4 weeks. Whilst decreasing I didn't have to many side effects but things went wrong when i stopped. 

Brain zaps nausea and rage. 

All the while i was on ad I felt like i needed to cry but couldn't. Now I'm off the uoset and frustration is unbearable but i still can't cry. Its driving me crazy. 

Anyone else had this?

[Doctorsrcrap]

Anytime I watch something that emotes a reaction from me. Ie excitement or sadness I get a massive surge of emotion that makes me want to cry but nothing comes out. 

Is this normal??? 

[Doctorsrcrap]

All symptoms:

Mood swings either anxious, panicky, depressed, angry, irritable

Restless

Brain zaps 

Nausea ( had nausea on venlafaxine)

Insomnia 

Hot 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Doctorsrcrap

 

While you were on venlafaxine for a fairly short time, it looks like you have been on an antidepressant since 2015. Why did you make the drug switches after stopping sertraline in April 2021? Did you go off cold turkey? How did you feel while you were taking 37.5mg venlafaxine twice daily?

[Doctorsrcrap]

I was put on antidepressants in 2015 after extreme anxiety following a stressful job. I got better after 3 months but relapsed again in 2018. Then after 3 months got better. Relapse was caused by being frightened to come off the tablets incase the anxiety came back but thst fear brought it back anyway. 

Then in 2020 i relapsed again but this time I wasn't getting any better so they switched to sertraline. I tried it for a few months but i didnt likr it. I was irritated the whole timr so i came off after a short taper. 

When I showed no improvement and ended up in a and e I was put on fluoxotine. But none of these tablets ever took away the anxiety it still remained. And so they kept switching until I said I'd had enough. 

75mg twice a day of venlafaxine caused panic attacks. 37.5 twice a day was ok but put on weight was still anxious. Still felt upset all the time. And felt sick a lot. And the heart palpatations were horrendous. 

Hope this helps 

[Altostrata]

I don't know what you mean by "relapse". Did you ever take your antidepressant inconsistently, perhaps accidentally skipping doses?

 

14 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

75mg twice a day of venlafaxine caused panic attacks. 37.5 twice a day was ok but put on weight was still anxious. Still felt upset all the time. And felt sick a lot. And the heart palpatations were horrendous. 

 

It's very possible that at some point in the drug switches 2015-2022, you developed withdrawal syndrome or had an adverse reaction to the drug, and subsequent switches made your nervous system even more hypersensitive to drug changes. Anxiety, panic, etc., were all iatrogenic -- caused by the drugs. We see this a lot.

 

Since July 22, how has your symptom pattern changed?

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Altostrata

I mean relapse as in the anxiety and panic came back. It would stop but then it would start again. This happened without changing medication. It was when it happened a third time that they started switching. No i never skipped doses or missed any. 

 

Since I stopped venlafaxine my symptoms changed. I became angry and irritable and full of rage and now have insomnia. I've continued to feel sick which I had whilst taking venlafaxine. I have brain zaps and dizziness which can be strong. 

 

I thought getting off the tablets and going to therapy was the road to recovery but now I'm terrified withdrawal is going to go on forever.

 

You will probably say I tapered too fast. It was 3 weeks slower than the doctor recommended. At the time i thought withdrawal only lasted 2 weeks because thays the crap doctors tell you. 

My tablets aren't like the ones with little beads inside. Mine are capsules with 3 mini tablets inside at 12.5mg each. This is why i reduced at 12.5 each drop.

 

Hope this all makes sense.

 

It's now day 18 drug free. 

[Altostrata]

16 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

I mean relapse as in the anxiety and panic came back.

 

When did this occur? It appears you took citalopram steadily 2015-2020, then in January 2021, you made frequent drug changes.

 

It's not uncommon that a dosage of venlafaxine that's too high for a person will cause panic attacks. Anxiety is a known adverse effect of the drug.

 

Since July 22, how has your symptom pattern changed?

[Doctorsrcrap]

It started September 2015 and lasted about 3 months before i could function again.

Then it happened again november 2018 and again lasted about 3 months.

Then again november 2020 and hasn't stopped since. 

 

When I came off all together in July at first the anxiety was less but really upset and so so angry. The anxiety is now back and worse than ever. I started getting brain zaps and dizziness. The nausea I was experiencing on ven became worse.

 

I took citalapram steadily from Sept 2015 to Jan 2021. No antidepressant change in that time.

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Altostrata

Main problems im having now are mood related. 

Angry and irritated amxious and panicky.

Is it normal physical symptoms wear off before mental ones? 

Seeing as I'm off the meds now I guess i should jist wait it out. Seeing as it's been 19 days off of it. 

[Altostrata]

20 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

When I came off all together in July at first the anxiety was less but really upset and so so angry. The anxiety is now back and worse than ever. I started getting brain zaps and dizziness. The nausea I was experiencing on ven became worse.

 

I am confused. Which symptoms appeared after you came off venlafaxine in July? How have those symptoms changed over the last 2 weeks?

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Altostrata

Main problems im having now are mood related. 

Angry and irritated amxious and panicky.

Is it normal physical symptoms wear off before mental ones? 

Seeing as I'm off the meds now I guess i should jist wait it out. Seeing as it's been 19 days off of it. 

 

Since November 2020 my anxiety they were trying to treat didnt go away  hence keeo changing meds. 

 

As soon as I stopped venlafaxine new symptoms were:

Rage

Irritable

Angry 

Restless 

Restless legs

Insomnia 

Brain zaps

Headaches 

Worse nausea

For the first week and a half the anxiety was actually ok but as it's gone on ive become panicky and the anxiety is worse 

 

Hope you understand 

[Doctorsrcrap]

I came off the tablets because I didn't know what was tablets making me feel crap and whats jist me.

Now I'm confused because I dont know what's withdrawal and what isnt. 

Coming off them was supposed to make things clearer for me not more confusing. 

I dont understand what's happening and cant seem to get any answers.

Doctors dont know anything 

[Altostrata]

How have those symptoms changed over the last 2 weeks? Which symptoms have gotten worse? How's your sleep?

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Altostrata

When I stopped the tablets I got 

Brain zaps 

Dizziness 

Headache 

Nausea

Upset stomach

Irritability

Anger

Insomnia 

 

Over the last 3 weeks

Still have brain zaps and dizziness though not as bad as when it started 

Occasionally nauseas 

Upset stomach on odd days

Mood swings are really bad- shouting at people, really angry slighest thing annoys me. 

Anxiety is higher than it has been

Panicky and racing heart 

My sleep is still disturbed I wake up every hour 

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Altostrata

Just for some added context:

On citalapram didnt have any adverse effects thst im aware off only when they tried to up it did I become more depressed which is why i stayed on lowest dose.

On sertraline became severely agitated and was angry all the time so i came off it. 

Once I stopped it was more anxious and became very depressed 

Fluoxetine the anxiety remained but no panic

Paroxatine anxiety remained but no panic

Venlafaxine on low dose felt more depressed and felt sick and anxiety remained. Crazy amount of heart palpitations. They upped it which caused panic attacks worsened depression worse nausea. Scared to leave the house. Dropped back down panic stopped. Then I weened off sick of all the tablets 

[Altostrata]

How often do you get brain zaps now? What is your sleep pattern? How much sleep do you get? Has this improved over the last 2 weeks?

 

Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

Fish oil in particular can help brain zaps. You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

 

Please let us know how you’re doing.

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Altostrata

I tried fish oil at the beginning of the withdrawal but found it to have zero effect. I was taking 1500mg a day. 

I stopped becaise saw no benefit. 

 

My sleep is rubbish. Some nights I cant sleep at all like tonight. And some nights I get off but wake every hour. 

 

When I'm trying to sleep I also have this thing where my legs seem to kick out without me doing anything like they are restless and have a mind of their own 

 

I get the brain zaps every day but some days they don't feel as intense 

 

My doctor offered me some antihistamines to take for dizziness etc but i didnt take them. 

[Altostrata]

Suggest you take 3000mg-4000mg EPA + DHA per day. This is often 6 capsules of fish oil, take 2 at each meal.

 

1 hour ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

When I'm trying to sleep I also have this thing where my legs seem to kick out without me doing anything like they are restless and have a mind of their own 

 

Magnesium is helpful for this. Also

 

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

[Doctorsrcrap]

Thank you. 

In your opinion would you say that this is def withdrawal? 

[Ariel]

Hello @Doctorsrcrap

 

5 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

In your opinion would you say that this is def withdrawal? 

 

I know you are not asking my opinion, and I am not a mod, but thought I'd chime in nonetheless. 

 

7 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

My sleep is rubbish. Some nights I cant sleep at all like tonight. And some nights I get off but wake every hour. 

 

Insomnia is a common withdrawal symptom. 

See: Tips to help sleep

 

7 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

When I'm trying to sleep I also have this thing where my legs seem to kick out without me doing anything like they are restless and have a mind of their own 

 

This sounds like it could be hypnic jerks or restless legs. Both of these are quite common withdrawal symptoms. 

See: Non-drug treatments for restless legs 

See: Neuromuscular symptoms

 

7 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

I get the brain zaps every day but some days they don't feel as intense 

 

Brain zaps are a classic withdrawal symptom. 

See: Brain zaps

 

7 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

My doctor offered me some antihistamines to take for dizziness etc but i didnt take them. 

 

Dizziness is a common withdrawal symptom. 

See: Dizziness, vertigo, light-headedness

 

Btw, personally I don't tolerate antihistamine in WD and find that it exacerbates dizziness, as well as other WD symptoms. 

Dizziness is also a known possible side effect of antihistamines. 

 

Everybody's different. 

See: What to do for dizziness, queasiness, nausea

 

 

In summary, all of the above are common withdrawal symptoms. 

 

9 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

When I stopped the tablets I got 

Brain zaps 

Dizziness 

Headache 

Nausea

Upset stomach

Irritability

Anger

Insomnia 

 

Over the last 3 weeks

Still have brain zaps and dizziness though not as bad as when it started 

Occasionally nauseas 

Upset stomach on odd days

Mood swings are really bad- shouting at people, really angry slighest thing annoys me. 

Anxiety is higher than it has been

Panicky and racing heart 

My sleep is still disturbed I wake up every hour 

 

Given the drug history listed in your signature, combined with your list of symptoms as noted in previous posts, it sure does sound like withdrawal. 

 

See: What is withdrawal syndrome?

 

Post #1 includes many more links to related topics that can help you familiarize yourself with basic information about withdrawal syndrome, withdrawal symptoms, and recovery. 

 

 

Wishing you the best of luck on your continuous healing journey,

A. 

 

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Ariel

Thank you for your input. Very much appreciated.

I'm going to assume there is naff all i can do about my mood?

What do Epsom salts help with?

It's annoying because I came off them to better understand how i was doing without them but now i dont know because of stupid withdrawal. 

After they started messing with the different tablets I became unable to cry and I still can't. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[Ariel]

Hi @Doctorsrcrap

 

2 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

I'm going to assume there is naff all i can do about my mood?

 

It might not be possible to control the mood itself, but it's possible to work on how we respond to it, for example by practicing not reacting.

SA encourages members to learn and practice non-drug coping techniques as a way of managing the experience of withdrawal symptoms.  

Here is another excellent post about that: Techniques for Managing Cold Turkey Withdrawal

 

2 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

What do Epsom salts help with?

 

Altostrata has already recommended magnesium and provided you with a link to the magnesium topic. 

If you follow Alto's link and read through Post #1 of the magnesium topic, you will find additional info on Epsom salts as well as a link that will take you to the Epsom salts topic. 

 

2 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

After they started messing with the different tablets I became unable to cry and I still can't. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

It's quite typical of ADs to render us unable to cry. When medicated I think I went about 12-13 years without being able to cry.

Then when in withdrawal there was a phase where I cried a lot -- a common withdrawal symptom. So if you miss crying, maybe something to look forward to ;-)

Don't worry. Either way it gets better. 

Both the not-crying and the crying-all-the-time are temporary iatrogenic effects and they will pass. 

 

I suggest you spend some time familiarizing yourself with SA's many resources and help topics. 

Do you use a computer? The site works best when accessed via computer as opposed to on a phone. 

It's normal to have lots of questions, especially in the beginning.

There are existing help topics related to most questions, you need only search the site to find the relevant threads. 

Somewhere to start might be searching in the Symptoms and self-care forum. 

You might also read through various member's intro topics to see how other people are doing managing WD. 

Last but not least, there are the Success Stories in the Recovery forum. 

 

In my previous post I linked to many help topics. Alto has also given you some good links along the way. 

I suggest you read back through past comments to find these links and use them to inform yourself further.

Read through the help topics, explore discussions of subjects you may be curious about, reach out to connect with other members. 

As you get to know the site better, you will learn how to navigate SA's many resources and feel more empowered. 

 

You may already be aware of this, but just in case, it bears repeating. 

SA's moderator and admin staff are all unpaid volunteers contributing generously of their own free time. They have jobs, families, health issues, responsibilities, full lives outside of SA. 

SA staff focus their considerable efforts on assisting members with how to safely and sustainably come off of psychiatric drugs, as well as potentially helping members discern possible adverse effects so as to determine and promote an appropriate harm reduction approach to iatrogenic suffering. 

There are numerous members and only a precious few moderators. Usually a mod will work with a new member to get them started, just as Altostrata has been working with you here in your intro topic, offering specific, targeted, analytical support via diagnostic inquiry.

Beyond such individualized special attention in the beginning phase, this is first and foremost a peer support community where we members can contribute with/from our respective experience(s), to witness and encourage each other through the healing process. 

For more general WD-related questions and emotional support as well as exchanging thoughts and ideas, we're in this together, co-creating our shared community one comment at a time. 

 

Wishing you the best of luck on your continuous healing journey,

A. 

 

 

 

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Ariel

Thank you very much and I do appreciate everything that you guys are doing on here even though it's ridiculous that such a site is needed because the people that prescribe cant help. 

I will read back through everything as it's a lot to take in. 

[Ariel]

@Doctorsrcrap

 

14 minutes ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

Thank you very much and I do appreciate everything that you guys are doing on here even though it's ridiculous that such a site is needed because the people that prescribe cant help.

 

You're very welcome. 

I can relate to your sentiment wishing this site needn't exist, and, given how things are, feeling so very grateful that it does. 

I think it's safe to say, your profile name is indicative of a frustration with which many of us are intimately familiar. 

 

14 minutes ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

I will read back through everything as it's a lot to take in. 

 

It can be quite overwhelming at first as it is indeed a lot of information. 

It's a lot to process, especially since you only just joined a little over a week ago, and in that short time you've been learning about WD and figuring out your situation.

Meanwhile you are also suffering from withdrawal symptoms, which take their toll.  

Take your time and don't feel like you need to understand everything at once. Revisit the posts and links in your topic as often as you need. 

I have read my favorite help topics countless times, and I still occasionally go back and re-read them.

Fortunately there is no limit on how often we might review information.

 

I don't think I offered you an explicit welcome in my first post and will do so now. 

Doctorsrcrap, a hearty welcome to SA. 

I'm sorry for what has brought you here, and glad you've found us. 

I trust you will find the resources you need to help you through the healing process. 

 

All the best to you, in solidarity and support,

A.

 

 

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Ariel

Yes I dont think the frustration helps to be honest. Being angry doesnt help the cns but i cant seem to help I feel we have all been betrayed. 

Thanks for your kind words xx

[Ariel]

@Doctorsrcrap

 

1 minute ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

Yes I dont think the frustration helps to be honest. Being angry doesnt help the cns but i cant seem to help I feel we have all been betrayed. 

 

I agree with what (I think) you're saying. 

 

In the greater scheme of things of course it is true in some sense that our trust has been betrayed.

The improper de-prescribing problem is largely systemic and arguably not necessarily the fault of any one particular, individual, often well-meaning doctor.

Of course in the role of patient it's normal to place one's faith in one's health care provider, because why shouldn't we? Unless and until we've had a bad experience.

It's jarring, to say the least, to learn that our "expert professional" doctors may be just as ignorant as we are, or even more so. 

Many of us here on SA have learned the hard way that we need to do our own extensive research both before and after consulting with a doctor.

But we cannot know what we do not know -- and back when we didn't know, we just didn't know. And now we know a little more.

As author Maya Angelou said, When you know better, you do better.  

I often tell myself this in WD!

 

A certain amount of righteous anger is indeed justified and can be a powerful, motivating force for good. 

There is a lot of amazing, life-changing, revolutionary activism brought forth into the world, fueled at least in part by righteous anger energy. 

One might imagine a lot of productive, constructive rage goes into powering SA as well (although I cannot speak for anyone else). 

When properly channeled and harnessed, fury can unleash formidable creative momentum. 

 

You're right that frustration and anger, especially when they take on the form of WD-related neuro-emotions, can perpetuate or contribute to nervous system stress. 

In that context such emotions may not be conducive to creating a healing environment for ourselves, when we generally want to facilitate peace and quiet and stability.

It's good that you're aware of the importance of cultivating optimal conditions for recovery and neurogenesis. 

I doubt (m)any of us has the "perfect" life circumstances for convalescence, but our brilliant brains and bodies are evolved to heal and tend ever towards wholeness. 

We can do everything we can to not dwell on the more difficult emotions and instead practice managing stress, nourishing healthy habits of mind, and building our non-drug toolkits.

At the same time, we can practice acceptance and being with what is, and sometimes navigating frustration is an integral part of that. 

It's a balance, and it's about proportions. 

 

Should the rage, frustration, irritability, anger ever feel overwhelming, know that this, too, is a common WD symptom! 

And guess what? There are SA help topics about it, where one is free to vent and commiserate ;-)

You are not alone. 

 

In solidarity and support,

A.

 

 

 

[Doctorsrcrap]

@Ariel

@Altostrata

Can I ask a question about Neuro emotions please. 

If i try to experience positive emotions like happy or excitement at any point it comes over as too intense and so not enjoyable. It just feels like an intense surge of upset instead. Which is frustrating because I feel like i cant enjoy anything properly. 

Is this normal? 

I know it sounds weird but it's freaking me out. 

[ChessieCat]

It is NOT unusual.  As our dose gets lower we become less numb (that is what the drug does to us).

 

It can be overwhelming when we start to experience feelings that have been "dumbed down" for a long time.

 

Edited August 12, 2022 by ChessieCat

[Doctorsrcrap]

I'm stressed that I'm going to be like this years

[ChessieCat]

2 hours ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

I'm stressed that I'm going to be like this years

 

Worrying about it is only going to make things worse.  Stress slows recovery because the brain is busy trying to deal with the perceived threat (which is what it sees stress as) and it cannot work on both recovery and keeping your body safe from harm at the same time.

 

I found it helpful to learn to accept the situation and to "go with the flow".  It wasn't necessarily easy but it did help.

 

Acceptance

 

  

On 8/9/2022 at 2:10 PM, marconyc said:

Anyway, anxiety has always been something I've struggled with.

 

SA strongly encourages members to learn and use non drug coping techniques.  I have found that the non drug coping skills that I learned during my taper have become part of my life and I use them for general life and health coping.

 

Non-drug techniques to cope

 

I have found relaxation techniques very helpful.  With the relaxation I think it is better to do short periods of it throughout the day, regardless of whether you feel you need to do it.  Think of it like an old fashioned kettle on stove, the sort with the whistle.  If you keep turning the heat on and off the whistle will never blow because the steam won't build up.  Relaxation techniques work in a similar way.  You probably won't get rid of the stress completely but you keep bringing it down a bit so that it doesn't get to the build up.

 

I now find that I more quickly pick up when I am starting to feel "different" (tired, confused, anxious etc) and it's second nature now to do some sort of non drug technique (self talk, breathing exercise, get up and look at something different) to cope with whatever it is that is happening.

 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes) Female voice - getselfhelp.co.uk
 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes) Male voice - getselfhelp.co.uk

 

  

On 4/28/2017 at 4:03 AM, brassmonkey said:

AAF: Acknowledge, Accept, Float.  It's what you have to do when nothing else works, and can be a very powerful tool in coping with anxiety.  The neuroemotional anxiety many of us feel during WD is directly caused by the drugs and their chemical reactions in the brain.  Making it so there is nothing we can do about them.  They won't respond to other drugs, relaxation techniques and the like.  They do, however, react very well to being ignored.  That's the concept behind AAF.  Acknowledge, get to know the feeling involved, explore them.  Accept, These feelings are a part of you and they aren't going anywhere fast. Float, let the feeling float off as you get on with your life as best as you can.  It's a well documented fact that the more you feed in to anxiety the worse it gets.  What starts as generalized neuroemotinal anxiety can be easily blown into a full fledged panic attack just by thinking about it.

 

I often liken it to an unwanted house guest.  At first you talk to them, have conversations, communicate with them.  After a while you figure out that they aren't leaving and there is nothing you can do to get rid of them.  So you go on about your day, working around them until they get bored and leave.

 

It can take some practice, but AAF really does work.

Expand   Expand  

 

AND

 

  

On 6/16/2022 at 2:53 AM, getofflex said:

APPLE Technique

 

I just came across a very nice technique that really helps me.  It's called APPLE. I have printed it and have it where I can see it every day and be reminded of it so I internalize this technique. 

 

A - Acknowledge Notice and acknowledge the thought or uncertainty as it comes to mind. 

 

P - Pause Don't react as you normally do.  Don't react at all.  Just pause and breathe.   

 

P - Pull Back Tell yourself this is just the thought or worry talking, and this apparent need for worry or analysis or certainty is not helpful and not necessary.  It is only a thought or feeling.  Don't believe everything you think.  Thoughts are not statements or facts.   

 

L - Let Go Let go of the thought or feeling.  It will pass.  You don't have to respond to it.  You might imagine the thought floating away in a bubble or cloud.   

 

E - Explore Explore the present moment, because right now, in this moment, you are OK.  Notice your breathing and the sensations of your breathing.  Notice the ground beneath you.  Look around and notice what you see, what you hear, what you can touch, what you can smell.  Right now.  Then shift your focus of attention to something else - on what you need to do, on what you were doing before you noticed the thought or worry, or do something else - mindfully - with your full attention.  

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[Doctorsrcrap]

I dont know how to deal with the anger and rage I have. I'm taking it out on everyone.

I dont know if i should re instate.

I dont know what I'm doing 

[ChessieCat]

If you do decide to reinstate, please note that SA's suggestion is to start with a small dose and increase gradually if needed.  It takes about 4 days for a dose to get to full/steady level in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.  If after one week you have noticed no improvement (and no worsening) then you could try increasing by a little bit more.  If after one week you notice some improvement you could stay on the dose and reassess after you have been on it for 2 weeks.  It is better to make small and gradual increases than to risk taking too much, which might make things worse.

 

The idea of reinstatement is NOT to get rid of withdrawal symptoms completely but to bring them to a bearable level.  Some members have tried to find the "perfect dose" and ended up making things worse.  The effect on the nervous system of taking psychiatric drugs is cumulative so changing doses too often/quickly may cause issues.

 

You have been off 25mg for about 3 weeks now and during the time you have been on the lower doses your brain will have been making adaptations, getting used to being at the lower doses/off the drug.  If you wanted to try reinstatement you could start with 1mg OR LESS venlafaxine to see how you react.  If you are worried about taking the drug, then a tiny dose will hopefully be less worrisome for you.  You will need to try and stay calm during this time so that you don't add non-WD symptoms into the mix;  anxiety can cause similiar symptoms to WD.  Keep notes for yourself of symptoms that improve/worsen so that you can better assess how reinstatement is affecting you.

 

Please carefully and thoroughly read Post #1 of this topic:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

Post #1 of this topic explains how to get non standard doses of venlafaxine:

 

Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

[Doctorsrcrap]

@ChessieCat

I dont know what to do. 

I dont want to make anymore bad decisions. 

The brain zaps are less than before and my nausea is better. 

It's mainly mentally im suffering. 

Would you say there is less risk just pushing through than taking more of the med. 

I dont really want to but i dont want to be so angry all the time. 

[ChessieCat]

Sorry but all I can do is provide you with the information.  Nobody can make the decision for you.

 

By the way, please do not tag me.  I have it noted in my drug signature.  Thank you.

[Doctorsrcrap]

Oh yeah sorry!