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Beginnings introduction . . .


Beginnings

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Hello everyone,

Thanks to everyone for sharing their experience and opinions on this forum.

As an introduction, I was diagnosed with hyperactivity in 1972 and began taking Dexedrine for about 4 yrs followed by Ritalin for 1 year. Fast forward to 2007.  A psychiatrist in Massachusetts recommended Citalopram.  Life became more cheerful at that point, with less ruminations regarding negative things, and negative self-talk. In 2017 I was experiencing a little anxiety/depression at work so I asked my Primary Care Physician (I had moved to Tennessee) if there was something I might switch to, besides Citalopram, that might help with that. He suggested Venlafaxine ER, and that I should taper on to it, while tapering off of Citalopram. This I did with no noticeable side effects, or for that matter, no noticeable improvement. Around 2019 I decided I wanted to dose down in order to give it up completely and began by staggering the doses of Venlafaxine.

I've been staggering doses in a few different ways since 2019 (see below)

Since then there have been more emotional ups and downs along the way that I only occasionally experienced prior to 2019.

I came across this website in 2022 and after reading member posts and primary information on the site, I became excited about the possible successes of tapering with more precision than the dose staggering that I was doing at the time.  I  think that now what I need to do is purchase a scale and give this a try. I’ve looked around for scales on Amazon. There are so many that I figured I should probably voice it to the members. Does there happen to be a general consensus on this forum for a proper scale? Of course I would spend what is necessary for an accurate scale that maintains its accuracy, or one that can be effectively recalibrated. Those are just a few of the things that I think would be important. Please let me know in your responses, it there is anything else that I should know additionally, before I apply the rule of 3KIS.

So glad I came across this forum!

 

 

1972 - Dexedrine – dose unknown

1976 - Ritalin – dose unknown

2007 -  Citalopram – 30 mg daily

2017 - Venlafaxine ER – 75 mg daily

2019 - Venlafaxine ER – (2) 35 mg daily - 1 cap at a time every 14 hours extending

                                                                     time of dosage 1 hour further, every 5 weeks.

                                                                         

2021 to present  - Venlafaxine ER - (2) 35 mg daily   -   I began a 5 day pattern that I

                                                                                       would repeat every 5 days as follows . . .

 

 

      day 1 (2 tabs)    day 2 (2 tabs)       day 3 (1 tab)       day 4 ( 2 tabs)       day 5 (1 tab)   

 

1972 - Dexedrine – dose unknown

1976 - Ritalin – dose unknown

2007 -  Citalopram – 30 mg daily

2017 - Venlafaxine ER – 75 mg daily

2019 to 5-23   Venlafaxine ER – (2) 35 mg daily . . .

5-21-23  .170 grams daily   

6-5-23   .165 grams daily 

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  • Moderator

Hi @Beginnings

welcome to SA. 

If you haven't yet, please have a look at this topic and the subtopics/links that it contains. It has one link on venlafaxine as well. 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/300-important-topics-in-the-tapering-forum-and-faq/

I think lots of people use the Gemini scale but you can do a search on the site to see which one is most popular. 

The most important thing is to dose consistently as you have already deduced. 

 

Can you also put all the drug history info in your signature please? 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/28240-how-to-summarize-your-drug-history-in-your-signature/

 

I like that you have browsed around the site a lot and are learning about proper tapering. I think you will do well on this process with patience and dedication. 

 

How are you feeling now? 

OMW

Edited by Onmyway

"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

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Hi Onmyway,

Thank you for the warm welcome and support!  I've added my drug history to my signature, and made small changes to the post itself.  I thought I should send the edits and signature (drug history) to you, for a final look over, if necessary before I put it out as a new topic.  BTW . . . feeling well right about now . . .

Thanks again!

Beginnings

 

 

1972 - Dexedrine – dose unknown

1976 - Ritalin – dose unknown

2007 -  Citalopram – 30 mg daily

2017 - Venlafaxine ER – 75 mg daily

2019 to 5-23   Venlafaxine ER – (2) 35 mg daily . . .

5-21-23  .170 grams daily   

6-5-23   .165 grams daily 

Link to comment

Edited post . . .

 

Hello everyone,
Thanks to everyone for sharing their experience and opinions on this forum.
As an introduction, I was diagnosed with hyperactivity in 1972 and began taking Dexedrine for about 4 yrs followed by Ritalin for 1 year, before stopping with no noticable side-effects. Fast forward to 2007. A psychiatrist in Massachusetts recommended Citalopram.  Life became more cheerful at that point, with less ruminations regarding negative things, and negative self-talk.  In 2017 I was experiencing a little anxiety/depression at work so I asked my Primary Care Physician (I had moved to Tennessee) if there was something I might switch too, that might help with that.  He suggested Venlafaxine ER, and that I should taper on to it, while tapering off of Citalopram. This I did with no noticeable side effects, or for that matter, no noticeable improvement.

 

Around 2019 I decided I wanted to dose down, in order to give up Venlafaxine completely, so I began by staggering the doses of Venlafaxine, thinking it would work as well as anything else.

I've been staggering doses in a few different ways since 2019 (see drug history below) however it hasn't worked well, as there have been more emotional ups and downs along the way, in comparison to pre-2019.


I came across this website in 2022 and after reading member posts and primary information on the site, I became excited about the possible successes of tapering with more precision than the dose staggering that I was doing at the time.  I  think that now what I need to do is purchase a scale and give weighing a try. I’ve looked around for scales on Amazon. There are so many that I figured I should probably voice it to the members here. Does there happen to be a general consensus on this forum for a proper scale? Of course I would spend what is necessary for an accurate scale that maintains its accuracy, or one that can be effectively recalibrated. Those are just 2 of the things that I think would be important in a scale. Please let me know in your responses, it there is anything else that I should know on the subject of scales. Please post the model, as well as the make, of the scale you’ve had your best success with.
Thank you in advance . . .

So glad I came across this forum!

1972 - Dexedrine – dose unknown

1976 - Ritalin – dose unknown

2007 -  Citalopram – 30 mg daily

2017 - Venlafaxine ER – 75 mg daily

2019 to 5-23   Venlafaxine ER – (2) 35 mg daily . . .

5-21-23  .170 grams daily   

6-5-23   .165 grams daily 

Link to comment
  • Moderator

Hi @Beginnings

Thanks for filling in your signature. 

 

At this point I think it is much much much more important for you to get any reasonable scale rather than a 'perfect' one than continue this special dosing. Amazon probably has good recommendations. Each day you are doing these special dosing schedules you are creating mini withdrawals that sensitise your brain and that will make it harder for you.

 

There are scale references already in the FAQ link that I sent you (sublinks) as well as ways to measure your specific drug - there is a thread on venlafaxine there. ALSO remember that there are fillers in these drugs so you are not trying to get  1mg precision. 

 

Pls read the links posted.  All you need is already here.  You  are unlikely to get direct responses soon on your own thread specifically about the scale.

 

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

Thanks again Onmyway,

I've ordered a scale and will refer to links and reminders you mention above.

Have great night (day?) ahead!

Beginnings . . .

1972 - Dexedrine – dose unknown

1976 - Ritalin – dose unknown

2007 -  Citalopram – 30 mg daily

2017 - Venlafaxine ER – 75 mg daily

2019 to 5-23   Venlafaxine ER – (2) 35 mg daily . . .

5-21-23  .170 grams daily   

6-5-23   .165 grams daily 

Link to comment

The info in "Tips for tapering off Effexor and Effexor XR (venlafaxine)" By Altostrata should apply to my taper, as long as the Venlafaxine Hcl ER capsules that I am taking are interchangeable with the Venlafaxine XR capsules that are spoken about in the 1st paragraph of that post (article) -- Outside info (google)  indicates that the terms XR and ER are interchangeable. I'm just wanting to hear what members might know about that before I get started.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their opinions and experience on this forum.

Beginnings . . .

1972 - Dexedrine – dose unknown

1976 - Ritalin – dose unknown

2007 -  Citalopram – 30 mg daily

2017 - Venlafaxine ER – 75 mg daily

2019 to 5-23   Venlafaxine ER – (2) 35 mg daily . . .

5-21-23  .170 grams daily   

6-5-23   .165 grams daily 

Link to comment

Hi,

The info in the article/post  "Tips for tapering off Effexor and Effexor XR (venlafaxine)"  by Altostrata, should apply to the taper I'm about to start, as long as the Venlafaxine XR capsules that are spoken of in that article (1st paragraph) have the same contents as the Venlafaxine Hcl ER capsules that I'm about to start tapering off of.  Outside info (Google) indicates that XR and ER are interchangeable acronyms.  I'm just wanting to hear what members might know about that before I get started.


Thanks to all for sharing their opinions and experience on this forum.                                                                                 Beginnings . . .

Edited by Shep
reduced font size

1972 - Dexedrine – dose unknown

1976 - Ritalin – dose unknown

2007 -  Citalopram – 30 mg daily

2017 - Venlafaxine ER – 75 mg daily

2019 to 5-23   Venlafaxine ER – (2) 35 mg daily . . .

5-21-23  .170 grams daily   

6-5-23   .165 grams daily 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

@Beginnings I've merged your posts from the Tapering forum into your own intro/update thread, since you're writing about your own taper. Please continue to post here in your thread to ask questions about your taper.

 

So you have the link easily accessible on your thread, here is the link you're referring to:

 

Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

12 hours ago, Beginnings said:

Outside info (Google) indicates that XR and ER are interchangeable acronyms.

 

You are correct - both of these terms mean extended release. See: What does XR or ER mean after a drug name?

 

You will see both of these terms used on this site for pills formulated to slowly release throughout the day / night. 

 

 

 

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Thank you Shep.

 

1972 - Dexedrine – dose unknown

1976 - Ritalin – dose unknown

2007 -  Citalopram – 30 mg daily

2017 - Venlafaxine ER – 75 mg daily

2019 to 5-23   Venlafaxine ER – (2) 35 mg daily . . .

5-21-23  .170 grams daily   

6-5-23   .165 grams daily 

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