Caro123

[caro123]

Hi, This is the first time I have posted on any forum. I found this site and am greatful for the info and the discussions posted. I am about to start tappering my meds "again" (lost count how many times). Last year I thought I was off for good, but tappered the end too quick and ended up with really bad anxiety, insomnia etc so my friend/Dr suggested I try new drug Lexipro? it didn't take so back on to Effexor 75 and I responded back to my "chemical" state. My chemist suggested I try the generic Effexor which is Efalax, said it was the same. Funny but I started to get heaches and not feel so good. I just had what I call an "episode" where I woke up feeling anxious, kept going to the bathroom, hot flushes, nausea, was sick, ended up taking an Effexor and slept all day. The good news was that I had read this site. So I handled it a lot better. I had some really negative thoughs that I usually get hooked into. But as I had read this site I told myself that this was chemical and it would pass, I slept and felt much better. So am feeling nervous about tapering. I will start but might just wait till this settles. ps This is my 8th year on Effexor.

[Karma]

Hi Caro123 and welcome to the forum.

 

I have been on Effexor since 1999 ... so please don't let the amount of time you've been on Effexor cause you unnecessary haste in getting off of it. At one point I was at the highest recommended dosage of 375 mg, but now I'm at 40.625 mg Effexor and I only had withdrawal symptoms last fall and that was because I wasn't paying attention to the subtle signs of withdrawal.

 

You want to get to a stable baseline for how you feel before you begin a slow taper. I recommend logging and rating your symptoms on a daily basis until you get to an acceptable level and can remain there for a sustained period of at least two weeks - here is more guidance on that http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1779-rate-symptoms-daily-to-catch-withdrawals-early/.

 

You will taper at 10% or less of your previous dose and hold for a month. Here are Effexor tapering guidelines: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/272-tips-for-tapering-off-effexor-and-effexor-xr-venlafaxine/

 

The hardest part for me was realizing that this is going to take longer than I planned. Once I wrapped my brain around that it hasn't been so bad.

 

Love and light

Karma

[Altostrata]

Good advice, Karma, thanks.

 

Welcome to our community, Caro.

 

Are you now taking 75mg of Effexor? Which type is it, is it a tablet?

[caro123]

Thank you for you replies -

 

I just realised that I didn't log out last night!! oops.

 

I am trying to plan a long tapper, and the hardest part is going to be keeping a daily record/log of whats happening/symptons.

 

I read the Road Back and want to supplement as well but not sure if I will use those ones. I have hormonial issues so have cream x 2 x 2 per day and tablet for that as well. I have read the key to health is thru the gut ie use a good probiotic that can help beware of floride water, eat organic where possible and beware of genetically modified food etc

 

In Qld / Australia we only have Effexor XR and I am on 75mg. The generic which is supposed to be the same Enlafax when you open them have 2 capsules not the beads. Its supposed to be slow release as well but I guess its not the same as the beads. Although if I can get my body to tolerate the Enlafax ? then I can have the tablets compounded to make for an easier drop down. Although judging by how its making me feel and the fact that I had a "crash" not sure.

 

Obviously I didn't realise that I was going down, I sort of did but thought I was handling it. Ha. No. Which is a good wake up call that if I don't use a daily log to take stock of where I am then its a good chance this will happen again. Its easy to tell yourself / fool yourself into believing I'm ok its a denial thing because I so want to be ok but accepting that we are who we are.

 

So before I start my tapper, I will need to feel a bit stronger. I am feeling fearful, I think its a precursor to anxiety, but its manageable. I would love to just go to bed and sleep. No chance. Its Sunday here so got homework, housework, our Sabbath is Saturday.

 

I will go and read the posts Karma suggested, I have read tapper info on this site before but still getting my head around which way to go.

 

Thanks again for this site. Its so helpful

[caro123]

Its actually 10:20 am here - the timing is off not that that is important?

[caro123]

Sunday 18th March

[Altostrata]

The time on the site is US Pacific time. It doesn't matter if you log out or not.

 

Caro, we don't recommend the supplements sold by The Road Back, or any withdrawal program.

 

Each person has to design his or her own program, and be very careful about supplements. Frequently, withdrawal makes your nervous system hypersensitive and supplements normal people take might upset it. We have suggestions about ways to cope with symptoms in our Symptoms and What Helps forum.

 

Sometimes people have trouble changing from a brand name drug to a generic. Did your symptoms start when you changed from 75mg Effexor XR to 75mg Enlafax XR?

 

When you open the Enlafax XR capsule, there are only two pellets inside??

[alexjuice]

Hi Caro,

 

Welcome to the forum and thank you for sharing whats been happening with you.

 

I went through an Effexor taper about two years ago. You are lucky in that you are here. I had only the guidance of a lousy psychiatrist. The result was a too-rapid taper with many after effects.

 

In retrospect I believe a slow, gradual taper would been less riskier for me and, possibly, produced fewer complications. I'm happy to hear that you're planning to take your time with your taper.

 

Again, welcome to the board. I hope the weather is nice in Australia. I also hope the doctors are nice their as well. I say so as I sure could use a pleasant day and a pleasant physician, but that's just where I'm at today.

 

Nice to meet you Caro.

 

I'm Alex

[caro123]

Thanks Alto and Alex,

 

I am really worried about trying to tapper of Effexor xr 75mg due to the beads.

 

When I opened the Enlafax and found 2 tabs I thought good news and bad news.

 

I started feeling off due to changing to the generic but if I don't switch to the generic cutting down slowly is going to be difficult - counting beads???? So I am stalled.

 

Is it worth alternting the effexor and generic 75mg each day so I can get used to the enlafax thereby being able to have the tablets compounded at chemist later on for a slower tapper? How long would I do this for?

 

Would apreciate any imput?

[Altostrata]

Caro, when you switched from Effexor XR to Enlafax XR, did you go from 150mg Effexor XR to 75mg Enlafax XR?? Did you cut your dosage in half?

 

If so, that alone may be the cause of your withdrawal symptoms. We recommend a 10% decrease at a time. 150mg to 75mg is a 50% decrease.

 

Are the two tablets inside 75mg Enlafax XR identical? Do they have any printing on them?

 

Do not alternate 150mg Effexor XR and 75mg Enlafax XR. This will make you very sick.

[caro123]

Thanks

 

I was on 150 mg years ago and now on 75mg. Effexor xr. We don't have Effexor slow release here just the generic Enlafax which is supposed to be slow release? or so I was told.

 

So I switched to the generic because it was supposed to be the same I didn't realise till I opened the capsule that it had the 2 tablets and no beads. I don't have any Enlafax but I think it is 2 x 37.5 inside ?

 

So I could get a script for 150mg tabs giving me - 3 x 50. 75mg tabs - 2 x 37.5 have them compounded to smaller amounts

 

What was frustrating I was tring to find a way to compound down so I could do the 10% drop down and can't work out how to do it. Funny how I asked the compounding chemist and they only came back with cutting up the above doses.

 

So If I did a 50 tab + 12.5 + 62.5

 

But don't know if that too big a drop to start.

 

The last time I was told to tablet alternative days. which I did. don't want to do it that way again, especially after reading your site!!!!!!

 

So this is all if I can get used to Enlafax if I can't does that mean I have to take out beads??????

 

Caroline.

[Altostrata]

Caro, try to read this slowly and answer all the questions.

 

Effexor XR is extended-release. The extended-release part is in the coating on each little bead.

 

How long were you taking 75mg Effexor XR? How long have you been taking 75mg Enlafax?

 

Are the symptoms you got when you made the change gone now?

 

From what I see on the Web, Enlafax only comes in the XR form. Are you taking Enlafax XR, Caro? Look on your package.

 

Are the two pellets inside the 75mg Enlafax capsule exactly the same?

[caro123]

Hi Alto,

 

OkI take 75mg ffexor xr for a couple of years now.

 

Enlafax 75mg is supposed to be extended release also. I started taking it a month ago and don't have any left. I have 75mg Effexor xr which I am taking now, and am starting to feel better.

 

The symptoms have decreased I feel a bit "not right" in the morning. A bit fearful? anxious? my teeth are clenched, but I am ok during the day. I feel it is also hormonal as well.

 

When I started to go down a bit I started "dong things" like clean outs (my husband works from home so moving 48ltr boxes full of files, sorting, so wore my self down a bit. I had a few episodes of not being able to sleep, but kept going. I didn't see what was happening. I am sure I missed doses - forgot to take which didn't hlep.

 

As I don't have any Enlafax left I cant say for sure but from memory. The capsules looked the same so I assumed they were 37.5mg each. When I spoke to the Chemist about compounding, they said the 150mg had 3 tablets in them 3 x 50mg.

 

FYI Its been about 1 1/2 yrs since my last attempt to get off this drug. I was told to take 75mg every 2nd day etc etc which I did until I dropped down to 37.5 and then keep doing that I felt ok and then I stopped (too quickly). It took a couple of months about 4 before I had a relapse. Really bad anxiety, shaking etc. They tried to put me on Arapax but my body didn't respond. I was taking some valium and sleeping to get through but just as emergency. Then back on the Effexor xr 75mg and responded better. I can't remember when I was on 150mg but it was for a number of years.

 

I believe hormones are playing a part in this as well. I am trying to sort that out too.

 

I hope that clarified, thank you Alto.

[Altostrata]

Yes, thank you.

 

It sounds like you had a bad reaction from switching from the brand name to the generic drug. Sometimes people are sensitive to this.

 

Since you have Effexor XR containing pellets, you can taper by taking out pellets. You open the capsule, take out a certain number of pellets every day, and put them in a clean, tightly capped medicine bottle to use later.

[caro123]

Thanks Alto,

 

Will try that as well as kepping a journal as Karma suggested.

[strawberry17]

Hi Caro, just found your thread, I've been trying to locate the threads of friends on here so I can keep track of their progress!

Like you I was very keen on theroadback idea, I think I mentioned on another thread that I actually tried to work out a budget to afford the supplements, then common sense and cynicism kicked in and I realised this was a site ripping vulnerable people like me off, and if anything all I needed was a good reasonably priced multi vitamin, fish oil, healthy diet and exercise.

I read in a book last night that strong supplements can sometimes aggravate people quite badly in withdrawal (I think Alto Strata mentioned it).

strawberry

[caro123]

Hi- Been away on holidays. Well am crashing and burning with anxiety. Why. Because husband doesnt understand the tappering process and my need to hold on 37.5mg.

 

He angry and thinks that I need to keep reducing. No way. I need to hold.

 

Now I don't have the buffer of Effexor-xr am more aware of his moods and my relationship is getting more difficult. I realize how much I try and "keep the peace - at my expence" and can't do it anymore.

 

My life is crumbling. He wants to blame drugs for our issues. How easy for him to put all the blame on me as I am the "one on psyco-tropic-drugs".

 

So as I am u n d e r s t a n d a b l y NOT coping do I go up or try and hold. Am currently on 37.5mg and have been since 2nd October 2012. I have NO intention no matter what he says of reducing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks, I had to come home early from holidays by 1 day early due to anxiety, We had been away for 14days. Life is going to be very tough for a while as I navigate this!

[Jemima]

Hi Caro,

 

I merged your tapering topic with your intro because it's about your personal progress rather than general info on tapering.

 

It sounds to me that you've got every reason to feel anxious with those relationship problems. Maybe now is the time to learn to deal with them instead of turning to prescription drugs, which is where so many of us went wrong.

 

If worse comes to worse, you could updose a smidge, although not necessarily all the way up to 45 mg., which I believe was your previous dose.

 

Sorry to hear that things are going so badly.

[strawberry17]

Hi Caro I think you're right, absolutely do not make another reduction while you have emotional turmoil going on. Would it be worth finding him a couple of threads in the tapering forum about tapering that would help him understand?

 

Sounds like the full dose of effexor was numbing you to issues in your relationship which need addressing

[caro123]

Thank you Jemmina and Straw, I agree. Will have to take it one day at a time and everything you said was spot on thanks.

[caro123]

Good news he now understands to back off pushing. for now.

 

My priority is dealing with the anxiety. I am going to try and not updose and try and do little things. My nerves are so frayed at the moment. understandably.

 

I so need to sleep, but cant. Not hungry. I know if I could sleep I would feel better but will try not to panic it will come.

 

In the meantime i wlll go back thru the previous posts from others. It helps to know that I am not alone.

[peggy]

Hi Caro, so sad you are not feeling good - i was never able to endure the anxiety without updosing...

[strawberry17]

Oh Caro you are definately not alone, lack of sleep amplifies anxiety doesn't it? it will get better though, hang in there.

[caro123]

Thanks Peggy and Strawberry, Am coming out the other side I hope. Anxiety is low grade now. Hopefully will be able to sleep tonight!!!

 

I have put some stragegies in place to help resolve some issues, which makes me feel better; not expecting miracles but at least I am trying.

 

Also looking at the whole jewlery scale weigh thing - its really scarry reading about how to weigh and measure - does your head in.

[caro123]

Hi there,

 

Its now March 2013. I am still on 37.5mg. I have not updosed and have not reduced. Because I have been listening to my body. Life is life. We all have ups and downs. We all react differently.

 

Well I am really surprised how strong I am. My marriage has imploded.

 

My husband has a big heart. He is a good looking guy. We have been together for 25yrs. It looks like we are separating. Things have come to a head and I am being strong and looking after what I think is right and not giving into him - his emotional blackmail, his physical bulk and scale.

 

The bio-idential creme for progesterone and testerone is helping. But facing the truth and not bing in denial is helping. I am being honest with myself and when I share with others not one person has exprssed anything but support and care for me.

 

I share to let you know that it has been at least 6mths since my last reduction. I am on 37.5mg. I was considering updosing as I was feeling my nerves tingling. but i resisted and faced the truth. I cant live in this relationship as it is. It is not good to stay for my children (18, 15, 9).

 

For all of us that are struggling, to get off this rotton drug. It takes time. Life is hard. We have to do what we have to do. We do it when we are ready.

 

Do not despair. Accept that you are doing the best that you can at the moment. I can only take this one moment at a time. At the moment I am ok; I am sad, I am angry, I am looking out for my kids, time will tell how this will play out. Who knows what the future will bring. We can only deal with want we can at this moment.

 

Take care everyone. Its a journey. We do the best we can.!!!! Caroline. xo

[tezza]

Hi Caro,

 

I'm so terribly sorry about the situation with your marriage. You are presenting yourself as very strong and courageous!

 

My heart goes out to you, stay strong and post often. We are here for you.

 

Hugs,

Tezza

[strawberry17]

Caro123 I'm so sorry to hear about your marriage breaking down, but you sound like a very strong and together woman, and in control. I wish you all the best!

[peggy]

Wow Caro, you've had a rotten time...I am so sorry that you are dealing with this during withdrawal. I am thinking of you during this time and I agree with the others, you are a very strong lady!!!!