StartingOver

[StartingOver]

Hello everyone.

I am returning to the site after crashing badly about a year ago after first tapering too fast... about 25% in about a month.. After stabilising.. and thankfully resuming a fairly normal life, and after mindfulness training and with a regular psychologist; I felt I should start again... impelled at least by continuing high blood pressure.

 

Unfortunately I have sunk into a similar (but not as bad situation). I started with a 4% redaction, with mild withdrawals, for out to about a week, followed by five weeks of relative stability... and very happy that what I found out last year seemed to offer a viable path..which including the possibility of holding my life together... With what I learnt last year, I was quite resolved that the process would take several years..but be a far more sustainable route.

 

The second drop was followed by a slightly more difficult withdrawal.. but again largely resolved within a week... The next five weeks felt a little unstable... but not effecting life much..

 

And as I was preparing my third drop of 4%, I was overtaken with moderate withdrawal again. Now been going for about 4-5 days... I have (of course) cancelled by next scheduled drop (due today)..

 

But I am filled with dilemmas for which i would like some advice... I remember reading some people experience difficulties in getting teh process going... and can get easier later...??? ALso, my digital scales, at .001 accuracy, seem a little dodgy, and while I think I am getting it roughly right... how important at these levels is absolute accuracy??

 

ALso, what are your insights re; this will pass and stabilise again; should I uprose to the last one... or even reinstate at 300 and start teh process at an eve more reduced rate...

 

Am taking 600mg of fish oil.. and dealing pretty well with nasuea with ginger..

[Altostrata]

Welcome, StartingOver.

 

Are you taking regular Effexor or Effexor XR in capsules containing little beads?

 

Have you been taking any other drugs, such as a stomach acid blocker?

 

For your information, here's a topic about tapering Effexor http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/272-tips-for-tapering-off-effexor-and-effexor-xr-venlafaxine/

[StartingOver]

Am taking the extended release... little beads... Only other medication is for high blood pressure... Am taking travel calm (ginger) and ginger tea for nausea...

 

Can I assume I am going through a second wave??... and if I see it through... it can settle and stabilise before proceeding? I think any adjustment... up or down... has caused me probs...

 

I am assuming that the smaller incremental drops are giving me a better chance; and wondering if, at this outset, my initial first "challenging" of the brain.. can cause greater probs at this stage...

 

Thanks

Starting Over..

[Altostrata]

You're weighing the beads to calculate 4%? About how many beads is that?

 

If I were you, I'd hold on reductions for a bit, to give your nervous system time to stabilize.

 

Perhaps you can do smaller reductions with fewer symptoms.

[Meimeiquest]

I am not experienced at all (except I took Effexor for a month or two, and not knowing it mattered, was 2 days late picking up a script...oh la la!). But the website psycheducation.org has a page on withdrawing antidepressants in the primary care provider section. Section C talks about Effexor...basically he recommends counting beads to make the withdrawal as slow as possible. Good Luck! Meimeiquest

[StartingOver]

You're weighing the beads to calculate 4%? About how many beads is that?

 

If I were you, I'd hold on reductions for a bit, to give your nervous system time to stabilize.

 

Perhaps you can do smaller reductions with fewer symptoms.

 

Alto; I appreciate the advice... In the past (albiet, at a much greater reduction), I've had no experience that this level of discomfort can pass... I just remember what it feels like... WIth the amount I've reduced this time, I suppose it would be good to experience if and how withdrawal symptoms can settle down... lest I assume I cant even tolerate this level of reduction, without fully assessing that...So, yes, maybe too early to see... although today was tough... and till I read the posts, was seriously considering re reinstating.

 

As for my method... I am measuring on a .000 digital scale... I took teh measure of 10 37.5 caps.. and averaged it... which came to .128... So I took 1/3 of a "37.5mm" capsule to equal "12.5 mm"... and that equals about 4% of 300mm, my original dose...

 

My main concern is not so much the validity of my estimates... but the repeatable accuracy of the scales... and I have ordered a more expensive set (hope that means better quality) from Amazon...

 

I really appreciate that others have already accumulated a lot of knowledge here.

[Altostrata]

If you're weighing the doses in their capsules, you also have to account for the weight of the capsule.

 

Jim Phelps of psycheducation.org is on our list of recommended doctors (but he and I disagree on his definition and diagnoses of bipolar disorder -- he's very open-minded though and is learning).

 

Yes, repeatability is key.

 

Holding at this point might make it easier for you to adapt after future dosage reductions.

[StartingOver]

I weigh the beads outside teh capsules..

 

I have now made up my medications for the same level for teh next two weeks...

[StartingOver]

Hi; While I read a lot here, I rarely write..but the whole orientation I have received to the issues here has been excellent.

 

For the last 14 yrs, Ive been taking Effexor, after several years of other ADs.. My main other health issues is chronic pain (neck and head.. and which the Effexor was supposed to help..and in its own way it did,,,); I now have excellent doctors. Once it was all properly diagnosed and the pain massively reduced (through Radio Frequency Ablation); I was in the position to begin reducing from 300mg.

 

I recognised before hand that it had become an addiction.. and wanted off fast.. and had a six month plan... After six weeks.. I was in a state.. reinstated... then found these boards. After about a year of stabilisation and lots of reading, I tried again.. this time by tiny increments.. usually below 5%.. some withdrawals.. but all passed.. and was successfully working overseas at the same time..

 

Also, I learned after the first attempt.. that it was difficult to see an end point.. but I could see getting down to the the next tablet measure (ie 37.5mg)..by small increments.. When I reach that point, I would rest for three months before starting again...

 

In 18 months, I reduced to 187.5mg... Might seem slow.. but all time spent consolidating has not been a waste.

 

Ive come to a halt for a while.. My mum died last December... and I didn't want to mix up grief with WD...Then in March, I had my lastest pain treatment (RFA)...They have been holding for about 20 months.. My doctor has altered his method to see if it can last for longer.. Well, the side effects have been far more pronounced... Every other day, I have a level of pain that is very debilitating...

 

I do expect it will resolve.. but until it does, I wont be reducing again..

 

So, while Im suffering again in other ways.. the time staying stable at 187.5 now... just serves to make that a more solid starting pint when next I set off..

 

[Petunia]

Welcome back StartingOver,

 

Thank you for posting an update to let us know how you are. I'm sorry about the loss of your mum.

 

..Then in March, I had my lastest pain treatment (RFA)...They have been holding for about 20 months.. My doctor has altered his method to see if it can last for longer.. Well, the side effects have been far more pronounced... Every other day, I have a level of pain that is very debilitating...

 

 

Does your doctor know that the latest treatment has made your pain worse?

[StartingOver]

Yes, the doctor does know there is more pain. And Im in regular contact. He has had me on Digesics.. but i feel this has added to a sense of depression. Am wondering what people think about Digesics in terms of affecting equalibrium?