success ☼ Hudgens's story

[Hudgens]

Sorry, I'm gueessing I'm being exasperating--It's just the anxiety, which has gone down after a walk thankfully. Let's have another look at that article. Thanks.

[Meimeiquest]

I got medicine from a compounding pharmacy, then decided not to take it. But I talked with the pharmacist a good bit to find out how fast it would be absorbed and what concentration he advised, then took that info to pdoc, who was not familiar with it, but who phoned in the script in the end. The pharmacist can show you how to measure if you choose that route.

[Hudgens]

I had another pretty good day. Relatives visited, ham dinner, walked. There is a funny tightenning up feeling in my upper body and head, a little anxiety, but nothing I can't handle. Going to go to bed and read myself to sleep. Still not sleeping a full 7 hours, but getting closer to that lately. There will be many more waves to come, probably, but with the exception of one day, I had a very good week. There'll be alot more of those, too. May everyone have a peaceful night, Benz

[Hudgens]

Meimei, Why did you decide not to take the compounded medicine?

Do you recall about how much it cost? Thanks, Benz

[Meimeiquest]

Meimei, Why did you decide not to take the compounded medicine?

Do you recall about how much it cost? Thanks, Benz

 

There was a delay in getting the medicine, and during that delay it became apparent that a different drug was causing my WD symptoms. But I still bought it in case I think I need it someday.

 

It was a total of 20 mg olanzepine (Zyprexa) and it cost $20. The cost will be driven by the cost of the drug.

[Hudgens]

Thanks Meimei, I'm trying to decide what to do but it's dificult to change the way I've been measuring my doses right now because I've been having such a good week or more. Right now, for example I'm in another complete window. Only for an hour or so but when they happen they're very obvious and still amazing to me. It's almost like I've never had WD's. So naturally I think, don't rock the boat, you must be doing something right, or at least right enough to be continually hitting these blessed isles of normality. I swear I can even think more clearly.

 

Thanks again. Benz

[Meimeiquest]

I wouldn't rock it either! But I make mistakes even with tablets.....but always a learning experience!

[Hudgens]

Meimei, Still I don't think it will hurt to call a compound pharmacy to see what's what. And afterall, to come seeking advice to a site where so much experience and thinking about this problem has accumulated, and then not to at least take any specific advise given seriously, just wouldn't be too smart. Do you happen to recall the name of the compounding pharmacy you did business with?

 

I slept great last night. Partial insomnia is the longest and most consistent of my WD symptoms. It's by far the one I hate the least, but as long as I have it-I mean even if all the rest disappear, I'm still in WD. At any rate, It seems to me more and more that I'm at least stabilizing at this new (14 days) lowered dose of about 1/4mgs. I feel like I'm only 2 more reductions away from stepping off. Then if only the post-Effexor WD's are no worse than the tapering WD's--I'm in like Flinn. Of course, I've learned on this site that that's a very big if. All of this is-except the way any of us feels at the moment, that's the only certainty in any of this. And right now I feel very good. Really hope you're doing well today, Benz

[Meimeiquest]

You're doing great! With a great attitude! I think being able to sleep well is an indicator of the whole mind and body working right.

 

I used a local compounding pharmacy, but there are some national ones in the database.

[Hudgens]

Really? I knew insomnia was a WD symptom but I didn't know it was that significant. Thanks, Benz

[dalsaan]

Benz, I use sleep as my 'barometer' for withdrawal. It is very sognificant and if you are getting a great nights sleep that's a good sign and good for your healing

[Hudgens]

Thanks Dalsaan, funny today I had a sort of mild-moderate anxiety all day. It's gotten worse in the evening.

Guess it's a wave-hope it's not a big one. Time to try and remember all of last week's windows.

And hope you're doing well, Benz

[Hudgens]

Had trouble getting to sleep because of anxiety. Finally slept for 3 hours. Had pretty intense anxiety again upon waking at 830 am--it felt like a burning in the center of my chest. I tried to just accept it and and did abdominal breathing at the same time, and it got down into the managable range in a half hour. Now (1120am) I

just feel a little rough and my mood's down some.

 

This is the 16th day at a new lower dose.

 

Many posts here refer to waves as if they simply have a mind of their own-come on for seemingly no apparent reason, leave simply when they're ready to leave. Other posts ascribe possible reasons for them: coffee, excercise, work place stress, emotional stress, diet.

 

I wonder what everyone at this point thinks is the truth about this. Benz

[Altostrata]

There are triggers and they also come on spontaneously.

 

As you get down to a very low dose, your system is more sensitive to dosing irregularities.

[Meimeiquest]

So sorry! It's very disappointing....Are you old enough to know the saying "Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water...."? For me, 16 days is right on schedule for WD to hit. Plus the lower you go, the harder it gets. I think waves just happen, and they are caused by change and stress. In other words, all of the above. Don't expect much from yourself, get some gentle outdoor exercise if you can. You can do this!

[Hudgens]

Yes, Meimei, I'm 55 and remember the original Jaws advertisement. I think I was 18, maybe.

 

Just finished a walk.

 

I obviously must stay at this dosage until I feel a lot more confident than I do right now. And I will updose if it gets too bad for too long.

I'm going to ask my doctor for a prescription for a compounded liquid Effexor today or at least get an appt to make that request, then if I reinstate I could just go bak, say, to 1/2 mg and stick it out until stabilization. But even if I don't reinstate the liquid wil make the rest of my taper smoother I'll bet.

 

I crushed a 75mg generic pill yesterday into powder, then kept deviding the pile(s) in half until I got down to what I'm taking right now-Looks like my real current dose is about .29 mgs. I thought I was a little below 1/4mgs but now I don't think so.

 

I was thinking that maye 1.8mgs might be a good jumping off place, because I took another 40% off of my current dose and 1.8mgs looks so tiny, I really don't think I could get much smaller with any accuracy at all.

 

Anyway, the difference between .29 and 1.8 seems much wider today than it did just a few days ago.

 

Might do it by the end of July, though.

 

I mean, yes, it does get tougher at the end of a taper, but there's got to be some jumping off limit. Maybe with the liquid I can go down to .1 mgs.

I guess it's all based on how the individual feels--why it's important to hold at each stage to give WD's a chance to show up.

 

I think that my slow taper must have some real benifits-since I have had most of the WD's as others here have, but never as intense. For example, many talk about crying all day long-I've never cried once, but am much more emotional about things-feel as though I'm tearing up at times and over really silly things mostly. Also, I've never had brain zaps, although I've hear a funny little noise when I move my eyes to the right quickly--I'll bet that's just a very mild (doesn't bother me at all) form of the zaps. Same goes for the other symptoms.

 

Of course, I should knock on wood, but maybe the difference is the 2yr 4 mnth taper. It would be the greastest thing ever if my post-taper period were-not necessarily shorter, but less intense than others' who went off more quickly. We'll see. I hope you're doing well today,Benz

[Hudgens]

I was wondering if there are any problems people on this site have had with other necessary medical treatments.

For example, have they had problems when taking prescription painkillers for severe pain? And, if during tapering or post-antidepressant withdrawal you suddenly need and operation of some sort-is anesthesia ever a problem? That is, does it end up making the recover process worse? Are these things something extra to worry about during all of this? Thanks, Benz

[Jemima]

I think this subject has been touched upon a number of times in the 'Symptoms and self-care' discussion. Here are two topics I found and I think there are more:

 

Pain Medication in Withdrawal

 

 

Surgery During Withdrawal

[Hudgens]

Thanks, Jemima.

[Hudgens]

Feeling alot better today. Anxiety at managable level. Also slept at least 6 hours, and straight through, which is unusual for me.

 

Called my dr at the VA and tried to explain about my WD difficulties, which I would never do except I wanted to get a prescription from him from a compounding pharmacy. He said no, in effect, because he wanted me to discuss it with a VA Psychiatrist. I explained I'd already gone that route about 3 years ago when I first thought about a 2nd taper off EffexorXR. I asked him if I could be switched to Effexor Generic so I could cut the pills down very slowly. He was kind of shocked and dismissive. He even laughed at me. He said I could taper just by using the 37.5, 25, and 10mg pills he said were avalable at the VA. I tried to explain that wouldn't work for me, but he would absolutely not listen. I never went back to this guy again.

 

What happened a few months later was kind of mysterious. I reordered my usual months supply of Effexor SR but recieved Effexor Generic. It's possible the pharmacy made an error, but I never questioned it. I was thinking the VA jsut decided it would be cheaper to switch me.

 

So, I took 2 mnths to get used to the generic, had no problems, and then began my 2nd taper. No problems again

until 1 year and 9 months later when I'd gotten down to about 2mgs.. Since then I've slightly reinstated once (maybe .5 mgs added) in October 2012, and had a much tougher time generally.

 

So anyway the VA's a bust, I'll bet I'd do much better if I were still seeing a private GP.

 

I'm still holding my own more or less, but it could be that the liquid would make this last part of the taper

easier.

 

Anyone have any ideas? I know I could make my own liquid and am considering this. I could put a 75mg pill into a 100mg bottle, but I've read that it's only good for a few days. This is very inconvenient, I'd have to make a new bottle's worth every 3 days. Plus, know my VA GP knows I'm down to a very low dose and might be wondering why I suddenly want my monthly supply started again. I should've mentioned I havn't reordered the VA Effexor in months, although I have half a month's supply plus a whole mnths worth I've never opened. That is, more than enough to finish the taper--unless, my point, I start using a 75mg pill up every 3 days.

 

So I don't know what to do. You'd think with all the suffering this causes people, they'd would maybe try to make things so that there'd be less trouble with the actual michanics of the taper. But no.

 

What have people here done in the past when their GP has refused a prescription for a compounding pharmacy?

I hope everyone has a good afternoon and evening, Benz

[tezza]

Hi Benz,

 

I'm sorry you're having trouble getting your doc to cooperate with you, that's not unusual, unfortunately!

 

I mix a 30 mg Remeron tablet with 30 mL of water and keep it in the fridge. It lasts a week since I'm only taking 3.8 mg. I haven't noticed it losing strength, I'm not sure how your particular drug would hold up but it's worth the trouble to me in order to make tiny, accurate decrements, which greatly decreases withdrawal symptoms.

 

I hope this helps you. You get accustomed to mixing and measuring pretty quick and it's not so bad.

 

Hugs,

Tezza

[Hudgens]

Thanks alot, Tezza If it could last a week I'd have enough right now to go 10 months. I'm only taking .29mgs. I've never used a measuring syringe, would it be easy measure such small amounts? Benz

[Hudgens]

Oh, by the way, do you know where I can find out how long Effexor in water keeps? Thanks, Benz

[Hudgens]

Well I just ordered a 1ml oral syringe with a the stopper with the hole in it, and I got a 90 ml clear medicine bottle from the local pharmacy. Should have everything together and ready to go by tomorrow night.

 

I would like to hear from anyone who's switched, or just always used, the -making a liquid out of their antidepreesant- method, as to whether or not it work well for them.

 

4 hrs of sleep last night, feel mild anxiety and depression. Going to get something to eat and go for a walk.

It's warmer here today than it's been for a while. Thanks! Benz

[Altostrata]

Benz, we have extensive instructions in the Tapering forum and yes, people have made their own liquids and tapered successfully with them.

 

The do-it-yourself preparations will be good for a few days, refrigerated and kept out of light.

 

You can get oral syringes from a compounding pharmacy. Please go into the Tapering forum and do some reading.

[Hudgens]

Yes, I am intelectually lazy.

[Altostrata]

I have my life, too, Benz, and I am not going to spoon-feed you information you can find for yourself, and for which you've received links many times.

[Hudgens]

Yes, I just got done reading that section and of course it's faster and I get alot more information than if we went back and forth for a week or so. I get it. It just didn't occur to me until now, that's all. Thanks, Benz

[tezza]

Thanks alot, Tezza If it could last a week I'd have enough right now to go 10 months. I'm only taking .29mgs. I've never used a measuring syringe, would it be easy measure such small amounts? Benz

 

 

Yes, it's fairly easy to measure small amounts with a tiny 1mL oral syringe. Mine doesn't have any ticks between .2 and .1 so I use a Sharpie permanent marker to decrease my dose by a very minute amount.

 

I'm taking what I think is .19 mg. I can't make 10% decrements, I'm too sensitive to drops. Like Dalsaan, I use sleep as a 'barometer'. I try to wait between cuts, until sleep is very tolerable.

 

It is important to be very consistent with the dosage when you are taking a very small dose.

[Hudgens]

Tezza, Did you always use liquid? If you switched at some point to liquid, do you recall if the switch was pretty smooth?

 

I'm not doing too badly lately, but am afraid of making any big change. Still, I've got to get the measurements more consistant. And regardless of the consequences, I have to stay with the liquid for at least two weeks. I realize the great advantages if I can successfully make the switch.

 

Thanks, kiddo, Benz

[tezza]

Hi Benz,

 

No, I used tablets at first. One of the meds I'm tapering comes in liquid form and when I switched to it, it went very smoothly. I didn't taper for a while after switching to the liquid.

 

The other one, I'm crushing and mixing with water. Switching to it that way went smoothly also. I've been doing this since July of last year. I taper very slowly....I have to because I want to remain as functional as possible.

 

I tried weighing pieces of tablets and it was too difficult. I had to constantly re-calibrate the scales. I've become much more stable while tapering in liquid form.

 

Wish the best for you!

[Hudgens]

God bless you, Tezza. I can't tell you how much that eases my fears about this switch.

 

How are you doing today/lately?

 

Thanks so very much, Benz

[tezza]

You're welcome, Benz.

 

I'm ok, thanks for asking....not super, but ok. The stressors I've been dealing with lately are still bothering me somewhat. I need to let go and get things off my mind. I'm getting there, but slowly, I guess.

 

I think you will be fine making the transition to liquid but I wouldn't taper too soon, if I were you.

 

Hang in there

[Hudgens]

I've been on Hydrochlorothiaz 12.5mg/Linsinpril10mg for 4 years. Are there any WD's with stopping these CT?

I've lost a lot of weight and I'd like to see if my BP is back to normal. Would stopping these possibly throw off my Effexor Tapper? Thanks, Benz

[Altostrata]

Benz, hasn't your doctor told you there are withdrawal issues with those drugs?

 

DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER COLD TURKEY.

 

There's always Google if you want to find out things like that, about drugs that are not psychiatric drugs.

 

Looking things up yourself is a way you can take better care of yourself, which you really, really need to do to get through this drug situation.

[Hudgens]

Thanks, Alto, yeah I did look them up and was very surprised to find some people have WD problems when stopping them. I've gone on and off one ace inhibitor (Lotensin) lots of times and don't recall ever feeling much of anything. So I'm surprised to hear about this. No, my Dr. never said a thing about withdrawal symptoms in regards to these drugs. Thanks again, Benz