Pearl: Math help, please

[Pearl]

Hello - sorry to attach this as a file; did not know I could not copy/paste [edited by Karma to paste contents into post]

 

Hello

I need some math help, I think.  Just found/joined your forum.  I have been taking Effexor XR for about 8 years [1 - 150mg/day],  I really want to stop taking it for all sorts of reasons.  My primary care doc supports me in this and we talked about it at my last appointment.  He said one way was to start tapering by alternating doses; he gave me a script for 75 mg which I filled.

For about five weeks I did the 150, 75, 150, etc dosage.  Initially I had a few problems with sleeping, bad dreams, a little bit of anxiety but certainly not enough to be troublesome.  The problems resolved in 2-3 weeks.  My doc told me to keep stepping down when I felt comfortable with it; he said to let him know when I was ready for the final step down and he would give me a script for the 37.5 mg capsule.

 

Last weekend I began the new regimen which was 150mg, 75mg, 75mg, 150mg, etc.  It was way too much of a reduction--I had major symptoms compared to the earlier ones when I started the reduction with the 150, 75, etc.  You have all had the symptoms probably so won't whine about them.

 

I found your site and the info about the 10% taper and would like to start over -- or at least at the baseline where I was last week [assuming I do not have to completely start over].  I do understand that none of the capsules' contents should be mixed [e.g., I will keep the excess 150s with the 150s and the 75s with the 75s].  I am assuming that I acclimated to a 2 day intake of about 113mg/day [average].  Please tell me if this initial goal is not realistic.  If it is realistic -- should I continue with a 10% reduction per pill and alternate that? Or should I just start over with a 10% on my base which is 150 mg which which would bring me down to 135 mg?  Doing a drop on the alternating 2 pills would be 135 mg,  68.5 mg [or 203.5 mg total; average 101.75mg over the 2 days];  this latter number would be approximately 10% less than the 113 mg average/2 days I was taking,

 

Thanks so much--I really appreciate your input!

Pearl

 

Effexor XR 150 mg - daily for about 8 years

Effexor XR 150 mg, 75 mg, 150 mg, 75 mg [4 day regimen] adjusted to within about a week

Effexor XR 150 mg, 75 mg, 75 mg, 150 mg [4 day regimen] - does not work!

 

Pearl

Edited February 22, 2014 by Karma
Edited to add to paste the content into the post; added member name to title

[Karma]

Hi Pearl

 

Welcome to our community.  I moved your post to introductions because this post introduces your situation.  I also pasted your content into your thread and I give you instructions on how to copy paste below .  This thread will be your journal of your progress and also the place where you can ask questions that are specific to your situation.

 

Do NOT alternate doses to taper off of Effexor.  The body needs a consistent dose of the medication in your system or it confuses and sensitizes your central nervous system.  If the average of your most comfortable recent dose was 113 mg, then you need to consistently take that dose daily.  But 2 days is not enough time to acclimate to a new dosage of Effexor. 

 

You can start with 113 mg.  If you are still having symptoms you can up-dose slightly until you get to a comfortable base.  Give it at least 4 days to see the impact of the change.  Once you are at a comfortable place, give your system about 4 weeks or so to get stable and then start a 10% taper.

 

Here is our thread on tapering off of Effexor. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/272-tapering-off-effexor-venlafaxine/

 

To cut and paste.  Highlight the text you want to paste into your thread.  Use the "Ctrl" key at the same time you select the "C" key - now you have copied.  Go to your thread and do one mouse click where you want to paste the text.  Select the "Ctrl" key and the "V" key at the same time - now you have pasted.

 

When you get a chance, add your most recent withdrawal history to your signature by following the information in this thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

Feel free to share your symptoms.  It will help us to help you to figure out whether you are stable or not.  You'll find lots of support here. 

 

Karma