powerback: tapering no 2

PB. What dose are you on now? It is unclear. You should understand that if it is ambiguous ( drug signature) then it is harder to get good advice.

 

I would make it more simple to understand.   

Ye ok I must update signiture,I am on 37.5 venlafaxine xl

Hang tough, PB. Praying for you!

SJ

Please do - dates and doses clearly. No extra information. 

How are you feeling now? 

Please do - dates and doses clearly. No extra information. 

 

How are you feeling now? 

ok thanks ALIG ,every few days its like a pressure cooker building and the steam comes out but its getting too distressing for my mother and partner to watch ,they will be sick at this rate ,I thought I had ruined a good friendship the last few months over my paranoia and Nero emotions and it looks like we have cleared the air so that's a positive.

I did some work this week but my anxiety and constant checking of things just makes me feel stupid and my self talk is all self-destructive ,my thoughts are so strong there bringing on feelings ,I have an appointment Friday with doctor to change drugs to immediate release capsule and then maybe make  a liquid form.  

respect PB

Hang tough, PB. Praying for you!

 

SJ

thanks SJ your so kind I appreciate it .the words, the prison of your own mind ,pretty much sums it up for a long time .

respect PB

 

thanks SJ your so kind I appreciate it .the words, the prison of your own mind ,pretty much sums it up for a long time .

respect PB

 

God is going to break us out of the prison! He will do it! He did not give us a spirit of fear, but a sound mind. Our fear - these neuro-emotions - are a lie.

I'm going through a rapid cycle of depression and terror - it changes minute to minute. I tried distracting myself with some TV, but everything I tried just filled me with anxiety. Even tried watching some good preaching and it just made me anxious. Which in turn made me depressed. I'm going to try some chamomile tea.

But your prisoner of the mind comment really drove things home for me just now. Prayer and gratitude and thankfulness is what is going to bring on the joy and break the chains!

SJ

 

 

thanks SJ your so kind I appreciate it .the words, the prison of your own mind ,pretty much sums it up for a long time .

respect PB

 

 

God is going to break us out of the prison! He will do it! He did not give us a spirit of fear, but a sound mind. Our fear - these neuro-emotions - are a lie.

 

I'm going through a rapid cycle of depression and terror - it changes minute to minute. I tried distracting myself with some TV, but everything I tried just filled me with anxiety. Even tried watching some good preaching and it just made me anxious. Which in turn made me depressed. I'm going to try some chamomile tea.

 

But your prisoner of the mind comment really drove things home for me just now. Prayer and gratitude and thankfulness is what is going to bring on the joy and break the chains!

 

SJ

 

I'm experiencing very much the same as you ,I will never waste this experience, something has to come out of it ,I've spoken now to a few people in my life about this site and the people I have had the pleasure to meet  and how my experiences are shared with fellow sufferers .

the last 2 weeks in Ireland and England it has been mental health awareness ,so there has been so much interviews to watch on main stream tv,i hope people get more help than prescriptions .

respect PB   

question to everyone ,is there anyone tapering effexor/venlafaxine tablets in liquid ,please help.

the capsules im on cant be made into a liquid and  i see my doctor tommorow to get immediate release tablets so I can try start a taper ,

my situation has only got worse and worse and I am extremely worried ,its only recently I have realised the misery I have been living and this has to stop ,I've said it already I'm not even in withdrawal so there is absolutely no traction of moving forward .

the last few weeks are the worst I'm hanging by a thread ,the threat of loosing my mind is beyond scary ,I cant stabilize because its 2 years since I was on double my current dose ,I don't want to drink alcohol for relief because I'm 27months sober but I can see the cracks appearing in my mind for relief .do I go Xanax but I don't want to .

yesterday  I had a panic attack for hours .5th time in weeks .I am extremely anti medication now but what do I do ?

respect PB

 i have a question about what do i do to treat the cripiling depression im left to deal with directly because of these drugs .

do i go on the very things i despise .what a dilemma .has anyone had to take a drug for this very reason.

my living arrangements isn't allowing me rest so I'm in a state of stress and get no peace .

I'm even thinking of going away and camping to get peace and rest ,I have an overwhelming feeling to disappear in the sense everything is a trigger to me . 

I am experiencing debilitating shame and guilt ,I spent a good part of the day listening to depression stories and survival on  my great TED app .

peace and respect

PB

Hi Powerback. My heart goes out to you. My advice is to not make any rash decisions during a wave. Yes, I know it is hard not to.

Try to find something to distract you, something unrelated to your condition. Something safe but that will occupy your mind, like word games on your tablet or doing a puzzle.

I will be praying for you.

SJ

Hi Powerback. My heart goes out to you. My advice is to not make any rash decisions during a wave. Yes, I know it is hard not to.

 

Try to find something to distract you, something unrelated to your condition. Something safe but that will occupy your mind, like word games on your tablet or doing a puzzle.

 

I will be praying for you.

 

SJ

hi SJ your so kind  thanks for your warmth. I am refusing to believe I'm in withdrawal while I still pop a capsule every morning ,so much time wasted  because of symptoms and side affects ,I see my doctor later so plenty of mindfulness and planning what to say ,because the last thing I want to do is loose my cool.

I have great support so that keeps on the correct path ,it wouldn't be just me ide let down if i did the wrong things to ease my suffering .thus were the guilt and shame comes in . 

respect

PB

today I get instant release tablets from doctor ,do I take these normally for a period of time before I do the liquid .[currently on 37.5 prolonged release capsules, venlafaxine ] I've had 2 unsuccessful tapers from these capsules.

when I make the liquid do sip or take at once

thanks PB   

Hi karenb thanks for reply,I'm just back from chemist and she says because I'm changing too instant release tablet I mite need take one tablet in the morning and evening but is that not up doseing to double my current 37.5,

Do u think Ile get much reaction from just one 37.5 instant tablet,wait and see is best I suppose.

I must add that chemist was confused I want to get off them

update : feeling ok tonight ,ile take the few hours if thats all it is, who knows ,yesterday was up there with the one of the most horrible depression episodes imaginable and today I got up and did  what errands I had to do with little fuss ,so its another positive for the memory bank .

to take a line from  a Rachel platen song "I've still got a lot of fight In me"

respect to everyone PB      

I think it would be sensible to make only one change at a time.  So yes, taking the instant release for a week or two before beginning to make liquid doses. 

 

When you make the liquid, you should take the dose at one time, not sip throughout the day. 

hi I have a question about the fact if I go on instant release tablet ,does this not make it tougher on my system because of the shelf life going out of my system quicker .

respect PB

You would take instant release venlafaxine at least twice a day to maintain the blood level of the drug. Please read Tips for tapering off Effexor (venlafaxine) carefully.

so my dream of been off them will have to wait a lot longer ,I will be tapering 75mg when it comes to it then .is it best to taper up I wonder? because its been 2years I'm on 37.5

respect PB

question for the moderators ,is there many situations like my own ,I'm trying  to predict the unpredictable .when I go on 37.5 twice a day ,how much I'm going to be affected ,if I start tomorrow ,I'm worried about negative impact ,I have a flight next Thursday and wondering is it best to hold off until I'm back .

thanks PB

Powerback.  When you start taking the instant release twice a day, you don't take 37.5mg each time.  Rather, you would split the  37.5mg into two equal doses of 18.75mg each.  Take one lot in the morning, and one in the evening.  I take mine 12 hours apart, at 8am and 8pm.  (I am also tapering velafaxine). 

thanks karenB for reply .I start taking it today so see how I get on. From reading the information on the venlafaxine taper page ,I'm thinking of 18.75 three times a day ?

hope your taper is going well for you .

respect PB

powerback, as you're taking 37.5mg a day, if you divide the doses, there's no need to take more than 37.5mg per day, total.

 

You can divide it into 2 doses of 18.75mg each, as KarenB suggested, or 3 doses of 12.5mg each.

ok thanks Alto appreciate the help. Hopefully I get stable.

Taking omega 3, 1400mg 3 times  a day also.

respect PB 

Glad you got the tablets PB.  You seem exactly how I was with effexor. Started at 75 then dropped to 37.5 for a few years before starting to taper.  I felt worse and worse as time went by but after a while started to feel better as the dose dropped.  Instant release gives you all the drug in one hit which is why it needs to be  spaced out. I would go for 3 doses like Karen, then the amount is smaller with each dose and the side effects should be easier. 

HI mammaP I'm on day 4 of half the 37.5 morning/evening ,I mite change to 3 times through the day .I'm desperate for relief and very worried ,the last while is absolute torture especially the mornings with headaches ,its literally like been overtaken by a demon .

what a despicable way to be for us ,such a disgusting drug .

I also take fish oil ,the jury's out on that ,what probiotic do you take  

Thanks for your reply and suggestion and total respect to you in your recovery .

PB  

PB:

 

Powerback.  When you start taking the instant release twice a day, you don't take 37.5mg each time.  Rather, you would split the  37.5mg into two equal doses of 18.75mg each.  Take one lot in the morning, and one in the evening.  I take mine 12 hours apart, at 8am and 8pm.  (I am also tapering velafaxine). 

 

thanks karenB for reply .I start taking it today so see how I get on. From reading the information on the venlafaxine taper page ,I'm thinking of 18.75 three times a day ?

hope your taper is going well for you .

respect PB

 

Just to clarify: it would be 3 times x 12.5 mg, not 18 .75mg. That would be twice daily.

 

powerback, as you're taking 37.5mg a day, if you divide the doses, there's no need to take more than 37.5mg per day, total.

 

You can divide it into 2 doses of 18.75mg each, as KarenB suggested, or 3 doses of 12.5mg each.

 

PB:

 

Powerback.  When you start taking the instant release twice a day, you don't take 37.5mg each time.  Rather, you would split the  37.5mg into two equal doses of 18.75mg each.  Take one lot in the morning, and one in the evening.  I take mine 12 hours apart, at 8am and 8pm.  (I am also tapering velafaxine). 

 

thanks karenB for reply .I start taking it today so see how I get on. From reading the information on the venlafaxine taper page ,I'm thinking of 18.75 three times a day ?

hope your taper is going well for you .

respect PB

 

Just to clarify: it would be 3 times x 12.5 mg, not 18 .75mg. That would be twice daily.

 

 

powerback, as you're taking 37.5mg a day, if you divide the doses, there's no need to take more than 37.5mg per day, total.

 

You can divide it into 2 doses of 18.75mg each, as KarenB suggested, or 3 doses of 12.5mg each.

 

ye get that thanks AliG ,crippling headache today  on day 4 of change ,it hasn't let up all day ,amazing how destructive there are .

How are you feeling now PB?  Do you take magnesium for headaches? It tends to relax the brain and calm the nervous system.

How are you feeling now PB?  Do you take magnesium for headaches? It tends to relax the brain and calm the nervous system.

I've been taking Epsom salt baths ,I take some magnesium citrate ,jury's out on all of it ,I've taken a slow release this morning ,I'm going away for a few days so ide like the headaches to ease even for the few days ,its so hard on my partner that I'm literally taken from her  .its like a living death .we never stop the fight that's for sure.

respect

PB

Hi update and question for all the great members out there .

I'm just terrible in all senses ,back from few days away , mostly​ I just coped to get through it ,pitiful existence .

Has anyone like myself have triggers from waking up till going asleep ,not one second do I get relief .

What in the world do I do I'm absolutely at my wit's end ,at this stage ide like to disappear from my life,,I apologize​ for any triggers I cause others but I have to get honest with myself ,I have become extremely emotionally unstable ,I avoid all human contact if possible but I don't want this because I want to exist like every other human .

It only takes the smallest thing said to me and whatever is going on in my brain it's creating turmoil emotionally ,my brain is scrambled.

This is not withdrawal ,(signiture)

It can go from wanting to cry to anger to rage in a second and let's face who can be around anyone like this ,I can't make decisions because I can't trust my brain ,I can't do normal things like find my way around streets because my confusion​ is so bad ,have to bring my partner to an appointment tomorrow because I'm so vulnerable ,this is madness ,it's like dementia ,how scarier can it get .

Now I get that we need positivety but I believe the truth and honesty of the situation needs to be seen

Respect to everyone

PB

Breath, my friend... breathe. You've entered an emotional spiral. Read this link for help with that: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/13492-dealing-with-emotional-spirals

Also work your tools - especially deep breathing.

I've been where you are at - and actually may end up there again. It's part of the withdrawal wave.

Try to practice some mindfullness. Some good memories can help too.

Try not to grasp at straws for instant solutions right now. Desperation can lead to "magic bullet" thinking. This again is something I know all to well.

Your focus will return. You will get a window. And you will heal.

I am praying for you right now.

SJ

Breath, my friend... breathe. You've entered an emotional spiral. Read this link for help with that: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/13492-dealing-with-emotional-spirals

 

Also work your tools - especially deep breathing.

 

I've been where you are at - and actually may end up there again. It's part of the withdrawal wave.

 

Try to practice some mindfullness. Some good memories can help too.

 

Try not to grasp at straws for instant solutions right now. Desperation can lead to "magic bullet" thinking. This again is something I know all to well.

 

Your focus will return. You will get a window. And you will heal.

 

I am praying for you right now.

 

SJ

hi SJ I'm a little calmer this evening home late from a flight and up early so very rough morning but I need to keep to the facts of my existence also ,mindfulness got me  through a stressful morning with appointments   but I know you wouldn't think that by my post  .

thanks for the supportive post ,it means a lot

PB 

As of now these are the supplements im on :OMEGA3 ,PROBIOTICS ,MAGNESIUM and B12

so lets hope i get some relief .

has anyone switched from Effexor to Prozac to do there taper ,a respected psychiatrist has suggested this to me ,he's aware Effexor is one of the worst drugs to taper/come off .

any input would be greatly appreciated.

has anyone switched from Effexor to Prozac to do there taper ,a respected psychiatrist has suggested this to me ,he's aware Effexor is one of the worst drugs to taper/come off .

any input would be greatly appreciated.