venlafaxine1990: help please : ( venlafaxine problems ...

[venlafaxine1990]

Hi everyone,

Need some advice and support please.

See medication history below:

 

 

Citalopram 20mg approx 2008-2014

Diagnosed cancer April 2014

Swapped to venlafaxine June 2014 severe depression and anxiety

Increased dosage up to 300mg extended release venlafaxine

All clear cancer Jan 2015

Started withdrawing Feb 2015 did 37.5mg drops and was going well down to 37.5mg

June 2016- went cold turkey from 37.5mg on GP recommendation

Severe withdrawal

Re instated after a week- got impatient, upped to 75mg

Stabilised at 75mg after 2 weeks with some lingering head pressure, mild headaches, fatigue

October 2016- reduced to 62.5mg. 6 weeks later in November hit by withdrawal symptoms. Re instated back to 75mg. Withdrawal eased within 2 weeks just mild lingering symptoms.

January 2017- swapped from 75mg extended release capsules to standard release liquid 37.5mg twice a day. Got shaking, headaches, anxiety,. Psychiatrist said liquid didn't suit me so after 1.5 weeks switched back to 75mg capsules extended release once a day.

Back on capsules now for 2 and a half weeks (Feb 2017). Still having awful symptoms. Massive pressure in head, ears, nose, eyes, shaky, crying, brain zaps. Feeling off balance.

 

I'm confused as to why 2 and a half weeks after changing back to my extended release capsules I'm still feeling down and physically awful... am I going to get better? I'm so scared I won't re stabilise, I'm crying as I write this!

 

Hope someone can help.

X

Edited February 27, 2017 by scallywag
tags

[peng]

Best wishes from up here.

One or two of the mods will be on soon with good advice.  

Changes in dosage of this drug give problems unless withdrawal and reinstatement are done carefully and slowly.

Typically, your GP has advised one bad change, at least.

They seem universally poorly informed on this matter.

 

I am on 150mg after reducing from 225mg last autumn and feel optimistic.

You can expect stability and feeling better with quality advice, I am certain!

 

Love, sympathy & best wishes,

peng

[scallywag]

Venlafaxine1990 -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

 

I'm sorry that you're still dealing with symptoms 2.5 weeks after reinstating to 75 mg capsules of venlafaxine. It can take some time for the CNS (central nervous system) to recover after having been bounced around by dramatic dose decreases in psychiatric medications. Doctors, including psychiatrists, often dismiss our difficulties as the "original" condition, or worse, a new condition arising. The descriptions and explanations at these links helped me understand more about this process:

One theory of anti-depressant withdrawal syndrome

How your brain responds to psychiatric drugs - aka "Brain remodeling"

Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

 

You will probably stabilize at the 75 mg. Unfortunately nobody can predict how long that will take.

 

After you've stabilized, you'd be smart to stay at 75 mg for another few months to give yourself a good foundation. Then it *might* be time to consider a slow, gradual taper: no more than 10% reduction per month. You can read about that here:

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?.

 

For tips on how to do that with venlafaxine, please read:

Tips for tapering off Effexor (venlafaxine)

Counting beads in a capsule versus weighing.

 

Since you didn't do well on the immediate release venlafaxine, I won't post the techniques related to tapering that.

 

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

• Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs.
• You can find instructions in this topic: Please put your withdrawal history in signature
• If you are using a phone or mobile device, you need to switch to the "full" or desktop version of the site. Instructions are in Post 9 and Post 10

Have a look at the links I've posted and please post a signature so that we can get a quick overview of your history below each of your posts.

 

I hope you'll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but am glad that you found us.

[Daisy]

I can't come up with any advice. I just want to welcome you and to let you know everyone here is willing to help you and you are not alone.

 

Daisy

[KarenB]

Hi Venlafaxine1990,

 

Just chiming in to encourage you that you will stabilise.  I got into trouble with effexor too, and eventually stabilised after 3 months.  That was nearly two years ago, and these days my taper is going very smoothly.  It's awful when you're in it, but it will gradually ease.

 

Hang in there!  Keep everything else in your life as stable as you can.  Diet, drinking lots of water - get everything else top-notch. 

 

Hugs,

Karen

[venlafaxine1990]

Hi all.

Sorry I haven't replied, typing on my phone makes my symptoms worse.

 

Feeling really scared that I'm going to be like this forever.

 

Although still getting brain zaps they come and go. Scary when I do get them though.

I am waking up between 5-6 every morning. Normally wake around 7. Last time I had withdrawal symptoms I kept waking at this time!

Feeling like my head is foggy.

My brain won't be quiet. Constantly thinking about symptoms, tablets etc- obsessive thoughts that I can't stop

Internal trembling- mainly in the morning

Pressure in head

Ears ringing

Pressure behind eyes- most uncomfortable symptom

Fatigue

Lack of motivation- usually I would be out and about every day and always planning things to do- at the moment I don't want to leave the house

Restless legs

Feeling lightheaded and off balance

Feeling down in waves. I can have an hour where I don't feel down then it hits me again

 

When I have had withdrawal symptoms in the past they have gone by the 2 week point, it will be 3 weeks tomorrow since I switched back to the extended release capsules. Is it normal to have these symptoms when swapping the formulation?

 

Feeling very negative right now and don't feel like I will improve

Very scared and upset x

[powerback]

Hi venlafaxine ,I have mostly the same symptoms as you and I feel your pain its so hard but please believe me when I say we will get through this.

I practise mindfulness and its thought me to catch my thinking when its getting to the level of catastrophizing and brings me back down to  nicer level of thinking.[i highly recommend learning it]

U are not alone going through this and this site is brilliant for all our needs .

Take care of yourself.

[venlafaxine1990]

Hi powerback thank you. I'm so fed up. Been laying in bed since I woke at 5.30. It's now 9.14

[scallywag]

Are you taking any supplements? Many people find omega 3 fatty acids and magnesium helpful. Pick one, get a small container, start at a low dose (¼ or ½ of recommended amount) to test your reaction. If no reaction, increase slowly to the full amount or your tolerance.
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil).
Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker.
 
Some reading material about some of the symptoms you've listed:
Brain Zaps: What, When and Why??
Waking with panic or anxiety -- managing cortisol spikes

your earlier than usual waking is probably a cortisol spike even if you're not experiencing panic or anxiety

Brain fog; blank mind; comprehension, cognitive and memory problems.
Change the channel - dealing with cognitive symptoms.
Tinnitus -- What does all that noise mean?

[KarenB]

Changes of any kind can bring on a wave of symptoms.  They will settle down again, and you'll get such a lovely feeling of relief when they do!

[venlafaxine1990]

Topic title:  Advice/Support Needed Please

 

Hi everyone,

 

Thank you for allowing me to be here in this forum. I would really appreciate some advice/ support. I apologise for the length of my message, I just want to ensure I have noted everything.

 

You will see from my signature I have been on anti depressants most of my adult life from age 17 (im now 30). Started with Citalopram with no issues taken for anxiety due to childhood trauma.  I was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and got very low and anxious so the cancer psychiatrist changed me to Venlafaxine XL. Worked my way up the does up to 300mg. It never completely removed my anxiety and depression but once I got the all clear It lifted (situational). I then started reducing and was doing fine until I went from 37.5mg to 0. Awful withdrawal symptoms both physical and emotional so re instated. I was impatient and scared so went up to 75mg. Eventually stabilised after a few weeks I think.

 

I then had several withdrawals with tapers, with symptoms always lasting between 2 and 6 weeks. I went up and down on the doses several times and then started reducing by 12.5mg at a time. Eventually came off Venlafaxine completely from 12.5mg in early October 2020. I felt completely fine after coming off, was genuinely happy and enjoying life, keeping busy with children etc. I did find that if I had to deal with anything stressful I would feel really shaky and struggle to sleep that night, but this would resolve by the next day and only happened very occassionally in stressful periods.

 

Fast forward to end of January 2021, started feeling anxious on and off and having some nights where I really struggled to fall asleep and would feel shaky in bed. I would also have occassional times of feeling anxious like I couldnt quite get my breath... I then got a cold end of January 2021 which led to mild vertigo symptoms. I have health anxiety and this scared the life out of me. It lasted almost 3 weeks. After a week of vertigo I got so anxious and was crying a lot, so I went to my GP who said I had anxiety and some depression again and would be better off on anti depressants. I agreed with her as I felt desperate, so I got a prescription for Sertraline 50mg on her recommendation. I took it for 2 days and ended up going to A and E as my heart was pounding, I was dripping with sweat, my chest was tight, my jaw locked up and I felt so so poorly. They advised this was likely a bad reaction so to stop. 2 days later  went back to my GP and she said I should go back on Venlafaxine so I got a prescription for this at 37.5mg. I took this for 12 days. In that time I struggled so badly with sleep, I couldnt sleep at all, so the GP gave me Zopiclone to help. I started taking this but even with the Zopiclone would only get around 4 hours a night. I felt sooo exhaustaed it was making me very emotional so after 12 days I just stopped the Venlafaxine. This was around 5 weeks ago now that I stopped them.

 

After stopping the Venlafaxine I got my standard withdrawal symptoms of brain zaps, sensitivity to noise, headaches, anxiety, shaking, low mood and crying spells, exhaustion, lack of appetite, lack of motivation, irritable, diziness, tinnitus, palpitations, butterflies feeling in chest and stomach etc. Many of these symptoms have now gone away after a couple of weeks.

 

Since taking the sertraline for those 2 days I have had a tight chest and throat. Ive also been burping up food and drink and acid. GP said its reflux and so I have started Omeprazole 4 days a go, once a day, which has taken the edge off but has not completely got rid of it. Im confused as to why this started when I took the sertraline and if it is just a response to stress??

 

On a daily basis, I now have a feeling of shaking inside. Im not shaking visibly externally, but its like a constant internal tremor/shaky/buzzy feeling. Its very uncomfortable and is worse when im sat/lying still. I have the tight throat and chest (reflux?) and feel a bit out of it sometimes, particularly when out in shops or around people. The most upsetting symptom is insomnia. Which is awful. I have some nights where I sleep fine but these are few. Most nights I lay for hours struggling to sleep and often just doze in and out of sleep for just a few hours leaving me absolutely exhausted and feeling even more shaky and low the next day. I have noticed my mood is only really low on days where I havent slept the night before. I have had a few nights with no sleep at all- literally 0! I took nytol a few times and was able to sleep when I took it. Last night however I took Nytol and it took hours to sleep and even then I only slept for approx 3 hours so am exhausted today and struggling to focus on work.

 

Im looking for advice as to whether this is all withdrawal from stopping last October or whether it was my original anxiety that came back in January ?  And whether I should go back on the Venlafaxine and hope the insomnia side effect gets better with time? I do remember having insomnia issues when I originally went on the Venlafaxine in 2014 but cannot remember how long it took to settle down - I also had lorazepam to help with that initially. 

 

To be honest Im happy to go back on Venlafaxine if it will get rid of this internal shaking and insomnia, but I understand from reading the reinstatement post this carries its own risks and is no guarantee, just looking for advice and opinions.

 

I really appreciate you taking the time to read this post and look forward to hearing from some of you. I am feeling very scared and confused and just dont know what to do for the best. 

 

C x

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging into Intro topic

[venlafaxine1990]

Can anyone offer any advice as to whether I should re instate the Venlafaxine? 

Hate feeling anxious... 

[ChessieCat]

Please read Post #1 of this topic:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

If you do decide to reinstate please start with a small dose.  It would seem that when you restarted 37.5mg venlafaxine that it was too much.

 

It is better to start with a small dose and increase by small amounts if necessary rather than risking taking too much.

 

If you have the capsules with the small beads then you might find that taking  3 or 4 beads might help.  The idea of reinstating is to bring withdrawal symptoms to a tolerable level, not to get rid of them completely.

 

It takes about 4 days for the drug to get to full strength in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.  If after 1 week there is no improvement but no worsening you could try adding in 1 or 2 more beads.  You will need to be patient and try not to panic.  When we panic we can make bad decisions.  Also, keep notes on paper of your symptoms so that you can be more objective about how the reinstatement affects your symptoms.

 

And compare how you are feeling with how you were at your worst, not best.

 

Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

Also for future reference please note that SA's tapering protocol is to reduce by no more than 10% of the current dose with a hold of about 4 weeks to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?
 

There are computer and printable withdrawal symptom lists available here with a code to rate your symptoms:

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Withdrawal Symptoms

[venlafaxine1990]

Thank you for replying. 

From your experience, do you think a small reinstatement of Venlafaxine is a good idea? 

My symptoms are not as bad as they were a few weeks ago so there is improvement. But the daily internal shaking and the struggles to sleep are really hard. 

It's so hard to know what to do for the best. I know there's no one approach that works for everyone, but would be interested to know what you would do in my situation if you would try the small reinstatement or stay off the drug and hope for a full recovery? 

I do wonder if the anxiety I am experiencing is a return of my original condition as it was over 3 months off before experiencing issues?? 

Thank you 

C x

[ChessieCat]

Sorry but I can only provide you with information so you can make an informed decision.  The staff are unpaid volunteers and are not medical professionals; peers who originally came to SA for our own withdrawal/tapering issues and now help members as they are able.   Members have to make their own decision about whether to reinstate or not.  We have seen a mixed reaction to reinstating.  Generally there is more chance of reinstatement being successful if it is done as soon as withdrawal symptoms occur.  However we have members who have not had success with reinstating early.  On the other hand, we have members who have reinstated many months after stopping a drug and it has worked for them.  It is an individual thing; there seems to be no rhyme or reason about who it works for and who it doesn't.

 

What I will say is that you did a very fast taper and that quite often people end up experiencing withdrawal symptoms because the brain is busy trying to regain homeostasis/balance things out again because it is not getting the drug that it has adapted to.

 

Delayed withdrawal symptoms are not uncommon.  I've had two completely different experiences.  I cold turkeyed citalopram and felt fantastic for about 2 months and then ended up bedridden for 2.5 weeks with symptoms that felt like the flu but I knew it wasn't.  I lost 8kgs because I was unable to eat.  It wasn't until I found SA when I tried to reduce my Pristiq by 50% that I learned that it was delayed withdrawal.  When I reduced Pristiq I experienced very bad withdrawal symptoms almost immediately.

 

The most important thing if you decide to reinstate is to only take a small amount and increase gradually by small amounts if needed.  This is even more important since you tried reinstating in February at too high a dose.  And then you stopped after 12 days.  Going on and off psychiatric drugs has a cumulative effect.  We are aware of members going on and off, changing drugs and doses and according to them having no issues, then suddenly there comes a time when they make a change and their nervous system becomes sensitised or destabilised.

 

One option that you have is to "test the waters" and only take 1 bead.  This would not be to reduce withdrawal symptoms but simply to see how you respond to taking the drug again.

 

Is it withdrawal or relapse?  Or something else?

How do I know it's withdrawal and not relapse?

[venlafaxine1990]

Thank you so much for your reply. 

The 37.5mg capsules I have at home have 3 small tablets inside each one. Is it OK to cut one of those small tablets inside up as they are extended release? 

[ChessieCat]

See this topic.  Post #1 has a lot of information including how to taper with the mini tabs.

 

Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

It would be easier to get a small dose if you can get brand Effexor with the small beads.  It is also important to get the dose as consistent as possible.

 

If you cut a mini tab in half as accurately as possible the smallest dose would be 6.25mg.  And even if you were able to crush the three mini tabs and divide it into 8, the dose would still be 4.6875mg.

 

One thing that you might be able to do is to dissolve a mini tab in water.  I don't know of any members who have done this.  You would need to dose 2 or 3 times a day if you did this.

 

how-to-make-a-liquid-from-tablets-or-capsules

[ChessieCat]

12 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

One thing that you might be able to do is to dissolve a mini tab in water. 

 

I've just found a post where a person tried doing this and it did not work when the mini tab was broken in half.  You might need to crush it before putting it into water.  My cut up Pristiq tablets will not mix with water but I am able to use the contents of a compounded capsule where the tablet has been crushed and I add it to the water and just let it sit and it dissolves.  Once that happens I just gently stir it just before taking so that I do not create bubbles.

 

Edited April 9, 2021 by ChessieCat
made corrections

[venlafaxine1990]

Thank you so much for your help x

[ChessieCat]

Quote

I add it to the water and just it sit and it dissolves.  Once that happens I just gently stir it just before taking so that I create bubbles.

 

Corrections: 

 

I just let it sit

 

so that I do not create bubbles.

 

[venlafaxine1990]

Hi @ChessieCat.

Although I had made some improvements I was still feeling shaky inside every day, dealing with anxiety and sleep issues. So decided to reinstate. 

I got the 37.5mg capsules from the gp which have 3 mini tablets inside and removed 2. So I only took 12.5mg. I took it yesterday morning for the first time and several hours later had a mild headache, sweating and feeling a little spacey / dizzy. 

It's now 5.30am and I've been awake nearly all night. Which is disappointing as I'd had 4 good nights of sleep previously before reinstating.

 

Does the sweating, headache, spacey feeling and trouble sleeping again show that reinstatement was a bad idea?? If I continue at this dose of 12.5mg, am I likely to stabilise eventually on this dose?? 

 

I really felt like I needed something for the anxiety. I came off the Venlafaxine in October 2020 apart from taking it for 11 days in Feb. 

 

Appreciate any thoughts

Thanks 

C x

[ChessieCat]

On 4/9/2021 at 6:34 PM, ChessieCat said:

The most important thing if you decide to reinstate is to only take a small amount and increase gradually by small amounts if needed. 

 

It sounds like you have reinstated too high a dose.

 

Please read / re-read Post #1 of the Tips for Tapering topic to find out how to get small doses.

 

You might be able to crush up one of the mini tabs and divide it into four.

[venlafaxine1990]

I'm concerned that by crushing or breaking up the mini tablets it affects the extended release of it. Find it confusing. 

 

If I continue with the 12.5mg, do you think il likely stabilise eventually on this dose? 

 

Previously when I've reduced and then re instated I've stabilised within 6 weeks. Although those times the reinstatement was a lot sooner after getting withdrawal symptoms! 

 

I have 2 children and although I'm managing to do all the basics for them, I'm not the fun happy mum I used to be and that they deserve. I guess I need some re assurance that this will pass x

[Sandgrounder]

Hi Venlafaxine1990;

 

I have been taking Efexor-XR 75mg caps (Venlafaxine) since 2016 for anxiety, I also have had epilepsy for over 35 years following a brain haemmorrhage in 1986. Anti-depressants can lower ones seizure threshold and they did on me.

 

Was advised to go from 1 x Efexor-XR 75mg cap daily to 1 x Efexor-XR 33.5 mg cap within 7 days, then to drop to 0 mg within the next 3 weeks. Yegads, I was never going to be able to get through it, wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy

 

Following a month of what I can only describe as the worst nightmare ever, I've just been informed that I have to go back on the Efexor-XR 75 mg to balance my anxiety as of today, after having to go to hospital by ambulance late last night.

 

How do you feel on the Venlafaxine XL 37.5, do they help you sleep?

 

I wish GP's would give patients all the information about side-effects, etc before putting pen to prescription pad. I didn't even know what the heck Efexor was for the first two years now it is too late, am stuck on them.

 

Good luck, hope you feel better with your latest doses.

[ChessieCat]

@Sandgrounder I've sent a message about starting an Introduction topic for yourself.

[ChessieCat]

Please read Post #1 of the Tips for Tapering Effexor topic.

 

Crushing the tablet will mean having to dose 2 times a day.

 

I have given you all the suggestions I know of already.  Please read the information and and also check out how other members are managing to get their doses.

[venlafaxine1990]

@ChessieCatthank you x

[venlafaxine1990]

@Sandgrounder when i was taking the Venlafaxine before I used to always take it at night and never had issues sleeping other than when first starting it.

I'm currently struggling with sleep again but have just started it again so it's obviously a start up side effect. Just hope it will pass quickly!! 

[Altostrata]

On 4/8/2021 at 3:15 AM, venlafaxine1990 said:

Fast forward to end of January 2021, started feeling anxious on and off and having some nights where I really struggled to fall asleep and would feel shaky in bed. I would also have occassional times of feeling anxious like I couldnt quite get my breath... I then got a cold end of January 2021 which led to mild vertigo symptoms. I have health anxiety and this scared the life out of me. It lasted almost 3 weeks. After a week of vertigo I got so anxious and was crying a lot, so I went to my GP who said I had anxiety and some depression again and would be better off on anti depressants. I agreed with her as I felt desperate, so I got a prescription for Sertraline 50mg on her recommendation. I took it for 2 days and ended up going to A and E as my heart was pounding, I was dripping with sweat, my chest was tight, my jaw locked up and I felt so so poorly. They advised this was likely a bad reaction so to stop. 2 days later  went back to my GP and she said I should go back on Venlafaxine so I got a prescription for this at 37.5mg. I took this for 12 days. In that time I struggled so badly with sleep, I couldnt sleep at all, so the GP gave me Zopiclone to help. I started taking this but even with the Zopiclone would only get around 4 hours a night. I felt sooo exhaustaed it was making me very emotional so after 12 days I just stopped the Venlafaxine. This was around 5 weeks ago now that I stopped them.

 

Hello, @venlafaxine1990 What does "feel shaky in bed" mean? Do you still have vertigo?

 

After you came off venlafaxine last October, you felt fine until January, is that correct? Did you have any problems in the month after you came off venlafaxine, such as sleeplessness, brain zaps, surges of anxiety?

 

Since January 2021, it appears you have been on 50mg sertraline for 2 days with an immediate severe adverse reaction, then 37.5mg venlafaxine for 12 days (with zopiclone). 

 

Unless this is delayed withdrawal syndrome from the venlafaxine you came off in October, it seems to me you do not have withdrawal syndrome. Rather, you are still suffering from the adverse reaction you had to sertraline. The additional drugs may have made this worse.  I am doubtful that reinstatement of any amount of venlafaxine is going to help.

[Mari24]

How’s the head pressure? 

[venlafaxine1990]

Thank you @Altostratafor your reply.

When I came off in October I had a week or so of feeling a bit rough... Headache, mild internal shaking, flu like etc but it was mild. 

It wasn't until end of January that I started getting anxiety again. I'm not sure whether that was a delayed withdrawal or just the original anxiety come back. 

The vertigo is gone now, it only lasted 3 weeks. (touch wood). 

 

I reinstated 12.5mg of sertraline last Wednesday, and since then I have improved. I'm still getting some anxiety but it's better than it was. 

My sleep has also improved (again fingers crossed!)... I slept for 7 hours the last 2 nights. 

The interal shaky feeling comes and goes rather than being there all day which is a big improvement. 

The headaches are also coming and going and now Im not taking paracetamol for them so again improvement. 

The main symptom which Continues is a tight throat feeling which is there most the day. My chest was tight so started omeprazole thinking it was acid reflux and that has stopped the tight chest but the tight throat is very uncomfortable. It feels like someone has their hand round my throat all day. I'm unsure if this is related to the anti depressants or whether it is acid reflux. It's very confusing. 

 

Although I'm sleeping more I am more tired on the Venlafaxine. But this is a trade off for the anxiety I guess!! 

 

I'm hoping my improvements so far are a positive sign. As I say the tight throat is currently the worst and most upsetting symptom but unsure if this is even related. 

[Altostrata]

6 hours ago, venlafaxine1990 said:

I reinstated 12.5mg of sertraline last Wednesday, and since then I have improved. I'm still getting some anxiety but it's better than it was. 

 

Okay, this indicates you were suffering sertaline withdrawal syndrome. After you stabilize for some months, you might consider tapering more gradually to go off. 

 

Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see

https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/ https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you. Please let us know how you're doing.

[venlafaxine1990]

I'm so sorry, I meant to write that I reinstated 12.5mg Venlafaxine! Sorry I was trying to keep an eye on my son whilst I was typing. 

 

I think I also may have spoken too soon... Its 2.20am here and I'm awake feeling anxious, not had any sleep yet. No idea what the trigger was just started feeling anxious and shaky around 10pm 

[venlafaxine1990]

On 4/18/2021 at 2:22 PM, Mari24 said:

How’s the head pressure? 

This has gone now

[venlafaxine1990]

So today has been quite hard after only having 2 hours sleep last night. 

I've had an almost constant feeling of anxiety in my stomach all day. It's like that nervous feeling you get before something scary, a surge of anxiety in the pit of your stomach. I've had this a few times over the last couple of months. It's been almost constant all day today. 

I've felt quite teary today, due to being so tired. 

Tomorrow will be 1 week since reinstating Venlafaxine at 12.5mg.

Ive had some good days / hours which led me to believe I was on the path to a successful reinstatement and stabilisation. But today has really thrown me as I've felt so anxious. I've not stopped ruminating and catastrophising all day. 

I've also had nausea today, I think linked to my throat tightness, like a gag reflex sort of feeling. 

 

I'm really worrying I won't re stabilise and this anxiety won't go. 

 

[venlafaxine1990]

So despite yesterday being a tough day with anxiety I managed a really good night sleep. I fell asleep on the sofa watching TV and my husband left me to sleep there as he didn't want to risk waking me. Ended up sleeping there all night and getting 9 hours sleep! Only woke once around 2am but went back to sleep pretty quickly.

Woke feeling anxious this morning but not as severe as yesterday. 

It's strange I'm so up and down all the time. - is this just because my brain is stabilising? I'm guessing this is a good thing?