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Rosebud36 Just wanted to say hello x


Rosebud36

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I feel emotional just having found this website. As you will all understand, this journey has been a very long, soul destroying and lonely one but despite it all, I am 'still' fighting to beat the nightmare which has ruined my life for so many years. I like to think that the withdrawal, despite bing the hardest time of my life, is the final battle to win this war. Im just absolutely terrified that all my courage and perseverance to stay 'med free' is in vain as 3 months down the line, I am still taking life hour by hour. Still dealing with the suffocating anxiety and waves of deep depression (something I have never had before). Hopefully by being part of this community, I will learn that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel x thank you and lots of love and courage to you all.

 

Rosebud36 x

Rosebud36

36yr old mum from UK. 8 years on anti-depressants. I tapered off of 225mg of Venlafaxine over 4 months, suffering withdrawal at each drop. 3 months ago I stopped it entirely, along with Diazepam. I am still going through disruptive physical withdrawal, severe depression and anxiety daily, although both types of symptoms seem to change all the time for no reason. I have no professional support or encouragement and it wont let me enjoy life. Having said that, I do have more good days breaking through where the anxiety steps back a little and I feel myself enjoying the sunshine. I do feel desperately afraid that 'this is it'. I keep fighting on. God bless you all & thank you, just for listening x

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Rosebud,

 

What you are undergoing at the moment is severe withdrawal from both venlafaxine and (probably) diazepam as well. How much diazepam were you taking, how often, and for how long? Here's a link to our topic on getting off venlafaxine that may help you to understand that your "taper" off was extremely fast and almost guaranteed to cause prolonged withdrawal syndrome.

 

Tips for Tapering Off Effexor

 

Sometimes reinstatement of a small amount of the drug helps, but at three months out it's a gamble. Sometimes reinstatement doesn't work and sometimes it makes things even worse.

 

Diazepam is a highly addictive drug with an even worse withdrawal syndrome than antidepressants. And so, you're likely being mowed down by a double whammy of withdrawal symptoms.

 

I want to assure you that this isn't "it", though. Bad as things seem at the moment, you will get better. I can't tell you when - that's very much an individual matter - but people who've been through worse than you have recovered. You might want to check out the topic on success stories here:

 

Recovery Success Stories

 

I'm personally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel after "tapering" far too fast off Lexapro. It has taken seventeen months to get back to almost normal.

 

I hope that Altostrata, our very knowledgeable administrator, will be along soon to offer advice. In the meantime, you might want to look through our Symptoms and self-care section for ideas on how to feel better without using drugs (Symptoms and self-care).

 

Welcome to the forum, Rosebud. You'll find lots of solid information here and gentle, friendly support from people who've been where you are and understand all too well.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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Wow Jemima...thank you.

 

Genuinely think you are the first person I have encountered to actually listen, understand and offer some guidance lol. Feels amazing ((hug)) thank you x And a success story!! (albeit one you had to bravely wait for).

 

I did wonder if the Diazepam could be a big factor here. My doctor was giving me a prescription of 28 x 5mg tablets a month which I was using when anxiety got bad (in line with my hormonal cycle). Was taking that amount for about 18 months to 2 years. I didn't taper off those but stopped taking them about 2 weeks after the Effexor. Dizziness and brain zaps well gone but still hideously nauseous most days (although that randomly does for short periods).

 

I have just had 3 pretty ok days following a heinously difficult anxiety week and have enjoyed laughing again and just being in the sunshine. Today came crashing down again. My symptoms pre meds, on meds and now in WD are exasperated by hormones, which unfortunately include the build up stages so cover a good two thirds of the month. That worries me with my recovery.

 

Anyway, I am eternally grateful for the tips and for the link. I have been reading Altro's guidance in another post about poss reinstating a very low dose but I have only ever received solid tablets from doctor and not the ones with beads which makes that kind of precise measuring tricky (altho not impossible x)

 

I wish you the very best in your brave recovery :-)

 

Rosebud36 x

Rosebud36

36yr old mum from UK. 8 years on anti-depressants. I tapered off of 225mg of Venlafaxine over 4 months, suffering withdrawal at each drop. 3 months ago I stopped it entirely, along with Diazepam. I am still going through disruptive physical withdrawal, severe depression and anxiety daily, although both types of symptoms seem to change all the time for no reason. I have no professional support or encouragement and it wont let me enjoy life. Having said that, I do have more good days breaking through where the anxiety steps back a little and I feel myself enjoying the sunshine. I do feel desperately afraid that 'this is it'. I keep fighting on. God bless you all & thank you, just for listening x

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  • Moderator Emeritus

The ups and downs are typical of withdrawal syndrome. We call them windows and waves, and here's some reading along that line:

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Recovery

 

I found that topic very reassuring as I went through my windows and waves. The fact that you're having some fairly good days already is very promising; likely your central nervous system is beginning to heal. I think it took two or three months before I experienced even a small, fleeting window. The healing does come in lurches and hard stops, though. Very unpredictable.

 

Tablets can be made into liquid, if necessary, but I'm inclined to think that maybe (BIG maybe) the sane thing to do would be to go back on diazepam until you're through the Effexor withdrawal, and then taper off the diazepam. But I'm not sure, and I'm hoping that Alto or Rhi (a moderator who has lots of experience with benzo withdrawal) will be along to offer better advice. My withdrawal experience has been with only antidepressants.

 

I'm glad that I was able to help. Reaching out to others who are going through this misery has been a big part of my own healing, and I'm glad to do it.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Were you taking the Valium more than three times a week? Just cold-turkeying the Valium alone could cause everything you're describing and then some. Three months out from a CT off Valium, I hate to be cruel and that's not my intention, but I do want to let you know that it's probably going to get worse before it gets better; three months out is when Valium withdrawal symptoms are really starting to kick in.

 

Reinstatement at this point is something of a gamble but you may want to consider trying a small dose, maybe 2 mg, for a few days, and see if it makes things any better or worse. If it makes things better at all you might then consider titrating up slowly to 3-5 mg, or at least staying with the 2 mg. Getting the double whammy of Effexor and Valium withdrawal at the same time is a pretty hard course to follow. Once you've recovered from the Effexor withdrawal you could then taper off the Valium with a reasonable slow taper.

 

If you're going to try reinstating a small dose of Valium you need to do it right away, not wait much longer.

 

Please keep us posted.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Hello and welcome to the forum. I hope you find emotional support and knowledge to help you in your recovery!

Tapering Zoloft, Dec 2014

Started Lamictal

Re-started Zoloft mid-Oct 2014, 25-50mg

Stopped Zoloft end of Sept 2014

Started Zoloft July 2014, 50mg

Stopped Prozac from 3mg May 2014

Stopped Effexor Dec '13 Started 10mg Prozac

Reinstated Effexor 15mg on Nov 2013

Stopped from 21mg on Oct 2013
Effexor 112.5mg, since Dec 2012

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Hi Rosebud

 

Welcome to the forum and sorry you are feeling so rough.

 

I agree with Rhi that cold-turkeying the Valium can cause horrendous symptoms. You were taking it for sufficient time to become dependant. I did a super fast Valium taper to get from 22mg to 2mg in 11 days in 2011 (Valium was given me to get off 1 week's wiirth of Alprazolam - Xanax - for a panic attack) and went through the full range of benzo withdrawals which eventually all disappeared but it took quite a bit of time.

 

That, coupled with Effexor withdrawal, can't be very pleasant.

 

I'm glad you found this site and I'm sure you will get through this with the wonderful expertise of Alto and other experienced people. They are helping me so much with my own situation.

 

All the best

Angel

2003 - Sept. 2010 Effexor 150mg Fast taper off

April 2011 Massive panic attack, did not relate it to Effexor w/ds

April 2011 - May 2012 Benzodiazapines (Xanax 2mg then Valium 22mg - 2mg)for panic attack. 14 months of benzo withdrawals

April 2011 - October 2012 Effexor 150mg - fast taper off

January 2013 Due to panic feelings (Effexor w/d I now believe) and insomnia, 15mg Mirtazapine prescribed

April 2013 C/T Mirtazapine because of adverse reaction of high anxiety

April 2013 Reinstated 7.5mg - adverse reaction of high blood pressure and palpitations

May 2013 Reduced dose to 6.5mg - trying to stabilise

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Rosebud, I'm in the UK as well. Totally agree with the advice from others here that stopping the valium abruptly and the Effexor so fast is causing the severe withdrawals you're feeling now, but good that you are having some windows. Like you I felt so alone for years, it's great to find others on the same journey.

*** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***





http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/
Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007.
Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. 

A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido.

 

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