Woodhull: down to 25 mg Effexor IR - help with game plan

[Woodhull]

Hello everyone! 

 

I am 26 years old. I tapered off 150 mg XR a little to quickly. I was on it for about two years. I was off completely for about a month. But the anxiety kept getting worse. The pressure in the top of my chest and bottom of throat. It's hard to describe. Also it was hard for me to speak. I was extremely irritable and edgy! I felt dead and wanted to die. The withdrawal just made me feel this way. I took 25 mg IR yesterday.  This morning I took 25 mg. This afternoon i will take the second dose of 25. How long do you guise separate your doses of IR?

 

I am also going to do the 10% deduction of the current amount. I am doing the math, this is going to take a very long time! But that's ok, my fault for taking it. 

 

When i get this low is it best to make it into liquid form? I watched the video and I understand. in 4 weeks my next dose will be 22.5 mg. 

Edited June 8, 2017 by Altostrata
added paragraph breaks

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Woodhull.

 

How are you feeling now you've reinstated 25mg + 25mg Effexor? That was a smart thing to do.

 

Here's our topic Tips for tapering off Effexor (venlafaxine)

 

It explains how to take immediate-release Effexor, and how to make a liquid. You probably will want to taper the evening dose first.

[Woodhull]

Thank you!

Instead of a 1 out of 10 i feel like a 3 out of ten. You have gotten off this before?

[Woodhull]

I still feel the tension in my chest. This is absolutely crazy! 

[Woodhull]

Why are the tips for tapper off so long? A lot of content that is not related it seems. 

[Woodhull]

Doing math,

At 25 mg IR taken twice a day, each month i reduce 10% of the current amount I am on I will be off in the middle of 2020. Does this sound correct!?

I can tapper both doses in the same day correct? Or else this would take twice as long. I hope my math is incorrect

I feel lost. 

I apologize. 

[KarenB]

Hi Woodhull,

 

Glad you are feeling better after reading Alto's reply.  I am currently tapering effexor too (but still at a higher dose than you).  You are right that it does take a long time, but I feel it's much better to go slower and have less trouble than go faster and suffer more.  Take the time you need to get stabilised again after your reinstatement, and before tapering - it will make it much easier to taper if you are in a good place. 

 

The tips for tapering is so long because people have added their thoughts or experiences.  The important information is in the first post, so if you've read that you should be okay. 

 

You can also check out Non-Drug Techniques for ways of relaxing, and easing up that tight chest.  It's my favourite page on this site.  You're probably feeling all at sea right now, but things will start to fall into place.  Bit by bit, you'll get there!

 

Can you put your drug and withdrawal history into a signature?  Thanks. 

 

Welcome to SA,

Karen

[Woodhull]

Karen, 

Thank you. It means a lot. How many mg are you currently at? You said you are tapering off Effexor as well?

[KarenB]

I started at 150mg effexor, and after two years tapering (including an 8 month hold to help me stabilise) I am now at 105mg.  Long story short - I had awful w/d at the start, before I figured out the right tapering speed for me.  Then, things gradually improved to where I now feel nearly normal.  Care, not speed, is the essence of a successful taper.  

[Woodhull]

Wow Karen!

This long!? 

Unreal. My doctor told me it'll be easy to get off of. Yes you are right. I am glad to be learning from someone like yourself. Thank you dearly. 

Do you happen to know how I can get a refile low of cost or free? Or is the process extremely long? I am in the middle of jobs. 

I have a few weeks left. 

[Woodhull]

I have also been getting a lot of tension headaches. Been taking around 6 Advil a day for quit sometime now. I don't like doing this because of the damage it can do to my insides. 

Dose anyone else get headaches from withdrawing? Is there something else I can take? 

[KarenB]

It's a bit of a shock to the system, isn't it?  I remember that - the utter disbelief that I'd ended up in this situation.  Right now, you're finding out what's what, but things will start to settle down.  You'll read through some info, start to formulate a plan, and as you follow that plan, over time, symptoms will start to lessen.  You won't always be in this intense place.

 

Headaches are very common w/d symptoms.  First thing to check is are you drinking enough water?  Magnesium can be relaxing, or even epsom salts in a hot bath.  Do you take a gentle walk each day?  That can ease out tight spots too.  Oh, and gentle yoga.  Check out link I gave you about non-drug techniques - it's full of ideas. 

 

I'm not sure how refills work in America - hopefully a fellow American will.

[Woodhull]

Yes, 

I understand Karen. 

Thank you for your help. 

 

Thank you for reaching out Karen. 

[KarenB]

You are welcome.  We've all been where you are now. 

[Woodhull]

Karen,  

How are you reducijg your dose? 

Liquid?  

Taking beads out?

Weighing the beads?

 

Right now 25 is easy to take. Just one tablet.

When i reduce to 22.5 i think liquid form will be easier. 

What do you think? 

 

So many people get off this drug quickly. This is a mistake. I know why they want to but people just aren't told how long it really takes. 

 

[Woodhull]

This morning i saw two YouTube videos on someones post. One was around 4 minutes i believe and the other was around 8. A mentor sent them. I really would like to show my wife the videos. Could someone please send them to me i am not finding them. They were about what medication does to our bodies. 

[KarenB]

I reduce my dose by weighing with a micro-scale, and taking the extra beads out of the capsule.

 

I have no experience with liquid (though I may need to soon - it's getting a little tricky to get the doses I need).  Since you are already on immediate-release, liquid might work well for you.  Have a look at Making Liquid Doses  or Tips for Tapering Effexor for detailed instructions.

 

I'm glad you have an appreciation for the time it takes to taper safely.  You're gonna get there Woodhull! 

[ChessieCat]

Hi Woodhull,

 

This might be the one you mean:  withdrawal-dialogues-encouragement

 

There are also these:  Brain Remodelling and Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

[ChessieCat]

You might also find these helpful:

 

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?

What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms?

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?
Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Edited June 9, 2017 by ChessieCat

[Woodhull]

Thank you!

I really like this one. 

 

 Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

There is one more around 8 minutes long. It is not modeled after a cartoon though. 

[Woodhull]

Found it!

This one is great as well. 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Woodhull, it might take some time for your system to get over the shock of withdrawal.

 

Since you reinstated, have your symptoms gotten better or worse? Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. How are you sleeping?

 

Are you taking anything other than Effexor and Advil?

 

You might want to try taking magnesium instead of Advil. It can be relaxing, and it's good for you.

 

Also, many people do better with fish oil. See

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

 

[KarenB]

Quote

I can tapper both doses in the same day correct?

Yes.  Reducing both by the same amount will keep your dosing even.  So you'll move from 25mg twice daily, to 22.5mg twice daily.

[Woodhull]

I am constantly trying to put my puzzle together because i just don't really get it. At 150 mg of Effexor xr i began feeling very off. (one year ago) Best way to describe it would be anxiety, difficulty speaking and thinking of words and a racing mind. Just not all there like i used to be. I am 26 and am normally pretty sharp.  I tapered to zero within 2 months. The post withdrawal caught me and i was done. No drive left and felt over life. I reinstated 25 mg a month ago and feel better. 

What i am curious about is how did i feel ok when first put on 150 mg then slowly got worse. Like i always just wanted to close my eyes and meditate and be away. At 25 mg i feel like a 4 out of 10. My speaking and mind have gotten a little better. Another question i have is how long should i stay at 25 mg for? Maybe 4-6 months depending how i feel of course. Curious to hear of a few other reinstatement stories similar to mine. 

Really bizarre how it disturbed my speaking the way it did. Maybe because it hit my Central Nervous System hard? 

 

Love, 

Woodhull 

[ChessieCat]

Hi Woodhull,

 

Did you reinstate 50mg (2 x 25mg) or 25mg?  Please alter your drug signature so it includes dates, especially the date you stopped Effexor and the date when you reinstated.  This will make it easier for us to your history at a glance.  Please also update it whenever you make a change.  Thank you.

 

If it were me I would be doing a hold of at least 6 months.  It is generally better to hold longer to ensure that you have stabilised than to reduce and then find you have dropped too soon, so 6-8 months would probably be a better suggestion because you reduced so quickly from 150mg.  If things are going well at that time you could try a small reduction of maybe 2.5% or 5% to test things out.  It would be better to do it this way rather than try a 10% reduction and find out you have reduced too much and then have to updose.  If after about 4 weeks you find that it has gone well you could then try a 10% reduction (of the previous dose, not the starting dose).

[Woodhull]

Thank you. I like your website, well done. Have you heard of anyone having racing thoughts from Effexor or an Antidepressant? I can be doing on thing but cant stop thinking about another. I would call it a form of mania.  

[ChessieCat]

Yes racing thoughts are a WD symptom.  To find existing topics I use google.  In this instance I typed in survivingantidepressants.org racing thoughts.  racing-thoughts

 

[Woodhull]

It has been a very long road. 

I have tapered from 150 mg Effexor XR to to 3.5 mg. I am looking for some insight on when others have decided they are at a low enough dose to stop. 

Much appreciated everyone. 

[ChessieCat]

Here is the link to SA's discussion:  When to end the taper and jump to zero?

[Woodhull]

BEAUTIFUL. 

Thank you Chessie. 

[Woodhull]

I hate medicine with a ******* passion. 

[ChessieCat]

That's understandable but we need to get past the anger.  It is not good for our CNS and just adds stress.

[nz11]

Woodhull any update

[Keltie]

I did it, too, but with Lexapro. I had been taking Lexapro since June 2016 and never felt better, felt worse, actually, felt sicker and sadder and then my hair starting falling out. Enough is enough, I decided. I started by taking half the dose every night for two months. The next month, I cut those in half taking 1/4 a day for one month. The next month, I took 1/8th for one month. The next month, I took 1/8th every other day. And now I am free! My hair is growing back, my energy is increasing, my aching back and hips and legs are stronger and hurting so much less, and I just feel so much better about myself and in my bod, I wish I could fully convey that. Of course, my therapist and psychiatrist are convinced I will fail and that is so unfair, I have never felt emotionally better on antidepressants. I hope I will never try them again but I gave in to my new therapist and new shrink, I really wanted to believe that something would help me have more energy and more confidence and that the answer would be Lexapro. It wasn't. Thank you for this group and learning how to wean myself off of the Lexapro. Years ago, I was taking Effexor and tried to go off it cold turkey. OMG. I was so sick, it felt like intestinal flu from hell. So weaning myself off worked, thanks to what I learned on this group. Thank you for my life. I have my health and my life back!

[Altostrata]

Thanks, Keltie. Please start an Introductions topic for yourself, we'd like to hear more from you.

[MMMM]

Hey @Woodhull, how are you these days? My story is with cymbalta, which is sort of similar to Effexor.