TrenxT: Need a little guide

[TrenxT]

Let me start by saying hi folks 😄.

 

Now the second part, I know the 10% "rule" of thumb for tapering but I must leave it clear, I'm a vet who gets his prescriptions from the VA so if there are vets here they know those doctors are NOT cooperative when trying to do a proper method. Asking them for liquid formula or special prescriptions for compounds etc it's IMPOSSIBLE at least at my VA been there tried it 😭. 

 

With that been said out of the huge cocktail I take I want to stop effexor ( 112.5mg ) and Lamotrigine ( 50mg ) they are part of a cocktail to try to treat agonizing Neuropathic pain but they are doing nothing so it's just popping more pills. I have chronic insomnia plus sleep apnea.

 

I want to at least get off of these 2 good for nothing pills. ( Taking into consideration what I posted above ) And I'm disabled too to be doing fancy things to make does smaller by the various ingenuous methods there are out there. What's a decent plan to get off of them? Thanks 🙏 

Edited July 24 by Emonda
Name to title

[Erimus]

Hello, and welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. We are a peer support forum to assist in tapering off psychiatric drugs safely, or recovering from psychiatric drug withdrawal.

 

This topic is for anything relating to you, and any questions you have. Please do not start another topic.

 

We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your CURRENT dose each month, to limit withdrawal symptoms. E.g. 10mg --> 9mg --> 8.1mg --> 7.29mg

 

All the answers you are looking for regarding tapering and antidepressant withdrawal are on this site. Please search around and continue to read as much as you can manage. Use the site search function to search for specific words or phrases, such as drugs or symptoms.

 

 

If you can not get hold of a liquid prescription and are not willing to prepare your own doses you will struggle to reduce the medication at an appropriate rate, as you will be dependent on breaking tablets into halves and quarters. I suggest you open an effexor capsule and see if it is filled with tiny beads. The best way to taper effexor is utilising a method called bead counting. Please read these two threads:

Counting beads in a capsule versus weighing

 

Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

[Erimus]

Here are a few of the most useful links:

 

--------Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ--------

 

Micro tapering

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

 

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

 

--------From the Symptoms and Self-Care Forums--------
 
What is withdrawal syndrome?
 
About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms
 
The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Hypersensitivity and Kindling

 

We only recommend two supplements. Omega 3 Fish Oil and Magnesium. Both should be introduced separately and increased slowly.

 

Regards

Erimus

[Erimus]

Can you edit your drug signature into the following format so it is easier for us to read? Thanks.

 

Quote

 

As the signature is limited to 12 lines, we expect you to condense your drug history. The last few years usually will do.

 

FOR READABILITY, SHORT LINES ARE BEST.

• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs
• Include ALL drugs, doses, and dates (starting and stopping)
• Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years
• Use actual dates or approximate dates (e.g. mid-June 2018) rather than relative time frames (e.g. 3 months ago)
• Spell out months (e.g. "January" or "Jan" as 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as 9 Jan 2016 or 1 Sept 2016)
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses

 

Example:

2001–2002 paroxetine 
2003  citalopram 
2004  paroxetine
2008  paroxetine slow taper down to 2016 Aug off paroxetine
2016  citalopram May 20mg  Oct slow taper down
2018  citalopram 13 Feb 4.6mg 15 Mar 4.4mg 29 Apr 4.2mg

 

 

Click this link to edit your signature: Edit your signature here.

Edited July 25 by Erimus

[TrenxT]

4 hours ago, Erimus said:

Can you editr your drug signature into the following format so it is easier for us to read? Thanks.

 

 

Click this link to edit your signature: Edit your signature here.

 

I tried but it's so many drugs so many dates that 12 lines is not much, I condensed it to name, dose and month/year as best possible. 

[TrenxT]

5 hours ago, Erimus said:

Hello, and welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. We are a peer support forum to assist in tapering off psychiatric drugs safely, or recovering from psychiatric drug withdrawal.

 

This topic is for anything relating to you, and any questions you have. Please do not start another topic.

 

We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your CURRENT dose each month, to limit withdrawal symptoms. E.g. 10mg --> 9mg --> 8.1mg --> 7.29mg

 

All the answers you are looking for regarding tapering and antidepressant withdrawal are on this site. Please search around and continue to read as much as you can manage. Use the site search function to search for specific words or phrases, such as drugs or symptoms.

 

 

If you can not get hold of a liquid prescription and are not willing to prepare your own doses you will struggle to reduce the medication at an appropriate rate, as you will be dependent on breaking tablets into halves and quarters. I suggest you open an effexor capsule and see if it is filled with tiny beads. The best way to taper effexor is utilising a method called bead counting. Please read these two threads:

Counting beads in a capsule versus weighing

 

Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

 

Well is not that I don't want too. It's a difference between wanting to do it and being able to do it. I will NOT be switched to a liquid form first because those meds at the VA are non formula ( liquid version ) doctors are not as willing as private practice ones to go along with you through the process and facilitate it. 

 

I'm well aware of the 10% rule as it is for a lot of others I've been on benzos, etc. Thing is in disabled, no hand function opening a capsule is well impossible then trying to count beads I can count them but grab them, put it them back in, close the capsule 😬. It's just well can't explain it 😭. 

 

I guess I'll just read and read around in the group and try not to go crazy because options is one thing I don't have 😭, freaking sucks.

[Erimus]

2 hours ago, TrenxT said:

 

Well is not that I don't want too. It's a difference between wanting to do it and being able to do it. I will NOT be switched to a liquid form first because those meds at the VA are non formula ( liquid version ) doctors are not as willing as private practice ones to go along with you through the process and facilitate it. 

 

I'm well aware of the 10% rule as it is for a lot of others I've been on benzos, etc. Thing is in disabled, no hand function opening a capsule is well impossible then trying to count beads I can count them but grab them, put it them back in, close the capsule 😬. It's just well can't explain it 😭. 

 

I guess I'll just read and read around in the group and try not to go crazy because options is one thing I don't have 😭, freaking sucks.

Do you have someone who could do the fine-motor aspects of preparing the doses? Minus liquids and home-preparation you are left with asking to be prescribed the smallest denomination of the drug and reducing that way.

 

I can edit your drug signature into something more legible, if you don't mind?

Edited July 25 by Erimus

[TrenxT]

1 hour ago, Erimus said:

Do you have someone who could do the fine-motor aspects of preparing the doses? Minus liquids and home-preparation you are left with asking to be prescribed the smallest denomination of the drug and reducing that way.

 

I can edit your drug signature into something more legible, if you don't mind?

I'm left with the last option you provided.

 

And yes you can edit it without a problem. Thank you 🙏 

[TrenxT]

@Erimus

Thanks for the signature fix.

 

So I ended up saying I'm left with the last option the other person mentioned, what can I do? I'm scared as heck.

[Erimus]

On 7/27/2024 at 2:36 AM, TrenxT said:

@Erimus

Thanks for the signature fix.

 

So I ended up saying I'm left with the last option the other person mentioned, what can I do? I'm scared as heck.

Ask your prescriber for the smallest denomination of the drug you want to taper. If you read Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ and look for the drug you want to taper, you will be able to see if you can break the tablets into quarters.