I have hit my first goal of being down to 100 mgs. as of Sat. Oct 2nd. I'm down 50 mgs and will continue to lower my dosage until I'm at zero. I think that is pretty good for having started this process at the beginning of Sept. If I can get down another 50 mgs by the end of October, I will be happy with that. I had to go down to this last dosage a little slower than at the beginning.
I only went from 110 to 105 and then from there to 100. I will stay here at this level 2 weeks unless I feel like I'm doing real well, then I may take it down 10 mgs. I felt a little "bubble headed" yesterday which is only 2 days after lowering the dosage. I have noticed an increase in the appetite for sweets or chips or stuff I really need to stay away from if I want to lose any weight. I don't really care for the airy head feeling, so we'll see how that goes. I noticed today that I was a little irritable, but it seems to correlate with my old cycle as well, so it's really hard to tell since those symptoms are the same as the withdrawal symptoms.
I feel I have made great progress thus far and will continue the voyage down ward until I can be free of this medication. One thing that has improved somewhat, is the horrible sweating. It doesn't seem to be as frequent as it was and my energy level has been pretty good. The next update will be when I decrease the dosage again.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Down to 105 mgs and counting.
Since I started using the generic brand of Effexor it has been much easier to count the little granules to get the right amount in each pill. I only went to 105 this week because I felt like the 10 mgs, may cause more problems. When it gets close to a monthly cycle I notice more fluctuation in eating habits, headaches and mood. The weepiness has been a little more noticeable with these lower dosages but it's hard to know if it's cyclic or from the medication, because they display the same symptoms and so does menopause. I think I will stay at 105 mgs for at least one week and go down to 100 mgs next Sat. if all goes well. I was hoping to be at 100 mgs by now but I know I can't rush this process because of the side effects and I can't let it disrupt my work. So far going down on the weekends has been working well for me because if I feel tired, I can sleep if I need to. I have noticed some odd headaches but I can seem to get rid of them with excedrine or my migraine meds if it seems to be going in that direction. I have noticed better energy. When I get tired, I'm really tired. The only other thing I have noticed is some nausea in the mornings of the first 3 days or so when I lower the dosage. I usually wake up hungry though. I feel like I'm making great progress with this and plan to continue lowering my dosage until I can quit taking it comfortably all together. With God's help, anything is possible.
Antidepressant download to 110 mgs.
When I last wrote, it was 2 weeks ago and I had progressed down to 110 mgs. from 150. I have had a good response so far. I have noticed a better energy level than I usually have. Typically I have a drop in energy at about 3:30 - 4:00 pm every day that is so bad I can hardly keep my eyes open. I haven't had that lately but when 9 pm or so comes around, I'm ready for bed. I have noticed a little of the weepiness but not too bad. Last week I was going to go down to 100 mgs and noticed a vicious headache coming on so I did bump the dose back to 110 and decided to stay there one more week. I was coming down 10 mgs at a time and felt like I was having great success. Getting to 110 feels like success to me.
Friday, September 10, 2010
120 mgs and down
Ok so last week, I went through the capsules and counted each one for the week down to 120 mgs. and I've been doing great. My energy level has been good and I haven't had any issues with it. Tomorrow I will go down to the 110 mgs and see how that goes for the next week. I feel like I'm having good success with this process so far. I will be happy to get to 100 mgs because that will mean I am getting closer to the goal. They do say, however, that you can experience withdrawal symptoms for up to a year after you have discontinued the medication. Hopefully this won't happen. I do hope that if there is anyone else out there trying to get off this stuff that this helps. I felt a little disappointed that my doctor didn't feel that he could help me with this process because he wasn't familiar enough with the medication. I'm grateful to Dr. Glenmullen for putting out a book that has a step by step process even though I haven't gotten that far in his book, it was still a helpful piece of information to me.
130 mgs and counting down.
It was really a pain to take the capsules apart and count all those little beads, but I'm determined to get off this medication so I sat down with the new bottle with the generic pills in it. I was not looking forward to the task but to my surprise, when I pulled open the capsule, more uniform sized beads fell into the bowl and there were fewer. When I counted them, thank God, there were exactly 150. This makes getting off this stuff much better. I could count the beads down to 130 and know that I was down 20 mgs. for sure. So with the generic brand Venlafaxine, I was at 130 mgs. and was doing good. I wasn't having too much fatigue and I felt good. The other key to this for me, is that I stopped taking the dose on a Friday and switched to the lower dose on Saturday. That gives me Saturday and Sunday to feel crappy if it happens and it hasn't yet, but it gives me time to adjust if it feels like I have gone too low too soon.
The Journey has begun
After seeing the doctor, I kind of went on as usual until I received my new refill. Now there was a generic version and instead of burgundy colored capsules, I now had bright orange capsules. I was a little concerned that the generic version would be as good as the original, but so far it has been fine.
Before I saw the doctor, I had decided that I needed to get off this medication. I found a book called, The Antidepressant Solution by Joseph Glenmullen on Amazon.com. The book is excellent but don't just take my word for it, http://books.google.com/books?sitesec=reviews&id=Ue9iav5FZmIC reviews by others. This book gave me even more information about why a person needs to taper off these types of medications slowly and bigger reason as to why I knew I needed to get off this medication. The stories in the beginning of the book were perfect examples of withdrawal symptoms I was afraid of. I made the mistake of running out of this medication once. I had headache, nausea, spacey head and had to go home from work because I had missed one whole day of this medication because it was coming in the mail. On day two, I suffered from those nasty symptoms, so I knew better than to just quit.
I finally took the plunge and sat down on a Sunday morning, August 22nd with my pill bottle and proceeded to take the capsules apart. Tiny little beads came flowing out. The original effexor had multiple sizes of these tiny little beads, so I painstakenly counted 300 of these tiny little beads and made sure that each capsule for the week had this many in it. So my first week I had cut down the dosage but I wasn't sure just how much because there weren't exactly 150 little beads in the capsules. The first week went well. I felt good, no noticeable withdrawal side effects, but everyone is different. I had begun this journey and felt good about it.
Before I saw the doctor, I had decided that I needed to get off this medication. I found a book called, The Antidepressant Solution by Joseph Glenmullen on Amazon.com. The book is excellent but don't just take my word for it, http://books.google.com/books?sitesec=reviews&id=Ue9iav5FZmIC reviews by others. This book gave me even more information about why a person needs to taper off these types of medications slowly and bigger reason as to why I knew I needed to get off this medication. The stories in the beginning of the book were perfect examples of withdrawal symptoms I was afraid of. I made the mistake of running out of this medication once. I had headache, nausea, spacey head and had to go home from work because I had missed one whole day of this medication because it was coming in the mail. On day two, I suffered from those nasty symptoms, so I knew better than to just quit.
I finally took the plunge and sat down on a Sunday morning, August 22nd with my pill bottle and proceeded to take the capsules apart. Tiny little beads came flowing out. The original effexor had multiple sizes of these tiny little beads, so I painstakenly counted 300 of these tiny little beads and made sure that each capsule for the week had this many in it. So my first week I had cut down the dosage but I wasn't sure just how much because there weren't exactly 150 little beads in the capsules. The first week went well. I felt good, no noticeable withdrawal side effects, but everyone is different. I had begun this journey and felt good about it.
Why I need to get off Effexor
With most depression medications, you have to go on them step by step which is easier than going off of them. As the previous post states, there are many side effects of being on the medication but they don't really mention that there are withdrawal side effects that are as bad if not worse than being on the medication.
Like a good girl, I went to my medical provider and discussed this issue of going off the medication. To his credit, he encouraged great caution and want me to see a psych MD which of course, costs money and in our location are hard to find. I listened to what he had to say, but the rebel in me said, "I'm getting off this stuff come hell or high water." The reasons were unusual bruising, weight gain, horrible sweating, feverish feelings at times, bubble headed feelings at time ( that aren't a part of my normal personality ;- ) ) and other menopausal types of symptoms. At my age, it would be nice to know if it's menopause or medication related hotflashes. In any case these were the reasons I expressed to the doc. Like a good doctor, he drew blood to make sure the bruising was related to something else, did a hormone panel which I have yet to know the findings of, and of course, the usual cholesterol check which was a little high. The other blood work came back good and normal like it typically does which is good. So, I have now taken matters in to my own hot little hands.
Like a good girl, I went to my medical provider and discussed this issue of going off the medication. To his credit, he encouraged great caution and want me to see a psych MD which of course, costs money and in our location are hard to find. I listened to what he had to say, but the rebel in me said, "I'm getting off this stuff come hell or high water." The reasons were unusual bruising, weight gain, horrible sweating, feverish feelings at times, bubble headed feelings at time ( that aren't a part of my normal personality ;- ) ) and other menopausal types of symptoms. At my age, it would be nice to know if it's menopause or medication related hotflashes. In any case these were the reasons I expressed to the doc. Like a good doctor, he drew blood to make sure the bruising was related to something else, did a hormone panel which I have yet to know the findings of, and of course, the usual cholesterol check which was a little high. The other blood work came back good and normal like it typically does which is good. So, I have now taken matters in to my own hot little hands.
Beware of the side effects
As with any medication, antidepressants have side effects. The side effects for most medications do not out weigh the benefits. In this case, they didn't at first but I don't think antidepressants were suppose to be taken long term or at least I don't think the makers of the products expected them to be used that long. I had been taking the original, Effexor for 6 years and then in 2008, I had some issues and life circumstances that caused similar instances that caused me to seek treatment originally. The problem with that was, it is unknown whether the drug was causing the problem or if it was my chemical make up. I had a hysterectomy earlier in the year and thought that might be the culprit. The doc increased the dosage from 75 mgs. to 150 mgs. instead of bumping it up to just 100 mgs to see if that would do the trick. I got feeling better and went on with my magical life, until now. Check out the side effects list below:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000947#a694020-sideEffects
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000947#a694020-sideEffects
What side effects can this medication cause?
Venlafaxine may cause side effects. Call your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:
-
drowsiness -
weakness or tiredness -
dizziness -
headache -
nightmares -
nausea -
vomiting -
stomach pain -
constipation -
diarrhea -
gas -
heartburn -
burping -
dry mouth -
change in ability to taste food -
loss of appetite -
weight loss -
uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body -
pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in part of the body -
muscle tightness -
twitching -
yawning -
sweating -
hot flashes or flushing -
frequent urination -
difficulty urinating -
sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection -
ringing in the ears -
changes in sexual desire or ability -
enlarged pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes)
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
-
rash -
hives -
itching -
difficulty breathing or swallowing -
chest pain -
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat -
seizures -
unusual bruising or bleeding -
small purple spots on the skin -
eye pain or redness -
changes in vision -
fever, sweating, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, and severe muscle stiffness -
fever -
problems with coordination -
hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist) -
coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)
Venlafaxine may slow growth and weight gain in children. If your child is taking venlafaxine, your child's doctor will watch your child's growth carefully. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving venlafaxine to your child.
Venlafaxine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Symptoms of overdose may include:
-
dizziness -
nausea -
vomiting -
burning, tingling, or numbness of the hands and feet -
increased size of the pupil (black center of the eye) -
muscle pain -
hot and cold spells -
sleepiness -
seizures -
fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat -
coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will check your blood pressure often and order certain lab tests to check your response to venlafaxine.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Brand names
Effexor®
Effexor® XR
Thursday, September 9, 2010
In the beginning - there was depression
Depression, like many other forms of physical illness, hit people from time to time. Mine seemed to come after being in high stress for a long time. I'm still not sure if it wasn't hormone related but in any case, it got to the point where I knew that I couldn't fix it on my own because what I was doing just wasn't helping at all. Finally, I gave in and went to see a medical provider in regards to the crying, horrible fatigue and blue feelings that just seemed to get worse instead of better. Effexor was the answer at that time to the current issue.
However, this particular antidepressant is much harder to go off of than it is to go on to. You do have to go on it little by little and check with the medical provider to make sure things are going ok. So I started this medication in 2002 and it did help, thankfully. I kept this little piece of personal information to myself because, I felt somehow ashamed that I needed this type of medication to "fix me." It worked and that was what mattered at that point in time, because I needed to be a functional human being that could deal with life and what was happening in life right then.
However, this particular antidepressant is much harder to go off of than it is to go on to. You do have to go on it little by little and check with the medical provider to make sure things are going ok. So I started this medication in 2002 and it did help, thankfully. I kept this little piece of personal information to myself because, I felt somehow ashamed that I needed this type of medication to "fix me." It worked and that was what mattered at that point in time, because I needed to be a functional human being that could deal with life and what was happening in life right then.
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