Failed reduction.
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi.,
A year ago I was on Venlafaxine 225mg and Mirtazipine 45mg. I'd been on these meds for 10-15yrs. I tried coming off the Mirtazipine but only achieved a reduction to 7.5mg because of insomnia. So then I tried reducing the Venlafaxine. I take the Vensir XL, which are capsules containing small pelletts 12.5mg per pellet. I reduced by one pellet per month, managing to get down to 87.5mg. When I further reduced to 75mg I "hit a wall". My GP has recommended i go back up to 150mg and try again at a later date.
Does anyone else have similar experiences or advice?
0 likes, 10 replies
sarah24378 catherine55994
Posted
catherine55994 sarah24378
Posted
Yes I did. I've managed to reduce this to prevent the anxiety but still help me get off to sleep.
sarah24378 catherine55994
Posted
I am also on 150 of ven and 45 of mirt. How was the taper down on the mirt and is the only withdrawal symptom under 7.5 insomnia. I plan to taper soon. I did not have insomnia prior to taking mirt am on it for anxiety and depression but i think the ven deals with that.
catherine55994 sarah24378
Posted
sarah24378 catherine55994
Posted
Did you get withdrawal symptoms at that taper prior to getting under 7.5 ?
catherine55994 sarah24378
Posted
My prescription was 15mg and 30mg so working on the 10% rule it would be 4.5mg deduction. But that would be awkward so I did 3.75mg reduction which is 1/4 of a 15mg tablet. It's worth buying a pill cutter as the blade is very sharp and the cuttings won't fly everywhere. The divisions aren't entirely accurate but it works.
betsy0603 catherine55994
Posted
Given that the recommended reduction rate for coming off without suffering is 10% of the pervious month's dosage per month, you are now at 150 mg so when ready, the first month you could drop by one pellet, maybe even for three weeks. Then, the next cut would be 10% of 137.5 mg. Again, drop by a pellet for a few weeks. Now you'd be at 125 mg. Drop by one pellet, perfect 10%. Now you are at 112.5 mg. The next drop of 12.5 mg, definitely wait a month. The next 12.5 mg cut is greater than 10% so I would hold longer than four weeks, maybe five. That takes you to 100 mg. By the time 12.5 mg drops you by 20%, I'd hold for two months until the next drop. If you were able to make the 10% cuts, It would take 11 months to get to 47 mg with this method so as your cuts get bigger than 10%, stretch out the time between cuts such that you reach 50 mg in 11 months. Everyone says "this way takes too long" but guess what? You are more likely to succeed! The nervous system has to adapt to every cut, getting used to operating with a little less drug, and if your cutting overtakes your healing rate, you're going to crash again! Take it from me as I've been there done that! I crashed after a too fast taper, reinstated, and have successfully gotten down to 8.5 mg without the wheels coming off the bus!
betsy0603
Posted
I will add that I had been on Effexor for 12 years and antidepressants in total 20 years when I tried to come off; you can't expect your brain to snap to in a few months of tapering when it has been steeped in these drugs for so long :-) You have to grow a new brain, essentially, and that takes time. So, be kind to yourself and go easy!
catherine55994 betsy0603
Posted
Thank you for this Betsy.
The mistake I made was to reduce the reductions when I got down to the lower doses. I think I was doing so well that i forgot to be careful.
At the moment I'm back up to150mg. I feel really low. This could be the effects of the recent reductions or the effects of increasing or I'm just going through a bad patch. Who knows.
I've taken meds for 20yrs and I'm fed up of being depressed.
Thank you again.
catherine55994
Posted
I mean I did not reduce the reductions to maintain 10% reductions.