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Reducing my dosage.....

Posted , 5 users are following.

sazzalT
sazzalT

This is the first time I've ever written on a forum. I have been on Venlafaxine for 5yrs and my dosage has been 300mg of the slow release daily.

Over the past 6-8mths I have been struggling. I have noticed my signs of depression coming back but have tried to get on with things as best I can. I made the decision to look into reducing my tablets with the intention of coming off them and starting something else. I have been reading all the discussions on here and I felt the same, it seemed like it had "stopped working".

I went to the doctors 2wks ago and told her that I was struggling & I felt the tablet wasn't working anymore. What horrified me was that she wanted me to reduce from 300mg to a week of alternating between 300 & 150mgs and the next week all at 150. I came home stressed & upset. I looked on here about withdrawl and how you should gradually reduce. I called the doctor the next day and to cut a long story short she asked me what dosage I wanted to reduce to and that she would see me in 2wks. Apparently "no one really suffers with withdrawl!!"

My first week I went to 262.5mg daily and the start of this week I started on 225mg.

I have been on auto pilot at work. Yesterday I just broke down. Crying, shaking, feeling flat, wanting to just go home and lock myself away.

So the situation I am in now is going back to the doctors tomorrow. I honestly don't know what to do about work. I am trying my best but everything is getting on top of me...

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • j17344
    j17344 sazzalT

    Posted

    Hi, I'm sorry  to hear you're having trouble with your doctor. That's the last thing you need when you're coming off of this medication. If you can, find a doctor who will take the time to do a little research and who will work with you. Also, I've decreased from 225 mg to 75 mg with the help of added Prozac (20 mg a day). That may be something you will want to ask about. Good luck smile Jessica
    • sazzalT
      sazzalT j17344

      Posted

      Hi Jessica,

      I've been back to the doctors and she was a bit more understanding. She did tell me I can't start another tablet till I'm on a much lower dosage. Not sure if this is right as I seem to be the one telling her about things like withdrawl side effects and reducing slowly.

      Thanks so much for your reply. It's nice to know there are other people out there going through the same thing. Looking for that light at the end of the tunnel.

      Keep in touch & good luck with everything

      Sara x

    • j17344
      j17344 sazzalT

      Posted

      Hi Sara,

      I'm glad your doctor is being more understanding but make sure you do what you think is right. You know yourself better than anyone and you're obviously more educated on the topic.

      As far as adding Prozac, it has enabled me to go from 225 mg to 75 mg with no symptoms. However, I've read that Prozac can also have a withdrawal syndrome so maybe I'm just going from one bad situation to another.

      This summer I plan on trying to further reduce my dose. I'm waiting for 37.5 mg cpasules to come in the mail and I'm going to start there. If that works out, I will start reducing in much smaller amounts.

      I'll be happy to keep in touch and you are definitely not alone. Good luck to you too

      Jessica

  • thinkingpositiv
    thinkingpositiv sazzalT

    Posted

    I'm in a similar situation. For me the withdrawal symptoms got worse the smaller the dose.. I couldn't have handled it and been at work. Put yourself first and take some time out x
    • sazzalT
      sazzalT thinkingpositiv

      Posted

      Hi,

      I've been back to the doctor and decided to stay on the 225mg till I see her again in 2 weeks.

      I've also made the decision to be signed off from work. I need to think about myself which isn't like me. I always put everyone else first.

      Thank you for getting in touch. Good luck with everything.

      Sara x

  • Jan808
    Jan808 sazzalT

    Posted

    SaxxalIT, Good for you to do your research! Have you come across the 10% taper once a month method? or the Prozac bridge? 

    When I was a my lowest, I had a friend remind me that I was my job to take care of "me". I had to make self care number one. Some doctors just don't get it and you may need to find support elsewhere. Like here biggrin

    Best of Luck,

    Keep us posted,

    Jan

     

    • sazzalT
      sazzalT Jan808

      Posted

      Hi Jan,

      I really appreciate your message.

      I've been back to the doctors and she was a bit more understanding with me.

      I've decided to take some time off work. She has given me a 2wk sick note initially as I'm going back to see her. I'm sticking at 225mg till I go back.

      She has told me I can't start another tablet till I am on a much lower dosage than I'm on at the moment. But that makes me feel quite vunerable.

      It's lovely you getting in touch. Also knowing I'm not the only one going through this.

      Keep in touch & thanks again

      Sara x

  • Purpledobermann
    Purpledobermann sazzalT

    Posted

    I can't add to this but wanted to say i really feel for you. I can imagine how vulnerable you feel indeed when you are not feeling well and still must reduce support until you are allowed a different option. I was lucky that venlafaxine kept working for me over the years and helped balance me out until i was back up and running again so i did not have to play around with different drugs. I can only imagine how you feel. But i wanted to wish you only a temporary unease and quick resolution. One great thing about our brain is that we can never really predict how it will react. It may just decide to regroup and you end up feeling better than ever once you stabilize a little at lower doses. I wish that for you. All the best.
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