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@njoys

Those initial doses sound high to me (but I'm no expert). The fact that four psychiatrists put or kept you on those doses--I can understand why you trusted the decision, having had it reinforced multiple times.
It's great that you found professionals at a mental health clinic who agreed to help you off the medications; unfortunate that they did not know that one must go S-L-O-W-L-Y down that path.
Now that we know to go slow, however, there is another opportunity to do it right. The important thing now, it seems to me, is to get you at helpful levels of the drug(s), whatever that may be, and stabilized for an appropriate period of time before you attempt a slow withdrawal process.
If you have not already received a caring pharmacist's opinion, you might inquire about possible drug interactions of all your medications--unless your psychiatric nurse is qualified in that regard. Then again, a second opinion is often worthwhile. The pharmacist I consulted happens to own an independent pharmacy that is not part of a chain, though I am sure valued pharmacists can be found at both.
You once wrote "I wish peace for everyone who suffers. It increasingly seems to me that is everyone." Indeed. My grandmother, at 103 and unhappy in the nursing home in which my aunt had placed her, said to me, "I don't know why I'm still here." I suggested she might have something yet to learn or, more likely, more to teach others. We all learn from each other's experiences on here, and I thank you for sharing yours. I look forward to learning from your progress, and wish you the peace and happiness you deserve--which you so graciously wish others.

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Replies to "Those initial doses sound high to me (but I'm no expert). The fact that four psychiatrists..."

Thank you again for your kind words.

I believe the first psychiatrist made a mistake putting me on such high levels of meds without trying lower doses first. The resulting mania destroyed my life.

After that every new provider took one look at my meds and concluded that I must really need them. At no point did they completely relieve my depression. Even when I was manic I still wanted to die.

No one considered decreasing any meds until I asked last June. Somewhere, between June an December I hit a sweet spot where I felt whole. Now I am starting at the bottom and working my way up, hopefully to a stable place.

The last three days I have had crippling anxiety, something I have not had before. It has been so bad that I have not left the house.

So I looked up the side effects of starting venlafaxine and sure enough anxiety is common. I don't remember experiencing anxiety fifteen years ago, but I've got it now. It would have been nice if someone had told me that I might become anxious for a week or two. I've been freaking out trying to cope.

I don't know if I actually should have been prescribed meds all those years ago. My depression was most likely tied to my lifestyle and was actually mild compared to what I have experienced since.

At this point it is quite possible that I can no longer function without medication. I am so desperate to stop suffering I’ll do whatever is necessary.

May we all find the peace and good health we deserve.