@jakedduck1 I don't have access to a compounding pharmacist. I was originally on 2 mg clonazepam. Tapered for the last 6 weeks by .125mg weekly. That is 1/4 of one tablet (0.5mg tablets). I am currently also on 150mg of Effexor that comes in a capsule the smallest of which is 37.5mg. Am not doing any tapering with the Effexor until after the clonazepam is done and I feel well enough. Thanks for your interest.

Fallon,do you have trouble with anxiety/panic attacks?

I'm on day 6 or 7 of restarting my effexor. My anxiety and depression is getting worse it seems everyday since restarting. What is some people's opinions on this. This getting to be more than I can handle. The first 2 days back on effexor was good felt some what like my old self. But now everything is going down hill. Opinions are welcome. Thank you in advance, farmboy.

@farmboy Yes, I have terrible anxiety and nausea made much worse by the tapering of the clonazepam.

@farmboy Personally, I'd try to wait it out until it has been 2-3 weeks. I've been there with initial side effects. Not sure if you're a cat person but what helps me is petting my cat. I prefer cats because they don't have to be walked. But any furry animal will do. Pets don't judge and just want to be with you.

Actually going through that now with Prozac. Apparently while it was very helpful in tapering off venlafaxine, I can't be on it long term. Chronic diarrhea sucks. I feel like all the life has been drained out of me. Effective bad way to lose weight though haha. No libido, almost no appetite, just kind of existing. It's… still an improvement over no medication sadly. Going to try yet another antidepressant next – duloxetine (Cymbalta).

So far I'm at 2 weeks after venlafaxine and I haven't been having the dizziness or heart pains. Some migraine but not bad enough to see a doctor about. I'm kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop but at least I know it can come back and that's better than being caught unaware.

I have a red heeler cattle dog. He is very loyal. He can read me like a book. If I'm having a bad day he comes up and lays his head on my lap and just stays there. If I get tears running out of my eyes he just gently licks them of. He goes every with me. He even sleeps in bed with me. My worse problem right now is I'm all nerved up and irritated. I'm so tired of feeling this way. I'm sure I'm not the only one though.

@farmboy
Sorry it's been rough. Here are my thoughts–remember we're all just guessing here; each of us has been our own guinea pig. You may have restarted at too low a dose. You didn't taper from 225 down to 75–you plummeted like a rock. Restarting at 75mg felt good at first because you were getting at least some of the Effexor you were used to (and some Hydroxyzine and Buspirone). The most successful way to get off Effexor is to go slow, but you are trying to go slow well into the race after starting off like a jack rabbit.

You had good rapport with the ER doc who intervened with your regular doc. Can you check back with her, let her know your initial improvement is morphing into something very unpleasant and see if she can help? Perhaps increase the Hydroxyzine and Buspirone, or a change to something else?

You’re not the only one. I’m trying something simple now, but, I gave up sugar for Lent. It is having a good effect on me. But I specifically gave up eating those delicious belvitas and coffee every morning. (I love them!) but I try to start my morning with protein (or just coffee). Again, I didn’t go nuts, but I’m reading the sugar content in stuff now and was eating far too much. I’m limiting myself to 5 grams per serving if anything. Just a thought. It helps me. (Of course, I got so angry at work yesterday I kicked a huge roll of bubble wrap and it went flying! Still working on things. )

I have read many making comments on reducing sugar helps. I haven’t tried this, I’m such an addict to sugar, I’m worried about intensified mood swings. I’m working on week 3 with zero Effexor but taking Prozac to help. Still have anxiety and mood swings. Had a bad day yesterday. So may try reducing sugar if this helps.

To be honest, it’s helping me. And helping with headaches, too. I’m sort of eating like an Atkins or Keto diet, but not hard core. Just more vegetables and proteins but not excluding carbs or fruit. Just focusing more on the former.

Incidentally, cutting out the ridiculous amount of sugar typical in an American diet is actually pretty easy if you just look at the packaging. OJ for example boasts a whopping 22g or sugar! But anyway, once you start noticing it, and needing to a program (I try not to go higher than 5g for snacking purposes) you’ll feel the effects immediately. Good luck!

My worse problem is Pepsi and lemon aid. I don't keep any pop at home but get a bottle when I'm town. But I always have a pitcher of lemon aid in the fridge at home.

Most of my sugar comes from coke. Then I eat a dessert nightly. I guess I could slowly switch to Diet Coke.

@babydoll
Switch to Diet Coke? That's crazy!

@falon
Good morning,
So now the question is have you contacted your insurance to see if they would pay for a compounding pharmacy to provide medication currently unavailable by the manufacturers? The compounding pharmacy I use is 430 miles away. It really is the best way to go when tapering provided your willing to invest the time necessary to hopefully have an uneventful taper. Just think of the potential withdrawal effects versus a little time to come of it safely and probably side effect free. I’d think it would be a NO-BRAINER to go SLOW, VERY SLOW and I’m not talking just slow, I’m talking SLLLOOOOOOOOWWW!!
Snail pace slow,
Many people may consider it pain stakinglee SLOW and so they speed up the process which they never fail to regret. Of course you could spend 10-20 thousand dollars and go to a rehab It’s amazing some take it for 10, 20, 30 years and they think nothing of it but suggest they spend a year or two getting off it and many people come unglued. I cannot comprehend what the hurry is to be miserable although that appears to be the most popular choice. The proof is in the thousands of posts. By going too fast your probably in for nothing but agonizing withdrawal symptoms and virtually guaranteeing defeat.
Please people, slow down, way down!!!
Wishing you all the best,
Jake