D

Community AnchorCymbalta · holding

Hi Carina, I was thinking about you today and hoping that things were going well for you. I'm so sorry to hear that they aren't. Try to calm yourself first. Once you're a little calmer, it'll be easier to think clearly and figure out the next step. Unfortunately, there are very few resources in Germany—or even in Europe—for people tapering off psychiatric medications. Were you able to find any clinician on the Taper Community provider map in the U.S.?

Cymbalta — 17,5mg(12mg) — 17 Jahre — holding -with clinician - 90 mg – 2021: First tapering attempt.
60 mg – 2023: Second tapering attempt.
With a doctor's supervision—but unfortunately, a doctor who doesn't know how to properly taper off an antidepressant.

⭐

CatinaAug 3

Community AnchorEffexor

Thanks @Duloxi84, I appreciate your support. I'm trying to calm down but the anxiety and heart palpitations are through the roof. I will try harder! I just need to rest. If my GP won't prescribe the drugs again for me, I will look for another provider. I'm really sorry you're limited where you live with getting tapering support. It shouldn't have to be so hard!

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

G

guava378Aug 3

Community AnchorAbilify · active

No worries, stay calm. You'll get a new doc. I'm stuck too. I had a terrible experience with my psychiatrist as well; he was so manipulative, calling all my aripiprazole side effects an 'illness' instead of acknowledging what they actually were. I eventually had to walk away because I was so angry. Never quit

- Aripiprazole / Abilify:
17-May-2026 (15mg -> 10mg)
11-July-2026 (10mg-> 7.5mg
17-Aug-2026 (7.5mg -> 5mg)
28-Sep-2026 (5mg -> 3.6mg)
10 months - actively tapering
- Procyclidine 5mg - 10 months - actively tapering
- Propranolol - 20mg - 13 months - holding
- Xanax - 0.25mg - 8 months - holding

⭐

CatinaAug 3

Community AnchorEffexor

Oh @guava378, that's awful. I'm so sorry! The psychiatrist I had retired. She was amazing and supported my slow taper. I really miss her. It's so hard to find good supportive doctors.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

G

guava378Aug 3

Community AnchorAbilify · active

It was only day 4 or 5 of my taper, and he claimed the illness was back, saying, 'You were okay at 15mg.' I told him I started tapering because of chronic weakness and other symptoms-the exact same list I showed him months ago but he insisted this happened because of the taper. Earlier, he even admitted that list was the same as before. Lol

- Aripiprazole / Abilify:
17-May-2026 (15mg -> 10mg)
11-July-2026 (10mg-> 7.5mg
17-Aug-2026 (7.5mg -> 5mg)
28-Sep-2026 (5mg -> 3.6mg)
10 months - actively tapering
- Procyclidine 5mg - 10 months - actively tapering
- Propranolol - 20mg - 13 months - holding
- Xanax - 0.25mg - 8 months - holding

⭐

CatinaAug 3

Community AnchorEffexor

That's actually laughable! They really don't know what they're doing, do they?

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

D

DuloxiAug 3

Community AnchorCymbalta · holding

After so many years of experience with doctors, I'm honestly convinced that most of them simply don't know how to manage duloxetine withdrawal. Nothing can replace your own experience once you've learned how your body responds to the medication. My family doctor prescribes my medication, but he couldn't understand how I could still be affected by such a low dose. At one point, he even suggested that I take the capsule every other day, then every third day. 🫣 He compared it to tapering off prednisone. That was the moment I realized he didn't really understand how duloxetine withdrawal works. I explained my own experience to him and asked him to support me in tapering at my own pace. Since then, I tell him what dose adjustments I want to make, and he simply approves them. 😁

Cymbalta — 17,5mg(12mg) — 17 Jahre — holding -with clinician - 90 mg – 2021: First tapering attempt.
60 mg – 2023: Second tapering attempt.
With a doctor's supervision—but unfortunately, a doctor who doesn't know how to properly taper off an antidepressant.

⭐

CatinaAug 3

Community AnchorEffexor

So true! We know our bodies best and what works for us. I'm glad your doctor is supportive and allows you to dictate your own taper even though he doesn't understand 100%.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

P

PoppyAbbyAug 3

Community AnchorPaxil · active

Oh my goodness!! I'm so sorry this happened to you @Catina. These doctors make me so mad! Good for you for walking out, I'm only sorry because it activated your anxiety. Praying your primary doctor can write the scripts you need.

Paxil — 2.5mg — 7 months — actively tapering
Paxil- 0.00mg-08/14/26

⭐

CatinaAug 3

Community AnchorEffexor

Thanks @PoppyAbby. Yeah, I was really angry. I tried to control it but my nerves were already shattered. It was an "intake" evaluation so it was an entire hour. I hope my GP can write the prescriptions too. If not, I have a couple other providers near me that I can try.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

P

Polly's FarmAug 4

Trusted VoiceTrintellix · researching

I'm really sorry it didn't go well. But congratulations for standing up for yourself and walking out! Maybe the psychiatrist learned something. Fingers crossed your GP can go back to prescribing for you.

Trintellix — 15mg — 4 years, 9 months — researching taper | Risperdal — 0.25mg — 4 years, 9 months — actively tapering | Depakine — 1000mg — 12 years — supporting others | with clinician

⭐

CatinaAug 4

Community AnchorEffexor

"I'm really sorry it didn't go well. But congratulations for standing up for yourself and walking out! Maybe the psychiatrist learned something. Fingers crossed your GP can go back to prescribing for you." — @Polly's Farm

Thank you. It was disappointing to say the least. It would be nice if something I said caused her to think or do more research. Hopefully I'll hear back from my GP today.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

74th Effexor Update - Feeling Bad

Catina’s taper progress

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