Hi, I'm higherprimate

September 6, 2026

Hi, I just now found this community as a result of a Google search. I quit my Alprazolam two weeks ago. I tried to quit my Olanzapine three days ago, but started again today after learning that the withdrawal symptoms can be severe and prolonged. I'm now on 5mg Olanzapine and 150mg Venlafaxine. I've been on both for more than 20 years.

Effexor — reinstated | Zyprexa — 5mg — 21 years — reinstated

5 Replies

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BasedStaffSep 6

Community AnchorEffexor

Glad you found us before going further with the Olanzapine stop. Twenty years is a long time for your brain to have adapted, so pulling it out fast was never going to be a fair fight. You made the right call by listening to what you found. Worth setting up a plan under Taper Plan and logging check ins under My Taper as you go. After a few weeks you will see patterns in how you feel that are genuinely useful to bring to your prescriber. And since you just lived through a near miss, do not hesitate to share that with others here. Someone three months behind you is going to make the same mistake, and your story might stop them.

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

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CatinaSep 6

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @higherprimate, welcome! Glad to have you here. I'm glad you took those steps. It's best to taper just one drug at a time and to make sure you're stable before making any more changes. We look forward to supporting you on the rest of your tapering and healing journey! Catina 🌸

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 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.

higherprimateOct 1

WelcomerEffexor · reinstated

Hi @Based and @Catina , Thank you for your welcome and support. I was off of Alprazolam for a month, and I became anxious and overwhelmed by the evil I see in the world. I resumed my Alprazolam two weeks ago and increased the dosage from 500 mcg to 1000 mcg / day. I also increased my Venlafaxine from 150 to 300 mg / day, with the approval of my psychiatrist. I experienced such a high level of anxiety for such a long time as a child that I am "hard wired" for anxiety. There is no cure for my anxiety. It is built in. My current medication schedule has lifted me out of chronic anxiety and depression, and I feel well now. I can tolerate the evil I see in the world without being overwhelmed by it. I'm no longer constantly procrastinating and avoiding the things I need to do. I can get my most important tasks accomplished now.

Effexor — reinstated | Zyprexa — 5mg — 21 years — reinstated

anne noni mossOct 2

LighthousePaxil · holding

A sensitive soul! I'm sorry for the pain you feel, but I'll bet you are a good friend to have! Thanks for posting and sharing. It helps all of us. Keep us posted. Happy to be part of this support team. It has meant a lot to me!

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)

immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.

Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.

I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.

October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.

Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL

Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.

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CatinaOct 2

Community AnchorEffexor

I'm truly sorry for your anxiety. I struggle with it too. A good book to read is Hope and Help for Your Nerves by Dr. Claire Weekes. Have you tried CBT or any other natural coping skills? Wishing you the best!

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