Hi, I'm Kayci

October 20, 2026

I started a 75mg dose of venlafaxine in December 2021 and just started tapering off with help from a psychiatrist this month. My individual counselor has supported my desire to get off of medication, and I think I deserve a chance to at least try. I was “diagnosed” with anxiety in the spring of 2018, and had been experiencing some physical symptoms (full body lock-ups, maybe panic attacks?) and life changes with college, etc. that probably could’ve been handled with a good counselor/therapist, but was prescribed escitalopram (didn’t help after several months) and then took fluoxetine (seemed to help for a few years) until switching to venlafaxine (75mg). I’ve been on medication for almost 10 years now, and still experience anxiety, but I’m at a point where I don’t think medication was ever the answer. I haven’t experienced raw adulthood, and think that with my current support system can handle the transition. I also genuinely have been wondering if I have anxiety, how have just never properly learned how to recognize and cope with my emotions and stressors. Major shoutout to my counselor for being the first (of many!!) to actually acknowledge this and patiently work with me through all the little things. I hope to find a like-minded community here off of traditional social media where I can vent and track symptoms while I struggle with withdrawal and find what works for me in this journey… I have a friend who has gone through this before, but I thought it would be nice to support others and track my experience here. I’ve successfully halved my dosage without major symptoms in the last few weeks, but the last 35mg->0mg step is not going as well. The withdrawal brain zaps, diarrhea, and general flip-flip feeling between sickness and high on drugs has returned full force. I have my first check-in with my psychiatrist this Friday and plan to update soon.

Effexor — 35mg — 5 years, 10 months — holding

2 Replies

anne noni moss1h ago

NavigatorPaxil · holding

"I don’t think medication was ever the answer. I haven’t experienced raw adulthood, and think that with my current support system can handle the transition. I also genuinely have been wondering if I have anxiety, how have just never properly learned how to recognize and cope wi..." — @Kayci

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.

anne noni moss1h ago

NavigatorPaxil · holding

You are in the right place! Welcome and you've found "like-minded" folks. I, too, was "diagnosed" and given meds at a particularly stressful life juncture and I regret it so much. But, here we are. So I'm making the best of it, throwing little parties for people like YOU WHO ARE AWESOME, standing up for yourself and finding support! Looking forward to witnessing your journey and supporting you.

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