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Community AnchorEffexor

Hi Sue, and welcome to Taper Community! I see you have quite a long history with psychiatric drugs. I can relate. Are you looking to get off all your drugs? How are doing at the moment, especially after cold-turkeying the Lorazepam? Is there anything in particular you need help with? Please let us know how best we can help and support you. This site is growing, and it's nice to see many new ones joining. Catina ❤️

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 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.

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Sue G.5mo ago

WelcomerPristiq · holding

I want to get off all drugs. I did a self taper off all Fall 2020 over about 4 months with no symptoms for about 4 months. Then the crap hit the fan and doc reinstated. THEY NEVER worked since and im still on them. I believe I became tolerant. And have suffered last 5 years. My weirdest phenomenon is when I visit my family in another state, almost all symptoms go away. I still have fatigue and have to pace myself. But joy and motivation return. I know, just move back there, right? That isnt feasible at the moment. But I am going there in a month to spend at least a month to see if I can get more calm to nervous system that will last. When I go up for few weeks, I implode when I return home. SO FRUSTRATING and sad. I'm 65 and really worry about my future. I guess I am looking for support and see people with same, and hopefully healing. Also, to be validated with my symptoms and experience because people who haven't experienced this dont usually understand. It has become pretty isolating and lonely.

Pristiq — 75 mg — 2 years — holding | 150mg — 20 years — holding | with clinician

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Sue G.5mo ago

WelcomerPristiq · holding

Catina, is there a way to message staff?

Pristiq — 75 mg — 2 years — holding | 150mg — 20 years — holding | with clinician

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Catina5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"Catina, is there a way to message staff?" — @Sue G.

On the left side of your screen you should see a "Messages" section. Do you see it? You can compose a message there.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 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.

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Catina5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"I did a self taper off all Fall 2020 over about 4 months with no symptoms for about 4 months. Then the crap hit the fan and doc reinstated." — @Sue G.

I see this happen all the time - a rapid taper, the person feels fine for a few months, and then BAM - withdrawal hits like a ton of bricks. Then withdrawal is mistaken for "relapse" and the drugs are reinstated.

"I am going there in a month to spend at least a month to see if I can get more calm to nervous system that will last." — @Sue G.

It sounds like a good plan, and I hope it helps!

"I am looking for support and see people with same, and hopefully healing. Also, to be validated with my symptoms and experience because people who haven't experienced this dont usually understand. It has become pretty isolating and lonely." — @Sue G.

It can be a very lonely experience and is why peer-support sites such as this one are so important! We can see that we're not alone in our struggles, and that with one another's help and encouragement we can make it through to the other side.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 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.

S

Sue G.5mo ago

WelcomerPristiq · holding

Catina, have you seen much of the reinstatement not working? And now 5 years later with still no relief. Looking for hope

Pristiq — 75 mg — 2 years — holding | 150mg — 20 years — holding | with clinician

S

Sue G.5mo ago

WelcomerPristiq · holding

Catina, are all these messages between us public?

Pristiq — 75 mg — 2 years — holding | 150mg — 20 years — holding | with clinician

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Catina5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"Catina, are all these messages between us public?" — @Sue G.

Yes, they are. I hope that's okay. It allows others to benefit and contribute as well.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 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.

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Catina5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"Catina, have you seen much of the reinstatement not working? And now 5 years later with still no relief. Looking for hope" — @Sue G.

I understand your concern about this. Have you had a chance to review the information we have about Reinstatement? https://taper.community/thread/affd8e83-2361-4973-8f07-76d16744448a Generally, it's best to do it early and at a very low dose.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 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.

S

Sue G.5mo ago

WelcomerPristiq · holding

Got it! Is there a way to private message any one?

Pristiq — 75 mg — 2 years — holding | 150mg — 20 years — holding | with clinician

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Catina5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"Is there a way to private message any one?" — @Sue G.

I'll send you a private message and then we can take it from there! Hopefully it'll work for me. The site has had a few bugs.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 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.

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BasedStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi Sue G. I can send you a message or email if youd like to speak privately. All the best

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

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SteveStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor · active

Hello Sue, this is a story sadly a lot of people experience. The isolating part and not been understood makes it even harsher! I‘m glad you get the chance to be with the family for a month, socials bonds can alleviate a lot of symptoms. But yes, sometimes this isn‘t as easy feasable as it sounds. It‘s good you found us. After dropping meds you sure felt a new harsher reality, i experienced it needs some time and work in many ways to stabilize that new condition. Reinstatement does often help at first, but it‘s not unusual that a trace of the withdrawl experience stays for longer. You are a fighter to follow this ambition and you will read a lot of people fight with similar situations. Stay strong, try to stay a little active even on bad days and read the blog posts about withdrawl situations on this platform. Wishing you endurance and the best of success 💪👍

off Stimulants (2000-2013)
off Fluoxetine (2010-2013)
off Lamotrigine (2013-2016)
off Quetiapain (2016-2020)

currently Effexor — 33mg — 13 years (from 300mg) — actively tapering | with clinician

Hi, I'm Sue G.

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