Withdrawal from antidepressant

[GAL8]

I was put on Venlafaxine 6 months or so again after having issues with anxiety. I took a tablet a day & would feel awful physically if I missed a dose.

Ive now decided to come off them as I never wanted to be on them long term, so I'm going to try life without them. Ive managed to now take a tablet every 2.5 - 3 days, which is now when the physical symptoms of dizziness, brain zaps, lack of concentration kick in.

My question is has anyone on any type of antidepressant, whilst withdrawing, had any episodes of low mood? I'm miserable. I eat crap, have no energy (a product of eating crap I expect) I have no interest in anything. Ive cried a few times over not much, which is rare for me anyway, just not a crier. I don't know if this is a side effect of withdrawal, or if it's just me. I don't remember feeling as hopeless as I currently do before starting the tablets. It's a lovely sunny day & I've gone to bed. Just not like me. I prepared myself so much for physical symptoms of withdrawal, I didn't think about any mental ones. Any advice much appreciated. Thank you.

You're going about it the wrong way. Don't skip days, just reduce the dosages slowly otherwise you're just getting your body into a cycle of withdrawal then drug, then withdrawal then drug. You're basically sending your nervous system into shock every time you reduce it and you have more chance of relapsing if you come off too quickly.

Wean off it slowly. Never more than 10mg drop at a time and never less than 2 weeks between drops. Wait until you have no side effects on your current dose before lowering it again.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut Thanks for your comment. It's actually my GP who has told me to do it this way! I made an appointment to specifically ask the question. She said they could lower the dose but that would make it a 'non therapeutic dose' so suggested the best thing to do is to take a tablet every other day, then increase the time in-between doses from there.

Yes - slowly. You can’t do this quickly. You also need to put in place a series of things that you can do that will help you positively. Plan to eat well and exercise, sleep well and drink lots of water, take some vitamin B for your nerves. Avoid junk food and booze.

Keep busy and be kind to yourself.

What else are you doing for the anxiety?

Thank you @toffeebutterpopcorn - the vitamin B one is interesting, is that supposed to help with anxiety? Would that be in a tablet form or just find foods with it in?

With regards to the anxiety, it came to breaking point for me following something that happened to my daughter when she was born. She was my first baby, but was incredibly poorly & it was a very difficult time trying to be a new mum, whilst also suffering PTSD. I feel a lot differently from those times, but of course I'll have to see how I get on.

It’s good for the nerves! A good supplement will give you what you need.

Have you had any treatment for your PTSD?

Ooh I didn't know that, thank you @toffeebutterpopcorn - yes, I had a fair bit of counselling. Time has also helped a lot.

GPS are often not very knowledgeable about tapering.

This is useful: www.amazon.co.uk/Antidepressant-Solution-Step-Step-Overcoming/dp/074326973X?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

My MIL is a very keen dietician - she is amazing and knows exactly what food or supplement you need for what. She suggested Vit B for me when I was being driven mad at work (also bananas work for me too). Beyond that I was a therapist for a while and focussed on stress and anxiety (and pain).

I weaned myself off Effexor after two years on it. I reduced and reduced the dose (which wasn't easy as I had to open the capsules and count the tiny beads inside!) but I did it over a period of a month or so. It went really well.

I now take ashwaganda which is a herbal supplement reproved to help reduce stress and anxiety and I feel that helps.

I also have to really focus on good sleep, diet and exercise.

Good luck OP, you can do it.

Thank you @soberfabulous that's really kind & hope you're doing well :-)

Ooh she sounds like the sort of MIL you'd actually want @toffeebutterpopcorn - great advice thank you :-)

@dane8

Sober What dose were you on ? you reduced in a month off venlafaxine? How long ago have you been off it?

75mg.

So I split them and did 37.5 each day for two weeks.

Then split them again (very fiddly but ok) and 18.75 for two weeks.

Then stopped.

I'd heard absolute horror stories but honestly it was totally fine.

Finished totally around Christmas. I knew I'd be at home more and not working so much, so had a slower pace of life.

Now I'm back at full throttle, working 12 hour days, super busy...feel completely normal.