hi guys
I decided a few weeks ago to stop taking my venlafaxine. I love it in terms of depression and would stay on it for life happily except that it does dreadful things to my stomach.
I started out on 20mg losec, increased gradually to 80mg - then added in ranitidine at 300mg a day, which has gradually been increased to 600 a day, plus of course I take metaclopramide three times a day. All this so I can cope with venlafaxine (effexor). Oh, we switched the losec for solox, and I did great on that for a while (plus the ranitidine and metaclopramide of course) but then I deteriorated and we had to double my dose of solox (so i am on twice the recommended upper level, which my doctor tells me should be fine).
All this medication just to cope with one drug is getting insane, especially as it doesn't work for very long. And, in terms of antidepressants, effexor is the one that I tolerate the best, the others were even worse.
So, I have decided I have to stop the venlafaxine. Usually I can stop taking it easily, although 6 - 12 months later I get hit by my ususal recurrent severe depression and have to go back on it. But this time I am really struggling, I am feeling very down which is unusual. I am not sure if I am depressed or if it is venlafaxine withdrawal. I did the usual recommended taper for venlafaxine so I haven't stopped taking it all at once.
I really don't want to go back on it as I really want to give my stomach a rest from it, so I am just trying to sit this out and keep my fingers crossed (I have very severe suicidal depressions that can hit very quickly, so I am ultra aware that this is nothing to mess with). I am ok, just very melancholy, and rather down. Sleeping ok though which is unusual for me if this was a real depression - usually I struggle with sleep during a depression. Also, I feel worse in the morning, whereas with my usual depression I feel worse as the day goes on, so there are some real differences here.
Any ideas ? Obviously I will contact my psychiatrist if it gets too hard (i emailed him telling him I was stopping it) and I am seeing my rheumie in 10 days time, plus I have a great GP. But all any of them can tell me to do is to go back on it, and I would rather than kill myself (I have had some very serious attempts years back, which is why I have just stayed on anti-d's long term) but I am rather desperate about my stomach also.
Any ideas anyone ?
cheers
raglet
Edited to add: having read up on withdrawal symptoms, I am clearly not withdrawing. But I do wonder if I am having rebound depression that I just need to tough out ?
I decided a few weeks ago to stop taking my venlafaxine. I love it in terms of depression and would stay on it for life happily except that it does dreadful things to my stomach.
I started out on 20mg losec, increased gradually to 80mg - then added in ranitidine at 300mg a day, which has gradually been increased to 600 a day, plus of course I take metaclopramide three times a day. All this so I can cope with venlafaxine (effexor). Oh, we switched the losec for solox, and I did great on that for a while (plus the ranitidine and metaclopramide of course) but then I deteriorated and we had to double my dose of solox (so i am on twice the recommended upper level, which my doctor tells me should be fine).
All this medication just to cope with one drug is getting insane, especially as it doesn't work for very long. And, in terms of antidepressants, effexor is the one that I tolerate the best, the others were even worse.
So, I have decided I have to stop the venlafaxine. Usually I can stop taking it easily, although 6 - 12 months later I get hit by my ususal recurrent severe depression and have to go back on it. But this time I am really struggling, I am feeling very down which is unusual. I am not sure if I am depressed or if it is venlafaxine withdrawal. I did the usual recommended taper for venlafaxine so I haven't stopped taking it all at once.
I really don't want to go back on it as I really want to give my stomach a rest from it, so I am just trying to sit this out and keep my fingers crossed (I have very severe suicidal depressions that can hit very quickly, so I am ultra aware that this is nothing to mess with). I am ok, just very melancholy, and rather down. Sleeping ok though which is unusual for me if this was a real depression - usually I struggle with sleep during a depression. Also, I feel worse in the morning, whereas with my usual depression I feel worse as the day goes on, so there are some real differences here.
Any ideas ? Obviously I will contact my psychiatrist if it gets too hard (i emailed him telling him I was stopping it) and I am seeing my rheumie in 10 days time, plus I have a great GP. But all any of them can tell me to do is to go back on it, and I would rather than kill myself (I have had some very serious attempts years back, which is why I have just stayed on anti-d's long term) but I am rather desperate about my stomach also.
Any ideas anyone ?
cheers
raglet
Edited to add: having read up on withdrawal symptoms, I am clearly not withdrawing. But I do wonder if I am having rebound depression that I just need to tough out ?
