[Beebizzy]

... how long the reduction takes to kick in?

I've been on 150mg of Effexor and two weeks ago my pdoc told me to reduce it by 37.5mg because I was a bit speeded up, not sleeping etc. The idea is to reduce it very slowly because I might not need it at all now, and it's not ideal for BP etc. Goal is mood-stabiliser only (Lamictal 300mg).

Would the effects of a reduction become evident immediately? Or would they take a few weeks to show, just like when you start taking ADs it takes a few weeks to have an effect.

Today (two weeks and four days after I reduced) I've been starting to feel a bit weird, thinking about how nothing in my life is the way I wanted it to be, my brother got engaged and has the perfect life so this makes me feel even more inadequate, I'm seriously questioning whether I should break up with my bf etc etc.

I don't know if this is the start of a low due to reduction of meds (I hope not), or whether it is just a common-or-garden down day (I think so).

This is the problem with BP, you question every blasted feeling. Or at least I do now. I am absolutely rubbish at spotting deep depressions (both arriving, or when I am in them) so I'm trying to do better. Sigh.

I'm seeing pdoc anyway on Thursday.

Happy new year to everyone and thanks for reading,

Beebizzy

[BlackPup]

I think i can notice reductions after a couple of days (but I'm sensitive to meds)
Do you do a mood chart? It is a good way to spot serious depressions compared with just a crappy day. Also writing in a journal can help you to process thoughts and spot when your thinking is being distorted by an episode.

[Beebizzy]

Yeah I do a mood chart but I only started it on 25th Dec. There again, to be honest, I have a hard time knowing what my mood is, or naming it. I'm very bad at this. I usually only know I'm seriously depressed if someone tells me. I might know I feel weird/bad (at a push...) but I believe that it's 'normal' and don't expect any better. I'm not able to see that it's not normal. I cannot evaluate myself as a third party observer.

Thanks a lot - I'm working on it all