[chillcool68]

Hello all, been here before been awhile since i posted, so here goes, been on effexor and lamictal for my depression, for almost 16 years now, had my mother, my grandmother and my girlfriend all pass away within 8 months, its been about a year now talked with my doctor and she suggested i taper off the effexor being i was doing okay with all that happened, well for starters the withdrawals were horrible, down from 200 to 75, about 1 month and im feeling really messed up and depressed call my doctor she gives me this new stuff britillix, so been on 75 of effexor and 10mg of this new stuff, anxiety is horrible, depression and constant headache, so now i have officially stopped taking the new stuff and going back to my regular dosage of effexor, what bums me out the most is how i have to depend on this stuff, i have a lot of good things going on and cant have this craziness and loss of control right now, i am very afraid right now, not feeling strong at all, just needed to throw this out there, thanks for listening!!!!

[Altered Moment]

Welcome to PC. I question why the doc would want to take you off after so much loss even if you were doing good. If it aint broke don't fix it is my motto.

Some people have a hellava time coming off of Effexor. If you had withdrawal it should be done much much slower than you were doing. 200 to 75 is to fast even though pdocs think it is a long time. I have gone off of it a number of times without trouble but I have read enough from people on here to know it needs to go real real slow if you are having problems.

[Rohag]

Welcome to posting, Chillcool68. My regrets for your multiple traumatic losses.

Originally Posted by chillcool68

...[the doctor] suggested i taper off the effexor being i was doing okay with all that happened...

But you had been on Effexor and Lamictal for many years before the crisis. Did you doctor believe your depression was a function of the losses only?

I'm sorry for what you have had to endure. Please keep posting.

[Frankbtl]

Hi chillcool, I'm sorry you've been going through such a hard time, but I've got to completely agree with zinco, that was quite a drop and very quickly!!!
Maybe they were thinking/hoping that the britillix would take off the edge, but different medications can work differently for different people. And this clearly wasn't the one for you!! And now........it might just take a little time to get stabilised again.
It does sound like you were doing pretty good though for your doctor to have suggested decreasing the dosage??? So hopefully you can start getting back to there........and even in time improve further. And hopefully get to the point where you can start enjoying some of those good things in your life
But just a thought about the bereavements you've had to go through, that sounds pretty tough I'm sorry. And you know it would be completely understandable if they were still effecting you. Sometimes people might not really notice the effects of experiences like that or not associate feelings/effects with the actual loses. So perhaps...........do you think it might be worth a try getting some support with those???
And lastly!! The having to depend on the meds...........if you're talking about side effects, them working/not working, having to take them x times a day at x times, limitations e.g. with alcohol, appointments..........I can completely get how you might not like that.........but if we're talking having to depend on them then I'd say that if they help then that's absolutely no reflection on you as a person, none at all!!!
There shouldn't be any "shame" whatsoever attached to needing them in allowing you to be who you are, to be "well"/better than........., and hopefully in getting to be where you want to be. That is so much more important than any concerns about what helps you get there in terms of the meds.

Alison

[chillcool68]

feeling a little better today, had a meltdown last night, let some emotion out, i still am effected from the losses i am going through, sometimes i think i am getting over the losses, but not yet, must be patient with myself, thanks all for your support!!!!

[Altered Moment]

No time limit on grief.

[Pierro]

It's so difficult to wade through the grief when one person has passed never mind three people! You are probably still in shock over the deaths and it will all take time to come to terms with your losses. In regards to you meds I think that you lowered your dose of effexor way to quickly. I was on 225 and it took me a very long time to come off them. I was wondering why your doctor suggest that you taper of the effexor in the first place. It can take a long time to digest your losses and for them to sink in. Give yourself time, and don't be so hard on yourself. You are going through a very painfull process, have you thought about talking to someone like a grief councellor.

Best wishes...

[chillcool68]

Thanks, yes actually started calling around for a therapist, hope to find one soon!!!!!

[chillcool68]

Yeah think your right i have been in shock, both my mother and girlfriend had cancer at almost the same time, found out my girlfriend was stage 4 the day after my mother passed away, then my grams a week later, feel lost without them such a huge change, still getting on with my life although some days very hard to do, alot of unanswered questions and confusion, thank you all for your support!!!!