EPD6893: Tapering Effexor Troubles

March 12Mar 12

Author

15 minutes ago, Raymond said:

Hey buddy @EDP6893,

I'm passing by to see how are you doing. I hope things are improving for you ..

Not good. Things are very difficult for me still.

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

March 13Mar 13

Author

Getting head aches recently. They're very painful.

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

March 13Mar 13

19 minutes ago, EDP6893 said:

Getting head aches recently. They're very painful.

Sorry to hear that. I started the headache issues at month 12 on my journey. I was having them mainly on my left side back of head and painful. I had it daily and mostly in the mornings. Then, it started to fade away slowly and started to have them few days on and off. Then,I was having them once a week. Then, I started to have them in the afternoon hours for couple of hours until it became less painful.

Currently, I'm at month 15 and it's rare now, but I had it for two months.....

I did not take medication for it ..

08/01/2009- Klonopin 1mg, but took only .25.mg when needed before I was out on paraxotine

08/01/2012 - Paraxotine 20 mg

12/2024- reinstated 5mg after cold turkey.

10/01/2024- 4.79mg (.0716g) holding until further notice........04/17/26 resumed taper 0714g (4.78mg). 05/20/2026- .0712g (4.76mg, .28% cut). 06/09/2026- .0708g (4.73mg .56% cut). 06/30/2026 - .0706g (4.72mg .33%).

1

March 20Mar 20

Author

My skin has been insanely itchy for the last few days. It's constant, all day. It's so bad.

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

March 20Mar 20

3 hours ago, EDP6893 said:

My skin has been insanely itchy for the last few days. It's constant, all day. It's so bad.

It sounds like a histamine reaction. These drugs affect those receptors. I have this and had to go to a low histamine diet...avoid high histamine foods and foods that are histamine liberators. One good thing is you have to eat very fresh foods, no processed stuff, no msg, no yeast extracts, etc.

https://antidepressantrecovery.org/topic/228-histamine-intolerance-food-lists/?do=getNewComment

I am not a medical professional. My comments are based on my personal experience and information on SA.

Paroxetine-2002 onward-20mg/ Citalopram-2007-20 mg-straight switch from paroxetine-back to paroxetine after a month/ Sertraline -25 mg-Dec 2016- given for a month instead of paroxetine (doctor mistake) Oxazepam -10 mg-2016-twice weekly for a couple months for sleep/ Zopiclone -3.75-7.5mg-2020-2022-once a week for sleep/Paroxetine -20 yr+/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ Prozac-10mg August 24-29 2022/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.11.28-2022.12.04/10mg-Dec 5&6/22/ Prozac-10mg-Dec 8&9/22/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01

TAPER-Paroxetine-2023-Jul 2-4.9mg/ Jul 21-4.8mg/Jul 28-4.73mg/Aug 4-4.65mg /Sep 21-4.58 mg/Oct 27-4.56 mg/Dec 5-4.54 mg/2024-Jan 2-4.52 mg/Jan 9-4.51 mg/Jan 17-4.49 mg/Jan 26-4.47mg/Feb 6-4.46mg/Feb 19-4.44mg /Apr 4-4.43mg/Apr 28-4.4 mg/May 5-4.39 mg/May 19-4.36 mg/Jul 2-4.34 mg/Jul 9-4.32mg/Jul 31-4.3 mg/Oct 1-4.29mg/Nov 27-4.25 mg/Dec 5-4.22mg/2025-Jan 5-4.17mg/Feb 2-4.1mg/Mar 7-4.07mg/Apr 23-4.04mg/May 23-4mg/Jun 22-3.99mg/Jun 30-3.95mg/Jul 18-3.92mg/Sep 25-3.9mg/2026-Mar 25-3.85mg

9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/75 mg DGL if needed for refux/200mg calcium citrate/algae oil for omega 3/ginger 400 mg as needed for nausea

"... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

1

March 20Mar 20

5 hours ago, EDP6893 said:

My skin has been insanely itchy for the last few days. It's constant, all day. It's so bad.

Yes, but it will go away too...

During my 15 months, I just eat as healthy and natural as possible. Same food with few variations...

How is your burning sensation issues?

08/01/2009- Klonopin 1mg, but took only .25.mg when needed before I was out on paraxotine

08/01/2012 - Paraxotine 20 mg

12/2024- reinstated 5mg after cold turkey.

10/01/2024- 4.79mg (.0716g) holding until further notice........04/17/26 resumed taper 0714g (4.78mg). 05/20/2026- .0712g (4.76mg, .28% cut). 06/09/2026- .0708g (4.73mg .56% cut). 06/30/2026 - .0706g (4.72mg .33%).

1

March 20Mar 20

6 hours ago, EDP6893 said:

My skin has been insanely itchy for the last few days. It's constant, all day. It's so bad.

Yes, sounds like histamine issues as LostInCanada mentioned, although for me it usually appears in the form of sneezing/itchy burning eyes/runny nose, it also occasionally breaks out in skin irritations as swelling, redness, itching, and a burning sensation..

I eat healthy, mostly histamine-free foods but it is still strongly present /: regardless, it is definitely worth reducing histamine in all its forms.

For my skin, what helps a lot is natural aloe vera cream, a generous amount, an immediate soothing effect.

I hope it will fade for you quickly, it's very uncomfortable feeling.

Edited March 20Mar 20 by Fullhealing

1998 forced on cipramil *no anxiety/depression background*

Over the years all kinds of SSRI/SNRI/antipsychotics/stabilizers due to apparently side effects/withdrawal

Many attempts to quit over the years with failure (extremely rapid taper followed by doctors' guidens)

Current attempt-Paxil 20 mg:

6/24 20 mg to 5 mg-severe AKA

9/24 Increase to 20-AKA continues

10/24 stopped completely-AKA out of control

11/24 Zoloft bridge attempt-25 mg to 75 mg+Seroquel-AKA continued-stopped them CT.

12/24 Back on Paxil 10mg (0.1789g)-some stabilization-from here tapered by about 30% each time (don't remember doses and dates).

2025 - 7.10 0.0558g (3.11mg)/7.11 3% 0.0541g (3.02mg)/4.12 1% 0.0535g (2.98mg)

2026 - 3.1 1.5% 0.0526g (2.93mg)/9.1 8.5% 0.0480g (2.68mg)/16.2 1.8% 0.0470g (2.62mg)/21.3 1% 0.466 (2.60mg)/23.4 2.2% 0.455g (2.54mg)/8.7 20% 0.0358g (2mg)

Supplements:

Magnesium Glycinate - started 28.5.26 1 capsule 200mg in the morning - Increased brain fog and muscle stiffness - stopped after two weeks.

Iron - liquid, quarter of recommended dose - increased anxiety and burning sensation - stopped after two weeks.

Saffron - started 8.7.26 1 capsule 30mg in the morning - pretty immediate improvement in terms of anxiety and sleep that seems to continue to improve.

March 20Mar 20

Author

2 hours ago, Raymond said:

Yes, but it will go away too...

During my 15 months, I just eat as healthy and natural as possible. Same food with few variations...

How is your burning sensation issues?

The burning has been the same for a while now. Only a few days a month with no genital burning pain. But it's not as bad as before.

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

1

March 20Mar 20

3 hours ago, EDP6893 said:

The burning has been the same for a while now. Only a few days a month with no genital burning pain. But it's not as bad as before.

That a great improvement.....

08/01/2009- Klonopin 1mg, but took only .25.mg when needed before I was out on paraxotine

08/01/2012 - Paraxotine 20 mg

12/2024- reinstated 5mg after cold turkey.

10/01/2024- 4.79mg (.0716g) holding until further notice........04/17/26 resumed taper 0714g (4.78mg). 05/20/2026- .0712g (4.76mg, .28% cut). 06/09/2026- .0708g (4.73mg .56% cut). 06/30/2026 - .0706g (4.72mg .33%).

1

March 21Mar 21

I have the skin issues, among others that seem histamine related, however I have never been able to link them to any specific foods. I eat normally (mostly quite healthy), and the occurrences of skin issues and other related symptoms has become less frequent. They flare up when everything else does.

It's worth trying eliminating specific foods and seeing if it improves, this has worked for a number of others.

Nothing I say is medical advice, it is simply my opinion. I am an anonymous person on an internet forum with no relevant qualifications other than being badly harmed by a drug. For all you know, I could be an idiot. You are making your own decisions and part of that is deciding how much to listen to my opinion, if at all.

Perhaps you should consider this post an artistic work of fiction written for entertainment purposes.

Story from SA: LukeUK: Remeron/Mirtazapine Severe Withdrawal - Introductions and updates - Surviving Antidepressants

15mg Remeron/Mirtazapine November starting 2022 (severe physical side effects)

Attempted to taper off January 2023, ended up having a major breakdown and going up to 30mg, took weeks to stabilise

1 month taper to 0mg

Last dose April 2023

Severe withdrawal syndrome with many physical symptoms

Summary: 5 months using Mirtazapine, including 1 month taper ending late April 2023.

1

March 22Mar 22

Author

On 3/21/2026 at 8:41 AM, Luke said:

I have the skin issues, among others that seem histamine related, however I have never been able to link them to any specific foods. I eat normally (mostly quite healthy), and the occurrences of skin issues and other related symptoms has become less frequent. They flare up when everything else does.

It's worth trying eliminating specific foods and seeing if it improves, this has worked for a number of others.

Thanks but I've tried eliminating foods in the past and it didn't help at all.

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

March 22Mar 22

Author

On 3/20/2026 at 11:19 PM, Raymond said:

That a great improvement.....

Yeah. Hoping one day it won't hurt at all anymore. When I say it's better I mean there's no days where I have to go to the toilet every hour because of the pain. I don't think it's been making it harder to sleep at night for most nights either as it's not painful enough anymore...I think?

I'll let you know how tonight goes.

Edited March 22Mar 22 by EDP6893

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

March 22Mar 22

On 3/21/2026 at 1:41 AM, Luke said:

have never been able to link them to any specific foods.

The interesting thing about histamine sensitivity is that we have a threshold, so it isn't so much the specific food but the collective effect of the histamine in food. So staying at a low threshold seems to be the key. And of course avoiding the histamine liberators that release our naturally made and stored histamine.

I am not a medical professional. My comments are based on my personal experience and information on SA.

Paroxetine-2002 onward-20mg/ Citalopram-2007-20 mg-straight switch from paroxetine-back to paroxetine after a month/ Sertraline -25 mg-Dec 2016- given for a month instead of paroxetine (doctor mistake) Oxazepam -10 mg-2016-twice weekly for a couple months for sleep/ Zopiclone -3.75-7.5mg-2020-2022-once a week for sleep/Paroxetine -20 yr+/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ Prozac-10mg August 24-29 2022/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.11.28-2022.12.04/10mg-Dec 5&6/22/ Prozac-10mg-Dec 8&9/22/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01

TAPER-Paroxetine-2023-Jul 2-4.9mg/ Jul 21-4.8mg/Jul 28-4.73mg/Aug 4-4.65mg /Sep 21-4.58 mg/Oct 27-4.56 mg/Dec 5-4.54 mg/2024-Jan 2-4.52 mg/Jan 9-4.51 mg/Jan 17-4.49 mg/Jan 26-4.47mg/Feb 6-4.46mg/Feb 19-4.44mg /Apr 4-4.43mg/Apr 28-4.4 mg/May 5-4.39 mg/May 19-4.36 mg/Jul 2-4.34 mg/Jul 9-4.32mg/Jul 31-4.3 mg/Oct 1-4.29mg/Nov 27-4.25 mg/Dec 5-4.22mg/2025-Jan 5-4.17mg/Feb 2-4.1mg/Mar 7-4.07mg/Apr 23-4.04mg/May 23-4mg/Jun 22-3.99mg/Jun 30-3.95mg/Jul 18-3.92mg/Sep 25-3.9mg/2026-Mar 25-3.85mg

9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/75 mg DGL if needed for refux/200mg calcium citrate/algae oil for omega 3/ginger 400 mg as needed for nausea

"... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

March 23Mar 23

Author

On 3/20/2026 at 11:19 PM, Raymond said:

That a great improvement.....

So the pain does make it harder to sleep still.

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

March 23Mar 23

Author

14 hours ago, LostinCanada said:

The interesting thing about histamine sensitivity is that we have a threshold, so it isn't so much the specific food but the collective effect of the histamine in food. So staying at a low threshold seems to be the key. And of course avoiding the histamine liberators that release our naturally made and stored histamine.

Idk. It's too difficult to figure out.

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

March 23Mar 23

5 hours ago, EDP6893 said:

. It's too difficult to figure out.

Often times I just ask AI, is what ever food I am thinking of buying or eating, high histamine or a histamine liberator. That can simplify it.

Maybe that will help. This journey definitely isn't easy or straight forward for sure. ❤️🙏

I am not a medical professional. My comments are based on my personal experience and information on SA.

Paroxetine-2002 onward-20mg/ Citalopram-2007-20 mg-straight switch from paroxetine-back to paroxetine after a month/ Sertraline -25 mg-Dec 2016- given for a month instead of paroxetine (doctor mistake) Oxazepam -10 mg-2016-twice weekly for a couple months for sleep/ Zopiclone -3.75-7.5mg-2020-2022-once a week for sleep/Paroxetine -20 yr+/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ Prozac-10mg August 24-29 2022/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.11.28-2022.12.04/10mg-Dec 5&6/22/ Prozac-10mg-Dec 8&9/22/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01

TAPER-Paroxetine-2023-Jul 2-4.9mg/ Jul 21-4.8mg/Jul 28-4.73mg/Aug 4-4.65mg /Sep 21-4.58 mg/Oct 27-4.56 mg/Dec 5-4.54 mg/2024-Jan 2-4.52 mg/Jan 9-4.51 mg/Jan 17-4.49 mg/Jan 26-4.47mg/Feb 6-4.46mg/Feb 19-4.44mg /Apr 4-4.43mg/Apr 28-4.4 mg/May 5-4.39 mg/May 19-4.36 mg/Jul 2-4.34 mg/Jul 9-4.32mg/Jul 31-4.3 mg/Oct 1-4.29mg/Nov 27-4.25 mg/Dec 5-4.22mg/2025-Jan 5-4.17mg/Feb 2-4.1mg/Mar 7-4.07mg/Apr 23-4.04mg/May 23-4mg/Jun 22-3.99mg/Jun 30-3.95mg/Jul 18-3.92mg/Sep 25-3.9mg/2026-Mar 25-3.85mg

9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/75 mg DGL if needed for refux/200mg calcium citrate/algae oil for omega 3/ginger 400 mg as needed for nausea

"... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

1

March 30Mar 30

Author

I stopped daridorexant. Wasn't helping at all anymore, and online it said it was safe to stop it completely even after taking it for a long time.

Back pain and weight keep getting worse.

Edited March 30Mar 30 by EDP6893

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

March 30Mar 30

1 hour ago, EDP6893 said:

I stopped daridorexant. Wasn't helping at all anymore, and online it said it was safe to stop it completely even after taking it for a long time.

Back pain and weight keep getting worse.

I think you made the right choice. Just continue holding. You have made progress.

After 10 days without cortisol, last four days back to waking up way to early...

You doing amazing. Oh and I ate a lot yesterday.... I felt hungry all the time. This was gone for months now....

08/01/2009- Klonopin 1mg, but took only .25.mg when needed before I was out on paraxotine

08/01/2012 - Paraxotine 20 mg

12/2024- reinstated 5mg after cold turkey.

10/01/2024- 4.79mg (.0716g) holding until further notice........04/17/26 resumed taper 0714g (4.78mg). 05/20/2026- .0712g (4.76mg, .28% cut). 06/09/2026- .0708g (4.73mg .56% cut). 06/30/2026 - .0706g (4.72mg .33%).

1

March 30Mar 30

Author

6 hours ago, Raymond said:

I think you made the right choice. Just continue holding. You have made progress.

After 10 days without cortisol, last four days back to waking up way to early...

You doing amazing. Oh and I ate a lot yesterday.... I felt hungry all the time. This was gone for months now....

How are you getting on? Do you feel close to full recovery?

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

March 30Mar 30

1 hour ago, EDP6893 said:

How are you getting on? Do you feel close to full recovery?

I think I'm closer to be fully stable before starting tapering, but it might take another two months based on what I'm experiencing.

I still have few old symptoms lingering around to a point that still an issue for me. They are less intense than last year, but still not where I would like to be

I just went for a nap, and out of no where, I jumped into panic for a second.

I'm still holding since October. It might take couple of more weeks or months to be fully some how normal...

Few weeks ago, I spoke to dr. Hortbiz team in Texas for tapering. They advised me to continue holding until my fear, anxiety, burning sensation are gone for at least 6 weeks. I haven't had six weeks where I can say I am normal yet. I did had 33 days at month 10 that I felt great before old symptoms came back...

08/01/2009- Klonopin 1mg, but took only .25.mg when needed before I was out on paraxotine

08/01/2012 - Paraxotine 20 mg

12/2024- reinstated 5mg after cold turkey.

10/01/2024- 4.79mg (.0716g) holding until further notice........04/17/26 resumed taper 0714g (4.78mg). 05/20/2026- .0712g (4.76mg, .28% cut). 06/09/2026- .0708g (4.73mg .56% cut). 06/30/2026 - .0706g (4.72mg .33%).

1

April 2Apr 2

Author

Finally had another day where the genital burning pain was so bad I went to the toilet every hour or more. This hasn't appeared in months. Hopefully it goes away fast.

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

April 3Apr 3

Author

Going to the toilet every hour or more, has stopped for today...so far at least. It still hurts more than usual.

Late 2020 stop Effexor 350mg in 2 months by psychiatrist. Withdrawal and new disability (functional reflux/ibs)

Late 2021 stop abilify on my own. Goes perfectly fine.

Late 2022 Effexor 37.5mg

Late 2024 Trying to Taper Effexor again

November 2024 -Stopped amitriptyline in order to switch to Fluoxetine.

December 2024 -Stopped Effexor 56.5mg and switched to Fluoxetine 20mg.

January 2025 -Reduced Fluoxetine 20mg to 10mg.

June 2025 - Started Daridorexant
Late March 2026 - Stopped Daridorexant

Current medications:

-Morning: Fluoxetine 10mg, omeprazole 20mg, famotadine 20mg

-Evening: Omeprazole 20mg, omeprazole 10mg, famotadine 20mg

Still going through withdrawal hell.

April 3Apr 3

@EDP6893 Hope this passes soon.

I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I only offer my thoughts as support. Please speak to your health practitioner about your care. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys.

If you are from the UK please make sure you fill in a 'Yellow Card' report for the MHRA. It is you doing your bit to help make a difference.

Please take the time to do it today 🙂 https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

For US members details here.

1

April 3Apr 3

1 hour ago, EDP6893 said:

Going to the toilet every hour or more, has stopped for today...so far at least. It still hurts more than usual.

It's good that you're updating so you can follow the changes/progress @EDP6893 I've had constant digestive problems for about half the process and it seems that in the last few days it's starting to fade a little while other symptoms are getting stronger, I do my best to accept that it will come and go with varying intensities until it disappears completely, just knowing makes it bit more bearable.

Glad there's relief, hopefully it continues to improve.

1998 forced on cipramil *no anxiety/depression background*

Over the years all kinds of SSRI/SNRI/antipsychotics/stabilizers due to apparently side effects/withdrawal

Many attempts to quit over the years with failure (extremely rapid taper followed by doctors' guidens)

Current attempt-Paxil 20 mg:

6/24 20 mg to 5 mg-severe AKA

9/24 Increase to 20-AKA continues

10/24 stopped completely-AKA out of control

11/24 Zoloft bridge attempt-25 mg to 75 mg+Seroquel-AKA continued-stopped them CT.

12/24 Back on Paxil 10mg (0.1789g)-some stabilization-from here tapered by about 30% each time (don't remember doses and dates).

2025 - 7.10 0.0558g (3.11mg)/7.11 3% 0.0541g (3.02mg)/4.12 1% 0.0535g (2.98mg)

2026 - 3.1 1.5% 0.0526g (2.93mg)/9.1 8.5% 0.0480g (2.68mg)/16.2 1.8% 0.0470g (2.62mg)/21.3 1% 0.466 (2.60mg)/23.4 2.2% 0.455g (2.54mg)/8.7 20% 0.0358g (2mg)

Supplements:

Magnesium Glycinate - started 28.5.26 1 capsule 200mg in the morning - Increased brain fog and muscle stiffness - stopped after two weeks.

Iron - liquid, quarter of recommended dose - increased anxiety and burning sensation - stopped after two weeks.

Saffron - started 8.7.26 1 capsule 30mg in the morning - pretty immediate improvement in terms of anxiety and sleep that seems to continue to improve.

1

April 4Apr 4

On 4/2/2026 at 1:30 PM, EDP6893 said:

Finally had another day where the genital burning pain was so bad I went to the toilet every hour or more. This hasn't appeared in months. Hopefully it goes away fast.

It will go away again. It seems that symptoms revisit to heal deeper. My old symptoms are getting better now and fading....

08/01/2009- Klonopin 1mg, but took only .25.mg when needed before I was out on paraxotine

08/01/2012 - Paraxotine 20 mg

12/2024- reinstated 5mg after cold turkey.

10/01/2024- 4.79mg (.0716g) holding until further notice........04/17/26 resumed taper 0714g (4.78mg). 05/20/2026- .0712g (4.76mg, .28% cut). 06/09/2026- .0708g (4.73mg .56% cut). 06/30/2026 - .0706g (4.72mg .33%).

2

EPD6893: Tapering Effexor Troubles

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