Right now, my pdoc and I decided that it might be beneficial to try a med washout period. So, I have been trying to get off Effexor for the last few weeks. I had been on 75mg since November. I started by alternating 75mg one day with 37.5mg the next, then 37.5mg for one week, then 37.5mg every other day. I didn't make it a week with 37.5mg every other day because the withdrawal was so bad. So now I am taking 25mg generic immediate-release venlafaxine for one week, then 12.5mg for one week, then stop. Since going to the 37.5mg Effexor XR I have been even more irritable than usual, and now I am EXTREMELY on the 25mg immediate-release. I also started taking Loestrin 24 this month (this is the first time I've ever taken any kind of birth control pill), so I don't know if that is making me irritable, or if it's the immediate-release venlafaxine, or withdrawal from the Effexor in general, or the combination of all three causing my irritability to go through the roof. I saw my pdoc last week, and I wasn't scheduled to see her again for four weeks (would have been three, but spring break is that third week). I saw my T yesterday, and I got the feeling that maybe she thought it would be a good idea to try to see pdoc sooner, so she is going to have the secretary call me tomorrow to see if there are any openings left this week or next (pdoc is only here one day a week). I'm also worried because the week of break is when I'm supposed to be stopping the venlafaxine completely. Because I just saw her last week, should I wait at least one more week to see if the irritability calms down at all? I mentioned it to her last week, but I think it's worse now. It's the kind of irritability where I just want to crawl out of my skin because I'm so uncomfortable. I think it tends to be worse in the evening, which I am attributing to the short half-life of the venlafaxine. Anyone have any ideas as to where it's coming from-- withdrawal, Loestrin, the change to immediate-release, etc.?
I should probably mention that that I'm also on 100mg of Lamictal, which is at least indirectly affecting my irritability because the memory problems, clumsiness, and general "stupid" feeling that it causes is incredibly frustrating. I also take xanax and klonopin as needed, and I've needed it A LOT lately.
Thanks in advance for any ideas!