EXTREME irritability

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). Is aw my T today, 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. Anyone have any ideas as to where it's coming from-- withdrawal, Loestrin, the change to immediate-release, etc.?
Thanks in advance for any ideas!

Its the effexor, I'm winning off my effexor and I feel like you, but as I increased my lexapro and I am on 37,5 of lexapro for 4 dyas now she told me to stop the effexor today, sin ce I already took today, tomorrow will be my last day. I als take tompamax and I take lorazepan oscasionally and I have to take 2 pills of 2mg last nigh in order to sleep and I was so agitated and confused, today I was so out and drowzy that I stayed home. let's see what heppens tomorrow. Do you take anything for sxaiety like lorazepan, clonazepan? those things cause immediate help, they are not like a treatment but they are kinda like as aspirin for axiety. I hope this helps and you feel better. Good Luck!

Sorry, that doesn't really help because your med situation is completely different from mine. Irritability from titrating off meds doesn't surprise me, because that is what happened when I stopped Zoloft. But I have so many other variables that I can't be completely sure that it's just entirely from the effexor. As it says in my med list, I do have klonopin, ativan, and xanax.
Thanks anyway though.

My money is on the w/d from the Effexor. But don't quote me on that. However, if you have gottenlike this in the past regardless of the medicine changes then you probably are justhaving some kind of breakthrough symptoms. However, I don't know the side effects of Loetrin. But when I took that depo provera (I know, probably very unrelated) it made me feel like sh*^ and depressed and anxious. It was horrible. Luckily I don't need b/c anymore. Not menopause, for other reasons. ideally, I hope you have gottenin touch with your doctor, because only he/she will have a real idea of what is going on for sure. Hope you feel better soon.

hey when I took birth control also I became an animal!!! I annot tke birth control untill these days, I now use an IUD btu that what made me in trouble the first place and I have a 9 month baby! ahahaha

I'm sorry that you're struggling with the irritability. Not only do we annoy other people when we're like that... we annoy ourselves! I hope you feel better real soon. This med washout period must be really hard on your system. As a good southern belle, I just wanna say, "bless yer heart!"

My bet is also on the Effexor or on symptom breakthrough. I do notice that you have several benzodiazepines on your med list. If I were in your situation, I might speak to my Pdoc about trading in my three "minor" tranquilizers (that's their category) for one "major" tranquilizer for this titration period. Although I am by no means a medical doctor, you may want to do a little research on Seroquel and talk to your doc about that tranquilizer. I have a PRN order for Seroquel when I am anxious, stressed or irritable. Just 25mg is enough to take the edge off without knocking my socks off. I don't have to use it often... but when I need it, it does the trick.

That's my two cents.

Be well,
Jules