Posted by highhopes on November 6, 2003, at 23:22:07
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl, posted by john on March 28, 1999, at 20:52:30
Thanks for everyone's posts. It gives me hope that these symptoms will eventually fade. I was taking 300 mg daily, tablets. (The capsules put me into withdrawal immediately.) I had to taper off very slowly, shaving bits off the tablets. It's been a week since I've been completely off the Effexor. To me, the fact that I could taper off means I must be ready after 5 years. (Tried to get off it many times.)
I work in a sleep disorders lab; and I know that Effexor depresses REM sleep, the sleep phase most associated with dreaming. So I expected the vivid dreams. But I wasn't expecting the heightened emotions.I'm still itching, have "chills and fever" even though my temperature is 97, very bad joint pain that i thought was arthritis, that weird nerve thing like moving in slow motion and leaving a trail. (Is that what you mean by phasing?)
I've been taking St John's Wort twice a day to help with symptoms. It does help. Bought 2 month's worth on sale and plan to quit when they are gone.
I think Effexor probably saved my life. I know I formed a lot of good habits to replace destructive responses to stress while taking it. But I hope I don't ever have to go through this again.
poster:highhopes
thread:3670
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031105/msgs/277346.html