Posted by sassyjenw on July 12, 2004, at 19:13:45
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by annesand on July 12, 2004, at 8:50:53
> Hi there. I tapered off of Effexor, and took my last partial dose in early April. I am done with the brain zaps and other physical symptoms, but still feel like crying half the time, and panicky at other times. How are you doing emotionally? I'm not sure how long to give this before I decide it's real depression and not a rebound effect.
Hi--yeah, the same happened to me. I didn't know how long to give it either. I guess I gave it about a month before I just couldn't stand it anymore. I was physically sick from panic attacks and anxiety, and I didn't feel like there was anything worth living for. I was thinking about suicide all the time--and there was no logical reason for it. Objectively, I have a great and exciting life. But I just absolutely could not bring my feelings and nervousness inline with my objective thoughts. So I went back onto Effexor three days ago to regain some sanity until I can see a specialist. I am going to go see a psychopharmacologist to get a professional opinion about what is really going on here. I'll let you know what he says.
From the reading I've done, SSRIs and SNRIs actually inhibit your brain's ability to produce seratonin after you stop drug therapy because, as serotonin re-uptake is inihibited, your brain gets in the habit of producing less and less serotonin. So, if the levels were low before the drug, after the drug they're really low. I have been on Effexor so long that I am afraid I may never get that ability back. But I don't know that for sure, which is why I am going to go see a specialist.
So yeah. I am not sure what is rebound and what is real, and what will cure itself and what won't yet. If there's anyone else out there who knows, I'd love to hear from you.
poster:sassyjenw
thread:356431
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040712/msgs/365466.html