Posted by medhed on January 21, 2005, at 7:55:45
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl - I did it, so can you, posted by dancingstar on January 14, 2005, at 18:14:19
Hi, I've been prescribed effexor for the past 8 mos. and am going cold turkey now, on day 3. I was taking 150mg.SR down from 300mg.SR (way too much for me!) actually 150mg is too much.
At the time I started I was suffering from severe suicidal depression and effexor seemed to at least take care of that. I do not respond to most ssri so I was very excited to be trying an snri. Well, I'm not so excited anymore!
My side effects included constipation, tiredness, loss of libido (basically my favorite organ just shrunk up and was useless except for elimination), numbness, clouded memory, profuse sweating, and a general feeling that things were not right but I didn't care. All these side effects and I was still basically depressed, just not suicidal.
My prescriber just would tell me to keep taking it! It's time to put my foot down again (I have to do that alot with the healthcare personel I deal with). No, I'm not taking that garbage anymore. No, I'm not calling and asking your 'permission' to go off this med. No, I can't put up with the side effects. And yes, you will do your job and work with me to find a med or combo of meds that will finally work (lazy *ss!)
I have just registered here so nobody on this board knows me yet... I can't get into my lengthy mental health history right now, but I have had many, many years of therapists and docs throwing medicines at me and telling me that's what I have to settle for because they know what's best, NOT.
Well, to the point. My extremities are numb, I am getting those little shocks, nightmares, dreams that are just too weird, little crying jags, my eyes just want to go so that I can't focus, and my head just feels too heavy (or is it light) that I'm quite dizzy, kind of hot but no temperature. I have went through more painful withdrawls, but not weird like this... and I knew before i started taking the drug that withdrawl was expected. my pdoc said nothing about this drug and still will not admit that it is a problem. long term???
I have some seroquel I've been taking, it helps a bit. I will try benadryl. Benzos like ativan I feel are not so good for me because they tend to aggrevate my depression (another addiction?) in the long run. Hopefully, the short time I've been taking the effexor will be in my favor, I see that alot of people on this thread have been taking it for many years.
Cold turkey it is! Why put it off? The crying and anger are better than that dull, empty, I don't care feeling I had while on the drug. And my, um, libido seems to be working again already, I couldn't wait to try!
I am thankful to have this outlet right now, usually I do not get involved online. I do lots of reading and lurking on websites that interest me but do not register or post on threads. I will try to document my progress here so I might help someone as you have helped me. It is very painful to feel that you are the only one feeling you have lost control. Any feedback to me will be appreciated. I will have to figure out how to make the most of this online experience, where and how to post... any help on how to get around on the site will also be greatly recieved.
thanks, medhed.
poster:medhed
thread:12459
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050119/msgs/445124.html