Posted by PoohBear on January 21, 2005, at 11:49:41
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Accent on January 20, 2005, at 17:36:33
> I don't understand how the FDA could let such a drug come to be without testing the withdrwl affects. I am suffering now with all the sam as I read here. I tried to wean myself off 75mg back in October and I couldn't get out of bed. I thought I was dying. Severe nausea, headaches, light sensitivity, the "shocks." Are these doctors insane?? The pharmasutical companies must be selling a dream of a story. I want so bad to get off this medication but I am afraid. Am I on heroine?? Doesn't the withdrwls make you feel like your addicted to some really horrible drug...or an acid trip?? I filled out the form for the FDA. Mort of us need to do this so that they can get a clue!!!
You are not on heroine; you are not ADDICTED to Effexor, rather, your body is DEPENDENT on the new chemical balance provided by the medication.
I was thinking about this distiction last night as I was tossing and turning trying to get to sleep with one shoulder out of commission...
You are not alone in what you're feeling. Try taking Benedryl to help eliminate the swooshy/brain zap feelings in your head. Advil can help with the aches. Peppermint will help to calm your stomach.
Drug companies are in business to make MONEY. If they were all altruistic, there would be no innovation and no new meds; no incentive.
That said, it's obvious from what many have suffered from Effexor and other drugs, that the drug companies tend to gloss-over the negative side effects of the drug in question. Effexor isn't alone; it simply stands out more.
I am personally about 1 month into Effexor cessation and yesterday had my worst day. I have been taking Prozac from the start as recommended to replace Effexor during the weaning process and continuing AFTER I stopped taking Effexor after ten days.
I ran out of Prozac last Friday and wasn't able to take it again 'til Tuesday. I thought, "this isn't bad, maybe I can stop?"
WRONG!
I'm felt very crumby yesterday, like I was getting sick. Today there is the standard brain swooshiness every time I move my head and loud noises hurt.
I think I figured out what went wrong.
The reason why Prozac helps in withdrawal from Effexor is that in comparison to Effexor, it has a relatively LONG half-life in your system. That's what got me, that three days without the drug caught up with me yesterday because the Prozac needs to build back up to a *normal* level.
Sooooooooooooooooo...
Be encouraged, others are facing the same thing. Get some Prozac and Benedryl. Avoid loud noises. It takes time, but you WILL get better. My Pdoc eventually wants me off everything.
I've flushed all my meds down the toilet, except for the Prozac, Seroquel and Ambien. Straterra was the first to go. After seeing a commercial for Straterra last night and the list of side effects at the end of the commercial, why bother?
Take care,
Tony
poster:PoohBear
thread:1016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050119/msgs/445205.html