Quitting Medication for Anxiety

[Hellyay]

I have been on various medications for a genralized chronic anxiety disorder. A few days ago I was unable to refill my prescriptions, and find myself unable to for a while.  I have been on Cymbalta for at least 2-3 years, within the last 8 months adding Wellbutrin to the mix. I take Klonopin tablets as needed.  My question is how long should I typically experience the effects of the withdrawal of these medications? I know that I should be taking care of this process with a doctors supervision, but I am unable to do so at the current time. I am staying on the Klonopin, since I have a decent supply of that left, but the others I am unable to get at the moment.  Any advice or answers would be appreciated.

[birdie0907]

Hellyay last posted in 2008 so I don't think your response will be read by her.

[annieky2014]

I have been on 40 mg  paxil a little over a yr and i am taking birth control pills with it  the dr put me on the med because i deal with really bad anxiety attacks and depression and worrying but i have gained alot of weight  i went  off the pills because of the weight gain without consulting  a doctor  i started having really bad dreams my heart would beat out of control and i was throwing up and  having  bad headaches and staying really dizzy  i thought something was bad wrong with me not knowing the side effects of not taking paxil  the Dr told me they call it the paxil flu  i had to start back taking paxil because i didn't like the way it made me feel and the withdraws  i am still gaining weight and here latley i have been dealing with my hands hurting and tingly   not sure if it is the paxil or the side effect of the birth control pills but other then the weight gain and feeling sleepy  i  it has helped me so much  i still deal with some depression but i no longer deal with anxiety attacks or worrying near as bad as i used to .

[Hellyay]

I love the adjectifying. As for Cranky, its only affecting my dad.. lol. But he tends to annoy me even when I'm on medication so I don't take that to heart. Also the dog bothers me, I can't stand it when he breathes on me. ugh.  As for carbs, they are my favorite pastime ;)

Anyways I just got finished yelling at Verizon and finally getting my internet fixed so its off to bed for me.

[ativan]

You know all these dam meds are bad to withdraw from I hate being on ativan valium and trazadone but I just cannot withdraw cos my anxiety is of the scale. just to say good luck to you all and just mybe one day I will do it. but these drugs are so powerful that unless you have been on them nobody has any idia what we go through,
janis,

[gma2]

That is wonderfully, awesomely, fantastically, gi-normously - great news! (howzat for adjectifying(?) how good you're doing? lol

How cranky are you? Is it affecting other people? Crazy, crazy - here but again, try to watch what you eat - being low in carbs can cause irritability (something to do with the regulation of serotonin) - check on that maybe.

Seriously - glad that dizziness went away and not getting headaches? Huge plus!
KIT and stay better
gma2

[Hellyay]

Well, the dizziness is almost completely gone. That is probably the nicest part of this, as for other symptoms just typical now like irritability. Suprisingly Im not getting as many migraines as well which is nice, I'm beginning to wonder if there is a link. So on the medical front, things are promising. It's also kind of nice mentally not to have to down 5 pills every day.

[gma2]

Forgot about exercise and rest (oxymoron that. lol) Walk if you can just to move the body and sleep when you can for as long as you can...it is the main ingredient in natural healing. How ya doing this fine 4th? The fireworks are really bothering me. Sounds too much like guns some of them - jump right outta my skin, even though I know they are going on...I still jump.
Take care
Be well
gma2

[Hellyay]

you guys are awesome I'm so glad I joined this website.

[gma2]

Be good to your tummy for now. Try to eat light, non-spicy, non-dairy foods for awhile and cut out the sweets if you eat them. That might help. If you can keep it to things like chicken bouillion, crackers, some light fruit maybe, like an apple or banana and try to stay away from soda pop-fizzy drinks. Drink weak tea. If you don't like tea and get sick of plain water, maybe flavor water with lemon for a difference. Hope that helps. Yes do let us know.
gma2

[Taybey]

Let us know if it does stop okay?  Also how long it took.

[Hellyay]

My dizziness is still present , but oh man has the irritability kicked in, at least I think it has. I could also be just pre menstrual Now Im having stomach problems as well. Its as if I ate something bad, that didin't agree with my stomach and returns to haunt me every , I dont know, say 2 hours or so. I think my anxiety may be just relating the stomach thing to my withdrawal but, we'll see when it all stops, and if it stops together.

[gma2]

I just went to the doc yesterday for the dizzy-like, topsy-turvy, swaying stuff with tingling in my fingertips and nausea (ugh) and he had me pick up OTC Meclizine for motion sickness.

He said I have BPPV or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - I just say Vertigo, it's easier! LOL  

The medication made me really, really drowsy and I slept all afternoon yesterday. I didn't take the recommended 1 in a.m. today - I will be only taking the night one. I have been groggy all day tho, so either I am really sensitive to this meds sleeping ingredient or these pills are powerful. I went off Lexapro in May and am tapering off Ativan now. Will only keep some on hand for 'emergencies' - security blanket. I'd rather have them and not take them than not have them and need them.
HUGS to all
gma2

[Taybey]

I Agree totally.  I hate this moodiness one min im okay next min i want to cry

[gma2]

You can also maybe ask the pharmacist about it. They know more about the meds and the effects of going off them, etc. That's just a phone call for now, but be careful about starting and stopping and starting again too. It kinda messes up the head to do that. If you can go without them even when you are able to go get them, maybe you don't need to be on them. Just food for thought. Less is better, I say.
Best wishes
gma2

[Taybey]

i have the same symtoms and im withdrawing from paxil and zoloft.  I took the zoloft to help withdraw from the paxil.  Im dizzy alot, feel nauseated, and feel tingling in my hands and very irritable, and moody for sure.

[Hellyay]

I am definitely experiecing some withdrawal symptoms. A sort of dizziness, accompanied by a tingling sensation in my fingers and palms. As well, it definitely began within 2 days of being off of the medications. I have experienced it before when I was unable to get ahold of my medication in a timely fashion and had run out.  I associate it with this considering it is he only medication I have stopped taking. any thoughts?

[Jikan]

Both Cymbalta and Wellbutrin are unlikely to cause any physical withdrawal symptoms, although you may experience some psychological withdrawal that can express itself in a multitude of ways, to include, but not limited to, irritability, mood swings, sleep disturbances and depression.

Michael