I can't tell you to not listen to you doctor and go cold turkey even tho you only have been on the drug for 8 days. There must be a reason for it, for example, if you have been on another SSRI or SNRI before this one and started before weaning of the other you tried, in that case you would already developed a neurobiological condition that would make you prone to have withdrawal symptoms.
My suggestion to ease the withdrawal is to take choline and inositol, B vitamins and Omega-3 (fish oil avoid flax oil). The reason to take choline and inositol is because the withdrawal symptoms are mostly cause by what we call a anticholinergic rebound. This cause a deficiency in acetylcholine which is involved in cognitive function like memory and also you cholinergic system and various other functions.
Always consult a qualified physician before making any change in you medication, dosage, schedule let it be a prescription drug, herbal remedies or a supplement.
M4
Im so sorry your having such a hard time, but if you do look at the positive side you saw what the drug did to u in that short space of time and have got off, not everyone is that lucky!
I personally was on Paxil for 14yrs, now can you imagine the hell withdrawing after all this time, i might as well of been on Heroin or crack for all what my body went through and still goes through 15 months later. My body still suffers, even though the doc's turn their heads n say its all in mine.... Yeah right, they dont have a clue!
I actually confronted my shrink (who is a consultant) and told her that SSRI's have only been on the market for roughly 15 to 20 yrs and it would only be about now that people like myself who have been on these drugs for a long time, that the effects would be coming to light. That research on the damage it does to the brain and body. She couldn't disagree with me, she scratched her head, raised her eyebrows and then lamely said 'well we are only human and we can only go by the drugs we are given to prescribe, i guess soon we'll see'.... Great consultant hey!! errr NOT!
Anyway as for your problem, maybe you should consider trying a more natural remedy like Valerian, Passion Flower, camomile etc...... Or something like St.Johns Wort, 5-HTP. The chemical anti-depressant route isnt the only way to go, are you in therapy? You could also try relaxation classes such as yoga, plaites and meditation is a MUST! If you want i can send ya a link for a web-site i use which i have found a God send.... well worth it! There are other things like accupuncture, reflexology... Remember there is far more ways to skin a cat even though we are brain washed into thinking there anit, that chemical med's is the only way to get well...... thats BS..... so experiement and i bet you all the rice in china you'll find something that works for you!
Good luck and let us know how ya get on....
Julie xx
thanks guys i really appreciate your inputs.Now i have to try to do this the natural way .It is so hard to function sometimes i get jealous sometimes when i'm out in public and say damn ur so lucky u don't have crazy body symptoms u can just go where ever and do things without being scared.Not worrying that ur gonna die.Right now i don't even know if i'm sick or it's anxiety it feels the same sometimes.Oh please god help us get thru this crzy madness anxiety .Julie359 yes if u can send me that link i would appreciate it .I start group therapy on Tuesday for anxiety i just need t get out more i'm home too much but when i leave my house i get uncomfortable and have attacks sometimes .Thanks again guys have a bless day.By the way i'm having another mri done 2mrw and have a cat scan on thursday for chest.I been having severe breathing problems lately .My chest gets really tight and makes it so difficult to breath i get it so much where i'm thinking i'm dying.i know it's part of anxiety but my goodness almost EVERYDay? And that weird breathing problem where i feel like i have to tell myself to breath i wake up with it or sometimes in middle of night i NEVER sleep thru the night it automatically wakes me up 3 times every night sometimes.UGH i just want so bad to feel normal and have a normal life.K thats all sorry so long.