cold turkey

[Epherdream]

I am on my 5th day cold turkey getting off effexor 75mg after 8 years...Before did this i consulted my dr and told her the method which i was choosing to get off..she was in full support been on them 10 years.Some of the stories on here are so similar..And hope too.

[4Maddie44]

My goodness you are going through the mill.  Your withdrawals are so bad after so long.  You really do have strength and patience to put up with it all.  Constant head zaps sounds awful but my goodness you do seem to be coping with them.  48 days - I cannot believe it is taking so long.

When I stopped cold turkey once my withdrawals lasted two weeks.  This time as I did a really slow withdrawal I have had no withdrawal symptoms at all.  You are amazing that you can stop cold turkey and put up with all these things for so long.  

I so admire you.

[Epherdream]

Sounds very similar to Phenergan..Nothing is working at the moment for my sleep patterns.. Trying 2000mg of Valerian tablets for the past 3 days to try and help sleep.Not doing much at all

[Epherdream]

day 48.. Insomnia again..still eating 2 solid meals but the portions are smaller due to nausea..Loosing weight but not too dramatic.2 anxiety attacks in last 2 days, but  now i am aware of when i will get one.Before they were so unpredictable.
Head Zaps are constant but so used to them now.Patience..I have that to drive me through this next phase.. A little emotional at times but no depression whatsoever.
Each day presents new challenges in everyday activities.

[Cassangel69]

I take hydroxyzine (Vistaril) 50mg before I go to bed these days and it helps me sleep well.  It is an antihistamine and not a narcotic. Here is some information on it =)

Hydroxyzine reduces activity in the central nervous system. It also acts as an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing and runny nose, or hives on the skin.

Hydroxyzine is used as a sedative to treat anxiety and tension. It is also used together with other medications given for anesthesia. Hydroxyzine may also be used to control nausea and vomiting.

Hydroxyzine is also used to treat allergic skin reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know it has saved me when I was having severe panic attacks 2 years ago and is helping me now with my withdrawals from getting off gabapentin.  Many hugs!   I hope you feel better and better every day =)

[Epherdream]

my sleeping patterns are stil all over the place..averaging 3-4 hours a nite per week.Still eating two solid meals a day. No anxiety attacks for  few days now, been great.Starting to lose my balance again,usually  between the afternoon and evening. Not much change with the headzaps. Early days still, but i am not going in a backwards spiral of instabilities and depressive mind sets.

[Epherdream]

thanx heaps..it is not a pleasant journey,and your not alone.. Mental stability is a great goal