Effexor Withdrawal

[shorty82]

Somebody please help me! I am 23 years old, and have been on antidepressants for about 5 years to treat chronic migraine headaches. I started on Paxil,then went to Lexapro b/c Paxil wasn't working, but I gained about 35 lbs. on it so my Doc put me on Effexor. Now my headaches are finally under control and I am tired of being on drugs! But I cannot go more than a few hours without it! I was taking 75 mg., and I took 37.5 mg for almost two weeks. During those two weeks, I was unmotivated, sad all the time, I could not sleep,dizzy,nauseous,and I was EXTREMELEY angry when I wasn't crying like a baby(sometimes I was both!). I tried to not take it at all today( my doctor suggested cutting the dose in half for 1 week and then going to every other day for 1 week) but I got the brain zaps and actually had thoughts about killing myself(although I love my life and am certainly NOT suicidal) and it had only been a few hours past when I was supposed to take it. After reading others' feelings on Effexor withdrawal, I am relieved to know that I am not alone-but I still gave in and took a pill. Of course now I feel a little better. I am starting a new job in a week, and getting married in October. I have also suffered from severe Psoriasis since I was 14(I think that is probably what caused me to need antidepressants in the first place). I am trying really hard to transform my life- I want to lose weight before my wedding( I need to lose a good 60 lbs that I have gained over the years that I have been on antidepressants) and I want to get my Psoriasis under control(which is stress related) so I can wear shorts this summer and look beautiful on my special day. I want to know others' opinions- if this awful feeling isn't going to get better then I don't think I can do it while starting a new job and trying to plan my wedding, lose weight and get my Psoriasis under control. Another problem is my fiancee- he is wonderful when it comes to my physical appearance-my flaky skin and fat rolls don't bother him- but he doesn't understand that I am not depressed, that my mood swings and recent headaches are beyond my control. He thinks I should just be able to ignore the brain zaps and crazy feelings-but I can't! I think it is probably in my best interest to go back on the Effexor and get back to my life right now- and I'll try again to get off it once my wedding is over. But I am afraid that I will never be able to get off this awful stuff and I won't be able to function and live my life without it! Someone please tell me how to get through this!

[just do it]

following is a poem i wrote for my daughter after a school stage performance she did on the night that i was at my lowest point ever during my depression a few months ago, i am now sitting here reading it with REAL tears in my eyes, and look forward to the happy days which are only around the corner, I can feel them..

I am so proud seeing you on the stage
Even after all the rage
You are my drive you are my key
Back to the person that I want to be

From the day you were born you have had to fight
To get to this point in life with all your might
But you

[just do it]

Hi everyone and in particular ABCMomof3,

I am SOOOOOOO glad i have found this forum, i have just read a lot of the comments and feedback and all of you are my pillar of support while i am going through the living hell of coming of effexor-XR.
Finally some people that will listen to me and have the same feelings and experiences.
Trying to tell all this to a GP, psychiatrist or psychologist is just imposible, they just pump us full of more medication, and yes, I do wonder if they get kickbacks from the parmaceutical companies?!?!
Today is my 5th day without any effexor.
I had a breakdown 8 years ago and finally ended up on effexor-XR 150 mg; i have taken it for all these years.
I admit that for a good part of these years i have felt good, but also manic at times (oh how great to have energy) the last 6 years my life has been far from normal, 2 children with their own problems(self harm, cutting, alcohol abuse) a wife that after 19 years of problems and numerous institutional stays was diagnosed with schizophrenia, 3 weeks after we separated she came and told me she was diagnosed with CML(chronic myaloid leukemia),a very stressful job, another breakdown  and finally 3 weeks later i had a heart attack with 2 operations and 5 stents placed.
But hey, life goes on :-)
Now my psych has decided to stop with the effexor due to all the side effects(severe sweating, shaking, increased heart rate, insomnia, sexual side effects, blurred vision, lethargy)
Life will always throw up hurdles to jump and problems to solve, none of us is immune to that, but do we realy NEED the chemical **** to hide it all; and that is all it does, hide the symptoms, it does not fix the core problem !!!
now I am coming off effexor for the second time(under supervision this time) i have tried by myself before with all the consequences attached.
The last few days have been far from standard, day 1 brain zaps, like they were filming a fight scene out of star wars in my head...
Dreams that i should write down, i am sure they will become a blockbuster movie or best seller one day, that lasted for 4 days and does become gradually less, today day 5 i am very tired and drained, but the best thing is I CAN CRY, I have real tears rolling down my face, not because i am sad, it actually makes me very happy.. For years I have been the pillar of support to everybody around me, to the ridiculous, and now the time has come where I can let go, I feel like i have real emotions again!!
Life can't be better apart from coming of all this chemical ****.
I have a great new girl/lady friend, the kids have grown up and have left home and are settled with jobs etc.. I still have contact with my ex in a friendly manner(mainly because of the kids).. and 2 days ago i have applied for a new job and a very good chance that i get it :-)
If only I could get up in the mornings, that is still a major problem..
ABCmomof3, I have read all your postings and in a way can see my life flash in front of me, your husband's comment:sweetie, etc brings tears to my eyes, because I understand that it is not only us that go through depression and medication but also our families, they are the real soldiers that put up with our mental state and behaviour....
As far as sexual dysfunction, yes, it is a fact, even though the doctor's like to deny it, it is a male pride thing i suppose ;-)thank god i have a very understanding girlfriend, just like your husband, ABCmom, he is worth his weight in gold :-)
I will stop ranting and raving on, but am so glad i am not alone, and will help anyone that wants help getting off effexor.
Even just with a listening ear, because sometimes that's all we need, besides love and effection..
I am not religious, but have christian believes, so may I say to all, God bless and together we will fight through this till we can all smile and be happy again............

[The David]

Thanks, ABCMomof3, I really needed some encouragement tonight.  I am staying up late to avoid going to sleep, but I need to remember what you said about temporarily taking something to sleep.  I am trying to be Superman and not take ANYTHING, but maybe I need to conquer the Effexor withdrawal first.  I have been eating fresh organic foods and we get vegetables from an organic farm here in the county.  So I am feeling a lot better.  I am glad you went to your new job without meds.  We don't need them.  We are fine just as God made us.  I think we are entering a new day here.  It just takes time.  I wish you great things at your work.  I am sure that now that you are plugged into everything emotionally, spiritually and physically, that you are going to bring a lot to the lives of the people you work with.  They are going to love you!  Well, off to sleep.  Hey, what's a few nightmares?  A small price to pay for making this journey to good health.

[ABCMomof3]

Hello, I hope you are doing well today. I am feeling fine and I still can't believe it. I can't believe I haven't had any anxiety attacks or anything. I thought for sure I would have by now; but I'm so thankful I haven't.

I read the book by Kevin about the natural cures. And he had a lot to say, didn't he? It was intersting and my sister in law and I were thinking about signing up for his newsletter, because I would like a little more information then what he gave in his book; I want the details of certain things he talked about.

I started a new job today!! And I did great!! I was a little worried about starting a new job and not having my meds in my system, but I did fine and I met a lot of nice people and I wasn't nervous at all; in fact, I was excited about trying something new. Not a bit of apprehension.

I really liked your song lyrics; it was very touching and I'm glad that you shared it with us.

I hope you have a lovely day tomorrow and that your road to recovery keeps getting smoother; try not to worry about the nightmares. I had them too. I was told that the nightmares happen because you stay in the REM part of sleep too long or enter that part of sleep too often and it can cause nightmares. Have you thought of taking something to help you sleep; just temporarily, until you get into a nice sleeping pattern.

I take something to help me sleep when I need it; only once in a while though.

Take care, and I sweet dreams are coming your way soon.

[The David]

ABCMomof3, try Kevin Trudeau's book, Natural cures.  You can find it on the 'net.  The docs get enormous kickbacks from the drug reps to push their product.  The book will blow your mind.

I am still having trouble sleeping because of the nightnmares and my entire body aches all day and all night long.  But emotionally, I am on a great ride, laughing crying, thinking, daring to dream again.  Before on Effexor, I was just waiting to die, with no emotions.  Now I dare to dream that I will pick up my guitar and begin to write some music and sing again.

I even wrote some song lyrics for my Mom, and I'm working on the music now.

I COULDN'T CRY

I couldn't cry for my mother
No, not just then.
It was 35 years before the first tears began.
It was a long time ago when they laid her on the table
I picked out her coffin as best I was able

Before my mother went away,
she told her dear sister she knew I'd be okay
But I wasn't then, and I'm not really now
I just swallowed the pills and kept pulling my plow.

You know I'm almost through this life,
I have my work, I have my sweet wife
But as the years pass me by, and my life starts wearing thin,
I finally understood the truth
And that's when my tears began.

I couldn't cry for my mother,
no, not just then
But I've thrown away the pills
And that's when the first tears began.


HAAAANG IN THERRRE!!!!!!!!

[Lionness]

Going off Efexor seems to get everyone ranting again - good hey.  I am going well too.  I did not think my weight gain (10kgs) was due to Efexor more due to Menopause but it is probably a combination of both and the lack of motivation/energy etc.doesn't get you exercising to burn off what you eat.

To hear about the adverse cardio type side effects of Efexor is a bit frightening and not good that the doctor was not more in tune to this. I wonder what my cholesterol is now as it was a bit high before I started Efexor. I know that I always seem to have a blocked nose and yucky throat while on Efexor - anyone else experience that too?  That should improve now too.

I am not going to 'knock' my doctor for getting me through this difficult time over the last 2-3 years as he has years of experience in diagnosing and treating AADHD and does get it right. Maybe, as you say, the depression passes over time and this has now happened for me so until my next crisis!! I will still be guided by him and it will be interesting to hear what he has to say at my next visit later in the month. I actually cut the dose from 150mg to 75mg and the Ritalin to only 2 in the morning myself and he said if it felt right, do it. I am sure our doctor's want us and expect us to take the next step towards being med free if possible.

I have read that some people genetically have a slow serotonin transporter and therefore more prone to depression - I think that was my understanding of it anyway.  There is still a lot we don't know about the brain and it's complex chemistry.  

Hey, I agree too that if we want to do things at night it should be okay.  We are not doing any harm really.  At the moment for me sleeping is difficult and it is best to get real tired so I will crash easier.  My husband is away too so I can have this nocturnal timetable until he gets back.  

Cheers, The Lionness.