I know exactly how you feel, I was tapered off effexor over 5 week period after being on it for about 7 years, I'm working my way back up again slowly, but it doesn't seem fast enough either. I had to discontnue it temorary because of surgery. I still feel very agitated and nervous especially in the morning, I don't want to do anything, but I'm trying to push myself, and I know its hard. I'm dpressed like you as well. We just have to be patient, and wait for the meds to work. Thet will I'm told, but it can sometime take up to 6 - 8 weeks i'm told. Hang in there,and let me know how you feel.
Ifox, you're welcome. When things get bad on tapering, please remember that there are MANY people at any given period that are in the same situation, and that how you feel is not something bad or wrong with YOU but are effects of the drugs/withdrawals - and that if things get VERY bad then search out sites that can help.
Key words doing searches are
Antidepressant withdrawal.
Antidepressant support.
SSRI support.
SSRI withdrawal support.
Prozac withdrawal.
Prozac support.
(Prozac support sites usually deal with all SSRIs, its just that they started at a time when Prozac was the only SSRI I think, and then have evolved to cover problems on the rest of the SSRIs which are basically clones of Prozac made by other companies.)
That kind of search will bring up sites that will help with withdrawal and will also help with side effects when on the normal drug if you need it.
Keep your spirits up and good luck.
Thanks so much for all you input
In case the doc doesn't answer more than the one question paid for, yes there IS an easier way and thats by tapering down VERY VERY SLOWLY.
PLEASE print that Withdrawal Advice (pdf file) out and take it to your doctor so that he understands how to support you through the tapering process.
Is there an easier way to swith from one ssir to another with out having to go through such a process of withdrawel. At this point Im back to taking my 100mg zoloft. I just cant deal with the withdrawels right now.
Even easier is for him to switch you over to LIQUID zoloft (which wasn't available Prof Healy wrote the withdrawal advice) and tapering with a syringe. But he still needs the withdrawal advice so that he can see how difficult it can be for some people.
Hope that helps.
You should talk to your doctor about slowing down the weaning schedule if you are that sensitive to change. Maybe go down to 75 for a while, then when you are ready down to 50...there is no real hurry, so talk to him or her about going on down in a comfortable way.
Hi, I'm not sure whether its the link to the thread (bring up another browser and copy-paste it into the Address bar, links don't 'work' on this site), or quite what you mean?
Its the thread a FEW down from yours called "Pregnant and Bipolar" (there's typos in the title, but it'll be clear) and after the blue bar that the resident dr posts in, all the stuff is under that.
The withdrawal advice itself I can post the link to direct here
(but again you'll need to copy paste it into the browser) and its a pdf file so needs acrobat reader to open it.
http://www.ssri-uksupport.com/files/protocolwithdrawalssris.pdf
but there's also other advice, articles on akathisia (severe agitation etc) and how to treat it if needed.
Let me know if you mean you have another problem accessing something and I'll try to help out.
I'll look in now and again to see if you've replied, but I'm in Europe and our time zones are quite some way out so if you post in 'my' nightime I'll not see it till the next morning here :-)
Hi
thanks for your feedback. Im having a hard time trying to find the info you suggested I look at.Im anxious to see it
Thanks