Posted by Cetacea on November 22, 2003, at 22:25:42
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal symptoms!, posted by iluvdaisys on October 15, 2003, at 4:52:36
I've just found this website also, and am in the throes of getting off of Effexor 75mgs. It has been really helpful to see that my SE's from taking it are same as everyone else's, more or less, and my w/drawal symptoms are also. I'm on day #3 of cold turkey. After reading about the horror stories of staying on this, I couldn't make myself take one more pill: I've GOT to get off this. If I found out that a doctor had hooked me onto cocaine or heroin, I wouldn't wait one more day before quitting the stuff, NO MATTER WHAT the side-effects were going to be, and I wouldn't (I keep telling myself!) give one thought to whether or not the w/drawal was gonna do me in. Maybe I'm just that untrusting and scared of being hooked into something, but it really undoes me emotionally to think of being addicted to a substance. [alot of alcoholism in my family-of-origin] Bad enough to have a problem w/food (which I do). I have to eat. I don't have to continue taking anything that's going to make me more sick than I was to start with. Maybe when the depression and anxiety come roaring back, I'll be whistling another tune. Meanwhile, my one thought is, "I'm outta here" re Effexor XL, or Effexor-anything. I'm really surprised that my doctor would put a human being on this drug, and I think the drs just DO NOT KNOW the miseries Effexor's causing. I'm hoping that I'm going to be "lucky" and not have 3 weeks (or more: 3 DAYS is too much!) of illness from getting off this drug. I cannot IMAGINE having w/drawal miseries that last a year. Even tho' that quack-site was definitely preying on our wanting an "out" from the SE's and w/drawals we've brought on by taking Effexor, the quack's info about Effexor appeared right on target, and I'll betcha few-to-no doctors (esp the pcp's) know about those *consequences* of taking Effexor.
Now, I would like to thank the person who wrote in that stopping Effexor does not always bring on the nightmare scenario that has been so widely reported by others on this site. [wishing I could get lucky on this!] I would also like to thank whoever it was who told us that taking even *one* prozac pill (in the middle of bad withdrawals) could make a huge difference. I haven't done that yet, but I have some prozac pills, and I like knowing that there IS a cushion out there for me if the world comes apart worse than it has already in the withdrawal dept. I also didn't know that the itching I've had today was caused by w/drawing. Since insomnia was one of my problems pre-effexor, I'd worried that stopping it would bring that right back, and I didn't realize that sleeping MORE was (or could be) a w/drawal symptom. As you may imagine, that part has not been so bad for me. The zaps and cardiac arrhythmias are worrisome, and I seem to have moments when I "lose it" in a way that makes me think I should not drive for a few more days. I would like not to be queasy in the stomach for a change, and losing the weight I've gained (that's what caused me to look for this group) on Effexor would be really nice. I told my doctor that the only thing for me worse than depression was depression PLUS weight gain from meds. Sorry to be rambling! I'm just so grateful to've found people who have had an experience like mine. Sorry we're all in this boat, but if each of us had no knowledge of the others, it would be even worse --so I'm grateful for you all! Hope we all make it out of this cauldron, and SOON!
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> Hi, I just found this site, after waking up so itchy that I thought I'd research my problem. I'm on effexor right now, and want off. I've been on it since about April of this year, and it has been a nightmare ever since. I cry so easy now. I take trazadone to cope with the effexor. And god help me if I miss a dose of effexor!!!!! I've embarrassed myself at work a number of times now, with my crying. Now, I'm itching all over, especially my hands, feet and scalp. I don't know if it is from the effexor or not. I want my doctor to ween me off, but after forgetting a dose twice in a row, and the nightmare that came with that...I'm frightened of withdrawl. I just felt the need to post here. I have what my doc thinks is manic depression, and I have severe panic attacks and PTSD. I'm afraid to try another med...I don't want to be trapped in another nightmare like this :( My family needs me, and I'm just not really here. Any input is appreciated. I don't have a clue what I'm hoping to hear, but I hope to hear something.
poster:Cetacea
thread:12459
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031121/msgs/282687.html