Posted by jiggitykid on February 22, 2004, at 9:22:53
In reply to Any long term Effexor-free survivors?, posted by StaceyB on February 22, 2004, at 4:17:09
Bless your heart!!!! You are right on track, according to my experience. FOR ME (so that there is no misunderstanding by anyone who might be reading this that this is anything other than sharing my story), the first week was the absolute worst. By the second week, the *severity* of the symptoms had declined. They were still present. By the third week, the light began to shine and I could tell that I was going to be okay. By the fourth week, I was feeling so much better. Are you tapering or cold-turkeying? *Make sure you do what you feel is best for you.* FOR ME, cold-turkey was the way; that way I knew that after the rough patch, it was gone, and I didn't have to keep stepping it down. FOR OTHERS, the best way is to taper.
Do you have a support system of any kind, i.e., a spouse, friend, sibling, etc.? Someone who is totally aware of what is going on and can help you see that the withdrawal symptoms are *temporary* when you are having doubts is invaluable right now. When I was going through this, I sent my husband and family members a list of the withdrawal symptoms with links to this site, as well as cut-and-paste testimonies from others who had been where I was, so that they could see that what I was going through was REAL and that I needed their support. If you don't have anyone you trust to help you through this, then please keep posting to the board - we are here, listening and understanding. Keep in close contact with your doctor. BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF right now. Love yourself, take care of yourself, and hang in there. Know that you are in my prayers.
poster:jiggitykid
thread:12459
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040218/msgs/316428.html