Posted by Laurajean on April 15, 2004, at 21:31:14
In reply to effexor withdrawal, posted by BitchChick on April 15, 2004, at 8:52:49
Hi everyone,
First, thanks for that link, whoever posted it. : ) This turned out long....please hang in there til the end of it!I am on probably the second or third week since stopping Effexor XR (300mg) after a two month taper. The physical symptoms are lessening--not gone, but better....thank goodness.
However, I would say I am experiencing some pretty intense depressive symptoms....I have crying jags frequently, irritability, and yes, self-harming and suicidal thoughts (nothing I would act on), hopelessness, etc. I was on effexor xr for probably four years, and on other meds before that for ten years. When I made the decision to taper off, it was because I have been absolutely symptom free for at least three years....and I saw no reason to stay on psychotropic meds w/o at least trying to go it alone. Keep in mind I've been on some form of meds since I was fourteen (i'm 28 now). I have largely recovered from anything diagnosable, and had no symptoms of depression, OCD, PTSD, etc. for years.
I am freaking out that I am relapsing into those disorders again ("going crazy"), although to be honest, I don't know what it would feel like, as it's been years since I've had any symptoms like that. I was only ON meds b/c I never bothered to come off and had no pdoc who wanted to try it w/me.
Is there an expected period of depression or other symptoms post-AD that isn't a true depressive episode? I know obviously I need to go back to the psychiatrist, but to be honest, if I list the symptoms I've been having, he's going to write out a script (or two or three) for other drugs, and I was doing SO well for years...I'm not convinced it's NOT just w/d, but I've definitely been caught off guard by all of this. I had no idea I would feel like this emotionally from coming off, and at teh same time, I figure my system has been medicated for some fourteen years, many of which I was heavily drugged, and so there may be a period of adjustment.
I have worked so hard in therapy to overcome the root of my disorders (trauma), and I have been doing well for so long, I just really thought I would be fine w/o meds. It's debatable according to my current therapists that I ever really needed them when I was 14, 15, etc. I never experienced any significant help from being on them, but when you're in a hospital system for years it's just what they do.
Anyone else who had psych symptoms as a result of w/d who didn't go back on meds? Or did? I'm not opposed to going back on something if I truly need it, but I would hate to do that too soon. I would feel very much reassured to know this may be a result of withdrawal rather than a true relapse into depression.
thanks for making it to the end of this!
laura
poster:Laurajean
thread:12459
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040412/msgs/336756.html