Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 33 of 140}

Isn't that awful,Sadie?What a crock of ***t! I was told the same thing by the physician who first presribed E to me. She told me that I would always be on this drug because my brain was too used to being depressed. She told me I would probably have to be hospitalized too. Obviously, she was wrong!(though I did believe her- hence the ten years of being on E). People think that a doctor's word is gospel; well, it's not! Just keep trying to come down gradually.They are probably just spouting off the requisite monologue that Wyeth has fed them.Jeez, I sound a little bitter don't I?If you search the net, you will come across the website- I'm sorry I can't remember where it is. You could probably just type in Petition-Effexor.

www . fda . gov / medwatch /

FDA website!!!!!!

There is another site where you can sign up. There are already over 9000 signatures.
http://www.petitiononline.com/effexor/

Good morning,

I have signed that petition, and gotten my friends to sign it as well on my behalf. I have also photocopied the petition, some of the posts from this forum and others and given them to my doctor and other doctors in the office to enlighten them on this situation. If they will listen I am not so sure, but they saw how insistent I was, and my doctor has been helping me since I was a baby and has always been sincere. I believe he may just have been misinformed, which is odd for a doctor who should be more knowledgeable about these things, but hey, at least he knows now!

Elena

I signed it before I started to wean off E. I'm feeling so crappy today- my calves are aching, of all things, and I woke up with yet another head banger headache.I'm having a problem thinking very clearly; I just can't wait for this to end.I hate the feeling of walking through water, you know?

I signed that petition long before I joined this forum. Has anyone taken a look at the form they require you to fill out on the FDA website. There has to be a better way. They are not interested in your opinion, they want incident reports.

Heard from writeme54. Told me to take him/her off this site. Emailed back and told him/her he/she had to do it. I hope he/she got some good advice from reading thru it. I guess some people just wander thru for a while, pick our brains, and hopefully get help. Which reminds me - where are beemarie and fruit bat? Sure would like to know how the baby is coming.

Did not sleep well last night and was zappy this morning, but otherwise doing okay. - Sheila

Oh I hear ya Coleen. It was the worst yesterday for me. I popped at least 6 ginger tablets. Feeling better today though.
Yeah Sheila I want to fill out an incident report as well. I believe I will look into that. Oh and I have found that the ginger really helps my zaps, have you tried it? I would love to know how Fruitbat and Bee are doing as well! I wonder how the baby is coming along!!
Hugs
xoElena

There's another interesting site: http://home.pacbell.net/hookup1/effexor.html
It's a good, informative read.
I guess ginger tablets are found at the health food store,right? And they will help with the zaps?
Thanks,Coleen

Colleen, that info site was written by the same guy who started the petition. - Sheila

I was thinking about contacting my local news, they love doing special features and health allerts. With all the Tom Cruise hype about anti depresants it would probably make for a timely story. Then maybe someone will listen. I do believe that some anti depresents are good for some people not all are bad, but this stuff is horrible.

I just got back from my "shrink" because of eating disorder and she told me she thinks I need to be on some medication if not effexor. I do not want to try anything else for fear of gaining weight and symptoms like these.

I don't know what to do, but I am doing ok with my withdrawls, slight nausea and bitter tast and headache, but no brain zaps

Thanks again to the advice on slowly going off.

Have a good day!

I'm off to the chiropractor- wish me luck! I will also pick up some ginger tablets too. Thanks for that advice. I also wanted to ask anyone out there- do you feel easily startled? I find my nerves are really edgy and I feel a tad panicky, like I've forgotten to do something important.Yuck!

Good luck Coleen.
I hope your appoinment goes well, (I'm sure it will!)
And yes, I find that loud noises really get to me. And they make me cringe at times.
The ginger should be offered at the health store.

Take care!
xoElena

Hi.The visit went well-they have a really nice clinic.Their mission statement is "to integrate the highest standard of conventional, complementary and alternative medicine, nurturing intrinsic healing in the whole person, body, mind and spirit. It is ou mission to serve, empower and partner our patients and our community on the path to wellness, transformation and wholeness" I'm so glad they are so close to my home!
I think that going for a massage and maybe some therapeutic touch may help me to cope with this difficult time in my life. I find myself slipping back into destructive behaviour, but I think the difference now is that I know nothing has changed, I am just not on Effexor any more. That, and the support I have received from all of you has helped me immensely. I get weepy, but you know, I'm glad I can feel again. Often the only time I could really feel was to have a fair bit of wine. It's funny too, since I have been off E, I don't crave wine anymore. Just wanted to let you know. I got some ginger pills and some milk thistle. It's supposed to be a liver cleanser. Enough about me. Hope you are all doing well. If I come up with anything new, I'll let you know.
Love,
Coleen

Coco, I am a firm believer in chiropractic adjustments and massage. I got started because of my back but I have reached the point where I crave both of them just for the wellness I receive. I still have back problems and because of that my insurance covers the chiropractor. I got a note from my doctor for the massages and we use pre-tax flexible benefit dollars to cover them. I try to do both once a month or at least every 6 weeks. It is amazing what your body can get used to. I have always been a blood donor, probably over 5 gallons lifetime by now, but for the past few years we have been doing several international trips that require malaria medication and there is a year no-donate rule with the Red Cross. I have always felt terrific after donating (think it's because it thins the blood and gets rid of all the toxins). Last year was one of the years I could donate (until we left for
Brazil), I think I donated 4 times that year. This is all natural stuff. (You can donate while taking antidepressants - I wonder how those people who received my blood like Effexor).

I hear you about the wine. My husband and I were talking about the amount of wine I consume (too much, it's my only vice, but I drink only beer, coolers and wine). And since I started weaning I have been drinking less. I told my doctor that wine was my drug of choice!

For anyone's information, on that web site Coco gave us, there is a link to an actual class action suit that has been filed in Oklahoma.

I can't wait to get off this stuff. Next month, after I have been on the next business trip with hubby and one more week of work, that's when I am going to do it.

Slept good last night but still zappy. How can I go three days without any side effects and then start zapping, etc. again! This is nuts.

Love, Sheila

I've just started going thru the posts here....

Briefly, I've only been on E since the end of march and at 150 for about 8 weeks.

losing my sex drive and gaining 15 lbs immediately were probably the two worst side effects....

i felt better than i did in march, for sure, but i felt i had to make the trade-off with all the crappy side effects.

i got sick of it this week...the side effects, the feeling better but not quite there, not wanting to be touched, avoiding sex, not worknig out, NEVER being full and gaining weight and the fact that I've been drinking wine like water....that was really freaking me out. while my mood got better I felt more and more out of control...

I'm on Day 3 of cold turky off 150. Thanks for giving me the definition that it's called "zaps" b/c every time I move my head that happens.

I can sleep...for about 10 min. at a time. The nightmares are so horrid and vivid and full of blood, gore, violence and every awful fear that I have ever had dredged up and thrown at me. I'm having dreams w/in dreams and when I think I "wake up" realize I'm still in a dream.

If it's just the zaps I think I can handle it. The nausea is a nice change b/c I've actually *stopped* eating us out of house and home and hope to drop some weight. I'm anxious to start exercising again. The nightmares are getting better, i'm having some muscle spasms and twitches.

thank you guys for sharing your stories. I don't feel like I'm losing my mind anymore.

Based on my time on E, any idea how long these symptoms will last? I don't plan to take anything else. I even stopped birth control. I just want to get chemicals OUT of my body.

Thank you all...

Thirsty, I am really not sure how long these w/d symptoms will last. But I am on 7 days free of Effexor and I am still feeling pretty crappy. I have bad headaches and I was just extremely emotional and depressed this afternoon all because I couldn't find a proper outfit for a wedding tomorrow. It is ridiculous I know.But I can be so damn emotional and deeply depressed at times! I snap out of it eventually though. The brain zaps can be a really big pain, but I find ginger helps. Anyway, if you notice is some of the posts, some usually feel better after about 3 weeks. That's when the brain zaps stop I believe. I sure hope so.It may be longer for you because you stopped taking it and your dose was pretty high.
Anyway, post when you need to vent, and let us know how you are doing. It will be hard for a while, but you can do it!
Have a good weekend everyone.

Hugs and prayers
xoElena

sigh.

thanks elena....

the more i read into E and this forum the angrier I am getting. I just left a scathing voice mail for my "dr" who's been "poo-pooing" the idea that a side effect is the weight gain...making me feel like an idiot for even considering it.

I advised her that maybe *she* needed to do some research into what she prescribes her patients because the research that I'm finding out is really starting to scare the sh*t out of me. I can't believe I have this chemical in my body.

I left it telling her I had stopped cold turkey, was working thru the withdrawals and would not be needing her "services" anymore.

Gads, this is all on me, though, not her. We are all in charge of our own bodies and need to do the research on our own, not put our lives in the hand of someone else. Alas, we are our only advocate and if we feel something is wrong need to push, kick and scream until we get heard.

Thirsty, you are in the company of thousands! When this was prescribed to me, my doctor talked about it like it was the saviour of all depressed people. She sold me on it, and I bought into it hook ,line and sinker.Although it did snap me out of a nasty depression, I think I could have worked my way through it with the right therapist- I don't really know. I am on day 10, and my emotions are vivid now; I laugh more, I get angrier, I feel sadder- best of all I am feeling again! My brother and my mother both died within the past two years, and I haven't been able to cry. I have never told anyone that. Now I can. I can actually feel how much I miss them, how much they meant to me.I am so glad to have these tears streaming down my face as I type.So good for you for getting off this zombie making drug. This forum hads been a godsend for me- I'm sure you find it likewise. You just say what you want and it's okay, because everyone else, no matter what their station in life, has gone through similar if not exactly the same experiences.
Love,
Coleen

Elena, thanks for the ginger pill suggestion. They are helping me to think much more clearly.Whew! I'm still really slow though, and I feel achy all over. I went to work yesterday and today, and I feel like I'm moving in slow motion. I'm having less zaps , which is such a relief.I am afraid of slipping into a depression again, so I have this constant dialogue going on in my head. Jeez, it's like being a teenager all over again( only without the great body)Oh well.I'm also hoping this extra weight I'm carrying will come off without too much hassle.I have a pair of capris with a side zipper, but I can't see or reach past my fricking boobs to do them up! Hope you all had a great weekend. Love Coleen

I just want to let everyone know, it was not my going off my hormones. Regent and Naria know what I mean. My husband and I had an intimate interlude today and it was fantastic after 3 years without the female essential. All I can say is Wooow, weeeh, yeah. My emotions must be finally coming back. Please congratulate me!!!-Love, Sheila

colleen and others...
thanks for your kind words.

it's sunday...been about 6-7 days now cold turkey. I realize how lucky I am in that I was only at 150 for 8 or so weeks and working my way up since the end of march....

the zaps are there and yesterday introduced the tongue tingles and tip of the toe tingles...*that* was a trip.

But, and this may sound weird, i'm seeing colors again??? i was driving home and looking around the vines (i live in wine country) and could see textures and the richness of color. It was weird, but awesome.

And, my bf and I actually had sex last night and I wasn't counting the seconds til it's over...it felt kinda gooood. (maybe too much info, so sorry if it is)

the point is, I'm seeing changes. and again I realize they're more rapid for me b/c I wasn't on the meds as long.

I needed something back in march because i was seriously in the blackest hole of my life. I figure when you start running down the options of suicide..."hmmmm, a razor's too messy, pills would probably just make me throw up, and if I turned the car on in the garage the neighbors may hear" and then planning how to go through your things and get rid of all the stuff you don't want people seeing after you're gone, that it was a sign to get help. I don't regret for a second that I did, but dammit, I wish I had been more diligent on what I put in my body and didn't stick with a doc that poo-pooed all I was feeling and made me feel like I was imagining things.

Colleen, I'm so sorry for what you've gone through in the past year and can relate to some of the tragedy. I am so, so glad you are feeling again. Who would have thought tears could be so damn cathartic, but they are. I think I'll take the mood swings (my bf is already behind me 100% and ready for them thanks to me giving him the link to this forum so he could see just a bit of what I'm going through). You're right...this forum has been a god send....

Hi, all,

I have good days and then i have bad ones. I'm still having lots of E side-effects, even after stopping it on May 24. I'm feeling very suicidal a lot. :-( I wanted to be an Effexor withdrawal success story. I know that it takes longer for some people, even the National Institute of Health website discusses the withdrawal symptoms and the fact they can take awhile to abate.

I'm having terrible periods of moodiness and crying. The "pain" keeps moving down in my body so that now I have tinging toes, which I find very distracting. I keep trying to focus on the fact that it's better than many of the things I've already gone through. I JUST WANT TO BE OKAY!!!!!! I cried during church today and am crying right now, at the public library, while I type this. Still no working computer at home.

I have a slew of books I'm working through on anxiety and panic, trying to get a hold on my thoughts and feelings. I hope I can make it.

Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers, as I do you all.

Love,
Laurel

Laurel,Please hang in there. I have just been reading about therapeutic touch(reiki) and that may be a good thing for you to look into. I know you can make it.
Love and Prayers,
Coleen

Oh boy, Laurel. I just looked back at my reply. I have had the worst day yet, so I relly am so far from qualified to giving you advice as you can get.I feel panicky also, like I am living in some hellish dreamworld. I don't know what's real and what's not, and I was so tempted to say "to hell with it, I'm going back on E" Can you believe that!?I finally broke down and told my husband what I was feeling, because I was even starting to think that he was tired of me being ng like this.I'm so glad I did. I sat down and looked back at some older postings and Regent came up on screen, saying how she had gone on St.John 's wort, and how big a difference it made for her depression. I'll be stocking up on that tomorrow! I really thought I was going crazy.(well the feeling hasn't gone yet).God this stuff is evil. I'm glad to have other's experiences to read on this forum.It makes all the difference in the world. Thank you everybody, and Laurel, stay with me my friend.Love Coleen

folks, stop with the nonsense..none of you are CRAZY!
you have been f'd up by the poison of Effexor..new posters, hang in there..to everyone, updating my wife (Kelly), who just passed the 30 day mark this weekend. Kelly has some very good days, but i notice she tires quickly in the evenings..this is usually accompanied by "tired eyes"..moods swing now and then, but i have my fingers crossed thinking that she has gotten past the worst.

Hi everyone. I am back from Alaska and we had a great time. What a lovely place. I think it is what i picture heaven must be like.
The air was fresh and pure.
We saw some whales, salmon, eagles and even a bear. It was wonderful.
Now back to reality. Elena, I am so proud of you. I hope you are doing ok. Because of you, I took my last dose yesterday morning. I hope I do as good as you have done.
We will see. Tomorrow will be my second day without effexor.
Hello to all you newbies. This place has been so much help for me. I know you all will benefit from it too.
I will write more later as I am very tired. There was a 4 hour time change when we went to the west coast. Catching up with me now.
Glad to be back home and talking with you all.
Bonnie