Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 42 of 140}

Regent, it is so good to hear from you. Oh, my, what wonderful advice. I am already doing a lot of it. It realllllly!!!! is good to find out how you are doing.

BeachProf, do you really want to know what is in my tonic? I live in Columbia, SC which you would have discovered if you read my posts. It is hot, muggy, humid, whatever. I have lived here (from New England) for almost 20 years. Took a lot of adjustment. But however, the tonic!!!

These measurements are approximate: In your blender, put a handful each of chopped fresh garlic, chopped peeled fresh horseradish, peeled chopped ginger, hot peppers tops off but seeds left in (jalapeno, Serrano, your choice), strong onion, put in blender, cover with apple cider vinegar (from the health food store, if not, Heinz apple cider vinegar), blend until liquefied, (store for at least two weeks in a cool dark place, however, this is more effective if made at the waxing of the moon (I,e, at the new moon, let sit in a cool dark place for 2 weeks, take one T twice a day for best work, but I have been taking 1T a day and adding a little water to drink it down without having to taste it. It sort of tastes like green chili salsa. It really is easier to drink after you get used to it. But, whatever. But it has made me feel better. If you are a beachy person, you are probably over there in Myrtle Beach or somewhere. Great stuff.

Enough, tonight. to all, good health, Sheila

hey almetta,
i'm so glad that you could smile at my post. I know that it is really hard right now for you. "been there, done that!"

One thing i have to tell you all is...don't think that going off the effexor is going to eliminate the emotional part of your lives. remember why you went on it in the first place! all i can tell you is that you need to take each day at a time and do all you can do to find your peace again. Remember when you were 15 and the world was your playground????? It isn't what is in our brain, or the chemical imbalance...we have forgotten how to be free and happy!!!!!!!!!!!!YOU ARE THE MOST VALUABLE GRAIN OF SAND IN YOUR WORLD!!!!!!!!!!YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU ARE PART OF A BIGGER PLAN!!!!!!!!!EMBRACE WHAT IS YOUR STRENGTH. For me it is singing. I turn on my stereo, put in some Rosemary clooney oldies and sing at the top of my lungs. I feel alive again. That is what it is all about. Feeling alive again!!!!!!!!Do something that you think you can absolutely not do. Race horses, go to the gym and compete with the body builders, join a community theatrical group, throw a big theme party for all your friends, do whatever it takes to make yourself feel alive again. One other thing...this may sound corny...i learned this in yoga...for all you beautiful women...let your belly relax!!!!!!!!!!!!stop gripping it and you will find that your whole body can relax. I know, because with all this weight gain i have experienced with the evil effexor, my stomach was the primary focus. my yoga instructor told me to let it go and once all the other garbage goes away in my life, so will my belly. I encourage all of you more than i can say...join a yoga class!!!!!!!!!!! It will be a gift to yourself that you will never regret.
Well, I've got to go, I have big plans for myself and my fiance this evening. We haven't had any alone time in about 6 days, and the kids are finally in bed, if you know what i mean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love you all
Regent (Lori)

Wooooo Regent,I hope ur having "fun" as i am writing this blurb. I have been on higher doses on E for over 15yrs. It helped at the time, but now after my Mom died (3yrs ago) It was my thoughts that were killin me not depression,my Dr.prescribed seroquel. This helped all of the bad thoughts and Im on the losest dose.
Anyways my happy thing right now is doing the natural/organic/herb/vitamin thing to feel the best that I can be and I would like a goal of no seroquel in the future. But I do try to take it day by day.
Hey maybe someday I will get some1 I can have "fun' with at night, who know.....Arlene

I too used to live in Columbia! Small world isn't it. No, not Myrtle Beach, but Wilmington. For those of you who may be in the New Orleans, Biloxi area I hope you are safe. Good luck today.
I'm on day 3 and it's horrible, but I have to work (several classes to teach) and I'm determined to get through the week. I believe there is a good end in sight, so thanks to all of you here I can see that so many of you are doing well. I agree with the yoga. Anything to help you relax, stretch, get some peace, is good for everyone.

Welcome to all the newbies!
I am glad that you are finding solace in this forum.
Regent! It is so good to hear from you! You brought the biggest smile to my face when I read that post How to maintain a high level of insanity! Oh man that was good! I really want to start taking a YOGA class. I have been doing some at home but I think it would be great to be part of a yoga group. I would probably be doing it better too! Thank you for posting and letting us know how you are!!
Sheila, I am sorry that you have been so down. But you have been doing the right thing. You have been there for you friend, and now you are giving her some space. That is good of you. Make sure to take some down time for you too.
Bonnie, how was your weekend?
My weekend was busy, but not too busy. I have a short week this week! Thursday and Friday off! Yeay!
Anyway, hope you are all doing well.

Hugs and Prayers
xo Elena

Good morning to everyone. Just wanted to say thanks Bonnie for the advice of taking dramamine. It helped tremendously yesterday. I was OK on Saturday with taking nothing but yesterday I did not feel so good. I hope you are all doing well and had a nice weekend.

I cant seem to send anything.
Bonnie

Well, this is my third try and hope this goes through.
I typed 2 times before and it said web site not responding.
Just want you to know that I am thinking of everyone and will send something later.
Sheila sorry you are feeling bad. It doesnt help matters to loose a friend while trying to get off of this effexor hell.
Elena, I had a good weekend. Didn't do anything, but I am feeling better emotionally. How about you?
Rudy glad the dramamine helped you it was good for me also.
Welcome to everyone new, hope you continue because it was a saving grace for me.
Regent, good to hear from you.
Last post you were not doing so good emotionally. Good to know it keeps getting better.

Have a great day.
Bonnie

I wonder what happened to the other 2 tries. Are they out in
cyberspace somewhere?

Bonnie :)

Good morning to those I know and some new names, too:

Let me echo Regent's declaration that being off E does not make a perfect emotional world. I regret having to say that. I don't regret getting off Effexor. :-) Tomorrow it will be 14 weeks for me!

Like several other of us here, I've had to battle anxiety big time post-E. To the point that I now have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as my diagnosis.

[This reminds me to ask: Dawn, if you're reading this, how is your daughter doing? And how are you?]

Anyway, I'd been struggling with increasing anxiety, tempered by a few good days here and there and an occasional string of them. The week of the 22nd, no matter how many mindfulness things I tried, I was struggling to put 3 seconds of peace together at a time. That Thursday I just turned into a weeping mess, and after the second major crying jag called my psychiatrist, forgetting she does not work on Thursday. But, another nurse in their office talked to me (A+ to her for kindness and efficiency). She looked to see if my doc had any cancellations for the next day. No. When she asked me where I was, and I told her, she suggested I go to the ER at the hospital that serves my health plan and is only a block away from my workplace.

Well, I did, and never expected to be admitted, but the social worker, nurse, and doctor who saw me in the ER all felt it was the right thing to do. So I spent 5 nights and 4 1/2 days in the psych unit for high functioning depression and anxiety patients. I had excellent nursing care there, and the inpatient psychiatrist who got my case was a blessing. (The beds, however, left everything to be desired. Ouch.) The doctor knew all about Effexor follies and agreed that was a significant stressor -- among others -- for my current condition.

So I am on some meds again, one that I'll be able to titrate down from in a short while after the proper nortriptyline level is reached. Yes, I'm on one of the "oldies but goodies" medications, a tricyclic antidepressant. The doctor said she would not try me on Cymbalta (which is the new rage) because it works too similarly to E. Nortriptyline does have side effects that the SSRIs don't, but she said it is a very powerful drug for depression AND anxiety. The biggest drawback is that it tells your brain you want sugar. Willpower is very important for not becoming a tricyclic marshmallowman woman. :-) I had lost more weight, so I can afford to have a healthy appetite again, but I have to fight those cravings, those messages in my head, that say "sweets!" Yesterday I managed to ignore the desire for ice cream and to eat fresh cukes and tomatoes and lots of fruit instead.

Anyway, I'm just checking in with my favorite forum and not suggesting that my experience will happen to anyone else. But if you do feel desperately, hopelessly out of control, do seek help.

Love and prayers,
Laurel

Hi Laurel, Sorry to hear about your experience, but glad to hear that you got help and will be feeling better. I have often wondered about the old drugs, because my Mom took Elavil and it seemed to help her.
Please let us know what this drug does for you.
I will always have to take something myself as I have a chemical imbalance. Not sure which chemical I am laking though. LOL.
Did you feel really drugged when you first started on it?
Let us know how it affects you

Thanks,
Bonnie

hello to old friends & hello to all the new

what a coincidence naria, i happened to have time in the office today, i intended to catch up a bit and say hello,then read your post (are we on the same wave-length or what?)thank you for asking about stephanie... she is doing well, she's been back at Iowa State since 8/10...classes began a week ago...she is guest lecturing in 300 level classes this week & next at the request of her advisor & dept head...they feel her WGN-TV intership has taught her some things worth passing on to others in the journalism/communication dept... in addition to her running, she has discovered a love of "pilates" (similar i believe to yoga)...as a G.A.D sufferer,she finds this helps her to better manage the stress because she is a "worry wort". She is trying her best to keep her anxiety /worry in check...it is her own worst enemy as you know!! She & Brian are still together...though they couldn't be more different, she's very upscale, from the big city / he's a forestry major from Iowa, the talks have begun how this will play out after she graduates in Dec, he will finish in May'06...he is wonderful & has wanted to date her since they met freshman year, they have been together officially for 2 years now...we shall see.

beach Prof...my daughter went off E cold turkey May 16...she struggled her first 4-9 days, (it was the very beginning of her summer internship) those days were the worst,but looking back she has no regrets...she experienced all the w/d's that you all speak about, she wanted no part of taking anything else in the way of Px or health store rememdies, mainly out of fear...stopping cold turkey got the job done without prolonging even the smallest w/d's...she is still Px free, she exercises, drinks lots of H20 & was a lucky one who never gained any weight from the E, which she was on for almost 8 months. You must remember, with each day down, your w/d's will be history... be a fighter...don't look back!!

Laurel, you are on my mind frequently...i'm glad to hear from you...sorry to read about your situation, but so proud of you for knowing when enough is enough & knowing its time to seek out medical help...good for you, sounds like you are back on the right track...you have always been an inspiration to others, you have a way with words that is theraputic in and of itself!!! were you able to do that camping trip to visit your boyfriend??

Elena, bonnie, sheila...you all give such support to this site...the best to you all!!!

"Never live in the past, but always learn from it"~unknown

~dawn

Wow, this seems like such a daunting journey, I will confess that I am starting to get really scared about the final decrease in meds. I just decreased my morning med in half yesterday so now I am on 18mg in the morning and 37.5mg in the evening. I made the mistake of trying to work out last night and spent the rest of the evening feeling sick as a dog and very light headed, don't think I will repeat that mistake for a few days. Woke up feeling a little disorientated this morning but not too bad. Is this chaser and dramamine available in Canada? I did check Walmart but couldn't find the chaser, however they were closing and I couldn't find anyone to ask.

I was thinking, if I was on a hard drug then I would be put into rehab, where the heck is the professional help for coming off this stuff, sure makes me mad if I think about it too much.

Kerry

Hi Kerry,

I know it is scary to think about the decrease in meds. But don't stress about it. You will get through this. It may be painful but it will be worth it. Trust me. I am totally off now, and I don't regret getting off it at all! I may still be having some difficulties with GAD-General Anxiety Disorder, and of course being emotional- BUT I feel better now that I am off. My body doesn't feel so puffy, I feel as though the toxins are leaving my body. (*Slowly but surely.)
Oh and as for the chaser, I live in Canada and I didn't see it. BUT I did find non- drowsy Gravol with Ginger in it. It worked very well. It took the nausea and the dizziness away. It should be in any pharmacy. Plus remember to drink lot’s and lot’s of water. I know it may sound useless, but it really does clean out your system. Anyway make sure you take some time to relax, and be positive. I know it can be hard at times but the positive thinking really helps. How are things going with your little ones? Well the gravol should help your equilibrium so that you can spend some time with them!
Good luck Kerry, you can do this!! Remember you can vent here anytime!
Have a good day everyone!
Hugs and Prayers
xo Elena

Sheila, please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your friend's husband.I hope you will take time to grieve yourself, I think that is very important.
I am in a terrible state. I feel totally hopeless. My doctor wants me to go back on effexor.My only hope is to go to see the naturopath at the clinic that my chiropractor works.Where is this despair and anger coming from? It has been 50 days off of E , and I so wanted to be a success story.I have even been reticent to come onto the forum, because I was feeling so worthless.I just wish I could see some light at the end of the tunnel. Please pray for me. Thanks
Coleen

Colleen,
I completely understand that you feel helpless right now. I have felt that way myself and I am sure that everyone on this forum has as well. Don't give up hope. I have felt anxious, emotional and depressed since I got off E as well.
But I wouldn’t go back on it. I don't know, but maybe Effexor isn't the med for you. Maybe you could try something else? My doctor told me to go back on it as well but I said no. Boy was he shocked! But I didn’t like what it did to me. We all want to be a success story after being off Effexor, but sometimes it takes longer for our emotions to stabilize after being on such a strong med. A friend of mine went of Effexor a year ago and she said it took her up to 4 months to feel herself again and to stop feeling so up and down with emotions. The choice is ultimately up to you Colleen, but please don't be so hard on yourself. There IS a light at the end of your tunnel.
Please keep us updated on how you are doing!
Hugs and Prayers
xoElena

Coleen, I have to agree with Elena, maybe effexor is not for you and you may need something else. I personally have to take something. I have been depressed for about 20 years. I would like not to have to but I have no choice.
My husband would not be able to live with me nor would I be able to live with myself.
Are you depressed and anxious? If, so, I know what you are feeling and I feel for you.
I hope the best for you and will be saying a prayer for you.
Elena, I have lost track, I think you are about a week ahead of me. How long has it been for you?

Have a great day
Bonnie

Bonnie I am 47 days free of Effexor. Yep, I can't believe it has been that long! My emotions are still out there, but I do feel relatively good today. I got a good sleep last night, which I think helps tremendously. I haven't been able to exercise in the last 2 weeks which really bothers me. I feel like I need a good run or something. Anyway, how are you doing? How have your emotions and anxiety been? Oh and I was researching and I found out that Lavender Oil sooths anxiety, and certain teas do as well. Chamomile, lemon balm, and lavender teas help anxiety and rose hips tea helps depression. I tried a chamomile and a lemon tea and I found it did help somewhat. The lavender oil as well as Ylang -Ylang helped me as well. I put some in an oil burner and it was very soothing. The yoga stretches I found work well too! Oh it was so relaxing! What have you been doing to relieve stress Bonnie? I will try anything at this point!

Hugs and Prayers
xo Elena

Elena, the only I do is walk. I try to walk every day about 1-1/2 miles.
It really does help. Somedays,I feel good and then there are other days, my head is spinning.
So I think I am about 37 days effexor free. Yeah!!!! I never thought I would get this far. Hooray for us all!
You know, I know all those herbal remedies make you feel good, but it doesn't last. You would have to do it all day. Is that right or am I wrong. I do drink green tea, but I am not sure why other than it taste good.LOL

Have a good one
Bonnie

I am pleasantly in shock, I am on day 3 of my reduction and I feel absolutely fine with no withdrawal symptoms at all today. Yesterday I felt really sick and light headed as well as my skull literally felt bruised so I went to the pharmacist to get some gravol with ginger, they were out of stock and the pharmacist recommended a natural ginger supplement instead and wow, did it ever work. I have also been using EFT (Emotional Freedome Technique) that my psycologist recommended and taught me so maybe the combination has worked. Has anyone else tried this (www.emofree.com), it seems really hoakey but it really seems to have an affect (based on tapping accupuncture points but can be done yourself).

Anyways, I digress....my fingers are so crossed that this set of withdrawal is done with, maybe if this keeps up I can go for another decrease in a couple of weeks :o)

Kerry

Coleen I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better! I will keep my fingers crossed for you! Good thinking on the ginger tablets! They do work well don't they!
Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know I will be away from work tomorrow and Friday, so I may not have access to a computer.
SO I wish you all a great rest of the week and will check back on the forum soon!
Hugs and Prayers
xo Elena

Oh my, I just realized that I have been calling kerry Coleen. I am so sorry. As you can tell my eyes are not really up to there normal speed.I am so sorry Kerry. But my posts were directed to you! I have been doing that at work too.....I hope my foggy brain clears up soon!
Sorry again,
Confused and misty brained,
Elena

Laurel, I am sooo sorry to hear about what you recently went through. I was reading what you were saying about your anxiety and I have horrible anxiety and I've been in the hospital before for severe depression (I 51/50'D MYSELF).

Well recently I have been doing this cleansing juice thing and I have found that when I start my day with the juices my anxiety is seriously reduced. It turns out I have serious blood sugar issues. well when the blood sugar gets low I get crazy. since I've started juicing I don't get as angry and honestly for the majority of the day I go without having panic attacks. I actually used to get so anxious that it felt like I was just afraid to leave the house. I haven't had that in a while. If you want the juicing instructions just let me know. Its worth a shot.

Well today was day number 9 for me and I am emotional like a pregnant woman (though I'm not pregnant). But other then getting teary eyed over every commercial it is sooooooo much better. It isn't easy and I have to talk myself out of thinking negative thoughts a few times a day but the puffiness all over my body is less (like someone said) and I too feel like my body is less toxic off of the E. And I really enjoyed to advice about not holding in the tummy I earned while on the E - I'm going to hold onto that. I didn't take any dramamine today but I was a bit natious and I have had trouble sleeping the last few days but I am determined to make it without medication. When I was on the E I honestly didn't care if I lived or died. . . . I was indifferent. Indifference, for me, was a horrible way to live.

One blessing of being on the E is that now I am very aware of my mortality. I was suicidal and unable to find pleasure or purpose in anything but now everything seems so meaningful to me. I am greatful to be alive and just watching my daughter cuddle with her kitten warms my heart for the first time in so many years. I hope all of you try to find pleasure in little simple things instead of focusing on the things that are overwhelming. I have been a single mom since I was 15 with no help from anyone - not even family- so I know things in life can seem emotionally unbearable but WE'VE ALL GOT THIS!!!!

YOU ARE ALL IN MY PRAYERS!!

ohhhhhh a few of you were wondering about the old meds. I wanted to let you know that I use to take Paxil (I don't know how old that medication is) But I was on it for 3 years and doing fine. I went through the majority of college on that medicine with no weight gain and fairly stable. The doctor switched me to "the newest it drug" which was the E even though I was fine on the paxil. And it was all down hill from there. Also, after 3 years on the Paxil I had no withdrawl symptoms even close to what I went through with the E. If I have to go back on something because of the mood swings then I will request the Paxil again. Hope you all find what helps. Good night.

Jense, isn’t is amazing that doctors want to change your medications to something new just because they think it is the thing to do, even though you are fine on the old one. I have a dear friend who is on paxil and everytime her doc wants to change she says NO. I went through that with my blood pressure medicine. I originally was taking just a basic diuretic and it worked fine, but then the doctor started fiddling (always with the latest new drug, of course), it took over ten years to get it right. I had bad reactions to most of them, but ended up with a beta blocker which was perfect for me. If you have to go back on anything, go back to what works for you!! I have to agree with you on the fact that the experience with the E has changed my viewpoint on life and how joyous it is to be alive. Everytime I find myself wallowing in self-pity for any reason, I try to think about people that are worse off, and now we have the national pain of watching the population of the gulf coast go through devastation. Can you imagine having to go through that? If you live through it.

Laurel, I am in pain just thinking about what has happened to you. I hope that your new meds work out for you. We all know to stay away from E in the future. I’m so glad you told us about this. Another thing to add to our prayers.

Colleen, don’t let him put you back on the E. All your hard work down the drain, and whatever reason you decided to quit will just occur again. Change your doctor if he won’t change your meds, especially if your doc is just a family doctor – they don’t know enough about the psych drugs to prescribe them freely like they do. (I have so many people in my prayers right now and you are there too).

Day 12 off E. I’m doing fine. Just zapping a lot (but just in the morning when I get up – it seems to stop around 8 am) I’m still having a problem making the brain to mouth thought connection. But getting better. The fuzziness is gone, have not had any other problems (except that I tripped off the curb getting the newspaper out of the mailbox this morning and twisted my ankle). I didn’t have anything to do today except get gas for my car before it is all gone. I cannot believe the way Americans panic if they don’t have their gas. My husband is going to have to fill it because I cannot walk on that foot yet. Have spent all morning propped up with an ice pack.

Dawn, it was so good to hear from you and finding out that Steph is doing well. We really need to hear that feedback. I know that I don’t post as often as I used to because I am finally getting back to the rest of my life and not obsessing over the withdrawal. It’s done, the E is gone from my life if not from my body.

Regent, I’m going to quote you on something you said, “don't think that going off the effexor is going to eliminate the emotional part of your lives.” I think you got it backwards. E did eliminate the emotional parts, all of them, the good and bad emotions. Now that we are off, we are having to deal with the good and bad again. We have just forgotten how bad the bad really was, and I think that is why we who are free are all bouncing off the walls with our emotions. Losing the emotions with E didn’t happen overnight, it helped stabilize a lot of bad things for many of us, unfortunately it screwed up the good things too. We will all stabilize eventually, some with help from some other medication, some with diet and exercise and biofeedback, and other ways.

I’ve babbled long enough. I need to go ice the ankle again. I am such a klutz.
Love, Sheila

Sheila,

Thanks for the feedback email. ;-) you are a sweety. you know I used to take beta blockers when I was on the paxil - if i needed it for an emergency. I know it is for the heart but They started me on it when I was like 22 and I only took it when I felt like I was having a panic attack instead of taking some type of number all the time and it worked wonderfully for me. They say it just increases the blood to the heart keeping your muscles from tightening up and eliminating the PANIC and other then making me a bit sleepy (if I took more then half) it worked miracles for me. It was much better then being on medication 24/7 and it didn't alter the way I thought or my emotions which was nice. I found out about that from a friend from poland. over there they give it for anxiety sometimes (as a once ina while medication) to keep people off antidepressants or anti anxiety meds - so I had asked my old doctor and he had approved it. But anyway, its just one more alternative to taking something every day. And I am sorry to hear about your ankle. ;-( I hope you are better soon.

Today is a tough day for me. I am on day 10 and I have had really bad head aches. and I am lonely and moody. I just want all of you to know that I seriously logg onto tthis sight everyday and look forward to reading what everyone has to say. It helps me to not feel so alone. So thank you.

Well I hope everyone is doing well today. I hope all of you make sure to eat some fruit and keep your blood sugar level and take a walk and just be thankful that we aren't living in some of the devastated areas of the nation. Also, be sure to drink lots and lots of water everyone it seems to really help me with the buzzing in my head. and if anyone needs to talk, I'm always around.

Best wishes, Brandina