Posted by M .Lee on January 3, 2003, at 21:53:36
In reply to DON'T go Cold Turkey!!, posted by EGR on December 29, 2002, at 22:58:46
This is my first time posting here. I wish that I had seen this advice back when I needed it.
I was in a similar situation about a year ago - I lost my insurance while taking Effexor and it seemed like there was no alternative except to go off it cold. I had been taking it for several years.
The first few weeks were severe. My head was spinning so bad that I had trouble standing at times. Then, just as I was starting to get through that, my depression turned much worse than it had ever been before. It "rebounded" with a vengeance. I was a wreck for months.
A family member intervened and brought me to the hospital ER. Within a couple of days they got me into a free clinic and back on medication (even though I was unemployed and had no insurance.) If only I had known then... that there were alternatives.
I agree with EGR, and can't stress this enough: "DON'T go cold turkey!!"
I found out (the hard way) that it is possible to stay on medication, even if you can't afford the prescription.
To anyone who is considering cold turkey, please explore all options first. Just walk into the ER and explain the situation that you are in. They should be able to refer you to someplace where you can get treatment without having to go through what I went through.
> I would not go cold turkey. Check with your local hospital's social workers or your DHS office.There are funds available to help with prescription, especially in cases like this. Or follow the advice further up and check into a psyche ward... we don't need any of us nutting out and harming ourselves!
poster:M .Lee
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021230/msgs/134393.html