![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 517 to 541 of 735. Go back in thread:
Posted by Jiggitykid on November 20, 2004, at 15:01:58
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal symptoms!, posted by Wanda C on November 20, 2004, at 10:47:35
Welcome to Effexor Withdrawal!!! You'll need about two weeks of feeling bad before things get "normal." The fact that you are taking Prozac should help alleviate some of the worst symptoms. Effexor is a drug straight from hell, and it tries to take you there with it when you quit ingesting it. Some doctors don't know this yet, some don't care, and some don't believe it.
You are going to be fine. Don't trust your emotions for a while. Err on the side of common sense. Don't drive at night if you are having vision disturbances (one of the last symptoms to leave). Help your family understand what you are going through and have them visit this board (search the archives) to read what others (including myself) have gone through.
Please take care of yourself and let us know how you are doing!
> I have been on effexor for about four and a half years now, but lately I have been having alot of episodes so my doctor switched me to prozac. OH MY GOD!!!!! I thought I was dying. Are these withdrawl symptoms or from prozac? I freeze all night but I have to change two or three times because I sweat through my clothes to my sheets. I was throwing up foam because I couldn't eat, shaking uncontrolably, it felt like I had a fiftey pound weight sitting on each temple, my dreams are extremely gorry, I can hardly see straight, sometimes it feels like someone is jolting my brain, I just wanted to crawl out of my skin, I couldn't stop crying. I put this in somewhat past tense because I got right back off the prozac and started taking my effexor again. I am starting to feel a little normal, but not completely. My doctor prescibed me some adavan to help calm me down and that really helped, it helped me get a little better rest in. I also take depakote, but my doctor didn't take me off that, he uped my dose. But now I am on what I started at but more depressed because of all the pain I endured from all this. I do not want to be on meds the rest of my life so how does someone avoid all of this havoc caused from effexor? Someone PLEASE HELP!! This is probably the closest I have come to wanting to seriously die since I have had children, I don't ever want to feel that way again!
Posted by Jiggitykid on November 20, 2004, at 15:04:38
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal symptoms!, posted by ecatz on November 20, 2004, at 12:26:34
Take care of yourself!! I'm much, much better after getting effexor out of my system. I've been "clean" for about a year, and I tell you, I'd rather walk through fire than take that horrible drug again. I zombied out, I gave up on life and my marriage was nearly destroyed. Praise God, I found this site and it helped me understand what I was going through was not my fault and that I would get better. It also helped my husband understand that none of this was my doing - and he waited patiently for "me" to come back.
Take care!
Posted by Jiggitykid on November 20, 2004, at 15:07:14
In reply to Re: To Dr Bob, posted by bbly78 on November 20, 2004, at 12:35:49
Good for you!! I cold-turkeyed it, with NOTHING to replace it. It was truly, as you said, a nightmare for two weeks, with things finally turning around after a month. It was this time last year. I'm so ready to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, because I feel like I missed them last year. It took that long for me to "come back."
I can't wait to see the makers of Effexor have to eat this stuff - IMO, each and every one of them should have to go on a dose of 275 for three months, then have it stopped cold turkey and see how THEY feel. We'll then see how many of them are squawking that this is a "noisy minority," thing!
> I just wanted to let everyone know that after only 3 days of my new meds that the awful withdrawal of effexor seems like only a bad dream.. I still have occasional numbness in my hands and arms.. but nothing like it was.. I had no choice but to stop cold turkey.. my advice to those coming off.. wean or have your Dr give you something in place of it.. these withdrawals have been a nightmare.. literally.. thanks for all the input.. it has been greatly appreciated.. ill still update from time to time and see how all is doing
Posted by jubilee on November 21, 2004, at 0:37:23
In reply to Delayed Withdrawl???, posted by sexylexy on November 19, 2004, at 22:12:02
From effexor withdrawal too fast I had blurred vision and was dizzy 3 days as I started craming them back down me , but I didn't know if I was going to be able to stop it in time. Got taken off vallium real fast and survived 4 small strokes that took me 6 months to recover from. Nausea, blured vision , sounded drunk, nkunb hand, dizzy , blured vision. I only suggest going off very very slow. I personally would take myself down real slow as I was still on it as its taken me months already and I have about 2 months to go. On 300 and now on 37 mg a day. Must cut down every 3 weeks very small amount as I almost died twice. I am convinced Drs really dont want to know. Thank God I decided while I hadjust gotten a large boittle. The closer I am getting to thie lowest dose I feel the wierdest, sweats, irratable, cant sleep at this time at all hardly, where last week I slept all week. Extreem fibro pain last week. Nausea. Go slow please, thats just what I would do if I was to do it again and had ins to pay for it or even if I could afford it. I was told 4 months , but its more like 5 or more months from 300. God bless all. Also I heard about 7 days of prozac after I totally qiite. Anybody know about wellbutrin?? Got to go off thsat now?? God Bless you all, Jubilee
Posted by jubilee on November 21, 2004, at 0:58:54
In reply to Re: Advice for the weary?, posted by jiggitykid on November 21, 2003, at 8:27:40
Started first of Aug from 300. Down to t half 37's a day. Felt wierd all week and felt like I dont know who I am since last drop. Cant sleep. Confused and getting fearful so started taking some inderal for panic attack as I just don't get scared . Sure glad for Dr Bob and the awsome people on this board and how we get to share and encourage each other. I suggest slow . Cant sleep and wierd thoughts and dreams. Get phycodic cause cant sleep so I am taking some seriquil I have , but hardly works. Oh yea, inderal is the old fashioned panic attack pill. Its a heart med. God Bless you all. Still excited I will be getting life back soon. Must go down to just a few pebbles even I know. Look to him, Jubilee
Posted by Wanda C on November 21, 2004, at 12:10:07
In reply to Re: Delayed Withdrawl???, posted by jubilee on November 21, 2004, at 0:37:23
Wow, this all sounds so familiar to me. I just posted a fraction of my details on 11/20 and it is amazing how all of our stories are the same. Why is this pill legal and why haven't doctors found something for us to help with the withdrawls, it is obvious we all have them. I thought effexor was supposed to help us feel better, I wanted to seriously DIE when I tried to get off. My doctor tried to just switch me over to prozac and quit effexor all together. I was on 225 of effexor and the prozac was 20mg twice a day. I couldn't even make it to my second day, my fiance had to rush me to the hospital, actually drag me because I wanted to just lay in bed and die. I threw up the entire way there with uncontrolable shaking and twitching. Thank god my doctors office is there. He put me right back on my effexor upped the dose to 300 and gave me adavan. Adavan is what saved me. Doctors are leary about prescribing adavan because it is habbit forming, but it only took me three. Not all at the same time, but it sure took the anxiety edge off and actually let me sleep without sweating.
To the person who I am replying to, I tried wellbutrin but it gave me a seizure and I have never had one before. It sounds like it wouldn't be safe for you since you already have had medical difficulties. That is just my opinion though.
I do know however, I am extremely thankful I found this web sight, it has helped me because I thought I was going crazy, but come to find out its not me it is the medication making me like that. It has also helped my fiance becasue of corse he was so scared to see me like that and this web site gave him an inside look at what I am going through. I wish everyone that has written to this web site and to the ones who don't know about it yet, best of luck and health. We deserve it and so do our families.
Posted by DustBuster on November 21, 2004, at 16:44:49
In reply to Re: withdrawl? Not sure, but I AM depressed again » DustBuster, posted by Jiggitykid on November 18, 2004, at 21:29:35
Well, I'm am now 100% convinced that the terrible anixiety, depression and anger I experienced earlier this week was withdrawl from Effexor. After a day and a half of uncontrollable anger, depression and crying, the symptoms quickly subsided. Maybe the Benadryl did help, not sure.
Yesterday (a week after quitting), while out shopping, I started to feel dizzy and weak, with sore muscles. I just went home, and today I'm still feeling flu-ish. But I'll just hold on, this too shall pass, I'm sure.
It does seem odd to me, but I guess I've read others' withdrawl stories as well, that these symptoms seem to come in waves, intersperse with periods of feeling 'okay'. My cycle, so far, seems to be every 1-1/2 to 2 days. I'll be fine for a couple days, feel bad for a couple days, then repeat. Sounds like shampoo instructions. ;-)
All this, after only 3 weeks of Effexor. I agree whole heartedly with whomever said all sr mgmt at Wyeth should be sentenced to a few months of "treatment" with their own poison!
Patrick
Posted by dancingstar on November 21, 2004, at 17:18:30
In reply to Re: withdrawl? Not sure, but I AM depressed again, posted by DustBuster on November 21, 2004, at 16:44:49
Hang in their Patrick. Thanks to you guys and the petition where people also complained of similar symptoms, I am able to verify the validity of my own problems with this drug. I promise you that one way or another, I will see that this is brought to light...at the least. The price for our taking this drug has been outrageous to both ourselves and the people around us, and we don't even know exactly what to do or how long this will last, what the effects are to our bodies, minds and spirits. I'm not sure if it's worse for those with serious mental disorders or for those of us who were prescribed the drug for things like "fatigue," or -- dare I say -- hot flashes.
I'd say they've got some 'splainin to do :-). Like I say, hang in there...I'm working on it almost as I write this.
In the meantime, try to know that most of what you are feeling is withdrawal and please, please try to get yourself to a trustworthy M.D. and inform them about what's up. They do care, but they don't know. If you can get some SAMe into your system, it's expensive, but it starts to help, and I don't know why, but DMAE has helped me, too. I have isolated this result as I started DMAE separately.Yesterday someone tipped me off to trying a diet for colitis, and I'm now going to try to avoid most raw foods, which I tend to eat, like salads, dodge all dairy -- cause dairy of any kind isn't working. Eating tiny, tiny amounts seems to be better, and be sure to cook everything. She recommended potatoes...of course, I haven't eaten starches for so long that it's really hard for me to submit to this sort of thing. Maybe I can eat a piece of a yam or something. Also, probably fats should be avoided. While your stomach may like sugar at this time, and it may be good for you, some of us just can't go there cause it also increases the amount of yeast in your system. Harumph......A little rice, or brown rice is okay, boiled chicken, salmon are all thumbs up.
I guess some compromise is just going to be a fact of life here :-).Anyway, if you are one of those people that eat potatoes, they could make you feel better.
I know you didn't ask for a diet. I hope you feel better. The Benadryl is pretty amazing, huh?
Bebe
Posted by dancingstar on November 21, 2004, at 17:27:43
In reply to Re: withdrawl? Not sure, but I AM depressed again, posted by sunny10 on November 19, 2004, at 10:03:07
Has anyone tried acupunture for this?
I know that on Friday I had a massage for the neck/shoulders/upper back/ arms/nerves problem which besides my stomach is the worst of it at this point -- does that sound like a bad joke? Really, I am so very much better than I was, honest! And since I knew the masseuse, it was really helpful. I really want to try that again next week. It seems like I'm okay as long as I don't get tooooo stressed out, not cause I can't handle the stress emotionally or mentally but because my physical nervous system doesn't feel as though it is completely healthy, like the lines haven't healed completely or there are tears or breaks in my body internally, like in my stomach. Can anyone follow this? It feels like there are rips in my system or something?
Posted by dancingstar on November 22, 2004, at 17:13:41
In reply to Re: the nightmare of effexor » dancingstar, posted by Jiggitykid on November 19, 2004, at 9:58:39
You may as well just write me at [email protected], and i will keep you updated. I am looking into three possibilites right now. It is most important to me that I work with people concerned with public health and safety, and I do have access to some of the best and brightest minds in the business.
Posted by mandilynn on December 9, 2004, at 14:49:31
In reply to Re: Delayed Withdrawl???, posted by Wanda C on November 21, 2004, at 12:10:07
Ah, I think I'm going crazy. But it's nice to know I'm not alone. Not only am I experiencing withdrawals from effexor down from 150MG to 75MG for 4 days to 37.5MG for 4 days to nothing...I'm on my 2nd day effexor free, but I'm also almost 6 weeks pregnant. Before finding this site I thought a lot of my symptoms were pregnancy related but now I see they could be from withdrawal as well. I knew the brain shivers and light headedness were from withdrawal because I've experienced them before from missing a dose. But I've also been have very vivid dreams, incredible night sweats, and trouble sleeping, all of witch I was blaming on the pregnancy. Now I see it could be from either. I'm glad to be getting off this drug, both for my baby's safety and mine, but these withdrawals are aful. Not to mention the other pregnancy symptoms I am having. The possible long term withdrawal effects are scaring me though. Has anyone had these brain shivers or any other symptom go on for long term? Is there anyone else going through pregnancy and withdrawals at the same time? Thanks for everyone's support. It's great to know I'm not completely falling apart.
Posted by MKB on December 9, 2004, at 17:05:22
In reply to withdrawals and pregnant, posted by mandilynn on December 9, 2004, at 14:49:31
In my opinion you are doing the right thing to get off Effexor. Try to do it gradually. I also would tend to think that your discomfort is more likely from going off the Effexor than from the pregnancy. See a copy below of one of my previous posts:
NEW WARNINGS have been added as of June 28, 2004. When I checked a few days ago, Dr. Bob’s FAQ on Effexor seem not to have been updated since that time. The most recent information I could find follows.
http://www.researchprotection.org/infomail/04/06/29.html :
“FDA Alert: Effexor warnings added for neonatal adverse effects…
Tue, 29 Jun 2004
On June 28, the FDA and Wyeth issued a new MedWatch drug Alert to healthcare professionals:
"Neonates exposed to Effexor, other SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors), or SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), late in the third trimester of pregnancy have developed complications requiring prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding."
See the new complete warning at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004/safety04.htm#effexor
Also:
http://www.perinatology.com/exposures/Drugs/Venlafaxine.htm :
“NEONATAL SIDE EFFECTS: Restlessness, hypertonia, jitteriness, irritability and poor feeding occurred in a neonate after maternal use of venlafaxine for depression during pregnancy. The diagnosis was confirmed by a temporary improvement after administration of a low dose (1 mg) of venlafaxine to the boy. The symptoms ceased after 8 days [6].”Hang in there and good luck. Hope you become more comfortable in the near future.
Posted by sillyme on December 9, 2004, at 22:37:31
In reply to Re: withdrawals and pregnant » mandilynn, posted by MKB on December 9, 2004, at 17:05:22
I tried to go off Effexor XR less than a week ago when my husband and I decided to try to get pregnant. I'm a student and I have exams next week, and so yesterday after days of absolute hell I broke down and took 1/2 a 37.5 mg capsule. I just opened it and poured out the beads and then put 1/2 back in. I feel a lot better today but not completely.
Anyway, what I was going through before: chills, horrible shakes coming from inside to outside that felt deeper than shivers, bad nausea and some vomiting, vertigo, headache, colors looking weird/darker, and sort of an out-of-body feeling. I went and got a prescription for anti-nausea meds, and that helped some, but then 2 days ago I started with bad diarrhea which I assumed was due to that drug, so I stopped it, and yesterday I took the half pill. Still have the diarrhea and a bit of the nausea and color weirdness, but able to study at least. After exams I'm trying again.
Anyway, I still think going off it is the best for me and my future baby. Good luck!
Posted by MKB on December 9, 2004, at 23:15:41
In reply to Re: withdrawals and pregnant, posted by sillyme on December 9, 2004, at 22:37:31
I took the lowest dosage every other day for about 10 days and also took Benadryl at night. The "discontinuation" was not fun, but I finally got off.
Posted by dancingstar on December 9, 2004, at 23:57:52
In reply to withdrawals and pregnant, posted by mandilynn on December 9, 2004, at 14:49:31
I just checked my email, and I hear that there is a highly reputable firm interested in representing those of us that are miserable about our health being messed with because of this drug.
Please check in if you haven't at [email protected], but only if you are serious cause I don't have the energy to answer tons of curiosity mail.
Thanks,
Bebe
Posted by deon on December 10, 2004, at 8:18:00
In reply to withdrawals and pregnant, posted by mandilynn on December 9, 2004, at 14:49:31
I've been off the Effoxor for over a month now and my symptoms with the "BRAIN JOLTS" are next to none. These quakes will leave. Give it time girl. All will be ok in the near future. I have heard that some cases that the symptoms may stay longer but not nearly as bad as in the begining. You are making the right choice for you and that special little miracle to get off that poison. I feel so much better now. I still have some dream and quakes but my wife has toild me that I am back to the man she once new. Things will be much better. We are all with you on this. It's a tough battle, a battle that will win you the war!!
Good luck and keep us posted.
Have a Merry Christmas.-------------------------------------------------
> Ah, I think I'm going crazy. But it's nice to know I'm not alone. Not only am I experiencing withdrawals from effexor down from 150MG to 75MG for 4 days to 37.5MG for 4 days to nothing...I'm on my 2nd day effexor free, but I'm also almost 6 weeks pregnant. Before finding this site I thought a lot of my symptoms were pregnancy related but now I see they could be from withdrawal as well. I knew the brain shivers and light headedness were from withdrawal because I've experienced them before from missing a dose. But I've also been have very vivid dreams, incredible night sweats, and trouble sleeping, all of witch I was blaming on the pregnancy. Now I see it could be from either. I'm glad to be getting off this drug, both for my baby's safety and mine, but these withdrawals are aful. Not to mention the other pregnancy symptoms I am having. The possible long term withdrawal effects are scaring me though. Has anyone had these brain shivers or any other symptom go on for long term? Is there anyone else going through pregnancy and withdrawals at the same time? Thanks for everyone's support. It's great to know I'm not completely falling apart.
Posted by jubilee on December 10, 2004, at 9:54:38
In reply to Re: withdrawl? Not sure, but I AM depressed again, posted by dancingstar on November 21, 2004, at 17:18:30
If I am still in my 12 year relationship before this is over I will be grateful . I am figity and have angry outbursts where I alomst beat mate up with the telaphone and kicked him out 3 times in one day this last week .. Thought I had a relationship problem but it was nothing. I tried to kill the dish TV people yesterday when my TV broke and explained it wasnt personal but have found myself sayying the lords name in vain for first time in 30 years. I am down to minute amounts 2 times a day and in a 2 weeks I am going on 8 days of prozak and no more effexor after since august 1st. I cant wait till this hell is over but the nausea stopped I I have moved to insanity now. God help you all and try to go as slow as possible so you survive it. I still suggest going off slowly yourself before they take the drug completely away from you and stay in control of how slow. Someone said 4 months and I got hope. It will be 6 months all together. Only peuked 4 times. Dr offered me a reorder of a bottle of zanex which had to be God and I am on alot prer day, but adavan is better and then go off it. That was originally suggested. Gods best to you all . Jubilee
Posted by dancingstar on December 10, 2004, at 13:48:59
In reply to Re: withdrawals and pregnant, posted by deon on December 10, 2004, at 8:18:00
Try to not worry toooo much if you get those brain things for a while. I kind of thought they were gone and was surprised when they reappeared last night, along with a blinding headache, and they have been with me most of this morning...along with the bathroom problem. Does this ever go away???? The brain shaking think is much more mild, but it is the sure giveaway that this has to do with Effexor and isn't something else.
The most annoying thing is that there isn't any real annecdote for the symptoms, besides Benadryl.
It must be so difficult for you being pregnant, but chances are good that your body will heal more quickly during pregnancy than it might at other times. You are being so wonderfully brave!
Bebe
Posted by tbone64 on December 16, 2004, at 19:29:40
In reply to Ever tried cold turkey?, posted by Camille Dumont on November 8, 2003, at 19:48:05
> You have no idea how much it scares me to read all the withdrawal stories about Effexor. I've been on it for about a year now and I dread the day I'll have to go off it.
>
> I remember when I was only on 75mg and I went cold turkey for 2 days and it was pure hell. Now I'm no 225 and I'm so very very afraid.
>
> I wonder wether its better to tamper it off and get less brutal side effects but over a long period of time or to take two weeks off, lock oneself in one's room, flush the pills and wait it out.
>
> Has anybody ever tried going cold turkey and succeded?I don't know if anyone has succeeded, but I am going to give it a hell of a try. I went two days (inadvertently) and thought I was going crazy! I then figured out my symptoms were from not taking my Effexor, and the symptoms went away after taking it again.
After learning all I could from the internet (the information pamphlet that came with the Effexor only stated not to suddenly discontinue the medication) I realized the severity of the symptoms that I could have from this withdrawl. I finally decided to take the whole bottle and flush it down the toilet. I know I am going to suffer for a while, but I have decided that I will not continue to poison my body with this crap.
I will have to find some other solution to my depression, but I will no longer take any of the short-acting SSRIs.
Good luck to all of you, my prayers are with you.
Posted by Jiggitykid on December 16, 2004, at 20:54:24
In reply to Re: Ever tried cold turkey?, posted by tbone64 on December 16, 2004, at 19:29:40
I DID IT!!! I cold-turkeyed it and made it. I felt just like you, one year ago now. I couldn't face going slowly - I did not want to draw out the agony. So, I stopped. That does NOT mean that it is the right thing for everyone. Withdrawal was hell, pure hell, but I did it and I'm glad I got it over quickly. It has been a year and I'm back to me. My marriage is now saved. My home is happier. Effexor was the problem, not the solution. If only I'd tried counseling, exercise, group therapy, etc., instead of going to the doctor for that pill.
Now, before anyone yells at me ;-), I'm not dogging antidepressants. At one period in my life, prozac and zoloft saved my life. Truly saved it. But, I was given information about those drugs. I was not given ANY information about the side effects and the hellacious withdrawal for Effexor.
Take care of yourself. Don't drive at night. Take benedryl for the brain zaps. Avoid loud, bright areas for a while, because you'll be on sensory overload for some time. If sleeping scares you like it did me (because of the nightmares that were more like hallucinations), sleep with the lamp on. That will help with re-orientation. Pain killers, used with caution, can help. Don't make ANY major or important decisions until your emotions are more stable. Give yourself a month before you do anything major with money or relationships.
Hang in there. You CAN do it. I did, and I'm better.
Posted by sillyme on December 16, 2004, at 21:03:15
In reply to Re: Ever tried cold turkey? » tbone64, posted by Jiggitykid on December 16, 2004, at 20:54:24
That's good advice. Sensory overload is right! I gave up with the withdrawal because it hadn't gotten better and I had to study/take exams. After tomorrow, and my last exam, it's back to no Effexor. I've been taking about 1/4 of the balls in my 37.5 mg XR capsule (I throw the rest out and put the capsule back together) every 48 hours. It isn't much, but it's enough to keep me sane and able to study. By the time winter break is over I ought to be over the worst of the withdrawal.
Again, good advice about not making any decisions or anything while you're in withdrawal. Also avoid sensory overload, take tylenol for headaches, sleep a lot. I think people should be educated about Effexor before going on it. It wasn't the first SSRI I took, but I still think there were other, better options available.
Posted by ht on December 26, 2004, at 2:47:54
In reply to Re: Ever tried cold turkey?, posted by sillyme on December 16, 2004, at 21:03:15
Yes, inadvertently, after being on effexor for over two years, my prescription ran out without a refill. My Doctor didn't let me know about the withdrawal! I have had no side effects from the drug, but the ringing and popping, the dizziness, sweats, the fatigue and sleeplessness, among other things (as well as just having had a wisdom tooth cut out) are making for a miserable Christmas time. I thought all of the symptoms was related to an infection from the surgery, but now I see it's not. It's been four days and I just took two of my wife's 75mg caps from an old script she didn't finish (I think mine were 150mg), if anyone knows of any other relief, HELP!
Posted by dancingstar on December 26, 2004, at 11:37:11
In reply to Re: Ever tried cold turkey? » sillyme, posted by ht on December 26, 2004, at 2:47:54
I quit 150 mg just over three months ago, and I am just now returning to normal. I think you should opt for a tapered dose, or some doctors like to add Prozac in to make you "feel" better, something about it being a longer-acting drug and not being difficult to stop taking later.
Barring those options, Benadryl or something similar might be your best bet for relief with the addition of SAMe and St. John's Wort, perhaps, and possibly L-tryptophan, but I don't take it cause I didn't react well to L-tryptophan. Most people recover in a week to a month, but I didn't. Every time I thought it was over, I got sick again. Nausea, vomiting, colitis, brain shivers -- still get this and the paresthesia, uticaria, migraines, massive pain everywhere so that I could barely move, sweating, freezing, fever, extreme anxiety, panic attacks, inability to be around people even if you are normally really social...any and all of those are probably withdrawal symptoms.
It's been three months, and for the first time yesterday I went rollerblading at the beach...want to go again this morning. I'm beginning to feel like myself again. It was one rough road!!! You will have to take extremely good care of yourself and ask your wife for infinite patience as you will be mighty difficult to live with...most say this is so. If you are going to go cold turkey, tell her you love her now, tell her nothing, absolutely nothing will change this no matter what you say or do...or don't do.
I'm putting together a class action against Wyeth for not letting people like me know how horrible this was going to be and also for not letting us know about the possible side effects of Effexor/XR. If after you are done you find yourself interested in joining our group, you are welcome to drop me a line :-).
Best of luck to you!!! Happy New Year!!!!!!!
Posted by Wanda C on December 26, 2004, at 14:37:35
In reply to Re: Ever tried cold turkey? » sillyme, posted by ht on December 26, 2004, at 2:47:54
If you can get to your pharmacy and let that pharmacist see you and the withdrwls you are going through, they will probably give you enough until your prescription goes through. Make sure you bring in your empty bottle also, they will put the pills in that. Your doctor may not have known about the severity of our withdrawls so that is probably why thay didn't tell you. Unfortunately, I have gone through the same thing you are going through right now when might meds would run out and the insurance would screw everything up. I would end up going without meds for four days to two weeks at a time. Talk about a roller coaster. Then I got a new insurance company and a better pharmacy. Good luck to you and keep in touch with all of us at this web site so we can be there for one another. Quick question before I go, How are your dreams? gorry? descriptive? scary? make you sad or mad the next day? I ask because when my meds get messed up, I have all the listed above descriptions in my dreams and I want to know if it may be related to effexor. Again good luck and have a Happy New Year!
From
Wanda
Posted by dancingstar on December 26, 2004, at 14:54:16
In reply to Re: Ever tried cold turkey? » ht, posted by Wanda C on December 26, 2004, at 14:37:35
That might be a good idea, Wanda. When I stopped, my pharmacist gave me two pills to get through the weekend, just in case I got in trouble when after three days he saw that I looked like a decomposing heroin addict. I didn't want to take them, though, because I figured it would all be over within a week or so and I thought it was all nearly over and didn't want to have to go through the pain all over again. Besides I knew I had an appointment with my doctor by the sixth day of withdrawal and that he would surely make it all better...boy was I wrong.
About the dreams, I think that if you can sleep through the beginning stages of withdrawal, you are very lucky. Funny, besides the brain zaps and things like the room moving in stages when I turned my head and the insanity brought about by the severe physical pain, I didn't have any other purely mental experiences. I couldn't sleep because I was dizzy, had headaches, was shaking all night long, was throwing up and couldn't leave the bathroom; so there were no bad dreams, good dreams, or any dreams that were left in my memory banks by the time I caught a few winks
:-)....glad it's over....
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