| Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help |
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| Re: Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From lycopodium [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-12-23 |
I took a low dose of effexor for over a year. don't remember any side effects when coming off of it, but I was but right away on another conventional drug. Can't remember its name because this was close to twenty years ago. I went on Ritalin along with another anti-depressant. Then, the doctor added a mood stabilizer. It seemed like, once starting with one drug, I needed another and another. Also, dosing seemed to increase with time. I know that the more conventional drugs you use, the more your body will slow down producing its own chemicals. It says, "why bother?" It is only natural I suppose. Nature works usually in response to necessity. Anyway, when I got pregnant with my first (and only) child, I was taken off of all medicine. I was doing seemingly ok. I had a fiance (we got married after I found out I was pregnant), and my hormones seemed to kick in to help out. I guess the first month or so was hard but my point is this:
After my baby was born, and after she stopped nursing, I started using homeopathic remedies. It seems like my concentration has improved by about 800 percent and my anxiety is much less now than it used to be. I have not, thank g-d, needed conventional meds for physical problems. I see a chiropractor that practices accupuncture, do cleanses and, in short, my inability to be independant is slowly turning itself around.
I believe that, with the right homeopathic practitioner, you can come off any conventional medication. Homeopathic practitioners that I have spoken to, and even the rule page on this site say, do not come off of your conventional medications until your doctor deems it safe to do so. Perhaps, if you are suffereing so much, ask your doctor what he thinks of staying on Effexor (unless it is dangerous for your heart or something like this) and start with homeopathic remedies. As the remedies start to work, then they will help detox your body and the symptoms should be much less severe. | | |
| Re: Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From rebdlit [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-12-24 |
im on day 4 of no e. i replaced it with viibryd which is a newer ssri. id like to be off them all but the withdrawal is already so bad even with a replacement ssri i dont know how i could come off all together. when will the anger and crying and dizziness ease up? | | |
| Re: Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From tshrable [Log on to view profile] | on 2012-01-11 |
I was going to wait until I was completely feeling better before I posted my story on any site. However, I have been really pulled to this particular site and the time for me to share is now. Reading all the stories that have been posted really do give me strength and courage to continue this journey. I was placed on effexor xr (the demon drug) in May of 2009 after I had a complete hysterctamy. The OB stated it would help as a hormone therapy. I didn't know then what I know now about this horrific drug, or I would never had allowed him to put me on it. In the beginning I had no negative reaction to the med, but a few weeks down the road I started experiencing very weird dreams. These dreams were unlike anything I had ever experienced and when I would wake up my head felt really weird. As the dreams continued and a few more weeks went by I began to hear Angelic music coming out of my fan before bed. It was the most magnificiant music you could possibly imagine. I thought I had been given a gift from the Divine. Then one night the music turned into words and messages. One of the messages stated that "We need an ordinary lady to carry the latern of Mary". That was just one sample of the messages I received. This continued for a few weeks until one night the messages started and went continuously around the clock for several days. I even experienced a full blown psychosis that lasted for two full days. My family couldn't cope with what was happening to me and they were scared for me. My last night at home ended with me in a psychtic state of being and the law was called in and I was shipped off to a psychiatric unit for 5 days. While at the unit the voices went away. Keep in mind that I was on 150 mg of effexor this whole time. I was home about 3 weeks from the hospital when I felt a huge THUD hit my brain and it felt like all the happiness, contentment, peace, joy, etc had been sucked from me. I was horrified and scared and I wanted to end my life so I went back into the psych unit again. When I came out I had this weird rolling sensation in my brain and my emotions were still very horrid. I was told to see a psychyitrist so about two weeks later I went to see this psychyitrist. I told him my whole ordeal from the very beginning. I told him that since the big THUD I was unable to experience happy emotions and my head felt like my brain was moving around in my head. He told me that it was the depression. He said that I had hit a major state of depression and it was going to take some time to recover. I had never been depressed before so why was I depressed now. I could'nt figure this out. I kept seeing this doctor for several weeks and everytime I went I complained about this rolly thing in my head and the dreams that were weird. Finally the doc got upset with me because I told him that I thought it was the effexor and I wanted to come off of it. The doc stated that I had a "mental illness" and I would be this way for quite some time and I had better get used to it. When he told me this I felt gloom and doom. I paniced and got online to look up effexor and coming off of it. The doc had told me that if I tried to come off of effexor that I would slip into a deep deep depression that I would be unable to get out of. When I went and researched effexor and coming off of it I found this 800 number and the gentleman stated he found me a good place to go. So the next day I hopped a plane to California. Now keep in mind I don't have any insurance. I went to a facility in California where I stayed for three weeks (costing $17000). When I came home they had me down to 75 mg of the effexor. However, the doctor out there placed me on 900 mg of litheum. AFter I got home i continued the lowering of the drug. As of today I am 6 days off of effexor. I do not feel the best.I have this focusing problem with my eyes and can feel this weird feeling when I focus behind my eyes and in the back of my head. I also sweat alot at night. I do have the dizziness. I am sick of feeling this way but I also know how sick i felt while on the effexor. I am not looking back because I have no choice but to go forward. This drug has taken so much away from me and has cost thousands of dollars in medical bills. If that psychyitrist would have listened to me when I was describing all of those side effects I could have gotten off of this stuff a long time ago. I will never again take another SRI.When I can get rid of these weird feelings/sensations in my brain I will be happy. Reading some of these posts gives me hope that it does get better. I am holding onto getting better very tightly. Good luck to everyone. Take it day by day and remind yourself that "This to shall pass". I will post again in a couple of days to let everyone see how I am doing. It has sure helped me to have those postings to look at.
Tammy
[message edited by tshrable on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:38:53 GMT] | | |
| Re: Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From GerardInSydney [Log on to view profile] | on 2012-01-11 |
Tammy... we all have different routes to the same disaster... I am also finding a lot of practical help on Surviving Anti Depressants (dot com).
Sadly I went down 25% in two weeks in early December and quickly came unstuck... I am "strategically" re instituting at 300mg... being careful of encountering additional drugs (although I have had to up my blood pressure med)..and am waiting at least 3-4 months to stabilise...and with what i know now..am prepared for a very long and slow taper... several years...
I wish you success in re establishing your life... and I have found that some of te best advise comes from were I havent been looking... so I ask for "open mindedness"... ciao for now.Robert | This thread continues beneath the following ad.
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| Re: Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From Dante [Log on to view profile] | on 2012-01-11 |
Tammy,
While weaning of Effexor, did you try any of the methods below:
1) Exercise
2) Vitamin regime
3) 5-HTP / L-Tyrosine (low dosage to offset withdrawal)
4) Passionflower
5) Mediterranean diet
6) No caffeine
7) No alcohol
I have been on 150mg for almost 10 years and have decided I no longer want to be on this medication and to reach for a more homeopathic way of dealing with anxiety/depression. I am now at 65mg with virtually no notable side-effects using the above recommendation. I know that several sites do not recommend 5-HTP combined with SSRI/SNRI's however after much research and discussions with homeopathic doctors, all recommendations made sense to add 5-HTP while reducing Effexor. It has completely made me forget I was weaning off Effexor, with no side effects or feelings of serotonin syndrome as most will relay.
Serotonin syndrome is based on getting too much serotonin build up in your body. This isn't the case when you are deliberately weaning off Effexor at the same time as adding 5-HTP.
Anyway, I should be at 37.5 in less than 8 days from now and look forward to it. | | |
| Re: Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From tshrable [Log on to view profile] | on 2012-01-13 |
I am now on day 8 of no Effexor. I am sleeping well at night and I do not have any nasea. I did purchase some St. John's Wort which will hopefully assist with the withdrawl I am experiencing. I was taking Dramamine 6 tablets daily and I did not take any of those today. I am taking Omega 3, Magnesium, B-Complex, St. John's Wort as supplements. I am also taking Litheum 900 mg daily. I am experiencing a heaviness in the back of my head and it takes my brain time to focus (kinda a disorientation feeling in my brain). I also get the occasional zap in the brain. I spoke with the pharmacist today and she said that after a week you should start to notice some gradual changes. She said it could take up to a good month to start feeling a positive difference. I would love to chat with anyone who is also going through this situation. Support with someone is a good feeling when you are so worried about ever seeing the light again.
Tammy | | |
| Re: Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From tshrable [Log on to view profile] | on 2012-01-17 |
Hello Everyone:
I am going on day 12 of withdrawal from this demon drug. Last night I stood outside in the cold air holding my gut vomiting while my husband held me hand. We have been married 22 years and he has only ever saw me vomit twice and once was with effexor withdrawal. I do not have a stomach that gets easily upset, but this effexor withdrawal is something else. I have bouts where I will feel an extreme amount of heat and then a burst of sweat. I still get the rolling wave feeling which is absolutely disgusting and makes my stomach nasueas. Getting out and getting fresh air (even if it is only 32 degrees outside) feels really good. I don't know what I would do without my family. My husband does all the cooking and cleaning and my kids help as much as they can outside of school. I am definately glad that I am not working because I couldn't hold a job. I was told that I had a mental illness and so disability is helping me out. Even though effexor was my mental illness while I was on it. I would have never had the voices and such if the stinking doctors would have just know about the negative effects of effexor. I will tell you this; my psychyistrist told me that if you ever have a negative reaction to one anti-depressent you do not need to take another. Well at one time I had taken Paxil (for being hyper) and I started having seizures. The doc took me off of Paxil cold turkey (which was hell, but not anything like Effexor withdrawal). Anyway, I am taking one day at a time. Trust me I have the days numbered in my calendar because everyday is terribly long. I am not looking back now. I have 12 days under my belt and I have read many posts on here where it does get better. I am planning on getting my life back and feeling good again. My poor family has had to suffer enough with everything I have been through. I will post back to let you know how it is going. I suffer with you and we can do this. Take it one day at a time it will get better. We will live a life Effexor FREE. | | |
| Re: Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From tshrable [Log on to view profile] | on 2012-01-21 |
Day 15 Effexor Free. Well I am still holding on. I truly believe that a "Brain Zap" is experienced by every individual differently. My most bothersome withdrawl symptom right now is this focusing problem. When I look down to read and then try to look off I get this weird (nausea feeling) pulling sensation from the back of my brain and behind my eyes. I think this is a brain zap. I get extremely nauseated at night (in my sleep)and I get a sickening feeling in my brain. I also get this unusual sweating sensation. I am still going and moving forward. I will never take another one of those demon pills again. I am hoping that within this next week this awful feeling I get in my brain leaves. If you are currently withdrawling from Effexor and would like a communication buddy please let me know. It would be nice to have someone to talk with who is experiencing the hell along with you. | | |
| Re: Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From GerardInSydney [Log on to view profile] | on 2012-01-21 |
Hi; Not much action on this website...lots of support and chatting on PAxil Progress..and also Effeor users..as well as other ADs | | |
| Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help | From Dante [Log on to view profile]  | on 2012-01-30 |
I am completely off Effexor 150 and with the exception of the sniffles and the occasional zap, I have never felt better!
The success I speak of is based on the program I mentioned early. I started weaning off around December 15 and am completely as of Feb 1 of this year.
Slowly and methodically... |
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Important
Information given in this forum is given by way of exchange of views only, and those views are not necessarily those of ABC Homeopathy. It is not to be treated as a medical diagnosis or prescription, and should not be used as a substitute for a consultation with a qualified homeopath or physician. It is possible that advice given here may be dangerous, and you should make your own checks that it is safe. If symptoms persist, seek professional medical attention. Bear in mind that even minor symptoms can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, and a timely diagnosis by your doctor could save your life.