Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 116 of 140}

kat1999, thanks for the reply about crying jags easing up for you after 5 weeks. i guess i'll need about 2 or so more weeks before i start to feel better. the bad thing is that i just started a job and quit it the next day because i was so sad at it. granted i felt obligated to take it even tho it wasn't a job i was happy about. so maybe the crying jags helped me realize i shouldn't be doing something that makes me sad and life is too short for that.

anyway, i am hoping that these crying jags and feelings of depression are just the *temporary* effects of getting off effexor. does anyone know more about the emotional/mental side effects of withdrawal? are my serotonin levels still trying to even out and that's why i'm crying?

in terms of physical effects, i think i'm okay. i get headaches but not the awful, brain zap kind. i definitely agree with mikemo's taper method or just halving the medication until you feel okay to halve it again. when i did it that way i had minor side effects, as opposed to when i tried to make too big a drop, which is when i felt awful -- brain zaps, shivers, etc.; i don't advise too big a drop! as soon as i went back up a bit, i felt much better and could start tapering slowly again.

leonora,
thanks so much for the suggestion and I will seriously consider it. You are right I do not want to ruin my summer.
Im am actually going for an catscan of my heart this morning because I asm incapable of getting my breath but I know it is just from the withdrawl. The dr. is acting like it is probably withdrawl as well but just to be on the safe side. She suggested that if the test is clear then I will simply withdrawl . A couple more days. I told her that I felt is was more serious then that; as my ecperience with this site suggests. I dont think she gets it. I will let you know what I decide and once agasin thank you so much for your compassion.
johnnie

mikemo,
That last post was for you not to leonora. Sorry about that . So let me thank you for the help and support. I am so distressed that this has happened. I thought this was such a good thing when I statred, but it completely numbed me to life. I simply did not care about much . I was Plaaaaaah!

I tend to live more on the extremes and have decided I kind of liked myself that way.
so thanks again.
johnnie

Leorna,

You will be going through lots of those emotions. I know I did. However, I have been getting better and better each day.
May be it is a good thing you are not at that job. It is frustrating as it is. You are sensitive and don’t feel positive at this time. That is why you should avoid all the things and all the people who may make you feel worse. People who have not been trough this will not know what we are going through.

Just be proud of yourself for taking this step. I think it is just like coming off some major drug like meth, or Cocaine (although I have never personally done that).

Johnnie,
I have been having those feelings of shortness of breath specially at nights when I am in bed. Hope your doctor finds noting wrong.

Regarding the living more on the extremes, I used to be that way too. But, not since I have been off of the Efexor. However, I am hopeful. These last few weeks seem like a lifetime. But, it will pass.

Mikemo,

How long has been since you have been Effexor free?

How long did the whole process take for you?

I actually wasn't on Effexor. My wife was. We took her down from 75mg to 0mg in 89 days. There were a few rough patches, and about 2 weeks of mild withdrawl at the end. Then there was about 3 months of just feeling a little strange. That was when she really got going on excersise and life pursuits. These days it's all just like a distant memory!

We keep a bottle of 5-HTP and every once in a while, she'll take 50mg a day for 2 or 3 days. That always happens about 3 days after a stressfull couple of days. It's as if the seretonin response lags by 3 days from the stress. Interesting...

Anyway, that usually gets her through it. I've even taken 50-100mg of 5-HTP on occasion. (They've linked seretonin levels with male 'stamina' ;)

Mikemo,

Thank your for your explanation. Interestingly, I was just listening to this radio show, where the doctor talked about the 5-HTP. Does it help with anxiety?
I read awhile back that the natural stuff like St. Johns worth also can be addicting. Do you see the affect of it that quickly that you only need to take it for a few days. I would love to hear more about it. The dosage and the maximum days it can be taken. Do you take it when you feel the stress? Is there one brand that is better than another?
I appreciate the info.

Here is the link. I recommend everyone to listen to it. It is very informative.


blank">http://totalhealthradio.solidcasts.com/xml/download/709/audi...

The first 50 second is music. It becomes more interesting after 10 minutes.

St. John's Wort can become addicting in the same sense that Effexor can become addicting. Your body becomes dependant on the re-uptake inhibitor. It actually makes your body need less seretonin by concentrating what your body makes in the brain synapses. So the body, which is already producing too little, actually produces even less. Kinda like how eyeglasses make your vision worse with time.

5-HTP is a precursor to seretonin. Your body takes it and makes seretonin out of it.

So, if the theory that low seretonin levels causes depression is true, there are 2 solutions. One is to create more seretonin for your whole body & mind (Tryptophan or 5-HTP), the other is to move the small ammount that you already have into the brain alone (Effexor, St. John's Wort, Zoloft...etc.).

You can see why I like the 5-HTP better. Now, here's the bad part: by supplimenting with 5-HTP, you may actually be making your body lazy when it come to metabolizing tryptophan out of regular food. That's why I don't like the idea of taking 5-HTP as a daily suppliment, but rather as a stop gap when your stress levels are high, you've been getting less sunlight and excersise, and when you've been eating a lot of fast food.

The beauty part of it all is, there is a very fast turnaround from 5-HTP to seretonin. Generally speaking, 1 to 3 hours from pill to seretonin levels increasing. But here's where the real danger come in. People think they can take it every 1 to 3 hours. NO! Just because it metabolizes that quickly doesn't mean you can repeat it that often! For the most part, I wouln't go over 100mg a day, AND only if you are completely off any other anti-depressants. Just take 50mg a day or, if you have to, 50mg twice a day.

For the most part, you can start a 3 to 5 day cycle and then stop cold turkey. Just make sure you keep giving your body a chance to stay strong and not get lazy. Don't let it get too used to not having to metabolize food tryptophan to make the 5-HTP.

This is why Tryptophan is by far the BEST solution. Too bad you can't buy it in the US.....The reason I like it best is bacause it has to go through all the same metabolizing that food based tryptophan has to go through in your body. Not a single process gets lazy. FDA can bite me.

BTW, I'm not a doctor, so you should check anything you plan on doing with your doctor.

Thank you so very much for explaining in such detail that even I, (having a hard time concentrating) would I understand.
So, you said they don't sell the 5-HTP in U.S. Where can I find it then?

I just called GNC, The guy didn't know what I was talking about. But, I googled it and it gave me this page.
Is this similiar to what you are taking?

The 5-HTP is available. It's the tryptophan that isn't (to my knowledge anyway). The FDA banned it in the US right when Prozac was announced as a 'breakthrough in depression medication'. So millions of tryptophan users were suddenly without tryptophan, and thier doctors gave them prozac. (conspiracy theory, anyone?)

But yes, 5-HTP is available at your local health food store. I'm not surprised GNC didn't have it. It doesn't do much for body building.

Reading my post, I see how I confused you. Here's how it works:

You eat turkey. Turkey has Tryptophan. Your body makes 5-HTP out of that. (good job body!)

Now, you have 5-HTP. Your body makes seretonin out of that. (good job body!)

Now you have seretonin. You are happy.

Tryptophan suppliments were banned. So suppliment makers started producing 5-HTP for consumption. It is still available.

If your body is lazy at either process, that means less seretonin for you. You can make your processes lazy by not making them work at each process. Effexor skips both processes (Lazy Lazy). 5-HPT skips the 1st process (lazy strong). Tryptophan doesn't skip either process. (strong strong)

Thank you for clarifying.
Once again thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Ok. Now I lost agian (easy for me to do). Called GNC again. The manager was in and said they carry it. It is for helping you sleep they say.
blank">http://www.gnc.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=tryptoph...

could this be different than the one you are talking about?

If this is it, would you take this or the 5-HTP. And, how much would you take?

Again Thank you for taking the time to answer me.

Oh my gosh. L-Tryptophan is LEGAL again! Apparently, even retailers were confused about this whole mess and have been not carrying it. But it IS back! Oh happy days!

I'm not kidding, this is awesome.

I would definately take this. Just use the label directions at first. Then you can research safe limits if you need to go higher than the label recommendation. Hooray!

http://www.citizens.org/consumer-corner/the-return-of-l-tryp....

I tried to sit down and read on the stuff more. But, I feel so agitaded and have restless legs again. These feeling come back every couple of days. They make me impatient. I don't know how long they will last or will they ever go away. This Tuesday will be 6 weeks I have been off the Effexor. I honestly can not take these feeling for much longer. I have a 3rd grader who needs his mom back. I feel so guilty for being so impatient.

How long did it take these withdrawals to compeletly go away for your wife. Will it ever go away?

If I was to take the L-Tryptophan. How often and how long can I take it for? What dosage? Will it be addictive.

Pleaease advise if you know the anwers to these questions. Also, it seems like the 1000 mg. is tablets. Do you think they can be cut in half if I need to take 500 mg.?

Do you know of any drug interactions? Niacin, fish oil, Armour Thyroid, B vitamins, Eve. primrose oil, calcium.
I also some times have drinks on the weekends. Could it kill you or would it just make your more drawsy(??)

Thank you .
Kathy

I am winding down on the last phase of the spike drop method , which has worked very well for me. This week I plan to finish like this.

M 7.5
T 7.5
W 7.5
T 0
Fri 5
Sat 2.5
Sun 2.5
0
done

Should I stay longer? The only withdrawal effect I have experienced along the way Is tiredness. When I dropped to 0 on thursday I had some weird anxiety feelings in the afternoon which I have never felt before , but went away. I have been on 37.5 for 2 years.

kat thanks so much for the encouragement...this is johnnie... and I am still unble to catch my breath at all. I did get the effexoe but am petrified to take any. I am doing Bikram yoga everday, drinking a ton of water and doing green drinks in the morning and probiotoc drinks at night. I find I can not eat meet of any kind as within minutes I am so bloated that it makes my breathing issues worse. The dr. found nothing in my test yesterday and know they want to test my heart. I know it is the effexoe. I think she does to but is afraid not to test the other stuff. How long is that these symptoms can last. I have been of cold turkey for 10 days. I wonder if I could take the 5-HTP instead of the effexor at thgis point.
johnnie

Jonnie,

If you are dead set against any more effoexor, (which I don't advise) I suppose you are out of danger to start taking 5-HTP. For you I would definately use the 5-HTP instead of Tryptophan so your body will have to work less at first.

Kat, you should use the tryptophan at this point. It isn't addictive, it is just like food. The vitamin interactions don't look like a problem to me, but I'm not an expert. I WILL tell you that B6 is a GREAT way to help your body metabolize the tryptophan through the 2 phases to seretonin. Splitting the pills is not a problem either.

Johnnie,

I didn't have a good night last night. This morning I am a little better, but still fill very anxious.

I am glad everything was fine. You might as well let your doctor check the other stuff, so you would be clear on not having other health problems.

Wow, 10days cold turkey. Great job Johnnie!

I understand having gone through all you have, you would not want to go back to E. to wean down.

As far as the 5HTP, Mikemo is the person to ask. It seems like he agrees with you on starting the 5HTP.

Hang in there, and keep us informed of your progress.

Mikemo,

Thank you, thank you for your advices.

Kat.

Royalflush,
It seems like you are weaning off very slowly and you will be on your way to being E.free in a couple of days.
Let us know how you are doing.
Best wishes.

it's maybe about two weeks since i completely tapered off the effexor and i've started to get some gnawing headaches throughout the day. they're not the awful, brain zappy kind, but they're not great either. it's weird because they seem to have gotten worse rather than receded. is that normal? i've just started my period, so that may be affecting this, altho i've never had headaches during my period before. also i've had mild nausea. this really sucks, actually. i didn't have these headaches really even the last week i was tapering completely off effexor, but now they seem to be getting worse.

Mikemo,
If it has been 11 dats why do you advise that I shopuld take more, even if simply small amounts. Is this not going to go away. It is not that I would advise this to anyone, but why take more know? Why not keep going. I see the Doctor tomorrow and I would love to discuss this with her.
Johnnie