Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 125 of 140}

AnneT

The dizziness is not like the room spinning or lightheaded, it is something different. It is not easy to explain but I can still walk around and function if I have to, but it kind of reminds me of how I the kind of dizziness I have when I have motion sickness. If I think of a better way to describe it I will let you know. Sorry I was more informative.

Bernadette?

You said couple weeks back that your were moody. How are your moods now?
Are you also taking another med.,or was the Effexor the only mood suppressant or, anti anxiety you were on?

Anne T,

Thank you for trying to make me feel that I am not alone.

Kat1999,
You're welcome!

I'm up to page 16 of this forum strand - what a hoot some of those gals are. I wonder if any of them check in here anymore? Hopefully they are well and don't need us now. I'd love to hear how they are doing.

I just had the spins a few minutes ago, just when I was thinking about sticking with Mike's suggested schedule, but I guess my body is sensitive, slow to kick in, or whatever. So, I think I will keep my Effexor dose stable for now, and maybe try a slightly higher dose of the Prozac liquid tomorrow.

I got out for a walk and coffee with some other creative friends. They make me feel that being insane isn't such a crazy thing! I feel guilty for not being a very energetic mom these days, though sometimes it's a good thing, I discovered. I was so wasted yesterday afternoon (even after a nap), that I just lay down on the carpet. My creative 11 year old was sad that none of his buddies were around to play. So he came up with an idea - he would colour tattoos on me with markers! It was so fun and inventive. If I'd had energy, I would have been racing around being 'useful' and would have missed the fun. Maybe God figured I needed to be sedated for a couple of years so I'd slow down enough to hear Him...
Thanks for listening.
AnneT

Kat1999,
My moods are way better. My patience level is a little lower than I am used to.I remind myself to relax and calm down sometimes. No I am not taking any other medicataion, Effexor was the only one I was on for anxiety. Now I am only taking fish oil,B-50,Vitamin E and sometimes magnesium. I have read that magnesium helps in the production of serotonin. I also have migraines and heard that magnesium helps. So I am hoping that taking the magnesium helps with both things.

Bernadette

Hey guys,
I had a wierd night last night, after a muzzy-brained nauseated day. I kept waking up, feeling that the vertigo was happening. I kept telling myself to get up and take something, but then I'd be back asleep, soooo drowsy. I awoke in the morning without any spins and actually felt fairly clear-headed. But I guess I wasn't quite as clear as I thought, because I accidentally took 20 of the Prozac rather than 4!!! Whoops! So far so good today. Maybe it was a good mistake to make. I might try a Drop Dose tomorrow or Saturday. We'll see how it goes - hubby is away this weekend, so I need to be compus mentus for the kids.
Cheers, AnneT

Ann,
Thank you for the info. Yes, I keep on trying to remind myself too. I've been taking the L-tryptophan that mikemo recommended for about a little over a week now, and started the L-Theanine with it since a couple days ago. I think it the the L-Tryptophan that is helping mostly. However, I have a long journey ahead of me. I have also been listening to motivational tapes, like Dalai Lama. The back ache has improved somewhat since yesterday. So, less pain and aggravation there has helped me relax somewhat.
I have also decided that I have to do this on my own. And, not to ever expect any incoming help from anyone besides myself. I have to start taking care of me.
I don’t know how long this realization would last. I pray to be able to do it on my own.
Please keep me informed on how the magnesium is helping you and your headache. I also have migraine headaches.

Anne T,

Hope you are fine and taking that extra dose of Prozac has not pushed you back in your progress.

Littleyid,

How are you doing?

Best Wishes to all.
Kathy

Hi Kathy,
I don't feel any setback with the Prozac, just confusion. I know they say that some people can take one dose of Prozac 20 mg, and then not need to take any further Effexor or Prozac. I suspect my system is way to sensitive for that. I'm just not sure what to do from here...take nothing of either and see what happens? Take no more Prozac for now, but continue my planned Effexor taper? Just switch to Prozac regularly for awhile, and if all goes well, taper off that? SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!! Thanks so much,
AnneT

Hi Anne! How much Effexor are you taking?

Hi CCooney,
I was on 15 mg twice a day. My last 15 mg of Effexor was yesterday morning - 26 hours ago! No vertigo, etc, so I'm going to keep going with the Prozac for now. I'm tired, very tired this morning, like moving through molasses, and feel very flat, but I'm going to drag my butt to my favourite exercise class, then have a huge nap. Then I have to facilitate a seminar in the afternoon.

Anne, let me know how the Prozac is working for you. I might ask my doctor if he could put me on a small amount of it.

Anne,
It is great that you are exercising.
It seems like your goal is to be completely be off of both meds.

So, If it was me I would just come off of the Effexor without the help of Prozac.

I would stay on E for a few days of the lower dose or try mikemo's suggestions before dropping that

You will have to deal with some withdrawal, whether it would be now with the E, or later with the P.

Are you getting the help of the fish oil, vitamins or Benadryl?

Have a safe weekend.

I didn't make it through the whole exercise class. I feel nauseated and out of it, so I didn't want to injure myself. I took a lower dose of the Prozac (10 mg) this morning. As long as I don't get the extreme vertigo and loss of balance, I am not going to take anymore Effexor. ANYTHING is better than that - it is soooo terrifying, incapacitating...I don't know how else to describe it. I'm not sure if my low mood, the nausea etc today is a side effect of the Prozac, or withdrawal, but I can handle it. I'll rest now. I was getting dark thoughts, but realize this will pass, and if I need to phone in sick, or have my husband stay home, or just let the kids be up to their own devices...not the end of the world.

Okay, this gross and wierd, but today and yesterday I felt much better after having a big poo. Guess I better stop giving in to my cravings, and stick with the high fibre. Anyone else notice something like this??? Or am I just a sh*t head LOL.

Yesterday was fairly terrible, but I feel much better - a little nauseated still - today. So, I'm sticking with the half dose of Prozac to protect myself from the frightening, unpredictable, disabling vertigo/balance attacks. Unfortunately, it seems I STILL need to taper off the Effexor to prevent the dark thoughts and nausea. I guess I have to embrace patience. Bleah! So, my last couple weeks of doses, for anyone interested, was:
E 37.5
37.5
18
18 plus about 10 for vertigo
18, 18 for more vertigo, 30 at bed
30 per day x 8 days - then major episode vertigo/vomit
(**Started reading posts at this point**)
37.5 and started Vits, Benadryl, fish oils
37.5
22.5
33
30 x 7 days (with a few rescue granules for brief vertigo)
30 mg plus 4mg Prozac
15 E + 20 P
25 E + 10 P (horrid day)
22 E + 10 P
I plan to level out on the 22 before my next spike drop of Effexor. My plan is to get off the Effexor, and then taper off the Prozac if possible. I am still on Wellbutrin.

So, it sort of follows Mike's concept, but adjusted for my wierd body/brain.
AnneT

mikemo,

I am interested to hear about your research on L-Tyrosine. How much should I take to help? It seems like that one helps more directly with depression. Am I right? What about magnesium, or folic acid.

I don’t want to over do it, because my nightly med box is plenty full and want to narrow it down to only what I really need to help me. I don’t want to take a ton of pills and also need to be careful with the cost.

I have been much calmer, but not happy. I went to see a Homeopathic Doctor MD. about an hour away from my home.

Before I went there, I told the staff that I am not interested to purchase a bunch of other things. And, that I am only interested to inquire about the 2 amino acids I am currently taking to see if the doctor has any suggestions on the dose or adding something else, which I could find at any natural store. They said that is absolutely no problem.
They also have classes for meditation and a bunch of other things, like massages and things like that.

At first she seemed ok, listening to me and seeming to care. Then she became a total sales person. She was very straight forward about needing to make money and that those services come with a heavy cost. That she would help me be at peace with my inner self.

Throughout the conversation she avoided the question, which I repeatedly asked about the two amino acids!

Then she started to talk to me about a few classes which she needed to set up for me. It seemed to be about 12 visits. She started going over them one by one. I started asking about the charges. She sort of snapped and said you need to get all the money concerns out of the way and try to help yourself by doing what is needed. She went on going over the rest of the information. By the time she got to the 4th one, I had glanced through all the costs. It seemed to be something around $4,000.00.

I don’t know how people can afford to pay those kinds of monies. And, that was not the whole thing; it was just the start for a long term process. So, I told her, “I am sorry. I can not afford those at this time”. Then she said “you can see me on a medical visit on weekly basis and I will try to help you, but it will be a slow process”. I will give you some supplements to start with. A powder, detox drops, and a bottle called Stress Ease (which was made of different roots). I saw the cost of the drops which was a 4 week dose, it was $45.00. The box said it needs to be done every few months, for 6 weeks each. She gave me the Stress Eased. It was at $18.95 for 90 tablets to be taken, 2 tablets every 3 hours (So, that bottle would last me around 8 days). I said; please don’t bring me the powder. I also don’t think I want the drops. I felt bad and said “I will purchase the stress ease though. Is it ok to just take the stress ease with what I am taking now”. She said fine. I said will it help me, do you think? She said sarcastically, “I don’t know take it and see”.

My husband think I should definitely not go to her again.

It truly saddens me. It makes me wonder why do they even became a doctor! Was it because of compassion or greet?

Anyhow, I could use your help in deciding which vitamins to take. I will have to take my Aromour, fish oil and Niacin, and decide on all the other things I take.

Mikemo, I will appreciate any advice or any wisely words, which may help me in the way I am taking this route. You seem to be an analytic, a caring person and husband. Even any advice on how to save my marriage, which seems to be on the verge of falling apart, I greatly appreciate it. I can’t just give up, because I have a child, and we loved each other for so many years. It seems like we are both tired and can’t and won’t show or have any feeling any more. We try to just be, and that’s it.
I honestly think going back on the med would not affect anything in the aspect of marriage any more. I really am dependent on it any more. And, I don’t know how to get him to understand that I need his true care and love to make me happy.
Though I have been feeling better, and been having less back pain for the last few days, we are only like friends, and that is that. I can’t get my self to show him my love, because I think he has none for me.

Thank you,
Kathy

Hi all! I have been withdrawing from Effexor since June. I am down to 3 mg. I had not noticed any changes in my mood until I got to the 37.5 mg dose. I tried going cold turkey (at 37.5 mg) like my doctor told me but that just did not work for me. I got way to sick. I have been SO emotional lately. I cry at the drop of a hat. Last night I was watching a TV show and I started tearing up. That is SO not me! I am also very angry. Everything seems to p*ss me off.
I am wondering if anyone else has had these issues. Right now I'm sitting at work holding back tears. I have no idea what the tears are for or from. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I'm planning on taking my last Effexor on Thursday of this week.

Ccooney524,

I am guessing we all have had that. Mine is still there at times. But, the anxiety which I developed after getting off of the E. is much worse than the tears. Try the L-tryptophan, or L-Theanine.

Hang in there.

CCooney,
Maybe stay on the 3 mg awhile longer? How long have you been on 3? Is that when your tearfulness started?

Kathy,
I wish I could wave a magic wand for you. It sounds very difficult. What sorts of supports do you have? Have you come through difficult times before?

Friday ('recovery day') was very rough. I just wanted to lie down and die, but I reminded myself that it was withdrawal, that it would pass. I gradually improved over the weekend, without needing to increase the dose or take any rescue doses.

I will try try try!!!! to be patient, and plan my Drop and Recovery days better!

Anne,
Thank you for your caring. We have started seeing a therapist since last Monday. Today was our second visit.

It saddens me to think that we were so close before and now have to try to understand each other through a third person.

I had taught day yesterday. Major anxiety which started in the middle of the night and lasted all day yesterday. I think taking the Stress Ease may have caused me to have some kind of an opposite reaction. (That is what the guy at Whole Food told me to be careful of taking too much of antacids).
So, did not take any last night and felt, and went back to my regular dose today. I am feeling fine now.

I am glad you are feeling better too.

Be patient with the side effects. They eventually lessen.

Hi Anne! I have been at the 3 mg since September 19th. Do you think I should continue to stay at 3 mg for another week or so?

CCooney,
All I can suggest is listening to your body. If you are still feeling tearful or other signs of withdrawal, maybe stick with the 3 mg until that's gone, or even go back up a wee bit even just to see if that makes you feel better.

Are you taking some Benadryl, fish oils, 5HTP or anything? Sleeping okay?

Once you are ready, you could try a mini-version of Mike's drop and recuperate. What do you think, Mike, something like:
3
1
2
2
2 until you feel okay, then

2
0
1
1
1 until you feel okay

then 1 mg every other day for awhile and then try zero?

If you still get intolerable withdrawal with all of this, then maybe it's time to take a small dose of Prozac.

How are you feeling these days? What do you think, other post-ees and Mike?

I was a little tremulous and whoozy today, but mood and energy were pretty good.
Anne

Mikemo, what do you think of Anne's 'plan'? I would just like your opinion since you seem to know so much about withdrawal. Thanks!

Are you taking a correct homeopathic remedy??????????

Homeopathy will cure these things if done correctly! I don't see anything here about a homeopathic remedy?

Take the CORRECT HOMEOPATHIC REMEDY and you can easily get off of all this crap.

I found SAM-E very effective before I found homeopathy, but HOMEOPATHY CURES THE REAL THING SO YOU ARE PERMANENTLY ALIVE AND GOOD.

Beginning, I am taking fish oil and benedryl. I thought that was enough. What are homepathic remedies? Can you give me a push in the right direction? Where do I start first?

I guess maybe I shouldn't be posting on a Homeopathy site since I don't believe in it. It just happened that some good tapering methods and supportive 'conversations' are here.

My understanding of Homeopathy is that you are supposed to take a substance, dilute it in water so far that it is essentially absent and this is supposed to do something great for you. (So if the dilution is too high, is that under-dosing yourself???) Not something I would pay any money for, that's for sure. Risk of harm? Pretty minimal, I would think!!

Wow...'permanently alive'...now there is something Western medicine can't offer you.

But, hey, if you are still interested, I'd be happy to sell you some distilled water for $30 an ounce.

I am getting off effexor after having been on it for five years. I went from 150 to 75 for 1 week to around 20 and have been E free for 8 days. My biggest concern is how do I lose the 40 pounds I gained. I've dieted and exercised quite regularly while on E and my weight goes up and my boobs get bigger. Anyone have any good news to share on how to reverse this? Has anyone had luck with detox? Thanks for your replies!