Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 20 of 140}

Hello, all -- I just found this Web site that lists the indications and side effects of a very large list of natural supplements and it's really helpful (to me at least):

http://personal.healingalt.com/safety-guidelines.shtml


Jami, that's one vitamin supplement recommended by the woman who is the moderator for the Withdrawal and Recovery Group on Yahoo (she posted here earlier up) and I've been taking it since Wed. and have felt a lot of energy since then. So I posted the link where I bought mine in case any of you want to look into it.

Sara

In last month's _Experience Life_, the magazine of the Lifetime Fitness clubs/corporation, there was a focus on detoxification. One of the articles was about a natural detox, done in two steps, based on diet alone. Of course, it calls for quality, preferably organic, foods. I've been thinking about trying that. The article did have a caveat about not doing it if you had depression or anxiety, but I'm going to ask my bodyworker about that. From what I remember, it looked very healthful, and no one was going to starve.

I've been drinking milk thistle tea occasionally for liver detox, but I think I'm going to purchase the tincture with the higher silymarin levels (that's the thing that does the job, bibbity-bobbity-boo -- I wonder if I'll ever be "normal" again) and use that for awhile.

Happy Friday, all. More later.

L.

Hello, everyone -- hope everyone is doing well on this beautiful yet extremely humid Friday!

I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to be your guinea pig for all the detox stuff because I just found out this morning that I AM PREGNANT! Woohoooo! I don't care that we're not supposed to tell people yet because I'm too excited! First try!

SO. I have to stop everything I was taking because a lot of them contain herbs that shouldn't be used during pregnancy so I can only continue on my pre-natal vitamin for now. I have to say I'm at about 75% now with how I'm feeling and if it goes downhill, that could also be morning sickness.

When do I get to start eating for 2? :^)

Sara

SARAAAAAAAAAAA! : )
CONGRATULATIONS!! I am so happy for you and your husband! Good thinking on stopping the other stuff, but the prenatal vitamin will help you and your little baby out. It's okay that you won't be the guinea pig, I will! I'm on a cleanser AND I just went out to GNC and bought a whole slew of vitamins! The man was so nice,and very sympathetic to my cause. He has helped alot of people who are trying to get off meds so he helped me find everything I needed! It did cost a little bit more than I wanted * gulp. But oh well. My health is important to me.
I hope you all are enjoying your day!
Congrats again to you SARA!

Big Hugs : )
xoElena

Fruitbat- Congratulations on your baby!! I can tell you are very excited. I know you have to get off all the stuff for cleansing, etc. but make sure you have enough folic acid in your diet. I mention it later on in this post.

It has been raining off and on since Monday and there is no end in sight. I need my sunshine. I am trying to keep as busy as I can. Still feeling fine, even better than yesterday. Since I’m not having many side effects, I started lengthening the time between E. I will stop when I notice a difference until after my son leaves.

Just found out my daughter is coming for the 4th of July. Don’t see my kids for months on end and then both of them within a one month period. She knows I am taking the E and that I am withdrawing, so I feel better about that.

Bee – anger, wow. I would love to feel something like that again. I am so tired of being a Stepford Wife. I look forward to the day when my heart can jump up in my throat again. I never thought I would miss being emotional, but I sure do. Don’t miss all the mood swings, but the feelings, yes.

Naria – I started taking fish oil capsules several months ago. It’s good to know I am doing the right thing. When I was a little girl, my mother would force feed us spoonfuls of cod liver oil out of the bottle - yuuuckk. I am so glad it now comes in capsules.

My hairdresser, the health nut, recommended taking extra folic acid for anxiety and depression. It is one of the B vitamins. I checked my B complex bottle and it is not in it, so I will be adding another pill to my drugstore. I line up all my pills (16 – only three prescriptions, rest supplements) on the counter in the morning with a glass of water and take them gradually through the day. (That’s my organization). I also count them out for a week and put my prescription ones in a little day of the week case. That way I know if I’ve forgotten a day. If you are taking calcium, your body will only absorb 500-600 mg at a time, so take it in 2 separate doses. He also recommended MSM for pain. That is part of my glucosamine chondroitin tablet, so I am getting that.

Elena – I’ve been to Ottawa. It is a beautiful city. My daughter lived in Sacketts Harbor, NY on Lake Ontario for two years and we took a weekend up to your area one year. Visited Old Canada and toured Ottawa. Stayed at a wonderful hotel right there near the Parliament building, it was Chateau something or other. Very posh. But we have this thing for historic hotels and it was on the list and we try to do one a year.

Good thoughts to all of you.

Love, Cat
(I just tried an experiment. I typed this post in Word, copied it and then Cntrl-V'd it into the window. We can do spell check!!!

Thank you all for the congrats! I'm just so happy I got off the Effexor when I did so I can be on THIS side of the withdrawal and truly experience the joy and giddiness I feel right now!

I've been taking a prescribed pre-natal vitamin for a month now and my "maternity coordinator" at the Navy Hospital says to just get a small folic acid supplement along with that, because she says our diets are so fortified with folic acid already (spinach, etc.). I'm kind of glad, actually, because I can't take pills and I've been gagging like 15 of them down per day since last week. I might see if I can take the fish oil caplets, too, because I have to avoid a lot of tuna and fish oil is so good for people with depression.

So, as of today, I've quit: Effexor, smoking, alcohol, Goody powders, extra herbal supplements, caffeine/diet drinks, soft cheeses and I'm sure tons more. Now I want to go shopping. :^)

Sara

Joining the throng to congratulate Sara and Lt. Sara (if he's a captain, I'm not meaning to be insulting :-) ) on the pregnancy. Just think, Sara's having a batling (must look up what baby bats are called) who will swear like a sailor! So cool!

Fish oil also comes in a creamy form. I can't remember the product name right now. Coromega, that's it. I've heard it tastes really good and is a good way to get omega-3s into a child's diet. It does contain egg, which I'm allergic to, so I haven't been able to try it.

L.

Naria -- you're exactly right -- Mr. Sara is a LT and sadly, the swearing comes from me! :^) I know my baby's first word will be a bad one.

fruitbat....fabulous news!! i can sense the happiness in your posts,wishing you a great 9 months of anticipated joy!!!!

well there is still no rain in the chicago area, but let me say the humidity rivals the temps today, yuch!!!

briefly skimmed readings today...wishing you all a good weekend....

LOL Sara! The first word, I can just imagine!
I'm done for the day, and we're firing up the barbeque this weekend for sure!
I wish we could all have a barbeque someday. That would be nice.
Anyway, everyone have a great weekend!
Hugs
xoElena

Maybe I'm having sympathetic morning sickness (in the afternoon), but right after lunch I became dizzy and nauseous. I haven't felt any of this for almost a week.

Could it be MSG? I did have Vietnamese food for lunch. Yuck. :-( NOt the food, the feeling.

Hi everyone, Well, I am starting to have the bloated puffy feeling that others have talked about. It is a terrible feeling. I feel like my stomach is going to explode. I am still aching and just feel sort of spacey.
Please tell me this will go away. I am still at 18.75 a day. I am wondering if I should just quit taking it and ride out the withdraw. Sorry for complaining, but I just need someone to talk to that understands what I am feeling.
Thanks,
Bonnie

Hi Guys!
I'm back! Yeah! Jeff hooked us up about 2 minutes ago. It took what seemed like forever for the telephone company to ship us our wireless internet package. We are going out for the evening, in just a few minutes but I wanted to tell you how much I missed you and am looking forward to getting home tonight and reading all the pages. My gosh... I think I left on page 13 and we are up to 20 now! Last page I remember we were sharing where we all lived. I live in Michigan! Last year on this day I was on an airplane headed for Ireland! It was a highly impulsive adventure that I would not have traded for the world. Just myself and my little rent a car, on a roadtrip! Tell you more later!
Love you all
Regent

congrats fuitbat!!

bonnie---it will go away. i looked like if someone pricked me i would burst (my tummy that is), now i look like a somewhat deflated balloon. so it does improve.

to the rest of you, hope you are all doing well :-)

Congrats Sara that is wonderful news. I was lucky that I did not have a bad bout of morning sickness with either of my boys. Mostly with my first pregnancy smells were offensive. I had the nose of a police dog I tell ya. I remember going into H20 Bodyshop and buying some really great products and after I tried them they made me so sick to my stomach I still can pick those specific scents out of a lineup and they were wonderful scents...just odor association I guess lol. My second pregnancy was....feel starved....eat like a pig then throw it up and feel fine :) lol. Tired tired tired thats mostly what I remember until the 4th month. Anyways your post took me back on the path of memories.

Congrats again!!

I am so busy guys but it is great because I sleep wonderfully because I am tired when I jump into bed!!!

Hugs

Jami

ps great to see you again Lori, welcome back!

Thank you all so much for the congrats and good wishes! We're so excited and I have to say that I haven't felt more than 1 or 2 brain zaps today, no joint pain, nothing -- my husband said yesterday that he could tell a major difference in my mood and anxiety levels and irritability from LAST weekend, which was the big horrific main withdrawal weekend. So I'm feeling so much better compared to how I was and am now looking forward to morning sickness and no smoking/drinking/caffeine. But I can do it! :^)

I honestly would not have been able to make it through these past few weeks without reading through these posts and getting encouragement through your strength. It has truly has been a blessing.

Love,

Sara

Hello Everyone,
I hope you all had a great weekend. It was ridiculously hot over here, but I liked it anyway!

Cat I'm glad you enjoyed yourself when you came here. I believe it was the Chateau Laurier hotel that you stayed in while visiting. And it is very posh. Quite beautiful at night as well.

Lori! Glad you're back and doing well! Update us soon!

Bonnie I completley know how you feel. I am still on 18.75 and I plan to go down to 9mg tomorrow. If you feel like you need to get off it quicker I understand. I'm just not so sure you should what with the harsh effects it has on the body. Hang in there girl. I know how frustrating this is. This weekend I have felt more horrible about my physical appearance than I have in a while. I get depressed, angry and upset more often now. And I truly hate it. This isn't me!! And I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin again. Let me know what you decide to do.

I am still feeling incredibly puffy and bloated, I'm so uncomforatable! Endless, what is your work out scheduel? And have you changed your diet as well? How long did it take for you to notice a difference? And was it only noticible when you got off effexor? Sorry so many questions! LOL

Oh and Naria, I have had some nausea, and let me tell you it is no fun. Yuck! I find if I drink enough water it goes away!

My day has just begun and all I wanna do is crawl back in bed!

Hugs
xoElena

Day 14.

Possible gross-out warning:


Friday was ugly. I felt very sick and had blood and pus in my stool. That kind of freaked me out. Took half a meclazine for the dizziness and pretty much slept the evening away and all night.

Saturday was better. I worked in the pool with my trainer and my massage therapist, and they concurred with my theory that much of my thigh pain is coming from toxins stored in my fat. I weigh 114, but my thighs and lower abs got very "fatty" during the Effexor months. It's part of the bloat, I'm sure. :-( I'm really working to push the water through me and work my body to burn this fat. I figure it'll hurt until it's gone. So I did start the de-tox program I mentioned last week.

Otherwise, it was a beautiful weekend here, and I enjoyed doing both social and solitary activities. Today is going to be hot and humid, but at least I can get the benefit of work's AC. I really don't feel ready to turn mine on at home.

I thought about you all this weekend and hoped our collective energy was keeping us safe and well.

Love and hugs,
Laurel

Hi Elena, This morning I didn't want to get out of bed.
I am not complaining, but it is so hot today. I have been waiting for the sun to shine and get warm, but it is so humid.
Elena, today, I took 9mg I guess, give or take, this moring. We will see how it goes. How do you sleep. I have been taking a dramamine each night for sleep. That also helps me from being so dizzy. Tonight I think I will only take half of that, because I think it makes me feel bad the next morning. Hell, I don't know. Sorry that is my attitude right now.
Does anyone experience the muscle and joint pain. It is awful. Right now I have no energy. You know I have fibromyalgia and I think the effexor helped with the pain of that. Maybe that is why I have muscle pain again. This is just bullsh**it. I wonder if coming off of street drugs is this bad. I feel sorry for those who have to do that.
Sorry, guys, but I am in a mood.
Have a good day.
Bonnie

Hi, Bonnie,

I'm sorry to hear your fibro may be acting up. Where are your problem spots for pain?

Effexor has caused me so much pain that it's hard to believe it could help with it. But I've read testimonials from others with fibro and other soft tissue or joint problems that it was good for them. I'd like to offer the hope that it will balance out eventually. I'm at Day 14 of no Effexor (I was calling it Defect-sore this weekend) and can see how the drug cycles through the body. I'm just trying to wash it out and eventually have a totally clean rinse. :-)

I hope this mood passes soon for you. I can hear that you are feeling very uncomfortable.

L.

Hey Bonnie,
Sorry you’re feeling so retched today.
I feel pretty crappy today too. I’m going to be taking 9mg when I get home.
So I guess we will have to see how it goes! I haven’t been sleeping that great.
I am tired all the time. But I don’t take anything to help me sleep. I’m afraid it will
conflict with the remaining Effexor I have in my system. I have started taking more vitamins. They seem to give me more energy. At least I can open my eyes at work, and I can attempt to work out.
Take care today, our moods will soon pass! (They better or so help me.....)
Hugs
Xo Elena

good afternoon all!!

elena, bonnie, ..sorry to read you have been feeling rather sh*ty ...since you girls are weaning way down, i hope you will not have to still go through all the w/d's once you completely stop..you all are headed in the right direction!!!

naria...the blood & puss i've not read about in my effexor readings, but with this lousy poison, anything is possible...but that should be mentioned to your physician??!!

We got an awful hurricane like storm on saturday afternoon, our power was out for 5 hours, a huge shag bark hickory tree fell, thankfully not damaging our house...the tree service is cleaning it up as we speak...we so needed the almost 2 inches of rain we got on the weekend...today is almost 90 & it is humid...our beautiful spring like weather couldn't last forever!!!

its day 22 for stephanie!!! she has not experienced any of the bloat or soreness in her muscles...she weighs about 110...her running keeps her in check, she does notice she's hungrier more now than when she took the Px...she hasn't taken anything from the health food store, but she always makes good healthy choices for her meals.... still drinks lots of H20...she has a busy schedule, but seems to feel tired, goes to bed fairly early, but doesnt' get a really good restful night's sleep...

wishing you all good thoughts...
~dawn

bee / fruitbat, how are you feeling today?

Thank you for your kind words Dawn. I am hoping that the w/d won't be as bad if I am weaning off this crap. It is a slow burn though. I am slightly dizzy today and have a huge headache. I am also finding it a little difficult to breathe. Like I need extra air that I am not getting or something. (*I didn't hear of this as a w/d symptom!)I am super uncomfortable in my skin. My stomach is so bloated and sore.(*It doesn’t matter how much I eat or don't eat I am always feeling like this.) I also feel like I could put my fist through concrete. (*Mood swings suck!) I hope this gets better. I am so sick of feeling down and bad about myself. I'm sick of feeling gross and I want my healthy body back! I never used to be this size. Until this poison pill came into my life. I have been exercising but I find it does nothing. Maybe I am being too impatient. But it is so hard not to be!!!
Please excuse this crusty post of mine guys. I am just really fed up! And of course I needed to vent.

I'm off to go floss the remainder of people's heads out of my teeth that I have bit off so far today.
Just kidding of course. The only person I have been mean too today is myself.
(*By that I mean I have been really hard on myself, and negative.) I try not to take it out on the innocent people that are around while this dragon of rage whips through me.

Wow! A lot of sore, surly people out there. Bonnie and Elena I feel for you (keep that in mind when I go through mine). Saturday morning I think I got a taste of what the next drop is like. Friday night, I fell asleep in front of the TV at 8:30, husband woke me at 10, went to bed. Realized that I hadn’t taken E at 9 as I was supposed to, also missed pond scum tonic, I was half asleep, said to myself, f** it, I knew if I got up to take anything that I would be awake all night. Woke up at 5:45, good nights sleep, HOWEVER! Woke up with lots of zapping, and the eyes doing their thing, and of course my Mexican friend returned. No noticeable muscle pain or headache though. Took E at 6:00 am, it didn’t start working until 9:30. Husband wanted to know why I was holding my head. Even though he is being supportive, he didn’t want me to take the E in the first place and he yelled at me a little, I just looked at him and said, whatever. I can’t even get worked up to have a good fight. Well, I assume this is what I have to look forward to the next drop.

When will I have my first noticeable emotion? When did you all notice?

Sara fruit bat – you are so cute. You do realize that you have a myriad of surrogate aunties who are going to walk you through this baby. We are going to make sure that you eat properly and take all your vitamins. If you need advice, ask us. After all, most of us have been through it and if you have a male OB they haven’t. You must remember that we need you to stay here on this site until the little one is born. And where in SC did you live! I live in Columbia. All the grandbabies I am going to have are already born, I have 4 beautiful grandbabies, 2 boys, and twin girls. I look forward to being a surrogate auntie!!!


Welcome back, Lori Regent. We have missed you.

Talking about good night’s sleep, since I have taken the pond scum tonic, I have not had any weird dreams, as a matter of fact I can’t remember dreaming at all, I’m sure I must have. Before that, I had weird dreams, so weird, I had to go on the dream interpretation site to find out what some of them meant. Last night I slept from 10-6 without getting up, went walking at 6:30 and then when back to bed when hubby left for work. I’d probably be still there if the phone hadn’t rung. I am so tired.

When I was flossing today, all I could think about was people’s heads, Elena. Very descriptive comment.

The weather is hot and very humid and I am all puffy too, but humidity does that to me. I have noticed that I have been bloated while on the E, just think what we are all going to look like after withdrawal is over. Will I be thinner? Probably not, but I sure would like to see my toes again.

I’m tired, am going back to bed.

Love, Sheila

Noticeable emotions? I was going to comment on that today. I have felt happiness, gratitude, love, awe, desire, will, anger, sadness, anticipation, hopefulness, fulfillment, appreciation -- to name a few -- over the past two weeks. I've had fun and laughed. I've looked back on my life's successes and failures with compassion and understanding. It's pretty amazing to want to be alive again, to feel alive again.

I was shopping this weekend and couldn't help looking at maternity clothes, wondering what Sara's style as an expectant mom will be. I have several pregnant friends at the moment, so all this is very exciting and fun.

eleana, i love the flossing correlation!!!so funny...

sheila, there was a lady in our office who drank a glass of pond scum everyday for her breakfast...i fondly think of her when you talk to about the "tonic"...good chance you two are into the same drink!

commenting about emotions/mood swings...steph's were apparent after the 5th day or so...i think she was soooo "sick" with the zaps, tingling, etc. that she had no energy to show her emotions,