Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 32 of 140}

After feeling that Effexor has done little if any good for me, I started to wean myself off of it. Forget about getting the help of a psychiatrist. They have every reason in the book why you should stay on it.

Anyway, this stuff is a potent toxin and my head feels more dizzy than I can put words to. I am about day 5 without having any of this poison in my system.

Has anyone here experienced this dizzy feeling? Does it go away?

Drop me a line privately if you wish. Talk to you soon.

------help! the room is spinning!------(not trying to be funny either! I feel like I am about to vomit!)

writeme54 at yahoo dot com

[moved by moderator]

writeme - welcome to our forum. Have you tried benadryl for the dizziness. Or the seabands if you don't want to ingest anything. They will help. Also drink lots of water! When you can focus again, read a lot of the posts on this site. The people that post regularly are at all stages of withdrawal and at some point havegone thru the same things and have lots of hints to help. Good luck. - Sheila

Write me,
Again, welcome to our forum. Sorry to hear that you are feeling so terribly. We all have been there, or could even be there right now. I myself am on day 6 of being Effexor Free. My brain zaps can be quite annoying. I'm feeling pretty dizzy right now actually. Only I don't feel they are as bad as they could be because I weaned myself down to such a low dose. What dose did you get off Effexor from? I was at 6 of the little beads inside the capsule. I don't even know what that would be in mg. As Sheila said, it would be a good idea to read over the posts when you get your vision back a bit. I know it can be really hard to focus. It is especially annoying when you work with a computer all day!!
Try and get alot of rest, and I agree with Sheila, drink alot of water. Then take a look at your options, I have been taking ginger tablets, and I have yet to try the benadryl.Episom salt baths with hydrogen peroxide are good for detoxing, and so is exercise. Even a 15 minute walk to start yourself up is good for you.
Take care, you will get through this!
Have a great day everyone.
Hugs
xoElena

elena:
Steph's worst days were her first 9, day 4 was almost unbearable...she took nothing else to help w/d's, she was afraid to...she was fortunate, after a couple of weeks, she felt good...a little moody, here & there,but we can deal with that. She is 10 weeks off E...she takes nothing in the way of Px's or health store remedies, she works out 5 days a week, she loves to run, still drinks lots of H20...she is a worrier...(the short time she was on E, it did seem to round out the rough edges for her), steph doesn't want any part of a therapist, she is very determined to get a handle on this anxiety by herself(I pray she will)...she does lots of reading on the subject, we talk always...i'm thankful she was home while going through the E w/d. In 3 short weeks she will go back to school for her last semester...her WGN-TV internship has been a wonderful experience, summer goes too fast(i'm going to miss her)...her first week going off the E was the start of WGN(12 hr days)...she struggled daily for that first week, she fought with all she had to keep herself "afloat"...but looking back, she would have gone through the w/d again to be E free....like all of you, she is very brave...so be proud of what ever "stage" you are at...it's your life & well being, fight for it!!!

Elena, you are on the right track...keep that smile in your heart!!!
markets have been crazy, got to run!!
~dawn

Hello Everyone...

Day 9 on 37.5 mg of E. (down from 75). I've been sleeping HORRIBLY. First it was nightmares in the early morning, and now it is insomnia. I cannot seem to get myself to sleep much.

My brain zaps have prtty much disappeared though. I'm thinking that means that my body is used to the 1/2 dose? When do you all think I should drop down? (I'm almost scared to, not wanting the shivers to come back). I'm also having horrible digestive trouble...anyone have that?

The one thing that I am a little concerned about is this...and really curious if this is normal or osmething completely unrelated... I started getting really, really sharp leg pains last night, lefth thigh only. Felt like nails or thick needles being driven into my quadricep muscle. The skin is even extremely sensitive and painful to just touch. This morning...i am getting similar pains up in the left corner of my chest and my upper arm. Anyone have any experience with this?

Hang in there all!!

Sarah

Dawn thank you so much!
It is so good to hear success stories! I am so happy for Steph,and I believe before long I will be up to jogging 5 times a week! I find there are similarities to Steph and myself. I am a worrier. I have anxiety, but I am doing alot of reading to get through it. I do not want any therapist. I am determined to get through this. So it gives me hope that if she can do it, why can't I! I have already dropped 5 pounds and I am happy about that. My little prego belly is going down. I'm not feeling so bloated. So I will keep on fighting. And I won't stop : )
Sarah, you're right. The reason that the shivers have stopped is because your body has adjusted. I would give your self 2 weeks on the dose, and then lower, then 2 weeks on that. It may take a while but it is much less painful. I have felt the pain in my calfs before as well. So not to worry. It is uncomfortable, but the episom salt baths help it alot. It can also help you sleep. * Remember to drink alot of water when you are in the bath.*
Try and calm your mind a bit and recognize that this is what your body needs to go through in order to recover.
You will experience strange sensations, but it is all part of the process. Sometimes I wake up with a crazy cramp in my calf that is so painful, but I flex and it goes away. It took me a while to realize all these terrible symptoms were happening for a reason, and that others experience them as well.

Hugs to all,
xoElena

I noticed earlier that writeme's posts were on a different site and the moderator moved them to ours. I email writeme directly and told him/her to where to go. Hope she/he found us, have not heard back.

Dawn, I am so glad Steph is doing so well. Anxiety is an awful thing and since I have had it for most of my life, I don't know the answer. Have her try pressing on the bone between her breasts (like acupressure) when she feels it coming on. My massage therapist says that really works. And she's on Prozac! Have her get massages if she doesn't already to keep the stress of the anxiety away from her muscles and neurological system. I go once a month and it really has helped. Of course I started going for my back and hip but have received many more benefits from it.

Elena, you are doing great! I haven't had any zaps for 3 days on the 9. If I wasn't working I would drop again, but I don't dare (maybe this weekend). I have been counting my beads on the 9 and there are approximately 20 (from the 75mg capsule). I can't wait to get where you are.

Sarah--sorry you are having pain but it's par for the course. I had a hip replacement done about 3 years ago and that is where all my excruciating pain located itself. Just keep going forward. Take baths, walk, drink lots of water. I've been lucky and my sleep has not been too disrupted so far (an occasional night) but not sleeping is what started me on the E in the first place. But those nightmares are something else aren't they! They do get better, not so frequent. - Take care, Sheila

I noticed earlier that writeme's posts were on a different site and the moderator moved them to ours. I email writeme directly and told him/her to where to go. Hope she/he found us, have not heard back.

Dawn, I am so glad Steph is doing so well. Anxiety is an awful thing and since I have had it for most of my life, I don't know the answer. Have her try pressing on the bone between her breasts (like acupressure) when she feels it coming on. My massage therapist says that really works. And she's on Prozac! Have her get massages if she doesn't already to keep the stress of the anxiety away from her muscles and neurological system. I go once a month and it really has helped. Of course I started going for my back and hip but have received many more benefits from it.

Elena, you are doing great! I haven't had any zaps for 3 days on the 9. If I wasn't working I would drop again, but I don't dare (maybe this weekend). I have been counting my beads on the 9 and there are approximately 20 (from the 75mg capsule). I can't wait to get where you are.

Sarah--sorry you are having pain but it's par for the course. I had a hip replacement done about 3 years ago and that is where all my excruciating pain located itself. Just keep going forward. Take baths, walk, drink lots of water. I've been lucky and my sleep has not been too disrupted so far (an occasional night) but not sleeping is what started me on the E in the first place. But those nightmares are something else aren't they! They do get better, not so frequent. - Take care, Sheila

Whoops!

Write Me- I am so sorry you are feeling so bad. The first time I tried to get off this junk I felt like I was going to die or have a seizure. Nothing can really describe the feeling, I thought I was alone untill I found this post last week

Benedryl or valume does work as long as you can be home, or take at night and it will help you sleep

I am on day 6 and I took the advice frome everyone and have been taking a little bit out of my 37.5 I am doing ok and at the least a little functional.

Good Luck everyone!

Write Me- I am so sorry you are feeling so bad. The first time I tried to get off this junk I felt like I was going to die or have a seizure. Nothing can really describe the feeling, I thought I was alone untill I found this post last week

Benedryl or valume does work as long as you can be home, or take at night and it will help you sleep

I am on day 6 and I took the advice frome everyone and have been taking a little bit out of my 37.5 I am doing ok and at the least a little functional.

Good Luck everyone!

Write Me- I am so sorry you are feeling so bad. The first time I tried to get off this junk I felt like I was going to die or have a seizure. Nothing can really describe the feeling, I thought I was alone untill I found this post last week

Benedryl or valume does work as long as you can be home, or take at night and it will help you sleep

I am on day 6 and I took the advice frome everyone and have been taking a little bit out of my 37.5 I am doing ok and at the least a little functional.

Good Luck everyone!

Hello. I am a 52 year old woman who has been on effexor for the past 10 years. I had assumed that I would be on it for life.But, I felt like I was "not quite in life" if that makes any sense, and I was having terrible leg jerks(not to mention wild dreams). I decided to come off of this drug, because I just wanted to be myself again.I had suffered from debilitating depressions, but I was in a terrible place in my life at the time, and certainly feel strong enough to do this. I have read many of your testimonies, and your courage and honesty have given me so much hope. I was on 75 mg, then tapered off to 37.5 and down to 18.75. I stopped last week, but am experiencing dizzziness, nauseau, and I can hear my eyeballs moving.This is weird!I am currently on Isagenix 9 day cleanse, but I feel like I could sleep for a month.Should I go back to the 18.75, even though I've been off it for 8 days? Thank you all so much.

Coco,
I don't know if you should go back onto the 18.75 after being off of it for 8 days. It will get better, but it just may take longer than if you had weaned off of it slower. Ultimately it is your decision. I weaned all the way down to 6mg before I stopped. I was even going to go lower than 6 but I forgot to take a dose one night and then just said "screw it."
Really you know your body best, and if you think it would be easier on you if you went back on and weaned slower, then that is fine. And if you don't that is fine too. Either way it is up to you. If you have read through all the posts you know that we all have gone through this differently, but at the same time we can relate to each other. Take note of the remedies we have used and maybe they will help you out too. Sorry if I wasn't much help. But I don't want to tell you what to do.
Keep us posted on how you're doing.
Take care
P.S What does everyone else think?

Hugs
xo Elena

sheila, thank you for the breastbone "tip", i will certainly tell steph...she has had a couple of massages, gifts from her boyfriend...its a luxury she will have to continue once she is past being a "poor" college student!!! how is that "pool boy" of yours doing? It is still extremely hot & DRY in the Chicagoland area...

to all newcomers, take the time to read past posts & you will know that most any & all your w/d's have been experienced by others...no one knows your body better than you...none of us are experts

Thanks for the advice,Elena.To be honest, I really Do Not want to go back on this horrible drug. My husband is a nurse, but knows very little about anti depressants- to be honest, I think the whole health profession are in the dark when it comes to this drug. I am having a terrible time typing this message! I'm very fuzzy right now, and the thing that bugs me most is forgetting words.I will have to take the time to look back over the past few years postings to glean some more info. It feels soooo good to be able to talk about this!To be honest, I took today off work because I feel so out of it, sluggish and slow mentally. I guess I just want to know that this really will go away!.-Love Coco

Coco, after 8 days completely off, I wouldn't go back on. You might have to suffer a little more fiercely for a few days, but then you will start to feel better. Love your comment about forgetting words, I have been doing that constantly. Find myself putting other words in their place. Usually the wrong ones, feel like Mrs. Malaprop in Richard Sheridan's "The Rivals." This is a great site, and you can vent all you want because we've all at some time or another been somewhere that you have. Welcome and keep us posted on your recovery - Sheila

Sheila, thanks for the encouragement. I can't even begin to express what this forum is doing for me. I have been alone on this drug(at least no one has ever spoken up)for so long.Being free and clear of this poison will be so wonderful.I find myself just stopping dead in the middle of a conversation, because I can't think of the proper words. How frustrating. Sadie, I just read that you sound like you're slurring your words. I have been the same way.I sound like I've had four glasses of wine! I think my biggest fear is that my brain is irreparably damaged. I am amazed that so many of us have been subjected to this maltreatment. I guess it's just easier to give someone a pill than try to help them work out their depression or anxiety. god Bless you all. You're my saviours!
Hugs,
Coco( my name is really Coleen)

coleen, its only our opinions, but 8 days, you are headed in the right direction, its a frightening experience...i didn't experience the E first hand, but it is my daughter who i supported along the way...i was very scared for her, once her w/d's began...thankfully the support of all on this site was helped get her (us) through...look ahead, try not to look back, better days ahead!
You are all in my prayers
~dawn

Thanks,Dawn. I have just been reading the past entries, and really, I suppose we are all going through pretty much the same thing. I'm glad your daughter got through this misery, and good for you for being right there with her. I don't know what is in store for me being off this drug. It's very scary, because I remember what being in the very pit of despair was like.I certainly don't want to go through it ever again, and will explore every avenue of holistic medicine if I should even have an inkling that I am becoming depressed again. I have lost all faith in allopathic medicine.I am taking tomorrow off of work again,because I find it difficult to drive while I am feeling so dizzy . This also makes me feel very anxious. I am going to see a chiropractor who practices in a clinic run by a medical doctor who also practices homeopathia medicine. It won't be covered under insurance, but I don't care. Some things are just worth paying for. All the best to everyone . I'll let you know what the clinic is like.-Love,Coleen

Have any of you filed your complaints with the FDA????? Just wondering because I've mentioned to report this and it doesn't sounds as if any of you have. This is a great forum to vent and help each other through this horrible time but its also time to make some concrete efforts to stop this madness. Maybe your one complaint to the FDA will help stop some unfortunate soul who is getting prescribed this poison as we speak.

Stop bitching and start acting!!!!

Sorry to sound so cruel but its the truth ladies. Helping others may help you to feel better.

Have any of you filed your complaints with the FDA????? Just wondering because I've mentioned to report this and it doesn't sounds as if any of you have. This is a great forum to vent and help each other through this horrible time but its also time to make some concrete efforts to stop this madness. Maybe your one complaint to the FDA will help stop some unfortunate soul who is getting prescribed this poison as we speak.

Stop bitching and start acting!!!!

Sorry to sound so cruel but its the truth ladies. Helping others may help you to feel better.

Have any of you filed your complaints with the FDA????? Just wondering because I've mentioned to report this and it doesn't sounds as if any of you have. This is a great forum to vent and help each other through this horrible time but its also time to make some concrete efforts to stop this madness. Maybe your one complaint to the FDA will help stop some unfortunate soul who is getting prescribed this poison as we speak.

Stop complaining and start acting!!!!

Sorry to sound so cruel but its the truth ladies. Helping others may help you to feel better.

Yes,Naydies, I actually have signed a petition on the net.I signed it while I was desperately looking up some info on the withdrawal symtoms.Though I agree something has to be done, I also believe it is of the utmost importance that we share our feelings and symptoms,as well as solutions and remedies with each other.This is a lonely path we are taking; we need each other for comfort and encouragement. I feel so much better knowing that I have a sounding board.

Coco-
My aunt is doing a detox right now, and she said that she was told she would feel horrible during the process that she would even get symptoms of things that she has came down with in the past year. Some of your feeling might be that. I would deffinatley wait until after your cleanse to see if you have symptoms.

I didn't know I could post a complaint with the FDA, but I will look into that

I was told be a pharmasist when I tried going off of it the first time that it should of been out of my system by 1 week and that if I were having symptoms it was because my body was dependent on the seratonin (sp?) and that I would need anti-depresants my whole life. I started them for post partum and my baby is now almost 3. Please tell me if anyone else has been told that.

Thanks,
Sadie

Isn't that awful,Sadie?What a crock of ***t! I was told the same thing by the physician who first presribed E to me. She told me that I would always be on this drug because my brain was too used to being depressed. She told me I would probably have to be hospitalized too. Obviously, she was wrong!(though I did believe her- hence the ten years of being on E). People think that a doctor's word is gospel; well, it's not! Just keep trying to come down gradually.They are probably just spouting off the requisite monologue that Wyeth has fed them.Jeez, I sound a little bitter don't I?If you search the net, you will come across the website- I'm sorry I can't remember where it is. You could probably just type in Petition-Effexor.