Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 37 of 140}

Sheila- Hope you had a great time in Denver. Yes, I am sweaty as all get out!I can't do anything without getting dewy!
Had great time with my daughter- however, I left my car keys in a little store in the marketplace! I eventually found them, but I was pretty stressed out. Katie( my daughter) thought it was funny.She says I have been losing my car keys for as long as she has known me!
Sadie, I guess you are right about an eating disorder as being an addiction. My daughter told me she often fights the urge to purge. Howvever, she is so very aware how detrimental it is to her health, and believe me, she is one ultra healthy individual. In fact, she gave me some information that I would like to share with you all.We have been discussing weight gain on this forum; I don't know if any of you adhere to the Atkins Diet. Here is what she told me:
The amino acid Tryptophan converts to seratonin when it crosses the blood-brain barrier(protective barrier surrounding the brain that only allows specific nutrients to pass)
Tryptophan comes from protein. When too much protein( and too little carbs)are consumed, larger amino acids compete with tryptophan to cross the blood -brain barrier, usually leaving it floating in the bloodstream, unused.
If carbs are consumed with protein, the glucose from the carb releases insulin from the pancreas which will shuttle many of the amino acids to various other places in the body , allowing trytophan to cross the blood brain barrier.
So if any of you adhere to a low carb diet, please be aware that it isn't so good for your seratonin levels.
Lastly, Oprah Winfrey had a Dr. Perricone on her program last week, and he talks about super foods that are vital for good health and skin. Check out her web site- His book is called" The Perricone Promise" and it looks really interesting.

Hope you all had a great weekend. I would like to thank you all again for allowing me to participate in this forum; It has helped me tremenously. I feel alive again, and reading all your experiences made me realize that I was not alone.So to all you newbies, take heart. You will be walked through your dark times, and come out okay.
Elena, hoped you're unpacked. Your boyfriend sounds like a real gem.I hope you have lots of fun living together.
Love,
Coleen

Coleen - Thank you for the tid bit on Atkins. I have learned throught time that denying the body of any of the basic 4's is not good for the body, but sometimes I am to consumed with what will make me fat that I don't think about health. But I am in therapy and doing pretty good.

I actually am 8 days totally off Efexor, when my mom gave me that pain pill and it knocked me out I didn't take my pills then being off 2 days I said screw it I don't want to go back on. So far so good. It was until Friday however that I felt like I could even function. It was like I was drunk. I do get mild zaps and a headaches, but now about 70% better. There is light I know that now, but I didn't a week ago.

Have a good evening everyone

Hey everyone.
Had a very busy weekend, feeling tired again. I tried to catch up on sleep but to no avail. Having some anxiety right now. But I think it will go away eventually. No brain zaps yet today and none on the weekend. As I said before I only get them at work. Weird.
Anyway, I hope you all are doing well.
Hugs and Prayers
xo Elena

Hi to everyone, boy have I been moody lately. I cry at the drop of a hat. I take everything the wrong way. I had an argument with my husband yesterday over the silliet thing. I am 15 days effexor free. Do you think I am still experiencing withdrawal. I hope this changes. Can't stand myself.
How is everyone doing?
I have an occasional zap, nothing bad. I sure hope this moodiness goes away.

Have a great day!
Bonnie

Bonnie, I totally understand. I am super moody and upset at times too. But no worries, everything will be fine. 15 days free? That's great! Good for you! You have done super well!
Feel better!
Hugs and Prayers
xo Elena

Thanks Elena, how long has it been for you? It is good to hear that I am not alone. You know what it feels like I am going to have a period. That is how I can explain my moodiness. I don't even have them anymore.
Thanks,
Bonnie

Bonnie, I am sure that you are indeed still affected by E withdrawal. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's going to take time for the stuff to totally leave the body. Either that, or it will take time for our bodies to adjust to the lack of E. I'm moody too. I get really angry, really sad, really happy; but I see this as a good thing.Our brains have to learn how to handle the sh*t that E handled for us, you know?
Does anyone feel abnormally fatigued? I feel so tired all the time. My eyes just feel like they want to shut , and they feel like they are burning. I would sure like to have some energy again. If this is not an effect of the withdrawal, then perhaps I should have some bloodwork done.
Congrats on 15 days E free, Bonnie. That's awsome.
Elena, you must be up around 24 days, am I right ?You sound a lot better, and you have had the burden of moving to boot.Congrats to you too.
Love
Coleen

Sadie, 8 days off E is wonderful. I actually found that was the most difficult time, I was zapping a lot and felt kind of drunk( I was afraid to drive like that and consequently took 2 days off work)so hang in there, it will get better.
Hang in there.
Love
Coleen

Hey everyone-
Moody? Is that what we call it? I am usually the most laid back person and I am not normally emotional, but I cry get mad I too can not stand myself, but I will not go back to Effexor no way. Keep remembering that if anything.

I am really tired and I hate it, that must be some of the withdrawl, plus our bodies are adjusting to a drop of seratonin. My therapist and dr. want me to go on wellbutrin real bad, but I am scared. They say it helps with OCD that I have or whats really called BDD. I can't remember who it was that had a bad reaction, but they say it is not in the same family as Effexor. I so don't want to go on anything. Should I just see what happens?

Sadie

P.S. I feel like we are in a NA/AA meeting and we should recieve a chip for how many days we are E-free. lol.

LOL Sadie, yeah, we should get a chip for being E free!I know what OCD is ,what is BDD?I had never heard of wellbutrin either, so can't give any input into that.How many days E free is it for you?
I don't know what to tell you to do.Whatever you decide on, just know we are all behind you 100%.It's tough, I know.
Take care, thinking of you.
Love
Coleen

Sadie, I'm a dingbat! I just scrolled up and saw that you are now 9 days E freeT.that's like being in the eye of the storm. If you can just weather it out for a few more days, you will have a better idea of what you want and need.You are doing so well, keep your head up.
Love ,
Coleen

Coleen,

BDD is a form of OCD, Body Dismorphic Disorder. Alot of people who have suffered or suffer from eating disorders have this.

Basically you obsess about flaws on your body and it causes anxiety and social phobia at times.

I know I am crazy!(:

I think I might give it a whirl.

I talked with my mother in law last night she is 74 and on Effexor. She loves the drug and says she is a different person because of it. I warned her of the withdrawl and told her then she needs to stay on it for life and make sure she has a 3 month supply incase of some kind of disaster. I don't know at her age how she would handle the withdrawl.

Well everyone have a goo day!
Sadie

Sadie, you are NOT crazy. I'm sure that syndrome is more widespread than anyone could even imagine.
It's interesting that your elderly mother in law is on effexor. While I agree, initially it can take you out of a deep depression, I found ( and this is only my own impression)that it starts to make you flat. At my age, I would rather look into holistic remedies that are preventative and treat the source of the problem, rather than just alleviate the symptoms.I watched my own Mum taking anti inflammatories which , because they weren't aware of the danger to the heart,caused her to have heart failure. From then on , it was like a pill circus!She was an Englishwoman, and her diet was horrendous( lot's of fried and fatty, starchy food).Long story short- I don't want to end up like that. If I have to sacrifice any foods, or medications to remain healthy, then that's what I will do.I remember one girl wrote in my high school yearbook" Everything enjoyable in life is either illegal, immoral, or fattening". Turned out to be true!
Best to all of you,
Love,
Coleen

Hi guys.
I hope that your day is going well. Mine is just about done. Whew! Feeling really very exhausted. I have been for a while. My poor body.
Anyway, there isn't anything really new here.
Just wanted to say hi.
Have a great afternoon everyone: )
Hugs and Prayers
xoElena

Just a moment to rant. I was thinking about all of you for whom Effexor was an effective drug -- at first. Effexor never worked for me, and I allowed myself to let the docs keep upping my dose (until I got to that whooping 375 and my body rebelled -- thank you, body).

I know it's not particularly helpful to beat myself up for having taken E or for not having been assertive enough to ask for a change. (My brain was just so mushed.) Just feels better to write this on this lovely supportive forum.

Love and prayers to all,
Laurel

Laurel, there is an interesting site-Genetic Tests could prevent drug reactions-http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6060829/
I got it off a website about psycotropic drugs.-http://prozactruth.com/effexor.htm

Laurel, Never beat yourself up, if you had gone to medical school and attened all the drug workshops as doctors are suppose to do then you could of taken some blame to the decision of 375, but you didn't that is why we go to a doctor to trust there education and hopfully there continued education. I think that could be some of the problem. I think alot of Dr.'s just refer to "the book" Have you seen it? It list medacaines and brief descriptions. Psychiatrist are better informend then say a family practice, but family practice Dr.'s are the ones precribing.

How are you doing and where are you at with your withdrawl?

Colleen- They put my mother in-law on it just 2 years ago after she had some strange neurlogical attact that paralyzed her body, but she was completley aware of her surroundings they also put her on pretazone at the same time. She is stuborn though and I know she wont go off.

Elena- I am with you, I am so tired as well just no energy. Hopfully it will come back soon

Have a good day everyone!
Sadie
13 days and doing ok!

Hi everyone. I was very happy to find this website with some support for this awful detox that it seems we are all experiencing. I started a new job and the new insurance would not pay for Effexor without some letter from my doctor stating that I had tried other anti depressants and they did not work. The doctor I was seeing would not provide this letter so the insurance would not pay for the drug. Maybe the insurance knew what they were doing after all! I paid for two months of 150 mg Effexor XR myself and finally went to see a new doctor. He switched me to Wellbutrin and I thought I would be fine with that. I started the Wellbutrin on Sunday and did not take the Effexor. I felt ok until Sunday night when I was driving home from my mom’s, who lives 2 hours away from me. The brain zaps started, I was shaky and sweating for no apparent reason. I barely made it home to use the bathroom (the diarrhea thing). I felt like I was going to die. I could not sleep Sunday night and kept seeing things that were not there. I got up Monday morning and could not go to work. I made it until noon and finally I had to give in and take the Effexor. Within 2 hours, withdrawal symptoms were gone. This is some awful medicine. I can’t imagine getting off of any illegal street drug is worse than this. Yesterday I decided to try 75 mg (my doctor had given me a sample to use if I thought I needed to taper down). These doctors and pharmacists do not know how bad this stuff is. How dependent we get on it and how hard it is to get off of it. I don’t know what I am going to do. I called my doctor and am waiting for him to call me back. I guess I will try to keep tapering down. I read a lot of your posts and they make me want to cry. It is just not right that doctors put people on this and send us on our way without the knowledge of what this drug really is. I will keep you posted as to what I can do to get off of this.

Oh, I also forgot to mention that I quit smoking the same week I am trying to get off this stuff. What a challenge I made for myself!

Hi to all, thought I would check in as I am feeling enough energy to do so. I went to see my Naturopathic Doctor yesterday who has given me some remedies for energy as well as to support my pineal gland (apparently part of the brain which experiences the depression or affects it or something). I started taking them last night so I really hope they work. She has recommended that I hold on to the dose of E that I have right now and wait at least a month before another decrease. I really want to go faster but know I am better off taking the slow route. For the most part I am doing ok with the depression, the tiredness is killing me though. I have been on 75mg (split into 2 37.5 doses) for about 3.5 weeks now. She also gave me something that will supposedly help increase my sexual energy, here's only hoping.....lol, or at least my husband is.

Way to go everyone that is on here that is cutting down or even E free, keep up the strength, it sure gives me hope that I will be off one day.

Rudy, welcome aboard, I just found this site a couple of weeks ago and it is such a leaning post of support, just knowing you aren't the only one experiencing these things is strength in itself. Plan on doing it slow for sure and make sure you don't overwhelm yourself.

Kerry

Thanks Kerry. It is comforting to have others who share what we are going through. My husband did not understand until I had him read a blog and then he was a little freaked out by all of it. I have been praying about it and that helps. I am going to try the Benadryl when I step down to a lesser dose either next week or the following week. I am scared to pieces after the Monday I had but this support sure helps!Thanks all of you for sharing your stories.

Hi everyone today I am aching all over my body. Not sure what this is. I think I am about 18 days free of effexor. It must be the effexor.
Elena how are you doing? My grandkids have been on my computer all day today and I have not been able to get on her until now. I don't care. They were being good.
Kerry, I would like to know what your doctor told you to take for your sexual energy.
I would love to have some, but I don't.
Hope everyone is having a good day.
Hello to all you newbies.
Bonnie

Sadie, I'm 11 weeks and one day free of Effexor, except I have had protracted withdrawal symtoms. Which is not unusual; I read somewhere that either 1 in 10 or 1 in 100 people have protracted withdrawal from Effexor. Either statistic is a lot of people! Bonnie, body aches and weird body sensations have been a part of my experience. And I'm really working to overcome anxiety. Today is a good day. :-) My chiropractor and my therapist told me yesterday that I HAVE to eat more. I've lost my appetite on most days so have lost weight. But I didn't need to lose weight so it's not very pretty. I have managed to graze through the whole day, and I do feel a lot better. My poor brain does not need to be starved in addition to the E insult it suffered. LOL

Hello, Rudy. I hope the taper goes well for you. I do have two friends on Wellbutrin who report a lot of sweating with that drug. I've been with both of them recently for social outings, and I saw them just drenched. Both formerly took Effexor. I was frozen all the time on Effexor.

Everyone take good care.

Love,
Laurel

Hi Bonnie, the product has the brand name of Gemmo and is Sequoia Gigantea (young shoot). My naturapathic doctor gave it to me ($30) so I have no idea where you would get some. I am to take 50 drops (1/2 tsp) twice a day for increased energy and sexual energy. I will keep you posted if it works (without the details....lol). I guess I should do some research on it huh.

Kerry

OK, Research done. At first glance it looks like something given for osteoporosis and the like, then it says the main action is on the 17 ketosteroids (17-KS). Thank god for google, I checked that out and apparently it is a test that to see the levels of the male steroid sex hormones found in both sexes(androgens) present in your urine.

Androgens are a hormone that when deficient (menopause as an example) causes brittle bones and a loss of interest in sex. Increase the androgens and hopefully increase the drive, as well as better energy levels and an increased sense of well being, do a google on androgens and check out the link associated with menopause for a better explanation.

Hope this makes sense and people are actually interested.....lol, if not then it is always a good thing to learn a new thing every day right.

Kerry

Hello Everyone. And welcome to you Rudy.Sorry that the first message you read from me will be a sad one!
I have been very anxious lately and I find that I am so badly upset that I am gagging to the point of throwing up. I have lost my appetite and sexual appetite. I am working hard at remaining positive, however it can be difficult when all I want to do is cry.
I know it was a particular event that set me off. I was so worried about it that this started and now I can't stop it. I have been praying, trying to lift my spirits because truly in the end it will be okay. But in the mean time I feel awful. I guess a build up of many factors is the reason for this. I haven't felt this bad since I first started having terrible anxiety. The feeling of - "the worst is going to happen." Sorry to be a downer guys but I can hardly function here at work and all I want to do is go home and sleep away the day and night. I have a weekend volleyball tournament that I have to attend, we camp over night two nights, play volleyball during the day and have a bonfire and a party at night. I know I should be excited but I am not sure I will have a good time with my mind going crazy the way it is. And I so badly want to forget all this, but it is next to impossible.
I know that bad things only make you stronger. I just wish I felt the strength now.
Again sorry for the downer message.
I'm in need of some prayers.

Hugs and Prayers
xoElena