Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 38 of 140}

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

Oh and I am 28 days off.
Could that have to do with this in any way? Could it make a situation that is bad- way worse? So many questions.
xo Elena

Elena,
You are in my prayers. It may not be an easy weekend for you but just do what you can and don't push yourself to more exhaustion. We all have to remember we are stronger than this poison. I am sure we have heard it before but it is the one thing we have to remember. This too shall pass.
Blessings,
Stacey (Rudy )

Thank you Laurel for the info on Wellbutrin. I noticed when I went out for lunch yesterday, I had to pat my face with a kleenex, I was sweating so much. It is really warm here in Illinois but apparently that is not why I was sweating. I don't notice any other changes in me with Wellbutrin. I wonder if I should just get off of all of it completely. Something to ponder. Wish I had never let a doctor give me anything. Started on Zoloft 5 years ago. Did not have any withdrawal symptons with that.
Everyone have a great day.

You don't know what your kind words mean to me Stacy. I'm sorry! I should be comforting you! You came here looking for Solice like the rest of us. So please know that I am here for you too! It is comforting to know that others feel the same way as you isn't it?
My boyfriend was pretty creeped out by all of the posts and information I showed him. He couldn't believe this was happening to so many people.
Anyway, thank you again for your prayers. You are ALL in mine as well.
Have a good day
xo Elena

Thank you Kerry for the info, but I have never heard of that stuff before. Rudy, I take zoloft and Wellbutrin together. Don't know if it is really helping or I am just still having withdraw problems from the effexor.
Elena, I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling so bad. You say you know what happened to make you feel this way. You know, I really hate to say this, but I think the effexor helped me to control my thoughts. My mind starts playing tricks on me now that I can't control.
I know that you will feel better soon, cause that is what I keep hoping for myself.
I have been to achey. I feel like I am sick.
Hope you start to feel better soon, Elena, and like Rudy said try not to push yourself.
By the way, I love to watch volleyball. My granddaughter just made the 9th grade team and I love to watch her play.
Good luck to you this weekend.
Laurel thanks for your reply.
What do you do for the aching?
Have a good day

Gotta run!
Bonnie
Bonnie

Elena, I'm so sorry you are feeling so low. Please keep in mind, as Stacy says, that E is a powerfully addictive drug, and coming off of it is more difficult than most people know.
I am thinking of you and praying for your comfort.
I have been having similar feelings of anxiety at night.I have to keep telling myself it is withdrawal.I have been on two weeks holidays, because I couldn't handle the stress at work.Actually, to be more specific, the people were driving me mad! I needed time to be alone.
Please don't thnk I'm trying to give to give you advice; but may I suggest you take it easy for the next little while? Maybe all the activity you have going on is too much for you at this point.
I really hope you feel better soon. I feel like you are all friends and I am concerned about you. I just wish I had a concrete suggestion for you.
Love,
Coleen

Elena, I wanted to ask you, are you taking St John's Wort? I remember looking at Regent's postings, and she said she started taking it and felt better. I bought some, but haven't started to take it yet. Do you think it's worth a shot?
Love,
Coleen

Hello to everyone, It's been a while I havent posted since back in May, when i was at my worst and withdrawing from 175mg of effexor cold turkey.
I honestly didnt think I would ever start to feel like me again. The days got worse not better and by the 2nd week I was at the peak of withdrawl.By the third I started to feel better could go outside and actually play with my kids, ya know because before my eyes couldn't bare the sun or even the slightest bit of light comeing through my windows was just too much. I do have to say it's August now and I feel great!!:) Back to my ol' self again. So it does get better If I can give any advice to any of you Just BE STONG we are all stronger than this drug I'm living proof. It may take a month of pain but it's worth a month of pain to get your health back. I was very depressed and tired all the time before I stopped. I also had gained some wait, I'm 5 2" and have allways been very small about 110 was my max and towards the end of that nightmare medicine I was pushing 135 and the weight increase happened in such a short time over like 3 months, I know it may seem like not much but you women will understand me, when you go to put your clothes on and they dont fit. thats agravating, the buttons won't button the shirts that used to be a bit longer now meet the top of the pant. grr, I hated it, and I put a few more on during the withdrawl, But this is really interesting because I'm sure you all remember in the begining you had no appetite and felt and loooked great I had lost some weight in the begining. But what happens after time on taking this medicine I dont konw. But I must have hit a plateau or something because only taking effexor for 9 months those last three months where a battle for myself, struggleing to get out of bed, not wanting to go or do anything just wanted to nap all the time. I'll never forget right before I finally decided to quit it cold turkey I was in the grocery store with my husband and our 2 children and we had run into some old friends. And your kids always spill the truth. Well at least mine do. I'm not even to sure how it came in conversation but it was to the affect of them asking are we getting ready for summer and having lots of fun and my little one Cleopatra(5)says no but my mom sleeps and takes nap all day. That stabbed me like a knife to the back. I knew I was becoming something I didnt want to be. During that time I suffered but when your children suffer it hurts much more than any withdrawl from any drug at least thats the way that I feel. My kids didnt go to school birthday parties, no play dates, no parks.. I was becoming my own nightmare.. Thank god though we have the strengh over this drug and we CAN STOP taking it. IT is painful but sometimes pain can be good pain. It took me a while to read back on all the post that were out there since i was here last, But I thankyou all who replied to me and giving me all postive responses. It really helps to know there are others out there your not alone. If I can say anything to any of you that are withdrawing now. It does get better it really does and BE STRONG, You can overcome this, it may not seem that way now, But by my 4th week I was fine.I didnt even notice the transiton during week 3 to 4 I just got better. I have my energy back and I'm not depressed or overwhelemed, I can even exercise, and most of all I have found my Joy in my children agian. And thats the best feeling.:) So stick with it all of you you will get through this. Dont let this drug sufficate you any longer.
I wish I could just let you all feel how I do now. Just for even one second so you'd know that It's all gonna go away it truely is. You are all in my prayers everday I thank the Lord for giving me my life back and For all of you and your strengh to make it through this obstacle. Good Luck to you ALL AND BE STRONG
My LOVE and PRAYERS
Christina Amelin

Thank you so much for giving us hope,Christina. I am so happy for you!Itis such a relief to hear that there is a happy ending,though it may take longer for some people.( maybe depending on the length of time taking E)At least we know the withdrawal symptoms will stop.
Love,
Coleen

Wow the post is busy! I am glad to see so many people reaching out for help. Believe it or not am doing pretty good 14 day's E free. Sluggish and a little nausea, but functional.

Elena, I know I am going out on a limb here, but maybe some of your problems are truly clinical deppresion. Are you feeling the way you felt before you went on an anti-depresent? Maybe your brain needs seratonin and that is why you are feeling so blue. I do believe that anti-depresants are good for those who need them (just not Effexor). Have you tried St. Johns or another anti-depresant? So sorry you are feeling bad and I hope today can be a better day.

Rudy- I am thinking that maybe the experience you had, had nothing to do with Wellbutrin, but your cold turkey withdrawl off of Efexor. I could be wrong but I was told that E and W are not in the same family, so W might not of given you the seratonin support needed. I sure hope that is the case because now that I feel like I am handiling my withdrawls I was going to try Wellbutrin. Good luck to you and like everyone says take it slow.

Naria- What is protacted withdrawl?

Christina you give us all so much hope.

My prayers are with everyone.
Love,
Sadie

The funny thing about this is, I think most of us really thought we were doing something good for ourselves by admitting we may be clinically depressed and telling our doctors and taking our meds. The withdrawal seems worse than any depression I ever suffered. My doctor told me I was probably depressed from the time I was a teenager and just figured it out after I had a baby and went into post partum depression.
The suggestions all of you have are great.
I was talking to a co worker at lunch about it. If someone is detoxing after being on some illegal street drug, people celebrate them. THose of us who are going through the same pain and mental anguish and getting off of a LEGAL drug still have to live our everyday lives. We have to be strong for us and our families.
God bless all of you.

The funny thing about this is, I think most of us really thought we were doing something good for ourselves by admitting we may be clinically depressed and telling our doctors and taking our meds. The withdrawal seems worse than any depression I ever suffered. My doctor told me I was probably depressed from the time I was a teenager and just figured it out after I had a baby and went into post partum depression.
The suggestions all of you have are great.
I was talking to a co worker at lunch about it. If someone is detoxing after being on some illegal street drug, people celebrate them. THose of us who are going through the same pain and mental anguish and getting off of a LEGAL drug still have to live our everyday lives. We have to be strong for us and our families.
God bless all of you.

The funny thing about this is, I think most of us really thought we were doing something good for ourselves by admitting we may be clinically depressed and telling our doctors and taking our meds. The withdrawal seems worse than any depression I ever suffered. My doctor told me I was probably depressed from the time I was a teenager and just figured it out after I had a baby and went into post partum depression.
The suggestions all of you have are great.
I was talking to a co worker at lunch about it. If someone is detoxing after being on some illegal street drug, people celebrate them. THose of us who are going through the same pain and mental anguish and getting off of a LEGAL drug still have to live our everyday lives. We have to be strong for us and our families.
God bless all of you.

Wow. Sorry to have posted the same things 3x! Yikes.

Not only did we think we were doing the right thing, but we WERE doing the right thing. Stacey, I had exactly the same experience, depression since being a teenager, exagerated by post partum depression and once medicated only then realized how I should have been feeling. You know what burns me, the amount of people that ask me if I am still on "that stuff", have I cut back yet, but everything is going so well for you why do you need to take anything. I have just resorted to asking them if I was a diabetic would they be asking me if I was still on "that insulin", that usually shuts them up.

Anyways, regardless, I think we are all doing ourselves a huge favour just by being on here, getting support and giving support. Ok, now I need a family hug.....lol, is there an icon for that?

Kerry

Kerry,
How old are you kids now?
When I first went on Zoloft in 2000, my family said "you don't need that". Well, I actually did "need that." I was crying all the time and knew something was not right. I wish I had known then what I know why but it is water under the bridge. I am really scared when I cut back more on the E. My job is very stressful and I am afraid I may end up losing here at work. It helps to vent.

(Hugs)to you Kerry and everyone else. I am older than most on here I am sure, but I have had depression since I was about 22. It wasn't with me all the same, it would come and go. I didnt start taking meds until I was about 43. I am now 58. I know I have to be on something, because I feel so dam depressed if I am not. I have obessive thoughts and just feel lousy. Well, you know don't have energy for anything. I do feel that antideppresants to help me. Just not effexor. It is a disease and has to be treated just like any other disease.
Anyway what is everyone going to do once they are off of effexor? I am just curious?

Have a great day
Bonnie

That's a great question, Bonnie. Personally, I want to celebrate. I am going to try the Wellbutrin for a while I suppose. My husband and I would like to have a baby and I don't want to be on any of this stuff at that point. We have been trying for 3 months now. What about you Bonnie? I totally relate to the feeling lousy and no energy feeling. It is an awful way to live your life.

Well, Rudy, I am taking zoloft and wellbutrin now. I started on the zoloft before I weaned off of effexor. I had taken zoloft years ago for about 7 years and it made a new person out of me. It stopped working for me and then I switched to effexor. I never really felt good on effexor, but it was better than nothing. My doctor added wellbutrin to help with the sexual side effects with effexor and to give me some energy.
I think my problem now is effexor withdraw. This is my 18th day. I hope that is what it is anyway. I sure hope it is not my depression returning on me.
I know you have probably posted, but where are you with effexor? It took me a good 7 months to come off of it very slowly. I wish you well. If I can help in any way please let me know. I am sure eveyone on here can give you some advice.:)

Take care,
Bonnie

Bonnie,
My new insurance decided not to pay for the Effexor (a blessing in disguise). I went to the doctor and he put me on Wellbutrin. He gave me some samples of 75 mg Effexor to help me with the transition. I asked the pharmacist when I got my Rx filled for the Wellbutrin if I need to wean myself off Effexor. SHe said no, just switch over. Yea, that worked well. I was on 150 mg Effexor for 3 years and I have been doing 75 mg since Tuesday of this week. I am going to do that and then keep going down. Doctors do not seem to have a clue about the side effects of this. I would like to print all these postings out and go to the pharmacy to show that woman who told me I did not wean myself off.

Rudy, my doctor was well aware of the withdraw from effexor. He warned me about it before I started taking it.But you know when you are feeling so low, I would eat dirt to feel better.
When I started weaning, he told me to take my 150 one day and 75 the next and so one for two weeks, then go down to 75 for about a month.
I didnt have any problems until I got below 37.5. When you get down to that you have to go much slower. At least I did. I had to start opening the capsule and counting those little balls. What a pain. Anyway, you will do just fine.

Bonnie, that really is a good question. I am just hoping that I can stay above water with the depression. I ,too have suffered from depression since I hit puberty(12 years old) Back then, they didn't recognize it(at least they didn't with me)They just thought I was very weak willed and highly sensitive. My parents tried to protect me, but they really had no idea what was going on in my head. I am not adverse to going on medication again: I just will be smarter about it, first by asking questions( the first and most important being; is it addictive?). For now, I seem to be okay. I am going to try St. John's Wort if I start to feel down. I'm also exercising( I read that exercising boosts seratonin levels) and trying to be very health concious about my food . I also try to stop myself when I get into negative dialogues in my head- which I have always been prone to do. This has been a challenge.For some reason, I always assume the worst.
What will everyone be doing? I always look forward to the wisdom from this forum.
Love Coco

Bonnie,
That is very impressive that your doctor actually knew something about this drug and the addiction. I have had a hard time finding a decent doctor unfortunately. I was seeing a "shrink" for a while but he only seemed to want to refill the meds and get me outta his office. Thank you for the words of encouragement. The brain zaps and the numbness and bad dreams, etc. are all very scary. I thought I was going to die, literally, Monday. I am doing allright on 75 mg and will just take it slow from here on out.

http://www.interventionctr.com/paws.htm

The above address talks a little about post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). My personal trainer has clients who are recovering alcoholics and street drug users, and they had told her that it is not uncommon for people going off addictive drugs to have withdrawal activity at various points after thay have stopped ingesting the substance before one is totally free and clear of the drug's grip.

That seems to be my experience with Effexor withdrawal, and I've found websites discussing the symptoms of prolonged withdrawal. They certainly include what is mentioned on this website.

Laurel

http://www.tlctx.com/ar_pages/paw_part1.htm

cond/general/paws.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/pdfs/PatientEd/Materials/PDFDoc...

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2000/mar00.htm#effexo

Just some other sites that kind of correlate this. In other words, I believe we have to take good care of ourselves for the long-haul post-Effexor so not to be caught up short if/when the withdrawal lingers.

L.