John: Effexor withdrawal on a delay?

[Altostrata]

John, do you feel up to increasing the Effexor a bit? Maybe to 7.5mg?

[btdt]

I recall reading about this a lot on another site it seem this is rather normal for me in withdrawal for T to be low and C to be high.. not sure how it all relates to withdrawal but I know I have seen it often enough.  

I hope things work out well for you John and I am glad you have a good time of day after 8 or 9 that is something to be grateful for. Small blessing are important things to focus on when life is trying.  I use to plan to soak up the good bits of the day when I knew they were coming and not have a lot to do then so I could bath listen to music or read and really soak up all the good I could of the good moments.  

It was one thing I could do to make the most of my life and I needed it so I took it.  Passing it on as a suggestion for you  

peace John. 

[John]

John, do you feel up to increasing the Effexor a bit? Maybe to 7.5mg?

I'm not sure if that would help.  3 years ago I reinstated the whole 75mg from 0, and it took 4 or 5 months to begin to feel better. Now was that the reinstatement or my own self stabilizing?  This time around I stopped at 41mg, got this  terrible feeling, and then added 13 beads, with no relief.  Is each bead equal to about .27xx mgs?  So would 7.5 mgs be about 27 more beads? 

[Altostrata]

I don't know how many beads it is. You'll have to figure it out.

 

I don't think you can go by your prior experience, your nervous system is different now. But we've been through this before many times.

 

Please update your signature.

[John]

I don't know how many beads it is. You'll have to figure it out.

 

I don't think you can go by your prior experience, your nervous system is different now. But we've been through this before many times.

 

Please update your signature.

Ok.  Out of curiosity, what made you choose 7.5 mgs?  I'm up to doing anything to feel better.  As I said before, i'm getting married soon, and can't afford to feel this way.  I wonder if this is akathisia?

[Altostrata]

It sounds like withdrawal syndrome, but we've been over that before, too.

 

I guessed at 7.5mg because it's more than 5 and less than 10.

 

Increasing gradually is safer than making a big jump.

[John]

Alto, should I add 7.5mg to the 4 I already added or 7.5 on top of the 4?

[Altostrata]

John, do you feel up to increasing the Effexor a bit? Maybe to 7.5mg?

[John]

Ok, I added another 14 pellets (4 mgs) to the already added 4 making it a total of 8 mg added. 27 pellets in total. My fingers are crossed...

[Petunia]

I have my fingers crossed for you too John, I hope it works.

 

Years ago, my doctor gave me a sample pack of effexor when we were deciding which drug I should try next.  I took my first pill one morning and when it started to 'work' I felt very weird, it was like my head was stretching away from my body and I got terrified.  I spent the next 24 hours on the couch, I couldn't move.  Of course I didn't take another one.

[John]

Thanks Petu, I need lots of finger crossing!  I just can't stop dwelling on how stupid I was by taking these pills for 10 years!  I don't know why I did; all because I was a little nervous at the family doctor!  I also find it so strange that by 830pm, it almost all disappears, like a hormonal thing.  Im also freezing all the time now.  

[Petunia]

Me too, everything you just wrote, apart from being nervous at the doctor.  I marched in there almost begging to be put on Zoloft, I'd seen an advertising video, bought into the whole chemical imbalance thing and though it would fix all my problems.

 

I've also been through stages where I'm freezing all the time, its worse when it is actually cold, but I've been freezing when everyone else is hot.  It will improve..... in windows and waves.  Its unbelievable what these drugs do to some of us.

 

Please don't be hard on yourself for believing the pills were doing you good.  Entire populations of people across the globe have been manipulated into taking these things, thinking they were curing something.  I've just started reading 'Anatomy of an Epidemic', its shocking and validating at the same time.  I recommend you read it if you are having a hard time coming to terms with what has happened to you.

[John]

Can withdrawals cause psychomotor agitation?  Because after all researching i've been doing, I saw just now for some reason that it's defined as pacing, leg shaking (me), biting at one's cuticles until they bleed (definitely me), etc.  They said it's a common symptom of major depression.  Now my question is, i'm not sure if i'm depressed, although I do have symptoms of depression, like loss of appetite, loss of interest in things I enjoy, negative thoughts, and the psychomotor agitation.  Yet, although i'm down because I feel like this, I don't feel worthless, I definitely dont want to be isolated (I'm actually afraid somewhat to be alone), or guilty or remorseful.  Without a doubt, my predominate issue is the agitation which makes me feel lonely, scared hell, all thoughts and feelings are amplified by 100x. The other day the light in my car went on to indicate the air pressure in my tire was low, and I almost panicked.  I NEVER was like that in the past, or even when I was on the effexor.  I got it fixed no problem though.  I'm afraid to do the simplest of things like shaving, taking a shower, etc., although I do them on a regular basis, and even shaving I dont have to do much anymore since my beard grows very slowly now due to the very low testosterone.  Can these be symptoms of just agitation and anxiety/akathisia?  Does depression always go away like clockwork at night for people, only to awaken in the morning and start all over again?

[alex]

Hi John;yes, getting panick for the simplest things is a common w/d symptom.It was like that for me, an now it is gone.

Effexor is a nasty powerful drug, but our wonderful body and mind are even more powerful with millions of years of evolution.

It will get better, have faith and take care of yourself.

[Altostrata]

Please re-read this topic, John. That question has been answered repeatedly.

[Narcissus]

 

 

Without a doubt, my predominate issue is the agitation which makes me feel lonely, scared hell, all thoughts and feelings are amplified by 100x.

This is classic withdrawal John. I can FEEL it from here.  I think the anxiety is by far toughest symptom for most people.  The word anxiety seems inadequate though, as it's really nothing like normal anxiety.  Really it's more akin to a nightmare or very bad drug trip.  

 

I hope things have let up a bit.  Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[John]

 

 

 

Without a doubt, my predominate issue is the agitation which makes me feel lonely, scared hell, all thoughts and feelings are amplified by 100x.

This is classic withdrawal John. I can FEEL it from here.  I think the anxiety is by far toughest symptom for most people.  The word anxiety seems inadequate though, as it's really nothing like normal anxiety.  Really it's more akin to a nightmare or very bad drug trip.  

 

I hope things have let up a bit.  Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

 

Thanks Narcissus.  You hit the nail right on the head.  I've been trying to tie it to anxiety, but all the anxiety disorders just don't seem to match with what i'm feeling.  Judging on how long it took to start to abate 3 years ago from the cold turkey, hoping i'm wrong, but I have a feeling it'll be here awhile even though this time I tapered.

[mattinsmom]

Narcissus is right on, the word anxiety doesn't come close to the feelings. I've been where you are and the 100x emotions are truly scary. I find that they pass more quickly when I just let them happen. I stopped worrying about what label fits best and I just go with it. Hang in there. 

[John]

Narcissus is right on, the word anxiety doesn't come close to the feelings. I've been where you are and the 100x emotions are truly scary. I find that they pass more quickly when I just let them happen. I stopped worrying about what label fits best and I just go with it. Hang in there. 

That's true about the labels.  Whether or not I know exactly why I feel like this is irrelevant.  I know it'll go away regardless what it is, because it did last time.  Oddly enough, today it's at a lower level, although uncomfortable, and i'm getting brain zaps!  I havent gotten them in months.  Do physical symptoms come back after psychological ones appear?  I thought the physical ones come first, then in some unlucky ones like me a few months later get the phychological ones.  This morning I woke up with my shirt all wet.  Is these night sweats?

[btdt]

That would be night sweats there is no program really we are all a bit different there was a good long spell for me where I had both psych symptoms and physical symptoms.  I will say the beginning 6-7 wks after cold turkey I went to bed with the flu for three months the next three were mostly in bed so six months down had.. gradually .. I can't use the word improving.  I can use the word changing as symptoms  changed but it was not really that much of an improvement they were still hellish they were just a different type of hell. 

There are all sorts of ways symptoms present themselves and they will keep changing till your done. Physical mental psychological they tag team go solo mix and match all the time. Just like a rubic's cube.  Still love that analogy because it is a perfect fit for my experience. 

 

Keeping a fan in your room you can reach from you bed may be a good idea. I did the sweating off and on for four years. One very long long spell of it then mix and match wtih other symptoms for a few years more. I never quite comfortable enough with any symptom to say it is gone.  I have made that mistake before and they came back... brain zaps hit long after I thought they were done when I actually did get the flu for instance.  Never say never and be ready for anything that is how it went... should not say be ready as your never ready but you do become accustom to not living your own life most of the time as symptoms take over your plans.  Or that is how it has been for me. I have become withdrawn and flexible because that is what works kind of works as in that is how I survive. 

[mattinsmom]

I've had the rubic's cube experience too. Symptoms change a lot for me, day to day - minute by minute. Once I learned to identify them as being just symptoms things get a little easier to tolerate. As for night sweats, I keep a bunch of clothing options next to my bed so I can add/change without having to get up. When I get out of bed to change I tend to wake up more. I also keep an extra pillow and swap out when I get overheated. I also find that drinking a glass of water before bed helps stop the sweats. 

[John]

Thanks for the comforting replies. I have 2 questions. Are zaps exclusive to withdrawal, or are there medical conditions or psychological Conditions that are associated with them? Also, I noticed that I'm getting a lot of Windows lately, and my sleep went pretty much back to normal, although I still have a lot of this jitteriness and nervousness during the day. 3 years ago it took many months to begin to have windows. Do you think this is because I tapered and not went cold turkey like the last time? When this goes away and I start tapering from the rest of this effexor I'm afraid of getting this a 3rd time, because I pretty much tapered very slow for 2 years and I still wound up like this, although I did have a lot of symptoms along the way and I probably should of held to stabilize.

[Altostrata]

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/288-brain-zaps/

[Lexy]

I hope you are getting more and more windows.

 

I'm at 44.5mg for someone that's been on effexor for

18 months, 13 months of those months trying to get off will I experience the dreadful anxiety that I was put on this med to start with?

 

I'll I try having ice water next to me upon wakening.

I usually get the sweats early mornings.

[John]

I hope you are getting more and more windows.

 

I'm at 44.5mg for someone that's been on effexor for

18 months, 13 months of those months trying to get off will I experience the dreadful anxiety that I was put on this med to start with?

 

I'll I try having ice water next to me upon wakening.

I usually get the sweats early mornings.

I am in the last few days.  It seems to be ramping up my windows.  Every night after 830 until I wake up is one big window, and every few days I get a few hrs during the day.

 

I never had the anxiety like you had before Effexor, I was put on it because my pulse was a little high because I was nervous going to a dr for a physical.  But if youre only on 44.5mgs for 13 months and you havent got it now, remember that most peoples original conditions return within a few months of being off it.

[Altostrata]

remember that most peoples original conditions return within a few months of being off it.

 

 

How do you know this, John?

[John]

That is, if it does return. Everywhere I read this is said including from Dr healy, Dr Breggin and Glenmullin.

[Meimeiquest]

Wasn't your original condition being a little nervous at the doctor's office? I'll bet you are much more prepared to handle that now .

[John]

Hell no!

[John]

This is 1000x worse...

[Altostrata]

John, how many times do we have to talk about how withdrawal syndrome is different from relapse?

[John]

Huh? I know they're different. Lexy was saying she hopes her original condition doesn't return.

[Altostrata]

My apologies, it looked like you were saying something else.

 

When you experience withdrawal syndrome or any severe adverse effect from a psychiatric drug, your nervous system may be sensitized to any other drug that affects the nervous system. You would be wise to learn non-drug ways to cope with symptoms, those skills will help you deal with your "own" anxiety if that should recur. It's likely you won't be able to count on taking a pill to help.

[John]

No problem. I'm not taking anything but the 50mg of effexor that I'm taking until I stabilize. I got rid of the Gabapentin.

[btdt]

I did not know what anxiety or true depression were until after I took an antidepressant now I could write a couple of books about both or either... and few other  psychiatric diagnoses as well.  For my money the drugs cause this, I am not the only one who thinks so.

[Lexy]

I agree 100%