success ☼ Gussy: 9 weeks off effexor wondering if it will ever end?

[Gussy]

Hi everyone. It's been just over 7 months since i got to zero effexor. Things are better than they were that's for sure although i still have some weaker bad times. I haven't really had a dream since i got to zero though. Just wondering if this has hapenned to anyone else? Gus.

[baroquep]

Hi Gussy, these drugs are very powerful and affect the way the brain functions and it looks like you discontinued Effexor rather quickly and could very well be the reason you aren't dreaming anymore.  Interestingly enough, I found when I was on Pristiq 50mg and then switched to Effexor 75mg to start my taper, I rarely had dreams.  Now that I have gotten lower on my dose of Effexor, I am starting to dream again which is kind of nice.  I'd imagine that your brain needs time to heal and bring itself back to homeostasis and have a feeling that your normal rate of dreaming will eventually return.  Hang in there, your brain has been through a lot and just needs a little time to rest.  

[Gussy]

Hi again all you supportive people. Gus again wondering about some things. Have many people experienced hot flushes/flashes(whatever you want to call em) when coming off effexor after a while? The chills and shivering is well and truly gone. I'm noticing them quite often lately and night sweats also in bed. Also, have many of you experienced pretty hard core lethargy/lack of motivation? I've had some of those brain feelings for the last few days in the bottom rear corners of my brain too but i'm kind of accustomed to them as i've had them earlier on in wd and much worse then too. I'm not really asking about them though as i have before. Just ranting i spose. I want to thank everyone who's had something to say to me in the past as you've been very helpful and understanding. It is a hard thing to believe/understand unless you've done it and having a whole super gang who do for no reward is priceless. My own dad didn't believe me today when i said i didn't have a beer at a party i went to the other night as i wasn't over this yet and didn't want to chance it. My mum's been on ad's for longer than she hasn't so it's a pity he doesn't know more. Anyway thanks everyone you're the best. Gus.

[Gussy]

Wanted to make sure i'd be notified of replies

[Gussy]

Sorry i thought of another thing i've been feeling lately and wonder if anyone else has had it happen to them. Lately I'm getting a very weird feeling in my right lower leg bones. With all the crazy stuff withdrawal does to people I figure it must be involved somehow. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks again for all your replies, Gus

[Gussy]

The feeling in my leg is like the bone/s are twisting.

[joy2730]

Hot and cold are a disruption of the CNS's ability to maintain your body temperature and is classical withdrawal, as is pain in your bones.  Apparently SSRIs get into every part of your brain and body, including bones.

 

I have had a bone weary feeling down at lower dosages that has felt awful.

 

How long it takes to resolve - I have no idea, because I don't do well with withdrawal at all.

 

Joy

[Gussy]

Thanks for your reply joy, much appreciated. After what i've felt i believe you. Gus.

[Gussy]

Hi everybody, quick question, does anyone know if effexor can interfere with the immune system? For a long time I've been very prone to catching colds and having them last a lot longer than they should. Does anyone know if effexor might contribute to this?

[Kostas]

Did you check your WBC count? 

I was taking citalopram for a few years, and my count has fallen from 5.600 to 3.700! 

[Gussy]

No kosatas i haven't. I have an appointment with my dr tommorow about some blood tests and i have written down to tell him how i catch things and they linger. I don't think the drs believe me when i tell them what.s happening though. I don.t mean wd cause very few drs believe that, i just mean other stuff i.ve noticed

[Gussy]

Hi everybody. Have many people experienced real bad unrelenting fatigue, lethargy and light headedness in wd for months on end and have it eventually go away? I've had it for a long while and wish it would go away now. Enough's enough hey. Thanks.

[nz11]

yes I have.

Will the doctor be testing your testosterone levels? Please ask him to test for this.

Well fatigue is part of wdl and it may go on for a very long time. 

My opinion is just try to keep up with the exercise even if it feels like you are just going through the motions or you have exercise intolerance. 

.

I'm back to playing competitive sport again now after withdrawal left me off the sports field for 5.5 years. But I had to build up to it.

Start with short walks build it up to long walks. Then jog walk if you can. Spend time on the stationary bike if you can get access to one.

So far for the past month I've been on court for  2-3 hours a day, 6 days a week. Then I relax in the spa pool at the local gym, If I feel up to it I might even do 10 laps in the pool.

This is how I'm spending my vacation days. 

At the end of the day we can only do what we can do.

I have found it has slowly improved it is taking years. 

I'm too scared to go back to get my testosterone levels rechecked. The last results left me horrified. 

[powerback]

4 minutes ago, nz11 said:

yes I have.

Will the doctor be testing your testosterone levels? Please ask him to test for this.

Well fatigue is part of wdl and it may go on for a very long time. 

My opinion is just try to keep up with the exercise even if it feels like you are just going through the motions or you have exercise intolerance. 

.

I'm back to playing competitive sport again now after withdrawal left me off the sports field for 5.5 years. But I had to build up to it.

Start with short walks build it up to long walks. Then jog walk if you can. Spend time on the stationary bike if you can get access to one.

So far for the past month I've been on court for  2-3 hours a day, 6 days a week. Then I relax in the spa pool at the local gym, If I feel up to it I might even do 10 laps in the pool.

This is how I'm spending my vacation days. 

At the end of the day we can only do what we can do.

I have found it has slowly improved it is taking years. 

I'm too scared to go back to get my testosterone levels rechecked. The last results left me horrified. 

Sorry gussy for the tread interjection,

Brilliant nz11 for you being back playing sports like this ,today is a day I need to hear such inspiration ,my body is behaving like a snail this week .

Total kudos .

 

 

 

[Gussy]

1 hour ago, nz11 said:

Will the doctor be testing your testosterone levels? Please ask him to test for this.

Nz11 funny you say that as i.ve had it tested twice in the last year after finding a dr who.d do it for me the second time without thinking it.s a waste  of taxpayers money. At the start of last year it was pretty low and at the end of last year it was even lower. I'm hoping that with enough time off the effexor it might change but I'll have to wait and see.  I have an appointment booked with an endocrinologist in a few months also regarding this. So hopefully he might be able to shed some light. Did you by any chance happen to lose much body hair in withdrawal? Thanks for your reply also.

[AliG]

2 hours ago, Gussy said:

Hi everybody. Have many people experienced real bad unrelenting fatigue, lethargy and light headedness in wd for months on end and have it eventually go away? I've had it for a long while and wish it would go away now. Enough's enough hey. Thanks.

 

It tends to go away ~ it did for me and it has for many others as well. The main thing is not to panic and just take it day by day. It does get better.

[Gussy]

How about crampy twitchy tired muscles?

[Gussy]

Thanks to all who've replied. I keep telling myself as long as i keep finding a way it will eventually get better. It has for you guys so it will for me.

[Gussy]

Just an update for everyone who was there in my time of need. It's been over a year now since i got to zero. The things that have happened in that time from wd have been unimaginable and terrible. I.m not 100% yet but i'd say they'd be at least 70% (don't want to over estimate, might even be 80%) which is pretty damn good given i was at 0% for a long time. I don't even know what 100% feels like. Everything has lifted and the light is shining in which feels really good. It.s still there but at worst would be only 10% of what it was. I've started enjoying listening to music again(used to make teers stream down my face) with only a few little teers at times. Might even be teers of joy from being able to do it again. Even started riding my dirt bike again in the last month, thought i.d get too dizzy the first time i tried and would have to stop but much to my surprise i had no probs. It.s very physical so i was also worried the exertion and stimulus would overwhelm me after my wd experience in the last year but all i had was a sore body after not having done it for so long. Had to hide from everything in the last year but not any more. My brain feelings have almost gone and the terrible emotions that came with them. Only have a few much less intense ones now in only a few areas with the symptoms that accompany the feeling in that area of my brain. Sometimes my emotions are a little silly but once again only 10% at most of what they were. Light and noise sensitivity has settled a lot and my testosterone(for those who may be interested) has more than doubled since getting off effexor. That took a long time to happen though. Still get "nerve aggrivation" in my feet and some other places but compared to everything that happened last year i.m in a good place and wish i.d never gone down this road. My eyes have been opened  to what drs know and what they think they know and will now be very vigilant. I could rave on for ages but i think you guys get it. Looking forward to seeing how much better i.ll be in another year. Gus.

[bubbles]

Hello Gus,

I'm so pleased to hear that you're doing so much better. Best wishes for even more improvement in the next year!

Bubbles

[Gussy]

Thank you. These "drugs" should be as illegal if not more than those that people go to jail for selling. Not shy to say it to anyone. I said it in the chemist the other day. What a nightmare it was. 

[bubbles]

7 minutes ago, Gussy said:

Thank you. These "drugs" should be as illegal if not more than those that people go to jail for selling. Not shy to say it to anyone. I said it in the chemist the other day. What a nightmare it was. 

What did they say to that?

[Gridley]

Gussy, this is a great report.  I'm so happy you're doing so well.  Thanks for updating us.  Your report was a real "up."

[Gussy]

Bubbles, they didn't say much. Prob didn.t want to argue with a customer. It came about in a funny way. I was at the chemist not buying anti d.s and lexapro came up on the screen for some reason when they entered the code for what i was buying. After going through the worst of wd i was compelled. I said the stuff about it should be illegal and said it has no place in anyone's body. I told them how i.ve been at zero effexor for a year, she said "oh you.ve had a little bit of withdrawal have you?". I said no i haven.t had a little bit, it.s been an absolute nightmare and you can.t imagine, you have to go through it to know. I.ve met the devil coming off this stuff. These drs have no idea what they.re giving people. I think they may have been a little stumped. I also told an endocrinologist i was seeing that it should be illegal. I said "why would you believe what.s happened to me when these d*ck head gp's wont?", he was obviously more aware of what happens saying these "drugs" can indeed affect the brain.s hormonal pathways which i was growing more and more suspicious of through my journey. Dr.s will dismiss this kind of thought without a mention.  I always look for effexor when i go to the chemist to remind myself of the evil that exists in this world and the lengths companies will go to for profit. 

I have another question: does anyone have a link to the write up that explains how 37.5 of effexor has 80% of the total effect effexor can have?

Edited May 7, 2018 by Gussy
Added content

[Gussy]

Gridley, i.ve waited a long time to return here as i wanted to be sure i wasn.t lying when i gave a good update. I.m not perfect and it is painfully slow but i.m a lot better than this time last year and even 4 months ago. It.s almost all doom and gloom on these sites and i know why so i wanted to add something a bit less doom and gloom.

[bubbles]

This link? http://ils.unc.edu/bmh/neoref/this.dir.unneeded/schizophrenia/review/tmp/352.pdf

 

It's the one with the graph.

[Gussy]

Thank you bubbles that.s awesome. I.m a member on the fb effexor wd group created by sherry julo. She.s in her 5th year of wd after being tapered by her clueless dr from 225-0 over 2 weeks. I wanted to share this on that group to show how important it is to go real slow especially from 37.5 like i didn.t if that.s ok?

[bubbles]

The article is freely available: https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.5.826

 

 

[Gussy]

Thanks

[bhasski]

@Gussy

 

Nice report.

 

I wish I would have tapered in hindsight.

But also nobody told me about taper and wdl.. all I  was told I was relapsing.

[Gussy]

8 hours ago, bhasski said:

@Gussy

 

Nice report.

 

I wish I would have tapered in hindsight.

But also nobody told me about taper and wdl.. all I  was told I was relapsing.

Bhasski how long have you been at zero? Did a dr instruct you how to do it?

[bhasski]

@Gussy

 

I have been all drugs off 26 months.

 

I was told to take half the dose of Paroxetine CR and Oxacrbazepine  for a week and then stop. The doctor said nothing about withdrawal. He never mentioned it and only said relapse.

 

I contacted him when was severe in withdrawal with all the symptoms and again he refuted me and any internet crap about that. He told me to see a psychiatrist nearby.

[Gussy]

16 hours ago, bhasski said:

@Gussy

 

 

For **** sake what's wrong with these idiots? I.m on the effexor group on f.b and almost every day someone says the same thing.

[Gussy]

Has your wd subsided?

[bhasski]

.

[bhasski]

No,

I am not in any way normal. I suffer very less emotions except anger. Constantly feel anxiety and sudden rage. I feel my personality lost. Very difficult to express and talk. 

Physical issues are there like indigestion, restless legs, dull and blur vision etc.

 

I heard stories that people snapped to old self or closer to old self and hope such thing will happen...