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Hello All,

 

I'm new here and am looking for some help.  I've suffered from major depressive disorder my entirelife.  My depression is a fairly constant part of my life with brief windows of freedom from it.  2 years ago I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder also, and at that time decided to try medication.  I've tried multiple antidepressants and NONE OF THEM HAVE HELPED.  I don't remember the first few I tried, but I tried paxil for a month, gave me my first panic attacks ever, then I switched to zoloft, which made me so tired I couldn't function, and then I came to effexor.  I was on Effexor for 6 months, but all it did was numb my anxiety, and did nothing for my depression.

 

So, I've been off effexor for a month now. I didn't tapper off too well.  Was on a 70mg dose(I'm very sensitive to medication that was a very high dose for me) and in the span of two weeks kept cut down the dose/stopped. I couldn't take it though, the drug made me so sick everyday for 6 months, it was horrible.  Now my depression is in full swing and I don't care about anything.  I'm a full time grad student in a studio art program and since getting off effexor I can't make anything, I'm too depressed, I don't want to do anything and have been isolating in my room, sleeping up to 15 hours a day, just excessive depression symptoms.  I'm afraid to go to a therapist/psych because all they ever want to do is give me meds and they don't work for me! Not a single one has helped.  Has anyone else experienced that? No med working?  and could anyone give me advice about stopping antidepressants and depression symptoms?  It's been about a month so idk if I should introduce a little bit of effexor back in or not?  I tried to do 15mg a while ago and it made me sick and very sleepy like when i was taking my full 70mg.  Should I just ride out this depression and hope for the best?  I hate antidepressants, they really have been a horrible part of my life.  Any info/help greatly appreciated here.

 

xo,

vi

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to VioletLouise: Month after quitting Effexor
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi VioletLouise and welcome to SA,

 

We ask all members to create a drug signature which will appear below each post you make.  Please use the following format:

 

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

  • Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
  • A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
  • Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
  • Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
  • Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
  • Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

This is your own Intro topic where you can ask questions and journal your progress.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Hi Violet. Welcome. The antidepressants don't help ~ they just numb, as you said. In fact they make depression and anxiety worse.

 

I would perhaps think about reinstating a very small amount of Effexor. Perhaps 1 -2 mg. You were on a very high dose which was obviously too much for you ~ this is different : it's just giving you a little bit back of what you have been missing in the last month. Your brain has adapted to having the drug and it's been suddenly yanked away, so you are suffering as a result.

 

This will help with the withdrawal symptoms:

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

Have a read through the link and let us know what you decide to do. We can suggest a starting dose.

Ali

Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014

 

                                                  Psych Drug - free since May 2014
.
         

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