☼ Lloyd: Effexor withdrawal - 2 months in

[Lloyd]

@Lostinwonderland Heya, have seen some improvements.

 

Visual snow (was mild) - gone

Akathisia - Not gone but not as bad as what it was.

Derealization has improved - have occasional moments of clarity (almost).

Brain zaps - lasted around 8 months. Gone now - although I still experience almost was could be called a waking seizure occasionally when I'm drowsy - intense electrical buzzing like my head is being hit with a cattle prod. Always happened if I forgot to take the Effexor.

 

These seem to have been replaced with other symptoms over time though which is frustrating. Dizziness, Tinnitus, nystagmus / vision problems, dystonia etc.

Doctor thought it was MS. Saw a neurologist who said it wasn't but honestly didn't perform much of an assessment and seem totally disinterested when I mentioned mental health problems. Honest to god if I could rewind back to when i decided to come off this drug I would not have done it. What scares me most is the possibility of never being well again. I mean how long can i person white knuckle this ****? Fear is a powerful thing and its fear that's stopping me from going back in the Effexor. I'm just terrified of it now but its possibly the only thing that will stop this misery. Or it will just make it worse.

 

Would love to hear from people who re-instated years later during protracted withdrawl.

 

[Leila]

Ehi @lloyd, I'm sorry you are struggling for all this time!

I saw that you did many medical tests for understanding better your situation but they didn't show something which can explain your issues, is that so? 

Do the new issues follow the pattern of windows and waves? In that case, it seems to me that they are related to WD... 

[saeed]

Hi,

 

hope you’re doing well, I have read your story and I feel really sorry to hear what you have been through.

I was on multiple ADs in my life and have CTed from most of the drugs and I didn’t know what’s wrong with me as you mentioned I forgot how To feel normal as I had protracted withdrawals from SNRIs specially. 
i changed medication and didn’t work at all until they shifted me to dopamine category which destroyed me into a part I ended up in psych hospital with psychosis when I quitted the “concerta”.

I suffered around 7-8 years and I didn’t have a healthy lifestyle and didn’t know how to live normal like everyone does.

I ended up taking antipsychotic medication for almost 5 months to be specific “invega” the worst one ever and thanks god I quitted I am still going through withdrawals.

 I am trying to say it’s neurological issue and it will be cured soon.

I think I destroyed my serotonin nerves were terribly destroyed from list of medication I used in my life.

when read your story I knew I had problem I understood why my life was a mess. 
just wanted to encourage you to stay strong and leave all the crap behind your back recovery is happening as baby step, you’re hero you stood all these 3 years and I am very proud of you. 

[HardTimes]

Hey @Lloyd. I'd like to check in with you and see how things have been going, even though I've never posted here before. I'm a big fan of the excel chart you made. I have a bit of a problem with follow-through these days, but I'd like to continue your research and maybe update the excel file too. It is interesting how many people do experience "rapid improvement", but also that they seem to be generally when taking slightly closer to "normal" doses. Of course, the dozen or so cases here isn't really enough data for comprehensive conclusions, but it is helpful for those of us caught in the hell of trying to decide whether to reinstate, updose, or whether or not the reinstatement has had a negative impact. The initial thread from 2011 about reinstatement talks (wisely) about the need to reinstate at lower doses, how sooner is better than later, and how ultimately it is a bit of a crap shoot. But if we are vigilant in collecting and assessing the data from the last 10 years, maybe we can make it a little less crap shooty and help people make good decisions. So maybe I'll try to add to your file, if I have your permission? I'd also like to see how many people slowly updosed to the amounts listed, and how many just jumped in at that level...

 

Anyway, I'd also love to hear how you are getting on, if you are feeling up to posting! Thanks for all your efforts to help others!

[Lloyd]

Hiya @HardTimes thanks for checking in. Happy for you to keep updating the spreadsheet - PM if you need a copy. I think I still have it laying around (hope). Overall when doing the assessment I did notice that on the majority re-instatement resulted in improvements. It's a shame there's no (not that I'm aware of) long term studies of anti-depressant use or withdrawal syndrome. I suspect that no respectable institution would be granted research funds to go looking under the rug.

 

I'm over 3 years out now from cessation of Effexor. My symptoms are pretty constant now and i don't seem to be going through windows / waves anymore. The anxiety is pretty bad these days along with vision, balance & tinnitus among others. I may end up re-instating myself. I know if there is a major upset in my life I probably wouldn't survive without something. Its a sad truth.

 

How are you handling things at the moment?

[JesusSavemefromWD]

Just wondering how are u doing and if u ended up reinstating?

[Lloyd]

Well time for an update.

 

I survived Akathisia!!!! Of all the horrible things this was by far the worst part of withdrawal - the experience was truly the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Words can't describe how horrible it is to live with it 24x7. It eased up suddenly early this year quite dramatically and then vanished. Occasionally I feel fidgety but that seems to be anxiety more than anything else. I have no idea why it suddenly stopped - nothing changed, diet, medications, environment etc. But either way I am thankful that it has. I do feel loss and grief over the impact it's had on me and how it affected my life these past few years. I've missed allot in life and it was a massive impact on my wife and I guess that's where these feelings come from.

 

I've made some changes in life and removed a couple of things from it that were affecting me in a negative way and having an impact on my family life. I'm spending more time with my family and re-focusing. I still have allot of residual issues and am still in withdrawal but am seeing gradual some improvements over time.

 

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Because you're feeling better, I added our cheerful "here comes the sun" symbol ☼ to the title of your Intro topic, to show you're recovering.

 

Please continue to let us know how you're doing. I hope you will add your story to our Recovery Success Stories eventually!

[ChessieCat]

  

Thank you for coming back to update.  I am really pleased that you are feeling so much better.

 

SA would really appreciate it if you would continue to return occasionally to update and when you feel that you have recovered, to write your success story.

 

 

[Vasherr]

Hi, @Lloyd, how are You doing lately?

 

I'm sure many people here would be very happy to know if You are good

 

Wishing You a lifelong window!

V.

[Lauren90]

Hi! Is your akathisia still gone???