success ☼ MrAnxious: 3 months off Effexor XR (6 years on)

[MrAnxious]

 

Success story:  mranxious-update-years-later

 

Hello folks, Wow I came across this website and it definitely helped my outlook on this horrid process of withdrawling from Anti- Depressants. Here is my story. Life was good I was 23 years old, sitting in my University Class seminar, participating with my class, when out of nowhere all these feelings came rushing over me, people started to go sideways, couldn't really talk. Long story short I dropped out of University and went home to parents. I Went to an emerg clinic and was diagnosed with Generalized anxiety disorder(Gad). Immediately I was giving a prescription for Effexor xr 150mg, followed up with my doctor and was up at 225mg for awhile and 150mg for awhile over a 6 year period. I am now 29 years old, about 4 months ago the effexor pooped out, well it may have pooped out a year before that, but we all know how addicting it is. Went through the stigma , perceived personality changes, felt brilliant and ability to talk, got lots of good jobs, was able to be social, felt at times like it was a miracle drug, then slowly over time I lost my jobs, gf's , starting smoking marijuana heavily, took up smoking cigarettes and had anger and frustration issues, never had this before the medication. My doctor just refilled my prescriptions and never really questioned how I was doing on this medication. If I missed a dose one day I would have horrible symptoms. Long story short I feel effexor got me through the first initial espisode I had, but eventually ruined my social life, career life etc. It's been a tough trip. So after this medication pooped out 5 months ago I figured lets try to go off this and tapered off during a two months period.150mg to 75mg to 37.5 then half of 37.5 and then half of that,then off. I quit Effexor on March 22/2012 after being on it since 2005. Wow Lets just say after I came off it I felt so amazing, I saw everything in a fresh new light- like this is what life is like off this? Colors are brighter, Smell is better, everything changed for the positive after coming off it. Rose colored glasses you should say came off. I quit my 2 addictions of Cigs and pot immediately, was so proud of myself, fixed up debts that I wouldn't have touched on effexor. I felt like I had total control of my life, except for how to deal with these raw emotions , felt like a brand new person. Until... The 3 month mark being off Effexor, wow. Anxiety, Insomnia( not sleeping til 730am), not being able to look at somebody and talk to them in a normal light( was never a issue all my life). One week ago I tried Wellbutrin for 5 days and then withdrawled off it 150mg xl. It was just making me more anxious etc. Now the biggest problem I face is feeling like my memory/words have disapeared, can't make sentences or think of what to say and this was never a problem in my life and it's bothering me big time and I don't know what to do, as I feel like my brain has been messed up by 6 years of effexor highest dose 225mg but mostly 150mg. How do I get this back? I need some good responses here because I feel like a complete dummie as my mind has been erased. Thank you for reading this extremely long post, but I didn't want to leave anything important out, and I really want to move on with a life that I can accept and enjoy. Where has my memory gone? Will it comeback? How long if so? My words and ability to talk to people and come up with things to say? Very scared, What can I do? Use to be so smart I am Martin and that is my story, Glad to be a part of this group (29 years old) ^6 years on effexor , now 3months off 2005-2012 , March 22/2012 Off Effexor

 

Edited July 21, 2020 by ChessieCat
added success story link

[Skyler]

Hi Martin. You are having withdrawal symptoms as you probably know. They are horrible and you obviously want relief. Hold on.. you will get comprehensive feedback from our admin, but for now I want to welcome you aboard, and take this opportunity to say we are good folks and can help!

[MrAnxious]

Thank you so much for your reply, and I welcome your feedback as soon as possible.

[Nikki]

Hi ~ The 3 month out mark symptoms can unfortunately crop up. Wellbutrin can give anyone anxiety.

 

In the upper right hand corner there is a Seacrh Bar where you can type in Effexor. There are alot of members here tapering from it. I have not taken it, although I do know the WD can be brutal like Paxil and a few others.

 

Sometimes members will go back on a small dose to help alleviate symptoms. I don't know if this is viable for you having been off for 3 months. Others (myself included) have taken another med which can help, but not always. You experienced this with Wellbutrin.

 

Alto has tremendous knowledge on Effexor and should be along shortly with some solid advise.

 

Three months off is a huge accomplishment....

 

Congrats

Nikki

[MrAnxious]

Thank you for the response Nikki and I can't wait to see what Alto says ! I need to stick this out as I am feeling times of greatness and a more positive outlook, then anxiety creeps in, zombie like feel creeps in, have to think of my words before i talk to someone, feel so stupid. Not what i am use to and i am afraid its gonna throw me into depression.

 

 

Alto !!!!!!!!!!!

[renee]

hi there things will get better and I must comment on how well you write!!I had to switch over to prozac as I could never get off my cipralex that i was on for 6 years and trid many many times.The withdrawel was awful.This is what worked for me its called prozac bridging .

[peggy]

hi Mr Anxious!

I know that just off effexor high only too well! It's great that you have found this site the first time, unlike me who went back on 5 or 6 times because i thought it was the 'real me' creeping back rather than withdrawal...

 

The last time this happened I went back on to 75mg and then reduced at 10% every 3 or 4 weeks. I am now on 15mg and doing great. I open the capsule and count out the beads. It's hard to say if it would be better to stay off and ride it out or go back on and try to stabilse and then reduce slowly - the withdrawal symptoms indicate that your nervous system is in distress, so it might be better to try and stabilse it rather than continue to stress it. Whatever you do, this is a great site for balanced advice

[MrAnxious]

hi there things will get better and I must comment on how well you write!!I had to switch over to prozac as I could never get off my cipralex that i was on for 6 years and trid many many times.The withdrawel was awful.This is what worked for me its called prozac bridging .

 

 

Thank you Renee, I have never been complimented on the way I write but it feels great and gives me confidence

 

I have heard about this prozac bridging just not if it would be as effective figuring that I am already 3 months off Effexor, I really want to stick this out and battle and see myself progress,been having days of greatness and days of utter despair so I am not sure if that is my nervous system healing slowly day by day. Pretty sure it doesn't help not having a job and about 1 month of rent left, living in a apartment with my gf, it's not super exspensive but I have debts and such.

 

So I do see improvements the only concern is the Cognitive brain function fog, not being able to put words together or sound super interested in somebody's conversation. It's really wierd being off Effexor 6 years later, it's like i don't believe myself if what i am saying makes sense etc.

 

 

I know the saying "Pain is just weakness leaving the body" and always think about that, maybe I have to stop being so hard on myself and take it for what is is, a healing process. I just like to see things progress faster than it is, windows and waves.

 

 

Also I have taken some links from this site on Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and I am ready a book called " The feeling Good Book " by David Burns. Hoping all this helps and I can get back to the guy I use to know but a new one in a sense.

 

Hope you don't mind me adding you as a friend, could use some in this journey

[MrAnxious]

hi Mr Anxious!

I know that just off effexor high only too well! It's great that you have found this site the first time, unlike me who went back on 5 or 6 times because i thought it was the 'real me' creeping back rather than withdrawal...

 

The last time this happened I went back on to 75mg and then reduced at 10% every 3 or 4 weeks. I am now on 15mg and doing great. I open the capsule and count out the beads. It's hard to say if it would be better to stay off and ride it out or go back on and try to stabilse and then reduce slowly - the withdrawal symptoms indicate that your nervous system is in distress, so it might be better to try and stabilse it rather than continue to stress it. Whatever you do, this is a great site for balanced advice

 

Thanks for the Reply Peggy I really appreciate it, I need all the help I can get right now. I am taking fish oil, multi, vit D and C in higher doses and Magnesium.

 

Will my nervous system come back into balance overtime if it's in stress right now. I am drinking lots of water, getting out for walks, trying everything i can, seem to be getting better head wise , like headaches and such, it's trying to come up with small conversation that is the hard part, when on effexor i had no problem even before.

 

It's almost like effexor has ruined my thought process, in turn making me very scared. I am usually a social person and would like to get this back, I know that I can't rush and it's something I have to wait out, I've read about the neurotransmittors having to grow back and sometimes they don't, so this scares me also.

 

One million and 1 things going on in my head and have to slow down. I don't feel suicidal or anything, worried about getting a job etc, might not be the greatest time, but I don't want to want to go back on a anti depressant cause I shouldn't have been on one in the first place. They should only be for somebody that is suicidal. Not somebody that just was going through a tough spot in life, then addictions etc can from the drug, all bad.

 

Thank you for your advice and imput, i'd love to hear more about timelines etc. I've always taken fish oil and multi for the 6 years on effexor so I am hoping that would have helped me someway and that I will get my thought process back etc.

 

 

Thank you for listening,

[Karma]

Hi MrAnxious and welcome to the forum. I am currently at 35 mg of regular Effexor and I've been tapering off of it since around 2007. I chose to go really slowly to avoid withdrawals.

 

It sounds to me like you may be ok riding this out. I think the stress of not having a job would cause you to have anxiety even if you hadn't just come off of Effexor. You appear to be doing all the right things to cope with what you are experiencing. This is just my opinion and is not based on anything scientific.

 

Early in my experience with psychiatry I worked with a pdoc who had me buy "The Feeling Good Book," by Dr. David Burns and we worked together on its techniques. I found it very valuable. I still use some of the techniques from that book when I'm dealing with irrational thoughts.

 

I'm sure you will find lots of support here.

 

Love and light,

Karma

[Altostrata]

Welcome, MrAnxious.

 

It does sound like you have withdrawal symptoms, which come in waves with windows in between. Withdrawal insomnia is very grueling.

 

Do you have any Effexor XR left? What you might do is open up the capsule and take, for example, 10 beads or so and see if that helps your symptoms. If it helps, stay on it for a couple of months, then very carefully taper off a bead at a time.

 

Believe it or not, a very small dose can relieve withdrawal symptoms, then you can let your nervous system down very slowly so it doesn't feel withdrawal again.

[MrAnxious]

Hi MrAnxious and welcome to the forum. I am currently at 35 mg of regular Effexor and I've been tapering off of it since around 2007. I chose to go really slowly to avoid withdrawals.

 

It sounds to me like you may be ok riding this out. I think the stress of not having a job would cause you to have anxiety even if you hadn't just come off of Effexor. You appear to be doing all the right things to cope with what you are experiencing. This is just my opinion and is not based on anything scientific.

 

Early in my experience with psychiatry I worked with a pdoc who had me buy "The Feeling Good Book," by Dr. David Burns and we worked together on its techniques. I found it very valuable. I still use some of the techniques from that book when I'm dealing with irrational thoughts.

 

I'm sure you will find lots of support here.

 

Love and light,

Karma

 

Thank you for your reply Karma,

 

I really don't mind the withdrawls as long as I know I am healing and getting better and eventually the anxiety will subside, I am also working on a few online programs of Cognitive Behavior therapy that are interactive, which I am having some fun with. After reading your post and seeing you mention " The feeling good Book" by David Burns, my mouth dropped.

 

Short story*

 

My girlfriend yesterday was like come to the Salvation Army with me as I need to buy a Iron"

 

I was like okay i guess, feeling as crappy as i have been feeling. I start going through their books maybe hoping to find a self help book or something, I was just browsing. GUESS WHAT BOOK I PICKED UP FOR $3.00- The feeling good book by David Burns, never thought anything of it until you mentioned it in this post, wow. Stuff like this happens in my life and it's hard not to think(high power)looking out for me.

 

So I am a couple pages into this book so far and will continue to read it, just thought I would tell you how wierd it is that you say this and i pick it up for $3.00 at the local salvation army.

 

I am a work in progress, god bless

[MrAnxious]

Welcome, MrAnxious.

 

It does sound like you have withdrawal symptoms, which come in waves with windows in between. Withdrawal insomnia is very grueling.

 

Do you have any Effexor XR left? What you might do is open up the capsule and take, for example, 10 beads or so and see if that helps your symptoms. If it helps, stay on it for a couple of months, then very carefully taper off a bead at a time.

 

Believe it or not, a very small dose can relieve withdrawal symptoms, then you can let your nervous system down very slowly so it doesn't feel withdrawal again.

 

Thanks for the reply Alto,

 

I only have about 10 pills in a bottle, and honestly I am traumatized by the thought of even taking a lick of those nasty addictive pills, I totally know what you mean about how it would ease the withdrawl but I am now terrified of those things and never want to see or hear from them again. I do seem to be getting better as the days go by, thankfully for this site and everyone on here , I have hope.

 

I am trying everything I can. Not having a job and concerned and stressing over that is probably not aiding in my w/d recovery, but talking on her with you and everyone else sure is helping. I love it,

 

I am thinking about getting Magnesium chloride as I hear it's very effective and well absorbed, what do you think? I really don't eat to well and am trying, that is also a battle that I really have to change around.

 

Any suggestions on what to eat lots of in general and what to stay away from, any good diets for the time being that would speed up recovery, and how long does it take for neurotransmitters to start re growth after being damaged by this med?

 

 

 

Thank you so much,

[MrAnxious]

Wow ,

 

Did I ever have insomnia last night and for the first time in three and a half months, am feeling brain crunches and they feel like little clicks in my head. I was up all night and still up at 2pm, I couldn't fall asleep. Any suggestions about losing a days sleep?

 

Maybe it has to do with the waffles/syrup, icecream and fudge that I had yesterday? More or less a couple hours before bed. I'd like to figure this one out. I know that sugar is a must to cut out and I am going to start working on that. It's just so hard once you get that craving, anybody have any suggestions?

 

 

No anxiety lately which is nice, gotta look on the bright side

[peggy]

sugar is really, really bad for keeping me awake..try to distract your self through the craving..hard, but necessary

[Karma]

Maybe it has to do with the waffles/syrup, icecream and fudge that I had yesterday?

 

Yes!!!!! Refined sugar is very hard on the system. Look at trying to use Stevia and food with evaporated cane juice instead of high fructose corn syrup or refined sugar. Evaporated cane juice still has its nutrients. Stevia is extracted from a plant source.

 

Karma

[MrAnxious]

 

Maybe it has to do with the waffles/syrup, icecream and fudge that I had yesterday?

 

Yes!!!!! Refined sugar is very hard on the system. Look at trying to use Stevia and food with evaporated cane juice instead of high fructose corn syrup or refined sugar. Evaporated cane juice still has its nutrients. Stevia is extracted from a plant source.

 

Karma

 

thanks karma:)

 

Any suggestions on how to get rid or speed up this brain fog, I feel so lost in my head, sentences, words can't put them together, does this come with times 3 and half months off so far, use to be very brilliant with words etc and being social.

[MrAnxious]

Okay, I came off Effexor March 22/2012- Scariest thing ever

 

I have never experience so much Anxiety(Walking across street to avoid people), Slept fine for 3 months til the past few weeks, 4 days of sleepless nights(Nytol helped me sleep for a few hours last night), I never thought it would be this hard.

 

Also I need a job which could not be helping, Employment insurance is saying I lied on my claim which was a mistake of mine but now i am being penalized for it(not helping).

 

Really don't know where to go from here cause I feel so many positives but feel trapped with my thinking nothing is ever gonna get better(I am trying to be positive) life just keeps happening.

 

I also enjoy a conversation with people and viewed them as unique, no I scared to have a conversation, well my words/memory seem not all there, hard time caring to respond to somebody or come up with something clever to say, that use to be no problem.

 

When I came off Effexor on March 22/2012 I was in awe of the changes and transformation that was occuring in me, now it seems like I am hitting a wall and nothing is going right for me. I don't wanna feel scared talking to people, this doesn't seem like me. I want to be social and enjoy life and it's quirks but wow this withdrawl is kicking my butt.

 

Hoping to reach the 4 month mark on July 22/2012, right now I just feel like it's a hopeless battle and not going to get better, which is probably hurting any progress.

 

 

PLEASE HELP ME> Reassurance and advice always calms my soul, just feel lost and don't want to go back on medication.(It got me this way I believe)

[Altostrata]

MrA, I merged your 2 topics. Only one topic to a customer in the Intros forum.

 

You may be able to relieve your symptoms by taking a very small dose of Effexor XR, even a few beads, as we discussed before.

 

See Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems

[MrAnxious]

MrA, I merged your 2 topics. Only one topic to a customer in the Intros forum.

 

You may be able to relieve your symptoms by taking a very small dose of Effexor XR, even a few beads, as we discussed before.

 

See Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems

 

Thanks Alto, Sorry about that.

 

I have been off almost 4 months, I do have a few pills left but I really don't have any interest taking any more effexor even a few beads, cause then I'd have to go through withdrawl all over again.

 

Days seem like they are getting better 1 good day a week, I feel it helps being around other people and not sitting at home contemplating everything.

[Altostrata]

No, you don't go through withdrawal again. You control your taper so you don't. It's a way to give your nervous system a break, to let it down easy instead of making it suffer withdrawal symptoms.

[Karma]

Hi MrAnxious

 

It sounds like you need to let go of the "I want to be off these drugs" and give yourself a break by taking a few beads of the Effexor XR. It isn't a failure. As Alto says you will just control your taper off of the small dose to avoid withdrawals.

 

Karma

[MrAnxious]

Hi MrAnxious

 

It sounds like you need to let go of the "I want to be off these drugs" and give yourself a break by taking a few beads of the Effexor XR. It isn't a failure. As Alto says you will just control your taper off of the small dose to avoid withdrawals.

 

Karma

 

Well considering that I only have about 10 pills left, how many beads are we talking? I am considering this? I just don't want to re addict myself to effexor? I have been almost 4 months off? Aren't I then sending my brain mix signals? I am almost 4 months off ?

[Karma]

Alto suggested 10 beads or so ... just try it. Hopefully it works and then we can help you plan your slow taper off of the 10 beads.

 

Love and light,

Karma

[MrAnxious]

Alto suggested 10 beads or so ... just try it. Hopefully it works and then we can help you plan your slow taper off of the 10 beads.

 

Love and light,

Karma

 

The problem there is that I am in the midst of switching doctors and I have 10 pills left, not sure how many beads are in 10 pills but not thinking it's that much. What happens when I run out of those 10 pills and have no one to prescribe me anymore?

 

I really have been so proud of my withdrawl so far it does feel like it's getting better as the days go by, just waves of anxiety and outside anxiety, I do laugh, i can smile, I know it's gonna be a long process just like to hear re assurances along the way, nobody really has ever said to me "you can do it" i am just so scared to go back on that stuff after being almost 4 months off of it now, too tired from the whole process, just want to know that it does get better in time,?

[tezza]

Hi MrAnxious and welcome. I strongly suggest you take Alto's advice and then do a slow taper. I understand how you feel that you would be going backwards but a lot of people get prolonged withdrawal syndrome. For some who taper too quickly WD syndrome can last years. Please get to a doc and get a prescription as soon as possible.

 

I'm sorry you are in so much distress but you may be able to get relief by following advice given on here. No one can tell you what to do, it's totally your choice. Don't think of it as a failure by reinstating and tapering slower. This site is all about surviving, you do what you have to do to survive and minimize WDs if possible.

 

I will tell you "you can do this", but you may need to do it differently than you are doing it now. None of us are trying to discourage you, we just hate to see you suffer if it can be prevented.

 

Love,

 

Tezza

[MrAnxious]

Hi MrAnxious and welcome. I strongly suggest you take Alto's advice and then do a slow taper. I understand how you feel that you would be going backwards but a lot of people get prolonged withdrawal syndrome. For some who taper too quickly WD syndrome can last years. Please get to a doc and get a prescription as soon as possible.

 

I'm sorry you are in so much distress but you may be able to get relief by following advice given on here. No one can tell you what to do, it's totally your choice. Don't think of it as a failure by reinstating and tapering slower. This site is all about surviving, you do what you have to do to survive and minimize WDs if possible.

 

I will tell you "you can do this", but you may need to do it differently than you are doing it now. None of us are trying to discourage you, we just hate to see you suffer if it can be prevented.

 

Love,

 

Tezza

 

 

I think me not having a job right now it contributing to my anxiety and I will see once this goes away how I do, thanks for the advice i am taking it all in.

 

Gonna figure this all help,

 

 

Thanks for the help, really do appreciate it ! learned so much from this site.

[Altostrata]

Try 5 beads if 10 seems to be too much.

 

We've had people count them, there are more than 100 beads in a capsule. (Maybe around 200?)

[MrAnxious]

Try 5 beads if 10 seems to be too much.

 

We've had people count them, there are more than 100 beads in a capsule. (Maybe around 200?)

 

 

Okay I have 7 pills left= 700 beads...If I take 5 beads each day that is 140 days of taper at 5 beads,

 

Will 5 beads make any difference at all? Is it going to make me sick again? I feel so proud of myself being off for almost 4 months, maybe let up is right around the corner? then I am just going back on this stuff, I was on 150mg for the past 2 years and then roughly 2 months of tapering to 0... I don't want to suffer long term effects of withdrawl.

 

Right now Insomnia is huge can't sleep at all when i do it's broken sleep feels like for a few hours, I am not exhausted the next day, but I am also not working, the anxiety wanting to avoid people is bad, never like that before medication.

 

I am scared, confused, i feel normal right now except for the anxiety, not really feeling depression. The big thing for me I think is when i was on effexor my words were there and now they aren't, it's like I am a new person, sure you know the feeling. So I am suppose to go to school/college for 8 month program in January and don't want to look silly you know, want to know that I am ready for it. So you think i'd benefit or would i feel more sick just being on 5 beads, wouldn't my nervous system be like what is happening here,

 

thanks alto,

[MrAnxious]

 

Try 5 beads if 10 seems to be too much.

 

We've had people count them, there are more than 100 beads in a capsule. (Maybe around 200?)

 

 

Okay I have 7 pills left= 700 beads...If I take 5 beads each day that is 140 days of taper at 5 beads,

 

Will 5 beads make any difference at all? Is it going to make me sick again? I feel so proud of myself being off for almost 4 months, maybe let up is right around the corner? then I am just going back on this stuff, I was on 150mg for the past 2 years and then roughly 2 months of tapering to 0... I don't want to suffer long term effects of withdrawl.

 

Right now Insomnia is huge can't sleep at all when i do it's broken sleep feels like for a few hours, I am not exhausted the next day, but I am also not working, the anxiety wanting to avoid people is bad, never like that before medication.

 

I am scared, confused, i feel normal right now except for the anxiety, not really feeling depression. The big thing for me I think is when i was on effexor my words were there and now they aren't, it's like I am a new person, sure you know the feeling. So I am suppose to go to school/college for 8 month program in January and don't want to look silly you know, want to know that I am ready for it. So you think i'd benefit or would i feel more sick just being on 5 beads, wouldn't my nervous system be like what is happening here,

 

thanks alto,

 

 

Having no Job, Not being able to be social active and enjoy it, scared of everything. I really want to go back on a anti depressant now as I am struggling big time, but I don't want to go on effexor, what is a good substitute ( Wellbutrin/Paxil/Cymbalta- fail). Zoloft, Celexa? I am tired of battling this withdrawl as it's way to overwhelming, I see no progress with my life and am so wiped...

 

 

Help please,

[Altostrata]

I cannot predict the future. If you take a small amount of Effexor XR, it will probably relieve most of your withdrawal symptoms. But it may not. The only way to find out is to try it.

 

You can always get more Effexor XR if you need it.

[MrAnxious]

I cannot predict the future. If you take a small amount of Effexor XR, it will probably relieve most of your withdrawal symptoms. But it may not. The only way to find out is to try it.

 

You can always get more Effexor XR if you need it.

 

 

Update : I went to the clinic and got sleeping medication for 20 days and was also referred melatonin by the prescribing doctor. She said take 6mg , I bought ones that are 3mg and it says to take 1-3 tablets so 3 would be 9mg? What do you suggest Alto?

 

I also have a meet and greet with a new doctor that takes care of my girlfriend. Not til Sept 4th though,

 

 

Am thinking my sypmtoms of anxiety are all stemming around not having a job. Once I find a job all these things should balance out(hoping).

 

 

Funny thing Alto- I said to the this doctor at the emerg clinic( I think that I tapered off the effexor too quick and she didn't buy any of that, quickly shut it down and said if you keep feeling this way over the next month, see about going back on something for your emotional side.( Ahhhh) Such a scary place to be right now as I feel that the progress I have made has been amazing. Just having waves of anxiety that come and go. I do believe it's from tapering to quickly but being 4 months off in 2 days , I feel that their is no turning back and I just have to wait it out.

 

Wish me luck and thank you for all your support, I really appreciate it all. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

[Karma]

Oh yeah ... that is exactly what we mean about doctors. They know NOTHING about withdrawals. My provider doesn't get it on the level we do here, but she gets that I am "sensitive" to minor changes in my meds and supports me in weaning off of them. The worst fear is having to deal with doctors that are just pharmaceutical company puppets.

 

I'm not sure what you think the value is of going on another AD. We have people on the site trying to wean off of Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Effexor, Zoloft, Pristiq, Neurontin, Lamictal, Wellbutrin, etc. If your CNS is not stable and is trying to heal there is no guarantee that any of these ADs will provide relief.

 

Karma

[MrAnxious]

Oh yeah ... that is exactly what we mean about doctors. They know NOTHING about withdrawals. My provider doesn't get it on the level we do here, but she gets that I am "sensitive" to minor changes in my meds and supports me in weaning off of them. The worst fear is having to deal with doctors that are just pharmaceutical company puppets.

 

I'm not sure what you think the value is of going on another AD. We have people on the site trying to wean off of Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Effexor, Zoloft, Pristiq, Neurontin, Lamictal, Wellbutrin, etc. If your CNS is not stable and is trying to heal there is no guarantee that any of these ADs will provide relief.

 

Karma

 

Okay I am really not sure what to think and need some great advice here. Okay I have no job, a apartment with my gf and we barely get by. If I don't have another job in the next month well things are gonna get tight very fast so I have alot on my plate right now, almost 4 months off effexor, probably tapered too fast never really felt the side effects til the past few weeks overwhelming anxiety, avoiding people etc..All I am doing is worrying, I don't have a doctor that I trust, I have a meet and greet not til sept 4th with doctor of my gf's. I just have so much on my plate right now, not sure if it's withdrawl, return of depression, I am on sleeping medication for next 20days see if i can fix my sleep problem...ahhh HELP please somebody, what do i do next !!

[Altostrata]

Not a good idea to take the sleep medication. They cause dependence, they can be difficult to go off of (rebound insomnia), and they can make withdrawal symptoms worse.

 

If I were you, I would not take that much melatonin. Start with .5mg. See survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/189-melatonin-for-sleep/

 

MrA, I've given you my best guess to what you should do, which is to reinstate a small amount of Effexor as soon as possible.

 

If you don't care to do that, you will need to cope with withdrawal symptoms for an unknown amount of time. See the Symptoms and what helps forum.

 

If you have questions about a supplement such as melatonin or a medication a doctor gives you, please use the Search box in the upper right corner of the screen.

[MrAnxious]

Not a good idea to take the sleep medication. They cause dependence, they can be difficult to go off of (rebound insomnia), and they can make withdrawal symptoms worse.

 

If I were you, I would not take that much melatonin. Start with .5mg. See survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/189-melatonin-for-sleep/

 

MrA, I've given you my best guess to what you should do, which is to reinstate a small amount of Effexor as soon as possible.

 

If you don't care to do that, you will need to cope with withdrawal symptoms for an unknown amount of time. See the Symptoms and what helps forum.

 

If you have questions about a supplement such as melatonin or a medication a doctor gives you, please use the Search box in the upper right corner of the screen.

 

Alto I have taken your advice and took 10 grains today. I already feel calm, and relaxed. So I figure that I will take 10 grains everyday until I run out. Just worried that 10 grains won't be enough in my system and i'll start to withdrawl from the small amount that I am taking, how does this work? How long I should take them? I am going to be doing alot of CBT(my book,website).

 

Please stay with me on this journey, I've learned so much from this site and from yourself, feels great to know that their is guidance along this rocky road that we travel. Doctors and psychiatrist aren't well known to the effects of withdrawl. I know your advice isn't a doctors and I walk with caution, just great to know I am not alone.

 

You should be proud of yourself for the many minds you have eased and helped and I just want to say thank you. It's well appreciated. I get scared sometimes but it's great to know their is people like you fighting for the injustice that is happening all around.

 

Thanks,