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


MrAnxious

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MrA, no one on this site is where they though they would be, or where they want to be. You just have to accept that this is life for the time being. It won't always be this way. Let Time Pass.

2003-2011: Paroxetine,Citalopram,Effexor; Aug/Sept 2011: Effexor to Mirtazapine; Oct 2011: C/T Mirtazapine back to Effexor; Nov/Dec 2011: Fast Tapered Effexor - w/d hell; Feb 2012: Reinstated Effexor 37.5mg; June 2012: Dropped to 35.6mg; Jan 2016: Propranolol 2.5mg per day for general anxiety; Feb 2016: Finasteride 0.25mg per week to slow hair loss; 18th May - 8th June 2019: Started Vyvanse 7.5mg and increased by 7.5mg weekly to 30mg (lowest “therapeutic” dose for adults).; 21st June 2019 - 12th July: Cross tapered from venlafaxine brand Rodomel to Efexor (1/4 > 1/2 > 3/4 weekly before ditching Rodomel); 13th July 2019: Cut Vyvanse dose to 15mg; 15th July 2019: Akathisia returned after years of being free; 16th July 2019: Went back up to Vyvanse 30mg

Supplements: Omega-3, Vitamin D, Zinc, Phosphatidylserine 

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Thanks Peggy, strawberry and Jr. You guys keep me in this ! The diary/journal log is a great idea and I am starting that. Also yah it's very easy to say this is going wrong etc etc.

 

* Yes my sleep is a little more sound 10% better so that is a plus ! it's more deep and less broken, but when I am up I am up !

 

You guys and girls are what keeps me going in this struggle it's really nice to hear from you, sometimes it's easy to feel so alone in all this. Just wish i could help others !

 

So I am starting to think if this medication is going to work it should be soon ! Cause I am not feeling any huge side effects EXCEPT .....

 

 

My scalp, I looked it up and it has to be side effects of psysiological health it says,...some type of demititis since I went into w/d and went on this stuff...it's extremely dry and flake and pieces ( can't describe it) piece( mounds) on top of my scalp almost like tough dandruff and it's itchy...hoping this goes away when this stuff stabilizes me if it does.. If it's not one thing it's another...Gonna try some Tar( it's a special shampoo).

 

bye for now!

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Mr Anxious, we've all been where you are at one time or another, and I well remember that feeling of being alone, and nobody in all the people I knew in the real world around me seemed to understand, such a relief isn't it to find you're not the only one.

*** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***





http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/
Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007.
Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. 

A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido.

 

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Mr Anxious, we've all been where you are at one time or another, and I well remember that feeling of being alone, and nobody in all the people I knew in the real world around me seemed to understand, such a relief isn't it to find you're not the only one.

 

 

Yes very much so... just hoping I stabilize soon because my world is constantly falling apart.. starting to level out 10% maybe...10/100 ..

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Mr A, hold on to the 10% - it IS a waiting game, but that doesn't let you off the hook completely - you must practise getting a hold on your thoughts and not letting them get away from you. I know when it happens to me i try to do something like suduko or something that takes your mind off it

Started in 2000 - On 150mg most of the time, (but up to 225mg at highest dose for 6 months in the beginning)
Reduced off easily first time - but got depressed (not too much anxiety) 6 months later
Back on effexor for another 9 months.
Reduced off again with no immediate w/d - suddenly got depressed and anxious ++ again 3 or 4 months later.
Back on effexor - this time for 3 years
Reduced off over a month - 6 weeks later terrible anxiety - back on.
Rinse and repeat 4 more times - each time the period before the anxiety comes back got shorter and shorter
Jan - July 2012 75mg down to 37.5mg;, 8/3/12 - 35mg. 8/25/12 - 32mg. 9/11- 28mg, 10/2 - 25mg, 10/29 - 22mg, 11/19 - 19.8mg; 12/11 - 17m,
1/1- 15.5mg; 1/22 -14mg, 2/7 14.9mg, 2/18 - 17.8mg - crashed big time: back to 75mg where i sat for 2 years....

4th  March 2015 - 67.5mg;   31st March - 60mg;  24th April - 53mg; 13th May - 48mg; 26th May - 45mg;  9th June - 41mg; 1 July- 37.5mg; 20 July - 34mg; 11 August - 31mg; 1st Sept - 28mg;  1st Dec - 25.8mg;  28th Dec - 23.2mg; 23rd Jan-21.9mg; Feb 7th- 21mg; March 1st - 20.1mg, March 30th - 18mg

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I am trying all that very hard, I feel nausea unless i am constantly eating which i am gaining weight quickly cause i just wanna eat and eat and eat some more and it's not good healthy food due to my financial situation.

 

I really don't think this medication is working or I need to go up in dose calling doctors tommorow, i have lots of anxiety still, i am not sleeping til 8am and then sleep til 4-5pm and still don't want to get out of bed and lay there like a zombie just closing my eyes cause i don't want to deal with anymore pain.

 

 

I am on 50mg and have been on that dose since sept 17

 

Sept 5- 25mg Zoloft

Sept 17th - 50mg Zoloft

 

 

Feeling just blah , head kinda hurts at times, anxiety , not sure if a raise would even help, i just remember how fast effexor worked with the anxiety etc but i've already been down that road. This has almost been 1 whole month in 3 days and feel horrible still...Suggestions on my next move.?

 

This whole process has broke me, trying so hard but life is so overwhelming when you are sick and unstable...everything is crumbling..

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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The Effexor worked quickly before because it was working on a "normal" brain. But now your brain is in chaos with the Effexor withdrawal and drug switching, etc. If I were you I'd give it at least 6-8 weeks at the current dose. Don't change it, up or down, you need to let your brain settle.

2003-2011: Paroxetine,Citalopram,Effexor; Aug/Sept 2011: Effexor to Mirtazapine; Oct 2011: C/T Mirtazapine back to Effexor; Nov/Dec 2011: Fast Tapered Effexor - w/d hell; Feb 2012: Reinstated Effexor 37.5mg; June 2012: Dropped to 35.6mg; Jan 2016: Propranolol 2.5mg per day for general anxiety; Feb 2016: Finasteride 0.25mg per week to slow hair loss; 18th May - 8th June 2019: Started Vyvanse 7.5mg and increased by 7.5mg weekly to 30mg (lowest “therapeutic” dose for adults).; 21st June 2019 - 12th July: Cross tapered from venlafaxine brand Rodomel to Efexor (1/4 > 1/2 > 3/4 weekly before ditching Rodomel); 13th July 2019: Cut Vyvanse dose to 15mg; 15th July 2019: Akathisia returned after years of being free; 16th July 2019: Went back up to Vyvanse 30mg

Supplements: Omega-3, Vitamin D, Zinc, Phosphatidylserine 

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  • Administrator

I have to agree with JRs advice. When I got sensitized last fall it actually took about 6 weeks for me to get to a reasonable state of stable. You just need to hold where you are and track your symptoms so that you can tell, no matter how subtle, whether you are improving, staying the same or getting worse. Give it a full 6 to 8 weeks.

 

Hang in there, you are going to get through this.

 

Here is a Karma hug: Posted Image

 

Love and light,

Karma

2007 @ 375 mg Effexor - 11/29/2011 - 43.75 mg Effexor (regular) & .625 mg Xanax

200 mg Gabapentin 2/27/21 - 194.5 mg, 5/28/21 - 183 mg, 8/2/21 - 170 mg, 11/28/21 - 150 mg, 4/19/22 - 122 mg; 8//7/22 - 100 mg; 12/17 - 75mg; 8/17 - 45 mg; 10/16 40 mg
Xanax taper: 3/11/12 - 0.9375 mg, 3/25/12 - 0.875 mg, 4/6/12 - 0.8125 mg, 4/18/12 - 0.75 ; 10/16 40mg;

1/16 0.6875 mg; at some point 0.625 mg
Effexor taper: 1/29/12 - 40.625 mg, 4/29/12 - 39.875 mg, 5/11/12 - Switched to liquid Effexor, 5/25/12 - 38 mg, 7/6/12 - 35 mg, 8/17/12 - 32 mg, 9/14/12 - 30 mg, 10/19/12 - 28 mg, 11/9/12 - 26 mg, 11/30/12 - 24 mg, 01/14/13 - 22 mg. 02/25/13 - 20.8 mg, 03/18/13 - 19.2 mg, 4/15/13 - 17.6 mg, 8/10/13 - 16.4 mg, 9/7/13 - 15.2 mg, 10/19/13 - 14 mg, 1/15/14 - 13.2 mg, 3/1/2014 - 12.6 mg, 5/4/14 - 12 mg, 8/1/14 - 11.4 mg, 8/29/14 - 10.8 mg; 10/14/14 - 10.2 mg; 12/15/14 - 10 mg, 1/11/15 - 9.5 mg, 2/8/15 - 9 mg, 3/21/15 - 8.5 mg, 5/1/15 - 8 mg, 6/9/15 - 7.5 mg, 7/8/15 - 7 mg, 8/22/15 - 6.5 mg, 10/4/15 - 6 mg; 1/1/16 - 5.6 mg; 2/6/16 - 5.2 mg; 4/9 - 4.8 mg; 7/7 4.5 mg; 10/7 4.25 mg; 11/4 4.0 mg; 11/25 3.8 mg; 4/24 3.6 mg; 5/27 3.4 mg; 7/8 3.2 mg ... 10/18 2.8 mg; 1/18 2.6 mg; 4/7 2.4 mg; 5/26 2.15mg; 8/18 1.85 mg; 10/7 1.7 mg; 12/1 1.45 mg; 3/2 1.2 mg; 5/4 0.90 mg; 6/1 0.80 mg; 6/22 0.65 mg; 08/03 0.50 mg, 08/10 0.45 mg, 10/05 0.325 mg, 11/23 0.2 mg, 12/14 0.15 mg, 12/21 0.125 mg, 02/28 0.03125 mg, 2/15 0.015625 mg, 2/29/20 0.00 mg - OFF Effexor


I am not a medical professional - this is not medical advice. My suggestions are based on personal experience, reading, observation and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers

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Thanks Jr and Karma for reminding me, cause honestly I feel worse almost on now than I did off, different side effects I guess.

 

Anxiety is still extreme and on Effexor I had no anxiety at all, the eating i always love food but i am a eating machine right now maybe cause i feel a bit depressed. It's hard to wait and wait when you have felt like this 24/7 and you are watching your life just fall apart. I am trying , i really am.

 

 

I just want to feel stable that's all I ask for, i anxious if that is what you call it, looking around at other people at the grocery store and hoping i don't see anybody i know and wondering what is going on with all these people etc..

 

 

 

I know this isn't going to be a miracle drug but i am starting to miss feeling half way good , after i had a taste for years of living a functional life, thanks for talking to me and keeping up with me guys and girls, i appreciate everybit , you have definitely kept me in the game.

 

 

Mr. A

 

I turn 30 in a few more days, boy is that going to be exciting(inserts sarcasm) I always thought of my 30 birthday as something big and special...feeling this way i don't think/ i know it won't be.

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Mr Anxious, 30? that's nothing, you are STILL a spring chicken :rolleyes: It's only a number and all that (says she who hates birthdays now).

 

I remember that feeling you're describing of looking at other adults in the supermarket or school playground and wondering what it's all about, how come they're all "normal" so to speak?

*** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***





http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/
Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007.
Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. 

A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido.

 

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  • Administrator

Posted Image

 

Happy Birthday,

Karma

2007 @ 375 mg Effexor - 11/29/2011 - 43.75 mg Effexor (regular) & .625 mg Xanax

200 mg Gabapentin 2/27/21 - 194.5 mg, 5/28/21 - 183 mg, 8/2/21 - 170 mg, 11/28/21 - 150 mg, 4/19/22 - 122 mg; 8//7/22 - 100 mg; 12/17 - 75mg; 8/17 - 45 mg; 10/16 40 mg
Xanax taper: 3/11/12 - 0.9375 mg, 3/25/12 - 0.875 mg, 4/6/12 - 0.8125 mg, 4/18/12 - 0.75 ; 10/16 40mg;

1/16 0.6875 mg; at some point 0.625 mg
Effexor taper: 1/29/12 - 40.625 mg, 4/29/12 - 39.875 mg, 5/11/12 - Switched to liquid Effexor, 5/25/12 - 38 mg, 7/6/12 - 35 mg, 8/17/12 - 32 mg, 9/14/12 - 30 mg, 10/19/12 - 28 mg, 11/9/12 - 26 mg, 11/30/12 - 24 mg, 01/14/13 - 22 mg. 02/25/13 - 20.8 mg, 03/18/13 - 19.2 mg, 4/15/13 - 17.6 mg, 8/10/13 - 16.4 mg, 9/7/13 - 15.2 mg, 10/19/13 - 14 mg, 1/15/14 - 13.2 mg, 3/1/2014 - 12.6 mg, 5/4/14 - 12 mg, 8/1/14 - 11.4 mg, 8/29/14 - 10.8 mg; 10/14/14 - 10.2 mg; 12/15/14 - 10 mg, 1/11/15 - 9.5 mg, 2/8/15 - 9 mg, 3/21/15 - 8.5 mg, 5/1/15 - 8 mg, 6/9/15 - 7.5 mg, 7/8/15 - 7 mg, 8/22/15 - 6.5 mg, 10/4/15 - 6 mg; 1/1/16 - 5.6 mg; 2/6/16 - 5.2 mg; 4/9 - 4.8 mg; 7/7 4.5 mg; 10/7 4.25 mg; 11/4 4.0 mg; 11/25 3.8 mg; 4/24 3.6 mg; 5/27 3.4 mg; 7/8 3.2 mg ... 10/18 2.8 mg; 1/18 2.6 mg; 4/7 2.4 mg; 5/26 2.15mg; 8/18 1.85 mg; 10/7 1.7 mg; 12/1 1.45 mg; 3/2 1.2 mg; 5/4 0.90 mg; 6/1 0.80 mg; 6/22 0.65 mg; 08/03 0.50 mg, 08/10 0.45 mg, 10/05 0.325 mg, 11/23 0.2 mg, 12/14 0.15 mg, 12/21 0.125 mg, 02/28 0.03125 mg, 2/15 0.015625 mg, 2/29/20 0.00 mg - OFF Effexor


I am not a medical professional - this is not medical advice. My suggestions are based on personal experience, reading, observation and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers

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Hi Mr A,

 

I remember you saying in a previous post that Oct. 4 is your BD. It's easy for me to remember that because I share the same. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

 

Love,

 

Tezza

 

 

No way serious Tezza ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOO ! how old are you now, I am 30 ! what else do we have in common and are you on my facebook?

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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Posted Image

 

Happy Birthday,

Karma

 

 

Thanks :) made me smile ..! :rolleyes:

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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Hi Mr A,

 

I too am going off Effexor XR after years of use and I wanted to tell you that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel! I am taking a 7mg dose now, and have been tapering off a few months, VERY VERY slowly and I have to say, I am doing great! You WILL get through this, I promise you that! This page has been a GOD SEND for me and I am hoping you will keep leaning on the people here and you will do fine. My sleep was bad in the beginning but I have to share with you, I quit ALL CAFFEINE products, soda, coffee ALL OF IT and my sleep improved to the point where I need NOTHING to help me fall asleep anymore! You might want to try it, You would be surprised how different you sleep because of it. Even if you drink one cup of coffee only first thing in the morning, it can STILL keep you up that same night hours and hours LATER. Just a tip to consider!

I am a 40 year old woman who has been on Effexor XR, Clonopin and Trazodone since 2001, and Abilify since 2010. I have been on Effexor XR 150mg 2x day, Abilify 1 mg daily, Trazodone 200mg daily, and Clonopin .05mg as needed. 8/26-I have started back up on 10.71mg of Effexor XR Capsules because after 1 1/2 weeks my withdrawal symptoms were terrible so I re-instated this small dose to re-start my taper at a much slower rate. 11/13-I am now on 7mgs of Effexor XR NO WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS AT ALL :)

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Update: Okay, this medication is not working and I actually feel ill, depressed, extreme anxious, insomnia and nausea,faster heartbeat. This medication hasn't done anything for me , it's been over 4 weeks now on it and it doesn't even feel like I would turn a corner even if it takes longer to work, I just don't feel well on it.

 

I am really not sure what to do now, like what would upping the dosage again do make me feel worse than I am already feeling? I forget the feeling of feeling half way good now, it's just awful anxious feeling, and notice i am watching alot of documentries on tradegy's...911,tsunami's , horror movies of late..

 

My doctor appointment is Oct 11th, seems like so far away but 6 days from now, gotta hang in there...

 

1. Do I go to a higher dose, seems to be effective at 100mg for most people or will I feel worse? I know effexor is probably still playing a part here,

 

2. Do I go off the Zoloft and take nothing, find a benzo for the anxiety? and just fight fight fight through w/d's ?

 

3. Do I go back on Effexor, not sure that would work again , even if it did something would probably go wrong at some point, it would wear out or make me feel more sicker ?

 

4. I just turned 30 and really don't want to waste my 30's fighting through all these decisions..been on AD for 6 years now and really want this process to stop as my brain, nervous system is fully exhausted and so am I ..

 

 

Starting to feel like it's just pain everyday and their is going to be no good days anytime soon... Im scared, worried, upset

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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Hi MrA. I started coming to this site I think it was in the spring early summer, at that time I had quit taking cipralex after a fast taper(advice from doctor) and started taking wellbutrin(more bad advice from dr.).

Lets just say my withdrawl was horrlble and the wellbutrin only made it worse, so from the advice from the kind people of this site helped me. I stopped taking the wellbutrin and went back on cipralex to the amount i was taking when I stopped before. From there I stayed at 5mg for a month then I felt stable enough to go down to 2.5mg. Now for a few weeks i was just taking crumbles of my pills since I can't cut them any smaller. Wel this week the anxiety came back abit and I have flu like symptoms. So I have to go back to the dr and hope they give me some more cipralex so I can make my own liquid form and take smaller doses.

Anyways I wanted to tell you my story because I have totally been where you are with your withdrawl and anxiety.

So whenever I get new symptoms or feel worse my anxiety goes way up because usually it feels like Im going to die. I might think I am having a heart attack, stroke, tumor or some underlying illness that MIGHT be causing my symptoms or will happen because of my anxiety.

This will NOT happen!! My anxiety would get so bad I would actually think I could not go on because it would make me insane. Not gonna happen! I started getting some therapy at a clinic for free, i am very lucky I got put on a list and it only took a few months.

Anyways she has been great I too know about that book"the feeling good handbook" it is awesome for figuiring out your irrational fears. My therapist also siad three things that have totally helped me!

One-your body can't stay at a heightened panic state forever at some point it will stop..it might start up again but it will stop.

Two-Anxiety and panic will not kill you or make you more sick(like weaken your head or heart) everyone has anxiety and it is goood to have some we just take it to a higher level than needed(plus the withdrawls don't help)

Three-this one was a break through for me, When you have an anxiety attack or panic gernerally you try to do something at that moment to make it stop or lessen which feel like it helps at the time but what you are really doing is Avoiding the anxiety which can stop it for the moment but after a bit it goes up again so this starts a yoyo effect. What you can do is Notice it! Name it! and do Nothing! No matter what you are going to have an attack you could be just sitting watching a nice movie when bam theres the anxiety so you notice you are having the symptoms and then say out loud or to yourself " wow look at that itsthat axiety happening again huh oh well" and then do nothing contiue with what ever you were doing or just sit and let it do its worse because the studys say that no matter how high your anxiety gets it will stop and we will not get sick or go crazy from it.

This advice has helped me so much, now I am not a proffessional I am just sharing what I went through and am doing to cope.

But I do believe getting out and about and helping other takes your mind off of your own symptoms and ir relieves them somewhat. You should really try to get some therapy if you can!

Happy Birthday!

I hope it is okay I put such a long post up! Feel better you are still here and fighting and if you need to be on meds still or live with your parents to get back on your feet then so be it!!

Go back to that handbook and go over all the thought processes that lead us to worry!

Sorry so long!

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Hi MrA. I started coming to this site I think it was in the spring early summer, at that time I had quit taking cipralex after a fast taper(advice from doctor) and started taking wellbutrin(more bad advice from dr.).

Lets just say my withdrawl was horrlble and the wellbutrin only made it worse, so from the advice from the kind people of this site helped me. I stopped taking the wellbutrin and went back on cipralex to the amount i was taking when I stopped before. From there I stayed at 5mg for a month then I felt stable enough to go down to 2.5mg. Now for a few weeks i was just taking crumbles of my pills since I can't cut them any smaller. Wel this week the anxiety came back abit and I have flu like symptoms. So I have to go back to the dr and hope they give me some more cipralex so I can make my own liquid form and take smaller doses.

Anyways I wanted to tell you my story because I have totally been where you are with your withdrawl and anxiety.

So whenever I get new symptoms or feel worse my anxiety goes way up because usually it feels like Im going to die. I might think I am having a heart attack, stroke, tumor or some underlying illness that MIGHT be causing my symptoms or will happen because of my anxiety.

This will NOT happen!! My anxiety would get so bad I would actually think I could not go on because it would make me insane. Not gonna happen! I started getting some therapy at a clinic for free, i am very lucky I got put on a list and it only took a few months.

Anyways she has been great I too know about that book"the feeling good handbook" it is awesome for figuiring out your irrational fears. My therapist also siad three things that have totally helped me!

One-your body can't stay at a heightened panic state forever at some point it will stop..it might start up again but it will stop.

Two-Anxiety and panic will not kill you or make you more sick(like weaken your head or heart) everyone has anxiety and it is goood to have some we just take it to a higher level than needed(plus the withdrawls don't help)

Three-this one was a break through for me, When you have an anxiety attack or panic gernerally you try to do something at that moment to make it stop or lessen which feel like it helps at the time but what you are really doing is Avoiding the anxiety which can stop it for the moment but after a bit it goes up again so this starts a yoyo effect. What you can do is Notice it! Name it! and do Nothing! No matter what you are going to have an attack you could be just sitting watching a nice movie when bam theres the anxiety so you notice you are having the symptoms and then say out loud or to yourself " wow look at that itsthat axiety happening again huh oh well" and then do nothing contiue with what ever you were doing or just sit and let it do its worse because the studys say that no matter how high your anxiety gets it will stop and we will not get sick or go crazy from it.

This advice has helped me so much, now I am not a proffessional I am just sharing what I went through and am doing to cope.

But I do believe getting out and about and helping other takes your mind off of your own symptoms and ir relieves them somewhat. You should really try to get some therapy if you can!

Happy Birthday!

I hope it is okay I put such a long post up! Feel better you are still here and fighting and if you need to be on meds still or live with your parents to get back on your feet then so be it!!

Go back to that handbook and go over all the thought processes that lead us to worry!

Sorry so long!

 

 

Hey Sklaz,

 

 

Thank you for your response and I totally hear everything you are saying, my concern is I am feeling ill on the Zoloft, like nothing feels good at all.

 

You are so right about the anxiety and adressing it when it is there, when i was in withdrawl I would do that and eventually it would die down, but due to the insomnia I wasn't sleeping at all. Now i sleep but it's not until 7-8am until my body is completely exhausted so there is definetely a link between ssri and sleeping.

 

I just don't like the feeling so far on this Zoloft and not sure what route to take.

 

The problem that I had when i was in w/d for 5 months was that I wasn't sleeping at all. which wasn't good and lead me to believe that I couldn't go on any longer on the w/d maybe it would have got better but i couldn't take that chance i was going nuts not sleeping..

 

It's such a crapshoot, like you screwed if you do and screwed if you don't

 

 

So i gotta see.. but thank you for your response ! appreciate it and hope you are doing better

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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Update: Okay, this medication is not working and I actually feel ill, depressed, extreme anxious, insomnia and nausea,faster heartbeat. This medication hasn't done anything for me , it's been over 4 weeks now on it and it doesn't even feel like I would turn a corner even if it takes longer to work, I just don't feel well on it.

 

I am really not sure what to do now, like what would upping the dosage again do make me feel worse than I am already feeling? I forget the feeling of feeling half way good now, it's just awful anxious feeling, and notice i am watching alot of documentries on tradegy's...911,tsunami's , horror movies of late..

 

My doctor appointment is Oct 11th, seems like so far away but 6 days from now, gotta hang in there...

 

1. Do I go to a higher dose, seems to be effective at 100mg for most people or will I feel worse? I know effexor is probably still playing a part here,

 

2. Do I go off the Zoloft and take nothing, find a benzo for the anxiety? and just fight fight fight through w/d's ?

 

3. Do I go back on Effexor, not sure that would work again , even if it did something would probably go wrong at some point, it would wear out or make me feel more sicker ?

 

4. I just turned 30 and really don't want to waste my 30's fighting through all these decisions..been on AD for 6 years now and really want this process to stop as my brain, nervous system is fully exhausted and so am I ..

 

 

Starting to feel like it's just pain everyday and their is going to be no good days anytime soon... Im scared, worried, upset

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Mr A, I am really sorry that you are still feeling awful... it's really hard to know exactly what is going one - perhaps you are suffering sensitive nervous system following withdrawal from effexor, or maybe just the start up effects from Zoloft - that's one of the problems with adding an extra medication into the picture, but I am sure you know that.

 

Many people take a longer time to restabilise on their medication after being off for a while than the first time they went on - and sometimes reinstatement doesn't work at all.

 

What ever the case, it is important to try not to examine how you are feeling moment to moment. I would suggest you start a log of your symptoms - try to be really objective when you are doing it, don't make any changes until you see your doctor on the 11th.

Started in 2000 - On 150mg most of the time, (but up to 225mg at highest dose for 6 months in the beginning)
Reduced off easily first time - but got depressed (not too much anxiety) 6 months later
Back on effexor for another 9 months.
Reduced off again with no immediate w/d - suddenly got depressed and anxious ++ again 3 or 4 months later.
Back on effexor - this time for 3 years
Reduced off over a month - 6 weeks later terrible anxiety - back on.
Rinse and repeat 4 more times - each time the period before the anxiety comes back got shorter and shorter
Jan - July 2012 75mg down to 37.5mg;, 8/3/12 - 35mg. 8/25/12 - 32mg. 9/11- 28mg, 10/2 - 25mg, 10/29 - 22mg, 11/19 - 19.8mg; 12/11 - 17m,
1/1- 15.5mg; 1/22 -14mg, 2/7 14.9mg, 2/18 - 17.8mg - crashed big time: back to 75mg where i sat for 2 years....

4th  March 2015 - 67.5mg;   31st March - 60mg;  24th April - 53mg; 13th May - 48mg; 26th May - 45mg;  9th June - 41mg; 1 July- 37.5mg; 20 July - 34mg; 11 August - 31mg; 1st Sept - 28mg;  1st Dec - 25.8mg;  28th Dec - 23.2mg; 23rd Jan-21.9mg; Feb 7th- 21mg; March 1st - 20.1mg, March 30th - 18mg

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Hi Mr A, I am really sorry that you are still feeling awful... it's really hard to know exactly what is going one - perhaps you are suffering sensitive nervous system following withdrawal from effexor, or maybe just the start up effects from Zoloft - that's one of the problems with adding an extra medication into the picture, but I am sure you know that.

 

Many people take a longer time to restabilise on their medication after being off for a while than the first time they went on - and sometimes reinstatement doesn't work at all.

 

What ever the case, it is important to try not to examine how you are feeling moment to moment. I would suggest you start a log of your symptoms - try to be really objective when you are doing it, don't make any changes until you see your doctor on the 11th.

 

 

Hey Peggy ,

 

 

So I figured it out, this Zoloft is actually depressing me and making me anxious since taking it and it seems to be getting worse everyday, today I didn't even want to get out of bed at all, layed there til 6pm. This medication is definitely not working and I never even felt this bad when I was in w/d from the effexor. This morning/afternoon it was like WOW i am extremely depressed now more than ever and I know it's this medication. W/d from effexor plays a small part but not like this.

 

So now I have to figure out with the doctor what to do, cause i am pretty much non functional and have no energy and so much anxiety and now lots of depression...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh this is so frustrating. If i go up in dose i am fearing that I will be suicidal or not be able to get out of bed at all. I am not 30% stabile even and see no hope in this drug at all. 4 weeks and 1 day later....would upping it really help or would it do more damage?

 

I am thinking maybe stay off all anti depressants and take a Benzo , i know they are addicting and difficult to get off but maybe then I could figure out this ugly cycle of events.

 

The only problem 5 months of w/d from Effexor was intense anxiety/ intense insomnia.... I am sleeping now for 5-6 hours at wierd wierd times....it's a crap shoot..

 

 

:(

 

 

Somebody know what a good plan would be to discuss with my doctor?

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

Link to comment

Mr. A,

 

I will let someone else advise on best approach. However, please listen to your body and instincts telling you that higher dose WILL NOT help. Trust yourself on this.

 

B

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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Mr. A,

 

I will let someone else advise on best approach. However, please listen to your body and instincts telling you that higher dose WILL NOT help. Trust yourself on this.

 

B

 

 

Okay so a higher dose won't help??? this is what I want to know, also so what do I do then cause I will have to wean off this now? and then what try another one? cause i don't want w/d for life... ahhh

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

Link to comment

So you had insomnia but now you're sleeping? Why is this a problem? I know you say it's a weird hours, but its better than nothing, and your sleep pattern is probably still wacky from all the lack of sleep.

 

DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING!!! (But if you do, a lower dose is probably better than a higher one) it's the constant chopping and changing that's causing u problems. Just sit still and stop switching doses every time you panic!

 

Read Claire Weekes. :)

2003-2011: Paroxetine,Citalopram,Effexor; Aug/Sept 2011: Effexor to Mirtazapine; Oct 2011: C/T Mirtazapine back to Effexor; Nov/Dec 2011: Fast Tapered Effexor - w/d hell; Feb 2012: Reinstated Effexor 37.5mg; June 2012: Dropped to 35.6mg; Jan 2016: Propranolol 2.5mg per day for general anxiety; Feb 2016: Finasteride 0.25mg per week to slow hair loss; 18th May - 8th June 2019: Started Vyvanse 7.5mg and increased by 7.5mg weekly to 30mg (lowest “therapeutic” dose for adults).; 21st June 2019 - 12th July: Cross tapered from venlafaxine brand Rodomel to Efexor (1/4 > 1/2 > 3/4 weekly before ditching Rodomel); 13th July 2019: Cut Vyvanse dose to 15mg; 15th July 2019: Akathisia returned after years of being free; 16th July 2019: Went back up to Vyvanse 30mg

Supplements: Omega-3, Vitamin D, Zinc, Phosphatidylserine 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I agree with jr - Mr A, you really must just sit tight - imagine you were sea sick on a boat - you can't get off, you just have to endure it.. But there are some small things you can do to help.. one is meditation - whilst this is really hard when you are anxious, you might try a walking meditation. Maybe look on itunes and see if there is a podcast - meditation oasis is a good resource, they have a lot of free podcasts.

 

Don't go up in your dose - I think your symptoms are still probably related to the withdrawal from effexor - that is the main reason why the zoloft probably isn't working. Perhaps if you had given reinstatement on Effexor a lot longer - some people take up to 3 months to reinstate - it may have worked - but maybe not.

 

But, it really is difficult to speculate. Please don't take a benzo - that is just adding another layer of problems.

 

Try to take each day moment by moment.

Started in 2000 - On 150mg most of the time, (but up to 225mg at highest dose for 6 months in the beginning)
Reduced off easily first time - but got depressed (not too much anxiety) 6 months later
Back on effexor for another 9 months.
Reduced off again with no immediate w/d - suddenly got depressed and anxious ++ again 3 or 4 months later.
Back on effexor - this time for 3 years
Reduced off over a month - 6 weeks later terrible anxiety - back on.
Rinse and repeat 4 more times - each time the period before the anxiety comes back got shorter and shorter
Jan - July 2012 75mg down to 37.5mg;, 8/3/12 - 35mg. 8/25/12 - 32mg. 9/11- 28mg, 10/2 - 25mg, 10/29 - 22mg, 11/19 - 19.8mg; 12/11 - 17m,
1/1- 15.5mg; 1/22 -14mg, 2/7 14.9mg, 2/18 - 17.8mg - crashed big time: back to 75mg where i sat for 2 years....

4th  March 2015 - 67.5mg;   31st March - 60mg;  24th April - 53mg; 13th May - 48mg; 26th May - 45mg;  9th June - 41mg; 1 July- 37.5mg; 20 July - 34mg; 11 August - 31mg; 1st Sept - 28mg;  1st Dec - 25.8mg;  28th Dec - 23.2mg; 23rd Jan-21.9mg; Feb 7th- 21mg; March 1st - 20.1mg, March 30th - 18mg

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Hey Guys,

 

 

I really appreciate your advice, but I really do not want to keep going down this road. I feel terribly ill from this Zoloft and can`t get out of bed hardly, that means I can`t work and I can`t pay my bills. I honestly think Zoloft is just not for me, as it takes awhile sometimes to find a anti med that works for a certain individual. Feeling ill, nausea and extreme anxiety isn`t telling me that it is working 1 month later or going to work.

 

The sleep is definitely a plus but the extreme depression in the morning is new, I didn`t even have that in the five months being off effexor, so that has to lead me to Zoloft not working for me. I need the right med that is going to calm my system down and get it working again. Right now I also have popping in my head, grinding my teeth, i had none of this when i was on nothing. So why take the added side effects of this drug.

 

50 mg is not doing a thing for me but making me feel sick day in and day out. I am a big guy 6`4 250lbs , i am thinking this dose is just enough to give me side effects and such, being a at higher dose usually works for people and it just clicks, it`s like effexor 75mg never worked and went to 150mg and worked like a charm in the begginning.

 

I just want to make sure I make the right decision and will talk this over with my doctor. I never had all these symtoms off Effexor just had lots of anxiety and insomnia.

 

I am getting a few hours of sleep but when i wake up i just feel like i want to die...probably not a good thing...

 

 

This whole process is so confusing...I am taking ur advice and will be talking to my doctor because I do believe she cares about my well being, unlike my last doctor. We don`t know what works and what doesn`t , we just know what works for a certain individual and sometimes works for others.

 

It`s about me getting better , 5 months of withdrawl and now 1 month of medication that`s 6 months of 24/7 hell and I just wish it would stop or start working so I can stabilize and then taper off.

 

 

Thanks Peggy and Jr , much needed and appreciated advice.

 

 

 

Mr. A

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Me A,

 

I think you need to think about where you believe your symptoms are coming from. I get the feeling that you are believing you need to be medicated - I get that feeling from comments that you make such as - 'most people need to get to 100mg', and 'getting to a dose that clicks'. I was in that position before it finally clicked with me that my symptoms were FROM the drugs, rather than needing the drug to treat an illness. When you finally 'get' that, it will make it easier to understand and commit to a treatment.

 

Anxiety is such a horrible thing, but for AD withdrawal syndrome it is a constant companion. But your anxiety is preventing you from seeing what is happening.

 

Your new doctor may be very nice and wanting to help you, but she will still most probably come from a 'you will need this medication approach'. Doctors are for the main, very invested in pharmaceuticals - their training has been based on them, and for many - (especially ones that are reluctant to even entertain an alternative paradigm) will only continue to prescribe medication.

 

Your brain is severely irritated - think of it having a really bad gravel rash - rather than applying a soothing balm, the medication is scrubbing it with steel wool.

Started in 2000 - On 150mg most of the time, (but up to 225mg at highest dose for 6 months in the beginning)
Reduced off easily first time - but got depressed (not too much anxiety) 6 months later
Back on effexor for another 9 months.
Reduced off again with no immediate w/d - suddenly got depressed and anxious ++ again 3 or 4 months later.
Back on effexor - this time for 3 years
Reduced off over a month - 6 weeks later terrible anxiety - back on.
Rinse and repeat 4 more times - each time the period before the anxiety comes back got shorter and shorter
Jan - July 2012 75mg down to 37.5mg;, 8/3/12 - 35mg. 8/25/12 - 32mg. 9/11- 28mg, 10/2 - 25mg, 10/29 - 22mg, 11/19 - 19.8mg; 12/11 - 17m,
1/1- 15.5mg; 1/22 -14mg, 2/7 14.9mg, 2/18 - 17.8mg - crashed big time: back to 75mg where i sat for 2 years....

4th  March 2015 - 67.5mg;   31st March - 60mg;  24th April - 53mg; 13th May - 48mg; 26th May - 45mg;  9th June - 41mg; 1 July- 37.5mg; 20 July - 34mg; 11 August - 31mg; 1st Sept - 28mg;  1st Dec - 25.8mg;  28th Dec - 23.2mg; 23rd Jan-21.9mg; Feb 7th- 21mg; March 1st - 20.1mg, March 30th - 18mg

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Hi Me A,

 

I think you need to think about where you believe your symptoms are coming from. I get the feeling that you are believing you need to be medicated - I get that feeling from comments that you make such as - 'most people need to get to 100mg', and 'getting to a dose that clicks'. I was in that position before it finally clicked with me that my symptoms were FROM the drugs, rather than needing the drug to treat an illness. When you finally 'get' that, it will make it easier to understand and commit to a treatment.

 

Anxiety is such a horrible thing, but for AD withdrawal syndrome it is a constant companion. But your anxiety is preventing you from seeing what is happening.

 

Your new doctor may be very nice and wanting to help you, but she will still most probably come from a 'you will need this medication approach'. Doctors are for the main, very invested in pharmaceuticals - their training has been based on them, and for many - (especially ones that are reluctant to even entertain an alternative paradigm) will only continue to prescribe medication.

 

Your brain is severely irritated - think of it having a really bad gravel rash - rather than applying a soothing balm, the medication is scrubbing it with steel wool.

 

 

Hey Peggy,

 

I know I need to be medicated right now , i really do. I need to stabilize and I definitely cannot being on nothing as my nervous system locked up and shut down. I wasn't getting any sleep at all, my anxiety was 100 times without, it's cause I tapered off too fast. So in order to get my nervous system back in functioning order I do need the right medication to let it work and stabilize. Being back on Zoloft even is letting my sleep for a good 5-6 hours now, in w/d without the medication I wasn't getting any.

 

This is why I am asking, because going off the medication won't/doesn't work for me. It may be the case that Zoloft is making me feel more depressed and anxious though.

 

 

1. When I was in my 5 months of W/d from effexor I didn't feel depression it was all anxiety.. Now being on Zoloft I feel depression ( i can't even get out of bed nor want too...I never felt that in effexor w/d.

 

Being off effexor might be affecting me right now , but i believe this zoloft isn't working for me either. It's a catch 22. I don't want to be medicated for the rest of my life or even 2 years from now. I just know that I can't function without one at the moment, therefor I can't work or do anything, it's vital to be on something right now.

 

So if I was on nothing right now I would definitely need a benzo cause the anxiety/depression is unreal. If I go off completely I can't sleep which is no good, nothing works when i am off the anti med.

 

 

What are you trying to say when you say i keep saying i need a medication, cause I really do at the moment, but i need the right one that works for me, so i can stabilize and eventually taper.

 

 

Just confused at what you are trying to say? Technically I am not in anti med w/d if I am on a anti depressant ???

 

 

What do you suggest I do because the Zoloft is not working for me at all , doctor appointment is on Oct 11th

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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  • Moderator Emeritus

OK, lets go back to the beginning....

You went on effexor for crippling anxiety - it had a positive effect, but slowly you started to get numb and 'zoned out'.. but then you started to smoke MJ heavily - now this could be clouding your picture - MJ can have a dumbing down effect as well.

 

But, you came off effexor and felt great and then 3 months later was slammed with anxiety. This is a very common withdrawal experience. A high and then a crash. Your anxiety is most likely from antidepressant withdrawal. You endured it for a few months and made a short attempt at reinstating effexor. You then changed over to Zoloft . where you have been for 4 weeks.

 

Technically, you probably still are in antidepressant withdrawal - from your CT effexor. You COULD be like this for a year or more - that is a common report from people who cold turkey.

 

No medication may stop this, in fact, for many people, all drugs and supplements have a paradoxical effect- even benzos. But your doctor is probably not going to understand that. This is where people often end up on multiple medications because doctors don't really understand what is happening at a cellular level. It is one thing to prescribe an antidepressant to someone in a new clinical depression and be able to somewhat confidently predict the response, but it is an entirely different scenario when someone is in antidepressant withdrawal.

 

My hunch is that you should have given the effexor reinstatement several months to see if it finally did something. It seems that the Zoloft is at least helping you sleep, is it relieving your anxiety at all? Do you have moments in your day when your anxiety is less than at other times?

 

Remember, one moment at a time

Started in 2000 - On 150mg most of the time, (but up to 225mg at highest dose for 6 months in the beginning)
Reduced off easily first time - but got depressed (not too much anxiety) 6 months later
Back on effexor for another 9 months.
Reduced off again with no immediate w/d - suddenly got depressed and anxious ++ again 3 or 4 months later.
Back on effexor - this time for 3 years
Reduced off over a month - 6 weeks later terrible anxiety - back on.
Rinse and repeat 4 more times - each time the period before the anxiety comes back got shorter and shorter
Jan - July 2012 75mg down to 37.5mg;, 8/3/12 - 35mg. 8/25/12 - 32mg. 9/11- 28mg, 10/2 - 25mg, 10/29 - 22mg, 11/19 - 19.8mg; 12/11 - 17m,
1/1- 15.5mg; 1/22 -14mg, 2/7 14.9mg, 2/18 - 17.8mg - crashed big time: back to 75mg where i sat for 2 years....

4th  March 2015 - 67.5mg;   31st March - 60mg;  24th April - 53mg; 13th May - 48mg; 26th May - 45mg;  9th June - 41mg; 1 July- 37.5mg; 20 July - 34mg; 11 August - 31mg; 1st Sept - 28mg;  1st Dec - 25.8mg;  28th Dec - 23.2mg; 23rd Jan-21.9mg; Feb 7th- 21mg; March 1st - 20.1mg, March 30th - 18mg

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OK, lets go back to the beginning....

You went on effexor for crippling anxiety - it had a positive effect, but slowly you started to get numb and 'zoned out'.. but then you started to smoke MJ heavily - now this could be clouding your picture - MJ can have a dumbing down effect as well.

 

But, you came off effexor and felt great and then 3 months later was slammed with anxiety. This is a very common withdrawal experience. A high and then a crash. Your anxiety is most likely from antidepressant withdrawal. You endured it for a few months and made a short attempt at reinstating effexor. You then changed over to Zoloft . where you have been for 4 weeks.

 

Technically, you probably still are in antidepressant withdrawal - from your CT effexor. You COULD be like this for a year or more - that is a common report from people who cold turkey.

 

No medication may stop this, in fact, for many people, all drugs and supplements have a paradoxical effect- even benzos. But your doctor is probably not going to understand that. This is where people often end up on multiple medications because doctors don't really understand what is happening at a cellular level. It is one thing to prescribe an antidepressant to someone in a new clinical depression and be able to somewhat confidently predict the response, but it is an entirely different scenario when someone is in antidepressant withdrawal.

 

My hunch is that you should have given the effexor reinstatement several months to see if it finally did something. It seems that the Zoloft is at least helping you sleep, is it relieving your anxiety at all? Do you have moments in your day when your anxiety is less than at other times?

 

Remember, one moment at a time

 

 

Here it is Peggy :

 

I was on Effexor for 6 years. Yes I did smoke Mj the whole time and prior to taking the A/D. In the last year of taking Effexor it was pooping out, I was getting angry, anxious among other symptoms. So I decided to go off, I did not Cold turkey, I tapered off over a two month time period roughly. For 1 month into withdrawl I was feeling fine, and then WHAM every symptom you can imagine. So for 4 months after I was pretty much non functional.

 

So I decided to try taking a small amount of effexor and it made me extremely ill. I figured 5 months later it wasn't working. So I got a new doctor and started on 25mg Zoloft and now 50mg , since then I have had other symptoms that I didn't have on effexor and I can't stop eating at this rate i am going to gain a ridiculous amount of weight and i am already 260lbs.

 

Do you see where I am coming from here? Certain anti depressants work for certain people and some don't work for others. Zoloft isn't working for me and my anxiety on it seems worse and I am thinking negative stuff on it. Effexor worked for me but pooped out and made me sick in the end.

 

I was just asking if you think I should go up in dose and that might make a difference maybe push those effexor symtoms out or cover them up, or

 

Go off everything and just adress the anxiety with a Benzo and then the w/d will be able to go away in time and then I can slowly w/d from the Benzo? Cause I really have to address this anxiety as it's crippling.

 

So options are 1. Go on a different med 2. Raise Med 3. Go off med and on a Benzo --- Which one would you recommend?

 

 

Sorry I just can't not be on anything at the moment.

 

* Forgot to mention I am really clenching my teeth on this stuff too.

 

 

What do you suggest that I do? It's coming in 2 days my doctor appointment? EVERYBODY CHIME IN ALSO !?

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Mr A,

I do understand how awful you are feeling - i have experienced that 24/7 anxiety and restlessness and it seemed like it would never end.. For me, doing some meditation really did help, but even more continually trying to reframe the anxiety as a symptom rather than me. hope your doctor can give you some help when you see her on the 11th.

Started in 2000 - On 150mg most of the time, (but up to 225mg at highest dose for 6 months in the beginning)
Reduced off easily first time - but got depressed (not too much anxiety) 6 months later
Back on effexor for another 9 months.
Reduced off again with no immediate w/d - suddenly got depressed and anxious ++ again 3 or 4 months later.
Back on effexor - this time for 3 years
Reduced off over a month - 6 weeks later terrible anxiety - back on.
Rinse and repeat 4 more times - each time the period before the anxiety comes back got shorter and shorter
Jan - July 2012 75mg down to 37.5mg;, 8/3/12 - 35mg. 8/25/12 - 32mg. 9/11- 28mg, 10/2 - 25mg, 10/29 - 22mg, 11/19 - 19.8mg; 12/11 - 17m,
1/1- 15.5mg; 1/22 -14mg, 2/7 14.9mg, 2/18 - 17.8mg - crashed big time: back to 75mg where i sat for 2 years....

4th  March 2015 - 67.5mg;   31st March - 60mg;  24th April - 53mg; 13th May - 48mg; 26th May - 45mg;  9th June - 41mg; 1 July- 37.5mg; 20 July - 34mg; 11 August - 31mg; 1st Sept - 28mg;  1st Dec - 25.8mg;  28th Dec - 23.2mg; 23rd Jan-21.9mg; Feb 7th- 21mg; March 1st - 20.1mg, March 30th - 18mg

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Thanks Peggy, I really appreciate your support and advice, as I am so lost in this whole process and want to do things the right way and minimize the pain, seems like whatever way you go after taking these pills for years, you just end up in a black hole trying to climb out and the walls are so slippery that you just can't get a grip.

 

I know what is going to happen and she is going to suggest trying another med. Who know's maybe Zoloft isn't the drug to get me stabilized. I need to be stable,cause I need to work and then I can worry about tapering down the line. If the next drug doesn't work then I will just stay off them completely and struggle for awhile and do the right things and hope and pray.

 

 

It's not just anxiety right now, I can't even get out of bed at all... i just want to lay there and avoid feeling like i am going to puke or have motion sickness. I am really at my last straw, i went from such a healthy vibrant socializing guy to next to nothing, i don't even want to exist from all this pain, i've lost everything and just turning 30. Everyone in my life has pretty much turned their backs on me and this disease. I just want to right the ship and have hope that I can live a half decent life...

 

Which is why I keep begging about somebody telling me what the best thing to do is, cause i know what doctors are like...

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Mr A, no one can really tell you what to do...I think I would have given effexor a longer time to try and help in the reinstatement. I wouldn't have tried Zoloft and i wouldn't go to another drug...

 

I'm so sorry you are in this position

Started in 2000 - On 150mg most of the time, (but up to 225mg at highest dose for 6 months in the beginning)
Reduced off easily first time - but got depressed (not too much anxiety) 6 months later
Back on effexor for another 9 months.
Reduced off again with no immediate w/d - suddenly got depressed and anxious ++ again 3 or 4 months later.
Back on effexor - this time for 3 years
Reduced off over a month - 6 weeks later terrible anxiety - back on.
Rinse and repeat 4 more times - each time the period before the anxiety comes back got shorter and shorter
Jan - July 2012 75mg down to 37.5mg;, 8/3/12 - 35mg. 8/25/12 - 32mg. 9/11- 28mg, 10/2 - 25mg, 10/29 - 22mg, 11/19 - 19.8mg; 12/11 - 17m,
1/1- 15.5mg; 1/22 -14mg, 2/7 14.9mg, 2/18 - 17.8mg - crashed big time: back to 75mg where i sat for 2 years....

4th  March 2015 - 67.5mg;   31st March - 60mg;  24th April - 53mg; 13th May - 48mg; 26th May - 45mg;  9th June - 41mg; 1 July- 37.5mg; 20 July - 34mg; 11 August - 31mg; 1st Sept - 28mg;  1st Dec - 25.8mg;  28th Dec - 23.2mg; 23rd Jan-21.9mg; Feb 7th- 21mg; March 1st - 20.1mg, March 30th - 18mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi MrAnxious

I have been reading your thread, and like Peggy I know what the 24/7 anxiety feels like as well. I wish I could give you a definitive answer to your questions, the one answer I wouldn't go with is switching to a benzo, I'm sorry that doesn't really help but I didn't want you to think no one was listening :unsure:

 

Good luck with your appointment tomorrow.

strawberry

*** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***





http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/
Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007.
Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. 

A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido.

 

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Thanks strawberry,

 

Yah unfortunately going back on Effexor ship has sailed already and why would I go back on a drug that has made me feel terribly ill it's just wasn't possible. That is why I did the switch to Zoloft, none of us really know what is going to work, as we are all different.

 

It's more than anxiety for me, it's a range of symptoms. Also how do I expect to get better from the depression/anxiety with being on nothing, and this Zoloft isn't working so I am not staying on that. It's really tough to understand what to do exactly.

 

I am not switching to a Benzo, but I am going to try a different antidepressant and if that doesn't work then I am done and off the train.

 

I hear that Buspar is a good alternative to Benzo with minimal side effects and no withdrawal. Actually hear alot of good things from it. So if the next med doesn't work then maybe I will try that.

 

I cannot function right now, can do basic things. 9 months ago I was building Cars at general motors and had over 15 jobs to do at one time. So this is very concerning, i am actually a really bright person. This has debilitated me and don`t know what route to choose, i always wonder is this how the rest of my life going to be , if so it`s really not worth it. :(

2007-2012started Effexor xr 225mg -150mg- Varied2months of Taper,(March 22/2012 Off Med/in W/D)Currently No medicationMarch 22/2012- August 16/2012 - Totally Off Effexor( Rough Rough time) Reinstatement for a week(didn't work)****** New Doctor******* Very nice/helpful and in touch.Tried Zoloft- No successAUGUST 17/2012- STARTED 37.5 EFFEXOR FOR ONE WEEK - NOT GOOD < STOPPED.Started Buspar Oct 11th 2012----10 mg for the first 7 days and then 15mg a day---- Taking a new route----Racing thoughts - Gone.Oct 9th ( Done Zoloft,wellbutrin week project trial to feel better) - OFFICIALLY OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT !Oct 26 - Raised Buspar to 20mg a day- Tolerating wellJan 2nd 2013-

Reduce Buspar until full off march 20th 2015 Off all medication !

Tried natural supplements to no avail

Gluten/sugar free since december 2013

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  • Moderator Emeritus

MrAnxious

I hope you get some help today, and no this is NOT the rest of your life, you can and will get back to some kind of normality, it just won't be overnight, but you will get there. It's just really hard to see right now. You could be right and zoloft just isn't right for you at all, I was remembering that years ago I was switched for a while to remeron and it was a disaster for me, I couldn't stay a wake, I did manage to go to work etc but I was struggling so hard to function properly, I think I then switched back to zoloft and got some normality back, well whatever "normality" is on these drugs as I still hated the side effects, but I was able to function much much better, so maybe you will find the right switch to stabilize yourself today.

strawberry

*** Please note this is not medical advice,discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner***





http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/
Original drug was sertraline/Zoloft, switched to Prozac in 2007.
Tapering from 5mls liquid prozac since Feb 2008, got down to 0.85ml 23/09/2012, reinstated back to 1ml(4mg) 07/11/2012, didn't appear to work, upped to 1.05ml 17/11/2012, back down to 1ml 12/12/2012 didn't work, up to 1.30ml 16/3/2013 didn't work, bumped up to 2ml (8mg) 4/4/2013 didn't work, in July 2013 I reinstated Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg, feeling better now. 

A few months down the line I switched to 5ml liquid Prozac and tapered down to a compromise dose of 3ml liquid Prozac and have stayed there ever since, no withdrawals and no emotional blunting/loss of libido.

 

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