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AnotherAnon's partner: A light at the end of the Effexor tunnel


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Hello All, This may be slightly long but I think it's worth the read for those on/coming off ADs or with significant others on/coming off of ADs. I've been a member of the Topix discussion that was recently removed since around the middle of last year.

 

Like many, my significant other was prescribed an AD (Effexor in this case) for generalized anxiety. This was in early February. The effects were almost immediate but as I was so unaware of the possibilities with these drugs I did not notice any troubling side effects. She had a lot more energy and her anxiety really was gone, but I did not know to relate this to emotional blunting. This girl was absolutely trustworthy and honest and I know this because we were together all the time and she hid nothing from me. We were inseparable.

 

I came to eventually realize that within the first few days of taking Effexor she began to lose feelings for me, but that "give a ****" factor had already gone away and I was of no concern to her. Within a few months she had full blown mania, she was hyper-sexual and had begun cheating. There was no selection, just whoever would take interest in her. At the same time this started, she told me that she had lost her sex drive.

 

I did some research, found this was a common complaint and decided to give it time. We didn't have sex for many many months, all the while she was sleeping with pretty much anyone who would give her the attention. She started drinking heavily almost immediately. I just had no idea that ADs could do this. Eventually I had a growing suspicion, but I could really find nothing online.

 

It took a lot of very specific Google searches to find what I had suspected, but that was months into it. So fast forward after I found out about the infidelity (which was gut wrenching, agonizing, horrific to say the least - it took the life out of me). I had found the Topix discussion, printed many relevant pages and showed it to her. She almost laughed it off, she would not reply to any specific questions.

 

Like most others, she felt new and more alive. Her friend base had changed, and many of them had been given a very different story than what was really happening. She told a lot of them that she was afraid of me, suddenly cops were showing up because her new partners were calling the cops on me, for absolutely nothing. She would scream and break things and hit me, when she had only had one beer (this stuff is BAD NEWS when mixed with alcohol).

 

At a certain point she had not only thrown me aside, but her entire family as well. They did not understand what was happening, so I began to speak to them. In October her life had spiraled out of control and she decided to begin a taper, but only because everyone insisted and she really had no choice.

 

For what it is worth, her doctors refused to believe me. They actually suggested we up the dose because "it wasn't working". So no help there. The withdrawal was horrible. We tried all the supplements and methods that work for some people, but they had no effect on her.

 

She cut her dose slightly about once a month, the same week she would be softer but then the withdrawal would ramp up quickly. In this period she nearly moved out of the state with her old boss. She was planning on leaving me and I had no clue until I found an email and confronted her.

 

That is when it really hit her. She tapered more quickly (perhaps too quickly) because she just wanted off the stuff. In December she finally quit taking it. She had the very horrible brain zaps, she was insanely moody and I was walking on egg shells non-stop. But I stuck it out.

 

The delayed withdrawal hit around January/February but at this point she knew it was withdrawal. And she absolutely was pissed that she had been given a drug like this. She is more upset now than ever that this can happen.

 

We found out two weeks ago that she is pregnant with my child. We are getting married, and she is dedicated to un-doing these things. We are starting over fresh. It is not easy, but it can happen.

 

The best advice I was given was by btdt on Topix. She said do not hold them to their actions, they do not know what they are doing. My fiance echoes this sentiment now. She is more than angry that she let a GP talk her into taking these meds, and then would not listen when she was a danger to herself. But that is how the stories seem to go.

 

Don't get me wrong, it hurts. And now that we're at the one year mark since this started, there are a lot of triggers that I have to really put in an effort into pushing aside. Simple things - songs, smells, places, weather, tone of voice, etc. I'll be around to answer any questions or comments. I want to help as many as I can.

Edited by Altostrata
added paragraph breaks for readability
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  • Administrator

Hello, AnotherAnon.

 

That is quite a story, and told very well. Thank you for sharing it.

 

How is your partner now? Does she have any post-withdrawal symptoms?

 

Rxisk.org is collecting cases like this one, involving disinhibition and alcohol. You or she may want to post there, too.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Altostrata,

 

Thank you for the reply. It is a difficult thing to share these stories, especially when you're on the verge of getting past it (or trying to, anyhow). But it is also therapeutic.

 

I would say she is much, much better. Unless these drugs entered her system again, she is incapable of doing the things that she did while on Effexor. It is also difficult to differentiate between withdrawal and just being plain upset about what happened. She is ashamed, she cries a lot. As mad as she is she really keeps it to herself. It is not something that is easy to get out in the open, and really who would want to?

 

The general rule is that its much harder for the person who is cheated on than the cheater. These situations are especially trick because they go down so horribly ugly. Excruciating is all I can say, because you simply cannot talk to them. Its like they had a brain transplant. And then, when(if) they get off of the medication, they come out of the fog and become very depressed. I couldn't tell you how much of it is withdrawal and how much of it is legitimate pain from the events that unfolded.

 

At any rate, so incredibly sad that this reality even exists. Big Pharma will not budge.

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Ive read your incredible story and wish you and your partner the happy ending you three deserve.  How long was she on Effexor?  I am trying to get off this drug also.  How did she do it other than a slow taper?  Was she on the XR or immediate release? Any info is welcomed/

Started Effexor August 2012 Sept'12-150mg=extreme anxiety Oct'12 cut half-75mg severe wds

Feb 2013 68.5mg. Mar'13- 65mg. Apr'13-59mg. May'13-57mg. June '13-52mg Aug'13 49.75mg.

Sep'13-48.75. Nov'13-47mg Dec'13-45..5mg

May 2014 42mg. Jun'14 40mg (depressive mood started). Aug'14 -40mg/ started brintellix 2.5mg

Oct '14 -39 Nov'14 36.89 Dec'14 34.45

Jan 2015- 31 Feb'15 29mg. Mar'15 26.72. Apr'15 24.48. May'15 22.31mg. Jun'15 20.30mg

Aug'15-18.89. Oct'15 16.96. Nov/16- 16.10. Dec/15- 15mg

Jan 2016-14.22. May'16 11.45. Aug'16-9.60. Sep/16- 8.88mg. Oct/16- 8.39mg. Nov/16- 8.13. Dec/16- 7.89

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Lexy,

 

She was on the immediate release. She started in February 2013 at 37.5mg 2X day. Within a week the doctor doubled the dosage to 75mg 2X day. I remember her telling me immediately how amazing she felt, but in hindsight I realize she also withdrew from me immediately. The mania symptoms kicked in basically overnight. She had very little trouble ramping her dosage up, but obviously coming off was extremely hard.

 

She is very tough, she can work through a lot when she needs to. Withdrawal from Effexor was the only thing I've ever seen that took her down. Nothing seemed to take the edge off, she just lived through it day by day. Brain zaps, extreme moodiness, migraines. She would say "I'm doing this for you" when the tensions got high (which was a lot of the time). As crappy as she treated me while on Effexor, it was worse while coming off of it. This was especially taxing on me as I had no out. I wasn't going to cheat out of revenge or *** for tat; I am incapable of doing that.

 

Today her physical withdrawal symptoms I believe are pretty much gone. She is still getting her mental self back, something she states often. It set her very far behind in that area. She hates Effexor now, and all SSRIs/SNRIs. She keeps her story to herself, but she does warn others of these drugs.

 

I learned later that much of her family was also on Effexor, and actually her aunt had recommended it to her. Her mom took it, her grandma took it, her sister took it, and her aunt took it. They've all quit taking it sense this has come out, and they're doing better than they have been in a long time. They thought Effexor was helping, but it was masking things and making the underlying issues worse.

 

I wish I could say anything made withdrawal easier for her, but that wasn't the case with her. It was just plain hell.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Thank you so much for sharing your story despite the pain.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thank you AA for coming here and sharing your story.  I am sorry I am so late in welcoming you I have had a rough go lately.  I have read your good news at the other site.. and am happy for you.  If ever you partner needs a place to see she is not alone this would now be it. Please extend an invitation to her.  Thanks you again... B

peace to all three of you :)

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Thank you for sharing AA,  I relate to the euphoria of effexor, I was a different person when 

I started taking it. I thought I was better and that I was being myself for the first time in my life.

 

But it wasn't real, it didn't last and adverse effects soon took over. I am tapering and hope to

be free of it this year.  I am so glad that she is recovered and pleased that you stood by your

wife and helped her through it all, you are a treasure and I'm sure she appreciates you very much. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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I was a completely different person on Effexor... but I think you know that already.  Coming back to myself was difficult and took time.  I could not recall a lot of things I did while drugged and when the memories came back they were often in the form of flooding.  All hitting at one time it was way too much for me to process.  It was bad enough to try to understand what was going on that they were actual memories but much of what I recalled was painful as it went again all I ever thought I was it went against my beliefs...ect in very big ways.  I found the flooding extremely painful and difficult to deal with.  I eventually learned not to take it all in full force the way it comes... it comes in a bunch full force... I could not process it that way.  I don' t think anyone could.  The survival trick is for her to take it in small bits one tiny bite at a time and process it that way.  For me it was the only way I could do it.  Often I would put it on a shelf and go for a walk or do something else normal.. and mundane.  The important thing to think of is this..for your SO. 

you survived the happening of it you can survive the recalling of it..

you were not in your right mind when this happened or it would not have happened

it is over and not happening now tho recalling it now makes it seen all new to you ...you can't change it 

accepting and moving forward is the only way to go it takes time but you will get better at as you gain experience

your in withdrawal and neuro emotions make how you handle this process more difficult it will get easier as time goes on

FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU DID WHILE IN A DRUGGED STUPOR 

IT WAS THE DRUG

 

I had a lot more to say about this last time I wrote and it was deleted if she has any questions pass them on and I will answer them. 

I wish all 3 of you peace... you can get beyond this :) 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Having said all that their are others who have gone before you and because of this you have been able to gain from their experience and perhaps even saved spending most of your life in an altered drug induced state. 

However long it has been you have plenty of life ahead of you once you are beyond this you will have a new respect for drugs and what they can do.  When that time comes and your beyond it pay it forward and tell others.  That is how this all works...one by one we shorten the time others have to spend in hell otherwise this has  no payoff as there is nothing to be gained from this except seeing that other people don't get stuck where we were for a lifetime.. and that we all survive the living thru it. You will make and thank you Anon for seeing her thru this. 

peace.

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • 2 months later...

I just read your story. My situation mirrors yours. I am trying to repair my relationship. Where did you start? And how do you heal?

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I was on Effexor for only six weeks after being abruptly yanked off Lexepro. Although it did not send me into mania, it gave me a body high and sent me through the roof. I have complex PTSD and I have been traumatized by this drug induced state i was in. Now, off everything, feel like crap and am so afraid of feeling too good, because I have this horrid fear of being mentally ill. What to do?

2005-Zoloft bad reaction.....2006-Lexepro......2012-Upped Lexepro.......2013-Upped Lexepro......2/2014- Attempted Taper Lexepro...2/2014- Updosed Lexepro.......3/2014-Ativan.....5/2014- CT switch from Lexpro to Effexor.....

5/2014-7/2014-Tapered Ativan from 1mg to .25mg.....6/2014-Bad reaction to Effexor........7/2014- Rapid taper Effexor every other day......7/5/2014- Off Effexor.......7/2014-12/2014 - Ativan .25mg.......12/25/2014 -Taper Ativan by 4% due to paradoxical reaction .24mg...11/18/2015-Taper Ativan 1% CURRENTLY ON: .2376mg Ativan taken in 6 .0396mg doses.

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  • 1 month later...

I have read the thread. I am currently tapering Effexor. I have been taking it for 6 years and I was up to 300mg at one stage. I am currently at 135mg. The more I read about this drug the more scared I become and worried about what it may be doing to my mind. I also question whether I will be able to come off it successfully. The tapering has been going well so far though. Thanks for sharing the story. I wish you the very best. 

Previously - zopiclone, risperidone, lyrica (pregabalin), ativan (lorezapam)
01/Aug/2016 -  65mg effexor, 4.5mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
12/Aug/2016 -  75mg effexor, 4.5mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
03/Oct/2016 -  70mg effexor, 4.5mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
29/Oct/2016 -  65mg effexor, 4.5mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
25/Nov/2016 -  65mg effexor, 4mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
25/Dec/2016 -  60mg effexor, 3.6mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
18/Jan/2017 -  60mg effexor, 5.25mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
27/Mar/2017 -  54mg effexor, 5.25mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
23/Apr/2017 -  54mg effexor, 7.5mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
09/May/2017 -  75mg effexor, 7.5mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
08/Jun/2017 -  75mg effexor, 6.75mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
18/Jul/2017 -  75mg effexor, 6mg olanzapine, 15mg mirtazpine
Sometimes valium. Not daily. Supplements - Sterols and Stanols.
Note : I would really hope that nobody uses my tapering history as a guideline. It might not work well for somebody else tapering similar medications.
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I was a completely different person on Effexor... but I think you know that already.  Coming back to myself was difficult and took time.  I could not recall a lot of things I did while drugged and when the memories came back they were often in the form of flooding.  All hitting at one time it was way too much for me to process.  It was bad enough to try to understand what was going on that they were actual memories but much of what I recalled was painful as it went again all I ever thought I was it went against my beliefs...ect in very big ways.  I found the flooding extremely painful and difficult to deal with.  I eventually learned not to take it all in full force the way it comes... it comes in a bunch full force... I could not process it that way.  I don' t think anyone could.  The survival trick is for her to take it in small bits one tiny bite at a time and process it that way.  For me it was the only way I could do it.  Often I would put it on a shelf and go for a walk or do something else normal.. and mundane.  The important thing to think of is this..for your SO. 

you survived the happening of it you can survive the recalling of it..

you were not in your right mind when this happened or it would not have happened

it is over and not happening now tho recalling it now makes it seen all new to you ...you can't change it 

accepting and moving forward is the only way to go it takes time but you will get better at as you gain experience

your in withdrawal and neuro emotions make how you handle this process more difficult it will get easier as time goes on

FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU DID WHILE IN A DRUGGED STUPOR 

IT WAS THE DRUG

 

I had a lot more to say about this last time I wrote and it was deleted if she has any questions pass them on and I will answer them. 

I wish all 3 of you peace... you can get beyond this :)

I found a flaw in this today...

here it is

the key the feeling you did not feel when the things your recalling happened you feel when all those emotions now... the emotions that would have stopped your actions come back and hit you over the head and stab you in your heart and beat down your self worth... 

 

Then on top of that the neuro emotions keep the band playing so it goes all night and the negativity that is a natural part of withdrawal take these emotions and thoughts to dinner and dancing. 

 

At some point suffering becomes too much and a choice must be made to stop it the process of recalling or limit it or not make it out of this... then the work starts for ways to stop or slow this... at first I just weathered it then I sort out ways to stop it as it was not real it was not happening now and it was stealing away my today ...putting it on the heap of all the days I had already lost.  When I thought of it that way it pissed me off so much I became determined to stop it.  Ways of controlling it became paramount the power of now.. was a good source.  I will say it again

 

Stop wait for and watch for the next thought if one comes start over....eventually one day you will be able to stop them.  Focusing all of your attention on watching for the next thought stops the next thought ... this was a wonderful find for me.  

peace 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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I just read your story. My situation mirrors yours. I am trying to repair my relationship. Where did you start? And how do you heal?

If your the drug taker first you have to get well... there are pages and pages of how to do that here welcome and peace to you.

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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I have read the thread. I am currently tapering Effexor. I have been taking it for 6 years and I was up to 300mg at one stage. I am currently at 135mg. The more I read about this drug the more scared I become and worried about what it may be doing to my mind. I also question whether I will be able to come off it successfully. The tapering has been going well so far though. Thanks for sharing the story. I wish you the very best. 

it is going well so far then just keep going

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • 2 months later...
  • Mentor

Yes, I was on Effexor for 8 years, I was a mirror image of your partner. I changed, I lost my brain, everyone saw, but no-one told me. I have lost my 30 year marriage, then lost my house, a house I owned................ I blamed everyone else for everything, my ex once said I used to look at him "as if I hated him"... Yes he did things wrong, but I reckon I could have got through it. Evil drug. I think I was on 150mg? Not sure, put on it because a gp had put meon something else, for about 2 weeks, which had sent me off the planet, and I could not sleep.

Yes, I am now in deep depression over what I have done. I feel awful, I have my brain back. So what do I do? Go back on drugs so I don't think about it? No, I have to learn to enjoy each day for what it is. And hope one day I feel better..... when I naturally just get sick and tired of thinking about it, and can focus again on some sort of life.

for those eight years on Effexor, and a miriad of other things, I yes, drank too much, blamed all of it on "stress" instead of the damn drug. I no longer cleaned the house, became egocentric, abusive, arrogant, never cooked ..... but I just did not see it, it all gets blamed on the "illness", that I never had, not on the drugs.

Had one psychiatrist, he bolted, went to another (recommended by him, omg), now she has bolted, they run, and leave the damage behind for someone else to clean up.

 

Yes effexor was a drug that was given to my psych as a new "freebie" yes I got sample packets "to try"... omg.

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • 3 months later...

I'm a "spouse of Effexor", too.  It's reading all the stories like this that helped me through my anger at my husband and his Effexor'd state of being.  It might not have been as bad as yours (physical infidelity), but it was long-going and who know where our relationship was headed (and who knows exactly what he did early on--I became afraid to look too hard at those early Effexor years).  

 

I usually just lurk here, gleaning information and such, and finally feel like telling our story (which I will in our own thread) because I think it's important.  I know how much it meant for me to read in-depth personal stories of what happened, how it was resolved, how long it took, etc.  Unfortunately, I'm a writer and don't know the Reader's Digest version of anything, so it will be looooong.  I guess that's why I've held off.  At least I finally have my husband's blessing to tell it--if we can help just one other person, he wants to do it.  Before he didn't (couldn't) care or still lied to himself about how bad it was (or couldn't tell how bad it was).  And just recently he agreed to tell his psychiatrist ALL his side-effects.  Before, he just wanted to forget about it.....  He's still not off the drug, but he's getting there (even though his psych. says "you may never get off").  We started his taper in Aug. of 2013 after I researched it to death for a couple of months and finally convinced him the drug was his, OUR, problem.  He's now at approximately 20 mg (from 150 mg).  You can tell we've taken it slowly, thanks to all the info I've gotten from this board.  

 

Anyway, so glad you've told your story and that your relationship is surviving it.  Continued good luck to you!

 

T

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  • 4 months later...

I hope I'm not off-limits by posting about non-antidepressant happenings,but our journey here started due to antidepressants and I think it's relevant.

 

I need some serious direction. 

 

First, I feel like a fool that I'm right back where I started after having learned the warning signs. Very long story short, my SO experienced mania while on Effexor (for anxiety), there was lots of cheating and extreme apathy and it was a very rough time that seemed like eternity. After getting off the effexor she started becoming her old self after some months. We ended up having a child 9 months ago, and that has been a lot of fun until very recently. A couple of months ago her anxiety and depression spiked to a debilitating degree when her grandmother died suddenly. Pretty much overnight she fell very far. We started seeing a psych with clear direction that antidepressants are out of the question. Psych understood and agreed. Here's the tricky part: Because she flared up on Effexor and because of the way she filled out her charts, the doc seems pretty convinced that Bipolar II is a good starting place. I know this is hogwash to a lot of people here, and I dont really believe it myself but her mental state is so bad we're somewhat grasping for straws. So of course Lamictal is the first they routinely try. So she is on Lamictal and Klonopin at the moment. The doctor DID say that she could also flare up on Lamictal and told me to keep an eye out, which oh my god I thought I had been doing. But nope, I missed the same **** all over again.

 

Last night she met up with some friends (this is already cliche) for a drink. She's always been really good about keeping me up to date with where she is and when she'll be home. Last night that was not the case, she called once but she did not sound like she had a plan and that alone got my attention because that's just not like her. She was gone very late and not answering her phone. She finally called at 5AM and said she was sorry, she fell asleep on someones couch. She got home shortly after that and headed straight for the shower, which also got my attention. By this time my gut was telling me things. I checked her purse and found a single receipt from Walgreens last night for KY Lube. My stomach dropped. I confronted her and the distinct lack of apathy was appalling. It feels like Effexor all over again. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. It's the medicine, it makes me crazy. We'll go to therapy and it will be alright". Just like that. No tears, no obvious remorse. This is blowing my mind. She at least cried when she got caught when she was on effexor. She is entirely blank and not understanding what she has just done. I've been crying all morning and while she is trying to console me she is seemingly a million miles away. I'd been having weird feelings for the past week but she's been trying so hard to fix her situation I did not want to jeopardize any progress. I started to think I'm just really paranoid because of the last time. Another voice in my head kept telling me to trust my gut. I was fighting myself, probably because I was too afraid it would be true. 

 

The next thing she said is "I need to get off this medicine". So, a few people here warned me about the Bipolar Diagnosis trap and Lamictal. I should have listened, and I apologize. I've been so desperate and I'm just out of options. What is our first step for properly weaning from these drugs? Where do we go from here? Our relationship was already so damaged, I just dont know what should happen next. 

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Wow! That is way more than I could ever deal with.  I'm so sorry that you are going through this again.  Obviously no one can make any decisions for you all we can do is say what we believe we would do in your situation.  So that being said, there is absolutely NO freaking way that I would do it a 2nd time! She got one pass from you because of "medication", its time that she help herself.  You have to focus on your self and your child so if you're going to play white knight then be the knight for your child because obviously she is broken and is not trying to fix herself.  There is a method called the 180 plan out on various infidelity websites that you should take a look at.  You can't control her healing, she has to recognize the problems and want to fix them herself.

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WOW. Guys, definitely add this drug to the books. Lamictal or something she is taking is really, really  bad news. Some of you warned me, I think I just became desperate for something to change. She has become dissociated and delusional. She is a million miles away - this is far worse than Effexor.

 

She came home tonight, drunk. Apparently all these meds allow you to drink like a fish. She was ANGRY. Raging mad, and making up stories all over the place. Her memory seems to lapse every second and she's attacking me for something else. She said some of the most hurtful things I've ever heard. "You look like you survived a concentration camp. It's like having sex with a holocaust victim. I'm not doing it anymore. I'm going to pack my stuff and leave tomorrow. You get to pay child support now, so start figuring that out." But she also talks about how she cant stand to be around him. Her mom and I both tried talking to her, she is really, really far away. Absolutely zero emotions about the recent cheating or lies. She just kept going on and on about how much she hates her life, it was all too little too late and I ruined every chance she had at happiness.  Just like last time.

 

I know that in this forum we all start with medicine. And damnit the medicine made her manic again. I let this happen, all over again. I am not blaming myself, but just like last time I ran out of options because nothing else was working for her extreme amounts of anxiety and it's just been a downward spiral. 

 

I joined survivinginfidelity and have started to read up and post. The differene there is that medications aren't seen as any type of excuse, just the person's actions matter. I do believe the medicine put her over the edge, but I am also really wondering what about her personality makes her this way. I am trying to honestly figure out if she means to do these things, even in her psychosis or if this would never happen without the meds. Yes, she is drunk right now and manic on medicine. But of all the stuff she said I am starting to wonder if she hasn't just kept everything to herself for so long. What if she is just so finished with this relationship. She wasn't cheating before but I feel like she's already checked out. I do think a part of her really resents me that she is a stay at home mom with very few friends. I know the isolation is terrible and I've been trying to help with but she has so many bad days that by the time I get off work she just wants to sleep.

 

Last time, I had hope. Hope that when she got off the medicine she would come around. I was so much more naive back then. She did come around, but then depression kicked in and we are so far back now. For the first time I am afraid that this family may have endured too much.

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I'm glad that you got on the other site but be careful there as you are correct they will not support the medicine as an excuse and I've seen people recommend that others begin these drugs to ease their PTSD from the affair.  Just use the resources.  Take what you need and leave the rest.  Don't feel alone in questioning whether its the medication or just her character.  I have done the same thing.  Honestly, I still do it from time to time, wondering if I missed something.  It's so bizarre that medication would alter someone in so many ways and there is not enough media coverage to shed light on how terrible these drugs truly are.  You can only help you and your child.  Also I highly doubt that any judge would give her custody if she is drinking and on medication.  Document everything in case you need it later.  Your focus should now be on you and your child, unfortunately she has to want to help herself and it doesn't sound like she wants that right now.

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I'm glad that you got on the other site but be careful there as you are correct they will not support the medicine as an excuse and I've seen people recommend that others begin these drugs to ease their PTSD from the affair.  Just use the resources.  Take what you need and leave the rest.  Don't feel alone in questioning whether its the medication or just her character.  I have done the same thing.  Honestly, I still do it from time to time, wondering if I missed something.  It's so bizarre that medication would alter someone in so many ways and there is not enough media coverage to shed light on how terrible these drugs truly are.  You can only help you and your child.  Also I highly doubt that any judge would give her custody if she is drinking and on medication.  Document everything in case you need it later.  Your focus should now be on you and your child, unfortunately she has to want to help herself and it doesn't sound like she wants that right now.

 

DevastatedWife,

 

This may be obvious but the best support I've had and the best I've felt is when people going through this situation reply to one another. I feel so lifted at times how collectively all of us strangers have become each other's safety net and sounding board. Thank you for that.

 

I've found that the responses on surviving infidelity have been mostly understanding. There seems to actually exist a group of folks there who recognize this pattern with the meds as they've been through it. I feel like in the last few years this thing has blown up, I do feel like there is more awareness. 

 

Per your comment that you're still struggling to understand the meds vs actual reasoning: Obviously this is where we all get hung up. Hopefully this helps - We saw the psych yesterday and she is not sugar coating any of the bad reactions to the meds. She saw my SO being clearly manic and understands we are very fearful of the medications.She did try to throw in some therapy and that helped me really get through the day. My SO plainly said that she knew she was manic, but at the same thing she has so much frustration about our relationship and that she is very confused about what she wants at this point. I know the medicine has put me in a horrible light and her perception now is likely worse than the reality, but I also think she has legitimate frustration.

 

She said that she knows she would not have actually cheated again if it weren't for the medicine, but that she's had a growing frustration that she doesn't know how to deal with. 

Our current situation is that we have NO friends. This has happened slowly and in waves, but the biggest part was when she serial cheated while manic the first time. Once it all came out, a lot of our mutual friends had no idea how to handle it, they didnt respect her because she lied and cheated. They didn't respect me because I stayed with her. So they all just vanished from our lives. I consider me staying with her and losing my friends another huge sacrifice that I made, but at the time I had no idea what the consequences would be. I know I have resentments about that. But that was over two years ago. We've tried so hard to make new friends, for some reason we just don't relate to anyone that we meet. I feel like we're both so lonely at this point that situational depression is just inherent in our relationship. We have run out of things to talk about. When we do go out together it starts out okay, but halfway through dinner or whatever we just have nothing to say. We've been isolated for so long. 

 

We tried going out after the appointment yesterday. We went downtown to just get away and enjoy the city a little. Again, started off okay. We both felt better after the appointment and started talking about next steps. But after maybe 30 minutes she got quieter and started getting agitated again. She started to cry and said again she is so confused. She asked me to come sit next to her and she put her arm around me. She said she doesnt know how to stop being depressed without having other people in our/her life. i think this is also true. She stays at home all day with a baby and she has no marketable skills anymore. She's tried meetup groups, play dates, reaching out to older friends, etc. We just get nowhere with it. So she said she just needs to time to think. I asked if she wanted me to leave for a while - I would take personal days at work and watch our son (at my parent's house), so basically I was asking if we should take a break. She started crying harder and said she never wants to lose me but she is so depressed that our relationship has dried up because of everything that has happened. It is clear we both love each other to death, but this thing has broken us so badly. I honestly dont know how else to begin repairing. You can love someone but not being able to be with them. Part of me starts to think that taking a break may be wise. So we can both reset, perhaps meet new people on our own. But I also know this is dangerous territory. It may spell the beginning of the end. 

 

So rough. So to answer your questions, there are relationship issues causing a void for both of us. The medicine put her over the edge, but probably for a reason related to the relationship. So long story short, she is off the Lamictal now. I just have to wait for the mania to subside, keep going to therapy and see what happens next.

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  • 1 month later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Topics merged.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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Hey anotheranon, I'm sorry for your pain.

 

First, this:

 

You might look up other Helen Fisher vids, as she talks about cheating, too.  All kinds of love topics.

 

Then, a bit of a story.  I used to be that cheater.  I used to blame my partner for my unhappiness.  I couldn't change until I was rejected, myself.

 

There is getting off the meds (good), but then there is also learning about yourself (much harder) and learning how your behaviours and choices hurt others.  If you just get off the drugs - but don't address the issue that drove you to the drugs to begin with, then you are a candidate for relapse.  

 

At some point, she needs to address her unhappiness.  Maybe it is her life with you, maybe it is something about her own childhood and relationships that keep her sabotaging her intimacy.  You, too, need to question what you are looking for and figure out what you want out of this.  Do you want to trust her again?  What will it take to do that?

 

What I hear is "it's the drugs, it's the drugs," but what I see is:  it's a pattern.  The drugs are just part of the pattern.

 

Yes, the drugs are a factor, but not the only factor.  Just like alcohol is a factor - but not the only one.  There is a relationship - a complex interplay of two people and their histories that intertwine into this hurtful dance of reconciliation and betrayal.  And in her case - a pattern of stability and unhappiness.  Additionally, there may be nutritional factors from her pregnancy which are never addressed by western medicine - having a baby is like giving up everything you have to bring this new life into the world.  Sometimes the depletion - energetically, emotionally, mentally, and nutritionally - is unbearable.

 

So many factors here.  I admire the way you are seeking answers, I hope we can be of help.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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  • 7 months later...

Hi All,

 

It has been a while since I posted and I received a few emails asking for an update. I believe my last post is here:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6084-anotheranons-partner-a-light-at-the-end-of-the-effexor-tunnel/#entry83076

 

At any rate, I rode this train for a long time as I believed that Effexor had turned my spouse inside out. All of the bad things that can come from mania happened and it all coordinated directly with when she began the medicine. And I believed that I made the right decision. Evidence of this is our 17 month child.

 

She had a pretty good pregnancy, and we blossomed during it. I feel like we really found and each other and were stronger once she had been off Effexor for a few months. It felt like she came right back to me.

 

However, shortly after the birth she seemingly acted just like she had on the medicine. all of the same things happened again. she has been off everything for years however the manipulation and mind games and gas lighting flicked back on and all continued. I never, ever noticed these things before the Effexor, however her family now tells me she's always been somewhat this way and she had really turned it off pretty well for the first few years we were together.

 

I know we are all looking for positive stories here, but I did chase a wild dream thinking that the medicines were to blame. I know they can be bad news, I will not deny that at all. Just in this case...they only made the bad a little worse. It was there all along though. So I'm sharing this update just to add some contrast I suppose. The meds do put some people in a wild place, but they may also be wild to begin with and it is very important to know the difference. Otherwise you may end up with a kid, or in a mortgage, etc

 

So that's it. I'm a single father now. Not trying to be a bummer, again just hopefully adding to the larger picture.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi AA, I've merged your new topic with your original for continuity. 

 

I'm sorry that things have turned out this way for but to be honest I still suspect that the drugs played a part in what happened with your wife. 

 

In your first few years together she was fine, maybe because she was happy?  Lots of people are difficult as children and teenagers but grow up eventually and become caring, decent adults.  Pregnancy plays havoc with hormones and lots of women don't cope very well with the sleepless nights and responsibility. Add withdrawal into the mix and it can be devastating.  Did your wife get treatment for post natal depression?  That is usually the first thing that doctors do, diagnose PND and prescribe drugs accordingly.   I haven't read back through the thread yet, but this is what sprang to mind when I read this update. 

 

Do you care for your little one or does your wife have custody?  I really hope she finds herself again, so she can feel the joy of being a mother, even if it is too late for you to save the marriage.  You've fought hard for your marriage but there is only so much anyone can take.  I hope you can be happy with your precious little one to love and care for, and rebuild your life. You deserve some peace and happiness. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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I appreciate the response. I do care for our son. She is no state to do so at this time. it has been quite difficult as we are stuck in a lease for a bit longer and I was let go from work (my emotional state finally crossed the line). I wish I could blame the drugs and I will not discount them but at this point it has been entirely too much. this last round I witnessed how far her manipulation can go and it disgusted and overwhelmed me. She has become a master manipulator and her capability for deceit knows no limits. What I suspect is these issues were dormant but really blossomed as she broke into adult hood. closure has been difficult because she simply cannot see how her actions have pulled so many people down.

 

She was treated for PPD. I paid out of pocket for specialist and therapist, even couples therapy and it was all a joke. This had cost me everything and probably my health at this point. It has been very confusing.

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  • 2 years later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi there,

 

The staff at SA are wondering how you are.  We'd love to hear how you are doing now.   Would you mind dropping by and giving an update?

 

Thanks.

CC

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

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

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

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

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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