Shamaan : Effexor WD

January 3, 2015

I was wondering when you should stop reinstatement?It is now my 4th day on 10 beads , and i have gone through a whole range of different 'mindsets' and symptoms i recognize from earlier withdrawal.

I stopped 4 months ago with effexor, and my last dose was 75mg , at the time i wasnt aware of possible withdrawal risks.

I decided to reinstate because withdrawal became unbearable in my current situation.

I wouldnt say i am feeling better, everyday i am experiencing different symptoms.

Is it a good idea to continue the reinstatement?

January 4, 2015

It takes at least 4 days for the drug to reach steady-state in your bloodstream. Be sure to take it at the same time each day.

Give it a week or two.

Please start a topic for yourself in the Introductions forum and let us know how you're doing there.

January 4, 2015

i will start a introduction topic when i feel a little better.

is it still a good idea if i feel a reaction just 30 minutes after a take a dose of 10 beads? And since i reinstated, im feeling strange constantly, its hard to explain how it feels , its sort of derealization/depersonalisation , or a bad tripping like feeling.

maybe i should also say that , two days before inreinstated with 10 beads, i took a dose of 75 mg , and had a really bad reaction to it.

January 7, 2015

I began taking medication around 2010-2011. I tried a couple of different medications , but ive been on effexor and solian for the longest time.

I started with a dose of 75mg in 2011. In the summer of 2012 it was increased to 225mg, and some months later again increased to 300mg. I took this dose until June 2013.

At that time i wasn't seeing a psychiatrist , and i remember i decreased the dose myself to 150mg. I was not aware of possible risks , little did a knew.. I remember i started to feel really good at that time , a week or so after i dropped to 150mg. Maybe i should also say that i was experimenting with different drugs at that time, and smoking a lot of cannabis. I started to get worried because i never felt so good. Now i know i was having a adverse reaction due to my decrease of effexor , intensified by using cannabis. But at that time , i thought i was 'becoming' bipolar.

I saw a psychiatrist again , and she decreased my 150mg of effexor to 0 , because she thought my effexor was pushing me 'up'.

When all this happened , i was also having relationship problems , and i had to live back home with my parents again, which was/is a big stressor for me. I started to get really bad real fast, and i did not have a clue it was all due to my effexor withdrawal , instead i still thought i was bipolar.

Some weeks later I have been admitted to a crisis hospital , where i was put on a cocktail of different drugs , including lithium. It was hell , and after 8 weeks i resigned. I saw the psychiatrist of that hospital for a couple of times afterwards , but finally stopped to see her. Still no idea it was effexor withdrawal.

(2014)At my last visit to her i ask maybe if going back on effexor was a good idea. So i started to take effexor again , and dropped all the others drugs. I do not recall having a bad reaction to it , and i went up to a dose of 225mg. But still a wasnt aware what the role of effexor was in all of this.

Some time later i decided again to stop with effexor because i was tired of all psychotropic medication , and started to decrease my dose. In steps of 75 mg i decreased over a period of a couple of months. I don't remember much of that time , but now i can recall some symptoms i recognize as withdrawal symptoms.

At the end of August 2014 i went from 75 mg to 0. And starting to feel some of same symptoms i remembered from the year before , i started to realise i wasnt bipolar , but it was effexor who was responsible. Again I experienced some elevated mood.

Since that summer of 2013 i live at home , starting to get more and more isolated. I dont see or speak with anybody anymore , except my parents and some close relatives. But making conversation or socialising became really hard , even with my parents. I became estranged from almost everybody.

I also have nothing to do during the day , or something to distract myself with. My most frustrating symptom/issue i have is that i just can't express myself no more.

Recently the withdrawal became unbearable , and i decided to reinstate. Last week i took a dose of 75mg , and had a really bad reaction. I now see how stupid i was..After reading the reinstatement information, and decided to try again to reinstate , this time with 10 beads(31 december).

Two days ago i decreased to 8 beads because i got scared of doing the wrong thing. I'm still not sure if the reinstatement is a good idea. Everyday i feel a sort of constant derealisation/depersonalisation, along with different symptoms everyday. It has been a week now since i reinstated.

Anyway, thank you for reading.

January 7, 2015

Hi Shamaan,

Welcome to SA. That's some journey you've been on.

What symptoms did you have on 75? How did they change when you got to 10 beads? And now 8? Reinstatenment is a good idea but you have to work out the dose and be prepared to stick to one to give your body a chance to stabilise

Dalsaan

January 7, 2015

Shamaan, so sorry you are in this terrible position. I can relate to a lot of what you have written i too was given effexor, for the most stupid of off label reasons. I was clueless about what i was taking, ct it and then had pysch distress and crying went to the doc to get some answers and put on paxil for the next 10 yrs just so silly talk about uninformed consent. Stumbled upon an online forum trying to get answers and bang the lightbulb went on ..i had been scammed by doctors!

You were off for 4 months from aug. i assume drug free. So ri at this stage is a risky venture some can do it some cant. I know of a nurse who has testified in front of the FDA said effexor is a nasty nasty drug and very few can get back to normal within a few months of getting off the drug. probably feels like you are now stuck between a rock and a hard place. Many count the beads to get of effexor.

Haven't been much help but wishing you strength.

I think maybe the best thing now is to make a decision and stick to it. Yo-yo-ing on and off is going to course chaos in the brain .

.

January 7, 2015

Nz11 is correct, reinstatement is tricky after 4 months. For some reason I missed that gap. Decide if you are going to continue trying to reinstate, if you are make it a very low dose and stick with it for a while to allow your body a chance to stabilise

January 8, 2015

Sorry to hear of your experience. I went off of 150 following my GP instructions. I did 75 for a month and 37.5 for a month. Started to crash about 2.5 months Effexor free and by 4 months I decided to start again. It's been a rough road of hard lessons. I had know idea about what these medications can do. It has been 5 months since I reinstated and I have suffered a lot but I am having better days. I experience waves and windows that seem to go in a 2 week cycle. I currently am at 112.5. Hope you stabilize and take a slow taper if you decide to reduce at that point. Hang in there things eventually sort them selves out.

January 8, 2015

Hi Shamaan,

Welcome to SA. That's some journey you've been on.

What symptoms did you have on 75? How did they change when you got to 10 beads? And now 8? Reinstatenment is a good idea but you have to work out the dose and be prepared to stick to one to give your body a chance to stabilise

Dalsaan

When i took 75mg , i had an almost immediate reaction. First i felt stimulated , eluvated mood, i had dilated pupils , felt sick , ..

At night it turned into intense state of fear, its hard to remember and describe all the symptoms i had.

but definitely a very bad reaction.

Since i reinstated with 10 beads , i have different symptoms everyday. But when i took a dose of 10 beads , i felt a reaction 30 minutes later.

I also feel exhausted very fast , like i can 'feel' my nervous system being overstimulated.

Another symptom is brain fog , i have trouble talking , even trying to write things down is hard, together with memory problems.

I just wonder how to know when i should stop reinstatement?

January 8, 2015

Shamaan, what a nightmare. I had a similar on and off relationship with Effexor and it triggered all kids of madness and mania. I can't answer your last question, but it seems like getting off Effexor once and for all would be good. I was aware of what was wrong too late for me to try reinstating. My brain still feels inflamed and I have a feeling more Effexor would push me through the roof.

Just be very careful and make sure people you trust know what you are doing and why you are doing it. Send them here to read our stories if they don't believe this stuff really happens.

Best of luck in your journey towards wellness.

January 8, 2015

Thanks for the replies.

Is it normal to experience stronger symptoms when reinstating?

I experienced flu like symptoms before from withdrawal. But today i feel really sick...

Start to doubt the reinstatement again..

January 8, 2015

Your symptoms can go up and down a bit after reinstating. Have you stuck to 10 beads since 31/12 or are you on 8 beads? I'm trying to work out how long you have been at the same dose without changes

January 9, 2015

shamaan, I moved your post from the Tapering topic here.

How many beads are you taking now? What is the reaction you feel shortly after taking them?

January 9, 2015

Now i'm taking 8 beads , i thinks it's my fifth day since i decreased to 8 beads (terrible memory).

I think the reaction i feel shortly after taking a dose is somewhat lessened , its hard to describe what i feel/felt. I recall from earlier that i just felt a change , but i'm not able to describe it.

still feeling sick , but it's possible i'm sick for real.

and massive brain fog , very hard to write , to put things into words.

still having depersonalisation/derealization constantly, feeling odd.

and weird intrusive thoughts

These are some of my symptoms i'm able to put into words.

There is so much i want to write down , but almost every attempt fails , and frustates and exhausts me more.

January 10, 2015

Hi Shamaan

I know it's difficult to remember reactions but it's important to work out whether something is working or causing more trouble. Me it's also important to stay the course for a little while to encourage stability

Dr Glenmullen has created a withdrawal checklist, could you perhaps use this to record your symptoms and rate them each day out of 10 to gauge whats happening over time?

Here's the list http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2390-dr-joseph-glenmullens-withdrawal-symptom-checklist/

Dalsaan

January 10, 2015

Ok , i will take a look at the list.

Although i still feel far from better , i think i have some better moments. But it is confusing because elevated/stimulated mood is a withdrawal symptom i have. So i dont really know for sure. After all this time i hardly remember how it feels to be somewhat normal again.

I'm also cutting back smoking cigarettes , because i found out it makes me feel worse

January 10, 2015

I'm still wondering if its normal to experience stronger symptoms when reinstating??

January 10, 2015

It was a rollercoaster of highs and lows of symptoms and now 5 months after reinstating things are smoothing out. I keep a journal daily.

January 15, 2015

Shamaan, the symptoms you feel might be from your earlier drug changes and not from reinstating.

Please let us know your daily symptom pattern. This helps determine where the symptoms are coming from.

It would be best if you take the 8 beads at the same time each day to lessen confusion.

Are you taking any other drugs?

January 15, 2015

Shamaan, the symptoms you feel might be from your earlier drug changes and not from reinstating.

Please let us know your daily symptom pattern. This helps determine where the symptoms are coming from.

It would be best if you take the 8 beads at the same time each day to lessen confusion.

Are you taking any other drugs?

Since last week i have had some better days. But i'm pretty sure the reinstating gave me stronger symptoms. Because before reinstatement , symptoms like for example derealization and feeling sick weren't as strong as when i reinstated.

But i think there is some improvement..

What do you mean with daily pattern? I experience different symptoms every few days. Last three days i was very irritable, short fused, and had trouble with those 'mind-playing-tricks' thoughts. But today i feel there is a change again. Is this what you mean with daily pattern? I'm keeping a journal where i try to write in everyday. I do recognize most of the symptoms from before. For example , i remember when i stopped the first time (2013) i had strong heartbeats when i went to bed and was laying down. It's like there is a whole mix coming back , and changing every few days.

Maybe i should also say , when i stopped the second time (August 2014) i wasn't stable or good. But i did not have a clue it was from effexor withdrawal from the year before. I just wanted to get off..

The derealisation has also improved , sometimes it returns.

I'm taking the 8 beads at the same time each day. No other drugs..

Sorry if it is a bit incomprehensible.. still not good at writing..

January 16, 2015

I'm getting really desperate from all this misery... From what i have read from other people, still struggling after years...and some even getting auto immune diseases etc. after going through withdrawal. i don't know if it still worth it to keep fighting every single day.

It's not just the withdrawal , i'm stuck here at home with no life whatsoever for more than a year now. Living at home has been a problem for me even before i got these problems with withdrawal. This isolation and living here with my parents is hell. And now i have these problems with withdrawal making things more difficult to ever get out of this situation...

Are the other people here on surviving antidepressant who are struggling for years more a rule than an exception?

January 16, 2015

Hi Shamaan, effexor is nasty, and the withdrawal symtoms are horrific. Hopefully you will start to feel better soon. I reinstated at 5 beads and felt better right away but it didn't last and I had some really bad waves. Thankfully the waves became less severe until they were 'ripples' that didn't last very long. It was a few months before I

was able to start tapering again but things were getting better and I didn't start tapering again until I had been feeling well for about 2 months.

Everyone is different, some take years and others weeks or months. Hopefully the reinstatement will work for you and you will start to feel better soo. Don't give up hope. Make the most of being with your parents, it is awful going through withdrawal but even worse oing through it completely alone with no interaction or support!

When you are well you will be able to put it all behind you and create a life for yourself away from your parents.

January 17, 2015

Hi Shamaan, effexor is nasty, and the withdrawal symtoms are horrific. Hopefully you will start to feel better soon. I reinstated at 5 beads and felt better right away but it didn't last and I had some really bad waves. Thankfully the waves became less severe until they were 'ripples' that didn't last very long. It was a few months before I

was able to start tapering again but things were getting better and I didn't start tapering again until I had been feeling well for about 2 months.

Everyone is different, some take years and others weeks or months. Hopefully the reinstatement will work for you and you will start to feel better soo. Don't give up hope. Make the most of being with your parents, it is awful going through withdrawal but even worse oing through it completely alone with no interaction or support!

When you are well you will be able to put it all behind you and create a life for yourself away from your parents.

I don't think it is that simple. I started taking medication for a reason.....

Ever since i started to seek professional help 5 years ago , i never have been able to get things straight again. I have had some hospital admissions over the years , but still getting more and more isolated from normal life.

And now , on top of this , i have this huge problem with withdrawal. But I still have my problems from before...

Even with medication i didnt succeed to reclaim my life..

My problems from before and the problems with withdrawal are intertwined...

So no , it is not that simple as once withdrawal would be over , i could create this new life , certainly not after years of living like this...

January 19, 2015

Hi Sharmaan,

I understand your point, most of us were put on these drugs for a reason and the reason doesn't just go away because these drugs don't cure anything, at best they can mask symptoms for a while... and now there is the added problem which the drugs have caused.

Many of us here are waiting to heal from the effects of these drugs so that we can either go back a previously good lifestyle or begin to create a new one through healthier, non-drug methods. None of this is easy and I'm sorry that you are having to live in a situation you find unpleasant. As much as it might be difficult, I'm sure there are some benefits. You have a place to live, food, some company and it sounds like you don't have to work right now, which can be very stressful when you are dealing with a difficult withdrawal.

From what i have read from other people, still struggling after years...and some even getting auto immune diseases etc. after going through withdrawal. i don't know if it still worth it to keep fighting every single day....

....Are the other people here on surviving antidepressant who are struggling for years more a rule than an exception?

Withdrawal doesn't cause autoimmune diseases, although it can sometimes mimic the symptoms, a minority of people also have autoimmune diseases, but that doesn't mean you will get one. Also, a minority of people do have protracted withdrawal which lasts for several years, but that doesn't mean you will.

Give the reinstatement more time to work, try to be patient. Try and find some pleasant things to do during the day so you have some distraction. You will heal from this, but its not going to be fast, if you can get used to the idea that it will take some time, and try to accept that, it will be easier, you will feel more relaxed and that's good for your nervous system.

January 19, 2015

Yeah i know , i do realise i have the luxury of having a home, and food and do not have the stress of having to work. But when i feel bad i find it difficult to see it as something positive..

January 20, 2015

Shamaan, I feel ya. I have many blessings that survived my wave of destruction during acute withdrawal psychosis. At my lowest times, which were pretty much all of 2013 and 2014, I simply could not feel grateful. And I still don't trust the universe at the moment. But in recent weeks I have begun feeling a lot lot lot better, and starting to feel grateful again, as I always did before all this. I guess I am starting to trust again. At least I know I can trust myself again.

I don't know how long most people on this site suffered or have been suffering. But mine was a solid two years. When I joined the site last year I was still in horrific despair. Now I am not.

It is either the passage of time or the taking of the recommended diet supplements (see elsewhere on the site, and add to that the coconut oil i started just after Christmas). I recently ran out of any and all Xanax, Lunesta, or Seroquel, too, and I suppose not taking any meds whatsover is helping.

January 26, 2015

Is it possible to become more sensitive to a dose while reinstating? Since three days i react differently to my 8 beads.. I recognize some of the symptoms from when a took that massive 75 mg dose earlier.

The only thing i can think of that has changed is i reduced my amount of daily cigarettes the last two weeks...

i really feel 8 beads are suddenly too much.

January 26, 2015

Hi Shamaan, effexor is nasty, and the withdrawal symtoms are horrific. Hopefully you will start to feel better soon. I reinstated at 5 beads and felt better right away but it didn't last and I had some really bad waves. Thankfully the waves became less severe until they were 'ripples' that didn't last very long. It was a few months before I

was able to start tapering again but things were getting better and I didn't start tapering again until I had been feeling well for about 2 months.

Everyone is different, some take years and others weeks or months. Hopefully the reinstatement will work for you and you will start to feel better soo. Don't give up hope. Make the most of being with your parents, it is awful going through withdrawal but even worse oing through it completely alone with no interaction or support!

When you are well you will be able to put it all behind you and create a life for yourself away from your parents.

MammaP, did you have side effects from reinstatement? I am really doubting my reinstatement again...

January 26, 2015

shamaan, it could be 8 beads are too much for you. If I were you, I'd try 7 beads. Please let us know how you're doing.

Also, Please put your withdrawal history in your signature

January 26, 2015

Ok , thank you alto , i will decrease to 7 beads tomorrow

January 26, 2015

Good luck with the bead reduction. I hope it brings relief.

January 29, 2015

thanks westcoast.

But today i stopped the whole reinstatement. When i look back at the three weeks of reinstatement , i think it got worse, but i didnt want to stop because it was a sort of last resort . I'm not coping at all. At this moment i am taking xanax to have some relief from everything. I know it is a bad thing to do.

im trying to convince my parents of the reality of this withdrawal.

I also have an appointement with a psychiatrist tomorrow , but im not looking forward to it. I know its gonna be a struggle to talk some sense and try and convince her of my problems..

I did a blood test yesterday , everything seems normal , except low vitamin D. My family physician also does not believe in this withdrawal , and still thinks everything i experience now i just ordinary mental problems. He suggests to take a supplement.

The hardest thing is the more i seek help , the more i suffer because of this constant struggle to try to convince them.

And i am so bad at talking.....which makes everything so much harder

January 29, 2015

Another thought i had today is what about people who suffer from withdrawal from psychotropic medication , but also can't function without a sort of medicational support.

Like for example people who suffer from schizophrenia or some other severe psychiatric condition.

January 30, 2015

Also, Please put your withdrawal history in your signature

...and here's how to add your signature from a phone or tablet:

http://survivinganti...nature/?p=84105

If we are going to be able to offer any meaningful advice, we need to be able to see your drug history, including the Solian (amisulpride) and xanax you are currently taking. You have mentioned 'other drugs', and we need some details of those too.

We need to know what drugs you have taken, for how long, the dose, when you stopped taking them and how you stopped taking them.

I wish you well for your psychiatrist appointment, do let us know how it goes.

January 30, 2015

Hi Shaman, good luck hope the doc can help. Just a short note to say welcome. And someone mentined schizophrenia. I always worried I might have that, and I actually got it for a few days...... that was Withdrawals many years ago (I didn't know that at the time, and never mentioned to a doc my symptoms, thank goodness!)

I seriously do not believe in any of these "labels" anymore. the drugs cause these things. I never had any of the things I have had to go through before these psych drugs.

Stay well

Shamaan : Effexor WD

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