HELP in Hell withdrawl! Co

Posted , 6 users are following.

doctor told me to stop Venaflaxine and start sertraline tomorrow!

I'm in hell

Head pain

Nausea

Jaw pain which is unbearable

Funny taste in mouth

Bloating!

Restless

Tired!

I can't cope

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    Told you just to stop Venlafaxine with no tapering?
    • Posted

      Hi yeah just said don't take it, not had any since yesterday x
    • Posted

      Your doctor should have at least given you somnething with the same half life. Venflaxine  doesnt stay long in the system like some of the other anti depressant and as such even missing one dose can cause the side effect your have encountered. 
  • Posted

    I'm cold too feel sick muscles ache tempted to just take one
  • Posted

    Hi Rachael I'm on this drug since July last year and I don't feel it is really helping me I take 300mg a day and a few times Iv missed my 150mg night dose as have fell asleep putting wee one to bed and I have to say the next day I feel like I'm having an outer body experience I feel as if I'm going really slow, stomach churning and I swear I feel my anxiety returning. I have been told no this can't happen so quick which I don't believe. Did they not give you diazepam ect to take while changing medications? If only they knew and felt what we feel they might understand. I have read lots and you are supposed to taper off this drug very slowly not just stop it I would be phoning nhs24 for a second opinion or something to take the edge off the withdrawal. Lots of hugs hang in there.x
    • Posted

      Hi Dawn,

      It's awful took my last dose yesterday morning! I felt awful all day! Had to come home from work due to it! I'm literally crying and holding my head! I've only been on it 2 months! Noticed head pain and weird eyesight if I was late taking it but this is a whole new experience!

      I'm sat with the pack on my lap debating taking one!

      Rachel xxx

    • Posted

      It is true the doctors seem to not know a thing about stopping these drugs!  Even the package insert says NOT to stop ven abruptly or you could suffer from "discontinuation syndrome."  All the psych drugs cause actual changes to the nervous system because they artificially raise neurotransmitter levels by blocking receptors, and the body likes homeostasis so makes modifications to bring about balance again.  These changes are what are causing all the symptoms, because without the drug, you are now in a neurotransmitter imbalance again.  Neurochemical chaos!  Sert won't negate it because the two drugs act differently, with ven also working on norepinephrine.  

      The only way to deal with the withdrawal is to take a bit of the hair of the dog that bit you.  I would take your normal dose of ven ( you should feel relief right away) and re-assess with your doctor.  Just tell him you couldn't take it.  It is your body, your brain, and he doesn't know what it is like!

      You will need to do a cross-taper, coming up on sert from a low dose while slowly reducing ven.  The safest way to come off ven is to do the 10% per month cuts, but with another med coming online, you may be able to get away with going slower.  What dose of ven are you coming off of?

    • Posted

      Hi betsy,

      I'm on 75mg, only been on them 2 months, supposed to start sertraline tomorrow! Only 1 day if the ven and then the new one! I don't feel confident about it x

    • Posted

      I agree with dawn, go back see a different doctor at the surgery if need be

       

  • Posted

    As others have said this is terrible advice from your doctor. Some of them have no idea just how bad it feels to come off certain drugs.

    My doctor told me to just stop Ven so I told him how hell it had been coming off others.

    He then gave me tapering off doses but it felt like he was just humouring me!

    I would continue with Ven and don't start the Sertraline until you can see your doctor again. Show him what it says on the Ven instructions and tell him how bad you felt.

  • Posted

    Your doctor is giving terrible advice. When I have missed a 150mg dose of ven. It has kicked me so hard that I can barely describe it. I would not wish it upon my worst enemy - a circumstance fit for torture.

    You need to take a qualified second opinion before you just 'quit' a drug like venlofaxin. Please take a second opinion!

    In the meanwhile - unless there is a prevailing reason why you really cannot take venlofaxin - carry on. Can you not consult with a psychiatrist?

    I am so tired of poor advice from bad doctors. It can ruin your life.

  • Posted

    BTW in another reply it was suggested that particular hay fever / allergy remedies helped to ease withdrawal symptoms - but I can't tell you if that is true or not.

    Bless you x

    • Posted

      I double check but they do work on the same area of the brain so it could be quite possibble

       

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