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Hi. New to this so, hi! Back in 2007 I was prescribed 75mg of venlafaxine for anxiety and stress. Those episodes of stress have been removed vastly and in some cases so has the anxiety so in February 2014 I took the plunge to come off this drug. First of all I came down from 75mg to 37.5mg + 1 half of 37.5mg. Then 37.5mg then to 3/4 of 37.5mg to half of 37.5 then a quarter and finally half of 1 quarter. My last tablet was last Friday and now, writing this I am 1 week in to full withdrawal. Irrespectable of the low end dose I am still getting hideous side effects. I feel drunk all of the time, loss of memory, disattached from reality, anxiety, fear, panic, restlessness to name but a few. My question to anyone who's withdrawn, is how long did the side effects last? The doc said I was probably over the worst but said I wouldn't feel right for another 3-4 weeks. There seems to be a pattern of 1 good day, 1 bad at the moment. I'm scared that I am going to go through a difficult month only to find out that I can't survive without medication and relapse. Has anyone ever come off the same dose and what was your experiences. Any feedback would be hugely appreciated. Thanks.
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pam_03131 chris180477
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chris180477 pam_03131
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ncoules49 chris180477
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julie20913 chris180477
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I've now been without taking the tablets completely for 1week and I'm still vomiting and my head is still hurting, my gp said they stay in your system for a long time.
They helped me with my depression and anxiety at the time but I still feel as though I need the help again. But I'm hoping I have the willpower to stay off these tablets
I've been off work for 4 weeks now. Got to go back soon. I hope you manage to stay off these awful tablets
Take care x
chris180477 julie20913
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julie20913 chris180477
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chris180477 julie20913
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If you do come off that last tab, come off it slowly and do what I did and do some surgery on the tab itself. My withdrawals from reduction were fine. It's that final dose that's the hardest. When it leaves the body for good. Compared to some people, I'm getting off lightly to be honest but I think that's because of the withdrawal technique I used. It took me one whole year to come off just 1 75mg tab. Let me know how you get on with that.
As for the therapy, it was the first one. If you read my thread to Pam it explains a little but I reckon the therapist will do good. It's all about training the mind. I can explain a little bit more if you've got any questions??
Chris.
ncoules49 chris180477
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It is wonderful to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
ncoules49
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chris180477 ncoules49
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Light at the end of the tunnel is all I'm after. Like you say it's day by day, week by week. It's a pain but if I know it will get better, I'll deal with it. I seem to have a pattern at the minute where it's one day good, the next not so. It'll get easier I'm sure but like most of us, we're all out our comfort zones and into the unknown! One thing I do know though, I shall never take another antidepressant ever again!!!
Chris.
ncoules49 chris180477
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Now I love getting out and about.
pam_03131 chris180477
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chris180477 pam_03131
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The effects of anxiety, if you're having a bad one, can be horrid. Everyone with anxiety usually has a story to tell. Mine was of a youngster. I lived a normal loved life as a kid but I lost my father at 7. They seem to think that this is where this stems from. Not so sure myself but if it is then ok. It's a start. The best way I deal with anxiety is 1, hit it head on. Don't cop out of any situations that create anxiety. At a start, don't push yourself through every event, but certainly don't avoid everything. 2, if the anxiety kicks in, draw it in to you. Ask it to do its worst. May all sound weird but anxiety is only thoughts. If you have read and understand the 'fight or flight' then some of the physical symptoms are your body's natural reaction to fear and escape. It goes back to cave man times. Read it if you haven't.
After you draw it in and ask anxiety to do its stuff, remembering that they are only thoughts, ask yourself, what's the worst that can happen to you at that given time. Most people have a fear of being watched and evaluated, being I'll, falling over but to name a few, but if your anxiety trigger is there and you will know what it is, ask what's the thing that you fear most of all if anything 'were' to happen. If you evaluate that trigger into reality and not anxiety, most people will see it as just paranoia and there is no real risk of your trigger taking place. It's all about bringing the mind into reality and dis attaching from anxiety. Don't get me wrong, I still get beaten by it but that's just the tough side of anxiety. It will always be there in some form but the key is to eliminate the smaller episodes from becoming big ones. Bring on anxiety and you'll beat it. Don't be afraid if it. It will never ever go, but you'll accept it and deal with it perfectly. I feel anxious most days, but now ignore it. All the once frightening physical symptoms I get, I just say hello to. "Oh not you again is it" to feeling sweaty or dizzy when it comes on. It won't happen over night but you will learn to accept it as part of you. It may go forever but we all get anxiety. Even the strongest of minds so you'll be able to learn to live with it rather than let it control you. Hope this helps you. Let me know how you get on.
Chris.
anne240 chris180477
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It is such a same you are getting the withdrawals. I know what they are like as I stopped Venlafaxine (Effexor) cold turkey once, and the side effects you are getting is just as if you too stopped cold turkey, which you didn't.
Because I did not get any withdrawals I have been 17 months without any anti depressant. Some people get over withdrawals quickly, say in days, but I have read here and other forums where they are still experiencing them many months later. Your body just has to get rid of the medication in its own good time. Venlafaxine is one of the worst anti depressants to withdraw from, but at least you did it more or less properly and took some time over withdrawing.
It is said if you feel bad after a few weeks then it is the depression returning. When I stopped cold turkey the depression did not return until 6 months later. If, like me, you have managed over a year without anti depressants, then should be OK. Trouble is you don't know whether what you are feeling is due to the depression returning or the withdrawal symptoms.
I was on 150mg for 5 years, stopped cold turkey, and after 6 months went back on for 4 years. I was on a lot of different anti depressants over nearly 30 years.
Give it time and see how you go. If you think your depression has returned after a few months, then best to thinbk you may need to go back on medication. I would suggest you give it a bit longer.
Let us know you you get on
chris180477 anne240
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Fortunately, I never suffered with depression. It was stress and anxiety. If coming off the meds hasn't worked then my anxieties will return on a more permanent basis. The doctor told me last night that if this was the case then I would go back on meds but certainly not Effexor modified release. I should never have been put on them according to him. Anyway, another decent day. Let's see what tomorrow brings. If it goes with trend, then it'll be an off day lol.
Chris.
anne240 chris180477
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No don't go back on Effexor. I certainly never would after the time it took to withdraw, and you certainly don't need to feel like you do now ever again.
Take care, and I hope things do improve for you Chris.
Anne
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