venlafaxine withdrawal- please help!!

Well, what can I say...... I must admit I am slightly taken aback by your comments Laurie, not sure if you had a problem with your computer or if you indeed meant to post it several times, if so I think it is a bit overkill.

I appreciate like most people on this site that there are good and bad doctors out there, some who take time to help and others who unfortunately dont seem to have the time. However as far as my circumstances go, I was presribed serveral other ad's before being put on ven and started on a low dose which was increased to 225mg per day slow release for three years and it was the only thing that helped me.

Now I am aware it will not have been the same for everyone but I can almost guarantee that NO doctor held any patient down and forced them to take it!

We were all in a bad place and needed help, some got better help than others, that is a given but are we not all on here to help share experiences so we can all get better?????

I agree with the comments Rachthemidwife made too and everyone is different!!! if you don't trust your doctor, ask to see another one.

On a positive note: I have been Ven Free since 7th Feb and I feel pretty damn good :-)

I have definately turned the corner of withdrawal and although I get quite agitated with the kids at times, that is pretty understandable (you would agree if you ever met my kids 8,6 and 5)

I have cut out caffine, (although I still have my one full caffine cup of tea in the morning)

drink lots of water now,

I took benalyn for three days which seemed to take the edge off but because I felt better I stopped taking them too.

I have started going to the gym once a week and this has boosted my energy levels too.

I also started taking codliver oil caps with multi-vits when I had major joint pain with the withdrawal and I have just kept taking them too.

As tesco says " Every Little Helps"

So to all of you that are struggling, I can tell you IT WILL GET BETTER you just have to have a little faith, support and most of all keep looking forward to what you want. Dont be tempted to look back whats the point?

I wish you all the very best - This forum has definately helped me. I hope it can help you all too :-)

Marie

Not wishing to decry your contribution Rachel, but quite honestly, i am probably more qualified than anyone on effects of stress etc. I joined the Army at age 16 to get away from an abusive step father, he was physically, mentally and sexually abusive to me from the age of 10 when he came into my life. I joined the junior leaders regiment at 16 to get away from that and to be something. 35 years later, i have seen and taken part in conflict and combat in almost every theatre of war since joining. My first posting was NI where after just one week, my best friend had his head blown off and i was covered in his brains, by an IRA sniper.

There was NO treatment for stress then, 2 weeks leave and i was back in the thick of it. Ive served in the Falklands, Serbia,( where i witnessed the horrific killing of entire families by the opposing armies), Somalia, the gulf war and finally Afghanistan, with OTHER duties that were equally exposing and raw in between, and only when in my final posting, did i completely crack up after 4 of my unit were blown to pieces in front of me.

The military medical care when i came out was next to useless, palming me off with a pension and no help mentally, except to hand me over to the NHS mental health, and in their hands and the GP i had at the time, they did NOTHING constructive except drive me to a suicide attempt.

So forgive me if i take opposition to your good GP argument. I also have been in contact with so many people in the mental health system, both service users and professionals, who have NO CONFIDENCE in the medical system as it is today, and is getting worse as money is the more important issue.

The fact remains, that GP and psychiatrists DO indeed prescribe these dangerous drugs, far too quickly without giving the patient enough time and care to find the right medication for that individual.

I have 5 family members who are in the medical profession, 2 are in mental health, and ALL of them are dissillusioned with the way the NHS has become. Money orientated and driven, run by far too many cheifs with large pay packets doing nothing but cutting off the heads of the real backbone of the NHS..........The nurses and general staff.

Thats my soapbox moment done with now!.

May i just say, my last word, i was so dissapointed in the service i was receiving from the NHS mental health, that ive sent all my awards back as a protest.

Good luck all and do what you feel is RIGHT FOR YOU.

laurie

PS. I dont know why my previous reply was entered so many times! Maybe devine intervention.

The important thing in any recovery, is looking after yourself first and foremost, good diet, cut out the rubbish, and daily exercise. BE HAPPY, which you cannot be on Venlafaxine!!

Just as a metter of interest, there are a plethora of drugs out there that are prescribed these days, that started life for a totally different reason, mostly developed by and for the military for mind control.

Anyone interested in such things, I have just written 2 books on mind control and development of drugs since the 1950's.

Be Well.

@Rachthemidwife ...Good to read your calm, measured tones amongst all the hysteria - It's not as if the medical profession is full of 'Ming The Merciless' wannabes who are trying their wicked experiments on us helpless plebs :-))

Obviously a lot of people feel let down when medication isn't the answer to all their problems, and I feel sympathy for their suffering. Venlafaxine was the third drug my GP tried with me and, on 150mg/day my depression eased off. I have had the flashes, nightmares and mild hallucinations when I forgot to take a pill on two occasions, but the only reason I am trying to get off it is to get my libido back.

OK, smile if you like but, for someone who has been without a girlfriend for over 17 years and now finds himself going out with a lovely girl more than 20 years his junior (thanks in no small way to Venlafaxine lifting my spirits and energy) it is an important issue. We both agree that it's best for me to try and get back to normal without it.

Personally I think most people, including GPs, try to get off it too quickly and without the proper regard for a new way forward - there has to be a change in lifestyle, outlook or SOMEthing, to keep a positive momentum and optimism going ...that's where counseling and therapy come in to it I suppose. For me I hope my new girlfriend, giving up alcohol and spring in the air will be enough! :-))

11th February I started taking 1/2 a tablet twice/day, instead of the full 150mg once/day

18th February I cut down to 1/4 tablet twice/day, so that's 75mg/day

Headaches and the feeling of "head-in-a-bucket" have been growing stronger since half way through that first week, and are now almost constant, so I am not rushing to take the next step of going to 1/4 tab/day. There has been one night of relentless nightmares and yesterday I couldn't make myself get out of bed until evening time (but that could be my own fault for letting my girlfriend keep me up 1/2 the night!) I tried leaving it 18 hours between 1/4s today (23rd Feb) and got a huge empty hole of anxiety growing by hour 16, so I have given in and taken the next one.

I am realising that, as Rachthemidwife says, a lot of this is about empowering yourself and taking responsibility for getting yourself well. But this is something that I could NOT do when in the depths of depression - the motivation center of my head seemed totally disabled while I was in that state. Venlafaxine has helped by putting me in a state where I feel good enough to figure out a way of getting on with life and keeping motivated without it ...now I just hope it works out that way - I'll keep y'all posted :-))

Hi, Decided few days ago im coming off venafaxaline rapidly, I want this poison out my body. Im fed up being an emotionless zombie with no life except horrid symptoms from a horrid drug.

2 Weeks ago i was on 450mg, I cut down to 375mg for 7 days, then to 300mg for about 5 days, now I take what I can manage on, yesterday I had 225mg, day before 150mg, I am hoping to ve venafaxaline free within the next few days. I understand this is going to be horrible and painful doing it this way, but I am not prepared to do this over a year. Already my mind is a lot clearer, I can concentrate on tv but I have constantly got the shakes from inside, the shivers, headaches, feeling sick, dizziness etc but I had most of that anyway on the high dose of 450mg only its much worse now, but there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

The only other anti depressant i have been on is fluroxotine which was a life saver for me, it gave me an energy boost and had no side affects, they only took me off that cause i was a wreck when my mum died, but they done it too soon, and went from fluroxotine to 450mg venafaxaline.

I have still got fluroxotine in the house, now that Im down to 150mg - 225mg should I start taking a fluroxotine to help me? Ive not told my GP that im doing this or my psychiatrist as they told me I was not to start lowering it, but Im going to tell them soon that im nearly off them.

Ive had withdrawal for past 2 weeks and getting worse, but i dont care I just want this poison out my body, what Im asking should I keep doing it this way and be off them in a month or go totally cold turkey and stop immediately?

This is no way a qualified response, Pammmy ...just a gut reaction from my own experiences.

I would strongly advise NOT going cold turkey with this stuff. Take it as gently as you possibly can and talk to your GP about what you're doing. If you don't trust them, talk to a different one ...it's worth ANY effort to get off this stuff, and somebody in the medical profession should have a better idea about handling a change-over to fluroxotine.

I tried going too fast with cutting down and felt total insanity wasn't far away, so I'm now stabilised on 2 x 35mg doses per day. It's not ideal, but I'm closer to normal and I realise it only takes a bit of patience to do it right.

Everybody's different, so you may think that patience is not the way for you - whatever you decide, good luck :-))

Thank you so much Rachel.

I hope this will help other people as well as help me sending this blog. I have been on Venflaxine for over six years 450 mgs. I eventually cut myself down to 300 then 225 then 150 for over the last six months.

On Feb 20 & 21 I forgot to take my Venflaxine, I thought this is great but on

day 3 what a disaster! Hyperventaliating, sweats, shakes, crying, suicidal thoughts, tremours, I was scared to be in a vehicle let alone drive. I cried for over 8 hours straight until I was completely exhausted!

day 4 little better, sweats, shakes, diahrea, nausea but no crying. Feels like the flu. Terrible vertigo. I didn't want to talk or walk because I was worried what people would think. I feel like I was drunk the whole day.

day 5 went out for lunch with friends but the shakes, nausea, sweats were pretty bad. Let me suggest hanging around people who you really trust and let them know what is going on. Still feel like being drunk the whole time. I went to Costco and had a panic attack. Just wanted to go home and sweat out the tremours and shakes.

day6 thank goodness I took the day off previously for medical appointments but the tremours, brain zaps, feeling like a have the flu is starting to get better (I suggest at least taking a week off work and have support when doing this)

day 7 still diahrea and nausea but the brain zaps are much better. I am very agitated and snap easily.

Day 8 you question yourself if you should go back on it but it's been a week. It has to get better. The sweats and the munchies, I feel like a big drug addict and really I am but it's prescription drugs not marijuana or coke. Everytime I get nausea I eat thinking that will make me feel better. I have probably gained five pounds. However, I am getting better. Just little light headed, diahrea and nausea. Mild case of vertigo

Day 9 Still agitated but in a good way. I told someone off today and felt a hugh weight lifted off my shoulders. I feel the pill just let me bottle everything up inside.

Still diahrea not so much nausea, little vertigo. I am working since day 7. You worry that you might say the wrong thing or your mind goes blank but write everything down. Breathe. Go for a walk and get fresh air. I still am eating all the time but healthy food. If I can do this really anyone can.

tomorrow will be a rough day (funderal tomorrow and last day at work) but I will let you know daily how things are going. Rachel's blogs gave me hope that I can do this, so in return I am hoping mine will as well.

I would suggest not going cold turkey as well. If you can take 37.5 and even less I would recommend that. Going from 150mgs to 0 has been a tought battle but I am hoping everyday will get better

I would also suggest not going cold turkey. The brain is delicate, but can re-adjust given time - gently. I have heard many negative stories about Venlafaxine, including it being described as a poison. Many substances that we put into our bodies are toxic, including food . My psychiatrist reassured me that Venlafaxine is not neurotoxic. Although I am not entirely convinced about that, as a clinician I know that being depressed is neurotoxic (i.e. certain brain cells die). The brain has plasticity and will sprout axons and look after us and there is no evidence that mental health drugs create tumours (cancerous or otherwise).

I have suffered from depression for most of my life (I'm 50 now) and until recently I had been on paroxetine for many years. I was feeling suicidal just before Christmas. My GP referred me to a psychiatric consultant who listened to my history and current problems (dark mood, lack of energy, weight gain etc.) for an hour and a half. He started me on this drug and I am feeling much better mentally, have more energy and have lost weight. There may be a time when I want to stop taking it if I go back to the dark place whilst on it, and that it will be difficult. But I will cross that bridge when, and if, it comes. Meanwhile I will keep taking it while it works and I think of it in terms of: if I were a diabetic and my brain was not instructing my adrenal gland to produce insulin, then I would need to be given insulin. As I said in my comment a few weeks ago, talking therapy (CBT, Psychodynamic, Person Centred) is helpful for depression. But please, all those fellow sufferers wanting to stop taking Venlafaxine, take it slow and make sure there is an alternative therapy. Best wishes to you all.

Day 10 little nausea or diarhea every fime tummy query the I would eat.? It feels like a mild case of vertigo. Little brain fog but no zaps. Funeral I cried and laughed just like everyone else night is worse, try not to do activity coming of ths

Day 13. Honestly I am feeling a lot better the last two days. Don't feel like I have Vertigo anymore but my emotions are more strengthened. I think the pills make you numb, so now when I am mad... I am mad.... If I am happy.... I am happy laughing. It's good to feel again is what I am trying to say.. It's day to day!

I did however gain 10 pounds because everytime I was nauseous I would eat.

Do not do this cold turkey!. I would recommend taking a week off when going off! NO DRIVING!!!! For 10 days it felt like a terrible, awful hangover. I know I will never go on this pill again.

It feels good to know I'm not alone in this. One week into going from 150 mg to 75 mg, I had no withdrawal symptoms, it seemed. Why not go all the way to zero? I did it, last saturday. Tough... really, really tough. I'm surviving, though. I will make it. Thank you all for sharing your pain.

I know it's tough manuel. I am so proud of you. I really noticed after day 14 how much better I feel. Once in awhile my left eye twitches but that might be from being tired but I laugh more, feel more, I am not a zombie anymore. I didn't know until now that it effected me so much. It was like turning the radio down so you can't have so many emotions. It's great to have the happy emotions but the sad ones are there to but you just need a good cry and let it all out. Tomorrow is a new day.

You are on day 5, it's tough but only nine more days you will feel back to normal, the symptoms start to improve after 11 days. you can do it

I have came off these horrible tabs so scary wish I never went on them I kept telling the docs they were not helping so they kept increasing them till I could not go any higher yes I was a zombie no emotions good or bad I am not getting cbt therapy and this has made me realise that you have to change the way you think and put things in a clear way you can change these thoughts yourself not easy to stat with but when my mother died suddenly and I knew then they were wrong as I could not greave for her this was Boxing Day last year and I was cut down then slowly to 75mg but decided to try and take control of my own life last week so I am on day 8 now it was he'll but I am taking St. John's wort and omega fish oil maybe you could try this it is helping me but if this is what it is like comming off then what damage has it done to our brain good luck everyone x

Thanks, carebearmeca! Nearly a week later I feel much, much better. I think I will at last be free of the stuff in a couple of more weeks. I hope you all sucess in your struggles.