Withdrawal success!
Posted , 20 users are following.
I'd been on Venlafaxine for 2.5 years and came to the conclusion with my GP that I was only on it now as the withdrawal symptoms of even missing a dose meant I was staying on them. I came down to 75mg twice a week over a year and three weeks ago I was ready to come off them. I had read a lot if information on forums and I was pretty scared and apprehensive.
i did have brain zaps for 5 days and bad vertigo for about two weeks. I had insomnia and I was very tearful over the slightest thing. I was unable to drive for two weeks.
I took travel sickness tablets when I needed them and they really did help - despite what the pharmacist said!! I also started taking fish oil and vitamin B, again , seemed to really help.
its three weeks today since I took m y last tablet. I feel wonderful. For the first time in 2.5 years I feel like I am seeing things though my own eyes. I smile a lot more and I really appreciate everything in my life. I look forward to things and I enjoy the company of friends and family.
i still get the odd bit of vertigo, maybe a few seconds every few days and I still have some insomnia. Others than that, I'm off it and so very relieved I am. When I went on Venlafaxine, my GP didn't tell me how awful it could be coming off it.
good look to everyone coming off it. Put your mind to it and you will do it. Just allow yourself time off work and be prepared to be housebound for a while.
5 likes, 104 replies
Hiness58 Sparklewhizz
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KimPH Hiness58
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I'm so happy we've all connected too! It seems something new pops up every day and I don't want to be the hypocondriac running to the doc's office every other day with the latest, not so greatest ailment!
Hiness58 Sparklewhizz
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KimPH Hiness58
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Suppose I should get some work done here. Tomorrows another day and we'll see what progress a new day brings!
KimPH Sparklewhizz
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This Wednesday, August 20, 2014, will be 4 weeks off. STILL waiting to feel better!!! And I'm getting more and more annoyed as I go. I feel like I'm heading in to a depression and THAT'S REALLY making me angry!!! I have nothing to be depressed about...just feeling lousy from these withdrawals.
KVSF KimPH
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I've been really up and down. I cant sleep (which is really unusual for me) any little noise wakes me up. I have been wearing ear plugs but even that doesn't make a difference. I am still getting the brain shivers, slight itching and some brain electic shocks but they are much, much milder and much more sporadic than before. I still have the sweating and RIDICULOUS mood swings but I have been meditating everyday and trying to cycle or run everyday too and have found this really beneficial to controlling my mood swings. I have been eating LOADS though. Way more than I usually do. I agree that it is the withdrawals making us angry and depressed ratehr than us being angry and depressed. Hold on in there. It does get better! I am feeling joy and happiness again now too, so trying to focus on those emotions when they are present :-)
KimPH KVSF
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Happy to hear you're feeling some pleasant feelings!! You are well on your way! What a drag this trip is! I had a brief moment of insanity this morning where I thought, maybe I can just go back on and stay at the low does of 37.5 mg. NO WAY, but I really had to talk myself out of that thought process!!
I'm having trouble sleeping too and that's not my norm either. I'd say I'm getting a good night's sleep 3 - 4 times a week. And I need my sleep or I'm completely useless!!
So, meditation is working for you, that's great to know! It's always said that exercise is good for depression. I'm in a 6 week fitness/diet program, so I'm doing circuit training and cardio 3 times a week. A 1,300 calorie a day diet is also part of this program and that's making me crazy. It's a very specific diet so I have to prepare and shop and eat at certain times. I feel like I would deal with that better if it weren't for this withdrawal too. I have NO patience left for the diet.
Here's to forward progress for us all!! And thanks so much for sharing your journey. I seriously have days where I feel like I'm dying and I have remind myself it's these stupid withdrawals!!
cathy1949 KimPH
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KimPH cathy1949
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I think that's one thing we all have is the determination to stay the course off this stuff and get stronger, regardless of how long it takes. It's been a loooooong road!! Every day I think today's the day I won't feel any w/d symptoms and I haven't had that day yet!
We CAN do this!! I would seriously hate for the damn pharma companies to win over us!
Keep on keepin' on!!
cathy1949 KimPH
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KimPH cathy1949
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Did any of your practitioners suggest you NOT go off it? Mine did. I asked for several years to go off it. She wouldn't allow it. Like it's her decision! I found a new pracitioner.
cathy1949 KimPH
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KimPH cathy1949
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It seems like the prescribers are getting paid to keep us on them. I want to dig and find out if that's true. Where to start?
Hiness58 KimPH
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cathy1949 KimPH
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How would one go about finding out if docs get "commissions"? There is palace on line to register complaints regarding drugs. Not sure what it is but I came across once. And I have come across the lawsuit regarding birth defects. Also, CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy is suppose to really help. There are a couple well known programs out there. Thinking differently is exactly what we need. It takes time and P docs don't want to deal with time consuming things. Their job is to dispense drugs.
KimPH Hiness58
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Today is the first day I've felt almost "normal" again! Very little dizziness and I have more energy. Woohoo!! Maybe the 4 week mark is the start of the end!!
KimPH cathy1949
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Not sure if anyone has looked into The Road Back. It's a program specifically for those withdrawing from psychiatric drugs. I'm still thinking about ordering a couple of their supplements.
If anyone knows how to see if there is a class action about these withdrawals or thinks we should research it and perhaps start one, I'm all in!!!
cathy1949 KimPH
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cathy1949 KimPH
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KimPH cathy1949
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KimPH cathy1949
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jaye76671 KimPH
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