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

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  • Posted

    OH THANK GOD!!!  I've had hot flashes here and there before.  BUT I SWEAR you could cook an egg on my body!  Wouldn't even DARE think about cuddling with the hubby!  We might have a nuclear reaction!  LOL! Thank you, it's good to know and talk to those of us who are currently experiencing all of this!
    • Posted

      A nuclear reaction!  HAHAHAHA!!!  I'm always cold so these hot flashes are a whole new thing.  My older sisters have hot flashes years after menopause so I'm thinking this is practice in advance!

      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!

       

  • Posted

    Alright KimPh, I went and counted and I think it's been 20 days since my last pill.  One of those last days I did the open the capsule and take 1/2 the little balls!  But I know it's been at least 19 days for sure.  Seems like an ETERNITY!
    • Posted

      Ah, so we're right about the same amount of time off.  I never thought to empty the balls out to lower the dose!  Brilliant!  I never really tapered.  I went from 75mg to 37.5 mg to nothing.  Doesn't sound like I would have done much better with more tapering though based on ya'll.

      Suppose I should get some work done here.  Tomorrows another day and we'll see what progress a new day brings!

  • Posted

    Just checking in.  How are you all doing?  Seems as though weakness and exhaustion are the new thing for me this past week.  The dizziness is back full force too.  

    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.  

    • Posted

      Hey KimPH, 

      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 :-) 

    • Posted

      Hi KVSF,

      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!!

       

    • Posted

      Kim, I feel like your mirror image. My last dose was four weeks ago yesterday. On and off weakness and exhaustion have been with me since. The dizziness returns every few days. I have to keep telling myself it is not depression rearing it's ugly head. Feeling angry is good. Makes you want to fight back. Oh, insomnia is areal pain. Had some nights when I got up at midnight. The last few nights I have slept close to six hours. I am getting acupuncture treatments, practicing yoga, going to the gym and walking outside. I am also recovering from a broken ankle so I cannot walk too far. After reading your posts I feel more determined to fight this and more convinced that this medicine I call rat poison is the cause and not the return of depression. Good luck to you and all the others going through this. 
    • Posted

      Hi Cathy, I'm thinking some animal activisit group would rally against giving this horrible stuff to rats!!  Seriously, this stuff is so horrible it shouldn't even be given to rats!

      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!!

       

    • Posted

      I know, I know! I feel exactly as you do. Tomorrow is another day and we will get better. Funny thing, doctor doesn't think these symptoms are from effexor withdrawal. Doesn't think they would last this long. Ha! My husband believes it!  I wish I had the energy to battle Big Pharma! 
    • Posted

      I am not surprised your doc thinks it's something else.  But WHAT if not withdrawals?  I've been feeling like the medical community has no clue what to do with us in this withdrawal state.  Scary to think how many people are on this med and no one has even come up with anything to treat these symptoms.  I'd be right beside you Cathy to battle Big Pharma!  The bastards!!

      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.

    • Posted

      Oh, one of the doctors told me I would have to stay on it for life. How absurd is that? All my labs come back fine. My heart is great. My blood pressure is lower since stopping the drug. The docs have no idea because the drug companies only tell them how great the drug is. Then they go invent another big money maker to switch to. And advertise it as the next great feel good poison. All I know is how many hundreds of people have written in various forums with all the same complaints and more. The docs don't read these things so how would they know. I am sure the docs think we are nuts anyway. How we'll do they really know most of their patients?
    • Posted

      Really, a doc actually told you that?  I can guarantee you that not one person who has been prescribed these meds has been informed of the withdrawals. I know I wasn't.  And I asked for the last 2 or 3 years to come off.  I had to switch providers to get off them.  Like I said before, the docs don't have a clue how to deal with us OFF the drugs!  And the FDA has approved them.  Oh man, I could go on such a rant here!!  I'll save it...

      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?

       

    • Posted

      In doing some research, there is a class action lawsuit that these drugs are causing birth defects.  SO they will probablly find another drug.  I was really glad the doctor that went to about getting off of this drug, was very proactive.  He reminded me that some of the things I've been through this year will make me sad and that's okay.  He suggested Cognitve Therapy. Basically learning to think differently!  Probably an AGE OLD solution!  IMAGINE THAT!
    • Posted

      Yes,a psychiatrist. And he never mentioned what might happen if I tried to get off. He wanted no part in helping get off. So I read a book by a dr. Glenmullen and kind of followed his suggestions as well as info I found on other web sites. Basically counting the beads in the effexor Xr capsules. 

      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.

    • Posted

      You know, last night and today I've been rolling around in my head about how to start a class action lawsuit.  I think it is warranted for all of us who had no idea that we would have to be on this stuff lifelong or suffer these withdrawals.  Cathy1949, as you said, the psychiatrist you worked with never mentioned the withdrawals and didn't seem to want to help you withdraw safely.  What is wrong with this whole thing?  It's madness!

      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!!

    • Posted

      Hi Cathy, yes good old cognitive therapy!  Therapists get paid to listen to us and help us work through our psyche.  Yup, the P docs just prescribe....the end....

      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!!!

    • Posted

      I have looked at the Road Back. I got a bit overwhelmed with the supplements. Maybe I will look at it again.
    • Posted

      So glad you have had a good day, Kim. I love those days and try to cram as much as I can in them. Yesterday I had the dizzies and today I felt totally exhausted. It's hard to believe someone has not already started a class actio lawsuit. Would think lawyers would be all over it. My guess is that most of what happens to people is not visible like birth defects. 
    • Posted

      Yeah, it's a bit of a pain to figure out which ones to get.  I narrowed it down to the Neuro Endure Mini and the JNK Capsules.  I started taking fish oil a couple days ago.  Not sure if it's really helped but it's only been a couple days.
    • Posted

      Thanks Cathy!  I wonder what it would take to create a class action?  I'm going to try to find time to look into it.  I honestly think it's worth.  We're just a few people going through this.  There have got to be MANY more out there!  
    • Posted

      Im 4mths into withdrawls n thats enough to make you depressed with al the different symptoms that are coming n goin making you think your loosen ur mind..keep strong..i find reading these kinda helps me keep goin..got stop questionin myself tho..

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