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Withdrawal success!

Posted , 20 users are following.

Sparklewhizz
Sparklewhizz

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

104 Replies

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  • Hiness58
    Hiness58 Sparklewhizz

    Posted

     I am missing the good sleep patterns too.  Had the "school test" dream the other night!!!  YIKES!  Took a few days off and enjoyng getting some stuff done, even though I'm fightng the dragging feeling.  I haven't exercised in a few days so I need to get back to that.  I have taken some very small pieces of xanax when needed just to keep my panic at bay.  But we're doing this y'all!  Keep on going.  20+ days. 
    • KimPH
      KimPH Hiness58

      Posted

      Hey Hiness, oh no!  Not the school test dream!  LOL!! Any days off are a bonus!  Enjoy them! I wake up so tired that I want to call in sick every day.  I've been exercising and I can hardly do it because I'm so weak.

      I can't wait until the day comes when I can say I FEEL GOOD and I FEEL NORMAL!!!  I know it's coming....I know it is!!

      And so we plod on!!!

  • KVSF
    KVSF Sparklewhizz

    Posted

    I'm finding all of your comments so great, They are helping me keep my positive mindset even when I'm exhausted and cant seem to get my motivation. Thanks guys. Keep on keeping on indeed. We can do this and get strong again! 
    • KimPH
      KimPH KVSF

      Posted

      It's great that we found each other, as sappy as that sounds! LOL!!  Every new symptom I've gotten, I'm thinking, "is this a new withdrawal symptom or is something else going on?"  Then I see your posts and see that you're all having similar symptoms.

      I feel like if I go to the doctor's, they'll just suggest going back on a low dose.  NOT A CHANCE!!!

      Til later!!

       

    • cathy1949
      cathy1949 KimPH

      Posted

      I will never take any more of these drugs! 

      It is great that we have discovered each other. 

      It's like a secret society or a sorority! LOL!

      Just a special group of people looking for support.

    • KimPH
      KimPH cathy1949

      Posted

      And we need support!  Too bad it doesn't come from the medical community where it SHOULD come from!  No offense to anyone here...confused
  • Hiness58
    Hiness58 Sparklewhizz

    Posted

    I'm so overwhelmed this afternoon.  Even my poor dog is concerned.  One dog has had surgery and gone back and forth to the vet. a 30 minute drive each way.  Plus this was during the time that I just took off.  So they didn't wrap the thing right and we had to go back again this morning.  So I am trying to catch up on my work at home this afternoon and evening.  It's something that I ought to be able to handle, but every little thing the dogs do is driving me nuts.  THey are just trying to be good company.  WHY can't I just do my work.  WHY is this so overwhelming?  I want to feel normal so that everything is not such a struggle.  My chest hurts all the time and I know that it is just panic/stress related.  The hubby is out of town for the entire week.  I have nothing really to complain about so why is all this so hard?  I WANT MY MIND BACK!
    • cathy1949
      cathy1949 Hiness58

      Posted

      I can relate to your day. Looking forward to a new day. What is anyone doing for insomnia? I have not had areal sleep since I stopped the ven, now four weeks ago. 
    • KimPH
      KimPH Hiness58

      Posted

      I feel overwhelmed with every little thing too.  I felt the closest to normal today than I have in weeks.  Emotions are raw though.  I had a huge fight with my father over something so irrelevant and I feel like I would have dealt with it so much better if I wasn't in this state.  I hope your dog gets better soon!  Animals do have that way of sensing our pain.  Maybe a good long petting session is in order!  Hope tomorrow is a better day!
    • KimPH
      KimPH cathy1949

      Posted

      Cathy, I have been thinking about something to help with sleep too.  I'm exhausted but can't get to sleep.  It's really wearing me out!  I'm kind of adamant about not taking anything medicianl for it though...for good reason!  Maybe some melatonin or Tylenol PM?  We're 4 weeks into this...it HAS to stop soon!  Right....?
    • cathy1949
      cathy1949 KimPH

      Posted

      Tylenol pm works. Just the next day I feel worse. I did try melatonin for the past two nights. It worked better the first night. Yesterday the dizzies were back in full force but I felt decent....no anxiety or depression. Still dog tired. Today is a new day. Been up since 3. Feel like I need to sleep for a couple days. If only I could. Still I feel decent. A day without anxiety or depression is a day of celebration for me. I have taken some omega 3 too. Not sure if it is helping. Think I need to take more. 
    • cathy1949
      cathy1949 KimPH

      Posted

      Sure hope everyone is seeing some progress.
    • KimPH
      KimPH cathy1949

      Posted

      Hi Cathy, I'm so happy for you that you're feeling BETTER!!  Like you said, any day w/out anxiety or depression is a GREAT day!!  I haven't taken Tylenol PM for years and I don't remember if I had a hangover the next day.  I have taken clonazepam (prescribed for anxiety) for insomnia.  Works great, but the hangover was never with it.  I didn't have much luck with melatonin either.  I guess it's just a waiting game for sleep to get back to normal.

      I've been feeling the best I've felt in weeks over the last couple days.  I have a family "fight" going on, so that's been consuming me and making me feel emotional.  Today I'm moving on from the crazies in my family, both emotionally and physically, and that is making me feel better.

      Sounds like we're at the tail end here!!  I have a feeling that by this time next week, we will both be feeling pretty NORMAL!!!

    • cathy1949
      cathy1949 KimPH

      Posted

      Hi, Kim. WooHoo! To you too. Nothing like being able to say you feel the best you have in a long time. Yesterday was one of my best days. A good night's sleep is still elusive. The PM is definitely not the answer. The feeling the next day was worse tha a hangover. The melatonin seemed to work good for one night. I will still try using it for a couple more nights. Today I seem to have some of the dizzies back just not as bad. I have been taking multiple doses of omega3. Not sure if that might help that. I have read that is suppose to be the case. Looking forward to "normal" that is. Ignore the relatives. No one ever wins a family fight. 
    • KimPH
      KimPH cathy1949

      Posted

      Hi Cathy, you're so right about no one ever winning a family fight!  I talked to my dad last night and all is well!  I'm way too sensitive right now to deal with silliness!  I have read that the omega 3's work, so it sounds like we did the right thing by starting on them.  May you sleep the sleep of babies soon!!!  
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