no rest for the weary
05.31.04 (10:36 am) [edit]
This is my fourth day off the good old FXR. I had a really bad night last night--exhausted but couldn't sleep well, tossing and turning, crying crazily over tiny things (like a moth that flew into our bedroom!?!). My husband handled the whole thing in a truly saintly fashion--he tried to chase out the moth, made me tea, gently reminded me several times that it was the withdrawal effects, not me, and was generally comforting and awesome.
Anyway, the tea really helped me go to sleep--it was tilo tea, also known as linden tea. (http://store.cubanfoodguy.com...)
This morning I'm feeling better--still really tired, but not as dizzy.
Anyway, the tea really helped me go to sleep--it was tilo tea, also known as linden tea. (http://store.cubanfoodguy.com...)
This morning I'm feeling better--still really tired, but not as dizzy.
posted by: myhair hurts (reply)
post date: 05.31.04 (1:57 pm)
I have been on effexor since 2/03 and have gone through the weaning off regimen of 75mg for 1 week and then down to 37.5 until my last pill on Friday the 28th. I was on a dosage of 150mg per day. In order to celebrate i went out Sat. night and had a couple of martinis. DON'T DO THIS!!! After confessing WAY TOO MUCH, the hangover which i usually don't get was of biblical proportions. The brainzaps are real as well as the neck aches, the numbness in my arms and legs, the alternative cramping, the dropping of every item i hold, the heart flutters, the indigestion and the companion burping and farting that goes along with it. And that's just the PHYSICAL w/d effects!! The irritability, "dreams", fatigue and overall sense of doom are almost intolerable. This blog is probably the most unfortunate side effect of effexor withdrawl so let's make it work for us. The main reason obviously for all of us to take this drug was to get a better handle on our anxiety and depression so that we can psychologically deal and conquer the physical ramifications. Hopefully the decision we've all made to stop taking this drug is because we feel better about how we handle our lives so much so that we would rather give it a go unmedicated. Now that i see how many of us are suffering these withdrawals, I want to tough it out and hope that these sympyoms subside more each new day. I have found that the brain zaps are triggered by my eye movement so I try to stare straight ahead. Needless to say this is pretty stupid but I am not going to let this get the best of me which I have fought my demons and chemistry for so long to actually get to this point. I KNOW THIS SUCKS BUT WE MUST SHOW TO OURSELVES WHO'S BOSS!!! It's not our doctors or our withdrawal side effects, but our hearts, souls and minds to finish the job we started when we wanted to improve our lives. We are in the homestretch people and don't let the bastard win. I am DEFINITELY phoning my doctor tomorrow to tell her that my hair hurts and that I don't want the prozac she suggested to get me through this....mostly because i feel it's one problem replacing another...I thank all of you for taking care of yourselves and for being responsible to yourself as well as to the rest of us to share your experiences.
posted by: brainzaps (reply)
post date: 05.31.04 (5:21 pm)
Reply to: myhairhurts
tell it like it is, myhairhurts!! :)
thanks for posting...i hope you feel better. i have been wary of drinking since my last dosage--i feel crappy already, and i feel like alcohol will make things worse.
i and others who have commented feel that going from 37.5 to 0 is too much too soon--would you consider going back up to 37.5 and removing a couple of beads a day from your capsule until you're down to no or very few beads? that might make the transition easier. i just went from abt half of 37.5 to 0 and i'm still having brainzaps and stuff.
good luck, thanks for visiting, take care of yourself! come back!