Posted by mawillia on February 27, 2005, at 22:32:57
I warn you all that this is long but I feel strongly that I need to tell my story. I would appreciate all of your feed back.
I am so glad that I found this message board. I was prescribed Effexor XR eight weeks postpartum after delivering my second baby last February. My midwife practice said that it was completely safe to breastfeed with-I totally disagreed. I never did-I weaned my baby before starting Effexor XR. I am so angry at my midwives because all them encouraged me while pregnant that I could give birth with out medicine;(which I did!) yet they were quick to prescribe antidepressants thinking that I was experiencing “postpartum depression”(which I don’t think I had I was just severely sleep deprived and just needed most was reassurance.) I decided that I wanted to get off Effexor after watching afternoon talk show one afternoon-a young teenager who was taking 300 mg of..guess what(Effexor XR!) pulled a gun on his classmates at school. He didn’t remember doing it at all. That was my wake up call that I HAD to get off this medicine. I stopped taking Effexor and after three days I HAD to refill my prescription. It was only then that I started researching withdrawal symptoms. My midwife never mentioned any symptoms she made it sound so easy to start taking and stop using. I went to my family doctor and didn’t get much help from him the first time. He said that antidepressants are more beneficial than antibiotics! He quizzed me on why I wanted to stop taking them and suggested that I wait till spring when the days are longer and we have more sunny days (I live in the Pacific Northwest where winters are dreary, cloudy and wet.) So I stayed on Effexor XR for a bit longer. Early December I was not feeling well, I had no energy, my knee was bothering me. I went to see my chiropractor who also works with diet and prescribes vitamin supplements. I explained how I was feeling and I thought maybe my thyroid not working. I mentioned that I was on a antidepressant and I wanted to get off it. He told me to discuss how to get off the Effexor with my midwife. He said that it is not uncommon after delivering a baby that you have symptoms of depression and that MD doctors and in my case midwife prescribe an antidepressants when more likely your adrenal gland is not functioning properly. After supporting a mothers' body and as well as a developing fetus it is a shock to your system to go from supporting two individuals to just one. So most likely all the symptoms that I was experiencing 8 weeks postpartum were the result of my adrenal gland not properly working and combined with lack of sleep. The way my chiropractor explained to me your adrenal gland regulates estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Your adrenal gland also assists in how you react and respond to stress “The fight or flight.” I found the later to be really interesting!! Well, my chiropractor is supporting me while I am in the process of getting off my antidepressants. I am taking a multi-vitamin and Omega fish oil four times a day (as prescribed by my chiropractor.) I first called my midwife and told her that I wanted to get off them how to I do it? At first I was on 37.5 mg for a week then 75 mg for the past 9 months. Midwife office suggested take 75 mg every other day for a week, then second week take 75 mg. tablet every second day then following week take 75 mg tablet every third day, then the following week take 75 mg. tablet every 4th day. Continue until I till I no longer needed Effexor. For two weeks I took 75 mg. tablet every other day. I did okay-not great. Third week I started taking 75 mg every two days. Wow!! I felt like sh*t! I called the midwife on call (early afternoon) and asked why was I feeling this way? I complained and said no one ever informed me or warned me BEFORE I stared taking this medicine. Well, after I told her that she said that I am different than most people because not every one is as “sensitive” to Effexor XR as I am. I took a pill and spent the rest of the afternoon in bed. The following week I went BACK to my family doctor. Boy, was that an interesting visit. I didn’t even bother telling him that I am also seeing a chiropractor. He suggested that I stay on the Effexor. He did say that when getting off the Effexor that it is better to take it everyday. With that said he gave me a sample pack of 37.5 mg for a week and said that after a week that I would be fine. He said that after 24 hours that the drug is out of your system. With that “great” advice he sent me on my way…that was three weeks ago. I took my last 37.5 mg dose Friday, February 11th.Saturday & Sunday I was feeling pretty positive about not having withdrawal symptoms. It wasn’t until the following Monday, February 14th that I really started feeling crappy. Feeling “spacey” like I need to take a nap or eat something (low blood sugar feeling). Neither helps!
I am losing my temper more easily, crying at the drop of a hat. I was having…it’s hard to find the right words or adjectives to describe... “sparks” or “impulses” the latter seems better when taking Omega Fish Oil. I have not experienced anything re: my stomach or feeling nauseated. I have an appetite. I have noticed that I have gained a few pounds. I have absolutely no sex drive at all. I am going on two weeks since taking my last pill-37.5 mg. This is pure HELL. I wish I would have NEVER started taking Effexor XR. I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 1 year old. I can't be feeling like this and taking care of my children. Right after I started noticing I was feeling icky I didn't feel comfortable driving. As of right now, Sunday February 27- I still feel spacey, dizzy, I feel like I am in slow motion..."recovering from a hang over" without drinking and at time feeling “completely overwhelmed" some days just doing the laundry is a huge accomplishment.
How long will the feeling of “spacey” last? When will I feel “normal” again. It has to be getting better. I don’t want to start taking it again. Do I need to find a psychiatrist to help me in the weaning process? I am not getting any help from my midwife or my “Everyone in the world should be on an antidepressant” Doctor. My chiropractor is helpful but not when it comes to dealing with antidepressants. Any suggestions would be great! I apologize for this being so long but I wanted to share my story. © Mary E. Williams 2005
Mary
poster:mawillia
thread:464248
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050214/msgs/464248.html