Posted by NZgirl on December 6, 2005, at 3:56:33
In reply to effexor withdrawal to wellbutrin withdrawal, posted by sassie on December 4, 2005, at 23:41:18
Yes, to say that I am angry is an understatement - FURIOUS and LIVID gets closer to it. I had a meeting with my doctors about a week ago and took in a copy of the 4 week reduction schedule I followed (which yes I agree it was probaably a little too fast but the side effects of continuing to take it were just as bad - I needed to get off it asap).
When I showed them the schedule they looked at me like I had 2 heads and expressed their extreme surprise that I had been forced to do this. Apparently my reaction and experience to taking and coming off the drug are "completely unexpected and ABNORMAL". I looked at them and said "You should try going to google and typing the words "effexor withdrawal" and you will see thousands of people all around the world going through the same horrific experience"... more blank stares. They are so useless it makes me sick.
For the record I am now 12 days since the last 3mg dose and I'm still getting headahces, nausea and tiredness, but thankfully the horrible out of control sobbing attacks have stopped - If I hadnt read someone elses post on another board explaining that this is a common reaction when coming off the drug, I would seriously have thought I was losing my mind.
hang in there everyone - it really does get better. Make the most of your close friends and family, use their help and support - show them posts like this so they can get some understanding of what you are going through (they can never FULLY get it, but it will help)
To answer your qeustion, yes, I think your reduction is too quick - most of the sites I've visited suggest anywhere from 5 - 15% max at a time. Everyone one is differnt, try a smaller reduction for a few weeks and see how you feel before attempting another. I have also heard stories of some peoplw who manage to reduce in 37.5 gm increments before stopping completely - god knows how - that wouldnt work for me at all. Good luck
> thanks for the replies! it makes me feel so much better to know that my symptoms are normal. my doctors make me so angry- they didn't even really believe me when i told them what i was feeling.
> im definitely starting to feel better- my emotions are more under control, im less depressed, and the dizzy spells are almost gone.
> now i just have to get off of my wellbutrin. my doctor dropped my dose from 150mg xl (the all day version) to 100mg sr( only 12 hour). so far i feel ok but its only the first day. any idea if this is too fast? a few weeks ago my doc dropped me from 300mg xl to 150mg xl and i barely got out of bed for 3 days. so hopefully that won't happen again ... thanks again for the help!
poster:NZgirl
thread:584314
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20051018/msgs/585998.html