Posted by gabmeister on July 5, 2006, at 8:23:52
In reply to Re: Please be civil » gabmeister, posted by cubic_me on July 4, 2006, at 10:17:30
Hi Cubic_me
I was so happy to hear from you! Thank god I didn't scare you off too much. I realized (unfortunately after I blew off at you) that you were trying to be a bright light in this mess.
By the way, about 12 years ago I was put on Prozac and what I displayed in my posting to you is what I became all the time. I don't know why my darling hubby didn't leave me. Poor guy would be watching t.v. and I would "snap" out of the blue and start screaming and yelling at the poor guy for no reason. Sweetness and light that he is he just put up with it. Worst part was, Prozac had a really bad effect... after being on it about a year, every day as I was driving home, when I hit a certain spot on the highway, in my "mind's eye" I could envision myself murdering him. Every time, he would be laying in bed, facing the bedroom door. I would walk around behind him and start stabbing him. All it took to get this "vision (?)" out of my mind was to shake my head. It started happening every couple of days, and then when it started happening every day, I got off Prozac so FAST. Strangely I had no withdrawal from Prozac. Doc tells me it's 'cause it leaves your body so slowly, your body has time to adjust. Also told me that in many people, Prozac may not be the answer because it tends to bring out the "stronger side" of your personality. Yet very close friend of 46 years was diagnosed as manic-depressive (bi-polar) in her early 20's. Drug after drug (including Lithium [bad news stuff]) and nothing helped. Five years ago she was put on Prozac for one year. Was taken off it, no withdrawl, and she's been great every since. Proves different drugs work differently for different people.
I was also on Paxil for about a year. Turned into a walking zombie and gained 40 pounds. I asked to be taken off that because it too was no good for me. Came off, no withdrawl. Again, doc explained this drug too leaves your body very slowly and your body adjusts according.
I've heard from doc and psycho-doc that one problem with Effexor is that it does pass through the body quickly and your body cannot adjust to the addiction / withdrawl cycle fast enough.
I've been on a relatively high doseage for about 4 years and boy oh boy, I can attest that this stuff is truly addictive to the body. First time I was on it several years ago, was on 150/day and forgot to take it two days. Vomitting, migraine to kill, muscle aches, the shakes, "brain shivers" dizziness. I had to take a couple of days off work. When I went back spoke with the boss (who was very understanding). I explained what happened and my exact words were "I developed a new respect for people going cold turkey from heroin". When I was finally taken off the Effexor, this experience made me realize I needed to do so very slowly. Took me about 3-4 months. Even at the end I was taking 1/4 of a 37.5 pill every 3-4 days. Even then the weird eye movement-dizziness would happen. That was the last withdrawl symptom and I finally had to just plain "work through it". I felt so free when I finally got to taking nothing. Unfortunately, Mr. Depression reared his ugly little head again and back to the Effexor after having struggled so hard to get off. This time been on it for about 4 years. Spoke to both docs and I feel I'm ready to get off again. Why? Because I want to FEEL again. Strange as that sounds.
Anyhow, cubic_me, glad you're a woman. During this time I also hit menopause (have passed through that and no periods for the last 2 1/2 yrs). That period of time didn't help matters either. I just refused any hormonal replacement for hot flashes and nite sweats 'cause messing with hormones scares me and when these homorne replacement therapies came out I didn't approve (for ethical reasons) of the way they were made. My understanding is now there are "artificial" hormones.
Know what scares me? Another good friend of 35 yrs used to blast me for taking these psycho drugs. Funny thing was she said she didn't understand what I had to be depressed about. Every try explaining depression to someone who's never lived there? Sometimes I think "outsiders" think depression is like what we went through in our younger years when we "broke up with a boyfriend". She also often said I was the most "together" person she's ever known. I tried explaining many times it's beyond our control. I finally gave up and we just don't go there any more.
Strangely, she's going through menopause and started taking HRT and her side effects were bad. Palpitations, migraines, and breast cancer in her family (mother, aunt, sister, grandmother). She went off the HRT but couldn't deal with the hot flashes and night sweats. Back to her doc she went. Guess what doc put her on? Effexor! Apparently it is now being prescribed specifically for hot flashes and night sweats. It supposedly controls the part of your brain that regulates your core temperature.
She doesn't believe me when I describe how bad the withdrawal. She just doesn't believe it.
And before anyone else thinks it, or says it, yeah, yeah. I also don't understand how the two of us can be best friends. But we are. Life is strange. At least we're honest with each other.
I am glad the drug is helping her through the menopause symptoms and I pray that when she goes off she is lucky enough to avoid what we're trapped in right now.
Anyhow, Effexor. Good drug / bad drug. I will never deny that it helped me when I needed help. But right now, Mr. Effexor is no longer my friend. But I know from previous experience the light at the end of the tunnel is near.
I know I'm repeating myself, but anyone reading this (if I haven't bored you to death by now) take my advice when I say it's addictive; you need to wean slowly no matter how long that takes. If you've been on it for months or years, in the greater scheme of things, what's another few months if it helps you avoid the nasty withdrawal effects.
There was a posting from someone else who said they had dropped their dosage and were down to 37.5. Then they went from 37.5 to nothing. Please, that's too fast. Everytime you feel comfortable at a doseage, drop it in half until you feel comfortable again (I went down 1/4 of a pill at a time). Your body needs help from you to adjust.
Cubic_me, thank you for your foregiveness. I'm glad to see you here. Take care.
My prayers for all of you.
This too shall pass. There is happiness ahead for us.
poster:gabmeister
thread:653930
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060627/msgs/664140.html