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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lolabus on August 12, 2004, at 14:02:15
I just want to let everyone know that I've been through hell, but the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to emerge. It's getting better. To make a long story short, I went from 300mgs to 150 to 75 to 35.4 over about 4 weeks. I took my last one last Wednesday (Today is Thursday). The past week has been one of the worst I've ever had. I have been through my own personal hell, and I never thought that it was going to end. It hasn't ended, but MAN is it better. There was a point there, where I honestly thought I was going to die. The brain zaps alone were enough to send me into a downward spiral. The brain zaps are all but gone now. I've had about 2-3 over the past couple of days. I have a couple of things that I think helped me with some of the symptoms. Kava Kava. I'm taking it cause of a post I saw saying that it helped. Honestly, I don't know if it is, but I also don't know if it isn't. If you don't have liver problems (see the label on the bottle)take it. It might help. The other things that I'm giving a ton of credit to, because I had the most upset stomach I've ever had, are Gingerale, Bitters and Ginger Root. I've been sucking down gingerale and bitters for 3 or four days now, and although it's still queasy, my stomach isn't nearly as upset as it was. I also found these Altoid Ginger mints, and they're really helping. If you like ginger, try it. It can't hurt you.
The last thing that's made this trip (which is pretty much what it's been. One god awful trip) dealable, is my husband. Do what you can to get a good support system around you before you do this. My mom and husband have held my hand through this whole thing. The mass hysterical crying, the nasty tirades, the soaks in the tub (OH try that too - Epsom salts, they help), the not being able to sleep. All of it. I beg you, don't do this without support. You need to have someone who can reassure you that you're not loosing your mind, and that you WON'T feel like this forever.
I'm not out of the woods yet, but I wouldn't have said that two days ago. I know I'm not going to die, and I know that I'm not going to be stuck in my hell tunnel for much longer. Stick with it. DON'T give in to taking more meds to make it easier. You're going to go through this one way or the other. You're just delaying the inevitable by taking more crap. This is going to be one of the hardest things you've ever done, and you're going to think that it will never end. Sorry, don't mean to scare you, but it's true. All I can say to you is YES, I promise, for what it's worth, it will get better.
Tell yourself that you're doing the right thing, and that you're taking control. Even though your body feels like it's falling apart, it's getting rid of this crap that's been controlling you for however long. Now you know how awful it really is.
Be strong and Good luck. If I can make it through this, know that anyone can!!!!
Posted by questions on August 13, 2004, at 13:57:40
In reply to Effexor Withdrawals: It's getting Better!!!, posted by lolabus on August 12, 2004, at 14:02:15
I would be very interested in hearing more updates from you. My Fiancee' has been off Effexor for about a month. She definetly got better, however now she becomes very agitated and depressed and angry at night, but fine the rest of the day.
If you happen to feel more agitated at night for some reason, just a heads up that this is exactly what my fiancee' is going through. She is 100% better every other part of the day, but she is useless and hysterical at night. I don't know if this is withdrawals still, or just a real condition peaking it's head out.
An example of this is, we are having a great day, we stop by my families house for dinner. We had to take seperate cars because of where we were coming from, and she ended up going back home first. I call her 20 mintues later to tell her I am on my way, and she begins yelling at me that I will just end up staying another hour and that I don't want to be with her anyways and that I don't care about her. This comes out of nowhere. Then I come home, do the dishes, and wipe off the counter, but leave the counter a little too wet. Next thing I know, she is jumping up and down and trembling with anger saying she can't stand to live with someone who doesn't wipe off counters the right way and likes to live like a slob, even though I have just spent the last hour and a half cleaning up. She manages to find soemthing to criticize me for. One little thing, and she turns it into soemthing huge.
So just a heads up if you find that at certain times of the day, you get very angry at people or find yourself very frustrated with those around you, this might be another effect. I am not sure what to think yet.
Posted by lolabus on August 25, 2004, at 18:05:36
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawals: It's getting Better!!!, posted by questions on August 13, 2004, at 13:57:40
Thank you for your comments!
I too have been battling w/ irritability. I find it mostly to be a problem at work. I'm naturally on a power trip anyway, but when things don't go my way now, it takes everything in me not to throw a temper tantrum. I have found that I have to recognize it to do anything about it. I've gotten better about recognizing it though, so at least I'm making progress there.Every day is getting better. I have had a couple of days that I'm really dizzy and get some brain zaps, but for the most part, things are progressing nicely. I'm still terrified that I'm not going to like the new, un-medicated me, but more so than me, my boss. I'm totally afraid that I'm not going to be the person who I was when I was hired, so that's constantly haunting me in the back of my head.
You sound like you understand what your Fiancé is going through, and to me, that's been the most important thing. My husband has been my rock, and I know I couldn't have done this with out him.
Good luck, and keep me posted on your success!
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