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Off Effexor

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Hi Ka-9

Ive been totally off for 4 weeks now. I still have brain zaps but ALOT less I am very emo...
awesome Hogan, gives me more energy hearing that. I just realized I was reaching every day for that bottle like it was O2... that without forever effexor I would die. Maybe I need it, likely not, or a better medication, but it's insane not to try and determine the fact.
 
awesome Hogan, gives me more energy hearing that. I just realized I was reaching every day for that bot...
Ka-9

I was wanting to take a "bit" tried and suffered. I quit smoking 16 yrs ago so I feel its like that yet way worse.way worse .
Today I went swimming in lake huron jumped off a dock and actually had fun.
And.....Friday
got gas at costco without a meltdown, (biiiig deal)my wife was very proud. So be tough k.
Enjoy The Hip if you are watching.
 
I know going off these meds can be so difficult. Glad to hear those that are getting through the steps. My pharmacist gave me his cell phone number a previous time I discontinued anti depressant and said that he did not know how I did it without help and there are things you can do to help. So if it is really difficult and you have a regular pharmacist, they may be able to help as well.

I have stopped and then gone back on again. I seem to get to a point where I crave the "happy pill" although another part of me does not believe that they do much for my mood, but its more of a crutch for me.

I don't usually ask my dr about side effects or long term use, but early on I did ask about anti depressant use and they all said they were so effective and no discontinuation problems-we know so much more now. I just wish they would say they don't actually know when they don't. I have always had a fear of meds, probably of loss of control. My fear has actually been one reason that I took xanax. There is a lot of articles these days about the effectiveness of anti depressants and the possible consequences of long term use, which is a topic for another thread. This makes me more cautious than ever and even a bit fearful since I have had some long term use.
 
Just for the future files of anyone else who finds themselves here,

After shaving my meds from 112.5 to 75 over a month, Its been 12 days since I've cut my effexor to current 30'ish max mgs, and minding some tension, anxiety, and headaches, it's been bearable and I seem to feel better overall getting of this stuff. I'll stay here for another week I think- and definitely not rush it.

at the end I'll literally go to smaller amounts of "beads" until it's fully off/ and see how I am.

It should be noted, that I was deteriorating more from apathy, lethargy and dysphoria, than panic, anxiety or other such effects, and prefer those to be brutally honest- realizing that's not the case for all.
 
Appreciate the update, @Ka-9.

For what it's worth - and I think this is only relevant to anyone who has been identified as a treatment resistant 'rapid metabolizer' - I was on 375mg effexor for quite awhile. Once my psych and I were pretty sure it had stopped being effective for me, we took it down to 300, and I literally didn't notice. Over the last 2 weeks, I've gone down to 225, and I may have had a few headaches, but that's been it. I'm agitated from going back to trauma processing in therapy, but haven't had any of the typical discontinuation syndrome effects. I was the same with coming off cymbalta, which is also a little notorious.

I'm curious to see if I end up with any side effects at all. I guess....treatment-resistant for the win? :facepalm::meh: Wish I could find something that worked and kept working.
 
Appreciate the update, @Ka-9.

For what it's worth - and I think this is only rel...

375mg....jeez I might have a harder time off that..but yeah, apparently I'm not so bad off either.

I agree - I wish I could know ahead of time what medications would best suit me, and actully produce an effective improvement. But off them, at least I'll know my real situation again, and can then at least make an educated plan.
 
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