Off Effexor

[hogananjiggs]

So Ive been off now fo 3 weeks. Afternoons are not good, but my question is I have such graphic nightmares, my wife has to bring me down. Any suggestions that are not drug taking. I dont ever want the withdrawal again it was hell.

 

[Bloomy]

The thing that helped me get rid of nightmares was to stop fleeing from them
Instead wake up in the morning realise first that Im safe. Then take the time to remember the dreams and to analyse them.
Was actually some kind of psycho drama thing to do that.
By analysing Ive found a lot of dreams been about my childhood nighmares.

An ex of analysing - a house usually represent the self. Water in any form represent feelings. Dreams about a house overflooded can then be that the person whom dreams feels it self overflooded by feelings.

Hope youll work it out - all the best.

 

[XXbabydollXX]

When I have flashbacks I try to watch asmr videos. Sending love your way.

 

[joeylittle]

Give it another few weeks, it still may improve. Effexor is a heavy drug, and your body has a lot to adjust to (as you already have been experiencing). For temporary help with sleep, you might try something non-addictive like diphenhydramine (benadryl) or melatonin - there are time-release melatonin capsules that help one stay in a more steady sleep.

Having a good, relaxing sleep hygiene routine can make a big difference, including some guided meditation before bed. Calming rituals.

Ultimately, you are trying to achieve a combination of two things:

• Setting your mind up with as much visualized calm as possible (even with the little they know about dreams, the general idea is that it's where the mental backlog comes out to play - so, you can try and manage that mental backlog to help it be less stress- and trauma- ridden).
• Having a solid sleep. You want to make sure you are getting into the deeper stages of REM sleep, and that you are staying there for as long as the sleep cycle dictates. Everyone (as far as they know) dreams, but how you come out of your sleep cycle will relate to whether or not you remember what you dreamed. If your nightmares are waking you up, it really isn't a bad idea to experiment with a melatonin or a benadryl, just to see if it helps.

I'm sorry you are struggling with this. Nightmares have been a big issue for me for a long time, and I really identify with how frustrating it can be.

 

[hogananjiggs]

Give it another few weeks, it still may improve. Effexor is a heavy drug, and your body has a lot t...

Im gonna give the benadryl a try..
Being back at work aint helping either ....

 

[joeylittle]

Being back at work aint helping either

No, that's going to make it harder. If you want a recommendation, I use zzzquil (or the generic) - it's basically benadryl without anything extra, so it's just a portioned dose of the diphenhydramine.

And if you decide to give melatonin a try, I've had good success with this product:
Link Removed

 

[Ka-9]

I'm just starting off it.... I went from 112 mgs roughly, to 75 for a few months. For past 2 days- Ive halved to 37.5 and it's already been bad. I'm out of it, dizzy, anxious, balance is effected, headches and lethargic/sick feelings- fast anger/frustrtion too. It was almost immediate withdrawl. I don't see how anyone does cold turkey.

I'm doing 37.5 for 7 more days, then I'll do 37.5 every other day for 8-10 days and hopefully be off this shit- and hope I don't begin suffering some of the dream/sleep anguish some have expressed.

I've been on 5 years for this stuff..... hope it won't be hellish like your's seems hogan- but it starting off bad. But my life and passions just f*cking disintegrated on it. Every year I jut got more emotionally comotose. There have to be better drugs out there shoud I need em.

 

[joeylittle]

For past 2 days- Ive halved to 37.5 and it's already been bad. I'm out of it, dizzy, anxious, balance is effected, headches and lethargic/sick feelings- fast anger/frustrtion too. It was almost immediate withdrawl. I don't see how anyone does cold turkey.

It's really no joke, how hard it is to come off this drug. This is not medical advice, but it's how my own psych described how we would get me off of it, in the event that I needed to come off it. I'd encourage you to read the whole thread, although the bulk of the info is contained in the first post. (It's going to describe how to reduce your dose by much smaller increments, which is often referred to as the least painful way to do it) Tips for tapering off Effexor and Effexor XR (venlafaxine) - Tapering

 

[Ka-9]

It's really no joke, how hard it is to come off this drug. This is not medical advice, but it's how...

Absolutely will read this- I'm already a bit concerned as to how difficult it may be. Thanks so much

 

[mamachick]

A bit off the subject, but you know that even 15 yrs ago, Drs said there was not withdraw symptoms in coming off anti depressants and stopped patients cold turkey. I went off celexa a few months ago and it is just a weird feeling-I did it cold turkey and am so glad I did.

I am just glad that the medical profession has validated what we patients know.

 

[hogananjiggs]

Hi Ka-9

Ive been totally off for 4 weeks now. I still have brain zaps but ALOT less I am very emotional though ...zero to super angry in miliseconds I can say it is getting better but slow I find now afternoons are hard. It does get better it really does.
I find im more creative and not a zombie!
Take care keep strong.

I'm just starting off it.... I went from 112 mgs roughly, to 75 for a few months. For past 2 days- Ive ha...

 

[Neverthesame]

@brat17 actually, it's true. Stopping an antidepressant doesn't cause withdrawals. It's a "discontinuation syndrome". In order for it to be "withdrawals", the substance needs to be bad for you. Like cocaine or excessive alcohol intake. Yeah... I know... it's stupid semantics, that only serves to frustrate those quitting drugs like these, and dupe the unsuspecting into a later battle they have no idea is coming to them. But that's the reason.

@Ka-9 I quit this cold turkey. I don't recommend it in a million years. It's awful. And probably a stupid thing to do.

What I found though, was with the mood thing. If I made myself listen to or watch happy things, music, TV, anything positive. It kept that mood going. I got lucky in that nothing bad flew out of left field in life to make me miserable, in the 4 or so weeks it took to come out of the worst of it.

@hogananjiggs The nightmares never went away for me while I was on Effexor. Sorry I can't give you any tips. What Joeylittle suggested is certainly worth looking into.