Messed Up My Meds Now I'm Off

[Hydrotroop91]

I've had a busy week and have been behind every day this week with not getting enough sleep. Causing me to be late and when this happened I forgot everyday this week to take my effexor and have been feeling awful yesterday and today. I've been dizzy, queasy, headachey, and very depressed. I don't smoke much but have been going through my packs like crazy yesterday and today. I'm not sure what to do and am really down and curious to know what to do and how bad I'll be for how long.

I live alone which isn't helping the depression at all. And still have so much to do.

 

[joeylittle]

Start taking it again. The basic thing: when you remember you missed a dose, take it. If you are on more than 300 mg you might want to not take your full dose all in one day.

You'll normalize again. It's just a nasty one in terms of withdrawal.

 

[risingsun]

I would definitely start taking it again to get your body back into order. For sure it sounds like withdrawal. If you don't start to feel better upon taking it again within a week, I would check in with the Doctor. I am sorry you are dealing with this on your own. In the past, I've been there . . . living alone and feeling depressed. Keep yourself busy for now as your body adjusts, knowing that this will pass. Posting a reminder somewhere like on your bathroom mirror or refrigerator to help you remember to take your medication might be a good idea so that you don't have to go through this again. Stay Positive. You'll feel better soon. Warmest to You, Rising.

 

[The Albatross]

When your on an SSRI (I took Effexor for a year)... you need to take it at or near the same time every day... or yeah, you screw up your brain chemistry. Forgetting for a week... well chalk it up as a lesson learned, and the importance of being responsible with your med. Yeah, it sucks, but a week? Sounds like you need a better self maintenance strategy.

 

[Hydrotroop91]

@The Albatross School just started and my schedule got thrown off and I've been running out of the house late everyday. It was the last thing on my mind. I've also had lots if non-school stuff come up like taking my cat to the vet and car registration renewal. And problems with tuition refunds. And sleeping at other places to be with friends.

Everyone else thanks for the tips and information! I also had a pharmacist friend help me tonight with getting back on them. I appreciate it!

 

[The Albatross]

Hmmm. k. Brain chemistry wasn't a priority. Got it.

 

[sun seeker]

Effexor has horrible withdrawal symptoms. Please be careful and don't drive or anything else dangerous until you get stabilized. I don't mean to scare you but this is really important.

You need a way to remember to take it every day. Sticky notes all over the house? Setting an alarm to ring at the same time each day, then reset immediately once you've taken it? A big sign on the bathroom mirror? Whatever works for you, but this isn't something you can take erratically. Take it easy for a while till you get back on track. You won't be able to keep doing all those things that are keeping you so busy unless you get this under control.

I did the same thing, but on purpose, not knowing how habit-forming Effexor is. It wasn't working, so I stopped taking it. Found out what a bad idea that was. Fortunately there is a similar medication that was prescribed (I forget the name) that made the withdrawal symptoms go away quite quickly, and then was much easier to taper off.

 

[Justmehere]

I have a reminder app on my phone to help remind me to take my med. Sometimes when I get super busy, it's like I don't have time for it. At first, I feel ok, so I don't go back to making it a priority, and then I start to feel the symptoms and then I realize I am totally off track... I have been where you are at. It sucks to have to take meds to function right. There are so many other things I rather focus on.

I'm glad your pharmacist friend helped you figure out a plan to re-start.