Min Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Like the other person who has a thread on this (didn't wanna hijack it lol), I am going batshit on the 37.5. I am thinking that once I'm off the dosage completely, which is 2 more days and I'm not able to handle it, I'm going back to my 150s, since that's all I've got until my next pdoc appointment. I tried prozac like she suggested, and it gave me terrible, terrible side effects. It well, for lack of a better term, made me a zombie. I would have supressed emotions and not get jokes or references I usually would, and to top it off, didn't even REALISE this. I was just going through the motions, not even realising it. That and the headaches and backaches. I refuse to go back on it and just gave it to my mom who's also on the drug so it's okay. Fucking sucks. Advil won't even help my headaches and I'm thinking of just going to my GP and getting some fucking help. I AM GOING CRAZY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenyflower Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Hey, Min, I'm so sorry the Effexor withdrawal is sucking so much. Some docs won't even admit it exists. Some ever so politely call it "discontinuation syndrome", which to me is like calling a tornado a stiff breeze. Even "withdrawal" doesn't cut it. It felt like detox... It does end, though. How long have you been down to 37.5? If it's only been a few days, you may have been through the worst of it. Since you have the 150s left, you *could* buy some empty capsules at the pharmacy and split your 150s into fourths, and stay on the 37.5 dose for another two or three weeks or until your pdoc appt. And if you're having this much trouble at 37.5, I'd strongly recommend going down another half dose for a couple of weeks at least before dropping it entirely. Are you starting something else, or trying to get off ADs altogether? This WILL get better. Really. Greeny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYPaintLady Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Like the other person who has a thread on this (didn't wanna hijack it lol), I am going batshit on the 37.5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 7, 2006 Author Share Posted March 7, 2006 I'm going to call her if it gets really bad once I stop. It IS getting better, but the last few days have been hell. I have clonazepam to calm me down, which REALLY helps. Her plan was mainly to have me go off it the prozac bridging way. Prozac in the morning, effexor in the evening. I was on 150 so she said, one week of 112.5, one week of 75, one week of 37.5 then stop. But since the Prozac was giving me the horrible side effects, I dropped it. I can't take WB, cause of heart problems, which she keeps suggesting, and forgetting I have tachycardia. XD I'm a fighter and know I can do this, but I will call the doc if it persists. I know I have a pdoc appointment soon anyways, since I don't have a tdoc at the moment, she has agreed to see me like every 2 weeks. Being bipolar I am not sure if I want to be on an AD, but if I AM on one I do not want to be on effexor. Also note I do not want to be on any AP of any kind. They stop my ability to write and I just cannot have that, wanting to be a writer when I 'grow up'. Thanks. <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 7, 2006 Author Share Posted March 7, 2006 also note i dont wanna call my doc cause of my phone phobia >> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Hi Min, Sorry you're going throught the DC hell. Maybe you should stay on 37.5 a bit longer? Are you taking it slow enough? May I ask why if you do need to be on an AD you don't like Effexor? I was hoping to keep Effexor in my mix but add a mood stabolizer for BP. It seems to be helping my anxiety, so I would prefer not to switch and have to go through what you are. Did you have side effects? Dee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 ((((commiserating hugs)))) I'm the other thread person....thank you for not hijacking it, lol. sorry your's is icky......I'm back on the 75, and am doing 37.5 and 75 alternate days as from next week... is there any chance you could try that, see if that makes any difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 the effexor (i was originally on 300mg) just wasn't doing it for my anxiety and i was taken off it. when i see my pdoc i'm gonna ask her, but right now i dunno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 same here (On the anxiety front)....I am still in process of coming off, just more slowly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 10, 2006 Author Share Posted March 10, 2006 this is just not working. today, er, yesterday, was my brother's birthday, so we (the whole extended family) went out to dinner and I had a panic attack. I managed to control it, though I was very numb, would not speak very much, and was very irritable. I took my last 37.5 around 8:30 this evening. I expect to put some of the little balls in applesauce and keep on going. I have a headache the size of Mars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 I know those headaches.....been there....I understand... Stay safe and hold on in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncc1701 Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Heya Min, Slow.It.Down. S-l-oooooo-w. Go as slowly as you need to to feel safe. If the Prozac made you *that* sick, it's up to you re. the pros and cons of Prozac bridging. Effexor rotten-as-hell-hit-by-a-truck discontinuation syndrome *will* pass, but at different rates for different people. Mostly, it's not life-threatening, and you'll live through it. At its worst, though, it carries with it suicidal thoughts, and if you're suicidal, you need to up your dose and slow down your taper, or get back on Prozac. Ah hang in there. --ncc-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 11, 2006 Author Share Posted March 11, 2006 well i am not gonna take prozac cause it gave me the same symptoms as i'm having now...so TWO meds that do that = WORSE in my eyes. i am still taking effexor. taking some of the little balls out of my 150s and putting them in applesauce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 13, 2006 Author Share Posted March 13, 2006 i had to go back up to the full 150. the headaches just would not stop. LOL did you know if you put the balls in water they float?? SEA MONKEYS!!! HAHAHA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 lol. yeah, we have to find something funny in the whole yucky process or we'd cry. eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robotlove29 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 lol. yeah, we have to find something funny in the whole yucky process or we'd cry. eh? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> At one point (before I got a script for the 75's AND the 150's) I decided to up my dosage without my pdocs knowledge so I was taking a full 150 and then splitting the second 150...now I take my Effexor at 8:30 am, which means I had to split these things at my desk! If anyone ever saw me splitting up these red pills and licking up half of them splayed out on a paper plate must have thought I was doing coke or something at work!! Now that's funny... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 I'm now joining your official tapering club, doctors orders due to hypomania. I cracked open a 150 and there is no way I'm counting those beads. I'll just divey it up like lines of coke I guess, lol. What a pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 15, 2006 Author Share Posted March 15, 2006 i ha to go back to the full 150. my body was just so fucking screwed, i guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 I haven't started tapering yet. I'm having a shitty week and haven't gone to work. I'm depressed now and feel sick. I can't handle the drop on top of worrying about getting fired. FUCK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robotlove29 Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 I'm now joining your official tapering club, doctors orders due to hypomania. I cracked open a 150 and there is no way I'm counting those beads. I'll just divey it up like lines of coke I guess, lol. What a pain. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Haha, yes EXACTLY! No way in heck am I counting those microscopic balls. I used a business card to cut my little pile in half, how funny.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 I'm now joining your official tapering club, doctors orders due to hypomania. I cracked open a 150 and there is no way I'm counting those beads. I'll just divey it up like lines of coke I guess, lol. What a pain. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Haha, yes EXACTLY! No way in heck am I counting those microscopic balls. I used a business card to cut my little pile in half, how funny.. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Can we snort them? LMAO!! Sorry I just took a triple dose of valium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robotlove29 Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Hi! I'm joining the Effex taper club. Gone from 225 to 150 and I'm having sweats so bad at night, I change my pj's 3 times! I also have had the WORST nightmares the past few nights too..... Anyone else??' Also, how many nights should I stay one one dosage before moving down another 37.5??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1badbert Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Min, How are you today? I REALLY hope you get through this soon. I know what it is like having gone cold turkey from 6 months at 300mg. It sucked pig balls but I am glad it is over for me. The pain was better than the medicine, you might say. Please tell us how you are and if you got through ok. Waiting in the light, Bobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenyflower Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Also, how many nights should I stay one one dosage before moving down another 37.5??? Unless you have some reason to be in a hurry, about two weeks per decrease. And perhaps slower from 75 to 37.5 and from 37.5 to nuttin. It really depends on you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 It does get better, honest, I'm still at 37.5 every other day and stable apart from sinking into a very deep depression the past week....for which there were external causes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I went 37.5 to nothin 8 days ago, pdoc's orders. I felt like shit for a week, not sure if it was the Effex ds or depakote start-up side effects (loading dose too), but I almost feel human today. I'd say just drop the shit now if it's down to 37.5, stay at home for a week and have someone there in case you go into a mixed state from hell (I did). The worst of it should be over in a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 me, the plan is come off it completely when my therapist is back next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goddess Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I went 37.5 to nothin 8 days ago, pdoc's orders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Worst, longest dysphoric mania I have had (2 days), which included suicidal thoughts, paranoia towards bf, sick to stomach, glued to toilet, zaps. But YMMV and I don't want to scare you. I am BP1, prone to rapid-cycling and mixed states. I'm not sure how much was depakote start-up or Effex withdrawl. Regardless, I am glad I just got it over with. Now hopefully the new med starts doing something good soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goddess Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Worst, longest dysphoric mania I have had (2 days), which included suicidal thoughts, paranoia towards bf, sick to stomach, glued to toilet, zaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Dysphoric mania/mixed states is crying, depression and more. It's being depressed and full of energy/mania at the same time. Yes, much crying and wanting to blow my head off, not to sound too dramatic. I don't want to go into alot of detail. That is why I suggest a week off and having someone else around. I could not be left alone. I was for a few hours and went psycho. On the bright side, it's over now and if you don't get mixed states, this probably won't be how you react. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goddess Posted April 20, 2006 Share Posted April 20, 2006 Dysphoric mania/mixed states is crying, depression and more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 Sorry. Pet peeve of mine here. You can only titrate up on somthing, not down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 From 18.75 mg you should be able to just switch to WB or quit. Effexor is obviously not agreeing with you. Why prolong the discontinuation with such a small dose? It is not therapeutic at that level. I came off 187.5 fairly quickly, a little over a month. I would think if you are switching to another AD, it should not be a huge adjustment at such a small dose. What does your doctor say? Have you discussed mood stabolizers alone? ADs are not always a great idea in rapid cyclers. Maybe 100mg topamax isn't cutting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goddess Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 From 18.75 mg you should be able to just switch to WB or quit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robotlove29 Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 Holy moly, a month from 18.5 to 0?? I've been going down 75mg every few days! No wonder I have this constant headache...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goddess Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 Hi Robotlove, not sure who you're referring to, me or some previous post? I dont know how long it'll take to get off the Effexor. It worries me a tad that Wellbutrin apparently doesn't boost serotonin levels at all. Wondering if I'll miss that. But you sound much more typical than me, I'm sure you have lots of company. When I see the doses some people are on, I just can't believe it. I'm this way with all drugs. The last time I tried coffee I had a single ounce at 10 am and was still up and wired at 2 am. Don't know why. Re. headaches: why dont' you slow it down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goddess Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 Is anyone else still doing an effexor taper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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