I have posted previously about my withdrawal from the anti-depressant Effexor XR and the symptoms I was having. I saw my family doctor on April 27th and discussed the withdrawal with him. We decided I would go back on the lowest dose and take even longer to wean off of it. At the time, we decided I would take 6 months, two months on that dose daily, then two months at every other day and finally two months at every third day. I hated the idea of going back on it but I was having difficulty concentrating on my school projects so much so that I was late with a couple of projects. I can’t have that and so here I am taking the Effexor XR again.
Once again I was amazed at how I felt so much better after only two doses. This stuff is powerful and I really want to get rid of it so hopefully this time weaning off more slowly will work.
As of today I have decided to start the every other day dosing of the Effexor and see how it goes. I’m hopeful that I won’t be able to tell a difference with this change. Time will tell – tomorrow will be the first skipped day. Prayer helps so I will accept all prayers that are offered up on my behalf.
Til next time!
Linda <3
Showing posts with label withdrawal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label withdrawal. Show all posts
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Withdrawal
During the years of my treatment for depression, I have been on 4 different antidepressants. In May/June of 2009, I decided to wean off of my Welbutrin and did so without difficulty as I was still taking Effexor XR. I did not notice any changes in how I felt and was pleased.
In November 2009, I decided to also wean off the Effexor XR and weaned the dose down to 75mg and then took that every other day for a couple of weeks then stopped. It was only a couple of days until I started experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Those included…irritability, moodiness, crying for any reason at all, inability to concentrate, muscle aches, joint pains, hot flashes, and just felt miserable all over. I did some investigation on the internet and was somewhat surprised to learn that all these things were reported withdrawal symptoms for the Effexor XR. I stayed off of it for 2 weeks, thinking these things would get better but they kept getting worse and so I gave in and went back on the Effexor at a dose of 150 mg daily. I was amazed that the withdrawal symptoms went away after only two doses of the Effexor XR.
This got me to thinking how people on narcotics and illegal drugs must feel when they need a fix; it must be similar to what I was feeling. I do not like being physically dependent on any medication that affects me emotionally, mentally, and physically. It is scary that one medication can do this to a person.
With the advice of some wonderful family members, I talked to my doctor about getting off the Effexor XR and so started weaning the dosage down much slower than before. I stayed on the 150mg daily for 2 months, and then decreased to 75mg daily for a month and lastly 37.5mg daily for another month. I completed the month at 37.5 mg on Thursday, April 8th but by Tuesday, April 13th I was having all the withdrawal symptoms again. It is so frustrating and a part of me wants to go back on it just to stop the withdrawal pain but so far I have refrained from doing that. I hope to see my doctor soon and get his ideas on how I can get through this.
All prayers are appreciated!
Till next time!
Linda <3
In November 2009, I decided to also wean off the Effexor XR and weaned the dose down to 75mg and then took that every other day for a couple of weeks then stopped. It was only a couple of days until I started experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Those included…irritability, moodiness, crying for any reason at all, inability to concentrate, muscle aches, joint pains, hot flashes, and just felt miserable all over. I did some investigation on the internet and was somewhat surprised to learn that all these things were reported withdrawal symptoms for the Effexor XR. I stayed off of it for 2 weeks, thinking these things would get better but they kept getting worse and so I gave in and went back on the Effexor at a dose of 150 mg daily. I was amazed that the withdrawal symptoms went away after only two doses of the Effexor XR.
This got me to thinking how people on narcotics and illegal drugs must feel when they need a fix; it must be similar to what I was feeling. I do not like being physically dependent on any medication that affects me emotionally, mentally, and physically. It is scary that one medication can do this to a person.
With the advice of some wonderful family members, I talked to my doctor about getting off the Effexor XR and so started weaning the dosage down much slower than before. I stayed on the 150mg daily for 2 months, and then decreased to 75mg daily for a month and lastly 37.5mg daily for another month. I completed the month at 37.5 mg on Thursday, April 8th but by Tuesday, April 13th I was having all the withdrawal symptoms again. It is so frustrating and a part of me wants to go back on it just to stop the withdrawal pain but so far I have refrained from doing that. I hope to see my doctor soon and get his ideas on how I can get through this.
All prayers are appreciated!
Till next time!
Linda <3
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