Posted by zbdrums on June 29, 2002, at 21:52:39
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal Lorraine » Lorraine, posted by Leo on March 1, 2001, at 13:01:09
I'm on my 3rd day without Effexor. I switched to Wellbutrin, but the symptoms are so bad (I don't know if it's the effexor w/d, the wellbutrin, or some other thing all together) that I have decided to get off head meds all together. This is really scary stuff. Every time I turn my head I hear a vacuum of sound. It's like a bad hang over, and I haven't had a drink in 2 years. I have nausea most of the time. I'm sleeping upwards of 16 hours a day, very poorly- lots of half-sleep, dreams and nightmares. TV and computer screens seem to trigger migraines. I don't know what I can and can't do- like drive to the store to pick up groceries or get up from a lying down position. I'm scaring my friends- they don't know what to do with me. I know these forums are to be taken with a grain of salt, but enough people are experiencing the same problems that I just don't want any part of the current anti-depressant experimentation. I don't believe that psychiatrists have enough information to work with regarding side-effects, long term problems, withdrawl symptoms, who can be helped in what ways by which drugs, what needs to be addressed in addition to the meds, etc. I've had some success with the Effexor. I tried Paxil and wound up in an emergency room in the middle of the night. I tried Celexa and had all kinds of bothersome sexual side effects, and I thought I found something pretty good with Effexor. When I began to experience significant joint pain that was hindering my ability to practice and perform(I'm a professional musician and music student studying with the most renowned living teacher of my instrument)I began to check out some of these forums. I explored many articles, one of which was an FDA report listing common(1/100 patients)side effects, of which arthralgia is one. I found that many of the problems I was experiencing were on that list: migraines, prostatitis, sleep problems, significant weight gain, . It is important to state that I had pain that was probably prostatitis as far back as 10 years ago. I have a history of sleep problems. I had a concussion about 6 months ago. And, I have had some joint pain (though always much less pain with much more strain). So, I can't discount my side-effects on Effexor. I did see doctors about all of these symptoms. Eventually the joint pain caused me to decide to taper off and stop taking Effexor. Particularly in the mornings I would wake up with intense pain in my wrists from clenching my fists and grabbing sheets tightly. This withdrawl has been so difficult and scary that I do not want anything to do with any drug that can do this to me (especially without warning before I take the drug). There is fear that without the anti-depressant I will return to a state of depression that renders me semi-dysfunctional. I have removed all illegal drugs and alcohol from the equation (2 years and 1 month with the help of NA and AA). Now I am going to remove the head meds. Because I can not afford periods of depression leading to the inability to perform the necessary work in my daily life, I intend to begin psycho-dynamic therapy. I can not afford an experienced and reputable psychiatrist. I have found a program through Southwestern medical center in Dallas, TX that offers medical students in training under supervision for $10-$40 per session, 2 sessions per week. I am applying for this program.
The scary thing that I'm dealing with now is that I'm experiencing these withdrawl symptoms and I have a trip that I am taking in 5 days. I will be traveling for 27 days. Much of the trip is business related, and much of the trip is through old running grounds from my pot-smoking days. I will go to meetings, and don't fear as much for my sobriety as for my mental health. These past few nights have found me crawling to the bed, or lying on the floor unable to make it to the bathroom. My journal entries look like this: "feel awful; nausea; faith week; head hurts so bad...", and these are the statements that sumarize many thoughts and are only consicely stated due to the difficulty of writing at these times. Honestly, this week has not been better than the worst of my drug days, depression and all. Last night I was balled up on the floor crying as hard as I ever have (which is a strong statement- I've cried a lot), with head pain that simply made me unable to move. Anyhow... that's my testimony. -Zach
poster:zbdrums
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020628/msgs/111054.html