Posted by Jiggitykid on February 8, 2005, at 22:15:55
In reply to going thru withdrawal RIGHT NOW!, posted by brainshiver on February 8, 2005, at 11:25:16
Hi Brainshiver - love the name!
Since I took the high dive :-), I can't tell you from my experience how long the symptoms will last. Cold-turkey, the worst were over in two weeks, with more going away over the next few weeks to few months. It's been a little over a year now, thank goodness.
As for the hot and cold, that's part and parcel of the withdrawal. For me, when the pain was worse, I had to wrap up, hot or cold.
Coping - prayer, support from my family, and this group of people who were here to help me through it. There wasn't anything, during the first part of the withdrawal, that was able take my mind off of how I felt. I hope that doesn't make you feel too bad - just take it one day at a time. In fact, take it one hour, or minute, at a time, and try not to think about how you'll feel tomorrow or next week. Simply cope with right now. That's the way I had to take it, and that helped by not getting my hopes up that tomorrow would be a better day (even though it will).
Take care of yourself, and get as much rest as possible. Take it easy on your eyes; keep as comfortable as you can; take vitamins, drink water; take it easy with caffeine until you know whether it hurts or helps; sleep with the light on if the dreams get too bad, go for comfort food if that helps :-); put off any really major decisions if you can because, if you are like me, your emotions will be more volatile and less trustworthy right now; try Benedryl (at night if it makes you sleepy during the day); do whatever you can to keep things as easy and calm around you. Keep us updated!
> Hi there. On Saturday I began cutting my Effexor dose in half. Instead of 150mg, I am taking 75mg. I called in sick yesterday to work, but I'm at work right now, and I'm feeling worse today than yesterday. I plan to be on this dose for a month and then taper again or go off completely. What I'm wondering is how long the withdrawal symptoms are.... I'm super-shaky, nauseous, going from too hot to shaking because I'm so cold. Should I expect to miss any more work? How are all you guys doing? And what are you doing to keep your mind off how awful you feel? Man, I feel like crap!
poster:Jiggitykid
thread:12459
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050207/msgs/455221.html