Posted by verysadgirl on August 1, 2003, at 21:51:41
I am very much in a funk and would like some advice (and hugs) from anyone who has gone through this withdrawal horror! To begin with, I was put on AD after the birth of my child 5 years ago for post partum depression - started with Zoloft (couldn't deal with the migraines) then Wellbutrin (didn't seem to help) then onto Paxil (after initially dealing with massive headaches, stayed on it for year and decided to slowly taper off when I gained 20 lbs.) Paxil withdrawal was beyond anything I could have imagined - I had dizziness, loss of coordination, electrical shocks running thru my body, brain shivers, cried all the time, had bloody/gory nightmares and felt suicidal. My pdoc told me that was unheard of - and not that it was said, but implied that I was loosing grip. Funny how 5 years later most seem to experience similar horrors! (Guess we’re all a bunch of liars). Next got new pdoc was put on serazone/wellbutrin cocktail - lost 40 pounds over 2 years w/o dieting or exercise, and felt happier (except when I drank alcohol) and looked amazing! but was taken off serazone due to manufacturing issues with that drug. Next I was put on celexa for about a year which did little except put on 30 lbs in a year (I was told it was because of what I was eating [which wasn't a lot nor was it a poor diet] and my pdoc also told me I should eat only 5 tablespoons of food a day, and no carbs). [Excellent advice huh! This was followed by another comment stating that I could also look into Liposuction to feel better] I am so glad that I helped finance her new Jaguar with such stellar advice she gives! Finally, she switched me in March to Effexor - the AD from hell that is supposed to help most people that the other ADs don't. Unfortunately, I was at a point where I would take anything to feel better and stupidly did not research this drug before hand. Having managed to gain another 20 lbs on Effexor since March and feeling only a tad better I decided that I did not care to be a somewhat happy fatass and would rather be skinny and depressed but off of these nightmare drugs and away from her crappy advice. I began tapering off of Effexor (with her knowledge) very slowly week by week and felt relatively good (I'm still on 200mg of Wellbutrin). Now I have stopped completely and I am back in hell - same withdrawal symptoms as Paxil as I detox my body only more crying and horrendous electrical shocks and brain shivers (that I can also hear), and unfortunately little to no sympathy from my husband. He told me last night that I went through it before with the Paxil so I should know what to expect and I should deal with it or go to the hospital. Nice huh! Anyway, I am taking 0.5mg of ativan when I feel like I'm going to crash and burn and some benedryl at night to help with the sleep. I know we are all different, but does anyone know how darn long these messed up withdrawal feelings will last? I can't remember exactly how long they did for the Paxil (since I wasn't supposed to be feeling them anyway!) Also, has anyone tried anything else that may have lessened the detox effects? Any advice and experiences would be greatly appreciated! Sorry this is so long, but my pdoc hasn’t returned my calls, my husband couldn’t be bothered and I’m feel very alone, sad and mostly abandoned as I go through this.
poster:verysadgirl
thread:247492
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030728/msgs/247492.html