Posted by bruin on March 5, 2005, at 10:59:47
In reply to Re: Thank You in the case of Effexor withdrawal info, posted by SLS on March 5, 2005, at 7:10:09
"If you become depressed after lowering the dosage to 75mg, this should indicate something to you." Yes, that you are in withdrawal. Return of symptoms is so consistently mistaken as a reason to go back to the med or up the dose. My guess is that cutting a dose in half is the only culprit. ONce again, here are a list of withdrawal reactions to keep an eye out for. Next time you'll know better than to make such a cut because most doctors don't know what the hell they are talking about when it comes to tapering off these meds.
Personally, you'd be better off if you didn't view the drug as your savior, but rather as a stop measure which is now a major source of your problems. WHen cutting again, only cut 5-10% and wait for the body to stabilize before going again. Next time a mantra that is helpful is reminding yourself that it is the drug and not you that is causing this. However, the first thing you gotta realize, in my opinion, is that the drug is not the source of your salvation, but is causing you most of your problems.Here are common withdrawal symptoms:
Mind racing and unable to control thoughts and processes of the mind.
Panic attacks worsening.
Hot surges running through body.
Horrible nightmares.
Obsessive thoughts. (Going to lose it and kill somebody)
Just can't seem to feel any more.
Feeling like a zombie. Absolutely emotionless.
Physically numb. Could not even feel the water hit my body in the shower.
Lost all taste of food.
Severe dizziness. Felt like going to pass out or lose control.
Sleeping with light on because of the fear.
Feel disconnected. Really drugged out most of the time.
Heart palpitations and tightness in the head.
Flashes of memories and images from the past. (Uncontrollable)
Drugs have taken personal identity away, made feel unable to function like a normal human being.
Completely lost grip and hate to go out and be around people. Don't even feel comfortable with family.
Feeling like it will never end.
Feeling foggy and drugged out.
Urge to jump out of a fast moving car.
Feeling like I need to take life to end all of this.
Extreme head pain.
More depressed than before starting SSRI's.
Not sure will ever be your old self again.
A feeling of unreality.
Convinced of having some rare and fatal disease.
Hormones go completely wild during menstruation. (Never happened before SSRI usage)
fatigue and problem in hands (predominantly left)
which has become less tremors, more pain and slight stiffness and is
spreading up (left) arm and into shoulder.
Head and body seem to feel detached from each other.
Feeling like "in Hell." Can't go to see doctor or to the hospital because I am afraid they will prescribe more medication or put me in the mental ward.
Bleeding from the nose, heavily.
Nausea
Feeling like electrical current is running up and down spine
Memory loss with apathy
In a fog, can't concentrate
Nipple discharge
Loss of sex drive
Manic/depressive episodes
Weight gain of over 40 pounds
(List of side effects from one individual since starting SSRI's) Mind racing, nightmares, obsessive thoughts, can't "feel" anymore, zombie, disconnected, memory flashes, hate to be around people, feeling like it will never end, foggy, urge to jump out of fast moving car, more depressed, not sure will ever be old self again, feeling of unreality, numbness in pinky and ring finger on left hand and sever chills.
Head jerking and muscle spasms
Numbness in genitals
Memory loss
Loss of sexual drive
Swelled penis
Sudden and excessive weight gain
Hating people, do not want to be around people anymore
Tremors, sudden jerky movements of muscles, extreme sensitivity to sound
Out of control, divorced husband that was loved and now can't even explain why. Hopeless
Suicidal
Inner restlessness
Can't focus, hard to read words
Worsening of acne
Falling asleep at random times and not even remembering it (people telling the person this is happening)
Can hardly stand to look at anything anymore
Severe hot flashes while asleep
Difficult having an orgasm
Very aggressive dreams, dream of having battles with people from past
Severe mood changes, tremors in hands more hyperactive
Heavy sweating and electrical shocks that seem to come from within the side of the head
Milky discharge from nipples and very hot flashes and sweating while asleep
Can't seeeee comptur skrenn clearrlyyyy
Breast are getting larger, nipples harder and sticking out about 1" and swelling
Awake several nights of the week all night and have gained 30 pounds in less than one year
Urge to drink excessively, never had this problem before. Feel like in pure hell, manic one moment, deeply depressed the next, severe headaches, sweating, nightmares, panic and fear
Feet stay cold and can't seem to get them warm
Have not had sex for over one year since starting Prozac
Need for increased dose for same symptom, depression and severe cleaning compulsion are back and already at 100 mg daily of Prozac
I quit, doing crazy things. On the way to work stopped and got a tattoo. Hate tattoos!
Sleepy all of the time
Dramatic weight loss
Manic depression, numbness of body, tremors, racing thoughts, hot flashes, hallucinations, voices and echoes
Excessive or "fake" happiness-not able to feel "normal" sadness or cry at all
Feeling like an incomplete person without sexual feelings
Feel like going to stop breathing
Cold for hours after jogging
Extremely paranoid, feeling like someone is standing outside of the shower with a knife-ready to kill me, constantly looking over my shoulder all of the time and jumping at every noise
Muscle and joint pains
Strange and vivid dreams with erratic sleep patterns
Nightmares, flashbacks, severe night sweats and feel sense of unrest
No emotion and brain twitches
Felt like on a come down from acid for the whole time taking SSRI, saw tracers (shadows when things were moving) could not sleep, felt suicidal and more depressed than before
Itchy, rashes on inside of legs, knees, under arms and back, hot sweats and flushes, very depressed, being very rude and short tempered
Severe mood swings, angry most of the time and violent
Lost everything
Lost job
dizziness and low blood sugar
Just don't care anymore
Flash anger, verbal aggression and uncontrolled bouts of swearing
Pain in the lower left hand side of the stomach
Sleeping A LOT (13 hours a night)
Self mutilation
Cutting self
Tongue pain at night
Ears ring all the time since (tinnitus)
Total inability to have an orgasm (female)
Breathing Difficulty
Uncontrollable bouts of anger during which I can't even talk to anyone- totally overreacting to different situations.
Delayed sleep pattern, 1 hour later each day, turning the clock around during one year
Craving for sugar or protein or vitamin c
Changing my mind every minute, completely paranoid
Completely paralyzed by not knowing what to do or where I was going or what I can do when I feel like this
Delayed ejaculation and subtle loss of genital sensitivity--still persists 3 years after finishing medication
Annoying dizzy spells that have intensified the longer I have been off of Paxil
Alzheimer's Condition dramatically accelerated
Hot flashes and profuse sweating
Lethargic
After two days, woke up with left hand and arm numb, feel disconnected, headachy and anxious
Heard noises that weren't real: electronic humming/buzzing, doorbells, and voices. Would look for source, but find nothing. Sometimes, just moving my head would make the noises change or go away.
TONGUE FEELS LIKE IT HAS BEEN STUCK IN AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET
Severe constipation even Metamucil is not working feeling real bloated and starting to get depressed
> Hi.
>
> I don't understand why you and your doctor lowered the dosage of Effexor. If it works, you can take it for the rest of your life at 150mg. If you become depressed after lowering the dosage to 75mg, this should indicate something to you.
>
> You must take the same amount of Effexor every day, even when you are discontinuing it. This might necessitate getting 37.5 tablets and taking a total of 112.5mg per day in divided doses (75mg morning + 37.5mg night).
>
>
> - Scott
poster:bruin
thread:466150
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050228/msgs/466934.html