Posted by ariel on July 12, 2005, at 16:59:17
I posted earlier that I was going to go off Effexor XR. Maybe it was 2, 2.5 weeks ago. The reason I'm not sure is that I have been able to cut down from 225 mgs a day to 75mgs in a very short amount of time -- with virtually no symptoms of the type everyone here has very helpfully described. I've experienced less physical problems coming off this drug than when I was on it (and I've been on it for 10 years). I get sort of drowsy in the afternoon, but that's nothing unusual for me (a professional napper). There's been no noticeable increase in irritability, or nothing that I can attribute to the w/d. No headaches, no unusual insomnia, no nausea, no depressive periods. If anything, I feel more stable.
It's less a go figure situation when it comes to the emotional stuff. I've find that when I decide I'm going to tackle something, when I put my mind to it, the mental attitude trumps everything else.
I decided that, come hell or high water, I was done with this drug, and quitting it has made me feel wonderfully free. Cripes, I'm not even obsessing over a very obsessive relationship i ended a while ago, something that, up until I started to get off this drug, I thought about just about 24/7. Also, I've had to deal with a health emergency re my son getting second degree burns,a drama that's been going on for a week and half now. Previously, when this kid would be embroiled in some crisis, I'd feel like a narcoleptic initially. I'd shut down initally until I could pull myself together to deal with the situation. This time around, I felt crappy (who wouldn't?), but found that I didn't sink into my usual weepy self pity. If anything, I got tired of his attitude towards the injury and told him to <deal with it, already> (he's 21, btw).I've gotten such good advice from others on this board that I'm prepared to deal with any symptoms that may arise when I cut down to the smallest dose. I'm just really pleased that, so far, this is going very well.
Anyone else here who has found that cutting down has proved to be fairly problem free?
poster:ariel
thread:526794
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050712/msgs/526794.html