Posted by detroitpistons on March 7, 2006, at 15:57:17 [reposted on March 7, 2006, at 21:18:55 | original URL]
In reply to 'Cold turkey' Effexor (etc.) withdrawal..., posted by scrapper on March 7, 2006, at 12:59:54
I don't mean to burst your bubble, but I wouldn't do it. I was on Paxil and I just wanted off, so I quit cold turkey despite everything I read on the internet. Everybody told me DON'T DO IT! Of couse, I still did it, and I regret it to this day. I almost feel like it screwed me up worse than I already am.
I am currently on Effexor and I'd never quit it cold turkey because it's worse than Paxil. The half life is very short. Quitting Paxil was an 8 week long nightmare. Imagine what quitting Effexor would be like.
Right now, you are being VERY IMPULSIVE as I was when I made that decision. Get a grip. Just taper off. What's 2 more months or 4 more months at this point? Seriously, what difference does it make? You will thank me in the end.
If you're like me and you can't be convinced not do it, you can take Benedryl to ease some of the discomfort. I needed something to help me sleep at night too. You can go to the withdrawal section of the website to get more tips, but those tips will probably only put a small dent in your withdrawal discomfort.
I was a complete wreck when I quit. I felt like I was going batshit crazy through this process. After about a month, I'd get a day where I would feel better and would start to think that the process was almost done, and then....The next day would be hell and my hopes would be crushed. Withdrawal plays more tricks on your mind than actually taking the drug as directed. DON'T DO IT. Be patient and taper.
If/when you get down to 37.5mg/ day, you should take some Prozac (very long half life)for that final step. Going from 37.5mg to zero can be very difficult. Often people report no problems tapering down to 37.5, but then can't make the final transition to zero. But to do this, you need to be on an outpatient basis with a psychiatrist.
Don't try to be a cowboy like I did.
> Hi everyone. I thank God I found this site! I just registered a moment ago and desperately need some input.
>
> I've been under constant psychiatric care, since March of 1989....yes, 1989! At one point, in 1994, I was taking 17 medications a day....yes, 17! I was so grossly overmedicated, I spent most of my days and nights in bed - asleep, drooling or both. At the time, I was going through the mental health clinic of a large East Coast hospital, being 'treated' by residents and getting assigned a different 'doctor' every six months, each time their rotation changed. (The supervising psychiatrist, was absolutely useless.) Usually, the change in 'doctor', meant an 'adjustment' in medication. Without fail, the new resident always believed he/she was smarter than the last! (You name it, I was on it!) Once, a 'doctor' asked me if I was ever on one particular medication. Since I was familiar with it only by its generic name, I said 'no'. It turned out to be a drug that made me extremely suicidal...and I paid a dear price. Now, If he had followed proper procedure, he would have reviewed my chart and seen the notation! (Instead of relying on the patient's fried memory!)
>
> They had more diagnosis' for me, than I can recall. They labeled me everything from 'bi-polar', to 'multiple personality disorder'. I was the gamut of psychiatry...a genuine Freudian dream (or nightmare, depending on who's viewpoint!), per se!
>
> Now, to the present.
>
> I've been on Effexor XR for several years, taking the maximum dosage of 300 mg. daily, for most of that time. I want to discontinue it, cold turkey. (I was able to quit smoking that way, with no problem whatsoever...2 packs a day, for 35 years!)
>
> I'm sick of the whole mess! No body wants to take the bull by the horns, but ME! I want to completely detoxify myself. I also take 100 mg. of Seroquel and 12.5 mg. of Ambien CR at bedtime. (Additionally, I take 25 mg. Atarax and 1 mg. Ativan, PRN. These geniuses leave it up to me - which to take, when, why and how!)
>
> I'm a born-again Christian and strong in my faith. However, I realize that I'm also a human being. (Right now, I just want to lock myself in a closet with my Bible and let the Lord do the rest.)
>
> I deeply resent taking pills to feel normal...which I DON'T FEEL most of the time, anyway! I want to throw them all in the garbage, because that's just what they are!
>
> Today, I've been reading about the ill-effects of Effexor and cannot understand WHY the FDA allows such poison on the market. No, I take that back...I DO understand...$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!! Meantime, people like me (and you, perhaps) are serving as virtual guinea pigs, while the drug companies get fatter and richer! Unfortunately, in my case, the taxpayers are footing the bill!
>
> Please advise me, as to the best way to self-detoxify. For obvious reasons, I'm not currently under ANY doctors' care and MUST do this, sans medical supervision.
>
> I'm not afraid. Considering the HELL these quacks have put me through since 1989, this should be a snap. (Besides, remember...I have Jesus on my side!) Please reply, as soon as possible.
>
> Thank you and God bless.
poster:detroitpistons
thread:617263
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060228/msgs/617264.html