Re: Effexor - How I survived withdrawal!!!

Posted by KATHY on 04/24/05 at 01:15 PM

I WAS ON 75MG OF EFFEXOR FOR 3 YEARS-MY DOCTOR PRESCRIBED THEM FOR ME FOR HOT FLASHES AND TO JUST TAKE THE EDGE OFF AFTER A HYSTORECTOMY-(I WISH I HAD HER AROUND THE NECK NOW) I HAVE STOPPED TAKING THEM NOW FOR 4 WEEKS. I HAVE HAD ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS YOU CAN THINK OF-THE HEART PALPITATIONS ARE THE WORST RIGHT NOW. I ALSO AGAINED 25 LBS SINCE TAKING THEM. I HAVE IN THE LAST WEEK OFFERED TO KILL THE NEIGHBORS CAT AND TWO OF THEIR CHILDREN. NO-BUT REALLY WANT TO. I HAVE FOUND , IF I STOP AND BREATH THROUGH MY ANGER AT THAT MOMENT, I CAN LAUGH ABOUT IT . THE WITHDRAWALS I\'M GOING THROUGH HAVE MADE ME A BIT OF A COMEDIAN MY HUSBAND SAYS. HE DOESN\'T SEE THE CRYING AND FITS I THROW BEHIDE HIS BACK. I CAN FEEL THOSES COMING ON MOST IF THE TIME. AND HAVE MANAGED TO EXIT THE ROOM QUICKLY. I\'M JUST RAMBLING ON AND ON, DON\'T QUITE KNOW HOW TO STOP THAT YET. I THINK THE WORST PART ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL FROM EFFEXOR HAS BEEN THE FEELING OF COMPLETE HELPLESSNESS. FROM NOT BEING IN CONTROL OF MYSELF TO NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE DRUG COMPANIES THAT DID THIS. THE DR THAT PRESCRIBED THIS MEDICINE FOR ME DID SO OUT OF SHEER IGNORANCE AND THE DR. I TOLD I WANTED TO STOP TAKING THIS MED. SAID THAT I WAS ON SUCH LOW OF A DOSE THAT I COULD JUST STOP TAKING THEM COLD TURKEY-WHEN I TOLD HIM OF THE SIDE EFFECTS THAT I HAD WHEN I MISSED A DOSE HE SAID THAT HE WOULD GIVE ME THE 37.5 MG JUST TO GET RID OF THE HEBE JEBEES. YEAH , HE SAID HEBE JEBEES! THINK I\'LL GO SEE HIM DURING THE NEXT ANGER FLASH I HAVE! THINK HE WOULD RENAME THEM THE RAGING CRAZYWOMAN LOCK HER UP FITS. IN CLOSING -I\'M JUST HAPPY TO KNOW THAT I\'M NOT CRAZY , IT\'S THE MEDS. SORRY FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS WHEN IT ISN\'T NESSISARY.