Downbutnotout: Started a bridge to get off effexor

[Downbutnotout]

I went for the tms, and It didn’t work,! The machine would not connect to my brain. Apparently my pathway isn’t in the right place. This happens rarely, I am now off everything. I did it in anticipation of this. My doctor, who I hate, thiutght buspar would be a great idea. I’m contemplating just staying off everything. I still am taking trazadone. How about some support. They also thought electric shock treatment was a great idea. 

 

 

[bubble]

I merged the new thread you started with your existing thread. It's one thread per member so all the information is in one place.

 

I'm sorry about the tms especially since you had such high hopes. 

 

I'm afraid you will have to sort out your signature as we have asked you a number of times and add this new information about stopping 'everything' before we can provide any additional information.

[Downbutnotout]

How do I dirt out my signature? 

[bubble]

On ‎21‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 7:45 PM, baroquep said:

Without having more information with respect to your drug/tapering it will be difficult to make any specific recommendations.  We ask all of our members to fill out a signature so that all of your information can be read at a glance.  This helps moderators determine you current situation and we would ask that you follow the instructions at the link below.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

 •    Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
 •    A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
 •    Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
 •    Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
 •    Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.

     
To get you started, and familiarized with the protocols followed by SA, I am linking a few topics so that you have a better understanding of what is recommended here and the steps that you can take to minimize your withdrawal and successfully discontinue Effexor.  

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Protracted Withdrawal or PAWS (Post-Actute Withdrawal Syndrome)

 

 

[Downbutnotout]

1992 startedcon zoloft took until 1993 or 4

1997 took wellbutron firawhile. Pulled me out of a depression . I thought.

i don’t remember until I got on Effexor about 2001 or 2 

maybe before

tried celexa, ( made me suicidal) around the same time

Prozac, no reaction 

stayed on150 mg if effexor until 2014 reduced to 115 by 2013

took myself off too fast

Developed anxiety

had relapse after 3 months

took a lot of natural drugs ashagwanda, St. John’s wort , vitamin b

 

2013 was on zoloft low dose for around a month- developed anxiety

dr put me back on 75 Effexor at my request

 

 

 

 50 mg if trazadone for years so I could sleep with the Effexor. 

 

75 mg held me until 2017

Bad incident, relapse

June doctor put me on lithium 

I lasted for 10 days

july dr put me on loumoutrigine 

I lasted for 10 days

doctor added 15 mg Of deplin it made me hyper 

Kept taking 75 mg of

 Effexor. 

Oct 31 ago she added 10 mg prozac to get me off effexor. 

I was supposed to get up to 20 mg. 

I took it once . It made me hyper I quit the prozac

ive been off everything for 3 weeks in anticipation of tms

friday- Tms failed. Devastated 

 

I asked psychiatrist what to do . She suggested trying buspar which she has been pushing for months.

 

i have been taking propopol 1/2 gram for anxiety and about to 1 mg gram of avitan to control my anxiety since oct 31

 

When I mentioned 2 weeks to get off effexor was ridiculous, they strongly disagree. 

 

They pushed ect to to get me out if this depression when the tsm failed. 

 I was optimistic until the Tms failed. 

 I feel suicidal but then I can’t . If I go to the hospital they will shove pills at me. 

 

Is there a doctor in Columbus Ohio that subscribes to your philosophy? 

 

Hiw else can can I do this? 

 

Is is the buspar harmful? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Downbutnotout]

I went to my doctor yesterday who assumed me I’d never get out of my depression if I didn’t find an antidepressant that worked. Just keep trying she said or I’ll stay the way I am forever. I feel so disheartened. Is there any place I can physically go for support. I am off buspar for several days. I was only on for 10. It made me crazy. I’ve been off effexor for 3 weeks. The doctor s don’t believe in this paws thing. I’ve called several and none of them do. So I have no support whatsoever. I even called the integrative clinic and the nurse practitioner poo pooed it. I’m still on trazadone. I have had to take ativan so I’m getting hooked on that. I feel that I want to die because I’m so depressed and hopeless, 

[apace41]

DBNO,

 

I moved your post from Success Stories to your own thread because it (i) is not a success story and (ii) has to do with your personal journey.  I am sorry to hear that you had that experience but, of course, we all know this is commonplace and extremely frustrating/depressing.  Finding "on the ground" support can be very challenging, hence the importance of this website as a place to go for support as you move forward.  The advice you received, as you are aware, is ludicrous, as the science shows that antidepressants are virtually indistinguishable from placebo in terms of helping with depression.  It is very hard when doctors "don't believe in" science.

 

Makes me so angry.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[Downbutnotout]

So getting off effexor in one month ,going to buspar and having to get off it in 3 days is making this impossible? None of the professionals I go to give this any credibility. The buspar made me aggressive. I attacked both myself, biting my arm, and attacked my husband. I am not an aggressive person. These drugs have pretty much destroyed me. I’m still on trazadone. The psychiatrist wants me to try something else; vibriud and my internist said if I don’t find a medicine I will stay in the state I’m in forever. So what do I do. Who do I believe. Now I’m scared of trying any of these drugs because what they’ve done to me, especially the last week. I tried buspar for 11 days since she said the side effects will resolve. So help. Is there anyone on this site who lives in Columbus Ohio, or someone I could talk to on the telephone.

[Altostrata]

Hello, Downbno. Seems like you and Buspar don't get along. If I were you, I wouldn't try it again.

 

This site exists because people are not finding their doctors know anything about withdrawal syndrome. You are not an isolated case. Most of the people here have had bad advice from their doctors and are paying the price.

 

Given that, we tend not to send people to doctors for treatment of withdrawal syndrome (although we are happy to post referrals for doctors who get it), we urge self-care.

 

Stop looking in the garbage can for your supper. If you have not found the advice of the psychiatrist to be helpful, remove him or her from your payroll. Any physician can write a prescription for psychiatric drugs.

 

You are also exhibiting a lot of exaggerated emotion. You will need to manage that to take care of yourself. Please re-read:

 

On 10/27/2017 at 3:19 PM, Altostrata said:

Hello, downbutnotout.

 

When you say Prozac makes you hyper, how do you know it's the Prozac? What time of day do you take each of your drugs, and at what dosage? Do you get "hyper" at particular times of day?

 

Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages.

 

You clearly don't like your psychiatrist. Do you communicate better with your GP or other doctor? Any doctor can prescribe these drugs, and may be more willing to help you go off them.

 

If methylfolate makes you hyper, don't take it.

 

Please stop trying to find drug solutions for your symptoms while you are going through this drug chaos. The symptoms may be side effects from the drugs or the drug changes you've made. The more drug changes you make, the more confusing the situation gets.

 

In any case, you're going to have to learn how to manage any emotional symptoms you get going off drugs. Please see

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

Dealing With Emotional Spirals

Neuro-emotions

 

We have found that going off psychiatric drugs too fast often makes people hypersensitive to other drugs, supplements, and even foods. That might have happened to you.

 

Since all of this chaos started when you were trying to go off Effexor, you might reinstate a tiny amount and see if that helps. Do you have any Effexor left? What is the dosage? If you have some capsules, if I were you, I'd open a capsule and take perhaps 5 beads to start, see if it helps. Keep notes on paper (as requested before) and let us know how you're doing.

[Downbutnotout]

I don’t know what to do. I’ve been depressed for 6 months. I am unstable right now. I don’t know where to turn. I’ve been off effexor for 5 weeks. I did take 5 beads the other day that was suggested. It put me in a firestorm, threatening to put myself down the stairs, fighting with my husband physically, upset. Today I tried to act normally. I mistakenly took vitamin d 2000 Mg, I took fish oil. Both major blunders. I tried to exercise. I went to a group where I used to be happy. I only have a memory of my other life when I was stable and could enjoy myself and didn’t hate myself so much. I am also getting off ativan. I wasn’t taking that much, but it is effecting me. Now, I can’t take it all all because it makes me crazy. I don’t know what to do. I tried meditating today, I tried Zumba, I tried playing mahjong, I burst out in tears in the car. I am mad because these medical people messed me up. I have prozac, I don’t know whether I should start taking it. I can’t live like this. I’m going to have to kill myself. 

[Downbutnotout]

I don’t know what to do. I’ve been depressed for 6 months. I am unstable right now. I don’t know where to turn. I’ve been off effexor for 5 weeks. I did take 5 beads the other day that was suggested. It put me in a firestorm, threatening to put myself down the stairs, fighting with my husband physically, upset. Today I tried to act normally. I mistakenly took vitamin d 2000 Mg, I took fish oil. Both major blunders. I tried to exercise. I went to a group where I used to be happy. I only have a memory of my other life when I was stable and could enjoy myself and didn’t hate myself so much. I am also getting off ativan. I wasn’t taking that much, but it is effecting me. Now, I can’t take it all all because it makes me crazy. I don’t know what to do. I tried meditating today, I tried Zumba, I tried playing mahjong, I burst out in tears in the car. I am mad because these medical people messed me up. I have prozac, I don’t know whether I should start taking it. I can’t live like this. I’m going to have to kill myself. I don’t see any other way out of this. They are going to push ect on me, and drugs. I have to kill self. 

[Downbutnotout]

I don’t know what to do. I’ve been depressed for 6 months. I am unstable right now. I don’t know where to turn. I’ve been off effexor for 5 weeks. I did take 5 beads the other day that was suggested. It put me in a firestorm, threatening to put myself down the stairs, fighting with my husband physically, upset. Today I tried to act normally. I mistakenly took vitamin d 2000 Mg, I took fish oil. Both major blunders. I tried to exercise. I went to a group where I used to be happy. I only have a memory of my other life when I was stable and could enjoy myself and didn’t hate myself so much. I am also getting  off ativan. I wasn’t taking that much, but it is effecting me. Now, I can’t take it all all because it makes me crazy. I don’t know what to do. I tried meditating today, I tried Zumba, I tried playing mahjong, I burst out in tears in the car. I am mad because these medical people messed me up. I have prozac, I don’t know whether I should start taking it. I can’t live like this. 

[bheb]

Downbutnotout, it seems like you need to help in person. Can you please tell someone close to you that you're having suicidal thoughts? 

 

You mentioned two supplements and reinstatement that made you worse, so avoid those in the future so you won't have such a low point like you are at now. Hopefully things will settle down at least a bit after those reactions.

 

Were you on Prozac before? Or did you just get prescribed? 

 

Im sorry you feel so terrible and for so long. Hang on.

[Downbutnotout]

I do have my husband. I don’t want to go to a hospital where they will give me more drugs and push ect on me. Maybe it will be better tomorrow. I was given ptozac when the idiotic psychiatrist formed off effexor in 2 weeks.

[baroquep]

On 2017-11-24 at 2:50 PM, Altostrata said:

Since all of this chaos started when you were trying to go off Effexor, you might reinstate a tiny amount and see if that helps. Do you have any Effexor left? What is the dosage? If you have some capsules, if I were you, I'd open a capsule and take perhaps 5 beads to start, see if it helps. Keep notes on paper (as requested before) and let us know how you're doing.

 

Downbutnotout, I am really sorry that you are feeling such despair.  It angers me that these doctors don't have a clue what they are doing to people when they take people off of these drugs so quickly.  As bheb said, you really do need to see someone as soon as you are able to in order to walk you through what you are dealing with presently.  

 

Have you given anymore thought to reinstating a small amount of Effexor?  As Altostrata mentioned, even 5 beads might be enough to take the edge off of the panic and despair.  In case you are not already aware, suicidal thoughts are a common symptom of withdrawal and unfortunately something that many people have to deal with.  It certainly doesn't make it any less frightening, but sometimes knowing that it is a withdrawal symptom can help ease your mind.  Please let us know what you decide, whether you would like to reinstate or not and please when you wake up tomorrow, could you please call a counsellor/psychologist so that they can help walk you through these uncomfortable emotions.  

 

I've attached a couple of links where you might be able to find support in the United States.

 

Family Service Association

Ohio Suicide Hotlines

Columbus, Ohio Suicide hotline: (614) 221-5445

North Central Mental Health Services

I am also attaching a few links for you to read when you are in a better frame of mind that might help you to understand the symptoms that people can experience while going through withdrawal.  Because you came off of Effexor so quickly, you are likely feeling these symptoms at a very intense and dangerous level and I would encourage you to seek support in your community as soon as you are able to make arrangements.

Neuro Emotions

Intrusive Thoughts and Increased Panic

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

Please let us know how you are doing.

Edited November 30, 2017 by baroquep

[Downbutnotout]

I have never felt this hopeless in my life. I’m wondering if I should just go back on all the damn drugs. I am completely dysfunctional. My depression is horrible. I just emailed the psychiatrist who I’m sure will tell me another new stupid idea. I told her I might want to get back on effexor and titrate down. I wish there was a place to go that helped with this withdrawal thing. 

 

When I tried the effexor the other day, the 5 beads, it made me a little crazy. I got really suicidal at that point. I’ve been doing things like threatening to go down the stairs and acting really crazy. My poor husband had a break down yesterday. So now I’m nervous to do that. 

 

My depression is really bad so maybe now isn’t the best time to do this? But now I don’t trust the medical profession at all. Not at all. 

 

[Marmot]

Hey Downbutnotout,

 

It sounds like things are really rough for you right now. If reinstating isn't working and you don't want to see a doctor, maybe you could make an appointment with an easy-going counsellor or an art therapist or someone less medical, just to talk about coping with these painful feelings. I've heard that withdrawal doesn't last forever. 

 

Peace,

Marmot

[Downbutnotout]

For some reason I calmed down tonight after being super depressed all day.

[Marmot]

22 minutes ago, Downbutnotout said:

For some reason I calmed down tonight after being super depressed all day.

Really glad to hear that 

[Juan]

Hey Downbutnotout,

I'm sorry about your W/D situation, how is your sleep? 

I bet it's difficult for your husband too 

Take care,

Blessings

 

[Downbutnotout]

My psychiatrist told me to add another trazadone. I already had. I’m conflicted between getting off this stuff or thinking I have no other choice but to stay on it. 

[Downbutnotout]

My personality is gone, my ability to experience happiness is gone. Has anyone gotten those things back after stopping this garbage? I went on the website point I’d return.  and there is testimonial after testimonial saying they got themselves back. What am I doing adding more to the mix? Why doesn’t the Jedi cal community believe in adding back the effexor snd tsoering from there? Who can I believe???

[Downbutnotout]

I developed an eye twitch today.im really frustrated today. I realize I’m really a drug addict

[Survivor1]

DBNO,

 

So sorry you are feeling so down.  It is important to find some way of distracting from the worse symptoms. Find a confidante, counsellor is good suggestion.  WD is terrible.  I just wanted to lend some support during this difficult time ... Best

[Marmot]

Hey DBNO,

 

How are you doing now? Is there anything that you can do to make yourself feel even just a tiny little bit better? For example, I read the news and take warm baths to distract myself. Do you have anything like that too?  By the way, an eye twitch doesn't make someone an addict! 

 

Peace,

Marmot

[nz11]

Hi DBNO

Just a gentle reminder only one intro thread per person.

By the way eye twitching is a very common wdl symptom and also side effect so it may not have been caused by the trazodone.

If you are now taking trazodone are you able to update your drug sig.

Assuming that the next drug being offered by the doctor is safe and helpful is very unwise and will imo simply continue the revolving door and make things even more complicated than they are. Please consider saying NO!

It would really be very helpful to put only drugs and doses and dates in the drug sig.

[Downbutnotout]

After reading about how to taper I now realize its too late for me. I wouldn’t know where to start now?

 

I messed up several years ago when I got off too fast. Now I’ve gotten off a whole lot of stuff in the last 6 months. When I finally caved and took the extra trazadone:50 mg I got only tremors in my eye; it’s also my leg. So I know it’s the drug. I am certain my nervous system is completely shot to pieces.

  

So im messed up forever. I was so miserable this afternoon I had to take it.now I’m tremoring like crazy. My eye and leg. My daughters are saying “ trust the medical profession. 

 

i see her weds, the psychiatrist. 

 

Should I ljust cancel the appointment, take the 5 effexor beads; and start cutting the trazadone;

 

i really feel feel like my life is completely over.

i feel like printing put the guide and dropping it off to her about tapering. 

 

Has as there been anyone else so messed  that came back.(

 

 

[Downbutnotout]

 Things are going from bad to worse. I had cut out everything. I could always tolerate trazadone. So, the psychiatrist suggested I up it. I noticed a tremor in my eye yesterday. Everyone said I was imagining it. I cut the trazadone back to 50 last night. Today, I couldn’t even go out or function because I was so depressed and miserable. So, I figured what to do. So I took a 50. The depression calmed down, but now I have a tremor in my leg plus my eye. I am really frightened. 

 

I also ready how to taper and realize I am so messed up because my tapers were nonexistent.  I really messed myself up several years ago when I got off my Effexor in two weeks. The psychiatrist really messed me up in the last six months. She took me off effexor using prozac in 3 weeks. I was also on lithium for 10 days, lamactil for 10 days, effexor for 150 mgs. I now realize when I went off 2 years ago, I made it impossible to go back on 150 mg again. She had me on 75 for 3 years and I felt no ill effects. Until i had an incident that shook me up. I actually think it was wearing off before then. 

 

I was taken off effexor with prozac in two weeks. I also was on buspar with disasterous results for 10 days. 

 

So my question is what should I do now. I know the doctors don’t understand this discontinuation theory. Should I hide out in my house with my remaining drugs. I have enough to take beads out. I was told by Altostrata to try taking out 5 beads of effexor. Well I started that but I had a hysterical reaction. Ive had a lot of hysterical and violent reactions since the buspar. 

 

There is absolutely no mental health center in columbus, ohio, where I can go and they’re going to understand this discontinuation theory. 

 

I’ve never been so scared in my life. 

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Hi DBNO,

 

Each member has 1 Intro topic.  I have merged another topic you have created with your Intro topic.  Your Intro topic is where you post questions about your own situation and journal your progress.  This way all of your information is in one place.

[Downbutnotout]

After reading about how to taper I now realize its too late for me. I wouldn’t know where to start now?

 

I messed up several years ago when I got off too fast. Now I’ve gotten off a whole lot of stuff in the last 6 months. When I finally caved and took the extra trazadone:50 mg I got only tremors in my eye; it’s also my leg. So I know it’s the drug. I am certain my nervous system is completely shot to pieces.

  

So im messed up forever. I was so miserable this afternoon I had to take it.now I’m tremoring like crazy. My eye and leg. My daughters are saying “ trust the medical profession. 

 

i see her weds, the psychiatrist. 

 

Should I ljust cancel the appointment, take the 5 effexor beads; and start cutting the trazadone;

 

i really feel feel like my life is completely over.

i feel like printing put the guide and dropping it off to her about tapering. 

 

Has as there been anyone else so messed  that came back.(

 

[Downbutnotout]

How do I post? 

[Downbutnotout]

6 hours ago, nz11 said:

Hi DBNO

Just a gentle reminder only one intro thread per person.

By the way eye twitching is a very common wdl symptom and also side effect so it may not have been caused by the trazodone.

If you are now taking trazodone are you able to update your drug sig.

Assuming that the next drug being offered by the doctor is safe and helpful is very unwise and will imo simply continue the revolving door and make things even more complicated than they are. Please consider saying NO!

It would really be very helpful to put only drugs and doses and dates in the drug sig.

 

[Downbutnotout]

How do I post? I’m confused about how to do this. 

[ChessieCat]

You post in this topic, just like you have made the above post.

[nz11]

4 hours ago, Downbutnotout said:

Should I just cancel the appointment

What are you expecting to come from this appointment. 

 

Last time you saw them I think you said they were suggesting electric shock treatment. 

 

[Downbutnotout]

On 10/22/2017 at 12:05 PM, Downbutnotout said:

Thanks . I already emailed the  evil psychiatrist and told her maybe I should go back on the Effexor before the tms. I can’t feel unstable before I start it. I think she thinks it’s like giving up aspirin. Actually, I don’t feel that bad, but if course I’m anxious and depressed. I’m only taking 10 mg of Prozac right now. I was on 75 mg of Effexor 2 weeks ago. I was doing okay before the tms came up. It’s not like taking a walk in the park either. I hate psychiatrists, pills and The mental health system. 6 months ago I was relatively happy with my life. I’ve taken a big slide. Definitely discuss my situation. I appreciate it. This foolish psychiatrist suggested I give up everything. Prozac too. I’ve only taken 10 mg of that for 8 days. I’m hoping I don’t have a withdrawal from that too.