It’s amazing the number of visitors that I continue to get to my old post about Effexor–and I know why. Scores of people are taking this medication, want to get off of it, but are finding it very difficult. I can’t begin to tell you how many letters and blogs that I’ve read, written by people trying to rid their lives of Effexor. If you are one of those people, believe me…I feel your pain! Because of this, I have decided to share a second post about my experience with Effexor, and my life without it.
I was prescribed Effexor by my rheumatologist about eight years ago–not for depression, but to help in my treatment of fibromyalgia and a “rheumatoid arthritis-like” disease. Antidepressants can help a person deal with chronic pain more easily, although my doctor actually didn’t present the idea to me in that way…he suggested it might help me lose a little weight… Little did I know that Effexor is the most addictive antidepressant on the market today!
In February of this year, after contemplating it, and discussing it with the doctor, I made the decision to stop taking Effexor. I never was depressed, didn’t have much chronic pain anymore, hadn’t lost any weight, and I just figured eight years was long enough! I had begun to question what the medication may be doing to my body. Effexor also kills your sex drive, and I was tired of feeling that way.
I tapered off the drug very slowly, as recommended, and I took my last dose of Effexor(a half a tablet) a week before Easter. I didn’t think it would be any big deal to stop taking it…Boy was I wrong!
By Easter, I was a basket case. I could not sleep at all. My emotions were out of control, my stomach was upset, I couldn’t stand any noise, and my head never stopped aching. I thought I was going insane. I had to wear sunglasses inside the house because my eyes were so sensitive to light. Sometimes I would lay on the couch while these horrible shooting pains went through my body in waves. Although I’d never been depressed, I became depressed. I spent the entire month of April in that condition. It was a living hell…
Even though my head ached, I spent hours on the computer searching for answers. I was desperate to find a remedy for the withdrawal symptoms that were plaguing me. I finally found my answer on a site http://www.theroadback.org I highly recommend this site for anyone suffering from Effexor withdrawal!
Their program uses Omega 3 fish oil capsules, Vitamin E, Biotin, and calming veggie capsules (Montmorency cherry powder) to relieve the withdrawal symptoms. There is a link to order these supplements on the site. The site has directions for taking the supplements and tapering off your prescription drugs. I was desperate, and didn’t wait to order the Omega 3 fish oil. I sent my daughter to the store for some the day I discovered the site. I already had some Vitamin E. I ordered the Biotin(didn’t know the drugstore carried it) and the Body Calm capsules. They arrived in less than a week.
The fish oil brought some immediate relief , but it took about two weeks of taking all of the supplements to get total relief. It was a gradual process. My eyes got less sensitive, I got calmer, and the headaches were less intense. I’ve been on the supplements for six weeks, and I am doing great! I have been symptom free for over a month. I am as good as new! It’s recommended to take the supplements for 45 days after experiencing the last symptoms, so I have about 2 weeks to go before finishing the program.
Who would have ever thought that fish oil would stop withdrawal headaches? I had to take the maximum dosage of 4 capsules, twice a day to get total relief, but what a great feeling it was to get relief! That was a pain that nothing else would even touch! I hope I never experience anything like that again.
I’m so happy to be free of Effexor, and feeling like myself again. I have my life back again! If you have never taken Effexor, please think twice about it before you start…For any of you who take Effexor, and are happy with it, just tuck this information away in the back of your mind in case you ever need it…you never know.
