Info, please.

[elleng]

Been on effexor for several years. Off last few days due to communication probs with pharmacy, nothing serious.

Feel pretty good, grey cloud NOT hanging around. No desire to continue on the stuff forever, tho understand very difficult to stop. Have supply now. OK to not resume? Thx

[elleng]

1. Thoughts, anyone?

[tosh]

2. Wow, elleng...

"feel pretty good, grey cloud NOT hanging around" - that's great!

Here's what happened with me. Was on it since 2004, max dosage 150 mg. Very tough year, dad dying, mom w/ alz, all kinds of drama and crises with the family business, etc., no siblings to help with any of this. All was good (depression/anxiety-wise) for a long time but then I started to lose motivation & interest. Seemed like depression but I didn't feel sad, just didn't care. Upped dosage, no difference. Doc passed away unexpectedly. Dropped dosage back down (gradually) to 75mg as I started to suspect the Effexor. Talked to a new doc who agreed that it could be hard to distinguish depression sx vs. drug effects. Dropped down to 37.5mg and stayed there for at least a year, then to every other day. Some better, but still not quite myself. In January, started on Prozac 10 mg daily along with Effexor 37.5 (QOD) for two weeks and then stopped the Effexor but kept on the Prozac. All was good as far as the physical stuff - brain zings, etc. - but what surprised me was this: about 7 - 10 days OFF the Effexor, I thought I was in the clear but then I had a bout of EXTREME irritability, really on edge and (fortunately!) not at all "ME". I upped the Prozac to 20 just for those few days, the edginess subsided & now I'm good.

Probably more than you wanted to know, but I hope it helps. I'd talk to doc & try something more benign if I were you. I'm not brave enough to go natural at this point. Maybe you'd be okay with that.

Let me know how it goes & best of luck. I was READY to get off.

[elleng]

3. Thanks for info, tosh.

Doc recognized depression (maybe '04) as not able to do things I should do. So began with lexapro, then effexor, varied dose, now 150. I've realized that probably consequence of string of things along with negative attitude from husband. In fact, just recognized (due to help of my attorney!) that husb is sociopath, so living with that probably ground it in, or aggravated symptoms.

Later, saw psychiatrist specialist in meds, who suggested adding 37.5. So taking both, until recently when 37.5 ran out, and have lived without it for couple weeks. Then ran out of 150 (transferring to Medco to save $, so just bureaucratic stuff) few days ago, so without anything last few days. Doc called pharmacy, so I now have 150 supply, but not taking. May just hang on for a while, and see what happens.

Things happening which require my attention, so will monitor. AND will be in touch, if I may!

Thanks SO MUCH!!!

E

[tosh]

4. You and I are of the fortunate few.

I read and heard many tales of individuals who do not withdraw so easily and some say that once you're on it, you never get off.

Please...feel free to get in touch anytime. :hi:

[elleng]

5. Thanks, again!

Just saw this again, so I think I'll keep some acetominophen with me!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=276x10189

:hi:

[hunter]

6. I've gone off twice. Wicked awful both times.

Next time I'm on that side of the Mental-Health-Merry-go-Round I'm gonna try something else.

Don't do anything alone.

I always do whatever I decide to do, against medical advice or not, but I also let the people holding my safety net know that I might be headed for a fall. It's much the same rules as for scuba diving in underwater caves or spelunking in old sewers -- don't go in alone and have somebody on the outside watching the safety rope.

I'd say more, there are plenty of med change tips both wise and foolish, some that might make your doctor cringe, but then my post would start to sound like medical advice and it's best not to take advice from some random crazy person on the internet.

[elleng]

7. THANK YOU! Advice accepted!

Phone calls to make now (and I'll be in touch!)

[EFerrari]

8. Seconded. n/t