Hello...I'm new here....looking for support...

[kerosene]

I hate to admit this, because this is more revealing than I usually am on the cellar, but I have taken Effexor, and yes, I gained weight, had "brain jolts" as you call them and had a horrible time getting off it. The "brain jolts" are unbearable when they occur every 5 seconds. Like you, I got down to 0 from 300 and couldn't stand it. I even got to the point where I was counting granules to ease myself off as slowly as possible, but it was still awful. Sometimes, I would get myself drunk, just to soften the withdrawals...it helped a little. Finally. after having tried for several months to get off the stuff, I made a gradual switch to zoloft and then a gradual switch to Welbutrin and then off Welbutrin. This method worked for me, because moving to a different medication didn't cause the withdrawal symptoms and getting off Welbutrin wasn't difficult for me. Yes, Effexor also caused ugly side effects for me, and I have heard this about a lot of other people using the drug. Sex drive suffered, too. I feel much better, now, not being medicated at all. It has been several months since I got off anti-depressants and I have lost the weight I had gained while taking them and feel good. I think they were helpful in some ways, but I wouldn't do it again, just due to the side effects.

I have a close friend who took Lexapro. It worked well for him for a while, but wore off over time until he was at the max dose. Then it stopped "working". He finally just got off the drug. He had some of the same symptoms that I had with Effexor. I don't think they were nearly as strong as mine, though, from what he tells me. He gained weight on the medicine and found it extremely difficult to take the weight off. Once he stopped taking the medicine, his weight was as easily lost as it was before he took Lexapro.

I have known people that had no real trouble getting off these drugs or even taking them.

[goldencomfort1968]

Well....this Sunday will be two weeks since my very last dose of Effexor. I have felt good for the past week. Still get the "brain jolts" very rarely and they aren't as bad when they do happen. For the most part, I am feeling good. I have so much more energy now and I feel like I'm starting to lose the weight I gained.

I really appreciate all your support here. It's so comforting in an otherwise lonely situation of going off Effexor.

Thanks!
{{hugs}}

[Beestie]

That's one thing about the Cellar that is unmatched in internetdom. Everyone here, it seems, has at least one notch in their belt from emerging victorious in their personal battle with some gawd-awful dragon.

Your personal victory is sufficient gratification. But, now that all you have to worry about is an 800 pound dragon carcass in your driveway, perhaps you can stay a bit and jump in a thread or two.

Personally, I'd be interested to hear more about Wyoming - a beautiful state from what I hear but I know very little about it.

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by Beestie

That's one thing about the Cellar that is unmatched in internetdom. Everyone here, it seems, has at least one notch in their belt from emerging victorious in their personal battle with some gawd-awful dragon.

Your personal victory is sufficient gratification. But, now that all you have to worry about is an 800 pound dragon carcass in your driveway, perhaps you can stay a bit and jump in a thread or two.

Personally, I'd be interested to hear more about Wyoming - a beautiful state from what I hear but I know very little about it.

Nice post

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by Beestie

That's one thing about the Cellar that is unmatched in internetdom. Everyone here, it seems, has at least one notch in their belt from emerging victorious in their personal battle with some gawd-awful dragon.

I actually hadn't noticed that, but it may well be true.

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by Beestie

That's one thing about the Cellar that is unmatched in internetdom. Everyone here, it seems, has at least one notch in their belt from emerging victorious in their personal battle with some gawd-awful dragon.

I thought that was just sardonic wit maggie.

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by skysidhe

I thought that was just sardonic wit maggie.

Maybe. I was perhaps thinking only of the old skool Dwellars; most of whom have led interesting lives.

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Maybe. I was perhaps thinking only of the old skool Dwellars; most of whom have led interesting lives.

Then I wish they would come back and share.

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by skysidhe

Then I wish they would come back and share.

Well, that's what archives are for. :-)

Also, the sharing of life stories here has been episodic, and driven by the topic under discussion.

[LabRat]

Lexapro update.

Last Thursday was a 1 week check up with the doc after being on 5mg for 7 days. The only thing I noticed was several nights in a row of very vivid dreams that I remembered when I woke up. Nothing crazy, some slightly scary though. I mentioned that to her, and she said that was a good sign that the serotonin was increasing in my brain. I didn't notice any other side effects. So, we went up to 10mg (official theraputic dose) starting last Friday. Saturday, my husband and I replaced a ceiling fan in our living room. We actually went to Menards, picked one out, took down the old one, then put up the new one and I never raised my voice or got any uptight tense feelings. In fact, he was the one who got testy a few times. I honestly don't think we have ever worked together that seamlessly ever. We've been married over 7 years.

The thing I have noticed now, though, is a headache back behind my ears about 9 hours after I take my pill. I am going to gradually take it a couple hours later, so that the headache would hit when I am asleep and see if that makes any difference. I am still having vivid dreams. Last night I was delivering pizza with Aston Kutcher. (That 70's Show, Demi Moores boy toy). He drove. I did the deliveries. WTF?! I have noticed that when I wake up, I actually feel RESTED, not like I was just hit by a truck. It's so much easier to get out of bed and get going. I ran in the morning for the first time in weeks yesterday. Another thing is that for forever, I could never find the right word when I was trying to talk (or post). It felt hard to think, and my concentration was getting worse and worse. It was taking me twice the effort to get the same amount of work done. At one point I actually wondered if I had a brain tumor. Seriously. I swear that my mind feels quicker. Not smarter, but quicker. When I need to do something, I just do it, I don't have to concentrate so long or hard. I don't think these things are placebo effects, I really think Zoloft either A. wasn't working, or B. was f-ing me up more. My next appointment is in another week or so. It's still early, but so far, aside from the headache, all I really have to say are positive things.

[LabRat]

PS.
I'm glad to hear yu are feeling better, GC68! Check out the rest of the place!

[Sundae]

I'm back at work and on the board after being diagnosed with depression and having been signed off since March. I've only just started on medication really, so I can't offer any relevant information on coming off it. Just didn't want to start a new thread specifically to talk about me!

I was started on fluoxetine in March and after a week things had gone downhill so badly that I spent half the night on the phone to the Samaritans. Lovely chap called Tim with a down to earth Blackburn accent reassured me that the beds on mental health wards were far too full for them to section people who could still talk as rationally as I did. Fortunately for him the sun comes up early in Spring, and I could cope better by then!

Am now on paroxetine hycrochloride 20mg and it is working much better. I am over the side effects mostly, just twitching occasionally. Would rather have kept the loss of appetite! The fact that I am capable of coming into the workplace shows that it must be working, otherwise I'd still be catatonic on my sofa, but it's taking a lot of effort. I had hoped the drugs would suddenly kick in and I would no longer have to fight apathy to do even simple things like maintain personal hygiene, but it seems to be small steps uphill at present. Just have to keep reminding myself that even small steps are steps.

Glad to be back for the intelligence, the wit and the irreverance as much as the support. You folks got a good place here.

[glatt]

Welcome back Sundae Girl. I had wondered at one point where you had gone. Obviously, I had no idea you were going through such a rough time. I'm glad you are feeling well enough that you are able to function, and hope things continue to improve for you. Here's some good vibes for you.

[Undertoad]

It'll take quite some time for the full effects to kick in. You'll know it's working when you find the world colorful again.

A large percentage of Paroxetine users find they have no sense of hunger while on the drug. If you thought there might be a link between depression and hunger imbalance, there it is in the brain chemistry.

[Trilby]

I'm so glad Sundae Girl is back! I so missed her! (She's really my long lost twin in England) Here's a hug and good vibes your way, Sundae. Two mantra's that have been a bit of help to me: "This too shall pass", and, "I won't feel this way forever!"

back!