SSRIs

Question:

Been off for about 11 months now, Hawk…MAOIs seem to work better for me. Jim "…sick of living unwilling to die" Words scratched into a Riverside, CA library desk. Attributed to the Zodiac, 1967.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I went off 375 mg Effexor cold turkey and definitely ADA…but it was making > me > so fucking ill every day, I mistrusted anyone who would keep me on it. (I > mean, > I was so sick to my stomach ’cause of all the serotonin stimulation I had > completely stopped eating). > Withdrawal? I was hearing ghosts…awake I was fine, but at night, trying to > sleep I had horrifying auditory hallucinations. Took about ten days… > That and the mania induced by Zoloft have been my worst experiences with ADs. > My new pdoc jokes that we’ll try new medications and with my luck all I’ll get > is the side effects…that isn’t very funny, is it? > Jim > "…sick of living unwilling to die" > Words scratched into a Riverside, CA library desk. Attributed to the Zodiac, > 1967.

Jim;  Instead of getting off the Effexor completely, why not just take less? I only take 75mg/day and I don’t get sick like that. Just a suggestion. Hawk

Response:

I became permanent in a Pre-IPO internet startup, so by going salary, I get a lot of stock options.  Lithium makes me feel hot all the time, so here in Texas in the 110 degree heat, it’s sucking real hard. Thanks Karubin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I know how you feel…hang in there man! > Calvin > Yeah…don’t have much choice, do I? It’s really odd, though… > considering the wide variety of drugs people tend to get better > on…and the wonder stories I hear of people getting MUCH better, one > would figure that I would have hit upon least one thing in the past six > years that would do the trick….scratch that, the Seroquel helps a bit. > I’m not working right now…when I was working the anxiety was > unbearable…now the anxiety about NOT working is just toxic. > Why did you go to salary? It sounds to me like you work long & hard > enough that hourly & OT would be more profitable. > Before you buy.

Response:

I was on 225 mg a day of Effexor.  Everytime I just quit I started getting these weird sensations that felt like a thousand little pin-pricks up and down my body, but mostly on my scalp and down my backbone.  Everytime I yawned, I would get this little tremor-like shake.  How I quit?  I dropped my dosage down a little at a time and would stay on it for a week.  When I got down to 75 mg, I would open up the capsule(i had time release) and empty 1/4 out for a while.  Then I started emptying 1/2 out.  After that, I took the "half" amout whenever I felt tremors or those weird sensations, which was by that point every 1 and 1/2 days.  After a couple of those, it went to every 3 days and then nothing.  I had no withdrawals by the time I quit. The only drug I took during this process is Clonazepam (Klonopin).  That is for my anxiety.  After being at 150 mg and starting downward, the entire process took 2 and 1/2 to 3 weeks Karubin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My pdoc wanted to take me off Effexor. Actually > we tried to  wean me off it a couple months ago. I could not get below > 75mg. I am on 150mg now. So, he put me on Lamictal increasing it and he > was going to start weaning me off it again. When I noticed I wouldn’t be > well when my daughter would be having a baby I was able to stay on my > regime for awhile longer. > MY QUESTION IS: how many mg. of effexor were you on. And how did you get > off. What was it totally like withdrawing. I guess I am paranoid. I went > through withdrawl on elavil 10 years ago and it was not fun. Did your > doc give you anything to counteract or help you with withdrawl…. GEE I > AM SO EXCITED CAN’T YOU TELL. Any info would be greatly appreciated. > Thank you, > Mary

Response:

I went off 375 mg Effexor cold turkey and definitely ADA…but it was making me so fucking ill every day, I mistrusted anyone who would keep me on it. (I mean, I was so sick to my stomach ’cause of all the serotonin stimulation I had completely stopped eating). Withdrawal? I was hearing ghosts…awake I was fine, but at night, trying to sleep I had horrifying auditory hallucinations. Took about ten days… That and the mania induced by Zoloft have been my worst experiences with ADs. My new pdoc jokes that we’ll try new medications and with my luck all I’ll get is the side effects…that isn’t very funny, is it? Jim "…sick of living unwilling to die" Words scratched into a Riverside, CA library desk. Attributed to the Zodiac, 1967.

Response:

I know how you feel…hang in there man! Calvin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I went off 375 mg Effexor cold turkey and definitely ADA…but it was making me > so fucking ill every day, I mistrusted anyone who would keep me on it. (I mean, > I was so sick to my stomach ’cause of all the serotonin stimulation I had > completely stopped eating). > Withdrawal? I was hearing ghosts…awake I was fine, but at night, trying to > sleep I had horrifying auditory hallucinations. Took about ten days… > That and the mania induced by Zoloft have been my worst experiences with ADs. > My new pdoc jokes that we’ll try new medications and with my luck all I’ll get > is the side effects…that isn’t very funny, is it? > Jim > "…sick of living unwilling to die" > Words scratched into a Riverside, CA library desk. Attributed to the Zodiac, > 1967.

Response:

Karubin, Yeah, the rather unfortunate side effect of bipolar illness is that (at least some of the time), one IS aware of having the illness because it makes one so goddamn miserable. Lithium is not real nice. Almost all of the drugs used to treat bipolar can have some real nasty side-effects. But, it’s better than the side effects of uncontrolled bipolar…which can include jail time, forced hospitalization and suicide. Most of the side effects are easier to take than a police baton across the kidneys. I hope the Li helps the sleeplessness…I find that insomnia and anxiety really hurt. If it doesn’t, make sure your pdoc knows. There are some meds available that can really help and aren’t too expensive. Jim "…sick of living unwilling to die" Words scratched into a Riverside, CA library desk. Attributed to the Zodiac, 1967.

Response:

funny thing is that I only have anxiety when I’m NOT at work.  I guess I’m so busy working on new software or something that I don’t even think about it.  When I have idle time, it kicks into high gear.  I spend most of the time on the high side of BP and can easily work for 20-30 hours straight or 90 hours a week.  Too bad I just switched to salary..:-( Thanks Karubin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Karubin, > Yeah, the rather unfortunate side effect of bipolar illness is that (at least > some of the time), one IS aware of having the illness because it makes one so > goddamn miserable. > Lithium is not real nice. Almost all of the drugs used to treat bipolar can > have some real nasty side-effects. But, it’s better than the side effects of > uncontrolled bipolar…which can include jail time, forced hospitalization and > suicide. Most of the side effects are easier to take than a police baton across > the kidneys. > I hope the Li helps the sleeplessness…I find that insomnia and anxiety really > hurt. If it doesn’t, make sure your pdoc knows. There are some meds available > that can really help and aren’t too expensive. > Jim > "…sick of living unwilling to die" > Words scratched into a Riverside, CA library desk. Attributed to the Zodiac, > 1967.

Response:

I have tried almost all the SSRIs, but they had many side effects.  Effexor was hell to quit.  Most of the other people I meet that have Anxiety are very intelligent.  I guess we think about things too much.  Thank you for replying! Karubin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Yes, yes I research bipolar disorder, and all my meds too. It is good to > keep yourself informed. > It calms me, I just have to not focus on all the adverse side effects. > Unless of corse I am having a problem then look and talk to your pdoc > about it. When I am depressed my brain tends to dwell dwell on certain > issues. It is hard if not impossible to wake up out of there. > I am on lithium too. I started on Effexor, went to lithium then Eskaleth > ( time released lithium) and now I am on Lamictal… Each one does there > own thing on my brain and man, I am so much better finally. Remember, > our illness is like asthma, diabetes, or any life threatening > disease. We need our meds to survive. And I guarentee it would not be > better to be nuts and not realize you are crazy. That is misleading > thought because you would know it ( on some level) and it would be > mental hell but awake. > Been there NEVER want to go back. > I hope you meds are beginning to work. > Good luck on your journey. > Mary

Response:

My pdoc wanted to take me off Effexor. Actually we tried to  wean me off it a couple months ago. I could not get below 75mg. I am on 150mg now. So, he put me on Lamictal increasing it and he was going to start weaning me off it again. When I noticed I wouldn’t be well when my daughter would be having a baby I was able to stay on my regime for awhile longer. MY QUESTION IS: how many mg. of effexor were you on. And how did you get off. What was it totally like withdrawing. I guess I am paranoid. I went through withdrawl on elavil 10 years ago and it was not fun. Did your doc give you anything to counteract or help you with withdrawl…. GEE I AM SO EXCITED CAN’T YOU TELL. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mary

Response:

Hello, Getting back on lithium again.  Found out my 1st doctor was a quack and my second one looks promising.  I hope it kicks in soon because I would like to be able to go to bed for more than four hours.  I hate always thinking I am going to have a heart attack or cancer.  I think I spend most of my time on the manic side.  I just bought a domain called www.anxietycentral.net and I will probably have it up and running in a couple of weeks.  I don’t know why I’ve got to read and research every thing I take.  Reading about the side effects makes me have more anxiety.  Sometimes I think I just can’t take it any more.  Why do I need to take drugs to lead a normal life?  I think it would be easier to be nuts and just not realize it. karubin

Response:

Yes, yes I research bipolar disorder, and all my meds too. It is good to keep yourself informed. It calms me, I just have to not focus on all the adverse side effects. Unless of corse I am having a problem then look and talk to your pdoc about it. When I am depressed my brain tends to dwell dwell on certain issues. It is hard if not impossible to wake up out of there. I am on lithium too. I started on Effexor, went to lithium then Eskaleth ( time released lithium) and now I am on Lamictal… Each one does there own thing on my brain and man, I am so much better finally. Remember, our illness is like asthma, diabetes, or any life threatening disease. We need our meds to survive. And I guarentee it would not be better to be nuts and not realize you are crazy. That is misleading thought because you would know it ( on some level) and it would be mental hell but awake. Been there NEVER want to go back. I hope you meds are beginning to work. Good luck on your journey. Mary

Response:

Too late. Isabel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, > I think it > would be easier to be nuts and just not realize it. > karubin

Response: