The hell is over · 9:52pm Apr 14th, 2016
More real life rubbish and whining under the cut.
So, yeah. The hell is over...but only because I went back on the meds.
I've never experienced anything like that. Imagine the worst flu you've ever had coupled with the worst hangover along with other unpleasant TMI stuff I won't discuss here. Plus those weird brain zap/waves plus closed eye hallucinations.
People should be warned about this drug before going on it. Because it's likely you will never come off it. I know people have managed, but some said they "still felt the effects years later."
Basically if you told me the only way I could get this drug was to pay £100 a month for it, I would do it*. That's how bad it got.
And instead of the effects fading away and tapering off they just got WORSE AND WORSE as time went on like a staircase of hell.
No way am I doing that again. I'd rather be on them for life.
*This probably sounds like the norm to Americans, but due to our free health care system it's only £8 a month for my prescription.
What drug is it?
3870776
Effexor. Also known as Venlafaxine.
*hugs* Glad you're feeling better, it sounds like such a nightmare.
3870784 none of that shit works- all is does is screw us up even more.
Try natural things like Kratom, marijuana, or nothing at all
Maybe you should talk to a doctor about it. That way you could get better information on what to do.
3870831
Thanks <3
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Some drugs do work like the new one I'm on, but I was not meant to be on the older one ( Venlafaxine) in the first place--That's for unipolar depression. The doc who gave it to me clearly did not know the implications. I can't take Marijuana--I have Bipolar Disorder and it's very bad for people with our brain chemistry as well as Schizophrenics.
Saying I should take nothing at all is a bit much. It's like you're saying I can cope without medication, and I can't. I have a Bipolar brain. Without meds I will have Bipolar episodes.
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It was the doctor that recommended I go off them. So many doctors don't know anything about the withdrawal from these drugs. Honestly, I can't say I blame them when it isn't even on the manufacturer's leaflet.
3870879
In that case, go back and tell him/her what happened.
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I already have. I'm staying on the meds.
So it seems you tried to completely get off the drug immediately, right? I don't know much about medicine or anything, but have you tried taking a tiny bit less each time instead?
3870924
I titrated off it then went cold turkey. It's one of the hardest drugs to come off, apparently.
Honestly, if it's doing me less harm by staying on it, I'd rather stay on it.
3870931 Wow. Maybe you could do it slower? Like take one pill less, stay like that for a month, and then one pill less? I should note I still have no medical knowledge.
Yea, staying on it might be better for you. Well, here's hoping you feel better tomorrow!
...Though I do feel somewhat duty-bound to stand up very slightly for the States. There's no shortage of horror stories, of course; but it's not as if it's universally bad.
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3870831
From what I can tell, going off it is actually dangerous.
How messed up is that? I did actually have some symptoms that seemed similar to a struggling liver, and that scared me. So yeah, not doing that again. No one can make me. I don't even care.
3872205 Ugh, that just hurts my soul to hear, getting screwed over by your healthcare system... I really hope you well...
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Thank you. x I'm feeling a lot better now. I can't believe how nasty that was.
3872205
Yeah... and based on what I've heard and seen, people who taper off it also have frightening symptoms. It's awful that it isn't generally prescribed with more care since it's such a difficult drug to get off of, and there are alternatives.
Really glad you're feeling better.