How are you feeling today?

[Angelina]

I've read around some websites about venlafaxine withdrawal and my god its scary.... theres even a petition get venlafaxine banned and not used at all as a 'last resort' AD....

I think I'm going to carry on taking them, maybe on alternate days, untill I see my doctor again in a fortnight... (rural practices  )

My personal experience with the withdrawal was far from pleasant. I reduced my dose under my doctor's orders before coming off. She didn't mention anything about withdrawal symptoms and then a day and a half after I stopped I started noticing what felt like a weird pulse in my wrist. I have heart issues so put it down to that and went to bed.
The next day I had electrical shocks in my head and down my left arm. I didn't have a clue what was going on and was very scared so googled the symptoms and everything said to call an ambulance as it could have either been a stroke or something very wrong with my heart. I was packing up and organising my stuff before calling 999 and I vaguely remembered reading something about withdrawal symptoms on my venlafaxine information leaflet. I googled that and came across hundreds of horror stories and about how most people gave up and started taking them again.
It took a week for the "zaps" to go and I'm still dizzy and my brain still feels cloudy like i'm badly hungover 10 days later. I've called the doctor and he says that the zaps aren't at all harmful and the side effects should go within a couple of weeks.
I'm now refusing to take any more medication. I've been on at least 6 different medications for my issues in the last few months. I'm really sensitive to medications and the side effects have been terrible. They work for many people, but they're not the only answer. Trouble is all the therapies seem to have huge waiting lists.

As you can probably tell I'm feeling low and hard done by. I've found another job to apply to, which I really don't want to do but I need a job asap so beggars can't be choosers.
I need a cup of tea and a hug, sorry for rambling on and whinging.

[Munchroom]

You aren't rambling on or whinging! I'm a weird way, its a small relief to know that I'm not the only one thats suffereing with these withdrawl effects! Although, not good because it means they are obviously pretty common... It's all very well for the doctor to say the zaps aren't harmful but they are pretty bloody terrifying!!

[Angelina]

When I called my doctor I told them I'd almost called an ambulance, I'm hoping that now they'll at least warn people before prescribing the pills. It's one thing knowing the side effects but I'd like to know if I'm going to feel like my heart's failing when I come off them!!

[Alstare1974]

I'm currently taking venlfaxine but didn't know about withdrawal effects. It'll be a while until I come off them though.

[Munchroom]

Agreed. If I knew about all of this when he prescribed them then I wouldnt have started taking them...

I am more than a little concerned about what the next step will be. I'm currently just on Trazodone at night - but i have tried Citalopram, Mitrazapine, Amiltryptiline, Lofepramine, Prozac (Fluoxetine), Valium (Diazepam) and Temazepam.... not in that order... I'm not sure how many medication avenues there are left to go down!  

[Angelina]

Agreed. If I knew about all of this when he prescribed them then I wouldnt have started taking them...

I am more than a little concerned about what the next step will be. I'm currently just on Trazodone at night - but i have tried Citalopram, Mitrazapine, Amiltryptiline, Lofepramine, Prozac (Fluoxetine), Valium (Diazepam) and Temazepam.... not in that order... I'm not sure how many medication avenues there are left to go down!  

Not many!
I've been on most of those, I'm supposed to be starting Trazadone now and then looking into Amiltryptiline. My doctor's had to consult her superior and she's said after those two then they have no more options. I've given them a new option, no medication. They want me on pills though as they say the psychiatric team don't like to start therapy until the medication has lifted my mood enough so there's no risk of suicide. Which makes very little sense to me, I can't see the psychiatric team until I'm happier, so why would I be going there?   

[Angelina]

I'm currently taking venlfaxine but didn't know about withdrawal effects. It'll be a while until I come off them though.

I'd talk to your doctor about the withdrawal effects and how to help them if you ever do decide to come off. I'm lucky that I already had anti nausea pills so I took those once I started feeling so ill I vomited. But some people come off them fine and feel nothing!

[cornish]

munch there are soo many more to go down, personally i haven't been on venlafaxine but ive been on a ridiculous amount of other meds and theres still plenty more to go, ive even been on ssri, snri and Norepinephrine oh and even a few maio's, tricyclic and tetracyclic (dunno what the abbreviations of the other 3 ) meds and they are really not nice, the ones that i have been on were horrific but when i seem to be very medication resistant and they dont know exactly what's wrong with me they just try things n hope   never really seems to help but diazepam has been a life saver for me :) but im officially addicted to them but there's no way i could cope without them

Agreed. If I knew about all of this when he prescribed them then I wouldnt have started taking them...

I am more than a little concerned about what the next step will be. I'm currently just on Trazodone at night - but i have tried Citalopram, Mitrazapine, Amiltryptiline, Lofepramine, Prozac (Fluoxetine), Valium (Diazepam) and Temazepam.... not in that order... I'm not sure how many medication avenues there are left to go down! 

Not many!
I've been on most of those, I'm supposed to be starting Trazadone now and then looking into Amiltryptiline. My doctor's had to consult her superior and she's said after those two then they have no more options. I've given them a new option, no medication. They want me on pills though as they say the psychiatric team don't like to start therapy until the medication has lifted my mood enough so there's no risk of suicide. Which makes very little sense to me, I can't see the psychiatric team until I'm happier, so why would I be going there?   

i havent been on any sari ( Trazadone type meds)    wow thats 2 things i havent taken yet  %^% 

there are many more that you probably haven't been on due to the high risks involved and that should/can only be prescribed by a specialist, there normally in the latter 3 types i mentioned at earlier in the post, some of the maio's can actually kill if you eat the wrong thing,   i have to have an appointment at least once a week for a check up to keep an eye on my physical health due to side effects, not really 100% sure what mix of pills im on at the moment( sertraline and mirtarazapine are definitely 2 of them) (crap memory and all of them get organized for me by my mum as i would never remember what i should be taking and when) but i know i take so many that i should be rattling  !"!  !"!  !"!  !"!, at one point i think its was about 17 a day       
hmmmm i miss the ones that tasted like blue smarties when u licked them

[Angelina]

I''m being seen by the local mental health team at the hospital, I think they've decided not to try everything because mitrazapine made me sleep for 17 hours straight on the lowest dose there is. But then Venlafaxine caused hideous insomnia that temazepam or seroquel couldn't fix. Prozac made me a robot and valium made me a giggle monster. I react very weirdly to medication, my boyfriend made many angry phone calls to the hospital, and cried because he wanted his girlfriend back. They've been trying to medicate since I turned 13 and nothing has worked, plus the side effects tend to be so bad I can't leave the house alone in case I faint.

They put me on the meds to lift my mood after my suicide attempt but I've felt happier and slept better since coming off the anti depressants and sleeping pills. I love how my brain and body works. Plus I'm already losing the weight the pills put on. I'm eyeing up my non fat jeans with hope.

[danbob]

managed to get a few hours sleep.. woke up not feeling very good at all, the foreboding monochrome thoughts and feelings started to creep back in, so i decided to watch Control for some strange reason, for those of you who dont know, its a film about the life of Ian Curtis and the build up to his suicide.... not the best choice of film at this time.

its gonna be a long night 

[Munchroom]

I have a meeting with the mental health team on Monday (providing they don't cancel again!  ) So I think I'll start back on the tablets and then speak to them on Monday and explain it all.

I think I'm quite scared about coming off of AD's all-together. My OH pointed out that I'm going to start 'feeling' things again and in all honesty, I'm not sure if I really want to! Yes, it would be lovely to get the positives back and to not have the nightmarish side effects that all AD's seem to bring - but I'm very aware that there must be a flip side. Since coming off of the Venlafaxine at the weekend, I've already self harmed (for the first time in months) and have wanted to escape all of this, so.... I can see myself going back downhill even with the increased Trazadone  


Danbob... I weirdly find that since i've had all of this going on, I've watched and read quite a lot on people with depression. Obviously the obvious.... Sylvia Plath, Susanna Kaynsen etc - but also some more unheard of ones. Theres a film called 'Its a funny kind of story' which was quite good and I'm the sort of person that once I have seen the film, I need to hunt down the book and read it! The way the author describes his depression and particularly his battle with food anxiety is so re-assuring in a way... its like.... its not just me!!! I haven't seen Control, although it is on my 'to watch' list (of which, there are many!!)  

I hope everyone is doing ok today - Zaf and Alstare, how are you feeling?? And Lol??

Pete - How are you?! Snapping at people and being overly irratable are all part of this horrible illness, but as Lol points out, if you just explain to people that you aren't feeling too good at the moment, the majority of people will understand - and if they don't, then... well, they are not worth worrying about, snap away  .

Cornish - you are such a rock  :) (As expected Lol, I was asked if I wanted a slap!)

Angelina - It must be so disappointing about the horse, but it sounds like you are able to reason out why you didn't get to share it AND you met new people, drove your car and didn't back away from something you were frightened about - you should be so proud of yourself  &*(

Thankyou all for yesterday - I couldn't wish for better support  :)

[Angelina]

I hope everyone got some sleep, hugs to those who had a rough night.

I've noticed I'm snapping a lot at my boyfriend. Though I'm not sure if I'm snapping more or now I'm just realising I'm doing it because I've come off the pills. I know I wasn't like this before my time in hospital. It'll be something I have to work on, I really can't push him away right now.

Munchroom I'm hope you're not too hurt  If you need anything before Monday we're all here for you. I wish that doctors could know straight away what is going to be The Pill for people. The one that will lift moods without bad side effects. As hard as it may be please tell the team exactly what's going on, we all want you to find the right medication for you and for you to feel better. Hugs!  &*(

You feeling any better danbob, manage to get any more sleep??

[Zaf]

Thinking of everyone here and hoping for the best in all cases,  work is a nightmare again despite making myself stay at home till 9am and having at least a couple of hours off during the afternoon.  I feel as though I'm drowning in things that need doing atm

Strangely I dont feel too bad apart from the feeling of being overwhelmed so perhaps the increased dose of meds is at last kicking in

[Angelina]

The money troubles are already starting. My boyfriend's mum and I repeatedly asked him if he could afford me moving in and possibly having to help me financially until I find a job. He repeatedly assured us it would be fine. Well it really isn't. He got a bill from the council because his direct debit for council tax hadn't been set up so he hadn't paid since July. His bank have just txted him saying he's got 30 quid left in his account. He can't afford to pay for himself let alone me too. Before I was signed off I paid for a lot of food and any activity we did, I spent over 600 a month including petrol money that I wouldn't pay if I wasn't with him. I was fine with that, I didn't spend much money just for myself and I did a lot of overtime so I was comfortable financially. Since being signed off we've stopped all the activities to cut back but I think me not being able to pay for all our food has tipped his money situation over the edge.
The only thing we've spent money on that's extra is a bike, he loves riding and really wanted me to join him. He was sure he had the money, I guess he doesn't check his account much. I knew he was terrible with money, I've had to bail him out and so have his parents over the last couple of years. Was hoping he'd learnt to be more careful.
Guess I either have to find a job before the end of my notice no matter what it is, or I can't move in. I feel crappy.

[cornish]

Sorry I'm not responding to any other post.   I'm feeling overwhelmed and already taken more diazepam than I should, just panicking at work, I've been fairly delusional today and I'm not sure what deadline are real or not, I'm just going to keep working tonight till I'm exhausted. Thats also meant I had to cancel my psychologist appoint but she was understanding as long as I go there tomorow instead.