December 22, 2016 was a normal day, I was on 20mg of celexa and had been for two years, and I was anxiety free. That night while watching tv, I had a horrible panic attack. I thought it was nothing until they kept happening every night.
I went to the walk in clinic one night because the panic attack was pretty bad. I eventually got in to see my GP, and she did an immediate switch to Effexor xr 37.5 mg (no tapering off the celexa). So, weeks went by and I kept having panic attacks every single night. I went back to my GP and she upped me to 75mg of Effexor xr. 4 weeks went by and I had absolutely no good days. So I told the GP that I wanted to get off this stuff, and she told me to cut my dose in half and stop after 3 days.
Being the worrisome person I am, I googled how to taper off Effexor. I did it, and it took me almost a month. During that month, I still had panic attacks every single night.
During these past 3.5 months I've read books. I have seen a psychologist. I have done mindfulness meditation every day. My girlfriend got pregnant in July of 2016, and is due on April 16th. I'm not nervous about being a father. We are in a good place in life and we are both excited!
It has been over two weeks since I have been off Effexor. It has been 3.5 months of nightly panic attacks. What is wrong with me? It has become such a burden. I don't know what to do anymore.
You know what it is and continue being more annoyed then scared. And be sure to eat properly and drink water. Make sure sugar levels are balanced. Its so awful we al feel like burdens. So unfair nothing any of us ever wanted for ourselves. Its very sad society makes us feel like that. the worst are many of the medical professionals. They are way too cold with all this. If this world wants to project so much fear based media the least they could do is have an outlet, courses and a lot more counsellors available. We need a different kind of world now. Slow it down and drs need to be doctors again. Make time for the patients and insurance comoanies need to be run either by the medical professionals or a mix because its all just not working very well the way it is .
I have struggled with anxiety for around 6 years. In that time I've been on citalopram 20mg for first 3 years then 40mg for then last 3 years.
Recently my anxiety returned. Past 3 years have been fine, but past 3 weeks it returned. I have more sleep anxiety and get obsessed when I can't sleep which make my issues 100 time worse.
I went to the docs about a week ago and I have to taper my CIT whilst taking Mitazapine 15mg on a night for sleep.
1 week in and the MIT is working which my sleep. Still taking CIT in the morning first week 40-30-40-30-40-30-40. Then this week 30-30-30-30-30-30-30 next week 30-20-30-20 etc etc. Not having any major issue with cross tapering, withdrawal etc apart for slightly fast heart rate, headache, bit of tiredness (def the MIT!!) bit hyperactive too and the munchies, the munchies are awesome tho. I'm quite slim anyway and lost a few pounds from the anxiety I've been having!! So not bothered about the weight gain.
I don't believe the CIT has suddenly stopped working but tapering it and reducing it might work and be a good thing. I actually Im a bit p*ssed off that I have to rely on this drug, but it is what it is!!!
So really what I'm saying is a week in and I do feel better. It's still hard and I'm getting myself out even tho I may not want to!!
But I also don't want to sit around like a vegetable either.
It is hard very hard and frustrating!! I totally understand where you are coming from!!
I go from the most laid back person when good to a wreck when bad and in episodes of not sleep!!
Go back to you GP or DOC and try something else.
Trust me trying something else is not as bad as I thought I would be. I was worried about adding something else and coming off another but thought this anxiety is not beating me!!
I know it's only a week in for me and things will be up and down for the next few weeks but I had to give it a go. If I would have carried on not sleeping and having sleep anxiety then I would have ended up locked away I think!!!!