I am concerned about trying to get off meds.I have been on Effexor for over 20 years, and really want to get off.Tried cold turkey once and I thought I was dying, NEVER, NEVER do it on your own.Must talk to doctor.Not everyone can do this on their own. Please talk to your doctor first, my combo of meds Effexor in the morning and Mirtazapine at night has helped with my anxiety big time and depression, as I mentioned in another blog.I have not taken Lorazapam for my anxiety attacks in over 5 months.
I was on Effexor for 12 years and others before it before I tried to come off of it too fast five years ago. It was a disaster, and I was put on mirtazapine because I couldn’t sleep or eat. When that didn’t work my p-doc said let’s add back Effexor since you tolerated it in the past. Within ONE HOUR I felt dramatically better, but these meds aren’t supposed to work that fast and I began to learn about protracted withdrawal. I was like a junkie getting a fix! These drugs do cause a physiological dependency even though there aren’t “cravings.” That is why there are warnings about not just stopping.
I was hell-bent on coming off both drugs after learning about this, not wanting to be on something that could wreak such havoc by its absence. I have been doing a very slow taper ever since, nearly four years. I am now on 1.8 mg Effexor and 1.5 mg mirtazapine. It hasn’t always been easy, but I feel no worse now than when I was on 37.5 mg of each.
What is your question exactly?