[monochromatic]

And I am terrified.

I'm having a great, level day today. And I can't even enjoy it because I know what's coming. Every time I decrease I'm a mess for 3 days, I can only imagine what 0% is going to do to me.

Can anyone please tell me it's going to be okay?

[IndieVisible]

When will you be able to get more?

[Andysmom]

What else are you on? Maybe that will help with the symptoms.

[monochromatic]

I've been on Effexor for about a year a half, up to 200mg. I've been weaning off since July, and my last dose yesterday was 9mg. I'm going off of it because it caused me to rapid cycle and then put me in a mixed state for over a month. It was this that caused them to re-diagnose me from depression/anxiety to bipolar ii.

I started on Lamotrigine a few months ago and am on 100mg. It seems to be helping minimally.

So far today, I haven't been able to stop crying since I woke up. I've got ridiculous nonsensical thoughts overloading me. I know it's withdrawal, I know it's withdrawal, I know it's withdrawal.

[Phoenix_1]

When I went off Effexor it didn't make me sad or cry. I had physical side effects. They weren't very good. I tried going cold turkey from 350 mg. Then I saw my doctor and he weaned me off it over a two month schedule. Much better - I still had withdrawal effects but not as severe.

Did your pdoc take you off the effexor? Did he/she give you any guidance as to weaning yourself off it? I see you're on lamictal now. Did he just take you off one drug and put you on the other or did he wean you off the effexor first?

[unlockingsanity]

When I went off Effexor, I had CRAZY panic attacks. I knew it was because of the meds though, so I rode them out with a half-smirk that it was pretty crazy that panic attacks that intense are a med side effect. If you take your symptoms in a light hearted fashion, it can make it easier. And, it won't last forever. Stick to your guns and you'll be fine.

[monochromatic]

I've been weaning down since July, and the lamotrigine overlapped about 3 weeks.

I don't have many physical side effects (just some dizziness and vertigo and headache) but my emotional side effects make me barely functional.

It got better for most of the day, but I feel a big, big cloud coming. I'm really scared.

[monochromatic]

Thanks sanity.

All of my emotional symptoms are focusing around my relationship. That I'm making him miserable, that we didn't have sex in a week so he's not attracted to me, that he doesn't really even like me anymore. I know they're irrational, I know they're symptoms of the withdrawl, but I just feel like they're picking at me and I feel so raw.

If I can get through this week, or even just tonight, without going through a major "validate me" conversation, I'll consider it a success. I'm enough of a burden on him already.