[pescador]

It has been nine weeks since I took Effexor. I am STILL having withdrawal symptoms but at least they are not so debilitating, are mainly just happening upon waking, and stop within fifteen minutes or so. I have stopped taking the 2g mgs of Zoloft every few days to keep symptoms down and have not had a Xanax in days.

So now I'm in limbo. Waiting to see if I after 14 years of Xanax and some AD can I make it without them? I seem do be doing ok so far but if find myself easily irritated by people or a situation...in other words anxious. I am trying to deal with this by rational thinking..sort of self therapy.

I have not had the symptoms of severe depression yet, but I fear them like you would the return of cancer. My new doc is a totally uncaring pompous jerk but he's all I have for now. Psychs are very hard to find here. Most are not taking new patients and many are very cut and dry pill pushers who only believe in AD's and think Xanax is the poison of the century.

I guess after so much Xanax after so long I can expect to be anxious right now. I just hope it fades and maybe I can continue on without so many chemicals swimming in my brain.

jb

[Juliana]

Hey there. Does your doc support you going cold turkey? Sounds dangerous. Are you being monitored? I hope everything goes okay. Keep us updated.

[asylumgardens]

I know how it is when you don't like your doctor but also don't have an option to change..

I was only on Effexor (or an AD) for a very short time, and I felt side effects, but they went away fast, and after it was over I acutally felt happier (in general, had a few bad moments) than before or on the drugs. Weird. Hopefully you make it through all the withdrawals you have.

[pescador]

Symptoms are less and less.

NO..my new doc did not monitor anything, he did not ask me anything, he did not give any instructions except stop Effexor and Xanax immediately. I was to replace them both instantly with Zoloft and Klonopin. The Zoloft gave me terrible acid reflux. After ME reviewing my records from my psych of 14 years I saw the notes where Zoloft was tried with me once before and did the same thing.

Truly, this new doc is and example of what medicine in the free world is all about these days...10 minutes..out the door and pay $200.

I am now my own doctor. I will experiment with Celexa soon to see if it is ok but really, I think I am doing pretty good without an SSRI swimming in my brain....for now. It is like I am a different person. Not a better person, just someone else.

My closest bud...my brother is freaking out completely wondering why I'm not medicated. He says I'm off the deep end but I don't see it that way..just in transition.

Yes, I know I've been weird as AL Ankovich for a while but I think, think, I may be adjusting not permanently gone. What worries me is there is no doctor, no professional that seems to care one way or another. I am alone on that. How can an MD take my records of 14 years under the care of a psych and just poo poo all of it ...tell me I've been doing totally the wrong thing for all these years..I just don't get it.