4 replies to this topic

[katekore]

(Full disclosure: this is way too long and I apologize, if you read it and respond, you should be the next pope. Keywords: effexor, malaise, narcotics, crying uncontrollably, Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, lmao, psychiatrists suck)

 

So where to start...ok I was on Effexor aka the demon drug years ago. I was on a crapload of mental health related medications, including like 600mg a day of seroquel (yeah I literally lost like 3 years of my life to sleeping 20 hours a day), definitely overmedicated, and decided enough was enough and I wanted to get off of all of them. For the record, I do not recommend anyone do this without medical supervision, but alas, with my history, no one would touch me. Meaning that the psychiatrist that had me on all these medications wouldn't agree to wean me off of them and so I consulted several new ones who, like I said, wouldn't get involved with me considering my mental health history. So long story kinda short, I was able to stop everything without much of a problem except for the effexor which made me sick as HECK (I am trying not to cuss on here because I don't know what the rules are) and I actually ended up calling the answering service of my primary care physician and begging the doctor on call (it was a weekend) to call in an emergency prescription for of all things, Effexor, to the pharmacy. The doctor on call was like "uh...okayyy", but thankfully he did it and I actually can't remember how I got off of it after that. My point is: Effexor is an SSNRI, and I just RECENTLY found out that CYMBALTA is an SSNRI, which is just dandy since I had told my then-new psychiatrist 5 years ago never to put me on anything in the same family as Effexor because it is demonic, and by this I mean it basically makes you sick as a dog ("malaise" ie flu like symptoms) and the horrible god awful electric feeling brain shocks which is like being hit over the hit so hard it stuns you but there is no pain. But, this woman was (and probably still is) an awful doctor and human being and put my on the Cymbalta anyway. I was on 120mg a day for about 5 years.

I also must explain that for these 5 years I was also put on opiates (starting with percocet 5s and 10s, then oxycodone 15s and oxycontin, then morphine (pills) short acting and oxycontin, then opana, short and long acting, plus xanax, ambien, soma and of course adderall to give me some chance of at least not nodding out CONSTANTLY....all of these 5 I had to go to rehab to get off of mind you, I spent a month in rehab over Xmas and new years last year, during which I mourned the one year anniversary of my big brother's overdose and death...on my opana.

So where am I going with this...besides implying strongly that doctors, especially psychiatrists, SUCK....well for the past 5 years I've been sweating like nobody's bizness, off and on all day, and I thought it was related to the opiates (whitney houston on stage towards the end of her life, anybody?) but it was still happening months after I got off of them. So I talked to my new psychiatrist about this and she said it's probably the cymbalta. It seems that she was right and I tapered off of it. How? Was at 120 like I said, went down to 90 for like 4 days then 60 for 4 days then 30 then tried to stop it but started getting that "malaise" again which is similar to how it felt when I needed my opiates, was late with a dose or of course when I was in detox. I guess similar to the "sick as a dog" feeling when I stopped the Effexor cold, but not anywhere near as bad. So the psych said take one day on one day off and I did that for a week or two and now it's been a week I think since I completely stopped taking them. So here is what I'm experiencing now:

 

- still having that pesky malaise, flu-like feeling where you just don't feel right, or if you've ever had a problem with opiates, how you feel when you're dopesick

- ummm wanting to cry like, constantly? I was just watching The f-ing CLOSER on tnt and started sobbing when captain rayder gave brenda a speech about how she should try to be the next chief of police because women need to have a positive role model - lmao! If there is anything even SLIGHTLY moving being discussed I basically want to break down and cry.

 

Ok at least I am cracking a smile now instead of wanting to sob, though it will probably come after!

So what's the dilly yo? Anyone else have these issues and how long will it be before they go away?

I responded to another newbies post before I posted this and mentioned that when I previously got off all my anti-depressants and anti-psychotics and whatnot that I experienced a period of slight depression, but after a month or two or three (I think, it was years ago), that subsided.

Also, for the record I am also still on a low-ish dose of gabapentin/neurontin (600 twice a day), 150 of wellbutrin XL, 100 of seroquel before bed just to help me sleep (it takes the body a long time to adapt after detoxing off 5 narcotics and sleep problems in the first year are common), and 100 of lamictal/lamotrigine twice a day. If anyone knows if these could be causing any interactions or issues let me know but I don't think they are.

 

Thank you for anyone who read all of this. I know it was a lot of babbling.

 

Peace in the middle east,

 

K8

[lady2882Nancy]

Hi Katekore

 

So sorry to hear about your brother. That is tough to handle as I know from losing a sister.

 

Well I can tell you that everything you are experiencing is definitely side effects from stopping the Crapalta (cymbalta). I suspect that the other meds you are on are helping mask some of the side effects as this crap is every bit as hard to get off as Effexor.

The seroquel is saving you from the terrible insomnia and so helps minimize some of the side effects too. The lamictal may be stopping the worst of the mood swings but you still may have to deal with some irritablity yet. The wellbutrin may be helping there as well and with the Gabapentin will help the physical pain most of us experience.

 

So you have read what I recommended to Nicole so you should try the omega 3 and the vitamin/mineral supplement as well as drinking lots of water. I would check with the pharmacist to see if you are safe to use the L-theanine but I'm pretty sure that it would be okay with the meds you are on as it is something your body makes anyway just not enough of at this point. But check it first as it is always better to be safe.

 

You have had quite an adventure with the medical profession. Your Psychiatrist must be related or have studied with my doctor. A year and a half ago I was on 12 meds all at the same time. When I saw a RA specialist he was horrified. Once he had me tapered off almost all of my meds it turned out that I didn't have an autoimmune disease after all and shouldn't have been on all the meds at all.

The Crapalta came after that episode for me and is a drug that has no respect for how long you have been on it. Even after short term usage can be incredibly hellish to get off and can cause some long term problems for some.

 

Let us know how you do, you are not alone in this.

 

Take care

[katekore]

Hi Nancy!

 

Thanks so much for your reply. I have some wild sockeye salmon capsules that I'm not currently taking but will that be good as far as taking omegas? The wild sockeye salmon is supposed to be good. I will check with the pharmacist about the L-theanine too. Thanks also for the sympathy related to my brother...I know you will understand when I say that losing a sibling is like losing a piece of yourself. Ok now I'm about to cry.

You are probably right about the other meds making the withdrawal a little better, I hadn't thought of that. It's still really hard to sleep though even with the seroquel and I keep waking up sweating. Fun!

Anyway, thanks again for your response...oh, do you know how long these symptoms will last?

[lady2882Nancy]

It really depends on the individual, but the worst is over in 14 to 18 days, most are fully back to themselves in 4 to 6 weeks. It can seem neverending at various times but it does get better.

The sockeye salmon capsules are perfect for omega 3. Just make sure you are getting 3000 - 4000 mg each day. They are best taken with a meal for proper absorbtion.

The sweating is a side effect of stopping the Crapalta, It messes with our hormone levels and the sudden drop in estrogen can be a cause. I found that eating sweet potatoes a couple of times a week really helped. They are a nature source of estrogen.

I got a double whammy when I lost my sister as my Mom had not been well and six weeks after losing my sister, my Mom passed away. That was 14 years ago now but I still miss them both so much. You learn to live with it but every once in awhile I still have times when the grief swamps me. It happened fairly often after stopping the crapalta so be prepared for that.

You'll get through this and venting on here is a very acceptable way of dealing with angry and irritability. We all do it from time to time.

Take care of you

[chimera]

Hi Katekore, 

Nancy has pretty much covered it all (bless her!) it's all sounding normal withdrawals, including the crying (disconcerting I know to experience!)

I am so sorry about your brother also, you really have had a terrible time. you have a great sense of humour and spirit showing through, which tells me

that this will not beat you. keep going:)