Date:  Wed Mar 21, 2001 4:46am

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the board, just joined today.  My story goes something 
like this.  A few years back, I was placed on Zoloft, then Paxil for 
severe PMS symptoms and chronic pain associated with endometriosis.  
Everything appeared to be ok until I requested that my family 
physicians replace my Paxil with Wellbutrin so that I could try and 
quit smoking.  Well, after fourteen days on the Wellbutrin, I had lost 
12 lbs (that I couldn't afford to lose) and became psychotic/paranoid 
thinking that everyone around me was talking about me.  Couldn't eat, 
couldn't sleep, severe anxiety, etc.  So, I called my doctor and they 
stopped the Welbutrin cold turkey (didn't tell me that I should wean 
myself off of it) and within 5 days restarted the Paxil at a 20 mg 
dosage.  well, when starting the Paxil/waiting for the Welbutrin to 
die down in my system I slept for 36 hours straight, not waking up 
for anything except to drink something then went back to sleep.  The 
one thing that I don't do is sleep like that, my average nite of 
sleep since I was very small has been about 4-5 hours a nite, haven't 
ever needed more than that.  So, I stayed on the Paxil and all the
symptoms of the psychosis that I had on the Welbutrin returned, 
except that I began sleeping 16 hours a day.  Couldn't go anywhere, 
the anxiety attacks were so bad, and I was driving coworkers crazy.  
They all thought I was losing my mind.  So, I went into see my family 
doctor and she had me stop the Paxil one day and begin on Effexor the 
next.  Shortly after this, I got an appointment with a psychologist 
that knows me very well because I thought I was losing my mind. I 
didn't know what else to do.  I didn't tell her that I thought it was 
the medication, I just went into see her and gave her a list of 
things that I thought might be the problem, then she began 
questioning me about the SSRI medication use ...and said that she 
thought it was the medications/chemical rebound from the different 
chemicals they tried without weaning me off of any of them.  I also 
developed tremors on the Effexor and facial tics, which I didn't even 
know could happen.  Thank god she knows me well, and knows that this 
is not how I truly am.  I generally love being with people and being 
in crowds.  I'm the type of person that will generally talk to 
anyone. 

Well, it's been about 1 1/2 weeks since I've seen her, and it has 
taken me that long to get anyone to return my calls about weaning me 
off the medications.  One psychiatrist did not even wish to speak 
with her, and told me to try and stick out the Effexor.  Thank god I 
found out that she wasn't participating in my health care program.  
She made me angrier than I have ever been (side effect from 
Effexor?)  So, I called my family doctor upon the psychologists 
suggestion and told them that she wanted to know about how to wean 
myself off of the effexor.  Their response was oh, you've not been on 
it long, just stop. (3-4 weeks)  Isn't this what has gotten me into 
this mess in the first place?  So, as of this time, I haven't 
received any more return phone calls from psychiatrists that are 
supposed to be able to help people with this.

Thank god my employer is very understanding although I am now on 
leave without pay because I can't stand to be in crowds.  My 
psychologist and I are coming up with a game plan and I began weaning 
myself off the effexor today, and MAN do I have a headache and an 
upset stomach.  Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.  

It is amazing to me that I was not warned that these side effects 
could occur and that my family doctors apparently know nothing about 
weaning people off of these medications.
Here I thought I was all alone in this struggle, because usually if 
there is an odd side effect from any drug, I'm usually the one that 
gets it.

Also I bought the book, Prozac Backlash--As I read, my mouth drops 
open because I can relate to so much of what is in the book.  
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.  You have no idea how 
much finding this group means to me!

So, at any rate, I just wanted to say my thoughts and prayers are 
with all of you as you and your loved ones deal with the chaos that 
SSRI's have brought into your lives, and if there is any way that I 
can be of help, just ask.

De

Date:  Wed Mar 21, 2001 5:57am

Response:
Hi De, welcome I am Cynthia, your story sounds alot
like mine, I only took the Prozac for 15 days, and
today was my 9 months off the drug!!!!

I have to tell you that I am not fully recovered, I am
sooo much better but I still have flashbacks. Just
know that you need a lot of time, maybe 1 year or so,
it takes a long time and your doing the right thing 
by not taking any more drugs. One is NOT better then 
the other, they all cause brain damage.

Feel free to ask any questions, we have heard it
all....., take care,

Cynthia

Date:  Thu Mar 22, 2001 4:00am

Thank you Cynthia for your warm welcome. Thank you for the words 
of support, this has been an amazing discovery process for me.  and I 
hope that I never ever have to go through another like it!  Live and 
learn, but damn this was a hard way to learn!

There have actually been people that have asked me if I would 
recommend that they go on something like this....my response is think 
twice and read the book I just bought.....(Prozac Backlash) I think I 
might just buy a copy for my family doctors office, not because i'm 
bitter, but because I think they should know what these drugs can do 
to people, and what to watch for if they are going to prescribe 
them...and God help them I hope not....

I wouldn't wish this stuff on my worst enemy, Geez.

Other than that it's day two on half dosage, and I have a HUGE 
headache behind my left eye and a stomach ache, with disorentation of 
direction, and continued memory problems, not to mention hot 
flashes...not to mention I didn't sleep last night....Wow....but 
nothing is worse for me than what I went through prior, so I'll have 
to live with it for now....adaptation, ain't it fun?  LOL...
Take care,

De