Getting off prescribed drugs -- JEFF

[Guest guest]

Jeff,

I'm just at that point myself. After getting off epam (I was on it far too

long), and now seriously considering getting off Lex (am probably gonna do it,

if I can!),... then, I am gonna try to get off Tramadol (generic Ultram, which

I take for chronic TMD pain).

Were you successful in getting off ALL prescribed drugs??? If so, how do you

feel now?

--Diane

-----Original Message-----

From: Jeff <gizzer777@...>

Hello Diann

Basically, you are correct, I just wanted off. I kept asking my Pdoc

how long he thought I would have to stay on meds, he said all my

life. That got me going! After learning about possible (and my own

experiences) sides of withdrawal, I became more determined to quit

all of them.

I figured that there had to be another way.....then to get me off

Effexor, he put me on Lex! After 8 mos of that, I finally made the

move myself figuring that it was he that would be the one to keep me

on " brain meds " all my life.

Stubborness is my middle name.

regards

Jeff

[Guest guest]

Hello Diane

I am off all SSRI's (over 8 mos now after 5+ years on various ones.

I still have my GAD and take .25mg valium 4x daily IF NEEDED. I had

no problem weaning off the lex and have done the same from time to

time with the valium. I will say I had some temper flareups just

after I quit the Lex(normally I am very peaceful), but those came

and went.I was not even tempted to return to an SSRI when I lost my

Dad in March....I was determined!

The good news is all the SSRI sides that I had are gone. The bad

news is that my GAD has fully returned.(do not think it ever really

left) My BP is back to normal as is my weight. No more

insomnia, " mushroom head " and body pains etc. getting off the lex

over a 6 week program was easy for me although different folk have

different experiences.

Even with the GAD, I have no regrets!

best of Luck with your decision whatever that may be!

IF YOU WANT TO GET OFF.....YOU CAN! JUST GO SLOWLY!

regards

jeff

> Jeff,

> I'm just at that point myself. After getting off epam (I was

on it far too long), and now seriously considering getting off Lex

(am probably gonna do it, if I can!),... then, I am gonna try to

get off Tramadol (generic Ultram, which I take for chronic TMD pain).

>

> Were you successful in getting off ALL prescribed drugs??? If so,

how do you feel now?

>

> --Diane

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Jeff <gizzer777@y...>

>

> Hello Diann

>

> Basically, you are correct, I just wanted off. I kept asking my

Pdoc

> how long he thought I would have to stay on meds, he said all my

> life. That got me going! After learning about possible (and my own

> experiences) sides of withdrawal, I became more determined to quit

> all of them.

>

> I figured that there had to be another way.....then to get me off

> Effexor, he put me on Lex! After 8 mos of that, I finally made the

> move myself figuring that it was he that would be the one to keep

me

> on " brain meds " all my life.

>

> Stubborness is my middle name.

> regards

> Jeff

[Guest guest]

how did you get off the lex? i got myself down to 5mg... but going

all the way IS SO HARD... i will go down to 2.5, which i can only

handle for a couple of days before i would rather die than keep up

with the side effects!

remembering that i have been on these for 10 years... i finally gave

into the last doc that told me " at such a low dosage, it is ok to

take them forever " ...

does anyone know about long term affects? i mean effects not having

to do with " head stuff " ... but maybe liver, kidney, whatever problems?

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Jeff <gizzer777@y...>

>

> Hello Diann

>

> Basically, you are correct, I just wanted off. I kept asking my

Pdoc

> how long he thought I would have to stay on meds, he said all my

> life. That got me going! After learning about possible (and my own

> experiences) sides of withdrawal, I became more determined to quit

> all of them.

>

> I figured that there had to be another way.....then to get me off

> Effexor, he put me on Lex! After 8 mos of that, I finally made the

> move myself figuring that it was he that would be the one to keep

me

> on " brain meds " all my life.

>

> Stubborness is my middle name.

> regards

> Jeff

[Guest guest]

I guess I was lucky....I stayed at 5 mg for about 2 weeks(from a

high of 30mg) and then just stopped. Did not have any problems as I

did stopping Effexor. Just goes to show how differently we all react.

jeff

> how did you get off the lex? i got myself down to 5mg... but

going

> all the way IS SO HARD... i will go down to 2.5, which i can only

> handle for a couple of days before i would rather die than keep up

> with the side effects!

>

> remembering that i have been on these for 10 years... i finally

gave

> into the last doc that told me " at such a low dosage, it is ok to

> take them forever " ...

>

> does anyone know about long term affects? i mean effects not

having

> to do with " head stuff " ... but maybe liver, kidney, whatever

problems?

> >

> > -----Original Message-----

> > From: Jeff <gizzer777@y...>

> >

> > Hello Diann

> >

> > Basically, you are correct, I just wanted off. I kept asking my

> Pdoc

> > how long he thought I would have to stay on meds, he said all my

> > life. That got me going! After learning about possible (and my

own

> > experiences) sides of withdrawal, I became more determined to

quit

> > all of them.

> >

> > I figured that there had to be another way.....then to get me

off

> > Effexor, he put me on Lex! After 8 mos of that, I finally made

the

> > move myself figuring that it was he that would be the one to

keep

> me

> > on " brain meds " all my life.

> >

> > Stubborness is my middle name.

> > regards

> > Jeff

[Guest guest]

well, i was never on effexor, in fact, until i found this message

board i had never even heard of it!

ya, my body is extremely sensitive to whatever i put in it med wise...

how long were you on it? are you on anything now?

> > how did you get off the lex? i got myself down to 5mg... but

> going

> > all the way IS SO HARD... i will go down to 2.5, which i can only

> > handle for a couple of days before i would rather die than keep

up

> > with the side effects!

> >

> > remembering that i have been on these for 10 years... i finally

> gave

> > into the last doc that told me " at such a low dosage, it is ok to

> > take them forever " ...

> >

> > does anyone know about long term affects? i mean effects not

> having

> > to do with " head stuff " ... but maybe liver, kidney, whatever

> problems?

> > >

> > > -----Original Message-----

> > > From: Jeff <gizzer777@y...>

> > >

> > > Hello Diann

> > >

> > > Basically, you are correct, I just wanted off. I kept asking my

> > Pdoc

> > > how long he thought I would have to stay on meds, he said all

my

> > > life. That got me going! After learning about possible (and my

> own

> > > experiences) sides of withdrawal, I became more determined to

> quit

> > > all of them.

> > >

> > > I figured that there had to be another way.....then to get me

> off

> > > Effexor, he put me on Lex! After 8 mos of that, I finally made

> the

> > > move myself figuring that it was he that would be the one to

> keep

> > me

> > > on " brain meds " all my life.

> > >

> > > Stubborness is my middle name.

> > > regards

> > > Jeff