Dont think I can come off effexor

[randomanxiety]

I decided to go off my effexor because it is no longer helping with my anxiety. Before I can start any new medication I have to get of my effexor. I have read many horror stories about getting off the drug, that the withdrawl symptoms are hell. I am using the removing granuals method. each week I remove 10% of the granuals inside the pill.

Week one through three, nothing out of the ordinary aside from some nasty headaches and dizzyness. I am now on week four and I am already second guessing myself! 2 days ago I hit an all time low. I spent the night on the bathroom floor alternating between being sick to my stomach and diahrrea, nothing stayed down not even water. Then my hands and legs went numb and stiff, I could not move my hands in to a normal position they kept sticking out straight and the muscles in my legs were so stiff that my legs were sticking out straight out too. I was sweating and freezing cold. I had horible thoughts running through my mind of dying. At that point I really wanted to.
I was lucky to be at my mothers house that night, if it was not for her I think I would have given up.
Now every day is an uphill battle all of my symptoms come in waves its horible. I no longer think I can do this. I just feel sick every day, I am so tired of it!

[randomanxiety]

week 8! I pressed on and continue my nightmare of getting off this drug. I am now down to 150mg Yay! I am taking every 10% reduction as an accomplishment. The horror stories of coming off this drug are all true. There is not a day that goes by that I do not have a headache. I notice that 2 or 3 days after the adjustment is when I really feel the difference. Sometimes I even get super sick and spend another night on the bathroom floor experiencing all the symptoms I listed above! The symptoms are the worst because any feeling of being sick creates panic for me. I have also developed anxiety over the fear of choking. So being sick to my stomach is really hard for me to deal with! I get scard when I am sick alone too. I feel like if i choke to death while I am being sick and I am alone, how could I get help? I rarely sleep. I feel like all I do is spend my days trying to calm myself down or try to gap out till the day is over. This is no way to live, I really hope to feel better soon.

[randomanxiety]

Week 16! I am now down to just under 130mg's I dont know the exact dosage since i am only removing granuals from the pill. This process is long going for anyone that wants to do it this way. I feel like it will take me forever to do this. However any time i remove more than 15granuals at a time it is bad news. My anxiety symptoms go through the roof, and i get super sick like i posted in my first post. The trick is to stay positive about everything. the minute you feel yourself going down that road, stop! Tell yourself you are fine and it is just your mind playing the anxiety game. I also try not to concentrate on any symptoms that may cause me to worry. All the best to everyone else out there going through anxiety!