Seasonal Cold Turkey - January 2002
So I was advised to spend one week taking a lower dosage
of Efexor (75mg) and then go a whole week without any anti-depressants
at all, only taking the Risperidal (tranquilliser) which stopped
me from being over-emotional.
The sentence that I just wrote cannot begin to describe
the hell that withdrawal symptoms can inflict upon a sufferer!
I will try to offer a description here but please do
not think I am being over dramatic here, it was a very, very unsettling
time and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.
Cessation of drug intake, and the subsequent withdrawal
symptoms, brings about a chain of events that can best be described
on an individual basis but it must be remembered that all of these
events are happening simultaneously!
Physical Effects;
Tingling of limbs and other areas such as scalp and lips and a heightened
awareness of these sensations.
Increase in tremors, especially when trying to exercise movement
using fine motor control.
Blurred vision and a sensation of the brain being like a dried pea
rolling round in an oil barrel.
An incredible thirst.
Disturbed sleep pattern.
Swollen extremities.
Slurred speech.
Psychological Effects;
Minor hallucinations, especially out of the corners of my eyes (detecting
movement that just wasn't possible).
Anxiety.
Paranoia.
Short-temperdness.
.Lethargy.
And, last, but by no means least, DEPRESSION!
These symptoms of withdrawal started very quickly after
I stopped taking the Efexor and, even as I write these words, I
am suffering still! The life of a depressive, huh? All in the mind,
huh? Well circumstances decree that my hell on earth is compounded
by these extra physical and psychological 'enhancements' and things
look pretty grim from where I sit right now.
There is a small crumb of comfort that can be taken
from the withdrawal symptoms and that is that the physical side
effects have taken my mind away from the turmoil in my mind.
Only a depressed person can understand what it is like to have something
tangible to clutch in their continuous battle to hang a tag on depression
as an illness. Does that make sense?
Details of Recently Prescribed Drugs;
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