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@evamaree

I know this is really old... I've been off of my effexor (that I took for 3 years) for 7 months now... I gained 50 pounds on it. I started out with a Presidents honor roll in college and ended up not even being able to make D's.. I couldn't remember ANYTHING. At first it was just losing my keys, not being able to remember what someone just told me a few days ago.. then I literally couldn't even study because I wasn't soaking up any information, and I was getting fat and I'd already been on antidepressants for 8 years (starting when i was ONLY 12). I stopped them cold turkey back in July. Its February and i will say I feel my old self coming back.. but it's so slow and I'm still so fucking exhausted. I dont experience the awful brain zaps anymore. I do still have lots of really bad agitation. I cry every day still. I was 180 when I stopped the medication, I am down to 120... I refuse to get back on them. They ruined my adolescence and my ability to make friends and act like a normal teen. I cant believe they give these to people... I am still recovering, almost a year later... and I though I feel depression, it's better than nothing at all

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Replies to "I know this is really old... I've been off of my effexor (that I took for..."

Wow, well, first of all welcome. You have not had an easy time of it have you.
I took antidepressants for 33 years. I needed them too.
I had a tough childhood too.
My last dose of effexor 150mg was January, 2018.
I worked long and hard to give myself endorphins to make up for the medications.
Crying, yes I know it.
Age???
Have you called your local health food store and gone in there to try natural teas like chamomile or others?
Age of your child?

The only thing worse than Effexor is depression. I'm down to 37.5 mg and feeling MUCH better. I tried 0 mg a few weeks ago and the darkness came over me, so I'm back to 37.5 mg. Several very stressful situations have been resolved and so my depression is in general much better. But, clearly I'm still depressed. I work with a psychiatrist in therapy and if you're still struggling without medicine, you should get into therapy. I've been going for months and I have months to go. I had thought my childhood traumas were way behind me, but like my general practitioner warned me 20 years ago, those traumas do not just go away. I've got me some learnin' to do. Find a good psychiatrist for medication management to get you through it and a therapist to help with your depression. Easier said then done, I know. Good luck.