Due to a variety of events, family and personal, I went cold turkey from 300mg Effexor two weeks ago. I have taken many if your suggestions and cannot thank you enough. This was unplanned, but I have hated this drug for the entire four years I was on it. But I do not recommend doing withdrawal thus way unless you have to due to some circumstances. So far, I am surviving and look forward everyday to an end of symptoms. So what is working for me so far:

1. Try hard to sleep (40+ Hours up twice were hellish) Benadryl, Melatonin, and more have helped a lot. Once I sleep the weird dreams, fevers, and body aches have tended to wake me a lot- but I can usually go down again.

2. Carb loading has been unavoidable due to severe cravings. So, I stocked up with whole wheat bagels, crackers, etc and have removed most treats. I have felt incredibly weak a lot of the time, and thus have doubled my protein intake. Food prep has been hit of miss so I also bought some easy, quick, and decently healthy foods. I also ordered food delivery 3 times in these past 2 week- unheard of for me. Whole wheat pretzels so good!

3. I have two great dogs, but caring for them has been really hard right now. I made adjustments- a second water dish for them- this time in the bathroom since making it 2o feet away to their water fountain has been too hard once or twice, but I will make to the bathroom obviously. Called a friend, and hired a dog walker to help care for them. I have had awful headaches, fevers, and balance issues at times. Their love and snuggles has made all this more doable.

4. Got a shower bench- sometimes standing and balance issues were getting between me and being clean. Lol- this was not a time too consider kicking Amazon too. 😉 Body aches improve for me in warm water.

5. I have found mixing up relaxing and distracting activities has worked best. Some reading, meditation, snuggling, online games, watching dramas with subtitles has a nice amount of challenge, etc. I hope to be able to walk the dogs again soon, bike, swim etc- but they have simply been too much. I will try adding my recumbent exercise bike again tomorrow.

6. I have Prozac coming this week, and I have anti-anxiety medicine available. The latter, I have had to reach for about every second or third day for at least a dose.

7. Masturbation has helped a lot the couple of times I have tried, but sexual dysfunction had never been a problem for me on anti depressives. So, I may not be representative of most there.

8. I have been using the free, nonprofit app- how we feel project to do check ins at least 2-3 times a day. This helps me monitor things and even allows me to share the simple basic of my rating with anyone I want to.

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