Born in Santa Clara County, I’ve lived in the Bay Area my entire life and am blessed to have most, if not all, my family nearby. I am surrounded by my most supportive of friends and family and thank God for them everyday.
I began with anxiety issues at the age of 23 years and was prescribed Ativan (Lorazepam) to help alleviate the episodes. Ativan is fast acting and per my prescription was to be taken every 4 to 6 hours or 'as needed'. The frequency in which I used Ativan was not at all often enough to worry about dependency and so I carried on with my life (always with a bottle in my purse, you know, “just in case”) and never really gave it too much concern. Until a year or so ago, a personal situation caused my anxiety to act up and I was beginning to take Ativan one or even two at a time once or twice a day. I began to worry that I’d grow tolerant of the Ativan and need more and more just to get my anxiety under control. To nutshell it I visited my mental health physician who after hearing about my worry of dependency chose to prescribe me Effexor which, according to modern medicine, was “non habit forming”…. hmmm… Never once was I told that withdrawal symptoms from something like Effexor was comparable to that of Heroin. Neither was I told of the brain alterations associated with the long term use of Effexor. *sigh* Oh and as I sit here, 25lbs Heavier than pre-Effexor I’m failing to recall being warned of the possible weight gain, lowered insulin levels, and the impossibility of doing anything about it until OFF of Effexor. Anyway, I’m down but most assuredly not out.
I’m here to share my journey, inspire anyone who is at the brink of beginning their weaning off of a medication, or somehow with my words comfort those who feel alone in their struggle against the wrath of their withdrawal symptoms. I don’t pretend to know all of the answers, nor would I ever, but I know that life on Effexor is no life at all. I titled my blog “77 Days to Freedom” because I have planned an 11 week wean off process. Sounds like a long time, because it is, but the time will pass regardless so why not make it count?
I began with anxiety issues at the age of 23 years and was prescribed Ativan (Lorazepam) to help alleviate the episodes. Ativan is fast acting and per my prescription was to be taken every 4 to 6 hours or 'as needed'. The frequency in which I used Ativan was not at all often enough to worry about dependency and so I carried on with my life (always with a bottle in my purse, you know, “just in case”) and never really gave it too much concern. Until a year or so ago, a personal situation caused my anxiety to act up and I was beginning to take Ativan one or even two at a time once or twice a day. I began to worry that I’d grow tolerant of the Ativan and need more and more just to get my anxiety under control. To nutshell it I visited my mental health physician who after hearing about my worry of dependency chose to prescribe me Effexor which, according to modern medicine, was “non habit forming”…. hmmm… Never once was I told that withdrawal symptoms from something like Effexor was comparable to that of Heroin. Neither was I told of the brain alterations associated with the long term use of Effexor. *sigh* Oh and as I sit here, 25lbs Heavier than pre-Effexor I’m failing to recall being warned of the possible weight gain, lowered insulin levels, and the impossibility of doing anything about it until OFF of Effexor. Anyway, I’m down but most assuredly not out.
I’m here to share my journey, inspire anyone who is at the brink of beginning their weaning off of a medication, or somehow with my words comfort those who feel alone in their struggle against the wrath of their withdrawal symptoms. I don’t pretend to know all of the answers, nor would I ever, but I know that life on Effexor is no life at all. I titled my blog “77 Days to Freedom” because I have planned an 11 week wean off process. Sounds like a long time, because it is, but the time will pass regardless so why not make it count?