2 Months Off Effexor | 1 Year 11 Months of Depression Treatment

Medication Dosage

Effexor (0mg)
Sleeping pills: Dayvigo (10mg) + Lunesta (3mg) *Added

Number of Consultations/Counseling Sessions

Consultation (28th → 29th)
Counseling (24th → 25th)

Withdrawal Symptoms Not Improving

Entering the second month of withdrawal, I am facing an unexpected situation. The withdrawal symptoms are actually worse than they were in the first month.

Every morning, I am hit with tinnitus, brain zaps, and dizziness the moment I wake up. Every time I swallow, my ears make a crackling sound. Thoughts flood in uncontrollably, my head feels heavy, and there is a constant dull ache at the base of my neck and forehead.

What is most painful is that my brain function has slowed down significantly. My thoughts scatter and fail to converge, and I have the sensation that my brain is refusing to process information.

Even reading emails has become time-consuming. I manage by timing my periods of focus and using AI to streamline tasks. If AI hadn't evolved this far, it would have been impossible to continue working while going through this. I am truly glad I learned how to use AI tools beforehand.

It is completely unexpected that the withdrawal symptoms have not improved at all after two months. My autonomic nervous system is in total disarray, and this uncomfortable state has lasted far too long. Thanks to the addition of new sleeping pills, I am now getting an average of about 6 hours of sleep, but it is nowhere near enough. The quality of my sleep is terrible. I believe this is why the withdrawal symptoms feel worse than last month. The prolongation of this state is truly dangerous.

Added Lunesta for Sleep

I never thought the sleep disturbances caused by Effexor withdrawal would last this long. I consulted my doctor and decided to add Lunesta. I feel that if I cannot secure a certain amount of sleep, the risk of relapse increases.

For now, thanks to the Lunesta, I have finally managed to secure an average of about 6 and a half hours of sleep. It is better than last month, but I still need more sleep. To get through this, I need to sleep more.

By the way, I have repeatedly woken up in the middle of the night with sudden hunger, gone to a convenience store to buy ramune, snacks, ice cream, and gummies, and eaten them before going back to sleep. What is happening?

Sexual Dysfunction?

I have lost all libido. Furthermore, I have become unable to feel orgasms.

Since there are no signs of my male hormone levels recovering from the male menopause I am being treated for, the decline in libido itself is not surprising. However, I believe the inability to feel orgasms is clearly an effect of withdrawing from Effexor. Probably.

I will report this to my doctor at the next consultation. Also, I plan to go to a urologist to check my testosterone levels for now.

Ways to Temporarily Escape Withdrawal Symptoms

CrossFit

When I do intense CrossFit workouts, I am temporarily freed from all withdrawal symptoms. It only lasts for about two hours, but the value of being free from this uncomfortable state is immeasurable. That's why I keep wanting to do CrossFit. However, the reality is that once I do it, I get full-body muscle soreness, so I can only do it two or three times a week.

Acupuncture

When I get acupuncture, I am temporarily freed from withdrawal symptoms, and I feel like my autonomic nervous system is being regulated. At the very least, the stiffness in my neck and shoulders is reduced, and I am temporarily relieved from the heavy, dull feeling in my head. It feels good.

Right now, because I have these two things, I am somehow managing to hold on. I am hanging on by a thread.

Anxiety about the future

How long will these withdrawal symptoms last? My doctor suggested a treatment plan involving taking a weaker type of antidepressant as a bridge, but what should I do?

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