David Jackson22 said:I've been on it way longer than you have, and honestly, recovery is moving at a snail's pace. It’s technically better than it was, sure, but I'm still dealing with constant crashes. For me, the main issue is my depression. My psychiatrist ended up adding an SSRI and some Clonazepam to the mix, so now I'm just sitting here waiting to see if this combo actually stabilizes things for good. Some people seem to bounce back on Effexor almost instantly, while others really have to crawl through hell before they see any actual results. It's all totally different for everyone. No matter how long it feels, 9 weeks isn't nearly enough time to be thinking about ditching Effexor. When you're dealing with this kind of stuff, you need a ridiculous amount of patience. The progress is almost invisible, but it's happening. If your doctor is actually decent like you described, I wouldn't go switching psychiatrists right now. Just be straight with her, talk everything out, and hang in there—you don't really have much of a choice.
Jason Vaughn482 said:Is anyone else out there battling debilitating constipation thanks to these psychotropic meds? I am honestly at my wit's end here; even the strongest over-the-counter laxatives don't seem to touch the problem, it's like my digestive system has just completely gone on strike.
That’s probably the one thing I haven't dealt with yet!
electrichound3 said:Maybe try easing off with some Xanax or something similar until things start looking up. I was right on the edge of throwing in the towel myself, but eventually, it kicked in. It’s never an easy ride; it takes time for the meds to actually settle in. For me, Wellbutrin was much easier to handle side effects-wise, unlike Jardiance, which absolutely wrecked me. I just couldn't deal with it anymore.
I'm taking 0.25mg of Xanax, but... what do I know? Even that doesn't do much. The pain is constant. I just got back from lunch at a friend's house. Nobody gets it, but my head is just... pure chaos. I can see and hear everyone, but everything is so foggy. And this pressure... ugh, it's gross! How am I supposed to manage this business trip?
electrichound3 said:Hey, I'm on it too. Did you have that lump in your throat before, or did it start once you began the Velafax? I started on 75 mg, and that "lump" was easily my most intense side effect. It’s a deeply unpleasant feeling, and the headaches were frequent. For me, things finally started to taper off after about a month and a half. Just hang in there a little longer...
Yes, the lump appeared right after I started the medication... I'm currently on 150 mg—splitting it into 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg at night. But folks, it's been 9 weeks... I just don't know!!
Brandon Lopez6 said:Adam Chase98, sometimes those antidepressants just take forever to actually kick in. About the dizziness, though—have you gone in for an EEG yet?
Uh...I've done everything. It's not even true dizziness; it's more like this cloudiness or instability in my head...like I'm looking through water, if that makes any sense. I really tried giving it a chance, but it's been almost two and a half months now and there's zero progress.
Exactly... and I have one more question. I don't experience sudden attacks, nor am I feeling depressed or sad. It’s just that I feel this CONSTANT; EVERY SINGLE DAY; ALL DAY long pain, along with a lump in my throat and dizziness (brain fog). Is there anyone else out there experiencing this? Or am I truly alone in this?
copperpuma62 said:Has anyone here dealt with tapering off Effexor while switching over to Zoloft at the same time? I’m currently on 75mg of Effexor and half a 50mg pill of Zoloft... I feel like absolute garbage, my blood pressure dropped, and I'm just totally lost right now.
Hey Ivona. Why are you coming off the Effexor? I'm on 150 mg and it isn't doing anything for me. I've been on it for 9 weeks now.
Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I last checked in... and now I’m back looking for some guidance. I actually found this wonderful, warm psychiatrist who is incredibly empathetic. She responds to my messages within five minutes; honestly, she’d probably pick up even if I called her at midnight. I thought I had finally found "the one," but she just isn't offering any actual solutions. Exactly nine weeks ago, she prescribed Effexor, claiming it was the perfect fit for my symptoms. It's been nine weeks and I feel absolutely no different. She just keeps telling me to be patient—that it'll kick in in a week, then another week... and here we are, nine weeks later. I feel terrible. I have this constant headache on the right side behind my ear, my neck and back are totally stiff, and I'm living in this constant, awful brain fog. I've decided it's time to get a second opinion. My concern is that I have a week-long business trip coming up in 22 days, and I am terrified because I don't know how I'll manage. I'm just so fed up with everything. Isn't there any solution out there for me? What is going on with this Effexor? Shouldn't it have started working by now? And why won't my doctor suggest an alternative? Thank you all so much for your help... I'm feeling truly hopeless right now.
Greetings! I am seeking some guidance. Since Lexapro and Paxil didn't work for me, my doctor switched my prescription to Effexor. I struggle with anxiety characterized by restlessness and derealization, along with psychosomatic symptoms like constant pain, nausea, and that tight sensation in my throat. I have been on Effexor for 28 days now. I started with just half a pill—about 35.7 mg—in the evening. My dosage has since been gradually increased to two tablets (35.7 mg) at night plus one tablet (35.7 mg) in the morning, totaling roughly 100 mg. This titration happened slowly over the course of these 28 days. However, I feel absolutely no difference. Every single symptom remains. I am starting to panic that this medication won't help either, leaving me feeling hopeless. What is your perspective? Am I being too impatient? How long does it typically take to feel an actual improvement? Thank you!
Brandon Lopez6 said:Depression doesn't always show up as anxiety, so where'd you get that idea? I tried Googling your symptoms, but honestly, everything linked to serotonin is tied back to depression anyway.
My depression used to hit me through stomach pains and nausea. After running every single test under the sun, the doctors basically told me there was nothing physically wrong with me...
Look, it’s a little harder to wrap your head around the fact that your mind can mess with your body like that, but you aren't alone and it's definitely a thing. You can go the antidepressant route, though just a heads up—if you stop taking them, things might slide back, mostly just because your serotonin levels take another dip. The other way is psychotherapy. Just because one therapist didn't click with you doesn't mean the next one or the fifth one won't work. Also, remission is always on the table. You could be feeling awesome for three years straight and then hit a rough patch for two. It's just how it goes.
I know, I tried searching online too. Since I couldn't find anything, I started this thread hoping someone might have some insight! Does anyone have experience using Deanxit? I haven't been able to research it properly because the indications are listed in German, and I don't speak the language!
And there's one more reason I actually started this thread! My symptoms were triggered by a massive emotional shock—the sudden passing of my mother, who was my entire world. Perhaps someone else here is struggling with the same thing, so I wanted to share to offer some relief or maybe point people in the right direction. The neurologists over at Mayo Clinic looked at me like I was just making up all these symptoms I was experiencing. They basically told me to just go home and start eating more (since I'm quite thin) 😲 My psychiatrist didn't have the slightest clue what was happening; she had never even heard of a case like mine! Then, after an acupuncture session failed to help, my practitioner referred me to a colleague specializing in homeopathy (as if she would magically know how to handle me). She also had absolutely no idea what was going on... It was all incredibly frustrating. As for support from those around me, don't even get me started... "Why aren't you feeling better again?" "What are you making up? You see they haven't even found anything," or "Aren't you exaggerating a little? Who can have a headache every single day for two years?"
gentlesailor25 said:It doesn't really matter if you actually felt anxious or anything like that, I guess. For some people, it all just shows up physically, you know? It’s not even that weird when you think about it.🤷 I mean, I know someone who was doing so poorly that she ended up in the ER for a whole battery of tests. They couldn't find a single thing wrong with her, but then she got prescribed some medication and she was totally fine.
Understood! I also spent two full years in a coma-like state. I went through endless testing, stayed in the hospital for four days, and consulted neurologists, psychiatrists, acupuncturists, and even tried homeopathy. Eventually, I got my prescription, and everything cleared up! I am just curious—did that person actually recover? What specific medication was she taking (or is she still taking)? How did her symptoms present themselves? And how does she cope with the reality of having dealt with such an illness?
I have personally never experienced those waves of panic, fear, or that suffocating dread typically associated with anxiety. My doctor—the specialist who prescribed my medication—was quite clear when she explained that I am dealing with a serotonergic disorder. I don't think the diagnosis itself is what's in question here; rather, I am simply hoping to connect with someone facing the exact same issue who might be able to answer the questions I posted above!
My official diagnosis is chronic tension headaches, though the conclusion points toward a serotonergic disorder—essentially, a serotonin deficiency. This whole thing kicked off after I went through a massive shock, but I’ve never actually felt depressed in the way people usually imagine... What I felt was pain. Pure, unbearable, DAILY pain! The dizziness, the sense of sinking, the brain fog... Taking medication didn't make me "happier," per se, but those symptoms vanished and I felt normal again; life finally felt good! I have to admit, I stopped my treatment on my own because I genuinely believed I was ready. I was so incredibly happy being able to function without pills, but about two weeks ago, the headaches returned. Last week, my neck stiffened up, and now the dizziness, the sinking feeling, and the mental cloudiness are back! And why wouldn't I want to be on medication for the rest of my life? Well... because I'm only 27, and while these drugs help in one area, they surely cause issues elsewhere.
I haven't found this specific topic or anyone else struggling with this exact issue yet. For two and a half years, I fought through brutal headaches, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, brain fog, and this constant sensation of being "seasick." Before I finally got a diagnosis, I used to post about these symptoms on various forums, but nobody ever suggested they could be caused by low serotonin levels. After endless appointments, tests, and seeing countless specialists, I finally met a doctor who identified the problem and prescribed Deanxit. I took it for an entire year, felt absolutely wonderful, and then stopped. Now, just two months after finishing the course, the symptoms are creeping back. 😢 I am curious about other people's experiences! Is anyone else dealing with this same diagnosis? How does this disorder present itself for you? What are the treatment options, and has anyone actually fully recovered—meaning, you no longer need medication at all? The thought of returning to pills and the possibility of being on them for the rest of my life is truly terrifying! Thank you!
Time for a quick update! It’s been eighteen months since I started this thread, and two years since I first started battling this bizarre sensation in my head. It’s been a rollercoaster—some days feel totally normal, while other weeks I’m just overwhelmed by tears. Basically, over these past two years, I’ve seen neurologists and run every test imaginable (CT scans, EEGs, Dopplers, EKGs, spinal imaging, neck and lung scans), plus visited eye doctors, tried acupuncture, homeopathy, and even saw a psychiatrist... and still, absolutely NOTHING! My psychiatrist prescribed some Xanax, which helps a tiny bit, but it’s nowhere near making me feel whole again. Since everyone kept insisting this was all tied to losing my mother—and I was stuck in such a dark headspace—my husband and I decided it was time to try for our second child. Now, I am eight months pregnant! Anyway, I stopped taking the Xanax... but since I quit (because of the pregnancy), I’ve been dealing with intense pain on the right side of my head. For the last two months, I’ve felt it EVERY single day! A little warmth helps, like wrapping that part of my head in a scarf or something. So, there you have it... nobody has helped me or provided a single diagnosis. How has everyone else been doing during this time? Did anyone actually find a way to help themselves? Things are really tough right now because this headache has been constant for so long, and I can't go anywhere for testing since I'm not allowed to undergo certain procedures during pregnancy.
First you mentioned things were looking up, but now you're saying it’s a total blackout 😕 Is this stuff actually working or what?? How's everyone doing today? How was your day?? Mine has been a complete disaster, probably because of this sudden cold snap... my head is spinning and my blood pressure is through the roof!!
Michael Mendoza2;20692669 said:I've been dealing with this exact same thing for four years now—it's just constant ups and downs.
😲 Four whole years!!!!! I would have completely lost my mind!!! I've only been at it for three and a half months, and I already feel like I'm about to snap...
Oh boy... everyone keeps giving me the same old advice: "Just ignore it," "Stop obsessing over it," "Don't talk about it constantly," and so on and so forth. But how on earth am I supposed to just stop thinking about it? If ignoring it were actually possible, I wouldn't be dealing with this mess in the first place! Honestly, it feels like this homeopathic remedy might actually be helping a little bit... though it’s only been four days, so we'll see how things go!