[Buddy370]

Hello everyone
Just wondering if anyone has experienced antidepressant withdrawal.. I have recently weaned myself off Effexor after being on them for 15 years. I was put on them for sleeping problems during menopause. I have tried many times to get off them but every time bad sleep returned. I think they were just having a placebo effect. This time I’m determined to stay off them . However the side effects of withdrawal is insomnia which is hitting me hard .. I also have some vertigo and get chills and sweats .. I did come off them slowly but I think after so many years there are going to be some symptoms of withdrawal. I would like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience.. I’m just hoping good sleep returns soon and it doesn’t go on for too long
I find myself obsessing about sleep .. has anyone tips to stop thinking about sleep.? Drives me nuts
Thanks for reading

[Sees1970]

Hi Buddy!
I recently quit Zoloft and have had terrible insomnia. The first 8 weeks or so I couldn’t sleep, but I wasn’t worried about it, as the Zoloft was still in my system, helping with anxiety. The insomnia was from quitting Zoloft, and not from my worry. Now, at 11 weeks post Zoloft, the worry is creeping in, and I’m really struggling. I want to start Martin’s program, but I need to make sure the Zoloft is out of my system. Lately, my sleep is night on, night off. Last night was a night with no sleep. Does this help at all?

[Sees1970]

How long have you been off Effexor?

[Buddy370]

Hi Sees1970
Thanks for your reply..I’ve been off the Effexor for about 6 weeks. The symptoms are worse when I don’t sleep and yes I’m like you one night I sleep the next I don’t .. lately my sleep has been worse and last week was the worse ever. I’m starting Martin’s course this week so I’m hoping it goes ok.. it’s a bit scary worrying about what’s going on in my mind .. I just want to be able to sleep naturally with no reliance on pills. I had a belief that I couldn’t sleep without Effexor but then I had a spell where I was not sleeping and still taking Effexor. That’s when I decided enough is enough and I’m done with this drug as I’m not depressed or anxious.. just have sleep anxiety.. fingers crossed it works for me

[Sees1970]

Ahh, you are so much like me. I’ve also just gone through menopause. I took Paxil for 5-6 years for insomnia, and it really helped calm the panic and let me sleep for the first 2-3 years. Since then, it hasn’t worked well, and the doc put me on Zoloft at the beginning of this year. Zoloft was not any better for sleep, so I quit in March. The first few weeks I got very little sleep, but now I’m sleeping a bit more, although it’s like every other night. lol. I’m starting Martin’s program tonight, and I’m also a bit worried about what the Zoloft withdrawal means for me and how it might affect my success. I’d love to keep in touch and support each other. All the best!

[Buddy370]

Yes definitely keeping in touch would be great and let me know how it’s going with your withdrawal symptoms. For me they are worse when i haven’t slept especially the vertigo and chills. I didn’t really connect it to Effexor withdrawal until I watched a podcast of Martin with a lady who had got off antidepressants after 13 years.. they are quite scary when they strike. Otherwise I’m ok and hopefully they will disappear.. just need get this bloody insomnia out of my life. I think about sleep all the time so it’s in my brain constantly when I’ve so many good things I could think about.. good luck and let me know how it goes x

[Sees1970]

Thanks Buddy370!

For withdrawal symptoms, I’ve experienced insomnia, tinnitus, foggy brain, and sweaty/hot spells. Still having lots of tinnitus, and sweaty/hot flashes. Foggy brain is getting better, and I’m working on the insomnia, but it’s better than it was.

Last night was my first sleep window night, and it wasn’t too bad. A little tired today, but I’m doing all the things and filled with hope.

How are you doing?

[Buddy370]

Hello .. well done and that’s great you had a good night.😃.hope it continues for you ..me not so good ., maybe 2 hours sleep.. however I’m in this for the long game and I’m hopeful too.
Just wish I could stop obsessing about sleep .. something I need to work on. My antidepressants were my crutch and now without them I don’t trust my natural ability to sleep. I’m so happy to be off them so I continue with my day pretending I’ve had a great sleep and try not to let it get me down. It’s amazing how strong we can be and I feel like this is a real test of my resilience .. onwards and upwards x

[Sees1970]

How are you doing? I’m sitting here at 4:15 am watching Netflix, not having slept this night. I haven’t been obsessing or worrying too much, just not sleeping. Yes, a test of resilience.

[Buddy370]

Me too.. last two nights fell asleep after 2 am. But I’m feeling calm and not obsessing either. Trusting the process and it will work . Hang in there .. sleep will come next night. My eyes just feel really tired and I’m so tired of feeling tired. Withdrawal symptoms are ok so it’s heading in a positive direction
Thank god for Netflix 😘

[Whiskers25]

I started following this thread because I think @Sees1970 already knows that I’ve been walking through withdrawal as well and it’s been one of the ugliest seasons of my life. I’m thankful for Martin’s tools and hopeful that they will be helpful as my body/brain is adjusting to not having Lunesta/seroquel in the mix. I think every night for the last two weeks I’ve seen 2 am and a majority of those nights have been 1-2 hours of broken up sleep. I am SO sorry for the continued tinnitus. That’s what triggered my insomnia to begin with 6 months ago. Do you have any relief from that?

[Sees1970]

How are you two doing? I’m pressing forward, but my sleep hasn’t improved. Still sleeping night on, night off. I’m accepting the panic on the nights I don’t sleep, but it doesn’t seem to help sleep happen. The panic seems to be generated quickly by my brain several times a night and then I don’t sleep. For the most part, I’m accepting it, but sleep is as bad as it has ever been.

[Whiskers25]

@Sees1970 I have been practicing what I can from things I’ve learned from Martin’s course. Because Martin can’t offer medical advice or counseling, I did have to seek additional help since I was I was on my own weaning off a z drug that led to a terrible withdrawal which led to a version of myself I have never seen before. Am I where I want to be? No. But am I where I was? No. So I’m pretty much working on acceptance. How are you? I thought about messaging you outside this platform but didn’t want to intrude on your privacy.

[Sees1970]

Whiskers25. I’m so glad you’re getting the help you need. I could tell through your posts that things were not good with you, so I’m relieved to know you’ve found more help. I’m probably doing worse than I was before I started the course when it comes to sleep. The nighttime sleep window is tricky for me. I feel so sleepy about an hour before my window, but I force myself to stay up to the window, and when it comes, I have a second wind, and I’m no longer sleepy. So, I”m rethinking strategy. I will probably give myself more grace with the window and focus more on living a good life on difficult days, as well as accepting difficult thoughts and feelings. Hang in there! I’d love to hear how you’re doing!

[Greenleaf67]

Hi I am new to this forum and so glad to have found it! I was on Prozac for 20 years and have since been off of it for about 8 mos. I am also postmenopausal for a year and a half. Since going off the Prozac, my insomnia has greatly worsened. I was getting more hours sleep some nights, others up until as late as 3 am. I go to bed and then cant fall asleep. I had a lot of anxiety around falling asleep and this program has really started helping that. I have been putting all the stuff I’m learning to use and I am now a lot calmer when going to bed. I’ve done a week of the sleep window and it is brutal! Im getting less than 5 hours of sleep most nights and wondering if I should continue. It says my sleep efficiency is getting slightly better since starting the program but I just feel so exhausted and frustrated over being so tired all the time. I honestly feel more tired since starting the sleep prescription windows, except for one night when I got 6.5 hours of amazing good sleep! I’m hoping this program is right for me. I am glad to read everyone’s comments of what they have been through. It gives me hope just seeing I am not alone in this!

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