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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / April 2005OT Kicking Effexor!
Here it is...the first day without Effexor. Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven't felt bad at all. If anything, I've felt BETTER because I no longer need to sleep more than 10 hours a day (was pushing 16 mandatory sleep hours in every 24 when I quit). Therefore, I only nap if I get less than 10 hours at night. All this stuff is getting done, and it's awesome. I even have time to watch TV or read comic books again. Mood's better instead of worse--with this energy and fire back, I feel like I could rule the world. As long as my fire doesn't spill over into rage, all is good. Now to address the caffeine addiction. THIS bastard I've been fighting for six years to control. I'm sucking back three cans of pop a day again and I've got to cut this out...I can feel the stomach damage returning. Starting Monday, when my term paper is done, it's down to one. --Mary > Here it is...the first day without Effexor. <SNIP> > Mood's better instead of worse--with this energy and fire back, I feel > like I could rule the world. As long as my fire doesn't spill over [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > --Mary If you'd like some advice on herbal remedies, both for the caffine & to help with the Effexor discomfort, e-mail me directly. I may be able to help. I'd have mentioned this earlier, but while you were weaning off the drug, I didn't want to suggest anything that might have been contra-indicated...  SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas Good for you! We're all purring and praying that things keep going well! And if you decide at some point that you want a medicine OTHER than Effexor, talk to your doctor about the ones that are available that have fewer side effects than the Effexor does. BTW, I hear you BIG TIME about the "time to ditch caffeine" decision. In my case, last year when I had to go on blood pressure meds (to control a BP that'd risen to something like 132/100 and 132/98), I decided that all but the first cup of coffee in the morning had to go. I hate taking meds unless I absolutely, positively HAVE to. And there's no logic in taking BP meds, then undoing their benefit by caffeinating my blood pressure back up to an unhealthy level, right? So all coffee, tea, and other beverages after the first cup of the morning are now decaf or non-caffeinated. BTW, the BP has now been controlled with the meds, to the point where it's at a normal level again. It took a few months to get the dose right, but things seem OK now. I'm not surprised that I ended up on meds, given the history of high blood pressure that's rampant on both sides of my family. I'm reaching an age (early 40s) where some of the family's genetic time bombs are going to start showing up, if I've inherited any of them. Purrs and prayers that you keep doing well! Donna, Captain, and Stanley My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn't find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are 'dangerous' makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr's put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn't MADE my 'then' Dr listen to what I'd been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he'd heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P. > Good for you! We're all purring and praying that things keep going well! > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Donna, Captain, and Stanley > My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my > legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately > he'd heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P. Jean, my dad got these cramps and extra potassium helped him. Do you have your orange juice every day? > > My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp > > in [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Jean, my dad got these cramps and extra potassium helped him. > Do you have your orange juice every day? Good observation. That does need to be done with awareness of any cardiac drugs that affect potassium metabolism. Thanks to you too Howard, you learn something every day. Jean. > > > My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp > > > in [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Good observation. That does need to be done with awareness of any > cardiac drugs that affect potassium metabolism. No I dont Mary because I'm diabetic and orange juice has a lot of sugar but I love navel oranges and eat plenty of thosethe natural sugar seems to leave your system quicker thanks for telling me though, maybe I can find some other source, I'll have a look around. Jean. > > My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in > my [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Jean, my dad got these cramps and extra potassium helped him. > Do you have your orange juice every day? >No I dont Mary because I'm diabetic and orange juice has a lot of sugar but >I love navel oranges and eat plenty of thosethe natural sugar seems to >leave your system quicker thanks for telling me though, maybe I can find >some other source, I'll have a look around. Jean. I am diabetic as well, and have been told that natural fruit is better for me than fruit juice. The added fiber in the whole fruit slows the absorption of the sugar. I still have to be careful that I don't overdo the quantity. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria Your right there John, I try to make it one in the early evening, but sometimes I get greedy and steal another one and I've noticed the difference. I guess I dont always do the right thing by my diabetes but I try, sometimes I can't help saying to myself, come on your 72 surely you can relax a little sometimes, after all I might go out tomorrow and walk under a bus, just joking {a bit.} Jean.P. > >No I dont Mary because I'm diabetic and orange juice has a lot of sugar but > >I love navel oranges and eat plenty of thosethe natural sugar seems to [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better > than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in > my [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > he'd heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. > Jean.P. Quinine is indeed related to cardiac drugs such as quinidine, and I can see reasons for concern. There's a range of disorders between nocturnal leg cramps and restless leg syndrome, and it's possible that treating restless leg syndrome might relieve the cramps. The treatment of the latter tends to use anticonvulsants and related drugs. A reasonably safe and low-side-effect drug would be a low dose of clonazepam near bedtime, which has anticonvulsant, tranquilizing, and muscle relaxant properties. Alternatives could include more classic anticonvulsants such as gabapentin or carbemazepine, or conceivably an anti-spasticity drug such as baclofen. Whenever there's a chronic cramping condition, it can be wise to put the patient on a regular, often low dose of anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Without going too biochemical, there's evidence that cramping and related muscle problems cause the release of inflammatory substances. The benefit, from a biological basis, is that it tends to force someone to keep an injured muscle still. In practice, that reaction from the autonomous nervous system may make the muscle problem considerably more painful, and spiral into making it worse and worse. Thanks again howard I will take this information on board Jean. > > My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in > > my [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > reaction from the autonomous nervous system may make the muscle problem > considerably more painful, and spiral into making it worse and worse. Bananas & prunes are good for potassium, too. :) Katz My late mother took Quinine for years to help with cramp, In the end she became deaf, and the quinine was blamed for it . Marie from OZ > My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in > my [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >> >> Donna, Captain, and Stanley My god my kids reckon I'm deaf, I am a bit too. Well I'm not taking it any more now thogh it was pretty bad last night because it was the 3rd night withoutso its not going to get any better from now on. Jean.P. > My late mother took Quinine for years to help with cramp, In the end she > became deaf, and the quinine was blamed for it . Marie from OZ [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > >> > >> Donna, Captain, and Stanley > My late mother took Quinine for years to help with cramp, In the end > she > became deaf, and the quinine was blamed for it . Marie from OZ That's entirely possible. Quinine, aspirin and lots of prescription drugs attack the auditory nerve (eighth cranial nerve). Luckily, most such drugs will give you a warning of ringing in the ears (tinnitus). If you are taking ANY medication and start noticing ringing in the ears, it's time to call your doctor. In many cases, the first stages are reversible, and there are relatively few drugs with this effect that can't be stopped quickly (e.g., some antibiotics, some heart drugs). > Here it is...the first day without Effexor. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > damage returning. Starting Monday, when my term paper is done, it's > down to one. YAY!!! I was so worried about what you might have to go knowing what I went through. I'm glad it's been so easy for you and *very* glad that you're feeling so much better! Hugs, CatNipped > --Mary > Here it is...the first day without Effexor. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > damage returning. Starting Monday, when my term paper is done, it's > down to one. I don't know about Effexor, but caffeine is one heck of a b*tch to kick. When I was pregnant, The Yowlet would not allow me to have any caffeine whatsoever, I'd immediatley chuck up all over the place if I had any. Of course, I was still addicted but couldn't have any, and it wasn't like I could just cut-down over time, I had to go cold turkey. It was aweful. Headaches, nausea and the cravings were horrendous. It took about 3 months for the cravings to subside, but they didn't ever go away entirely (not ever beign a smoker, I'm not sure what giving up smoking is like, but its probably similar) I was lucky, because my caffeine addiction was in the form of coffee, and these days decaf coffee is pretty good, so I didn'thave to break the psychological habit as well as the physical habit. But as soon I stopped breast feeding Cary, I quickly became re-addicted (I made the mistake of having *one* cup of coffee whilst breast feeding Cary, and after him being full of nervous energy and then tired but unable to sleep for 8 hours, I didn't try again till he was weaned). I'm not as badly addicted this time around, but there is nothing better in life than that first cup of Java in the morning. Its often the only one I have during the day (I'll usually drink decaf or hot chocolate if I want a hot beverage, and water if I want something cool) but darn I enjoy that first coffee far too much. Yowie > Headaches, nausea and the cravings were horrendous. It took about 3 months > for the cravings to subside, but they didn't ever go away entirely (not ever > beign a smoker, I'm not sure what giving up smoking is like, but its > probably similar) I kicked caffeine for six months during the worst of the ulcers, probably because I was so doped up on painkillers and/or passed out when they didn't work well enough, that I couldn't notice the headaches that much. I'm back fighting now...going into overdrive once the term paper is done. Must get back to a can of pop a day. Some people think it's FUNNY when you have dreams of singing, dancing pepsi cans and then wake up choking from dry throat and going berserk with cravings.... --Fil (Had a cherry cigarillo once and liked it so much that I never touched one again. I don't need another addiction and lung cancer. A half-rotted digestive system and the singing, dancing pepsi can hallucinations are quite enough) I'm not as badly addicted this time > around, but there is nothing better in life than that first cup of Java in > the morning. Its often the only one I have during the day (I'll usually > drink decaf or hot chocolate if I want a hot beverage, and water if I want > something cool) but darn I enjoy that first coffee far too much./// Oh I *SO* hear you about the coffee addiction. I'm a veritable pitbull until I've had at least one cup of coffee when I get up. The only purrson who doesn't keep a low profile in the mornings is HRFL Tiger, and even *he* gets fairly short shift! ;o) Helen M > Here it is...the first day without Effexor. Way to go! We're purring that you continue doing as well. SignatureMarina, Frank, Nikki, and introducing: Mere! marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki > Here it is...the first day without Effexor. > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > --Mary Good luck with both drugs! But are you sure you want to kick both at once? Caffeine's the only physical addiction I've ever had, and it's a bad one. I fully support your plan to kick that stuff, but maybe just try to kick the Effexor first? Just a thought. One problem I had with caffeine was that I would use it as an "upper." Instead of saying, "I would like a coffee," I would say, "I am really tired this morning; I need some caffeine." Then my sleep patterns would get all screwy and I wouldn't sleep well, so I'd need more caffeine ... and so it went. Now, if I forget to order decaf, I can't sleep at all. No matter what time of day I drank the stuff. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca Lots of purrs and best wishes, SignaturePolonca & Soncek > Here it is...the first day without Effexor. > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > --Mary > > Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven't felt bad at > > all. Stupid Effexor. I find myself getting dizzy spells. Usually I don't get dizzy unless I've got a fever or exhausted myself running up stairs. They're pretty mild though. Just annoying. Nothing next to 6 this morning--I woke up from a pepsi dream barely able to swallow, throat dry, ears plugged with mucus, and ribbons of stinking mucus in my nose and throat. Granted, the room was dry, and I do have rhinitis--mucus isn't anything new--but that Pepsi was just /soooooo/ good. Oooo, the fizzle in the ears as it moistened the dryness and helped me swallow the gunk or cough it out. Soothing the pain of my throat with its icy wetness. I fell right back to sleep and slept like a baby until 10. ...and I've had a diet dr pepper and another pepsi since then...of course, I've also written 10 pages of postgrad term paper. I am not cutting back caffeine until Tuesday when the paper is done. But I don't think I'll ever be able to give up the blue can delight entirely... --Fil > > > Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven't felt bad at > > > all. [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > --Fil Fil, have you tried diet caffeine-free Coke? Before my surgery I found it easy to switch from regular diet Coke and I actually liked the taste of the caffeine-free better. [Since the surgery I can only drink bottled water for some reason - oh and coffee.] Hugs, CatNipped > Fil, have you tried diet caffeine-free Coke? Before my surgery I found it > easy to switch from regular diet Coke and I actually liked the taste of the > caffeine-free better. [Since the surgery I can only drink bottled water for > some reason - oh and coffee.] Yes I have...and I keep it in stock. Decaf Diet Pepsi too. Without it, I'd be sucking back 5-6 cans of the high test a day. If I'm just thirsty, decaf diet is a workable bait-and-switch. It does nothing for the caffeine cravings, the headaches, the morning ritual of stumbling into things, mixing up words, dropping stuff and disorientation, or the unspeakable pepsi fantasies. (I'm awful in the mornings. I lose my balance and fall into walls/doors, or I don't notice stuff and walk into it, or drop stuff onto myself, and am usually carrying a few bruises at any given time.) --Fil SO not a morning person that it isn't even funny
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