A Convo w/ Kaitlin Wilson: Healing from Delayed and Protracted Effexor Withdrawal

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Guest Bio:
Kaitlin Wilson is a Holistic Nutritionist who lives in Saskatoon, a small city in central Canada. She has traveled and lived in several different cities such as Melbourne AUS. Perth AUS. London UK, and Toronto, Canada where she worked in wine regulation for several years. She was prescribed Effexor at the age of 21 after returning to Canada from Australia, not knowing how this would destroy her life years later. After tapering off the drug in 2018 using a compounding solution, even though she went more slowly than doctors recommended, it was still too fast. She went into a latent withdrawal 1.5 years after discontinuation and has been in protracted withdrawal for the last 3 years.
RELEVANT LINKS:
Follow Kaitlin Wilson on Facebook: kaitlinraenu...
Baylissa Frederick's Membership Support Communities:
baylissa.com
compassionfocusedhealing.com
Surviving Antidepressants Forum:
survivingantidepressants.org
Article, "Estimating Risk of Antidepressant Withdrawal from a Review of Published Data": pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36513...
Some Effexor Withdrawal Facebook Groups:
/ 279738350483330
/ 221442677940995
/ effexorsupportgroup
/ 103788426372995

[@MedicatingNormal]

If you like what we do and want more of it, please consider buying us a coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mnfilm

[@jamison1280]

I really appreciate that every time I saw my GP the first question he would ask is, are you on any medications? And when I would say no he would say something like 'good, don't' ....and this is going back 20 years when everyone in the medical field was over medicating.

[@MedicatingNormal]

Sounds like you had a good one!

[@christinemclatchie]

@@MedicatingNormal Absolutely! They are so hard to find!

[@JacquiQ]

wow what a good Dr. My hubs as a teacher got a pharmacist in one day to talk to the class, after the pharmacist said to my husband that he - the pharmacist - wouldn't even take a paracetamol ( Tylanol in US ) because he knew what all these drugs do to the human body . ( Not talking life saving drugs here obviously)

[@jasonreimer9769]

did he say why?

[@Misfit-from-Zanti]

It took a year before I shorted out from Clonazepam withdrawal. Christmas eve 2021 I was in the ER. They treated me like a drug seeker. I didn't know what was happening. I told them that I was prescribed Clonazepam and showed them the bottle. The date was like Dec of 2019.., old bottle I guess. They shook their head and said see your primary care and don't let the door hit ya. 😢

[@johedges5946]

The weight issue!! This is exactly what happened to me; hospitalized and unable to exercize, 3 hospital meals a day. Once I recovered nearly 2 years on I had packed on at least 2 stone. My self esteem was on the floor.

[@panchimalcomor500]

Jesus Christ is the remedy for all problems. Only pray to him with with a strong Faith and you’ll see the change! Trust Me, I’ve been there, and now God runs my life.

[@louisegardenia7674]

Going through a horrific time to coming off these drugs has brought me closer to God. That is one silver lining to the suffering. ✝️

[@NancySpuncious]

Amem 🙏 I believe God will help me to get off those horrible medications.

[@montesa9136]

I was on Escitalopram for 30 years. I weaned off over 4 months (Way too fast) & was fine for four months then lapsed into Severe Protracted WD. I was completely dysfunctional & didn't even start to heal until the 3 mark. I've been off 3.5 years now & doing quite well, maybe 75% healed. There seems to be a threshold we pass where we start to heal fast, & It's going to be different for everyone. However, once you cross that threshold, you will realize you rounded the final corner & are on the home stretch to healing. Hang in there, & know you will get there

[@MedicatingNormal]

So glad you commented - wanted an update on how you're doing! I remember all your posts about wondering if you truly just had "mental illness" or a "return of the underlying condition"? Do you still worry about that, Montesa?

[@montesa9136]

@@MedicatingNormal @MedicatingNormal - Hi Nicole! At 3.5 years after my last dose of Escitalopram I can confidently say I lost 30 years of my life by being left on antidepressants needlessly. Although I'm not 100%, I'm plugged back into society, regained my social life, exercise, work, & have a much better outlook on life than I used to. Each year seems to get better I've run across many, many people who have been stuck on the poly drugging merry go round, & can't see the forest for the trees. However, in western medical schools the students are taught that medication is the answer for just about everything. It's such a tragedy that the medical community allows this to happen .... Keep up the great work !

[@MedicatingNormal]

@@montesa9136 Thank you! Will do. If you ever want to tell your story - reach out to me: [e-mail] (no pressure - I know some people prefer anonymity)

[@incognito595]

"parked a chair.. " Nicole, I'm glad you can get a little humor! That's when you know your real self is coming back .

[@MedicatingNormal]

@@incognito595 haha yep! So true!

[@harmonysteel141]

Thank you for sharing your journey ❤

[@crookedrain771]

The Effexor migraine is BRUTAL. Holy cow it’s excruciating. Tapering off of it now. Dealing with paradoxical reaction and withdrawal. Pure hell.

[@simonwright6163]

How are you doing now?

[@crookedrain771]

@@simonwright6163 worse than ever , on a low dose and in deep withdrawal. I screwed up by tapering to fast and reinstating last year. Been in paradoxical hell for a year now. Using opioid medication to help stabilize the akathisia a little. Wish I was off of everything.

[@christinemclatchie]

@crookedrain771 How are you doing?

[@jillethelturner]

I quit 37.5 XR cold turkey in Oct /23 after 6 years. I am now having horrible anxiety, depression! Help!

[@susanmorgan4151]

It may be helpful for you to contact Angie Peacock. She coaches people with withdrawal symptoms.

[@rachaelhernandez7264]

I was prescribed a benzo after a routine knee surgery 9 years ago after a reaction to anesthesia or a med they gave me. I was on for two weeks and tried to stop and all hell broke loose. I realized what happened and found Ashton Manuel and tapered off over 4 years. During my taper I was then given Mirtazepine to “help” my benzo taper…which it did, but then I became dependent on those and had to do a slow 3-4 year taper off that! My last 8-9 years has been utter hell and I am finally off and free. As luck would have it, my withdrawals started month 3 after I stopped the Mirtazepine. I am now on the windows and waves pattern of withdrawal but have hope I’m healing. I would love to share my story and journey on this channel.

[@Justlikemagic96]

Only 2 weeks of benzo use and you had to taper for 4 fucking years?? Wow. How old were you, if i may ask?

[@rachaelhernandez7264]

@@Justlikemagic96 I’m 44.

[@AlbaLynxQueen]

I took Paxil for 5 months. Went off in two weeks. Felt better. But 4 months later I crashed so badly I thought I was going to die. 1.5 years post paxil, and it's still the same unbearable suffering

[@Gabesvault]

Please hang in there, sending you love, we are in this together. ❤❤❤

[@AlbaLynxQueen]

⁠thanks ❤

[@susanmorgan4151]

Paxil withdrawal is BRUTAL! How are you doing now?

[@Gabesvault]

Thank you, Nicole! ❤️

[@MedicatingNormal]

[@jackiegerspachhas4237]

The drug might be out of your system but you are suffering from the damage done by the drug!!!!!!!

[@teresaring8049]

What is the damage done by the drug? I’m trying to get off Effexor and not sure if I can do it …

[@mr.giggles4995]

​@@teresaring8049 idk but I had terrible brain-zaps, constantly felt like I was going to drop and have a seizure, DPDR, depression... a strange one was my feet felt like they were pushing through the ground, like I was walking on a trampoline... can't be good for the brain and body...

[@NancySpuncious]

​@@teresaring8049 Me too... I've been unbearably irritated with everyone and everything and the worst thing is I can't tell anyone, my husband is against me going off meds even though it's clear I'm being over medicated. And effexor has destroyed my digestive system, made me constipated with daily stomach pain. I had to do something for myself but I'm on my own and it's been tough.

[@livingunderachemicalinflue5849]

@@teresaring8049neurological damage.

[@disappear_here82]

I got prescribed this yesterday... today was the first day I took it and Holy hell! I am still high from this one pill... I feel high like I just dropped MDMA... its kinda nice but I know this can't be right! Nothing that makes you feel like this is good for you in the long run

[@nonplayablecharacter1438]

When I first started SSRIs I felt a sort of molly effect too. Shivers up and down my body. Tongue curling up in my throat. Please dont start with these meds.

[@dukedumby]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm coming down from 3 years on 225mg from my psychiatrist who never said this drug would be worse than coming off of heroin/fetanyl (I'm speaking from experience). Thank you both so much for this to know I'm not alone.

[@mr.giggles4995]

Effexor withdrawal felt like a bad alcohol withdrawal for me, I constantly felt like I was going to have a seizure. I think I was on a fairly low dose. And yeah, I became a heroin addict after I stopped taking bupropion and became psychotic and suicidal, thought for sure I'd kill myself if I didn't do something to quiet the thoughts and numb the severe emptiness and terror... the withdrawal from these neuroleptics can definitely be comparable.

[@PaulaGaudette]

Thanku ladies it’s my story

[@Martinez1983]

Thank you love it ❤

[@Jwks91]

Omg! I have the tension feeling between the head and spine, it’s at the back of my head/neck and it seems to be running all my symptoms. It often shoots electricity down my body. It has recently become worse as I am still in a bad setback. Yuck. But you are def not alone with this symptom.

[@shan4145]

It’s been a month for me taking out two micro bead out . However , I didn’t count all the pills , I just took two smal bead out and took the rest . So I’m at 225mg but I take out two micro tiny beads out first and then take the rest in the capsule. It still hell but bareable , so sticking to it for now

[@MedicatingNormal]

slow and steady (and listening to your body) wins the race!

[@samarabevin6889]

Yes I gain 35lbs in 4 months. And I CONSTANTLY craved food and eating. I ended up getting anxiety from that. I was always HOT like I was in an oven. I was constantly asking others if they were burning up wherever I was lol. I was on 75mg for about 6 months and tapered to 35mg for a few weeks and then tapered down to nothing over a week or two by removing beads from the capsules. The withdrawals are horrendous and I’m here trying to see if I’m the only one going through this hell.

[@ALeagueofHerOwn]

I can’t thank you both enough for this video. I’m currently in my first 6 weeks of being completely of Effector and I thought I was going insane. Even worse, I thought maybe I should just go back on the drug. Thank you for sharing story and journey AND for giving me hope.

[@Charlotte74347]

I am also an extreme empath as well . At age I developed serious panic attacks 19yrs old.

[@user-lm7hl8zr8q]

God work 👍

[@Charlotte74347]

Been on Paxil for 35years? Try to stop it but I have a zapping, like electric zap in my head, my eyes etc. So Im staying on it. I can not anyway to get off this paxil. I get anxiety big time....like her. I gained weight too. I started having panic disorder first. During mood swings etc. This is making me have a burning stomach.

[@susanmorgan4151]

I hear you! I was on Paxil for about 25 years. After weaning off over 6 months...I had horrible anxiety- I wanted to die! It was hideous! I took magnesium citrate . I chewed the soft capsules hoping to get it in my system quickly. It does give enough relief to keep me off the edge of the cliff. I still do that sometimes 2X daily. I've since added potassium gluconate. Currently 10 months clean. It IS getting better. Be well.❤

[@Gman513]

I laughed at the three years portion, because i wouldn't have believed it if i wasnt experiencing it currently lol

[@thisgirl5933]

I stopped 8 months ago and have been suffering for 6 months. Started Prozac 3 months ago and it's not helping. The fear of life and everything makes me want to die.

[@nonplayablecharacter1438]

I did a stupid thing. I was on Effexor for 15 year (30-45) eventually at 450mgs. A few months ago I reduced to 150 and then a few weeks ago came off completely. It's been crazy rough. Dont do this, it's stupid. But I'm not turning back, I'm convinced that this drug as well as mood stabilizers ruined my life.

[@REGjr]

It's actually self-contradictory of prescribers to imagine drugs with any psychotropic efficacy at all will not induce some degree of tolerance and withdrawal. I did fine on effexor XR for 17 years, but the hit or miss process of eliminating other drugs first and then eventual need to increase the dose to 225 and add abilify caused me to realize there was something unacceptable about my life that the drugs were only dulling my reaction to. 6 years off I figured out I'm autistic and that my whole family have known since I was around 9 years old. So the reason psychopathy has never been a diagnosis HAS to be that it is normal...which sounds incredible until you consider perhaps it's only normal as a matter of perspective. Meaning in civilized omnivorous species the obviation of our need for interspecies predation has given rise to intraspecies predation (directed at culturally approved ideological outgroups, usually by way of fixed religious or political delusion) as the way arbitrary majorities regulate their masks of sanity. If being civilized into large homogeneous groups was consistent with humankind's suitably-evolved purpose the genotype's mean IQ would probably be closer to 150 than 100--because that's the only phenotype with a preference for cooperation over conflict.

[@stormchaser419]

The Remeron, Seroquel, Zyprexa munchies are real. 😂. You can eat full refrigerators of food on those.