I DID figure out that...a LOT of my even-less-functional-than-usual is reported frequently as side effects of Effexor. Including not just insomnia but trouble finding words (which has increased lately, I would say about the same timeframe as bumping my dose) and jaw tension/teeth grinding (which I’ve always had but has been almost unlivable for...hmm...)

Unfortunately, getting OFF Effexor is like. Terrifying? Including to docs? Most people I’ve seen that have done it successfully have had to taper down so slowly that it includes breaking open the capsules and counting out the beads carefully,

And my psychiatrist also loves it? So I’m not sure how to address it.

I am pretty much fucking over being on two different meds that I cannot stop just because the withdrawal is so bad.

I actually tripped on all this bc I was poking around Erowid for research, and saw Effexor (bc they have people list ANY drugs in their system for accuracy when reporting) and went to look: the ENTIRE Effexor page is people talking about how terrible it is. The BEST report is ‘it’s really effective for my depression but I wish it wasn’t’

YUP. I teeth grind from prozac. SSRI/SNRI,etc all do that. Its horrible

I cant remember if i tried Effexor or Wellbutrin but....the only thing i didnt have ABSOLTULY HORRIBLE side effects to was prozac

And someone had a rant up about being Rx’d Effexor and Klonopin at the same time and it made me feel so seen despite different circumstances -- in her case, she ran into $$ issues and couldn’t get meds for a couple days so she withdrew on BOTH, which sounds like a nightmare that I’m SHOCKED didn’t = hospital. I’ve done each but (thank god) separately

Caletara: this was L’s experience too, pretty much, except for the one they’re taking now! Which also happens to put them right to sleep so they just take it right before bed. I’m kinda jealous tbh but apparently it’s an antihistamine so I can’t have it lol

Caletara: did not know this about the tooth grinding though! Or didn’t know that jaw tension in general happened with ALL of them. I sort of didn’t think to associate ‘tmj’ symptoms with grinding, which is dumb

Some days I’m literally like ‘no, I can’t pay attention to anything because my jaw hurts so bad’ which ... is probably not uh, normal

It’s so obnoxious how everything stacks and interacts
It’s even more obnoxious how many things i cannot even try as options because some asshole in app. 2000 (miiight be misremembering but at MOST 2005) decided to prescribe me daily benzos THANKS DOC

(They’re for the myoclonic seizures. Which are yes, incredibly refractory and hard to get rid of! And yes, it’s a common way to reduce them! Given the option: would have more of them and less addiction.)

Like. Given the general concept of tolerance and having taken the same dose more or less for 15-20 years, all that shit is doing is keeping me from withdrawal, but benzo withdrawal is intensely horrible and can make people WITHOUT epilepsy have seizures

Yes it took me 20 fucking years to realize it's a common SSRI/SNRI symtpom and not 'stress or tmj'

Do you know how to release your occipital muscles, pterygoid, and masseter? that saved my life.

ugh <333333

I'm sorry, Effexor just did NOT work for me but I have no tips about tapering it off because I, uh, didn't realize you weren't supposed to do that so I just STOPPED.

Caletara: I ...do not at all! All advice welcome!

Okay so!! Occipitals are located on the back of your head. the bottom where your head meets you neck. The two bumpy things. Press on those. They'll probably be sore as hell.

Your masseter is the chewing muscle in your cheeks. Just a thumb and finger to grip your cheek from the inside, and press on it with your finger on the outside, release the muscle/find the trigger points

Lateral Pterygoid is also in your mouth. On the top after your top molars. Use your pinky to feel into that space up. It's going to hurt like hell.

I've also found a sore spot under my tongue, constantly.

TMD/TMJ Pain - MSR Masseter Muscle Release Protocol

Releasing the Lateral Pterygoid - Priya Mistry, DDS ...

Suboccipital Muscle Release | Suboccipital Headache ...

OW and also THANK YOU I think this is really helpful or will, eventually be (omg it’s weird to find cramps from inside your mouth though)

Your welcome!! The tmj pt i found literally saved my life.

my reccomendation is to honestly stick your fingers in your mouth and just...feel around. Ive also had sorespots on the bottom of my jaw and my lip.

The jaw is a hard one to release, and it goes into your neck and your head too so....Just start poking