Posted by Sarah M on April 13, 2001, at 17:39:56
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by maggie on April 13, 2000, at 14:32:34
Withdrawl for me has been terrible. I wish I'd investigated more before I signed on to taking this drug. Here are my symptoms:
-Persistent light-headedness, and a vertigo sensation of falling all of the time
-Auditory halucinations, to include sound of static every few seconds, (ZZZT!), that also seem to interrupt my vision
-Dierreah
-periods of profuse sweating, or hot flashes, seemingly unrelated to the temperature. I am in my 20's, so I'm pretty sure this is not menopause
-serious insomnia. One night I re-organized my bathroom cabinets at 2:00 am. Despite this restlessness, I find it hard to concentrate. At work, I frequently lose my train of thought in the middle of a sentense. I think this has to do with the feeling of electricity, and the ZZZT!!! sound every few seconds.
-Shaky and sweaty palms
-interrupted vision; that is, my eyes cut to one side without my consent.
I have been off of Effexor for about 8 days, and these symptoms persist.
> Nice to see everyone on these message boards....
> helps to know one is not alone.
>
> I have been on effexor xr for about 1 year - 150mg)
> and it has really helped me with my depression!!!
>
> BUT I have found - from missing doses - that the
> withdrawal effects are real. For me, they have
> included strange effects in my brain. A feeling
> of electricity or shocks, also vertigo when I move
> my head from side to side or up and down. Then it
> feels like my head has moved too fast and my eyes
> take a few seconds to catch up. This prohibits
> driving, makes me dizzy and feels very bizarre.
>
> Muscular tension and knots in my leg and hip -
> where I previously had bursitis - GREATLY
> increased when I decreased my dosage from 325 mg
> back to 150mg od.
>
> The side effects, that I can live with, are
> weird dreams plus a LOT of twitching and
> involuntary movements of arms and legs when in bed.
> These wake me up lots of times, but that is much
> preferrable to the weight of depression.
>
> This drug is wonderful for some,
> and disasterous for others.
> Worth a try if you really want to be rid of
> that dreaded pit of despair!!!
>
> Maggie
poster:Sarah M
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010411/msgs/59730.html