Posted by AnneL on January 20, 2002, at 15:28:44
In reply to My story of Effexor, posted by SusanG on January 19, 2002, at 21:46:32
Hi Susan,
Thank you for sharing your story and for seeking some information regarding Effexor. I have been on Effexor for 1 year and am taking 225 mg. daily.
Approximately 2 months ago, I decided to get off of Effexor because I have been feeling very good and like my "old self" again. I dropped my dose down to 150 mg. daily x 3 days and did just fine so I dropped my dose down to 75 mg. for another 2 days until I saw my psychiatrist. After I casually mentioned that I had dropped from 225 mg. to 75 mg. with 5 days he became very alarmed and "asked" me to please increase my dose back to 150 mg. at the very least because he was concerned that I would experience "discontinuation syndrome". I conceded his point and the following day I upped my dose to 150 mg. SEVEN DAYS later I started sobbing and could not stop! I had very odd thoughts of causing bodily harm to myself and totally "freaked out". I called my pdoc on a Sunday as an emergency call and thank God that I have a very patient and compassionate doctor! He explained that what I was experiencing was not some psychotic event or return of major depression but that I was one of the unfortunate people who are very, very sensitive to changing levels of seratonin and that I should immediately take 225 mg. of Effexor and stay at that level until my next appt. I was fine within 24 hours of resuming my dose.
The moral of the story is this: Effexor is a very helpful medication for many, many people. But do not try and discontinue the medication without professional advice. I will follow my pdoc's advise this time. Luckily, it only takes me one time to learn something!
Good luck!
Anne
poster:AnneL
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020116/msgs/90876.html