Posted by jannbeau on October 14, 2002, at 16:27:03
In reply to Re: need info on side effects - help, posted by Mrs. M on October 14, 2002, at 15:34:15
> Hello, Mrs.M,
Re the "horrors" of going off Effexor: I didn't find tapering off Effexor-XR so very bad. I had few prolems-- some "brain zaps"-the feeling that my brain was moving inside my head at "warp speed" when I changed head positions-is the only way I can describe these "brain zaps"-- and slight nausea for the first day or two with each step-down of the medication. I just tackled the next lower dose as I felt able and if it was too much, I went back up for few days, then tried again. I think it probably took me less than a month to discontinue Effexor.
To determine if Effexor is responsible for your pain, you may find it necessary to stop the med (sometimes just decreasing the dose will stop a side effect while maintaining the therapeutic effect)to know. If the effect goes away when the med is discontinued, the next step may be to "re-challenge" with the medication to see if the effect returns. Sometimes, re-challenge is not feasible; in some instances, even if rechallenge is possible, a patient will not wish to return to the medication. Usually, there is some other med that will work for you without causing intolerable side effects.
Also, have you considered interactions between Effexor and other meds you may be taking, if any?
poster:jannbeau
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021012/msgs/123641.html