Posted by Angel Girl on May 16, 2003, at 0:51:55
In reply to Re: withdrawal » John2222, posted by Paco on May 15, 2003, at 22:06:20
My highest dosage of Effexor XR was 367.5mg/day when I decided that I wanted off due to a meriad of side effects that I no longer wanted to deal with. I had read all the horror stories and wasn't looking forward to the process of withdrawing. I should also state that my body is EXTREMELY sensitive to any new drugs introduced to my system or any dosage changes to existing medications.
My pdoc decreased my dosage by only 37.5mg/day and waited 2 weeks for my body to adjust to that level before decreasing again down to the next lower dosage. When we adhered to that schedule of small dosage changes every 2 weeks, I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms. It was ONLY when I became impatient with the length of time it was taking and decided to drop 75mg at one time instead of 37.5. Within 24 hours I went into withdrawal and I had to bring myself back up the 75mg and even an additional 37.5mg to settle things down. I stayed at that level until I felt ready to decrease again, this time ALWAYS adhering to the 37.5mg decrease with each step. When I got to the final 37.5mg dosage, I went off of it cold turkey with absolutely no problems whatsoever.
Unfortunately the brain shivers that I was experiencing while I was on the meds, stayed with me for several weeks after I was completely off them. Now it is several months later and I feel no effects of ever taking Effexor XR.
I think Effexor can be a great drug. I know it was a Godsend for me. It kept me alive. Before getting up to higher than 150mg dosage, I was seriously going to kill myself. So, all in all it kept me alive. It served it's purpose and even though I had tons of side effects that really bothered me, when/if I ever decide to go back on any anti-depressant, Effexor XR, even with all it's bad rap, will be my drug of choice.
This is my experience and of course, others will have their own experiences. I just personally don't think that Effexor XR is as bad a drug as it is sometimes made out to be. I think you have to take what you read with a grain of salt.
Anybody trying to get off of it, with horrible side effects, I wish you well. I know what it's like to be so cold that you are sitting, shaking like a leaf in the corner of your room with blankets piled ontop of you to keep warm and it is 100 degrees outside.
Angel Girl
poster:Angel Girl
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030514/msgs/226983.html