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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Paul on December 31, 1998, at 17:29:57
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by saint james on December 31, 1998, at 0:42:34
A couple weeks ago I tapered off 375mg/day Effexor XR (eXtended Release - easier dosing), while ramping up desiprimine.
Was not fun. I felt an odd blend of dizzy and fuzzy-headed. However, the day I still felt fuzzed out (on around 37.5 mg Effexor), I happened to my third biweekly "craniosacral therapy" treatment.
Afterward, I realized the dizzy-fuzziness had lifted for the first time in days. Stayed away for a couple hours, and returned only mildly and briefly. I stopped the Effexor cold at that point.
I don't know much about craniosacral therapy except:
- it was apparently pioneered by a Dr. John Upledger, one of whose books ventured a little far toward the spooky for me
- Dr. Andrew Weil recently said it helped kids with recurrent ear infections
- it's very gentle and mellow, as I've experienced it: extremely relaxing, non-threatening, pleasant.If craniosacral therapy can help somone else deal w/withdrawal, that'd be great. It seemed to help me, unless the effect was coincidental and it was really the desiprimine that finally started to help. I doubt it.
I've now switched to Celexa, by the way, which has fewer side effects than desiprimine for me and seems to be working reasonably well.
Best wishes for a New Year full of peace, love and joy.
Posted by LB on May 28, 2000, at 23:40:13
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - slightly better news, posted by Paul on December 31, 1998, at 17:29:57
In reply to Paul's recommendation of cranio-sacral therapy on 12/31/99, I love it! I haven't a clue if it had anything to do with Paul's feeling better with his Effexor withdrawal, but it is the most relaxing touch therapy I've ever had. I fall asleep! It also makes sense to add in cranio-sacral therapy if you're doing chiropractic for a greater whole-body approach. But, if you've had an accident, both the chiropracter and CS therapist have said go to the chiropracter first, then the cranio-sacral specialist.
Posted by LB on May 28, 2000, at 23:51:49
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by saint james on December 31, 1998, at 0:42:34
Y'all are scaring me to death! I've been on Effexor several months now, and it seems to work for me, but when does anything ever work forever? So, now I'm worried about ever going off it!
I take Effexor XR 75 mg morning and 75 mg night, BuSpar AM and PM plus Klonopin low dose at night. Started the BuSpar in January because of overwhelming stress at work, and it helped a great deal. Now I'm off work but seem to be feeling more... something. At first I thought it was anxious, but now I'm not sure. It's starting to feel more like a slide into major depression.
We had started to increase the BuSpar from 10 mg AM and PM to 20 mg AM and PM, and I didn't notice any difference at the 15mg level. Now, at the 20 mg AM/PM of BuSpar, I'm feeling more depressed, maybe more anxious, can't tell anymore. Any ideas on whether the BuSpar could be causing this, or what?
Posted by Orin on May 29, 2000, at 20:37:36
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by LB on May 28, 2000, at 23:51:49
Before deciding that the higher buspirone dose will be problematic, give it a few weeks. The higher doses have helped me.
At that dose I'd bet its increasing your heart rate and it feels sort of like anxiety. If I was going to blame a med for the lower mood, I'd blame the klonopin.
Posted by NikkiT on May 30, 2000, at 9:08:01
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Gordon Harris on November 14, 1998, at 17:26:45
What??? I thought that Effexor was very limited in it's withdrawal... Sheesh.. could this epxlain why I've felt like a huge pile of dog doo doo since I stopped my Effexor on THursday?? Was on 225mg / day, and stopped cold turkey...
Plus, I've cried nearly all weekend, but put it down the the insomnia!
> I found Effexor to be an apparent miracle-worker in helping me get over extreme depression and anxiety that had persisted for almost a year. Incredibly, only a dosage of 37 mg per day (taken am, pm, eve.) seemed to do the trick. After
> 3 months I was able to discontinue, but experienced bad temper, crying, and something like dizziness. After a month I went back to taking even less than 25 mg /day, but it does seem to help enormously. Nonetheless, I am once again
> weaning off. I think the worst symptom is feelings of hostility that come over me
> during periods of stress. But then, that's something to work on. I must say that the therapist that I have worked with has also helped me
> understand my reactions to stress, and to realize that they are not me, but are simply the way I am responding.
Posted by Libby on June 1, 2000, at 16:26:52
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by NikkiT on May 30, 2000, at 9:08:01
> What??? I thought that Effexor was very >limited in it's withdrawal... Sheesh.. could >this epxlain why I've felt like a huge pile of >dog doo doo since I stopped my Effexor on >THursday?? Was on 225mg / day, and stopped cold >turkey...
I take 150 mg once daily... I notice "withdrawal effects" if I am as little as four hours late in taking it! A few weeks ago, I got sick and couldn't keep my meds down for a day... Within
24 hours of missing the Effexor, I was crying hysterically, wishing for death, and had a NO impulse control... I cried, even slapped myself...
Finally, a close friend suggested I call my doc,
because he knew this wasn't normal behavior for me (my thinking was so clouded, I thought I was
just being a bitch)... The doc had me take my meds and within 2-3 hours, my mood had stablized
again... That was the last of SEVERAL similar experiences, so I try very hard to keep to a strict schedule with this drug. Otherwise, I could actually end up in a hospital...
My doc calls it a "boomerang" effect...
It sure is...like being clobbered with one!
Posted by Steve Clements on August 25, 2000, at 23:45:56
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by saint james on December 31, 1998, at 0:42:34
> Hi everyone. I just finished watching 20-20's feature on antidepressant withdrawals, and thought I would look to see if there were any sites or links discussing Effexor withdrawals. What a wonderful thing this is to find. I was on Effexor for about 4 - 5 years, off and on, and while it was great for controlling my depression, it was hell whenever I missed a dose, or went off of it for whatever reason (such as forgetting it when I went out of town for a few days, running out of it before I was able to get my refill, etc.).
I am no longer taking it, and will never take it again. The horrible effects of both initiating and stopping treatment with it were unreal. I will spread the word as best as I can to others to avoid this medication, and to seek out other options whenever possible. Best of everything to all of you.
Steve
Posted by KateT on January 23, 2001, at 3:52:06
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by saint james on December 31, 1998, at 0:42:34
Reduced 150mg to 75 mg- 1 wk later I was very depressed, headaches, anxiety, muscle and bone aches, and I wanted to sleep all day!
My doctor gave me Tylenol 3 then Vicoden. I ended up with such anxiety that I had the shakes. He the put me on Alprazolam and back to 150mg. Feel better all the way around except I realized tonight I have been taking 300 mg instead (2 pills instead of 1)My doctor is now telling me "You are going to have to be on this medication for the rest of your life" This scares me! This all started because I want to quite smoking. That medication should be combined with Effexor. I don't want 2 addictions. And thats exactly what this is.
Posted by lissy on January 23, 2001, at 7:47:07
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by KateT on January 23, 2001, at 3:52:06
>
>
> Reduced 150mg to 75 mg- 1 wk later I was very depressed, headaches, anxiety, muscle and bone aches, and I wanted to sleep all day!
> My doctor gave me Tylenol 3 then Vicoden. I ended up with such anxiety that I had the shakes. He the put me on Alprazolam and back to 150mg. Feel better all the way around except I realized tonight I have been taking 300 mg instead (2 pills instead of 1)
>
> My doctor is now telling me "You are going to have to be on this medication for the rest of your life" This scares me! This all started because I want to quite smoking. That medication should be combined with Effexor. I don't want 2 addictions. And thats exactly what this is.I had all that too and it took about 3weeks of being off it completely before I felt better so just stick w/it and you can make it thru even though it does feel like you are going to have a breakdown (I hated everyone except my kids but they sure irritated the heck out of me) I don't feel hateful anymore or achy or teary eyed. And that was w/out any sedatives to get me thru except benadryl since my doctor was never one to believe in giving sedatives which is what I wanted instead of a.d.s since it was just for pms but that is for a different thread. Good Luck you will make it thru.
Posted by Nancyk on January 24, 2001, at 9:50:00
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by lissy on January 23, 2001, at 7:47:07
> > Unfortunately, your doctor should have reduced your dosage more gradually. He should have brought you down only by 25%, taking a 75mg and a 37.5mg. IF I had ever forgotten to take a 150 mg before bed I would have very serious physical side effects by the time I got up the next morning. Reducing by 25% at a time so far has not given me this effect. Maybe you should talk to your doctor again. I hope this helps.
Good luck.
> >
> > Reduced 150mg to 75 mg- 1 wk later I was very depressed, headaches, anxiety, muscle and bone aches, and I wanted to sleep all day!
> > My doctor gave me Tylenol 3 then Vicoden. I ended up with such anxiety that I had the shakes. He the put me on Alprazolam and back to 150mg. Feel better all the way around except I realized tonight I have been taking 300 mg instead (2 pills instead of 1)
> >
> > My doctor is now telling me "You are going to have to be on this medication for the rest of your life" This scares me! This all started because I want to quite smoking. That medication should be combined with Effexor. I don't want 2 addictions. And thats exactly what this is.
>
> I had all that too and it took about 3weeks of being off it completely before I felt better so just stick w/it and you can make it thru even though it does feel like you are going to have a breakdown (I hated everyone except my kids but they sure irritated the heck out of me) I don't feel hateful anymore or achy or teary eyed. And that was w/out any sedatives to get me thru except benadryl since my doctor was never one to believe in giving sedatives which is what I wanted instead of a.d.s since it was just for pms but that is for a different thread. Good Luck you will make it thru.
Posted by Alli on January 24, 2001, at 18:35:19
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Nancyk on January 24, 2001, at 9:50:00
I just read in a book last night that dosage should be reduced by 10% for a week at a time. This is hard to do with Effexor at 37.5 mg. pills, I know. Yesterday was supposed to be my last day of taking 37.5 mg., and the way I feel I know that I can't do it. I'm going to cut a 37.5 mg. in half and see if that can help a bit. Alli.
Posted by LD on January 24, 2001, at 18:41:50
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Alli on January 24, 2001, at 18:35:19
Alli, let me know how it goes. I've come down from 225 in the past month to 75 mg (starting this week at 75). I have shocks in the morning but they go away by afternoon- I don't know if its the klonopin that takes the shocks away or the next effexor getting in my system. I'm starting to get worried now that i'm nearing the end. Good luck!
LD
> I just read in a book last night that dosage should be reduced by 10% for a week at a time. This is hard to do with Effexor at 37.5 mg. pills, I know. Yesterday was supposed to be my last day of taking 37.5 mg., and the way I feel I know that I can't do it. I'm going to cut a 37.5 mg. in half and see if that can help a bit. Alli.
Posted by Nancyk on January 24, 2001, at 22:15:02
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Alli on January 24, 2001, at 18:35:19
Hang in there Alli!! Perhaps you should go back to your doctor and tell him/her how you are feeling. I don't know what the solution is, but you shouldn't have to feel the way you do with all of the medical tech. out there. Please let me know how things go.
nancyI just read in a book last night that dosage should be reduced by 10% for a week at a time. This is hard to do with Effexor at 37.5 mg. pills, I know. Yesterday was supposed to be my last day of taking 37.5 mg., and the way I feel I know that I can't do it. I'm going to cut a 37.5 mg. in half and see if that can help a bit. Alli.
Posted by Missy on January 26, 2001, at 21:38:04
In reply to Effexor withdrawal and dreams/nightmares, posted by janey on November 15, 1998, at 17:42:58
Hello. I decreased my Effexor dose from 150 to 112.5mg because all I did was sleep. Even at the lower dose I was exhausted. I was having the craziest dreams. Sometimes when I woke up I would think the events actually happened. Now that I am down to 75mg I don't have the dreams anymore or the tiredness. I can't help but wonder if it is really working. My doctor suggested I take 112.5mg Mon, Wed, Fri and 75mg the other days.
When I missed 2 days I thought I was either 1)Giving myself anxiety over not having taken the med with me or 2) Really losing my mind. I was short of breath, heart racing and rocking back and forth when I wasn't walking or pacing.
Posted by Denise R. on March 30, 2001, at 0:12:04
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal and dreams/nightmares, posted by Missy on January 26, 2001, at 21:38:04
Hello everyone,
I have been taking Effexor on and off now for the past 3 years. It does wonders for my depression, but coming off it is no fun at all! My doctor had slowly weaned me off it, and I am still vomiting and experiencing real vivid dreams...not bad ones, but I sometimes have a hard time telling whether or not it was a dream, or it really happened.
By the way...the reason I have stopped effexor this time was because I was experiencing terrible body twitches from it. Has anyone else experienced this? Please let me know.
Denise
Posted by Diane J. on March 31, 2001, at 21:34:49
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal and dreams/nightmares, posted by Denise R. on March 30, 2001, at 0:12:04
> Hello everyone,
> I have been taking Effexor on and off now for the past 3 years. It does wonders for my depression, but coming off it is no fun at all! My doctor had slowly weaned me off it, and I am still vomiting and experiencing real vivid dreams...not bad ones, but I sometimes have a hard time telling whether or not it was a dream, or it really happened.
> By the way...the reason I have stopped effexor this time was because I was experiencing terrible body twitches from it. Has anyone else experienced this? Please let me know.
> DeniseDear Denise,
I have taken Effexor for three years also, and I am going through the withdrawal process. I am at 75mg right now. I am trying to get off the drug because I don't think I need it anymore.I have also experienced some strange side effects in the past. Many times when I went to bed at night my muscles in my legs could not relax and I kept having to stretch and move because I was so uncomfortable. Not until extreme exhaustion set in was I able to fall asleep. I have also had insomnia whenever my dose was adjusted. I would have to take Trazadone so I could get to sleep.
The twitching is also something I have felt; however, I do drink a lot of Diet Coke, and I think the caffeine may intensify this side effect.
I have also had weird dreams! I think that is common. It is even mentioned on the package insert as a possible side effect.
That is too bad about the vomiting. I have felt a little peculiar, but nothing too unpleasant. I hope things will work out okay for you.
Diane J.
Posted by Bobina on April 7, 2001, at 22:38:31
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal and dreams/nightmares, posted by Diane J. on March 31, 2001, at 21:34:49
I decided to taper off Effexor after 1.5 years (with my MD's help). Tried this morning for the first time to decrease from 75 to 37.5mg. Within 4 hours my head felt fuzzy and light and I couldn't concentrate on anything. My heart was racing. I put up with it for about 4 hours then took another 37.5mg capsule. I had failed cold turkey in the past with the same symptoms & was praying the tapering would help. I am so scared I will never be able to get off of it. I want to have a baby in the next few years and don't want to be on these meds. Any advice on how to taper successfullY???????
Posted by Cindylou on April 8, 2001, at 12:26:51
In reply to Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Bobina on April 7, 2001, at 22:38:31
Bobina,
I am also tapering off Effexor, and it is TOUGH. But I did make it past 37.5 -- I'm down to 25 mg. now, and feeling pretty rotten, but at least I'm getting there.Anyway, I too had a very hard time going from 75 to 37.5, so my doctor prescribed 25 mg. tablets for me. I started taking one 37.5 pill plus a 25 mg pill, making it 62.5. I did that for a week or so, and then went to 50 mg. for a couple of weeks. After that, I did okay with the 37.5 -- felt a little lousy for one day, but not too bad. Then I was fine and stayed on 37.5 for a couple weeks.
By the way, the 25 mg. are not sustained release, so when I was taking 50 mg., I took one at night and one in the a.m. Now, I am taking a half pill at night and a half in the a.m.The jump to 25 has been a little rockier, but somewhat manageable. I've only been at this level for about 4 or 5 days.
I hope this helps a bit ... Good Luck!
- cindy> I decided to taper off Effexor after 1.5 years (with my MD's help). Tried this morning for the first time to decrease from 75 to 37.5mg. Within 4 hours my head felt fuzzy and light and I couldn't concentrate on anything. My heart was racing. I put up with it for about 4 hours then took another 37.5mg capsule. I had failed cold turkey in the past with the same symptoms & was praying the tapering would help. I am so scared I will never be able to get off of it. I want to have a baby in the next few years and don't want to be on these meds. Any advice on how to taper successfullY???????
Posted by Davey on June 4, 2001, at 2:41:02
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Cindylou on April 8, 2001, at 12:26:51
Hi
I was on 450mg of Effexor a day supposed to be a treatment for fibromyalgia in conjunction with other drugs including pindolol & lithium!!! However, I had no real benefit & found that I was getting depressed taking effexor...work that out. Anyway it did nothing for me apart from wreck my liver. I went to a new GP & he found out that my hormone levels were totally out of whack & wa below the lowest acceptable limit. I have been cycling down from effexor for 8 weeks & came off the last pill a slow release 150mg over the las 4 days. It has been pure hell!!! if hell can be pure!! I never want to go on to effexor again. I have never smoked drunk much or ever tried "illicit" drugs & if this is the sort of feeling that you have when coming off these substances I can really feel for any of you who are trying to give up smoking or trying to get off other substances. I can hardly even type this at the moment as my head is spinning. Don't know I will go at work tomorrow.
Posted by Mattie on June 4, 2001, at 9:20:05
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Davey on June 4, 2001, at 2:41:02
Specifically, what kind of hormone testing did you have done? Did the med contribute to this or does your doctor think this existed prior to the med?
Posted by Mattie on June 4, 2001, at 9:20:16
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Davey on June 4, 2001, at 2:41:02
Specifically, what kind of hormone testing did you have done? Did the med contribute to this or does your doctor think this existed prior to the med?
Posted by louisi on June 9, 2001, at 8:09:14
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Davey on June 4, 2001, at 2:41:02
I too am experiencing horrible dizziness. No one warned me about stopping. I stopped three days ago and am getting worse and worse. I can not get an appointment so I will have to tough it out but am glad to know what is causing this.
Posted by slazart on June 13, 2001, at 17:42:22
In reply to Effexor Withdrawl , posted by louisi on June 9, 2001, at 8:09:14
> I am currently tapering off effexor and 'OH MY GOD!' i have done such a gradual taper and am in a panic. I feel manic one minute & then like crying, I feel like I am going nuts and can't explain the inner turmoil to my family. I fight minute by minute to appear even somewhat level headed and not chew someone's butt. Outwardly I say 'you shouldn't add to the situation if you don't understand what is happening' (while smiling of course) inside I want to bellow out 'you inconsiderate piece of crap shut up and don't butt in where you don't belong!!" My head is dizzy, I have the 'electric feeling' and especially when I move my head or eyes, I am anxious and feel like jumping from one thing to another as long as it doesn't require my brain or a decision which is impossible because I own my own business. I can't seem to take a deep breath. I feel feverish and shivery but my body temp is only 97. I went from 75 mg to 37.5 2x/day then spread the time out between doses to eventually get to 37.5 1/day then began half doses of the 37.5 2x/day spreading that time until I was to once a day. Now I cut the 37.5 to taper in the same way and am even still having psychotic difficulty breaking free. I took my last half of a half of a half, Monday at noon and can barely take it anymore. I want to take a small dose to make it all go away but am trying to get over the hump and stick with it? How much longer?????? I am a basket case (and I didn't even mention the nightmares every 10 minutes.
Posted by Sean Swanson on June 14, 2001, at 2:06:47
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by slazart on June 13, 2001, at 17:42:22
I am currently going through withdrawals from the Effexor I was taking. My wife read somewhere that the withdrawal symptoms can last up to eight weeks. My last dose was May 1st (after slowly tapering for over a month) and I'm still suffering the after effects. The symptoms were quite severe at first to the point of nearly going back for another dose. I felt as though I would go crazy or be rendered physically helpless while off the medication. It took about a week before the withdrawals finally began to taper. I figured another week or so and I'd be back to normal. Boy, was I ever wrong! I've been on a terrible roller coaster ride ever since! I start feeling better and then it all comes back again. I described it to the doctors as a feeling of an electrical current running through me accompanied with a distant buzzing sound (kind of like a bug zapper) and visual disturbances with each jolt. My face feels numb during the "attack" and with the more severe ones I also experience numbness in my arms. If I try to do anything during an attack, the symptoms are magnified ten-fold. They're also very physically draining. On days with the more severe attacks, I can't make it through without a long nap. I also have shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea, difficulty urinating, hot and cold spells, difficulty concentrating, confusion, amnesia, hostility, abnormal speech, frequent skin rashes, urinary incontinence, weight gain, etc.
The previous paragraph was all about the withdrawal symptoms from the Effexor. While taking the Effexor, I had bizarre dreams and constant nightmares as well as extreme urinary difficulties, suicidal ideation, extreme insomnia, anxiety, feeling very cold with no relief, blurred vision, etc.....
Posted by rosalinda on June 14, 2001, at 2:21:51
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by slazart on June 13, 2001, at 17:42:22
Slazart--that was exactly what happened to me--I thought tapering gradually would help, but it didn't.
See my query on this board regarding using Prozac to ease the withdrawal. Apparently this works for some people; someone said that taking St. John's wort helped, too (it didn't help for me, but St. John's wort didn't work as an antidepressant for me, either). The theory is that the withdrawal symptoms are caused by Effexor's very short half life. Prozac, in contrast, has a very long half life, so if you switch to Prozac for a few days it stabilizes your serotonin levels. When you stop taking the Prozac your brain won't freak out the way it is right now because the drug will leave your system more slowly; you'll have more time to adjust. (I hope that somebody who knows more about brain chemistry will jump in and correct the errors I am no doubt making!) I haven't tried switching to Prozac yet because I resent the fact that I have to take another drug to get off the stuff I was taking, but I think I'm going to give in and give it a try.
Hang in there and try not to freak out too much. For me, the worst of the withdrawal was over within about 5 days--I still felt crummy after that (it's been almost 3 weeks now, and I still feel pretty bad), but the really intolerable, nerves-being-yanked-out-of-your-body feeling had largely abated. I relied rather heavily on Nyquil to get me through the nightmares & sleep problems, I'm afraid...
Do talk to your doctor and see if the Prozac thing might help you. Your doctor is the one who prescribed this stuff to you in the first place, so he/she should help you get off it. Or if you don't want to see him/her, go to a different doctor as soon as possible--I definitely think this is too hard a thing to go through alone. (Maybe you should encourage your family to read some of the posts on this board--they might get a better idea of what you're going through!)
I hope you feel better soon. Let us know how it goes...Sympathetically, Rosalind
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