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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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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
Posted by slazart on June 14, 2001, at 9:56:15
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by rosalinda on June 14, 2001, at 2:21:51
Thank you Sean and Rosalind for your quick and thoughtful postings. I needed it.
>
I am trying to get in to see my doctor today. I called late in the afternoon to see what I should do and the on-call doctor told me I better take a very small dose just to stabilize until I could see my regular GP who knows me. I will bring these posts with me and mention Prozac to ease the withdrawal. He gave me Doxepin in 10 mg doses to begin right away upon my last effexor but I didn't know which effects came from which and I wasn't sure if I could take them at the same time so I did not take one last night after I restarted my effexor. St John's wort never helped me with anxiety/depression so I doubt it would here either. Kava Kava would help me cope in the evenings at times or I would nibble on a Klonopin (a whole made me too drowsy) and managed to make 15 tablets last well over a year. I am not sure I understand the term 'half-life'. I was on Celexa before and in every way it was wonderful except one. It took away my sex drive and having a very healthy relationship with my husband and a good sex life was something I wasn't willing to give up. As Sean said, the effects are innumerable, and I did try to rush the tapering a bit and now am finding that to be a huge mistake. I was supposed to "Ride the Rockies" next week (cycling)and had to drop out but I will still accompany my hubby as he tackles it. I feel like I am going to need to go on vacation to do this or keep taking it unitl I find a time best to handle it.
Sad to say, I did take another mini dose last night and felt better within an hour and normal (what's that?) within 2. Now I am frustrated because I erased the 3 days off it that I already had under my belt. I play softball, ride my bike everyday and hate the poor coordination both on it and the severity of it in withdrawals. I am very afraid to start this all over again. I am going to need to schedule this with my family (or at least my hubby) because I am going to need back-up. The lack of concentration and as Sean put it confusion, in additon to speach calamity and inability to focus on a customer's needs and take care of tasks will make it very important for me to choose a timely departure from this nightmare!! and all the other nightmares that will come for awhile. I just don't want to be self destructive or harm my loved ones because of bitter and anxious feelings. This isn't their fault and I want to minimize the effect on them.
I too had the other withdrawals such as urgent bowel mvts (not quite diarrhea)but they were welcome since while on it I had bad constipation. More w/d's exteme electricity-like feeling, nerves completely on-edge, major heart palpatations, again the nightmares, and feelings of obsessively wanting to run (mostly away), stretching or completely tensing up my body to where the nerves go shooting around in my head and cause an adrenaline rush (I was hoping this would expedite my bodies expulsion of this drug or lack of)and when I try to talk.. with every word comes a rush and I have all I can do to hear and concentrate. I also felt violent like I wanted to beat on something (thankfully inanimate objects)or just slap myself to wake up from the strangeness. Just a constant fight. With the w/d's so severe it is too tempting to stay on it! however, I want OFF! because while on it I had insomnia so bad that I worked straight around the clock on a few occasions and never went to bed or even tried... Also included dehydration, pain in joints in a.m. especially hands/feet, very unusual sense of smell & taste changes, change in eyesight (blur), coordination problems (clumsy), bruising, muscle spasms/cramps, some anxiety and since that was something I was wanting rid of...The best thing??? That I am not alone. Thank you so much for your postings because I know I am not going nuts and the many things going on will be easier to deal with knowing more about it. It also makes sense to taper off as slowly as possible. I was joking around about crushing a half of the 37.5 and counting granules but I am finding that this is no joke.
Thanks to all of you who posted responses and my sympathy to those of you going through the w/d's.
sincerely;
Sharon
Posted by Zo on June 16, 2001, at 20:35:22
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by slazart on June 14, 2001, at 9:56:15
Sharon, I'm sorry to hear the withdrawal is going so tough for you, and hope by the time you read this, it has eased off. I am back on Effexor now, and have been for several years, it seems to be my foundation/mainstay. . . but when I stopped cold, I had true mania for a few weeks. ..and then a mammoth crash. Good luck to you!
Zo
Posted by louisi on June 17, 2001, at 7:58:40
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by Zo on June 16, 2001, at 20:35:22
I changed my Effexor SR (150 twice a day) to once a day on June 6. I saw my internist on the 11th because the dizziness, blurred vision, headache, shock-like feelings in my limbs, dry mouth, etc etc was so bad I couldn't stand it. I explained about the effexor but he still believes it's inner ear related. At any rate, he gave me antivert (mecliven) for the vertigo. That has helped tremendously. I got my first good night's sleep on the 11th after taking the antivert. I also began taking mega vitamins and supplements. I am drinking gallons of water to flush out my system as well.
As of today, I am doing well. The feelings we've all desribed have subsided and a mild version comes and goes but responds to the antivert. I am looking forward to weeks ahead in the future when I don't have to take any of this stuff. I am sick of medications, pills and doctors. I have no support person but I think it is better this way.
Posted by dave_fox on June 17, 2001, at 10:07:30
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by slazart on June 13, 2001, at 17:42:22
I seem to remember that Effexor has a very short half-life and that it will wash out of the system quite quickly leading to withdrawal effects.
A friend who did come off it by going very slowly said it was still very hard to do.
Good luck!
Dave F
Posted by JOHN R. HIRST on June 17, 2001, at 15:01:24
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by dave_fox on June 17, 2001, at 10:07:30
I too am withdrawing from effexor xr. I was on just 150 mg for about a year after being on prozac for about 3 years. I wanted to get off since I was soooo tired and could not get through a day. My joints and muscles ached every day and I could not hardly exercise, which has been very important to me over the years. I think effexor has truely changed my life and not for the better. I totally lost my personality, i had no motivation and my job performance greatly declined. I dont want to blame everything on meds, but I really believe it was a big factor. Now I have been totally off for 14 days after just tapering for 2 weeks(it should have been longer as I am now reading).
This has been a nightmare with all the effects (or effexors as I call them) that others have posted about. I thought it was better after a week and then I saw it get even worse. The last 2 days have been unbearable with constant shock like sensations and dizziness. I was sick, fatigued, weak, muscles ache. I can totally not function. I went to half days at work and even this was too much. I work with people with mental illness and it is totally hard to recommend meds to them now. I feel for all of you going through this.
I am just so afraid that this will not pass soon enough. My boss at work just does not understand and I am taking most of my days off. I feel I will need more and dont know how we are going to pay bills. My wife has been great, but it is very hard for her. How can one medication cause so much turmoil? I will pray for all of you and I need your prayers also. With God only,John H.
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