![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 74 to 98 of 1313. Go back in thread:
Posted by bradkc on September 5, 2001, at 17:06:32
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by slazart on June 14, 2001, at 9:56:15
> 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
> I am so happy to read these postings. I have been on 300 mg per day of effexor for over a year, and missed my dosage today, I found this site by searching the horrible physical symptoms I was having today, bad electrical like tingling and numbness in my extremeties, and heart palpatations and chills. I had no idea it was from missing this med today. Now I realize what this is from and I feel much better just knowing that, and I have taken my meds even though I thought 4 pm was late, I usually take it all in the am. thanks so much for sharing this, I felt so weird i was ready to go to the er.
Thanks and good luck to all
>
Posted by kid47 on September 6, 2001, at 10:17:55
In reply to Any Tips For NEW meds?, posted by MCMontreal on September 4, 2001, at 22:56:27
Hi. Sorry you're feeling bad. There are all sorts of different meds available to treat the type of illness you have. The bad news (as you know) is it can take quite awhile to find the right one(s). SSRI's did not work well for me. Especially if I was not taking a mood stabilizer. ( I am Bipolar ) Find a pdoc who will work aggressively with you to find the right med cocktail & who knows when a drug is not working. Besides meds I forced myself to make some lifestyle changes. I gave up recreational drugs, alcohol, nicotine, caffiene & began to exercise & eat right. I didn't do this all at once but gradually over a couple of years.
How much Effexor were you taking? FXR is notorious for discontinuation side fx. You should taper slowly off it. There is tons of FXR info here in the archives. After two years of trials & failures I finally, with the help of my pdoc & lots of research on my own found a couple of med cocktails that work pretty well for me. Right now I am on a med-free holiday (with the knowledge & approval of my pdoc) but am fully prepared to resume my meds when I feel the need. Try not to be discouraged. There are plenty of options you have not tried. It may take some time but with effort & resolve I am confident you will find the right combo of meds & lifestyle to allow you to have some fun & live a great life. Take care (sorry for the ramble) Good Luckkid
> Hi,
> It's 11:30 pm and I've been awake for four days. I thought it was about time to make the most of the wee hours and connect with people who are going through similar experiences.
> A bit about me: Diagnosed with Severe depression at 9 years old,
> At 19 years old, Bipolar Disorder Without Mania, and Schizo-Affective Disorder
> -originally put on Zoloft in '94 to treat depression...went off a few years later(wow, no horror story)...
> -relapsed---wanted that "Zoloft" feeling again
> -Dr. prescribed Paxil and Ativan..6 months later I was extreme OCD and had painted everything in my home white (my toothbrush too!), began experiencing psychotic episodes, time lapses, mania
> -Barely survived getting off of it
> -Went back on Zoloft for a year, Clonazepam, and Epival (a mood stabilizer) but when I reached the max dose of 200mg of Zoloft a day my Dr. said it was probably best if I tired something new...
> EFFEXOR...
> Oh man.
> My pyschiatrist prescribed it to me and then left for another hospital. All of my files are being transferred ...I get to start from scratch...
> After taking Effexor for a month, I couldn't do it anymore. I was suicidal again and was re-considering some very bad habits of mine...
> I've been off it for a week now.
> I'm shaking, sweating, having horrific dreams that I think are so real that I've accused people of doing things they haven't done, oh- and here's my personal favorite-
> Bursting into tears every five minutes.
> I can't do this anymore folks. I feel like a testing site for pharmaceutical companies...
> Has anyone had a good or even decent experience with an antidepressant or alternative?
> It's the depression I'm most concerned about...the mania, OCD and all that junk wasn't a part of my life until the Paxil...
> I know everyone has different reactions, but this is eating my life up...I just want something to help the depression...I'm 20 years old and don't want to spend the next 20 years searching for a coping strategy.
> Any advice, personal story is extremely welcomed...feeling a bit alone and anxious here.
> Sorry to type so much!
> MC
Posted by MCMontreal on September 6, 2001, at 10:53:25
In reply to Re: Any Tips For NEW meds? » MCMontreal, posted by kid47 on September 6, 2001, at 10:17:55
Thank you for your response, Kid47.
I know finding the right cocktail is going to take some time.
And the good news is that I'm being transferred to a better hospital where I will undergo pyschological evaluation and tests before they start prescribing again.
The last appointment I had they mentioned that they thought my previous diagnosis of Bipolar might have been incorrect. At this point, I have every reason to be optimistic as I get to start again --
BTW, I was on 75 mg of Effexor.
I'm super sensitive to medication and as I mentioned before it took a year to get me to 200 mg of Zoloft ... at least this is all well-documented in my files and I'm pretty sure that my new pdoc will take care in monitoring my progress.
The good news is that the withdrawal symptoms seem to be getting a little better...
In any case, thank you again for your response. I'm glad to hear that you found a good combo and also took the steps to improve your overall lifestyle.
I'm trying to do that one step at a time. I don't know about the nicotine and caffeine though! Those are tough ones--that's going to take some time.
Ciao for now,
MC
Posted by marlo on October 21, 2001, at 12:03:55
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Steve Clements on August 25, 2000, at 23:45:56
i have so much anger towards this drug and the doctors who perscribe it. i was on effexor for about four months; it did nothing for me, so i stopped cold turkey and was fine (fortunately i've gotten away with this whenever i've tried, with other drugs). i live with a close friend who took it for about 7 months and now he just started tapering from 150mg to 75mg a day. effexor did nothing for his depression or anxiety; what it did do was make his tics much worse (he has tourette's), so there was no reason to stay on. life has been absolute hell during the past week. i can't explain the effect his withdrawal is having on me. he is intensely angry at the world; homicidal; says he'd like to see himself crumbled in a heap at the bottom of a cliff; wants to hurt himself physically to match or distract himself from mental anguish; sobs and screams about how much he wants everyone else in the world to suffer. this behavior used to be so rare that i am thoroughly convinced that this is thanks to the decrease in effexor. this sucks because i have problems of my own, and every day now i am put in a position where i feel absolutely powerless- i can't keep him from screaming and shaking with anger and guilt (yes he does feel incredibly guilty about his behavior, and my emotional reactions only make this worse)hitting himself, punching, slapping. i am absolutely powerless against his death wish.
in my opinion this drug shouldn't be on the market. not when it means other people in our situation have to endure this explosive despair several times a day.jesus. good luck.
i apologize for my hostile attitude, i certainly think it's justified.
Posted by Lorraine on October 25, 2001, at 12:03:15
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by marlo on October 21, 2001, at 12:03:55
He should augment with a longer half life drug for a few days or so (Prozac) to make his withdrawal easier. Effexor was a life saver for me, but withdrawal was hard. Wish I had known about the Prozac augmentation.good luck.
Lorraine
> i have so much anger towards this drug and the doctors who perscribe it. i was on effexor for about four months; it did nothing for me, so i stopped cold turkey and was fine (fortunately i've gotten away with this whenever i've tried, with other drugs). i live with a close friend who took it for about 7 months and now he just started tapering from 150mg to 75mg a day. effexor did nothing for his depression or anxiety; what it did do was make his tics much worse (he has tourette's), so there was no reason to stay on. life has been absolute hell during the past week. i can't explain the effect his withdrawal is having on me. he is intensely angry at the world; homicidal; says he'd like to see himself crumbled in a heap at the bottom of a cliff; wants to hurt himself physically to match or distract himself from mental anguish; sobs and screams about how much he wants everyone else in the world to suffer. this behavior used to be so rare that i am thoroughly convinced that this is thanks to the decrease in effexor. this sucks because i have problems of my own, and every day now i am put in a position where i feel absolutely powerless- i can't keep him from screaming and shaking with anger and guilt (yes he does feel incredibly guilty about his behavior, and my emotional reactions only make this worse)hitting himself, punching, slapping. i am absolutely powerless against his death wish.
> in my opinion this drug shouldn't be on the market. not when it means other people in our situation have to endure this explosive despair several times a day.
>
> jesus. good luck.
>
> i apologize for my hostile attitude, i certainly think it's justified.
Posted by msemilyemily on October 26, 2001, at 0:09:06
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » marlo, posted by Lorraine on October 25, 2001, at 12:03:15
Okay, I'm having weirdness with effexor also. I've taken 300mg a day for about a year. I don't ever drink, but last week I drank 4 days in a row (right now, it makes no sense to me why this happened, but it did). Now, I think I'm going insane. I feel disconnected, and weird -- confused, like I'm not myself, but my self is acting in the world. I've taken this same dosage for a year -- why would this crazyness start now? I went to my doctor this afternoon (I'm a grad student, and I cannot write, and I keep doing very odd things), and he suggested that maybe the alcohol interacted with the effexor in some weird way -- he has tapered me down to 150mg a day, and added Risperdal. I hate not being able to trust these people. I knew knew KNEW that medication was a bad plan, and this is absurd. Has anyone else experienced a similar sudden onset of side effects to Effexor (XR)? I'm afraid that if I did some weird neurological damage, the tapering off of Effexor will just make things worse...
help.
Posted by alexis on October 26, 2001, at 4:08:03
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by msemilyemily on October 26, 2001, at 0:09:06
> Okay, I'm having weirdness with effexor also. I've taken 300mg a day for about a year. I don't ever drink, but last week I drank 4 days in a row (right now, it makes no sense to me why this happened, but it did). Now, I think I'm going insane. I feel disconnected, and weird -- confused, like I'm not myself, but my self is acting in the world. I've taken this same dosage for a year -- why would this crazyness start now? I went to my doctor this afternoon (I'm a grad student, and I cannot write, and I keep doing very odd things), and he suggested that maybe the alcohol interacted with the effexor in some weird way -- he has tapered me down to 150mg a day, and added Risperdal. I hate not being able to trust these people. I knew knew KNEW that medication was a bad plan, and this is absurd. Has anyone else experienced a similar sudden onset of side effects to Effexor (XR)? I'm afraid that if I did some weird neurological damage, the tapering off of Effexor will just make things worse...
>
> help.Let me apologize ahead of time for what I believe will be a long post. I am so happy I found this site, I thought I was the only one feeling like Effexor has taken a negative toll on my life.
I too have been on effexor 300 mg a day for the past 2 years. I made sure not to drink, but last March on St.Patrick's Day, I went out with my husband and some friends. For some reason the owner of the pub took a liking to us and started to give us free drinks. I must have had 6-7 loaded drinks when all of a sudden I started to feel sick. Not like a wanting to vomit sick, but like I was hearing a really loud buzzing noise and I was sinking into a deep hole.My husband had to keep shaking me during the night because I would stop breathing- he stayed up all night shaking me to get me to breathe. 911 I know you must be saying, but when you are drunk you don't think straight.
The following days, I had weird symptoms of electric type feeling in my brain. Like my eyes would move but my brain would catch up 2 seconds later with a weird tingling, electric feeling as it moved.
Since then, if I miss a dose, those symptoms come within 3-4 hours.
I just switched psychiatrists because I feel that my former doctor has over medicated me.
He has me on 300 mg of Effexor, 1200 mg of Neurontin (spelling?) and 300 mg of Wellbutrin. In addition, I take Restoril to sleep, and Xanax for my anxiety. This is insane!!! I am a walking pharmacy! My paycheck should be direct deposited to the pharmacy. They know me so well, I have actually become friends with the Pharmacist who manages the store- she and I talk on the phone like friends, we have met her and her boyfriend for coffee, etc.. Okay...now that is a weird way of making friends.
Then he also prescribed periactin to be used before sex since my interest has gone to zero. I looked that drug up and it is an antihistamine! All it did was make me sleepy and ruin the event.
My last visit with him was 2 weeks ago when I had a crisis situation and all he did was double my Neurontin med and said "think happy thoughts" and that was it. I told him I was not returning and he was shocked. I walked out and I did not double the med.
Now my new doctor said he was to clean up the meds. He has directed me decrease my 300 mg by 75mg per week. It will take me 4 weeks to be off of Effexor,
and this is just my 3rd day with a decreased dosage and I have feel terrible.
What next? You are not alone!
Alexis
Posted by Dreamy on October 26, 2001, at 12:25:18
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » msemilyemily, posted by alexis on October 26, 2001, at 4:08:03
> > Okay, I'm having weirdness with effexor also. I've taken 300mg a day for about a year. I don't ever drink, but last week I drank 4 days in a row (right now, it makes no sense to me why this happened, but it did). Now, I think I'm going insane. I feel disconnected, and weird -- confused, like I'm not myself, but my self is acting in the world. I've taken this same dosage for a year -- why would this crazyness start now? I went to my doctor this afternoon (I'm a grad student, and I cannot write, and I keep doing very odd things), and he suggested that maybe the alcohol interacted with the effexor in some weird way -- he has tapered me down to 150mg a day, and added Risperdal. I hate not being able to trust these people. I knew knew KNEW that medication was a bad plan, and this is absurd. Has anyone else experienced a similar sudden onset of side effects to Effexor (XR)? I'm afraid that if I did some weird neurological damage, the tapering off of Effexor will just make things worse...
> >
> > help.
>
> Let me apologize ahead of time for what I believe will be a long post. I am so happy I found this site, I thought I was the only one feeling like Effexor has taken a negative toll on my life.
> I too have been on effexor 300 mg a day for the past 2 years. I made sure not to drink, but last March on St.Patrick's Day, I went out with my husband and some friends. For some reason the owner of the pub took a liking to us and started to give us free drinks. I must have had 6-7 loaded drinks when all of a sudden I started to feel sick. Not like a wanting to vomit sick, but like I was hearing a really loud buzzing noise and I was sinking into a deep hole.My husband had to keep shaking me during the night because I would stop breathing- he stayed up all night shaking me to get me to breathe. 911 I know you must be saying, but when you are drunk you don't think straight.
> The following days, I had weird symptoms of electric type feeling in my brain. Like my eyes would move but my brain would catch up 2 seconds later with a weird tingling, electric feeling as it moved.
> Since then, if I miss a dose, those symptoms come within 3-4 hours.
> I just switched psychiatrists because I feel that my former doctor has over medicated me.
> He has me on 300 mg of Effexor, 1200 mg of Neurontin (spelling?) and 300 mg of Wellbutrin. In addition, I take Restoril to sleep, and Xanax for my anxiety. This is insane!!! I am a walking pharmacy! My paycheck should be direct deposited to the pharmacy. They know me so well, I have actually become friends with the Pharmacist who manages the store- she and I talk on the phone like friends, we have met her and her boyfriend for coffee, etc.. Okay...now that is a weird way of making friends.
> Then he also prescribed periactin to be used before sex since my interest has gone to zero. I looked that drug up and it is an antihistamine! All it did was make me sleepy and ruin the event.
> My last visit with him was 2 weeks ago when I had a crisis situation and all he did was double my Neurontin med and said "think happy thoughts" and that was it. I told him I was not returning and he was shocked. I walked out and I did not double the med.
> Now my new doctor said he was to clean up the meds. He has directed me decrease my 300 mg by 75mg per week. It will take me 4 weeks to be off of Effexor,
> and this is just my 3rd day with a decreased dosage and I have feel terrible.
> What next? You are not alone!
> AlexisHoly Tamolly!
Man -you were on a lot of crap!
Unbelievable!
I would like to follow the success story your
clearly going to shout from the top of your
lungs when you get free from all those drugs!
I would keep the xanax and other than that -nothen!
Good luck!
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Posted by msemilyemily on October 26, 2001, at 21:23:37
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Dreamy on October 26, 2001, at 12:25:18
Alexis, how long did it take for your weird-feeling to go away? I'm typically a fairly stable, unaffected person -- but I feel like I'm drunk all day now. That's almost an understatement. I had to do an interview, and I thought I was writing something, but I had no freaking PEN in my hand. Does ANYONE know if this is an effect of Effexor? I'm torn on what to do -- I want not to take this anti-psychotic med that my doctor gave me, if what I'm experiencing is an effect of Effexor (I like Effectsors :) ). I don't want do have some psychological diagnosis, if this is a neurological medicine-based problem. What can they detect with MRIs? I'll tell you what -- I'm tempted to just STOP taking all this shit tonight, deal with the insanity for a week or whatever, and be better. Or else KNOW that my problems aren't related to the meds. Anyone have any experience with this route?
thank you all,
emily
Posted by alexis on October 29, 2001, at 3:30:17
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by msemilyemily on October 26, 2001, at 21:23:37
Emily,
That drunk, disconnected, weird feeling has never gone away. It was there from the beginning and continues to be here today! As my prior psychiatrist increased the dosage then added Wellbutrin, it got worse. I began to do and say odd things. I forget what I am saying mid sentence or say things that make sense to me but come out in an akward way. I have put the mayo jar in the microwave, have left my keys attached to the front door, have forgotten appointments, made many mistakes on documents at work. I took a leave from my Masters program in February and have not been able to return. My attention span and my patience levels have significantly changed to the worse.
The other symptoms I was describing started after the March incident and I have experienced them over and over again if I miss a dose. I already tried to stop the Effexor on my own and ended up being a mess at work and at home. I am now being weaned off of this horrible stuff and I truly feel out of control.
Tell your doctor you don't want to take Effexor anymore and have her/him wean you off or find another doctor. I waited too long to my detriment.
Posted by msemilyemily on October 29, 2001, at 17:03:50
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » msemilyemily, posted by alexis on October 29, 2001, at 3:30:17
Alexis,
I'm in a Master's program, too. I'm so freaking happy, because yesterday I woke up and felt A LITTLE better. I am down to 75mg a day, and I'm tempted to just try to stop taking it completely. I'm NOT taking this antipsychotic med anymore. This is frustrating the hell out of me, because everyone claims that I'm having some sort of disassociative psychotic episode. But I don't FEEL unhappy, and there is no logical reason for me to flip out, all of the sudden. I wish there were some way to determine that it IS the effexor, and not my environment and reaction to that environment, that is causing the damn problem.
I'm done with this nonsense, I'll tell you what.
Emiy
Posted by Joey on October 29, 2001, at 19:09:11
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » msemilyemily, posted by alexis on October 26, 2001, at 4:08:03
Dreamy, I responded to you, but it didn't work the first time, so here I go again: About a year and a half ago, I went to Puerto Vallarta and drank for a week straight while on 75 mg of Effexor, which I had been taking for two years previous. I, too, experienced major disconnection, moodiness, and extreme irritability. I think what I came to learn about that experience is what many of us who are on antidepressants have to face: That using other medications or elixers to help us through the detritus of our individual symptoms, while on antidepressants, doesn't seem to work. What's best is to see this drinking episode as a sign that the medication may not be the whole cure right now for you, and that you may need an entirely new medication or a therapist to compliment the Effexor. I, personally, just stopped taking Effexor about nine days ago after being diagnosed with ADD. The withdrawl is awful, but I think the new diagnosis is good. What a lot of psychiastrists seem to do is just provide a bandaid solution to our problems with medication; namely, they usually just put us on a new one or change our medication all together without much rhyme or reason. I think we all just need to see a healthy therapist during times when our medication just isn't working anymore, or if we begin to seek new ways of medicating ourselves.
Hope this helps a little.
> > Okay, I'm having weirdness with effexor also. I've taken 300mg a day for about a year. I don't ever drink, but last week I drank 4 days in a row (right now, it makes no sense to me why this happened, but it did). Now, I think I'm going insane. I feel disconnected, and weird -- confused, like I'm not myself, but my self is acting in the world. I've taken this same dosage for a year -- why would this crazyness start now? I went to my doctor this afternoon (I'm a grad student, and I cannot write, and I keep doing very odd things), and he suggested that maybe the alcohol interacted with the effexor in some weird way -- he has tapered me down to 150mg a day, and added Risperdal. I hate not being able to trust these people. I knew knew KNEW that medication was a bad plan, and this is absurd. Has anyone else experienced a similar sudden onset of side effects to Effexor (XR)? I'm afraid that if I did some weird neurological damage, the tapering off of Effexor will just make things worse...
> >
> > help.
>
> Let me apologize ahead of time for what I believe will be a long post. I am so happy I found this site, I thought I was the only one feeling like Effexor has taken a negative toll on my life.
> I too have been on effexor 300 mg a day for the past 2 years. I made sure not to drink, but last March on St.Patrick's Day, I went out with my husband and some friends. For some reason the owner of the pub took a liking to us and started to give us free drinks. I must have had 6-7 loaded drinks when all of a sudden I started to feel sick. Not like a wanting to vomit sick, but like I was hearing a really loud buzzing noise and I was sinking into a deep hole.My husband had to keep shaking me during the night because I would stop breathing- he stayed up all night shaking me to get me to breathe. 911 I know you must be saying, but when you are drunk you don't think straight.
> The following days, I had weird symptoms of electric type feeling in my brain. Like my eyes would move but my brain would catch up 2 seconds later with a weird tingling, electric feeling as it moved.
> Since then, if I miss a dose, those symptoms come within 3-4 hours.
> I just switched psychiatrists because I feel that my former doctor has over medicated me.
> He has me on 300 mg of Effexor, 1200 mg of Neurontin (spelling?) and 300 mg of Wellbutrin. In addition, I take Restoril to sleep, and Xanax for my anxiety. This is insane!!! I am a walking pharmacy! My paycheck should be direct deposited to the pharmacy. They know me so well, I have actually become friends with the Pharmacist who manages the store- she and I talk on the phone like friends, we have met her and her boyfriend for coffee, etc.. Okay...now that is a weird way of making friends.
> Then he also prescribed periactin to be used before sex since my interest has gone to zero. I looked that drug up and it is an antihistamine! All it did was make me sleepy and ruin the event.
> My last visit with him was 2 weeks ago when I had a crisis situation and all he did was double my Neurontin med and said "think happy thoughts" and that was it. I told him I was not returning and he was shocked. I walked out and I did not double the med.
> Now my new doctor said he was to clean up the meds. He has directed me decrease my 300 mg by 75mg per week. It will take me 4 weeks to be off of Effexor,
> and this is just my 3rd day with a decreased dosage and I have feel terrible.
> What next? You are not alone!
> Alexis
Posted by msemilyemily on October 30, 2001, at 14:46:58
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » alexis, posted by Joey on October 29, 2001, at 19:09:11
I agree. I'm mostly extraordinarily annoyed that not one of the three psychiatrists I have seen in the last four years has ever done a complete physical, blood work, a psychological evaluation...
I think that not doing these things is, ethically, inexcusable. These are serious medications, many of which are new and untested under a variety of circumstances. More and more, I realize the haphazardness with which meds are prescribed. I'm not the type of person who wants to cling to some sort of diagnosis. Rather, I want a well-formulated and exhaustive assesment of my mental health (and neurological health, for that matter), before I take another damn thing. Three years ago when I started "trying" different meds, I was nothing but skeptical and concerned about taking anything to help with what was (then) diagnosed as depression. Now I've had about 8 different diagnoses from all sorts of different doctors and psychologists, and not one of them has done anything but change my medication when I'm feeling some different symptom.
I'm done with all of these meds. Effexor is the only thing that has helped, but it's not worth it to me. At least without it I'll be able to know that my impressions and moods and emotions are my own, rather than the result of some medicine-based anomaly.
EEM
Posted by onedayatatime on March 1, 2002, at 11:26:33
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » alexis, posted by Joey on October 29, 2001, at 19:09:11
A "type" of dizziness, a "type" of shakiness, a "type" of nausea, very tired, weird dreams,sadness, a "disconnectedness"; all of this happens when I have forgotten to take my 75mg dose of Effexor for 2 days, the condition intensifies in addition to also having headaches and loss of appetite when I was out of town for several days without my medication. I use the term "type" for those conditions because they are not like a dizziness, shakiness, or nausea that I have ever experienced.
I stay away from alcohol. ALCOHOL IS A DEPRESSANT! I already have a "depressed" condition, why would anyone in their (what is left of it) right mind do ANYTHING to make depression worse or to counteract their medications! (I wonder how long it would take to be clear of ALL side effects if I choose to stop medication entirely.)
Continued side effects with regular medication are: forgetfulness, a general lack of interest in things and absolutely NO interest in sexual intercourse. (Yes, I am married.)
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 1, 2002, at 13:02:16
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by onedayatatime on March 1, 2002, at 11:26:33
Well... 5 days on I think I;m coming out the othre side... Things are looking and feeling bettre today.. The nausea has nearly usbsided entirely, the dizzyness is halved, the "brain shocks" much easier, and I;m not climbing the walls and panicking as much...
So.. there is light at the end of the tunnel.. just hang in there..
Nikki
Posted by kalwin on July 25, 2003, at 14:49:49
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by marlo on October 21, 2001, at 12:03:55
Holy shit- I am so glad that I stumbled across this post. For the past three days I have been feeling terrrible and not knowing why. It never even occurred to me that it could be that I have decided to not take effexor anymore. I started taking 75 mg. dose about 8 months ago, and it helped so much with the feelings of anxiety and sadness that this past winter left me with. But recently I have felt strong enough to not want to depend upon medication any longer. . .
The only way that I could describe how I've felt lately is that I have felt "queasy" in my head- sometimes lying down helps, sometimes not. I came across a description that more aptly describes the feeling, though- brain shivers. What a terrible way to feel. I am so sorry that there are other people going through this, but I have to say, it's comforting to know that I'm not alone! Good luck to everyone!
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 25, 2003, at 19:12:28
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by kalwin on July 25, 2003, at 14:49:49
> Holy sh*t- I am so glad that I stumbled across this post.
I'm glad, too :-) and sorry to be such a prude, but please don't use language that could offend others, thanks.
Bob
Posted by theo on July 26, 2003, at 9:25:46
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by kalwin on July 25, 2003, at 14:49:49
Could the fact that you're "feeling strong" mean the medication is working and maybe you need to be on it? I know how you feel about not wanting to depend on medication but you obviously felt bad enough to start medication or there would have been any reason for you to ever start Effexor, right? Whatever you decide you need to discuss it with your doctor.
Posted by theo on July 26, 2003, at 9:33:06
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » kalwin, posted by theo on July 26, 2003, at 9:25:46
Meant to say there "wouldn't" have had any reason for you to try Effexor, right? Premature postulation.
Posted by spiciestcrashbean on September 3, 2003, at 8:18:05
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - on a positive note, posted by NikkiT2 on March 1, 2002, at 13:02:16
i am so happy that i have found you guys!i truly thought that i was alone in my feelings.i take 75mg of effexor each day for the past 2 years now. i wanted to get off of it a while back because i wanted to feel normal again,whatever that is.well it was the most horrible experience and needless to say it didn't work.2 days after i tried to wean myself off of it at just 35 mg a day i would get dizzy after every 2 steps i took.sort of like my brain had to play catchup with any movements that i made. everything would just go black and i'd feel nauseated.not to mention the crying and shaking and not being able to think. i could barely keep my balance when i walked!why is this?i don't care for sex anymore either. i wonder if i did quit taking it if my panic attacks would return.and what do i do take it for the rest of my life and what if they quit making it?then what?sometimes i'm afraid because i really don't know any answers and i think my husband must think i'm addicted to it or something.but i'm not wanting it anymore at all i just want to be normal again.does anyone know what i'm saying?
Posted by sashav1 on September 4, 2003, at 19:40:16
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by kalwin on July 25, 2003, at 14:49:49
I am wondering if there is anything to be done about the wretched withdrawals from Effexor. I have been taking it for about 2 years and have been tapering the past month or so. It has been better this time than last year when I tried to do the same. I am now off completely now and have been for 4 days and I couldn't feel worse. I feel more insane than when I went on the stuff! I almost constantly have those elecetical charges through my brain...I call it "zinging". What do I do? Will it ever stop? Does anyone know how long? Should I just wait it out?? HELP!!!!!!!!
Posted by craig allen on September 6, 2003, at 20:16:57
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by sashav1 on September 4, 2003, at 19:40:16
i know exactly where you're at. i just came off effexor myself. seemed like the strangeness wouldn't let up. for me, on the eighth day i felt a lot better. by the tenth or eleventh day of being off completely i was almost all the way home. hope that helps.
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