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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 2603 to 2627 of 10407. Go back in thread:
Posted by Linear on September 9, 2002, at 19:15:38
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol, posted by DebraA. on September 8, 2002, at 18:19:06
I certainly haven't experienced any unusual
cravings for alcohol while taking Effexor; in
fact, I got sober while taking this drug. I
am part of a 12-Step group and have been sober
for one year. I have been craving carbs and
refined sugar but I think that's more from
giving up the alcohol and less a side effect
of taking Effexor.
Posted by DebraA. on September 10, 2002, at 7:22:41
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol, posted by Linear on September 9, 2002, at 19:15:38
Thanks for your input. If you look carefully at the posts, Alara and I theorized that the craving for alcohol came in the late afternoon when we believed the effexor was wearing off. The carb cravings, in my opinion, are something that happens when folks are recovering from alcohol abuse. I've had a bunch of friends that turned to food after quitting alcohol. The good news is that eventually most people's metabolism eventually was restored to normal and the cravings and extra weight went away. Same thing happened to me when I quit smoking.
My hat is off to you for your success this past year! I am also happy that effexor has been such a wonderful help to you during this process. However, please be prepared when it's time to reduce/quit/change this drug - the withdrawal can be intense!!
Posted by jannbeau on September 10, 2002, at 10:27:59
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol, posted by Linear on September 9, 2002, at 19:15:38
> I certainly haven't experienced any unusual
> cravings for alcohol while taking Effexor; in
> fact, I got sober while taking this drug. I
> am part of a 12-Step group and have been sober
> for one year. I have been craving carbs and
> refined sugar but I think that's more from
> giving up the alcohol and less a side effect
> of taking Effexor.Hi, Linear: I don't drink and I DID experience a massive increase in my cravings for carbohydrates that started almost as soon as I started Effexor and has leveled off in the months since I took my last pill of this medication.
Jannbeau
>
Posted by Pariah on September 10, 2002, at 18:13:55
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
i just found out through experimentation that (for me) taking my effexor in the evening makes it more effective than when i take it early in the morning. i take my single dose of 150mg of effexor xr in the morning and i have had a lot better results. fewer panic attacks and those i have seem to be only about a 2 on a scale of one to ten. i almost went to my doctor again and he would have increased my dose. glad i didnt i dont want to be on any higher a dose, dont want that much withdraw. i already missed my dose once for two days in a row and had bad effects, felt like my brain was hooked up to a car battery.
Posted by sleepy lizard on September 11, 2002, at 17:25:34
In reply to Re: Long term effects of Effexor/permanent , posted by annj on February 27, 2001, at 15:37:01
AnnJ if you are still posting here, how are you doing off of the Effexor? Did your side effects go away?
Posted by Cybill on September 11, 2002, at 20:35:29
In reply to Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by JL on January 26, 2001, at 19:18:27
I am in the withdrawal process (from 225 mg
Effexor daily, over 2 years.) I can only reiterate
what we've all read here - it's pure hell.
The first two days were emotional roller coasters,
but I expected that. What I didn't expect was for
the muscles in my arms to seize up, and the
muscles in my shoulders and chest to tighten.
I thought I was having a heart attack and went
to the Hosp. Emergency. (I wasn't, thank God!)Has anyone else ever experienced any muscle
tightening during withdrawal?
Posted by jannbeau on September 12, 2002, at 10:51:37
In reply to Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by JL on January 26, 2001, at 19:18:27
> JL, if you are still reading this board, will you tell me how you are doing? It's been almost a year since you posted this message and I just wondered. Hope you are doing very well. I think there HAVE been suits over Effexor. I KNOW there are/have been suits over Paxil and other AD's.
With regard to serotonin syndrome, that seems to be a result of being ON the medication. Effexor and other meds like it, block the reuptake of serotonin (Effexor is NOT an SSRI, but DOES affect serotonin reuptake, I've been told, along with norepinephrine, I THINK).
Good luck to you,
jannbeau
This is living Hell! I've been on Effexor for 3 1/2 years - at one point I was on 375 mg/day. Two years ago, the quack that put me on this damn drug tried to change me to Wellbrutrin and had me go off Effexor cold turkey. I ended up in the emergency room due to the severe and sudden withdrawal I went through. The quake WOULD NOT return my call for help and even the emergency room didn't know if it was the Effexor or the Welbrutrin causing the problem. They sent me home, without ANY treatment, because they didn't know what to tell me. After calling everyone on the planet for advise, my primary care physician's on-call doctor told me to take the Effexor immediately and that would solve the problem - it did. The quake psychiatrist didn't call me back until the NEXT DAY! I've since fired that quack and have been seeing a real pyschiatrist for the past year and a half (and have filed formal medical mal-practice charges against to former quake - for the above, and other very serious problems I had with her). At the time I switched to a real doctor, I had been able to SLOOOOWLY get down to 150 mg/day. I've been on that amount for about a year and 1/2 and, since then, with my good doc, SLOWLY got down to 75 mg/day. She wanted to increase the Effexor a few weeks ago for the ongoing depression but, due to the severe withdrawal problems I've had, she agreed to put me on Serzone instead. Since then, I was able to get down to 37.5 mg/day of Effexor with minimal side effects (these do, however, hit me like clock work within 24 hours after taking the previous dose).
>
> This week, we decided to try to take me off completely - here's what happened. Had fairly strong withdrawal problems on Tues., so I took 18.75 mg (1/4 of a pill) that day. Since then, I haven't had any. However, I'm still having nausea, rather severe dizziness, as well as that delightful "space cadet" feeling that seems to be one of those "Effexor things." While it's now been 3 full days since I've taken any Effexor, the withdrawal symptoms remain. Things seem especially bad when I do anything physical. I just called my doc and she said to take a little more Effexor to help reduce the problems, if I wanted to, or to try and suffer it out some more. As I've NEVER gone more than 24 hours, during the past 3 1/2 years I've been on this drug, without taking it, I'm inclined to continue the "cold turkey" routine. (My doc is aware of the withdrawal problems of Effexor.)
>
> The BIG question is, HOW LONG do I have to go through these horrible withdrawal symptoms? My doc wasn't too sure becuase she usually DOESN'T prescribe Effexor, due to problems with it. I just happened to be on it because that's what my original quack had put me on.
>
> I've just seen, elsewhere on the 'net, something about "Serotonin Syndrome" caused by Effexor. Does anyone know about this? So far, I haven't been able to find any information about it, other than this appears to be caused by Effexor.
>
> When I was placed on this awful drug, I was told there were minimal side effects (NOT) and that it wasn't addicting - if Effexor is NOT addicting, then the sky must be green. Have any lawsuits been filed on behalf of people subjected to this horrible drug?
>
> Thanks for your support.
Posted by sjb on September 12, 2002, at 13:16:18
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol » sjb, posted by jannbeau on September 9, 2002, at 13:19:19
Yeah, I think that's a good point. When I stopped drinking my cravings for carbs increases. Pick your poison. Some therapist have theorized that my problem with binge-eating is related to my years of abusing alcohol. Don't know if others have this problem, I think a lot don't.
Posted by sleepy lizard on September 12, 2002, at 22:38:46
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by jannbeau on September 12, 2002, at 10:51:37
I think you will be having the withdrawal symptoms for about a month after you get the dose to 0 mg. I stepped down from 225 to 150 to 75 to 0. I'm about a week at 0 now and still am getting emotional upheavals and some mild shocks. But, God, it feels good to feel my skin again (it was numb) and to have some depth of feeling. I was loosing my compassion. Good luck to you, I think you can make it through the worst witdrawals. Effexor is right up there with Paxil for horrible withdrawal symptoms. Did you get the horrible nightmares too?
Posted by mamawriter on September 13, 2002, at 11:30:36
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor » jannbeau, posted by sleepy lizard on September 12, 2002, at 22:38:46
I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one experiencing awful withdrawal symptoms from Effexor. I've tried a couple times to get off the medication, but the experience is too terrible.
I'm actually only on a keep-me-from-going-berserk dose of only 75 mg a day, so now what I'm doing is opening up each XR capsule and removing one granule one day, two the next, three the next, and so on. I'm hoping I'll be able to come off this stuff more easily that way. Too soon to tell if it's working yet.
Posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 13:51:44
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by mamawriter on September 13, 2002, at 11:30:36
> Hi, Mamawriter:
I've COUNTED those little suckers (and weighed them, too)! There are roughly 100 beads in each capsule. That means it will take you about three and 1/2 months to taper to 0. Let us know if this works: perhaps THIS is a good idea for those who have major discontinuation syndrome.
Cheers,
jannbeau
I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one experiencing awful withdrawal symptoms from Effexor. I've tried a couple times to get off the medication, but the experience is too terrible.
> I'm actually only on a keep-me-from-going-berserk dose of only 75 mg a day, so now what I'm doing is opening up each XR capsule and removing one granule one day, two the next, three the next, and so on. I'm hoping I'll be able to come off this stuff more easily that way. Too soon to tell if it's working yet.
Posted by jal on September 13, 2002, at 14:53:11
In reply to Re: sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by marlene on February 25, 2002, at 16:57:37
I've been on effexor xr for the past 4 months, went from 37.5mgs up to 225mgs now and the only thing I feel is numbness in my penis and my sex drive is way down from where it was before effexor xr.Is this common for men to feel this?
Any men out there have the same numbness down there? Whats the cure ? Help my girlfriend thinks its her but I'm telling her its my meds.
Posted by mamawriter on September 13, 2002, at 15:06:02
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor » mamawriter, posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 13:51:44
Pretty funny -- I didn't think about how long it would really take to get down to 0! Three and a half months. Okay. Hey, I've got time. If it goes all right, I'll say so. If not, I'll say so.
Posted by DebraA. on September 13, 2002, at 15:28:25
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by jannbeau on September 12, 2002, at 10:51:37
Hi There. I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that after several weeks of "tapering" down off my 375 mg dose of effexor, I finally went cold turkey 14 days ago. It was holy hell the first 5 days - brain tremors, anxiety, nausea, diarrhea, extreme fatigue, etc. I thought I was dying. But I had decided to wait it out because I felt very strongly that anything that felt this bad to get off of had to be something I NEVER wanted in my system again. After the first two days of withdrawal I decided that I needed to put all my normal activities on hold until I got through this. So, for the next 3 days, I canceled all my appointments and practically stayed in bed the whole time - trying to sleep and rest. I drank tons of water, tried to eat right, and didn't drink any alcohol (alcohol seemed to exaggerate the already bad symptoms for me). The ordeal reminded me of when I had a major depressive episode. On about the 5th or 6th day, I started having "waves" of feeling better which as the days have gone by have been progressively increasing. On day 14 I am still dealing with some extra anxiety, and I've still got some of those brain tremor things (although much more mild than at first - they also seem to be more present in the evening that during the day).
I'm not sure I would recommend the "cold turkey" route for everyone. For me though, I could hardly take the "slow death" of tapering off versus the "sudden death" of just quitting altogether. I just wanted to get it over with. I can say with great confidence that you will get through this and it will pass. I can also say that I understand that feeling of "this is never going to end" too. I think my first post to this website simply asked the question "will this ever end?" It will so hang in there!
Sorry I wrote so much. Good luck to you.
Posted by jal on September 13, 2002, at 15:48:57
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Noa on January 7, 2000, at 16:08:50
Whats the difference between Effexer and Effexer xr?
Posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 16:39:23
In reply to Effexer and Effexer xr, posted by jal on September 13, 2002, at 15:48:57
> Effexor XR is an extended release formulation of venlafaxine (generic name for Effexor).
Jannbeau
Whats the difference between Effexer and Effexer xr?
Posted by jotho on September 13, 2002, at 16:58:22
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by DebraA. on September 13, 2002, at 15:28:25
Hello all...
I have to say (not to be argumentative) that i just don't see the advantage of either extreme of 1.) coming down from Effexor all at once, when the odds of a "cleaner" break accompany a slow, downward titration of dosage, or
2.) taking one bead out of an Effexor capsule at a time as a efficient withdrawal method.It would appear to me, regarding the former, that according to this board only the smallest minority succesfully stop Effexor all at once without at least some side-effects....most suffering horrendously. Why take that chance when you know the crap you're gonna feel when you stop is as bad as the crap you felt while on it?
As for the latter, I would think if you are actually that sensitive to one singular bead of Effexor, that the full dose you were on would have sent you to emergency ward in the first place. And i've never heard of a doctor titrating up or down a meager bead or two, or know of no medication that is packaged in that fashion (though, yes, i realize we all frequently must resort to making our own 'adjustments' with a pill cutter). Ultimately, it does seem that this method would be, by its very nature, the gentlest *possible* method of eliminating the drug from your system. It just seems for the most part, and for most people, that it would be overkill, and could be done more quickly, and as safely, in larger steps. Just my two-cents worth of blather.
Posted by Starwatcher on September 13, 2002, at 17:36:06
In reply to Re: sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by jal on September 13, 2002, at 14:53:11
I have been on 37.5 mg. for about three months now for fibromyalgia pain - and I still feel groggy when I wake up in the morning and my eyes look wasted for a little while - those side effects have never gone away.
I have sometimes been feeling some numbness on the bottom of my feet - but not in my private parts. My sexual response is still as good or even better in some ways than before taking the drug.
I just wonder if I ever did decide to stop taking it, if I'd have withdrawals from only having been on 37.5 mg a day for most of the whole time. What's the lowest continuous dosage anyone here as come off of and still felt bad side effects?
Posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 17:58:53
In reply to Re: sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by Starwatcher on September 13, 2002, at 17:36:06
>Hi, Stargazer:
I had SOME slight discontinuation syndrome even though most of the time I was on Effexor, I was only on 37.5 mg --like you, I took it for fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. The discontinuation effects were not bad: increased anxiety, brain zaps, dizziness, especially when I turned my head quickly, nausea- and they didn't last long; certainly less than a month, decreasing with each passing day. I've been off for two or three months, now, and I'm fine, back totally to normal.
the pain is back, too, unfortunately, but I just couldn't tolerate the medication althogh it really helped my pain and anxiety.
Each person seems to have a different experience in coming off this medication. I'm not sure whether the degree of difficulty with coming off Effexor is due to the medication, itself, the person's personality, his/her expectation of problems, or a combination. Perhaps some of all??
My advice for now is, if the medication is working for you and you can tolerate the side effects, that you should just take each day as it comes and don't worry 'til you have to! Maybe it will not be a problem for you.
Cheers,
jannbeauI have been on 37.5 mg. for about three months now for fibromyalgia pain - and I still feel groggy when I wake up in the morning and my eyes look wasted for a little while - those side effects have never gone away.
>
> I have sometimes been feeling some numbness on the bottom of my feet - but not in my private parts. My sexual response is still as good or even better in some ways than before taking the drug.
>
> I just wonder if I ever did decide to stop taking it, if I'd have withdrawals from only having been on 37.5 mg a day for most of the whole time. What's the lowest continuous dosage anyone here as come off of and still felt bad side effects?
Posted by Starwatcher on September 13, 2002, at 20:47:25
In reply to Re: sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 17:58:53
Thanks, jann, for the reply. I'm not really seriously contemplating going off of it. I did miss one dose (ha,ha! I fell asleep and slept through the night without taking it!) and I had no withdrawal problem. So far, the grogginess in the mornings and strange looking eyes and occasional numbness on the soles of my feet seem to be the only problems. I have seemed to also have increased headaches, though very mild ones. If this is all I trade for being out of pain the majority of the time - I can live with it!
You were on much higher doses for awhile, though, correct? If you don't mind sharing, what happened with the medication that made you decide to go totally off of Effexor? What side effects did you have experience that made it so you couldn't tolerate continuing to take it, even at the low dosage?
> >Hi, Stargazer:
>
> I had SOME slight discontinuation syndrome even though most of the time I was on Effexor, I was only on 37.5 mg --like you, I took it for fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. The discontinuation effects were not bad: increased anxiety, brain zaps, dizziness, especially when I turned my head quickly, nausea- and they didn't last long; certainly less than a month, decreasing with each passing day. I've been off for two or three months, now, and I'm fine, back totally to normal.
>
> the pain is back, too, unfortunately, but I just couldn't tolerate the medication althogh it really helped my pain and anxiety.
>
> Each person seems to have a different experience in coming off this medication. I'm not sure whether the degree of difficulty with coming off Effexor is due to the medication, itself, the person's personality, his/her expectation of problems, or a combination. Perhaps some of all??
>
> My advice for now is, if the medication is working for you and you can tolerate the side effects, that you should just take each day as it comes and don't worry 'til you have to! Maybe it will not be a problem for you.
>
> Cheers,
> jannbeau
>
> I have been on 37.5 mg. for about three months now for fibromyalgia pain - and I still feel groggy when I wake up in the morning and my eyes look wasted for a little while - those side effects have never gone away.
> >
> > I have sometimes been feeling some numbness on the bottom of my feet - but not in my private parts. My sexual response is still as good or even better in some ways than before taking the drug.
> >
> > I just wonder if I ever did decide to stop taking it, if I'd have withdrawals from only having been on 37.5 mg a day for most of the whole time. What's the lowest continuous dosage anyone here as come off of and still felt bad side effects?
>
>
Posted by pregnant on September 14, 2002, at 4:47:35
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by jotho on September 13, 2002, at 16:58:22
Hello All,
Help,Help, Help. I have just read many of these posting and I am in so much fear right now. I have been taking effexor xr since 3/02. My doctor had me start slow until I was up to 300 mg. a day. I am pregnant and he told me to stay on the effexor, but my nurse prac. and high risk pregnancy new doctor told me to gradually get off. My reg. doc. told me it was o.k. and o.k. to breast feed once I delivered. My prenatal office said effexor has not been tested enough to prove it would be safe. I immediately cut the dose in half to 150 mg. the day I walked out of the prenatal office. I took 150 mg for 5 days and started then reduced the dose to taking 75 mg. I noticed the withdrawal symptoms started, but at first didn't relate it to the effexor because I have been feeling a little sick with the pregnancy. So I took the 75mg for 3 days and took 37.5 for 2, and today is the first day taking nothing. I am scared for my unborn child, and don't want to take anymore, but I am going crazy tonight. I went to bed at 7 p.m. and left my 3 year old and 8 year old boys up with their dad. I woke up at 11 p.m. and it is now 2 a.m. I am dying to take the effexor. I went to make toast to help my stomach, but I usually get gestational diabetes in my pregnancies, and all this carb eating is going to really put my sugar levels soaring. It is the only thing that keeps my stomach feeling o.k. The nausea with effoxor is worst than any nausea feeling I have had in any pregnancy. I thought maybe since this was the weekend I could get off this stuff and be good to go on Monday. I had a great day this morning. The withdrawal symptoms keep hitting me at night. If I stay in the bed the next 2 days can I recover from this? Should I run downstairs and grap a pill? I'm buzzing in my head every now and then, feeling sick, tired then unable to sleep. I don't want my husband and children and child to be to have to suffer from this. I am about 11 weeks pregnant and want to be able to function at my best for the safety of my unborn. I also take night classes, although I have a BA. The effexor was working so well for me, I made a decision of a career change, enrolled in school and received an A in my class. My marriage and relationship with my children have been great since taking the effexor, but this withdrawal stuff is not worth all the happiness I have had the last 6 months. Do I need to find a withdrawal specialist? Does such a person exist? This is my only source right now. I am trying to not call the er line at my prenatal doc's office, because I would like to see myself make it through the weekend. My classes start on 9/23, should I consider dropping them because it is no way I will be totally off this stuff. I thought maybe since I have not been on it a year, it would not be this bad. Help someone please. Pregnancy symptoms plus withdrawal is a tough battle and I am in great need of support.
Posted by Geezer on September 14, 2002, at 11:03:37
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by pregnant on September 14, 2002, at 4:47:35
Hi pregnant,
I am so sorry you are in this situation. I don't know why pdocs won't be honest with their patients (about withdrawal symptoms) before they start these drugs. My pdoc's favorite response..."well, not all patients have withdrawal symptoms".....if you are one that does that makes withdrawal 100% for you.
My suggestion (it has appeared many times on this board) ask your pdoc for about 5 each, 10mg Prozac tablets. Take one 10mg. Prozac tablet every other day, (stop Effexer), then just stop the Prozac. The long half life of the Prozac allows for a more gradual adjustment to the serotonin changes in the brain, thus reducing withdrawal symptoms. Many people have found this technique helpful......as always, check it out with your pdoc, but don't be surprised if he never heard of it.
My heart goes out to you.
Geezer
Posted by pregnant on September 14, 2002, at 11:40:37
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor » pregnant, posted by Geezer on September 14, 2002, at 11:03:37
> Hi pregnant,
>
> I am so sorry you are in this situation. I don't know why pdocs won't be honest with their patients (about withdrawal symptoms) before they start these drugs. My pdoc's favorite response..."well, not all patients have withdrawal symptoms".....if you are one that does that makes withdrawal 100% for you.
>> My suggestion (it has appeared many times on this board) ask your pdoc for about 5 each, 10mg Prozac tablets. Take one 10mg. Prozac tablet every other day, (stop Effexer), then just stop the Prozac. The long half life of the Prozac allows for a more gradual adjustment to the serotonin changes in the brain, thus reducing withdrawal symptoms. Many people have found this technique helpful......as always, check it out with your pdoc, but don't be surprised if he never heard of it.
>
> My heart goes out to you.
>
> GeezerThanks for your quick response. I will try contacting my doctor's office to see if they can do this. Hopefully between the primary or prenatal office someone will help me. It is hard on the weekend to sometimes get what you need. I made it through the night and I don't want to take 1 little granule. If I can get the prozac, I think I can make it. The dizziness and zips through my brain are at the max this morning. I am trying to remain strong. Pregnant
Posted by KIAQueen on September 16, 2002, at 9:40:14
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by pregnant on September 14, 2002, at 11:40:37
Hi Pregnant,
I feel so badly for you, I would not want to be in your situation, but unfortunately you have to do what's best for your unborn child right now. I'm not sure why doctor's all have a different answer when it comes to medication, you'd think they would know more about what they're prescribing their patients. As far as being on the drug while pregnant, I don't think it's a good idea to be taking any kind of drug, but it's all left in your own hands if wether you want to quit or not. I tried weaning off slowly a few months ago, and it almost did me in, so you might want to take some counselling if you decide to quit all together. I'm sure it will not be easy, but you have to start somewhere, after all, your unborn child deserves the best care possible.
I know you'll do what's best, hang in there, and best of luck. Keep me posted.
KIAQueen
Posted by jannbeau on September 16, 2002, at 13:23:51
In reply to Re: sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by Starwatcher on September 13, 2002, at 20:47:25
> Hi, Starwatcher:
Re your question of side effects of Effexor that I couldn't tolerate: Complex tale: I was given an introductory dose-pack of Effexor-XR starting with 37.5 mg/day along with Ultram 50 mg every 4-6 hours. I promptly developed serotonin syndrome-felt as if I were dying (memory loss, chills, hot flushes, nausea vomiting, diarrhea, cognitive dysfunction, other signs). Stopped the Ultram and got closer to normal. Built up to 150 mg/day, which I only took for a couple weeks, then decreased on my own to 75 mg/day. Stayed there about a month. Then, still feeling bad, I dropped back to 37.5 mg/day. Even at the lowest dose, I experienced worsened insomnia followed by day-long somnolence, difficulty thinking and concentrating; balance problems. Also, even at low doses, I felt detached, depersonalized, unable to react to any emotional stimuli and I noticed a deficit in motivation. I just didn't want to do anything except go to bed and vegetate (others have described this state as "zombie-like" and I think that fits my reaction to Effexor). All-in-all, the pain relief wasn't worth the loss of emotional, intellectual, sexual, and physical function. Oh, yes, I had massively increased cravings for carbohydrates, too.
On looking back at my experience discontinuing this medication, the only really important problem I noticed was difficulty controlling anger. I felt angry most of the time and I am just now, after three or four months, returning to a more normal state (easily provoked, but ablt to contain myself). I was so UNLOVING during that time.
Does this description help?
Cheers,
jannbeau
Thanks, jann, for the reply. I'm not really seriously contemplating going off of it. I did miss one dose (ha,ha! I fell asleep and slept through the night without taking it!) and I had no withdrawal problem. So far, the grogginess in the mornings and strange looking eyes and occasional numbness on the soles of my feet seem to be the only problems. I have seemed to also have increased headaches, though very mild ones. If this is all I trade for being out of pain the majority of the time - I can live with it!
>
> You were on much higher doses for awhile, though, correct? If you don't mind sharing, what happened with the medication that made you decide to go totally off of Effexor? What side effects did you have experience that made it so you couldn't tolerate continuing to take it, even at the low dosage?
>
>
>
>
>
> > >Hi, Stargazer:
> >
> > I had SOME slight discontinuation syndrome even though most of the time I was on Effexor, I was only on 37.5 mg --like you, I took it for fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. The discontinuation effects were not bad: increased anxiety, brain zaps, dizziness, especially when I turned my head quickly, nausea- and they didn't last long; certainly less than a month, decreasing with each passing day. I've been off for two or three months, now, and I'm fine, back totally to normal.
> >
> > the pain is back, too, unfortunately, but I just couldn't tolerate the medication althogh it really helped my pain and anxiety.
> >
> > Each person seems to have a different experience in coming off this medication. I'm not sure whether the degree of difficulty with coming off Effexor is due to the medication, itself, the person's personality, his/her expectation of problems, or a combination. Perhaps some of all??
> >
> > My advice for now is, if the medication is working for you and you can tolerate the side effects, that you should just take each day as it comes and don't worry 'til you have to! Maybe it will not be a problem for you.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > jannbeau
> >
> > I have been on 37.5 mg. for about three months now for fibromyalgia pain - and I still feel groggy when I wake up in the morning and my eyes look wasted for a little while - those side effects have never gone away.
> > >
> > > I have sometimes been feeling some numbness on the bottom of my feet - but not in my private parts. My sexual response is still as good or even better in some ways than before taking the drug.
> > >
> > > I just wonder if I ever did decide to stop taking it, if I'd have withdrawals from only having been on 37.5 mg a day for most of the whole time. What's the lowest continuous dosage anyone here as come off of and still felt bad side effects?
> >
> >
>
>
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