![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 209 to 233 of 1313. Go back in thread:
Posted by slinky on November 15, 2003, at 21:33:03
In reply to why are u people going off effexor?, posted by Peter03 on November 12, 2003, at 6:36:37
Posted by pala on November 19, 2003, at 0:13:47
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help, posted by T_R_D on October 28, 2003, at 9:44:48
> Hi there...the first time I went off Effexor it took me about three weeks to get straightened out. That was without any other "remedies" that can help. The second time around (just a few weeks ago) I actually got a prescription for Prozac for three days. It helped with the brain zaps/mood swings. I then took some Benadryl for the bodily symptoms...it made me very sleepy/lightheaded but at least I was in a place where either I didn't care how I felt and/or without withdrawal symptoms! After doing that I was back to "normal" in less than a week. Give it a try!
This is for everyone's benefit who is withdrawing from Klonopin/Effexor/Prozac
I was on all kinds of Ads, you name it, for almost 6 years, the last ones I took was Dexadrine and Klonopin
Because of terrible side effects (to name a few – terrible Post nasal drip, GIRD problem, involuntary blinking
Of eyes, short temper). I decided to withdraw from these drugs7 months ago I determined to come off these hellish drugs, first 4 months were hell,
side effects were almost unbearable, extreme fatigue, panic attacks, anxiety problems, post nasal drip, numbness
in legs, irritation in eyes, worst nightmares, spaced out feeling, electric shocks in head, elevated cholesterol), I was almost mentally impaired but I had this determination because of which I am myself, back to happy days without any of those problems
Actually I am on no medication almost for one month, all I am taking is Centrum, fish oil capsule, coral calcium and occasionally Motrin for headache, I am doing great, no panic attacks and no anxiety problems,
my health is overall better and I have the best control over my mind which never happened during last 6 years of taking these medications, I do regular exercise now, cholesterol is rapidly becoming low, concentration is awesome, superb mental control, feeling happy about myself.If possible, give it a try, taper it, you will certainly feel more anxiety and panic attacks and other severe withdrawal symptoms for few months (may be 5 months), have that determination, please take help from your friends and your family members then you will not feel these disorders again, many people will go back to the medicines during these 5 months because of unbearable side effects, I went through all this hell for almost 6 months every day and night, severe anxiety, terrible nightmares, dizziness, drowsiness, spaced out feeling, numbness in legs, lost my resistance over all, ill temper etc but as I said above I have the best control over my mind, in last one month the mind has never gone haywire
My sincere advice to you all who are taking any of these medications, please taper and stop, you will be yourself and the artificial changes in your personality and mental status of the mind brought in by these drugs will be gone for ever, any one of you who needs advice please post your questions, I will try to answer to the best of knowledge and experience.
Good luck.pala
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 22, 2003, at 16:40:34
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help, posted by pala on November 19, 2003, at 0:13:47
I am in the midst of Effexor withdrawal as we speak. Doctor replaced Effexor with Remeron because the Effexor seemed to be making matters worse. The eltro-shock-thingy feelings are happening, and I can deal with that. Weird tweaks and twitches are bad bad bad. We switched me from 225mg of Effexor to 15mg Remeron on Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday I was dopey with mild but steadily increasing eltro-shock-thingy feelings. Today, Saturday, I've barel been out of bed. Wild wild dreams as I doze off and on. Many other problems too, flu feeling, tired, want to cry but can't, etc. Not sure what if anything I can do to ease this. Ideas? Suggestions? Please please help...not sure I can handle this alone.
Posted by micro on November 24, 2003, at 1:28:20
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help » pala, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 22, 2003, at 16:40:34
> I am in the midst of Effexor withdrawal as we speak. Doctor replaced Effexor with Remeron because the Effexor seemed to be making matters worse. The eltro-shock-thingy feelings are happening, and I can deal with that. Weird tweaks and twitches are bad bad bad. We switched me from 225mg of Effexor to 15mg Remeron on Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday I was dopey with mild but steadily increasing eltro-shock-thingy feelings. Today, Saturday, I've barel been out of bed. Wild wild dreams as I doze off and on. Many other problems too, flu feeling, tired, want to cry but can't, etc. Not sure what if anything I can do to ease this. Ideas? Suggestions? Please please help...not sure I can handle this alone.
Hello! I am sorry you are having these symtoms ,but rest assured that the paresthesias [tinglings] are most likely due to a rapid decrease of effexor levels in your blood, It has definite withdrawl symtoms and can be found in most pharm articles and in a statement given by the manufacturer. been there done thatbut, please revisit the matter with your doc.
also, keep in mind you have two meds in your system, one level going up /the other down ! hope this helps- micro
Posted by KimberlyDi on November 24, 2003, at 7:51:33
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help » pala, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 22, 2003, at 16:40:34
Get back on Effexor RIGHT NOW and then taper the dosage slowly. Decreasing by 37.5 a week seems to keep the zaps from being unbearable. The last 37.5 can be a problem. If you read back on Effexor withdrawal posts, some people have to divide the 37.5 into half's/quarter's to finally make it to zero. Good Luck. You aren't alone and it IS terribly difficult. You aren't going crazy. k?
KDi in TX
> I am in the midst of Effexor withdrawal as we speak. Doctor replaced Effexor with Remeron because the Effexor seemed to be making matters worse. The eltro-shock-thingy feelings are happening, and I can deal with that. Weird tweaks and twitches are bad bad bad. We switched me from 225mg of Effexor to 15mg Remeron on Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday I was dopey with mild but steadily increasing eltro-shock-thingy feelings. Today, Saturday, I've barel been out of bed. Wild wild dreams as I doze off and on. Many other problems too, flu feeling, tired, want to cry but can't, etc. Not sure what if anything I can do to ease this. Ideas? Suggestions? Please please help...not sure I can handle this alone.
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 24, 2003, at 12:44:01
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help » Blissful_Girl_NOT, posted by KimberlyDi on November 24, 2003, at 7:51:33
Thank you so much Micro & KDi.
Saturday certainly was a "Dark night of the soul" with these withdrawals. I think I made it through the worst (fingers crossed) since Sunday and today have seemed better. I'm a little leary to go back on any Effexor at all, even to help reduce these stupid withdrawal effects because it will already be a week tomorrow since my final dose.
Both my dr. & my pharmacist told me there should be "no noticeable effects of stopping this medication", especially since I was replacing it with Remeron which is the same class of drug. Here's my timeline, your thoughts or feedback on this would be great:
11-18-2003 last 225mg of Effexor
11-19-2003 first 15mg Remeron (no effects)
11-20-2003 "brain shivers" kick into high gear
11-21-2003 hard-core brain shivers, dizzy, drowsy
11-22-2003 total meltdown (in bed, tweaking, shivering, sweats, brain shivers non stop, agitated, tired, wild dreams, diarhea, thirsty, nauseous, confused, weak, clumsy, mini-siezure type events)
11-23-2003 brain shivers, feel fuzzy, a bit detached, diarhea, weak, clumsy, weird dreams
11-24-2003 brain shivers, feel fuzzy, a bit detached, still weak & clumsy, still weird dreams
11-25-2003 supposed to increase Remeron to 30mg
11-26-2003 appt. with therapist (not a dr.)
11-27-2003 appt. with GP
12-02-2003 begin one month leave from work due to this crappy illness...this leave will hopefully mean I can keep my job when I return...the Effexor has made things so much worse that my boss & our CFO held a bit of an "intervention" since increasing my Effexor had made me hostile and difficult to work with (problems have the exact same timeline as my Effexor increases)
12-10-2003 appt. with psych dr.So, this is me in a nutshell...pun intended...for anyone who finds the Effexor useful, I hope you never ever have to stop taking it. For those who haven't found it useful, I suggest getting off and staying off...and hang on tight while you attempt getting off of it!
Thanks again Micro & KDi for replying to me...your words of encouragement have helped!
Blissful_Girl_NOT in Vancouver, BC.
Posted by pala on November 25, 2003, at 1:28:49
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help, posted by micro on November 24, 2003, at 1:28:20
> > I am in the midst of Effexor withdrawal as we speak. Doctor replaced Effexor with Remeron because the Effexor seemed to be making matters worse. The eltro-shock-thingy feelings are happening, and I can deal with that. Weird tweaks and twitches are bad bad bad. We switched me from 225mg of Effexor to 15mg Remeron on Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday I was dopey with mild but steadily increasing eltro-shock-thingy feelings. Today, Saturday, I've barel been out of bed. Wild wild dreams as I doze off and on. Many other problems too, flu feeling, tired, want to cry but can't, etc. Not sure what if anything I can do to ease this. Ideas? Suggestions? Please please help...not sure I can handle this alone.
>
> Hello! I am sorry you are having these symtoms ,but rest assured that the paresthesias [tinglings] are most likely due to a rapid decrease of effexor levels in your blood, It has definite withdrawl symtoms and can be found in most pharm articles and in a statement given by the manufacturer. been there done thatbut, please revisit the matter with your doc.
> also, keep in mind you have two meds in your system, one level going up /the other down ! hope this helps- microHang in there, I have been through this, all you need is determination, please get help from your close freinds, first few months you have the worst withdrawl symptoms, then it would ease on you, spaced out, dizzyness, severe body pain, indigestion, nightmares are some of the symptoms that I had, but once you feel normal (may take
5 to 6 months), you will be much more happier than you were on these medications.Good luck and you are doing great.
take care
pala
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 25, 2003, at 12:23:23
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help, posted by pala on November 25, 2003, at 1:28:49
Thanks Pala!!
It does seem to be improving ever so slightly each day that passes. I have had all sorts of suggestions...some doable...some not so doable...about how to manage this. The one thing I am absolutely sure of is that I won't take one more micro gram of Effexor, even if it might make the withdrawals disappear altogether. I know that for some people this drug has worked and improved their situations. For me it has nearly cost me my job, most of my close relationships and now while trying to get off of it...it has just about sapped my last vestiges of sanity!!! All of my major problems in the past 6 months just happen to coincide with dosage increases of the Effexor. It does not take a rocket scientist to establish the relationship between these things.
I can't wait until I feel more or less like me again!
Posted by KimberlyDi on November 25, 2003, at 12:48:27
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 25, 2003, at 12:23:23
Well, I do hope that you continue to post. Many people want to know of experiences of the "taperless" withdrawal. The abrupt "i quit and aint gonna take no more Effexor". I wish you luck!
KDi in TX
> Thanks Pala!!
>
> It does seem to be improving ever so slightly each day that passes. I have had all sorts of suggestions...some doable...some not so doable...about how to manage this. The one thing I am absolutely sure of is that I won't take one more micro gram of Effexor, even if it might make the withdrawals disappear altogether. I know that for some people this drug has worked and improved their situations. For me it has nearly cost me my job, most of my close relationships and now while trying to get off of it...it has just about sapped my last vestiges of sanity!!! All of my major problems in the past 6 months just happen to coincide with dosage increases of the Effexor. It does not take a rocket scientist to establish the relationship between these things.
> I can't wait until I feel more or less like me again!
Posted by pala on November 25, 2003, at 18:09:42
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help » Blissful_Girl_NOT, posted by KimberlyDi on November 25, 2003, at 12:48:27
Bliss,
It is not at all a good idea to stop medication
abruptly like that, you may end up in hospital
please taper it, you should give up these medications in such a way that you will not be
put back on them again just to avoid withdrawal symptoms.Again good luck.
pala
Posted by rbeck on November 25, 2003, at 18:53:06
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help » Blissful_Girl_NOT, posted by KimberlyDi on November 25, 2003, at 12:48:27
...I've gone off Effexor a few times- sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. And the one thing that I will note is that the first couple of days seem outstanding. Like it is the best possible option. However, another day or two into it, and you realize that, in needless to say, less than technical terms, your chemicals are out of whack and that's the reason why you ever took the meds! Now, having stopped, your chemical [upstairs] are still out of whack and need more chemicals to get it back to some degree of balance. As I have found, it seems that my moods and all go to the other extreme, as though my body is trying to overcompensate for the loss of the Effexor-induced effects. ...Am I truly babbling? :) ...Either way, I hope you know what I'm trying to say. Stopping taking the effexor is all good, if that is what works for you. But please consider finding another med- whether rx or natural. There was a reason that you were directed to start in the first place.
Best wishes to you all!
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 25, 2003, at 23:06:11
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help, posted by rbeck on November 25, 2003, at 18:53:06
Hi All,
Well, it's Day 6 without the Effexor. My last dose of 225 mg was last Tuesday and each day has been an improvement over the last.
I want to clear up a few things...
I'm not off of meds entirely, my GP switched my meds from Effexor to Remeron. So, while I may not agree with my GP's idea of switching me so quickly like that, it is actually working so far...after those horrible first few days!!!
I am going to continue with treatment, but Effexor was not the right drug for me. I was actually feeling worse on it than I did before I began taking. So I need to find something that works for me, and Effexor wasn't it. It made me more irritable, hostile, and agitated than I have ever been.
I'm not anti-Effexor in general...I'm anti-ffexor for me and my body. It has not been a good experience for me...I'm hoping that the Remeron, twice weekly counselling sessions, my naturopath, massage therapy and continued excersize will all be a part of improving my condition. I may never get off of meds, I've been off and on dozens for over 15 years, but what happened to me while on Effexor and what's happened now while trying to get off of it has not been positive.
Phyically, I'm still feeling a bit dodgy from the withdrawal. Emotionally, I feel more like myself than I have in the entire year I was on Effexor...so far, the Remeron has seemed to be a positive experience...but if not, then I try and try agai to find what will work for me.
I refuse to give up.
Posted by Melissa1 on November 26, 2003, at 13:03:07
In reply to Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by janey on November 1, 1998, at 16:30:34
I appreciate everyone's feedback on this site so much. It has helped me get through the worst of Effexor withdrawal. At least I knew I wasn't going crazy. I was on 150 mg xr Effexor for about 4 years. It worked fairly well during that time. I also took Remeron at night to help me sleep. However, the Effexor started to have negative effects like exhaustion and anxiety, so I went off of it. The withdrawal is horrendous. You feel like you're having a nervous breakdown. It took about a month of slowly weaning off (very slowly) before I felt like I could function. Between the nausea, the inability to think or have any coordination and the tremendous mood swings, I think things have gotten better. I still have mild effects, but nothing like in the beginning. If you have not started this medicine, I would suggest you try something else. If you have to wean off, I would suggest another antidepressant in the meantime to avoid the radical serotonin and norepinephrine drop off. Effexor is nasty stuff and I am not surprised there are class action lawsuits against it. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. It does get better with time. Thank God.
Posted by Enderkin on November 26, 2003, at 14:08:41
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Melissa1 on November 26, 2003, at 13:03:07
> I appreciate everyone's feedback on this site so much. It has helped me get through the worst of Effexor withdrawal. At least I knew I wasn't going crazy. I was on 150 mg xr Effexor for about 4 years. It worked fairly well during that time. I also took Remeron at night to help me sleep. However, the Effexor started to have negative effects like exhaustion and anxiety, so I went off of it. The withdrawal is horrendous. You feel like you're having a nervous breakdown. It took about a month of slowly weaning off (very slowly) before I felt like I could function. Between the nausea, the inability to think or have any coordination and the tremendous mood swings, I think things have gotten better. I still have mild effects, but nothing like in the beginning. If you have not started this medicine, I would suggest you try something else. If you have to wean off, I would suggest another antidepressant in the meantime to avoid the radical serotonin and norepinephrine drop off. Effexor is nasty stuff and I am not surprised there are class action lawsuits against it. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. It does get better with time. Thank God.
I decreased my dosage from 225 to 75 in a week. I had horrible brain zaps that literally stopped me in my tracks. They have been getting better each day.I have rushes of depression. It's because I haven't been dealing with lifes trials. I have been dependant on this drug since April. I am not taking another antidepressant while I get off of this. Transferring dependancy is not something I want to do. I don't need to end up in the same boat again. In the mean time, I am hanging in there with patience and prayer.
Do yourself a favor and keep your stress levels down by being as responsible as possible. Neglecting yourself or your responsibilities is going to make things worse and can throw you into a tailspin. If you go to church but haven't been going, go back. It helped me more than effexor ever could.
Posted by John2222 on November 26, 2003, at 17:56:44
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Enderkin on November 26, 2003, at 14:08:41
I was taking Effexor XR 112.5 each day for about a year. My approach to reducing with minimized agony was SLOW.
1. Reduce no more than 37.5 each time and stay at any new level for 2 weeks.
2. Or alternate 112.5 and 75 every other day for a week or two and then go to 75.
3. Then stay at 75 for a week or two.
4. Then reduce to 37.5 for two weeks (again alternating 75 and 37.5 if necessary)
5. Then go to heal food store and buy a bag of empty gel caps (they are cheap).
6. Put one half of the 37.5 in one gel cap and one half in the other.
7. Then reduce to 18.75 (approx) for two weeks.
8. Then alternate 18.75 one day and nothing the next day for two weeks.
9. Then either stop or alternate one day on and two days off for awhile.Seems like a long process, but the staggering really helped me.
The reason I stopped taking Effexor was that I felt much better and the higher levels of Effexor just made me want to sleep/nap all the time, although I must say it really really helped with anxiety and depression together.
Good luck. I personally think it is/was a good drug for me, but it is definately hard to tape off without discomfort.
John
Posted by hook on November 27, 2003, at 1:04:06
In reply to Re: What are the Effexor withdrawl symptoms? Need help » pala, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 22, 2003, at 16:40:34
I have been on Effexor for a year and am down to 37.5 mg every other day. When you talk about "brain zaps", what do they feel like? I told my doctor I have this feeling in my brain that I would liken to a short in an electrical circuit. For just a milisecond, it feels like my brain turns off. (She looked at me like I had two heads). After two days of not taking the Effexor I have to take it again, because what I believe are brain zaps, won't subside unless I take the Effexor. If I suck it up, and don't take the Effexor, will they get worse but eventually get better? How long does it take them to eventually go away?
Hook
Posted by John2222 on November 27, 2003, at 9:06:35
In reply to Help with Effexor withdrawl symptoms? , posted by hook on November 27, 2003, at 1:04:06
Hook, I've found through several trials that the 3rd day of decreasing Effexor XR is the one that is the worst.
Why don't you dump out 1/2 of the 37.5 XR beads and take just 19 mg per day? Do that for a couple weeks, then every other day, and you may be off in a month! Good luck. I know exactly how you feel (I think).
John
> I have been on Effexor for a year and am down to 37.5 mg every other day. <snip> After two days of not taking the Effexor I have to take it again, because what I believe are brain zaps, won't subside unless I take the Effexor. If I suck it up, and don't take the Effexor, will they get worse but eventually get better? How long does it take them to eventually go away?
>
> Hook
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 27, 2003, at 9:37:40
In reply to Re: Help with Effexor withdrawl symptoms? » hook, posted by John2222 on November 27, 2003, at 9:06:35
Hey There Hook :-)
What you're describing is what has come to be known as "brain shivers". If you're doctor is looking at you like you have two heads when you talk about this, then your doctor (like mine until I told her to do a little research online) has not yet done their homework about this drug.
I can honestly say that since I discontinued my Effexor those brian shivers first got worse (day 3 to 5) and now on are almost gone (today is day 8).
I didn't taper off, I went cold turkey and just pushed my way through the vile and nasty withdrawal effects. I will not give advice on which is better - tapering or cold turkey - because I think it is different for everyone. Even on this board you'll find people who insist that tapering is the way to go, while others are proponants of cold turkey withdrawal. Either way, what I've noticed is that it does not seem to matter which method you choose, you will still experience some degree of withdrawl symptoms.
I am 8 days post-effexor, having gone cold turkey and switched to Remeron (so far so good) and my own experience was that day 1 & 2 were barely noticeable in terms of withdrawal symptoms, day 3 was like the withdrawal scene in the movie Trainspotting (very nasty), day 4 & 5 were a big improvement on day 3, and from day 6 on there has been a HUGE improvement and the brain shivers are almost completely gone and so mild that when they do happen they are barely noticeable.
Whatever way you choose to get off of Effexor, I wish you the best and just like all the wonderful posters on here told me when I didn't understand what was happening....this too shall pass!
Hang in there :-)
Bliss
Posted by pala on November 27, 2003, at 13:19:20
In reply to Re: Help with Effexor withdrawl symptoms?, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on November 27, 2003, at 9:37:40
This is pala
These brain zaps, dizziness will be there for at least 4 to 5 months, but life will be different after that, believe me, again depends upon how long you are on these Ads, I was on all kinds of ADs for 6 years and it took 6 months for me to completely get rid of all the side effects, I still do have little dizziness and fatigue, that may be attributable to some other reasons.
As somebody mentions in this thread, hang in there, one more thing which worsened my symptoms was deep
breathing, people say deep breathing is good but it makes you more dizzy and brain zaps will become more
intenseYou should not do intense exercise during this time this is my experience as the heart rate goes up, you will
fee these symptoms proportionately increases, do mild exercise take vitamins, please no coffee or soda
with caffeine this certainly makes matter worse,Even in my worst brain zaps time, I never missed one day going to my office, but my productivity was low but I was able to function.
One more thing, I was not taking that high dosage
Again tapering and getting rid of it totally is an excellent idea.
Good luck
Posted by Suzy on November 28, 2003, at 9:31:25
In reply to why are u people going off effexor?, posted by Peter03 on November 12, 2003, at 6:36:37
Thank you all. Am withdrawing and was scared that these symptoms might be TIA's or something. I have hard time putting into words what is happening to my brain. I am a very focused person and right now my office and house are a disaster as I go from one project to another. Thanks for the help, I was scared.
Posted by Alexs on November 30, 2003, at 19:48:53
In reply to Re: why are u people going off effexor?, posted by Suzy on November 28, 2003, at 9:31:25
Wouldn't 20mg of Prozac every few days help with the withdrawl symptoms. The idea being effexor has a SHORT half life and Prozac has a LONG half life. I know it wont help with the other neuro transmitter but something is better than nothing.
Posted by KimberlyDi on December 1, 2003, at 10:37:21
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - my approach, posted by John2222 on November 26, 2003, at 17:56:44
Great advice John
Amazing how the staggering approach (or what I called 2 steps forward, 1 back) works! It really helps with the withdrawal symptoms. I no longer get sick and the dizziness lowered to a level I could tolerate and still work. I agree with the 37.5 limit decreases but I was more impatient with the length of time to stay on each level. I went 1 week. 2 weeks would definately make it easier.
Try it people!!! Why go through that agony?
Happy Late Turkey Day EVERYONE!!!
KDi in TX :)> I was taking Effexor XR 112.5 each day for about a year. My approach to reducing with minimized agony was SLOW.
>
> 1. Reduce no more than 37.5 each time and stay at any new level for 2 weeks.
> 2. Or alternate 112.5 and 75 every other day for a week or two and then go to 75.
> 3. Then stay at 75 for a week or two.
> 4. Then reduce to 37.5 for two weeks (again alternating 75 and 37.5 if necessary)
> 5. Then go to heal food store and buy a bag of empty gel caps (they are cheap).
> 6. Put one half of the 37.5 in one gel cap and one half in the other.
> 7. Then reduce to 18.75 (approx) for two weeks.
> 8. Then alternate 18.75 one day and nothing the next day for two weeks.
> 9. Then either stop or alternate one day on and two days off for awhile.
>
> Seems like a long process, but the staggering really helped me.
>
> The reason I stopped taking Effexor was that I felt much better and the higher levels of Effexor just made me want to sleep/nap all the time, although I must say it really really helped with anxiety and depression together.
>
> Good luck. I personally think it is/was a good drug for me, but it is definately hard to tape off without discomfort.
>
> John
>
Posted by KimberlyDi on December 1, 2003, at 10:51:47
In reply to Re: why are u people going off effexor?, posted by Suzy on November 28, 2003, at 9:31:25
I'm going off only because it increased my blood pressure. I went through a period of hating Effexor because of withdrawal symptoms. Now, I've stumbled onto a withdrawal method that let's me control the withdrawal symptoms, instead of the withdrawal controlling my life.
Effexor is getting such a bad reputation because most doctor's do NOT warn anyone about what to expect when you quit. It's scary.
KDi in TX
> Thank you all. Am withdrawing and was scared that these symptoms might be TIA's or something. I have hard time putting into words what is happening to my brain. I am a very focused person and right now my office and house are a disaster as I go from one project to another. Thanks for the help, I was scared.
Posted by Mandy D on December 1, 2003, at 19:17:07
In reply to Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by janey on November 1, 1998, at 16:30:34
I am sitting here in tears reading these posts. I had been on Effexor,225mg for a year now. I am now on 8 days of quitting cold turkey. I am in hell. I have nausea,dizziness,light-headed, and what i call "slosh-brained" it is where it literally feels like my brain is moving and my eyes cant keep up. I hate these feelings, someone please please tell me how long before i feel "normal" again.
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 1, 2003, at 19:25:36
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Mandy D on December 1, 2003, at 19:17:07
Hi Janey,
I have just gone through exactly what you are going through. Right down to the dose of Effexor that I was on.
I quit 225mg cold turkey and yes, the withdrawal was horrible. It sounds as though I may have moved through slightly quicker than you have but I absolutely understand and extend a heartfelt virtual hug to you.
You will get through this.
I have two questions:
1.) Are you replacing the Effexor with a different AD?
2.) Have you spoken to your doctor since you ended your Effexor?If you have not contacted your doctor since your wihdrawal symptoms began, please do. I have read many times on this board, and have talked to several people who have quit cold turkey. They all say ask your doctor for 1 (one) dose of Prozac. A single dose of Prozac can releave almost all of the withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing.
You've already made it 8 days, so I do not suggest you go back on to your Effexor and then taper off. Try the single dose of Prozac first. If that does not work, you may have to resume Effexor and use the tapering off method to stop taking it.
Again, you are not alone. If you like, e-mail me at twice_shy@hotmail.com with the subject babble-board and we can talk further.
Hang in there!!!
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