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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 29, 2003, at 13:30:13
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by nigel99 on December 29, 2003, at 12:12:13
Hi All...
Some of you may have followed a number of posts I made not so long ago about going cold turkey off of 225 mg of Effexor. I just thought I'd drop you a quick note to let you all know that tomorrow will be 6 weeks since my last dose of Effexor and....
I feel pretty great and I am now down to only one or two extremely mild "brain shocks" a day. How sad is it that I am grateful for only one or two a day?!?! This medication may work wonders for some, but for me the trade-offs of very limited success with it as a treatment while I was on it and then the nightmare-ish withdrawal problems have just not been worth it.
I, like most of you, wish I had known just how many problems people experience with this medication. What worries me now, is if there will be any lasting, long-term damage.
It is possible to successfully get off of this medication, the first week is the worst (with the middle 3 days being most dibilitating) and then it just slowly and steadily improved for me from there. I highly recommed the cold-turkey method if you can manage to allow yourself days 3 through 6 (or 7) as sick days.
Blessings, bounty and bliss for you all in the New Year!
-Bliss
Posted by Vasterling on December 29, 2003, at 14:51:07
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 29, 2003, at 13:30:13
What is a brain zap and how do they feel? I do not know if i am having them. I have been off the Effexor for 4 days and have the dizzyness, headaches, emotional instability and the quezyness. Sometimes i have a sharp pain in my head but it only last a second.
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 29, 2003, at 14:56:42
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Vasterling on December 29, 2003, at 14:51:07
Have you ever chewed on tinfoil? For me, that sensation of chewing tinfoil is almost exactly what my brain shivers were like.
A "brain zap", "brain shock" or "brain shiver" are just a few of the names for the same sensation. The best description of it I've ever heard was that of chewing on tinfoil while shaking your head in a "no" motion very quickly all topped off by touching your tounge quickly to a 9 volt battery...and all of these things need to take place within a split second.
-Bliss
Posted by KimberlyDi on December 29, 2003, at 15:29:55
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Vasterling on December 28, 2003, at 14:12:31
75mg to 0mg is too much of a jump. If withdrawal is completely unmanageable, do yourself a favor and slow down. Take 75mg, then 37.5mg, then 1/2 of that... etc etc. Leave 1-2 weeks at each level.
It doesn't have to be that difficult.
KDi in TX
Posted by jerseydevil on December 29, 2003, at 16:38:20
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 29, 2003, at 14:56:42
Good description of the "zaps", Bliss. Mine have been paxil associated, but the same thing, up the current to 110 and add a blow from a ballpean hammer. They are survivable.
- jerseydevil
Posted by Sliver277 on December 29, 2003, at 18:17:23
In reply to Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Bobina on April 7, 2001, at 22:38:31
Jesus, I knew there had to be a reason I felt so screwed up. And to think that I was only on a low dose. It scares the hell out of me to think about increasing the dose (as my doctor wants to do) now that I'm reading what it's like to come down from this crap. I have to admit that I really *do* feel better emotionally when I'm on the Effexor even if the sweating and dry mouth were a little annoying. On the other hand, I stopped taking it while I was out of town last week and I've been a mess ever since...two major crying jags, explosions of temper at stupid little things, nausea, headaches, insomnia, weird dreams, complete loss of impulse control and a severe lapse into depression have all occurred in just a week off the Effexor. I thought I was coming down with the flu, but now I'm thinking it's just the withdrawal symptoms. What a mess! I was thinking of trying Wellbutrin XR since I read that it has limited sexual side effects (which are a problem *on* Effexor) but I've heard bad things about it's effectiveness. I don't know what to do about this, but I really hate to think of ever going through this crap again if I go off Effexor down the road. Yuck.
> I decided to taper off Effexor after 1.5 years (with my MD's help). Tried this morning for the first time to decrease from 75 to 37.5mg. Within 4 hours my head felt fuzzy and light and I couldn't concentrate on anything. My heart was racing. I put up with it for about 4 hours then took another 37.5mg capsule. I had failed cold turkey in the past with the same symptoms & was praying the tapering would help. I am so scared I will never be able to get off of it. I want to have a baby in the next few years and don't want to be on these meds. Any advice on how to taper successfullY???????
Posted by Vasterling on December 29, 2003, at 22:57:49
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now » Bobina, posted by Sliver277 on December 29, 2003, at 18:17:23
I am in my 4th day of Effexor withdrawl. I read you can take dramamine and benadryl. It really helps enough for me to function. I can not drive, because i feel like i am intoxicated and cannot function when I am driving, but overall it does seem to be getting better
Posted by bobbyd3 on December 30, 2003, at 11:05:34
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Vasterling on December 28, 2003, at 22:05:20
You are welcome.I keep thinking that maybe that was really me on the other side .The actual nausea ,and zaps were definately withdrawal,but I had lost all hope or ambition and I was crying all the time ,which was how I was before I started taking it. I dont want to be on it forever .My shrink only says"why not?".
Posted by Vasterling on December 30, 2003, at 21:29:35
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by bobbyd3 on December 30, 2003, at 11:05:34
I am now in day five of the withdrawl and if feel very agitated. I am still dizzy and have headaches. My muscles ache in my joints from my waist down. I do not think that i am having the brain zaps that alot of people talk about and i am truly grateful for that. I keep thinking there will be an end to this someday and that is the only thing that keeps me from going back to the effexor.
Posted by Bones3456 on December 31, 2003, at 3:28:04
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Vasterling on December 29, 2003, at 22:57:49
I am in day 3, zap like crazy, can't focus, head is very cloudy, I get very dizzy and nearly fall. Can't sleep well. I followed the docs orders but I think the doctors are as confused as we are. Someone be honest and say, we screwed up and you are going to be screwed up for life.
Posted by nigel99 on December 31, 2003, at 8:28:27
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Bones3456 on December 31, 2003, at 3:28:04
It does go away but it takes time. I am now a week without. The zaps are more diffuse and less frequent. Don't be afraid to take apart one of the capsules and take ten granules or so - it takes the edge off in a few hours and the next time round things are less bad.
I agree with you about the doctors (God bless them but they haven't been through it). This site was my best warning of what to expect before I stopped and my best source of information on tips to get through it.
This will pass - keep your chin up!!
> I am in day 3, zap like crazy, can't focus, head is very cloudy, I get very dizzy and nearly fall. Can't sleep well. I followed the docs orders but I think the doctors are as confused as we are. Someone be honest and say, we screwed up and you are going to be screwed up for life.
>
>
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 31, 2003, at 11:57:23
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by nigel99 on December 31, 2003, at 8:28:27
Hi Bones & Nigel!
Yesterday was exactly 6 weeks off of Effexor and I really do feel much better...like 90% recuperated. I'm told that last 10% can take a very long time (over a year for some) to get through, but it is very mild (hardly noticeable at all).
Day 3, 4 & 5 were the worst for me (right were you are Bones) but it just got steadily and dramatically better after those few days. Just let yourself be sick for a few days...lots of bedrest, lots of liquids, and know that lots of people know just how you feel. You will get through this.
-Bliss
Posted by Bones3456 on December 31, 2003, at 15:21:20
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 31, 2003, at 11:57:23
Thanks Nigel and Blissful. Last night I took an effexor (like a dummy). So I get to go thru it all over again. I have a call in to my doc about lower doses than my last pills or other options. It is not fun to hear that it could be a year before I am totally normal. Anyone taking other anti's or trying to stop? Next I'll be on the wellbutrin thread!
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 31, 2003, at 15:46:48
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Bones3456 on December 31, 2003, at 15:21:20
Sorry to hear that you'll have to go through it all again. I made sure that I had absolutely no Effexor in the house when it was time for me to finish. I probably would have done the same thing you did if I'd had any. That's one of the sort of "addictive" qualities of this medication...a person will take more just to get the withdrawals to stop which just starts the whole cycle again.
You'll notice on this board that there is a pretty even split between people who think going cold turkey is best and people who think tapering is best. I personally think both methods work, although reading the historical posts on here, the tapering method seems to draw out the overall ill effects of the withdrawal symptoms although tapering seems to make those symptoms less severe. Cold turkey seems to cause pretty major withdrawal symptoms for approximately 3 or 4 days beginning about 3 days after stopping. I've also noticed that people who've gone cold turkey seem to start feeling better much sooner than those who taper off...but again, those who taper off seem to have less severe withdrawal symptoms.
How you get off of this drug ultimately lies with what you can tolerate. To give you an example, I tried for over ten years to quit smoking by tapering off of cigarettes...it was easier but I never did manage to completely quit that way. Finally, I went cold turkey...it was hard but I have not had a cigarette since and that was over 2.5 years ago. My physiology just does not do well with tapering off...but it does respond well to cold turkey. Personally, I'd rather have a high degree of suffering for a short period of time than a medium degree of suffering for a long period of time.
If you do decide to try cold turkey, ask your doctor if you can have a single 20mg dose of Prozac to take on the third day after your last dose of Effexor. Both my pdoc & my family doc agree that this is one of the best ways to alleviate the withdrawal problems associated with going cold turkey.
Again, I wish you all the best...I know that this is going to be tough no matter what approach you take but this too shall pass!
-Bliss
Posted by Vasterling on December 31, 2003, at 16:12:32
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 31, 2003, at 15:46:48
I am now on days 6 of the effexor withdrawal. The dizzyness is not as bad and neither it the nausea, however I still get agitated easily. The problem I am having now is that I can not pronunicate my words correctly. I am sluring my words and it kind of sounds that I am intoxicated. I did drive today and that seemed to be ok. There does seem to be a light at the end of this dark tunnel and I now know that the worst is behind me.
Posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 31, 2003, at 17:13:49
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Vasterling on December 31, 2003, at 16:12:32
I went through the speech problems too. I either could not pronounce words correctly or I just could not remember the word I wanted to use. I managed to cover it with most people by just laughing it off and saying I was just having one of those days when my mouth wasn't connected to my brain. Most people just laughed it off with me. That did not last very long for me though...maybe a week or so.
The speech problems happend at the same time as the agitation/irritible/hostile feelings. The agitation and sudden waves of irritability were a little harder to manage but my pdoc gave me a simple approach to literally "snap" myself out of those waves. He had me put a rubber band around my wrist and give myself a sharp snap as soon as I started feeling agitated or hostile for no apparent reason. I didn't think it was going to help, but it did. The quick shift of focus in my thoughts and just making myself "aware" that this was happening "snapped" me out of that problem in under a week.
-Bliss
Posted by Vasterling on December 31, 2003, at 17:19:47
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by Blissful_Girl_NOT on December 31, 2003, at 17:13:49
I just want to say thank you Bliss for the idea of the rubberband. I am going to try it, because my poor daughter (who is 15) is at home with me now and she seems to get the worst of it. I get mad at her for no reason, then I have to apologize to her. She says she understands, but I know it makes her feel bad.
I just want to say thanks to everyone else also, because I do not think I could have made it through the withdrawals if it were not for this board. It does help to listen to everyone and know that you are not alone.
Thanks Everyone, Virginia
HAPPY NEW YEAR and be safe.
Posted by baddog55 on December 31, 2003, at 19:11:37
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - my approach, posted by John2222 on November 26, 2003, at 17:56:44
I have been reading this board for about three days, and thank God for you all. I have been on Effexor 75 mg XR for only 4 months, but I needed to get off because of memory loss. My Dr gave me two starter packs and told me to take one 37.5 each day for 7 days and then one every other day and I would be all done! HA! The withdrawals are awful. The brain shivers are the worst, along with chest pain bad enough to make me go get an EKG yesterday. It came out fine, but when I told my dr. that I thought it was because of Eff withdrawal, she didn't believe me either. Maybe it was indigestion, maybe I was getting a cold, etc... So I Guess I'm on my own, (with all your help) Anyway, I'm posting because I'm really interested in tapering more slowly than she says, and I have gotten some good tips here. I'm not a stupid person, but I really need your help! I took a 75 mg cap today, pulled it apart, divided the grains into 3 piles, and cannot for the life of me figure out how to get them back into the capsule without them going everywhere! There has got to be a trick to this, but not being a jr. pharmacist, I must be missing someting. Help?
> 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 John2222 on December 31, 2003, at 20:46:16
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - my approach » John2222, posted by baddog55 on December 31, 2003, at 19:11:37
> I took a 75 mg cap today, pulled it apart, divided the grains into 3 piles, and cannot for the life of me figure out how to get them back into the capsule without them going everywhere! There has got to be a trick to this, but not being a jr. pharmacist, I must be missing someting. Help?
>This may sound difficult but it really isn't:
One choice is after opening the top of the capsule, to look at the bottom half, and then just dump approx in the trash.
The other choice which I took was to buy the empty gel caps from the health food store. Open up 2 gel caps, put the bottom half of the 2 gel caps in your left hand between your thumb/first finger.
Then carefully take an opened Effexor capsule in the right hand and pour half in each gel-cap. It's easy this way to judge the half in each one. And if it's not exact enough, you can pour a little from one into the other to balance it out. Finally put the two tops back on.
I agree though that once you pour the beads onto some other surface, it's impossible to get them back in!
Good luck.
(totally off Effexor now one month)
John
Posted by suzicreamcheese on January 1, 2004, at 1:19:53
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - my approach, posted by John2222 on December 31, 2003, at 20:46:16
I went through a year of tearing open the Effexor capsules. I used a separate pill jar and poured a capsule into it. I would just shake it into my mouth and get a little. There's no taste - you really don't need to bother about getting gel caps or whatever. You could also pour it into Yogurt or something. I just don't recommend biting into the small balls.
The withdrawals are as horrible as everyone describes. I have known this and it has made me go back on it before - this time I am determined not to give in.
For over a year I have been pouring small amounts into my mouth. I am probably catching 15 mgs a day. Yet the withdrawal is the same as if I had been taking 150 mgs a day.
My doc says that the withdrawals (electric sensations) are impulses coming from your brain looking for the serotonin that it has been accustomed to getting. I am going to look for natural ways to provide myself with seratonin (exercise is excellent).
There is something that does help with the electric sensations. It is called ALPHA LIPOIAC ACID. It is an anti-oxidant that you can buy at Walmart. Just 100 mgs a day will help.
Good luck to all those trying to get off. I am just going to hole up in my house and hope it passes quickly and also hope I am not too rude to people that come into my sphere. This withdrawal has turned me into an awful bitch!!
Suzi
Posted by dmbdelta on January 1, 2004, at 9:37:56
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by nigel99 on December 31, 2003, at 8:28:27
I am so thankful for this forum. I thought I was just nuts as my doc does not seem to recognize the importance of getting off of this nightmare train. I have been on 150mg effexor xr for more than a year. I am in my 4th day, and can hardly type this. Each time I turn my head, get up from sitting or standing, or any real movement I feel like I am going to fall. After reading these threads, I just flushed my last 4 pills because I do not want to be tempted. I have read about benadryll and Alpha lipolca acid to help with the withdrawals. Any direction for me. I started during the holidays so that I can go through this without the pressure of going to work. How long will the intensity be here. Is there a normal tapering of the brain shivers. On day 4 they are constant.
Posted by karlou on January 1, 2004, at 10:51:37
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by dmbdelta on January 1, 2004, at 9:37:56
Delta,
My brain fritzes...started to taper around the 4th or 5th day...and now I get them only once in a while...and usually only if I am in a stressful situation. Each day is better! Hang in there!
For me the Benadryl I took one every 4 hours at first then as the brain stuff started to slow down, I started taking it less...now...I only take the Benadryl because of a darn cold!
Posted by baddog55 on January 1, 2004, at 10:53:59
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - my approach, posted by suzicreamcheese on January 1, 2004, at 1:19:53
Thank you John and Suzi, I really appreciate the help. If this boat we are all in gets much fuller, we may have to charter a yacht! lol. I wasn't doing very well on 37.5 every other day so I'm going to stay at one a day for 1 more week, and then split my 75s into 3 parts, and do those for a couple of weeks to see how I feel. I definately agree that TAPERING SLOWLY is the only sane way to do this. And for those of you who are getting the bejeezus scared out of you in this forum, take heart. It is possible that these withdrwals won't kick your butt as hard. My husband was on Eff 150 for over 6 months and had no withdrawls to speak of. He did however, go straight to lexipro, so that could have helped. I want to be AD free for a while so maybe that's why I feel worse. Good luck to all, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Posted by dmbdelta on January 1, 2004, at 11:00:47
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by karlou on January 1, 2004, at 10:51:37
Thanks Karlou and surprisingly, there is much comfort in this support group. I just returned from the pharmacy with benadryl, alpha-lipioc acid and vitamins that are a package of antioxidents. I am going to plant my head deep into the back of my chair, try not to move around alot, and utilize my female friends to exercise their maternal instincts. I hope I do not offend anyone during these days, but I come fully with warnings that I am a little irrational right now, and please do not take offense. Thanks again.
Delta
Posted by Bones3456 on January 1, 2004, at 11:56:52
In reply to Re: Going through Effexor Withdrawl now, posted by karlou on January 1, 2004, at 10:51:37
I really appreciate this forum and I am very thankful I found it. I had pills in the house and took a 75mg capsule on Tuesday at 5 am. Before I took it I was in day 3 and I felt drunk, I stumbled around the house, nearly cried when I turned my head or got up, yelled at my girlfriend to please shut-up for a second, and cursed the day the doctor first suggested these pills. I had a doctor tell me that 75 mg of effexor does basically nothing and stopping after alternating (pill/no pill) for two weeks I should be fine. 75 mg is nothing, she is very wrong and I plan to take some threads with me on the 8th when I see her again. I am going to try the tapering thing, I can get one more refill of 75mg and I am going to ask for sample 37.5. I heard about putting the tiny grains in applesauce oe something and will try that instead of splitting capules, etc. Seems easier. What sucks is that this has affected my job and my boss had a talk with me yesterday and she says she noticed that I have not been myself lately. I have been a pain lately. I tend to be a bit long-winded so to sum up, I appreciate everyone responding, it is comforting to know that I am not alone and I can survive!
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