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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by TanyaJean on April 9, 2004, at 0:09:47
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by Christina Ann on April 7, 2004, at 19:12:58
> Why is everyone so intent on getting off? Is it that bad? Is someone not telling me something?
>
> ChristinaThe thought is that if you're on an anti-depressant, eventually you'll have to go off at some point. That was always what was explained to me by whatever doctor or psychologist. You go on the drug to get yourself well and have to go off at some point. I don't think all the people here feel like this is something they "have to do". Although that may be the case with the side effects. It's the going off this drug that is the awful part. I've been weaned off of different anti-depressants and there has never been a problem. Effexor has been the most problematic for me. If I miss a day, I'm distraught. Now that I'm off of them (for a week now), it's my version of hell on earth. I'm so sick.
Posted by worm on April 9, 2004, at 5:35:38
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last? » TanyaJean, posted by TanyaJean on April 8, 2004, at 23:22:10
I don' know. I have been off completely for a week, and I was doing fine until yesterday, (day 7) I got the brain Zings, though not as bad, and the muscle weakness back, plus nausea and a generalized headache. I think I selpt about 14 hours, I hope it's better today. Why am i fine for 6 days, and then terrible on the 7th?
Strange . . .
Posted by deb723 on April 9, 2004, at 10:02:17
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by worm on April 9, 2004, at 5:35:38
Are you saying you had no withdrawal symptoms for 7 days but they have now begun? You know, I had been tapering for three weeks and was down to 37.5. Then...cold turkey from there. Days one and two weren't really that bad and I have attributed that to all the leftover effexor that must have been there. So...once it was finding its way out THEN I think the real symptoms set in. I need to post my last two days journal entries into my blog but feel free to read what I have experienced so far. (My own version of Hell!)
http://www.stuffiwannasay.blogspot.com
deb
Posted by annesand on April 9, 2004, at 10:13:21
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last? » worm, posted by deb723 on April 9, 2004, at 10:02:17
Your blog is very helpful. We're on about the same timetable. I've been having an almost uncontrollable urge to cry for the last few days, which is new. Makes it hard to be at work!
Hang in there, and thanks again for sharing.
Posted by Marjean on April 9, 2004, at 11:53:22
In reply to Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by janey on November 1, 1998, at 16:30:34
This is my sixth day with zero Effexor and I feel good. I posted earlier about some vitamins, herbal compounds, and homeopathic meds that I have been using to help me get through. When I was tapering down I felt fine with the help of these remedies; but I have to be honest that I had four really rough days when I stopped Effexor completely. (But only four-- in the past I didn't even make it that long.) However, I have to really praise the vitamins and homeopathics that I have been taking. On the second day off, I had run out of "Cocculus Indicus" a homeopathic med for motion sickness and thought I was not going to make it. I AM TELLING THE TRUTH, that night I went by the Co-op and purchased some more of that and some "Nux Vomica" b/c I was very nauseas AND WITHIN 45 MINUTES I FELT 90% BETTER. With those two homeopathics and a B-Vitamin plus herbs complex (Source Naturals Hi-Stress B&C) I have been getting through. I still have the itchiness, sweats, "brain zaps", cloudiness and crying but they are much reduced. Yesterday and today I feel great. I agree that exercise can't replace that seratonin, but I salsa dance and have been swimming (as opposed to high-impact aerobics) and that also has really helped. I feel great after exercising, esp. after dancing. I was very surprised and more than a little ecstatic about the effectiveness of the herbal/homeopthic meds. I know that everyone responds differently and these specific remedies may not work for you, but I would encourage everyone to at least speak with an herbalist or give some remedy a try. It has done wonders for me. If nothing else, make sure you are taking a daily vitamin and are getting plenty of B-Complex. Good Luck! I've almost made it!
Posted by Marjean on April 9, 2004, at 11:59:36
In reply to Re: for husband/wife with zoloft/effexor issue » Marjean, posted by flygirl on April 7, 2004, at 9:51:32
Hang in there! Aside from Prozac, is your therapist giving you any additional support in your situation? Have you thought about a support group or, if your not into that, maybe something as relaxing as a hiking group or a yoga class. I know it must be hard to find any time for yourself. I wish you the very best. I can't imagine how hard it must be to be dealing with your own emotions and caring for someone else's dehabilitating depression. Again, your in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by cyclegrrrl on April 12, 2004, at 16:22:18
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by fastblackZZR on March 7, 2004, at 19:33:17
Now two and half weeks off 150 mg of Effexor cold turkey... The bad dreams/nightmares stopped after about 10 days. There is some very minor itchiness, but NOTHING like the first week of when I stopped. My stomach is just a little sensitive, but again very livable in comparison to when I stopped. The body "zaps" occur now breifly maybe once in a day and are much more minor and easier to ignore. I still have a little bit of of that wanting to cry feeling, but am not sure this is all due to effexor, or the reasons I went on an antidepressent to begin with. The main reason I stopped is effexor made it very difficult to sleep and get through the day-- I was waking up at 4 a.m., wide awake and unable to get back to sleep. And that plus the drug caused crippling fatigue that could hit me at any time throughout the day, taking all my focus and energy just to muster up the strength to get through a day of work sitting at my desk. It was so bad I began to fear for my job. That fatigue, I am very happy to report, has totally disappeared since I stopped effexor. I now enjoy a steady state and, more importantly, predictable state of energy. I sleep a solid 8 hours, and for the first time in months need an alarm clock.Getting back to "baseline normal" has been worth every single day of hellish side effects from coming off this drug. I'm not one for tapering because to me that just stretches out the suffering. I went cold turkey to get it all over with all at once. It's been hard, to be sure, but getting easier every day and well worth it getting it over with quickly. Life is much better without effexor, but being a seasonal bipolar sufferer when fall comes around and if I start to feel so down I'm having suicidal thoughts, I will happily go back on effexor because this has been the only antidepressent to pull me out of that black hole. That I will have to go through these side effects once again to get off the drug in the springtime is worth the relief I get from the effexor during the time I really need it. To me, it's all part of the price I pay for having this illness. Granted it sucks. I really do wish there were better chemicals that don't have all these nasty side effects. My hope is that some day there might be. Until then, I guess I'm resigned to go through all this because it's better than becoming really sick and getting hospitalized.
Peace.
Posted by annesand on April 13, 2004, at 7:18:31
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by cyclegrrrl on April 12, 2004, at 16:22:18
Thanks for this. I've been tapering for about a month, but today is my first day on zero effexor. I'm grateful for a pep talk! I'll probably end up doing a seasonal thing like you, but it's not the worst thing in the world. Best wishes for a wonderful spring and summer!
Posted by triedalldrugs on April 13, 2004, at 8:05:31
In reply to Vitamins, Herbs, Success, posted by Marjean on April 9, 2004, at 11:53:22
I am on day 15 after quitting cold turkey from 75 mg. I wouldn't have made it except for the help from all of you and these herbal products:
Isotonix OPC-3 (took a double dose 3 times a day for the first week) and Isotonix B-12 formula. The OPC-3 rids your body of toxins, so it speeds the process of getting rid of Effexor.I don't sell these products, so I don't get anything if someone buys them after hearing about them from me. I get them from my massage therapist, who quit her antidepressants and made it through because of these products and so now she is a distributor. Her web site is thesehands.unfranchise.com. She is not a computer geek and so uses a standard web site provided by the company...please don't be put off by the advertising. Put in opc-3 in the search field.
I am still having some side effects, but very minimal and very minimal depression. This is like a whole new world to me, to feel good and not have to remember to take a pill!
Good luck everyone! You can do it.
Posted by kphoo on April 13, 2004, at 9:48:46
In reply to Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by janey on November 1, 1998, at 16:30:34
for everyone who hates effexor (guess that's all of us!!)- and are sick of these drugs and the side effects and torture they cause us...please go to the link below and consider the lucinda b
program- I feel compelled to share this- if only somebody would have told me about it sooner- the suffering I could have avoidedhttp://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040409/msgs/335452.html
Posted by TanyaJean on April 13, 2004, at 13:05:44
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by cyclegrrrl on April 12, 2004, at 16:22:18
I don't know how any of you went off effexor cold turkey. I did the tapering off and now have been off effexor for over two weeks. Just about 2 days ago the "brain zaps" and dizziness went away. For four days straight I was vomiting and couldn't keep much down, aside from slimfast and I was drinking that just so I could keep my other meds down (just 2 others for rheumatoid arthritis).
Even though I've been very sick, my crushing fatigue is gone. About 2 years ago I became sick with what they called fibromyalgia. At the time I had been taking prozac and thought that was what had caused the problem. I stopped taking the prozac right away. So in and out of the doctors because this fatigue and pain was getting worse and worse and they immediately put me on paxil. Because it's in my head? I was on paxil for a while and told my doctor I didn't like how I felt when I wasn't on it, like if I missed it for day. He put me on effexor (come to find out, it reacted in the same way). Now off the effexor, even though I still have my joint pain, I have none of the fatigue that would cause me to nap 3 hours every afternoon.
Posted by msdepres on April 14, 2004, at 11:22:34
In reply to Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by janey on November 1, 1998, at 16:30:34
I just can't believe how bad this is - withdrawal from effexor is my worst nightmare. The only time I had anything like it was when I quit cold turkey from elavil and had months of brain zaps - which scared me to death.
Today is day 4 and I'm not sure how I'm going to make it. I have ben crying like no time before in my life. The brain zaps are scary, but this emotional rollercoaster is insane.
I have all the symptoms I've read about - what can I do to tolerate this withdrawal? This is so unlike me! I can understand the suicide syndrom.
Can anyone out there give me some advise or what you are doing or have done to keep going?
Posted by triedalldrugs on April 14, 2004, at 13:25:40
In reply to Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by janey on November 1, 1998, at 16:30:34
Janey, I would try tapering off, as many people in the list have suggested. I went cold turkey, but used an herbal supplement to help and by day 7 it wasn't so bad. But if you're having such severe symptoms of withdrawal, I would count out the beads as many people have suggested. Do you have a prescription left that you can fill and try a gradual withdrawal?
Posted by deb723 on April 14, 2004, at 13:45:17
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » janey, posted by msdepres on April 14, 2004, at 11:22:34
YOU WILL MAKE IT!
I consider days 4 and 5 as "my days from hell" so there is light at the end of the tunnel! I kept an online diary of my withdrawal, from tapering on through, however, I am consumed with doing my taxes now,(Boy, I'm so happy I waited until withdrawal time to do this :-), anyway, I haven't written in it since last Friday but believe me when I say although I do not feel out of the woods yet it, is a MARKED IMPROVEMENT from days 4 and 5! Here's the link to my blog and have faith...you will get through this.
deb
http://www.stuffiwannasay.blogspot.com
Posted by worm on April 14, 2004, at 17:08:18
In reply to IT WILL GET BETTER!, posted by deb723 on April 14, 2004, at 13:45:17
> YOU WILL MAKE IT!
Deb is right - I have been off for 2 weeks now, completely, and aside from a crying jag yesterday (I'm trying to break up with my boyfriend at the same time, I think he is the reason I am depressed in the first place!) I have been good - even got through Easter without screaming at anyone. Of course, it IS spring, but my mood is better, energy level is better, I am still not able to concentrate very well, and it is affecting my work, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
When I get really bad, I do pop a Prozac (20 mg) that I have leftover. That gets me through the rough spots.
Mgesh
Posted by TanyaJean on April 14, 2004, at 21:54:35
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » janey, posted by msdepres on April 14, 2004, at 11:22:34
> I just can't believe how bad this is - withdrawal from effexor is my worst nightmare. The only time I had anything like it was when I quit cold turkey from elavil and had months of brain zaps - which scared me to death.
> Today is day 4 and I'm not sure how I'm going to make it. I have ben crying like no time before in my life. The brain zaps are scary, but this emotional rollercoaster is insane.
> I have all the symptoms I've read about - what can I do to tolerate this withdrawal? This is so unlike me! I can understand the suicide syndrom.
> Can anyone out there give me some advise or what you are doing or have done to keep going?
>The only way I can keep going is support. I have 2 friends going through the exact same thing. One is having more emotional trouble from the withdrawal than I am. I am still dealing with a lot nausea all day long. It's been close to 3 weeks totally off effexor. The brain zaps have almost diminished for me. The dizziness is almost gone.
Posted by roomy on April 15, 2004, at 5:58:43
In reply to IT WILL GET BETTER!, posted by deb723 on April 14, 2004, at 13:45:17
> YOU WILL MAKE IT!
however, I am consumed with doing my taxes now,(Boy, I'm so happy I waited until withdrawal time to do this :-),Deb, you crack me up! A perfect example of getting better every day. When your sense of humor starts to return. I was just a walking calm, unemotional zombie while on effexor for years. Then while getting OFF the effexor, I thought I would never laugh or smile again. Now, 3.5 Months since I have stopped, I have my sense of humor back. ...and as for you Janey...yeah, hang in there. You will be glad you did. (you may try an over the counter medication for motion sickness, but it makes you sleepy)
be tough, but cry when you need to. I allowed myself to cry whenever I wanted and I think I cried myself out! but allow yourself to be happy too. you will make it!
good luck
Roomy
Posted by annesand on April 15, 2004, at 7:07:54
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » janey, posted by msdepres on April 14, 2004, at 11:22:34
I haven't tried this, but lots of others here have. They say that temporarily taking Prozac smooths out the withdrawal symptoms because the half life is a lot longer. Can somebody else fill in the details??
Posted by TanyaJean on April 15, 2004, at 16:11:28
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by annesand on April 15, 2004, at 7:07:54
> I haven't tried this, but lots of others here have. They say that temporarily taking Prozac smooths out the withdrawal symptoms because the half life is a lot longer. Can somebody else fill in the details??
*I've heard many people say that prozac helps. A person on here wrote that to get people off effexor he would prescribe prozac at the same time. He would taper off until the person was no longer on effexor and THEN taper the person off prozac. I've heard other people say the prozac helps so much. Prozac was no problem getting off, at least for me. No withdrawal. I wish I had known before I had done all of this. I would have done just about anything not to go through the last 3 weeks of hell.
I keep posting, and I apologize if it gets annoying. I'm so shocked at everything I'm going through and have to write about it. If I can keep one person from ever trying effexor....
For 2 years I've been sleeping my life away and felt so lousy and it was the effexor. I have an inflammatory disease, but the effexor made everything much worse.
Posted by TanyaJean on April 15, 2004, at 16:27:46
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by annesand on April 15, 2004, at 7:07:54
> I haven't tried this, but lots of others here have. They say that temporarily taking Prozac smooths out the withdrawal symptoms because the half life is a lot longer. Can somebody else fill in the details??
This is the post I read a few days ago - just some other information regarding withdrawal and prozac with effexor: Just copy and paste the address.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011213/msgs/87523.html
Posted by Acorac on April 16, 2004, at 12:03:31
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by TanyaJean on April 15, 2004, at 16:27:46
My wife is on Effexor and our sex life is non existent (once in the last 4 months) I really want to be supportive but it's very difficult. What can she safely take to increase libido.?????
> > I haven't tried this, but lots of others here have. They say that temporarily taking Prozac smooths out the withdrawal symptoms because the half life is a lot longer. Can somebody else fill in the details??
>
> This is the post I read a few days ago - just some other information regarding withdrawal and prozac with effexor: Just copy and paste the address.
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011213/msgs/87523.html
>
>
>
>
>
>
Posted by TanyaJean on April 16, 2004, at 13:53:18
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Acorac on April 16, 2004, at 12:03:31
> My wife is on Effexor and our sex life is non existent (once in the last 4 months) I really want to be supportive but it's very difficult. What can she safely take to increase libido.?????
(I'm talking to my friend and she said for her to stop taking effexor. I know it's not that simple). Effexor kills the lebido. Wellbutrin is something a lot of women switch to and truly it doesn't kill everything off like effexor does. Effexor totally killed off the lebido. It's not her, it's all because of the effexor. I'm sure it's difficult, it was for my husband. I'm sure the issue is sex for her is incredibly frustrating, it was for me. I don't know about herbal supplements but they are out there. Anyone else know?
Posted by collegeguy on April 16, 2004, at 21:37:24
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - Increasing lebido?, posted by TanyaJean on April 16, 2004, at 13:53:18
I was on low dose (37.5 mg) of Effexor XR for just under a month when the side effects became too much for me and I decided to discontinue suddenly despite the fact it was helping my anxiety and depression (Effexor turned me into a practical narcoleptic). For about three days after I stopped the side effects were horrendous --dizziness, sleepiness and a general, very powerful flu-like feeling. I treated myself with OTC medications like Benadryl and meclizine (antihistamines) for the dizziness, and Excedrin geltabs for the headaches and fatigue (excederin has a small amount of caffeine in it).
When I saw my new pdoc (I had decided to switch doctors because my original doctor would not budge in her prescription of either an SSRI (or SNRI) medication plus Wellbutrin (if there were fatigue or sexual side effects) despite these drugs endlessly causing adverse effects in me), he put me on 5 days of Prozac (10 mg once a day). Prozac can be useful in treating withdrawal from other antidepressants like Effexor (which is extremely short acting) because it will temporarily (for the days following withdrawal) keep your serotonin levels high enough to prevent most of the cholinergic rebound that occurs once you stop the med and then taper out of your system very slowly on its own once you cease the short course. How exactly the prozac is used of course is something that needs to be decided by your pdoc based on your effexor dose and length of time on it, but I know for me it almost completely eliminated the withdrawal symptoms (some dizziness lingered for about a week though).
Good luck!
Posted by Aldus Huxley on April 21, 2004, at 18:57:35
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by collegeguy on April 16, 2004, at 21:37:24
I started taking Effexor XR (150mg) in June of 2001 when I was diagnosed with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and ADD. My pdoc also prescribed Wellbutrin for the ADD and also for purposes of counteracting the sexual side effects I was experiencing with Effexor (really weird orgasms). I didn't particularly enjoy the Wellbutrin, so after a series of other dopamine increasing drugs, I ended up with Adderall XR (now at 30mg) which I feel has helped immensely.
So, although I never had a real problem with Effexor, by December, 2003, I felt its efficacy was questionable and thought if I could get off any med it would be a plus. So I decided to go off of the Effexor. However, I was apprehensive about asking my pdoc to stop taking it since she was prescribing the Adderall (and also Xanax and/or Valium) and I didn't want her to think I was skipping the SSRI just to take the potentially "fun" meds. She trusts me and I am really not abusing the Adderall (ok, admittedly, I OCCASIONALLY will chew one before going out on a Friday night, but that's about it, as I would rather utilize them for my work day). In other words, I was just concerned she would stop prescribing the Adderall.
So, to do this on my own, I basically started dividing my Effexor XR 150mg capsules into two doses by opening the capsule and splitting the beads. I did this for about two weeks, then began dividing the 150mg into 3 doses, taking one of these thirds each day. Finally, I was down to dividing it by 4 (approximately 37.5mg now). After about two weeks of this, I would take a 37.5mg dose (approximated obviously) every other day. After around 1 week of this, I just stopped. I suffered the "brain shocks" somewhat, but understandably, nothing like those I would experience if I missed a 150mg dose two days in a row. I also suffered a little depression and some spontaneous crying or exaggerated emotions (i.e. for no real reason I remember starting to cry in the middle of the movie "Daylight" with Sylverter Stallone--perhaps I was just happy those people were getting out of the tunnel safely!).
Also, during this whole withdrawal process, I took 5HTP (and a lot more magnesium and inositol) hoping this would ameliorate any withdrawal effects (can't say for sure if these other compounds helped, but it definitely helped psychologically--in that I thought I was benefitting my brain with the mag and inositol, and boosting serotonin a bit with the 5HTP).
These mild withdrawal effects lasted maybe 2 weeks and then I was fine. For about 2-3 months afterwards however, I would get the familiar "brain shock" (albeit a mild one) when I was stressed over something, but now, I don't notice any withdrawal effects at all.
So, if you want off of Effexor, just do what your pdoc would do anyway--titrate down. It was painless (for me anyway) until I stopped completely, and as stated, the withdrawal affects then were rather mild. Even if you are on 75mg or 37.5 mg currently, just follow the above recipe (or, better yet, act in concert with your pdoc and get the approriate prescription strengths).
For me, Adderall XR was the ticket to productivity, focus, and mood enhancement/anti-depression. I don't want to be on it forever, but until some of the more significant professional and personal problems in my life subside, I am content with taking it.
Posted by roomy on April 22, 2004, at 5:46:16
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Aldus Huxley on April 21, 2004, at 18:57:35
I have been effexor-free for three and a half months and have been doing quite well for about a month. Until yesterday that is. I have been around some depressing people and situations and have had to make an effort to not become emotional or depressed. I was doing quite well and then it all came flooding out yesterday when I was all alone and it SHOULD have been a good day. But, I suppose most people have a day or two like that so digress. Anyway....back to the reason I am posting today...VALIUM????!!! No freakin wonder you didd't suffer any withdrawl!!!
Congrats for being off effexor anyway, and Happy day for you today!!
-Roomy
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