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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Robz on June 1, 2004, at 15:26:22
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl, posted by twiggy on December 18, 2001, at 10:23:22
I have been on EffexorXR for 6 months. Sometimes I drink alcohol and the next day i feel anxiouis and depressed. I know this is because the alcohol makes the Effexor less effective. Sometimes however I feel anxious and depressed when I have not been drinking. I usually just take another pill if this starts happening and that usually helps me. i just want to be off this stuff because it messes up my sex drive. Does this break through anxiety and depression happen to anyone? how long shoukd I stay on it?
Posted by smeegle on June 3, 2004, at 14:45:53
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl, posted by Robz on June 1, 2004, at 15:26:22
I have been on Effexor XR for about 3 years now and up to 300mg per day. I experience a lessening of Effexors effectiveness about every six months and subsequently have had to steadily increase my dosage. My dr has stated that although I have not had any negative side effects (i.e. blood pressure), this is as high as he wants to go for me and said that it may be time to move on and try something else (Celexa...great, I have to learn all about the quirks of yet another AD). I was on Zoloft for about 3 years prior to Effexor and it lost effectiveness as well.
Smeegs
> I have been on EffexorXR for 6 months. Sometimes I drink alcohol and the next day i feel anxiouis and depressed. I know this is because the alcohol makes the Effexor less effective. Sometimes however I feel anxious and depressed when I have not been drinking. I usually just take another pill if this starts happening and that usually helps me. i just want to be off this stuff because it messes up my sex drive. Does this break through anxiety and depression happen to anyone? how long shoukd I stay on it?
Posted by Sad Panda on June 4, 2004, at 0:11:38
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl, posted by smeegle on June 3, 2004, at 14:45:53
> I have been on Effexor XR for about 3 years now and up to 300mg per day. I experience a lessening of Effexors effectiveness about every six months and subsequently have had to steadily increase my dosage. My dr has stated that although I have not had any negative side effects (i.e. blood pressure), this is as high as he wants to go for me and said that it may be time to move on and try something else (Celexa...great, I have to learn all about the quirks of yet another AD). I was on Zoloft for about 3 years prior to Effexor and it lost effectiveness as well.
>
> Smeegs
>Your doctor sounds sensible. How good was Zoloft for you? I would be inclined to try & go back to it.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Angel Girl on June 7, 2004, at 16:06:21
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl, posted by smeegle on June 3, 2004, at 14:45:53
> I have been on Effexor XR for about 3 years now and up to 300mg per day. I experience a lessening of Effexors effectiveness about every six months and subsequently have had to steadily increase my dosage. My dr has stated that although I have not had any negative side effects (i.e. blood pressure), this is as high as he wants to go for me and said that it may be time to move on and try something else (Celexa...great, I have to learn all about the quirks of yet another AD). I was on Zoloft for about 3 years prior to Effexor and it lost effectiveness as well.
>
> Smeegs
>Smeegs
The top dosage that I was ever at on Effexor XR was 367.5mg/daily. I've read several people on this board who have been higher.
Good luck with whatever you do. I hope you find something that will work for you. I know how you feel about having to try another med. It sucks!
AG
Posted by starrgem on June 15, 2004, at 3:52:31
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl, posted by Sad Panda on June 4, 2004, at 0:11:38
I ran out of effexor xr two days ago and cannot renew my script until my new insurance kicks in at the beginning of July. I don't know how I'm going to fare after the withdrawls I have had for the last 24 hours. I have been extremely light headed, disoriented, had periods of disorganized thoughts and speech, feelings of electricity in my brain, and numbness and tingling in me face and arms (mostly in my lips,cheeks,and gums). I have also been crying alot and have had periods of agitation so severe that I have almost been looking for a fight. I was worried I was having a stroke until I remembered my husband complained of some of the same symptoms when he missed a dose. This message board has brought me some relief (knowing I'm not having a stroke) but also makes me wonder what else I might be up against. If I end up having to wait until July 1st I don't think I will even consider going back to the effexor. It helped me through a really tough spot in my life but I never want to feel like this again if I can help it.
Posted by SLS on June 15, 2004, at 5:53:20
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl, posted by starrgem on June 15, 2004, at 3:52:31
> I ran out of effexor xr two days ago and cannot renew my script until my new insurance kicks in at the beginning of July. I don't know how I'm going to fare after the withdrawls I have had for the last 24 hours. I have been extremely light headed, disoriented, had periods of disorganized thoughts and speech, feelings of electricity in my brain, and numbness and tingling in me face and arms (mostly in my lips,cheeks,and gums). I have also been crying alot and have had periods of agitation so severe that I have almost been looking for a fight. I was worried I was having a stroke until I remembered my husband complained of some of the same symptoms when he missed a dose. This message board has brought me some relief (knowing I'm not having a stroke) but also makes me wonder what else I might be up against. If I end up having to wait until July 1st I don't think I will even consider going back to the effexor. It helped me through a really tough spot in my life but I never want to feel like this again if I can help it.
Maybe you can get some free samples from your doctor.I wish you luck.
- Scott
Posted by lostCause on July 26, 2004, at 14:25:13
In reply to Re: Effexor Symptoms, posted by robz on April 8, 2004, at 19:03:27
So let's say you were already dumb enough to go two days "Cold Turkey" without "tapering" from 300mg's of Effexor XR/day.. and you are starting to have pretty severe reactions (like everyone else: zinging, heart palps, dizziness, confusion, etc.) do you a) jump back on it full force and then begin to taper, b) get on it half force, c) call the p-doc, or d) keep suffering in the hopes that the misery ends soon????
Posted by Camille Dumont on July 26, 2004, at 14:44:39
In reply to Re: Effexor Symptoms, posted by lostCause on July 26, 2004, at 14:25:13
Well, since I'm one of the "dumb enough" who did exactly that ... that is stop cold turkey from effexor 300 and celexa 20 ... I'll share my experience.
It was bad ... but tolerable for the first 4 days but on the fifth it was very very bad. I would throw up and could not hold any food. I kept hurting myself because I kept falling or bumping into stuff because I was so dizzy ... and I could barely make it from my bed to the bathroom ... I was sweating ... felt like I had a fever, caughing and being really miserable. When I started shaking I started to be afraid ... and then the suicidal thoughts crept up on me slowly, those insinuous little voices repeating to you over and over again how easy it would be to off yourself. So when I caught myself actually considering means I ran to the kitchen and popped two aspirins and a celexa and went to bed.
Lo and behold, 4 hours later I woke up without the dizzyness, without the nausea or the cold-like symptoms and I was actually hungry.
I think I would recommend going to your doctor's office and INSIST on him giving you somethign to mask the withdrawal ... I hear prosac is good for that ... Celexa just happened to be available in my case.
Your doctor will most likely scold you and what not but I mean whats done is done ... he will probably tell you to go back on a lower dose ... 75 or 150 maybe ... but really insist on something else incase the withdrawal happens ... its better to have it at hand than have to crawl in the doctor's office when you feel really bad.
Best of luck.
Posted by King Vultan on July 26, 2004, at 16:49:41
In reply to Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by lostCause on July 26, 2004, at 14:36:35
> So let's say you were already dumb enough to go two days "Cold Turkey" without "tapering" from 300mg's of Effexor XR/day.. and you are starting to have pretty severe reactions (like everyone else: zinging, heart palps, dizziness, confusion, etc.) do you a) jump back on it full force and then begin to taper, b) get on it half force, c) call the p-doc, or d) keep suffering in the hopes that the misery ends soon????
My choice would be d), I guess, because when I quit cold turkey from 150 mg/day of Effexor years ago, that was what I did. I was in a very debilitated state for a week but fortunately was on vacation, as I think I would have had a hard time working.On another occasion, I did taper off but suffered withdrawal symptoms at each drop in dosage. I would guess the total amount of withdrawal symptoms added up to about what I experienced when going off it all at once; it was just spread over a longer period of time.
I'll take the experience tapering off vs. cold turkey myself. I would also add that for me, Effexor withdrawal symptoms are not the most horrible thing in the universe, particularly if the drug is tapered. I would compare it in unpleasantness to a mild/moderate case of the flu.
Todd
Posted by rolie12 on July 26, 2004, at 20:12:08
In reply to Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by lostCause on July 26, 2004, at 14:36:35
Well, I am a dumb one too (ha, ha) because I was taking 300 mg for about 5 1/2 months and took 150 mg the next and quit cold turkey. I never had withdrawals before so I figured it wont be too bad. WRONG! I was already getting the zaps/electrical jolt thing while on it, that's why I quit, but by Thursday morning (Wed was the last time I took a dose) I was not well. Had to leave work early and that's when the vomiting, extreme fatigue, felt very sick to my stomach started. For three days I could not keep anything down, yet I was so thirsty and hungry I would eat and then get sick. Sunday was the first day I did not get sick. I went back to work today with zaps still, but am feeling better. Will be happy when zaps are gone!
Posted by Camille Dumont on July 26, 2004, at 20:18:23
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by rolie12 on July 26, 2004, at 20:12:08
Isn't it horrible ... I would get so hungry I felt like puking and was dizzy ... but then I'd eat and then feel nauseaous again ... and puke, and then get hungry ... god awfull feeling.
Have you though about asking for a small dose of prozac to get you through the withdrawal ... for me the Celexa was a godsend ... it totally killed the zaps and the dizzyness.
Posted by rolie12 on July 26, 2004, at 20:46:56
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by Camille Dumont on July 26, 2004, at 20:18:23
I am laughing and not in a mean way, to hear I am not the only one that had the same thing. I was STARVING and so thirsty I would eat when I wasn't feeling so sick to my stomach, then puke and start the vicious cycle over again. The past two nights I started having the leg muscle spasms like if you are cold and you shake. I get up walk around, drink something and it goes away. I will be glad when it is all out of my system. Then I will be depressed and have to start a new med. LIke I said, vicious cycle! hehe
> Isn't it horrible ... I would get so hungry I felt like puking and was dizzy ... but then I'd eat and then feel nauseaous again ... and puke, and then get hungry ... god awfull feeling.
>
> Have you though about asking for a small dose of prozac to get you through the withdrawal ... for me the Celexa was a godsend ... it totally killed the zaps and the dizzyness.
Posted by Sad Panda on July 26, 2004, at 23:13:51
In reply to Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by lostCause on July 26, 2004, at 14:36:35
> So let's say you were already dumb enough to go two days "Cold Turkey" without "tapering" from 300mg's of Effexor XR/day.. and you are starting to have pretty severe reactions (like everyone else: zinging, heart palps, dizziness, confusion, etc.) do you a) jump back on it full force and then begin to taper, b) get on it half force, c) call the p-doc, or d) keep suffering in the hopes that the misery ends soon????
>
>e) Get a script for Prozac, take Prozac as a substitute until your withdrawl symptoms subside & then quit Prozac which has no withdrawl symptoms for most people due to it's extremely long half life. Effexor has a very short half life.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by podo on August 26, 2004, at 15:27:15
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by Sad Panda on July 26, 2004, at 23:13:51
I was on 225mg of Effexor for about 2 years, then weened off slowly, 225 to 150 for several months, then down to 75mg for another several months, and just finished 3 days ago. The withdrawal is awful, I can barely work, I'm so nauscious, dizzy, headaches and flu-like symptoms, I just want to sleep forever. Any suggestions? I don't want to have to get on something else, if this withdrawal only lasts another day or two or three I can deal. Does anyone know how long I should be feeling this awful, going from 75mg to 0? Thanks.
Posted by jjamas on August 27, 2004, at 10:00:43
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by podo on August 26, 2004, at 15:27:15
If you take the tapering a lot slower, you won't have such severe withdrawal. I was on 37.5 mg for over a year and started to taper in June. I skipped a day and had horrible withdrawal symptoms. So I took it slower. I took 37.5 and alternated it with 25 mg (its prescribed for children). Then 25 mg everyday until side effects went away. Then 25mg alternating with half of the tablet (12.5). Then 12.5 everyday. Then half of that- 6.25, then off. I haven't taken any in 3 days now and the only symptoms I have are slight headaches and very slight vertigo. Other than that, I am w/d symptom free. Good luck!
Posted by Cybele on August 27, 2004, at 17:04:15
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by podo on August 26, 2004, at 15:27:15
I think you should considering doing 37.5 mg for a while. It's gotta be hard going cold turkey off 75mg!
Posted by Camille Dumont on August 28, 2004, at 15:22:48
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle... » podo, posted by Cybele on August 27, 2004, at 17:04:15
Ask your doctor for some Prozac ... it will mask the w/d.
Posted by Cybele on August 28, 2004, at 15:58:59
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle... » podo, posted by Cybele on August 27, 2004, at 17:04:15
I've decided to get off Effexor-XR. The weight gain (10 pounds in 10 weeks) is really making me DEPRESSED and the vivid dreams leave me disoriented in the mornings. My doc said she'd give me 37.5mg samples, but I'll just try dumping out half of the contents of the gel capsules. Isn't that all the 37.5 capsules are?
Posted by ishy on August 29, 2004, at 17:43:30
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by Cybele on August 28, 2004, at 15:58:59
I highly suggest going to your doctor (or a new one like I did), and ask for Prozac to help you get off it. I got from 75 to 37 but got all the terrible side effects (dizziness, zings/electric shocks, headache, stomachache, etc) trying to go any lower (even slowly) than 37. Prozac has made a world of difference, but you have to take it for a mnth (I just stayed at 37 on Effexor), and then started going back down again. So worth it...
Posted by Cybele on August 29, 2004, at 18:31:27
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by ishy on August 29, 2004, at 17:43:30
> I highly suggest going to your doctor (or a new one like I did), and ask for Prozac to help you get off it. I got from 75 to 37 but got all the terrible side effects (dizziness, zings/electric shocks, headache, stomachache, etc) trying to go any lower (even slowly) than 37. Prozac has made a world of difference, but you have to take it for a mnth (I just stayed at 37 on Effexor), and then started going back down again. So worth it...
How long were you on Effexor-XR 75mg?Everyone: Are the side effects worse if you've been on it a long time versus only a few weeks or months?
Posted by tablasco1 on August 30, 2004, at 10:28:44
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by King Vultan on July 26, 2004, at 16:49:41
I have been experiencing withdrawal effects from Effexor XR for about 3 months now. I have had withdrawal symptoms: anxiety, dizziness, blurred vision, and now depression. I went off of Effexor (as well as Paxil and Zoloft within the past year or so) because I was having similar symptoms on the drugs. I have had much fear about what I am feeling and even though I have been through therapy, much of what I have been feeling doesn't make sense. I am thinking of starting back on Effexor once again after 3 months of withdrawal to soothe the withdrawal symptoms as well as help with my depression. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Posted by laurie_lu on August 30, 2004, at 13:20:59
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by tablasco1 on August 30, 2004, at 10:28:44
In addition to taking Benadryl, I've stopped drinking coffee. It seems my dizziness and nausea are much less if I skip the coffee. I am beginning to think caffeine makes the symptoms worse. I saw a definate pattern of extreme nausea and dizziness 20 minutes after finishing my usual morning cup of coffee. I must say too that drinking alcohol makes the side effects 100 times worse the next day. Yesterday I also began taking St. Johns Wort as I am nearing the end of my Effexor tapering. I am hoping the SJW takes the edge off of the WD.
Posted by tablasco1 on August 30, 2004, at 13:33:33
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by laurie_lu on August 30, 2004, at 13:20:59
Ironically, I was just going to grab a cup of coffee. I also felt the side effects moreso because I was drinking Sat. night at a wedding. I'm not much of a drinker, so just a few can get me drunk. I was feeling the effects of that yesterday. Good luck with the tapering. Hope the effexts are not anywhere near, or as long as mine.
Posted by Cybele on August 30, 2004, at 14:31:02
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by laurie_lu on August 30, 2004, at 13:20:59
> In addition to taking Benadryl, I've stopped drinking coffee. It seems my dizziness and nausea are much less if I skip the coffee. I am beginning to think caffeine makes the symptoms worse. I saw a definate pattern of extreme nausea and dizziness 20 minutes after finishing my usual morning cup of coffee. I must say too that drinking alcohol makes the side effects 100 times worse the next day. Yesterday I also began taking St. Johns Wort as I am nearing the end of my Effexor tapering. I am hoping the SJW takes the edge off of the WD.
Have you read the advice re: Prozac on Dr. Bob's "Antidepressant discontinuation reactions" page?http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Antidepressant-discontinua.html
Dr. Ivan Goldberg seems pretty sold on this. I asked my doctor for some Prozac samples in case the withdrawal are bad. You only need to take 2 or 3 doses. (My impression is they should be 24 or more hours apart, but do not have to be successive days--only when the withdrawal effects are bad.) I am also armed with Benadryl for bedtime, Excedrin in case of headaches, and Dramamine in case of nausea! I'm on day 2 of 37.5 mg after 10 weeks on 75 mg of XR, no WD effects at all yet.
The best antidepressant in the world, in my opinion, is 30-45 minutes of aerobic exercise for 5-6 days a week. I've had stress-induced depression since I was 13 (30 years ago), and regular exercise is really the only thing that works for me. Leisurely walk won't cut it; you need to break a sweat.
Ef-XR made me feel a little better, but not worth the 12 pound weight gain and constant carb cravings. Now I am going off the 'xor and ramping up my exercise to 6 days a week.
http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Antidepressant-discontinua.html
Posted by bubblehead on September 2, 2004, at 21:58:07
In reply to Re: Effexor XR WDs... How To Handle..., posted by tablasco1 on August 30, 2004, at 10:28:44
Those of you that were unaware of the withdrawl troubles you were faced with may be interested in these sites: http://www.rxlist.com/rxboard/effexor.pl?#4729
http://www.rxlist.com/rxboard/effexor.pl?read=4623
http://www.petitiononline.com/effexor/petition.htmlYou are not alone in this terrible battle.
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