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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1224 to 1248 of 1313. Go back in thread:
Posted by Fathe on January 23, 2005, at 14:23:24
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 12:55:15
Wow, those dates go back to 1995 and here it is, what, 10 years later and we still are not receiving better information from Wyeth? That is shameful. I also saw that these were posts from doctors!!! You would think they would have taken the lead to get the message out there to their fellow physicans and say "Hey you should warn your patients about the withdrawal effects before prescribing it to them". Very puzzling to say the least.
> That is not the link I was trying to post....I'm not very good at this at all. So sorry!!!
>
> Please forgive me for that last one. It was really stupid.
>
> I was hoping that this might help people to know that it is possible that they may know a little more than we have been led to believe. I was truly disappointed to read this:
>
> http://depression.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.dr%2Dbob.org/tips/split/Antidepressant%2Ddiscontinua.html
Posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 14:28:24
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » dancingstar, posted by Fathe on January 23, 2005, at 14:23:24
There is a whole huge web site attached to that. It is beyond disappointing to me. The doctors ignored it. They knew, and they did nothing at all. They even pretended that patients were faking it or underplayed their symptoms, made fun of them. I'm really upset about this.
Posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 14:29:48
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » Fathe, posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 14:28:24
Check out the other link at "Anyone successful on Effexor...."
Posted by remar on January 23, 2005, at 17:28:44
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » dancingstar, posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 14:29:48
this is remar and as i'm reading all of your posts i just want to cry. i've been off of effexor for almost two months now and i'm still so sick. in the mornings i feel better but when the evening comes i start getting sick to my stomach and i still get dizzy sometimes. the tingling in my arms still happens sometimes too. how many months does it take to get over this? i'm so tired of being sick and i know it's the effexor because i've never felt this way before. i was on it for almost five years so maybe it will take a long time to feel healthy again. my heart goes out to all of you suffering through the withdrawal of this horrible drug. take care. remar
Posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 17:57:45
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by remar on January 23, 2005, at 17:28:44
Hello again everyone- Has anyone else experienced delusions like I did? I'm starting to think that I had more than just withdrawal from the Effexor. I see it listed but not many people have discussed this. After seeing that link, it sounds like they are discussing some effects but certainly not discussing the depth of the possibilities. So many of the people who write in are going through Hell. Hang in there Remar- we'll all get through this together.S
Posted by Kathyba on January 23, 2005, at 18:29:48
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by remar on January 23, 2005, at 17:28:44
It doesn't sound like you all are doing this with the help of a doctor, are you? I plan on having my doctor try to help me with it, if there is help. Introducing Prozac or weaning off VERY slowly. I hope something works. I couldn't stand feeling sick for months.
Posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 18:42:59
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by remar on January 23, 2005, at 17:28:44
Remar,
Follow my posts back, and you will see that it took me three months to feel better. You'll make it, honey, I promise!!!
Just know that you are not alone and that those of us that have gone through the same thing understand how bad you are feeling. Our bodies are so amazing, and you will heal completely. Trust that because it is true. Each time you don't feel well from here on forward, it won't be as bad as it was the time before. You will get stronger and stronger, little by little. Watch and you will see.
Blessings,
Bebe
Posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 18:45:01
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Kathyba on January 23, 2005, at 18:29:48
> It doesn't sound like you all are doing this with the help of a doctor, are you? I plan on having my doctor try to help me with it, if there is help. Introducing Prozac or weaning off VERY slowly. I hope something works. I couldn't stand feeling sick for months.
I thought(before I read all of this) that it wouldn't be a big deal or maybe some slight dizziness so I went off of it myself. BAD idea. Now, I think I found a great Dr. and she didn't look at me like I was nuts when I discussed the withdrawal symptoms. In fact, unless she's good at hiding it, she didn't seem suprised at all. Some folks don't seem to hit all the possible withdrawal symptoms like I have. Thank God I didn't throw up. I think God knows that I can handle a delusion or two but not losing my lunch.(smile). Don't be afraid. Keep a good Dr. and a good friend by your side as well as QUIET and PEACEFUL surroundings. S
Posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 18:45:49
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 17:57:45
I didn't, but as you very well know each us are very different. It's certainly possible with all of the unknown information, isn't it?
Posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 18:47:39
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 18:45:01
I lost the lunch, but no delusions ;-)
Posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 18:58:25
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » sp, posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 18:45:49
> I didn't, but as you very well know each us are very different. It's certainly possible with all of the unknown information, isn't it?
Yes- I'm feeling alone here with my delusions. I hope they are all gone now and I think they are (funny thing about delusions, eh?). I had awoken one night at about 3 in the morning and thought I had swallowed a demon. I knew it wasn't right but was scared to death to say the least. I'm telling you this stuff is nasty. How could they minimize so much in their studies? I have to beleive that others experienced some of these things that we have been going through. They may have said that some feel slight electrical feelings in their extremities but they didn't say things like I heard one guy say on another sight... " Help... I feel like my brain is being sucked out of my head."
Posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 18:59:58
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » sp, posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 18:47:39
> I lost the lunch, but no delusions ;-)
P.S. I'm sorry you lost your lunch.
Posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 19:04:58
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 18:58:25
Did you read this link? You ARE DEFINITELY NOT ALONE :-):
http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Antidepressant-discontinua.html
PARTIAL QUOTATION:
"Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 22:20:42 -0500
From: gsdavids@niagara.com (George Davidson)
Subject: Antidepressant discontinuation reactions"I see all sorts of strange complaints from stopping SSRIs too soon. These include mood disturbance, psychotic features such as illusions or frank hallucinations, extreme agitation, and severe malaise.
"Irritability and "over-reacting" don't suprise me in the least, and I find the story as you present it quite consistent with SSRI sudden-withdrawal syndrome. Having learned the hard way how terrible the effects of suddenly stopping SSRIs and venlafaxine (Effexor) can be I now routinely urge all my patients to come off these drugs gradually. I have seen the worst reactions from paroxetine (Paxil), but I have seen them in all the SSRIs. It is claimed that they ar more frequent in drugs with a short half-life -- certainly it doesn't seem to happen with fluoxetine (Prozac), to my knowledge. I have seen the withdrawal sydrome at low doses, like Paxil 20 mg and even Zoloft 50 mg.
"If in doubt that a symptom is due to SSRI withdrawal, just give a test dose and see if the symptoms soon disappear. It has been said on Psychopharmacology Tips that one dose of Prozac, due to its long half-life, can stop the SSRI withdrawal syndrome. The one time I tried this, it did not work, and I needed to give the Prozac daily for a week, then once every 2 days, etc."
Posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 19:08:49
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 18:59:58
> > I lost the lunch, but no delusions ;-)
>
>
> P.S. I'm sorry you lost your lunch.I lived...thanks. guess i thought i wouldn't at the time. at least i can laugh now.
Posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 19:17:32
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » sp, posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 19:04:58
> Did you read this link? You ARE DEFINITELY NOT ALONE :-):
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Antidepressant-discontinua.html
>
> PARTIAL QUOTATION:
>
> "Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 22:20:42 -0500
> From: gsdavids@niagara.com (George Davidson)
> Subject: Antidepressant discontinuation reactions
>
> "I see all sorts of strange complaints from stopping SSRIs too soon. These include mood disturbance, psychotic features such as illusions or frank hallucinations, extreme agitation, and severe malaise.
>
> "Irritability and "over-reacting" don't suprise me in the least, and I find the story as you present it quite consistent with SSRI sudden-withdrawal syndrome. Having learned the hard way how terrible the effects of suddenly stopping SSRIs and venlafaxine (Effexor) can be I now routinely urge all my patients to come off these drugs gradually. I have seen the worst reactions from paroxetine (Paxil), but I have seen them in all the SSRIs. It is claimed that they ar more frequent in drugs with a short half-life -- certainly it doesn't seem to happen with fluoxetine (Prozac), to my knowledge. I have seen the withdrawal sydrome at low doses, like Paxil 20 mg and even Zoloft 50 mg.
>
> "If in doubt that a symptom is due to SSRI withdrawal, just give a test dose and see if the symptoms soon disappear. It has been said on Psychopharmacology Tips that one dose of Prozac, due to its long half-life, can stop the SSRI withdrawal syndrome. The one time I tried this, it did not work, and I needed to give the Prozac daily for a week, then once every 2 days, etc."
>
>
Thank You! I read that but apparently missed the delusion and hallucination part. I guess I'll just keep on every day and give my brain time to heal. It does seem that every day gets a little better. To be honest, I think I'm feeling sorry for myself. And, I think I have the right to feel this way with what I am ( and all of you other luckies)are going through. I have to say that when I was taking the Effexor, things seemed ok and I NEVER would have guessed this to happen. S
Posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 19:23:22
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 19:08:49
> > > I lost the lunch, but no delusions ;-)
> >
> >
> > P.S. I'm sorry you lost your lunch.
>
> I lived...thanks. guess i thought i wouldn't at the time. at least i can laugh now.
>
>
Yes- laughing is good. A few weeks before all this happened, I had a friend come over to try to teach me some relaxation exercises. I only did it once and didn't follow up. I saw her and told her that perhaps I should have kept "BREATHING"!
Posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 19:28:19
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 19:17:32
I agree that you and we have a right to feel sorry for ourselves...for a while. And you will heal, really, you will.
After that, we get to get a bit angry but only if it will do either ourselves or someone else some good -- well, that's how I'm feeling, I guess.
Posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 19:41:54
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 19:28:19
> I agree that you and we have a right to feel sorry for ourselves...for a while. And you will heal, really, you will.
>
> After that, we get to get a bit angry but only if it will do either ourselves or someone else some good -- well, that's how I'm feeling, I guess.Yes- I understand. I'm starting to picture myself in front of Congress telling them that I thought I swallowed a demon. That would throw them for a loop, wouldn't it? God Bless you all. I'm going into hiding for the rest of the eve. I'll try to check back in tomorrow.S
Posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 20:31:46
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by sp on January 23, 2005, at 19:41:54
Hope you have a safe, quiet, and peaceful evening.
Maybe we will all be on the floor of Congress together :-)
Posted by remar on January 23, 2005, at 22:14:46
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by dancingstar on January 23, 2005, at 18:42:59
dancingstar, thank you so much for repyling to my post. i would never have believed either that it would take so long to get over the withdrawal symptoms. i am working with a different dr. now because the one i was with did not warn me of the withdrawal. the new dr. is great and he understands that i don't need an antidepressant, i have anxiety disorder and i refuse now to take another antidepressant. i'm taking a low dose of xanax which really helps. i would love to try the benadryl but i don't think i can take it with the xanax.i really hope that all of you who are going through this feel much better soon. take care. remar
Posted by worm on January 24, 2005, at 11:57:16
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by remar on January 23, 2005, at 22:14:46
Jenna:
I don't really remember how long it took, probably about 4-6 weeks, but I started taking some leftover Prozac, and that helped.
I had been initially on Prozac (supposedly for PMS, so the medical doctor could prescibe it for me). Then I told her I felt it wasn't working any more, so she changed me to Effexor. Probably a big mistake in hindsight, since nobody even knew if I was clinically depressed, and maybe the issues causing it were gone (my mother passing away, the break-up of a relationship). I started on Effexor 75, and then, again, I told her that I felt "flat" (now knowing that's what it does to you) and she upped the dose to 150. Then I noticed that if I forgot to take a dose, which I did almost every weekend because my schedule was off, (plus not knowing that the medication itself made me forgetful) I would get the zaps, nausea, dizziness, muscle weakness, and then eventutually, incapacitating depression and suicidal thoughts. I knew I needed to get off the Effexor, but how to do it without going through the withdrawal? I knew that my doctor had phased in the higher dosage, so I figured I'd better phase out slowly.
Then I found this board, and the hints helped me a lot. Just knowing the cause of the brain zaps - which were followed immediately by blinding rage - (I thought I could have killed someone if they were within reach)that passed through my brain like white heat! Really hard to explain. I took the Prozac, first daily, and then after a week or so, just one every few days, then none at all. It helped me a lot, but as you know from this board, everyone is different.
Now I am drug-free, and enjoying it - I have lost 20 pounds, and am exercising regularly. Ieven Christmas didn't get me down this year, I usually get post-holiday blues, This year I just put my decorations away and said "Ok, let's look ahead to the next thing life is going to throw at me" Just a huge turnaround, since I was ready to kill myself last year on New Year's Eve because I felt everyone, including my boyfriend, was out having fun and I was sitting at home - Seriously! I was in bad shape!!
Ok, probably too much information, but that's it for me. Hope it helps some.
Worm
Posted by caleb96 on January 24, 2005, at 17:36:58
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Jenna Starrett on January 22, 2005, at 11:02:16
> > > I don't know if Effexor has a shorter half life than the SSRIs, or really what the withdrawal side effects might be for those,
> > > but Victor brought up a good point. Whenever I have missed more than 2-3 doses of my Effexor, whether the regular sort or the XR, the withdrawal is terrible.
> >
> > *Part of the problem is that therapeutically, according to the last counselor I saw, Effexor is about SIX major drugs combined into one. Hence the withdrawals are MAJOR and ugly.*
> > >
> > > In my experience, I have had a kind of numbness in my extremeties (this is such a wierd sensation, I don't even know if numbness is good description!), nausea, headache, extreme tearfulness, can't focus or make decisions, anorexia, and hot and cold chills just to name a few.
> >
> > *Sounds JUST like what my mother went through (did you fall down & throw up or have clinical migraines?) AND what my partner is still dealing with (he stutters, now, too), although the numb/strange feeling in his fingers stopped about two weeks or so after he was totally weaned. He still has decision-making issues, and increased social anxiety :( *
> > >
> > > One question for the docs here. I hate this about myself, but why do I forget whether I took my medicine or not a lot of the time? I feel like an old lady having to put my pills in a little day-of-the week pill box. ~laughing~
> >
> > *I'm only taking one med daily at this time, and believe me, if it's more than one I can't remember either. I think short-term memory fog is a side effect of being human!
> >
> > snakeadelic
>
>
> Hi! I was on 300mg of Effexor XR at one point and I truely believe now that I'm off it, that it was really adding to my depression. I had some of the same symptoms you did... I even had to tell my boss that I was having memory problems. I would forget if I took my medicine, made phone calls EVERYTHING! I thought it was my depression but it was clearly the Effexor. I had sexual side effects and just felt crappy (crying, depressed)all the time on this med. My doc decided to add 150mg of Wellbutrin XL to the Effexor to help with the sexual side effects. Finally I got so fed up with the memory problems, I asked him if I could get off the Effexor. I first went down to 150mg and after about 2-3 days I started to get major side effects (cold sweats, crying over everything, severe headache, nausea, aggitation, and major "volts" in my body)I ended up in the hospital because I thought I was going to die. They took me off Effexor all together in the hospital, and left me on the 150 Wellbutrin. Thankfully I found this website and saw that taking Claratin D may help with the side effects. I immediately went out and got some and it helped me AMAZING! as long as I took it like the directions said. The Claratin D does not effect my sleep or make me feel jittery at all...just normal. Also, at first I thought that I was feeling bad because of the Wellbutrin (when they first lowered my Effexor), but it turns out I am off Effexor now and on 300mg of Wellbutrin, and feel great (I haven't noticed ANY side effects). Plus I take 100mg of Trazedone to sleep (works great! no hangover). I have been taking sublingual B complex vitamins for a while, as well as capsules of Flax oil (Omega 3) but I'm not sure if this is helping because I've been taking them for a long time. The Wellbutrin has worked very well for me! I feel real again. I hope this helps, but as you know everyone is different. Take care, Jenna
>
>
>Effexor has a very short half-life (<12 hours) relative to other SSRIs (e.g., Prozac clears your system over several days, the others fall somewhere in between). As I understand it, Effexor was developed to treat pain, and it is a good pain modulator for cetain conditions. Its biochemical structure is very close to an opioid. It's a very good antidepressant for most people--especially people who either don't respond to or have lost depression control with the other SSRIs. Effexor is an SNRI or "serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor," so it actually has action on two receptor systems. I like the energizing effect of Wellbutrin, too. Wellbutrin works on dopamine receptors (at least that's the hypothesis) and tends to be very energizing. It doesn't have the sexual problems of Effexor, Prozac, Zoloft and other serotonin boosting drugs. The problem is, it doesn't work on depression for everyone. Not everyone has problems with Effexor withdrawal--although that's not meant to trivialize anyone's suffering. I took 300 mg Effexor per day for nearly 4 years, then tapered off in about a month with no problems. I have no idea what taking Claritin is supposed to do--I know some people use Benadryl (diphenhydramine) to come down off benzodiazepines because it's so sedating. It takes the edge off the Xanax heebie-geebies. Like you said, everyone's different. I took Trazodone once and it put me in the hospital because I had such a violent reaction to it. Others take it with no problem. Go figure.
Caleb
Posted by Fathe on January 24, 2005, at 21:28:16
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by worm on January 24, 2005, at 11:57:16
<Then I found this board, and the hints helped me <a lot. Just knowing the cause of the brain zaps -<which were followed immediately by blinding <rage - (I thought I could have killed someone if <they were within reach)that passed through my <brain like white heat! Really hard to explain
Hi WormThis is the one withdrawal symptom which really frightens me sometimes. I have all the others too but they are not as upsetting as the blinding anger I can burst into. Last year, when I attempted to stop effexor then, it was the rage that made me think I was having some kind of breakdown and needed to go back on it. So I did.
This year, after telling myself I wanted to stop but more importantly, finding this site, I realized I could do it and realized the rage is part of the withdrawal. I am managing the physical symptoms but the unpredictale rage is so unlike me.
Does anyone know why this occurs? How long does this last?
Posted by kathyba on January 25, 2005, at 17:36:47
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » worm, posted by Fathe on January 24, 2005, at 21:28:16
I faxed my doctor a memo telling him what I was going through (although I took 37.5mg of Effexor with my wellbutrin on Sat and Sun). He said that he hadn't had any problem with patients having bad withdrawal symptoms (what do have patients have that I don't to handle this) but that he was sorry. He read some of the articles I faxed him (the FDA notice about Effexor from 2000) and he said he would let me have the 25mg of Effexor tablets so I can wean off more slowly.
So I am now going to take my 150mg Wellbutrin with 12.5mg of Effexor in the am and 12.5 in the pm. I'll try that for a week and then maybe try to cut out another 1/4 of a pill. We'll see. -Kathy
Posted by accent on January 25, 2005, at 19:20:20
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by dancingstar on January 21, 2005, at 17:28:00
Hello, thanks for the encouragement. Right now I have decided to stay on the medication and try to get off of it during the summer. I teach and so the withdrawls are too much to take while trying to continue teaching. I become worse than the middle-schoolers I teach. Unable to focus and such. Anyhow I'll keep reading and keep on posting till then. By the way I found a site where a class action suit is being brought up against the Wythe company. If your interested here it is...and thank you for the last paragraph bebe. I am now in "action" mode. Others need to be educated. I think this site helps and I hope that you all continue to "fight" back! <withdrawl and all> accent
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