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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by hopndoodle on February 18, 2005, at 22:35:00
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Vexinvixen on February 17, 2005, at 9:28:16
My heart goes out to you. I, too, have experienced many of the same symptoms. It helped greatly to find this site and feel validation. Somehow that alone made my distress manageable. I have also recently tapered down and then stopped effexor completely. It's been about 10 days. The first four days were the worst. I almost went home from work due to the nausea on day 4. But that decreased and subsided altogether around day 6 or 7. That was the worst symptom for me, and now that its gone I feel I can manage the rest. I wanted to encourage you that things WILL get better. I have one persistent symptom: hives. Itchy, torturous hives. The day after I cut down from 150mg to 75mg they doubled. I lifted my sweater to show my tummy to a couple of my co-workers and they gasped out loud. I told them that they weren't just on my tummy, but all over my body. That's when I went to the Dr. and, of course, he said the hives couldn't possibly be from the withdrawal. He said probably a food allergy to one of five culprits: peanuts, chocolate, strawberries, shell fish and tomatoes. So we have a bet going. I haven't eaten any of those foods for three weeks and I still have hives. Now that I am completely off the effexor, they are getting better and I can manage them with antihistimines. Once they are completely gone I plan to add those foods back into my diet one at a time and dollars-to-doughnuts I bet the hives don't come back.
I have a funny story about the hives, tho. One morning, at their worst, we were all at the breakfast table. I stood up and discreetly pulled down my the back of my pjs to show my husband how bad they were on my butt. He chuckled, "Oh, I bet they liked that." I looked behind me to see the drapes wide open on the picture window! I sighed and said, "Well, I guess they saw the moon...even if it was all pink." A few minutes later I saw my 8 year old daughter looking out the window, very puzzled. She said, "Mommy, I don't see any pink moon out there." We had a great giggle when I explained what "the moon" meant.
God bless you. Hang in there. It WILL all pass.=======================================
> There was an initial positive effect, with some initial intestinal distress, which subsided, and I was pleased. When the positive effect decreased, the initial very low dose was increased, with questionable additional positive effect, but additional gastro-intestinal discomfort including frequent burping, flatulence, and return of previously-controlled reflux disorder.
>
> I also developed dry skin, dry hair and brittle nails, an itchy rash with compulsion to scratch to the point of bleeding. Also extreme sleepiness -- I was falling asleep at my desk at work.
>
> The dosage was decreased, and a very small amount of Wellbutrin added, and symptoms increased again. Headache. Muscle and joint pain. Painful intercourse. Clumsiness. Nose bleeds. Constipation. Dry mouth. Weight gain. Increasing gastrointestinal reflux, often disturbing sleep. Increasing depression, thoughts of death, lack of interest in normal activities, lack of motivation, hopelessness, frustration. Loss of interest in sex.
>
> Over several months we tried different dosages, with symptoms always increasing and becoming worse, with the exception of the rash, which decreased, but did not disappear.
>
> Wellbutrin was discontinued fairly quickly, and I thought it was the cause of my increased symptoms, but symptoms did not decrease without it. In fact, they kept increasing. I was becoming so depressed, I was only a couple of steps above being suicidal.
>
> After a few weeks, Effexor was slowly decreased and then discontinued a few days ago. Sleep has become troubled -- nightmares and odd disturbing dreams -- where previously there had never been any nightmares and dreams were nearly always pleasant and refreshing. My internal clock has been increasingly "off" -- sleepiness has been coming later and later at night, with difficulty getting up in the morning.
>
> I've had increasing dry skin, dry mouth, dry and irritated eyes. Slight shortness of breath, and occasional heart "flutters." Constant thirst and dehydration. Occasional slight disorientation, lack of focus, increasing emotional swings, light-headedness that has become nearly constant, occasional dizziness. All symptoms seem to be remaining constant, or in many cases getting worse, with the exception of lack of interest in sex, which is subsiding.
>
> I had to leave work yesterday, because the light-headedness/dizziness and fevers/chills were making it impossible to work. I also felt exhausted, but when I tried napping, I had strange, vivid, disquieting dreams.
>
> I missed work today, and have been light-headed or dizzy every waking moment so far. Last night again I had very vivid, disturbing dreams. My dreams have always been very vivid, but never until recently have I had nightmares.
>
> Effexor has made me feel much worse than I felt before taking it. Had I known this was even a possibility, I would never have tried the drug, as we were treating a relatively mild (though chronic) dysphoria. That was a lot easier to live with!
Posted by roobie on February 18, 2005, at 22:43:36
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » Vexinvixen, posted by PoohBear on February 17, 2005, at 11:31:33
Ok - I have to ask... what's with the dreams? I had VERY erotic dreams when I started Effexor. When I tried to cut back in December, they subsided, but since then I re-increased my dosage to ward off the returning hostility I had. Now, I have vivid dreams, some of which I cannot figure if it REALLY happened or if they truly were dreams - however, no longer erotic.
What causes this? Is there a particular area in the brain that the med affects?
roobie
Posted by PoohBear on February 19, 2005, at 23:08:11
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » PoohBear, posted by roobie on February 18, 2005, at 22:43:36
> Ok - I have to ask... what's with the dreams? I had VERY erotic dreams when I started Effexor. When I tried to cut back in December, they subsided, but since then I re-increased my dosage to ward off the returning hostility I had. Now, I have vivid dreams, some of which I cannot figure if it REALLY happened or if they truly were dreams - however, no longer erotic.
>
> What causes this? Is there a particular area in the brain that the med affects?
>
> roobieI did't have erotic dreams, just very VIVID dreams, in unusual detail. As you noted, such vivid detail that it WAS difficult to tell what was real and what wasn't. That's what made them so disturbing... They were worse at first and then evened out as my brain got used to the stimulation. I don't have any input on the why, but Effexor works on Serotonin and Neopinephrin.
Tony
Posted by Si Kottic on February 20, 2005, at 17:51:10
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » roobie, posted by PoohBear on February 19, 2005, at 23:08:11
I am new to this post and hope that I am doing this correctly. I have been taking Effexor for at least 4 yrs. and it has changed my life for the worse. I have 2 masters degrees and at this point can't remember peoples names. My job is suffering due to my memmory loss and would like to go off this drug. I tried to do it on my own and I just started screaming at my son and everyone around me. I couldn't get rid of my anger and was saying things I couldn't take back. I thought it better to stay on the drug than to traumatize everyone. My 14 yr old son was in tears all the time. I tried taking adderal so that I could focus and then I just became flat - I couldn't think at all. I feel as if I am drowning with this drug and my life is wasting away. The quality is 0! I don't know where to go for help. I've had all the symptoms that everyoen is talking about, the dreams, muscle pain, headaches. I am only on 37.5 mg. dose. That seems like nothing compared to what I am reading on this thread.
Posted by gadman on February 21, 2005, at 9:19:20
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Si Kottic on February 20, 2005, at 17:51:10
Are you sure the memory loss is the drug and not age/natural causes?
I thought this same thing about myself until I started observing my wife who is not on an antidepressant whatsoever. She is about the same as myself as far as forgetfulness.
Yes we are both educated but I don't think that has anything to do with anything.
I am not saying you shouldn't try to get off of it, but the big question is, are you ready? Why did you start taking it to begin with?
I myself am on 75 mg, 37.5 is not alot.. It is not even a therapeutic dose.
gadman
Posted by Si Kottic on February 21, 2005, at 14:17:41
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » Si Kottic, posted by gadman on February 21, 2005, at 9:19:20
YOu present a good point. I am 55 and am forgetting names, I'm in the car and forget where I have to go etc; That seems pretty severe to me. Are these just senior moments you think??
Posted by gadman on February 21, 2005, at 15:28:46
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Si Kottic on February 21, 2005, at 14:17:41
I don't know... It is tough to say, but I do know I use to be sharp as a tack short-term-memory-wise and now I struggle to remember what movie I watched last night. But when I ask my wife, she don't remember either so I don't feel so bad.
I am sure it probably has something to do with the meds but not all.... My guess it is somewhat of trade-off.
I use to be on the edge of insanity with worry, Now I don't worry so much, and I also don't remember as much????
gadman
Posted by JennaStarrett on February 21, 2005, at 18:59:50
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Si Kottic on February 21, 2005, at 14:17:41
> YOu present a good point. I am 55 and am forgetting names, I'm in the car and forget where I have to go etc; That seems pretty severe to me. Are these just senior moments you think??
Hello,
I just wanted to say that I had terrible forgetfullness while on Effexor. I am usually able to 5 things at once and gradually I began to notice that I would actually forget what I was doing and walk away to do something else. I couldn't remember doing the 1st thing until I went back and saw I had started something. It was driving me crazy. I couldn't even remember if I had taken my medicine or not. I also would drive around and forget where I was going. This is just one of the side effects I had from Effexor (there are many more, and the withdrawal was extremely scary). I am on different meds now and feel much better. I have my memory (and a lot of other things) back. Not sure if this the same as in your case, but It was my experience. Please feel free to pick my brain :) Take care, Jenna
Posted by gadman on February 21, 2005, at 19:05:58
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by JennaStarrett on February 21, 2005, at 18:59:50
What meds are you on now if you don't mind me asking?
Posted by Mary Dionne on February 21, 2005, at 19:09:44
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by JennaStarrett on February 21, 2005, at 18:59:50
> > YOu present a good point. I am 55 and am forgetting names, I'm in the car and forget where I have to go etc; That seems pretty severe to me. Are these just senior moments you think??
>
> Hello,
>
> I just wanted to say that I had terrible forgetfullness while on Effexor. I am usually able to 5 things at once and gradually I began to notice that I would actually forget what I was doing and walk away to do something else. I couldn't remember doing the 1st thing until I went back and saw I had started something. It was driving me crazy. I couldn't even remember if I had taken my medicine or not. I also would drive around and forget where I was going. This is just one of the side effects I had from Effexor (there are many more, and the withdrawal was extremely scary). I am on different meds now and feel much better. I have my memory (and a lot of other things) back. Not sure if this the same as in your case, but It was my experience. Please feel free to pick my brain :) Take care, Jenna
>
>
I went off Effexor XR Friday and was given Prozac for 10 days to ease off. I am sick as a dog. I feel like I have the flu and like I'm going crazy. I'm having brain blips. I'm dizzy. I had HORRIBLE dreams last night. This has got to be the worst. Other than the Prozac and the aspirin I just took, can I do anything else? Dying here In Tennessee
Posted by JennaStarrett on February 21, 2005, at 19:22:29
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » JennaStarrett, posted by gadman on February 21, 2005, at 19:05:58
> What meds are you on now if you don't mind me asking?
I am now on 300mg of Wellbutrin and 30mg of Cymbalta. I am feeling much better since being off Effexor. I think in my case it made me much more depressed than I was before. Maybe the new med combo will stay good for a while :) Jenna
>
Posted by Si Kottic on February 21, 2005, at 19:37:49
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news » JennaStarrett, posted by gadman on February 21, 2005, at 19:05:58
I presently take fiorinal and coedine for headaches and the effexor. Effexor at night and fiorinal and coedine in the morning.
Posted by gadman on February 21, 2005, at 19:42:00
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by JennaStarrett on February 21, 2005, at 19:22:29
I tried cymbalta with no luck. At 30 mg it was doing nothing.. At 40 it started to work but my Blood pressure went thru the roof.
gadman
Posted by gadman on February 21, 2005, at 19:43:44
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by JennaStarrett on February 21, 2005, at 19:22:29
I was actually spacier on Cymbalta than Effexor.
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 21, 2005, at 20:35:47
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by Mary Dionne on February 21, 2005, at 19:09:44
> I went off Effexor XR Friday and was given Prozac for 10 days to ease off...
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding Effexor withdrawal to Psycho-Babble Withdrawal. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050214/msgs/461547.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by MowMowsGirl on June 28, 2006, at 1:56:31
In reply to I just want to be me again, posted by LoJo on August 5, 2001, at 16:00:17
Why couldn't we all have found this listing before going on it. I have taken Effexor XR for 3 years or so now. I was up to 375 mg. I have to say it has worked very well as far as making me not be depressed. But unfortunately I have become more and more fatigued to the point that I can't get myself up to do hardly anything. And when I do sleep, it is so soundly, that others can't even wake me up, and I've missed many important things because of it. I even find myself being too lazy to get up to brush my teeth, or do little chores that need to be done. And on top of that, I tried to get disability, and they don't consider depression to be a good enough cause. Don't they understand how it can screw up someone's life??? This started when I realized I was quiting all my jobs because of my depression. Any little criticism, other employee's trying to out do me or kiss up to the boss, or them hiring new people instead of upgrading the ones who had been there so long already. I'd go home crying my eyes out most days, until I ended up quiting. And on top of that everything in my life was not good except my family. No friends (I chased them all away by being so down all the time), no romantic relationships that lasted any longer than a few weeks to a few months, almost 30 and still no kids (which heavily weighs on women) and just general bad luck in everything. I got to the worst depression I had ever had, where I would have killed myself if I didn't believe it to be worse than living the remaining years. Unfortunately people don't seem to think your depression is as bad unless you are suicidal, which always bothered me. It's much worse to live your life depressed and a wreck every day, than to be able to just end it. (NOT suggesting for people to just end it!!! I believe if you die before you are meant to, then you get stuck in a kind of in between area where you have to work out your problems still before going to the light. So it wouldn't help!!)I'm not sure if my depression was from me naturally getting it, or from a past drug I had taken called Accutane, which was experimental at the time, and was later found to have caused people to kill others and themselves, and cause severe depression. The drug itself was for clearing up extreme acne (one of my many problems), and had many, many side effects, even lasting up to a year after you stopped taking it, but the depression didn't go away for those people. It didn't work the first time I took it, so the doctor tried for one extra year (Lucky Me) and it still didn't work!!! And now I think my depression is in a large part a cause of it. On top of that I had a panic attack that lasted 5 days, and I lost so much weight during that, that I only weighed 85 lbs. So the doctors sent me to a psychiatrist of course. I was put on Effexor XR, and Xanax when I needed it for the panic attacks, and Fiorinal (similar to Vicodin) for when I would get migraines. And now here is the current situation. I decided I wanted to try and go off Effexor XR #1 to see if I still needed it. If we are always on it, how do we know if we are better or not right?? And secondly because I want to try and have a baby, and I'm sure it wouldn't be good in that case. Although I have to wonder if being on Effexor while pregnant or being severely depressed while pregnant is worse. Anyone got that answer?? Anyways, I started lowering the dose by 75 mg, giving it a week, before lowering it again. I didn't tell my psychiatrist yet, because she makes me go too often as it is, and is way to expensive to go to more often. While lowering the doses not much occured as far as side effects. A little dizziness maybe, but nothing like a day of forgetting or anything. Now I have been off it completely for 2 days. Yesterday, the first day, I felt horrible, very hot and sweaty, almost threw up several times, dizzy, diarrhea, fidgety feeling, what I call a shifting sound or feeling in my head (other people have said like a bug zapper or brain shivers, which may be the same thing, but that one is hard to explain), once in a while a sound like liquid moving in the back of my head, or upper neck area (anyone had that?), and almost like I'm having a panic attack at times. Just not good. Today was a little less, but still very much not normal. I am going camping in a few days, and wonder if I will enjoy it as much while feeling like this. But I am dead set on trying my life without it for a while, and a little discouraged to hear that some people still have side effects up to 8 weeks after stopping!! While on it, if I forgot a dose, the Xanax always seemed to help. But I don't want to become dependent on that either. So I will keep you updated on how my withdrawal is going, since it seems to be so helpful to others in the same position. What is the half life of the medicine that everyone is talking about?? What does that mean? And has anyone's doctor given them tests while on it. Mine doesn't, so how do I know it's not effecting my liver, kidneys or something else?? Anyways, I just wanted to share, and would welcome a letter from anyone else in the situation. Thanks!
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 28, 2006, at 22:06:21
In reply to My Effexor XR Story - long but worth it., posted by MowMowsGirl on June 28, 2006, at 1:56:31
> So I will keep you updated on how my withdrawal is going, since it seems to be so helpful to others in the same position...
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding withdrawal to Psycho-Babble Withdrawal. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060627/msgs/662411.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by spittlebits on June 11, 2007, at 17:44:00
In reply to Re: Effexor - how long is the withdrawal period?, posted by sp on January 22, 2005, at 22:45:44
I took Effexor 375mg/day for over a year and got off of it immediately by taking 5-HTP the day after my last day on effexor (500mg/day for the first 2 days, 300mg for 2 days and tapered off 100mg/day). The max. recommended dose --> 900mg/day.
Effexor gave me alcohol cravings that turned my mood ugly--I felt the need to quit everything cold turkey before something terrible happened.
Posted by dancingstar on June 11, 2007, at 17:50:14
In reply to Re: Effexor - how long is the withdrawal period?, posted by spittlebits on June 11, 2007, at 17:44:00
Cold turkey isn't the easiest way to quit (as I learned the hard way). That said, I think it may be easier for some than for others, depending on your body chemistry. How long has it been, and how are you doing now?
Posted by Effexor F/X on June 30, 2008, at 17:06:40
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - Please Help! » ShayNJ, posted by dancingstar on January 10, 2005, at 23:26:36
> " ... and I haven't seen anyone have it worse than I did on this site ... "
That's rather subjective, don't you think?
People who compare, minimise and outright dismiss the suffering of others are so insensitive.
"Walk a mile in my shoes", and all that, you know.
Posted by dancingstar on July 1, 2008, at 9:32:41
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - Please Help! » dancingstar, posted by Effexor F/X on June 30, 2008, at 17:06:40
I can't find where I said this three years ago, but in all sincerity, I don't imagine that it could get much worse without literally killing me. I still have somewhat severe problems directly related to the withdrawal from Effexor all that time ago.
If you're sick, I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by Effexor F/X on July 1, 2008, at 17:24:04
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - Please Help!, posted by dancingstar on July 1, 2008, at 9:32:41
> I can't find where I said this three years ago, but in all sincerity, I don't imagine that it could get much worse without literally killing me. I still have somewhat severe problems directly related to the withdrawal from Effexor all that time ago.
>
> If you're sick, I hope you feel better soon.Here's your original message:
Posted by dancingstar on July 1, 2008, at 18:11:23
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - Please Help! » dancingstar, posted by Effexor F/X on July 1, 2008, at 17:24:04
LOL! How I only wish I had really begun to get better at four months. I guess the symptoms right abour then became less -- can I say hellish without freaking out the powers that be?
It's possible that you misunderstood my meaning. I'd read a lot of posts, many by people that were adamant that their symtopms weren't *that* bad; that it was ever so easy to recover. I was trying to be encouraging and to take into consideration that some people have a somewhat easier time than I did since it was frowned upon on this board that one should suffer so greatly when they stopped taking Effexor.
In the end nothing besides time helped me to recover, and I'm still not as healthy as I was before I began to take Effexor...but I'm a whole lot better than I was back then. Someone recommended prayer. I believe now that they were right.
Good luck to you.
Posted by Effexor F/X on July 1, 2008, at 18:49:11
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - Please Help! » Effexor F/X, posted by dancingstar on July 1, 2008, at 18:11:23
> LOL! How I only wish I had really begun to get better at four months. I guess the symptoms right abour then became less -- can I say hellish without freaking out the powers that be?
>
> It's possible that you misunderstood my meaning. I'd read a lot of posts, many by people that were adamant that their symtopms weren't *that* bad; that it was ever so easy to recover. I was trying to be encouraging and to take into consideration that some people have a somewhat easier time than I did since it was frowned upon on this board that one should suffer so greatly when they stopped taking Effexor.
>
> In the end nothing besides time helped me to recover, and I'm still not as healthy as I was before I began to take Effexor...but I'm a whole lot better than I was back then. Someone recommended prayer. I believe now that they were right.
>
> Good luck to you.
Okay, sorry for the misunderstanding.Especially when it comes to mental health, I'm just accustomed of others playing the 'misery Olympics', wherein they compare, minimise or outright dismiss the suffering of others.
That's why I reacted to your statement, "(I quit 150 cold turkey), and I haven't seen anyone have it worse than I did on this site..." in your original post http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050108/msgs/440444.html the way that I did.
After rereading your posts, I sense that you're a genuinely caring and supportive person.
Posted by dancingstar on July 1, 2008, at 19:32:40
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - Please Help! » dancingstar, posted by Effexor F/X on July 1, 2008, at 18:49:11
Thanks! :-)
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