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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by RWF on July 23, 2003, at 17:13:08
Hello everyone! I feel that I must share my story with you because I am a little skeptical about how well I will be doing in the next couple of weeks due to my withdrawal of that famuos emotional crippling drug...Effexor XR.
My name is Robert, I am 25 years old and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in November of 2001. I was scared because I was crying all the time and I was scared that I was going to kill myself, even though I didn't want to die. Weird, huh???
For a year I just saw a therapist and refused to take any antidepressant drugs because I was scared of the effect they might have on me. My doctor had given me Ativan 1 mg as needed and I used it every now and then for my anxious feelings. Thank God for that drug.
In November of 2002, I broke down and tried Effexor XR at my doctor's request. He only started me on 37.5 mg a day and I was to take it only at night. Well for some reason it kept me up all night and I decided to take it every morning.
It never worked. Unless of course you count the "Numb" feelings. It's almost as if I can't feel love or hate anymore. I am just gliding by life without emotions.
It scares me because somedays I can feel love, and on other days I find myself searching for the love I once felt for my wife and my child.
I know I love my family with all of my heart, but the Effexor XR has taken my feelings away.
I decided to attempt to go off of it about three months ago and suffered severe withdrawal syndrome. I had the "Zaps" feeling in my head, and my anger and anxiety was through the roof! I lasted 4 days and then I had to go on it again.
Now I have suicidal thoughts every day and instead of becoming scary...they begin to feel comforting in a way. I never would have the strength to follow through with it, of course,...I hope anyway.
I just don't know what to do anymore. Please tell me that others have felt this way too.
I never was mental before...will I ever be the same again or will this drug have scarred my brain forever?
I never was on anything higher than the 37.5 milligrams a day, and my doctor says that I can take 1 pill every other day for a week, and then 1 pill every other two days for a week, and so on...
My question is, "Has anyone ever withdrawn from this drug before this way?"
I hope that there aren't a whole lot of horror stories out there. I really need to get off of this drug!
I need to Love my family again before I lose them forever.
I thank all of you who have taken the time to read this, and your help is greatly appreciated.
Once I start the withdrawal...I will post daily on the effects.
If you need to contact me via e-mail... you can do so at Fulp96@yahoo.com
Posted by crazychickuk on July 23, 2003, at 17:24:01
In reply to Finally going off of Effexor XR!, posted by RWF on July 23, 2003, at 17:13:08
just emailed u....
Posted by RWF on July 23, 2003, at 17:28:06
In reply to Re: Finally going off of Effexor XR!, posted by crazychickuk on July 23, 2003, at 17:24:01
I emailed you back.
Posted by Nissy on July 23, 2003, at 17:52:37
In reply to Finally going off of Effexor XR!, posted by RWF on July 23, 2003, at 17:13:08
Hello,
I too am on Effexor XR but a much higher dose and I have no feelings anymore. Sometimes I want to cry and I can't. I can so relate to the missing love feelings. I have a family too and sometimes I am like when did I stop loving my husband? And he is a super guy and great dad and I can't figure out why I have no more love feelings for him. So I really think it is the effexor. Good luck to you on your withdrawl.
Nissy
Posted by RWF on July 23, 2003, at 19:54:22
In reply to Re: Finally going off of Effexor XR!, posted by Nissy on July 23, 2003, at 17:52:37
Thank God I am not the only one! You have given me so much hope for my marriage.
I really thought that I was going to go crazy.
Good luck to you and I hope everything works out for you.
If you ever need anything... Fulp96@yahoo.com
Take care,
Rob
Posted by Essence on July 26, 2003, at 6:34:17
In reply to Finally going off of Effexor XR!, posted by RWF on July 23, 2003, at 17:13:08
My experience with Effexor is similar to yours, I was so emotionally blunted that I didn't even know it. Nothing bothered me, not losing my job, not walking out on a 22 yr marriage, not my son's horrific car wreck and not my mother's breast cancer. I felt absolutely nothing for years on this medication and made a host of wrong decisions because of it.
I'm not trying to scare you, but Effexor withdrawal is horrendous but it's something you are going to have to go through, as many of us have, to gain your life back. It can be done, I withdrew in 9 days. It was a fast decrease but to me, a slow decrease just delays the inevitable. I would not touch this drug again if my life depended on it. I had about a week of severe symptoms before things turned around again and then it just got better and better and it was so good to feel again. My husband and I just celebrated our 25th anniversary and our first grandchild was born in May, life is good again and it will be for you too. Just hang in there and keep coming here for support, many people here have gone through Effexor withdrawal and we're all still here to tell about it. *smile* You can do this!!! Best Wishes.
Ess
Posted by RWF on July 26, 2003, at 8:19:11
In reply to Re: Finally going off of Effexor XR! » RWF, posted by Essence on July 26, 2003, at 6:34:17
It's people like you that give me hope! Thank you so much.
Please e-mail me with your withdrawal method. Thank you so much.
Rob
Posted by fayeroe on July 27, 2003, at 21:55:49
In reply to Finally going off of Effexor XR!, posted by RWF on July 23, 2003, at 17:13:08
I successfully took myself off EffexorXR...but I cut down much slower than you are doing. I had the zaps and all that goes with it. EffexorXR almost killed me. I'm now on 20 mg Prozac, generic, and am back to my old self. So there is hope. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. But don't go off of it too quickly. Do what feels best in YOUR body and head.
This is the end of the thread.
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