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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SteelyDan on April 12, 2008, at 13:25:07
I was on 300 mgs. of effexor for a year, my pdoc recently took me off of it (because it wasn't helping me) first reduced to 150 mgs. for a week, 75 mgs. a week, and finally 37.5 mgs. for a week, and i have been completely off of it for about a week...i had no withdrawal symptoms throughout this whole process. I'm not bringing this up to brag, i just want to point out that everyone is different, just because some people have a horrible time getting off of effexor (or any drug) doesn't mean you will have the same problem(s).
-Dan
Posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2008, at 14:28:11
In reply to Went off Effexor without any problems!, posted by SteelyDan on April 12, 2008, at 13:25:07
Dan very true and a message that so many need to hear as I've never had withdrawal from meds too. Congrats on coming off. Love Phillipa
Posted by SteelyDan on April 12, 2008, at 14:59:55
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » SteelyDan, posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2008, at 14:28:11
> Dan very true and a message that so many need to hear as I've never had withdrawal from meds too. Congrats on coming off. Love Phillipa
Thank you Phillipa. I think the key is a slow taper, and for some they may have to go slower than others.
-Dan
Posted by Bob on April 12, 2008, at 15:03:49
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » Phillipa, posted by SteelyDan on April 12, 2008, at 14:59:55
I've had withdrawl on most psychiatric drugs I've taken, and a severe discontinuation on Effexor despite a taper that took months and involved wisps of powder at the end. So like you said, everyone's different.
I suspect I am in unique minority as far as resistance to drugs and anyone who has no withdrawl from psych meds is truly blessed in that respect.
Posted by SteelyDan on April 12, 2008, at 15:10:09
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems!, posted by Bob on April 12, 2008, at 15:03:49
> I've had withdrawl on most psychiatric drugs I've taken, and a severe discontinuation on Effexor despite a taper that took months and involved wisps of powder at the end. So like you said, everyone's different.
>
> I suspect I am in unique minority as far as resistance to drugs and anyone who has no withdrawl from psych meds is truly blessed in that respect.
>
>
Yup, a perfect example of how it can go either way.-Dan
Posted by kaleidoscope on April 12, 2008, at 15:45:50
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » Bob, posted by SteelyDan on April 12, 2008, at 15:10:09
I had some problems on stopping Effexor but I did go from 150mg one day to 0mg the next - when I ran out. It wasn't too bad but I did feel dizzy for a couple of weeks, similar to stopping paroxetine. It felt like the ground was moving. Nothing drastic for me. Had some random rushes of emotion eg. when watching something sad on the tele.
Posted by cactus on April 12, 2008, at 17:34:28
In reply to Went off Effexor without any problems!, posted by SteelyDan on April 12, 2008, at 13:25:07
it's funny how that happens, I was on 150mg and tapered very slowly, but I went through living hell for weeks after my last dose. I went from 150mg to 75mg for a month and then another 6 weeks of breaking open 75mg capsules for the next 6 weeks taking out extra pellets everyday until there was none left. Then BAM!!!!!!!
BUT....
My sister was on 225mg and came off it very quickly, in hospital under supervision because we have had similar reactions to stopping ssri's/snri's, I think it was about 8 days and she was totally fine. She was only given very small amounts of valium 5mg to 10mg a day, when she needed it, and was given Imovane for sleep at night as needed.
I think it's a perfect example of how different people react to different medications.
Luvox on the other hand got both of us, her more so than me, hence her hospitalization to come off efexor.
It's good of you Steely Dan to put that out there.
Posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2008, at 19:39:00
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » Phillipa, posted by SteelyDan on April 12, 2008, at 14:59:55
Dan still e-mail with a few x posters from here now effexor free and didn't have a problem coming off either tappered same with next door neighbor who just completed and swears never an ad again. Seriously said since off it requires much less xanax and great energy. Love Phillipa
Posted by clipper40 on April 18, 2008, at 2:53:52
In reply to Went off Effexor without any problems!, posted by SteelyDan on April 12, 2008, at 13:25:07
That's amazing! Did you add in any other serotonergic medications while you were going off of the Effexor? From my own history and those I've read about on this board, the people who didn't have any withdrawal problems were adding in something else to fill that serotonin void.
Posted by medfelyne on April 19, 2008, at 10:41:17
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » SteelyDan, posted by clipper40 on April 18, 2008, at 2:53:52
I have recently been prescribed Pristiq (the supposed "cleaner" version of Effexor/patent extender). I am terrified of the possible "discontinuation syndrome" that I have read about on various sites for Effexor & I keep deciding I am going to get out before I am on it long enough that it is a problem. It's been a week & I didn't take it last night, but then I started thinking maybe I am just being paranoid & should give it a chance since I have limited success on just about everything else (mostly the SSRI's). I just don't want to go through the type of misery I did coming off of Geodon. I can't find much anecdotal accounts about Pristiq because it just was approved.
Any thoughts or resources that anyone can give me for more information?
Thanks in advance!
> That's amazing! Did you add in any other serotonergic medications while you were going off of the Effexor? From my own history and those I've read about on this board, the people who didn't have any withdrawal problems were adding in something else to fill that serotonin void.
Posted by undopaminergic on April 22, 2008, at 14:24:26
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » SteelyDan, posted by clipper40 on April 18, 2008, at 2:53:52
> That's amazing! Did you add in any other serotonergic medications while you were going off of the Effexor? From my own history and those I've read about on this board, the people who didn't have any withdrawal problems were adding in something else to fill that serotonin void.
>I quit several serotonergic medications - e.g. sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil/Seroxat) - always without any withdrawal effects other than the relief of hyperserotonergic symptoms.
Posted by clipper40 on April 24, 2008, at 4:41:27
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems!, posted by undopaminergic on April 22, 2008, at 14:24:26
Wow, you are soooooo lucky!
Posted by undopaminergic on April 25, 2008, at 2:13:47
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » undopaminergic, posted by clipper40 on April 24, 2008, at 4:41:27
The drug could have worked... and the ones that did work could have worked for longer than a few days or weeks... but they didn't... so I'm not *that* lucky.
Posted by SteelyDan on April 25, 2008, at 10:50:59
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » SteelyDan, posted by clipper40 on April 18, 2008, at 2:53:52
> That's amazing! Did you add in any other serotonergic medications while you were going off of the Effexor? From my own history and those I've read about on this board, the people who didn't have any withdrawal problems were adding in something else to fill that serotonin void.
I am on 40mgs. of Prozac which i am sure helped.
Posted by clipper40 on April 25, 2008, at 21:50:27
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems!, posted by undopaminergic on April 25, 2008, at 2:13:47
Very true! Better to have it work for a long time and then have withdrawal effects.
Posted by clipper40 on April 25, 2008, at 21:50:59
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » clipper40, posted by SteelyDan on April 25, 2008, at 10:50:59
Absolutely!
Posted by Questionmark on April 27, 2008, at 0:40:35
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems! » clipper40, posted by SteelyDan on April 25, 2008, at 10:50:59
... [if the drug is taken long enough, at a high enough dose-- and it does not have to be that high or for that long, in my opinion-- at least for drugs that enhance serotonin transmission.]
People, listen to me. That is not a true discontinuation. (This is not in any way to be critical of you 'SteelyDan', i just want everyone including you to be aware of what i think is the truth.) After reading the first post, i was already planning on commenting something about how i'm sorry but if he/you're not feeling any withdrawal reaction yet he/you probably will eventually in the near future. In my experience it takes at least a few weeks or so for the brain to re-adjust to a lowering of a serotonergic drug's dose. And in my opinion even if you taper slowly, though it's probably better for you and easier on your brain & body, it's merely delaying the worst of the withdrawal. But then when i read that he/you're still on 40mg Prozac too, it makes comPLETE sense why you didn't suffer any withdrawal. 40mg Prozac is a moderate but significant amount, and i wouldn't be at all surprised if it could prevent a withdrawal reaction (at least anything of significance) from Effexor or any other SRI, as i would be willing to bet it did in this case. I'm sorry to be negative. But no, this does not count. People, don't be fooled (esp since most PSYCHIATRISTS don't even seem to realize or want to realize how true this is!!), if you are on a moderate or higher (often even low) dose of a serotonin enhancing drug for an extended period of time (a few months even?), chances are quite good that you will have to suffer through an unpleasant (to horrendous) withdrawal reaction at some point if you discontinue. Just my opinion. I'm sorry but i really think it's true. And everyone--- EVERYONE!!!!!-- should be made absolutely FREAKING aware of this before every Dr. Tom Dick & Harry give them a prescription for one of these drugs. That's not to say they're not worth it for many people. I am one who cannot be without one (namely, Nardil especially). But they are serious drugs that, in my opinion, can truly produce neurochemical, neurophysiological dependence.
...
P.S. Please Steely don't take any offense to this post. A number of others were saying similar things as you, and it's completely reasonable to think that that was a legitimate more-or-less full-fledged Effexor discontinuation. I just really don't think it was. But my frustration has to do with the issue of dependence and countless people being given drugs without being told of their dependence potential-- not anything you said or did. Sorry thats probably obvious & youre probably aware already i just wanted to make sure i didnt offend.> > That's amazing! Did you add in any other serotonergic medications while you were going off of the Effexor? From my own history and those I've read about on this board, the people who didn't have any withdrawal problems were adding in something else to fill that serotonin void.
>
> I am on 40mgs. of Prozac which i am sure helped.
Posted by SteelyDan on April 27, 2008, at 10:34:01
In reply to Discontinuation almost always will occur, posted by Questionmark on April 27, 2008, at 0:40:35
> ... [if the drug is taken long enough, at a high enough dose-- and it does not have to be that high or for that long, in my opinion-- at least for drugs that enhance serotonin transmission.]
> People, listen to me. That is not a true discontinuation. (This is not in any way to be critical of you 'SteelyDan', i just want everyone including you to be aware of what i think is the truth.) After reading the first post, i was already planning on commenting something about how i'm sorry but if he/you're not feeling any withdrawal reaction yet he/you probably will eventually in the near future. In my experience it takes at least a few weeks or so for the brain to re-adjust to a lowering of a serotonergic drug's dose. And in my opinion even if you taper slowly, though it's probably better for you and easier on your brain & body, it's merely delaying the worst of the withdrawal. But then when i read that he/you're still on 40mg Prozac too, it makes comPLETE sense why you didn't suffer any withdrawal. 40mg Prozac is a moderate but significant amount, and i wouldn't be at all surprised if it could prevent a withdrawal reaction (at least anything of significance) from Effexor or any other SRI, as i would be willing to bet it did in this case. I'm sorry to be negative. But no, this does not count. People, don't be fooled (esp since most PSYCHIATRISTS don't even seem to realize or want to realize how true this is!!), if you are on a moderate or higher (often even low) dose of a serotonin enhancing drug for an extended period of time (a few months even?), chances are quite good that you will have to suffer through an unpleasant (to horrendous) withdrawal reaction at some point if you discontinue. Just my opinion. I'm sorry but i really think it's true. And everyone--- EVERYONE!!!!!-- should be made absolutely FREAKING aware of this before every Dr. Tom Dick & Harry give them a prescription for one of these drugs. That's not to say they're not worth it for many people. I am one who cannot be without one (namely, Nardil especially). But they are serious drugs that, in my opinion, can truly produce neurochemical, neurophysiological dependence.
> ...
> P.S. Please Steely don't take any offense to this post. A number of others were saying similar things as you, and it's completely reasonable to think that that was a legitimate more-or-less full-fledged Effexor discontinuation. I just really don't think it was. But my frustration has to do with the issue of dependence and countless people being given drugs without being told of their dependence potential-- not anything you said or did. Sorry thats probably obvious & youre probably aware already i just wanted to make sure i didnt offend.
>
> > > That's amazing! Did you add in any other serotonergic medications while you were going off of the Effexor? From my own history and those I've read about on this board, the people who didn't have any withdrawal problems were adding in something else to fill that serotonin void.
> >
> > I am on 40mgs. of Prozac which i am sure helped.I am not offended, however i will point out that everybody is different..everybodys body chemistry is different! Not EVERYBODY will experience discontinuation syndrome. I've been off Effexor for 3 weeks now and i feel great..no withdrawel throughout this whole time..and i was on 300 mgs. for a long time.
So the key word in your post is ALMOST. I agree MOST people will have some withdrawal symptoms to most ssri's, but not ALL people.
This is what frustrates me is that most people here say, "this drug is horrible/that drug gave me severe headaches," so other people read this and it scares them. My point is that EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT!!! Every drug affects every person differently!!
-Dan
Posted by elanor roosevelt on April 27, 2008, at 14:22:48
In reply to Re: Went off Effexor without any problems!, posted by undopaminergic on April 22, 2008, at 14:24:26
I took Effexor for a long time and decided (on my own) to go off
my doctor was furious when i told him
but his reaction was the only difficulty i encounteredi had no withdrawal symptoms
This is the end of the thread.
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