Posted by Howiecook on July 25, 2001, at 0:13:47
In reply to Re: 7 WEEKS--EFFEXOR FREE » Leo, posted by Pattyk on April 5, 2001, at 18:29:55
I went to the emergency room a few weeks ago when I had stopped taking effexor for 2 days. I had driven my 2 children and a friend to kung fu lessons several miles from home when what I now know were "brain shivers" started. I went to the emergency room thinking that I was having a stroke or a nervous breakdown. I can't thank the people who have shared similar effects enough. After reading what has been posted on the internet, I realized that I was not alone in what I was feeling, which alleviated a lot of the horrible anxiety that the withdrawal symptoms gave me. A nurse posted a way to gradually reduce the amount taken, which is what I am doing now. This has been a lifesaver. At the emergency room they told me to stop taking both the effexor and the wellbutrin that I had switched to. I can't imagine how awful that would have been. I'm down to 17.5 mg/day now and "only" having dizziness, numbness and shock feelings a couple of times a day. I could have seriously injured my children and their friend driving around in that condition. It seems inexcusible that doctors don't warn their patients that such symptoms are possible or even probable.
Thank you again to everyone who wrote about their similar experiences. It kept me from feeling that I was going "over the edge" or dying. Knowing that these horrible symptoms are "normal" under the circumstances made all of the difference
poster:Howiecook
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71728.html