Posted by Reneeb on February 24, 2002, at 21:07:14
In reply to just another coming-off-fxr story, posted by m3 on February 23, 2002, at 13:57:38
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> Just posting my story for the benefit of other people who are going through/contemplating going through withdrawing from Effexor.
>
> I was at 300mg/day, like marlene, for about a year and a half. It had taken me about six months to hit that dosage after starting at 75mg. When I first started I didn't really have any side effects and it seemed to help a lot. Moving up to 150mg also produced a noticeable improvement in mood, but the next couple of dose increases didn't do much, and I eventually felt the Effexor wasn't doing anything at all, so I decided to come off. My pdoc suggested Serzone as a replacement.
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> That was about ten days ago. My pdoc gave me a schedule for ramping down the Effexor (-37.5mg every other day, then stop) and for starting the Serzone (the standard starter pack). I was to start tapering the Effexor and start taking the Serzone at the same time (right away).
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> I found I got the zaps at each decrease of Effexor, but they weren't too bad, nothing compared to the times when I'd run out of pills and missed multiple doses (1-4 doses at a time).
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> It was only when I stopped taking any Effexor at all that I got the full-blown withdrawal syndrome: zaps, vertigo, can't get warm but sometimes sweaty, uncontrollable shivering, uncontrollable crying, tinnitus. I also feel a rampant dread and don't trust myself to find my way back home if I go out (though I did today without any problem; don't worry, I was walking, not driving). I notice lots of people have had insomnia; I've had some in the evening but the Serzone generally knocks me out before it's too much of a problem. In fact, the Serzone is causing pretty serious hypersomnolence (like 11-14 hours of sleep several days in a row), but that discussion belongs elsewhere.
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> This is really no fun, but I'm trying to stick it out, partly due to reading posts here. (Thank you, brave souls who went before and lived to post about it.) I do have some 37.5 mg capsules left and I might eventually give in and take one, but I feel like I'd just be extending the agony.
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> I guess I have a question for those who have gone before, if they're still reading: *would* it actually be better to take a 37.5mg capsule every couple of days for a while?
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> Anyway, that's my story. I'll post a follow up when I feel better or in a few days, whichever comes first.
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> m3m3, I have weaned myself from 150mg to 75mg to 37.5mg. Starting tonight I am going every other day. I have had no problems so far. I am praying that it works out okay. My opinion is you have already began the journey if you can stick it out.
Good Luck,
Renee
poster:Reneeb
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020222/msgs/95361.html