Posted by bheansidhe on August 16, 2003, at 12:03:51
In reply to EFEXOR Withdrawl I feel like I'm dying, posted by MsVik on August 15, 2003, at 18:25:56
> I have been trying to get off this "wonderful" drug for over 3 months...the Dr's treat me like I'm nuts because of my complaints. I have never had such dizziness in my head--like electrical shocks which Ive read others have had. I am also so stiff I cant hardly stand it...my legs below the knee and my hands swell and I have a upset stomach a lot of the time. If I have a pretty good day and go to the gym (I am only walking 20-30 min) my legs burn I ache so bad that night. Has anyone had the swelling and or the awful aches...I am down to 25 mg..and can even break it in half some days but if I don't take it the side effects get so awful I break down and take a tablet. Thanks for any input you might have
First, you need to taper off SLOWLY. I can't emphasize that enough. Many doctors still aren't aware of the degree to which they should take care when weaning their patients.I took 75 mg/day of Effexor for three years, and got off this April. I took one solid month to wean down. I went to 32.5 mg pills taken every sixteen hours for one week, to 32.5 mg taken every 24 hours for two weeks, to one 32.5 mg pill taken every other day for two weeks. For the first two days of lowering the dose I was unable to drive because of the dizzies; the same thing happened when I went to every other day, but not as badly.
Now, after weaning off I went to Strattera. It may have helped to end the withdrawals, but I would still feel the odd nerve tingle for the first month of Strattera. Nothing incapacitating, just annoying.
Let's see if I can find some research you can print and bring to yoru doctor.. and tell him that MANY people have AWFUL trouble weaning off the damn drug. Maybe he can give you something to tempoarily help you sleep; Xanax helped me (duly prescribed by my doctor, but non-refillable).
Your doctor needs to be familiar with SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome.
http://www.pandamedicine.com/rt_health/123.html"Less common difficulties: shock-like sensations, Parasthesia (skin crawling, burning or prickling)... from
http://bipolar.about.com/library/weekly/aa-ssridiscon02.htm
poster:bheansidhe
thread:251167
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030812/msgs/251310.html