Posted by TanyaJean on May 2, 2004, at 17:04:52
In reply to Re: relative efficacy of Effexor to the SSRIs » TanyaJean, posted by SLS on May 2, 2004, at 14:51:17
"How much were you taking during that last month before you discontinued it? How much did you take as your very last dose? How would you describe your experience during those several months that you were tapering?"
By the way, the planetarium analogy was excellent. Made total sense.
I had been up to 150 mg but didn't take that for long (I was taking EFFEXOR XR). The last 4 months, I was taking...what was it, 75 mg? After 1 month of taking the 75, I broke the capsule in half and would dump out the "dots" and count them. So basically I was taking 37.5 mg for 1 1/2 to 2 months. Then I would half that. So I took half of 37.5 for about a month and then every day would lessen the dose and lessen the dose. I didn't realize that's what a lot of people were doing, at least from what I've read on here. I came searching for information because I was so sick 1 week after I completely stopped.
When I was down to the 37.5 and then the half of that, I would feel fine during the day and about 5PM, I would start to feel really lousy. That lasted the entire time I was on the low dosages. 5pm rolled around and I was on the couch feeling dizzy and nauseous. The awful sound in my ears was there a lot even when I was still on the EFFEXOR. As if a small helicopter was following me around the house. It was hard to hear. I have 3 daughters and the 9 and 10 year old were wondering what in the world was wrong with me. They still wonder. I have to wonder if it's something to do with the Rheumatoid Arthritis. Before I was diagnosed, and was JUST on EFFEXOR, I had the exact symptoms if I missed a dose (dizzy, nauseous). There were times I didn't have the money for my copay and would miss 3 days. That was the worst.
I've probably written this too many times. My physician thought that because I was chronically in pain, that I was probably depressed, even though I didn't feel that way. I've had depression in my early 20's and my head just didn't have that depressed feeling. He also thought the anti-depressant would help control the pain issue. It never did. On or off it, there is no difference.
Scott, are you a student or psychologist or teacher? I missed it if you've ever said.
poster:TanyaJean
thread:1016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040429/msgs/342541.html