Posted by Too Trusting on August 5, 2006, at 10:55:41
In reply to Re: Just started Effexor XR 7/26/06? » MaggieATL, posted by Little8angels on August 2, 2006, at 22:51:23
I have taken effexor xr for 6 yrs until two days ago. I originally was gradually increased over a 4 month period to 375 mg. I now know this is above the recommended max dose. I was not having panic attacks any longer at that dose. Of course I wasn't having anything but sleep and using the bathroom. I told the M.D. That this was worse than the intermittant anxiety attacks. I was slowly decreased to 75 mg in the A.M. and 75 mg in the P.M. I was ok for about 6 months then the intermittant panic atttacks resumed slowly. The answer was to increase the effexor by 75 mg. I would get sleepy then the dosoage would be dropped. Each time the doseage was dropped I would feel what I now know are withdrawel symptoms. I was prescribed a xanax .5 prn to help control my panic attacks. Not once was the subject of withdrawel symptoms discussed. By the way, I have put on 105 pounds since starting the medication. I slowly reduced the effexor to 75 mg per day and stayed at that doseage for almost 2 yrs. there were periods of 3-4 days where the doseage was increased to 150 mg to help with what my psychiatrist referred to as bad times. I would decrease to 75 mg and try to resume life.
The trouble is the lethargy and bad dreams at higher doses and the virtual ineffectiveness at the lower doses made effexor useless for me. So with the help of my primary care M.D. I began to wean off of the medication. I was at 37.5 for 7 days and then stopped.
What a frightening experience. I have had three ambulance rides and three very frustrating E.R. stays during the 10 days following the "weaning" of the medication. The looks of utter disbelieve and the cruel abatement of my chief complaints by the E.R. staff was frustrating to say the least. Every body seemed completely indifferent to my problems. I finally started looking for answers of my own. The local pharmacist and primary care physician, who are good friends and fishing buddies would recite the manufactured responses posted by the effexor xr pharmaceutical companies. They assurred me that the symptoms were probably not from the reduction of the medication since it should take weeks for it to effect the levels of seritonin.
Wrong!!! I have read threads and posting over the last 12 hours which have enlightened me. I am not the only one who feels the "shocks" or "Zaps" in the head and extremities. The dizziness, nausea, feelings of being disconnected, inapropriate crying and periods of anger. These are the very symptoms they refferred to as panic attack related while going through dose changes. They can occur and did occur within 12 hrs of a missed or lowered dose.
I am now at 50 hrs effexor free and I am miserable. Low intermitant doses of nirivam
(xanax administered sub-lingually) and liquid children's Benedril help some with these withdrawel symptoms. The knowledge that I am not alone helps more than anything else. I have never read or participated in online discussions before. I am embarassed to say, I used to think it was the reserved for whiners and psycotics who could not face the real world. Boy was I wrong. It is amazing how humbling experiences like this can be, and how actually reading the posts and listening to what others have to say can be comforting.It is imperative that anyone considering taken this medication inform themseleves. The majority of the M.D. population hasn't the foggiest clue what a nightmare this drug is.
I am posting this to add my voice to others who may be in a similar situation. To appologize for my previous impression of those who participate in these types of threads. Finally, to Thank God for allowing me to find so much comfort in the words and similar experiences of others.
You are not alone. Inform yourself. I hate this terrifying and bumpy road I am on right now.
poster:Too Trusting
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060802/msgs/673968.html