Posted by clcty on October 10, 2007, at 23:13:08
In reply to After 7 years on Effexor XR, posted by AnneL on September 1, 2007, at 21:09:12
Just quit taking Effexor XR after 10 years. I started taking it after my doc suggested to me that I had postpartum depression. I had an unplanned pregnancy at 19 and life was pretty hard for a while. I'm not sure I had postpartum but I was definitely depressed. Took 37.5 Effexor for the first couple years then eventually started 75 XR and after about six years on that I started 150 mg. The doc and pharmacist said upping my dosage was normal as some people need to do that the longer they take it. I ended up taking it through my pregnancy (75 mg once daily), as my doc said it was better for me and the baby to stay on then go off. I never realized how little everyone knew about this drug 10 years ago and never dreamed I would still be on it.
Up until March of this year, I never considered stopping this medication. In March I never got a period and it is now October and I still have not had one. I'm wanting to have another baby and I'm not even ovulating. The doc says its because of the Effexor. Effexor can supposedly drive your prolactin levels up which causes the absence in menstruation and ovulation.
Also, did I mention that my breasts are now secreting milk.Desperate for another child, I decided to wean myself off of Effexor. I would never have taken it during my second pregnancy had I known the risks associated. I have now tapered from 150 to 75 over about a two month span and should have tapered to 37.5 but got impatient with my current sex drive (which is nil) and is not only due to the Effexor but has worsened with the increased prolactin levels. Now I'm in full scale withdrawal. I haven't taken Effexor in about a week and have no intentions of ever taking it again. I cry about four times a day (minimum), I'm very irritable and have zero patience with my children. I have experienced the nausea, lack of appetite and general melancholy but it's my children and husband that I am the most worried about. How long will this last? So many times I've almost taken another pill but I just can't let myself. I want another child more than anything and if I go back on Effexor how will I resolve the infertility issues I'm having. My job is a disaster as I feel so confused and unable to concentrate and I don't want anyone to know what a mess I'm in. I'm going to go see my new doc tomorrow and hopefully she can give me some advice. They warn about suicide when you take Effexor, how about getting off of it.
poster:clcty
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071009/msgs/788401.html