Posted by SLS on March 25, 2005, at 7:02:47
In reply to Re: About the Effexor XR Withdrawal » tkmphd, posted by winddancer on March 24, 2005, at 11:40:02
Hi WindDancer.
How many days have you been tapering at this point?> Things are going pretty well. I just saw my dr and got the script for 25mg tabs.
Don't forget to fill it. :-)
> I've had a little bit of anxiety when I've left home and then got back later than I wanted to take the next dose.
when you leave home?> But I've managed it pretty well with deep breathing and conscious relaxation tape.
If the anxiety is being produced as a withdrawal symptom, it might not be necessary for you to experience it at all. The same could be said about the paresthesia if it too is a withdrawal symptom. Paresthesia is one of the more common ones.
> What's an example of an anti-convulsant?
Tegretol
Trileptal
Depakote
NeurontinThese are the ones that interest me so far.
> I have taken benedryl a few times - especially at night but I still don't get a solid nights sleep.Be sure to get the preparation of Benadryl that does not contain the decongestant.
> How does the benedryl work to alleviate symptoms? I don't quite understand that.
I don't either. I'm not sure whether to attribute its effectiveness to histamine receptor blockade or its strong anticholinergic effects.
I'm still confused as to extent to which you have been flexible with your dosing. I'm not sure how to interpret your statement at the top of this post. It sounds like you grasped the idea well enough, but just in case...
You should be able to take small amounts of Effexor as soon as you begin to feel withdrawal, but NOT before. This is why it is important to become familiar with how the withdrawal effects manifest for you as an individual. For now, don't worry too much about your total intake of Effexor for the day. The amount taken should become less and less naturally. Use Effexor sort of like aspirin. When the headache returns, take enough for it to go away. If you can estimate, try to take enough to last 6-8 hours but NOT longer. Carry Effexor with you wherever you go.
Effexor is your friend. Don't be afraid to continue to use it in a way that minimizes your suffering. It is a tool for you to work with. It might not be necessary for you to "go through withdrawal" the way most of the other people here do.
What are the signs and symptoms that alert you to when you are beginning to experience withdrawal effects? Does the paresthesia come and go with the other symptoms?
Do you have any questions? I am not sure I am expressing myself well enough.
I'm really rooting for you.
:-)
I would love to see the flexible dosing work for you. No guarantees, of course. If it becomes evident that you are getting nowhere, you can then go to a more rigid taper schedule and try to manage the withdrawal symptoms as they occur. Benadryl is one method. Others have claimed Claritin, another over-the-counter antihistamine, works as well. You can always cross-over to Prozac and allow its long half-life act as a gradual taper. I would point out that the flexible dosing of Effexor very much approximates the Prozac strategy.
You are a bit of a guinea pig at the moment. :-)
One step at a time.
* For anyone else reading this, flexible dosing is probably best used towards the end of the taper period when you get down to dosages of 75mg and less. It is still smart to take doses of Effexor more than once every day. 25mg x 3 times is better than 75mg x 1. Do not skip days. The extremely short half-life or Effexor or Effexor XR makes this practice imprudent for people vulnerable to withdrawal syndrome.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:469497
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050323/msgs/475314.html