Posted by SLS on March 28, 2005, at 7:21:03
In reply to Re: About the Effexor XR Withdrawal » miracles, posted by MommyFruitcake on March 27, 2005, at 17:49:58
Hi.
> I have been taking effexor for a couple of years, and it has been the most successful drug to combat depression for me. I was suffering from post-partum depression, and my daughter is about to turn five. I went on a 4 day camping trip this weekend, and forgot my meds. I am experiencing withdrawls, very similar to the effects I felt when I first started taking this drug. I have been contemplating going off of the drug and seeing how it goes. I was thinking that since I haven't had a dose since wed night, this may be a good time to try it. My question is, does anyone know how long the withdrawl effect should last? If it's only a week, then I'm half way there, but it'd it is more like a month, i'm not sure if it's worth it. Anyone have advice?
Since "Miracles" is temporarily indisposed, I would like to make a few comments.
I believe that it is essential that you not discontinue Effexor abruptly ("cold turkey") unless you want to suffer unnecesarily. Withdrawal symptoms almost invariably begin 3 days after discontinuation or an abrupt reduction of dosage. It is also advisable that you not taper so fast that you must suffer withdrawal symptoms chronically along the way. In other words, I think you will be better off to restart the drug and decide whether you would like to discontinue it or not. If you would like to discontinue it, you should do so in such a way as minimizes your discomfort and prevents the persistence of withdrawal syndrome once you do discontinue it. You will find some "tricks" here on the Withdrawal page. You might want to give them a try. I have had great success using a flexible-dosing strategy that I have described in my posts here. In the meantime, it might be most prudent to restart Effexor and talk to your doctor about the desirability of discontinuing it.
There are some people who manage quite well discontinuing Effexor abruptly. You might be one of these people. I am not yet aware of a way to predict what will be one's experience with its abrupt discontinuation. I guess you can give it another a week just to see. I don't want to straddle the issue, but, rather, make you aware that everyone is different in the way they react to the addition and subtraction of medication.
I am not a doctor, by the way. Neither are most of the other people here. Please take this into account when considering any advice or suggestions being given by me or anyone else.
Good luck.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:469497
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050323/msgs/476650.html