Posted by SLS on July 25, 2005, at 10:32:29
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl - Week Two, posted by GoldenSlumbers on July 25, 2005, at 9:02:04
Hi.
I wish you continued progress in your separation from Effexor.
I think what you did to discontinue Effexor abruptly and without an adequate taper took resolve and fortitude. It is not easy. However, I would not recommend it for people who have the time to invest in a taper.
I have grown increasingly suspicious that the abrupt discontinuation of Effexor (and other SRIs), and the allowance for a full withdrawal syndrome to develop and continue for more than a week, sets up the system to remain in a perpetual state of withdrawal that can last for weeks and months after taking the last dose of medication. Such a process might be mediated through a process known as the "kindling" effect, a model used to explain epilepsy.
I prefer to use a type of taper that remains flexible and does not allow for withdrawal symptoms to persist for more than an hour when they appear. It involves taking small doses of medication throughout the day, often necessitating the splitting pills into smaller and smaller pieces and using them as needed to stop the withdrawal symptoms whenever they reappear. One uses the medication almost like a PRN, similar to using aspirin whenever a headache appears. Much has been written about this in greater detail on the Withdrawal Board over the last few months.
For the people who have used this flexible-dosing method, withdrawal symptoms remain mild and brief after they take their last dose of medication. I don't think anyone using this type of taper has gone on to experience these mild withdrawal symptoms for more than a few days to a week after total discontinuation. Overall, their separation from Effexor was virtually painless and took as little as 2-3 weeks beginning at dosages as high as 300mg.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:527128
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050712/msgs/533207.html