Posted by effexorsux on April 30, 2006, at 18:29:38 [reposted on May 1, 2006, at 17:42:20 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES!, posted by LisaH817 on April 30, 2006, at 8:06:25
I was on 300 mg of Effexor XR for two and a half years. When my doc told me I would need to be on it the rest of my life, I got upset and decided to wean myself off of it, since I didn't feel it was doing anything for me. I weaned myself off over a 3 1/2 month period before finally going cold turkey. That was June of 2005. Within 24 hours of going off Effexor completely, I experienced severe "brain freezes", chills, inability to complete a coherent sentence, and fell into a zombie-like state. I also experienced severe gastrointestinal problems and had GERD for the first time in my life (literally overnight!). I was diagnosed with acute gastritis. Once that was healed, I still experienced severe GI problems. Over a period of five months I had an upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, barium pass-through, two CT scans, several EKG's, and spent two days in the hospital for a heart assessment. I came out 100% clean from all of these tests. I was diagnosed with esophageal spasms. After having visited a Pshychopharmocologist on the recommendation of my GI doctor, I was told that what I had been experiencing (with 95% certainty) was severe withdrawal from the Effexor. I was told that the normal time to wean oneself off of Effexor is generally six months. Since I had only weaned myself for a period of 3 1/2 months, my nervous system was basically "out of whack" and causing my esophageal spasms and corresponding colon spasms. I was put on a small dosage of Paxil to get my nervous system back in order and to overcome the withdrawal symptoms of Effexor. It has been four months, and I can finally say that the symptoms are FINALLY subsiding. I have been told that I would still have the symptoms for up to another three months, and then need to stay on Paxil for up to another year of maintenance. Had I known any of this, I would never have started this horrifc medication. I don't look forward to having to wean myself off Paxil in a year, but will surely follow the strict advice of my Psychopharmocologist. Thank God I had found someone who was upfront about the serious side-effects of Effexor XR, even though he was careful to not say that this was 100% of my problem (Don't want to get the pharmaceutical industry in an uproar). I hope I can help a few sufferers who are trying to get off of this drug from hell.
poster:effexorsux
thread:457503
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060412/msgs/638890.html