Posted by Jen2 on January 15, 2007, at 21:57:40
In reply to Effexor XR withdrawal s/e's, posted by Amanda_S on November 25, 2006, at 0:21:51
Hi,
After 2 years on 75mg I successfully got off Effexor -- with the good advice from this list.
After going to 37.5 for a couple months (and having my pdoc tell me that since the pharma didn't make a smaller dose there wasn't anything she could do about that) I took the last two weeks of 37.5, opened them up, and divided up the little balls inside. I took 75% for 10 days, 50% for 8 days, and 25% for 10 days. There are about 80 or so little balls inside each 37.5mg capsule, and while it was a bit tedious dividing them each night, it was completely worth it. Two days after taking the last capsule of 25%, I started having very mild brain flashing and some memory problems -- but it was nothing compared to what I experienced when I forgot to take a pill occasionally. I still have some brain flashes and, oddly enough, tongue flashes, but I'm feeling clearer than I have in years and am very happy to be off the drugs.
So thanks to all of you -- and thanks to Dr. Bob for this list -- as the advice I received from this list was unimaginably valuable. Cheers!
> I am wondering if any of you have withdrawn cold turkey? If so, how long until the leg jerks, brain zaps & short-term memory loss (where I know what I want to say or write but can't get it out) stop? I took it for 7 months at 75mg day. But for the last month only every other day. Now its day 5 of being off the med totally. (I am on Wellbutrin now d/t weight gain and NO libido on Effexor, plus no lessening of depression). Please offer any advise. The side effects are not debilitating, just annoying and I'd love to know there's a light at the end of all this! Thanks and God Bless!!
poster:Jen2
thread:457503
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20061224/msgs/722735.html