![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 3 to 27 of 101. Go back in thread:
Posted by Paul Mokeski on April 27, 2002, at 14:15:42
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Phil on April 27, 2002, at 7:28:08
Thanks for the reply. The answer is that Effexor was the end of the line for me. I had tried every other antidepressant, both SSRI and tricyclic. The only drugs I found to be effective were Prozac and Wellbutrin, and I had the same reaction to them as you did to Effexor - an awful rash, head to toe. Effexor evened out my moods, but left me exhausted. Anyway, I was really hoping to hear from anyone that had been off of Effexor long term without switching to a different medication. I have gone off other medications without having any after effects. I wish I'd have tapered off, but I figured I'd be ok since I was only taking 75 mg. Boy was I wrong. Is there any evidence to indicate that quitting cold turkey can have lasting effects over a year later?> Did you switch to another drug. I wonder why you didn't taper off Effexor. Prozac has a very long half-life. I wonder if you might benefit from a small script for Prozac.
> My psychopharmacologist at the time went thru a lot of combos w/ me. I had been on Paxil for years but he would just roll from one drug to the other, no withdrawal. I was allergic to Effexor; pruritus; I itched very badly from 8-10 every night (really). When I told him, he said we've got to stop it now, the itch won't go away. He just went right into something else, no prob.
> I really recommend psychopharm's over family MD's.
> To give you an example, a woman I work with was on 100 mg Prozac with 20 mg Celexa, not good.
> I printed some things from babble for her and she stopped the Celexa that night. Gotta be careful.
>
> Sorry this is so long,
> Phil
Posted by Phil on April 28, 2002, at 7:34:07
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 27, 2002, at 14:15:42
Paul
I'm not the best person to ask but of course I'll give it a shot. Could you go back on Effexor, then, very slowly taper?
Also, MAOI's have pulled people out of depression even after ECT has failed.
Seems like Parnate, for you,would be best to try first, then Nardil second.
Plus, the new Celexa could work for you.
Like Dr. Kramer said, we will find something that works. I think a good doc can but, well, I've been trying different combo's for years. But, right now, I'm okay, not great.
ECT is another option depending on the severity of your symtoms.
Posted by Paul Mokeski on April 29, 2002, at 14:04:37
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Phil on April 28, 2002, at 7:34:07
I'm really not looking for another medication. I am done fooling around with psychoactive medications. I never found anything to be beneficial enough to outweigh the side effects, and I am extremely concerned about any permanent cognitive damage that might be done by these meds. I was simply hoping to find out if anyone else experienced the same things that I did when they went off of Effexor, and if they found anything to be helpful in remedying the problems (hopefully not another antidpressant). Thank you for trying, though.
> Paul
> I'm not the best person to ask but of course I'll give it a shot. Could you go back on Effexor, then, very slowly taper?
> Also, MAOI's have pulled people out of depression even after ECT has failed.
> Seems like Parnate, for you,would be best to try first, then Nardil second.
> Plus, the new Celexa could work for you.
> Like Dr. Kramer said, we will find something that works. I think a good doc can but, well, I've been trying different combo's for years. But, right now, I'm okay, not great.
> ECT is another option depending on the severity of your symtoms.
Posted by Phil on April 29, 2002, at 18:21:34
In reply to Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 25, 2002, at 13:57:24
Paul, If Breggin didn't blame the drug, it's probably not the drug.
If you are clinically depressed, not treating it is worse than side-effects. Especially if you find a good doc. Clinical depression is not something you can will away.
If you stopped Effexor cold turkey you're a brave and independent thinker. I'm certainly not trying to change your mind.
Posted by judy1 on April 30, 2002, at 0:19:28
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 29, 2002, at 14:04:37
Not personally, but I'm pretty sure I saw a site on the net with similar posts to yours. Paxil is the big one- class action suits and people having withdrawal symptoms year(s) later, so I'm sure it's just as possible with effexor. Did you try some searches? Wish you the best- Judy
Posted by Paul Mokeski on April 30, 2002, at 18:54:02
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else? » Paul Mokeski, posted by judy1 on April 30, 2002, at 0:19:28
Thanks, Judy. I will look into what is known about Paxil. I've done searches for Effexor, but haven't found anything. And Phil, Dr. Breggin told me that there simply isn't enough information about Effexor yet, since it is relatively new. However, he did not rule out the possibility of it causing these long term side effects. I am painfully aware that one cannot "will" depression away. The point I was trying to make was that none of these medications improved my life to the point where it outweighed the side effects. If this doesn't happen, I see no reason to take them.
Posted by Janice Powell on June 24, 2002, at 18:41:42
In reply to Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 25, 2002, at 13:57:24
I was on Efexor for over four months and I gained at least 20 pounds. I quit "cold turkey" and have had only one symptom....I want to bite nails!! I am so anxious that I could scream and have no patience with my husband or my children. How long do these symptoms last? I've been off the drug for almost 10 days. Please write to jpow@westal.net and let me know if I'm at the end of the tunnel! thanks/janice
Posted by JhawkAnn on July 23, 2002, at 0:26:10
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 30, 2002, at 18:54:02
Do you have any update as to how you are feeling?
> Thanks, Judy. I will look into what is known about Paxil. I've done searches for Effexor, but haven't found anything. And Phil, Dr. Breggin told me that there simply isn't enough information about Effexor yet, since it is relatively new. However, he did not rule out the possibility of it causing these long term side effects. I am painfully aware that one cannot "will" depression away. The point I was trying to make was that none of these medications improved my life to the point where it outweighed the side effects. If this doesn't happen, I see no reason to take them.
Posted by MarkB on August 19, 2002, at 1:51:46
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else? » Paul Mokeski, posted by JhawkAnn on July 23, 2002, at 0:26:10
Hi AllI am about to go off efexor myself, I have been on the tablets for over 5- 6 years and have tried the 37.5, 75 and 150mg slow release variety. I have exeperienced the "electricity behind the eyes" syndrome and wondered if it abates? I have tried to come of the drug before , but the "visual remnants" weird spinal feelings and stars put me off........do they disappear in time? I am on 75mg slow release right now, ready to go to 37.5 then it's no more efexor for me! I have also had similar feelings to some other people, lack of energy, confusion, aphasia etc. I think these are normal withdrawal symptoms, but I am not sure....
EFEXOR withdrawal is hard slog!!! But of course they won't be selling that to you......it's all about $$$$$ for them.....
Any help or comments appreciated.......
Cheers
Mark
Posted by IsoM on August 20, 2002, at 12:08:39
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else? » JhawkAnn, posted by MarkB on August 19, 2002, at 1:51:46
Mark, I've written about withdrawal help a number of times before but no one's made an answering comment, or said they ever thought it worth the try, so I've become cynical about telling anyone. But I'll try again.
When I stopped Luvox, I tapered off *very* slowly but still had a horrible time. It took months after stopping completely before the symptoms left. So when I later stopped Paxil, I anticipated another bad period. I had no idea how bad it would be. I was literally bed-ridden most of two months as movement of any sort made things unbearable. I had nausea, vertigo & dizziness (there's a bit of difference between the two), brain zaps (up to 5 or 6 a minute, I timed them), & general severe malaise.
Even four months after stopping completely, the symptoms hadn't completely left but remained at a low, constant level. I ended up adding 5 mg Paxil back to my Celexa to lessen the problems.
About a year later, I started adrafinil to see if it would help me with other problems. It did nicely. A few weeks after starting adrafinil, I ran out of my Paxil & didn't want to go downtown to pick up the refill that day. I thought I could bear one day of feeling horrible. But to my surprise, I felt fine the next day, so I let my refill go another day. My withdrawal symptoms never returned - not the slightest twinge!
Talking with a pharmacist in town, he thought my response interesting. Seeing the difficulty that most have coming off Effexor, Paxil, & Luvox, he suggested that it would be a good thing to let people know about. He was going to mention it to others.
When I ran out of adrafinil (from overseas), I expected the withdrawal symptoms to return but they never did. It seemed that adrafinil "fixed" whatever was wrong with my brain chemistry. I now take modafinil (Provigil in USA & Alertec in Canada) instead as I believe it superior to adrafinil.
Why not ask your doctor if you can have a (at least short-term) prescription for modafinil to help tide you over your tapering off? You may find that it has surprising benefits. It's done wonders for anhedonia & motivation too.
Posted by Steven G on January 7, 2003, at 2:23:59
In reply to Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 25, 2002, at 13:57:24
>Im at 4 months .I have aphasia as you do and overstimulation by sound or light gets to me at times and was overwhelming when I first stopped effexor but my biggest problem is dizziness.I do know that running everyday relieves my problems completely for that day.I do not know why. I believe that reducing slowly is what we should have done.My side effects became very severe on effexor.That is why I quit cold turkey .I am considering starting it again just to try to step back off.The warnings on this drug get more and more detailed as time goes on.This bugs me > I thought they knew something about itYears ago when I started it.
Hi,
> I took my last Effexor XR about 15 months ago. I had been taking 75 mg./day for about 2 years, before I quit cold turkey. Of course, I went through all of the standard withdrawal symptoms one would expect (vertigo, feelings of electricity flowing through my head, seeing trails, etc...). Although the acute symptoms subsided, I have had other persistent symptoms that continue to this day. Whether they should be attributed to the Effexor, I am not sure.
>
> The main symptom I have is a heavy, fuzzy feeling in my forehead, and behind my eyes. I wouldn't call it painful, but it is certainly uncomfortable. I guess it can best be described as an uncomfortable pressure. When this happens, I find it VERY difficult to think or subject myself to any form of stimulation, whether it be noise, bright light, etc... Usually the only remedy is to lie down and shut my eyes.
>
> The other symptom I have is frequent staring. When this happens, it feels as though my brain freezes and my eyes bulge. I was tested for petit mal seizures by a Neurologist using an EEG, and the results were negative. I had a period of about a month where this subsided, but I do not know why.
>
> The last sysmptom I have is aphasia. Sometimes I have an extremely difficult time recalling commonly used words. Other times, I have difficulty articulating myself in general.
>
> If anyone else has experienced any of these things after taking Effexor, I would love to hear about it and anything you may have done to alleviate the problem(s). I have found it to be nearly impossible to find any information on this. Even Dr. Breggin, the well known opponent of psychoactive drugs, was at a loss of words for me. Thank you in advance.
>
Posted by River1924 on January 12, 2003, at 18:52:31
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Steven G on January 7, 2003, at 2:23:59
I had a good experience while on the drug but I could not get off it. It was as if someone took the batteries out of my brain. Bodywise, effexor seemed to make me sleep a lot (that is why I wanted to get off of it.) The only way I could tolerate stopping was taking zoloft and concerta (a stimulant). Another time, I took sibutramine (a diet drug) for a short time and was able to get off of it. I think effexor let my brain work and reduced my anxiety so getting off of it was an unfortunate necessity. No drug is perfect...I'm sorry everone has had such terrible problems. River.
Posted by Tracee on June 6, 2003, at 7:02:23
In reply to Re: effexor xr, posted by River1924 on January 12, 2003, at 18:52:31
Paul, I found your posting interesting as I have been considering going off efexor-xr cold turkey. I was not previously aware that there was a possibility of long term side-effects from this. I have been on 225mg per day for several months now, yet I am not satisfied with the results.
My doctor however, does not seem concerned and says I should just continue as I am.I would appreciate others views on this.
I wish you all the best on your own quest for answers.
Posted by kkris on June 9, 2003, at 20:23:58
In reply to Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 25, 2002, at 13:57:24
I have been off Effexor since 1995, and still have (very minor) withdrawal symptoms which recur every few weeks or months. The zaps come between awake and asleep, and it all seems to happen with more frequency when I am losing weight.
Is there anyone else who continues to experience very mild withdrawal symptoms after several years? Has there ever been a serious attempt at a class action law suit?
I've had withdrawal from Paxil, and am currently going through celexa withdrawal, but nothing has ever compared to my effexor withdrawal. I was incapacitated for about 3 months, and seriously ill for a total of six months. Since then - the zaps, the stomach problems, the anxiety and mood swings and the uneven pupil dilation - it all comes back. I've had an MRI and a CAT scan - all is normal.
Has anyone else experienced this? Could the Effexor still be in my body?
Thanks
Kris
ps - how long does the celexa zapping usually go on for?
Posted by bunkie on June 12, 2003, at 12:56:12
In reply to Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 25, 2002, at 13:57:24
I am just going off 75 mg daily dose of Efexor XR after one year of use. I tapered by taking 37 1/2 mg for three days. This is my third day without the medication. I am experiencing vertigo/dizziness. Last night's sleep was disturbed. Wakefullness came in waves regularly throughout the night. Progressively over the past year I experienced increased inability to finish sentences, to find words spontaneously, to recall words/addresses. This has been most worrisome to me.
Posted by Tracee on June 12, 2003, at 17:42:30
In reply to Re: effexor xr, posted by Tracee on June 6, 2003, at 7:02:23
Ooops. I forgot to add my e-mail to my last posting. It's raidertracey@hotmail.com I haven't gone off the efexor yet. Perhaps I should try tapering off instead of the cold turkey.I just don't feel ready for too many side-effects at the moment.
Posted by LeanneF on June 13, 2003, at 14:38:23
In reply to Re: effexor xr, posted by River1924 on January 12, 2003, at 18:52:31
Hello. I was on Effexor for a year and a half. A week ago I took my last pill. No, I didn't just stop. I tapered off over a period of 3 months. I can't imagine how anyone could just stop taking this drug! My withdrawals have been horrible the way it is! I have had all the classics: vertigo, dizziness, tremors, muscle spasms, heart palpitations, and severe episodes of depression. The second day I stopped taking them I thought was the worst day of my life. I didn't know how I could get through anything. I cried for no reason and then just suddenly stopped. Yesterday, my perception was off and I sideswiped a parked car. Despite all of this, Effexor helped me through some tough times. Some of the withdrawal symptoms have been really rough, but I can't imagine what my life would have been like the last year without it. Every day is a little better. Every day I feel a little better. The sudden depressive episodes were mostly gone after the second day. My advice to everyone (especially the person thinking of stopping cold turkey) is go off VERY slow, but don't be afraid of the drug. It is hard, I won't deny that, but it also depends on the method you choose to stop taking them. And please remember, just like with depression, take things one day at a time. Although one day you may feel absolutely awful, remember that tomorrow you will be a little bit better, and the next day even better. And if you ever feel like you can't take it, remember that you are not alone.
Posted by Bunkie on June 13, 2003, at 16:23:15
In reply to Re: effexor xr, posted by LeanneF on June 13, 2003, at 14:38:23
This is my fourth day off effexor. I tappered off for just three days and evidently that has been the right thing to do. I am coming out of the dizzy fog but I am a little concerned that I might be moving towards hypomania. I have very little patience/tolerance for others. I am doing things at a very fast pace and having many thoughts. I must say this is better though than the aphasia with the drug. My psychiatrist this week attributed the aphasia to aging though I insisted that it seemed drug connected as it was worsening over the past several months. I am glad for the relief I have had from the depression the past year. It has been great to enjoy life in the peaceful easy way that effexor made possible. I am bracing for the unexpected withdrawals though. Last night was my third night of not sleeping well. Today I have been tearful (at work) and had a telephone argument with my partner as I was really not at all patient. I just wanted what I wanted. That was familiar manic behavior. Glad I do not have to depend on a psychiatrist for the real scoop. This is a good form of support.
Posted by CherC68 on June 13, 2003, at 21:42:03
In reply to Re: effexor xr » LeanneF, posted by Bunkie on June 13, 2003, at 16:23:15
I've been off for 5 days now. The side effects are decreasing. I have a bit more anxiety and I am so unbelievably crabby. During Effexor I didn't sleep well, night vivid dreams, scary even, but I woke up at 5:00 - Now, I still wake up at 3:00 for a 1/2 hour or so, but...I can't wake up and when I do I'm pissed at the world! Zoloft didn't work - and Effexor didn't help. Now I'm afraid I'm sinking back into that same old trap. Cher
Posted by Woz on June 16, 2003, at 4:58:08
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Steven G on January 7, 2003, at 2:23:59
Hi all ...
Ive been on Efexor 75 since Jan this year and had previously been on prozac for a year or more .. could be 2 years or more .. right now I cant even remember.
I am finding that if I miss my morning cap I am experiencing much the same as ive read in these posts.
Ive had to come home from work today ( again )because i missed this mornings dose. It has usually been a matter of waking up one morning not feeling " quite right" and then getting hit with the zaps big time .. i cant move without a shock running up my legs, my lips tingling and my face feeling like its crawling .. not to mention the heart thumping and such......Its now got down to 3-5 hrs, going by today. I normally take it between 8am and 10-11 am. I noticed symptoms, like lips tingling and a weird heart/stomach feeling, which i dont know how to describe, at about 11 this morning and it got progressively worse till i left work at 5 .. I was scared to death of not getting back to take it asap.
I looked up EfeXor on google and thank god I found this site. It really helps to know im not alone in having these reactions .. sadly selfish I suppose but still... :)
Has anyone else found the margin for error is very small on this drug? I know it has a short half life but a couple of hrs or so is startling and debilitating for me for at least.
Like many of you have said before, it has been of great help but what are we getting into if we take it for long term? My doctor thinks I should stay on it for at least another 6-12 months ( he noticed a big change for the better in my outlook overall) Im not sure what the exact label is for the reason im on efexor .. i had a tendancy for suicidal depression is all i really know. I sometimes think that at least back then i could FEEL .. I could write as many of us probably do and was fairly good at it..I cant even try to go there now in fear of having to tap into the deep and dark places. Sometimes it feels like the cost of the cure is the loss of depth in my life. Thats off the point I know..sorry. I just wish there were a way to fix ourselves without losing, speaking for myself, who i am.
Perhaps, as my brother says to me " May the Force Be With You" .. Well, may the force be with us!
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Woz
Posted by Tracee on June 16, 2003, at 7:46:33
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Woz on June 16, 2003, at 4:58:08
I know exactly what you mean Woz.I take my efexor at night.I forgot to take it once and the following day,I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me!I had all of the symptoms you described and I didn't like it at all.I didn't find out until I went to take my next dose, then realised I had missed the day before's.
You say that at least before you were on it you could feel.I miss that too.My family say I'm just not me anymore.
My G.P. has decide he can't take me any further and has referred me on to a psychiatrist.I haven't made the appointment yet, but I have decided to not go 'cold turkey' off the efexor.For now, I'm just taking things one day at a time.
Posted by Bunkie on June 16, 2003, at 11:35:48
In reply to Re: effexor xr 5 days off » Bunkie, posted by CherC68 on June 13, 2003, at 21:42:03
> I've been off for 5 days now. The side effects are decreasing. I have a bit more anxiety and I am so unbelievably crabby. During Effexor I didn't sleep well, night vivid dreams, scary even, but I woke up at 5:00 - Now, I still wake up at 3:00 for a 1/2 hour or so, but...I can't wake up and when I do I'm pissed at the world! Zoloft didn't work - and Effexor didn't help. Now I'm afraid I'm sinking back into that same old trap. Cher
I have an appointment this week with the "Integrative Medicine" folks at UA (Andrew Wyles' group)to talk about multiple physical problems and bipolar. I am taking many meds and it becomes hard to know what is what. Which medication is causing what. Day seven and I am still experiencing dizziness when I turn my head quickly. I was actually feeling mean this weekend and dreaming mean dreams. Of course that translated into being cranky. I tried to remind myself that I am under the influence of a drug, even if it is withdrawal from the drug. I really worked on trying not to be so reactive but not always successful. The positive side of this is that I am reacting to things that I judge to be good to react to. I am seeing that on Effexor I was pretty laid back about most everything - including gaining too much weight (25 lbs over a year's time) and accepting that things weren't important enough to give my input and have it mean something. So...I move along and see what integrative medicine has to offer to someone with bipolar, elevated cholesterol and blood pressure, airborn allergies and a few other things.
Posted by Bunkie on June 16, 2003, at 12:04:02
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Woz on June 16, 2003, at 4:58:08
Woz,
I missed one day of taking effexor in one year. I was relatively okay during the day. That night I had the most hellish, tortured dreams. In some dream/awake state, it occured to me that I may have missed my meds, so up I was at midnight taking it (at least 20 hours late). It helped me to sleep more peacefully for the rest of the night.As for feeling, well I am feeling again. I am tearful but as I observe myself, I am being tearful in response to things that I should be tearful about (the anniversary of my Mom's death, the happiness I feel about my neice graduating high school, my disconnect from the thing I love most - which is writing, and sadness over generally growing older and not living the life I would like to living in some important ways. I am glad to be feeling again even though I am not as easy for others to be around. Should I be medicating myself so that others can tolerate me being responsive to life with a mild degree of passion? Frankly I don't think so. I don't want to be depressed though. That is a real bummer. So...I am sure that the depression will return and will deal with it then in whatever way seems the most sensible and least harmful at the time. Effexor was my first anti-depressant.
Thanks, Bunkie
Posted by Woz on June 17, 2003, at 5:56:40
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else? » Woz, posted by Tracee on June 16, 2003, at 7:46:33
> Thank you so very much guys for your replies .. it does make a big difference to know that there are comrades in Meds out there .. lolz, I wish.
Had a better day today than yesterday. Mostly a few heart palpitations and the like but nothing compared to yesterday, thank god!
Thanks again to all replies. I hope you all keep on coping better knowing we are all here and in so many ways are in it all together. Friends do indeed people include people we have never met and to you all my best wishes.
Woz
>
> I know exactly what you mean Woz.I take my efexor at night.I forgot to take it once and the following day,I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me!I had all of the symptoms you described and I didn't like it at all.I didn't find out until I went to take my next dose, then realised I had missed the day before's.
> You say that at least before you were on it you could feel.I miss that too.My family say I'm just not me anymore.
> My G.P. has decide he can't take me any further and has referred me on to a psychiatrist.I haven't made the appointment yet, but I have decided to not go 'cold turkey' off the efexor.For now, I'm just taking things one day at a time.
>
Posted by LeanneF on June 25, 2003, at 13:05:27
In reply to Re: effexor xr, posted by River1924 on January 12, 2003, at 18:52:31
Hey guys, I just wanted to give you an update/glimmer of hope. I have been off Effexor for 2 weeks now and feel pretty much back to normal. I won't say it was easy! It was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to deal with. But, it does pass. Just to warn you though, if you don't feel like eating and get sick when you do, I know how you feel. Luckily I am eating again. So, from one fellow depression/effexor sufferer to another, you're not alone. And there's nothing wrong with being relieved at knowing you're not alone. The world is not such a lonely place when you realize other people understand what you're going through. So, in closing, if you ever need support or just a friend, I'm here for you because I've been there and so have all these other people. You're not alone. Take care all. You're stronger than you know.
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.