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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by caritasrainbow on March 13, 2004, at 23:26:51
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by Witchblade on March 13, 2004, at 22:49:19
just thought i'd say hey to those who have been keeping up here. i hope all is well with everyone. i'm once again off effexor completely. this time i got down to 37.5 before off all the way. day two here and the zings are beginning to take over. i'll let y'all know how it goes from here...
rainy
Posted by roomy on March 15, 2004, at 9:45:03
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by Witchblade on March 13, 2004, at 22:49:19
Your story sounds alot like mine. The difference is, MY doctor was practicing without a license for over a year and was shut down for BCBS fraud as well. Since she didnt have a license for a year, my BCBS didnt pay all my bills that year like I had thought they were. She never told me that until she went out of business and THEN I get a bill in the mail for a year's worth of doctor bills that SHOULD have been covered. Well, I was on Effexor for like 5yrs or so and ran out thinking i could just call my doc. and get a refill. that when I found out that she was out of business. I had to find a NEW doctor in this small town, as did all of her patients. Most doctors were not taking new patients and the ones that were had a two week waiting list. THEN, when I DID get to a new doc...I couldnt get my records transfered since I refused to pay my bill. Anyway...I have been off the effexor now since the 1st of this year. I have never felt better. I have lost 12lbs, I sleep at night, and I have gotten a job. Yep, I am still depressed now and then but I am happy most of the time. The withdrawl was HORRIBLE and it lasted forever and a day. But it was all worth it!
PS Nope, I never paid the doctor bill. I got an attorney!
Posted by caritasrainbow on March 15, 2004, at 11:05:14
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last? » Witchblade, posted by roomy on March 15, 2004, at 9:45:03
> I have never felt better. I have lost 12lbs, I sleep at night, and I have gotten a job. Yep, I am still depressed now and then but I am happy most of the time. The withdrawl was HORRIBLE and it lasted forever and a day. But it was all worth it!
that's too bad about your doctor! what an awful thing to go through. i went through a similar ordeal when i was on paxil and had to get off cold turkey due to an idiot dr.
i was taking 450mg of effexor for about a year and a half when i learned there were sexual side effects. i tried cutting down way too fast and went through hell. nightmares, teeth chattering uncontrollably, arms and legs shaking, zings, crying fits, temper tantrums, etc.
i then went back on at 75mg, did that for four days, skipped a day, then switched to 37.5mg for four days and today is my fourth day completely free.
i had the zings and insomnia for the first three days/nights. so far today though... NO ZINGS!!!
i do now highly recommend going off a bit more slowly than cold turkey if you can. going off too fast was hell. this time wasn't fun, but way better than before.
:^)
now my dr wants to up my lamictal and put me on wellbutrin. i've said NO however. i've also let him know i'd like to get off the lamictal altogether now... don't see him again until friday though...
rain
Posted by worm on March 15, 2004, at 11:29:04
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by caritasrainbow on March 15, 2004, at 11:05:14
I found this thread from a search engine and I don't even know if it's still active, but I want to comment.
I am taking 150 mg of Effexor, and I have a problem forgetting to take my pills on the weekends, probably because my normal schedule is changed. BTW, I put all my pills for the week in a weekly pill organizer - have to, or I'd be totally mixed-up.
Anyhoo, if I don't take my Effexor for 2 days, I get very bad moods, depressed, crying, irritable, shortness of attention span, inability to concentrate, and these "zings" like electric current through my brain when I even think of something or someone that makes me angry. I remember the problems they had witih Prozac and anger/depression when weaning off too fast. I am afraid of the way I feel, especially the anger part.
I'm afraid to double-up, because my doctor said 300 was the max, and I'm on 150s. I guess I'd just better figure out a better way to take it on the weekends. I wish they had a patch!!!
Posted by caritasrainbow on March 15, 2004, at 12:03:33
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by worm on March 15, 2004, at 11:29:04
> Anyhoo, if I don't take my Effexor for 2 days, I get very bad moods, depressed, crying, irritable, shortness of attention span, inability to concentrate, and these "zings" like electric current through my brain when I even think of something or someone that makes me angry.
> I'm afraid to double-up, because my doctor said 300 was the max, and I'm on 150s. I guess I'd just better figure out a better way to take it on the weekends. I wish they had a patch!!!i'm not a doctor, but i took 450mg of effexor for about a year and a half. all of the things you are describing are exactly what i've experienced from withdrawal. i DO NOT recommend doubling your dose for any reason! this will, in my experience, only make your withdrawals worse.
i think, if you are going to stay on effexor, you are just going to have to find a way to make yourself remember to take it on the weekends. can you change your daily time to take it to being every morning first thing when you get up or last thing before you go to bed? i would assume that you do those things even on the weekends, so maybe you could just get into that habit? in my experience taking the drug at a different time than usual has only caused those side effects (esp the zings) for a few hours. so if you changed your schedule of time to take it i would think it would only affect you negatively the first time and only for a short period of time.
i hope this helps some. i decided after all that time to get off the stuff entirely and i will never get back on it. there are other meds out there that are not so bad to withdrawal from. only one for me that ever came close was paxil and even that was nowhere near as bad as effexor.
also- i will say that while i was on effexor it did work well for me in the beginning and for a while after each dose increase. as i mentioned i was taking 450mg which is much higher than the manufactuer's recommended high dose...
rain
Posted by Esse on March 17, 2004, at 21:56:24
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by Witchblade on March 13, 2004, at 22:49:19
In my opinion Effexor is another medication that
should be banned if for no other reason than the withdrawal. Within the first week of taking Effexor my creative edge came to an abrupt halt, not acceptable for an Artist. Having been through
quite an ordeal and being assured by the Dr. "in a few weeks the "medicated" feeling would wane"
I continued to take it. Sure the low's decreased
but so did the high's. Basically a flatline personality for two years. From a dosage of 150 I slowly decreased to 75 then again slowly decreased to 37.5. Cut those in half for a few days then nothing. What a suprise, incredible nausea and vomiting began but just thought I was getting the flu."Zings" yes constantly, ringing in both ears. And next, "immoblizing" wall pounding pain (back and legs) from muscle contractions. After 5 trips to emergency, 4 by Ambulance and being told every time there was nothing physically wrong with me the realization this was a withdrawal set in. I immediately began taking Effexor again.
After the very first dose, I could feel my muscles begin to relax. It still took two weeks before the soreness in my muscles was reduced to an acceptable level. Am I still taking Effexor?
you bet!!! If someone can tell me how to get past all of this, I'm all ears. I want nothing more than to discontinue this medication and personally would not recommend Effexor to anyone, .....ever.
Posted by Witchblade on March 17, 2004, at 22:04:47
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by Esse on March 17, 2004, at 21:56:24
I am doing so much better now...it's been a week, and the flu like feelings are gone, the nausea is gone, the dizziness is occassionally there, the zaps are there sometimes but are decreasing...every once in a while I will get kind of a wave of general "ick" feeling that I just attribute to the withdrawl...but overall I am feeling so much better...and what you said about your high's going away with your low's...very true. I have really really good days now - haven't had those in a long time!! I am so much better OFF of this stuff. It was a week of hell...but worth it.
Perhaps try the taking Prozac while getting off the Effexor? I know the idea of taking yet another drug to get off of one is not appealing...but if it gets you off this really bad one...it might be worth it. Also there are apparently some really good herbal suppliments you can take while you come off this drug that are supposed to help. And then some people apparently open up the capsules and take out the little balls inside to taper off that way...maybe you should try a really slow reduction method like that.
Posted by worm on March 18, 2004, at 9:59:44
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by Witchblade on March 17, 2004, at 22:04:47
See, I thought my affect was flatter with the Prozac. In my depressed state, I was very weepy, and on Prozac, I couldn't cry if I wanted to. I could sit there and say "I am very mad at you" and not even feel it. That's why I wanted to change. Plus, I thought it wasn't working after a year or so. In retrospect, that was about the time it went generic, and now I think the generic Prozac (which I was forced to take because of inusrance) wasn't the same as the brand name. This is probably a new thread, but any thoughts on this?
Posted by caritasrainbow on March 18, 2004, at 10:49:22
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by Esse on March 17, 2004, at 21:56:24
>If someone can tell me how to get past all of >this, I'm all ears. I want nothing more than to >discontinue this medication and personally >would not recommend Effexor to >anyone, .....ever.
all i can tell you is that i went back on when i first stopped after the withdrawal got to be too much. but i cut down a bit more slowly and now, finally, i am off completely. i am only on day 6 or 7 however, and still dealing with mild zings. nothing near as bad as before though. i can still function and i'm not shaking...
rain
Posted by Slinky on March 18, 2004, at 12:55:22
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by caritasrainbow on March 18, 2004, at 10:49:22
Now that the Nuzac ( cheap prozac ) is a coming out of my system the nightmare of withdrawal is taking hold.
I feel 89 years old and looking it.
How long is a piece of string.
Posted by Slinky on March 18, 2004, at 13:02:25
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by Slinky on March 18, 2004, at 12:55:22
Permanent eye pain ~head pain ~ear pain ~joint pain and zap~zapping tingling shock treatment--- Hey but no constipation yipee rapid weight loss .
Now I'm going back into bed.
I can sleep my life away.
Is celexa a sugar pill.
Who am I ...who cares my in life of painful leisure...I'm not angry..I'm snapping out.
Posted by cpallen79 on March 18, 2004, at 14:47:06
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by slinky on March 5, 2004, at 6:53:03
I want to tell you all how much I feel for you. i took a very small dose of effexor for about 13 months. i tapered off by removing roughly 50 pellets from each capsule and then taking the rest for about a month, then i went cold turkey. I still went through withdrawal hell (anxiety, brain "shocks", etc...). I was ok for about a month or two (occasional brain shocks) but then I became very sensitive to the world around me and have been suffering from severe anxiety. Alot of it is due to life changes at a VERY VULNERABLE POINT (only a month off effexor when the life events occurred- your brain is still like mush at this point). I am going to try Buspar to take the edge off my anxiety for awhile... I haven't had much luck with it before as it gives me dizziness... (by the way if anyone has suggestions for countering that dizziness I'm all ears!). If the Buspar doesn't work, It's back to an SSRI, but one with a much longer half life and without norenepherine properties. I'm hopeful the buspar will get me through this anxiety hoop as I've only ever had one major anxiety episode in my life of a comparable nature, that being when i was 17 and was under extreme duress (identity crisis- kind of like what I'm going through now). It took Xanax and therapy to get me through that. I have faith that this will pass and I'll get the life back that I love!
> Hi Rainy
>
> You shouldn't feel a loser for going back on it, I failed many times to quit.
> Yesterday feels like a very bad dream
>
> I'm getting waves of dread can't do anything...crazy.
> If it wasn't for the weird physical stuff I could try and take my mind of things...can't even listen to music , feel trapped in myself.
> Hopefully the mornings anxiety will settle down a bit.
>
> Take care , be kind to yourself.
Posted by caritasrainbow on March 18, 2004, at 14:56:09
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by cpallen79 on March 18, 2004, at 14:47:06
> I want to tell you all how much I feel for you.
thanks. i'm off effexor for almost a solid week now and the zings are minimal. i found out yesterday that i'm pregnant and likely have cancer so somehow the zings are just not such a big deal anymore. lol... still, it would be awfully nice if they'd go away entirely!
;^) rain
Posted by cpallen79 on March 18, 2004, at 15:00:15
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by caritasrainbow on March 18, 2004, at 14:56:09
Rain, my heart is with you. I am so sorry to hear about that. Again, my prayers are with you today.
Posted by caritasrainbow on March 18, 2004, at 15:04:05
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by cpallen79 on March 18, 2004, at 15:00:15
> Rain, my heart is with you. I am so sorry to hear about that. Again, my prayers are with you today.
thank you. honestly i'm just in shock and don't even begin to know what to think or do. nevermind the whole mental case issues... if you'd ever like to email me personally feel free. i'm at caritasrainbow@yahoo.com
Posted by Esse on March 18, 2004, at 16:44:51
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by Witchblade on March 17, 2004, at 22:04:47
Glad to hear you are doing so well. Especially happy to hear you feel better. Your suggestions are definately appreciated.
Posted by caleb96 on March 20, 2004, at 23:52:16
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by fastblackZZR on March 7, 2004, at 19:33:17
I've been taking Effexor for 3.5 yrs and I'm tired of being a chemical eunich. First it takes your physical ability to achieve orgasm, then it takes your ability to perform, finally it takes your desire to engage in sexual activity. I've been living like this for over ten years. I've gone from one SSRI to another, then Effexor (Wellbutrin didn't help my depression, but it doesn't have the sexual side effects). This is so unfair to my wife. I just can't believe these drug companies can't come up with a good antidepressant that doesn't have this sexually deadening effect. I know it's tough developing a new drug and getting it through the FDA. But I've read the scientific literature and the knowledge in this area is far beyond what's on the market. Let's hope there's a breakthrough soon. In the meantime, I'm going c/t off Effexor. I've done it a few times before and the worse thing that happened is I got a bad headache for a day or so. After that, no problem.
Wish me luck!
--C
Posted by caritasrainbow on March 21, 2004, at 0:17:36
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by caleb96 on March 20, 2004, at 23:52:16
> > Wish me luck!
wishing you all the luck in the world! :^)
rain
Posted by caleb96 on March 21, 2004, at 9:02:13
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by caritasrainbow on March 21, 2004, at 0:17:36
Thanks rain,
Your support is greatly appreciated.
Caleb
Posted by John R. tate on March 22, 2004, at 12:43:59
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by moonzappa on March 7, 2004, at 13:49:37
Holy cow! I too have just tried to go off Effexor. I am on day two after a three week period of gradually reducing the amount taken each day. I went cold turkey two days ago after having reduced to about 10 little balls in the capsule. I'm swimming. Total whoosh when I move my eyes, stand up, or even while I am typing. I feel completely out of it. Does anyone know of anything that can help?
Posted by caritasrainbow on March 22, 2004, at 12:52:38
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by John R. tate on March 22, 2004, at 12:43:59
> I went cold turkey two days ago after having reduced to about 10 little balls in the capsule. I'm swimming. Total whoosh when I move my eyes, stand up, or even while I am typing. I feel completely out of it. Does anyone know of anything that can help?
i'm now on day 9 or 10? anyway, still having some of the zinging occasionally, but it's getting less. just hang in there.
rain
Posted by annesand on March 22, 2004, at 15:30:56
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by John R. tate on March 22, 2004, at 12:43:59
But really, how long does it take to feel 100% back to normal after you've stopped?
I rather rashly cut back to 37.5 mg from 150 mg a few days ago. Yes brain shivers and dizziness, but it's not unbearable. Think I'm likely to feel worse before I feel better? I'm trying to decide if it's a good idea to stay like this next week while I'm off work, or if I'll be ruining a perfectly good vacation.
Posted by caritasrainbow on March 22, 2004, at 16:18:41
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by annesand on March 22, 2004, at 15:30:56
> But really, how long does it take to feel 100% back to normal after you've stopped?
>
> I rather rashly cut back to 37.5 mg from 150 mg a few days ago. Yes brain shivers and dizziness, but it's not unbearable. Think I'm likely to feel worse before I feel better? I'm trying to decide if it's a good idea to stay like this next week while I'm off work, or if I'll be ruining a perfectly good vacation.well, i went from 450 to 375 to 300 to 150 to nothing within about a week and a half and by day 5 of nothing the symptoms were so bad my legs and arms were shaking, my teeth wouldn't stop chattering, so the dr put me back on 75 when he saw me. i took that for 4 days, then skipped a day, symptoms got bad so i took 37.5 for a few days then went off entirely. the first two days were the worst. now it's just over a week and the zings are still there, but not as bad. definately able to function okay now, just wish the zings would stop entirely. sooo... the first time the zings and stuff got worse with each passing day, but this time they seem to be getting better with each passing day. not sure if this helps... but when i went off the first time the days got worse and worse until i went back on and cut back a little more slowly. also now my memory is awful and i do seem to be having some problems making sense of my thoughts? or putting them in order? see, i don't think i even make sense, just feel like i'm babbling...
Posted by cpallen79 on March 22, 2004, at 18:50:49
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by caritasrainbow on March 22, 2004, at 12:52:38
Hi guys, thought I'd put my input in. Effexor is very difficult to taper off of as we all have learned. I thought I would have it easy since I was only on 37.5 . I opened capsules, took out about half of the pellets and did this for about 3 to 4 weeks before stopping cold turkey. Even THAT was too fast as when you go off an antidepressant, you're nervous system is a mess, some say for even up to 18 months afterwards. I'm on month 4 and I still feel very very blah (going to try buspar to take the edge off it). My advice to everyone is this... TAPER so slow that its boring. Second, don't expect to be back to normal once you're off the meds and the brain zaps stop, etc... , especially if you've been on meds a long time, you won't feel normal for quite awhile. It'll happen, but it takes time and it'll be a rollercoaster! I'm assuming that your brain needs to repair itself and restore its own serotogenic balance, and for me it's been a bumpy ride. I know people that have been thorugh this nightmare of tapering off these meds and they get through it, even though it can be painful. We'll all get through it.
Posted by roomy on March 23, 2004, at 6:34:36
In reply to Re: How long does withdrawal from Effexor last?, posted by cpallen79 on March 22, 2004, at 18:50:49
I too, will add my two cents....again. I still come and read here and I ocassionally post. I was on Effexor for about 6 years. As of January 1st I have been Effexor free. Tapering off was hell, and then finally dropping off to zero no matter how slow the taper...is even more hell. Every day gets better and better and as for 'wasting your vacation' I can truely understand what a crappy vacation you must be having but as far as a waste...nah...prolly not. If you FAIL for now and try to quit the effexor at another time THEN the days you have already felt miserable will have been for nothing and you will have to go thru it all again. Every day does get easier I promise. Whether you can notice it or not I believe it does get better. Its been three months for me now (or pretty dang close to it) I think that physically I am back to normal except for losing the extra weight the effexor caused me to gain. Mentally I am doing much better but I think my mind was a bit sharper, quicker, wittier before I took the Effexor and I have days where I am "Blah" Not depressed, just kinda blah and I get a lazy, lethargic feeling. But I can deal with occasional days like that. I think thats down right normal for most people. Hang in there, keep hanging in there, and when you feel like you cant do it....hang in there the most. Try to keep yourself doing a project. I also tried PM medication for nighttime and the 'no-doze' or 'stinger' type medication for the daytime. I am not sure if it helped but it kept me more 'routine' while I was going thru the withdrawl.
Good luck!! Keep us up-to-date!!
-Roomy
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