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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by jiggityboo69 on March 19, 2006, at 8:23:31
In reply to Re: scared of effexor and withdrawal, posted by sandra booth on February 3, 2006, at 15:28:26
I too have been on Effexor for the past 5 years (37.5mg) and have started weaning off it over the past 3 weeks. For 2 weeks I was taking a pill every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Nothing on the weekends. I was finding by Sunday afternoon I could barely function due to the side effects. I have been 5 days now without taking anything, and the side effects don't seem to be going away. I find that there's a lot of pressure in my head. I'm dizzy all the time (even when I'm sleeping if that makes sense). When I consulted my dr. about going off Effexor he told me that I wouldn't experience any side effects. I'm hoping that they go away soon. I was on a very small dose (37.5mg). I can't imagine what the effects are coming off of this medication on a higher dose.
Good luck to everyone who is coming off of this medication.
Posted by Graceneeded on March 19, 2006, at 8:46:04
In reply to Re: scared of effexor and withdrawal, posted by jiggityboo69 on March 16, 2006, at 12:30:17
Use Benadrel and Dramamine to help with the withdrawls. I switch to Lexapro and Cymbalta and together they work like Effexor with very few side affects. Danny
Posted by dancingstar on March 19, 2006, at 8:57:28
In reply to Re: scared of effexor and withdrawal, posted by jiggityboo69 on March 16, 2006, at 12:30:17
Hey jiggity,
I agree that the dramamine helps a lot. It might be all you need. If you don't start to feel better right away, though, I would consider taking small amounts of your 37.5 capsules, just enough to make the pain go away.
I quit cold turkey in September 2004 and, like you, my internist also didn't think it would be a big problem, but I'm still not 100 percent back to normal. Mostly I have a dreadful pain down the back of my neck that has never gone away, and my whole endocrine system has been completely wacky ever since I began to took Effexor.
I know it's no fun to go back to the nightmare drug again, but it might be worth it for the sake of your body. They say you can pour out the beads from the capsules and take smaller and smaller doses. Anyway, I hope you are feeling better very soon.
Posted by detroitpistons on March 21, 2006, at 17:10:22
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES!, posted by jacobs on March 20, 2006, at 16:27:57
Tonya,
You should suggest to your doctor using Prozac (much longer half life) to help get you off of Effexor. A lot of people have done this successfully. Usually, once they get to about 37.5 mg, they take a small dose of Prozac for a week or two and then they're done. I heard it works pretty well.
> hi yes im trying without sucess to get off effexor, i dropped from 75 to 37.5 and it was horrible, scared me to death! i need to find out how to get off this the right way. thanks tonya
Posted by jacobs on March 21, 2006, at 17:10:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES! » jacobs, posted by detroitpistons on March 20, 2006, at 16:34:12
hi cant do the prozac thing or zoloft made me postal for real. but thanks anyway!
Posted by Graceneeded on March 23, 2006, at 11:48:16
In reply to Redirect: getting off effexor, posted by Dr. Bob on March 21, 2006, at 17:13:14
Use Dramamine and Benedryel to take care of withdrawels. Danny
Posted by dancingstar on March 23, 2006, at 18:54:13
In reply to Re: Redirect: getting off effexor, posted by Graceneeded on March 21, 2006, at 21:01:08
I just saw that I mentioned Dramamine in an earlier post. It was actually a very small dose of Benadryl that I took that helped me with some of the symptoms. I found that a child's dose was all I needed to take the edge off the pain when it was outrageous.
Posted by SLS on March 27, 2006, at 7:36:54
In reply to Re: Redirect: getting off effexor, posted by dancingstar on March 23, 2006, at 18:54:13
> I just saw that I mentioned Dramamine in an earlier post. It was actually a very small dose of Benadryl that I took that helped me with some of the symptoms. I found that a child's dose was all I needed to take the edge off the pain when it was outrageous.
What symptoms of withdrawal did the Benadryl help with?What symptoms remained unchanged?
What is the amount of Benadryl contained in a child's dose?
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by dancingstar on March 27, 2006, at 9:52:39
In reply to Re: Redirect: getting off effexor » dancingstar, posted by SLS on March 27, 2006, at 7:36:54
To answer your questions, I stopped taking Effexor in September '04. I was so sick in so many ways that it's hard to remember exactly what symtpoms were helped by taking Benadryl. I just know that when I couldn't function at all, the Benadryl helped me to get through the day.
After I had taken it, I read that there is the potential for heart problems when taking antihistamines in close proximity to having taken Effexor. I got the impression that this was less with Benadryl than with the newer ones, like Claritin...but there is no question that I had an arrythmia for quite a while after I stopped taking Effexor, and I was certainly taking Benadryl. Also, my potassium was way high for no good reason.
Ever since I took and stopped taking Effexor, my entire endocrine system has been severely out of balance. It began with my thyroid and progressed from there. My adrenals no longer function well at all, and I think it is safe to say that I was and am the most health conscious person that you can possibly imagine. I'm pretty athletic, and can no longer do the things that I was able to do before taking Effexor because now if I push too hard, I get a terrible migraine the next day.
I don't know what the dose is for children's Benadryl. You can get it at the drug store.
I guess while the Bendaryl made me generally more comfortable by taking the edge off the enormous amount of pain that I experienced, the symptoms or problems that remained unchanged involved my entire endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. I also know that nothing, including Benadryl, helped that horrible pain and stiffness in the back of my neck...which I have, but to a slightly lesser degree, to this day.
Posted by SLS on March 27, 2006, at 12:02:59
In reply to Re: Redirect: getting off effexor » SLS, posted by dancingstar on March 27, 2006, at 9:52:39
Hi.
Thanks for responding with such a detailed post.
How did you go about discontinuing Effexor? Gradual taper? Rapid taper? Cold turkey?
Thanks again.
- Scott
Posted by Toby on April 14, 2006, at 14:24:58
In reply to Re: Redirect: getting off effexor » dancingstar, posted by SLS on March 27, 2006, at 7:36:54
I'm now on my 10th day without taking a dose. I had been on 150mg of Effexor XR for about 11 months. Zaps were terrible for the second through the fifth day. Starting the sixth day, I started taking an Omega 3 pill(Wal-Mart, 90 caps $9) based on some internet readings and that seemed to help with the zaps. I think it helped but I also noticed that they had started lessening before I took the first pill. But, I would agree with everything I read online, withdrawal is very tough. I'm sure it's tougher for some and easier for others, but the medication works better for some than others as well. Overall, after my year on the medicine( and the year previous to that I was on zoloft) it is truy amazing to see how many people are on these medications unnecessarily. I'm certainly not a doctor but it seems like these meds are extremely overprescribed.
I wanted to write a post online because as I was reading them(during my toughest withdrawal symptoms), I was reading every post just waiting for a positive post and maybe a timeline of how long it would last. Today is the 10th day, I still have a few minor zaps every hour, but I'm better.
I wish everyone the best. Please try to stay as positive as you can. I realize it's very tough, especially when you feel like you are either dying or going crazy. Prayer is always an option and can certainly provide clarity in a time of extreme confusion.
Posted by dancingstar on April 14, 2006, at 14:52:41
In reply to Re: Redirect: getting off effexor, posted by Toby on April 14, 2006, at 14:24:58
Hi Toby,
I'm so glad to hear that you are doing better than you were. Truly, some don't have as tough a time getting off of Effexor as others, and I pray that you are among the lucky ones who have a somewhat easy time of it.
It's a great idea to take extremely good care of your body during this time as I doubt it could be denied that withdrawal from Effexor is very physically, not to mention emotionally, taxing.
In the long run, I feel that by taking things like the Omega 3's, even if you don't feel a difference right now, you are helping to strengthen your nervous system. It might be the reason that some people also say that B vitamins are helpful. Anything that you can do to protect and strengthen your body right now is a good thing.
Best of luck to you!!
Posted by CWN266 on April 24, 2006, at 18:08:11
In reply to Re: My experience with Effexor XR, posted by saj on April 23, 2006, at 9:35:52
26 days off Effexor, and now that the withdrawal side effects are gone, I feel like a new man. My head is out of a fog for the first time in 4 years. Good Riddance!!
Posted by buckey65 on April 25, 2006, at 18:37:29
In reply to Re: My experience with Effexor XR, posted by CWN266 on April 23, 2006, at 12:16:59
I have been weaning off effexor for about three months. I tried to do this before without success so this time I moved very slow.
I have been completley off all effexor now for 2 weeks. I am experiencing aching throughout my entire body, cloudy head and hard to concentrate, pretty major appetite, irritable and pretty weepy. Could this still be the effects of coming off effexor? I figured when I got to the point of being off it this long the effects would dissipate?? I do have some good feeling days, but they are few.
Can anyone please help me understand what is going on with me? Sometimes I think it may be a virus or something, but it just keeps hanging on... I feel pretty miserable. Any help, guidence or information would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. I am new to this community. Actually this is the first time I have ever done anything like this, which may show you just how desperate I am to know what is going on with me and what I can do about it...
Posted by gingerlyn67 on April 27, 2006, at 15:40:53
I read this message to my husband, and, he couldn't believe how much it sounded like me. I will have been off of Effexor XR for 2wks tomorrow, and, our symptoms are just alike. I have never felt so bad, for so long in all my life. My emotions are out of control. I can wake up in the grouchiest mood, then, cry for the rest of the day. I can cry over some stupid song on the radio like I have been to a funeral or something. My Mother thinks I am truly sick or something, but, having read all of the other people's symptoms, I think it's this medicine coming out of my body. I take total advantage of my good days, because, I never know when it might come around again. My brain zaps are lessoning in severity, which is a good thing. Or, I might be getting so used to them, that I don't notice them anymore.
I posted a thread a few weeks ago, and, thought I had everything under control, but, that is so not the case now. I have honestly considered admitting myself into the psyche ward somewhere, because, that is how crazy I feel. I told my Mother I would, never, EVER, take anything ever again. I am going to take whatever life dishes out to me on my own. I will never go through this again!
Ginger
Posted by Jenn1fer on April 28, 2006, at 10:24:13
In reply to Redirect: withdrawal side effects, posted by Dr. Bob on April 24, 2006, at 18:09:11
I was on effexor for 3 yrs, put on it initially for depression caused by other health problems not being treated and utter despair (I wont go there). I was literally PUSHED by a doctor to go on an anti-depressant, why she chose Effexor I'll never know. In those 3 years I forgot my dose only a handfull of times, and about 10 hours later thought I had severe flu or something only to realize I forgot the effexor.
Many of my major health problems are now resolved. So if figure, time to get myself off this stuff.
Tried weaning off the drug w/doctors advise.
Lowered dose to 37.5 (that alone had severe dizziness and nausea) then went off it completely.On the second day I thought I must have been going insane, I had NO IDEA how BAD it would be.
Vomitting, diarreah, could hardley walk, everytime I tried to move my head to the side I thought I was going to fall over. Out of desparation looked up online Effexor withdrawal, and got a load of info to help. I immediately opened up a capsule and emptied 1/2 the beebies out and gobbled up the other half (as I did this I thought oh my god, I am a junkie! In a couple of hours felt major relief. I did this for a month, taking out more and more each time (oh, I did this twice a day also). I have had no Effexor in my system for 3 days now and feel OK. This drug should be prescribed ONLY AS A LAST RESORT!!!.Jennifer
Posted by dancingstar on April 28, 2006, at 10:52:51
In reply to Re: Redirect: withdrawal side effects, posted by Jenn1fer on April 27, 2006, at 6:35:27
Hey Jennifer,
I'm so glad that you're feeling better. I agree with you completely!
Posted by Bonnie_CA on April 29, 2006, at 2:20:12
In reply to Re: Redirect: getting off effexor, posted by Toby on April 14, 2006, at 14:24:58
Overall, after my year on the medicine( and the year previous to that I was on zoloft) it is truy amazing to see how many people are on these medications unnecessarily. I'm certainly not a doctor but it seems like these meds are extremely overprescribed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree, many people don't need to be on them. There are people like me that really cannot function without them. I've tried. I wish I didn't have to take medications. The last time I tried stopping meds was in 2003, and it was a mess once the withdrawels stopped (from paxil). I was a raging bitch, and I didn't want to go anywhere. I was my grandma! She never went anywhere and she was really mean to most everyone. I can't believe how much I take after her. I am on effexor now, and hopefully I won't have to stop, but I've read that prozac helps people get off other meds a lot.
Posted by dancingstar on April 29, 2006, at 11:39:33
In reply to Re: Redirect: getting off effexor, posted by Bonnie_CA on April 29, 2006, at 2:20:12
Once people start to take these drugs, many have to take them for the rest of their lives. One of the side effects of withdrawal that lasts for a very, very long time is becoming extremely angry...even if we don't realize that it's happening.
I feel that these drugs are dangerous because they alter the brain and body chemistry, often in permanent ways, so that very many people can no longer function without them.
Posted by Feliciasmith on May 1, 2006, at 17:30:50
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES!, posted by Alexander1 on March 20, 2006, at 15:14:48
I went cold turkey off Effexor. I was on 75 mg. I thought I was going to die. I called my doctor at 1 am leaving her messages how can she do this to me and get me addicted to some type of heroin. I even pounded my head light on the wall to stop the zaps. After a week I felt better. After three I was almost back to my bitchy self. After three months every syptoms went away. You can get off it just with a lot of discomfort. It helped me so much that I may go back on it. I have mild panic attacks.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on May 1, 2006, at 17:41:10
In reply to Re: effexor XR interactions with alcohol, posted by renecoston on April 14, 2006, at 9:16:11
> My doctor seems to think that I am depressed every time I tell him something hurts or something just doesn't feel right. They are quick to prescribe and are not truthful about the medications the give you. I was never told about the problems a lot of people have trying to stop Paxil, and when they gave me the Effexor I specifically asked them if it had any of the same withdrawel issues that Paxil had, and the doctor's exact words were, "oh, no, this is a completely different medication and has not given anyone those problems." Hmmmmmmm, yah, okay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd consider changing doctors if I were you. A good doctor will always try to find the way to fix a problem with other therapies and not just resort to medications. Plus, a doctor that isn't truthful about side effects and withdrawel symptoms is someone who is just there to collect his check and doesn't want to deal with actually treating and informing patients. He just wants to write you a scrip and get you out as soon as possible. And I can agree with the idea that doctors over prescribe, but this is not always their fault, considering they deal with thousands of patients a year, and many are overburdened. They just simply don't have the time or energy to spend really identifying the problems and finding the best possible cure or therapy. But your doctor sounds like one of those that became a doctor just to get rich. I hate those doctors. And, don't be jaded by this doctor... not all of them are like that. I love my MD, and my psychiatrist is pretty cool too.In another post you said something about "dealing with your issues" without medication. I'll be truthful, I took a little bit of offense to that, because if it were "issues" causing my problems, then all those years of talking therapy would have cured me. However, after all that talking, I found my so-called issues to not really be issues, and I was a functioning person again with medications. But, I can see where you get that idea, since so many folks use drugs to escape issues. I wish it were just issues. I had a nurse practitioner (I'll never visit one again, I'll hold out for the doctor) tell me to change my major in college, even though what I was doing was my entire life, most of my identity, and it was what I have wanted to do since I was 12. I'm so passionate about what I do, my life would have been over if I had tried to do something else. (I know this because I tried and was extremely unhappy.) Sometimes, people just have no clue.
And if you don't need meds, consider yourself lucky!
Take care!
- Bonnie
Posted by LisaH817 on May 1, 2006, at 17:42:18
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES!, posted by demon_child_cin-666 on April 29, 2006, at 16:44:23
I’ve been weaning off Effexor for 5 weeks now. I was on 150mg, dropped down to 112.5mg for 2 weeks, then 75mg for 2 weeks, and now I’ve been on 37.5mg for about 8 days. The first reductions went pretty well, only minimal withdrawal symptoms, but this last dose, it’s actually feeling like it’s getting worse as the days go by. I only have 6 doses left of this and am pretty damn worried about how much worse it’ll get once I’m down to nothing and how I am going to get through work, etc. I told my doctor I did not want to be on anything permanently, so why would she put me on this? But then again, I’ve read the literature that came with the drug and gone on the website and nowhere does it mention the severe withdrawal. I thought it was a great help when I needed it and went on it at first, now I am so sorry I did and think it’s dangerous!
Posted by effexorsux on May 1, 2006, at 17:42:20
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.
Posted by Karla on May 1, 2006, at 17:42:22
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES!, posted by Feliciasmith on April 28, 2006, at 23:30:20
I went off of 300mg of effexor after being on it a couple of years to being on welbutrin. I had no problems at all. From what I heard I got lucky. Just wanted to let you know it is possible to have that happen.
Posted by renecoston on May 1, 2006, at 17:42:25
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES! » LisaH817, posted by effexorsux on April 30, 2006, at 18:29:38
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Paxil withdrawel is about the same as Effexor!!! I hope you are prepared for a long withdrawel - I went through the same EXACT symptoms you did while I withdrew from Paxil, and I also now have an idea of where my GERD came from! I am only 35, have been off Paxil for less than a year now, and have had severe GERD since I weaned off Paxil! I take 40mgs of Protonix daily for it and it still doesn't go away totally. I have not been diagnosed with anything, however, as I do not have insurance at this time to have the tests done. I did have the CT scan and stuff which showed nothing..........
> 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.
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