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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by SLS on July 3, 2006, at 7:52:27
In reply to Re: Redirect: getting off effexor, posted by zinrut on June 26, 2006, at 14:11:57
> I very slowed down from 225 to 37.5 of Effexor and
> for the last 3 month I was taking 37.5 only once for every 3 days (3 times /week).Skipping days with Effexor generally doesn't work. Its half-life is too short. At this point, you are better off taking smaller doses every day or discontinuing the drug entirely.
> I was fine for the last 3 month
I am surprised that you didn't experience withdrawal symptoms during this period of skipping days if you are indeed vulnerable to a withdrawal syndrome them.
> but suddenly I started to feel nauseas, insomnia, diarrhea.
These are symptoms of withdrawal, but they might also be due to a viral infection.
> Is anyone had these problems? What to do? How long it can take?
> I was scared and started to take 37.5 every day.
> I hope it is not coming back.Did the symptoms disappear?
I recommend that you reduce the dosage by splitting the pills into fractions and gradually taking smaller amounts every day. When it comes time to discontinue the drug entirely, you might still experience withdrawal symptoms, but they will not be as intense nor last as long.
When I discontinued Effexor, I actually took very small fractions of the 25mg pills several times each day.
- Scott
Posted by shelby11 on October 24, 2006, at 1:31:36
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I have been off Effexor for 2 weeks. These withdrawl symptoms are somewhat unbearable. I have very bad vertigo, nightmares, major meltdowns over small things where I cannot stop crying, I am so distracted I should not be driving. I have missed work and my boss is trying to be patient ( I can't remember what I did 5 minutes ago), but wants to reevaluate how I am doing in two more weeks. So on top of everything else, I may lose my job.The only good part is that I have my sex drive back.
If I could go back I would have never taken this drug, I only had medium anxiety. My doctor gave me a sample and a script for this without telling me anything about this drug. I am much worse now than before. If anyone wants to quit they should do so before the dose goes up and up. I hear it's worse when you are at large doses. I was weaned properly, can't imagine what its' like to go cold turkey.
Posted by corafree on October 24, 2006, at 1:31:44
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by shelby11 on October 17, 2006, at 16:31:54
I'm sorry you're suffering so much withdrawing.
I want my sex drive back and am ready to ditch Effexor-XR for the final time!
givinup, cf
Posted by shelby11 on October 24, 2006, at 1:31:48
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by corafree on October 18, 2006, at 15:02:49
> I'm sorry you're suffering so much withdrawing.
>
> I want my sex drive back and am ready to ditch Effexor-XR for the final time!
>
> givinup, cfIt is terrible, I have signed that petition that is online and i wish everyone trying to come off this stuff would also. This drug is evil and the doctors are acting like we are making this up. I just want ot feel better. I was not suffering from depression before and now I am.
Don't give up if for any reason than to know that you are not poisoning yourself!! Good Luck
Posted by bon on October 24, 2006, at 1:31:51
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by shelby11 on October 19, 2006, at 16:50:18
I am feeling better on the effexor. I have been on it for 2 months. I am almost to 150mg. My Doctor said that after you reach 150mgs it starts to work not only for depression, but also for anxiety. Unfortunatly you will feel the side effects first, which feel like worse anxiety some times. I had depression and incredible tiredness and that is gone now. I still am dealing with anxiety, but can notice that also getting better. I do believe in some people there is a chemical imbalance causing these symtoms. I have been on meds for years for anxiety and thank god they are available. I don't know if I will ever be off of them. I remember how I felt without them and how nonfunctioning I was. This runs in my family. I am not proud to admit this stuff. I do not often talk about this with friends. Unless you have been through it it is hard to understand. Maybe if you need to wean off this med you could switch to a more mild med at the same time and then off them both??? Just a thought. If you feel better on the meds why rush to get off? Maybe your body needs meds like a diabetic needs meds?
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2006, at 1:31:55
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by bon on October 19, 2006, at 18:29:15
Black box warning on effexor. Can cause suicide in young people and liver damage cymbalta too. Love Phillipa
Posted by kellyN on October 24, 2006, at 1:32:21
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by shelby11 on October 17, 2006, at 16:31:54
I've been on Effexor XR for 3 years. 150mg daily. It has been a miracle drug for me, although the side effects seem to be getting worse and I have to keep "upping" the dose. I tried to get off it a year ago, (weaning of course), and I was an absolute mess. I had nightmares, not just nightmares but night terrors. I was just a complete and utter mess, my family begged me to get back on it. It was almost like narcotic withdrawl I would think. Has anyone successfully come off of it other than this gradual weaning and withdrawl?
Posted by tbyoyo on October 24, 2006, at 1:32:26
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on October 16, 2006, at 9:48:57
I am having the "electric brain shocking" that others have mentioned, every couple minutes. I just stopped taking it.
I am very dizzy, my reactions are slow, like I shouldn't drive at all. I am so dizzy I kicked a wall in my house trying to walk down the hallway and BROKE my pinky toe!
The only thing that stops these symptoms is sleeping.
I felt fine on this drug, but these withdrawls are not worth it. I was on Zoloft before this and switched because of sexual disfuntions, but EFFEXOR didn't help those either.
DOES ANYONE know what the brain shocks are?
Posted by corafree on October 24, 2006, at 1:32:29
In reply to Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR, posted by tbyoyo on October 21, 2006, at 0:06:10
These horrible withdrawals from Eff-XR are all too common and it's about time Ps recognized this.
Can U make an emerg. call to your P this weekend? You need something to take the edge off this withdrawal. Resting is good. IMO, a week or so, of a benzo, may help you get through this. (It has me.)
love, cf
Posted by tbyoyo on October 24, 2006, at 1:32:33
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR, posted by corafree on October 21, 2006, at 16:11:14
does anyone know when these symptoms stop????
I am gonna have to call the Doctor tomorrow, i am driving my family crazy, and myself.> These horrible withdrawals from Eff-XR are all too common and it's about time Ps recognized this.
>
> Can U make an emerg. call to your P this weekend? You need something to take the edge off this withdrawal. Resting is good. IMO, a week or so, of a benzo, may help you get through this. (It has me.)
>
> love, cf
Posted by corafree on October 24, 2006, at 1:32:37
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR, posted by tbyoyo on October 21, 2006, at 22:18:01
Sorry I don't know, but it sounds like you can only get better from here. Glad you're calling doc' tomorrow. Hope someone here has a better idea than I re: length of withdrawal. A lot of factors might influence it.
thinkingofu, cf
Posted by corafree on October 24, 2006, at 1:32:42
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR, posted by tbyoyo on October 21, 2006, at 22:18:01
Sorry I don't know, but it sounds like you can only get better from here. Glad you're calling doc' tomorrow. Hope someone here has a better idea than I re: length of withdrawal.
Sometimes if I'm in over my head w/ an issue, I'll post an SOS on the Social board, or even the Alternatives board.
Dr. Bob will redirect as necessary.
thinkingofu, cf
Posted by flipsactown on October 24, 2006, at 1:32:51
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR, posted by tbyoyo on October 21, 2006, at 22:18:01
I took Effexor for less than a month and had to stop taking it because of all the side effects (constipation, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, sexual, etc.).
To minimize the withdrawals, my pdoc had slowly decreased my dosage over a week period. Even then, I still experienced withdrawals, such as skin crawling sensation and brain shocks. The best way I can describe the brain shocks, for me at least, is like a continuous throbbing sensation throughout my body, causing me to be very antsy.
Yes, indeed, they were horrible withdrawals, but did go away in about a week.
I am currently on Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, Lamictal and Trazodone and my unipolar depression is very much under control.
> does anyone know when these symptoms stop????
> I am gonna have to call the Doctor tomorrow, i am driving my family crazy, and myself.
>
>
>
> > These horrible withdrawals from Eff-XR are all too common and it's about time Ps recognized this.
> >
> > Can U make an emerg. call to your P this weekend? You need something to take the edge off this withdrawal. Resting is good. IMO, a week or so, of a benzo, may help you get through this. (It has me.)
> >
> > love, cf
>
>
Posted by Violetskyye on October 24, 2006, at 1:32:57
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR » tbyoyo, posted by flipsactown on October 22, 2006, at 8:14:18
Effexor has a short half-life [it leaves your body quickly], and that is what causes the withdrawal. A lot of doctors recommend taking Prozac for a couple of days during Effexor withdrawal, because Prozac leaves your body more gradually, and gives your body time to adjust to the change. I've heard taking Prozac even for two days when Effexor is stopped helps a lot.
Paxil also leaves the body quickly, which makes it the second hardest to come off after Effexor. So try maybe taking some other long half-life SSRI, like Prozac or Lexapro for a few days. Just my two cents.
Posted by elsie_girl on October 24, 2006, at 21:41:35
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by shelby11 on October 17, 2006, at 16:31:54
Hi Shelby
Earlier this year I too went off Efexor and went through sheer hell too. I had been on Efexor for about 4 years at a high dose and even though it worked OK the side effects eventually got to me e.g. excessive sweating, weight gain, hair loss. I weaned over a period of a few months and the last few weeks was emptying some of my capsule out. I was OK until I stopped for a few days and then it hit. I had similar symptoms to you vertigo, major meltdowns, hyperactivity, hypermania, flu like symptoms and the the list goes on. I did have some benzos, but eventually after a couple of weeks when I thought I really was going to lose it I went to my GP and asked for Lovan (Prozac) and within a couple of days my symptoms began to improve. I didn't really want to go onto another AD but in the end I had to. I haven't been quite right since, but the Lovan is better than Efexor.
I agree with others too that the pharmaceutical company should know what happens during withdrawal. My GP and Psych seemed surprised when I told them of the troubles I had when coming off Efexor. They SHOULD KNOW. Then maybe it would be possible for them to help people through this dreadful time.
I can only make a few suggestions, a few of which I got from this site.
1. Definitely go back to your doctor - why should anyone have to go through this alone. It's about time they realised how hard it is. Keep on your doc's tail for help - you need to get through this somehow.
2. Try taking an occasional small dose of Efexor to get you through - not ideal but maybe essential for your sanity?
I can empathise with you as I went through the same thing. Good luck and let us know how you go. Take it easy and take care of yourself you need a bit of extra nurturing at this time.
Cheers
Elsie (Australia)
> I have been off Effexor for 2 weeks. These withdrawl symptoms are somewhat unbearable. I have very bad vertigo, nightmares, major meltdowns over small things where I cannot stop crying, I am so distracted I should not be driving. I have missed work and my boss is trying to be patient ( I can't remember what I did 5 minutes ago), but wants to reevaluate how I am doing in two more weeks. So on top of everything else, I may lose my job.The only good part is that I have my sex drive back.
> If I could go back I would have never taken this drug, I only had medium anxiety. My doctor gave me a sample and a script for this without telling me anything about this drug. I am much worse now than before. If anyone wants to quit they should do so before the dose goes up and up. I hear it's worse when you are at large doses. I was weaned properly, can't imagine what its' like to go cold turkey.
Posted by corafree on October 25, 2006, at 15:47:20
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by shelby11 on October 19, 2006, at 16:50:18
Somehow I fell off this thread.
I contacted Administration.
love, cf
Posted by corafree on October 25, 2006, at 15:53:40
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by elsie_girl on October 24, 2006, at 21:41:35
I apologize elsie_girl, I didn't mean to just overlook your post and think of only myself.
I hope UR doing well and appreciate your point of view.
I have made the decision (with all the goods and bad taken into account) to stay on Effexor-XR for now as I have a lot on my shoulders, and it is reasonable to assume that I always will at this time, and 'I stand alone' except for support here.
bestwish, cf
Posted by elsie_girl on October 26, 2006, at 0:29:03
In reply to Re: Withdrawl » elsie_girl, posted by corafree on October 25, 2006, at 15:53:40
I don't know why you need to apologise. I appreciate your decision in your circumstances. I think we all need to do whatever we can to get us through. You will find a lot of info about others who have tried to get off Efexor and their experiences if you need to try again in the future. The thing I found was that I couldn't do it alone, be it medical support or this group. I got a lot of information and support from the Fibrom-L group and it really helped.
Good luck and best wishes to you. Keep in touch and let us know how you are going.
Cheers
Elsie (Australia)> I apologize elsie_girl, I didn't mean to just overlook your post and think of only myself.
>
> I hope UR doing well and appreciate your point of view.
>
> I have made the decision (with all the goods and bad taken into account) to stay on Effexor-XR for now as I have a lot on my shoulders, and it is reasonable to assume that I always will at this time, and 'I stand alone' except for support here.
>
> bestwish, cf
Posted by prasnhym on October 26, 2006, at 0:48:49
In reply to Re: Withdrawl (nm), posted by prasnhym on October 26, 2006, at 0:44:44
I have to get off of effexor are there posts somewhere that tell us ways to wean off. I am ready to take each pill down a fraction, but i would like some advice as i start....help me someone...
Tia
Posted by SLS on October 26, 2006, at 10:48:21
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by prasnhym on October 26, 2006, at 0:48:49
> I have to get off of effexor are there posts somewhere that tell us ways to wean off. I am ready to take each pill down a fraction, but i would like some advice as i start....help me someone...
> Tia
Hi Tia.There are several ways you can go about weaning off of Effexor. I recommend that you first begin to take the drug twice a day if you are not doing so already. You might have to ask your doctor for smaller pills for the weaning process.
Although unusual, I personally have had success using a flexible-dosing method that allows me to take a small dose of medication whenever I feel withdrawal symptoms appear. This becomes particularly effective once I reach the lower dosages. However, I begin the taper process by reducing the amount of medication in each capsule by a small amount. I am not too concerned with precision while reducing the doses. If I begin to experience withdrawal symptoms before it is time to take my next dose, I simply take it a little earlier and perhaps take a little more. I dose two or more times a day during the withdrawal process, so this usually does not become a problem. The key for me is that I don't confine myself to some rigid schedule that traps me into suffering a severe withdrawal syndrome for days and weeks. I remain flexible enough to take some minimum amount of medication that prevents that from happening.
At the very end of the taper, I like to use the 25mg tablets to take small pieces of or simply open up the capsules and sprinkle out a few pellets and place them on my tongue to swallow. At dosages of less than 37.5mg, I actually wait for the withdrawal symptoms to reappear before taking my next dose. I try to take an amount of drug that is no greater than will allow a period of 6-8 hours to pass without symptoms reappearing and before it is time to dose again. I end up dosing 3-4 times a day. It's like taking an aspirin whenever you feel a headache reappear. Of course, you should see a trend towards using a smaller and smaller amount of medication each day. My guess is that you can try discontinuing Effexor entirely once you reach 12.5mg a day.
Alternatively, you can substitute Prozac for Effexor at the end of the taper process. You might only need to take a few 10mg doses over the course of a few weeks. I would try to go as far as you can with the Effexor first.
I'm sorry that this was such a clumsy explanation.
- Scott
Posted by dancingstar on October 26, 2006, at 11:35:26
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by prasnhym on October 26, 2006, at 0:48:49
> I have to get off of effexor are there posts somewhere that tell us ways to wean off. I am ready to take each pill down a fraction, but i would like some advice as i start....help me someone...
> TiaHi Tia,
If you have the patience to, try to read back through the posts on Effexor on this forum throughout the years. You'll pick up lots of useful information. It can be done, and for some people quitting seems to be much easier than for others. Hopefully, you will be one of the ones that it is easy for. :-)
Posted by prasnhym on October 26, 2006, at 12:49:20
In reply to Re: Withdrawl, posted by dancingstar on October 26, 2006, at 11:35:26
Thank you for the response - i had remembered reading back and seeing those old post on weaning off and was hoping someone who had written one would respond...I quit cold turkey at the first of the year and went tru hell on earth for about 2 weeks so i knew i wouldnt do that again...i will break them down and wean off this time...
Thanks alot
Tia
Posted by prasnhym on October 26, 2006, at 13:08:16
In reply to Re: Withdrawl » prasnhym, posted by SLS on October 26, 2006, at 10:48:21
Hi Scott
You are the one i was wanting to respond! Thank you so much...I had called in and asked my doc to call in 37.5's and i went and picked them up not realizing till too late that it was still 75's. I do not have insurance and don't want to buy the right dose now. I don't know about multiple doses a day because it is xr's time released i believe. I took 5 granules out of yesterday's dose and 8 out of todays. And i will continue to take out 3 more per day. And towards the end when i get to about 30 granules take only one or two granules out a day till I am out of effexor. What do you think of my plan?
Tia
Posted by dancingstar on October 26, 2006, at 14:48:57
In reply to Re: Withdrawl - dancing star, posted by prasnhym on October 26, 2006, at 12:49:20
> Thank you for the response - i had remembered reading back and seeing those old post on weaning off and was hoping someone who had written one would respond...I quit cold turkey at the first of the year and went tru hell on earth for about 2 weeks so i knew i wouldnt do that again...i will break them down and wean off this time...
> Thanks alot
> Tia
Hi Tia,I don't check in here very often, but I will try to. I'm running my business pretty much full time; so I have been pretty busy lately. Of course I know how hard it is for you. If you need to, you are welcome to write to me at Bebe0217@aol.com. After everything is said and done, I'm not all that comfortable posting my feelings about this stuff on a public board. It never turns out all that well for me. :-)
All my best wishes!!
Posted by SLS on October 27, 2006, at 0:51:44
In reply to Re: Withdrawl - sls, posted by prasnhym on October 26, 2006, at 13:08:16
> Hi Scott
> You are the one i was wanting to respond! Thank you so much...I had called in and asked my doc to call in 37.5's and i went and picked them up not realizing till too late that it was still 75's. I do not have insurance and don't want to buy the right dose now. I don't know about multiple doses a day because it is xr's time released i believe. I took 5 granules out of yesterday's dose and 8 out of todays. And i will continue to take out 3 more per day. And towards the end when i get to about 30 granules take only one or two granules out a day till I am out of effexor. What do you think of my plan?I think it is worth a try. If you run into trouble, then you can make adjustments along the way. Try to remain flexible and not be so committed to a plan that you put yourself through hell unnecessarily. One thing that seems evident to me with SRI drugs like Effexor is that the more you allow the withdrawal symptoms to grow, the longer they seem to last. My guess is that there is a kindling phenomenon occurring. I understand that you went "cold-turkey" last time and that the withdrawal syndrome lasted for about two weeks. I've heard of worse. It is unlikely that you will have to suffer the same way this time.
Why don't you begin your plan and see what happens? If you get stuck, perhaps alternatives can be decided upon based upon what is observed.
I have always taken Effexor XR in divided doses. During the taper process, I have removed small numbers of pellets from capsules and swallowed them. I have also bitten off small pieces of tablets. These are things that are not endorsed by the manufacturer, but that I have nonetheless found effective. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has not yet produced a taper pack and has not endorsed a taper method, so I guess we are still left to our own creative efforts to discontinue their product. I can only report to you what has worked for me and pass along to you the reports of others.
- Scott
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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